The charge-discharge control circuit prevents over-charge and over-discharge of a plurality of series connected batteries. It is provided with a detection circuit to determine the state of charge and discharge of the batteries, at least one bypass circuit connected in parallel with one of the batteries, and a connection circuit which, in response to results from the detection circuit, selectively connects the bypass circuit to a battery determined to be in an approximately fully charged state or approximately fully discharged state.

This invention relates to an over-charge prevention circuit, an over-discharge prevention circuit and a charge-discharge control circuit for preventing battery over-charge or over-discharge in a plurality of series connected batteries.
When a plurality of series connected batteries are charged or discharged, variation in the characteristics of each battery presents the problem that one battery may over-charge or over-discharge. Specifically, when one battery of a plurality of series connected batteries has lower capacity than the other batteries, battery charging will continue while the battery unit is not fully charged even though the low capacity battery has reached full charge. As a result, the low capacity battery will become over-charged. Similarly, when the battery unit is in a state that allows discharge, discharge will continue even though the low capacity battery has reached a state where discharge should be suspended. This will subject the low capacity battery to over-discharge.
Japanese Non-examined Patent Publication No.7-163060 issued Jun. 23, 1995 discloses circuitry to prevent over-charge or over-discharge of all batteries of a plurality of series connected batteries and to leave all batteries in the same state of charge or discharge. To avoid over-charging or over-discharging any battery of a plurality of series connected batteries having battery variation, the circuitry cited in this disclosure provides over-charge prevention circuits and over-discharge prevention circuits for each battery. An over-charge prevention circuit is made up of a diode connected in series with the battery, a switching device to bypass charging current, and a voltage detector to control the on-off state of the switching device. An over-discharge prevention circuit is made up of a switching device connected in series with the battery, a diode to bypass discharge current, and a voltage detector to control the on-off state of the switching device.
This circuitry prevents over-charging of a low capacity battery by operation of the over-charge prevention circuit corresponding to that battery to bypass charging current away from that low capacity battery when it becomes fully charged. Other batteries continue to charge to full charge without over-charging.
Similarly during discharge, over-discharge of a low capacity battery is prevented by operation of the corresponding over-discharge prevention circuit to bypass the low capacity battery's discharge current when it has reached a state where discharge should be suspended. Other batteries continue to discharge without over-discharge of any of the batteries.
In this manner, circuitry of the above mentioned disclosure prevents over-charge and over-discharge of all the series connected batteries. However, because an over-charge prevention circuit and an over-discharge prevention circuit are provided for each battery, the number of circuit components is large and the circuit structure is extremely complex.
Further, since the diodes which are components of the over-charge prevention circuits connect in series with the batteries, there is energy loss associated with these diodes. In particular, this energy loss increases as the number of batteries connected in series increases. In addition, the switching devices which are components of the over-discharge prevention circuits and are connected in series with the batteries must be of a type specified to withstand the discharge current.
It is thus an object of the present invention to present a circuit of simple structure which prevents over-charge and over-discharge of a plurality of series connected batteries.
The above and further objects and features of the invention will more fully be apparent from the following detailed description with accompanying drawings.

Charge-discharge control circuit, over-charge prevention circuit, and over-discharge prevention circuit


A securing device (10) for securing a first object (320) relative to a second object (322) includes a device body (12) having a cross-sectional area, and which is formed from a material so that the device body (12) exhibits elongation of between six hundred percent and eight hundred percent. A ratio of the elongation (in percent) to the cross-sectional area (in square millimeters) is between approximately 5:1 and 10:1. The device body (12) is also formed from the material so that the device body (12) exhibits a tensile strength of between four thousand five hundred kPa and nine thousand three hundred kPa. A ratio of the tensile strength (in kPa) to the cross-sectional area (in square millimeters) is between approximately 50:1 and 85:1. The material that forms the device body (12) has an average kinetic coefficient of friction of between approximately 1.35 and 1.60 relative to itself. The material that forms the device body (12) can include thermoplastic elastomers, and can further include styrene.

Many different types of securing devices are used to secure a plurality of objects together and/or to inhibit movement of one object relative to another object. Such securing devices can come in the form of ropes, cables, bungee cords, nylon straps, chains, or various other types of tie-downs. Unfortunately, existing securing devices suffer from various drawbacks, including difficulty in finding a securing device of the proper or appropriate size, length and/or strength; difficulty in fixing the position of the securing device relative to the objects to be held in place; and difficulty in removing the securing device after use (such that the securing device becomes damaged during removal and thus is not reusable). Such drawbacks can lead to a user needing to have many securing devices available to accommodate the various situations when such a securing device may be required. Accordingly, it is desired to provide a securing device that is easy and convenient in use for both installation and removal, easily reusable, flexible in use for securing objects of various shapes and sizes, and cost-efficient.


Enhanced optical information processing capability is achieved by providing a self-electrooptic effect device (SEED) which modulates one or more power supply beams to provide integer gain in an input optical signal. This "integer gain" SEED includes a predetermined number of quantum well diodes electrically connected in series with a current supply so that, at steady state, each quantum well diode conducts the same current and thus absorbs the same amount of optical power. An optical input signal is replicated by configuring the quantum well diodes such that each quantum well diode receives its own power supply beam. The optical input signal is amplified by configuring the quantum well diodes such that a single power supply beam passes through all of the quantum well diodes.

The use of optics and optical devices in fields such as communications and computing has created a need for optical devices which increase the power gain of optical signals. Also, the complexity of the processing required in these fields makes it desirable, and even necessary, to exactly replicate optical signals so that these signals can be processed in parallel and without significant power loss.
One technique for increasing the power of an optical signal is to amplify the optical signal using a phototransistor. However, phototransistors require careful manufacturing controls. In particular, it is difficult to obtain an array of phototransistors with gain characteristics within acceptable tolerances for amplifying an entire image at the same amplification characteristics.
Replicas of optical signals can be created using beam splitters. However, beam splitters often are less than perfectly manufactured and thus may create unequal reflected and transmitted images. Moreover, use of a beam splitter to create a replica of an optical signal reduces the power of the created replicas because the power in the original signal is divided among the replicas. This reduced power may be insufficient to allow high-speed parallel processing of the optical signals.

Self-electrooptic effect device for providing integer gain to input optical signals having series connected quantum well diodes


An embodiment of this invention provides a system and method for a diagnostic computer application executing on a host computer to extract vendor unique diagnostic information from an attached peripheral device. The peripheral device is pre-configured to respond with device unique information in response to certain standard interface protocol inquiries. Standard interface inquiry commands are used to extract detailed instructions from the device. These instructions may contain device unique small computer system interface (SCSI) command sequences, for example. The command sequences allow a user of the host computer to extract detailed data from the peripheral device about the peripheral device's operational, performance and health statistics.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to extracting diagnostic information from a hard drive and, more specifically to a method of providing a device unique diagnostic support with a single generic command.
2. Description of Background
Peripheral devices such as disk drives are controlled by firmware, which resides within the device itself. This firmware controls the behavior of the device and can be modified if new behaviors are needed or bugs are found in the current version of firmware.
These devices are typically designed to maintain a log within the device that collects and records a number of operational, performance and health parameters and the paths taken through their firmware so that, if problems occur, there is a record log to inspect in order to trouble shoot the problem. This diagnostic information is recorded onto the device itself usually in non-volatile storage. Some of the information that may be collected from the device may conform to standards; however, much of the information needed from the device for debugging is unique to the manufacturer or vendor of the device. Furthermore, the detailed command sequences needed to be issued to collect this vendor unique information is also unique to the vendor. Thus, when a device is returned to a vendor, that specific vendor can use their own tools to extract this information to debug the problem.
If the hard drive is installed in an end user system, extracting this same information becomes much more difficult. The customer may have to physically remove the device and ship it to the vendor or manufacture of the device. Otherwise, the vendor may need to attach their own tools to the end user system or they may need special diagnostic tools developed for that specific customer environment to gain access to this data. Neither of these solutions is very practical or perhaps even possible in many high performance server environments.
Therefore, the problem becomes how to provide a generic method to extract vendor unique diagnostic information from a peripheral device without having to physically remove the device from the system or attach special tooling to the customer system.

System and method to provide device unique diagnostic support with a single generic command

International Business Machines Corporation


The present invention provides a method for performing Buffer Status Reporting (BSR) in a user equipment (UE) of a wireless communication system. The method includes steps of forming a Medium Access Control (MAC) Packet Data Unit (PDU), the MAC PDU including padding bits with a bit amount larger than the size of a BSR MAC control element, triggering a padding BSR procedure, reporting a short BSR MAC control element when the padding bits of the MAC PDU cannot accommodate a long BSR MAC control element, and indicating the short BSR MAC control element triggered by the padding BSR procedure through a sub-header corresponding to the BSR MAC control element in the MAC PDU.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for performing buffer status reporting (BSR), and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for indicating a format of a BSR MAC control element by a MAC PDU sub-header corresponding to the BSR MAC control element.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Long Term Evolution wireless communication system (LTE system), an advanced high-speed wireless communication system established upon the 3G mobile telecommunication system, supports only packet-switched transmission, and tends to implement both Medium Access Control (MAC) layer and Radio Link Control (RLC) layer in one single communication site, such as in Node B (NB) alone rather than in NB and RNC (Radio Network Controller) respectively, so that the system structure becomes simple.
In LTE, MAC provides transmission services via a plurality of logic channels. To manage uplink resources, when a user equipment (UE) performs uplink (UL) transmission, the network can divide or map logic channels of the UE into at most four groups based on priorities, types, and so on. The priorities are corresponding to values 1 to 8, and assigned by a higher layer, the radio resource control layer. Besides, the 3rd Generation Partnership Project, 3GPP, introduces a Buffer Status Reporting (BSR) procedure, which is used to provide the serving NB (or enhanced NB) with information about the amount of data in UL buffers of the UE. In the BSR procedure, the UE uses a MAC PDU (Protocol Data Unit) to carry a BSR MAC control element with information about the amount of data in the UL buffers to the network. Accordingly, the network can determine the total amount of data available across one or all logical channel groups.
In a current specification, there are three types of BSR procedures for different triggering events, a regular BSR, a periodic BSR and a padding BSR. The regular BSR is triggered when UL data arrives at the UE transmission buffer and the UL data belongs to a logical channel with higher priority than those for which data already existed in the UE transmission buffer, or is triggered when a serving cell change occurs. The periodic BSR is triggered when a periodic BSR timer expires. The padding BSR is triggered when UL resources are allocated and an amount of padding bits is equal to or greater than the size of the BSR MAC control element.
Besides, according to different requirements, the BSR MAC control elements can be categorized into two formats: short and long. A short BSR MAC control element is 1-byte long, and has 8 bits, where the former 2 bits indicate one logic channel group which buffer status is being reported, and the remaining six bits indicate the amount of buffered data available across the logic channel group. A long BSR MAC control element is 3-byte long, and utilized for reporting data amount of the UL buffers of all the logic channel groups.
On the other hand, a MAC PDU header consists of one or more sub-headers, each sub-header corresponding to either a MAC Service Data Unit (SDU), a MAC control element or padding carried by the MAC PDU. The MAC PDU sub-headers have the same order as the corresponding MAC SDUs, MAC Control elements and padding. A MAC PDU sub-header corresponding to a MAC control element generally consists of two Reserved bits, an 1-bit Extension field and a 5-bit logic channel indentify (LCID) field. In the current specification, the format of the BSR MAC control element can be identified by LCID values, e.g. "11101" and "11110" are used for indicating the short BSR MAC control element and the long BSR MAC control element, respectively. Detailed description of the MAC PDU sub-headers can be found in related protocol specifications, and not narrated herein.
For the regular and periodic BSR procedure, the format of the BSR MAC control element is determined by the UE according to whether there is more than one logic channel group with uplink buffered data in the UE when the BSR is transmitted. If there is only one logic channel group with uplink buffered data, the short BSR MAC control element is reported. Conversely, if there are more than one logic channel groups with uplink buffered data, the long BSR MAC control element is reported.
For the padding BSR procedure, the BSR control element format is determined according to the number of padding bits remaining in the MAC PDU. If the number of padding bits is equal to or larger than the size of the short BSR MAC control element but smaller than the size of the long BSR MAC control element, the short BSR MAC control element is used, for reporting data amount in the uplink buffer of a highest priority logic channel group. Conversely, if the number of padding bits is equal to or larger than the size of the long BSR MAC control element, the long BSR MAC control element is used, for reporting data amount in the uplink buffer of all the logic channel groups.
In this case, when there are more than one logic channel groups with uplink buffered data but the number of padding bits of the MAC PDU cannot accommodate the long BSR MAC control element, based on the related specifications, the UE would still report the short BSR MAC control element for increasing system scheduling efficiency. However, since the prior art does not disclose how to indicate the short BSR MAC control element transmitted by the UE is triggered by the regular and periodic BSR procedure or by the padding BSR procedure, the network is unable to determine whether there is only one logic channel group with UL buffered data in the UE. It is possible that a wrong decision, such as providing an incorrect uplink grant for the UE, may be made by the network.

Method and apparatus for performing buffer status reporting


A content addressable memory cell for a non-volatile content addressable memory, including a non-volatile storage element for storing a content digit, a selection input for selecting the memory cell, a search input for receiving a search digit, and a comparison circuit arrangement for comparing the search digit to the content digit and for driving a match output of the memory cell so as to signal a match between the content digit and the search digit. The non-volatile storage element include at least one phase-change memory element for storing in a non-volatile way the respective content digit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to a semiconductor memory and, in particular, to a non-volatile Content Addressable Memory (CAM).
2. Description of the Related Art
Unlike conventional memories, CAMs include a plurality of CAM cells that are addressed in response to their content, rather than by a physical address. Words stored in a CAM are accessed, i.e., univocally identified, by applying corresponding data values to input terminals of the CAM. In response to applied data values, a match line of the CAM is driven so as to assert or de-assert an associated match signal, indicating whether or not a stored word matches the applied data values.
CAMs are useful in many applications, such as search engines, in which a list of data values in predetermined order is searched to identify a specific word in the CAM. By identifying which location of the CAM is coupled to a match line driven to assert the match signal, the specific word is identified.
Two types of CAM cells are typically used in CAMs: binary CAM cells and ternary CAM cells. A binary CAM cell can store a high logic value or a low logic value. A ternary CAM cell can store one of three values: a high logic value, a low logic value or a "don't care" value. When the logic values stored in the binary or ternary CAM cells of a CAM location match applied data values, then the match line coupled to that location is driven so as to assert the match signal. Otherwise, when the logic values stored in the binary or ternary CAM cells of a CAM location do not match the applied data values, then the coupled match line is driven so as to de-assert the match signal. In addition, a ternary CAM cell storing a "don't care" value provides a match (or, alternatively, a mismatch) condition irrespective of the data value applied thereto.
Both binary and ternary CAM cells can be either volatile or non-volatile. In particular, volatile CAM cells were initially implemented by exploiting the architecture of static RAM (SRAM) cells and adding transistors for realizing an output of the CAM cell connected to the match line coupled thereto. Recently, volatile CAM cells have been developed based on the dynamic RAM (DRAM) architecture, for reducing the semiconductor area occupied by the relatively high number of transistors employed in a CAM cell based on an SRAM architecture.
The volatile CAM cells, based on SRAM or DRAM cells, have a low access time (lower in SRAM than in DRAM-based CAM cells), but their content is lost during power-down. Consequently, the volatile CAM cells need be re-loaded at every power-on of the CAM, and a separate memory device of non-volatile type, such as a hard disk or an EPROM memory has to be used as a back-up storage unit for the volatile CAM.
The use of two distinct semiconductor memories (distinct chips) is disadvantageous, because very complex and expensive. A wide area on a printed circuit board is to be reserved, additional sockets and interconnections between the two memories are to be provided.
Non-volatile CAMs have been proposed. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,317,349 B1 discloses an architecture of ternary non-volatile CAM cell, including two floating gate transistors of the type normally used in flash memories. A floating gate transistor is non-volatily programmed by injecting charges into the floating gate, so as to modify its threshold voltage: for example, a high threshold voltage can be associated with a high logic value, while a low threshold voltage can be associated with a low logic value, or vice versa. This non-volatile CAM cell preserves its content also during power-down and moreover permits the use of a smaller number of transistors in respect to a CAM cell based on SRAM architecture.
In a CAM, the operation of searching a given data word (search operation) needs a preset phase, in which each match line is precharged to a prescribed preset voltage. When a searched word matches the word stored in a CAM location, the match line coupled thereto remains at the preset voltage, while a variation of the voltage at a match line is read as a mismatch. A drawback of the non-volatile CAM cell architecture described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,317,349 B1 is a consequence of the flow of leakage currents through the floating gate transistors with low threshold voltage during the search operation. In a mismatch condition during the search operation, if a number of CAM cells of the same CAM location conduct leakage currents, it may happen that the voltage at the match line does not vary sufficiently to be read as a mismatch. This problem is significant when the threshold voltage of the floating gate transistors is low (a lower threshold voltage implies a greater leakage current), but in any case the leakage currents imply an excessive power consumption. Furthermore, during the search operation it may happen that only one CAM cell of a CAM location shows a mismatch, while all the other CAM cells of the same location show a match. The discharge of the match line coupled to this location from the preset voltage can be very slow and in many applications auxiliary circuits might be necessary, to be associated with such a non-volatile CAM for speeding up the discharge of the match lines and, consequently, the search operation.
The Applicant also observes that a programming operation of floating gate transistors requires a relatively long time, and a preliminary block erasing operation is necessary. The erasing operation can be critical because of the problem of regulating the threshold voltage of the floating gate transistors for limiting the leakage threshold voltage.


An apparatus and method are provided for securing service quality in multimedia services. The method includes arranging media data samples in each data frame (moof) included a data field of a media data box (mdat), according to a specific rule, and recording control information based on the specific rule in a control information field (sidx) of the mdat. The control information defines an arrangement of the samples in each moof, and includes level information about a level assigned to each sample and index information about a location where each sample is arranged in the data field.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an apparatus and method for multimedia services, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for ensuring service quality for multimedia services.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many efforts are currently being made to improve service quality of multimedia services in a dynamic wireless environment.
Generally, in order to provide multimedia services with improved quality in a dynamic wireless environment, various plans to efficiently cope with changes in time/space-varying channel are required.
As an example of these plans, when a multimedia service is provided in a dynamic wireless environment, signal strength of each region is measured, and an appropriate bit rate is supported for each region based on the measured signal strength. In this case, however, changes in channel environment are not considered, which makes it difficult to guarantee a reliable service quality of the multimedia services. For example, if a channel environment less than a representation of a lowest bit rate for a multimedia service lasts for at least a specific time (e.g., min_Buffer Time, MPD[ ]), underflow may occur in a buffer of a server providing the multimedia service.
Conventionally, in a dynamic wireless environment, the following three plans are used to minimize degradation of service quality caused by underflow.
A first plan, i.e., a 'prepare to low-bit rate representation' plan, prepares for a representation requiring a low bit rate having a possibility of underflow, thereby minimizing a quality degradation caused by the underflow. However, this plan may cause overhead when preparing for and managing an additional representation.
A second plan, i.e., a 'moof skip' plan, minimizes underflow by skipping on a data frame (or movie fragment (moof) box) basis depending on control information provided from a media data box (mdat) for multimedia services without preparation for additional representation. However, this second plan may increase in play-out discontinuity due to the skip on a moof basis.
A third plan, i.e., an 'initial buffering (delay)' plan, provides initial buffering for a relatively long time, preparing for degradation of service quality due to a degradation of channel situations. However, this third plan may cause an increase of an initial delay, thereby decreasing a Quality of Experience (QoE).
Therefore, a need exists for a plan that effectively ensures adaptability of a bit rate, despite degradation of channel situations, when multimedia services are provided in a dynamic wireless environment.

Apparatus and method for multimedia service


Discussed is an LED package The LED package includes a body having a cavity at one side thereof, at least one of lead frames having a bottom frame and a sidewall frame in the cavity, and a light emitting device electrically connected with the lead frames.

An LED constitutes a light emission source by using GaAs, AlGaAs, GaN, InGaN and InGaAlP-based compound semiconductor materials, thereby producing various colors.
Such characteristics of the LED can be determined by materials, colon, brightness and a brightness range of a compound semiconductor. Further, the LED is provided as a package and is applied to various fields comprising lighting indicators for displaying colors, character indicators, image indicators and the like.

Light emitting device package and light unit having the same


A dual panel type organic electroluminescent display device includes first and second substrates facing and spaced apart from each other, an array element layer on an inner surface of the first substrate and including a thin film transistor, a connection pattern on the array element layer and electrically connected to the thin film transistor, a first electrode on an inner surface of the second substrate, a partition wall on the first electrode in a non-pixel area between adjacent pixel areas, an organic light-emitting layer on the first electrode in the pixel area, a second electrode on the organic light-emitting layer in the pixel area and electrically connected to the connection pattern, a moisture absorption layer on the partition wall, and a seal pattern between the first and second substrates along a peripheral portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an organic electroluminescent display device and method of fabricating the same, and more particularly, to a dual panel type organic electroluminescent display device and a method of fabricating the same.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Among flat panel display devices, since an organic electroluminescent display device is self-luminescent and does not require an additional light source, the organic electroluminescent display device has a wide viewing angle, high contrast ratio, and a small size and is light weight, as compared to a liquid crystal display device. The organic electroluminescent display device also has a low power consumption. In addition, the organic electroluminescent display device is driven by a low direct current voltage and a short response time. Because all elements of the organic electroluminescent display device are solid, the organic electroluminescent display device can be used in a wide range of temperatures and is unlikely to be damaged by external impacts. Furthermore, the organic electroluminescent display device can have reduced manufacturing costs. Especially, the organic electroluminescent display device has simple manufacturing processes as compared with the liquid crystal display device or a plasma display panel, and only deposition and encapsulation apparatuses are used for manufacturing the organic electroluminescent display device.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an organic electroluminescent display device according to the related art. In FIG. 1, the organic electroluminescent display device includes a first substrate 10 and a second substrate 60 facing the first substrate with a predetermined space therebetween. An array element layer AL is formed on an inner surface of the first substrate 10. The array element layer AL includes a thin film transistor T formed at each pixel region P, which is a minimum unit for an image. An organic electroluminescent diode E is formed on the array element layer AL. The organic electroluminescent diode E includes a first electrode 48, an organic light-emitting layer 54 and a second electrode 56 sequentially formed. Light emitted from the organic light-emitting layer 54 is transmitted toward a transparent electrode of the first and second electrodes 48 and 56. The organic electroluminescent display device is categorized into a top emission mode and a bottom emission mode depending on an emission direction. Here, the organic electroluminescent display device has the bottom emission mode, where the first electrode 48 is formed of a transparent material and the light emitted from the organic light-emitting layer 54 is transmitted through the first electrode 48.
The second substrate 60 serves as a sort of an encapsulation substrate. A concavity 62 is formed at an inner surface of the second substrate 60 and a desiccant 64 is disposed within the concavity 62. The desiccant 64 removes any external moisture that may permeate into a space between the first and second substrates 10 and 60 and protects the organic electroluminescent diode E. A seal pattern 70 is formed along peripheral portions of the first and second substrates 10 and 60 and seals the first and second substrates 10 and 60.
FIG. 2A is a plan view of a pixel for an organic electroluminescent display (OELD) device of the related art and FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view along the line II-II of FIG. 2B. In FIGS. 2A and 2B, a buffer layer 12 is formed on a substrate 10, and a semiconductor layer 14 and a capacitor electrode 16 are formed on the buffer layer 10 with a space therebetween. A gate insulating layer 18 and a gate electrode 20 are sequentially formed on a center portion of the semiconductor layer 14. The semiconductor layer 14 includes an active area 14a corresponding to the gate electrode 20 and source and drain areas 14b and 14c disposed at both sides of the active area 14a. A gate line 22 in a first direction is also formed on the same layer as the gate electrode 20.
A first passivation layer 24 covers the gate electrode 20 and the capacitor electrode 16. A power electrode 26 is formed over the first passivation layer 24 corresponding to the capacitor electrode 16, and the power electrode 26 extends from a power supply line 28, which is formed in a second direction crossing the first direction.
A second passivation layer 30 is formed on an entire surface of the substrate 10 including the power electrode 26. The first and second passivation layers 24 and 30 include first and second contact holes 32 and 34 therethrough. The first contact hole 32 exposes the drain area 14c of the semiconductor layer 14 and the second contact hole 34 exposes the source area 14b of the semiconductor layer 14. The second passivation layer 30 also has a third contact hole 36 exposing a part of the power electrode 26.
A source electrode 38 and a drain electrode 40 are formed on the second passivation layer 30. The drain electrode 40 is connected to the drain area 14c of the semiconductor layer 14 through the first contact hole 32. The source electrode 38 is connected to the source area 14b of the semiconductor layer 14 through the second contact hole 34 and the power electrode 26 through the third contact hole 36.
As shown in FIG. 2A, a data line 42 is formed on the same layer as the source and drain electrodes 38 and 40 in the second direction. The data line 42 crosses the gate line 22 to define a pixel region P. A third passivation layer 44 covers the drain electrode 40 and the source electrode 38. The third passivation layer 44 has a drain contact hole 46 exposing a part of the drain electrode 40.
A light-emitting area EA is defined on the third passivation layer 44, and a first electrode 48 is formed in the light-emitting area EA. The first electrode 48 is connected to the drain electrode 40 through the drain contact hole 46. An inter insulating layer 50 is formed on the first electrode 48 and the third passivation layer 44. The inter insulating layer 50 exposes the main portion of the first electrode 48 and covers edges of the first electrode 48. An organic light-emitting layer 54 is formed on the first electrode 48 and the inter insulating layer 50 in the light-emitting area EA. A second electrode 56 is formed on an entire surface of the substrate 10 including the organic light-emitting layer 54.
The semiconductor layer 14, the gate electrode 20, the source electrode 38 and the drain electrode 40 constitute a thin film transistor. The thin film transistor of FIG. 2B is a driving thin film transistor Td. The driving thin film transistor Td is disposed between a switching thin film transistor Ts and the power supply line 28. The switching thin film transistor Ts is located at a crossing portion of the gate line 22 and the data line 42, and has the same structure as the driving thin film transistor Td.
Here, the gate electrode 20 of the driving thin film transistor Td is connected to the switching thin film transistor Ts and the drain electrode 40 of the driving thin film transistor Td is formed in an island shape. The switching thin film transistor Ts includes another gate electrode extending from the gate line 22 and another source electrode extending from the data line 42.
The power supply line 28 (including the power electrode 26) and the capacitor electrode 16 overlap each other to form a storage capacitor Cst.
The bottom emission mode OELD device is manufactured by attaching a substrate including array elements and organic luminescent diodes and another substrate for encapsulation. Since the yield of the OELD device depends on the yields of the array elements and the organic luminescent diodes, in the OELD device having the above structure, the whole processing yield is largely affected by the later organic luminescent diode process. Thus, even if the array elements are properly manufactured, if the organic light-emitting layer to be formed to a thickness of about 1,000 Å is improperly manufactured due to impurities or other factors, the resulting OELD device will be rejected as bad. In this case, all manufacturing costs and source materials required for the array elements are wasted, and the product yield is lowered.
Although the bottom emission mode OELD device has an excellent stability and a certain degree of freedom in its manufacturing processes, the bottom emission mode OELD device has a reduced aperture ratio. Thus, the bottom emission mode OELD device is not generally suitable for a high aperture device.
On the other hand, a top emission mode OELD device has a high aperture ratio, and is easy to manufacture. Additionally, the top emission mode OELD device has a long lifetime. However, in the top emission mode OELD device, since a cathode electrode is generally disposed over the organic light-emitting layer, a choice of material with which to make the cathode electrode is limited. Accordingly, the transmittance of light is limited, and a light-emitting efficacy is reduced. Furthermore, in order to improve the light transmittance, the passivation layer should be formed as a thin film, whereby the exterior moisture and air are not fully blocked.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Dual panel type organic electroluminescent display device and method of fabricating the same


Description and specification of a new and distinct nectarine tree cultivar named ‘Amoore Sweet’ which originated from a hand-pollinated cross of Ark. 699N×Ark. 663CN made in 2001. This new nectarine cultivar can be distinguished by its very firm, non-melting yellow flesh, early-mid season ripening, medium-sized fruits, excellent fruit quality with distinct low-acid nectarine flavor, and resistance to bacterial spot disease.

A new cultivar of nectarine tree called 'Amoore Sweet' is described herein. The new cultivar originated from a hand-pollinated cross of Ark. 699N (non-patented, unreleased genotype) (female parent)×Ark. 663CN (non-patented, unreleased genotype) (male parent) made in 2001. The seeds resulting from this controlled hybridization were germinated in a greenhouse in the late winter 2001/early spring of 2002 and planted in a field near Clarksville, Ark. The seedlings fruited during the summer of 2004 and one seedling, designated Ark. 765, was selected for its very firm, non-melting yellow flesh, early-mid season ripening, medium-sized fruits, excellent fruit quality with distinct low-acid nectarine flavor, and resistance to bacterial spot disease.

The Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas


A flexible mesh of interwoven metal rings for production of protective clothing is provided with one or more recesses in which an oblong stiffening element is arranged, which latter consists of a metal strap made from a spring material and is provided with holes at least along its edge, which holes are engaged by rings of the mesh that are located along the edge of the at least one recess.

The invention relates to protective clothing and flexible mesh made from interwoven metal rings for production of protective clothing.
Clothing made from interwoven metal rings is worn by persons handling tools, machines or objects that involve an especially high risk of injury, especially a risk of gashes to the body and its limbs. Typical work in areas, where such protective clothing is worn, includes meat processing activities in slaughter-houses, the poultry and fish industry. Flexible mesh of interwoven metal rings has heretofore given good results in such applications, because it offers sufficient protection from gashes and cuts and because it adapts itself readily to the human body, due to its excellent flexibility, and does not hinder movements of the body. The high degree of flexibility is achieved by the fact that the metal rings of the mesh surround each other mutually and loosely.
However, the high flexibility of such mesh material is also connected with certain disadvantages. This will become apparent, for example, from a protection for the forearm that can be fastened on a glove in the form of a cuff. If that forearm protection consists of a metal ring mesh, it will collapse and telescope in the area of the wrist, unless some stiffening is provided that prevents the cuff from collapsing or unless the forearm protection is made longer to extend over the elbow where it can be fastened by a strap wrapped around the arm.

Protective clothing and flexible mesh from interwoven metal rings for production of protective clothing


A system may a processor that may receive image data of a vehicle via one or more image sensors and retrieve vehicle data regarding the vehicle from a vehicle database based on the image data. The vehicle database may include a first set of data regarding a plurality of vehicles. The processor may then retrieve financial data regarding a user from a financial database, such that the financial database includes a second set of data regarding financial information concerning the user. The processor may then determine one or more financial products associated with a purchase of the vehicle, generate one or more visualizations representative of the one or more financial products, and modify the image data depicted on a display to include the one or more visualizations.

The present disclosure relates generally to systems and methods for augmenting image data depicted on an electronic display. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to generating financial product offerings via the augmented image data on the electronic display.
This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present techniques, which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.
As mobile computing devices are used more readily to perform research and analysis, visualizations depicted on the displays of these mobile computing devices may provide more information to users to help enable them to make informed purchasing decisions. That is, mobile computing devices may retrieve information concerning various items by querying databases that include information regarding the items. As information becomes more readily available via network-based databases, it may be useful to automate the manner in which certain information is presented on the display.

System and medium for providing financial products via augmented reality

United Services Automobile Association (USAA)


A closed-loop system 10 is provided for controlling a DC motor. The system includes a DC motor 12, a controller 18 associated with the motor and constructed and arranged to control operation of the motor, a voltage sensor 14 constructed and arranged to measure a voltage supplied to the motor, a speed sensor 16 associated with the motor and constructed and arranged to obtain a measured speed of the motor, and a conditioning circuit 21 constructed and arranged to receive a speed signal and condition the speed signal to provide to the controller, a nominal speed based on the voltage supplied to the motor, or nominal rate of acceleration or deceleration upon a change in the desired speed. The controller 18 is constructed and arranged to compare the measured speed with a certain speed, that is less than the nominal speed, at a voltage corresponding to a measured voltage, and if the measured speed is less than the certain speed, a fault condition is defined by the controller. The controller 18 is also constructed and arranged to compare the measured rate of change of speed with a desired rate of change of speed, that is more than the nominal rate of change of speed in the case of motor acceleration, or less than the nominal rate of change of speed in the case of deceleration, at a voltage corresponding to a measured voltage, and if the measured rate of change of speed differs significantly from the expected rate of change of speed, a fault condition is defined by the controller.

Brush and brushless DC motors have been used frequently in battery-supplied applications, such as automotive, electric vehicle, forklift, etc. Damage to the motor can be caused by continuing to energize the motor in the event of a locked rotor, or reduced speed conditions that can result from full or partial obstruction of the motor rotor. Under these conditions, damage to the motor or the control mechanism for the motor itself can be the result.
In the control of a DC motor, or a DC brushless motor using electronic control means, variable speed is typically achieved through the use of Pulse Width Modulation (PWM). The electronic controller typically receives a control signal (analog or digital) through a control lead to vary the duty cycle of the PWM voltage applied to the motor windings. As a result, the motor speed will vary in accordance with speed control signal. A typical motor speed vs. command signal input is shown in FIG. 1, where the control signal is an actual low frequency PWM signal where the desired motor speed is determined by the positive or negative duty cycle.
In addition, in a typical PWM driven motor, current, and or temperature of power stage components are also measured in order to determine if the power stage components should be shut down due to an overload condition to protect either the motor, or control electronics. The system voltage can also be measured in order to shut down the motor in the event of an overvoltage or undervoltage condition. For example, in one typical application, it is desired to operate the motor from +9 V to +16 V. Within this range of operational voltages, a separate motor speed vs. control signal duty cycle will be present at any discrete voltage value. This relationship is shown in FIG. 2.
In some DC motor systems, the motor speed is also measured to indicate whether or not the motor has experienced a locked rotor condition. In many motor control systems, current and/or temperature are used to determine whether of not the motor has experienced an overload condition. Due to the characteristics of the temperature/current measuring conditioning circuitry, however, damage may occur to the motor and/or control circuitry due to the potentially long time constants associated with conditioning circuits. As such, current protection schemes may not protect the motor or control electronics under all foreseeable overload conditions. In addition, the additional circuitry associated with current/temperature limiting circuitry may increase the overall system cost due to the additional components required, as well as the process steps required to ensure repeatable, reliable operation of these circuits across production lots, and all operational conditions.
Accordingly, there is a need to provide an overload protection scheme that monitors motor speed at a particular voltage in order to provide reliable protection for both motor and control electronics across the entire operational range of the motor.


Apparatus for producing underlying stitch sewing data used by a sewing machine for forming underlying stitches, over which the sewing machine forms embroidery stitches to provide an embroidery. The apparatus includes an embroidery area outline data storage device storing a set of embroidery area outline data representing an outline of an embroidery area to be filled with embroidery stitches, a first producing device producing, based on the set of embroidery area outline data stored by the embroidery area outline data storage device, a set of underlying stitch area outline data representing an outline of an underlying stitch area which outline is inward apart a pre-determined distance from the embroidery area outline, an underlying stitch area outline data storage device storing the underlying stitch area outline data produced by the first producing device, a second producing device producing, based on the underlying stitch area outline data stored by the underlying stitch area outline data storage device, the underlying stitch sewing data for forming the underlying stitches in the underlying stitch area, and an underlying stitch sewing data storage device for storing the underlying stitch sewing data produced by the second producing device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process and an apparatus for producing underlying stitch sewing data.
2. Related Art Statement
Underlying stitch sewing is carried out on a work cloth for forming underlying stitches inside an embroidery area, before the embroidery area is filled with embroidery stitches to produce an embroidery, so that the embroidery stitches formed over the underlying stitches can be seen to have an appropriate swell or three-dimensional effect. In addition, the underlying stitches serve for preventing the work cloth from shrinking, as the embroidery stitches are formed in succession in the embroidery area.
The Assignee of the present application disclosed, in Japanese Patent Application laid open under Publication No. 3-289989 on Dec. 19, 1991, the technique of automatically producing underlying stitch sewing data for forming, in each of quadrangular blocks connected to each other in an array, unit underlying stitches which alternately connect between two sides of the quadrangle which are opposed in a direction generally perpendicular to an embroidering direction in which embroidery stitches are formed in succession in an embroidery area. According to the underlying stitch sewing data, the underlying stitches are formed from one of the remaining two opposed sides of each quadrangular block, toward the other side thereof, in an underlying stitch sewing direction generally parallel to the embroidering direction, with a predetermined stitch density (e.g., number of unit underlying stitch or stitches formed in a unit length as measured in the underlying stitch sewing direction). A unit underlying stitch may consist of a single stitch or a plurality of stitches formed along a straight line segment connecting between the opposed sides. Furthermore, according to the underlying stitch sewing data, the underlying stitches are formed from the first block of the array of blocks to the last block of the same.
Thus, the above-indicated technique enables automatic production of underlying stitch sewing data with high efficiency. However, the automatic production of underlying stitch sewing data is effected by using a pre-stored set of underlying stitch area outline data representative of an outline of an underlying stitch area. Thus, this technique does not provide for automatically producing underlying stitch area outline data by using embroidery area outline data representative of an outline of an embroidery area to be filled with embroidery stitches.

Process and apparatus for producing underlying stitch sewing data


Graphene based materials are provided in connection with various devices and methods of manufacturing. As consistent with one or more embodiments, an apparatus includes a graphene sheet and a single-crystal structure grown on the graphene sheet, with the graphene sheet and single-crystalline structure functioning as an electrode terminal. In various embodiments, the single-crystalline structure is grown on a graphene sheet, such as by using precursor particles to form nanoparticles at the distributed locations, and diffusing and recrystallizing the nanoparticles to form the single-crystal structure.

As a single-atom-thick carbon material with light weight, high surface area and high conductivity, graphene has been useful for a variety of applications. However, graphene has been challenging to implement in applications requiring certain combinations of structures and high performance, such as may relate to conductivity and other electrical characteristics. For example, graphite oxide remains highly resistive even after reduction, which can be undesirable in electrical applications, such as in energy storage applications.
Moreover, while a variety of materials may be desirable to implement in various articles and electrical devices, the practicable implementation of such materials has been limited. For instance, various nanomaterials exhibit certain characteristics that also make the materials difficult to work with and/or manufacture while achieving desirable performance.
These and other matters continue to present challenges to the implementation of graphene and other materials.

Graphene hybrid materials, apparatuses, systems and methods

The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University


Software hints embedded in branch instructions direct selection of one of a plurality of branch predictors to use when processing the branch instructions, leading to improved branch prediction (i.e. fewer mis-predictions) over conventional schemes. A software agent assembles branch instructions having associated respective branch predictor control fields compatible with a branch predictor selector and a plurality of branch predictors. Each branch predictor control field is used to perform branch predictor selection, branch predictor control, or both. Branch predictor selection enables selective branch prediction according to an appropriate one of the branch predictors as determined by the software agent by examining context surrounding the branch instruction. Branch predictor control enables control of operation of one or more of the branch predictors. For example, a history-based branch predictor may be instructed to provide branch prediction according to a history-depth specified by the branch predictor control.

1. Field
Advancements in branch prediction are needed to provide improvements in performance, efficiency, and utility of use.
2. Related Art
Unless expressly identified as being publicly or well known, mention herein of techniques and concepts, including for context, definitions, or comparison purposes, should not be construed as an admission that such techniques and concepts are previously publicly known or otherwise part of the prior art. All references cited herein (if any), including patents, patent applications, and publications, are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties, whether specifically incorporated or not, for all purposes. Nothing herein is to be construed as an admission that any of the references are pertinent prior art, nor does it constitute any admission as to the contents or date of actual publication of these documents.
Studies have shown that no one branch prediction algorithm works well for all cases. Recently proposed adaptive branch prediction mechanisms use multiple branch predictors concurrently and using runtime information gathered by hardware choose a prediction of one predictor that performs the best for each branch. What is needed is a more effective way of using multiple branch predictors.
Branch prediction algorithms known to date may be classified into four types: static, one-level dynamic, two-level global correlated, and two-level per-address correlated. Static prediction assumes that a branch will execute in one fixed direction, either taken or not-taken. Hardware may use a simple algorithm, such as predicting all backward branches to be taken and forward branches to be not-taken, to implement static prediction. Software may also provide the predicted taken or not-taken hint with a prediction bit in each branch instruction. One-level dynamic prediction uses the previous execution history of a branch to predict its outcome, on the assumption that future behavior of the branch is likely to be same as its past. A well-known algorithm is to use a 2-bit saturating counter that increments or decrements on each taken or not-taken outcome, respectively. The prediction is not-taken when the counter is 0 or 1 and taken when the counter is 2 or 3. Two-level global correlated schemes assume that the outcome of a specific branch is related to the outcome of other branches leading to the specific branch. Consider an example code segment:
if (cond1) . . .
if (cond1 AND cond2) . . .
The condition of the second branch is related to the condition of the first branch, and the second branch is taken only if the first branch is taken, thus the outcomes of the two branches are related. A prediction (taken or not-taken) for each branch may be made using a variety of mechanisms, including a two-bit saturating counter or perceptrons. Two-level per-address correlated schemes assume that the outcome of a branch is related to the outcomes of previous executions of the same branch (such as a branch that is taken every third execution). Two-level per-address correlated schemes may be considered an enhancement of the saturating counter scheme due to recognition of a pattern of taken and not-taken outcomes.

Software hint to specify the preferred branch prediction to use for a branch instruction


Game bird decoy having movable wings that exhibit a lifelike simulation of a game bird in flight. The invention also comprises a kit that can be assembled to form a game bird decoy and a method for using the kit and decoy.

Game birds, such as geese and ducks, have been hunted for centuries. These species of birds are both migratory and gregarious, generally traveling in flocks. It appears that they find safety in large groups, much as many types of fish find safety by swimming in schools. Further, they follow each other in flight, benefitting from the draft created by the bird or birds in front of them. The birds migrate south in fall, at a time that coincides with the hunting season.
Hunters often use decoys, or artificial objects shaped and colored to resemble birds, to attract groups of flying birds. Most decoys are designed to resemble birds on the ground or on a body of water, and they are set either on the ground or float on a body of water. However, by either natural selection or learning through experience, many geese and ducks now are wary of conventional hunting decoys. If flying geese or ducks spot something on the ground that looks like another goose or duck, the flock will generally circle around the object on the ground, maintaining a distance that is sufficient to prevent a nearby hunter from presenting a threat. In other words, these birds appear to have "learned" that a bird sitting on the ground is associated with gunshots directed toward the flock.
Motorized decoys that simulate flying birds have been developed. However, these motorized decoys are expensive. Further, the use of motorized decoys is disfavored by many hunters and environmentalists, and efforts are under way to make the use of motorized decoys illegal in the United States.
Thus, there is a need for a relatively inexpensive, non-motorized decoy that simulates birds in flight and that will attract even decoy-wary geese and ducks as they migrate.


A cylinder barrel (1) for housing a piston comprises a sheet metal liner (2) and a reinforcing structure (10) located outside the sheet metal liner (2). The reinforcing structure (10) comprises a glass-fiber-reinforcing layer (12) and a carbon-fiber-reinforcing layer (13). The glass-fiber-reinforcing layer (12) comprises a plain cloth (20) made of glass fiber covering the sheet metal liner (2). The carbon-fiber-reinforcing layer (13) comprises a carbon fiber string (31) wound around the outer circumference of the glass-fiber-reinforcing layer (12) along a spiral path. According to the this construction, the reinforcing structure (10) has a high flexibility which is required for preventing cracks in the reinforcing structure (10) while maintaining a high rigidity of the entire cylinder barrel (1).

A hydraulic actuator which is mounted on an air craft, for example, requires a light weight cylinder barrel for housing a reciprocating piston.
In order to reduce the weight of the cylinder barrel, a known method is to construct the cylinder barrel using a thin sheet metal liner reinforced with a reinforcing structure made of glass fiber or carbon fiber.
The thin sheet metal liner is formed in a cylindrical shape and string made of glass fiber or carbon fiber is wound around the outer circumference of the sheet metal liner. The string wound around the sheet metal liner is then cemented by a resin. The reinforcing structure thus formed increases the rigidity of the cylinder barrel.
With respect to such a reinforcing structure, although not for a cylinder barrel, JP2004-324852A issued by Japan Patent Office in 2004, proposes that a valve body of a solenoid valve be reinforced with glass fiber or carbon fiber.

Reinforcing structure of cylinder barrel


A display apparatus is disclosed that includes a screen and a frame system positioned to support the screen. The frame system includes a plurality of frame members, a hinge that couples the frame members together, and a lock that blocks relative movement of the frame members.

Projection screens for displaying images are known. Some projections screens are configured to be set up and taken down to facility use and storage of the projection screens when not in use.
According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a method of preparing a projection screen to display an image is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a projection screen including a screen and a frame system. The frame system has a plurality of frame members, hinges coupling adjacent frame members together, and locks positioned to block movement of the frame members coupled together by the hinges. The method further includes the steps of unfolding the frame system, coupling the screen to the frame system, and positioning the frame system in a substantially vertical position, wherein during the unfolding step, portions of the locks move within apertures formed in sides of the plurality of the frame members.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method of preparing a projection screen to display an image is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a projection screen including a screen and a frame system. The frame system has a plurality of frame members, hinges coupling adjacent frame members together, and locks positioned to block movement of the frame members coupled together by the hinges. The method further includes the steps of unfolding the frame system, coupling the screen to the frame system, and positioning the frame system in a substantially vertical position, wherein during the unfolding step, portions of the locks move within apertures formed in ends of the plurality of the frame members.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method of preparing a projection screen to display an image is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a projection screen including a screen and a frame system. The frame system has a plurality of frame members, hinges coupling adjacent frame members together, and locks positioned to block movement of the frame members coupled together by the hinges. The method further includes the steps of unfolding the frame system, coupling the screen to the frame system, and positioning the frame system in a substantially vertical position, wherein during the unfolding step, portions of the locks move within apertures formed in sides of the plurality of the frame members.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method of preparing a projection screen to display an image is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a projection screen including a screen and a frame system. The frame system has a plurality of frame members, hinges coupling adjacent frame members together, and locks positioned to block movement of the frame members coupled together by the hinges. The method further includes the steps of unfolding the frame system, coupling the screen to the frame system, and positioning the frame system in a substantially vertical position, wherein during the unfolding step, portions of the locks move from being positioned outside of at least one of the plurality of frame members to being positioned inside said at least one of the plurality of frame members.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method of preparing a projection screen for storage is provided. The method comprising the steps of providing a projection screen including a screen and a frame system. The frame system has a plurality of frame members, hinges coupling adjacent frame members together, and locks positioned to block movement of the frame members coupled together by the hinges. The method further includes the steps of uncoupling the screen from the frame system, unlocking the plurality of frame members by applying force to the locks through apertures formed in sides of the plurality of frame members, and folding the plurality of frame members about the hinges.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method of preparing a projection screen for storage is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a projection screen including a screen and a frame system. The frame system has a plurality of frame members, hinges coupling adjacent frame members together, and locks positioned to block movement of the frame members coupled together by the hinges. The method further includes the steps of uncoupling the screen from the frame system, unlocking the plurality of frame members by rotating at least a portion of the locks within interiors of the plurality of frame members, and folding the plurality of frame members about the hinges.


A bleeder circuit includes a first resistor, a thermistor, a transistor, a second resistor, and a diode section. The first resistor biases the transistor into an always-on status. The second resistor prevents current from flowing through the thermistor responsive to a voltage at the positive terminal being greater than a minimum forward voltage of a load. The thermistor increases in electrical resistance, limiting the current flowing therethrough and preventing damage to the load responsive to the load short-circuiting.

There is an existing problem in LED-based light bulbs that are configured to be retrofitted into circuitry including traditional Triode Alternating Current (TRIAC) dimming circuits. Visible flickering is possible because the TRIAC may conduct insufficient current to remain on for a whole conduction angle, known as a misfire. Such a condition will occur in the circuit depicted in FIG. 1. A solution is to draw a holding current so as to prevent misfire, known as a bleeder circuit. Because a bleeder circuit is by design always conducting current when current is not being drawn by an electric load, when there is a failure in the load, the bleeder circuit will continue to draw current. This frequently results in the overheating of the entire circuit, causing damage beyond the initial failure. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a bleeder circuit that may draw current as desired, such as to prevent misfire in a TRIAC circuit, while also providing protection against overcurrent.
This background information is provided to reveal information believed by the applicant to be of possible relevance to the present invention. No admission is necessarily intended, nor should be construed, that any of the preceding information constitutes prior art against the present invention.


A closed loop clock delay adjustment system measures the drift between the delay introduced by clock buffers and by delays inserted at the device data input pins. The system uses a reference delay at the input of a measurement flip-flop. The reference delay is defined to be an approximate average of the delays at the data input pins. An external clock signal is coupled to the input of the reference delay. The output of the reference delay is coupled to the data input of the measurement flip-flop. The external clock signal is also coupled to the input of a variable clock delay buffer sub-circuit. The output of the variable clock delay buffer is coupled to the clock signal input of the measurement flip-flop. In operation, the measurement flip-flop compares the variable clock delay buffer output signal with the clock signal delayed by the reference delay. If the variable clock delay buffer output signal is delayed more than the reference delay output signal, the variable clock delay is decreased. If the variable clock delay buffer output signal is delayed less than the reference delay output signal, the variable clock delay is increased. The input of an up-down counter is coupled to the measurement flip-flop output. The digital output of the up-down counter is converted to an analog signal which then controls the variable clock delay buffer. This closed loop clock delay adjustment system maintains the clock delay within a small range of a predetermined optimal value.

Digital circuit devices typically include flip-flops, latches, or other storage circuits controlled by a clock signal. These devices receive both a data signal and a clock signal. In order to properly store a data signal, the data signal must be present on the data input terminal close to or during the active clock transition.
Within an IC device, the proper timing can be reliably achieved by carefully designing the clock distribution network. If the worst case clock skew (time spread over which a clock edge arrives at the various flip-flops on the chip) is less than the sum of the clock-to-output delay (time from when a clock edge is applied to the clock terminal of a flip-flop and the data appear on the flip-flop output terminal) plus the minimum interconnect delay, there is never a problem that a data signal will be removed from a flip-flop input terminal before the clock signal has caused the data to be captured.
However, signals applied from external sources to pins of the IC device must be carefully timed so that the IC device will respond correctly. Practically, a time window during which valid data must be present on the data input terminal is specified in order to guarantee predictable performance over the full range of operating conditions and manufacturing tolerances. This time window is discussed at page 13-45 of "The Programmable Logic Data Book" published in September, 1996 by Xilinx, Inc., 2100 Logic Drive, San Jose, Calif. 95124, assignee of the present invention.
This time window often extends on both sides of a clock edge. The time before the clock edge during which data are required to be present and stable is called "set-up time" and the time after the clock edge during which data are required to be present and stable is called "hold time". Since data applied from an external pin to a flip-flop data input terminal will stabilize at the data source some time after a certain clock edge (clock-to-out time), and data must be available at the flip-flop data input terminal before the next clock edge (set-up time), the maximum clock frequency is limited by the sum of clock-to-out time and set-up time; therefore, it is desirable that set-up time be as short as possible.
An on-chip clock signal is often distributed globally from a single input pin to an entire chip or a large part of a chip. In large integrated circuit devices having global clock signals there is a clock distribution delay, which is the time difference between when a global clock signal is applied to the external pin and when the global clock signal arrives at a last point in the IC device. Thus, it is necessary to account for the clock distribution delay.
Large clock distribution delay can create large hold time requirements for signals going to points distant from the clock source (the time an externally applied data signal is required to remain stable after an externally applied clock edge appears), since data must be present at the data input terminal of a particular flip-flop when the clock signal switches at the clock input terminal of that flip-flop. Failing to meet a hold time requirement can cause data errors, and in particular can cause a race condition. A race condition occurs when a data source is not guaranteed to maintain a first data signal beyond a time when a clock edge arrives at a flip-flop receiving the data signal. Erroneously, the flip-flop may receive a second data signal and miss the first data signal. This race condition is usually a fatal system error. Therefore, chips are usually designed not to have hold time requirements.
Xilinx, Inc., assignee of the present invention, has addressed the clock distribution delay and potential hold-time problems by adding a deliberate delay to every data input signal coming from an external pin. In some FPGAs, this added delay is fixed and always present; in other FPGAs, the delay is optional, and its value is tailored to the clock distribution delay; generally, delay is larger for larger devices since larger devices tend to have larger clock distribution delay. As a result of this added delay, no Xilinx FPGA has a hold time requirement, but the set-up time is significant. Since the longest set-up time limits the operating speed or maximum clock rate of a system, it is desirable to minimize the set-up time, but without requiring a hold time.

Feedback apparatus for adjusting clock delay


A method of inducing transposition in a transgenic embryo, sperm and egg is described, comprising the steps of (a) generating a first adult transgenic organism comprising within its genome one or more copies of a transposon; (b) generating a second adult transgenic organism comprising within its genome one or more copies of a gene encoding a transposase cognate for the transposon and/or a sequence capable of regulating expression of the gene encoding the transposase; (c) crossing the first adult transgenic organism with the second transgenic adult organism to provide a progeny which comprises, in the genome of one or more of its cells, both (i) one or more copies of the transposon and (ii) a gene encoding a transposase cognate for the transposon, wherein the gene encoding the transposase is under the control of one or more inducible regulatory sequences which permit expression of the transposase, and (d) expressing the gene encoding the transposase in the embryo, sperm or egg to cause mobilization of the transposon within a portion of the tissues or cells of the progeny. Using the method, mobilization of a transposon can advantageously be induced at predetermined stages of development of an embryo, sperm or egg and the mutated gene of a single cell may be replicated in subsequent cell divisions, resulting in groups of cells which are essentially homogenous for the transposed gene.

The development of high through-put DNA sequencing technology, and sophisticated data-capture and computational analysis has resulted in the sequence determination of entire genomes including Drosophila melanogaster and Homo sapiens. This has identified novel "predicted" gene sequences but no associated biology ascribing function. Functional information is a prerequisite to delineate which genes may prove to be therapeutic targets for disease management and diagnosis in man.
The identification of individual gene function and the functional relationship of genes to disease states is now a pre-occupation of the Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical industry. The identification of disease related genes will allow the development of new drugs or targets for drug discovery, provide diagnostic or prognostic markers for disease and provide prescriptive guides for physicians. The latter of these will be particularly useful in diseases having complex genetics. Where genetic variation between patients can be measured, personalised medicine programs can be developed where defined patient responses to drug action are identified. The approach is expensive and time consuming, and the outcomes often subjective, lacking hard evidence relating a variation in gene expression to a functional disease related event in vivo. Validation of gene function requires studies in animal model systems which directly relate cause (i.e. a mutation in a gene sequence, a deletion or an insertion) with a measurable effect (i.e. behavioural, developmental, metabolic etc.) in the whole animal.
Gene function studies in mice and other mammals are presently restricted to:
A) Painstaking mutational analysis of individual genes in "knock-out" mice derived from libraries of embryonic stems cells (ES cells) each cell containing one or more tagged genes often introduced by viral infection.
B) The random mutation in vivo of mouse genes by alkylating agents, and subsequently whole genome sequence analysis to identify multiple mutations.
The knockout approach is valid where a function can be surmised based on sequence homology with closely related genes of known function but this approach is time consuming and labour intensive.
The alkylation approach relies entirely on whole genome sequencing to identify sites of mutation and the cataloguing of changes in previously determined behavioural traits and metabolic read-outs. Identification of a phenotypic change must then be correlated to one of perhaps one hundred alkylation events in the target mouse genome. The approach is also time consuming and requires the generation and maintenance of large mouse libraries, and is limited to inbred strains of mice (for comparative review see Abuin et al. (2002) TIB 20:36-42).
Another method for obtaining mutations is through the introduction of exogenous DNA into the genome.
Transposons are natural genetic elements capable of jumping or transposing from one position to another within the genome of a species. Mobilisation of a transposon is dependant on the expression of a transposase enzyme which binds to sequences flanking the transposon DNA leading to the excision of DNA from one position in the genome and reinsertion elsewhere in the genome. Insertion into a gene sequence will lead to a change in gene function which may, in turn, result in a measurable phenotypic change in the whole organism.
Of the three "classical" model animals, the fly, the worm and the mouse, efficient transposon based insertion methodologies have been developed for D. melanogaster and for C. elegans. The following class 2 transposon families have been identified: 1) the P family; 2) the hAt family (hobo-Ac-Tam3), (including for example hermes) and the Tcl/mariner family (including for example minos, mariner and sleeping beauty).
The introduction of P element mediated transgenesis and insertional mutagenesis in Drosophila (Spradling & Rubin (1982) Science 218:341-347) transformed Drosophila genetics and formed the paradigm for developing equivalent methodologies in other eukaryotes. However, the P element has a very restricted host range, and therefore other elements have been employed in the past decade as vectors for gene transfer and/or mutagenesis in a variety of complex eukaryotes, including nematodes, plants, mammals, fish e.g. zebrafish and birds.
The use of Drosophila P-elements in D. melanogaster for enhancer trapping and gene tagging has been described; see Wilson et al. (1989) Genes Dev 3:1301; Spradling et al. (1999) Genetics 153:135.
The hobo element of Drosophila melanogaster has been described by Gelbart W. M., Blackman R. K., (1989) Prog Nucleic Acid Res Mol Biol 36:37-46.
Hermes is derived from the common housefly. Its use in creating transgenic insects is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,614,398, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Minos, a class 2 transposon and member of the Tcl family of elements, was isolated from D. hydei and has been used for the germ line transformation of D. melanogaster, C. capitata, and Anopheles stephensi (Loukeris, T. G. et al. (1995) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 92:9485-9; Loukeris, T. G. et al. (1995) Science 270:2002-5, Catteruccia, F. et al. (2000) Nature 405:959-962) and using transient mobilisation assays it has also been shown to be active in embryos of D. melanogaster, Aedes aegypti, Anopheles stephensi and Bombyx mori and in cell lines of D. melanogaster, Aedes aegypti, Anopheles gambiae and Spodoptera frugiperda (Catteruccia, F. et al. (2000) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 97:2157-2162, Klinakis et al. (2000) EMBO Reports 1:416-421; Shimizu et al. (June 2000) Insect Mol Biol 9(3):277-81).
European Patent Application 0955364 (Savakis et al., the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference) describes the use of Minos to transform cells, plants and animals. The generation of transgenic mice comprising one or more Minos insertions is also described.
Mariner is a transposon originally isolated from Drosophila mauritiana, but since discovered in several invertebrate and vertebrate species. The use of mariner to transform organisms is described in International patent application WO99/09817.
Salmonid type transposons such as the Sleeping Beauty (SB) transposon, a Tcl/mariner-like transposable element reconstructed from fish have been described by Ivics et al. (1997) Cell 91:501-510 and Horie et al. (2001) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 98, Issue 16, 9191-9196.
International Patent Application WO99/07871 describes the use of the Tcl transposon from C. elegans for the transformation of C. elegans and a human cell line.
PiggyBac is a transposon derived from the baculovirus host Trichplusia ni. Its use for germ-line transformation of Medfly has been described by Handler et al. (1998) PNAS (USA) 95:7520-5 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,218,185.
In the techniques described in the prior art, the use of the cognate transposase for inducing transposon jumping (or transposition) is acknowledged to be necessary.
The standard methodology for transposable element mediated transformation is by coinjecting into pre-blastoderm embryos a mixture of two plasmids: one expressing transposase (Helper) but unable to transpose, and one carrying the gene of interest flanked by the inverted terminal repeats of the element (Donor). Transformed progeny of injected animals are detected by the expression of dominant marker genes.
PCT/EP01/03341 (WO 01/71019) describes the generation of transgenic animals using transposable elements. According to this method, the transposase function is provided by crossing of transgenic organisms, one of which provides a transposon function and the other providing a transposase function in order to produce organisms containing both transposon and transposase in the required cells or tissues. The use of tissue specific chromatin opening domains directs transposase activity in a tissue specific manner and gives rise to multiple independent transposition events in somatic tissues (see Zagoraiou et al. (2001) PNAS 98:11474-11478).
Transpositions can be "tagged" allowing positional changes within complex genomes to be rapidly determined and flanking genes determined by sequence analysis. This allows an immediate link between cause (i.e. an insertional event in a specific gene or regulatory element) and effect (i.e. a phenotypic or measurable change). However, conventional methods of inducing genetic modifications by transposition suffer from the disadvantage that the tissue in which transposition has occurred will be a mosaic of individual cells each with unique transpositions. As a result, analysis of phenotype results of the transposition event may be difficult to perform as each transposition event is unique. Thus, a method of controlling a transposition event so as to provide the same genetic modification in a number of cells would provide a valuable contribution to the art.

Transgenic mice generated by transposition and uses thereof


A system and method for using an Ethernet physical layer device to identify cabling topologies. A power sourcing equipment (PSE) can power independent powered devices (PDs) using two sets of wire pairs in a single four-pair cable. Higher power PSEs can power a single PD using all four wire pairs in the cable. Conventional power over Ethernet (PoE) analog techniques (i.e., voltage, current, etc.) have a difficult time distinguishing where the wire pairs are going from the PSE. By using information (e.g., negotiated speed, link energy, distance diagnostic, etc.) generated by the physical layer device (PHY) subsystem, the PoE system can determine whether the two sets of wire pairs in a cable are powering a single PD or two independent PDs.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to power over Ethernet (PoE) and, more particularly, to a system and method for using an Ethernet physical layer device (PHY) to identify cabling topologies.
2. Introduction
In a PoE application such as that described in the IEEE 802.3af and 802.3at specifications, a power sourcing equipment (PSE) delivers power to a powered device (PD) over Ethernet cabling. Various types of PDs exist, including voice over IP (VoIP) phones, wireless LAN access points, Bluetooth access points, network cameras, computing devices, etc.
In IEEE 802.3af, a PD may receive power over a single set of two wire pairs from a PSE whether it is a midspan or an endspan. In supporting higher-power applications, additional higher-power PoE specifications can be defined (e.g., IEEE 802.3at) that would allow 2× two wire sets to go out of the same PSE to either an individual PD, which could get double the power, or go to two different PDs.
In general, it is beneficial to find out if multiple sets of wire pairs are going to the same PD. For example, this information can used to establish what a PD may report to the PSE via higher-level protocols. Additionally, this information may also be used to identify that a PD has access to the extra sets of wire pairs for the potential delivery of more power or for power backup. What is needed therefore is a mechanism that enables a power over Ethernet system to identify a cabling topology from the PSE to the PD.

System and method for using an ethernet physical layer device to identify cabling topologies


The invention relates to a microscope for conventional fluorescence microscopy (Epi fluorescence) and for total internal reflection microscopy, including at least one light source (1) for the conventional fluorescence illumination and at least one light source (2) for the evanescent illumination, and including an objective (4), wherein the illuminating light coming from the light sources (1, 2) on different illumination paths (5, 6) enters the objective (4) via a beam combiner (7) and from there is passed to the sample (8), characterized in that the exit pupil of the objective (4) is imaged on the beam combiner (7) and the beam combiner is structured such that it guides the illuminating light used for the conventional fluorescence illumination and the illuminating light used for the evanescent illumination into the objective (4) along beam paths (5, 6) which are geometrically separate from one another, and preferably run parallel or coaxially to one another.

The present invention relates to a microscope for conventional fluorescence microscopy (epi fluorescence) and for total internal reflection microscopy, comprising at least one light source for the conventional fluorescence illumination and at least one light source for the evanescent illumination, and comprising an objective, where the illuminating light coming from the light sources on different illumination paths enters the objective via a beam combiner and from there is passed to the sample.

Microscope for epi fluorescence and total internal reflection microscopy


A microlead includes exposed areas forming stimulation electrodes. The microlead further includes a stimulation zone (ZS) defined by a first preshape of the microcable at the distal end thereof, in a region including the electrodes (30). The microlead further includes a retention zone (ZR) including a retainer shape adapted to abut the wall of the target vessel. The microlead further includes a stretching zone (ZEL) proximal to the retention zone. The stretching zone may be defined by a shape adapted to make the region elastically deformable in the longitudinal direction under the effect of an axial traction/compression stress. The axial traction/compression stiffness in the elongation zone is lower than that in the retention and stimulation areas.

The invention relates to "active implantable medical devices" as defined by the Directive 90/385/EEC of 20 Jun. 1990 the Council of the European Communities. This definition may include implants to continuously monitor heart rhythm and deliver, if necessary, electrical stimulation or resynchronization pulses. This invention relates more specifically to cardiac pacing leads to be implanted in the heart coronary network to allow the stimulation of a left or right cavity, a ventricle or an atrium.
Unlike the right cavities, for which implanting endocardial leads via the right peripheral venous system is sufficient, the implantation of permanent leads in a cavity of the left heart involves significant risks, such as the risk of bubbles passing to the cerebral vasculature located downstream of the left ventricle. For this reason, when it is desirable to stimulate a left cavity, it is most often chosen not to introduce a lead into the cavity to pace, but rather in the coronary network, the lead being provided with an electrode that is applied against the epicardial wall of the left ventricle or of the left atrium. These leads thus stimulate the heart muscle via one or more point electrodes whose position is a function of the predefined trajectory of the cannulated vein. A lead of this type is, for example, the Situs LV model marketed by Sorin CRM (Clamart, France) and described in EP 0993840 A1 and its US counterpart U.S. Pat. No. 6,385,492 (Sorin CRM S.A.S., previously known as ELA Medical). The introduction of such a lead is via the coronary sinus, from its opening in the right atrium. The lead is then pushed and oriented along the network of coronary veins to the selected site. This procedure is very difficult due to the particularities of the venous system, including the gradual reduction in diameter of the veins as the lead progresses into the selected coronary vein. Once the target vein is reached, the surgeon is looking for a satisfying stimulation site, with a good electrical contact with the stimulation electrode against the epicardial tissue. Then, contact should be maintained despite various variations or stresses over time.
A recent trend in the pacing of the left ventricle is the reduction of the diameter of the implantable portion in the coronary network, to a diameter of less than 4 French (1.33 mm), or even to less than 2 French (0.33 mm).
The size of the lead body is indeed a factor directly related to the controlled guiding capacity of the lead in the coronary venous system in order to be able to select specific stimulation sites located in certain collateral veins.
A lead is described in EP 2455131 A1 and US 20120130464 (Sorin CRM). It includes a lead body with a hollow sheath in which a microcable having a diameter of about 0.5 to 2 French (0.17 to 0.66 mm) slides. The micro cable can emerge to a length of 1 to 200 mm beyond the outlet of the lead body. This microcable, which forms the active part of the lead, has a plurality of exposed portions forming a succession of individual electrodes. The electrodes together form a network connected in series to increase the stimulation points in a deep area of the coronary network.
Its very small diameter allows the introduction of the microcable in a first vein ("go" vein) and then to a second anastomosis vein ("back" vein) ascending therein. There is a very frequent presence of distal anastomosis in the coronary venous system. In other words, at the end of some veins there can be passage to another vein, with the possibility of communication between two separate veins at the anastomosis via their respective distal ends. It thus becomes possible, with a single lead, to simultaneously stimulate two relatively remote areas located in two separate veins. The double effect of both the distance of the two areas and of the multiplication of points of stimulation in each zone can provide a particularly beneficial effect for the resynchronization of the functioning of the heart.
Another advantage of the small diameter of the active part of the lead is that it avoids the obstruction of a portion of the blood flow in the vein, which would lead to a deficiency of irrigation of the venous system downstream of the lead end.
Reducing the diameter of the lead, however, is not without drawbacks. Indeed, when the diameter of the lead is significantly lower than that in the vein, it can be difficult to ensure continuous contact with the electrodes. The exposed portion of the microcable, which forms an electrode, can be located in an intermediate, "floating" position in the middle of the vein, resulting in the contact points between the microcable and the wall of the vein being made in electrically isolated areas. Moreover, even in case of actual contact between the electrodes and the vein wall, this configuration may not be stable, because of a permanent heartbeat.
This may be particularly true in the case of microcables inserted through an anastomosis. If the veins are of small diameter in the region of the anastomosis, typically less than 1 French (0.33 mm), beyond the anastomosis they may join the coronary sinus after having passed the left ventricle, and the vein diameter increases. The very thin microcable, allowing to cross the anastomosis, may then move into a region of relatively large diameter, resulting in difficulty establishing a stable contact between the electrodes and the wall of the vein in the region.
One problem of the invention is to propose a structure of microlead ensuring continuous contact of all electrodes with the coronary veins, fixing the position of the lead in order to sustain the effectiveness of the stimulation. Another problem is the risk of displacement of the active part of the lead after it was implanted.
EP 2455131 A1 cited above provides for a retaining mechanism, such as a helical relief formed on the end of the lead body near the end thereof, near the outlet where the microcable emerges. The end of the lead body thus has a locally increased diameter of about 7 French (2.33 mm) for the mechanical holding of the lead body into the vein.
FR 2801510 A1 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 6,549,812 B1) describes another mechanism for holding the lead in the target vein. However, this holding mechanism has the disadvantage of large size and may partially block the passage of blood flow in the vein. Moreover, although it can provide good retention of the lead body, it does not protect the portion of the lead inserted into the deep venous system. In such a case the telescopic microcable may be displaced by large movements of the patient. For example when a patient raises his arm, such movement tends to elongate the superior vena cava, with a risk of local traction applied to the lead, which traction is transmitted to the distal region implanted in the coronary network. These movements generated by the human body are thus an additional challenge relating to displacement of electrodes placed on the stimulation area.

Detection/stimulation microlead with enhanced positioning


A device for measuring the level of fuel in a motor vehicle tank, the device being of the type comprising: a float suitable for following the level of the fuel; a lever hinged to a support and carrying the float; and an electrical transducer controlled by the lever so that the transducer supplies a signal representative of the level of fuel in the tank; wherein: the electrical transducer is placed in a fixed housing linked to a wall of the tank; the lever support is urged permanently against the bottom wall of the tank to follow any displacement thereof; and rotary link means are provided to provide a rotary connection between the float-carrying lever and a control shaft of the electrical transducer.

It has been known for many years that fuel tanks may become deformed. This is particularly true when tanks are made of plastic. For example, the depth of the tank may vary significantly as a function of various parameters such as temperature, the weight of fuel in the tank, etc.
If precautions are not taken, tank deformations can give rise to erroneous fuel measurements, particularly when measuring a small quantity of fuel remaining in the bottom of a tank.
Errors can have severe consequences when the information from the electrical transducer is used to generate a warning signal informing the driver that the level in the tank has reached a minimum or "reserve" level. The effect of the above-mentioned error can lead to the warning being generated late. In other words, the device may indicate a quantity of fuel that is greater than the quantity actually in the tank.
Attempts have already been made to solve the above problem by means of devices that take their reference from the bottom of the tank.
Such devices are described, for example, in the following documents: US-A-4 184 370, DE-A-3 310 704, US-A-3 935 747, and US-A-3 449 955.
All of those known "bottom-reference" devices include means for urging the level-measuring assembly against the bottom of the tank, i.e. the assembly comprising the support for the float-carrying lever and the support for the electrical transducer.
Those known solutions lead to structures that are complex.
The object of the present invention is to improve existing systems.

Device for measuring the fuel level in a motor vehicle tank