Methods of wet etching through a silicon substrate using composite etch-stop layers are disclosed. In one embodiment, the composite etch stop comprises a layer of silicon dioxide and a layer of polyimide.

The etching of silicon has been widely applied in the semiconductor industry. Common forms of silicon etching are by plasma etch and wet chemical etch. Plasma etching enables fine features to be formed in the silicon, but is relatively expensive. Wet chemical etching is less expensive, but produces coarser features.
In some applications, a silicon wafer is etched from the back surface with a wet chemical etch process such that some portions of the silicon extending from the back surface to the front surface are removed. In these processes, a layer of silicon dioxide (SiO.sub.2) or silicon nitride (Si.sub.3 N.sub.4) is usually formed over the front surface of the silicon wafer as an etch stop. Typical silicon etchants attack these materials at a much slower rate than silicon.
Silicon dioxide and silicon nitride layers work adequately as long as the removed portions of silicon are relatively small. However, these materials have been found to crack and break apart when larger portions of silicon are removed, which is often catastrophic to the overall fabrication process. As is known in the art, the underlying silicon wafer places a significant amount of tangential stress on silicon dioxide and nitride layers which are formed over its surface. Oxide and nitride layers (SiO.sub.2 and Si.sub.3 N.sub.4) are formed over the silicon wafer by high temperature processes (usually>700.degree. C.), and have coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE) which are smaller than that of silicon. Upon cooling to room temperature, the oxide and nitride layers prefer to contract at a slower rate than the underlying silicon wafer. However, because the silicon wafer is thicker than these layers, the silicon wafer determines the overall lateral contraction rate and thereby compresses these layers in the tangential direction. When the silicon under a large area of a SiO.sub.2 or Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 layer is etched away, the tangential stress in the layer causes the layer to bow outwards in the vertical direction. With sufficient bowing, the layer cracks or breaks.
Accordingly, there is a need for an etch-stop layer that can be used for the removal of large portions of silicon.

Methods of etching through wafers and substrates with a composite etch stop layer


The apparatus records information by irradiating a laser beam onto a recording medium and forming marks on the disc. Prior to the actual recording, the controller performs a test recording in which predetermined test recording data is recorded on the recording medium. In the test, data is recorded by generating a recording pulse signal based on the recording data and thereby driving a light source. While the test recording is performed, the level of a cooling pulse in the recording pulse signal is varied. Then, the test recorded data is reproduced to generate a reproduced signal. A waveform of the reproduced signal is evaluated, and a cooling level that provides a target asymmetry value is set as an optimum cooling level. Thus, the subsequent actual recording can be performed according to the optimum cooling level determined based on characteristics of the recording medium to be used for the actual recording.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a technique for recording information on an optical disc using a laser beam or other means.
2. Description of Related Art
Onto a recordable or rewritable optical disc such as a DVD-R (DVD-Recordable) or a DVD-RW (DVD-Rerecordable), information is recorded by irradiating a laser beam on its recording surface. At the areas on the recording surface of the optical disc where the laser beam is irradiated, the property of the optical recording medium forming the optical disc is physically changed because of the increased temperature. This produces recording marks on the recording surface.
Namely, the laser beam is modulated by recording pulses having time widths corresponding to information to be recorded, so that the laser pulses having lengths corresponding to information to be recorded are generated and irradiated on the optical disc. Thus, recording marks having lengths corresponding to the information to be recorded can be formed on the optical disc.
One approach recently used is to form a recording mark by a pulse train having a plurality of short pulses, rather than by a single laser pulse. This approach, called "write strategy", introduces less heat accumulation on the recording surface of the optical disc compared to the approach irradiating a single recording laser pulse. Therefore, uniform temperature distribution can be achieved on the recording surface on which the recording marks are formed. This can prevent undesired teardrop-shaped recording marks from being formed, and enables the formation of the recording marks of preferred shape.
In the case of DVD-R, for example, the recording pulse train consists of a plurality of pulses which magnitude varying between a read power level and a write power level. That is, based on recording data, the areas on the recording surface of the optical disc where no recording marks are to be formed (referred to as "space periods" hereafter) are irradiated with the laser beam of the read power. The areas on the recording surface of the optical disc where recording marks are to be formed (referred to as "mark periods" hereafter) are irradiated with the laser beam of the power corresponding to the recording pulse train having magnitudes varying between the read power and the write power. Consequently, the recording marks are formed on the recording surface. In the case of DVD-RW, the recording pulse train has a waveform with amplitudes varying between four power levels: the read power level, an erase power level for erasing the recorded mark already formed, the write power level, and a cooling power level (typically equal to the read power level).
Such discs are manufactured by various manufacturers and have different characteristics on a manufacturer basis or even a product basis. Therefore, there are differences in optimum recording power and write strategy used in recording information between the discs. Generally, each disc has information on the recording power and the write strategy reflecting its own characteristics (hereafter referred to as "recording condition information"), which is considered to be optimum. In one approach, this recording condition information is included in LPP (Land Pre-Pit) information and recorded on the disc as the LPPs. In another approach, the recording condition information is stored in a microcomputer of a recording apparatus. In this case, a manufacturer ID is recorded on the disc, whereas the recording condition information is stored in the microcomputer of the recording apparatus in association with the manufacturer ID. Thus, when the recording apparatus records information on the disc, it reads out the recording condition information in the LPP information or retrieves the recording condition information corresponding to the manufacturer ID recorded on the disc from the microcomputer in itself, and then records the information according to the recording condition information. This allows the information to be recorded under the recording condition recommended by the disc manufacturer or the like.
While these approaches to determine the recording condition allow information to be recorded substantially properly on a disc when the disc has a sufficiently wide margin (tolerance) in its characteristics, the quality of actually recorded signals still varies to some extent. This results from variations in each information recording apparatus, such as an error in laser power adjustment and the pulse emission characteristic during recording, or variations in characteristics of each disc. If the recording speed further increases in the future, the margin in characteristic of the disc, that is sufficiently wide for a normal recording speed, will be relatively narrow, so that proper recording may become difficult or impossible. In addition, discs with various characteristics manufactured by different manufacturers will be commercially available as DVD-RW becomes popular. Some of the discs may have a narrow margin, and it is quite possible that the proper information recording is not ensured for such discs.

Information recording apparatus and information recording method


The present invention teaches a method of manufacturing a metal oxide thin film transistor (TFT) that includes the following steps: forming a shielding layer, a metal oxide semiconductor layer, a gate electrode, and a first photoresist pattern layer stacked on a substrate; forming a second photoresist layer on the metal oxide semiconductor layer and the first photoresist pattern layer; conducting ashing process to the second photoresist layer and the first photoresist pattern layer, and lifting the second photoresist layer and first photoresist pattern layer after they are ashing-processed; forming a first insulation layer on the metal oxide semiconductor layer and the gate electrode; and forming independent source electrode and drain electrode on the first insulation layer. The present invention deposits the second photoresist layer on the first photoresist pattern layer hardened by the conductorization process, so that they may be easily lifted after the ashing process.

Existing display devices, such as liquid crystal display (LCD) or organic lighting emitting diode (OLED) display devices, often adopt TFTs as control switches. These TFTs are often amorphous silicon (a-Si) TFTs.
On the other hand, metal oxide TFTs have higher electronic mobility rate than that of the a-Si TFTs, and metal oxide TFTs may be applied in transparent displays. Therefore, metal oxide TFTs are a more promising technique. However, in the conductorization of metal oxide during the manufacturing of top-gate metal oxide TFT, top photoresist may be hardened, making its lifting in subsequent process more difficult.

Metal oxide TFT, manufacturing method thereof, and display device

SHENZHEN CHINA STAR OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


A device for selectively damping golf club vibrations by controlling their frequencies through optimal positioning at the point of maximum deformation energy for the vibration modes excited after impact. The device may be located at either or both of upper and lower intermediate sections of the club shaft, and is constituted by at least one layer of rigid material joined to the shaft surface by an intermediate layer of resilient material.

During the game of golf, the golfer strikes the ball to move it instrument termed a golf club, which is constituted by a shaft, and which incorporates a head at its lower end, and, at its upper end, is equipped with a handle or grip.
To drive the ball into the hole, the golfer uses several types of clubs distinguished by the shapes of their heads used to strike the ball and by the length of their shafts. The impact of the ball on the hitting surface of the club head generates, on the shaft, vibratory phenomena which prove especially unpleasant for the golfer, who, after the impact of the ball, feels discomfort which causes him to lose confidence in his club for the next hit.
An analysis of vibratory phenomena has shown that vibrations in a golf club represent the sum of several elementary vibratory phenomena, or modes, whose frequencies range between 0 and 200 Hertz; i.e., a first, vibratory mode in the plane of the swing, of the "free embedded flection" type for which the frequency is approximately 5 Hertz; a second mode of vibration, of the "supported-embedded flection" type, having a frequency of approximately 50 Hertz; a third, torsional mode of vibration whose frequency is approximately 75 Hertz; and a fourth mode of vibration of the first, harmonic flection type, having a frequency of approximately 130 Hertz. The frequency values depend on the properties of the shaft and head, and on the nature of the boundary conditions (site and gripping intensity). All of these vibrations are felt by the golfer as a disagreeable sensation upon impact, and they thus lessen the confidence the golfer has in the equipment, since he anticipates these unpleasant sensations before hitting the ball. It must be noted that the vibration amplitudes are particularly strong because the speed of the club head at the moment of impact is high and because the strokes are off-center.
Different means for reducing vibration amplitudes are known in the art. Complete elimination or attenuation of bad vibrations deprives the golfer of information feedback. In fact, some manufacturers have incorporated, along the entire length of the shaft and in the structure, fibers, e.g., made of Kelvar, which in the context of use, exhibit well-known damping properties so as to reduce energy and thus the amplitudes of the vibrations; however, damping is not selective and, accordingly, the club damps all modes.

Vibration-damping device for a golf club


An electronically controlled speed change device for bicycles has an automatic mode of operation in which, at the request of the cyclist for increase or decrease of the speed ratio, the system itself automatically provides to select the pair front crown wheel-rear sprocket which is most suitable to provide a progressive increase, or respectively a decrease, of the distance covered by the bicycle at each turn of the pedals.

The present invention relates to a speed change device for bicycles, of the type comprising:
a front derailleur and a rear derailleur for controlling selective engagement of a bicycle chain respectively with a plurality of toothed crown wheels associated to the bicycle crank axle and a plurality of sprockets associated to the hub of the bicycle rear wheel,
a first and a second electric motor respectively associated to the front derailleur and the rear derailleur, for control thereof,
means for detecting the operative position of the front derailleur and the rear derailleur,
manually controlled activating means for activating the first and second electric motor, and
an electronic control unit for controlling the speed change device, which is connected to said first and second electric motor, said detecting means and said activating means.
A device of the above indicated type has formed the subject of Italian patent application No. T093A000503 filed by the same applicant on Jul. 8, 1993 and laid open to public inspection on Jan. 8, 1995, as well as of corresponding French patent application Ser. No. 2,708,559, and corresponding German patent application No. 44 22 845. An improvement of this device has also formed the subject of Italian patent application No. T094A000116 of Feb. 24, 1994, filed by the same applicant and still secret at the priority date of this application.

Electronically controlled speed change device for bicycles


A golf club has a head with a ball contact face and a shaft with surface indicia thereon or on an attachment thereto which may be used to provide for aligning the club face to be in a plane substantially perpendicular to a predetermined ball trajectory. The shaft or attachment may be of rectangular or square cross section with one or two surfaces extending normal to the club face and including contrasting indicia on such surfaces with respect to surfaces which extend parallel to the club face. The shaft may be of circular cross section with contrasting indicia provided on opposite sides of the shaft with respect to a plane through the central axis of the shaft and parallel to the club face, or include a hand grip with a generally flat thumbrest surface with contrasting indicia and extending in a plane perpendicular to the ball contact face. The club face is positioned in a plane perpendicular to a predetermined trajectory of the ball by establishing a line of sight parallel to the trajectory and rotating the club until the indicia on the shaft or handgrip surfaces which extend in a plane perpendicular to the club face is not seen. Alternatively, while addressing the ball in a conventional manner, the shaft is rotated about its central axis until the alignment surfaces extending parallel to the club face are not seen, or are seen to a desired degree.

One of the more difficult aspects of the game of golf is the proper aligning of the club face before driving or contacting the ball to provide the desired ball trajectory. Club face alignment to provide the desired ball travel path or trajectory is particularly important when using any golf club, including driver and fairway woods, all irons and when using a putter.
Heretofore, certain golf clubs, such as putters, have been provided with alignment markings, including painted lines or grooves on the top of the club head which are of some assistance in aligning the club face with the desired ball trajectory. However, the location of the club head during the alignment process does not lend itself to permit the golfer to be in a position to properly place the club in a position which allows the club face to be perpendicular to the desired trajectory or travel path of the ball. One desired position for aligning the club is when the golfer can sight from a point behind the club and the ball toward the green, cup pin or the cup itself. However, conventional club marking means do not provide for accurate aligning of the club face prior to stroking of the club if the golfer must move his head to a position where a proper sighting can be made based on the position of the ball and the green or the cup.
Moreover, when a golfer is standing in the normal position of addressing the ball prior to stroking the club, prior art alignment devices do not provide sufficient accuracy for proper alignment of the club face with respect to the ball and a desired trajectory or travel path of the ball. Still further, rules governing competitive golf events eliminate any extraneous or "add-on" devices, such as pointers, alignment bars or similar mechanisms for aiding the golfer in aligning the club face with respect to the desired ball travel path.
However, the present invention overcomes the deficiencies of prior art alignment devices and methods and provides a golf club having a shaft or a shaft attachment which is of an advantageous configuration and is provided with suitable indicia, such as contrasting painted, coated or reflective surfaces of contrasting colors or visual perceptability thereon which provide a surprisingly improved alignment means for properly aligning the club face to provide a desired ball trajectory. Still further, the invention overcomes deficiencies in prior art golf alignment devices and methods by providing an improved method for placing the club face in a desired position with respect to the ball prior to contact therewith.


A method of controlling a hybrid vehicle with an engine, a battery, and at least one motor generator. System efficiencies of each of several candidate driving states are calculated. Calculating efficiency when the battery is discharged uses power of the engine Pfuel, power drawn from the battery Pb,out, and required driving power Pdemand. Calculating efficiency when the battery is charged uses Pfuel, Pdemand, and power charged to the battery Pb,in. Pb,out is calculated using a real battery discharge power Pb,out,real, a battery discharge energy efficiency ηbd, a historic efficiency ηb,pwr of energy loss when the battery is charged, and a correction coefficient SOCcorrection for controlling the battery charge amount. Pb,in is calculated using real battery charge power Pb,in,real, battery charge energy efficiency ηbc, ηbd, and efficiency ηin,pwr when power is consumed in the future. The driving state with the highest efficiency is then selected.

Hybrid vehicles generally use motor generators at slow engine speeds, at which the motor generators have better torque characteristics than internal combustion engines, and use internal combustion engines at moderate to fast speeds, at which the engines have better torque characteristics. This improves fuel efficiency, as the engine is not used when the vehicle travels at slow speeds.
To control a hybrid vehicle, two system efficiencies are calculated, and the vehicle is controlled with the higher of the calculated system efficiencies. The system efficiencies are calculated by Equations 1.
                                          η                          sys              ,              dchg                                =                                    P              demand                                                      P                fuel                            +                                                P                                      b                    ,                    out                    ,                    real                                                  /                                  η                  bd                                                                                η                          sys              ,              chg                                =                                                    P                demand                            +                                                (                                      P                                          b                      ,                      in                      ,                      real                                                        )                                                                  (                                      η                    bc                                    )                                                                  (                                      η                    bd                                    )                                                                    P              fuel                                                          Equations                                                  1            where:    ηsys,dchg denotes system efficiency of a driving state of discharging the battery,    ηsys,chg denotes system efficiency of a driving state of charging the battery,    ηbd denotes discharge efficiency of the battery,    ηbc denotes charge efficiency of the battery,    Pdemand denotes a required driving power,    Pfuel denotes power of the internal combustion engine,    Pb,out,real denotes real discharge power of the battery, and    Pb,in,real denotes real charge power of the battery.
FIG. 2 illustrates a simulation result of a test performed on a hybrid vehicle on the basis of the system efficiency calculated according to the above-described method. The initial state of charge (SOC) of the battery is 60%. After the simulation ends, the state of charge of the battery is 53.33%. Relative fuel efficiency is set to 1 as a reference.
This method does not consider energy loss that occurs when the battery is charged. Therefore, when the SOC of the battery is used in a range from 50 to 70%, system efficiency of discharge is always calculated as being higher, and discharging the battery 13 is favored, leading to the battery being discharged over time.


An air isolation hand or handle covering has a bladder consisting of a plurality of interconnected or independent inflation cells that is positioned between the hand and a hand-held tool or other vibrating object. The cells are oriented to permit easy bending of the hand covering in directions appropriate for grasping an object. The effectiveness of the bladder in reducing the vibration energy transmitted to the hand is a function of the bladder material thickness, the shape and configuration of the bladder, the pressure in the bladder, the compressible fluid used, the volume of the bladder, and the grip force and push force used when clasping a tool or other object. The bladder is attached in place by way of an attachment tab which is integrally formed from at least one of the layers of the bladder and extends for at least about one sixth the length of the fluid cavity. Spacing between weld lines which define the inflation cells can be varied such that the thickness of the bladder in an inflated state varies at different inflation cells. The bladder can be filled with air or other fluid during the fabrication of the bladder or it can be inflated or deflated with a small pump and integral air valve connected to one of the air cavities. The covering may include an inflation sensor to indicate when a proper inflation pressure is reached.

Many individuals are exposed to hand-induced vibration by using hand-held vibrating or repeated impact-type tools that include, but are not limited to, chipping hammers, jackhammers, riveters, jackleg drills, rotary grinders and sanders, orbital sanders, chain saws, lawn mowers, and engine-powered string trimmers. Individuals can also be exposed to hand-induced vibration through clasping objects in their hands that are being ground, swagged, or repeatedly hammered. Finally, individuals can be exposed to hand-induced vibration while riding motor cycles, motor bikes, all-terrain vehicles, and other like vehicles.
Individuals who are exposed to hand-induced vibration or repetitive impacts over short periods of time can experience tingling and numbness in the fingers and hand fatigue. If individuals are exposed to high levels of hand-induced vibration over prolong periods of time, vibration-induced white fingers (VWF) can develop. This disease results in a destruction of the small blood vessels in the fingers, and it can be debilitating and cause severe pain in extreme cases. The occurrence of tingling, numbness and fatigue in the hand and fingers and of VWF can be minimized by reducing the levels of vibration energy directed into the hands of individuals who use vibrating or repeated impact-type hand tools or who clasp objects that direct vibration or repetitive impacts into the hand.
Vibration levels can be reduced by redesigning the tool or object or by placing a vibration isolation device between the hand and the tool or object that is being clasped by the hand. One of the methods for reducing the vibration energy directed into the hands has been the use of gloves that have an elastomer, foam or rubberlike material placed between the vibrating tool or object and the hand. Another method has involved wrapping the tool handle with an elastomer, foam or rubberlike material which performs the same function as performed by the same material used in a glove. Hand coverings such as gloves and handle coverings made with elastomers or rubberlike materials have proven to be ineffective in significantly reducing the vibration energy transmitted to hands from vibrating hand tools or objects clasped by the hand. To improve the vibration isolation characteristics of gloves with elastomers or rubberlike materials, it is necessary to make the elastomer or rubber pads used in the gloves very thick. This often makes the glove stiff and very difficult to use in clasping a hand tool or other object. Also, using gloves with thick elastomer or rubber pads causes the hands to become fatigued in a very short period of time.
Use of thick elastomers as tool handle coverings has also been problematic. To achieve acceptable comfort in clasping a tool handle with the hand, the overall diameter of the tool handle with an elastomer pad must be held within specified limits, such as a preferred diameter of 1.5 inches. Thick elastomer pads may be bent or wrapped around small diameter handles. Bending or wrapping is often difficult, since the circumference of the inside of the pad in contact with the handle is substantially less than the circumference of the outside of the pad in contact with the hand.
To avoid bending or wrapping problems, thick elastomer pads that are used on small-diameter tool handles may be pre-molded or pre-formed into a cylindrical shape. The pre-molding process is often expensive and restricts the use of a pre-molded or pre-formed pad to a single-size handle and a single handle configuration. In either the wrapped or the pre-molded form, thick elastomers pads used on tool handles also quickly deteriorate under the severe working conditions in which tools exposed to high levels of vibration are commonly used.
Pre-molded elastomer air bladders have been proposed for use in attenuating shock directed into the hand. The injection mold process used to make pre-molded air bladders is very expensive, and as with pre-molded thick elastomer pads, pre-molded elastomer air bladders are restricted to single size and single handle configurations. The bladder material of pre-molded elastomer air bladders is usually fairly thick, such as 0.010 inches or thicker. The increased bladder material thickness significantly reduces the effectiveness of pre-molded air bladders in reducing the vibration transmitted to the hand from a tool handle.
Regardless of whether thick or thin handle coverings are used, and regardless of whether the covering is formed flat or circular, attachment of the handle covering to the handle may be difficult or inefficient. The handle covering needs to be tightly secured to the handle so there is no relative movement between the handle and the handle covering either in a rotational or in an axial sense, while still permitting the radial compression needed for adequate vibration attenuation.
The occurrence of VWF is significantly affected by a cold environment. VWF is more prevalent in areas where workers must work either outside or inside in a cold environment. Gloves are often used in these environments to warm the hands, reducing the effects of cold on the prevalence of VWF in these environments. Using gloves with elastomer or rubberlike pads that are also designed to keep the hands warm creates the same problems that are associated with gloves that have extremely thick elastomer or rubberlike pads. The gloves tend to be stiff and often make it difficult to easily clasp a hand tool or other object.
European standards have recently been promulgated which pose requirements for a protection device marketed in Europe to be properly classified as a "vibration protection glove" or an "antivibration glove." These standards are outlined in European Standard prEN ISO 10819 (1995), Mechanical Vibration and Shock--Hand-arm Vibration--Method for the Measurement and Evaluation of the Vibration Transmissibility of Gloves at the Palm of the Hand. To meet the standard, a glove must have an overall time-averaged vibration transmissibility in the frequency range from 32 Hz to 200 Hz, TR.sub.M, of less than 1.0, and an overall time-averaged vibration transmissibility in the frequency range from 200 Hz to 1,250 Hz, TR.sub.H, of less than 0.6. The vibration transmissibility in the standard is defined as the ratio of the vibration amplitude directed into the palm of the hand with the glove divided by the vibration amplitude directed into the palm of the hand without the glove. The standard specifies that vibration transmissibility is to be measured while the vibration test handle is being clasped with a grip force of 5 lb (25 N) and while the hand is pushing on the vibration test handle with a push force of 10 lb (50 N).
Hand and handle coverings are desired which will more effectively reduce the vibration transmitted to the hand from the hand-held object, and will furthermore be thin, flexible, thermally insulative and relatively inexpensive.

Handle covering with vibration-reducing bladder


A system and method for extending the reach of a data communication channel using flow control interception devices is described. The method decreases the latency-induced reduction in the data throughput and permits data transmission at subrates through the data communication channel. The method includes transmitting a data frame from a sending device. The data frame is transmitted through the data communication channel if a flow control signal is not asserted. The data frame is buffered if the flow control signal is asserted. The buffered data frame is transmitted through the data communication channel in response the flow control signal changing to an asserted state. The method also includes receiving the transmitted data frame from the data communication channel and transmitting the received data frame to a receiving device if the receiving device is available to process the data frame. If the receiving device is unavailable, the received data frame is buffered until the receiving device becomes available to process the buffered data frame.

Throughout the 1990s and into this century, the need for high-performance communications for server-to-storage and server-to-server networking has garnered much attention in the communications industry. Performance improvements in storage, processors and workstations, along with the move to distributed architectures such as client/server, have spawned increasingly data-intensive and high-speed networking applications.
Fiber Channel is a serial data transfer architecture standardized according to the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Standard ANSI X3.230. Fiber Channel accommodates the fast transfer of large volumes of data between desktop workstations, mass storage subsystems, peripherals and host systems within a campus sized area. Fiber Channel offers a standard interface capable of simultaneously supporting both network and channel connections using multiple data communication protocols and is able to provide a number of benefits over traditional small computer system interface (SCSI) communications. For example, Fiber Channel permits faster speed, up to 10 to 250 times faster than typical local area network (LAN) speeds. In addition, Fiber Channel permits the connection of more devices and allows connections between devices over large distances. Fiber Channel has made the largest impact in the storage arena, using SCSI as an upper layer protocol. Further, Fiber Channel supports multiple data rates, media types and connectors while combining channel attributes with those of a LAN to provide a single interface capable of supporting both channel and network connections.
Channel and network protocols typically rely on buffers to hold transmitted and received data. The Fiber Channel protocol accommodates the transfer of data between the sending buffer at the source device (e.g., a computer or disk array) and the receiving buffer at the destination device. Moreover, the Fiber Channel protocol is not dependent on individual protocols implemented prior to receipt into or transmission from the buffers.
Flow control is an important aspect of Fiber Channel communications. Flow control refers to the management of data exchanges between two devices in a network to avoid data transmission loss upon congestion. If a device receives data faster than the device can process the data, data may be dropped or ignored. Similarly, data is lost if the storage capacity of the receiving device is not sufficient to accommodate the received data.
Utilizing flow control, a sending device transmits data to a receiving device only when the receiving device is ready to accept the data. Prior to sending the data, the communicating devices are initialized with respect to each other. This initialization includes the establishment of buffer-to-buffer credits (BBCs). The number of BBCs represents the number of data packets (e.g., frames) a sending device can transmit at one time without receiving an acknowledgement from the receiving device that the receiving device is available to receive at least one additional data packet. The BBC value is provided by the receiving device to the sending device during initialization. If each device has the capability to send data and receive data, a single BBC value is established for both devices. For example, the first device can indicate that it will accept up to four frames from the second device and the second device can indicate that it will accept up to eight frames from A. If determined independently, the BBC value of the first device would be eight and the BBC value of the second device would be four. However, the Fiber Channel protocol requires that both devices be assigned the lower BBC value of four. After enough data are transmitted from a device so that its BBC value is reached, no additional data are transmitted from that device. Data transmission from the sending device resumes when the receiving device indicates that it is ready to receive additional data, such as when the receiving device has processed at least a portion of the received data or buffer storage is again available. This procedure prevents receiver buffer overflow, thus avoiding loss of data.
Each device monitors the use of the available credits. The number of used credits (BBC_Credit_CNT) is initialized at zero prior to the initial transfer of frames between devices. BBC_Credit_CNT is incremented by one each time a frame is sent. Thus the number of remaining credits, representing the number of frames that can be sent to the other device without acknowledgement, is reduced by one. If BBC_Credit_CNT is greater than zero, BBC_Credit_CNT is decremented by 1 for each receiver ready primitive signal (R_RDY signal) received from the receiving device. Transmission of an R_RDY signal indicates the receiving device has processed a frame, made available a receive buffer and is ready to receive an additional frame. If BBC_Credit_CNT increases to equal BBC, the sending device is not allowed to transmit another frame until it receives an R_RDY signal.
Fiber Channel networks are inherently limited by latency. Latency is the transmission time for a data packet or signal to propagate between two nodes in a network. The latency generally increases as the distance between the nodes increases. In a SONET network, each kilometer of channel distance adds approximately 5 microseconds of transmission latency corresponding to the time for an optical pulse to travel through an optical channel between the two nodes.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a Fiber Channel communication channel 10 in which a sending device 14 is transmitting data frames 16 to a receiving device 18. Each frame 16 received at the receiving device is buffered, if necessary, and an R_RDY signal is transmitted back to the sending device 14 when the frame 16 is transferred out of the buffer. Because the distance between the sending device 14 and the receiving device 18 is small in this example, the latency is insignificant and the data transmission rate (throughput) of the channel 10 is unaffected.
If the distance between the devices 14, 18 is sufficiently large, the latency reduces the average data transmission rate of the channel 10. FIGS. 2A to 2C illustrate the transmission of frames of data over a channel at three different times. The sending device 14 and the receiving device 18 are separated by a distance d2 substantially greater than the separation illustrated in FIG. 1. In FIG. 2A, data frames 16 (only four shown for clarity) are transmitted from the sending device 14 until its BBC_Credit_CNT equals its BBC value. At a later time as illustrated in FIG. 2B, the sending device 14 waits to receive an R_RDY signal from the receiving device 18 before sending its next frame 16. The receiving device 18 transmits an R_RDY signal back to the sending device 14 as each frame 16 is cleared from the buffer of the receiving device 18. Because of the length d2 of the separation, the sending device 14 continues to wait for the R_RDY signal even though the receiving device 18 has transmitted R_RDY signals and is available to receive additional frames. In FIG. 2C, the sending device 14 begins to receive the group of R_RDY signals and, therefore, resumes transmission of data frames 16. As a result of the propagation delay of the data frames and R_RDY signals, the data throughput is interrupted. The duration of the interruptions increases as the separation d2 of the devices 14, 18 increases.
The interruption, or "downtime", resulting from latency is unacceptable in many types of networks including, for example, Storage Area Networks (SANs). If the distance between the two devices 14, 18 is sufficiently large as illustrated in FIGS. 2A to 2C, the maximum throughput possible without latency cannot be realized. The achievable throughput T is defined as
  T  =            BBC      *      FS        RT  in which FS is the frame size in bits and RT is the round trip transmission time (i.e., round trip delay). A frame size of 2148 bytes i.e., a maximum transmission unit (MTU) for a Fiber Channel link, takes approximately 20 microseconds to transmit, which represents a distance of 4 km, or 2 km round-trip. Thus each BBC allows approximately 2 km of channel distance d2 without degrading the data throughput.
FIGS. 3 and 4 depict the relationship between throughput rate and channel length for a range of BBC values. The frame size is 2148 bytes. The BBC values are indicated in the legend in the upper right portion of the figures. The horizontal axis represents the length of the channel in kilometers and the vertical axis represents the throughput of the channel in Mb/s. If the BBC value is small (FIG. 3), the achievable throughput for the channel is substantially less than the maximum possible throughput for channel lengths exceeding a few kilometers. For example, for a BBC value of four, the achievable throughput is less than maximum possible throughput if the channel length is greater than 8 km. Larger BBC values (FIG. 4) allow greater channel lengths without a reduction in the throughput. For example, for a BBC value of 64, the achievable throughput is less than maximum possible throughput for channel lengths exceeding approximately 130 km. Thus the impact of latency on the data throughput is reduced by increasing the BBC values for the devices. This capacity increase, however, results in a significant increase in the cost of each device.
It is therefore desirable to provide a system and method for flow control in a Fiber Channel network that avoids unwanted delay time in data frame transmission without creating channel congestion, thereby extending the reach (i.e., the distance over which high data transfer rates can be maintained) of the data communication channel.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and system for extending the reach of a data communication channel using a flow control interception device


A stage position measuring apparatus according to the present invention comprises a movable stage being mounted within a chamber, a system for optically measuring an position of the stage, a system for general air-conditioning of an atmosphere within the chamber, a system for locally air-conditioning an optical path of the measuring system, and a system for controlling the local air-conditioning system so that a temperature of an atmosphere in the optical path is substantially identical to that of an atmosphere around the optical path.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a stage position measuring apparatus, and more particularly to a stage position measuring apparatus provided in a projection exposure apparatus for use in manufacturing integrated circuits, liquid crystal bases, thin film magnet heads and the like, and for measuring by means of an optical distance measuring apparatus a position of a stage moving in one or two dimensions and on which a mask or a photosensitive substrate is provided.
2. Related Background Art
In a conventional stage position measuring apparatus, a stage moving in one or two dimensions is mounted within a chamber, and a position of the stage is measured by means of an optical distance measuring apparatus such as a laser interferometer.
The interior of the chamber is air-conditioned in its entirety, and an optical path for the interferometer is locally air-conditioned. More specifically, a local air-conditioning device supplies air to the interferometer optical path through a duct member. The temperature of the air supplied by the local air-conditioning device is identical to the temperature of air supplied by a general air-conditioning device.
In the conventional stage position measuring apparatus as mentioned above, however, an air temperature in the interferometer optical path is different from that of an atmosphere around the interferometer optical path to a certain degree. Such a temperature difference is caused by an offset generated by the influence of a heat generating source such as a stage and the like or by an offset between a controlled overall air-conditioning temperature at which the general air-conditioning device aims and an actual temperature of the atmosphere around the interferometer optical path. The temperature difference is also caused by an offset generated by the influence of heat transmitted from the duct and the like or by an offset between a controlled local air-conditioning temperature at which the local air-conditioning device aims and a temperature of air actually supplied from an air supplying opening for local air-conditioning.
Thus, mixed around the interferometer optical path are the two fluids having the different temperatures or the atmosphere around the interferometer optical path and the air supplied to the interferometer optical path from the air supplying opening for local air-conditioning. Therefore the conventional stage position measuring apparatus has a drawback in that a temperature fluctuation is generated at a value measured by the interferometer due to the mixture of the two fluids having the different temperatures.

Stage position measuring apparatus capable of restricting generation of temperature fluctuations to a measured value


A method of regulating plant stomata conductance is provided. The method comprises modulating in the plant the level and/or activity of a type B hexokinase in a guard cell specific manner, thereby regulating plant conductance.

The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to methods of modulating stomata conductance and plant expression constructs for executing same.
Stomata are dynamic pores in the impermeable protective cuticle that coats the aerial parts of land plants, which evolved primarily to save water. Stomata, which are comprised of two guard cells and the pore they circumscribe, open at dawn to allow the entry of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) for photosynthesis, at the cost of extensive transpirational water loss. The stomata close when carbon fixation and utilization are less efficient, in order to reduce the loss of water via transpiration (Assmann, 1993). At the mechanistic level, stomata open in response to increases in the osmolarity of the guard cells. These increases in osmolarity are followed by the movement of water into the guard cells, which increases their volume and opens the stomata (Taiz and Zeiger, 1998). Stomatal closure occurs in the opposite manner; as the osmolarity of guard cells is reduced, their volume decreases.
Water scarcity is a serious problem that will be exacerbated by global climate change. Abiotic stresses, especially drought and increased salinity, are primary causes of crop loss worldwide. Moreover, agriculture currently uses over 70% (86% in developing countries) of available freshwater. One of the approaches that may be adopted to save water in agriculture is the development of plants that use less water yet maintain high yields in conditions of water scarcity. As plants lose over 95% of their water via transpiration through stomata, the engineering of stomatal activity is a promising approach to reduce the water requirement of crops and to enhance productivity under stress conditions.
Cominelli et al. Transcription. 2010 Jul-Aug; 1(1): 41-45 reviews recent developments in the identification of transcription regulators controlling stomatal movements and involved in stomatal closure.
Additional background art includes:
U.S. Pat. No. 7,423,203 teaches a method of increasing plant yield by expressing fungal hexokinase under a seed-specific promoter.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 20090265812 teaches a method of increasing plant tolerance to high temperature stress by expressing hexokinase under a pollen specific promoter.

Methods of modulating stomata conductance and plant expression constructs for executing same

The State of Israel, Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development, Agricultural Research Organization (ARO) (Volcani Center)

Yissum Research Development Company of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem Ltd.


A fan heater including a housing through which air is able to flow in a longitudinal direction, a blower to propel the air and at least one heating element mounted elastically in the housing by means of a fixing element. Moreover the heating element is a PTC element and the blower is mounted separately from the PTC element in the housing. An assembly is also disclosed, which includes a fan heater as aforesaid, wherein at least two adapter plates, each exhibiting at least one fastening element for fixing the fan heater to a location intended for it and devices for fixing optionally one of the adapter plates to a housing in the fan heater, are provided.

The invention concerns a fan heater and also an assembly incorporating such a fan heater.
As a rule, installations which include electrical and/or electronics equipment, for example switching cabinets or distribution boards, must be actively ventilated. As a result malfunctioning of components as a result of condensation water or due to too great a temperature drop, for example on account of low temperature, may be avoided. For ventilation and uniform temperature equalization of these installations fan heaters are usually employed, which are able to be located in any desired position in the switching cabinets.
Thus fan heaters are known for example, which exhibit a PTC (positive temperature coefficient) element as a heating element clamped in the cabinet. PTC elements operate automatically and are temperature limited, so that overheating in the switching cabinet or the distribution board may be reliably avoided.
The construction of known fan heaters of this kind is however very complex and they are difficult to handle. In particular the components of these fan heaters can be easily damaged by impacts or similar undesired influences from outside if handled inexpertly.
A commercially available electrical fan heater is well known for example from DE 1 727 350 U, in which the air to be heated is fed by a blower over an electrical resistor in a housing and is blown outside. Inside the housing a drive motor is arranged—together with the resistor, which is fixed to the motor—to the inner wall of the housing freely suspended and is elastically mounted.
Here the motor is connected to the housing, together with ventilator paddles and the resistor, via tension springs. The tension springs aligned radially with reference to the motor—uniformly spaced from one another—are fixed at one end to the inner housing wall and the other end is attached to the outside wall of the motor.
The assembly and the handling of this fan heater are also extremely complex and expensive, and the system exhibits an unfavorable damping behavior with regard to impacts and/or vibration and hence damage to individual components can also arise.


Improved eyewear is disclosed. The eyewear comprises a frame member and a lens. The eyewear also includes circuitry within the frame member for enhancing the use of the eyewear. A system and method in accordance with the present invention is directed to a variety of ways to enhance the use of eyeglasses. They are: (1) media focals, that is, utilizing the eyewear for its intended purpose and enhancing that use by using imaging techniques to improve the vision of the user; (2) telecommunications enhancements that allow the eyeglasses to be integrated with telecommunication devices such as cell phones or the like; and (3) entertainment enhancements that allow the eyewear to be integrated with devices such as MP3 players, radios, or the like.

Eyewear is utilized for a variety of purposes. Eyewear is used for improving one's vision for reading glasses and to protect one's vision. Oftentimes protective goggles are used to protect eyes within dangerous areas. It is desirable to add additional functionality to glasses. This functionality can include a variety of forms, which are electronic, mechanical, aesthetic, etc. Accordingly, it is always desired to provide additional functionality to eyewear. What is desired is a system and method which will increase the functionality of glasses beyond their normal use while still maintaining them for their primary uses. The present invention addresses such a need.


An easel (20) includes a base (24), a support (28) extending upwardly from the base (24), and first and second arms (38, 40) rotatably attached to the support (28) via a pivot assembly (48). Brackets (54) are positioned on the first and second arms (38, 40) and are slidably moveable relative to a longitudinal axis (58) of the first and second arms (38, 40). The brackets (54) selectively abut edges (68) at each of four corners (70) of a workpiece (22) to retain the workpiece (22). The pivot assembly (48) functions to concurrently rotate the first and second arms (38, 40) and, consequently, the workpiece (22) relative to the support (28).

An easel can provide stable support and display of an artist's workpiece, such as a canvas, panel, or the like, during formation of his or her artwork. Typically, an artist's workpiece is fixed in one position on the easel, and the artist moves himself or herself relative to the position of the workpiece in order to work on all parts of it. Unfortunately, this can cause an artist to place himself or herself in an awkward posture to work on more distant regions on the fixed position workpiece. This awkward posture can be uncomfortable for the artist, and even impossible for an artist with limited mobility.
In addition, this awkward posture can hamper the artist's artistic style. One of the essential elements to artistic style is the manner in which the pencil stroke, brush stroke, or palette knife stroke is guided across the workpiece. An artist typically has a particular direction and a particular uniqueness in terms of his or her stroking that defines the style of that artist's work. When the workpiece is in a fixed position on a conventional easel, the artist may not be able to guide his or her tools in a manner conducive to the artist's desired style.
Accordingly, some artists are compelled to reposition their workpieces in order to appropriately guide their tools across the workpiece. Such an artist is faced with the task of removing the workpiece from the easel to reposition it. Manual repositioning of an artwork can be both time consuming and frustrating for the artist. Moreover, manual repositioning of the artwork still may not place it in the best position for accommodating the artist's particular stroke. More critically, in the process of handling the workpiece to reposition it on a conventional easel, an artwork can be damaged by dropping, scratching, or in some way adversely affecting the workpiece. Obviously, any resulting damage to the artwork is a highly undesirable situation for the artist.
Some artists stretch their own canvasses. In order to do so, they stretch a canvas over a stretcher, a wooden frame, and tack or staple the edge of the canvas to the stretcher. It can be difficult to hold the wooden stretcher square while applying the canvas to the stretcher. Consequently, a painting formed on a canvas attached to an out of square stretcher can be difficult or impossible to appropriately fit into a frame once the painting is completed by the artist.

Adjustable easel for supporting a workpiece


An endoluminal graft which is both expandable and supportive is provided in a form suitable for use in a branched body vessel location. The graft expands between a first diameter and a second, larger diameter. The support component is an expandable stent endoprosthesis. A liner is applied to the endoprosthesis in the form of a compliant wall material that is porous and biocompatible in order to allow normal cellular invasion upon implantation, without stenosis, when the expandable and supportive graft is at its second diameter. The supportive endoluminal graft is preferably provided as a plurality of components that are deployed separately at the branching body vessel location, one of which has a longitudinal seam defining leg portions within which the other components fit in a telescoping manner.

This invention generally relates to supportive endoluminal grafts which have the ability to be delivered transluminally and expanded in place to provide a graft that is endoluminally positioned and placed, with the aid of an appropriate inserter or catheter, and that remains so placed in order to both repair a vessel defect and provide lasting support at the location of the graft. In its broadest sense, the graft preferably combines into a single structure both an expandable luminal prosthesis tubular support component and a compliant graft component secured thereto. The expandable supportive endoluminal graft takes on a bifurcated or branched structure made up of components that are designed to be positioned in a bifurcated manner with respect to each other, preferably during deployment or repair and support of vessel locations at or near branching sites. Preferably, the graft component is compliant, stretchable or elastomeric and does not substantially inhibit expansion of the tubular support component while simultaneously exhibiting porosity which facilitates normal cellular growth or invasion thereinto of tissue from the body passageway after implantation.
Elastomeric vascular grafts are known to be made by various methods. Included are methods which incorporate electrostatic spinning technology such as that described by Annis et al. in "An Elastomeric Vascular Prosthesis", Trans. Am. Soc. Artif. Intern. Organs, Vol. XXIV, pages 209-214 (1978) and in U.S. Pat. No. 4,323,525. Other approaches include elution of particulate material from tubular sheeting, such as by incorporating salts, sugars, proteins, water-soluble hydrogels, such as polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol, and the like, within polymers and then eluting the particulate materials by immersion in water or other solvent, thereby forming pores within the polymer. Exemplary in this regard is U.S. Pat. No. 4,459,252, incorporated by reference hereinto. Another approach involves the forming of pores in polymers by phase inversion techniques wherein a solventized polymer is immersed in another solvent and the polymer coagulates while the polymer solvent is removed. Also known are spinning techniques such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,475,972. By that approach, a polymer such as a polyurethane in solution is extruded as fibers from a spinnerette onto a rotating mandrel. The spinnerette system reciprocates along a path which is generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the mandrel and at a controlled pitch angle. The result is a non-woven structure where each fiber layer is bound to the underlying fiber layer.
Also known are stent devices, which are placed or implanted within a blood vessel or other body cavity or vessel for treating occlusions, stenoses, aneurysms, disease, damage or the like within the vessel. These stents are implanted within the vascular system or other system or body vessel to reinforce collapsing, partially occluded, weakened, diseased, damaged or abnormally dilated sections of the vessel. At times, stents are used to treat disease at or near a branch, bifurcation and/or anastomosis. This runs the risk of compromising the degree of patency of the primary vessel and/or its branches or bifurcation, which may occur as a result of several problems such as displacing diseased tissue, vessel spasm, dissection with or without intimal flaps, thrombosis and embolism.
One common procedure for implanting a stent is to first open the region of the vessel with a balloon catheter and then place the stent in a position that bridges the diseased portion of the vessel. Various constructions and designs of stents are known. U.S. Pat. No. 4,140,126 describes a technique for positioning an elongated cylindrical stent at a region of an aneurysm to avoid catastrophic failure of the blood vessel wall, the stent being a cylinder that expands to an implanted configuration after insertion with the aid of a catheter. Other such devices are illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,787,899 and 5,104,399. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,503,569 and 4,512,338 show spring stents which expand to an implanted configuration with a change in temperature. It is implanted in a coiled configuration and then heated in place to cause the material of the spring to expand. Spring-into-place stents are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,580,568. U.S. Pat. No. 4,733,665 shows a number of stent configurations for implantation with the aid of a balloon catheter. U.S. Pat. No. 5,019,090 shows a generally cylindrical stent formed from a wire that is bent into a series of tight turns and then spirally wound about a cylindrical mandrel to form the stent. When radially outwardly directed forces are applied to the stent, such as by the balloon of an angioplasty catheter, the sharp bends open up and the stent diameter enlarges. U.S. Pat. No. 4,994,071 describes a bifurcating stent having a plurality of wire loops that are interconnected by an elongated wire backbone and/or by wire connections and half hitches.
Stents themselves often do not encourage normal cellular invasion and can lead to undisciplined development of cells in the stent mesh, with rapid development of cellular hyperplasia. Grafts alone do not provide adequate support in certain instances. Copending application of Jean-Pierre Dereume, Ser. No. 08/546,524, entitled "Luminal Graft Endoprostheses and Manufacture Thereof" describes grafts that have the ability to carry out dilatation and/or support functions. An expandable tubular support component and an elastomeric graft component are combined into a single device wherein the graft material is secured to either or both of the internal and external surfaces of the expandable support component. The graft material is produced by a spinning technique such as that described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,475,972. Also, luminal endoprostheses with an expandable coating on the surface of external walls of radially expandable tubular supports are proposed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,739,762 and 4,776,337. In these two patents, the coating is made from thin elastic polyurethane, Teflon film or a film of an inert biocompatible material. A. Balko et al., "Transfemoral Placement of Intraluminal Polyurethane Prosthesis for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm", Journal of Surgical Research, 40, 305-309, 1986, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,019,090 and 5,092,877 mention the possibility to coat stent materials with porous or textured surfaces for cellular ingrowth or with non-thrombogenic agents and/or drugs. The various patents and publications referred to hereinabove are incorporated hereinto by reference.
By the present invention, grafts which are expandable and supportive are provided that expand from a first diameter to a second diameter which is greater than the first. When it is at its first diameter, the expandable supportive graft is of a size and shape suitable for insertion into the desired body passageway. The material of the graft is substantially inert and preferably has a generally cylindrical cover and/or lining generally over the outside and/or inside surface of the expandable supportive component. Preferably, the cover and/or lining is especially advantageous because it is compliant or elastomeric and porous to encourage desirable growth of tissue thereinto in order to assist in non-rejecting securement into place and avoidance of stenosis development. The porous liner and/or cover material is compliant or elastomeric enough to allow for expansion by up to about 2 to 4 times or more of its unexpanded diameter. Components of the branched or bifurcated expandable supportive endoluminal graft preferably are deployable separately such that each component is properly positioned with respect to the other into the desired branched or bifurcated arrangement. One of the components has a portion which has at least one longitudinally disposed indent to generally define at least two leg portions for receiving one of the other components.
It is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved branched endoluminal graft that is expandable in place and, once expanded, is self-supporting.
Another object of this invention is to provide biocompatible grafts having a plurality of components that are separately expandable in vivo and that are supportive once so expanded.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved expandable reinforced graft that is delivered by way of introducers, balloon catheters or similar devices, and which facilitates good tissue ingrowth.
Another object of this invention is to provide an improved endoluminal graft which fully covers diseased or damaged areas for carrying out luminal repairs or treatments, such as repair of aneurysms.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved endoluminal graft wherein the endoprosthesis is substantially enclosed within biocompatible compliant material which is presented to the surrounding tissue and blood or other body fluid.
Another object of this invention is to provide an expandable, supportive graft that can be tailored to meet a variety of needs, including a single graft designed to address more than a single objective.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a self-expanding reinforced graft device that is delivered in its elongated and compressed state from within a tubular member and deployed by moving same out of the tubular member, which device is especially suitable for component deployment.
Another object of this invention is to provide a bifurcated trunk component that is deployed in a collapsed state and expanded in vivo to a branched device for use in treatment and/or repair at branched vessel locations.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a component branched endoluminal graft having a longitudinally creased trunk component and at least one cylindrical branch component, which components are expanded separately after endoluminal delivery and which form a bifurcated graft once positioned with respect to each other and expanded.
Another object of this invention is to provide an improved method of forming a branched endoluminal graft incorporating a longitudinal creasing procedure.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved method of assembling a branched endoluminal graft.
These and other objects, features and advantages of this invention will be clearly understood through a consideration of the following detailed description.

Expandable supportive branched endoluminal grafts


A system and method for providing a default source to program channel numbers. In one embodiment, the system allows a user to program over-lapping channel numbers to a selected default source. The system includes at least one channel number usable by a plurality of sources for providing a station to transmit television programs. The system generates an electronic system guide identifying the plurality of sources. The system allows a user to select one of the plurality of sources from the electronic system guide as a default source. The system programs the at least one channel number to tune to a station for receiving television programs provided by the selected default source numbers. The system the programs the over-lapping channel numbers to tune to a station provided by the selected second default source and program any non-over-lapping channel numbers to tune to a station provided by the selected first default source.

Within the past decade, the variety of sources for providing television programs have increased dramatically. Today television programs are transmitted using analog or digital signals through airwaves, cable, and satellites. As such, a user is capable of tuning to stations providing television programs that may originate from multiple sources through a receiver or set-top box. For example, a user may have set-top box connected with a local antenna to receive television programs broadcasted through the airwaves. The set-top box may also receive television programs via a cable connection. In addition, the set-top box may receive television programs through a satellite system, for example, the RCA Direct Satellite System™ or DSS™ (Direct Satellite System and DSS are trademarks of Hughes Communications, a division of General Motors).
Because each source includes a number of stations for providing television programs, the number of stations available to a user has increased from one to hundreds of stations. For each station, there is a corresponding channel number that is used to tune to the station. Consequently, the number of channel numbers available to a user is limited. As a result, a user receiving multiple sources for providing television programs may have a channel number that may tune to multiple stations from different sources. In such a case, the channel number is considered "over-lapping."
In prior systems, channel numbers, which may include over-lapping channel numbers, are designated to a default source based on which source the set-top box is configured to receive. That is, a user must press a switch or button on the set-top box to change the default source. Consequently, in such prior systems, the ability to select a default source is not seamlessly integrated and a user is unable to select easily a default source for programming channel numbers.

Default source setup for channel numbers


A dual-axis tuning fork gyroscope includes four open-ended tuning forks arranged coplanarly in two opposite pairs, a first pair of open-ended tuning forks being arranged opposite one another along a first axis, a second pair of open-ended tuning forks being arranged opposite one another along a second axis, the first axis and the second axis being perpendicular to one another. The four open-ended tuning forks are mechanically coupled together so that all four tuning forks vibrate in the same manner in terms of frequency and phase.

FIG. 1 shows the working principles of a vibrating yaw rate sensor with respect to a moving object 100 and the Coriolis Force, which is represented by the following formula:F=2Ω×VHere, Ω is the angular velocity vector of the rotating coordinate system XYZ, and V is the velocity vector of the moving object 100 within the rotating coordinate system XYZ. In this regard, as shown in FIG. 1, the moving object 100 will appear to an observer, who is fixed with respect to the rotating coordinate system XYZ to accelerate in a direction that is perpendicular to the velocity vector V and the angular velocity vector Ω.
In a MicroElectrical Mechanical System (MEMS) gyroscope which operates according to the above principles, the Coriolis force may change the stress on micromechanical beam contained therein. The change in stress may be measured, for example, using principles of piezoelectronics or piezioresistance.
MEMS gyroscopes may be used in high-volume applications, including such applications as automotive and consumer electronics. For example, MEMS gyroscopes may be used in electronic stability programs, rollover sensors, navigation systems, computer gaming input devices, camcorder stabilization, electronic toys, etc. In this regard, the use of integrated circuit (IC) fabrication technologies and MEMS batch processes may provide low-cost, super compact and highly integrated gyroscopes that are more cost-effective and convenient than traditional mechanical or optical gyroscopes in large-scale and cost-sensitive applications.
MEMS gyroscopes may operate in the manner of a vibrating gyroscope. For example, Putty and Najafi, "Tech. Dig. Solid-State Sensor and Actuator Workshop", Hilton Head Island, S.C., June 1994, pages 213 to 220, refer to a vibrating ring gyroscope; Bernstein et al., "MEMS '93", Fort Lauderdale, Fla., February 1993, pages 143 to 148, refer to tuning fork gyroscope; and Juneau et al., "Tech. Dig. 9th International Conference on Solid State Sensors and Actuators (Transducers '97)", Chicago, Ill., June 1997, pages 883 to 886, refer to a torsion-vibrating gyroscope. To reduce the size of torsion-vibrating MEMS gyroscopes, it would be desirable to use a minimum number of resonant structures to sense the yaw rate in more than one direction. However, because it has been difficult to couple vibration mode in two orthogonal directions, there are no MEMS gyroscopes which use a single tuning fork resonator structure to sense more than one axis yaw rate, except the torsion-vibrating disc-based gyroscope referred to in the Juneau et al reference.
To sense the yaw rate in more than one axial direction, two individual vibrating gyroscopes may be placed on the same chip, each gyroscope being arranged to sense the yaw rate in one of two orthogonal directions. In this instance, because of the inherent variation in the manufacture process, even two identically manufactured vibrating gyroscopes will not have exactly the same resonance frequency. Therefore, such a system requires two separate detecting and control circuitry.
FIG. 8 shows a one axis system 800, which includes MEMS portion 810 and an evaluation electronics 820. The MEMS portion 810 includes a drive MEMS 811 and a coriolis MEMS 812. The evaluation electronics 820 includes drive electronics 821, coriolis detection electronics 822, and a demodulation control circuit 823.
The drive electronics 821 drives the MEMS portion 810 to resonate at its resonance frequency with a defined amplitude in order to make use of the Coriolis effect, which is proportional to the velocity of the moving mass and results in a force that will be measured by the coriolis detection electronics 822. In this instance, the drive electronics 821 is provided with automatic gain control (AGC). As indicated by the dashed line connecting the drive MEMS 811 and the drive electronics 821, the circuitry may be optionally operated in closed loop.
The coriolis detection electronics 822 measures the force that is generated because of the Coriolis effect. Since the drive MEMS 811 is oscillating at the drive resonance frequency, the coriolis signal is an AC signal at exactly the drive resonance frequency. If the coriolis resonance frequency is exactly the same as the drive resonance frequency and the quality factor Q of the coriolis MEMS is high, the coriolis signal should have a high signal-to-noise ratio. The coriolis detection electronics 822 includes a front end 824, a demodulator 825 and an LP 826. The coriolis detection electronics 822 may optionally be operated in closed loop, as indicated by the dashed line connecting the coriolis detection electronics 822 to the coriolis MEMS 812.
The demodulation control circuit 823 provides a control signal to demodulate the output of the coriolis front end 824 with a signal at the drive resonant frequency and the proper phase information to filter out the corolis signal in the coriolis loop. In this instance, a phase lock loop (PLL) may be used to generate the control signals for the demodulation. However, such a phase lock loop may consume a considerable amount of chip area and power. Although use of the phase lock loop (PLL) is not mandatory, the phase lock loop (PPL) may replace the extra clock unit.
FIG. 9 shows a two-axis system 900, which duplicates the electronics of the one-axis system 800 of FIG. 8. With such duplication, the two-axis system 900 requires two separate drive resonance frequencies, which are not guaranteed to be equal.
FIG. 10 shows an exemplary dual-axis yaw rate system that has only one drive electronics and only one control circuitry demodulation.
FIG. 11 shows an exemplary dual-axis yaw rate system which uses only one front end followed by a multiplexer for the coriolis loop.

Dual-axis yaw rate sensing unit having a tuning fork gyroscope arrangement


A phosphate ester-based functional fluid composition incorporating at least one erosion inhibitor selected from the erosion inhibitors of the invention. The phosphate ester-based functional fluids are particularly useful as aviation hydraulic fluids.

This invention relates to improved functional fluid compositions containing erosion inhibitors. This invention further relates to phosphate ester-based functional fluids, particularly phosphate ester-based hydraulic fluids, containing the erosion inhibitors of this invention.
In the past, functional fluids have been utilized as electronic coolants, diffusion pump fluids, lubricants, damping fluids, bases for greases, power transmission and hydraulic fluids, heat transfer fluids, heat pump fluids, refrigeration equipment fluids, and as a filter medium for air-conditioning systems. Phosphate ester-based functional fluids have been recognized for some time as advantageous for use as the power transmission medium in hydraulic systems. Such systems include recoil mechanisms, fluid-drive power transmissions, and aircraft hydraulic systems. Hydraulic fluids intended for use in the hydraulic system of aircraft for operating various mechanisms and aircraft control systems must meet stringent functional and use requirements. Phosphate ester-based fluids find particular utility in aircraft hydraulic fluids because of their special properties which include high viscosity index, low pour point, high lubricity, low toxicity, low density and low flammability. Thus, for many years, numerous types of aircraft, particularly commercial jet aircraft, have used phosphate ester-based fluids in their hydraulic systems. Among the most important requirements of an aircraft hydraulic fluid is that it be stable against oxidative and hydrolytic degradation at elevated temperatures.
In addition, functional fluids for use in aircraft hydraulic systems must be capable of performing in the hydraulic system over an extended period of time without causing significant damage or functional impairment to the various conduits, valves, pumps, and the like, through which the functional fluid flows in the course of such use. Damage caused by functional fluids contacting valves and other members has been attributed to streaming current induced corrosion, hereinafter referred to as erosion, by the environment in contact with the functional fluid in a hydraulic system.
The hydraulic systems of a typical modem aircraft contain a fluid reservoir, fluid lines and numerous hydraulic valves which actuate various moving parts of the aircraft such as the wing flaps, ailerons, rudder and landing gear. In order to function as precise control mechanisms, these valves often contain passages or orifices having clearances on the order of a few thousandths of an inch or less through which the hydraulic fluid must pass. In a number of instances, valve orifices have been found to be substantially eroded by the flow of hydraulic fluid. Erosion increases the size of the passage and reduces below tolerable limits the ability of the valve to serve as a precision control device. For example, aircraft have experienced slow response of flight controls as a result of valve erosion. Thus, phosphate ester-based aircraft hydraulic fluids require use of an erosion inhibitor, i.e. a functional fluid additive which prevents or inhibits the erosion of hydraulic system valves. Other additives which perform special functions such as hydrolysis inhibition, viscosity index improvement and foam inhibition are also frequently present in such hydraulic fluid. For example, epoxides are utilized commonly in phosphate ester-based hydraulic fluids to stabilize the phosphate ester.
Current commercial phosphate ester-based aircraft hydraulic fluids such as Skydrol® LD-4 aviation hydraulic fluid and Skydrol® 5 aviation hydraulic fluid, both available from Solutia Inc., successfully utilize alkali metal salts of perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids, e.g. Fluorad™ FC-98 of 3M Company, as erosion inhibitors. It would be desirable to have alternative erosion inhibitors available for use in phosphate ester-based aircraft hydraulic fluids. New erosion inhibitors for use in phosphate ester-based aircraft hydraulic fluids have now been discovered.

Functional fluid compositions containing erosion inhibitors


An air damping shockproof structure disposed between a hard disk and a system for damping or buffering a shocking or a vibration to the hard disk in the system. The air damping shockproof structure includes a top portion, a side portion, and a bottom portion, and an air chamber array disposed in the top portion. The air chamber array includes a plurality of air chambers, and a plurality of air outlets disposed corresponding to each air chamber respectively. The cross-sectional area of each air outlet is smaller than a cross-sectional area of each air chamber.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a shockproof structure. More particularly, the present invention relates to a shockproof structure for a hard disk device.
2. Description of Related Art
Due to an enormous increase of computer processing speed, the computer can handle a significant amount of data and information. Data and information are usually stored on hard disks. Normally, in a computer system, the hard disk is the main storage medium for storing programs, files, and various data and information. Therefore, the shockproof structure to prevent the hard disks from shock damage is really important in the computer system.
Refer to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 illustrates an oblique diagram of a hard disk with a conventional hard disk shockproof structure. The shockproof structure 120 may be disposed between the hard disk 100 and a hard disk bracket (not shown). The material of the shockproof structure 120 may be a shock absorbing material, such as a rubber. The elasticity of the shock absorbing material may absorb the shock from unexpected collisions. The shockproof structure 120 may include a plurality of ribs 122 disposed on the surface according to the direction of the force. A plane 124 is disposed between two adjacent ribs 122.
The planes 124 disposed between the ribs 124 of the conventional shockproof structure 120 may be bent and separated from the hard disk 100 when the system is shocked, which leads to reduce the shockproof efficiency of the conventional shockproof structure 120.


A parking assist system includes: a control device configured to execute a driving process for autonomously moving a vehicle to a target position; a steering operation member configured to receive a steering operation performed by an occupant; a vehicle state detecting device; and a notification device configured to make a notification to the occupant. In the driving process, the control device executes vehicle speed control and steering control. When, during execution of the driving process, the control device determines that the vehicle is a suspension state in which the driving process should be temporarily suspended, the control device causes the notification device to output a prescribed notification and executes a suspension process. In the suspension process, the control device executes the vehicle speed control to stop the vehicle and stops the steering control.

JP2019-43174A discloses a parking assist system which, when a suspension condition is satisfied during execution of automatic parking assist, stops the vehicle and makes a notification device to notify executable operations to allow an occupant of the vehicle to select the next operation.
In the parking assist system of JP2019-43174A, it is unclear whether steering control is continued or stopped when the suspension condition is satisfied and the vehicle is stopped. When the steering control is continued, in some cases it is necessary to stop the steering control according to the steering operation by the occupant after the vehicle is stopped. In such a case, it is necessary to notify the stop of the steering control to the occupant to make the occupant recognize the control state of the vehicle. However, the occupant may have recognized that since the vehicle is in the stopped state, the steering control has been already stopped, and in such a case, the occupant may be confused by the notification. Also, the occupant may be annoyed if the notification is made again.


An image processing apparatus detects a contour of an object from a sequence of images. The images include a first image containing the object and subsequent images containing the object. The apparatus includes a first contour detection unit and a second contour detection unit. The first contour detection unit detects contour points which determine the contour of the object of the first image, when the first image and points near boundary locations of the object of the first image are specified by a user. The second contour detection unit detects contour points of one of the subsequent images based on the contour points detected by the first contour detection unit, so that object-contour data with respect to one of the subsequent images is determined.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and method that is capable of extracting a desired object from a sequence of images of a motion picture on the basis of a detected contour of the object while requiring only a simple operation from the operator.
Recently, low-cost, high-performance personal computers and memories have come into widespread use, which enables easy manipulation of image data of a color image or a motion picture by the operator of the personal computer. To create a motion picture that is viewed by other users on the personal computers for advertisement uses, educational uses, or entertainment uses, there is an increasing demand for a tool which is capable of editing images of the motion picture while only requiring a simple operation from the operator.
Editing the images of a motion picture involves several image processing processes, such as object-contour detection, object extraction, color-changing, enlargement, reduction, transfiguration, composition and/or recognition. The first process that is performed at the beginning of these image processing processes is a detection of a contour of a desired object (for example, an automobile or a human being) from image frames of a motion picture. In particular, the present invention relates to such an image processing apparatus and method which is capable of extracting a desired object from a sequence of image frames of a motion picture on the basis of a detected contour of the object.
(2) Description of the Related Art
U.S. Pat. No. 5,475,507 (corresponding to Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No.6-203157), which is assigned to the assignee of the present invention, discloses a color image processing method which detects a contour of a desired object in a color image containing only stationary components.
In the method of the above-mentioned publication, when the operator has designated a point at a position near the contour of the desired object in the image being processed, a boundary point on the contour of the object is detected on the basis of the designation. From the detected boundary point, other points on the object-contour are subsequently detected to detect the object-contour.
However, the method of the above-mentioned publication is intended to detect the object-contour from the image containing only stationary components. If this method is applied to the detection of the object-contour in a sequence of image frames of a motion picture, the operator must designate a point at a position near the contour of the object in a related image being processed for every image frame of the motion picture. Such an image processing method requires unnecessary redundant operations from the operator, and the operability is considerably low.
Further, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No.7-320068 (corresponding to Japanese Patent Application No.6-109914) discloses an image processing method for detecting an edge of an outline of a desired object from a sequence of image frames of a motion picture and detecting the object-contour on the basis of the detected edge.
In the method of the above-mentioned publication, an average of density levels of neighboring picture elements at an edge of the object-contour of a preceding image frame is detected. A threshold level which is used to detect a corresponding edge of the object-contour of a following image frame is determined by the average of the density levels for the preceding image frame.
The object-contour detection method of the above-mentioned publication involves two basic methods: one utilizing a motion of the object to separate the object-contour from the background region in the image frames (which is called a motion-based contour detection), and the other utilizing a color of the object to detect the object-contour in the image frames (which is called a color-based contour detection).
In the motion-based contour detection of the above-mentioned publication, a reference image containing only stationary components is compared with a subsequent image having the same environment but including a moving object. This comparison results in the difference of the two images canceling the stationary components, leaving only nonzero entries that correspond to the nonstationary image components. However, the essential requirement of this method is that there is an appreciable difference in the two images with respect to the moving object included therein. If there is no difference in the two images with respect to the moving object, this method cannot detect the contour of the desired object and the reliability of the detection is low. Further, if there is another moving object different than the desired moving object in the motion picture, this method may detect the contours of both the moving objects, and the reliability of the detection is low.
On the other hand, in the color-based contour detection of the above-mentioned publication, only color values of pixels of the desired object are detected to detect the object-contour in the image frames. However, the essential requirement of this method is that there is an appreciable difference between the color of the object and the color of the background. If there is no appreciable color difference of the object and the background, this method cannot detect the contour of the object of interest and the reliability of the detection is low.

Image processing apparatus and method for detecting a contour of an object from images of a motion picture and extracting the object therefrom


A system and method of providing a wireless heads-up display for displaying the amount of breathing gas remaining in an associated breathing gas supply is provided. The system has a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter has a pressure sensor and a controller for interpreting the sensed pressure into levels indicative of the amount of breathing gas remaining in the breathing gas supply. These levels are transmitted via radio frequency to the receiver. The receiver, which can be mounted in a breathing mask, includes a display for displaying the amount of breathing gas remaining in the associated breathing gas supply.

SCBAs are typically used to provide a safe breathing gas supply to a wearer thereof. As such, SCBAs typically include a breathing mask in fluid communication with a breathing gas supply such as, for example, a breathing gas tank. Configured as such, SCBAs are commonly employed by, for example, firefighters and others, when fighting fires or working within environments that contain hazardous gases, microbes or other airborne contaminants. As such, it is vital that the amount of breathing gas remaining in the breathing gas supply be known while the SCBA is in use. One method of presenting this information to the SCBA wearer has been through a mechanical gauge that typically hangs down from the left or right shoulder of the SCBA wearer. However, this arrangement is disadvantageous because the gauge, positioned as such, is outside of the SCBA wearer's field of vision and must be picked up to be read. Firefighters and other users of SCBAs in the heat of action sometimes forget to check their gauges, which can result in hazardous and potentially deadly situations.
In this regard, U.S. Pat. No. 5,097,826 provides a pressure monitoring device for a SCBA that includes visual indicators disposed in the SCBA wearer's field of view to monitor when predetermined pressure levels are reached in the breathing gas supply. The connection between the pressure sensing device and the visual indicators in this and other pressure monitoring devices is typically accomplished through a cable or chord. However, cables and chords are notorious safety and reliability risks in firefighting and other situations where SCBAs are worn. Firefighters often crawl through narrow spaces and cables or chords can get snagged, broken or torn. Hence, a pressure monitoring device for SCBAs that does not suffer from the aforementioned drawbacks is highly desirable.

Wireless heads-up display for a self-contained breathing apparatus


A fluid pressure responsive electric switch (10) is shown having an elongated base (12) in which first and second terminals (34, 48) are mounted by dropping them into respective slots (26, 28). The terminals are provided with tabs (38, 52) to engage with a platform (30) of the base to limit motion in one direction and are in turn engaged by a guide member (62) to prevent motion in an opposite direction. The guide member (62) has a cylindrical force transfer portion (86) aligned with the weld portion (104) of a sensor assembly (92) to transfer force without adversely affecting the calibration of the sensor assembly. Electrical leads (118, 120) have connectors (126, 128) attached to an end thereof along with cylindrical gaskets (134) which form an interference fit in bores (22, 20) of the base to provide an environmental seal at the same time electrical connection is made to the terminals. In a modified embodiment a special thermal isolation fitting (140) is shown particularly adapted for use in sealed refrigeration applications.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to fluid pressure responsive electric switches and methods for making them, and more particularly to certain specific features for making such switches more reliable with less variability from one switch to another and at lower cost.
2. Description of the Related Art
Devices for opening and closing an electric circuit in response to changes in values of fluid pressure by admitting the fluid pressure to one side of a rapid deflection actuator, such as a snap acting diaphragm, causing it to move from a first configuration to a second configuration at a predetermined actuation pressure value and return at another deactuation pressure value are well known. Typically, a motion transfer member is movably mounted adjacent to the actuator and adapted to transfer motion from the actuator to a movable arm of an electric switch.
A continuing need exists in the industry to improve the reliability of such switches and at the same time lower their unit costs. One area in which improvement is desired relates to providing switches which will more consistently operate within design specifications for actuation and deactuation pressure levels. Various prior art means have been devised to adjust or calibrate devices in order to obtain consistent actuation and deactuation from device to device. For example, the length of the motion transfer member can be selected to compensate for variations in distance between the actuator and the movable arm of the switch. In some devices the movable switch arm can be adjusted by varying the angle of a bracket mounting the arm. In some devices the position of the stationary contact of the switch can be adjusted by means of a threaded member aligned with the contact. Although such devices can generally be brought into a desired specification using such adjustment techniques they add to the cost of the switch by adding components in some cases and adding operations in others.
Another area in which improvement is desired is in providing an effective environmental seal which is of low cost and is conducive to mass manufacturing techniques. Various sealing techniques are disclosed in the prior art including the use of an outer housing in which the switch is disposed with epoxy infilled around the terminals extending from the switch as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,816,685. This technique is effective, however, it significantly adds to assembly time to allow for adequate curing. In addition, storage space is tied up while the epoxy is curing and special holding means is required for holding the switches during the curing period.

Fluid pressure responsive electric switch and method for assembling same