The invention relates to a semiconductor circuit (20) having an electrically programmable switching element (10), an “antifuse”, which includes a substrate electrode (2), produced in a substrate (1) which can be electrically biased with a substrate potential (Vo), and an opposing electrode (5) which is isolated from the substrate electrode (2) by an insulating layer (8), where the substrate electrode (2) includes at least one highly doped substrate region (3), and where the opposing electrode (5) can be connected to an external first electrical potential (V+) which can be provided outside of the semiconductor circuit (20). In line with the invention, the substrate electrode (2) can be connected to a second electrical potential (V−), which is provided inside the circuit and which, together with the external first potential (V+), produces a higher programming voltage (V) than the external first potential (V−) together with the substrate potential (Vo). In addition, the substrate electrode (2) is shielded from the substrate potential (Vo) by a current barrier layer (7). This allows the second potential to be lowered below the substrate potential or to be raised above it; the resulting increased programming voltage does not endanger other circuit regions.

Such semiconductor circuits are frequently used as memory circuits, particularly for DRAMs (Dynamic Random Access Memories). Semiconductor memories contain a multiplicity of memory cells which can be driven electrically using word lines and bit lines. Frequently, some of the memory cells are inoperable, in which case additional memory cells, provided on the semiconductor chip as a replacement for faulty memory cells, are switched in before the semiconductor memory is put into operation. To this end, by way of example, additional word lines are activated and word lines leading to faulty memory cells are deactivated. Activation or deactivation is effected using electrically programmable fuses which can be switched once from a conductive state into an insulating state (in the case of a fuse) of from an electrically insulating state into an electrically conductive state (in the case of an "antifuse") using an increased programming voltage.
Such redundant circuits are employed to make it possible to use a number of intact memory cells which is sufficient overall. In this case, a word line or bit line which is normally driven is permanently deactivated and a redundant word line or bit line is permanently activated, respectively. In addition, logic circuits may also contain electrically programmable switching elements, e.g. fuses, particularly "antifuses".
Electrical fuses (antifuses and fuses) require higher voltages than the operating voltages of between 1.5 and 4 V, for example 3.3 V, which are usual in semiconductor circuits. In the case of antifuses, for example, an insulating layer needs to be blown, which is why it is necessary for a sufficiently high programming voltage for blowing the insulating layer and hence for switching the antifuse to be applied to two electrodes arranged on either side of this insulating layer.
Electrically switchable fuses are frequently produced using transistor designs, in which case the two source/drain implantations are shorted to form a single electrode at the substrate. For this purpose, they are put into a well which has been doped using dopant of the same doping type (n-doping or p-doping) as the source/drain regions themselves. Also, such a switching element is designed like a transistor; above the gate oxide layer there is the gate electrode, which in this case serves as second electrode of the switching element.
The source/drain implantations are highly doped substrate regions of the substrate electrode; in addition, there may optionally be another channel doping, likewise of the same doping type, in order to enrich charge carriers centrally beneath the gate layer more easily, said charge carriers traversing the insulating layer and destroying it locally when the programming voltage is applied, which makes the switching element permanently conductive.
In the case of a p-doped semiconductor substrate, for example, an electrically switchable switching element such as an nFET (n-field effect transistor) is produced, whose source/drain implantations are negatively doped. This transistor structure is produced in an n-well made in the p-substrate, so that the two heavily n-doped source/drain implantations are shorted by the likewise n-doped well. This means that the use of a well of the same doping type as the doping type of the two source/drain implantations conventionally permits these implantations to be shorted to form a single substrate electrode on the switching element.
In the case of a p-substrate, the gate electrode is connected to an external positive potential (i.e. one which is provided outside of the semiconductor substrate) when the switching element is to be blown. The substrate electrode formed using the shorted source/drain implantations is connected to a second potential, which is provided by the semiconductor circuit itself; if it is large enough, the potential difference between the two potentials results in the gate oxide layer melting through. In the case of the p-substrate which contains the n-doped well for the switching element in an nFET design, the second potential chosen in order to bias the substrate electrode is one which is higher than the substrate potential, i.e. higher than 0 V, in order to maintain a reverse biased pn-junction between the well and the surrounding substrate when the switching element is blown. Otherwise, the charges intended for blowing the switching element would drain via the substrate.
The potential connected to the substrate electrode is thus (in the case of a p-substrate) always positive. Since electrons need to be accumulated in the channel region of the switching element, the gate potential for blowing the switching element is higher by the programming voltage than the potential on the substrate electrode.
When the potential on the substrate electrode is already positive anyway, the condition of high programming voltages results in a very large value for the potential on the gate electrode; if such a high potential is applied to the gate electrode from an external connection via the semiconductor circuit, other regions of the semiconductor circuit which cannot withstand such high voltages are destroyed. Hence, limits are set for the level of programming voltages which can be applied in the conventional design of electrical fuses or antifuses.

Integrated semiconductor circuit with an electrically programmable switching element


An information carrier comprising a support and a receiving layer is disclosed, together with the method of preparation. The information carrier further comprises (optionally personalized) information applied, preferably by ink jet printing, on the receiver layer, and a new type of watermark, obtained by applying pattern-wise a curable varnish and curing it, and by curing an overall applied curable lacquer. One of the varnish and the lacquer have the ability upon penetration into the receiving layer of changing its transparency, thus creating a transparent watermark on an opaque background, or creating a opaque watermark on an transparent background. The finished information carrier is preferably cut in a set of multiple identification (ID) cards.

In recent years, with the progress of information-oriented society several types of identification (ID card) cards have come into use. For instance, cards involved in the electronic transfer of money include bank cards, pay cards, credit cards and shopping cards. Different types of security cards authorize access to the bearer of the card to particular areas such as a company (employee ID card), the military, a public service, the safe department of a bank, etc. For long time national states have issued identity cards to establish the national identity of their civilians. Still other types of identification cards include social security cards, membership cards of clubs and societies, and driver's licence cards. Such ID cards usually contain information referring both to the authority issuing the card on the one hand and to the owner of the card. The first type of information may be general information such as a name and/or logo of the issuing authority, or security marks, such as a watermark and security print, e.g a repeating monochrome pattern or a gradually changing colour pattern which are difficult to counterfeit. The second type includes e.g. the unique card number, personal data such as a birth day, a photo of the owner, and a signature. The card can further contain hidden information and therefore contain a magnetic strip or an electronic chip ("smart cards").
A large set of ID cards are usually prepared on a large carrier of information such as a web or sheet by a step and repeat process, after which the information carrier is cut into multiple items with the appropriate dimensions each representing a personal ID card. Smart cards and ID cards have now the standardized dimensions of 85.6 mm×54.0 mm×0.76 mm.
Normally, the card is protected by a plastic sheet material such as by lamination of the card to a plastic sheet or, as it is usually the case by lamination between two plastic sheets.
In view of their widespread uses, especially in commercial transactions, such as cashing checks, credit purchases, etc., it is important that the person relying on the ID card to identify the bearer have maximum assurance that the ID card has not been altered and/or that the ID card is not a counterfeit. A great deal of ingenuity has been employed to provide this desired degree of assurance. For example, specialized adhesive systems and lamination techniques have been developed to prevent or discourage alteration of ID cards. These systems and techniques are designed to achieve a high degree of bonding efficiency between a surface of the card and any plastic sheet material bonded to it. Certain adhesive systems, for example, can provide what is known in the art as a "security seal". A "security seal" is best explained by describing what happens if an attempt is made to pull a plastic sheet material from the surface of a card bonded to the plastic. If a "security seal" exists, all or at least portions of the adhered surface will be removed from the card together with the plastic sheet material. Accordingly, a "security seal" is normally established between the information-bearing surface of the card or document and the plastic. Under such circumstances, removal of the plastic should also remove substantial portions of the information-bearing surface of the card to render the card unusable for alteration purposes. Adhesives or adhesive systems which can provide "security seals" are described in e.g. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,582,439, 3,614,839 and 4,115,618. According to U.S. Pat. No. 4,322,461 a security seal can be provided by applying heat-sealable polymers so as to obtain a sealed envelop-type pouch.
Furthermore, the art's response to the counterfeiting problem has involved the integration of "verification features" with ID cards to evidence their authenticity. The best known of these "verification features" involve signatures such as the signature of the person authorized to issue the ID card or the signature of the bearer. Other "verification features" have involved the use of watermarks, fluorescent materials, validation patterns or markings and polarizing stripes among others. These "verification features" are integrated into ID cards in various ways and they may be "visible" or "invisible" in the finished card. If "invisible", they can be detected by viewing the feature under conditions which render it visible. Details relating to the use of "verification features" in ID cards can be found, for example: U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,984,030; 3,279,826; 3,332,775; 3,414,998; 3,675,948; 3,827,726 and 3,961,956.
The present invention extends the teaching on verification marks, and particularly on watermarks.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Carrier of information bearing a watermark


An onboard battery for a vehicle includes battery modules each including battery cells disposed therein, a housing case that houses the battery modules, and intake ducts that introduce cooling air into the battery modules. The cooling air is taken from rearward into the battery modules via the intake ducts. The battery modules include at least three battery modules, at least two of the battery modules being disposed in upper and lower stages. At least two of the battery modules are arranged along a longitudinal direction. One of the battery modules is disposed at the forefront.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to the technical field of onboard batteries that are installed in vehicles, such as automobiles, and can be used even in cold areas.
2. Related Art
Onboard batteries are installed in various vehicles, such as automobiles, in order to supply electric power to motors and other various electrical components.
In recent years, in particular, vehicles such as electric vehicles (EV), hybrid electric vehicles (HEV), and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) have gained widespread use. In these electricity-driven vehicles, onboard batteries having a high electricity-storage function are installed.
An onboard battery includes a housing case and a battery module housed in the housing case. The battery module is configured by, for example, arranging a plurality of battery cells (secondary batteries), such as nickel hydrogen batteries or lithium ion batteries. In an onboard battery to be installed in an electric vehicle or the like, in order to retain a high electricity-storage function, a plurality of battery modules are disposed in the housing case and battery cells in each of the battery modules are connected in series or in parallel.
An example of an onboard battery is a type in which the battery modules are disposed in two stages of upper and lower stages in the housing case as a structure for retaining a high electricity-storage function (see Japanese Patent No. 5206110).
The onboard battery disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 5206110 is disposed in a rear trunk, and the lower-stage battery module is inserted into a depressed part having an upward opening in a floor panel, thereby securing a large space of the trunk.
Note that a battery cell generates heat during driving, and thus, an onboard battery needs to suppress an increase in temperature due to the heat by cooling the battery cell so as to secure favorable performance of the battery cell and other various control devices disposed inside the housing case. The above-described onboard battery, in which the plurality of battery modules are disposed, generates an especially large amount of heat. Therefore, it is desirable to increase the cooling efficiency of the plurality of battery modules.


An innovative bone anchor and methods for securing connective tissue, such as tendons, to bone are disclosed which permit a suture attachment which lies entirely beneath the cortical bone surface, and wherein the suturing material between the connective tissue and the bone anchor is oriented in a direction generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the bone anchor, so that axial pull-out forces exerted on the bone anchor are minimized. The suture attachment to the bone anchor involves the looping of a substantial length of suturing material around a shaft of the anchor, thereby avoiding an eyelet connection which requires a knot and which concentrates stress on a very small portion of the suturing material. Thus, failure rates are greatly decreased over conventional techniques, and the inventive procedures are significantly easier to perform than conventional techniques.

This invention relates generally to methods and apparatus for attaching soft tissue to bone, and more particularly to anchors and methods for securing connective tissue, such as ligaments or tendons, to bone. The invention has particular application to arthroscopic surgical techniques for reattaching the rotator cuff to the humeral head, in order to repair the rotator cuff.
It is an increasingly common problem for tendons and other soft, connective tissues to tear or to detach from associated bone. One such type of tear or detachment is a "rotator cuff" tear, wherein the supraspinatus tendon separates from the humerus, causing pain and loss of ability to elevate and externally rotate the arm. Complete separation can occur if the shoulder is subjected to gross trauma, but typically, the tear begins as a small lesion, especially in older patients.
To repair a torn rotator cuff, the typical course today is to do so surgically, through a large incision. This approach is presently taken in almost 99% of rotator cuff repair cases. Two types of open surgical approaches for repair of the rotator cuff, one known as the "classic open" and the other as the "mini-open". The classic open approach requires a large incision and complete detachment of the deltoid muscle from the acromion to facilitate exposure. Following the suturing of the rotator cuff to the humeral head, the detached deltoid is surgically reattached. Because of this maneuver, the deltoid requires postoperative protection, thus retarding rehabilitation and possibly resulting in residual weakness. Complete rehabilitation takes approximately 9 to 12 months.
The mini-open technique, which represents the current growing trend and the majority of all surgical repair procedures, differs from the classic approach by gaining access through a smaller incision and splitting rather than detaching the deltoid. Additionally, this procedure is typically used in conjunction with arthroscopic acromial decompression. Once the deltoid is split, it is retracted to expose the rotator cuff tear. The cuff is debrided to ensure suture attachment to viable tissue and to create a reasonable edge approximation. In addition, the humeral head is abraded or notched at the proposed soft tissue to bone reattachment point, as healing is enhanced on a raw bone surface. A series of small diameter holes, referred to as "transosseous tunnels", are "punched" through the bone laterally from the abraded or notched surface to a point on the outside surface of the greater tuberosity, commonly a distance of 2 to 3 cm. Finally, the cuff is sutured and secured to the bone by pulling the suture ends through the transosseous tunnels and tying them together using the bone between two successive tunnels as a bridge, after which the deltoid muscle must be surgically reattached to the acromion.
Although the above described surgical technique is the current standard of care for rotator cuff repair, it is associated with a great deal of patient discomfort and a lengthy recovery time, ranging from at least four months to one year or more. It is the above described manipulation of the deltoid muscle together with the large skin incision that causes the majority of patient discomfort and an increased recovery time.
Less invasive arthroscopic techniques are beginning to be developed in an effort to address the shortcomings of open surgical repair. Working through small trocar portals that minimize disruption of the deltoid muscle, a few surgeons have been able to reattach the rotator cuff using various bone anchor and suture configurations. The rotator cuff is sutured intracorporeally and an anchor is driven into bone at a location appropriate for repair. Rather than thread the suture through transosseous tunnels which are difficult or impossible to create arthroscopically using current techniques, the repair is completed by tying the cuff down against bone using the anchor and suture. Early results of less invasive techniques are encouraging, with a substantial reduction in both patient recovery time and discomfort.
Unfortunately, the skill level required to facilitate an entirely arthroscopic repair of the rotator cuff is inordinately high. Intracorporeal suturing is clumsy and time consuming, and only the simplest stitch patterns can be utilized. Extracorporeal knot tying is less difficult, but their tightness cannot later be adjusted. Knots tied arthroscopically are difficult to achieve, impossible to adjust, and are located in less than optimal areas of the shoulder. Suture tension is also impossible to measure and adjust once the knot has been tied. Consequently, because of the technical difficulty of the procedure, presently less than 1% of all rotator cuff procedures are of the arthroscopic type, and are considered investigational in nature.
A significant difficulty with current arthroscopic rotator cuff repair techniques are shortcomings related to currently available suture anchors. Suture eyelets in bone anchors available today are small in radius, and can cause the suture to fail at that location when the anchor is placed under high tensile loads. Additionally, the sutures must be preloaded into the anchor. Thus, if the suture breaks or is accidentally pulled out during manipulation, a new anchor must be used: The old anchor remains in the bone, because of a barbed construction designed to resist axial removal of the anchor. This presents a problem because of the limited bone space available for the insertion of bone anchors. The need to utilize additional bone anchors to satisfactorily complete a procedure, leaving extra useless anchors in the bone, can severely compromise the ability to perform subsequent procedures, should they be required. Furthermore, due to design, some anchors are limited in the way that they can be placed into the bone. For example, two Mitek anchors must not be placed too near one another or too near the edge of a bone as the "retention barbs" present on anchors of this particular design would interfere with each other or fall outside the surface of the bone. A major problem with existing suture anchor designs is the location of the suture attachment point (typically an eyelet) at the exposed proximal end of the anchor. This arrangement means that any tensile force applied on the suturing material attached to the anchor will result in an axial pull-out force applied to the anchor. As a consequence, if the suturing material itself does not break at the point of attachment, as discussed supra, then there is still a substantial risk that the bone anchor will pull out of the bone, causing the connective tissue to once again become at least partially detached from the bone. In the humerus, the cancellous bone is soft, making such an event more likely. If either suture failure or anchor pull-out occurs after the surgical procedure has been completed, then an entirely new repair procedure must be initiated, with its attendant costs, discomfort, inconvenience, and rehabilitation.
Other methods of securing soft tissue to bone are known in the prior art, such as staples and tacks, but are not presently considered to be feasible for shoulder repair procedures, because of physicians' reluctance to leave anything but a suture in the capsule area of the shoulder. The reason for this is that staples, tacks, and the like could possibly fall out and cause injury during movement. Screws are also known for such attachment procedures, but suffer from a number of disadvantages, including their tendency to loosen over time, requiring a second procedure to later remove them, and their requirement for a relatively flat attachment geometry. As a result of this constraint, the attachment point often must be located at a less than ideal position.
What is needed, therefore, is a new approach for repairing the rotator cuff, wherein suture tension can be measured and adjusted, the suture resides completely below the cortical bone surface, there is no requirement for the surgeon to tie a knot to attach the suture to the bone anchor, and the skill level for correct placement is suitable for practitioners having average ability.

Methods for attaching connective tissues to bone using a multi-component bone anchor


Improved polyvinylchloride-free compositions useful for wall and floor coverings comprise an optionally functionalized, ethylenically unsaturated block copolymer of monoalkenyl aromatic hydrocarbon and conjugated alkadiene, or selectively hydrogenated derivative thereof, an ethylene polymer, functionalized polyalkylene, polyisobutylene and particulate filler.

Plasticized compositions based on polyvinylchloride (PVC) are widely used in the floor-covering industry because of the properties of high scratch resistance and smooth surface finish which such compositions provide. These PVC-containing compositions are well known in the art, being disclosed for example in U.S. Pat. No. 3,761,555, U.S. Pat. No. 4,888,145 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,923,658. However, the PVC-containing compositions have the substantial disadvantage of releasing hydrogen chloride and possibly other toxic chemicals when burned. As environmental regulations become more restrictive and the need for recycling becomes more significant, alternatives to PVC-based compositions become more desirable.
These alternate compositions must demonstrate the good surface properties of the PVC-based compositions to be acceptable to industry and should be able to be calendared with the same equipment used for PVC compositions. One example of a PVC-free formulation for floor and wall coverings is disclosed by European Patent Application 321760. The formulation is a homogeneous synthetic material comprising (1) an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer optionally employed with propylene with minor amounts of ethylene-propylene-diene monomer terpolymer and polyethylene, (2) a filler material, (3) a coloring agent and optionally (4) minor amounts of conventional additives. These formulations suffer from stiffness and the poor processability and the high density thereof restricts the application of the formulations as wall coverings.
A second PVC-free composition is disclosed by Japanese Patent Application No. 60-034682. The composition, useful for floor coverings, is prepared by adding a minor amount of a homopolymer or copolymer of isobutylene to a crosslinkable rubber and/or a thermoplastic rubbery polymer. The blend is subsequently vulcanized through use of a crosslinking agent. The composition is in the form of a three-dimensional network and floor material prepared from the composition is hard and difficult to process.
It would be of advantage to have polymer compositions not based on polyvinylchloride which demonstrate low density and good processability and the scratch resistance and good surface appearance properties of PVC-based compositions, but which are environmentally more acceptable.


Techniques disclosed herein are directed towards streaming keyphrase detection which can be customized to detect one or more particular keyphrases, without requiring retraining of any model(s) for those particular keyphrase(s). Many implementations include processing audio data using a speaker separation model to generate separated audio data which isolates an utterance spoken by a human speaker from one or more additional sounds not spoken by the human speaker, and processing the separated audio data using a text independent speaker identification model to determine whether a verified and/or registered user spoke a spoken utterance captured in the audio data. Various implementations include processing the audio data and/or the separated audio data using an automatic speech recognition model to generate a text representation of the utterance. Additionally or alternatively, the text representation of the utterance can be processed to determine whether at least a portion of the text representation of the utterance captures a particular keyphrase. When the system determines the registered and/or verified user spoke the utterance and the system determines the text representation of the utterance captures the particular keyphrase, the system can cause a computing device to perform one or more actions corresponding to the particular keyphrase.

An automated assistant (also known as a "personal assistant", "mobile assistant", etc.) may be interacted with by a user via a variety of client devices such as smart phones, tablet computers, wearable devices, automobile systems, standalone personal assistant devices, and so forth. An automated assistant receives input from the user including spoken natural language input (i.e., utterances) and may respond by performing an action, by controlling another device and/or providing responsive content (e.g., visual and/or audible natural language output). An automated assistant interacted with via a client device may be implemented via the client device itself and/or via one or more remote computing devices that are in network communication with the client device (e.g., computing device(s) in the cloud).
Some user interface inputs that can invoke an automated assistant via a client device include a hardware and/or virtual button at the client device for invoking the automated assistant (e.g., a tap of a hardware button, a selection of a graphical interface element displayed by the client device). Many automated assistants can additionally or alternatively be invoked in response to one or more spoken general invocation phrases, which are also known as "hot words/phrases", "trigger words/phrases", or "keywords/phrases". For example, a spoken invocation phrase such as "Hey Assistant," "OK Assistant", and/or "Assistant" can be spoken to invoke an automated assistant.
Keyword spotting models (e.g., wake word detection models) can be used to initiate human-machine conversation. For example, a user can initiate a human-machine conversation by saying the keyphrase "OK Assistant", "Hey Assistant", "Assistant", etc. Conventional keyword spotting models are trained to recognize a single predefined phrase or a few predefined phrases. Additionally or alternatively, conventional keyword spotting models often assume the keyword is covered by a fixed-length window of audio. Support of a new keyphrase typically requires retraining the entire keyword spotting model.

Voice shortcut detection with speaker verification


Disclosed is a method for reducing the sterol, for example cholesterol, content of sterol-containing substances such as fats and oils. The method provides an efficient and cost effective process based on the affinity of cholesterol and other sterols for phospholipid bilayers. Phospholipid aggregates are contacted with, for example, a sterol-containing fat or oil in an aqueous environment and then mixed. Following adequate mixing, the sterol-reduced fat or oil is separated from the aqueous separation mixture. Alternatively, the correspondingly sterol-enriched phospholipid also may be isolated from the aqueous separation mixture.

Cholesterol is known to be an important contributor to coronary heart disease, a leading cause of death in the United States. As a result, many consumers are aware of the benefits of maintaining a diet that is low in saturated fat and cholesterol. According to one survey, 48% of US adults try to limit the amount of dietary cholesterol. Council for Agricultural Science and Technology Report #107, November 1985. Although dietary cholesterol intake does not determine blood cholesterol levels in 70-80% of U.S. adults, a significant market for reduced cholesterol products remains for 20-30% of U.S. adults. Sperber, Food Processing, November 1989, page 155.
As the link between high serum cholesterol levels and heart disease has become increasingly apparent, cholesterol-free and cholesterol-reduced food products have become more attractive to consumers, and food products that have no or reduced cholesterol are gaining popularity as well as an increasing share of the market. Consequently, removal or reduction of cholesterol in high cholesterol foods has the potential to substantially increase marketability and value. This is particularly true for such high cholesterol foods as marine fish oils (500-800 mg cholesterol/100 g), butter (250-300 mg cholesterol/100 g), beef tallow (about 110 mg cholesterol/100 g), lard (about 100 mg cholesterol/100 g) and egg yolks (about 5.2 g cholesterol/100 g (dry weight)).
Many fish oils contain essential omega-3 fatty acids such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), which are gaining importance as "nutraceuticals," i.e., food substances which, when ingested, are beneficial in treatment or prevention of disease. The benefits of increasing dietary DHA and EPA include reduction of blood pressure and plasma triacylglycerols, and alleviation of autoimmune diseases such as arthritis. DHA is an important structural component in the membranes of the eye and brain, and is very important in the development of infants. McNeill et al., J. Am. Oil Chem. Soc. 73: 245-51 (1996). Unfortunately, many fish oils display very high levels of cholesterol (see above), such that in order to obtain the benefits of DHA, EPA and other omega-3 fatty acids in fish oils, one must also ingest large quantities of cholesterol. Thus, removal of cholesterol from fish oils, without adversely affecting the omega-3 fatty acids and other beneficial constituents, would enhance the nutraceutical character of fish oil and would be particularly valuable from the perspective of human health.
The requirements for awarding a product a reduced-cholesterol or cholesterol-free label are stringent. From the labeling guidelines given below, the importance of high efficiencies in cholesterol removal is clear:
Cholesterol Free: <2 mg cholesterol & 2 g or less saturated fat per serving PA1 Low Cholesterol: 20 mg or less cholesterol & 2 g or less saturated fat per serving PA1 Reduced Cholesterol: >25% less cholesterol & 2 g or less saturated fat per serving than a comparison food
The Chemist, Vol. 71, No. 5, July, 1994 (newsletter published by The American Institute of Chemists, Inc.).
The removal or reduction of cholesterol is not a trivial matter. Several different techniques to accomplish this task have been developed, each with varying levels of success.
One such method, disclosed in Marschner et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,804,555, involves steam distillation. In this process the oil or fat is heated to 500.degree. F. under high vacuum. Then the oil is made into a thin film and brought into contact with 1 to 15% steam under counter current conditions. This results in a 65% or more reduction of cholesterol. The high temperatures, however, can degrade the product by isomerizing cis double bonds present in triacylglycerols into trans double bonds. The high temperatures also can lead to polymerization and oxidation of various constituents, including cholesterol not removed in the processing steps. Oxidized cholesterol, even more than unoxidized cholesterol, is considered particularly detrimental to human health. Marine fish oils are especially vulnerable to these various forms of product degradation induced by high temperatures. The steam distillation process is energy intensive and engenders significant operating costs. Furthermore, since appreciable amounts of cholesterol remain after distillation, the resulting product may not be entitled to a cholesterol-free label.
Another method of cholesterol removal involves extraction with supercritical CO.sub.2. Sperber, "New Technologies for Cholesterol Reduction," Food Processing, November 1989, pages 155-60. Here, the CO.sub.2 is converted into a supercritical fluid using high pressures (4000-5000 psi). The supercritical CO.sub.2 has unique solvating characteristics and is used to selectively remove the cholesterol from dairy and animal products. The efficiency of such an extraction can be as high as 98%. However, installation of the necessary equipment requires a substantial capital investment and the operating costs are also substantial. See also McLachlan et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,024,846 for another method of separating cholesterol from lipids using supercritical CO.sub.2.
Another method, disclosed in Wrezel, U.S. Pat. No. 5,128,162, involves chemical reaction and extraction of cholesterol from oils. In a first step, the cholesterol containing oil is reacted with a polybasic acylating agent. This converts the cholesterol into an acidic monoester of the corresponding polybasic acid. In a second step, this acidic cholesterol derivative is extracted with a base and separated by centrifugation. The chemical requirements, relatively complex procedure, and generation of waste can add significant costs to the process.
Modified cyclodextrin polymers and hydrocolloid extractants such as galactomannoses have also been used successfully to extract cholesterol. Other methods include use of calcium or magnesium bromide salts to precipitate cholesterol, as well as extraction using modified vegetable oils. Trends in Food Science and Technology 7: 30 (1996).

Phospholipid-based removal of sterols from fats and oils


A thin-film magnetic has a coil toroidally wound around a magnetic layer. The coil includes a plurality of first coil segments that cross over the magnetic layer; a coil insulating layer covering the first coil segments, the magnetic layer being formed on the coil insulating layer; a plurality of second coil segments that cross over the magnetic layer, the second coil segments being formed on the coil insulating layer; and a plurality of bank layers disposed at two sides of the magnetic layer in the track width direction, the bank layers being electrically connected with ends of the first coil segments. Each second coil segment in the track width direction are electrically connected with upper faces of the bank layers to connect ends of the adjacent first coil layers with each other via the second coil segments. According to this structure, the second coil segments can be accurately formed by patterning.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to thin-film recording heads for use in, for example, floating magnetic heads. In particular, it relates to a thin-film magnetic head in which an electrical connection between first coil segments and second coil segments can be easily and reliably formed and in which the second coil segments are properly insulated from a magnetic pole layer.
2. Description of the Related Art
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication Nos. 11-273028, 2000-311311, and 2002-170205 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,335,846 B1 teach inductive recording heads each having a coil layer including a coil toroidally wound around a core.
The coil is preferably toroidal to best utilize the three-dimensional space near the core layer. This structure has been expected to achieve miniaturization of inductive heads and superior magnetic efficiency.
In all the above-described prior art documents, a lower coil layer, which is formed below the core layer, e.g., an upper magnetic pole layer, is electrically connected to an upper coil layer, which is formed above the core layer, via connectors.
For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication Nos. 2000-311311 and 2002-17020 teach a structure including through holes each formed across a first insulating layer covering a lower coil layer and each side portion of a second insulating layer extending over the core layer in the track width direction. A connector is formed in each through hole so that the upper face of the connector comes into contact with a side portion of the upper coil layer. Although the above-described patent documents do not include front views of the lower coil layer, the upper coil layer, and the connectors viewed from the face opposing the recording medium (hereinafter referred to as "opposing face"), it can be inferred from the description that the front view is such as that shown in FIG. 20.
As shown in FIG. 20, step differences are formed between the upper face of the core layer and the upper face of the first insulating layer. As a result, step differences are formed in the second insulating layer extending over the core layer. The presence of the step differences degrades the accuracy of patterning in forming the upper coil layer. In particular, the patterned resist formed on the connector is not accurately removed, thereby causing connection failure between the connector and the side portion of the upper coil layer formed in the pattern by plating.
Moreover, in forming the second insulating layer, the material does not readily deposit on the side faces of the core layer due to the step differences. As a result, insulation between each side face of the core layer and the upper coil layer becomes incomplete. The easiest way to overcome these problems is to increase the thickness of the second insulating layer. However, since the total thickness of the first and second insulating layers increases, forming through holes that extend across the first and second insulating layers to come into contact with the upper face of the lower coil layer becomes difficult. As a result, the electrical connection between the lower coil layer and the connectors becomes instable.

Thin film magnetic head having toroidal coil


A data storage system includes multiple zones that comprise separate geographic storage locations and store replicated copies of data items. Upon receiving a delete operation at a local zone at a time td, if a copy of the first data item exists in the local zone, the system computes a maximum last update time tmlu=td−tmin, wherein tmin is a minimum lifetime for a data item. Next, the system determines, from a local index, a time tlu that the first data item was last updated. If tlu<tmlu, the system deletes the copy of the first data item in the local zone. The system also asynchronously propagates the delete operation to other zones in the data storage system along with tmlu, wherein the delete operation is performed in another zone if the other zone determines that the first data item was last updated before tmlu.

Field
The disclosed embodiments generally relate to data storage systems. More specifically, the disclosed embodiments relate to the design of a data storage system that facilitates deleting replicated copies of a data item from the multiple storage locations.
Related Art
Organizations are presently using cloud-based storage systems to store large volumes of data. These cloud-based storage systems are typically operated by hosting companies that maintain a sizable storage infrastructure, often comprising thousands of servers that are sited in geographically distributed data centers. Customers typically buy or lease storage capacity from these hosting companies. In turn, the hosting companies provision storage resources according to the customers' requirements and enable the customers to access these storage resources.
To provide fault tolerance, data items are often replicated across multiple storage locations. In this way, if a storage location fails or becomes inaccessible, the data items on the failed storage location can be accessed from other storage locations. However, this replication can complicate the process of deleting a data item, because to complete the delete operation, the replicated copies of the data item need to be deleted from multiple storage locations. However, asynchronously propagating a delete operation to multiple storage locations can cause race conditions between the delete operation and associated put operations directed to the same data item. Such race conditions can cause inconsistent execution sequences among the different storage locations that can lead to inconsistent copies of data items at the different storage locations.
Hence, what is needed is a technique for performing distributed delete operations in a replicated data storage system without the above-described problems.

Facilitating distributed deletes in a replicated storage system


According to one embodiment, a memory device includes a nonvolatile semiconductor memory having physical storage areas that includes a user area externally accessible and are divided into management units and a control unit. The control unit receives a control command having a first argument to designate a sequential write area and a read command or a write command, assigns a management unit represented by an address of the read command or the write command as the sequential write area, and changes memory access control by judging whether an address of a memory access command to access the user area indicates access in the sequential write area whose size is equivalent to the management unit.

Memory devices such as an SD™ card are classified into a plurality of classes to facilitate matching between the performance of a memory device and that required by a host device. A speed class provides a method of classifying the performance of memory devices by speed class numbers and calculating the performance of the memory devices.
The speed class controls the write procedure using specific commands. To do memory write while maintaining performance, sequential write is performed in an allocation unit (to be referred to as an AU or sequential write area hereinafter) that is the physical memory area of a memory device. Data needs to be written from the start of an allocation unit. For this reason, an allocation unit in which data has been written partway cannot be used for data recording. Therefore, it is desired to provide memory device and host device capable of using an allocation unit in which data has been written partway and improving the utilization efficiency of allocation units.


Alternating Cymbals utilize two pairs or sets of cymbals, a first pair and a second pair of cymbals, which play alternately with a single actuation usually by a foot pedal. Both sets of cymbals are supported by a support means which includes a tripod, column with a bracket extending from the column. The first pair of cymbals are mounted at the upper end of the column. A shaft in the column pulls the top cymbal of the first pair of cymbals down against the bottom cymbal of the first pair of cymbals. The second pair of cymbals are mounted on the bracket. A rod is connected to the shaft and the bottom cymbal of the second set of cymbals which is mounted on the rod strikes the top cymbal of the second pair of cymbals when the foot pedal is released. A spring about the shaft moves the shaft and rod upwardly when the foot pedal is released.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a percussion instrument, namely cymbals which are usually played in conjunction with drums, and more specifically, relates to two separate pairs of cymbals that play alternately, with one movement of an actuating device, usually a foot pedal.
2. Prior Art
Cymbals and deices for playing cymbals are known. A pair or set of cymbals as used herein refers to two cymbals that engage one another to produce sound. Each cymbal can be any form of percussion device. A single pair of cymbals on a stand, often referred to as a "high hat," is known and commercially available. The La Londe Patent, U.S. Pat. No. 3,167,959, teaches such a device.
The Simons Patent, U.S. Pat. No. 4,111,095, teaches the use of two pairs of cymbals, one above the other, which are played simultaneously, but not alternately.
The Cordes Patent, U.S. Pat. No. 4,274,322, which purports to be an improvement over the Simons Patent just previously discussed, places two pairs of cymbals side by side rather than one over the other, as taught by Simons. However, with Cordes, like Simons, the two sets or pairs of cymbals are played simultaneously and are not played alternatively.
The simultaneous actuation of two sets of cymbals does offer an advantage to a percussionist, but the alternate striking of two pairs of cymbals in close succession also offers an advantage to a percussionist. The second engagement occurs, in accordance with this invention, immediately after the first engagement. To achieve this with two separate high hats would be virtually impossible for a player to achieve. It should also be noted that two sets of cymbals striking simultaneously can be utilized with the present invention in place of either one or both sets of the cymbals that are sounded alternately.
Objects
The objects of this invention are as follow:
To provide a device for playing two separate sets of cymbals alternatively with one activation.
To provide a device which can be attached to an existing "high hat" to provide two separate sets of cymbals which are played alternatively with one actuation.
To provide two pairs of cymbals that are alternatively actuated by a single actuation and which are dependable and economical.
These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.


An electrical connector is provided that comprises a contact having a straight body portion defining, and extending along, a linear axis. The body portion has one end formed integral with a contact tail that is configured to be joined to a circuit board. The body portion has an opposed end formed integral with a curved engagement end configured to engage a mating connector. The connector further includes an outer shell and a contact retention module. The outer shell has a mating end configured to be joined with a mating connector and has a board-engaging end configured to be joined to a circuit board. The outer shell has an interior cavity opening onto the mating end and an open socket facing the board-engaging end. The contact retention module is over molded about the straight body portion of the contact. The contact retention module is held within the open socket of the outer shell with the curved engagement portion extending beyond the contact retention module into the cavity.

The present invention generally relates to an electrical connector assembly, and more particularly to a high speed modular connector configuration.
A wide variety of connectors have been proposed for various applications, one example of which is the single connector attachment (SCA) type plug and receptacle connector. SCA series 1 (SCA-1) and SCA series 2 (SCA-2) connectors are used today. The SCA-2 connectors are available in 20, 40 and 80 pin position configurations and contain through-hole contacts or compliant pin contacts arranged on a predetermined centerline spacing. The SCA-2 connector plugs are available in vertical and straddle mount, while the SCA-2 connector receptacles are available in right-angle, vertical, press-fit vertical, extended height press-fit vertical and extended height vertical arrangements. These SCA-2 connectors are compatible with SCA-1 board-to-board connectors.
However, conventional SCA connectors have met with certain limitations. As data transmission speeds increase, the conventional SCA connectors are unable to maintain a desired signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and experience undue increases in interference such as in crosstalk. Today, conventional SCA-2 connectors support transmission speeds of up to 4.25 Gigabits per second. As the transmission speed increases above 4.25 Gbits/sec, the SNR decreases and crosstalk increases to levels that significantly degrade the signal quality.
Conventional SCA-2 connectors retain the contacts within an insulated housing of the connector utilizing a "stitched design". In a stitched design, the insulated housing is formed first with an arrangement of passages through the housing. Contacts are then inserted through the passages into the housing. The stitched design creates an uneven surface environment surrounding each contact as the housing touches the contact at certain points and does not touch the contact at other points, thereby exposing regions of the contact surface to air. The uneven surface environment undesirably impacts the impedance characteristics of the contact, particularly at high data rates.
Further, conventional SCA-2 connectors utilize contacts that include multiple curves and bends along the length of the contact. The curves and bends undesirably impact the signal characteristics of the contact, particularly at high data rates.
A need remains for an improved receptacle connector that is configured to be backward compatible with conventional SCA-2 connector plugs, yet is able to carry data at transmission speeds higher than 4.25 Gigabits/sec and up to at least 8.5 Gigabits/sec.


A connector system for coupling electrosurgical instruments to electrosurgical generators is provided. The connector system includes a plug portion connectable to an electrosurgical instrument, the plug portion of the electrosurgical instrument having a shape specific to a particular manufacturer; and a plug receptacle portion supported on the electrosurgical generator; the plug receptacle portion being shaped to receive the plug portion of the electrosurgical instrument of the particular manufacturer and the plug portion of the electrosurgical instrument of any other manufacturer.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to electrosurgical instrument systems and, more particularly, to connector systems for selectively connecting electrosurgical instruments and electrosurgical generators to one another.
2. Background
Electrosurgical instrument systems have become widely used by surgeons in recent years. Accordingly, a need has developed for equipment that is easy to handle and operate, is reliable and is safe. By and large, most electrosurgical instrument systems typically include a hand-held electrosurgical instrument or pencil electrically connected to a source of electrosurgical energy (e.g., an electrosurgical generator). The electrosurgical instrument transfers radio-frequency (RF) electrical energy to a tissue site. The electrosurgical energy is returned to the electrosurgical generator via a return electrode pad positioned under a patient (i.e., a monopolar system configuration) or a smaller return electrode positionable in bodily contact with or immediately adjacent to the surgical site (i.e., a bipolar system configuration). The waveforms produced by the electrosurgical generator yield a predetermined electrosurgical effect known generally as electrosurgical fulguration.
Recently, electrosurgical instrument systems have been increasingly provided with coupling and/or connecting systems (e.g., a plug) for removably connecting the electrosurgical instrument to the electrosurgical generator. Typically, the electrosurgical instrument is provided with a so called "male" connector while the electrosurgical generator is provided with the corresponding "female" connector.
Since electrosurgery requires controlled application of radio frequency energy to an operative tissue site, it is important that the appropriate electrosurgical generator be correctly and/or properly mated with the electrosurgical instrument for the specific electrosurgical procedure. Due to the variety of operative, electrosurgical procedures, requiring various levels of radio frequency energy delivery from an attached instrument, issues arise with the mismatching of electrosurgical instruments and electrosurgical generators.
Accordingly, a need exists for a connecting system, for electrosurgical generators which allow various surgical instruments to be selectively connected to corresponding electrosurgical generators.

Connector systems for electrosurgical generator


A new rapid optical specific absorption rate (SAR) system is disclosed. The rapid optical SAR system has ability to measure and map the power deposited in a flat phantom or other phantom filled with a transparent simulant fluid. Absolute rates of temperature increase in the phantom by photo thermal techniques are measured. For example, the temperature increase and gradients in the phantom bend the path of a laser beam, which may be aimed at a position sensitive detector. The spatial SAR may be mapped and SAR differences between different telephones and telephone orientations, for example, can be distinguished. The system is non-invasive and non-perturbing of the SAR distribution in the phantom, can measure at locations up to the interior surface of the phantom, and provides thermally-based SAR measurements that do not necessarily require constant calibration.

1. Field of the Invention
Aspects of the present invention relate to devices and systems for measuring the specific absorption rate (SAR) for wireless and other electromagnetic radiation emitting devices. Aspects of the present invention also relate to techniques for measuring SAR or thermal effects generally. One aspect of the present invention relates to an optical technique for measuring SAR for wireless and other electromagnetic radiation emitting devices.
2. Background of the Related Art
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) sets guidelines for the acceptable levels of electromagnetic radiation emitted by various wireless devices used in close proximity to the human body. Similar standards are applied globally. Devices subject to these standards currently include cellular and mobile telephones, and have the potential to further encompass medical devices as wireless technology expands into this field. Because the FCC requirements and other standards dictate which wireless communication device models can be legally sold, compliance is of paramount importance to both manufacturers and retailers. Yet, the emission profile or SAR profile of a particular device can depend in unexpected and effectively unpredictable ways on parameters that are readily changed from model generation to generation (e.g., the shape of the device, shape of the antenna, exposure of various device components). Predicting resulting SAR profiles from design changes is not easily and accurately achieved computationally. Therefore, an accurate, easily implemented and cost effective measurement technique is essential.
Systems and procedures for testing and evaluating wireless devices, such as cellular telephones, in terms of near-field exposure are known. Most, however, are rather cumbersome, expensive and exhibit considerable limitations, including limitations relating to flexibility, reproducibility and speed and ease of use. Many current devices and methods rely on the physical scanning and mechanical translation of a small electromagnetic field probe through a medium-filled trough, known as a phantom, often having an anthropomorphic shape. See, for example U.S. Pat. No. 7,268,564, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
While such devices can effectively provide test results, the robotics and other mechanical translation systems can be expensive and difficult to maintain. Robotics systems and the means to control them with accuracy are inherently expensive. The mechanical probe system described above is also difficult to calibrate and standardize. Testing results on the same subjects have been shown to vary widely in different laboratories and conditions (See "The International Intercomparison of SAR Measurements on Cellular telephones," Christopher C. Davis, Quirino Balzano, IEEE Transactions on Electromagnetic Compatibility 51, 210-216, 2009, attached as an Appendix and the entirety of which is herby incorporated by reference). Moreover, techniques relying on the mechanical translation of a probe can be relatively slow and not easily applied to large numbers of test samples. In each SAR measurement, probes must be painstakingly rastered throughout a three dimensional, irradiated volume of the phantom liquid, in a way that does not disturb that liquid substantially enough to affect the measurement. This limitation provides an upper bound on the speed with which the technique can ascertain the SAR of a particular device in a specific test media. In fact, a full assessment for a single wireless device can take a skilled operator a day or more to complete.
Further, the necessity of having a fluid-filled phantom that has at least one side open to the air to accommodate the probe and robotic arm creates restraints on the technique's applicability. For example, only tissue-simulating liquid that does not evaporate may be used. Such tissue-simulating liquid almost necessarily includes expensive evaporation-resistive chemical additives that can make dealing with the fluid difficult, cumbersome and, in some cases, hazardous. For example, one commonly used additive to prevent evaporation is Diethylene glycol butyl ether (DGBE), which has been shown to cause birth defects in animals, as well as corneal injuries upon exposure to the eyes. Readily available, cheaper and more benign alternatives for the phantom fluid are necessarily excluded from use in mechanical probe systems with exposed phantom fluid because of the evaporation problem. For example, mixtures of salt water and alcohol can mimic the dielectric properties of the human body at many desired testing frequencies. However, these mixtures cannot be used with open phantoms because the alcohol readily causes them to evaporate. In addition, the nature of the mechanical probe apparatus precludes the use of solid or gelled phantom media.
Current methods involving robotic probes also have physical limitations that can prevent them from being useful for higher frequency tests. Generally speaking, higher frequency signals in the radio frequency range emitted by wireless devices do not penetrate as far into the body (or phantom medium) as lower frequency signals. Then, as wireless devices emit higher and higher frequency radiation, testing will require accurate measurements in smaller and smaller volumes of phantom liquid. This constraint will further require measurements to be made very close to the surface of the phantom. Typical mechanical probes operated by robotics are often too bulky, and their movements too coarse, to provide accurate data in these situations. Even if a suitable robotics operated mechanical probe were to become available, it would likely be prohibitively expensive.
In addition, techniques described above indirectly measure the SAR by measuring the variation of electric fields within the phantom. The energy released into the material of the phantom then needs to be deduced, indirectly, from this electric field measurement. A more direct measurement would be to assess the actual energy released in the phantom via an increase in temperature. From such a measurement, the local energy deposition could be directly calculated, as long as the specific heat of the media in the phantom was known.
Thus, there is a need in the art for a fast SAR assessment apparatus that avoids the use of mechanical and robotic probes and, instead, relies on a less cumbersome, less expensive and more readily available equipment to produce results more quickly. There is also a need in the art for a fast SAR assessment apparatus that allows the use of phantoms that can be completely or nearly completely sealed and, therefore, can accommodate less toxic and more easily handled phantom media. Further, there is a need in the art for a fast SAR assessment apparatus that is adaptable without serious modification to SAR assessment of devices emitting high frequency RF radiation.

Fast SAR assessment and certification system for wireless device certification

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND - OFFICE OF TECHNOLOGY


The described embodiments include a main memory and a cache memory (or “cache”) with a cache controller that includes a mode-setting mechanism. In some embodiments, the mode-setting mechanism is configured to dynamically determine an access pattern for the main memory. Based on the determined access pattern, the mode-setting mechanism configures at least one region of the main memory in a write-back mode and configures other regions of the main memory in a write-through mode. In these embodiments, when performing a write operation in the cache memory, the cache controller determines whether a region in the main memory where the cache block is from is configured in the write-back mode or the write-through mode and then performs a corresponding write operation in the cache memory.

Field
The described embodiments relate to memories in electronic devices. More specifically, the described embodiments relate to dynamically configuring regions of a main memory in a write-back mode or a write-through mode.
Related Art
Many modern computing devices (e.g., laptop/desktop computers, smart phones, set-top boxes, appliances, etc.) include a processing subsystem with one or more caches. Caches are generally smaller, fast-access memory circuits located in or near the processing subsystem that can be used to store cache blocks that are retrieved from lower levels of a memory hierarchy in the computing device (i.e., other, larger caches and/or memories) to enable faster access to the stored cache blocks.
In some of these computing devices, caches are operated in a write-through mode. In the write-through mode, when a cache block with modified data is written in a cache (i.e., stored to the cache), the cache block is also immediately forwarded to a next lower level of the memory hierarchy to be written in the next lower level of the memory hierarchy. By forwarding the cache block in this way in the write-through mode, the cache is kept consistent with the next lower level of the memory hierarchy. However, operating in the write-through mode incurs costs in terms of bandwidth consumption, processing time, delay, etc. related to forwarding each cache block from the cache to the next lower level of the memory hierarchy.
In some of these computing devices, caches are operated in a write-back mode. In the write-back mode, cache blocks with modified data can be written to a cache without being immediately forwarded to the next lower level in the memory hierarchy. Thus, the cache can include cache blocks with data that is different than the data in the same cache block in the next lower level of the memory hierarchy. In these computing devices, when a cache block with modified data is to be used somewhere else in the computing device, the cache block is copied from the cache to the location where the cache block is to be used. By writing modified cache blocks in this way in the write-back mode, entities associated with the cache (e.g., processing subsystems, etc.) can make multiple writes/modifications to cache blocks without requiring that the cache blocks be immediately forwarded to the next lower level in the memory hierarchy each time a modification is made to the cache blocks. This can conserve bandwidth, processing time, etc. in the computing device. However, storing modified cache blocks in caches in this way introduces delay when the cache block is to be used somewhere else in the computing device and complicates operations that rely on the caches in the memory hierarchy holding consistent data.
As described above, straightforward implementations of the write-through mode and the write-back mode, while having some benefits, are also associated with significant detriments. To avoid some of the detriments associated with operating a cache in one mode or the other, designers have proposed determining whether to operate an entire cache in the write-through mode or the write-back mode based on a number of cache blocks with modified data in the cache. In this system, if the number of cache blocks with modified data in the cache is greater than a threshold number, the entire cache is switched to operating in the write-through mode. Otherwise, the entire cache is operated in a write-back mode. Despite providing some improvement over the straightforward implementation of write-back mode or write-through mode, this technique still incurs costs in terms of delay, bandwidth consumption, processing time, etc.
Designers have also proposed dividing a main memory in a device into a set of regions and statically configuring the regions in the main memory to operate either in the write-back mode or write-through mode (i.e., statically configuring caches in the device to handle writes of cache lines from the regions as either write-back or write-through). Despite providing some improvement over the straightforward implementation of write-back mode or write-through mode for the entire cache, this technique does not provide optimal performance as access patterns in the main memory vary at runtime.

Dynamically configuring regions of a main memory in a write-back mode or a write-through mode


Certain aspects involve selectively combining uplink transmissions in a distributed antenna system (“DAS”). For example, a unit of the DAS can receive baseband uplink transmissions from remote units of the DAS via a first channel and a second channel. The unit can generate a first combined uplink signal by combining baseband uplink transmissions received from a first subset of the remote units via the first channel that include data for transmission to a base station. The unit can generate a second combined uplink signal that includes baseband uplink transmissions received from a second subset of the remote units via the second channel and excludes or attenuates baseband uplink transmissions that are received from the first subset of the remote units via the second channel and that lack data for transmission to the base station are excluded or attenuated. The unit can transmit the combined uplink signals to the base station.

A distributed antenna system ("DAS") can be used to provide wireless communications coverage in a variety of environments, particularly in large structures such as office buildings, convention halls, airports, stadiums, and the like. A DAS can include one or more master units or other head-end units that are communicatively coupled to one or more base stations. A DAS can also include multiple remote units that are communicatively coupled to each master unit. The remote units, each of which can include one or more transceivers and antennas, can be distributed across a coverage area. The remote units can transmit the downlink signals to mobile phones or other terminal devices within coverage areas serviced by the remote units.
A master unit of a DAS may combine uplink transmissions received from several remote units into a composite signal. Combining uplink transmissions from different remote units communicating with the same terminal device can boost the power of weak uplink signals received by one or more remote units. The composite uplink signal may be provided to a base station that communicates with the DAS.
A master unit may combine uplink transmissions regardless of whether the uplink transmissions includes uplink signals from terminal devices or includes only uplink noise. Combining uplink signals regardless of whether uplink signals from terminal devices are present may present disadvantages. For example, uplink transmissions from one or more remote units may include noise on one or more channels, even if no uplink signal has been received by the remote units. Combining the uplink transmissions from each of the remote units to generate a composite uplink signal can combine the received noise in each uplink channel. If some of the uplink transmissions includes noise but does not include an uplink signal, indiscriminately combining uplink transmissions may unnecessarily increase the noise floor for the composite uplink signal and limit the number of remote units used in the DAS.

Selectively combining uplink signals in distributed antenna systems


A system for assembling furniture includes a bracket coupled to a first item and a frame coupled to a second item of furniture. The bracket is configured to removably interengage with the frame. The bracket includes a pair of co-planar extensions, a pair of supports, and an elongated resilient bent middle section having a length dimension that is longer than a length dimension of each of the extensions such that end tab portions of the bent middle section extend beyond the supports. The frame includes a pair of rails, each rail having a recess and a flange. The recess receives respective ones of the end tab portions. The flange receives respective ones of the end tab portions responsive to the middle section being urged from the recess into the flange to cause the bent middle section to deform into an interference fit engagement with the flange.

Numerous methods and devices have been developed for connecting items of furniture together. Generally, items of furniture have been connected together via screws and nails, an assembly process that is time-consuming, dangerous, and can lead to permanently damaging the furniture and, potentially, the area surrounding the place of assembly. For example, shelves or cabinets with screws attached thereto may fall on the floor, causing the screws to bend and damage the floor. Moreover, the assembly and disassembly of the furniture items can take a long time, generally at least 30 minutes even for the simplest furniture configurations. One or more tools are required to fasten items of furniture together, increasing the install time and potential for incorrect assembly.
Various key-hole type furniture assembly systems have been developed as well. These systems do not generally require screws. However, these systems require that a person connecting the items of furniture, which can be very heavy, connect them very precisely. Even a smallest sideways movement of one of the items of furniture may interfere with the engaging (or disengaging) process and require the person to start the process over. Moreover, disengaging the items of furniture in such an arrangement is also very difficult. In order to disengage the items of furniture, these systems require that a person pushes one of the furniture pieces out of the keyhole, which requires a lot of strength and often leads to the furniture piece "falling back" into the keyhole and locking back into engagement, requiring the person to start the process again. This process is exacerbated even further as the number of screw heads required to be aligned increases. Additionally, these systems are unidirectional; in other words, they may be assembled or disassembled in only one direction (for example, if one end of an item of furniture abuts against a wall or another cabinet), so if the furniture is arranged such that assembly is possible in only one direction, the keyholes need to be oriented to permit assembly in that direction. If they are oriented the opposite way, assembly is not possible.
Some conventional systems generally have screws protruding out of the side that engages with the other engaging mechanism. In other words, the sharpest end of the connection is not protected. This means that if one of the furniture pieces were to fall to the floor, the screw would likely bend, effectively ruining the engaging mechanism and, moreover, the floor would be damaged. Additionally, conventional systems allow for only horizontal or vertical engagement of the furniture items, which makes their application limited.
A need exists for a system for providing power and data port access to office furniture, such as workstations or cubicles. Cables carrying power should be physically separated from cables carrying data to reduce the possibility of crosstalk or unwanted electromagnetic interference that can degrade data integrity.
These and other unfulfilled needs are addressed by the present disclosure.

Bracket for securing items of furniture without tools or fasteners


A problem of the invention is to provide a small-size communication terminal apparatus capable of reducing an SAR and also widening a band of an antenna and further achieving thinning.

In recent years, an antenna is often built into a communication terminal apparatus such as a mobile telephone for the purpose of reduction in size and weight, thinning, etc. As a result of that, a housing approaches human body's head at the time of a call, so that there were problems that electromagnetic waves emitted from the antenna are absorbed in human body's head and antenna gain at the time of the call deteriorates and SAR characteristics deteriorate by approach of the antenna and an antenna and an antenna power feeding part to human body's head.
Therefore, for example, an apparatus in which in a communication terminal apparatus 102 into which a chip antenna 101 as shown in FIG. 12 is built, directivity can be increased to the side opposite to the side of the human body who grips a housing of this communication terminal apparatus 102 and an influence of electromagnetic waves emitted by the communication terminal apparatus 102 such as a mobile telephone on the human body can be suppressed has been known (for example, see Patent Reference 1). In addition, in the same figure, numeral 103 shows a ground.
Also, an apparatus having a configuration in which a ground wire is added in order to widen a band of an antenna has been known. That is, as a communication terminal apparatus having such a configuration, for example, an apparatus capable of having wide band frequency characteristics even when each element is bent and miniaturized by bending and arranging a ground wire 202 in parallel with the outside of an inverted F antenna 201 and bending and arranging a ground wire 203 in parallel with the inside of the bent inverted F antenna 201 as shown in FIG. 13 has also been known (for example, see Patent Reference 2). In addition, in the same figure, numeral 204 shows a ground plane to which the inverted F antenna 201 is connected through a short-circuit conductor connected at a power feeding point A.
Further, as another type communication terminal apparatus other than the apparatus described above, for example, an apparatus capable of improving radiation efficiency and reducing radio wave absorption in the human body by adding a parasitic element 301 and performing directivity control as shown in FIG. 14 has also been known.    Patent Reference 1: JP-A-2001-77611 (Page 5, FIG. 1)    Patent Reference 2: JP-A-2000-261243 (Page 7, FIG. 1(a))    Patent Reference 3: JP-A-2002-223107 (Page 6, FIG. 1)

Abstract: The communication terminal apparatus has a substrate (13) disposed inside a housing, a power feeding part (12) disposed in the substrate (13), a monopole antenna (11) having plural elements of multi-frequency sharing, the monopole antenna for feeding power by electrically connecting one end to the power feeding part, and a ground wire (14) electrically connected to a wireless ground of the substrate (13), and the monopole antenna (11) having the plural elements is arranged in a direction vertical to a surface of the substrate (13) and in a back surface direction of the housing so as to be opposed to a human body at the time of a call.


A method for joining workpieces made from plastic, the upper workpiece, facing a laser source, consisting of a material transparent to the laser beam, and the lower workpiece consisting of a material absorbent to the laser beam, such that the mutually bordering contact surfaces for the two workpieces melt and are joined to one another under pressure during a subsequent cooling, the guiding of the laser beam onto the site to be joined, and the mechanical compression of the workpieces being carried out simultaneously by a machining head. The corresponding device comprises a machining head with focussing devices for the laser beam onto the contact surface, and pressure-exerting devices for compressing the workpieces. A rotatably mounted glass ball or roller is particularly suitable as pressure-exerting device. The invention permits welding quality to be assured in conjunction with flexibility of the welding operation without expensive and complicated damping balls.

The present invention relates to a method and a device for joining workpieces made from plastic, the upper workpiece, facing a laser source, consisting of a material transparent to the laser beam, and the lower workpiece consisting of a material absorbent to the laser beam, such that the mutually bordering contact surfaces for the two workpieces melt and are joined to one another under pressure during a subsequent cooling.
Generally, methods for welding plastics with the aid of a laser beam are known and referred to as transmission welding. It is important for these plastics welding methods that the workpieces are clamped to one another during the welding operation, since an important precondition for a good welded joint of the plastics by means of laser radiation is not only the energy dosing, but also the clean and mechanical contact between the two joint surfaces to be connected to one another. Various methods and devices which permit an adequate contact pressure, in particular with flat parts, are known for the purpose.
It is relatively easy to produce a good clamping condition two-dimensional welding contours. However, as soon as a welding contour is to be set up in three-dimensional form on three-dimensional parts, the mechanical contact of the parts that are to be joined to one another is very difficult to realize technically, particularly when the shape of the parts keeps changing. Both the uniform distribution of the clamping force over the entire contour, and the dosing of the clamping pressure are problematic in this regard.
It is therefore the object of the present invention to propose a possibility which permits contour welding of workpieces made of plastic in three-dimensional form without a special clamping device.

Method and device for joining workpieces made from plastic in three-dimensional form by means of a laser beam


A robot configured to check whether an object is properly grasped by a hand determines whether the position and posture of a handle (object), determined based on an image obtained by a camera (external information), and the position and posture of the handle in the case where the handle is assumed to be properly grasped, determined from the posture of a robot based on an output or the like of a rotary encoder (internal information), agree with each other. In response to the determination of whether the external information and the internal information agree with each other, it is determined whether the handle is properly grasped based on a force detected by a six-axis force sensor provided on each hand.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a robot or the like that has a function of an autonomous movement and a function of grasping an object with a hand.
2. Description of the Related Art
There has been proposed a method of enabling a robot capable of the autonomous movement to recognize a mark on a handle of a cart C by means of an infrared camera mounted on the robot to wheel the cart C (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-164323, paragraphs 0100 and 0101 and FIG. 17).

Robot, control method therefor and control program therefor


An apparatus for administering an aerosol of a solid particulate medicament (e.g., amiloride) to the lungs of a patient is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a solid particulate medicament aerosol generator and an impactor assembly for removing large particles of medicament from the aerosol produced by the aerosol generator. The impactor assembly comprises an enclosed chamber having an inlet opening and an outlet opening formed on opposite sides thereof. The aerosol generator is connected to the inlet opening. A first impactor plate is positioned in the chamber, with the first impactor plate adjacent the inlet opening. The first impactor plate has an uninterrupted primary impaction surface formed thereon, with the primary impaction surface substantially axially aligned with the inlet opening and having a diameter not less than the inlet opening. The first impactor plate has at least one exhaust opening formed therein in fluid communication with the outlet opening. An aerosol of solid particulate medicament is passed from the aerosol generator through the impactor assembly where large particles are removed, and then to the subject for inhalation.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is among the most prevalent, lethal diseases of genetic origin. In this disease, abnormal ion transport across the respiratory epithelia leads to dehydrated, viscous and poorly-cleared airway secretions that contribute to chronic infection of the airways and early death. Knowles, 11 Clin. Chest. Med. 75 (1986). The action of amiloride, a diuretic, to inhibit Na.sup.+ and water absorption when applied to the luminal membrane of airway epithelia, led to the hypothesis that amiloride might inhibit excessive Na.sup.+ absorption in CF patients and thereby "liquify" airway secretions to provide a beneficial effect on mucociliary clearance and long-term pulmonary function. See, e.g., Knowles, 221 Science 1067 (1983), Waltner, 8 Trends in Pharm. Sci. 316-320 (1987). Because an effective concentration of amiloride cannot be achieved in the airway lumen by oral administration, this drug must be administered as an aerosol to achieve its therapeutic potential. The administration of amiloride as an aerosol is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,501,729 to Boucher et al.
A pilot study has confirmed clinical benefit of amiloride aerosol when administered as a liquid aerosol. See Knowles, 332 N. Engl. J. Med. 1189 (1990). However, while the administration of a liquid aerosol provides a useful means of treatment, it also has several limitations. It is time-consuming for the patient, not easily portable, and the dosage is limited by the low solubility of amiloride in the nebulizer solution. Consequently, an object of the present invention is to further improve and refine methods for the administration of amiloride aerosols.

Apparatus for administering solid particulate aerosols to the lungs


Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture consistent with the present invention use a data processing system for capturing, evaluating, and fulfilling line item data. The method comprises steps performed by a data processing system, of: capturing at least one line item data in an insurance host server; evaluating the line item data; and fulfilling the placement of at least one order based on the evaluation of the line item data.

1. Field of the Invention
This patent application is related to a series of other patent applications including U.S. patent application entitled "PROVIDING EVALUATION AND PROCESSING OF LINE ITEMS," and U.S. patent application entitled "CAPTURE HIGHLY REFINED CLAIM EVALUATION INFORMATION ACROSS MULTIPLE WEB INTEFACES." This patent application and the noted other patent applications have common inventors and are assigned to a common entity.
This invention relates to insurance claims processing and, more particularly, to an apparatus and methods for capturing highly refined claim evaluation information across multiple web interfaces. This invention also relates to an apparatus and methods for capturing, evaluating, and fulfilling line item claim evaluation information in a wide spread network environment, such as the Internet.
2. Description of the Related Art
While a great deal of commercial and industrial businesses have embraced automation and have migrated manual systems to computer based systems over the last several decades, the insurance industry, and more particularly the claims processing industry, have been slow to embrace this trend. Although certain aspects of a claim may be recorded in electronic format by the claims handler, most evaluation, processing and fulfillment of claims is done manually. In addition, claim information is generally not electronically transferred from the claimant to the claims handler's system, rather claim information is usually communicated to the claims handler verbally or in written form. Even in cases where the claimant may have the claims information detailed in an electronic format in the claimant's computer systems, as in the case of most medical claims by doctors and hospitals, electronic systems and links are not in place to transfer this detailed information to the claims handler's system.
In a few rare instances, the insurance industry has performed some level of automation in the processing of claims. Many insurance back office systems have the ability to cut checks to pay claimants for losses or reimburse claimants for expenses. These back office systems can track the processing checks, as well. However, there is no linkage between the cutting of a check in the back office system and the line item fulfillment for which the check is cut.
The most detailed area of claims processing is the handling of line items, which are itemized incidents of loss. Because of the manual nature of claims processing, the claims handler spends a great deal of time entering claim information into computer systems, tracking claims processing of line item details, evaluating line item details, and fulfilling line item data. Claims handlers are busy professionals who have to spend an inordinate amount of time on clerical details. This creates a tremendous potential for errors in the claims processing arena. These errors may result in overpayment or underpayment of claims that may harm the insurance company or damage the relationship between the insured, claimant and insurance company. Automating the claims processing field greatly reduces these errors and improve efficiency.
In addition, the current insurance industry does a poor job of maintaining relationships with vendors who could fulfill certain line item losses. Insurers currently fund the replacement of many items that ought to be subject to a negotiated volume buying arrangement. Such items include: electronics, computer equipment, clothing, medical services, auto body repair, carpeting, auto parts, appliances, furniture and pharmaceuticals. However, other than glass and some automotive services, the process and technology do not support creative volume purchasing agreements. The current process for replacing personal property, for instance, involves numerous steps and an arduous process for the claimant and the claim handler. The insurance carrier is left with little insight into the nature or quantity of items that they fund. Often, when the claim exceeds the limit of insurance, the insurance carrier simply cuts a blanket check for a loss, recording only some of the evidence of loss, and does not know what was purchased with the proceeds or where it was purchased.
There is therefore a need for a system or process that can gather line items effectively from claimants without involving the claims handler. The claims handler needs a system or process to automate and track claims down to the line item level without being overly burdensome. The insured, claimant and insurance carrier benefit from a system or process that leverages vendor relationships to effectuate the cost effective fulfillment of line items. In general, a system or process is needed to externalize the burdensome aspects of claims processing, or loss inventorying, while speeding claims processing, lowering costs, gathering data about the claims process, and increasing the satisfaction of the insured and claimant.


A method for placing an embolic coil into an aneurysm utilizing a delivery system having a deflected distal section. The delivery system stabilizes an embolic coil deployment system thereby placing the embolic coil with greater accuracy.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention concerns a novel method for placing a medical agent into a vessel of a patient, in particular, placing embolic coils into an aneurysm of the brain.
2. Description of the Prior Art
For many years physicians have been placing various devices within a blood vessel of the human body in order to treat aneurysms or to occlude a vessel at a particular location. Such devices are placed within the aneurysm or vessel using a deployment system. When a device is deployed into the vessel but misses its intended position, it is difficult, if not impossible to retrieve or reposition the device. To help alleviate this problem, a delivery system is employed to increase the probability of placing the device precisely at a pre-selected position. A variety of delivery systems exist to provide stability and increase deployment accuracy. The combination of different devices, deployment systems, and delivery systems provide physicians with reliable methods of treating aneurysms.
Various types of devices are placed within an aneurysm or a vessel to occlude the flow of blood through the vessel by promoting thrombus formation at a particular location. Such devices include dilation balloons, radiopaque fluids, liquid medications, and embolic coils. Embolic coils may take the form of helically wound coils, randomly wound coils, coils wound within other coils, or many other coil configurations. These coils are generally formed of radiopaque metallic materials, such as platinum, gold, and tungsten, or alloys of these metals. Often times, several coils are placed at a given location in order to occlude the flow of blood through the vessel.
One example of an embolic coil design is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,179,857 entitled, "Stretch Resistant Embolic Coil With Variable Stiffness." The coil is a helically wound coil in which various combinations of adjacent turns are spot welded together to create a stretch resistant coil of a pre-selected flexibility. Another coil configuration is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,183,491 entitled, "Embolic Coil Deployment System With Improved Embolic Coil," which shows an embolic coil having a relatively flexible proximal portion which resists stretching.
Also, U.S. Pat. No. 5,853,418 entitled, "Stretch Resistant Vaso-occlusive Coils," discloses a helically wound coil having a polymeric stretch resisting member extending through the lumen of the coil and fixedly attached to both the distal end and the proximal end of the coil. Other examples of coil configurations are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,334,210 entitled, "Vascular Occlusion Assembly" and U.S. Pat. No. 5,382,259 entitled, "Vasoocclusion Coil With Attached Tubular Woven Or Braided Fibrous Covering." With all coil designs, it is important that embolic coils remain very flexible for traveling through vessels when used with deployment systems.
A variety of deployment systems are available for placing embolic coils within an aneurysm or vessel. An example of such a system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,113,622 entitled, "Embolic Coil Hydraulic Deployment System," assigned to the same assignee as the present patent application. The disclosure of the above patent is incorporated into and made part of this patent application. The hydraulic embolic coil deployment system uses fluid pressure which is applied to the distal section of the deployment catheter for expanding the distal section radially to release the embolic coil at a pre-selected position.
Another coil deployment system utilizes a deployment catheter having a socket at the distal end for retaining a ball which is bonded to the proximal end of the coil. The ball is placed in the socket within a lumen at the distal end of the deployment catheter, and the deployment system is then moved into a vessel to place the coil at a desired position. Then, a pusher wire with a piston at the end is pushed distally from the proximal end of the deployment catheter to thereby push the ball out of the socket and release the coil at the desired position. This system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,350,397 entitled, "Axially Detachable Embolic Coil Assembly."
Also, U.S. Pat. No. 5,263,964 entitled, "Coaxial Traction Detachment Apparatus And Method," discloses another coil deployment system. This system uses glue or solder for attaching the embolic coil to a guidewire which is, in turn, placed within a flexible deployment catheter for positioning the coil within the vessel at a pre-selected position. Once the coil is at the desired position, the coil is restrained by the deployment catheter, and the guidewire is pulled from the proximal end of the deployment catheter causing the coil to be detached from the guidewire and released from the deployment system.
Examples of other deployment systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,122,136 entitled, "Endovascular Electrolytically Detachable Guidewire Tip For The Electroformation Of Thrombus In Arteries, Veins, Aneurysms, Vascular Malformations And Arteriovenous Fistulas" and U.S. Pat. No. 5,108,407 entitled, "Method And Apparatus For Placement Of An Embolic Coil." Even though fluoroscopic visualization shows physicians general movement of an embolic coil through the vasculature of the body and the use of coil deployment systems allow physicians to control when the embolic coil is released, it is still difficult to precisely place a coil at a pre-selected location, such as a location within an aneurysm. However, with the use of a delivery system, it is possible to stabilize the deployment system within a vessel in order to more precisely place an embolic coil.
An example of such a delivery system is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/894,735, entitled "Method And Apparatus For Placing A Medical Agent Into A Vessel Of The Body," filed on Jun. 28, 2001 and in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/894,421, entitled, "Method And Apparatus For Placing A Medical Agent Into A Vessel Of The Body," filed on Jun. 28, 2001, both assigned to the same assignee as the present patent application. These patent applications are incorporated by reference and are made a part of the present patent application. The delivery catheter disclosed in this patent application has two lumens. The first lumen has a shape retaining wire which extends therethrough for shaping an intermediate section of the delivery catheter into a generally U-shaped configuration. The second lumen has a side opening at a location within the intermediate section of the delivery catheter. The side opening is positioned over an aneurysm, and then the embolic coil deployment system is inserted through the second lumen and into a position proximal the aneurysm. The U-shaped delivery catheter stabilizes the deployment system as the embolic coil is released into the aneurysm.
Another delivery system used to stabilize a coil deployment system is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/878,530 entitled, "Delivery System Using Balloon Catheter," filed on Jun. 11, 2001 and assigned to the same assignee as the present patent application. The delivery catheter disclosed in this patent application includes a balloon adjacent to the distal end and an inflation port at the proximal end of the catheter for inflating the balloon. The delivery catheter is positioned within the vessel of a patient, and the balloon is inflated to stabilize the position of the delivery catheter. Then, an embolic coil deployment system is introduced into the delivery catheter and through a side opening of the catheter to deliver the embolic coil into the aneurysm.
When physicians use a delivery system in combination with a coil deployment system, the delivery system stabilizes the coil deployment system, and the coil may be placed with greater accuracy. Therefore, it is an objective of this invention to provide a method for placing embolic coils with increased accuracy. Furthermore, it is an objective to provide a system which is relatively simple in construction and easy to use.

Method for placing a medical agent into a vessel of the body