An approach for management of boot time of a virtual machine is provided. In one aspect, a system boot time application identifies assigned resources of a virtual I/O server (VIOS) of a computing system. In addition, the system boot time application allocates additional resources from client logical partitions (LPARs) of the computing system to the assigned resources of VIOS during boot time of VIOS. The system boot time application further identifies cores of the computing system during the boot time of VIOS. The system boot time application also sets the cores in turbo core mode until boot time of VIOS is completed. In one aspect, the system boot time application reallocates the allocated additional resources from VIOS to the client LPARs once boot time of VIOS is completed.

In system virtualization, multiple virtual computing systems are created within a single physical computing system. The physical system can be a stand-alone computer, or alternatively, a computing system utilizing clustered computers and components. Virtual systems are independent operating environments that use virtual resources made up of logical divisions of physical resources such as processors, memory, and input/output (I/O) adapters. System virtualization is implemented through some managing functionality, typically hypervisor technology. Hypervisors, also called virtual machine managers (VMMs), use a thin layer of code in software or firmware to achieve fine-grained, dynamic resource sharing. Hypervisors are the primary technology for system virtualization because they provide the greatest level of flexibility in how virtual resources are defined and managed.
Hypervisors also provide the ability to divide physical computing system resources into isolated logical partitions. Each logical partition operates like an independent computing system running its own operating system (e.g., a virtual system). Operating systems running in a virtualized environment are often referred to as "guest machines." Exemplary operating systems include AIX®, IBM® i, Linux®, and the virtual I/O server (VIOS). Hypervisors can allocate dedicated processors, I/O adapters, and memory to each logical partition and can also allocate shared processors to each logical partition. Unbeknownst to the logical partitions, the hypervisor creates a shared processor pool from which the hypervisor allocates virtual processors to the logical partitions as needed. In other words, the hypervisor creates virtual processors from physical processors so that logical partitions can share the physical processors while running independent operating environments. The hypervisor can also dynamically allocate and de-allocate dedicated or shared resources (such as processors, I/O, and memory) across logical partitions while the partitions are actively in use. This is known as dynamic logical partitioning or dynamic LPAR and allows the hypervisor to dynamically redefine all available system resources to reach optimum capacity for each partition.
In addition to creating and managing the logical partitions, the hypervisor manages communication between the logical partitions via a virtual switch. To facilitate communication, each logical partition may have a virtual adapter for communication between the logical partitions, via the virtual switch. The type of the virtual adapter depends on the operating system used by the logical partition. Examples of virtual adapters include virtual Ethernet adapters, virtual Fibre Channel adapters, virtual Small Computer Serial Interface (SCSI) adapters, and virtual serial adapters. Virtual adapters are often implemented through a VIOS partition which manages the physical I/O adapters (SCSI disks, Fibre Channel disks, Ethernet, or CD/DVD optical devices). The other logical partitions may be considered "clients" or virtual I/O clients (VIOCs) to the VIOS. The VIOS can provide virtualized network resources to the other logical partitions via a Shared Ethernet adapter (SEA). The SEA bridges a physical Ethernet adapter with the respective virtual adapters and may apportion network bandwidth.
Furthermore, virtualized computing systems having VIOS and client LPARs can be required to allow the VIOS to boot completely before the computing system can boot other clients, including for example, LPAR clients. This is because VIOS provides storage and networking capability or services to clients of the computing system, and thus the computing system depends on a complete system boot of VIOS in order to operate. The requirement for VIOS to boot first, forces other clients of the computing system to operate in busy mode or state until system boot of VIOS is complete. In particular, the boot wait time of VIOS is significant when considering the large amount of I/O resources that are allocated by VIOS, since boot time includes initialization of all hardware resources or devices that wait for health check, device drivers to be loaded, waiting for input/output ("I/O") ports etc. This problem is particularly important in a MAX LPAR client environment in which processor and memory allocation to VIOS partition is minimized in order to maximize the number of LPAR client in the computer system. For example, A Max LPAR client system having 0.1 processor and 1 GB of memory, typically takes about 10-15 minutes for VIOS to boot completely before one can start booting the client LPAR client. Furthermore, since the LPAR client operates critical applications, the longer the wait time or downtime, the higher the loss of productivity of the computing system. Therefore, there exists a need to minimize the boot time of computing systems.

System and method for expediting virtual I/O server (VIOS) boot time in a virtual computing environment

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


A counter that can include a plurality of count stages is disclosed. Each count stage includes a ferroelectric capacitor characterized by first and second polarization states, a variable impedance element, reset and count ports and a detector. The variable impedance element has an impedance between first and second switch terminals that is determined by a signal on a control terminal, the ferroelectric capacitor being connected between the control terminal and the first switch terminal. A reset signal coupled to the control terminal causes the ferroelectric capacitor to be polarized in the first polarization state. The count port is configured to receive pulses to be counted, the count port being connected to the first switch terminal by a conductive load. The detector generates a count complete signal if a potential on the first terminal exceeds a threshold value while the count port is receiving one of the pulses.

There are a number of applications in which events need to be counted in an environment in which the counter is not connected to any power source during the time the events to be counted are being generated. In this environment, the only power is that provided by the signal that is presented by the event itself. In general, this signal is insufficient to power a conventional circuit and maintain the count during the periods in which no signal is connected to the counter.
In one exemplary application, a sensor attached to a door generates a small electrical pulse each time the door is operated. A piezoelectric signal generator uses the mechanical energy associated with opening the door to generate an electrical pulse. The designer wishes to count the number of pulses generated over time. During the time in which the counts are accumulating, no electrical power is available to the counter. After some time, the counter can be powered in a separate circuit and the stored count readout. However, the counter must retain the count during the times that no power is available and perform the counting operation using only the power provided by the sensor.

Non-volatile counter utilizing a ferroelectric capacitor


An exemplary burner arrangement and method for operating a burner arrangement are disclosed. During operation of the burner arrangement a hot combustion gas, including combustion air, flows essentially parallel to a burner wall through a mixing chamber, which is delimited by the burner wall, to a combustion chamber. In the mixing chamber the hot combustion gas is mixed with an injected fuel, where cooling air from the outside of the burner wall flows through effusion holes in the burner wall into an interior of the mixing chamber. The cooling air, on the outside of the burner wall, is deflected in a directed manner in its flow direction by means of deflection elements which are in a distributed arrangement.

Gas turbines with sequential combustion have been known in the prior art, in which the combustion gases from a first combustor, after performing work in a first turbine, are fed to a second combustor, where, with the aid of the combustion air which is contained in the combustion gases, a second combustion takes place, and the reheated gases are fed to a second turbine.
For this second combustion, SEV burners such as those described for example in "Field experience with the sequential combustion system of the GT24/GT26 gas turbine family", ABB Review 5, 1998, p. 12-20, or in EP 2 169 314 A2 can be used.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an SEV burner, in accordance with the prior art. As shown in FIG. 1, the SEV burner 10 includes a mixing chamber 12 which extends in a flow direction (see the long arrows). Connected upstream to the mixing chamber 12 is an inlet 11, through which combustion gases 18 from the first combustor (not shown) can enter the mixing chamber 12 after expansion in the first turbine (not shown). Connected downstream to the mixing chamber 12 is a combustion chamber 13 in which a burner flame, with a corresponding flame boundary 17, is formed during operation. The mixing chamber 12 is outwardly delimited by means of a burner wall 15 which has a multiplicity of effusion holes 16. An angled fuel lance 14 projects into the mixing chamber 12, from which a fuel 19 is injected into said mixing chamber 12.
FIG. 2 shows a section view through the burner wall of an SEV burner with effusion cooling in accordance with the prior art. Cooling air 20 is fed on the outside opposite to the flow direction of the combustion gases 18 in the mixing chamber 12 and enters the mixing chamber 12 through the effusion holes 16 in the burner wall 15 and brings about effusion cooling (see FIG. 2). As a result of feeding the cooling air along the burner wall 15, this is convectively cooled. As disclosed in EP 2 169 314 A2, there is a desire in the case of such SEV burners to improve cooling and to prevent flashback so that the sequential burners can be operated at higher hot gas temperatures and with highly reactive fuels.
In the case of conventional burners of gas turbines as disclosed in, U.S. Pat. No. 7,493,767 B2; an impingement cooling of transition pieces, to vary and influence the distribution of cooling air over the impingement cooling plate using holes in the plate equipped with "flow capturing elements" or "scoops" to provide locally higher mass flows of cooling air. Since in this case, owing to the lack of effusion cooling, the cooling air does not enter the mixing chamber directly through the burner wall but is guided along the burner wall on the outside, no consideration has to be taken for the interaction of the flow in the mixing chamber with cooling air which flows in through the burner wall.
In the case of an SEV burner, however, there is a close relationship between the distribution of the inflowing diffusion cooling air and the flow conditions in the mixing chamber or in the subsequent combustion chamber.

Burner arrangement with deflection elements for deflecting cooling air flow


The tones (or densities) of individual edge pixels of vector data are determined by first dividing each edge pixel into subpixels, after which the thus-determined tones are fed to a laser printer or other output unit. Advantageously, the present invention smooths jagged edges by performing an anti-aliasing process. To achieve this smoothing of graphic data, any of a variety of filters, each having particular weights, are used for the process of dividing edge pixels into subpixels.

The present invention relates to a graphic data processing apparatus for removing the jags of edges included in vector data and, more particularly, to a graphic data processing apparatus for determining the tones (densities) of edge pixels of vector data and feeding the determined tones to a laser printer or similar output unit.
It is a common practice with computer graphics to execute antialiasing which allows an image to appear more attractive on a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube). Conventional approaches for implementing antialiasing include (1) an uniform averaging method, (2) a weighted averaging method (2) and (3) a convolutional integration method.
With the advance of so-called DTP (Desk Top Publishing) using a personal computer, systems of the type printing out vector images similar to those which are handled by the computer graphics art are extensively used today. Typical of such systems is one using Postscript of Adbi. Postscript belongs to a family of languages usually referred to as PDLs (Page Description Languages). PDL is a programming language for describing a form representative of the contents of one document including the text, graphics, and their arrangement and format. Regarding a character font, this type of system is implemented with a vector font. Hence, even when the text is changed in magnification, this system prints it out in far higher quality than a system which uses a bit map font (e.g. conventional word processor). Another advantage particular to the above-stated system is that both the character font and the graphics can be printed out in combination.
However, a laser printer applicable to such a system has a resolution which is not higher than 240 dpi to 400 dpi and, like CRT of computer graphics, suffers from alias. It is, therefore, necessary to provide even the laser printer type printing with an antialias implementation so as to produce high quality images.
When a conventional graphic data processing apparatus is implemented with antialiasing which uses N.times.N subpixel devision, it cannot achieve sufficient effects since it uses only moderate N from the standpoint of processing time and subjective evaluation of image quality. Specifically, excessively great N would increase the calculating time while excessively small N would limit the effect.
A conventional graphic data processing apparatus using the uniform averaging scheme uses only one kind of subpixel configuration such as N * M submatix in calculating the tone (luminance and density) of a pixel. This brings about a problem that, depending on the inclination of vector data, the tone produced from the actual image and the tone produced from the subpixel configuration greatly differ from each other, resulting in insufficient antialiasing.
A graphic data processing apparatus implemented by the weighted averaging scheme or the convolutional integration scheme is advantageous over the apparatus implemented by the uniform averaging scheme since it reduces the difference between the tone derived from the actual area and the tone derived from the subpixel configuration and thereby enhancing the antialiasing effect. Such an apparatus, however, consumes a substantial period of time in calculating the area ratio and, therefore, slows down the processing.
Moreover, in a graphic data processing apparatus provided with any one of the conventional antialiasing schemes, despite that a laser printer which outputs an image by electrophotographic process is substituted for CRT which plays the role of an output unit, the luminance of CRT is simply replaced with the density of the laser printer. This is undesirable since the characteristic particular to an electrophotographic process prevents the antialiasing effect from being fully exhibited.

Graphic data processing apparatus for producing a tone for an edge pixel and reducing aliasing effects


An electrical female terminal has a female terminal body that extends along a central axis and includes a terminal receptacle and a clamping member integrally connected thereto. The terminal receptacle forms a box-shaped configuration to define a generally box-shaped cavity extending through the terminal receptacle. A spring element is disposed within the box-shaped cavity and is connected adjacent a top wall and a rearward end of the terminal receptacle and projects toward a bottom wall and a forward end of the terminal receptacle. The top wall includes a cutout window that is positioned offset from the central axis. An electrical female terminal connector includes a female connector housing and the female terminal.

As commonly known in the art, to construct a female electrical connector, an electrical female terminal or a plurality of electrical female terminals (hereinafter referred to as "female terminal" or "female terminals") are inserted into a plastic female connector housing. The female terminal has a spring element to maintain proper contact, and a box protecting the spring from over-deformation. The female terminals in the connector housing are securely retained therein by a separate plastic part, commonly referred to as a TPA. In the industry, TPA means terminal position assurance. Also, a primary lock in addition to the TPA might also be used to further securely retain the female terminal or female terminals in the plastic female connector housing.
Generally, there are two different types of TPA's currently being used in the industry today. One is a front-type TPA and the other is a side-type TPA. For the front-type TPA, a lance mounted within the female connector housing in a terminal insertion direction engages a back portion of the female terminal while the front-type TPA is inserted into the female connector housing from the front of the female connector housing. In other words, the lance and the front-type TPA extend parallel to the terminal insertion direction. The lance acts as a primary lock while the front-type TPA acts as a secondary lock to prevent the lance from deflecting.
The side-type TPA is inserted into the female connector housing from a side perpendicular to the terminal insertion direction. The lance engages with the female terminal at approximately the middle of its terminal box and the side-type TPA engages the back portion of the female terminal. The lance acts as the primary lock and the side-type TPA acts as the secondary lock.
As a result of having a front-type TPA and a side-type TPA, different designs of the female terminals are required to accommodate each TPA type. Having two different TPA types and thus having two different types of female terminal increases manufacturing cost
Also, a conventional female terminal has an orientation feature to prevent the female terminal from being inserted into the female connector housing in a wrong orientation. Such orientation feature is usually a protrusion over a wall of the terminal box of the female terminal. In manufacturing, often a corner of the terminal box of the female terminal is cut off. However, when a water-proof female terminal is required, the female terminal is inserted into a rubber seal. This style of the orientation feature might concentrate a strain on the rubber seal.
It would be beneficial to provide a female terminal of a single design that can accommodate both a female connector housing employing the front-type TPA design and a female connector housing employing the side-type TPA design. Also, it would be advantageous to provide a female terminal with an orientation feature that would not concentrate a strain on a water-proofing rubber seal.

Electrical female terminal and female electrical connector


A power converting apparatus includes a power converter connected to a power line via a transformer 3, and current detectors 5A and 5B for detecting the currents of the windings of the transformer. The output signals of the current detectors 5A and 5B are mathematically processed to produce an exciting current component of a transformer 3. The exciting current component is mathematically processed to produce a flux density contained DC component. Further, the flux density contained DC component and a flux density contained DC component command value are mathematically processed to produce a voltage command correction value.

The present invention relates to an electric power converting apparatus having a power converter connected to an AC power system and loads by way of a transformer, and more particularly to a technique for preventing a DC magnetization in the transformer.
FIG. 9 schematically shows an arrangement of a conventional power converting apparatus having a power converter connected to an AC power system via a transformer. A circuit for preventing a DC magnetization in the transformer is incorporated into the power converting apparatus. The power converting apparatus is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei. 7-28534.
In FIG. 9: reference numeral 1 is an AC power system as an AC power line; 2 is a self-excited converter for generating an AC voltage in response to a gate drive signal; 3 is a transformer inserted between the AC power system 1 and the self-excited converter 2; 4 is a DC voltage source for supplying a DC voltage to the self-excited converter 2; 5A and 5B are current detectors for detecting currents flowing through the windings of the transformer 3; 6 is a subtractor for computing a difference between the currents output from the current detectors 5A and 5B; 7 is a DC component detector for detecting a DC component of an output signal of the subtractor 6; 8 is a potential transformer which measures the voltage of the AC power system 1; 9 is a voltage reference circuit for producing a set voltage of the AC power system 1; 10 is a voltage command value generating circuit for generating a voltage command value to the self-excited converter 2 in accordance with the output signals of the voltage reference circuit 9 and the potential transformer 8; 11 is an adder for adding together an output signal of the DC component detector 7 and an output signal of the voltage command value generating circuit 10; 12 is a PWM (pulse width modulation) control circuit which determines an ignition timing of a self-extinction element in the self-excited converter 2 in accordance with the output signal of the adder 11, and generates a gate pulse on the basis of the determined timing; and 13 is a gate pulse amplifying circuit which amplifies an output signal of the PWM control circuit 12 and applies a gate drive signal to the self-excited converter 2.
An operation of the conventional power converting apparatus shown in FIG. 9 will be described.
In the power converting apparatus of FIG. 9, when a DC component is contained in the voltage of the AC power system 1 or the-output voltage of the self-excited converter 2, an exciting current containing the DC component flows into the transformer 3. The DC component contained in the exciting current magnetizes the transformer 3 to saturate the iron core of the transformer 3.
Of the winding currents of the transformer 3, the current flowing through the winding connected to the AC power system 1 is called a primary winding current, and the current flowing through the winding connected to the self-excited converter 2 is called a secondary winding current. An exciting current of the transformer 3 can be obtained by computing a difference between the primary winding current of the transformer 3 detected by the current detector 5A and the secondary winding current detected by the current detector 5B by the subtractor 6. The DC component contained in the exciting current, which will magnetize the iron core of the transformer 3, is obtained from the DC component detector 7 which is for detecting a DC component of the output signal of the subtractor 6.
The DC component of the exciting current, thus detected, is applied to the adder 11. The adder adds together the DC component and a voltage command value that is generated by the voltage command value generating circuit 10 in accordance with the output signals of the potential transformer 8 and the voltage reference circuit 9, and applied to the self-excited converter 2. The resultant signal output from the adder is used as a signal representative of a voltage-command-value correction value.
The PWM control circuit 12 forms a gate pulse signal in accordance with the output signal of the adder 11, and the gate pulse amplifying circuit 13 processes the gate pulse signal from the adder to form a gate drive signal. The gate drive signal is applied to the self-excited converter 2. In response to the gate drive signal, the self-excited converter 2 switches self-extinction elements contained therein in accordance with the output voltage of the DC voltage source 4, and produces a voltage corresponding to the output signal of the adder 11.
As described above, in the prior art power converting apparatus shown in and described referring to FIG. 9, the self-excited converter 2 produces a voltage corresponding to the output signal of the adder 11. Therefore, when a DC component is contained in the voltage of the AC power system 1 or the output voltage of the self-excited converter 2, the power converting apparatus operates in the following manner. That is, a DC component contained in the exciting current of the transformer 3 is detected, and applied to the adder 11. The self-excited converter 2 produces a voltage, which cancels the DC component contained in the voltage of the AC power system 1 or the output voltage of the self-excited converter 2, whereby to eliminate the DC magnetization of the transformer 3.
The prior art power converting apparatus constructed as mentioned above detects an exciting current of the transformer 3, and causes the self-excited converter 2 to produce a voltage corresponding to the detected exciting current. Therefore, a DC component contained in the detected exciting current of the transformer 3 is proportional to an output signal of the self-excited converter 2 which is representative of a voltage-command-value correction value for suppressing the DC magnetization.
A nonlinear correlation is generally present between an exciting current of the transformer 3 and a flux density of the iron core of the transformer 3, as shown in FIG. 10. A linear relation, expressed by a first order integration as given by an equation (1), is present between a voltage applied to the transformer 3 and a flux density of the iron core of the transformer 3. Therefore, a voltage to be output by the self-excited converter 2 when it receives the DC component of the detected exciting current must correspond to the exciting current/flux density relationship shown in FIG. 10. ##EQU1##
The conventional power converting apparatus does not include means for compensating for the nonlinear relationship between the exciting current and the magnetic flux of the transformer 3. Therefore, it is impossible to coincide the voltage of the self-excited converter 2 with the voltage necessary for suppressing the DC magnetization over the entire range of the flux density. Particularly in a flux density region where the DC magnetization in the transformer is large and at a point near to its saturation point, the difference between those voltages is great. Under this condition, it is difficult to sufficiently suppress the DC magnetization in the transformer.
The publication referred to above describes one of the solutions to the above problem. In the solution, a magnetic flux of the iron core of the transformer is directly detected by use of a Hall element. To this end, it is necessary to specially design and manufacture a transformer with the Hall element incorporated thereinto. To incorporate the Hall element into the transformer already assembled into the apparatus, it is necessary to alter the transformer. Sometimes, it is impossible to practically incorporate the Hall element into the transformer. If possible, its incorporation needs high cost and much time. As the size of the transformer becomes large, it is more difficult to incorporate the Hall element into the apparatus.

DC magnetization suppression in power converter transformers


An apparatus for processing an audio signal is provided. The apparatus has a signal processor and a configurator. The configurator is adapted to configure the signal processor based on configuration information such that a configurable upsampling factor is equal to a first upsampling value when a first ratio of the second configurable number of samples to a first configurable number of samples has a first ratio value. Moreover, the configurator is adapted to configure the signal processor such that the configurable upsampling factor is equal to a different second upsampling value, when a different second ratio of the second configurable number of samples to the first configurable number of samples has a different second ratio value. The first or the second ratio value is not an integer value.

The present invention relates to audio processing and, in particular to an apparatus and method for processing an audio signal and for providing a higher temporal granularity for a Combined Unified Speech and Audio Codec (USAC).
USAC, as other audio codecs, exhibits a fixed frame size (USAC: 2048 samples/frame). Although there is the possibility to switch to a limited set of shorter transform sizes within one frame, the frame size still limits the temporal resolution of the complete system. To increase the temporal granularity of the complete system, for traditional audio codecs the sampling rate is increased, leader to a shorter duration of one frame in time (e.g. milliseconds). However, this is not easily possible for the USAC codec:
The USAC codec comprises a combination of tools from traditional general audio codecs, such as AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) transform coder, SBR (Spectral Band Replication) and MPEG Surround (MPEG=Moving Picture Experts Group), plus tools from traditional speech coders, such as ACELP (ACELP=Algebraic Code Excited Linear Prediction). Both, ACELP and transform coder, run usually at the same time within the same environment (i.e. frame size, sampling rate), and can be easily switched: usually, for clean speech signals, the ACELP tool is used, and for music, mixed signals the transform coder is used.
The ACELP tool is at the same time limited to work only at comparably low sampling rates. For 24 kbit/s, a sampling rate of only 17075 Hz is used. For higher sampling rates, the ACELP tool starts to drop significantly in performance. The transform coder as well as SBR and MPEG Surround however would benefit from a much higher sampling rate, for example 22050 Hz for the transform coder and 44100 Hz for SBR and MPEG Surround. So far, however, the ACELP tool limited the sampling rate of the complete system, leading to a suboptimal system in particular for music signals.

Apparatus and method for processing an audio signal and for providing a higher temporal granularity for a combined unified speech and audio codec (USAC)

Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.


An SCR device having a first P type region disposed in a semiconductor body and electrically connected to anode terminal of the device. At least one N type region is also disposed in the body adjacent the first P type region so as to form a PN junction having a width Wn near a surface of the semiconductor body. A further P type region is also disposed in the body to form a further PN junction with the N type region, with the junction having a width Wp near the body surface, with Wp being at least 1.5 times width Wn. A further N type region is provided which is electrically connected to a cathode terminal of the device and forming a third PN junction with the further N type region.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to apparatus for protecting circuits from Electro Static Discharge (ESD) and, in particular, a snapback circuit capable of being triggered at low voltages.
2. Description of Related Art
An integrated circuit may be subjected to an ESD event that can damage or destroy circuitry of the integrated circuit. Various types of ESD clamps have been devised which are typically connected in parallel to the circuitry to be protected and operate to shunt current around the circuitry to be protected during an ESD event. In order to provide effective protection while not interfering with the normal operation of the integrated circuit, the design of the ESD clamp must, among other things, take into account the breakdown voltage of the circuit to be protected and the normal operating voltage of the circuit. Normal operating voltages should not be sufficient to trigger the ESD clamp. Further, after the occurrence of an ESD event, the protection circuit should disengage, that is, unlatch, once normal operating voltages return. Recent developments in the design of integrated circuits, including reduced power supply voltages, increased operating frequencies, smaller device geometries and smaller breakdown voltages have made the design of effective ESD clamp and other protection circuits more difficult.
FIG. 1 shows a curve 10 that represents the voltage-current (V-I) characteristics of a typical ESD clamp circuit, sometimes referred to as a snapback clamp. Curves 12 and 14 which represent the characteristics of two typical devices to be protected. The primary objective of the ESD clamp circuit is to rapidly respond to an ESD event by shunting the large current (typically a few amperes) away from the circuit to be protected so that any voltages generated in the circuit to be protected are sufficiently small to avoid damage or destruction of the circuit. Further, the ESD clamp circuit must not be triggered during normal operation and should unclamp at the end of the event so that normal operation can resume, as previously noted.
Referring to FIG. 1, an ESD event will cause the voltage across the clamp circuit and protected circuit to rapidly increase. The ESD event will produce a current having a magnitude of IESD, which, as previously noted can be as large as a few amperes. As the voltage across the clamp and the circuit increases, the claim will start to turn on significantly, that is trigger, at point 10A of curve 10. The typical clamp will then enter a negative resistance area of operation and will continue conducting an increasing current until the voltage across the clamp has been reduced to a holding voltage indicated by point 10B. The clamp current will ideally continue to increase until the current reaches the maximum current IESD at point 10C. If the maximum IESD current is too large for the clamp, the clamp will eventually reach a breakdown voltage at point 10D, with any additional current causing the clamp to be damaged or destroyed.
Assuming that the circuit to be protected represented by curve 12 is subjected to the same ESD event, without the presence of the clamp circuit, the circuit to be protected would begin conducting current as indicated by point 12A of the curve. The circuit would continue to conduct current until it suffered a voltage break down at point 12B, with the increasing ESD current causing the circuit to be destroyed. However, assuming that the ESD clamp is in place, the clamp will be triggered at a voltage at point 10A that is lower than the voltage at point 12A of the circuit to be protected. Thus, the ESD clamp will prevent the circuit to be protected from being exposed to a voltage sufficiently high to cause the circuit to break down and will cause all of the ESD current to be bypassed through the clamp.
The alternative circuit to be protected, having I-V characteristics represented by curve 14, will start to breakdown at point 14A. Since the voltage at point 14A is lower than the trigger voltage of the ESD clamp at point 10A, the clamp will not turn on during the event. As a result, the clamp will not be capable of protecting the circuit from the ESD event.
Although there are a wide variety of circuits that can be used as ESD clamps, silicon controlled rectifiers (SCR) are frequently used for this application. FIGS. 2A and 2B depict one conventional implementation of an SCR type clamp circuit commonly used in ESD application. The FIG. 2A, 2B structure is sometimes called a low voltage triggered silicon controlled rectifier (LVTSCR). The exemplary LVTSCR is formed in a P type substrate 18. An N well 20 is formed in the substrate 18, with an N+ region 22 forming a contact to the N well. A P+ region 24 also formed in the N well 20, is separated from the N+ region by a shallow trench isolation (sti) region 26A. An N+ extension 20A is formed near one end of the N well 20 and is separated from P+ region 24 by a further shallow trench isolation region 26B. Respective N+ and P+ regions 22 and 24 are electrically interconnected by a metal track 28, with this connection forming the anode terminal of the LTVSCR. As can best be seen in FIG. 2B, metal track 28 is electrically connected to N+ region 22 and P+ region 24 by way of a plurality of respective contact openings 22A and 24A formed in the oxide layer (not designated) disposed over those regions.
A further N+ region 30 is formed in the P substrate 18 and spaced apart from the extension 20A so as to form a channel region 18A intermediate the N+ regions 30 and 20A. A polysilicon gate 32 is disposed over the channel region 18A and separated from the channel regions by a thin gate oxide (not designated). A P+ region 34 is formed in the P substrate 18 and separated from region 30 by a shallow trench isolation region 26C, with P+ region 34 forming a contact with the P substrate 18. P+ region 34 and N+ region 30 are connected together by a metal track 36 which forms the cathode of the LVTSCR 16. Again as can best be seen in FIG. 2B, metal track 36 is electrically connected to N+ region 30 and P+ region 34 by way of a plurality of respective contact openings 30A and 34A formed in the oxide layer (not designated) disposed over those regions.
LVTSCR 16, as is the case for all SCR type structures, can be viewed as a PNP transistor combined with an NPN transistor, with the base of the PNP transistor and the collector of the PNP transistor being common and the collector of the PNP and the base of the NPN being common. P+ region 24, N well 20 and P substrate 18 form the respective emitter, base and collector regions of the PNP device. The N well region 20 further defines a resistor having one terminal which is part of the base on the PNP and a second terminal which is connected to the emitter by way of N+ region 22 and metal track 28. The NPN device includes the N+ region 30, the P substrate 18 and the N well 20 which form the emitter, base and collector of the device. A resistor is formed in the P substrate 18 having one terminal that is part of the NPN base region and a second terminal connected to the emitter by way of P+ region 34 and metal track 36.
In operation, at the beginning of and ESD event, when the voltage is low, the PN junction between N well 20 and the P substrate 18 is slightly reversed biased. This reversed biased PN junction forms the common base-collector junction of the NPN and PNP devices. As the voltage increases, the leakage current increases when the PN junction begins avalanching. The junction voltage at which avalanching occurs is reduced by the highly doped N+ region 20A. The leakage current flow through the N well 20 resistor disposed between the base and emitter of the PNP thereby tending to turn on the PNP device. The current is enhanced by the nMOS transistor formed by drain region 20A, sometimes referred to as a floating drain, and source region 30. This nMOS transistor, which is effectively connected in parallel with the NPN transistor, will produce an added current though the N well resistor 20 thereby adding to the current that turns on the PNP transistor. The LVTSCR turn on voltage or trigger voltage is represented by point 10A of FIG. 1.
Eventually, the increase in current in the PNP and NPN transistors will increase the current gain of the two devices so that each device will cause the other device to turn on. This regenerative SCR action will continue thereby reducing the voltage across the LVTSCR until the voltage drops to a holding voltage represented by point 10B of FIG. 1. As additional ESD current is conducted, the voltage across the LVTSCR will increase until the total IESD current is shunted through the device, as shown by point 10C of FIG. 1. Ideally, the device has sufficient current conduction capability so that the voltage never reaches the thermal breakdown voltage represented by point 10D.
The threshold voltage of the LVTSCR can be adjusted by various means, including controlling the gate-source voltage of the nMOS transistor. Gate 32 could by grounded thereby producing a relatively high threshold voltage. A resistive divider can also be used to bias the gate voltage. Further, an RC network can be used, with a capacitor of suitable size connected between the gate 32 and anode 28 and a resistor of suitable size being connected between the gate 32 and the cathode 36.
Although prior art ESD protection circuits, such as the LVTSCR 16 of FIGS. 2A and 2B provide adequate circuit protection in many applications, the required capabilities of such circuits have increase greatly with recent developments in newer integrated circuit designs.

Snapback clamp having low triggering voltage for ESD protection


A cPCI server system includes a plurality of printed circuit assemblies, including at least one host processor card. A server management card is coupled to the plurality of printed circuit assemblies for monitoring and managing operation of the server system. The server management card receives and stores status information from the plurality of printed circuit assemblies. The server management card includes a plurality of interfaces for configuring the server management card and accessing the stored status information from the server management card.

Console communications are used in server systems to send and receive status, control and configuration information. Console communications are typically transmitted and received via a single LAN interface (i.e., a LAN that combines console and payload communications), or via a cable to an RS-232 port on a server.
When there is no console LAN, each server typically includes an RS-232 port for console communications. If a large number of servers are to be controlled, then a complex, hard-to-manage wiring bundle to each individual server's RS-232 port must be implemented. Using an RS-232 port for console communications is sufficient for a standalone server, but when the server is integrated with many others in a common chassis, a separate cable for each server is difficult to maintain and configure. If any consolidation is to be done, it is typically implemented by a separate device outside of the chassis. Consequently, most customers route all of the cables a short distance to a special switch, such as those made by Raritan and Lantronics. Though this simplifies the cable bundle by giving a single port of access to the congregation of servers, it adds cost to the system in terms of money and space.
If a single LAN interface is used, there is a security hole in that LAN console control information commingles with payload information on a single customer payload LAN. This commingling of signals on a single LAN allows for unauthorized snooping, and the potential for unauthorized communications to the console devices. For a single LAN interface, a security driven software layer can used (at additional cost), but there is a possibility that the security layer could be cracked.
It would be desirable for a server system to provide a single management card for console communications with multiple modules within the server system, rather than using a separate I/O connector for each module. It would also be desirable for the management card to provide a variety of interfaces that can be active at the same time, so that users can work remotely as well as locally at the server system, which would simplify procedures used by field support engineers.

Server system with multiple management user interfaces

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, LP.


An image pickup apparatus includes a shake detecting unit configured to detect a shake of the image pickup apparatus; a first and a second optical correcting unit configured to move in a direction different from an optical axis so as to correct optically an image shake; a first position detecting unit configured to detect a position of the first optical correcting unit and output a first position detection signal; a second position detecting unit configured to detect a position of the second optical correcting unit and output a second position detection signal; and a controlling unit configured to control the first optical correcting unit and the second optical correcting unit. A range for detecting a position of the first position detecting unit is different from that of the second position detecting unit.

Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an image pickup apparatus and a control method therefor.
Description of the Related Art
A shake (image shake) of an object image can be caused by the shaking of a user's hand which holds a camera main body (causing a hand shaking) when capturing an image by an image pickup apparatus such as a digital camera. There has been proposed an image pickup apparatus comprising an image shake correcting unit for correcting the image shake.
Optical image shake correction processing and electronic image shake correction processing have been used as conventional correction processing by the image shake correcting unit. The optical image shake correction processing detects vibration applied to a camera main body with an angular velocity sensor or the like. An image shake correcting lens provided in an imaging optical system is moved depending on the result of the detection. Thereby, the image focused in a light-receiving plane of an imaging element is moved to correct the image shake by altering the direction of an optical axis in the imaging optical system. Also, the electronic image shake correction processing is processing for artificially correcting the image shake by performing an image processing on a captured image.
The performance of the image shake correction according to the conventional image shake correcting unit is likely to affect some difference, for example, the difference depending on a photographing conditions, characteristics of a photographer's hand shaking, or the like. The difference depending on the characteristics of the photographer's hand shaking may be a difference of frequency band due to the specific photographer's large hand shaking. Also, the difference depending on the photographing conditions is considered to be conditions, for example, when photographing while riding and when photographing while walking or the like. Such conditions, a shake amount capable of correcting the image shake by an image shake correcting unit is required to be larger because an image shake amount is large. However, the size of the image shake correcting unit may be increased to increase the image shake correction amount.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2009-258389 discloses an image shake correcting device comprising a first movable barrel for holding a first correction member and a second movable barrel for holding a second correction member, and a fixing member between the first movable barrel and the second movable barrel.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2009-258389 discloses an image shake correcting device for driving the first correction member and the second correction member inversely to obtain a large correction angle with few drive stroke. However, the performance of the image shake correction is reduced depending on the differences between the characteristics of the photographer's hand shaking, the photographing conditions or the like when the correction angle is only expanded, such as the image shake correcting device.

Image pickup apparatus and control method


The shape-dictating surfaces of the pattern are constituted by a thin self-supporting shell (4 & 5) of photocured polymer. The shell is produced by a laser controlled by a computer with reference to a design drawing. The inside of the shell is packed full of low melting-point modeling compound. The areas (6 & 7) of the pattern that do not dictate shape are demarcated by the low melting-point modeling compound.

The invention concerns a lost modeling-compound casting pattern made of a low melting-point modeling compound for precision metal casting as well as a method of preparing the pattern.
Lost modeling-compound casting patterns are used for casting when the casts are complex and extreme precision is necessary. The pattern is made of a low melting-point modeling compound like wax, tin, bismuth, antimony. The patterns are cast and, once hardened, are packed in a box with sand or with a ceramic material and binder to produce a mold. The compound is melted out of the mold, leaving a cavity (Dubbel, Taschenbuch fur den Maschinenbau, 14th ed., Springer, 1981, 946-49).
A simple method of preparing such a pattern without tools is stereolithography (U.S. Pat. No. 4,575,330), which depends on a laser controlled by a computer from a drawing (CAD). The laser's ultraviolet light is focused on a liquid monomer in a tub with a perforated plate that moves up and down. The light cures the monomer by polymerizing it into a solid that can no longer be liquified. The computer-controlled laser exploits the reaction to construct the shape represented in the drawing layer by layer on the perforated plate, which is slightly immersed in the tub of liquid. High-precision patterns can be prepared in this way. The method does have a drawback, however, in that a non-hollow pattern takes a long time to prepare because the length of the process depends on how much material is being cured. Furthermore, the photocuring polymer expands considerably before melting when the pattern is melted out of the mold. This process can burst the mold.

Lost modeling-compound casting pattern and method of preparing it


The invention relates to a source guide apparatus for guiding and locating a radiation source in a human body, wherein a catheter is provided in a body and connected to the apparatus, and wherein the proximal end is kept in a predetermined position with respect to the body. According to the invention, a treatment window is set, which is situated within the body, within which the source can be kept in respective positions, wherein the treatment window has a fixed window width and a reference position situated at a predetermined distance with respect to the proximal end of the catheter. The source guide apparatus guides the source through the catheter to a predetermined position in the body, measured relative to the treatment window.

Such source guide systems, also called remote afterloader systems, are used with brachytherapy treatments. With such treatments, a patient is internally irradiated by means of inserted radiation sources, for the treatment of tumors. For this, one or more catheters are provided in the tissue. For this, many designs are possible, while, in addition, the position of the catheters may vary from patient to patient and the shape of the area to be irradiated may vary.
For obtaining an optimal radiation dose, various source positioning systems are used in determining the dwell positions of the source within these catheters. The length of the inserted catheter is then typically a fixed length so that always a part of the catheter needs to project outside the patient. The irradiation then takes place from the distal part of the catheter. This often has to do with the source guide system. These source guide systems often take the source out to a fixed length and then withdraw the source to the predetermined dwell positions. Other designs operate reversely; they take the source to a first position in the catheters and then step forwards to the indicated positions. The source positions and the actual position in mm need to be calculated each time. In addition, these systems typically have a maximum number of dwell positions for the source. The result of this is that, with larger irradiation areas, a plurality of these limited dwell positions results in larger step positions of for instance about 2.5 mm or about 5 mm or about 10 mm.
In order to determine these positions, often, per catheter, marker wires are provided in the catheters. On these marker wires, at every cm, markers are clamped on the wires which are then made visible by means of X-rays. Then, often a very large number of marker points arise on the X-rays which complicate determining positions and can easily be confused.
This results in a very complicated and laborious process where measuring errors regularly occur which can result in incorrect irradiations. Further, one or more catheters project far outside the patient, which can bend between irradiations or can result in movement restrictions for the patient.

Isodose Control Intellectual Property B.V.


The present invention relates a fiber optic transducer (FOT) and methods for measuring the pressure and temperature of a flowing fluid using such FOT, wherein such FOT contains a fiber optic having fiber Bragg gratings. The fiber Bragg gratings are measured during a flowing fluid to determine the difference in the change in wavelength exhibited by a reflected optical signal from the gratings.

Fluid flow measurement has been noted as being important in our lives. The flow meters in use today are, generally, manually read or electrical meters. The prior art has disclosed the use of optical fiber in measuring flow, but generally, as in the earlier used meters, measurement is of one type: velocity or pressure measurement. No current device or invention has focused on the measurement of temperature and pressure simultaneously through the use of one flow measuring device.
It is an object of the present system to provide devices and methods for the simultaneous measurement of pressure and temperature of a fluid, thus improving upon the prior art.

Fiber optic transducer for simultaneous pressure and temperature measurement in fluid flow


A cane has a tip at its bottom end, which tip is in the shape of a hemispherical shell. The cane is for the use of a visually handicapped person. When slid along the ground as the person walks, it provides auditory and kinesthetic clues about the environment and any impediments in the path of the user, yet cannot get caught, stuck or hung up on any obstacles.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to canes for the use of the visually impaired, and specifically as an addition to the traditional cane used by this population to permit greater awareness of obstacles and impediments in the path of the user.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A blind or visually handicapped person uses a cane for the purpose of sensing that an obstacle, danger, or other form of hinderance is imminent.
Heretofore, users tapped and swung the cane from side to side in an arc in front of the user. The tapping occurs at the extreme left and the extreme right sides of the arc, the width of the swing determined by the width of the user's body. If the arc is sufficiently wide, then the cane will encounter an obstacle prior to its being hit by the person's body, thus allowing the person to stop or otherwise deal with the encounter.
The tapping at each end of the arc is to inform the traveler of the kind of terrain being traversed and to find any depressions or rises in the surface, such as holes or pits or steps that could cause the person to fall. The cane has to be tapped and then immediately raised above the surface being walked upon, lest the cane get caught, stuck or hung up on an obstacle. Thus, the user makes a quick tap at the end of each arc and the arc is made high enough to bring the cane above the surface or walking media until it comes down on the other side where it is likewise tapped again and then returned to the opposite side. This procedure is repeated until the person stops walking. Objects not falling within the tapping range of the cane are not detected. E.g., puddles, holes in the ground, and objects directly in the path of the user, which are large enough to trip over, but not large enough to be detected by the cane in its arc will not be detected. In the tap and swing technique, the cane is travelling through the air in its arc from side to side most of the time. This means that the terrain itself is not continuously sampled. Since the cane tip remains above the surface, the flow of information is not constant or immediately discernable with every change in terrain.
Prior canes used tips of various forms including wheels and rollers to improve their usefulness. None of the devices are well adapted for use on a variety of surfaces, from city pavements, to grassy areas, to uneven surfaces. These tips could still be caught in cracks in pavement, or in other obstacles they might encounter as they are swung from side to side.
The wheel or roller are meant to be used with constant contact with the surface being walked upon, and hence does not allow the user to have awareness laterally before him or her during walking, since the device is merely pushed forward. They are easily hung up and are suddenly stopped by cracks in the surface or larger holes as well as by vegetation on or to the sides of the walkway. "Wheel" canes must have a fairly smooth and continuous surface. Gravel, earth, sand, brick, cobblestones, etc., are not conducive to the use of a wheel or roller.
The invention provides an improved cane for use by the visually handicapped, and more specifically provides a cane whose tip shape allows the user to have it in continuous contact with the ground as it is moved from side to side. The invention provides a cane whose tip allows the user to avoid entanglement with objects or crevices in the path, which allows the visually impaired to walk in any terrain, to receive kinesthetic clues through the vibration of the cane as it traverses the terrain, to receive auditory clues as sound is reflected from its surface and to receive sufficient indication of impending change, e.g., puddles, construction barriers, curbs, etc. Acoustically the reverberations of the tip assist the user in detecting objects much in advance of physically contacting them.
Users of traditional canes can quickly learn to use this modified technique.
It is an additional object of the invention to provide a cane which produces a sound as it moves along the ground, thereby to serve as notice to other pedestrians that someone is approaching.
The vibration running through the tip of the cane into the hand of the traveler makes this cane valuable to a deaf-blind user. The constant sensation of knowing by feeling through the hand the nature of the surface gives the deaf-blind user otherwise unknown information and a greater sense of confidence.
Further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and accompanying drawings.


An endoscopic robot (1), designed for being inserted into a body cavity (C) f a patient and advanced therein in a prefixed direction (A) with a so-called inchworm-like motion, comprising a variable length segment (2) and aspiration means (12, 13) for selectively producing a pneumatic vacuum (V) between the robot (1) and the body cavity (C) at the robot ends (3, 4) sufficient to produce a substantial anchorage to the body cavity walls, thereby allowing the inchworm-like motion and avoiding, at the same time, any pushing action against the body cavity walls which causes discomfort and pain to the patient.

As is known, endoscopic technique was developed in the medical field with the aim to reduce, as far as it is possible, the necessity of conventional surgical operation in the course of diagnostic procedures, and to limit, at the same time, patient discomfort, recovery time and possible side effects.
To these purposes there are known various endoscopic instruments which are driven directly by the surgeon to advance into the body of the patient. Frequently, body cavities, which said instruments must traverse, are extremely meandering and brittle at the same time, so that from one side a high skill of the surgeon driving the instrument is required, while, from the other side endoscopic diagnostic or surgical procedures are often unfeasible due to the extreme difficulty of performing them. To obviate these inconveniences it has been suggested the use, in endoscopic procedures, of a robot having an autonomous ability to move within the body cavities of a patient and to adapt its configuration to that of the surrounding environment. All necessary surgical and/or diagnostic instruments such as micro-arms, microcameras, and laser emitters can be secured to this type of robot.
Endoscopic robots of the above specified type are known, which, once they are inserted in a body cavity of the patient, move therein with a "snake" or "tentacle" or "elephant trunk" or "inchworm" locomotion mode. These robots have a limited number of degrees of freedom, that is self-bending is allowed in more than one direction with respect to the advancing direction, optionally combined with a rotation about its own axis.
To enable the above mentioned robot to advance in a body cavity of a patient a large amount of air must be blown into the cavity to cause a sufficient widening of it to permit the passage of the robot.
The above advancement mode is painful for the patient as the inspected cavity can be subjected to unnatural expansions. Furthermore, the active means for bending the robot are usually brittle and expensive and increase the size of the robot thereby limiting the possibilities of use.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,337,732 (Grundfest et al.) discloses an endoscopic robot having a redundant number of degrees of freedom and being constituted by a series of mutually articulated rigid segments, designed for being passively bent with respect to one another as a result of the robot locomotion in the cavity. To this purpose the robot has a inchworm-like locomotion mode and anti-slippage means between robot and cavity formed, as an alternative or in combination, by inflatable balloons, blade-like members, protruding and retractable arch members.
The above mentioned anti-slippage means result in a direct interference against the walls of the cavity on which an outwardly pushing action is exerted; the interference may cause an intense pain to the patient as well as a damage to the tissues.
Furthermore the anti-slippage means do not assure a proper durable anchorage to the cavity walls, but only an increased friction due to the force exerted against the walls. For this reason the above endoscopic robot must be equipped with a plurality of anchoring means which, unavoidably, increase its length and, consequently, the discomfort of the patient.

Scuola Superiore Di Studi Universitari E Di Perfezionamento S. Anna


There is provided a recording apparatus including a first accommodating section, a transporting mechanism, a first path which includes a curved path portion, a second path which is extended linearly, a third path which includes a curved path portion, and a fourth path which is extended linearly, and a recording section. The transporting mechanism includes a guide surface extended linearly, which is configured to define the second path, and to guide one side end of the recording medium, and a pair of inclined feeding rollers which is configured to transport the recording medium with respect to the guide surface to bring the one side end of the recording medium to the guide surface. The recording section is arranged along the fourth path. The first accommodating section, the second path, and the fourth path are overlapped in a vertical direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a recording apparatus which is configured to record an image on a recording medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
There is known an image forming apparatus having a side-register mechanism (positioning mechanism) which is arranged in a horizontal path including a recording position, at an upstream side in a transporting direction, of a recording position. In such image forming apparatus, since the side-register mechanism is arranged along the horizontal path, it is possible to carry out effectively the positioning of an end portion in a width direction of a recording medium.


A frequency domain resource configuration method and apparatus, the method including obtaining, by a base station, a first frequency hopping parameter set of UE in N sub-bands, where the N sub-bands have a mapping relationship with a frequency hopping pattern that is indicated by the first frequency hopping parameter set, where the sub-band is a length of consecutive frequency domain resources in a system bandwidth, and where N≥1, and further including sending, by the base station, first configuration information to the UE, where the first configuration information includes sub-band identifiers of the N sub-bands and the first frequency hopping parameter set.

In an LTE (long term evolution) system, there are multiple defined system bandwidths, such as 1.4 MHz, 5 MHz, 10 MHz, 15 MHz, and 20 MHz. A system bandwidth may be further divided into some sub-bands. That is, a sub-band is a length of consecutive frequency domain resources (a bandwidth of the sub-band is generally less than or equal to 1.4 MHz) that is in the system bandwidth and that is less than the system bandwidth. Generally, a PRB (physical resource block) is used as a unit.
Currently, a base station generally configures one or more sub-bands for UE in a broadcasting manner, so that the UE communicates with the base station in a corresponding frequency band by using the sub-bands configured by the base station. That is, the UE may use only one or more fixed frequency bands to communicate with the base station. In this way, when the sub-bands configured by the base station for the UE have relatively poor communication performance, and the UE can use only the configured sub-bands to communicate with the base station, the UE may not normally interact with the base station in an excessively long time. This reduces quality of communication between the UE and the base station and resource utilization of each sub-band in the system bandwidth.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Frequency domain resource configuration method and apparatus


Each fin shaft of auxiliary fins passes through each of upper and lower bearing parts in a first wall part. A pair of transmission shafts provided for the upper and lower fin shafts is arranged outside of the first wall part. A cam member is rotationally arranged outside of the first wall part. A fin shaft of a main fin is rotationally supported by the first wall part. The fin shaft of the main fin has an arm and a transmission shaft. The cam member has cam holes in which the transmission shafts of the upper auxiliary fin are fitted, cam holes in which the transmission shafts of the lower auxiliary fin are fitted, and a long hole in which the transmission shaft of the fin shaft of the main fin is fitted.

This invention relates to a register for air conditioning that changes the direction of air blowing out of an air conditioner into a room with a fin.
A register for air conditioning is incorporated in an instrument panel of a vehicle. The register for air conditioning changes the direction of air blowing out of an air conditioner into a vehicle cabin. Incorporating the register for air conditioning into the instrument panel requires reserve of space of a different unit to be installed on the instrument panel. In response, there has been suggested a thin register for air conditioning having a dimension in the crosswise direction larger than a dimension in the longitudinal direction.
The register for air conditioning includes a rectangular cylindrical case having a small dimension in the height direction, and multiple fins arranged in the case. The fins are arranged parallel to each other in the vertical direction. The fins include a pair of auxiliary fins and a main fin. The main fin is arranged between the auxiliary fins. Fin shafts project from opposite end surfaces of each of the auxiliary fins and the main fin. The auxiliary fins and the main fin are rotationally supported by right and left wall parts of the case through the corresponding fin shafts.
In the register for air conditioning, in order to improve the directivity of air blowing out of a supply opening, it is desirable that the auxiliary fins rotate substantially parallel to the main fin in an interlocked relationship with rotation of the main fin. Further, in order to reserve flow paths of air between the main fin and the auxiliary fins, it is desirable that each of the auxiliary fins rotate near upper and lower wall parts of the case.
Thus, there has been suggested a register for air conditioning that rotates each of the auxiliary fins substantially parallel to the main fin while moving at least one of an upstream end and a downstream end of each of the auxiliary fins toward the upper or lower wall part of the case. In such a register for air conditioning, while the main fin is substantially parallel to the upper and lower wall parts of the case, each of the auxiliary fins is arranged substantially parallel to the upper and lower wall parts of the case while the upstream and downstream ends of each of the auxiliary fins are arranged near the upper or lower wall part of the case.
If the main fin is tilted such that a downstream end of the main fin is arranged in a higher position, the upper auxiliary fin rotates downward with a downstream end of the upper auxiliary fin moving toward the upper wall part of the case while the lower auxiliary fin rotates upward with an upstream end of the lower auxiliary fin moving toward the lower wall part of the case. Conversely, if the main fin is tilted such that the downstream end of the main fin is arranged in a lower position, the upper auxiliary fin rotates downward with an upstream end of the upper auxiliary fin moving toward the upper wall part of the case while the lower auxiliary fin rotates upward with a downstream end of the lower auxiliary fin moving toward the lower wall part of the case.
A mechanism to actuate the main fin and the auxiliary fins in the aforementioned manner is described for example in European Patent Application Publication No. 2602137. As shown in FIGS. 30A to 30C, in the structure disclosed in this publication, a fin shaft 102 and a transmission shaft 103 project from an end surface of a main fin 101. A bearing part 107 and a long hole 108 penetrate through each of right and left wall parts 105 of a case 104. The long hole 108 extends along a circular arc about the bearing part 107 as a center. The fin shaft 102 is rotationally supported by the bearing part 107. The transmission shaft 103 passes through the long hole 108 such that it can move along the long hole 108.
An auxiliary fin 111 has an end portion provided with an arm 112. A fin shaft 113 projects from the arm 112. A pair of shafts 114 projects from an end surface of the auxiliary fin 111. One bearing part 115 and a pair of cam holes 116 are formed above the long hole 108 in each of the right and left wall parts 105 of the case 104. One bearing part and a pair of cam holes, not shown in the drawings, are further formed below the long hole 108 in each of the right and left wall parts 105. The fin shaft 113 passes through the bearing part 115 in a manner that allows displacement and rotation of the fin shaft 113. Each of the transmission shafts 114 passes through a corresponding one of the cam holes 116 in a manner that allows displacement of the transmission shaft 114.
A plate-like cam member 117 is arranged outside each of the right and left wall parts 105 such that it can move up and down. A long hole 118 and a cam hole 119 are formed in the cam member 117. The transmission shaft 103 passes through the long hole 118 in a manner that allows displacement of the transmission shaft 103. The fin shaft 113 passes through the cam hole 119 in a manner that allows displacement of the fin shaft 113.
In this structure, rotating the main fin 101 in the vertical direction about the fin shaft 102 rotates the transmission shaft 103 around the fin shaft 102. This movement of the transmission shaft 103 is transmitted through the wall surface of the long hole 118 to the cam member 117, thereby moving the cam member 117 up and down. This changes a place where the bearing part 115 and the cam hole 119 intersect, thereby changing the position of the fin shaft 113 in the bearing part 115. In response, each of the transmission shafts 114 moves in corresponding one of the cam holes 116. As a result, in response to the rotation of the main fin 101, each of the auxiliary fins 111 rotates while maintaining a condition substantially parallel to the main fin 101 with at least one of an upstream end and a downstream end of each of the auxiliary fins 111 moving toward an upper wall part 106 or a lower wall part 106 of the case 104. This improves the directivity of air blowing out of a supply opening while reserving a flow path of air between the main fin 101 and the auxiliary fin 111.
In the aforementioned register for air conditioning, while the cam member 117 is moved up and down to rotate the auxiliary fin 111, the cam member 117 sticks upward from the upper wall part 106 of the case 104 or downward from the lower wall part 106 of the case 104. This may causes the fear of interference between the cam member 117 and a part around the case 104. Additionally, each of the right and left wall parts 105 of the case 104 is provided with the long hole 108, the bearing part 115, and the cam hole 116. These holes become the cause for a poor visual quality as they are recognized visually when the inside of the case 104 is viewed.


A liquid crystal display has liquid crystal containerizing micro-cavities monolithically integrally formed as part of a thin film transistors substrate thereof where mouths of the micro-cavities are sealed shut by material of a capping layer and where the capping layer is patterned to have relatively thicker regions and comparatively thinner or devoid of capping material regions interposed between the thicker regions for thereby providing the capping layer with improved flexibility, the relatively thicker regions being disposed over the mouths of the microcavities.

(a) Field
The present disclosure of invention relates to a liquid crystal display and a manufacturing method thereof.
(b) Description of Related Technology
The liquid crystal display (LCD) is one of the more widely used of the flat or otherwise thin panel displays. A typical LCD includes two spaced apart panels provided with field-generating electrodes such pixel electrodes and a common electrode, and a liquid crystal (LC) material layer interposed therebetween.
The LCD produces images by applying voltages to the field-generating electrodes to generate an electric field passing through the LC layer, which then determines orientations of LC molecules in the LC layer and thereby adjusts polarization of incident light. The adjusted polarization is used to control degree of luminance of passed through and/or reflected light rays.
A relatively new technology for containerizing the LC material includes forming a micro-cavity that is integrally provided as part of the cell unit of a corresponding pixel and filling the cavity with liquid crystal fluid. This technology typically includes the manufacturing steps of forming a sacrificial layer composed of an organic material and the like, forming a supporting member (roof member) on the sacrificial layer, removing the sacrificial layer to leave a space under stood the roof member, and filling the empty space formed through the removal of the sacrificial layer with liquid crystal through a liquid crystal injection hole. This monolithically integrated process has various advantages over the more traditional method of gluing an upper panel non-monolithically to a lower panel.
Here, after injecting the liquid crystal, the liquid crystal injection hole may be capped (sealed closed) with a coating material and the like. However, that leaves the capping material in direct contact with the liquid crystal fluid at the mouth of the microcavity, such that there is a danger of contamination of the liquid crystal by the capping material or impurities disposed thereon.
It is to be understood that this background of the technology section is intended to provide useful background for understanding the here disclosed technology and as such, the technology background section may include ideas, concepts or recognitions that were not part of what was known or appreciated by those skilled in the pertinent art prior to corresponding invention dates of subject matter disclosed herein.

Liquid crystal display and manufacturing method thereof


A method and system allows users to purchase branded promotional products over the Internet through a central, real-time exchange process. Users may include customers, resellers, vendor partners, business service partners and medial partners. This system provides a core foundation of services for use over the Internet that facilitates business transactions thereby providing a single point of contact for all branded promotional industry needs. A comprehensive solution is presented for all members of the promotional products industry where high quality products, current and accurate information, and support services with the result that the end user has a consistent, reliable and productive experience are made available.

Branded promotional products include advertising, sales promotion and marketing communications media that use merchandise imprinted with an advertiser's identification, message or logo. These items effectively communicate a brand identity or a message and are used to create brand awareness, solidify customer relations and increase sales. The branded promotional products sector of the advertising industry provides unique marketing opportunities. Branded products are easy to understand and are useful in meeting many marketing objectives such as announcing a name change or building a company image.
The personal touch inherent in gift giving makes branded product advertising a high-impact tool when used in conjunction with other media. Typical uses include building brands, launching products, introducing reminder advertising, improving customer relations, generating new customers and/or accounts, increasing traffic and awareness at trade shows, safety programs, annual meetings, seasonal events, public relations, employee relations, and other advertising and marketing uses.
Branded promotional products are adopting a more active role in marketing as mass media such as print and television integrate with other promotional efforts. Because branded products provide a personal touch, they are effective and important marketing tools.
Customers increasingly expect more value from their purchasing experience with a high quality product that promotes their brand. They want a useful product obtained through a convenient transaction. Customers are often frustrated because they have to rely on a reseller for purchasing options and the flow of information. Resellers are expected to find customers favorable prices, produce samples and ensure timely delivery.
Currently, vendor partners have little or no contact with customers and rely on resellers to reach customers. Vendor partners spend significant amounts of effort and money providing price quotes and samples to resellers. It is difficult for vendor partners to gather product or customer market research and customer buying pattern information.
Traditionally, the promotional products industry has operated under a linear supply-chain model of distribution. Typically, the customer hires a reseller to assist in selecting a branded product for an event or promotion. The reseller locates the desired merchandise through established vendor partner relationships. The vendor partner manufacturers or imports the items, adds the brand, and ships the product. Business service partners provide services such as shipping, financing, and insurance. Media partners deliver educational and other useful information.
Thus, a comprehensive solution for all members of the promotional products industry that includes high quality products, current and accurate information, and support services with the result that the end user has a consistent, reliable and productive experience is needed.

Method and system for acquiring branded promotional products


In a switch device, slide plates slide on a microswitch casing independently from each other. When one of the slide plates is slid in a left-hand side direction from its neutral position against a biasing force of a spring, a cam portion thereof depresses an actuator by a predetermined constant amount putting a corresponding microswitch mechanism into an ON state. Similarly, when the other slide plate is slid in a right-hand side direction from its neutral position against a biasing force of the spring, a cam portion thereof depresses another actuator by a predetermined constant amount to put a second microswitch mechanism into an ON state. Each slide plate is operatively, selectively held through a solenoid device at that position where its cam portion depresses the corresponding actuator.

The present invention relates to a switch device, and more particularly, to a switch device having both a self-returning position and a self-holding position in each switch mechanism.
It is known to use a switch device having a self-returning position which is called a "manual operation position" and a self-holding position which is called on "automatic operation position" for a power window, a sun-roof, or the like in an automotive vehicle.
Such a switch device generally has three shift positions, i.e. a neutral position putting a mechanism into an OFF-state, a moving-up position putting the mechanism into a state where a glass of the power window, for example, is moved upward, and a moving-down position putting the mechanism into a state where the window glass is moved downward. Further, in each of the moving-up and moving-down positions there are two operation mode positions, i.e. a self-return position and a self-holding position. When a manipulator such as a knob is operated by hand to move from the neutral position into the self-returning position, the mechanism is shifted into the moving-up state or the moving-down state. However, when the manipulator is released to be returned to the neutral position, the mechanism is automatically shifted and returned to the OFF-state. On the contrary, once the manipulator is moved from the neutral position into the self-holding position across the self-returning position, a shifted electrical connection is held by a solenoid device to continue to hold the moving-up state or the moving-down state even when the manipulator is returned to the neutral position. The switch of this type is disclosed in the Japanese Utility Model Unexamined Publication Nos. 64-226 and 64-239.
In such a conventional switch device, the manipulator, such as a knob rotatably returnably mounted on a switch housing, is coupled and associated through an interconnecting member with a leaf-spring having a contact portion. The leaf-spring is depressed through the interconnecting member in accordance with an amount of rotation of the manipulator. The contact portion is thereby shifted into a desired state. Therefore, in order to appropriately set the self-returning position and the self-holding position in connection with the contact portion shifting stroke, each of component parts is required to have a high degree of dimensional precision, and the component parts are assembled with each other in high accuracy. Further, a high balancing between a biasing force of the leaf spring and a force of the solenoid device, which is to retain the shifted contact portion in place, is required in order to perform the self-holding operation.
In addition to the above-noted requirement, such a conventional switch device has an increased number of components, a complicated arrangement of components, and suffers from problems in producibility, stability of performance, reliability of operation, durability, or the like.


Protective clothing, in particular clothing which protects against injuries caused by stabbing instruments, cutting instruments, projectiles or splinters, consisting of multiple layers of flat structures. At least one side of at least one of these layers has been given a ceramic coating applied by plasma spraying. The layers preferably consist of woven fabrics made from aramide fibers. The protective clothing is especially suitable for stab protection, but a combined protection against the threat of stabbing or projectile weapons can also be achieved by this clothing while providing a good standard of wearer comfort.

The invention relates to protective clothing, in particular to clothing which protects against injuries caused by stabbing instruments, cutting instruments, projectiles or splinters, and which consists of multiple layers of flat structures.
Several types of clothing protecting against the effects of stabbing and cutting instruments as well as against projectiles and splinters are described in the prior art. Usually this type of clothing consists of multiple layers, the individual layers often being made from the same material. The use of different materials for the individual layers is however also well-known.
Very often aramide-fibre woven fabrics are used in the individual protective layers, especially for so-called antiballistic protective clothing (clothing which provides protection against projectiles and splinters). one example of this is DE-A 3 426 458, in which a laminate made from such fabrics is described for use in projectile-inhibiting clothing.
Beside this, woven fabrics and other textile flat structures made from high-tenacity polyethylene fibers have been suggested for use in antiballistic protective clothing.
The use of aramide fibers for protection against cuts has also been described. In EP-A 224 425 a special knit construction of aramide fibers combined with a resin finish is discussed for this type of application.
In EP-A 519 359 flat structures consisting of wrapped yarn containing aramide fibers as the core and natural or chemical fibers in the sheath which can easily be dyed or printed, are suggested for the manufacture of stab-, cut-, splinter- and bullet-proof clothing.
In GB-A 2 221 976 an antiballistic helmet is described whose shell is fabricated out of a textile material embedded in a plastic matrix and coated with a thick ceramic layer applied by means of plasma spraying. This document classified as belonging to the area of hard ballistics does not offer any clues to solving the problem of gaining a combination of protection against projectiles and stabbing in soft ballistic protective clothing.
GB-A 1 397 955 discloses a ceramic layer applied using plasma spraying. The material coated is embedded in a plastic matrix. This fiber-plastic composite, which is also classified as belonging to hard ballistics, possesses an antiballistic effect. This document again offers no clue as to how to solve the problem of combining protection against projectiles and against stabbing in soft ballistic protective clothing.
The improvement of clothing providing humans with protection against injury is an on-going task for those concerned with developing this type of clothing. Beside improvements to the effectiveness of the protection provided, a worthwhile goal is above all to improve the comfort of the wearer. Also constantly in demand are approaches mapping out a simpler and cheaper method of manufacturing this type of clothing.
An especially important demand is for antiballistic clothing, i.e., clothing which is to provide protection against projectiles and splinters, to be designed in such a way that this clothing also protects against the effects of stabbing. This demand is voiced in particular by police personnel, who are exposed not only to shots from projectile weapons but also to stabbing attacks.
Clothing affording combined bullet- and stab-protection is already well-known in the art. In EP-A 597 165 a panel formed out of superimposed woven fabrics of high-strength fibers embedded in a matrix resin is suggested for this application. The panel is employed in protective vests in combination with layers of traditional antiballistic woven-fabric layers, chiefly for protecting the breast and back regions.
With this type of protective clothing, as with the already proposed use of metal panels as inserts into protective vests, it cannot be guaranteed that the wearer will have the freedom of movement necessary in a duty situation. Beside their relatively heavy weight, the fact that the vest inserts lack flexibility makes them a great deal less comfortable to wear.
Thus the task of improving this kind of protective clothing still remained to be done, especially as to wearer comfort.

Clothing for protection against stab and bullet wounds


A client computing device includes at least one display, an embedded browser that includes first and second browsers, a migration user interface (UI) control and a processor. The first browser is to access a page from a source application for display, and the second browser is to access a form from a target application for display. The processor cooperates with the embedded browser in response to a user selecting the migration UI control to extract data from the displayed page, analyze the extracted data to determine a context of the data, and analyze the displayed form for target form fields. A pattern matching algorithm matches at least a portion of the extracted data to the target form fields. The matched extracted data is migrated to the displayed form as target data values associated with the target form fields.

Software as a Service (SaaS) is a computing approach to software delivery by which applications are centrally hosted on one or more third-party servers (e.g., in the cloud), and are typically provided on a subscription basis to users. SaaS applications are offered for numerous areas, including business, accounting, and even gaming applications.
SaaS applications are typically accessed on client computing devices via an internet browser. On occasion, there is a need to migrate data from a source SaaS application to a target SaaS application with similar functionality. This is typically an all or nothing process that requires an extraction of the database on the server providing the source SaaS application, and utilization of a migration utility to input the data in the target SaaS application.
Data migration between different SaaS applications can be costly, particularly when IT personnel are involved, and is not always successful. Also, irrelevant data is usually transferred along with the relevant data, with the irrelevant data resulting in what is considered garbage data in the target SaaS application.


A variable delay device includes a variable delay circuit (12) and a correction circuit (14). On the basis of output signals R and V from variable delay lines (30, 32) of the correction circuit, an output signal V.sub.L by which a control characteristic of a variable delay line (16) is made substantially linear is outputted to the variable delay circuit from a linearity detector (34) of the correction circuit. The output signals R and V are also applied to a variable range detector (36), and on the basis of an output of the detector (36), an output signal V.sub.r by which a variable range of the variable delay line (16) is made constant is outputted to the variable delay circuit (12) from a reference level generator (38) of the correction circuit. The output signal V.sub.L determines an input/output characteristic of a non-linear circuit (22) which is included in the variable delay circuit and modifies a variable amount control signal V.sub.d, and the output signal V.sub.r is added to an output signal of the non-linear circuit by an adder (24) included in the variable delay circuit, and an adder result is applied to the variable delay line (16) as a control signal therefor.

1. Field of the invention
The present invention relates to a variable delay device. More specifically, the present invention relates to a variable delay device which is utilized as an analog IC delay line.
2. Description of the prior art
Up to now, there is a variable delay device which is constructed by using a C-MOS inverter. The C-MOS inverter has a transfer delay time of approximately few nanoseconds for each stage, and therefore, if the number of stages of the C-MOS inverter is increased, it is possible to obtain a delay time equal to the number of stages. The delay time of the C-MOS inverter can be adjusted by a driving voltage which is applied to the C-MOS inverter. In general, a control characteristic representative of a relationship between the driving voltage and the delay time becomes a non-linear characteristic as shown in FIG. 6.
In such a variable delay device, it becomes difficult to properly control the C-MOS inverter because the control characteristic largely varies due to dispersions or variations of temperature, circuit components and etc. Accordingly, there was a problem that a characteristic of the variable delay device does not become stable.


Blockage of a drain pipe of a canister due to freezing or clogging with mud is prevented with a simple structure comprised of a small number of parts. A drain pipe, mounted to a canister body having an adsorbent accommodated therein, includes an inner shell which extends downwards from the canister body and opens at its lower end, and an outer shell which opens at its upper and lower ends. The lower end of the inner shell is inserted into the opening in the upper end of the outer shell with a gap left therebetween. Even if the opening in the lower end of the outer shell is blocked due to freezing or clogging with mud, surplus fuel or the exterior air can flow from the canister body via the opening in the upper end of the outer shell. If the opening in the lower end of the outer shell is submerged in water when evaporated fuel is purged into intake system, the drawing of water into the canister body can be prevented, because the opening in the upper end of the outer shell opens into the atmosphere.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a drain pipe of a canister having a canister body in which an adsorbent is accommodated and which is connected to a fuel tank and an intake system of an engine and communicates with the open air.
2. Related Art
A canister adapted to prevent evaporated fuel in fuel tank in an automobile vehicle from being released to the open air includes a drain pipe which permits a lower end of a canister body, having activated carbon as an adsorbent accommodated therein, to communicate with the open air. If the drain pipe is constructed from a single simple pipe, a problem occurs when the opening in the lower end of the drain pipe is blocked due to freezing or icing, clogging with mud or the like, because the exterior air cannot be introduced through the drain pipe when purging the fuel charged to the adsorbent into the intake system of the engine. Therefor, it is a conventional practice to divide the drain pipe at its intermediate portion into an upward pipe portion and a downward pipe portion through two one-way valves, so that even if the opening in the lower end of the downward drain pipe portion is blocked, the open air can be introduced through the opening in the upper end of the upward drain pipe portion.
However, the drain pipe bifurcated and provided with the two one-way valves suffers from a problem that the structure is complicated and comprised of large number of parts, resulting in an increased cost.


A protective plastic insert is provided for a conventional golf cap. The insert is substantially hemispherical and is engagable within the cap. The cap is size adjustable. The insert adapts to the size change of the cap. Thus a single size insert fits most golf caps. The shape and hardness of the plastic protect the wearer against the impact of a stray golf ball.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is in the field of safety headwear for golfing.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The prior art discloses many safety headwear devices for protecting the head in various sporting and industrial activities. The devices of the past have oftentimes been hard, protective outer structured to protect the head and/or inserts into existing structures, so as to protect the head.