A valve lifter structure having a follower which tilts in a guide groove, for a mechanism for varying valve characteristics of a poppet valve by axial displacement of a three-dimensional cam having a profile varying in the axial direction, which is easily machined without degrading a mechanical strength. A guide groove is formed on a top surface of a valve lifter interposed between a cam and a top of a valve stem of a poppet valve to extend perpendicular to the axis of the cam. A follower is located in the guide groove, which extends in parallel to the guide groove and is capable of tilting in accordance with the change of the cam profile while being brought into slide-contact with the guide groove, and is inhibited from displacing in the extending direction by a limiting means. The guide groove is formed to have opposite open ends. The limiting means is defined by a stopper located on the guide groove side and an abutment member located on the follower side to abut to the stopper. The abutment member is defined by a pair of walls of the follower spaced at a distance opposite to each other in the extending direction thereof.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a valve lifter structure and, particularly to a valve lifter structure in a mechanism for varying valve characteristics, for example, timings of valve opening and valve closing, valve lift and others, using a three-dimensional cam, arranged between the three-dimensional cam and a top of a valve stem of a poppet valve.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In a known mechanism for varying valve characteristics, a three-dimensional cam having a profile varying in the axial direction is displaced in the axial direction for the purpose of changing a valve-opening/closing timing of an intake valve or an exhaust valve, formed by a poppet valve in an internal combustion engine, in accordance with operational conditions.
When such a three-dimensional cam is used, the durability of a slanted cam surface and a cam follower can be improved by providing a guide groove on a top surface of a valve lifter arranged between the three-dimensional cam and a top of the valve stem of the poppet valve so that cam and the valve lifter are brought into surface-contact with each other.
For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 3-179116 discloses a mechanism wherein a guide groove completely encircled by walls is formed on a top of a valve lifter and a tilting follower is arranged therein, or the guide groove has a raised portion at a center thereof. In this mechanism, a slide-contact surface between the guide groove and the follower is necessarily formed with a high degree of precision so that the follower can be smoothly tilted.
However, the former type having the guide groove completely encircled with walls has a drawback in that it is difficult to machine the slide-contact surface to a high degree of precision because the tools usable for such a purpose are limited.
On the other hand, the latter type having a raised portion has a drawback in that part of the follower is necessarily thin-walled to receive such a portion, which weakens the follower.


A log compressing circuit is arranged so that the clamping level is independent of the amplification factor of a first transistor for amplifying input current. The log compressing circuit includes the first transistor for amplifying input current, a compressing diode for log-compressing the amplified current, a clamp voltage generating diode serving as a source for generating a clamping voltage, and a second transistor for clamping the log-compressed voltage if the voltage goes beyond a predetermined clamp voltage. The second transistor has the same form as the first transistor and provides a collector connected to a cathode of the clamp voltage generating diode. The constant current is supplied to the second transistor from a constant current source.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a log compressing circuit, such as an operating circuit for measuring a distance, which is arranged to perform log compression about an input signal, and more particularly to a log compressing circuit which serves to clamp an output voltage when performing log compression at a predetermined voltage.
2. Description of the Background Art
The inventors of the present application acknowledge that such a log compressing circuit as applied to a distance measuring circuit for an auto-focus camera has been arranged to clamp the output voltage if it exceeds a predetermined clamp voltage. The electric connecting arrangement of the known log compressing circuit will be described as referring to FIG. 1.
As shown, an input current I80 is guided to a base of a transistor Q91, so that the current I81 amplified by the transistor Q91 may flow through a compressing diode Q92. Hence, the voltage Vbe92 between the terminals of the compressing diode Q92 may be represented as follows, because the compressing diode Q92 is composed of a transistor having its base and collector connected to each other. EQU Vbe92=kT/q* ln (I81/Io92) (91st expression)
where Io92 denotes a reverse saturation current between the base and the emitter of the compressing diode Q92. As is obvious from the expression, the current I81 is log-compressed as the voltage Vbe92.
The impedance conversion is performed about this voltage Vbe92 in a transistor Q93 which is an emitter follower. Then, at an output OUT9, the following voltage appears. EQU Out9=Vcc-(Vbe92+Vbe93) (92nd expression)
where Vcc is a reference voltage value and Vbe93 denotes a voltage applied between the base and the emitter of the transistor Q93.
On the other hand, transistors Q94 to Q99 and Q90 and constant current I95 to I97 form a clamp circuit. The voltage at the base of the transistor Q96 is fixed at a constant voltage through the effect of a diode Q90 and a transistor Q99 for impedance conversion. As such, the reduction of the input current I80 lowers a voltage between the terminals of the compressing diode Q92. If the base voltage of the transistor Q95 goes beyond the base voltage of the transistor Q96, a collector current I83 of the transistor Q96 is larger than a collector current I82 of the transistor Q95. This results in making the current of I85=I83-I82 flow through the base of the transistor Q94. Hence, the base current of the transistor Q95 and the emitter current of the transistor Q93 are pulled by the emitter current of the transistor Q94, so that the base voltage of the transistor Q95 may be made lower. This feedback operation keeps the base voltage of the transistor Q95 equally balanced with the base voltage of the transistor Q96, thereby clamping the voltage Out9 by the base voltage of the transistor Q96.
The clamp voltage is defined by the currents I86 and I87 flowing through a diode Q90, a transistor Q99 and constant current sources I96 and I97. Assuming that the voltage between the terminals of the diode Q90 is denoted by Vbe90 (the diode Q90 is composed of a transistor having its base and collector connected to each other), Vbe90 can be represented by: EQU Vbe90=kT/q* ln (I87/Io90) (93rd expression)
wherein Io90 denotes a reverse saturation current between the base and the emitter of the diode Q90. As such, the base voltage V96 of the transistor Q96 can be represented by: EQU V96=Vcc-(Vbe90+Vbe99) (94th expression)
where Vbe99 denotes a voltage between the base and the emitter of the transistor Q99 operated as an emitter follower.
On the other hand, assuming that Ix81 denotes a value of the current I81 given when clamping is ready to start, when the current I81 becomes I81=Ix81, the following equation is established. EQU Vce93=Vce99
where Vce93 denotes a voltage between a collector and an emitter of the transistor Q93 and Vce99 denotes a voltage between a collector and an emitter of the transistor Q99.
By representing the equation by using the 91st to the 94th expressions, the following equations can be established. EQU Vbe92+Vbe93=Vbe90+Vbe99 EQU kT/q* ln (Ix81/Io92)+Vbe93=kT/q* ln (I87/IO90)+Vbe99
Now, assume that each combination of the diodes Q92 and Q90, the transistors Q93 and Q99 and the constant current sources I93 and I96 is arranged of the similarly patterned elements. On the assumption, Io92=Io90 and Vbe93=Vbe99 are established. Hence, Ix81=I87 is established as well.
As such, the clamp level at the current I81 flowing through the diode Q92 is denoted by I87 and the clamp level Ix81 is set as a current value of the constant current value I97.
The clamp level Ix81 in the known arrangement does not depend on the variety of the transistor h.sub.FE resulting from the processing difference of each wafer. However, as viewed from the input current I80 side, the current Ix80 can be represented by: EQU Ix80=Ix81/h.sub.FE 91
where Ix80 denotes a value of the input current flowing when clamping is ready to start and h.sub.FE 91 denotes an amplification factor of the transistor Q91. That is, the difference of the amplification factor of the transistor Q91 resulting from the difference of the process appears as the difference of a clamp level as viewed from the input side. This has been a disadvantage of the known log compressing circuit.

Log compressing circuit providing capability of keeping clamp level independent of variety of amplification factor


A computer-implemented method includes identifying an electronic circuit, which includes a plurality of circuit elements and is based on a circuit design. The circuit design includes structural information and logical information. The method generates a first verification model for the circuit design. The verification model includes a plurality of error report signal paths for each of the plurality of circuit elements. The method identifies a first circuit element output based on the plurality of error report signal paths. The method sets output for at least one of the first plurality of circuit elements to a fixed value. The method generates a second circuit element output based on the plurality of error report signal paths and setting output for at least one of the first plurality of circuit elements to a fixed value. The method determines a difference between the first circuit element output and the second circuit element output.

The present invention relates generally to the field of circuits, and more particularly to reliability, availability, and serviceability (RAS) features.
Reliability, availability, and serviceability (RAS) describes the robustness of mainframe computers. RAS features protect the data integrity of computers and help computers operate without failure and/or error states for longer periods of time. For example, RAS features such as parity bits, error-correcting codes (ECC), and Berger-codes may be implemented within a mainframe computer design block and may detect errors within the computer. However, RAS features take up physical space within the design block in addition to requiring resource and power for operation. Often, the efficiency of these RAS features is based on whether or not the RAS feature correctly identifies an error. Computer engineers continue to face difficulties evaluating the efficacy of such RAS features.

International Business Machines Corporation


A fuel cell power plant includes a fuel cell having a membrane electrode assembly (MEA), disposed between an anode support plate and a cathode support plate, the anode and/or cathode support plates include a hydrophilic substrate layer having a predetermined pore size. The pressure of the reactant gas streams is greater than the pressure of the coolant stream, such that a greater percentage of the pores within the hydrophilic substrate layer contain reactant gas rather than water. Any water that forms on the cathode side of the MEA will migrate through the cathode support plate and away from the MEA. Controlling the pressure also ensures that the coolant water will continually migrate from the coolant stream toward the anode side of the MEA, thereby preventing the membrane from becoming dry. Proper pore size and a pressure differential between coolant and reactants improves the electrical efficiency of the fuel cell.

Fuel cell power plants are electrochemical alternative power sources for both stationary and mobile applications. The fuel cell, which is the heart of such power plant, consists of an anode, a cathode and an electrolyte that separates the two. Anode shall mean a positive electrode, and cathode shall mean a negative electrode. In the operation of a fuel cell, fuel reactant gas, which is typically a hydrogen rich stream, enters a support plate that is adjacent to the anode. Such a support plate is, therefore, referred to as an anode support plate. Oxidant reactant gas, which is commonly air, enters a support plate adjacent to the cathode. This support plate is, therefore, referred to as a cathode support plate. As the hydrogen rich stream passes through the anode support plate, a catalyst located between anode support plate and the electrolyte causes the hydrogen to oxidize, thereby resulting in the creation of hydrogen ions and electrons. While the hydrogen ions migrate through the electrolyte to the cathode, the electrons migrate through an external circuit to the cathode. Another catalyst on the cathode side of the electrolyte causes the oxygen to react with the hydrogen ions and electrons released at the anode, thereby forming water. The occurrence of these reactions near the catalysts and electrolyte creates an electric potential across the fuel cell. The flow of electrons through an external circuit that is connected to the fuel cell, therefore, produces useful work, such as powering an electric motor in a vehicle.
There are various types of fuel cells, which vary according to their electrolyte. The electrolyte is the ionic conducting substance between the anode and the cathode. One type of fuel cell includes a solid polymer electrolyte, otherwise referred to as a proton exchange membrane (PEM). Fuel cells incorporating a solid polymer membrane or proton exchange membrane will hereinafter be referred to as a PEM fuel cell. The catalyst layers within a PEM fuel cell are typically attached to both sides of the membrane, thereby forming a membrane electrode assembly (MEA). As noted above, while hydrogen ions pass through the MEA, the electrochemical reaction between the hydrogen ions, electrons, and oxidant reactant gas forms water within the cathode. This water is commonly referred to as "product water." In addition, water may also accumulate in the cathode, due to the drag of water molecules, which pass from the anode and through the MEA along with the hydrogen ions during the operation of the fuel cell. This water is commonly referred to as "proton drag water." The proton drag from the anode to the cathode results in a lower water content on the anode side of the PEM compared to the cathode side. This difference in water content between the anode and cathode sides results in an osmotic force, which fosters the flow of water from the cathode side of the PEM towards the anode side. However, if the PEM (i.e., electrolyte) doesn't remain highly saturated with water, the PEM resistance increases, and the useful power obtained from the fuel cell decreases. Additionally, if product water and drag water accumulate in the cathode, the accumulated water may impede and could prevent oxygen from reacting with the hydrogen ions and electrons. Accumulation of water in the cathode will thus reduce the electric potential created across the fuel cell, thereby limiting the fuel cell's performance. Furthermore, if the cathode water content fails to decrease, the cathode will flood, and the fuel cell will eventually cease to produce power and shut down.
In order to assist the oxidant reactant gas in reaching the catalyst on the MEA, the cathode support plate typically comprises a diffusion layer and a substrate layer. Both the diffusion layer and the substrate layer are typically constructed of porous carbon layers that are rendered hydrophobic. Hydrophobic means antagonistic to water and is therefore often referred to as wet-proofed. It is known, however, to utilize a hydrophilic substrate in lieu of a hydrophobic substrate. Hydrophilic means capable of absorbing water and therefore, is often referred to as wettable. U.S. Pat. No. 5,641,586, for example, describes a cathode support plate comprising a hydrophilic substrate layer and a hydrophobic diffusion layer. Objects of U.S. Pat. No. 5,641,586 included providing a porous support plate which reduced the pressure drop of the oxidant gas as it passed through such support plate, minimizing water accumulation within such support plate and maximizing access of the oxidant reactant gas to the catalyst. Although a hydrophilic substrate may reduce the pressure drop of the oxidant reactant gas through the cathode, the hydrophilic substrate, by its inherent nature, absorbs more water than a hydrophobic substrate. Therefore, unless the water is properly removed from the cathode support plate, the hydrophilic substrate will absorb the water, which, in turn, will eventually flood the cathode support plate. Flooding the cathode support plate would, therefore, negate one of the objects of U.S. Pat. No. 5,641,586: namely, the object relating to minimizing water accumulation.
Flooding the cathode support plate would also prevent the oxidant reactant gas from reaching the catalyst. U.S. Pat. No. 5,641,586 describes a cell operating at elevated pressure, and product water within such a cell typically exits the cell via the oxidant reactant gas exhaust stream as a combination of water vapor and entrained liquid water. Entrained liquid water moves along a reactant flow channel from the interior of the cell to the oxidant reactant gas exhaust stream. This concept is well accepted for cell configurations which utilize a hydrophobic substrate and a solid reactant support plate. U.S. Pat. No. 5,641,586, however, describes a cell with a hydrophilic substrate, which will absorb the liquid water and flood the substrate, thereby impeding transport of oxygen to the cathode catalyst.
What is needed in the art is a fuel cell power plant that ensures proper removal of the product and proton drag water from the cathode, thereby ensuring that the maximum amount of oxygen from the oxidant reactant gas stream reaches and reacts with the catalyst on the cathode side of the MEA.

Fuel cell having a hydrophilic substrate layer


A Schottky diode includes a Schottky barrier and a plurality of dopant regions disposed near the Schottky barrier as floating islands to function as PN junctions for preventing a leakage current generated from a reverse voltage. At least a trench opened in a semiconductor substrate with a Schottky barrier material disposed therein constitutes the Schottky barrier. The Schottky barrier material may also be disposed on sidewalls of the trench for constituting the Schottky barrier. The trench may be filled with the Schottky barrier material composed of Ti/TiN or a tungsten metal disposed therein for constituting the Schottky barrier. The trench is opened in a N-type semiconductor substrate and the dopant regions includes P-doped regions disposed under the trench constitute the floating islands. The P-doped floating islands may be formed as vertical arrays under the bottom of the trench.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to the semiconductor power devices. More particularly, this invention relates to an improved and novel manufacturing process and device configuration for providing the MOSFET device with shielded trench gates with cells provided with Schottky source contact for improving performance of high frequency power switching, H-bridge and synchronization rectification applications.
2. Description of the Related Art
As the applications of Schottky diodes become more widespread, particularly for reducing the power consumption and increasing the switching speed, it becomes even more important to improve the device configuration and manufacturing processes to reduce the production costs of the Schottky rectifying devices. One particular important consideration is the reduction of the surface areas on the semiconductor substrate occupied by the Schottky diodes. Reduction of the surface-area utilization of the Schottky diodes provides a key to reduce the manufacturing costs and to further miniaturize the size and shape of electronic devices for achieving portability and functionality enhancements. However, in order to achieve the purpose of surface utilization while maintaining current conducting areas, the Schottky diodes are sometimes implemented by filling trenches with a barrier material. The trench Schottky diode configuration leads to another technical difficulty due to the performance limitations including the required high forward voltage VF, the low sustainable breakdown voltage BV, and the high leakage current Idss. These performance limitations often cause difficulties in applying the junction barrier Schottky (JBS) for broader and more variety of applications.
The Schottky diode has been used to replace PN diodes in many applications. The low forward drop of the Schottky diode in the forward conduction mode reduces the power dissipation of the device. The conduction of the Schottky is through majority carrier, so minority carrier charge storage effects do not occur in the switching characteristics of the device. Therefore the Schottky diode is a preferred over the PN junction diodes in many power applications. FIG. 1A shows a typical Schottky diode where a Schottky barrier metal is contacted to a n-type silicon. The P+ junctions are placed at the edge of the barrier metal contact areas to eliminate the premature breakdown of the device. The forward voltage of the diode is directly proportional to the Schottky barrier height of the metal. It is then desirable to use low Schottky barrier metal to make the diode in order to reduce the conduction loss of the diode. However, the leakage current of the Schottky in the reverse blocking mode is also determined by the Schottky barrier height. Low Schottky barrier height will give rise to higher leakage current in the reverse blocking operation of the diode.
In order to reduce the reverse leakage of the Schottky diode, P-type junctions are placed in the silicon as shown in FIG. 1B. In the reverse blocking mode, the n-silicon is at a higher potential with respect to the Schottky barrier metal. The PN junction is also reverse bias. The depletions from two adjacent p-type junctions merged and shield the surface Schottky barrier from the high reverse voltage thus reduce the leakage current of the diode. The disadvantage of the JBS is the reduced Schottky surface area from the p-type junctions. For higher breakdown voltage Schottky diode, deeper p-type junction is usually required. Deeper junction also has more lateral diffusion. The Schottky area utilization could be quite low for the high breakdown voltage JBS. An alternative way to shield the Schottky barrier from the reverse voltage is the Trench MOS Barrier Schottky as shown in FIG. 1C. With the trench Schottky barrier, the depletions from surrounding the lower portions of the trenches pinch off and shield the Schottky barrier junction on top the mesa. The shape of the trenches affects the breakdown of the dielectric in the trenches. Rounding the bottom and top corners are required to reduce the leakage of the TMBS. The rounding of the sharp corners requires extra process steps and specialized equipment and all these requirements cause an increase in the production costs.
Therefore, a need still exists in the art of implementing the Schottky diodes in the electronic device including the power semiconductor devices to provide new device configuration and manufacturing method in configuring and manufacturing the Schottky diodes to overcome and resolve the above discussed problems and limitations.

Junction barrier Schottky (JBS) with floating islands


The invention relates to a method for controlling an internal combustion engine with a motor control system that adjusts the exhaust-gas temperature by influencing the air-fuel mixture. Said motor control system has a temperature model so as to determine a preset temperature for a component in the exhaust manifold, which is achieved after a longer period of time while maintaining current operating and driving conditions. The motor control system regulates the exhaust-gas temperature depending on the preset temperature for the purpose of component protection.

In the case of internal combustion engines, catalytic converters are used in the exhaust gas manifold for cleaning the exhaust gases in order to comply with the emission specifications. Said motor control system has a temperature model for monitoring the temperature of the catalytic converter, which calculates the exhaust gas temperature and/or the temperature of the catalytic converter. Depending on the calculated temperature, cooling measures are initiated, in the event of the temperature being too high, to protect the catalytic converter. Such cooling measures consist of a change in the air-to-fuel ratio towards a fuel excess, namely a so-called process of making the mixture slightly richer. A regulator takes charge of said process of making the mixture slightly richer at the inlet of which the difference between the simulated and the maximum permissible temperature of the catalytic converter is provided. In the case of this basic approach, the problem is that the actual temperature of the catalytic converter only reacts to the slightly richer mixture after a considerable delay. Therefore, the regulator has a long control path. The temperature model in the motor control system takes account of this long control path and copies the delayed behavior of the catalytic converter. Depending on the selected control parameters, this brings about either an oscillation condition of the regulator or an overswing of the temperature of the catalytic converter when the regulator is activated for the first time.
WO 03029634 discloses a method in which a lambda value, depending on a modulated or a measured temperature, is adjusted at least at one critical point of the exhaust gas system, deviating from the normal operation, to a temperature-dependent lambda value, in such a way that an exhaust gas temperature is decreased if the temperature determined exceeds a predetermined temperature value.
A method for controlling a component protection function of a catalytic converter is known from DE 102 01 465 B4. For this purpose, the modulated exhaust gas temperature is taken as a function of the lambda value and of further variables. By using the inverse function it is then possible to calculate, for a maximum temperature value, a lambda desired value for the purpose of component protection. Should it be the case that the component protection function is activated during the operation of an internal combustion engine, the lambda value will then be set at the lambda desired value calculated in this way. The problem with this method is the fact that the exhaust gas temperature model can only be inverted under certain assumptions. If the temperature change in the catalytic converter is also taken into account in the temperature model because of the exothermal chemical reactions, then there is no simple relationship which allows the inverting of the function. At most there is then a bijective relationship between the temperature and the lambda value.

Method for controlling an internal combustion engine


Provided is a method for producing a pigment, in particular, a metal phthalocyanine, in high yield and in a green process. The method has (1) a step of obtaining a solution mixture by mixing at least one type of compound serving as a raw material for a pigment with a solvent, and (2) a step of obtaining the pigment by reacting the compound while holding the solution mixture at not less than a temperature where a subcritical state or a supercritical state of the solvent occurs.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for producing a pigment, and particularly, to a method for producing a pigment represented by a metal phthalocyanine, which is useful as a coloring material and for use in electrophotograph and other fields, with high yield and in an environmentally friendly process (hereinafter, referred to as a "green process").
2. Description of the Related Art
As a conventional method for producing a pigment, in particular, a metal phthalocyanine, the Wyler method and the phthalonitrile method have been most frequently employed in the industrial field.
In the Wyler method, a pigment is synthesized by heating phthalic anhydride, a metal compound and urea in an inert solvent in the presence of a catalyst. On the other hand, in the phthalonitrile method, a pigment is synthesized by heating a phthalocyanine and a metal or a metal salt in a solvent.
The Wyler method has the following problem. The reaction does not proceed uniformly because all of a raw-material mixture, reaction intermediate and product are not completely dissolved in a reaction process. Consequently, the product is not obtained with high purity or in high yield. In addition, since an organic solvent such as an alkylbenzene is used as a reaction solvent, this method is not desirable in view of environmental load.
Unlike the Wyler method, in the phthalonitrile method, a metal phthalocyanine can be synthesized with high purity and in high yield. However, the reaction must be performed at a sufficient high temperature and in a solvent, which is capable of dissolving raw material such as phthalonitrile and a reaction intermediate sufficiently. Therefore, a solvent such as an alkylbenzene having a high-boiling point is often used. However, it is not desirable to use such a solvent because separation of the solvent from a product is difficult and environmental load increases.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H07-316448 is concerned with the Wyler method and discloses that a product can be obtained in high yield by adding a predetermined additive in a reaction process to disperse raw materials, thereby increasing a reaction rate. On the other hand, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H05-179153 is concerned with the phthalonitrile method. In this method, a low boiling-point alkylbenzene having a branched C6 side chain is used as a solvent. By virtue of this, the publication of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H05-179153 discloses that a product can be obtained in high yield by improving the solubility of the raw materials, thereby increasing a reaction rate, and that the solvent can be removed from the product by a simple operation such as removal under reduced pressure.
Nevertheless, in both methods disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. H07-316448 and H05-179153, there is room for improvement. More specifically, an environmentally unfriendly organic solvent, such as an alkylbenzene used as a reaction solvent, is susceptible to improvement. In the circumstances, it has been desired to develop a method for synthesizing a high-purity metal phthalocyanine with high yield and in a green process.
Note that the term "environmentally friendly process" in the present invention means a process that does not discharge harmful wastewater and the like causing environmental pollution as much as possible.


A system and method for providing HTTP tunnel connections between entities such as clients and servers in a messaging system is described. An HTTP tunnel connection layer is described that may be used to provide reliable, full duplex virtual connections between entities (e.g. clients and brokers) in a distributed application environment using a messaging system. Also described is a novel HTTP tunneling protocol that may be used by the HTTP tunnel connection layer. The HTTP tunnel connection layer may be used by clients to access messaging servers through proxy servers and firewalls, thus expanding the scope of from where clients can access brokers. Using this layer, brokers as well as clients may initiate messaging system messages. This layer may also provide guaranteed data delivery with correct sequencing even in case of a failure on the network. This layer may also provide end-to-end flow control.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to computers and networks of computers, and more particularly to a system and method for providing transport protocol tunnel connections between entities or nodes such as clients and servers in a messaging system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Messaging is playing an increasingly important role in computing. Its advantages are a natural result of several factors: the trend toward peer-to-peer computing, greater platform heterogeneity, and greater modularity, coupled with the trend away from synchronous communication between processes. The common building block of a messaging service is the message. Messages are specially formatted data describing events, requests, and replies that are created by and delivered to computer programs. Messages contain formatted data with specific meanings. Messaging is the exchange of messages to a messaging server, which acts as a message exchange program for client programs. A messaging server is a middleware program that handles messages that are sent by client programs for use by other programs. Typically, client programs access the functionality of the messaging system using a messaging application program interface (application program interface). A messaging server can usually queue and prioritize messages as needed, and thus saves each of the client programs from having to perform these services. Rather than communicate directly with each other, the components in an application based around a message service send messages to a message server. The message server, in turn, delivers the messages to the specified recipients
There are two major messaging system models: the point-to-point model and the publish and subscribe model. Messaging allows programs to share common message-handling code, to isolate resources and interdependencies, and to easily handle an increase in message volume. Messaging also makes it easier for programs to communicate across different programming environments (languages, compilers, and operating systems) since the only thing that each environment needs to understand is the common messaging format and protocol. The messages involved exchange crucial data between computers—rather than between users—and contain information such as event notification and service requests. IBM's MQSeries and iPlanet Message Queue are examples of products that provide messaging interfaces and services.
FIG. 1 illustrates a typical messaging-based application. This application is a modification of the traditional client/server architecture. The major difference is the presence of a messaging server 100A between client 102 and server 104 layers. Thus, rather than communicating directly, clients 102 and servers 104 communicate via the messaging server 100A. The addition of the messaging server 100A adds another layer to the application, but it greatly simplifies the design of both the clients 102 and the servers 104 (they are no longer responsible for handling communications issues), and it also enhances scalability. Note that servers in a messaging system may also be referred to as "brokers".
FIG. 2 illustrates another messaging-based application based on point-to-point architecture. This type of application almost demands a centralized messaging server 100B. Without one, each component 106 would be responsible for creating and maintaining connections with the other components 106. A possible alternative approach would be to architect the system around a communication bus, but this would still leave each component 106 in charge of message delivery issues.
Java Message Service (JMS)
Java Message Service (JMS) is an application program interface (API) from Sun Microsystems that supports messaging between computers in a network. JMS provides a common interface to standard messaging protocols and also to special messaging services in support of Java programs. Sun advocates the use of the JMS for anyone developing Java applications, which can be run from any major operating system platform. Using the JMS interface, a programmer can invoke the messaging services of IBM's MQSeries, Progress Software's SonicMQ, and other messaging product vendors.
The JMS API may:                Provide a single, unified message API        Provide an API suitable for the creation of messages that match the format used by existing, non-JMS applications        Support the development of heterogeneous applications that span operating systems, platforms, architectures, and computer languages        Support messages that contain serialized Java objects        Support messages that contain eXtensible Markup Language (XML) pages        Allow messages to be prioritized        Deliver messages either synchronously or asynchronously        Guarantee messages are delivered once and only once        Support message delivery notification        Support message time-to-live        Support transactions
The JMS API is divided into two nearly identical pieces. One implements a point-to-point model of messaging, and the other implements a publish and subscribe model of messaging. Each of these models is called a domain. The APIs are almost identical between the domains. The separation of the API into two domains relieves vendors that support only one messaging model from providing facilities their product doesn't natively support.
Enterprise Messaging Systems
Enterprise messaging systems may be developed using a messaging service such as JMS. An enterprise messaging system may be used to integrate distributed, loosely coupled applications/systems in a way that provides for dynamic topologies of cooperating systems/services. Enterprise messaging systems typically need to address common messaging related problems such as:                Guaranteed message delivery (e.g. persistence, durable interests, "at least once" and "once and only once" message delivery guarantees, transactions etc). Messages from one component to another must not be lost due to network or system failure. This means the system must be able to guarantee that a message is successfully delivered.        Asynchronous delivery. For large numbers of components to be able to exchange messages simultaneously, and support high density throughputs, the sending of a message cannot depend upon the readiness of the consumer to immediately receive it. If a consumer is busy or offline, the system must allow for a message to be sent and subsequently received when the consumer is ready. This is known as asynchronous message delivery, popularly known as store-and-forward messaging.        Various message delivery models (e.g. publish and subscribe or point-to-point).        Transport independence.Leveraging an enterprise messaging system in developing business solutions allows developers to focus on their application/business logic rather than on implementing the underlying messaging layer.
iPlanet E-Commerce Solutions' iMQ (iplanet Message Queue), formerly offered by Sun Microsystems as JMQ (Java Message Queue) is an example of an enterprise messaging system, and was developed to be JMS-compliant. iMQ may use a "hub and spoke" architecture. Clients use an iMQ client library to exchange messages with an iMQ message server (also referred to as a "broker").
In an enterprise messaging system, clients exchange messages with a messaging server using a message exchange protocol. The messaging server then may route the messages based upon properties of the messages. Typically, the message exchange protocol requires a direct, fully bi-directional reliable transport connection between the client and the messaging server, such as a TCP (Transport Control Protocol) or SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) connection, which can be used only if the client and the messaging server both reside on the "intranet" (i.e. on the same side of a firewall).
Hypertext Transfer Protocol
The Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) is a set of rules for exchanging files (text, graphic images, sound, video, and other multimedia files) on the World Wide Web. HTTP may also be used on an intranet. Relative to the TCP/IP suite of protocols (which are the basis for information exchange on the Internet), HTTP is an application protocol that is implemented over TCP/IP. HTTP was designed as a stateless request-response mechanism.
A Web server is a program that, using the client/server model and HTTP, serves the files that form Web pages to Web users (whose computers contain HTTP clients that forward their requests). Every computer on the Internet that contains a Web site must have a Web server. A Web server machine may include, in addition to the Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) and other files it can serve, an HTTP daemon, a program that is designed to wait for HTTP requests and handle them when they arrive. A Web browser is an example of an HTTP client that sends requests to server machines. When a browser user enters file requests by either "opening" a Web file by typing in a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) or clicking on a hypertext link, the browser builds an HTTP request and sends it to the Internet Protocol (IP) address indicated by the URL. The HTTP daemon in the destination server machine receives the request and, after any necessary processing, the requested file is returned.
Tunneling
Tunneling may be defined as the encapsulation of a protocol A within protocol B, such that A treats B as though it were a data link layer. Tunneling may be used to get data between administrative domains that use a protocol that is not supported by the Internet connecting those domains. A "tunnel" is a particular path that a given message or file might travel through the Internet.
Proxy Servers and Firewalls
In an enterprise that uses the Internet, a proxy server is a server that acts as an intermediary between a workstation user and the Internet so that the enterprise can ensure security, administrative control, and caching service. A proxy server may be associated with or part of a gateway server that separates the enterprise network from the outside network and a firewall server that protects the enterprise network from outside intrusion.
A firewall is a set of related programs, usually located at a network gateway server, that protects the resources of a private network from users from other networks. An enterprise with an intranet that allows its workers access to the wider Internet installs a firewall to prevent outsiders from accessing its own private data resources and for controlling what outside resources its own users have access to.

System and method for providing tunnel connections between entities in a messaging system


An infection with Helicobacter may successfully be treated with a compound of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is hydrogen or methyl and R.sub.2 is hydrogen or L-alanine-L-alanyl, and the pharmaceutically acceptable acid additive salts thereof. These compounds are useful in the treatment of gastric and duodenal ulcers.

This invention relates to a novel treatment of a Helicobacter infection with known naphthyridine carboxylic acid antibacterial compounds and a novel treatment of gastric and duodenal ulcers with such known compounds.
H. pylori, a pathogenic bacterium discovered in 1982, has been established as the cause of gastric and duodenal ulcers in humans. In clinical trials, eradication of the organism has been shown to result in healing of the ulcer and a low incidence of relapse. Although numerous individual antibacterial agents inhibit the growth of Helicobacter organisms in vitro, these agents usually fail in in vivo human and animal trials, when administered as single agents.
Infections in animals are caused by related organisms. For example, H. mustelae is pathogenic in ferrets, and H. felis in cats.
The compounds of use in this invention are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,164,402.


The invention provides a new collagen based technology. The invention provides a dry collagen powder as a precursor for the preparation of an homogeneous thermoplastic collagen-based composition, which may further comprise additives. The present invention relates also the use of said composition in the manufacturing of solid articles conformed according to plastic technology, and to the articles.

Collagen is one of the most successfully applied proteins, used, amongst other fields, in food industry as a film forming protein yielding flat or tubular edible and/or biodegradable films used as wrapping material in food packaging. Collagen is the generic term for a family of proteins, representatives of which can be found in any multicellular organism. To date, more than 20 different types of collagen have been described in the literature. For industrial purposes there are collagen sources which are particularly favorable for the recovery of collagen from the point of view of availability, tissue architecture and economy. One such source is bovine hide.
One of the most prominent current collagen-based technology is related with the manufacture of sausage casings based on collagen. This technology strongly tries to prevent the collagen fibers from losing their native molecular structure, since a substantial part of processing success and the mechanical properties of the resulting collagen tubular or flat films, depend on its fibrillar structure. Thus, a main objective of this technology is the preservation of the fibrous collagen structure, during all industrial steps of extracting and purifying the collagen from raw animal tissues, like bovine hide or porcine skin. Therefore, there exist in the state of the art carefully designed processes wherein, doughs of highly hydrated, basically intact acid swollen collagen fibers are obtained, that can be extruded into flat or tubular films. It is well known that the temperature control during collagen dough preparation and in extrusion is a very important factor to prevent the collagen fibers from hydrolyzing and, therefore, from gelatinizing.
Although acid swollen aqueous doughs of fibrous collagen have shown excellent properties in making films by extrusion at low temperatures, the huge dough viscosity, even at low solids (collagen) concentration, causes this material not to show rheological properties that would allow it to be readily processed by conventional extrusion equipment known from processing plastics. U.S. Pat. No. 3,123,482 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,346,402, for example, may give an impression on how complex and specialized extrusion equipment and conditions used in collagen casing manufacturing are.
Moreover, after passing through the orifice at the outlet of the extrusion head, the tubular or flat film formed from the collagen dough must be stabilized by coagulation and drying, what means that a large amount of water has to be removed from the shaped gel, resulting in high energy costs. Within such a process, collagen fibers are physically oriented and in many cases on-line or in a posterior chemical treatment crosslinked to yield a three dimensional matrix with a network structure of irreversibly embedded fibrils. This, on the other hand, presents the disadvantage that a product obtained by this kind of technology may not be recuperated and re-utilized in repeating the process. In addition, any other molded three-dimensional article different from those obtained by extrusion into films, tubes or strings are unfeasible, unless they are intended as soft hydrated goods, such as collagen soft fishing baits and lures, or optical lenses, since upon drying and in curing processes, said molded three-dimensional article shrinks dramatically until losing their original shape. Moreover, highly hydrated dispersions of fibrous collagen, although being useful in their classical forms of application, they do not have properties suitable to form three-dimensional solid articles by conventional thermoplastic processing techniques like heat extrusion and injection molding without running the risk of hydrothermally hydrolyzing the collagen to such an extent as to render very diluted gelatin solutions. As a result, solid collagen-based molded articles with a low level of water content have not yet been successfully achieved.
Thus, collagen-derived hydrogels, although capable to perform like thermoplastic materials, do not have the structure, stability or strength to perform like a solid molded article; even when they are dried, with the resulting expenditures, they will not perform stable under wet conditions.
Another collagen based technology, is characterized by the degradation of the collagen into gelatin, animal glues and hydrolyzates. Such hydrolysis products derived from collagen, differing in their degree of hydrolyzation, are used in a wide variety of industries as a food, as cosmetic ingredients and animal glues. According to this technology, collagen molecules are hydrolyzed, by enzymatic attack or heat treatment of an acidic or alkaline dispersion of fibrillar collagen in water, until the basic structural units are destroyed to yield a gelatin. The average molecular weight of these new peptic products is variable, and always below 500 kD. For practical purposes, the main characteristic of gelatin is its ability to generate physical hydrogels, even at very low solid concentration, which are thermo-reversible at temperatures around 40° C. This ability entails certain advantages in handling and molding processes since gelatin hydrogels can be heated over the melting point to be poured or injected into a mold, and next solidified by cooling. However, its gel toughness and strength is low and depends on the water content and on the degree of crosslinking. In the attempt of forming shaped articles, technical problems also arise from the extensive shrinkage that occurs during the drying of the hydrated product. Fabrication of molded articles consisting of gelatin or gelatin hydrolyzate with an average molecular weight of less than 3 kD is impossible.
Some new processes have been proposed to transform gelatin into a thermoplastic-like product for molding articles (see U.S. Pat. No. 4,992,100 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,316,717) by plasticizing a powdered gelatin, with the addition of water, into an extrusion device and submitting it to high temperatures and shear forces, to produce a flowable homogenous melt that, after drawing-off from the slotted die of the extruder, can be granulated. Granulates can be processed like a thermoplastic-like product, which presents the advantage of working at low water content and preserving some gelatin properties, whereas the shrinkage of the molded articles manufactured with said granulates is very slight and is settable by the addition of additives, for example, plasticizers. Nevertheless, gelatin is a product to be manufactured first from collagen, with the consequent production and acquisition cost. Moreover, its molecular structure entails a poor behavior upon aging of molded articles or under wet conditions, what has led to the consequence that in reality it has, to our knowledge, never found industrial application in molding articles.
In order to shorten the process of manufacturing gelatin and glue precursors (also called glutinous materials), another process has been proposed in German patent number DE 19712400. This process starts from a collagen-rich raw-material, and is capable of avoiding all those wet and thermo-chemical, time consuming, highly cost-operative and formerly required steps, by accomplishing the steps of: a) grinding the collagen raw-material to fibers; b) bringing this material to a moisture content of 5%-40%; c) subjecting the wet material for no longer than 60 min and under introducing heat to shear forces until the fibers lose their native three dimensional structure, to render an essentially homogeneous hydroplastic mass, with the main component having an average molecular weight of at least 500 kD and which is totally or partially soluble in water at above 45° C.; d) processing that hydroplastic mass to form a granulate, strands or sheets capable of being directly processed to gelatin or glues. Those materials are considered as precursors of gelatin and glues and they have a hard and brittle consistency, are somewhat soluble in warm water and are not able to form flexible films and articles which could substitute the performance of today's existing collagen films.
One important advance in the search for new industrial applications of collagen as a biodegradable and (in principle) edible material, would be to achieve a new technology for molding articles, starting from native collagen without requiring the prior manufacture of gelatin. Therefore, an important advancement in manufacturing collagen-based goods, such as extruded tubular or flat films and molded solid articles, would be the development of a process capable of avoiding the step of manufacturing a precursory plastic "wet" mass based on acid- or alkali-swollen aqueous dispersions of collagen fibers. That type of gel-like dispersions suffer from elevated production costs, low flowability (high viscosity), consequently difficult to process and the need of removing the water after molding and/or extrusion.
In view of the above stated there is the need in the art of an alternative collagen-based technology for the production of collagen-based goods of different shapes including flat or tubular films and three-dimensional articles of different shapes and sizes. Advantageously said technology should avoid, on one hand, the manufacture of gelatin intermediates associated with time consuming and high costs processes. On the other hand said technology should also avoid the disadvantages associated with the use of native collagen above stated, and the disadvantages associated with aqueous dispersions of collagen fibers which are difficult to process as above mentioned.
There is therefore the need in the state of the art of a new collagen-precursor which can be used in the preparation of a collagen-based composition performing like a thermoplastic.
There is also the need of an alternative collagen-based composition which may advantageously, be processed by conventional plastic techniques known in the art, and is suitable to be conformed into solid shaped articles which are edible and biodegradable. Moreover said articles are thermosealable, and show improved properties over collagen-based articles known from the state of the art such as, among other, resistance to water, tensile strength, minimal shrinkage of the conformed articles.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Collagen powder and collagen-based thermoplastic composition for preparing conformed articles


Methods, systems, and apparatuses to improve the handling of exceptions during the retrieval and processing of health records from various data sources are provided. During the retrieval and processing of health records, exceptions to typical behavior are recorded with context at the data extraction protocol level, at the health record level and at the level of elements with the document. Accordingly, insights may be developed and configurations, rules, or coding changes, based on the detected exceptions may be proposed. In some instances, an operator may be notified about the exceptions such that the operator may act on the insight. In some instances, the processing of extracted records (documents, messages) may be deferred until the operator has made appropriate changes to configuration, rules, or code. In some instances, the system may supplement and/or replace the operator with machine learning engines that act on the developed insights.

Health records are contained in a variety of source systems at healthcare organizations, such as, but not limited to, electronic medical records system (EMR), electronic health records system (EHR), medical billing systems, laboratory information system (LIS), hospital document management systems, health plan claims databases, content management systems (CMS), document management systems (DMS), genomics data sets, radiology imaging systems (RIS), and healthcare vendor-neutral databases (VNA), generally referred to as healthcare information technology (HIT) systems. While HIT systems allow operators to customize document properties, types, code sets, etc., the data and communications standards may be implemented slightly differently at each of the HIT systems. Further, within each HIT system, healthcare records are stored in a wide variety of formats and accessed through a variety of protocols. While interoperability solutions exist that extract healthcare information from source systems to support interchange with external systems, when extracting documents or processing messages from an EMR/EHR or other HIT system, encountering an exception to typical behaviors and properties when retrieving a record, or encountering an exception in the elements or format of the retrieved record, may prevent the operation of extracting the whole document or message with the highest precision. For example, an existing interoperability solution may do a poor job of normalizing an extracted record by skipping over elements with abnormal data formats or character set encoding, or otherwise skipping over elements and/or data not meeting, matching, or adhering to one or more preset data formats.

System and method for handling exceptions during healthcare record processing


A sensor adapted to be mounted to a surface has a rotatable enclosure that may be used, for example, to direct a lens of the sensor towards a window. The daylight sensor includes a photosensitive circuit for measuring a light intensity in the space, a cover portion, and a base portion adapted to be mounted to the surface. The cover portion is rotatable with respect to the base portion, for example, to direct the lens towards the window after the base portion is mounted to the surface. The base portion may also include a cylindrical wall having a channel adapted to capture a snap of the cover portion, such that the snap may move angularly through the channel to allow for rotation of the cover portion with respect to the base portion to a plurality of discrete positions.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to daylight sensors for determining the ambient (i.e., total) light level in a space, and more particularly, to a daylight sensor having a rotatable enclosure for easily directing a lens of the daylight sensor towards a window.
Description of the Related Art
Many rooms in both residential and commercial buildings are illuminated by both artificial light from a lighting load, such as an incandescent lamp or a fluorescent lamp, and daylight (i.e., sunlight) shining through a window. Daylight sensors (i.e., photosensors) are often used to measure the total light level in a space in order to adjust the light intensity of the lighting load to thus adjust the total light level in the space. For example, the light intensity of the lighting load may be decreased as the daylight level increases (and vice versa), so as to maintain the total light level in the space approximately constant. A daylight sensor typically comprises a lens for directing the light in the space towards an internal photodetector (such as a photodiode) for measuring the total light level in the space. Daylight sensors are typically mounted to a ceiling in the space at a distance from the window. The lens of the daylight sensor must be positioned such that the field of view of the daylight sensor is directed towards the window. Therefore, there is a need for a daylight sensor that may easily be mounted such that the lens is directed towards a window in a space.


The present invention provides a wavelength selective optical focusing device using the cladding-etching of an optical fiber and an optical module using the same. The wavelength selective optical focusing device includes a core for transmitting an optical signal therethrough; and a cladding layer surrounding the core and having a plurality of grooves formed in the outer circumferential surface thereof such that the grooves are changed at a designated rate, wherein an optical signal having a designated wavelength guided by the core is focused to the outside of the cladding layer by the grooves.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical focusing device, and more particularly to a wavelength selective optical focusing device using the cladding-etching of an optical fiber and an optical module using the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
In order to detect an optical signal traveling through a core of an optical fiber, a path of a core mode of the optical signal transmitted through the core must be changed. However, since the core of the optical fiber is generally coated with a cladding layer having a relative large thickness, the core mode is rarely affected by external factors. For this reason, in order to detect the optical signal from the optical fiber, the optical fiber must be physically deformed. The physical deformation of the optical fiber so that the optical signal is detected from the optical fiber is performed by various methods. One method, which is most easily performed using characteristics of the optical fiber, is the generation of a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) in the core of the optical fiber.
For example, U. S. Pat. No. 5,042,897 entitled "Optical waveguide embedded light redirecting Bragg grating arrangement" discloses an optical fiber, which detects an in-line optical signal using a fiber Bragg grating, as shown in FIG. 1. With reference to FIG. 1, a slanted fiber Bragg grating 11 (having the grating slits spaced at a distance a) is formed in a core 12 so as to radiate a waveguide signal (Rλ) to the outside of the core 12 at an angle α. The above structure is advantageous in that an optical signal traveling through the core 12 is simply radiated to the outside of the optical fiber 10 without an additional device. However, the above structure has a low efficiency in radiating an optical signal to the outside of the core 12, and can be used to monitor an optical signal but is not adequate to detect an optical signal having a high coupling factor. Further, in order to refocus light radiated to the outside of the optical fiber 10, an additional device, such as a lens, is required.
Further, Korean Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2005-8280 entitled "Optical waveguide grating lens and method for manufacturing the same" discloses a focusing waveguide grating coupler (FWGC) for improving a coupling efficiency, as shown in FIG. 2. With reference to FIG. 2, a FWGC 20 comprises a planar waveguide having a substrate cladding layer 21 and a core 22, an upper cladding layer 23 formed on the planar waveguide, a slanted fiber Bragg grating (FBG) 28 formed in the core 22, and a Fresnel grating lens 24 formed on the upper cladding layer 23. In the above structure, a core mode 27 travels along the planar waveguide, and is diffracted by the slanted FBG 28, thereby generating a slanted output beam 25. Then, the slanted output beam 25 is diffracted by the Fresnel grating lens 24, thereby being concentrated onto a focus 26. The above planar waveguide is disadvantageous in that its manufacturing process is complicated and the mode matching with the optical fiber must be correctly achieved so as to minimize loss in transmitting the optical signal. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, slanted FBG 28 of the FWGC 20 is formed in the core 22 by changing a refractive index by causing ultraviolet rays to be incident onto a material sensitive to ultraviolet rays (UV) through a phase mask. However, the above FBG 28 formed using ultraviolet rays (UV) is disadvantageous in that its reproducibility in manufacturing is reduced, aging effects, such as changes in refractive index, are severely generated, and it is difficult to have the maximum optical coupling efficiency above 50%.

Wavelength selective optical focusing device using optical fiber and optical module using the same

Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute


A method of configuring a compression method for a terminal in a mobile system. The mobile system comprises a terminal for which characteristics parameters are specified comprising at least the compression methods supported by the terminal, and a radio network, in which a functional entity is configured for specifying a compression method to a radio bearer. The use of a compression method on the radio bearers of the terminal is specified on the basis of the characteristics parameters transmitted by the terminal. The user of the terminal updates the parameters specifying the compression methods of the terminal, the characteristics parameters of the terminal being modified in the terminal in accordance with this update, and the modified characteristics parameters are transmitted to a function comprised by the radio network. The modified characteristics parameters are used to configure the use of a compression method for each simultaneous radio bearer of the terminal.

The invention relates to the configuration of the use of compression in packet-switched data transmission.
Third-generation mobile systems, called at least UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunication System) and IMT-2000 (International Mobile Telephone System), will provide not only circuit-switched, typically speech services, but also packet-switched services for instance in the manner of the packet radio network GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) designed for the GSM system. Packet-switched data transmission enables the use of different data services by means of a mobile station and, on the other hand, the allocation of the resources of a mobile system, especially the radio interface, to each user as is necessary.
When a packet-switched connection is used, the radio resource management RRM system of the UMTS system allocates parameters to a radio bearer, the parameters specifying the properties of the radio bearer used. One of the parameters specifying a radio bearer is the method of compressing the header fields of the data packets used by the terminal. In the UMTS system, header fields are compressed in data packets to be transmitted and decompressed in data packets to be received on a packet data convergence protocol layer PDCP belonging to the packet data protocol. Several header field compression methods supported by a terminal are typically configured for it. In the present development versions of the UMTS system, the header field compression method to be used on a radio bearer is configured in such a way that before a connection is set up, the terminal informs the radio access network RAN of the compression methods supported by the terminal. The RAN uses this information to decide whether header field compression is to be used on the packet-switched connections of said terminal, and which compression method is used.
The problem in the above arrangement is that the user of a terminal has no effect on whether or not header field compression is used on packet-switched connections. Header field compression is often preferable, since it allows the limited radio resources to be used more efficiently to transfer payload. However, situations and applications exist wherein header field compression is not preferable, such as when the limited processing capacity of a terminal is to be saved or if the compatibility of applications requires this on a radio bearer. In the UMTS system, the user of a terminal cannot configure header field compression so as to be suitable for each particular situation, but, instead, the configurations set by the RAN are used on all data links, i.e. PDP contexts (Packet Data Protocol Context) of the terminal.
A method of configuring compression methods for header fields (PCOMP, Protocol control information Compression, also known as HCOMP, Header Compression) and user data (DCOMP, Data Compression) is known from the GSM-based GPRS system, wherein a header field and user data compression method is negotiated for each PDP context upon activation of the PDP context by means of a context identifier CID field. This allows the user of the terminal to influence the compression parameters to be used and whether compression is to be used at all. However, such a negotiation mechanism does not exist in the UMTS system. This is why a suitable way to offer the user of a terminal a chance to influence the configuration of compression methods has to be found for the UMTS system.

Configuring compression in packet-switched data transmisson


A method of delaying detonation of an explosive device within a subterranean well is provided which is convenient, economical and efficient in its use. In addition, the safety of such operations is enhanced by the construction of a firing head used in the method and engaged with the explosive device in the well. In one described embodiment, the firing head includes a piston reciprocably received in a fluid chamber, and an orifice for metering fluid from the chamber. When the firing head is engaged with the explosive device, weight is applied to the piston, thereby forcing fluid from the chamber through the orifice and producing a time delay. After the piston has traveled a predetermined distance relative to the chamber, its further displacement is relatively unrestricted and the weight drives the piston downwardly to cause detonation of the explosive device.

The present invention relates generally to operations performed in subterranean wells and, in an embodiment described herein, more particularly provides a firing head for use in detonating an explosive device in a well.
There is a great potential for damage to a well and injury to personnel in operations which involve detonating an explosive device in the well. Such operations may include perforating protective casing lining the wellbore, severing tubing using an explosive tubing cutter, etc. In these operations, an explosive device and an apparatus for detonating the explosive device are typically conveyed into the well interconnected to each other. In the case of perforating operations, the explosive device is one or more perforating guns and the apparatus used to detonate the gun or guns is known as a firing head.
It is well known in the art to provide a variety of different methods of actuating the firing head. For example, the firing head may be actuated by dropping a bar onto the firing head through tubing extending from the firing head to a wellhead or rig floor at the earth's surface. The bar eventually strikes a firing pin in the firing head, which causes detonation of a detonator explosively coupled to the perforating gun. As another example, fluid pressure may be applied to the tubing, and/or to an annulus surrounding the tubing, to actuate the firing head. As yet another example, electric current may be applied to a blasting cap in the firing head, such as via a wireline extending to the earth's surface.
It is also well known in the art to provide a delay mechanism for delaying the detonation after the firing head has been actuated. This delay permits wireline, slickline, or other equipment to be removed from the well before the perforating guns are detonated, permits a favorable fluid pressure condition to be established before the perforating guns are detonated, etc. Unfortunately, such delay mechanisms sometimes impose an undesirable level of uncertainty into the operation, are at times complex and unreliable, and may not be stopped after the delay mechanism has been actuated.
For example, in a conventional pressure actuated firing head having a hydraulic delay, the firing head is attached to a perforating gun and conveyed into a well. When properly positioned therein, fluid pressure is applied to the firing head to shear one or more shear pins and begin the delay period. A piston in the delay mechanism forces hydraulic fluid through an orifice to produce the delay period, and, when the piston has traveled a predetermined distance, a port is opened, thereby permitting fluid pressure to enter a chamber and drive a firing pin to impact a detonator. In other pressure actuated firing heads, shearing of the shear pins causes initiation of a pyrotechnic time delay which, when it has completed burning, causes detonation of a detonator.
It will be appreciated that several problems exist with these types of firing heads, and other firing heads having delay mechanisms. First, it is difficult to determine from the earth's surface whether the firing head has been actuated at all. Thus, if the perforating gun does not detonate when expected, personnel at the earth's surface will be unsure whether the firing head has been actuated, and whether the firing head and perforating gun may be safely retrieved from the well. If the firing head has been actuated, but a problem has occurred with the delay mechanism, such as a piston binding in a bore, the perforating gun may detonate at any time, possibly causing extensive damage to the well and injury to personnel.
Second, several factors tend to influence typical delay mechanisms, making it difficult to determine the exact delay period to be expected after the firing head has been actuated. For example, the temperature in the well (which may be known only approximately) will influence the speed at which a piston is able to force fluid through an orifice, and will influence the burning rate of a fuse. As another example, the fluid pressure at which the shear pins shear, the fluid pressure applied to shear the pins and the fluid pressure used to drive a piston in a delay mechanism, may not be precisely known. Each of these may influence the initiation of the firing head and start of the delay period.
Third, typical firing heads with delay mechanisms have no provision for retrieving the firing heads to the earth's surface without a perforating gun attached thereto. It would greatly enhance the safety of operations if the delay mechanism could be positively stopped, and if the firing head could be retrieved to the earth's surface separately from the perforating gun.
Of course, the above problems may also apply to other operations involving detonation of an explosive device in a well. Therefore, a solution to these problems would be applicable not only to perforating operations, but to a variety of other operations as well.
From the foregoing, it can be seen that it would be quite desirable to provide an apparatus which does not utilize a complex or unreliable delay mechanism, and which does not introduce unacceptable levels of uncertainty and hazards, but which permits reliable, convenient and efficient detonation of an explosive device in a well. It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide such apparatus and associated methods of detonating an explosive device.


A method and apparatus for dynamically generating data encryption keys for encrypting data files and for decrypting encrypted data files via a key exchange method is provided. A dynamically generated an encryption key is generated for each encryption event, so that the key cannot be produced or reproduced. A key exchange component of the invention ensures that only an intended recipient has the means to decrypt a file encrypted with the dynamically generated symmetric encryption keys.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to data encryption and decryption systems and methods and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for dynamically generating data encryption keys for encrypting data files and for decrypting encrypted data files via a key exchange method.
2. Background Information
The Internet is fast becoming the primary platform for global commerce and communications. The ease of communication that encourages the Internet's growth, also makes it difficult to ensure the security of Internet transactions. Users of the Internet demand mechanisms that guarantee the integrity of the information they transmit over the Internet and provide the same level of trust as paper-based transactions.
Before committing sensitive communications to the Internet, users like specific assurances. Firstly, electronic transactions need to be confidential and protected from tampering. Secondly, they need to be able to trust that participants are who they claim to be. Lastly, they want to be assured that no one can deny their involvement in a transaction after the fact.
Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) is a known attempt to provide these assurances. PKI is a framework of policies, services, hardware, and encryption software that is based on the use of public key cryptography and digital signatures.
Public key cryptography uses a mathematical algorithm, or key, to encrypt data, and a related mathematical key to decrypt the data. Authorized users of public key cryptography receive encryption software and a key pair. The keys in a key pair are related so that a message encrypted with a user's public key can only be decrypted using the corresponding private key. One key is an accessible public key, and the other key is a private key that the user must keep secret. In Public key cryptography, public keys are published in electronic directories.
A Certification Authority (CA) is a main component of a PKI. A CA is a trusted third party responsible for issuing Digital Certificates and managing them throughout their lifetime. Digital Certificates are electronic files containing a user's public key and specific identifying information about the user. The CA certifies that the individual granted the digital certificate is who they claim to be.
A Digital Signature is an electronic identifier comparable to a traditional, paper-based signature. A digital signature is unique, verifiable, and only the signer can initiate it. A digital signature ensures that the information contained in a digitally signed message or document is not altered during transmission.
In use, a source user desires to transmit a message electronically to a destination user, via PKI. The source user needs to prove that it sent the message and ensure that its contents are not altered. PKI software used by the source user utilizes the source user's private key to create a digital signature for the message. The source user further desires to ensure that no one, other than the destination user is able to read the message. The source user's software utilizes the public key of the destination user to encrypt the message.
The destination user desires to read the message. The destination user's software utlizes destination user's private key to decrypt the message. The destination user needs to verify that the source user sent the message and that its contents have not been altered. The destination user's software utilizes the source user's public key to verify its digital signature. The destination user can then read the message.
A disadvantage of public key encryption is that it may be vulnerable to "Man-In-The-Middle" (MITM) attacks, since the possessors of the keys may be unable to verify the identity of each other. A Man-In-The-Middle (MITM) attack typically involves an interceptor posing as a target, which may be a sever or a user, for example. The interceptor uses its own public key, instead of the target's public key, for asymmetric encryption. This allows the interceptor to decrypt confidential data that is intended for the target. The interceptor can then use this decrypted information to gain unauthorized access to the target's confidential information.
Another known method of obtaining unauthorized access to encrypted data is a "replay" attack. Web browsers may be vulnerable to a replay attacks, if a user's authentication keys are captured or intercepted by an attacker. In a replay attack, an attacker directly uses authentication keys, such as a session ID in a URL cookie, for example. For clarification, "URL" is an acronym for Uniform Resource Locator. A URL is an address for a resource on the Internet used by Web browsers to locate Internet resources. The attacker uses the authentication key to obtain or create service to a user's account, while bypassing normal user authentication, such as logging in with the appropriate username or password.
For example, an attacker discovers a URL that contains session ID information. With this information, the attacker may be able to obtain or create service to a user's account contained in the session ID information, simply by pasting that URL back into the internet address widow of their web browser. The legitimate user may not need to be logged into the application at the time of the replay attack.
Another disadvantage of PKI is that since it is dependent upon private and public keys, designing and building full-featured PKI is difficult. Due to the inherent complexity of designing and building a PKI, implementations are not common. Further, there are significant interoperability and management challenges associated with PKI. Given the potential numbers of digital certificates that PKI involves, another disadvantage of PKI is the administration and management of certificates. Resultantly, PKI and the training therefor can be expensive and complex.
Additionally, a hardware device should be utilized with PKI. Since the security provided by PKI can be breached if the private key is compromised, as discussed above, a hardware device may inhibit these security breaches.

Method and apparatus for dynamic generation of symmetric encryption keys and exchange of dynamic symmetric key infrastructure


An electronic card connector including a plastic main body having a carrier board section. An electronic card receiving region is defined between two electronic card receiving channels. An entrance of the electronic card receiving region is formed at front end of the plastic main body. A circuit board is mounted between the sidewalls of the plastic main body. The circuit board includes multiple contact terminals extending into the electronic card receiving region for contacting with a corresponding contact of the chip of an electronic card inserted in the electronic card receiving region. The circuit board further includes multiple adaptive terminals. A first end of each adaptive terminal is connected to a corresponding contact terminal via a printed circuit. A second end of the adaptive terminal is connected with a circuit board of the card reader or plugged in a socket of the circuit board of the card reader.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to an electronic card connector including a plastic main body. A circuit board is inserted in a circuit board receiving region of the plastic main body. The circuit board includes multiple contact terminals extending into an electronic card receiving region of the plastic main body for contacting with a corresponding contact of an electronic card inserted in the electronic card receiving region. Multiple adaptive terminals are further connected with an edge of the circuit board. A first end of each adaptive terminal is connected to a corresponding contact terminal via a printed circuit.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The existent electronic IC chip cards (smart cards) have been widely applied to electronic ticket, identification card, etc. After the smart card is inserted into a card reader, the data of the card can be identified, accessed or replaced.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,655,590 discloses a card reader having a frame 30. The frame 30 is formed with a card slot 50 and multiple mounting notches 44. A signal contact 22 is correspondingly inlaid in each mounting notch 44. A curved connection surface 24 of front end of the signal contact resiliently extends into the card slot 50 for electrically connecting with the inserted electronic card. The other end of the signal contact 22 is formed with a tail 26 which is soldered on the circuit board of a card reader 10. In assembling procedure of the card reader 10, the signal contacts 22 must be one by one soldered on the circuit board. Such procedure is inconvenient and time-consuming. In addition, after a period of use, the signal contacts 22 tend to resiliently fail or deform. Under such circumstance, the signal contacts can hardly tightly attach to the inserted electronic card. Therefore, it is necessary to repair the card reader. However, the signal contacts are directly soldered on the circuit board. When repaired, it is necessary to melt the solder of the soldering sections of the signal contacts and then take off and replace the signal contacts 22. Such procedure is quite inconvenient.


A method for ordering block copolymers including forming a first layer having a first preference mode; and providing a reactive agent in selected regions of the first layer that modifies the selected regions to a second preference mode, wherein the selected regions define other regions of the first layer retaining the first preference mode thereby forming an alignment layer for block copolymers.

Block copolymers are macromolecules that include at least two sequences of chemically distinct repeat units. These materials are well known in material science. In a non-limiting example, two homopolymers consisting of repeat units A and B, respectively, are connected by a covalent bond as a diblock copolymer, commonly referred to as an AB diblock copolymer. The average number of repeat units of A and B in a given block copolymer chain can vary, and the average number of A and B repeat units relative to one another may also be varied. In some circumstances, block copolymers may include blocks that contain more than one monomer or have ill-defined or irregular repeat units. Block copolymers can also include triblock copolymers, such as ABA triblock copolymers, and other types of multi-block copolymers that are well known in the art.
Often the two blocks (e.g., including units A and B) may be repulsive or at least more attracted to other blocks of the same kind than to each other, and as a result they may not easily mix with each other. Block incompatibility results in phase separation, the nature of which is dependent on several factors, including the chemical nature of the blocks, the temperature, etc. Because the blocks are covalently attached, phase separation can occur on the nanoscale, resulting in formation of periodic domains of the chemically distinct blocks. The characteristic periodicity of the domain separation is referred to herein as L0. L0 is a term known by those of ordinary skill in the art.
In certain conditions, the block copolymers can undergo phase separation to form periodic nanostructures such as lamellae, cylinders, spheres, etc. as is well known in the art. In thin film applications of block copolymers, the orientation of the block copolymer domains is important. In non-limiting examples, lamellae forming block copolymers in thin films can have their domains oriented parallel or perpendicular to the plane of the substrate upon which they are coated. The orientation of block copolymer domains in thin films is controlled by the chemical nature of the interfaces between the block copolymer domains and the top and bottom surfaces that define the film. For example, if the underlying substrate surface preferentially wets block A, lamellar domains are formed parallel to the plane of the substrate. This creates a stack of parallel domains where block A is in contact with the substrate. In a second example, the underlying substrate may be neutral and does not preferentially wet either block. As a result, the block copolymers can form domains of lamellae, cylinders, etc. perpendicular to the plane of the substrate. Thus, the domains of a lamellar forming block copolymer are oriented perpendicular to the substrate but with no long-range alignment order. In a third example, the underlying substrate may be neutral with defined regions preferential to block A that are about half the length of a periodicity (0.5 L0). Each of these preferential regions attracts the A block of the block copolymer, thereby "pinning" the A domain to that desired area and thereby enabling aligned and oriented vertical domains of blocks. This is known in the art as directed self-assembly. A preferential region about one and a half times the pattern length (1.5 L0) can also be used for pinning a particular domain.
After self-assembly, selective removal of one of the blocks can yield three-dimensional nanoscale relief structures. Selective removal of one block can be achieved via wet or dry etching. For example, blocks A and B etch at different rates under certain reactive ion etch conditions, which allow one block to be selectively removed (referred to herein as etch selective or etch dissipative) and the other to yield structures (referred to herein as etch resistant or etch formative). The etching of such block copolymers that are oriented and aligned as described above can result in a periodic series of deposited lines, pillars, or other structures which may be useful in certain semiconductor or other nanostructure applications.

Board of Regents, University of Texas System


A latch formed from a memory cell includes a clock input terminal configured to receive a clock signal, complementary first and second data terminals, and a latch circuit. The latch circuit has first and second inverters. The first inverter has an input terminal coupled to the first data terminal, and the second inverter has an input terminal coupled to the second data terminal. A first pass gate transistor is coupled between an output terminal of the second inverter and the first data terminal. A second pass gate transistor is coupled between an output terminal of the first inverter and the second data terminal. The first and second pass gate transistors each have a gate terminal coupled to the clock input terminal. The input terminal of the first inverter is not directly connected to the output terminal of the second inverter, and the input terminal of the second inverter is not directly connected to the output terminal of the first inverter.

A common type of integrated circuit memory is a static random access memory (SRAM) device. A typical SRAM memory device has an array of memory cells, or "bit-cells". In some examples, each memory cell uses six transistors connected between an upper reference potential and a lower reference potential (typically ground) such that one of two storage nodes can be occupied by the information to be stored, with the complementary information stored at the other storage node. Each bit in the SRAM cell is stored on four of the transistors, which form two cross-coupled inverters. The other two transistors are connected to the memory cell word line to control access to the memory cell during read and write operations by selectively connecting the cell to its bit lines. In a read operation, for example, the memory cell bit lines are precharged to a predefined threshold voltage. When the word line is enabled, a sense amplifier connected to the bit lines senses and outputs stored information. Input/output circuitry connected to the bit lines, such as a latch, are often used when processing memory cell data. Such circuitry is often located in periphery areas that are outside of, and peripheral to, the area of the array of memory cells.

TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.


A mop holding device featuring a base, the front wall has a top edge and a top portion, the top portion is angled such that the top edge extends outwardly; a mop opening for receiving a pole portion of the mop disposed in the front wall; and a support bar in the inner cavity of the base for helping to support a head of the mop. A curved inner wall with a vertex is disposed in the inner cavity below the support bar, a hole is disposed in the vertex to allow passage of water out of the base. Optionally a backsplash is attached on the base, wherein a replaceable deodorizer component may be disposed on an inner surface of the backsplash. A mop holder component and/or hooks may be disposed on the base. The device may be mounted atop a stand or an expandable stand.

Storing wet or damp mops in a closet can often lead to odors as well as the spreading of germs. The present invention features a mop holding device for storing mops in a clean and sanitary way. Excess water from the mop can be quickly and easily drained from the holding device. The mop holding device of the present invention may help to avoid the accumulation of odors and/or germs. The mop holding device of the present invention may help to prevent stains and/or water damage from a wet mop on a floor or against a wall.
Any feature or combination of features described herein are included within the scope of the present invention provided that the features included in any such combination are not mutually inconsistent as will be apparent from the context, this specification, and the knowledge of one of ordinary skill in the art. Additional advantages and aspects of the present invention are apparent in the following detailed description and claims.


Load latency speculation in an out-of-order computer processor, including: issuing a load instruction for execution, wherein the load instruction has a predetermined expected execution latency; issuing a dependent instruction wakeup signal on an instruction wakeup bus, wherein the dependent instruction wakeup signal indicates that the load instruction will be completed upon the expiration of the expected execution latency; determining, upon the expiration of the expected execution latency, whether the load instruction has completed; and responsive to determining that the load instruction has not completed upon the expiration of the expected execution latency, issuing a negative dependent instruction wakeup signal on the instruction wakeup bus, wherein the negative dependent instruction wakeup signal indicates that the load instruction has not completed upon the expiration of the expected execution latency.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of the invention is data processing, or, more specifically, methods, apparatus, and products for load latency speculation in an out-of-order computer processor.
2. Description of Related Art
The development of the EDVAC computer system of 1948 is often cited as the beginning of the computer era. Since that time, computer systems have evolved into extremely complicated devices. Today's computers are much more sophisticated than early systems such as the EDVAC. Computer systems typically include a combination of hardware and software components, application programs, operating systems, processors, buses, memory, input/output devices, and so on. As advances in semiconductor processing and computer architecture push the performance of the computer higher and higher, more sophisticated computer software has evolved to take advantage of the higher performance of the hardware, resulting in computer systems today that are much more powerful than just a few years ago.
Modern computing systems can execute load instructions in which the content of memory is read into a processor register. Load instructions may experience a variety of problems which cause the instruction to require a longer execution latency period than the best case. Such problems can include missing the data cache, missing in the address translation mechanism, and so on. This variable latency complicates scheduling of dependent operations, as the dependent operations must issue before the load's latency is known to take advantage of the best case latency.


A cooking smoke shielding and guiding apparatus comprises: a housing including an outer casing, a storing chamber defined in the outer casing and having a slot formed in an end portion of the outer casing, and a plurality of fixing elements formed on said outer casing adapted for fixing the outer casing on a kitchen object by the fixing elements; a shielding plate slidably retractably stored in the storing chamber of the housing or slidably extended outwardly through the slot of the outer casing for shielding and guiding cooking smoke; and a driving mechanism mounted in the storing chamber and operatively extending the shielding plate outwardly from the storing chamber, or operatively retracting the shielding plate inwardly into the storing chamber.

In order to draft the smokes, fumes, odors or waste gas outwardly from a kitchen, an exhaust system may be installed in the kitchen for exhausting the smokes or waste gas (such as from a gas stove or range) outwardly for keeping a clean air in the kitchen or room.
However, a conventional kitchen exhaust system including exhaust hood and fan is separately installed above the stove or oven. During cooking in the kitchen, the smokes or waste gas (when a gas stove is used) may be spread sidewardly to cause pollution in the kitchen or room because there is a distance between the stove and the exhaust hood of the exhaust system. Before being sucked and exhausted by the exhaust system, the smokes or waste gas will be spread from the stove into the surroundings to cause pollution because there is no shield or baffle provided around the stove for shielding the smokes or waste gas.
The present inventor has found the drawbacks of a conventional kitchen exhaust system, and invented the present extendible and retractable cooking smoke shielding and guiding apparatus, in order to efficiently shield, guide, and draft the kitchen smokes and waste gas outwardly for keeping a non-polluted environment in a kitchen or home.

Extendible and retractable cooking smoke shielding and guiding apparatus