Systems and methodologies that facilitate synchronization of a mobile device with a source, via employing a file change tracking database table created in non-volatile memory to designate files for synchronization. The subject invention includes a file modification logger that detects and track changes to files across multiple file systems. The file change tracking database table has a plurality of columns such as: a unique identification column that identifies a file, a file name, previous time the file was changed, and previous time the file was synchronized with a particular machine. A list of files that have changed between a current time and an earlier time can be designated for synchronization, by evaluating when was the file last changed and/or synchronized with a source device (e.g., a desktop, or a lap top.)

The volume, use and complexity of computers and electronic devices are continually increasing. Computers consistently become more powerful and improved electronic devices are continually developed (e.g., digital audio players, video players). Additionally, the growth and use of digital media (e.g., digital audio, video, images, and the like) have further pushed development of these devices. Such growth and development has vastly increased the amount of information desired/required to be stored and maintained for computer and electronic devices.
Generally, information is stored and maintained in one or more of a number of types of storage devices. Storage devices include long term storage mediums such as, for example, hard disk drives, compact disk drives and corresponding media, digital video disk (DVD) drives, and the like. The long term storage mediums typically store larger amounts of information at a lower cost, but are slower than other types of storage devices. Storage devices also include memory devices, which are often, but not always, short term storage mediums.
Memory devices tend to be substantially faster than long term storage mediums. Such memory devices include, for example, dynamic random access memory (DRAM), static random access memory (SRAM), double data rate memory (DDR), flash memory, read only memory (ROM), and the like. Memory devices are subdivided into volatile and non-volatile types. Volatile memory devices generally lose their information if they lose power and typically require periodic refresh cycles to maintain their information. Volatile memory devices include, for example, random access memory (RAM), DRAM, SRAM and the like. Non-volatile memory devices maintain their information whether or not power is maintained to the devices. Non-volatile memory devices include, but are not limited to, ROM, programmable read only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM), flash memory and the like. Volatile memory devices generally provide faster operation at a lower cost as compared to non-volatile memory devices.
Memory devices generally include arrays of memory cells. Each memory cell can be accessed or "read", "written", and "erased" with information. The memory cells can typically maintain information in an "off" or an "on" state (e.g., are limited to 2 states), also referred to as "0" and "1". Typically, a memory device is addressed to retrieve a specified number of byte(s) (e.g., 8 memory cells per byte). For volatile memory devices, the memory cells must be periodically "refreshed" in order to maintain their state.
At the same time, emerging mobile devices such as mobile telephones, smart phones, and handheld computers are commonly incorporating such persistent storage functionality. Moreover, often a user has a plurality of such devices for which synchronization and/or cross-pollination of data is desired. By way of example, it is not uncommon for a user to have a PDA, a mobile telephone, a home personal computer (PC) and a work PC, wherein cross-pollination of data between such devices facilitates the user's efficiency.
Accordingly, and as file systems on persistent storage devices become more strategic and popular, new challenges can arise for efficient and proper maintenance of such systems. For example, in general there exists little or no support for file change tracking in non-volatile memory, as existing file change tracking technology typically operates on Random Access Memory (RAM).
Therefore, there is a need to overcome the aforementioned exemplary deficiencies associated with conventional systems and devices.


In the QoS control system of the wireless LAN network including the wireless LAN access points, and the wireless LAN terminals to be connected thereto, the wireless LAN access point authenticates the user on the basis of the recorded user's authentication information when the user carries out the authentication request from the wireless LAN terminal. The wireless LAN access point is connected to the servers to notify the wireless LAN access point of the information for identifying the wireless LAN terminal and the recorded user's QoS service content through the communication network. The wireless LAN access point and the wireless LAN terminal carry out the priority control in accordance with the priority information of the QoS service from the server. Even when the terminal to be used is changed, if the same user logs onto the certificate server by using the same authentication information, the same QoS service can be offered consistently.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system for QoS (Quality of Service) control using a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) network, a method of the same, a base station and a terminal for the wireless LAN, and a program for the QoS control of the base station and the terminal.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the wireless LAN network, the base station, for example, a wireless LAN access point or the like, and the terminal, for example, PC (Personal Computer) or the like, communicate data to each other in accordance with a given standard for a wireless LAN, for example, IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 802.11b, IEEE 802.11a, or the like.
A user of the wireless LAN network can get QoS service in accordance with a given QoS control, for example, a priority control of the communicated data, or the like, from the wireless LAN access point. In this case, most of the QoS service is offered for each terminal to be used.
As to the QoS control, JP-A-2000-092123 discloses a technology to offer QoS service for each user. In addition, JP-A-2000-209267 and JP-A-2003-234770 or the like disclose a technology to automatically construct QoS service in collaboration with a policy server.
However, there is a disadvantage that the technology disclosed in JP-A-2000-092123 needs to add the special user information into a packet of communicated data, and then has no versatility. In addition, the technology disclosed in JP-A-2000-209267 and JP-A-2003-234770 has an object of carrying out QoS control within an IP (Internet Protocol) network, and then do not disclose QoS control between the wireless LAN access point and the wireless LAN terminal.

Method and system for QoS control using wireless LAN network, its base station, and terminal


A lead-free solder alloy having improved surface properties which suppresses minute irregularities and shrinkage cavities has a composition consisting essentially of Ag: 0.1-1.5%, Bi: 2.5-5.0%, Cu: 0.5-1.0%, optionally Ni: 0.015-0.035% and/or at least one of Ge and Ga: 0.0005-0.01%, and a remainder of Sn and unavoidable impurities.

The most commonly used lead-free solders at the present time are Sn—Ag—Cu based solder alloys. Sn—Ag—Cu based lead-free solders have excellent heat cycle properties, and they have good wettability among lead-free solders. In addition, like conventional Sn—Pb based solders, they can be formed into any shape. However, as is the case with Sn—Ag based lead-free solders, Sn—Ag—Cu based lead-free solders develop a rough surface (minute irregularities) due to non-uniform solidification, resulting in the surface with almost no luster, and they sometimes develop solidification defects called shrinkage cavities which look like cracks. These phenomena are caused by the growth of dendriform crystals (dendrites) caused by the formation of hypereutectic Sn—Ag.
With Sn—Ag based lead-free solders or Sn—Ag—Cu based lead-free solders, when molten solder solidifies, dendrites of Sn precipitate first as primary crystals, and then a Sn—Ag or a Sn—Ag—Cu eutectic phase solidifies. Due to volumetric shrinkage which takes place at this time, minute irregultarities or shrinkage cavities develop in the solder surface. When observed in detail, it can be seen that the shrinkage cavities develop along dendrites.
Thus, shrinkage cavities are formed by solidification cracking which occurs along the grain boundaries of dendrites, and they extend no further than the surface of solder. Therefore, shrinkage cavities are thought that they do not induce cracking by becoming the starting points of cracks and hence do not impair the reliability of soldering. However, it is difficult to distinguish shrinkage cavities from cracks by external observation, so depending on the size of shrinkage cavities, it is not possible to eliminate the possibility of their affecting the reliability of soldering. Therefore, as stated below, the occurrence of shrinkage cavities is now seen as a problem.
As the soldering interspace (spacing between portions to be soldered) becomes finer and finer, it becomes increasingly difficult for an inspector to distinguish between shrinkage cavities and cracks by visual observation of solder. In some cases, it is not possible to make a determination without using extremely expensive equipment such as an electron microscope. However, there is a limit on the size of a sample which can be observed with an electron microscope, and the time required for observation is at least several hundred times that required for usual equipment for inspecting external appearance. Therefore, it is impossible to use an electron microscope to inspect every solder portions.
In the case of soldering by the reflow method using a solder paste, as the soldering interspace becomes smaller, the printed thickness of solder paste may become as small as around 50 μm. With a printed thickness of this level, the thickness of soldered joints (solder fillets) which are formed after reflow soldering becomes around 25 μm, and the amount of solder in each soldered joint becomes small. If a shrinkage cavity having a depth of around 10 μm develops in such a thin soldered joint, the thickness of the soldered joint locally becomes as thin as around 10 μm, and there is a possibility of the thinness of the soldered joint having an adverse effect on the reliability of soldering.
When performing mounting on a printed circuit board using a solder paste, which is the form in which solder is typically supplied in the reflow soldering method, the solder paste is applied to prescribed locations of a printed circuit board by printing and then subjected to reflow to form soldering portions on the printed circuit board. The printed circuit board is then inspected by an optical method such as image recognition to ascertain the soldered condition of the soldering portions. Optical inspection equipment which is currently sold for lead-free solder is designed to be able to recognize solder having a low luster. However, minute irregularities and shrinkage cavities which develop in the surface of a Sn—Ag based lead-free solder or a Sn—Ag—Cu based lead-free solder are not caused solely by the solder composition, but they vary in extent in accordance with external factors such as the soldering conditions and the cooling conditions. As a result, it is difficult to determine an average value of brightness intensity, and inspection errors can easily take place.
The present applicant disclosed a lead-free solder ball which has a composition of Sn—4.0 to 6.0 mass % Ag—1.0 to 2.0 mass % Cu and which has good surface properties and suppresses the occurrence of minute irregularities and shrinkage cavities in the solder surface (below-identified Patent Document 1). In addition, the applicant disclosed a method of preventing the occurrence of shrinkage cavities in soldered joints during soldering by the flow soldering method using a Sn—Ag—Cu based lead-free solder alloy by carrying out soldering while controlling a solder bath so as to have an Ag concentration of greater than 3.8 mass % to at most 4.2 mass % and a Cu concentration of 0.8-1.2 mass % (below-identified Patent Document 2).
These patent documents are intended to reduce the occurrence of minute irregularities and shrinkage cavities in the solder surface by adding a larger amount of Ag and Cu compared to a Sn-3.5Ag-0.7Cu and Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu composition which are currently widely used as lead-free solder alloys. Namely, by increasing the content of Ag and Cu and correspondingly decreasing the Sn content, the formation of Sn dendrites is decreased and the occurrence of surface irregularities and shrinkage cavities is suppressed. However, increasing the content of Ag which is expensive causes material costs to become high. In addition, increasing the content of Ag and Cu causes the melting temperature (particularly the liquidus temperature) of solder to become high and makes it difficult to use the solder for reflow soldering.    Patent Document 1: JP 2003-1481 A    Patent Document 2: JP 2005-186160 A

Lead-free solder alloy having reduced shrinkage cavities


Apparatus for the treatment of Barrett's esophagus, including: an inflatable balloon for insertion into the esophagus, an endoscope for passing inside the balloon on a distal end thereof, a laser fiber apparatus for insertion within the balloon in the esophagus, and a balloon inflation/deflation means in fluid communication with the balloon for inflating and emptying the balloon into and out of contact with the walls of the esophagus to be treated. The balloon may occlude the stomach from the esophagus during treatment.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the treatment of Esophageal Dysplasia, otherwise known as Barrett's Esophagus, based upon provisional application serial No. 60/464,181, filed 21 Apr. 2003, and incorporated by reference in its entirety.
2. Prior Art
Barrett's Esophagus is a pre-malignant condition of the mucosa associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The term GERD refers to the reflux of gastric acid fluids from the stomach into the swallowing tube or esophagus and is typically called "heartburn". Barrett's Esophagus is typically diagnosed by an endoscopic examination and biopsy wherein a tube equipped with imaging optics on its distal tip is inserted in a patient's mouth and into the esophagus to view and biopsy the lining of the esophagus. An abnormal lining is seen as pink or reddish (often described as salmon colored), which would replace a normal whiteish color of the lining of the esophagus. Such an abnormal lining may cover a short distance, less than three inches, or a longer distance of the esophagus from the gastroesophageal junction, that is, where the esophagus meets the stomach. A biopsy of the pinkish lining may indicate the presence of intestinal type cells which are otherwise called goblet cells. The presence of such goblet cells indicates the likelihood of Barrett's Esophagus. Barrett's tissue may also contain disorganized abnormal blood vessels which results in the lesion's characteristic color.
Dysplasia in Barrett's Esophagus is a change in the cells that line the esophagus, wherein those cells actually appear abnormal. These cellular changes, or dysplasia may indicate a pre-cancerous condition. Surgical treatment of GERD may be called anti-reflux surgery. Such an operation is called fundoplication which is done to stop the reflux of acid. Such an operation involves wrapping of the upper stomach (the fundus) around the lower end of the esophagus. This wrap tightens the lower esophageal sphincter to minimize or prevent the reflux of stomach contents into the esophagus. While this may limit acid exposure of the esophagus, it does not effect the treatment of Barrett's esophagus. The latest treatment modality for Barrett's esophagus includes surgical excision and ablative therapy via photodynamic therapy. Diagnosis as early as possible is important to detect and minimize any cancer related problems which may occur.
It is an object of the present invention to improve the methodology of treating Barrett's Esophagus; and it is a further object of the present invention to provide a treatment for Barrett's Esophagus not shown or suggested in the prior art.


An improved lamp holder for a high intensity discharge (HID) lamp includes a base and a metallic positioning member, in which the metallic positioning member includes a vibration-damping clamping ring having three extension feet extending outwards and downwards from a bottom rim of the clamping ring and inserted into their respective corresponding insertion slots of the base; and the clamping ring clips a lamp tube.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a high intensity discharge (HID) lamp and in particular to an improved lamp holder for the HID lamp.
2. The Prior Arts
Currently, halogen lamps are generally used as car headlamps. It cannot provide with higher brightness due to limitation of tungsten filament material. A conventional 60 W halogen headlamp may generate a color temperature of about 3,000-3,200 K; if it is replaced with 100 W, the color temperature is at most increased to about 3,400-3,800 K. Hence, tungsten filament lamps have limitation for being employed as higher brightness car headlamps. Thus, other types of lamps, which can be substitutes for halogen lamps and provide higher brightness with low power consumption, are developing.
An existing HID lamp employed in vehicles is illustrated as an example of luminescence theory. Gases between two electrodes are excited by electrons and then ionized so as to excite phosphor to emit light. The HID lamps may be classified into low HID lamps, such as fluorescent lamps, and high HID lamps, such as high intensity mercury lamps, high intensity sodium vapor lamps and metal halide lamps. The HID lamp for vehicles is one of the high intensity discharge lamps. Xenon is injected into a crystal ball inside a quartz tube, and a stabilizer is employed to lift a voltage of a vehicle battery from 12 V to 23,000 V so that Xenon is excited by electrons and then ionized to generate electric arc and emit light.
HID lamps are brighter by three times than conventional halogen lamps, longer service life by five times than the conventional halogen lamps, and half power consumption as much as the conventional halogen lamps. As a result, it gradually becomes popular in the market of vehicle lamps.
As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional HID lamp mainly comprises a sleeve 1, a lamp tube 2, a lead wire 8, a metallic positioning member 6 having a vibration-damping clamping ring 5, and a base 3. The positioning member 6 has a ditch 4 on a bottom ring thereof for receiving the sleeve 1, and three iron sheets extending inwards and upwards from a top rim of the bottom ring, which are distributed in uniform and coupled with the clamping ring 5. The base 3 has a recess and a circular ring 7 received in a center of the recess. The positioning member 6 is received in the recess of the base 3, and the lamp tube 2 goes through the clamping ring 5 and then is mounted to the circular ring 7 of the base 3; in the meantime the sleeve 1 is mounted to the ditch 4 of the positioning member 6.
FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the conventional HID lamp after assembled.
In the conventional lamp holder design, the bottom ring of the metallic positioning member 6 has to be manufactured to match with the recess of the base 3, which has a larger inner diameter, thereby having higher manufacturing cost. Next, the three iron sheets are used to support the clamping ring 5 to fix the lamp tube 2, which has not only higher manufacturing cost, but also more complicated structure. Thus, it is desired to provide an improved lamp holder for a HID lamp, which has structure and lower manufacturing cost.

Lamp holder for high intensity discharge lamp


A method and apparatus for determining the position of a movable object along a magnetostrictive wire having first and second opposed ends. A first electrical excitation pulse is applied to a two-wire circuit including the magnetostrictive wire and propagates along the wire to the position of a movable magnet surrounding the wire. The magnet generates oppositely directed first and second torsional waves in the wire. One torsional wave propagates along the wire to a reflective termination at the second end of the wire and is reflected back toward the magnet where it interacts with the magnetic field of the magnet to induce a return electrical pulse in the two-wire circuit. The position of the magnet along the wire is determined from the time differential between the first and second electrical pulses in the two-wire circuit. In another embodiment, a second magnet is mounted in a fixed position about the wire and generates oppositely directed third and fourth torsional waves in response to the first excitation signal, one of which propagates along the wire toward the first magnet which induces an electromagnetic force in the two-wire circuit. A torsional wave generated by the first movable magnet in response to the excitation signal induces another electromotive force in the two-wire circuit when it propagates to the second magnet.

The phenomenon of magnetostriction has been widely employed in linear distance and position measuring devices. A magnet located near or around a magnetostrictive wire marks the location to be measured. Such devices can operate with either mechanical or electrical excitation. When an acoustical/mechanical strain propagating along the wire reaches the area of influence of the magnet, an electrical signal is generated in the wire. Conversely, when an electrical signal propagating along the wire reaches the area of influence of the magnet, a torsional strain is generated in the wire.
Such linear position detectors using a magnet mounted in a float have been utilized as liquid level detectors to provide an indication of a level of liquid within a tank, such as an underground tank. The position of the magnet, and hence, the liquid level, is determined as a function of time required for a torsional disturbance to propagate from one end of the wire through the area of influence of the magnet, in the case of mechanical excitation, or from the position of the magnet to a sensing apparatus located at one end of the wire in the case of electrical excitation.
Other types of magnetostrictive position measuring devices utilize a reflective termination at the foot end of the magnetostrictive wire. Such devices measure the difference between the propagation times of a pulse from the magnet position to the foot of the wire and reflected back to the head of the device and a pulse traveling on the wire directly from the magnet to the head.
As shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,839,590; 5,017,867; 5,050,430; and 5,253,521, all of which are assigned to the assignee of the present invention, such magnetostrictive devices typically include an elongated, small diameter tube, typically made of stainless steel, on which a movable magnet is mounted for providing an indication of a liquid level. A head and cap are mounted on one end of the tube, typically above the liquid level, and enclose electronic components, such as terminal connections and a signal conditioning circuit used to supply or output signals to and from the magnetostrictive wire in the tube.
At least one transducer is mounted at one end of the magnetostrictive wire, usually within a head or housing mounted at one end of the tube, to generate the torsional pulse for propagation along the wire or to detect a torsional pulse generated through the interaction of an initial excitation signal propagated along the wire and the movable magnet. However, such transducers require special mounts, substrates and/or clamps for attachment to the magnetostrictive wire or to dispose the transducer in a surrounding relationship with respect to the wire. These additional components add to the overall cost of the position measurement device as well as increasing the assembly time of the device. More importantly, such components consume a considerable amount of space thereby requiring the typically enlarged diameter head mounted at one end of the tube surrounding the magnetostrictive wire. This enlarged head limits the application of a magnetostrictive position measurement apparatus only to those applications which can accommodate the large diameter head. Other applications, such as underground tanks having small diameter access ports, will not accommodate the enlarged head without major modification.
Thus, it would be desirable to provide a magnetostrictive position measurement apparatus which is capable of detecting a position of a movable object without a transducer. It would also be desirable to provide a magnetostrictive position measurement apparatus which is capable of determining the position of a movable magnet associated with a movable component, such as liquid level within a tank, without using a transducer while still having sufficient sensitivity to detect signals propagating along a magnetostrictive wire. It would be desirable to provide a magnetostrictive position measurement apparatus which has a small overall size or diameter for use in many different applications.
It would be desirable to provide a magnetostrictive position measurement apparatus which eliminates the possibility of failure of the transducer or the effects of any transducer based temperature drift.

Pickupless magnetostrictive position measurement apparatus


A zoom lens includes, in order from an object side to an image side, first to fourth lens units having negative, positive, negative, and positive refractive power, respectively. During zooming from a wide-angle end to a telephoto end, at least the first, second, and third lens units move. The focal lengths of the first, second, and third lens units, the amount of movement of the second lens unit during zooming from the wide-angle end to the telephoto end, a lateral magnification at the wide-angle end of the second lens unit, a lateral magnification at the wide-angle end of the third lens unit, a lateral magnification at the telephoto end of the second lens unit, and the lateral magnification at the telephoto end of the third lens unit are appropriately set.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a zoom lens and an image pickup apparatus including the zoom lens. The zoom lens may be particularly suitable for use in an image pickup apparatus such as a digital still camera, a video camera, a monitoring camera, a broadcasting camera, and a film camera.
2. Description of the Related Art
The zoom lens used for an image pickup apparatus equipped with a solid-state image sensor, such as a digital still camera, a video camera, and a monitoring camera, is required to have the entire zoom lens being compact with a wide angle of view, a high zoom ratio, and high optical performance.
As an example of a zoom lens for addressing the above-mentioned requirements, Japanese Patent Applications Laid-Open Nos. 2010-181787, 2010-54722, and 2007-72263 discuss a four-unit zoom lens including four lens units having negative, positive, negative, and positive refractive power, respectively, in order from an object side to an image side.
The zoom lens discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-181787 has a focal length of 25.5 mm at the wide-angle end converted for a 35 mm silver-halide camera and a zoom ratio of around 6.7. The zoom lens discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-54722 has a focal length of 21.0 mm at the wide-angle end converted for a 35 mm silver-halide camera and a zoom ratio of around 4.8. The zoom lens discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-72263 has the focal length of 34.5 mm at the wide-angle end converted for a 35 mm silver-halide camera and a zoom ratio of around 2.9.
In order to realize a wide angle of view in a negative lead type zoom lens, in which a lens unit closest to the object side has negative refractive power, the front lens diameter increases. In addition, to realize a high zoom ratio, the amount of movement needs to be increased in each lens unit, which accordingly increases the total lens length.
In order to realize a wide angle of view and a high zoom ratio while reducing the total lens length, the refractive power of each lens unit may be increased to reduce the number of lenses in each lens unit. However, the resulting zoom lens has a large variation of aberration caused by zooming, and accordingly, it becomes difficult to obtain high optical performance for the entire zooming range.
In order to realize a negative lead type zoom lens of compact size with a wide angle of view, a high zoom ratio, and high optical performance, it is necessary to set the refractive power and the lens configuration of each lens unit appropriately.
Here, the zoom lenses discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 2010-181787, 2010-54722, and 2007-72263 do not sufficiently realize both of the wide angle of view and high zoom ratio.

Zoom lens and image pickup apparatus including the same


A magenta inkjet ink composition with good pH value stability including at least one reactive red colorant; at least one azo red dye (such as M377); and an aqueous solution medium.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a magenta inkjet ink composition, and more particularly to a magenta inkjet ink composition with good pH value stability.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, the dye added to color inkjet ink is generally maintained within a range from neutral to weakly basic. An ink which is too acidic or too basic erodes the print head and reduces the dyeability of the print medium (such as paper), thus print quality suffers. Ink stored or operated at high temperature degrades rapidly, further affecting print quality. The adverse phenomenon is more apparent when reactive dye is used.
In color inkjet printing, a primary dye set includes cyan ink, magenta ink, yellow ink, and black ink. In order to obtain good color and address the disadvantage of single colorant, any one of the four inks generally includes more than two colorants. For example, reactive dye RR31 can be used to adjust magenta color. The functional groups of the reactive dye, however, easily react with water resulting in decomposition thereof. Thus, the entire ink becomes acidic (that is, pH value decreases).
A small amount of a pH buffer solution is generally added to prevent hydrolysis of ink due to the reactive dye. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,858,075, U.S. Pat. No. 6,176,913, and Japan. Pat. No. 2002241639, a pH buffer solution is added to the ink composition to prevent degradation (hydrolysis). Hydrolysis is a continuous reaction, however, and the buffer solution is consumed gradually. Therefore, the effectiveness of the buffer solution is reduced over time.

Red colorant composition and magenta inkjet ink composition with stable pH


An electrical connector (1) of the present invention includes an insulative base (10) defining a plurality of passageways (101) to receive a plurality of conductive terminals (19) therein, a base plate (142) retained in the insulative base, a cover (12) movably assembled on the base, a cover plate (142) retained in the cover and a cylindrical actuator (16). The base defines a through hole (1021) thereof. The base plate defines a through hole (1421) and a guiding slot (1422). The cover defines a plurality of passages (124) corresponding to the passageways of the insulative base and a through hole (123). The cover plate defines a through hole (1411) and a guiding portion (1413) sliding in the guiding slot. The cylindrical actuator is received and rotating in said through holes. At least one inner edge of the through hole of the base plate extends outwards to form an edge portion with a smooth surface thereon.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a zero insertion force (ZIF) electrical connector, and more particularly, to a socket connector having an improved guiding device arranged between a base and a cover so as to efficiently drive the cover to move along the base.
2. Description of the Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 6,609,926 issued to Chen on Aug. 26, 2003 discloses a socket connector for connecting an IC package, such as a CPU to a printed circuit board (PCB). The socket connector 2 as shown in FIG. 1 includes an insulating base 20, a plurality of terminals 28 arranged in the base 20, a cover 22 movably assembled on the base 20, an anti-rotation mechanism 24 and an actuator 26. The actuator 26 drives the cover 22 to slide on the insulating base 20. The anti-rotation mechanism 24 includes a generally T-shaped metal cover plate 241 and a metal base plate 242 defining a through hole 2421 therein. The cover plate 241 is integrally insert-molded with the cover 22, the base plate 242 is disposed in the recess 201 of the base 20. When the socket connector 2 is assembled, the actuator 26 is rotated to drive the cover 22 to slide along the base 20.
When the actuator 26 is driven to rotate, it firstly needs to overcome a great deal of friction force resulted from the coarse inner surface of the through hole 2421. Therefore, the user needs to exert a comparable higher driving force to rotate the actuator 26 so as to drive the cover 22 to move along the base 20. Hence, a new design which can reduce operating force is required.

ZIF socket connector having improved guiding mechanism system


A method of initializing the mass of a motor vehicle, in particular when the motor vehicle is re-started or when it is at rest, for the control of a starting process of the motor vehicle. From measured and/or calculated operating parameters of the motor vehicle, an operating situation of the motor vehicle is determined and, on the basis of the operating situation determined and as a function of operating situation dependent loading and/or unloading patterns, the mass of the motor vehicle is initialized.

For the operation of automated or automatic change-speed transmissions in motor vehicles, in particular commercial vehicles, it is important to know the mass of the motor vehicle. Depending on the mass of the motor vehicle this enables shifting operations and starting processes to be carried out in a controlled or regulated manner.
From DE 10 2009 002 387 A1 it is known for a transmission control unit of a transmission to continually calculate the current mass of a motor vehicle during its operation, i.e. while driving, in particular with regard to topographical data concerning a current position of the motor vehicle. Such a calculation of the mass is only possible during driving operation, so that directly after a re-start of the motor vehicle or when the motor vehicle is at rest no calculation and thus no initialization of the mass of the motor vehicle is accordingly possible.
However, in the case of commercial vehicles such as semi-trailers, articulated vehicles or vehicles used on building sites, the mass can vary substantially due to loading and unloading operations at rest. To take account of such mass changes of the motor vehicle at rest, it is already known to estimate the mass of the motor vehicle when it is re-started or even at rest, and to update it so as to be able to better control or regulate a subsequent starting process on the basis of the initialized mass of the motor vehicle.
From DE 10 2009 046 344 A1 and DE 10 2007 015 536 A1 respective methods are known for initializing the mass of a motor vehicle. In each case this prior art relates to mechanisms for estimating the mass of the motor vehicle.
The methods known from the prior art for initializing the mass of a motor vehicle have the disadvantage that they carry out an initialization of the mass of the motor vehicle even if, while the motor vehicle is at rest, its mass has not changed because no loading or unloading processes have taken place. Thus, the mass of the motor vehicle estimated during initialization can differ substantially from the actual mass of the motor vehicle.

Method for initializing the mass of a motor vehicle


For a database accessible by a plurality of separate organizations, a system is provided for predicting entities for database query results. The system includes a multi-layer neural network. The system is configured to receive a query encoding for one or more previous queries made into the database, a user entity view frequency encoding for a frequency of views by one or more users, and an organization encoding for one or more separate organizations accessing the database; and based on the query encoding, the user entity view frequency encoding, and the organization encoding, generate a neural model for predicting entities for results to a present query into the database. In some embodiments, the neural model is global across the separate organizations accessing the database.

The subject matter discussed in the background section should not be assumed to be prior art merely as a result of its mention in the background section. Similarly, a problem mentioned in the background section or associated with the subject matter of the background section should not be assumed to have been previously recognized in the prior art. The subject matter in the background section merely represents different approaches, which in and of themselves may also be inventions.
A database system can store data or information. In a customer relationship management (CRM) database, for example, this data or information can include records for business accounts, business leads, contacts for the business accounts and leads, a contact's given name, family name, job title, employer name, street address, city, state, zip code, e-mail address, telephone number, etc. This data and information in a database system can be stored in the form of electronic records or digital objects. When a user is interested in accessing data or information stored by database system but the user does not know the specific object that includes the data/information or the storage location of the object, the user typically submits a search query to the database system, for example, using a search bar or similar user interface tool. The database system responds with a query result for one or more electronic records or objects that are potentially relevant to the user's query. However, for a database system with many records/objects, this process of identifying objects related to a search query consumes a large amount of system resources (e.g., hardware resources). Additionally, processing such a query will take a long period of time and cause the user to have a negative experience with the online system. Moreover, the search results can contain not only the information or data of interest to the user, but also many "false" hits. As such, the most relevant information or records may be buried or obscured in the returned search results, which further contributes to the user having a negative experience with the database system.
In the figures, elements having the same designations have the same or similar functions.

Predicting entities for search query results


The present invention uniquely separates the number pad from a keyboard providing a separate, wireless device. This separate wireless device with the number pad includes a display and has multiple modes of operation.

The present invention relates to wireless computer input devices, and in particular to keyboards using Bluetooth™ wireless technology.
Microsoft has recently released a combination wireless keyboard and mouse using Bluetooth™ technology, which communicates with a wireless hub. The hub connects to the computer via a cable to the USB port of the computer.
Logitech, the assignee of the present application, makes a cordless keyboard and mouse using 27 mHz radio transmissions to a wireless hub connected to a USB receiver, connected to the computer.
A number of keyboards incorporate a small LCD display, such as U.S. Pat. No. 5,181,029. A keyboard with a flat panel display is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,396,483.
A number of patents disclose providing indicators on a keyboard for notification of an e-mail message, such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,085,232 and 6,088,516.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,114,977 discloses a calculator integrated with a keyboard with a send key for sending the data on the calculator to an application on the computer.
Separately from keyboard, numerous remote control devices exist which have a display and keys. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,412,377 illustrates a hand-held remote with an LCD display.

Bidirectional wireless number pad and keyboard


A steerable inline skate which allows user to change direction more easily and reduce the abrasion of wheels to thus lengthen the life of the wheels by allowing front and rear wheels 30 and 50 among a plurality of wheels arranged in a line to be steered within a predetermined angle utilizing the structure of a trapezoidal linkage.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an inline skate, and more particularly, to a steerable inline skate which makes a user change the direction more easily and reduce wheel wear to thus enhance the controllability and the service life by making front and rear wheels steerable among a plurality of wheels arranged in a line to be user by utilizing a trapezoidal linkage mechanism.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, skates may be divided broadly into ice skates for skating on the ice and roller skates provided with wheels for obtaining the effect of doing ice skating on the ground.
The roller skates are largely divided into quad roller skates and inline skates. The quad roller skates are generally known as roller skates and consist of a skate boot commonly made of leather with two pairs of wheels bilaterally arranged at the front and back of the bottom, that is, four wheels are directly attached on a frame, being mounted to the frame in such a manner that the wheels form the vertexes of a rectangular. The wheels are located at the front and back and at the left and right. This makes it easy to keep the center of gravity of the body, so the roller skates of such a type are suitable for children or beginners.
The inline skates are also widely known as roller blades which are the name of a manufacturer and consist of a plurality of wheels rolling contacted on the ground and arranged in a single row at the front and back in a frame. Though it is difficult to keep the center of gravity of the body as compared to the quad roller skates, the inline skates can put on a higher speed and make skaters perform a greater variety of feats. By these advantages, the popularization of inline skates is currently going on with rapidity and inline skating has becoming popular as an excellent activity for leisure that people can enjoy irrespective of season and place.
FIG. 1 is a side view of a conventional inline skate and FIG. 2 is a partially sectional view taken on line A—A of FIG. 1. The inline skate generally comprises a boot 11 for receiving the foot of a user, a boot chassis 12 for supporting the boot 11 and serving as the outer coat of the boot 11, a wheel frame 13 attached to the bottom of the boot chassis 12, a plurality of wheels 14 arranged on the wheel frame 13 in a single row and a brake 15 mounted on the back end of the wheel frame 13.
At this time, a flat coupling plate 16 is provided on top portion of the wheel frame 13, with the bottom of the boot chassis 12 and the wheel frame 13 being tightly contacted and fixed respectively to the top face of the coupling plate 16 and to the bottom face thereof by a fixing member.
In the conventional inline skate thus configured, as shown in FIG. 2, the wheel 14 is mounted on the wheel frame 13 by means of a bearing 17 and an axle shaft 18 and is configured such that it is only capable of forward rotation and reverse rotation around the axle shaft 18. Therefore, in a case that the user wants to change the direction of its movement during inline skating, he has to make sideslip of the wheels to steer his skate on the ground that requires comparably high-level skill and physical strength. Even if a user is fully aware of good techniques, it is difficult to make the sideslip instantly when he runs down a hill, so he cannot easily change the direction of his movement, thereby causing a safety accident to happen.
In addition, the sideslip accelerates wear of the wheel 14 to shorten the service life of the wheel 14.


The invention relates to a procedure for computing the Cholesky decomposition of a positive definite matrix into a product of a lower and an upper triagonal matrix having a dimension of L in a multi-channel procedure, wherein:                the computation is performed in a parallel multi-processor system comprising a number P of processor modules;        each processor module p computes the entries of a set R of rows of the lower triagonal matrix with R=L/P, whereby a given row j is assigned to a processor module p such that j=p+(r−1)·P with r=1, . . . , R and p=1, . . . , P;        the entries of the lower triagonal matrix are obtained by means of an iteration process over the columns i, with i=1, . . . , L, whereby in each iteration step each processor module computes the entries of column i for its assigned rows R;        with beginning an iteration step for computing the entries of column i with i≦L, the processor module to which the computation of row number i is assigned to stores its values of row i for access by the other processor modules.

This application claims the priority of European Application No. 02 013 112.4, filed Jun. 14, 2002, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.
The invention relates to a procedure for computing the Cholesky decomposition in a parallel multi-processor system.
Hermitian, positive definite matrices can be factored into the product of a lower and an upper triagonal matrix such that the upper triangular factor is the hermitian conjugate of the lower factor:C=L·LH.
The same holds for real symmetric matrices for which the hermitian conjugate operation H has to be replaced by the transpose operation T.
Such a decomposition is called "Cholesky decomposition".
The Cholesky decomposition enables and simplifies processing tasks that involve hermitian, positive definite matrices considerably. Examples are signal processing procedures, in particular multi-channel procedures such as in modern radar and communication systems.
In modern multi-channel radar systems, adaptive filter procedures such as Space-Time-Adaptive Processing (STAP) are used. As extended signal bandwidth and operational tasks for such systems result in increased dimensions of the related data structures and, hence, of the size of the associated data covariance matrices, there is a fast growing computational load related to such procedures and hence a need for simplifications in order to lower the load. One way to reduce this load is a suitable decomposition of the covariance matrix. In "Real-time STAP techniques", Electronic & Communication Engineering Jornal, February 1999, pp. 13–24, A. Farina and L. Timmoneri suggest that the Cholesky decomposition is an attractive way to decompose such matrices.
So far, the only known implementation schemes for the Cholesky decomposition are based on single processor architectures, an approach which, for high matrix dimensions, requires a very large single processor which is not available, too expensive or too big. On the other hand, Cholesky decomposition is generally one step in a sequence of sub-processing procedures within some bigger processing task.
In many applications in signal and data processing, the associated computational load is such that it requires the utilization of multi-processor. The whole computation process can usually be decomposed into sub-tasks some of which can be implemented in a straightforward manner in such a way that the processors work fully in a parallel manner. Such a fully parallel implementation is not feasible for the Cholesky decomposition. It is known from the computation rule for the entries of the Cholesky factors L, that all computed output values of the different steps are required by subsequent processing steps at some later instance. Hence, a full parallel assignment to different processing units of a multi-processor system in the sense that each processor unit computes some assigned part of the final result fully independently of the results of the other units is not feasible.
Nevertheless, a procedure is needed to utilize a multi-processing architecture for the computation of the Cholesky decomposition and to avoid the need for a powerful single processor in addition to the multi-processor system which is already available.
One object of the invention is to utlize the available processors in the multi-processor system in an effective way. Another object of the invention is, that throughout the computation process, the workload for the processor modules is balanced. Further, another object of the invention is to optimize the data exchange between the processor modules.
These goals are achieved by the invention decribed below. In particular, the goal is achieved by the disclosed procedure for computing the Cholesky decomposition in a parallel multi-processor system comprising a number P of processor modules, whereby the process comprises the following steps:                each processor module p computes the entries of a set R of pre-assigned rows of the lower triagonal matrix factor with R=L/P, whereby a given row j is assigned to a processor module p such that j=p+(r−1)·P with r=1, . . . , R and p=1, . . . , P and L×L being the dimension of the matrix;        the entries of the lower triagonal matrix are obtained by using an iteration process over the columns i, with i=1, . . . , L, whereby in each iteration step each processor module computes the entries of column i for its assigned rows R;        upon beginning an iteration step for computing the entries of column i with i≦L, the processor module to which the computation of row number i is assigned, stores its values of row i for access by the other processor modules.
According to the invention, the Cholesky decomposition is computed in a column-by-column manner, i.e. each new column is computed based on the entries of the previous columns. This can be seen from an expression for the computation of entry aji which is given by
                              a                      j                                                                          i                          =                                                                                              a                                      i                    ,                                          i                      -                      1                                                                                                                  -                1                                      ·                          (                                                c                                      i                                                                                j                                                  -                                                      ∑                                          k                      =                      1                                                              i                      -                      1                                                                                a                                              i                                                                                k                                                              ·                                          a                                              j                                                                                k                                            *                                                                                )                                                                                (                          j              ≥              i                        )                                              (        1        )            where cij is the corresponding value of the original matrix C and ∥ai,i−1∥ is the length of the row vector consisting of the already determined i−1 values of the ith row.
The expression for the computation of entry aji (equation 1) is, up to a constant, given by
      a          j                                      i        =            c              i                                                  j              -                  ∑                  k          =          1                          i          -          1                                                                      a                      i                                                                          k                          ·                              a                          j                                                                                k                        *                    .
This requires (i−1) complex multiplications and (i−2)+1=i−1 complex additions and hence altogether 6·(i−1)+2·(i−1)=8·i−8 floating operations. This is the load for a single entry of column i. For this column, the determination of (L−i) entries and hence for the whole of this column with number i, (L−i)·(8·i−8)=8·(L−i)·(i−1)=8·[(L+1)·i−i2−L] floating operations is required. The total number of operations for the Cholesky decomposition of a L×L matrix is obtained by adding up these numbers for all of the L columns resulting in
                              8          ·                                    ∑                              i                =                1                            L                                                                                [                                                                    (                                          L                      +                      1                                        )                                    ·                  i                                -                                  i                  2                                -                L                            ]                                      =                              8            ·                          [                                                                    (                                          L                      +                      1                                        )                                    ·                                                            L                      ·                                              (                                                  L                          +                          1                                                )                                                              2                                                  -                                                      L                    ·                                          (                                              L                        +                        1                                            )                                        ·                                          (                                                                        2                          ·                          L                                                +                        1                                            )                                                        6                                -                                  L                  2                                            ]                                =                                                  8          ·                      (                                                            L                  ·                                      (                                                                  L                        2                                            +                                              2                        ·                        L                                            +                      1                                        )                                                  2                            -                                                L                  ·                                      (                                                                  2                        ·                                                  L                          2                                                                    +                                              3                        ·                        L                                            +                      1                                        )                                                  6                            -                              L                2                                      )                          =                  8          ·                      (                                                                                L                    3                                    +                                      2                    ·                                          L                      2                                                        +                  L                                2                            -                                                                    2                    ·                                          L                      3                                                        +                                      3                    ·                                          L                      2                                                        +                  1                                6                            -                              L                2                                      )                                                            8          ·                      (                                                                                L                    3                                    +                                      2                    ·                                          L                      2                                                        +                  L                                2                            -                                                                    2                    ·                                          L                      3                                                        +                                      3                    ·                                          L                      2                                                        +                  1                                6                            -                              L                2                                      )                          =                              8            ·                          (                                                                    L                    3                                    6                                -                                                      L                    2                                    2                                +                                  L                  2                                -                                  1                  6                                            )                                =                                                    4                3                            ·                              L                3                                      -                          4              ·                              L                2                                      +                          4              ·              L                        -                          4              3                                          floating operations which, for big L, can be approximated by the cubic term
      4    3    ·            L      3        .
The fact that this figure grows with the cube of the matrix dimension indicates that multi-processor solutions are required for real-time implementation.
In order to achieve a balanced partitioning of the processing load among a number P of processor modules over the whole processing period, according to the invention a pre-assignment of the computation of a set of rows to each processor module is defined. This should be done in such a way that at each step (=column), all processors are involved. According to the invention each of the processor modules has to compute the row entries for a number
  R  =            L                                  P  of rows.
Due to the (lower) triangular shape of the Cholesky factor, for each column i, only the row entries with indices i, . . . , L have to be determined. This means that the processor module to which the computation of row i is assigned will have one assigned row less to take care of once the entries of column i are completed. According to the invention the assignment of a given row to a processor module P(p=1, . . . , P) is such that j=p+(r−1)·P with r=1, . . . , R and p=1, . . . , P.
The following table shows in detail the associated row numbers for a given processor module:
ProcessorModuleAssociated row numbers11, 1+P, . . . , 1+(R−1)P22, 2+P, . . . , 2+(R−1)PP-1(P−1), (P−1)+P, . . . , (P−1)+(R−1)PPP, P+P, . . . , P+(R−1)P=RP=L
With this partitioning of the rows to the processor modules a balanced processing load among the processing modules throughout the whole processing time is guaranteed. The computational load for processor module p is obtained as follows:
First, as noted above, for the entry aji 8i2−8i and hence for all j entries of row j,
      8    ·                  ∑                  i          =          1                j                                                    (                              i            2                    -          1                )              =                    8        3            ·              (                              j            3                    -                      2            ·                          j              2                                -          j                )              =                  8        3            ·      j      ·                        (                      j            -            1                    )                2            operations. The total number of operation flops(p) for processor number p is obtained by summing the last expression over all values j=p+(r−1)·P with r=1, . . . , P:
      flops              (      p      )        =            8      2        ·                  {                              ∑                          r              =              1                        R                                                                                (                              p                +                                                      (                                          r                      -                      1                                        )                                    ·                  P                                            )                        ·                                          (                                  p                  +                                                            (                                              r                        -                        1                                            )                                        ·                    P                                    -                  1                                )                            2                                      }            .
This expression indicates that the processing load is well balanced between the P processor modules.
Concerning the data tansfer between the processor modules, according to the invention with the beginning of the iteration step for computing the entries of column i with i≦L, the processor module to which the computation of row number i is assigned stores its values of row i for access by the other processor modules.
In other words, according to the formulae for the computation of the entries of the Cholesky factor (eqn.(1)), the entries of a certain row number i, assigned to some processor module, have to be made available to the other processor modules at the iteration step when the entries of column number i are computed. This means that this processor unit has to transfer the computed values of row i at the end of the (i−1)th including the ith(=diagonal) value which is the length of the row vector consisting of the (i−1) already computed values of the ith row.
This implies that at the end of each iteration step (=column) i, the processor module to which the computation of row number (i+1) is assigned has to transfer all its (i+1) values for availability to the other processor modules for the computation of the values of column number (i+1).
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Procedure for computing the Cholesky decomposition in a parallel multiprocessor system


A method is provided which includes forming a hardmask feature adjacent to a patterned sacrificial structure of a semiconductor topography, selectively removing the patterned sacrificial structure to expose a lower layer and etching exposed portions of the lower layer in alignment with the hardmask feature. In some embodiments, forming the hardmask feature may include conformably depositing a hardmask material above the patterned sacrificial structure and lower layer as well as blanket etching the hardmask material such that upper surfaces of the patterned sacrificial structure and portions of the lower layer are exposed and portions of the hardmask material remain along sidewalls of the patterned sacrificial structure. The method may be applied to produce an exemplary semiconductor topography including a plurality of gate structures each having a width less than approximately 70 nm, wherein a variation of the widths among the plurality of gate structures is less than approximately 10%.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to processes for fabricating integrated circuits and semiconductor devices, and more particularly to a method of patterning elements in a semiconductor topography and a semiconductor device formed thereby.
2. Description of the Related Art
The following descriptions and examples are given as background information only.
A pervasive trend in modern integrated circuit manufacture is to produce integrated circuits (IC) with feature sizes as small as possible. Smaller feature sizes may allow more IC elements to be placed on a single substrate. In addition, ICs with smaller feature sizes may function faster and/or at lower threshold voltages than ICs having larger feature sizes. For example, the continuous scaling of very large scale integrated circuit (VLSI) technologies has required dimensions of gates in some field effect transistor (FET) technologies to shrink to less than approximately 100 nanometers (nm) in order to provide desired FET performance. IC feature sizes, however, may be limited by the image resolution or, more specifically, the wavelength of the photolithographic equipment used to form the features. For example, the minimum resolvable feature size of a 248 nm photolithographic tool may be approximately 0.14 microns. As such, in order to obtain a structure with a smaller feature size, a smaller wavelength photolithographic tool may need to be used.
There are, however, disadvantages with using smaller wavelength photolithographic tools. In particular, photolithographic tools are typically expensive and therefore, purchasing new photolithographic tools for each new development of ICs with reduced feature sizes may be cost prohibitive. Furthermore, smaller wavelength photolithographic tools may require substantial process development to produce smaller feature sizes. In addition, the thicknesses and materials used for photoresist films and underlying anti-reflective layers may be dependent on the wavelength used with the photolithographic tool and therefore, may need to be revised for consistency with the new photolithographic tools. In some cases, problems, such as poor image resolution, poor etch selectivity, or patterning clarity such as line edge roughness, may arise with such immature technologies and chemistries. As a result, the installation of new photolithographic equipment and its associated chemistry may delay the development of integrated circuits with reduced feature sizes. Furthermore, the wavelength of light presently used for lithography is already in the deep ultraviolet range and at such wavelengths the absorption of light by components in the lithography tool is considerable. Thus, it may not be possible to produce circuit elements having dimensions of 100 nm or less by simply reducing the wavelength lithography light source.
One method of producing IC elements with dimensions smaller than dimensions obtainable by a photolithographic tool is "resist trimming." In resist trimming, a resist is first patterned to a dimension within the capability limit of the lithography tool. The pattern is then trimmed in an etch tool to a narrower, desired dimension, and the semiconductor topography is etched using the trimmed resist pattern. Although an improvement over conventional lithographic techniques, the resist trimming approach is not wholly satisfactory for a number of reasons. For instance, dimension uniformity among a plurality of patterned elements is significantly degraded by the resist trimming, thereby reducing the utility of this approach for mass commercial production of ICs having dimensions below the resolution of the lithography tool. Moreover, resist trimming typically reduces both width and length dimensions of a structure. Consequently, although it may be advantageous to reduce one dimension of a structure, such as width for example, the other dimension of the structure will also be reduced, possibly beyond the design specifications of the structure. In addition, resist trimming may undesirably increase spacing distances between structures, sometimes out of the design specifications of the device.
Accordingly, there is a need for a method of patterning or defining elements within a semiconductor topography that is not limited by the capabilities of lithographic tools or processes. It is further desirable that the method provide elements having smaller and/or more uniform dimensions than those that may be achieved by advanced lithographic tools and/or resist trimming processes. Moreover, it would be advantageous to develop a method patterning elements within a semiconductor topography a lower cost than such processes.

Method of patterning elements within a semiconductor topography


A wireless communication device includes a first generator and a plurality of adders. The first generator is configured to generate a first cancellation signal having inverse characteristics of a first spurious emission that is expected to occur between transmission signals in a plurality of frequency bands during data transmission using the plurality of frequency bands, based on information regarding the plurality of frequency bands. The plurality of adders is configured to add the first cancellation signal to transmission signals in the plurality of frequency bands.

A throughput of 1 Gbps can be reached with LTE-Advanced technology, which includes a carrier aggregation (CA) technique. In the LTE, frequency bands are numbered and designated as BAND1, BAND2, and so on. For instance, BAND1 corresponds to the 2 GHz band (uplink 1920 to 1980 MHz, downlink 2110 to 2170 MHz). As another example, BAND5 corresponds to the 800 MHz band (uplink 824 to 849 MHz, downlink 869 to 894 MHz). Each frequency band is allocated to a country, a region, and a carrier.
Related techniques are disclosed in Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication Nos. 2002-317942 and 2004-288201.

Wireless communication device, wireless communication method, and wireless communication system


A method and apparatus fabricate synthetic hair by mixing a raw material to form a mixed material; sterilizing the mixed material to form a sterilized material; melting the sterilized material to form a melted material; yarning the melted material to form a yarn material; sterilizing the yarn material to form an intermediate sterilized yarn; heating the sterilized yarn to form a heated yarn; and sterilizing the heated yarn to form a final sterilized yarn. Sterilizing of the mixed material, the yarn material, and/or the heated yarn includes: sterilizing using an ultraviolet (UV) lamp. Heating of the sterilized yarn is performed by a heating device selected from a heated roller, a heating plate, a steam jet device, and a hot water reservoir. Alternatively, sterilizing of the heated yarn includes: immersing the heated yarn into an immersion device, which includes an antibacterial solution. The final sterilized yarn forms a synthetic hair.

Synthetic hair is used for many purposes, such as to conceal hair loss, or to have fuller looking hair for the purpose of improving beauty. Depending on the usage, synthetic hair can be classified into full wigs, toupees, hair extensions, etc., and wigs may be further classified into medical wigs, fashion wigs, etc. Synthetic hair can also be classified depending on how the wearer wears such synthetic hair, such as being removable, or having the purpose of being continuously worn.
In general, hair loss may be caused by genetics, stress, severe damage or injury to a person's head, or due to various diseases, and such causes are partially the reasons for hair loss replacement that results in all sorts of wigs being used to hide the affected area.
In recent years, to cover up hair loss, burns, scars, etc. or just for the purpose of improving beauty, various kinds of wigs are used which are composed of actual human hair or composed of artificial hair made from synthetic fiber. In order to meet a variety of hair styles, synthetic hair fibers are popular in hair products currently on the market.
Synthetic hair may also be implanted into the scalp of the user, or otherwise adhered to the scalp of the user by adhesive or other substances. Unfortunately, in the prior art, there is a probability that synthetic hair may be contaminated by bacteria, fungi due to sweat or other body secretions, pollution, dirt, impurities from the external environment, etc., all of which can cause hygiene and health issues to the user of synthetic hair.
In the prior art, in order to resolve these health issues, ultrasonic spray devices are known which are used on synthetic fibers to have antibacterial and antifungal effects. However, this kind of spraying method in the prior art merely covers the surface of the synthetic hair, and so is unable to prolong anti-bacterial functions consistently, and germicidal efficacy is consistently low. Therefore, extended use of synthetic hair can easily create germs which are allowed to proliferate in view of the limitations of prior art germicidal devices or substances.
Another problem with synthetic hair fibers in the prior art is that the fibers are too thick or dense, normally about 40 Denier. Thus, the raw material required to manufacture the fibers are costly, and the fibers or yarn on a finished product such as a hair piece is difficult to manage due to the density and weight.
Therefore, a light-weight and sterile fiber for synthetic hair is needed, along with a cost-effective way of manufacturing the same.

Method and apparatus for manufacturing fiber for synthetic hair


A hard disk includes a first cover member including a first cover plate and a pair of first lateral walls extended from edges of thereof, each of the first lateral wall is formed with a support piece and a latch hook respectively protruded towards inward, the support piece and the latch hook are not arranged at same horizontal level in a direction perpendicular to the first cover plate; a second cover member, disposed at the outer side of the first cover member and engaged with the first cover member; and a storage module, accommodated inside the first cover member and including a circuit board having edges thereof clamped between distal ends of the latch hooks and the support pieces. Accordingly, the assembly can be easily achieved through fastening the storage module in the first cover member then sleeving the first cover member and the second cover member.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a hard disk, especially to a hard disk capable of being assembled without any tool and a housing thereof.
Description of Related Art
A conventional solid-state hard disk includes a circuit board installed with a memory and a connector, and the circuit board needs to be accommodated inside a metal housing for protection. Generally, the metal housing includes an upper cover and a lower cover capable of being closely engaged; the circuit board is firstly locked and fastened in the lower cover, then the lower cover is closely engaged and locked with the upper cover, thereby preventing the circuit board from shaking inside the metal housing so as to be protected from being damaged. As such, the assembly procedure for the conventional solid-state hard disk requires more working time and more labor for locking screws.
Accordingly, the applicant of the present invention has devoted himself for researching and inventing a novel design for improving the above-mentioned disadvantages.


A threaded fastener and method of fabrication thereof wherein the fastener or nut includes a first portion having external, wrench-engaging surfaces and a central, through bore, internally threaded for at least a portion of its length from a base surface. A wall portion extends integrally from the end of the first portion opposite the base surface, concentrically surrounding and spaced radially outwardly from the end of the bore. The first and wall portions are formed as a metal casting with the wall portion in two segments separated by longitudinally extending, V-shaped notches. The free edges of the wall segments, which initially lie in a plane normal to the axis of the bore, are deformed by a die, moving radially inward so that the wall segments are in a domed configuration with the free edges defining a substantially oval opening having a major axis with a length about equal to the diameter of the bore and a minor axis about 4/5 that of the major axis. A method of supporting a mine roof using such a threaded fastener with a bearing plate, resin cartridge and elongated rod having threads mating with the internal threads of the bore is also disclosed.

The present invention relates to the fields of threaded fasteners and of methods of fabrication thereof, and to installing mine roof support systems using nuts having a portion which is deformable upon application of excess torque.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,662,795 of Clark et al, issued May 5, 1987 and assigned to applicant's assignee, describes a method of supporting and reinforcing a rock structure such as a mine roof utilizing a nut having an internally threaded portion and an integral, domed portion. Fabrication of the nut includes forming a metal casting having through a bore with first and second contiguous portions over its axial length. The first portion is drilled and tapped to provide a threaded portion having a first diameter, less than the diameter of the substantially cylindrical surface of the second portion of the bore. At least a portion of the external surface of the nut outwardly adjacent the threaded portion of the bore is formed with a plurality of flat sides for engagement by a wrench. The external surface outwardly adjacent the second portion of the bore is formed in the casting as substantially cylindrical and is deformed by an appropriate die to a domed configuration having an opening in the top of the dome of smaller diameter than the first diameter.
A first, threaded end of a bolt is inserted through an opening in a conventional bearing plate and threaded into the nut until the end of the bolt contacts the inside of the domed portion about the periphery of the opening. A standard resin cartridge is placed in a bore hole of predetermined depth and diameter in the rock formation, followed by the end of the bolt opposite that engaged with the nut. The cartridge is crushed against the end of the bore hole by advance of the bolt and its contents released.
Rotation of the bolt by a wrench engaged with the nut serves to mix the resin components. Rotation is stopped for a time, usually not more than 10 seconds, to allow the mixed components to harden and thus anchor the bolt within the drill hole. Application of excess torque to the nut, with rotation of the bolt prevented due to its engagement by the hardened resin, causes the end of the bolt to break through the domed portion of the nut. Sufficient torque is applied to thread the nut into secure engagement with the bearing plate and tension the bolt to the desired degree.
Although the above-described method of mine roof support has received large and widespread acceptance throughout the industry, it has been found that the torque required to break the end of the bolt through the domed end of the nut is sometimes excessive. Efforts to alleviate this problem by increasing the size of the opening or decreasing the thickness of the material at the domed end of the nut have not proven effective. When the torque required to break the end of the bolt through the domed end of the nut is not consistently at or near the desired level, reliability of operation and integrity of the anchorage are threatened.
Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved threaded fastener in the nature of a domed nut, and a method of fabrication thereof, for use with conventional elongated bolts, bearing plates and resin cartridges in mine roof support systems.
Another object is to provide a method of supporting and reinforcing a mine roof utilizing a threaded bolt, a bearing plate, a resin cartridge and a domed nut wherein the torque required to cause the end of the bolt to break through the domed end of the nut is consistent, at a level less than that required for prior art systems of the same general type.
Other objects will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

Threaded fastener, method of fabrication thereof and method of supporting a mine roof using such a fastener


A self-piercing rivet fastening device has a punch that drives legs of the rivet into portions of workpieces that are forced into a die cavity, in order to join the workpieces. Particular surfaces of the die cavity are modified to increase the coefficient of friction in order to prevent tips of the legs of the rivet from breaking through a workpiece adjacent to the die and forming holes.

The present invention relates to a device for driving a self-piercing rivet into a plurality of components to be fastened, and more particularly to an improved die from such a device.
Self-piercing rivets are frequently used to fasten together aluminum body panels that are unfit for welding. Automotive panels are increasingly being made of aluminum to reduce the overall weight of automobiles, and demand for self-piercing rivets is growing.
An example of a self-piercing rivet fastening device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,752,305 issued May 19, 1998, corresponding to Japanese Examined Patent Application Publication No. 8-505087 (Patent Document 1). FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are drawings of the self-piercing rivet fastening device described in Patent Document 1, and of a self-piercing rivet fastening two components together. As shown in FIG. 1, the two components 5, 6 are clamped with strong force (see the arrows) by the die 2 and nose 3 of the self-piercing rivet fastening device 1, and the self-piercing rivet 9 is driven into the components 5, 6 by the punch 7. The self-piercing rivet 9 has a large-diameter head 10 and tubular legs 11 below the head 10. The components 5, 6 are clamped on the die 2, and the self-piercing rivet 9 is driven into the components 5, 6 by the punch 7.
As shown in FIG. 2, when the self-piercing rivet 9 is properly driven into the components 5, 6, the legs 11 pierce the components 5, 6 and are deformed so that the tips 13 of the legs 11 spread outward, but do not break through the component 6 adjacent to the die 2. The components 5, 6 are thus connected together by the spread legs 11 inside the component 6 and by head 10 of the rivet.
When self-piercing rivets pierce the component 5 adjacent to the punch and pierce, but do not break through, the component 6 adjacent to the die 2, rivet-pierced holes are not formed in the surface of the component 6. Therefore, the sealing properties of the component 6 are not damaged, and the external appearance of the component remains unmarred. However, the legs on the self-piercing rivets may break through the component adjacent to the die and open small holes if that component is not sufficiently thick (e.g., insufficient plate thickness of an automotive body panel).

Self-piercing rivet fastening device with improved die


A one-piece container carrier formed from a flat, generally rectangular, sheet of resilient material and having at least two sets of two sockets aligned in a row and formed in the body member for receiving and gripping beneath an enlarged rim on a reduced diameter neck portion on at least a pair of containers. A pair of handles are integrally joined at opposite ends thereof at four spaced corner portions to the body member and initially lie within a plane of the body member and along opposite lateral sides of the sockets. When the body member is deformed to bring the two sockets of each set into axial alignment with one another and the reduced diameter neck portion on each container is received in and extends through the axially aligned sockets of each set, the elasticity of the material forming the handles causes the handles to automatically adopt a shape between the respective opposite ends thereof that is substantially resiliently displaced out of the plane of a remaining portion of the body member while remaining on the aforesaid opposite lateral sides of the sockets.

In the marketing of beverages, such as wine, wine is placed into bottles that have a reduced diameter neck portion. These bottles of wine are usually sold one at a time or by the case. The provision for carrying at least two wine bottles would enable a different marketing strategy for wine and would make it more convenient to the customer to carry at least two bottles of wine with a single carrier device.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a one-piece container carrier adapted for use in carrying at least a pair of containers having a reduced diameter neck portion thereon.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a one-piece container carrier, as aforesaid, which is specifically adapted for use in carrying at least a pair of wine bottles.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a one-piece container carrier, as aforesaid, which is economically made from a flat, generally rectangular, sheet of resilient material with little or no waste being generated by the formation of the container carrier.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a one-piece container carrier, as aforesaid, wherein the carrier is adapted to be fitted over the reduced diameter neck portion of each container and oriented beneath an enlarged rim on the neck so as to be securely held in association with the container.


A first gas flow path is formed in a first substrate. The first substrate is processed in an ejection device to form a first collector layer, a first gas diffusion layer, a first reactive layer, and an electrolyte membrane. Similarly, the first substrate is processed to form a second reactive layer, a gas diffusion layer, and a second collector layer. A second substrate which has been processed to form a second gas flow path is then disposed on the first substrate to complete production of a fuel cell having a gas flow path formed therein the opening width of which is smaller than the particle diameter of the material constituting the gas diffusion layer.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a fuel cell which undergoes reaction of various kinds of reactive gases supplied into the respective electrodes to generate electricity and a process for the production thereof.
2. Description of Related Art
Heretofore, there have been fuel cells including an ion-permeable electrolyte provided interposed between porous electron-permeable electrodes. Among these fuel cells are those which use hydrogen, natural gas, alcohol or the like as a fuel to generate electricity. Among these fuel cells, the fuel cell which uses, for example, hydrogen as a fuel receives a first reactive gas containing hydrogen in one electrode and a second reactive gas containing oxygen in the other electrode to generate electricity by the reaction of the hydrogen contained in the first reactive gas with the oxygen contained in the second reactive gas.
The substrate of the fuel cell has a gas flow path formed therein for supplying a reactive gas. The reactive gas is supplied through the gas flow path. Accordingly, in order to prevent the material constituting the electrode, such as particulate carbon, from entering in the gas flow path and clogging the space for the flow of the reactive gas, particulate carbon having a greater particle diameter than that of particulate carbon constituting the electrode is disposed in the gas flow path.
A microfuel cell which can be incorporated in cellular phone, and the like is now under research and development. For the production of such a microfuel cell, MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical System) based on micromachining technology used in semiconductor processing, etc. is used to form a fine gas flow path. Referring to the use of MEMS, a fine gas flow path is formed on the surface of a substrate, such as silicone. An electrically-conductive layer and an electrode made of carbon or the like are then formed on the substrate having a gas flow path formed thereon. A previously formed electrolyte membrane is disposed interposed between two sheets of these substrates having an electrode and other layers formed thereon and then contact-bonded thereto to produce a fuel cell (see, for example, Sang-Joon J Lee, Suk Won Cha, Amy Ching-Chien, O'Hayre and Fritz B. PrinzFactrical, Design Study of Miniature Fuel Cells with Micromachined Silicon Flow Structures, The 200th Meeting of The Electrochemical Society, Abstract No. 452 (2001) and Amy Ching-Chien, Suk Won Cha, Sang-Joon J Lee, O'Hayre and Fritz B. PrinzPlaner, Interconnection of Multiple Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Micro Fabrication, The 200th Meeting of The Electrochemical Society, Abstract No. 453 (2001)).

Fuel cell and process for the production thereof


A stabilized, dynamically vulcanized thermoplastic elastomer composition comprising dispersed dynamically vulcanized particles of at least one first elastomer or rubber comprising halogenated isobutylene-containing elastomer and dispersed particles of at least one second elastomer or rubber comprising at least one functional group capable of reacting with and grafting to a polyamide, the particles of the at least one first and at least one second elastomers dispersed in a continuous thermoplastic polyamide or nylon resin matrix comprising at least one nylon homopolymer, nylon copolymer or mixture thereof, the composition or the at least one first elastomer further comprising at least one stabilizer against degradation induced by exposure to actinic, particularly ultraviolet, radiation. The compositions are preferably produced in a mixing extruder and are suitable for producing durable, flexible, thermoplastic elastomer fluid barrier films or layers useful in industrial articles such as vehicle tire innerliners and hoses.

EP722850B1 discloses a low-permeability thermoplastic elastomer composition that is superior as a gas-barrier layer in pneumatic tires. This thermoplastic elastomer composition comprises a low-permeability thermoplastic matrix, such as polyamide or a blend of polyamides, in which there is dispersed a low-permeability rubber, such as brominated poly(isobutylene-co-paramethylstyrene), referred to hereinafter as BIMS. In EP857761A1 and EP969039A1, the viscosity ratio of the thermoplastic matrix and the dispersed rubber phase was specified both as a function of the volume fraction ratio and, independently, to be close to a value of one in order to produce a high concentration of small particle size vulcanized rubber particles dispersed in a thermoplastic phase. EP969039A1 further discloses that small particle size rubber dispersed in a thermoplastic resin matrix was important in order to achieve acceptable durability of the resulting composition, particularly where such compositions are intended to be used as innerliners in pneumatic tires.
Compositions exhibiting low gas permeability performance (i.e., functioning as a gas barrier) composed of thermoplastic resin/thermoplastic resin-based blends such as a high density polyethylene resin and nylon 6 or nylon 66 (HDPE/PA6.66), a polyethylene terephthalate and aromatic nylon (PET/MXD6), a polyethylene terephthalate and vinyl alcohol-ethylene copolymer (PET/EVOH), where one thermoplastic resin is layered over the other layer to form plural layers by molding, and processes for producing the same. An application regarding the use of such a composition as the innerliner layer of a tire is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 7-55929. However, since these materials are thermoplastic resin/thermoplastic resin blends, while they are superior in gas barrier performance, they lack flexibility, and therefore, such films are subject to failure if they are used in a vehicle tire which is subject to significant stress and flexing.
Further, there are also examples of the use of a thermoplastic elastomer composed of a rubber and a thermoplastic resin for use as an innerliner or in a tire; see, Japanese Patent Application No. 8-183683, but in general, a flexible material of the type disclosed therein and having superior durability has low heat resistance. With a thermoplastic elastomer using a thermoplastic resin having a melting point less than the tire vulcanization temperature as a matrix, when the tire vulcanization bladder is released at the end of the tire vulcanization cycle, the tire inside surface is subject to appearance defects due to the thermoplastic resin sticking to or rubbing against the vulcanization bladder.

Stabilized dynamically vulcanized thermoplastic elastomer compositions useful in fluid barrier applications