A sanding tool for out-of reach rounded corner dry-wall construction and comprised of a depressible pad having a coextensive angular cross section with an abrasive concavely rounded center section and preferably non-abrasive oppositely projecting obtusely related planar side sections to overlie oppositely projecting planar dry-wall surfaces, and a manipulatable adapter to be carried by an extension pole and coupled thereto by frictionally controlled swivel means for adjustably restrained reciprocal and rocking motion and releasable attachment of the sanding tool pad to said adapter.

This invention relates to dry-wall construction, and specifically to the uniform blending of corners with the oppositely continuing planar surfaces of adjoining walls. That is, it is rounded corners that must be dressed by sanding so that the corner curvature fairs smoothly into the oppositely extending flat walls. And, it is the outside corners that are involved here, corners that are usually at 90.degree., and also corners for example at 45.degree.. It is to be understood that the degree of angularity between next adjacent walls can vary as circumstances require.
The walls are vertical, as are the corners at which the dry-wall panels of gypsum board are angularly abutted. Accordingly, these angularly abutted corners must be completed in a uniform and acceptable manner before the paint and/or finish is applied. In practice, convexly radiused corner members are fastened in place to complete such corners, as shown herein, and which are troweled with a filler cement or paste that drys to a solid state subject to be finished as by sanding, which is the subject of this invention.
Heretofore, finish sanding of dry-wall corners has been a cautious if not difficult operation because of the inherent tendency of the sanding tool edge to cut into and permanently mark the dry-wall surface, the dry-wall surface being comprised of a low grade pulp paper. The soft gypsum core and soft paper surface are easily damaged by the abrasive edge of the sanding tool or cutting edge of heavy sandpaper or the like. When such cutting marks occur, the wall corner must be reconstructed or at least re-troweled and sanded again, all of which is time consuming and an added expense. Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to avoid abusive sanding and to eliminate the probability of damaging sanding marks. With the present invention, the oppositely extending sanding planes of the tool are obtusely related with respect to the angle of the corner being sanded thereby. For example, obtuse with respect to a 90.degree. corner, and also with respect to a 45.degree. corner, or any other corner angle as circumstance may require.
Sanding tools of the type under consideration have been provided with extension poles in order to sand out of reach heights. These tools have been swivel mounted to the top end of the poles so as to be free to assume angular positions with repsect to said poles. In other words, the sanding tools have been gimbal mounted at the end of the poles, and which mounting has been found to be detrimental to the tool function of sanding. Firstly, before application to the wall surface the tool will fall into extreme positions incompatible with the wall surfaces. Secondly and of unobvious importance, when the tool is in place over the corner to be sanded, the loose gimbaled mounting of the prior art tools precludes control thereof by the pole. However, with the present invention, it is an object to control the sanding tool by rocking it into the desired position responsive to manual positioning of the pole. Accordingly, the gimbaled mounting of the sanding tool at the end of the pole is frictionally adjustable, a ball and socket joint or right angular pivotal axes as shown herein.
It is an object of this invention to provide an adapter for recieving a corner sanding tool having the angular features referred to, whereby sanding tools of preferred angularity can be mounted for dressing wall corners of certain angles, 90.degree. or 45.degree. or any other angle. In practice, the opposite sides of the sanding tool deviate approximately 15.degree. from the planar surface of the continuing wall plane. This obtuse angularity separates the outer edge of the tool surface from either continuing wall, while the radius of the corner member remains uniform, for example a 3/4 inch radius. In accordance with this invention , the sanding element is backed by a firm padding carried by a rigid body conforming to the aforesaid corner radius and to the angularity of the corner to be rounded, for example, concentric with a 3/4 inch corner radius and opposite sides divergent at 120.degree., for dressing a 90.degree. corner. It is an object of this invention to provide an adapter to receive the aforesaid tool, whether it be a 90.degree. or a 45.degree. or any other angle of sanding tool. It is still another object to provide a replaceable sanding tool that is releasably applied to said adapter gimbaled at the end of a pole that is adapted to control said sanding tool. In practice, the body of the sanding tool is held to the adapter by self threading screw fasteners, or by means of darts.
The foregoing and various other objects and features of this invention will be apparent and fully understood from the following detailed description of the typical preferred forms and applications thereof, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings.


A structural body includes a refrigerant between a first plate and a second plate. A circulation structural part between the first and second plates includes a reservoir portion provided on a first plate side. In the circulation structural part, the refrigerant from the reservoir portion which has evaporated due to heat of the first plate side reaches a second plate side, condenses on the second plate side and is returned to the reservoir portion again. A temperature sensitive mechanism is in a first state when a temperature of the first plate side is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature to allow refrigerant circulation, and is in a second state different from the first state when the temperature is lower than the predetermined temperature to prohibit the refrigerant circulation.

In the related art, there has been proposed a window including, between depressurized double glass, a working liquid and a working liquid heating unit/cooling unit that heats or cools the working liquid (see JP-A-2006-336233). According to this window, high heat insulating performance can be exhibited since pressure between the double glass is reduced, and a room interior can be made comfortable by healing or cooling the working liquid between the double glass without allowing moisture to flow in and out.


A method of providing synchronized content to a user including: (i) an audio recording of a voice reading written language text and an audio recording of one or more pieces of music; (ii) written language text and music notation content, having elements that can be identified, displayed, and highlighted, the elements representing discrete segments of the written language and music notation content, each of the discrete segments having a beginning and end; and (iii) synchronization data marking beginning and end points in the audio recordings for each element. The method is implemented such that a user may play the audio recording of a voice reading the written language text, and the audio recording of the one or more pieces of music according to the EPUB format, and display the written language text and music notation content according to the EPUB format with synchronization.

As the music publishing industry has adopted new technology, sheet music has evolved into paperless digital formats. Rather than print musical scores and produce books of music, different sheet music providers have developed software that displays musical score data on a computer screen. The growth of the Internet led to the modern era of digital sheet music, beginning with the 1997 Sunhawk Solero and SheetMusicDirect web-based systems. Since then, MusicNotes, Sibelius, MusicRain/Legato, and others have also entered the market, while FreeHand Systems acquired Sunhawk in 2003.
With the release of electronic book or tablet appliances such as the iPad, many different digital sheet music software applications (hereinafter "apps") have entered the market. The first of these apps displayed digital sheet music as stored in Portable Document Format (PDF) files. Soon afterwards these programs added the ability to annotate the sheet music with graphical markings. Also, they added the capability, for use with suitable hardware platforms, to play an audio file while displaying the sheet music.
Later generations of iPad apps added more interactivity. The NoteStar app from Yamaha allows musicians to listen to music playing back in synchrony with a scrolling digital sheet music display with automatic system and page updating.
Nevertheless, despite recent advancement, little has been done to adapt existing electronic publication tools to fit the growing portable media device market. Most of the current generation of digital sheet music apps only work on the iPad and other iOS devices. Apps are generally not portable between devices without extensive software development work, so these apps are not easily moved to alternate mobile and tablet platforms such as Android and Windows 8, nor can they work with standard web browsers. Cross-platform application development environments often provide a sub-standard user experience on any single device based on the lowest common denominator between devices.

Distribution of audio sheet music within an electronic book


A fan and electric motor combination (or a fan adapted to be used in such a combination) which provides improved cooling for the motor, using a centrifugal impeller including rotating impeller blades. The impeller blades span between an impeller inlet and an impeller outlet, and they rotate to assist cooling airflow for the motor. Cooling airflow is also assisted by the position of the impeller in that the impeller outlet is positioned upstream of an intersection of the fan blade trailing edge and the hub. Therefore, cooling airflow is assisted by at least some (preferably all) of the pressure drop across the axial fan. If the impeller outlet is positioned still further upstream, e.g., upstream of an intersection of the fan blade leading edge and the hub, then the motor cooling airflow is assisted by all or nearly all of the pressure drop across the axial fan.

Internal motor temperature has a critical effect on the performance and durability of electric motors. The internal temperature of an electric motor is greater than the ambient temperature due to the heat generated by the motor. In automotive engine cooling applications where the electric motor is under the hood of the vehicle the problem is made more severe by the high ambient temperatures produced by the vehicle's engine. Certain features may operate to reduce motor temperature rise over ambient temperature rise.
McLane-Goetz et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,180,279 disclose a fan which includes a scoop downstream of an axial fan to divert some of the axial fan airflow across the rear of the motor.
DeFilippis U.S. Pat. No. 5,217,353 discloses a centrifugal blower motor having a stationary motor casing with holes for taking in air from the outside and for ventilating the interior of the motor; the motor also has a rotary part with holes which act as outlet ducts for the internal motor ventilation.
Ribs of the fan driven by the motor which are primarily structural can have the additional benefit of cooling the motor.


A method for fabricating a liquid crystal display (LCD) is provided. The method includes the steps stated below. At first, providing an LCD panel including a first substrate, a second substrate and a liquid crystal layer therebetween. The liquid crystal layer includes several photo-sensitive monomers and several liquid crystal molecules. The LCD panel has at least a first pixel and a second pixel. Afterwards, correspondingly driving the first pixel and the second pixel by the first voltage and the second voltage. At last, applying a ultra-violet source onto the LCD panel to enable several photo-sensitive monomers to polymerize several alignment polymers on the first substrate and the second substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates in general to a method for fabricating a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, and more particularly to a method for fabricating an LCD panel with Gamma correction function.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to FIG. 1, a diagram showing the optical transmittance of conventional pixel components corresponding to RGB illuminators under different drive electrical fields is shown. The horizontal coordinate corresponds to the electrical field strength, and the vertical coordinate corresponds to the optical transmittance. The liquid crystal molecules have different degrees of refractivity and retardation towards visible light of different wavelengths. Therefore, when driven by the same strength of electrical field, the conventional pixel components have different transparencies corresponding to RGB illuminators.
Normally, Gamma curve is used to quantity a viewer's visual perception in the design of LCD monitor circuit. Gamma curve describes the relationship between the photo-transparency of a liquid crystal layer and the corresponding luminance perceived by the viewer. The luminance perceived by the viewer is inferred from the driving electrical field strength of the liquid crystal layer. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the Gamma curves of a LCD monitor corresponding to the relationship between the electric field and the transmittance in FIG. 1. The horizontal coordinate corresponds to color level number, while the vertical coordinate corresponds to the optical transmittance. As shown in FIG. 2, the Gamma curves for the red light, the green light and the blue light are different and separate. This implies that when the electrical fields of the same strength are provided to the liquid crystal layer, the luminance of the red light, the luminance of the green light and the luminance of the blue light cannot maintain a constant ratio, and would deviate from the predetermined white balance of the LCD monitor. Consequently, bias would occur between the display colors as viewed by the viewer and the display signal as inputted.
The method to resolve the above problem can be categorized into two aspects: the circuit and the structure. In terms of structure, the typical method is to change the electric field strength applied to the liquid crystal layers of different color pixels by directly adjusting the thickness of the liquid crystal layer which is disposed inside the LCD monitor and corresponds to the display of the RGB pixels. Referring to FIG. 3, a cross-sectional view of a conventional LCD monitor is shown. In FIG. 3, a liquid crystal layer 110 is formed between a first substrate 102 and a second substrate 104. Moreover, three transparent organic layers 112R, 112G and 112B of various thicknesses corresponding to pixels of different colors are respectively disposed on the top surface of the first substrate 102, while three color filters 108R, 108G and 108B corresponding to pixels of different colors are disposed on the bottom surface of the second substrate 104. The pixel electrode 106 of the RGB pixels is disposed on the top surface of the above transparent organic layers 112R, 112G and 112B, and a common electrode 120 is disposed on the bottom surface of the color filters 108R, 108G and 108B, so as to generate a driving electric field E in the liquid crystal layer 110. Besides, two alignment films 130 and 140 are respectively disposed on the surface of the common electrode 120 and that of the pixel electrode 106 for the alignment of the liquid crystal layer 110.
It is noteworthy that the transparent organic layers 112 R, 112G and 112B are different in thickness, causing the corresponding liquid crystal layer 110 to have different thickness and the corresponding driving electrical field to have different strength in consequence. It can be seen from the above disclosure that by adjusting the thicknesses of the above transparent organic layers 112 R, 112G and 112B, the strength of the driving electric field is changed, the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer 110 is adjusted, the optical transmittance of the liquid crystal layer 110 is changed, and finally the object of calibrating and separating the RGB Gamma curves is achieved.
However, the above solution still has the following disadvantages:
1. An extra manufacturing process of fabricating the transparent organic layers 112 R, 112G and 112B is required prior to fabricating the pixel electrode, resulting in an increase in terms of manufacturing cost and manufacturing time.
2. The transparent organic layers 112 R, 112G and 112B have different thicknesses in respective positions corresponding to the pixels of different colors, resulting in a bumpy surface of the transparent organic layers, making it more difficult in forming the alignment film 140 on the surface of the pixel electrode 106 in subsequent liquid crystal alignment process.
3. The pixel electrode 106 covers the bumpy surface of the transparent organic layer 112 R, 112G and 112B. Since the transparent organic layers 112 R, 112G and 112B of different colors have different thicknesses, a horizontal electric field occurs between adjacent pixels electrodes 106 of different colors, and the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules and the normal operation of the liquid crystal layer 110 would be affected.

Method for fabricating liquid crystal display panel


An organic light-emitting device includes: a first electrode; a second electrode; and an organic layer interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the organic layer includes a compound of Formula 1 and a compound of Formula 2; and a flat panel display device including the organic light-emitting device. Substituents in Formulae 1 and 2 are the same as described in the specification

1. Field of the Invention
One or more embodiments of the present invention relate to an organic light-emitting device and a flat panel display device including the organic light-emitting device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Organic light-emitting devices (OLEDs), which are self-emitting devices, have advantages such as wide viewing angles, excellent contrast, quick response, high brightness, excellent driving voltage characteristics, and can provide multicolored images.
A typical OLED has a structure including a substrate, and an anode, a hole transport layer (HTL), an emission layer (EML), an electron transport layer (ETL), and a cathode which are sequentially stacked on the substrate. In this regard, the HTL, the EML, and the ETL are organic thin films formed of organic compounds.
An operating principle of an OLED having the above-described structure is as follows.
When a voltage is applied between the anode and the cathode, holes injected from the anode move to the EML via the HTL, and electrons injected from the cathode move to the EML via the ETL. The holes and electrons recombine in the EML to generate excitons. When the excitons drop from an excited state to a ground state, light is emitted.
An organic blue light-emitting device using a conventional existing anthracene derivative needs further improvements in terms of color purity, efficiency, and lifetime.

Organic light-emitting device and flat panel display including the same

Samsung-ro, Giheung-Gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-Do

SUNGKYUNKWAN UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION FOR CORPORATE COLLABORATION


To determine the period length of a first signal, the length is measured by counting the periods of a second signal with a shorter period length. To measure the fluctuations of the period length of the first signal whilst also taking into account the fluctuations of the period length of the second signal, the measurement is carried out for two different values of the period length of the second signal. Both the fluctuations of the period length of the first signal and the accumulated fluctuations of the period length of the second signal are calculated independently of one another from the two values. The method enables the period length fluctuations of a first signal that originates from a phase-locked loop to be detected.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a method as well as an apparatus for detecting period length fluctuations of a periodic first signal and/or of a periodic second signal, whereby the period length of the second signal is shorter than that of the first signal and a reference number of periods of the second signal, which arise during a certain number of periods of the first signal is obtained.
2. Background Information
In the case of periodic signals disadvantageously fluctuations of the period length also arise. This can lead for example in digital technology to edge-controlled actions being triggered too early or too late causing malfunctions to arise. If for example in the case of serial data communication with data retrieval in a pre-determined cycle the analog value or the digital state of a line must be scanned, period length fluctuations of the scanning rate can lead to errors arising during data retrieval, since scanning is carried out at an incorrect time.
In order to measure the fluctuations of the period length of a periodic first signal, it is known to measure the duration of a period of the first signal several times by means of a periodic second signal, the period length of which is shorter than the period length of the first signal. In this case, a reference number of periods of the second signal, which arise during a period of the first signal and/or can be inscribed in a period is obtained. The period length of the first signal thereby corresponds to the reference number multiplied by the period length of the second signal. In this case, a quantization error arises, since the period length of the first signal is only resolved with an integral number of periods of the second signal, the quantization error falling with decreasing period length of the second signal. In addition, period length fluctuations of the second signal also have an effect on the measurement, whereby in relation to the second signal, the accumulated period length fluctuations make it possible to realize that in a measurement period the period length fluctuations of the reference number are added onto periods of the second signal. The period length fluctuations of the second signal therefore have a greater effect on the measurement result, the higher the reference number.
FIG. 1 illustrates the basic principle of this measurement process. In this case, a reference number m is defined in periods of the second signal 2, which can be inscribed in a period of the first signal 1. The period length of the first signal 1 is provided with the reference symbol 3 and features period length fluctuations, which are shown as broken lines. In known methods, in order to detect the period length fluctuations of the first signal 1, a signal 2 with very short period length fluctuations is used, so that the period length of individual periods of the first signal 1 can be measured with high precision. Vice-versa if the signal 1 is present with high precision and very short period length fluctuations, the accumulated or added period length fluctuations of the second signal can be detected. By multiple measurements of reference numbers m, the period length fluctuations of the first signal or the accumulated period length fluctuations of the second signal can therefore be measured, dependent on what signal with high precision and/or with short period fluctuations is present.
Disadvantageously, however, this requires at least a high precision signal with a very short period length fluctuation.

Method and device for detecting period length fluctuations of periodic signals


An inverter integral type motor which is fixed with radiator board formed with a plurality of radiating fins at bottom of the inverter, and both side walls of the radiator board are fixed to both side surfaces of the motor main body. Thereby the motor main body and the inverter are integrally structured. Rubber absorbers are respectively interposed between both side walls of the radiator board and the fixing bosses formed at both side surfaces of load side and non-load side of the motor main body.

A general motor is made as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 with a structure in which a motor main body 1 and an inverter 2 are respectively separated, and the motor main body 1 and the inverter 2 are connected by electrical wires so as to be electrically connected which is not shown in the drawings.
A volume knob 3 for adjusting a frequency is provided to the inverter 2, and when the frequency is adjusted by utilizing the volume knob 3, a voltage is applied to the motor main body 1 side through lead wires (not shown) within a motor terminal box 4 which are connected with electrical wires connecting the motor main body 1 and the inverter 2, so that a rotor 5 rotates at a speed corresponding to the respective voltage and frequency in accordance with a rotating principle of a normal induction motor.
In the drawings, unexplained reference numeral symbol 6 represents a rotary shaft, numeral 7 represents a stator, and numeral 8 depicts an inputting electric power connecting means.
However, as described above, since a general motor is divided respectively into the motor main body 1 and the inverter 2, a very long electrically wire is required for connecting these, and there has been a disadvantage in that not only their storing was not easy but also a disposal of electric wires was not easy. In the case of mounting the inverter 2 to the motor main body, a magnetic noise and vibration of the inverter 2 itself was generated at low rotational speed, i.e., low frequency region, and a respective separate fan for cooling the motor and inverter and fan motor for driving this had to be provided. Accordingly not only much space was required but also their constitution was complicated and much trouble arose from this arrangement.


A magnetic path forming member is formed by heating a radially intermediate portion of a workpiece made of a magnetic material to melt the radially intermediate portion from one axial face of the workpiece to the other axial face of the workpiece to form a keyhole, and disposing an alloy element in a molten pool around the keyhole to demagnetize a melted portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a driving force transmission apparatus and a method of manufacturing the driving force transmission apparatus.
2. Description of Related Art Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-153157 (JP 11-153157 A) and Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2004-116764 (JP 2004-116764 A) each describe a driving force transmission apparatus in which an electromagnetic clutch unit is used to control a driving force that is transmitted between an outer rotary member and an inner rotary member. The electromagnetic clutch unit includes an electromagnet and a magnetic path forming member. The magnetic path forming member forms a magnetic path in cooperation with an armature and clutch discs. The magnetic path forming member includes a portion that exhibits magnetic properties and a portion that exhibits non-magnetic properties.
JP 11-153157 A describes a method in which a non-magnetic material is joined to a magnetic material by welding to form a magnetic path forming member. JP 2004-116764 A describes a method in which a non-magnetic material is cast into a recess formed in a magnetic material, and thereafter, a part of the magnetic material is cut and removed to form a magnetic path forming member.
The magnetic path forming member is required to have a sufficient strength in order to fulfill a driving force transmitting function. In the case where the magnetic path forming member is formed by welding or casting, a joint between the magnetic material and the non-magnetic material needs to have a certain degree of thickness because the strength of the joint is lower than that of the magnetic material. Further, it is desired that a magnetic path forming member be manufactured at a cost lower than that at which a magnetic path forming member is manufactured by welding or casting.

Driving force transmission apparatus and method of manufacturing the same


The invention is directed to a water treatment system including a treatment tank having an ion-exchange mineral bed or filter bed therein, and a valve head assembly disposed on top of and in fluid communication with the treatment tank. The valve head assembly includes a passage for allowing a flow of fluid through the valve head assembly, a vacuum pressure creating device disposed within the passage, a drain disposed within the passage and at a downstream side of the vacuum pressure creating device, and a valve disposed within the passage and at a downstream side of the vacuum pressure creating device. The valve is movable to an open position and a closed position for allowing fluid flow through the vacuum pressure creating device, whereby a portion of fluid flows through the drain and a lesser remaining portion of fluid flows through the valve when the valve is in the open position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to ion-exchange and filter water systems, and, more particularly, to an ion-exchange resin bed system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Ion-exchange water treatment systems may be of two general types, i.e., a timed system and a demand system A timed system utilizes a timer to regenerate a resin bed within a treatment tank of the water treatment system after a particular period of time has elapsed. With a timed system, it is necessary to estimate, based upon the users application demand, water usage history, etc., when the treatment tank should be regenerated. If actual water usage exceeds the capacity of the unit during the time period, "untreated" water (i.e., water containing impurities such as iron, calcium and magnesium) could be output by the water treatment system. Accordingly, timed water treatment systems are typically regenerated well ahead of the point when the total amount of normal water use would occur to prevent the occurrence of such "untreated" water. Such systems have the disadvantage of discharging excess water and regenerant, e.g., salt, into a sewer system, with associated detrimental environmental impact.
A demand system of conventional design utilizes a flow meter (or turbine) at the output valve of the treatment tank to count the actual amount of water used since the last regeneration. The flow meter outputs signals to an electronic counter which initiates regeneration when the pre-set count (corresponding to a total amount of flow through the treatment tank outlet) equals a preset amount corresponding to an exchange capacity of the resin bed within the treatment tank. However, such systems are limited by the sensitivity of the flow meter. Such meters are not typically able to count all the flow therethrough in a small amount per unit of time, such as caused by drips from sinks appliances, etc. Also, such meters are unable to register if an overlap or overdrive occurred at extremely high flow rates. Such small amounts of water which actually pass through the flow meter (or turbine) but which are not detected thereby actually amount to several gallons per hour or even more. Because conventional systems do not allow for such lost water, the system may experience oversaturation or overrun of capacity after a certain volume of water. That is, the system continues to operate after the resin bed is unable to perform additional ion exchange, resulting in untreated water being output from the water treatment system.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,104,165 (Braswell), assigned to the assignee of the present invention, discloses a water softening system which may be regenerated on a timed basis. Braswell discloses a valve head assembly mounted to a treatment tank and having a poppet type plunger valve disposed therein. The plunger valve includes a venturi section which creates a vacuum within the valve head assembly and treatment tank to draw saturated brine solution through the treatment tank and into the valve head. A solenoid valve is disposed downstream of the plunger valve and is actuated to allow fluid flow through the plunger valve. All fluid which flows through the plunger valve also flows through the solenoid valve. A problem with such solenoid valves is that they typically have a relatively low flow rate, e.g., 5 gallons/minute maximum, which accordingly limits the regeneration time of the water treatment tank. Moreover, since all of the fluid flows through the solenoid valve when the solenoid valve is in an open position, debris and foreign matter within the fluid may lodge within the solenoid valve and cause improper functioning thereof.
It is also known in the art to use counter current and pulsating flow through a treatment tank to reduce the amount of time required to regenerate the resin bed and to more fully recharge the resin bed and to prevent channeling or fluidizing of the resin bed. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,108,616 (Kunz) discloses an ion exchange water treatment system using a pulsed, counter current flow of regenerant through the treatment tank. The duration of the pulsations and the time period between pulsations is such that the ion exchange granules making up the resin bed within the treatment tank are not substantially mixed during the regenerating process.
An advantage of solenoid valves is that they may be quickly opened and closed to thereby decrease the amount of time required to regenerate a particular treatment tank.
What is needed in the art is a water treatment system which induces a flow of regenerant through the treatment tank and into the valve head assembly very quickly, using less water and time in comparison with conventional units.
A further need is a system which utilizes diaphragm valves to quickly direct water in a particular direction within the valve head, while eliminating problems of debris buildup within and low flow rate through such a diaphragm valve.
An additional need is a water treatment system which allows various time periods for certain segments of the regeneration process to be quickly and easily altered depending upon water conditions, water usage high or low pressure, etc.
A still further need is a water treatment system which allows for lost or unaccounted for water that has gone through the system and thereby eliminates overlap conditions associated therewith and rebuilds the bed if an overlap condition occurs.
An additional need is a water treatment system which monitors exact water usage of one or more tanks within a water treatment system and regenerates each particular tank according to the exact amount of water used by that tank.
A further additional need is a water treatment system which utilizes a vacuum pressure within the valve head to create a relatively strong suction pressure within the treatment tank and thereby removes substantially all the gases therein, i.e., degassifies the interior of the treatment tank and draws the regenerate in an undiluted state.


A pressure sensor includes a metal housing and a semiconductor chip. The housing has a diaphragm unitary with the housing and an inlet for introducing fluid to the diaphragm. The inlet has a first end exposed to the diaphragm and a second end exposed to an outside of the housing. The housing has a thin-wall portion at the first end of the inlet and the thin-wall portion serves as the diaphragm. The chip is mounted on the diaphragm. The area and thickness of the chip are set so that separation between the chip and diaphragm can be prevented. Since the separation is prevented based on the area and thickness of the chip, there is no need that the diaphragm is made of a material having a thermal expansion coefficient similar to that of the chip.

A pressure sensor using a metal diaphragm is disclosed in, for example, JP-A-2000-298071. The pressure sensor includes a package consisting of a metal housing having a fluid inlet and a resin connector having a terminal pin. The housing and connector are integrally jointed together. The package includes a metal stem and a sensing member. A portion of the metal stem is thin-walled to provide a metal diaphragm. The sensing member is mounted on the metal diaphragm through a glass paste (e.g., low-melting glass). The sensing member has a strain gauge formed by doping a semiconductor chip with p-type impurities and generates an electrical signal corresponding to pressure of the fluid introduced to the diaphragm via the fluid inlet. The electrical signal is transmitted to an external device via the terminal pin of the connector.
In such a pressure sensor, there is a fear that the semiconductor chip is detached from the stem (i.e., diaphragm) due to difference in thermal expansion coefficient between the semiconductor chip and the stem. Therefore, the stem is made of, for example, kovar, which has a thermal expansion coefficient similar to that of the semiconductor chip.
In some applications, kovar is not suitable for use in the housing in terms of resistance to corrosion. Further, the use of kovar is costly. Therefore, the housing is made of a different material than the stem. For example, the housing is made of stainless steel, aluminum, iron, or the like.
Since the housing and the stem are made of different materials, the housing and the stem are separate pieces. As a result, the number of parts required for the pressure sensor becomes increased, the structure of the pressure sensor becomes complicated, and the size of the pressure sensor becomes increased. Further, the seam between the housing and the stem needs to be sealed to prevent the fluid from leaking at the seam. Inadequate sealing of the seam causes the pressure sensor to operate improperly.


A fingerprint detecting portion which detects a fingerprint, which is a physical characteristic inherent to an individual, is provided on an electronic shelf label. A display control device has a customer database in which fingerprint data items of respective customers are formed in a database form. A customer is specified by referring to the customer database by use of fingerprint data detected by the fingerprint detecting portion of the electronic shelf label. Then, the electronic shelf label which has detected the fingerprint data acquires a user price of the customer for a corresponding article. The user price is displayed on a selling price display portion of the electronic shelf label.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an electronic shelf label provided on an article display shelf, and an article information display system using electronic shelf labels.
2. Description of the Related Art
In Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2001-209861, an article information display system which uses electronic shelf labels and can electronically rewrite article information of the shelf label from a remote place is disclosed. By using the system, for example, the price display of the electronic shelf label can be changed at the time of price change of an article for special sale on a real time basis.
In Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. H7-271862, an article information display system having shelf labels provided on the display shelf and an information display device provided independently from the display shelf is disclosed. The information display device is placed near the article display shelf on which articles on special sale are displayed. A strong appeal cannot be made to the customers only by the price change of the shelf label at the time of price change for special sale. A strong appeal can be made to the customers by displaying special sale information on a large scale on the information display device.
In recent years, in most of the distribution retail businesses, a point-service system is introduced in order to corral the customers. In this system, points are given to the customers according to the sales amount. The thus given points are accumulated for each customer. The accumulated points are each converted into the amount of money, and used for payment of the price for a purchased article or the like.
The customer may want to get information on the actual price of an article when accumulated points are used for payment of the article. However, with the conventional technique, the price derived based on the performance or the like of the customer or so-called user price cannot be displayed on the electronic shelf label.

Article information display system and electronic shelf label


A system, method and computer program product for auditing a message in a message stream are disclosed. Messages in a message stream are captured including at least one message in an extensible markup language (XML) format. Each message in the XML format is then extracted from the captured messages and has a timestamp applied thereto. Each timestamped message in the XML format is then stored in a memory.

As enterprises increasingly move their operations from the paper world to the electronic one, they lose critical capabilities of the old paper-based infrastructure. With paper records generated at each stage in a transaction, there was a natural record of the events. This paper trail provided a number of critical benefits including proof that the transaction occurred as specified at a particular time, an automatic backup of documents at each stage of the transaction, and the ability to file documents in the most appropriate manner or even duplicate them and place them in more than one file at once.
By contrast, when enterprises carry out transactions electronically, they lose all these benefits due to the following factors. First, because electronic documents are easily and undetectably modified, it's far easier to tamper with audit logs. Second, employees often incorrectly modify transactions and save them. Once this occurs, it is often extremely difficult to recover the original transaction, leading to accounting irregularities. Third, documents are stored by whatever program created them in whatever format that program uses.
While the first wave of computerization of business process removed the benefits of a paper infrastructure, the rise of XML-based Internet business processes allows enterprise to reclaim them. Once transactions occur over the Internet, it becomes possible to capture them in a separate device that then provides long term secure verification of and access to the message content. The barriers to performing this kind of capture and analysis include:                Detecting XML messages and extracting them from the surrounding network traffic.        Extracting the XML data from the underlying transport.        Providing high enough throughput under high message loads.        Maintaining a tamperproof log of all data recorded.        Accurately determining the time of processing in order to provide reliable auditing.

System, method and computer program product for auditing XML messages in a network-based message stream


A game has a housing with a plurality of spaces defined on the exterior of the housing. Each of the spaces has a space input device and space indicator associated with the space, and each space indicator has an off-state and an on-state. Inside of the housing is a controller which communicates with each of the space input devices and space indicators and also with a select input device. The controller is responsive to activation of the select input device followed by activation of a predetermined one of the space input devices for causing the space indicator corresponding to the space selected by the activated space input device to go to the on-state.

This invention relates to games, and more particularly to a game wherein each player attempts to activate a predetermined number of indicators in predetermined pattern.
In the novel game according to the invention, the player is awarded spaces by correctly selecting a space having an associated human perceptible indication which matches a previously given indication. Thus, with a plurality of spaces and indications, and with a different indication to be matched being given with each turn, the game becomes one of memory and matching skills.
Various games, such as Tic-Tac-Toe, are known in which two players alternate placing symbols in a grid or array until one of the players aligns three (or more, in some variants) symbols linearly, either horizontally, vertically or diagonally within the array to win the game, or until all of the spaces in the array are filled. When all of the spaces in the array are filled without either player having achieved three (or more) linearly aligned symbols, the game is declared a draw.
A matching game called "Simon" is known, in which a sequence of colored lights is illuminated by an electronic game controller, and the player attempts to activate colored buttons in the same sequence. In yet other matching games, using standard playing cards, or specialized playing cards, an effort is made to match the images or symbols on cards which are face down with a card which is face up, for example.
While all of the foregoing games are enjoyable, they have certain limitations. For example, Tic-Tac-Toe because of its simplicity and the tendency to result in frequent draws does not provide much interest for older children and adults, but is enjoyed mainly by younger children. Moreover, Tic-Tac-Toe requires two players, and cannot be played by a single player or by more than two players. The various matching games have somewhat limited objectives and tend to provide only a limited degree of entertainment and excitement to players.


A seal for a regenerative air preheater. The seal is comprised of two members that each have a plurality of tabs and slots. The tabs and slots interlock so that the tabs on one member are positioned adjacent the slots on the other member. The tabs have a narrow neck section and a wider sealing section. The wider sealing sections overlay and the narrow neck sections are positioned within a recessed region of the notch on the opposite member so as to interlock the two members. The seal is mounted either to the rotor or to the inner wall of the housing so as to extend through the bypass gap between the rotor and the inner wall of the housing. As the tabs are flexible, the tabs may resiliently deform as a result of the tabs making contact with the sealing surface of the heat exchanger. The air preheater further comprises a reinforcing section that stabilizes the tabs when the tabs resiliently deform.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to heat exchange technology and, in particular, relates to an improved seal that may be used to reduce leakage between a hot gas conduit and a cold air conduit of a regenerative heat exchanging system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional regenerative heat exchangers are used with many types of machinery that exhaust hot gas and operate more efficiently when supplied with preheated air. These types of machinery include power plants, chemical processors, refineries, pulp and paper mills, and ship engines. Typically, two fluid stream passages extend through a heat exchanger. The first passage is an exhaust or hot gas conduit that communicates with a hot exhaust outlet of the machinery. Hot exhaust gases flow from the machinery exhaust into the hot gas conduit to the heat exchanger. The second passage is an intake or cold air conduit that communicates with a cold air intake passage of the machinery. The cold air conduit feeds air into the intake passage of the machinery. As is generally known in the art, the regenerative heat exchanger extracts heat from the exhaust gases of the machinery and transfers the heat to the cool air conduit, so that the machinery is supplied with heated intake air which improves the operating efficiency of the machinery.
A conventional heat exchanger typically includes a movable heat exchanging body that moves between the hot gas conduit and the cool air conduit. In most cases, the movable heat exchanging body cyclically collects heat from the exhaust conduit and transfers this heat energy to the intake conduit. One example of this type of heat exchanger may be referred to as a Ljungstrom™-style preheater. The heat exchanging body in a Ljungstrom-style preheater is typically cylindrical in shape and is located in a sealed relationship with an outer housing. The heat exchanging body, typically called a rotor, rotates about a center shaft within the housing of the heat exchanger. A plurality of radial walls extend radially outward from the center shaft and subdivide the heat exchanging body into a plurality of angular sectors. The angular sectors have a core material to provide a path for heated exhaust or intake air to travel through. The core is heated by the exhaust and the heat energy of the core is transferred to the intake air when the heated core is exposed to the intake air. As the heat exchanging body rotates, the angular sectors are alternatively exposed to the hot and cold conduits of the heat exchanging apparatus. Hence, as an angular sector of the heat exchanging body is exposed to the hot conduit, it absorbs heat from the exhaust gases of the machinery. The sector then rotatably moves and is exposed to the intake conduit where the sector then releases heat into the cool air that is passed into the machinery intake.
Unfortunately, a bypass gap exists between the rotor and the inner walls of the housing. Consequently, some heated gas in the exhaust conduit, may flow through the gap between the rotor and the inner wall of the housing and thereby bypass the core material in the rotor. To address this particular problem, seals are typically installed at the upper and lower surfaces of the rotor which extend into the gap between the outer surface of the rotor and the inner surface of the housing. These seals are referred to as either circumferential or bypass seals and they generally extend around the entire circumference of the rotor and occlude the opening between the inner wall of the housing and the outer wall of the rotor.
One difficulty associated with the use of these seals is that the rotor will generally deform during operation as a result of differential thermal expansion. This deformation is typically referred to as turndown and is often exhibited by the outer surfaces of the rotor sagging downward with respect to the center axis and toward the housing. Unfortunately, this may result in these seals becoming unduly worn or damaging the inner walls of the housing.
One possible solution is to use a seal that is flexible so that when the heat exchanger turns down, the seal can resiliently contact the sealing surface. A flexible seal can then be positioned substantially adjacent the sealing surface prior to turndown thereby allowing the seal to substantially occlude the bypass opening over the entire range of deformation of the rotor. However, as the seal will continuously be rubbing against the sealing surface, it is generally desirable that the seal be relatively thick so as to prolong the life of the seal against damage and the continuous wear of rubbing against the sealing surface. However, increasing the thickness of the seal to prolong the life of the seal against damage and wear naturally results in a decrease of the flexibility of the seal.
Certain prior art seals have been equipped with resilient interlocking features that provide independent flexibility while maintaining structural rigidity so as to elastically deform in response to contact with the sealing surface as a result of turndown of the heat exchanging body. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 5,881,799 discloses an interlocking seal having structurally rigid resilient features that allow for flexible deformations. However, such seals may fracture or break when flexibly responding to rotational stress loads produced by rotation of the heat exchanging body with respect to the outer housing of the heat exchanger. As a result, stress fractures may allow gas leakage between conduits. In addition, the prior art seals typically comprise gaps between the interlocking features that may also allow for some heated gases in the hot gas conduit and some cold air in the cool air conduit to bypass the heat exchanging body. Therefore, while the prior art seals provide some improvement to efficiency loss in heat exchangers, they still result in inefficient operation as air and gases may bypass the heat exchanging body through bypass gaps between interlocking features.
Consequently, there currently exists a need for an improved seal that substantially reduces bypass gas leakage during rotation of the heat exchanging body. To this end, the improved seal should be structurally rigid, resilient, and flexible so that when the heat exchanging body deforms as a result of turndown, the improved seal maintains resilient contact with the sealing surface so as to withstand a significant amount of wear as a result of continuous rubbing contact with the sealing surface.


A vehicle window covering system includes a front window of a vehicle that has a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge. A housing is mounted within the vehicle and positioned adjacent to the first lateral edge. The housing has a vertical slot extending therein. A spindle is rotatably mounted in the housing and is generally aligned with the slot. A flexible panel is attached to and wound around the spindle. The panel is opaque and a free end of the panel extends outwardly of the housing through the slot. A coupler releasably secures the free end the vehicle adjacent to the second lateral edge so that the front window is covered.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to window covering devices and more particularly pertains to a new window covering device for allowing selective covering of a vehicle window from within the vehicle.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of window covering devices is known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 5,615,824 describes a covering device that is positionable against an exterior surface of a vehicle window. Another type of window covering device that is attachable directly to a window is found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,736,980. An interior heat shield, which includes panels that are extendable toward each other to cover a window, is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,921,299.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the need remains for a device that is mountable within a vehicle and can be used for selectively covering a windshield of the vehicle to prevent heat buildup within the vehicle. Additionally, the device may be incorporated directly into the structure of the vehicle for more convenient use.


According to the invention, techniques for detecting and recovering from errors occurring in disk drive subsystems having a controller and drive units connected by a fibre channel loop. Specific embodiments can provide storage subsystems, methods and apparatus for use in information processing environments, for example. Embodiments can determine when each drive is disconnected from the loop in the external storage subsystem structured by using the FC Loop, and thereupon, the FC Loop can be controlled by bridging the communication path using the PBC so that the loop is not broken.

The present invention relates to techniques for use in a storage subsystem and an information processing system, and in particular to techniques for detecting and recovering from errors occurring in storage subsystems having two or more components linked together by a communication link with a loop topology such as the fibre channel loop.
Conventional high capacity storage subsystems can be comprised of two or more hard disk drives which are connected by a Fibre Channel (FC). In the connecting topology of the FC Loop (FIBRE CHANNEL ARBITRATED LOOP (FC-AL)), each drive and a controller which controls the drive in the storage subsystem are connected with one another by a loop topology. A port bypass circuit (PBC) is installed in a connecting part between each drive and the FC Loop in order to disconnect the drive from the FC Loop when the drive incurs a failure or is to be replaced by another drive.
The Fibre Channel, one of the super gigabit technologies, has been standardized under the name, "ANSI NCITS T11" (ANSI X3 T11 by former name).
While certain advantages are perceived, opportunities for further improvement exist. For example, according to conventional FC Loop technology, once the fibre channel loop is broken at any point, it becomes substantially impossible to communicate between a controller and each drive connected to the fibre channel loop.
What is needed are techniques for improving for detecting and recovering from errors occurring in disk drive subsystems having a controller and drive units connected by a fibre channel loop.

Storage subsystem and information processing system


According to one aspect, provided is a high-strength steel sheet having superior toughness at cryogenic temperature, comprising, in weight percentage, 0.02 to 0.06% of C, 0.1 to 0.35% of Si, 1.0 to 1.6% of Mn, 0.02% or less (but not 0%) of Al, 0.7 to 2.0% of Ni, 0.4 to 0.9% of Cu, 0.003 to 0.015% of Ti, 0.003 to 0.02% of Nb, 0.01% or less of P, 0.005% or less of S, the remainder being Fe and unavoidable impurities, wherein the high-strength steel sheet satisfies the condition of [Mn]+5.4[Si]+26[Al]+32.8[Nb]<4.3 where [Mn], [Si], [Al], and [Nb] indicate contents of Mn, Si, Al, and Nb in weight percentage, respectively. The steel sheet secures toughness when used as structural steel materials for ships, offshore structures, or the like, or steel materials for tanks for storing and carrying liquefied gases, which are exposed to an extreme low temperature environment.

The use environment of structural steel materials, such as ships, offshore structures, or the like, or thick steel plates for multipurpose tanks storing various kinds of liquefied gases, such as carbon dioxide, ammonia, LNG, or the like is very severe. Therefore, the strength of such steel sheets is very important. To enhance strength, techniques that may enhance the hardness and strength of steel sheets by adding an hardenability enhancing element to form a low-temperature transformation phase within the steel sheet during the cooling thereof have been proposed.
However, when a low-temperature transformation phase, such as martensite, is formed inside steel sheets, toughness of the steel sheets may be severely deteriorated due to residual stress contained therein. That is, strength and toughness of steel sheets are two physical properties the compatibility of which may be difficult to realize, and it is generally understood that when the strength of steel sheets increases, the toughness thereof decreases.
In the case of the steel materials for offshore structures or the steel materials for tanks, the toughness thereof at low temperatures, as well as the strength thereof, is very important. First of all, environments in which steels for the formation of offshore structures have gradually moved to cold regions, such as the arctic, containing abundant petroleum resources below the seafloor, owing to resource depletion in relatively warm regions. Therefore, it is difficult for the existing high-strength steel sheets having superior toughness at low temperatures to endure an extreme low temperature environment that is severe as above.
Moreover, since thick steel sheets may be used for multipurpose tanks to store and transport liquefied gases having very low liquefied temperatures therein, the thick steel sheets should have a proper degree of toughness, even at a temperature lower than the temperature of the liquefied gas. For example, since the liquefied temperatures of acetylene and ethylene are −82° C. and −104° C., respectively, a high-strength steel sheet having superior toughness when exposed to such a temperature is required.
To secure a toughness required of steel sheets used for tanks, methods of controlling microstructures by adding 6 to 12% by weight of Ni or performing a treatment, such as quenching, tempering, or the like have been used, but such methods have limitations, such as a high manufacturing costs, and a low productivity.
In terms of low carbon steel, while existing steel sheets have superior toughness at a low temperature of about −60° C., it may be difficult for existing steel sheets to satisfy the requirements for steel sheets having superior low-temperature toughness, considering the extreme low temperature environments faced by ships, offshore structures, and the like. Therefore, it may be said that studies into high-strength steel sheets capable of securing superior toughness at extreme low temperatures lower than −60° C. are strongly required.

High-strength steel sheet having superior toughness at cryogenic temperatures, and method for manufacturing same


A semiconductor memory device includes a clock buffer which receives an external clock signal and generates a first internal clock signal having a frequency lower than that of the external clock signal and a second internal clock signal having a frequency which is the same as that of the external clock signal. An address buffer, command signal buffer and/or register receive respective input signals at a timing of the first internal clock signal. On the other hand, a data buffer inputs/outputs data at a timing of the second internal clock signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a memory device and to a memory module and system, and more particularly, the present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device which generates internal clock signals and to a memory module and system having the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
The increasing demand for computer systems capable of processing large amounts of data at high speeds has resulted in the continued development of highly efficient micro-controllers or central processing units (CPUs) which tend to operate at higher and higher system clock frequencies. The use of higher system clock frequencies requires, among other things, an increase in the data capacity and transmission speed of a data memory interfacing with the CPU. In other words, the memory must be configured to operate in synchronization with higher-frequency system clock signals.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a memory controller 110 and a memory module 120 of a CPU system board 100. The memory controller 110 transfers a clock signal CLK, an address signal ADDR, a command signal CMD and data DATA to the memory module 120 through a CLOCK BUS line, an ADDRESS BUS line, a COMMAND BUS line and a DATA BUS, respectively. The memory module 120 includes a plurality of memory chips (e.g., 8 memory chips) 101, 102, . . . , 108 embedded therein, each of which is connected to the CLOCK BUS line, the ADDRESS BUS line, the COMMAND BUS line and the DATA BUS as shown.
The clock signal CLK is supplied to the memory chips 101, 102, . . . , 108 to control the operation thereof. Also, in the case where the memory chips 101, 102, . . . , 108 are synchronous DRAM chips, the command signal CMD, the address signal ADDR and the data DATA are synchronized with edges of the clock signal CLK.
As shown in FIG. 1, the data DATA is input to/output from the memory chips 101, 102, . . . , 108 via the DATA BUS through independent multi-bit data lines connected to the respective memory chips 101, 102, . . . , 108. Thus, the load of each data line is one memory chip. On the contrary, the address signal ADDR and the command signal CMD are commonly supplied to the memory chips 101, 102, . . . , 108. As such, the ADDRESS BUS and COMMAND BUS lines are each subjected to the combined load of all of the memory chips 101, 102, . . . , 108.
As suggested previously, high speed CPUs are attended by high frequency clock signals CLK. Generally, the data DATA of the DATA BUS may be operated at such high frequencies since the load of each data line is relatively small (one memory chip). On the other hand, relatively high multi-memory chip loads of the ADDRESS BUS and COMMAND BUS lines can prevent high frequency operation of these lines. The loads of the ADDRESS BUS and COMMAND BUS lines can therefore limit the effective operating speed of the memory to less than the system clock speed.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a conventional memory module 120. A plurality of bus lines connected to a microprocessor (not shown) or a memory controller (not shown), typically a clock bus, an address bus and a command bus, are arranged on a system board. The memory module 100 includes a plurality of memory chips 101, 102, . . . , 106, a phase locked loop (PLL) 107 and a register 108.
The PLL 107 receives a clock signal CLK loaded on the clock bus line and generates a plurality of internal clock signals ICLK0, ICLK1, . . . , ICLK6. It is assumed here that the plurality of internal clock signals ICLK0, ICLK1, . . . , ICLK6 are ideal signals having the same slew rate and duty cycle without skew. Since the plurality of internal clock signals ICLK0, ICLK1, . . . , ICLK6 are synchronized in phase with the clock signal CLK, they have the same frequency as that of the clock signal CLK. The internal clock signal ICLK0 is supplied to the register 108, and the internal clock signals ICLK1, ICLK2, . . . , ICLK6 are supplied to the memory chips 101, 102, . . . , 106. In FIG. 2, one clock signal is connected to one memory chip. However, in actual applications, the number of corresponding memory chips for one clock signal may vary. The register 108 receives the address signal ADDR and the command signal CMD in response to the internal clock signal and transmits the received signals to the respective memory chips 101, 102, . . . , 106.
Since the memory module 120 receives only one clock signal CLK and generates a plurality of internal clock signals ICLK1, ICLK2, . . . , ICLK6, the frequencies of the internal clock signals ICLK1, ICLK2, . . . , ICLK6 increase as the frequency of the clock signal CLK increases in a high-performance system. Since the memory chips 101, 102, . . . , 106, which receive the internal clock signals ICLK1, ICLK2, . . . , ICLK6 and operate responsive thereto, may be constructed of devices suitable for high-frequency operation, no problems arise from their operation. However, it is doubtful whether the register 108 can function to receive the address signal ADDR and the command signal CMD at a timing corresponding to the frequency of the internal clock signal ICLK0, that is, the high frequency clock signal CLK, and to then transmit the received signals to the memory chips 101, 102, . . . , 106, in synchronization with the same high frequency clock signal CLK. As such, the operating characteristics of the register 108 may also limit the effective operating speed of the memory to less than the system clock speed.
It is an objective of the present invention to provide a semiconductor memory device which can utilize operable frequencies of an address signal and a command signal even if the frequency of a system clock signal is increased.
It is another objective of the present invention to provide a system having a memory device and a memory module which can utilize a clock signal having a sufficiently low frequency which is suitable for the operation of a register even if the frequency of a system clock signal is increased.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a semiconductor memory device includes a clock buffer which receives an external clock signal, and which outputs a first internal clock signal having a frequency which is lower than a frequency of the external clock signal and a second internal clock signal having a frequency which is the same as the frequency of the external clock signal; an address buffer which receives an address signal at a timing of the first internal clock signal; and a data buffer which inputs/outputs data at a timing of the second internal clock signal.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a semiconductor memory device includes a clock buffer which receives an external clock signal and a control signal, and which is responsive to the control signal to output a first internal clock signal having a frequency which is lower than a frequency of the external clock signal and a second internal clock signal having a frequency which is the same as the frequency of the external clock signal; a controller which outputs the control signal designating the frequency of the first internal clock signal relative to the frequency of the second internal clock signal; an address buffer which receives an address signal at a timing of the first internal clock signal; a command buffer which receives a command signal at a timing of the first internal clock signal; and a data buffer which inputs/outputs data at a timing of the second internal clock signal.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, a semiconductor memory system includes a memory controller; a plurality of bus lines which are connected to the memory controller and which transfer an address signal, a command signal and data; and a memory module having a plurality of semiconductor memory devices connected to the memory controller through the plurality of bus lines, wherein each of the semiconductor memory device comprises (a) a clock buffer which receives an external clock signal and a control signal, and which is responsive to the control signal to outputs a first internal clock signal having a frequency which is lower than a frequency of the external clock signal and a second internal clock signal having a frequency which is the same as the frequency of the external clock signal, (b) a controller which outputs the control signal designating the frequency of the first internal clock signal relative to the frequency of the second internal clock signal, (c) an address buffer which receives the address signal at a timing of the first internal clock signal, (d) a command buffer which receives the command signal at a timing of the first internal clock signal, (e) and a data buffer which inputs/outputs the data at a timing of the second internal clock signal.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a semiconductor memory system includes a memory controller which generates a first clock signal, a second clock signal having a frequency which is greater than that of the first clock signal, an address signal, a command signal and data; and a memory module having a plurality of semiconductor memory devices connected to the memory controller through bus lines on which the first clock signal, the second clock signal, the address signal, the command signal and the data are loaded, wherein each of the semiconductor memory device comprises (a) an address buffer which receives the address signal at a timing of the first clock signal, (b) a command buffer which receives the command signal at a timing of the first clock signal, and (c) a data buffer which inputs/outputs data at a timing of the second clock signal.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a system comprises a plurality of bus lines which respectively transfer a first clock signal, a second clock signal, an address signal and a command signal, respectively, wherein a frequency of the first clock signal is different than a frequency of the second clock signal; a memory module which is connected to the plurality of bus lines and which contains a plurality of memory chips, wherein each of the memory chips comprises (a) an address buffer, connected to the bus line of the first clock signal and the bus line of the address signal, which receives the address signal at a timing of the first internal clock signal, (b) a command buffer, connected to the bus line of the first clock signal and the bus line of the command signal, which receives the command signal at a timing of the internal clock signal, and (c) a data buffer, connected to the bus line of the second clock signal, which inputs/outputs data at a timing of the second clock signal.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a system comprises a plurality of bus lines which respectively transfer a first clock signal, a second clock signal, an address signal and a command signal, respectively, wherein a frequency of the first clock signal is different than a frequency of the second clock signal; and a memory module which is connected to the plurality of bus lines and which comprises (a) a register which is connected to the bus of the first clock signal, the bus of the address signal, and the bus of the command signal, and which stores the address signal and the command signal at a timing of the first clock signal, and (b) a plurality of memory chips which are each connected to the bus line of the second clock signal and which receives the address signal and command signal stored in the register at a timing of the second clock signal, wherein the address signal and the command signal are transmitted to the memory chips in one direction of the memory module or in two directions from a center of the memory module.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a system comprises a plurality of bus lines which respectively transfer a system clock signal, an address signal and a command signal, respectively; a phase lock loop which receives the system clock signal and which outputs a first clock signal and a second clock signal, wherein a frequency of the first clock signal is different than a frequency of the second clock signal; and a memory module which is connected to the plurality of bus lines and which comprises (a) a register which is connected to the bus of the first clock signal, the bus of the address signal, and the bus of the command signal, and which stores the address signal and the command signal at a timing of the first clock signal, and (b) a plurality of memory chips which are each connected to the bus line of the second clock signal and which receives the address signal and command signal stored in the register at a timing of the second clock signal, wherein the address signal and the command signal are transmitted to the memory chips in one direction of the memory module or in two directions from a center of the memory module.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, a system comprises a plurality of bus lines which respectively transfer a first clock signal, a second clock signal, an address signal and a command signal, respectively, wherein a frequency of the first clock signal is different than a frequency of the second clock signal; and a memory module which is connected to the plurality of bus lines and which comprises (a) a register which is connected to the bus of the first clock signal, the bus of the address signal, and the bus of the command signal, and which stores the address signal and the command signal at a timing of the first clock signal, (b) a phase locked loop which is connected to the bus of the second clock signal and which outputs a plurality of internal clock signals having a same frequency as the second clock signal, and (c) a plurality of memory chips which are each connected to the phase locked loop and which receives the address signal and command signal stored in the register at a timing of a respective one of the plurality of internal clock signals, wherein the address signal and the command signal are transmitted to the memory chips in one direction of the memory module or in two directions from a center of the memory module.
Preferably, the system clock signal, the address signal and the command signal are supplied from a memory controller or microprocessor mounted in the system and the frequency of the first clock signal is lower than that of the second clock signal. The memory module may include two or more module pins receiving the first and second clock signals.

Semiconductor memory device having altered clock frequency for address and/or command signals, and memory module and system having the same


Disclosed herein are methods and systems for providing data recovery recommendations. In an exemplary aspect, a method may comprise identifying a plurality of storage devices. For each respective device of the plurality of storage devices, the method may comprise extracting a respective input parameter indicative of a technical attribute of the respective device, inputting the respective input parameter into a machine learning algorithm configured to output both a first likelihood of the respective device needing a data recovery and a second likelihood that the data recovery will fail, and determining a respective priority level of the respective device based on the first likelihood and the second likelihood. The method may comprise normalizing each respective priority level, and recommending a device of the plurality of storage devices for a test data recovery procedure based on each normalized priority level.

Backup and disaster recovery solutions allow for the protection of a customer's servers, environments, data, and applications from various types of data corruption, hardware and software issues. The solutions maintain an up-to-date remote copy of data, servers or virtual machines, accessible through a network. In case an issue arises as described above, this remote copy is used to either restore the data (in case of a backup solution), or recover the entire server or environment—starting it from a remote copy on the customer's or a third party's premises.
Due to various reasons, including but not being limited to remote copy corruption, issues with the recovery process, network connectivity issues, inconsistency in applications states, outdated versions of software installed on customer's servers or virtual machines, there is a probability that a recovery will fail.
One of the most reliable ways to detect and resolve potential recovery issues is to perform a test data recovery at a customer's or a third party's site. This can be a test data recovery of a single server, or a test data recovery of the customer's entire protected environment.
Every test data recovery requires a certain amount of resources, which may include manual effort, memory and computing resources, network traffic, and software licenses. Frequent test data recoveries are associated with high costs. Therefore, it is not feasible for a customer to perform a test data recovery or increase test recovery frequencies for all servers in an environment. There is thus a need for an efficient automated way to predict server/environment failure and unsuccessful recovery, and notify the customer of test recovery recommendations.

Systems and methods for providing data recovery recommendations using A.I


In an electric double layer capacitor and electrolytic solution, decomposition of at least one of an open-chain carbonate and a cyclic carbonate can be controlled under high temperature conditions, initial performance and maintained ratio of capacitance are superior, and energy density is high, when graphitized alkali-activated carbon is used as an electrode material and at least one of an open-chain carbonate and a cyclic carbonate is used in an organic electrolytic solution. The electric double layer capacitor includes electrodes containing alkali-activated carbon including graphitized carbon material, and an organic electrolytic solution in which a supporting salt is dissolved in solvent including aromatic carboxylate and at least one of an open-chain carbonate and a cyclic carbonate, in which the content of the aromatic carboxylate is not more than 50 weight % relative to the total weight of the solvent.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to techniques to improve durability of electric double layer capacitors.
2. Background Art
Electric double layer capacitors may be used in a wide range of temperatures and have high power density. In order to improve the energy density of such capacitors, it is necessary to increase working voltage. As an electrolytic solution, a nonaqueous electrolytic solution (organic electrolytic solution) which mainly consists of at least one of an open-chain carbonate and a cyclic carbonate as a solvent and a quaternary ammonium salt as a supporting salt, can be widely used. In the case in which the voltage is increased in an electrolytic solution containing at least one of an open-chain carbonate and a cyclic carbonate as a main solvent, the electrolytic solution gradually decomposes, internal pressure in a capacitor housing is increased by generated gas, and many problems occur.
Furthermore, in a capacitor using alkali-activated carbon, when the electrolytic solution in which solvent consists of at least one of an open-chain carbonate and a cyclic carbonate is used at high working voltage under high temperature conditions, the amount of gas generated by solvent decomposition is increased, and this is therefore not preferable. That is, it is difficult for such an electrolytic solution to be used at high working voltage under high temperature conditions because decomposition of the solvent is promoted and gas, such as carbon dioxide gas, is generated.
In addition, considering improvement in conductivity, change ratio of capacitance, etc., various solvents or mixed solvents have been proposed as an electrolytic solution for capacitors. In regard to suitability in practical use of electrolytic solutions for capacitors, there are various requirements for physical characteristics, such as low-temperature characteristics, solubility of salt (dielectric constant), safety, decomposability of the electrolytic solution, boiling point, cost, etc., and as an electrolytic solution for capacitors which satisfies these requirements, open-chain carbonates and cyclic carbonates are widely used.
As an electrode material, since an alkali-activation method can produce activated carbon having high capacity, a method in which activated carbon is produced by alkali-activating easily graphitizable carbon material, is known (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. Hei 09-275042). However, in a capacitor using alkali-activated carbon, the amount of gas generated by solvent decomposition is greater than one in a capacitor using steam-activated carbon, and many problems occur when cell structures form. In particular, in the case in which a carbonate type solvent is used at high working voltage under high temperature conditions, the solvent is decomposed and CO2 is generated.
As a technique which reduces the amount of decomposed gas such as carbon dioxide gas, etc., a method which uses solvent containing γ-butyrolactone or γ-valerolactone (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-217150), a method which uses an organic electrolytic solution containing fluorobenzene (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2004-6803), and a method which uses a nonaqueous electrolytic solution containing diphenyl (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2004-146610), have been suggested.
However, in the case in which alkali-activated carbon consisting of graphite material is used, the amount of the generated gas cannot be controlled sufficiently by the above techniques.

Electric double layer capacitor and electrolytic solution therefor


A continuous, self-cleaning strainer and method of straining comprising a housing, a rotatably driven shaft mounted on the housing, a primary and a secondary drum concentrically mounted on the shaft and rotatable therewith, the drums having a number of perforations and strainer inserts mounted in each of the perforations, each drum being provided with a reduced pressure backwash zone outside the drum and connected to backwash outlet connected to atmospheric pressure whereby, when a strainer insert passes the reduced pressure zone, pressurized liquid inside the drum forces liquid backwardly through the insert to flush accumulated solids therefrom. Backwashing operation can be commenced by means of a valve disposed in the backwash outlet lines and actuated by a timer or by a pressure differential switch, or both.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of straining entrained solids from liquids, and more particularly to means and methods for passing the liquid material to be strained, under superatmospheric pressure, successively through a plurality of perforated drums having a corresponding number of media strainer inserts inserted within the perforations of the respective drums, whereby entrained solids are removed from the strained liquid by entrapment of the solids by the inserts. The invention is especially directed to such means and methods whereby, by creation of zones of reduced pressure along a dimension of each drum along which the inserts are disposed, and by rotating the drums, as the inserts pass through the reduced pressure zones, the higher pressure of liquid within the drums forces liquid through the inserts in the direction of reduced pressure and opposite the straining direction, thereby removing entrapped solids from the inserts and providing a automatic cleaning function.
2. Description of Related Art
The prior art includes strainers of the general type above described, but provided with a single perforated drum having media strainer inserts mounted within the drum perforations for straining solids contained in a liquid to be treated Such apparatus includes means and methods for automatic continuous self-cleaning by provision of a backwash slot and/or backwash shoe connected to atmosphere, thereby creating a zone of reduced pressure and whereby, on rotation of the drum, as the inserts pass through the reduced pressure zone established by the backwash mechanism, pressure inside the drum forces liquid outwardly of the drum, through the media strainer inserts, and removing entrapped solids therefrom such apparatus is manufactured by the assignee of the present invention.


Systems and methods for user device registration are disclosed. In certain embodiments, at least a first edge device in a group of edge devices enters a mass-restart mode. The first edge device receives a request for registration from a user device and determines whether the user device is currently registered through the first edge device. The first edge device generates a notification associated with the user device if the user device is not currently registered through the first edge device. A second edge device in the group of edge devices receives the notification and determines whether the user device is currently registered through the second edge device based on the notification. Registration information about the user device is deleted from the second edge device if the user device is currently registered through the second edge device.

In Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) systems, a user device can regularly register with network servers to access VoIP services. These registration requests are usually processed by edge devices that provide authenticated access to the network servers.
Extreme network traffic load, such as a registration storm, occurs when edge devices receive a large number of requests to register with network servers in a short period of time. A registration storm can be triggered by a large-scale power failure, for example. Upon restoration of power, all user devices affected by the outage can try to register with the network servers at once, resulting in a flood of requests that are processed by the edge devices.
An edge device's ability to limit or filter the network traffic entering a service network can reduce network traffic loads caused by such outages. In addition, an edge device needs to be able to handle a registration storm in a reasonable time and in a manner that optimizes resource utilization.
In general, if a connectionless transport protocol, such as the User Datagram Protocol (UDP), is used between an edge device and a user device, the edge device can detect a failure state of the user device if the edge device does not receive a register refresh message from the user device within a certain time period. However, in certain instances, the duration of an interruptive event, such as a power outage, can be sufficiently short in comparison to the time period such that the failure state of the user device cannot be detected by the edge device in a timely fashion.
In addition, after recovery from an interruptive event, a user device can send its registration request to a different edge device than the edge device to which it sent its request before the event. Hence, the edge device that receives the registration request after the restart of the user device may not know that another edge device in the cluster has already registered the user device. This can occur when a user device is configured with a Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN) that is associated with a cluster of edge devices. After the user device restarts, the Domain Name System (DNS) server applies a round-robin algorithm to assign an edge device in the cluster to handle the registration request of the user device, thus ignoring the registration status of the user device in the previous boot cycle. This can also occur if the DNS server responds to a registration request with the address of the least-loaded edge device in the cluster or selects an edge device using another type of load-balancing scheme.
Handling overlapping user device registrations restrains an edge device's ability to process new registration requests timely because the edge device may not have sufficient capacity to accommodate stale registrations as well as new registrations from a large number of user devices during a registration storm. Even though capacity in a cluster of edge devices eventually becomes available, many user devices need to wait for an extended period of time, often several minutes, for stale registrations to time out, thereby freeing available capacity on edge devices before additional user devices can be registered.

Systems and methods for handling a registration storm


A child position monitoring system for providing a warning to a user that a child being monitored has or is moving. The child position monitoring system includes a motion detection assembly detects when the child rolls over, the motion detection assembly includes a transmitter assembly for sending a signal associated with motion detected; a coupling assembly is used for coupling the motion detection assembly to the child; and a monitoring assembly operationally interacting with the motion detection assembly and providing an indication associated with motion detected by the motion detection assembly to the user.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to baby monitors and more particularly pertains to a new child position monitoring system for providing a warning to a user that a child being monitored has or is moving.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of baby monitors is known in the prior art. Illustrative examples include: U.S. Pat. No. 4,785,291; U.S. Pat. No. 5,510,771; U.S. Pat. No. 5,525,967; U.S. Pat. No. 6,127,931; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,396,403.
Additionally, pressure-matt type devices have been used to monitor children at risk for SIDS or with a sleep apnea problem. Further, various walkie-talkie type audio monitors and video monitors have been used.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the need remains for a system that can be used regardless of the location used to lay down the child including beds, couches, cribs, floors, etc.


A wavefront curvature modulating device is provided with a beam generating system that emits a plurality of beams having different wavefront curvatures, and a beam selecting system that selects at least one of the beams generated by the beam generating system.

The present invention relates to an image projecting device which emits a scanning light beam into an eye of an observer to form an image on retina.
Conventionally, a retinal scanning display device which directly projects image on a retina by scanning weak light beams has been developed. The assignee of the present invention has suggested such a display device in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2874208. Such a retinal scanning display is typically known as a head-mounting display, which is configured such that an observer wears the display device, like spectacles, on the head. The retinal scanning display device is implemented with a wavefront curvature modulator which dynamically varies the wavefront curvature of the beam in order to provide a depth of the image formed on the retina of the observer.
Light emitted by a light source propagates as a light wave in all directions at the same phase, i.e., as isophase spherical wave. Depending on a distance between the light source and an observer, the radius of curvature of the spherical wave at the observer is different. That is, if the light source is close to the observer, an image of the light source is projected on the retina of the observer as an image having a small radius of curvature, while if the light source is remote, the image of the light source is projected on the retina of the observer as an image having a relatively large radius of curvature of the wavefront. The observer recognizes the difference of the radius of curvature and recognizes a natural perspective, or three-dimensional feelings.
In the conventional wavefront curvature modulator for a retinal scanning display, an optical system thereof is provided with a piezoelectric plate formed with a reflection surface thereon. A control voltage is applied to the piezoelectric plate so that the piezoelectric plate, and therefore the reflection surface is deformed. The light beam emitted by the light source is directed to the reflection surface, and the reflected beam is used for the retinal scanning. In this conventional wavefront curvature modulator, due to the deformation of the reflection surface (i.e., the piezoelectric plate), the wavefront curvature of the reflected beam is different from that of the incident beam. By varying the control voltage, the degree of change of the wavefront curvature of the reflected beam can be controlled. Recently, there is a requirement for an improved wavefront curvature modulating device which is capable of modulating the wavefront curvature at a higher frequency than the conventional device.


Drive drum bars (54) are mounted on the drive drum frame (52) of a drive drum tower (50). The drive drum bar has an “open” construction having backing frame (56) to which is mounted a cap (58) for bearing against the side of a conveyor being powered by the drive drum tower.

One type of spiral conveyor employs a drive tower in the form of a cylindrical drum or cage that is driven to rotate about a vertical axis. The rotating drive tower has a plurality of parallel, generally vertical drive bars or rails spaced regularly apart around the periphery of the tower drum. Each drive member extends in length between the bottom and top of the tower. A conveyor belt follows the helical path around the tower drum typically from the bottom to the top of the drum, but also can also follow a path from the top of the drum to the bottom of the drum. An example of such a conveyor belt is shown in FIG. 1. The inside edge of the belt, such as edge 10, shown in FIG. 1, frictionally engages the drive members, which drive the belt up the tower as the tower rotates and/or down the tower as the tower rotates.
A conventional construction for drive bars is in the form of a stainless steel tube mounted to the drive tower drum with a plastic cap fitted over outer and side surfaces of the tube. An example of such includes a tube 22 and cap 24 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The overlapping surfaces of the cap 24 and tube 22, as well as the hollow interior of the tube 22, provide harboring locations for pathogens to lodge and grow. Such pathogens may include salmonella or listeria. These pathogens have been responsible for multiple food safety recalls in recent years. As such, there is a need to improve the hygienic design of spiral conveyor systems, including the drive bars used with such conveyor systems.
The present disclosure seeks to provide a drum type conveyor belt drive of a more hygienic design than in the past.