A malicious object detection system for use in managed runtime environments includes a check circuit to receive call information generated by an application, such as an Android application. A machine learning circuit coupled to the check circuit applies a machine learning model to assess the information and/or data included in the call and detect the presence of a malicious object, such as malware or a virus, in the application generating the call. The machine learning model may include a global machine learning model distributed across a number of devices, a local machine learning model based on use patterns of a particular device, or combinations thereof. A graphical user interface management circuit halts execution of applications containing malicious objects and generates a user perceptible output.

Effective Android™ malware detection and prevention is a highly sought-after goal of security companies. However, in the Android system, evasive malware is frequently able to easily bypass traditional signature and pattern based detection systems, rendering almost all anti-malware software useless against evolving or new malware threats. Current Android security software relies on the static analysis of application packages. However, such static analysis is known to be ineffective for several reasons. First, malware may update only at runtime and thus, may go undetected using static analysis. Second, malware often uses some form of obfuscation to bypass analysis.
Due to constraints within the Android operating environment, security software deployed on devices running the Android operating system typically rely upon whitelisting or signature based checking while a majority of the Android malware detection is focused on cloud-based or cloud-implemented solutions. GOOGLE® Bouncer is just one example of a cloud based Android malware detection solution. However, malware may escape such sandboxed protection systems using simple strategies such as time delay activation that delays the trigger of malicious behavior and enables the malware after passage of an amount of time sufficient to clear screening.
Android applications consist mainly of Dalvik bytecode. Prior to Android version 4.3 ("Jelly Bean") the Dalvik bytecode was executed using an interpreter and a just-in-time (JIT) compiler inside Android runtime. Android version 4.4 ("KitKat") introduced Android Runtime (ART) environment as a technology preview while retaining Dalvik. Beginning with Android version 5.0 ("Lollipop") ART represented the only included runtime environment. ART uses an interpreter similar to prior Android versions, but introduced the concept of ahead-of-time (AOT) compilation. Android 7 (codename: Nougat) adds just-in-time compilation as well. AOT compilation performs the translation of the application bytecode into native instructions for later execution within the device's runtime environment. Unlike Dalvik, ART is able to compile entire applications into native machine code upon installation on the device.
To maintain backward compatibility, ART uses the same bytecode as Dalvik, supplied via DEX files, while the ODEX files are replaced with executable and linkable format (ELF) executables. Once an application is compiled using ART's on-device dex2oat utility, it runs primarily from the compiled ELF executable.
Although the following Detailed Description will proceed with reference being made to illustrative embodiments, many alternatives, modifications and variations thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Malicious object detection in a runtime environment


An engine control system is disclosed for reducing the hydrocarbon content in the exhaust gas of a crankcase scavenged, two-stroke engine in the operating range near idle, with light operator induced engine loading. As operator demand for engine output power is increased, the system increases the fuel per cylinder supplied to the engine while restricting the supplied mass of air per cylinder to a value less than that flowing at unloaded engine idle.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to engine control for a crankcase scavenged, two-stroke engine, and more particularly to a system for reducing the exhaust gas hydrocarbons emitted from such an engine at and slightly above idle speed and low power requirements, by controlling the quantity of intake air and fuel delivered to the engine.
2. Description of the Relevant Art
In conventional four-stroke engines, as operator demand for engine power is increased from idle, the amount of air per cylinder supplied to the engine is typically increased. As air per cylinder is increased, the quantity of fuel delivered per cylinder is also increased, thereby maintaining the desired air-fuel ratio to achieve the desired engine performance and emission objectives.
The structure and operation of crankcase scavenged, two-stroke engines differ in many respects from that of conventional four-stroke engines. One difference concerns the manner in which fresh air is inducted, and burned fuel is exhausted by the engines. Conventional four-stroke engines have intake and exhaust valves within the cylinders to accomplish these tasks. Crankcase scavenged, two-stroke engines do not employ intake and exhaust valves but rather, intake and exhaust ports which open directly through the walls of the engine cylinders. As combustion is initiated, the piston moves in its downstroke within a cylinder, uncovering the exhaust port for release of the burned fuel, and shortly thereafter, uncovering the intake port to enable the entry of a fresh air charge, and assist in expulsion of the combustion components of the burned fuel.
A problem associated with crankcase scavenged, two-stroke engines has been the high level of hydrocarbons present in the exhaust gas. At speeds near engine idle, with light operator induced loading, the level of exhaust gas hydrocarbons is highly dependent upon the amount of air per cylinder delivered to the engine. This relationship is thought to result from the absence of valves in the two-stroke engine, and the near simultaneous opening of the exhaust and intake ports during the engine operating cycle. Presumably, an excessive quantity of air flowing through the intake port forces an amount of unburned fuel out of the exhaust port thereby increasing the hydrocarbon content of the exhaust gas.
If the conventional practice of increasing the mass air per cylinder flowing to the engine is followed in controlling the near idle operation of a crankcase scavenged, two-stroke engine upon operator demand for output power, the level of hydrocarbons in the engine exhaust may be unreasonably high. Consequently, a need exists for an alternative engine control for such engines operating at speeds near idle, with light operator induced loading.

Fuel control of a two-stroke engine with over-center throttle body


A pivot connection for connecting the wand of a vacuum cleaner hose to a vacuum cleaner nozzle of the type having an exhaust aperture through which air is drawn into a vacuum hose. A three-sided curved duct extends upwardly from a top surface of the nozzle, the duct having a transverse generally rectangular cross section with a curved front wall and contiguous laterally opposed side walls. The front wall and side walls have lower portions surrounding the exhaust aperture on three sides, upper ends defining a generally rectangular open end disposed in an angular plane with respect to a vertical axis, and interior surfaces forming an arcuate extension of the exhaust aperture. A hose connector member is pivotally mounted on the nozzle and has an elongate tubular portion with a generally rectangular flange at a lower end sized and shaped to engage the interior surfaces of the duct in a sliding air-sealing relation, and a central longitudinal bore dimensioned to receive and frictionally engage a tubular wand attached to one end of a vacuum hose. The hose connector is pivotal in a vertical plane about a horizontal axis between a lowermost position and an uppermost position relative to the nozzle and the duct.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to vacuum cleaner nozzles, and more particularly to a pivot connection for connecting a vacuum cleaner hose to a vacuum cleaner nozzle, and a nozzle having such a pivot connection.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
Nozzles with pivoted wands are known in the art. These take many forms but include, essentially, a means for pivoting the wand to the nozzle so that relative rotational displacement in a vertical plane may take place between the two to permit the operator of the nozzle to push it over the floor or carpet that is being cleaned. However, none of these arrangements provide the combination of features working together as a whole as set forth in the present invention.
Matchette, U.S. Pat. No. 1,020,104 discloses a vacuum sweeper having a tube with a longitudinal slot in the under side, and a port in the upper middle portion, a shoe having bearings on opposite sides of, and approximately parallel with, the tube, and connected at the ends by arches in which the tube is fitted and secured. A tubular shank having a transverse con-cave bearing is fitted to turn upon the tube and guided at the ends in the arches, and a passage in the shank is in communication with the port in the tube.
Wolf, U.S. Pat. No. 3,550,183 discloses a cleaning tool comprising a housing adapted for connection to an operating handle or wand. The housing has a generally flat surface-engaging portion and an elongated crowned portion extending upwardly from the surface-engaging portion defining a suction chamber with an outlet in the crowned portion. A brush is centrally mounted in the suction chamber and extends downwardly for engagement with the surface to be cleaned. A plurality of orifices spaced along the lengthwise extent of the crowned portion extend from the exterior of the housing downwardly into the chamber, so as to direct jet inlet air flow diagonally downwardly to impinge against the surface being cleaned for effective jet air scrubbing of the surface and "boiling" of debris upwardly from the surface. The underside of the housing is provided with passageways extending from communication with the suction chamber to the periphery of the tool housing for cleaning out corners or other hard-to-clean areas. The outlet from the suction chamber is defined by a tubular portion extending rearwardly from the crown portion of the housing, and which is disposed very close to the surface being cleaned to materially increase the debris "pick up" ability of the tool.
Candor, U.S. Pat. No. 3,780,398 discloses in combination with a nozzle construction for a vacuum cleaning operation, a separate member having a body portion detachably secured to the nozzle construction and having a flexible wall surrounding the inlet of the nozzle construction and outboard of the same to have one side thereof engage against a surface means around the inlet to substantially seal the inlet of the nozzle construction to the surface means. The flexible wall is so constructed and arranged that a pressure differential acting across the same and resulting from a vacuum pump drawing fluid from the surface means into the inlet of the nozzle construction is adapted to cause the flexible wall to be urged toward the surface means to substantially seal against the same around the inlet and substantially conform to the contour of the surface means outboard of the nozzle construction.
Desrosiers et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,091,496 discloses a vacuum cleaner nozzle particularly adapted to clean carpets and characterized by its efficient combination of central brushing and downward and inward air flows on opposite sides and toward the central brush and also characterized by selective height setting in relation to the length of the hairs of a carpet. This vacuum cleaner nozzle includes a central body defining an air suction chamber, a rim engaging around the central body and cooperatively forming therewith a pair of downwardly extending slots laterally communicating with the central suction chamber under the nozzle, these slots extending against the laterally opposite sides of the central body, and the rim being settable relative to the latter in relation to the length of the hairs of any carpet.
Fleischhauer, U.S. Pat. No. 4,638,527 discloses vacuum cleaner attachments which have a V-shaped cleaning head and are particularly suited for cleaning in corners and crevices and along the edges of surfaces. Vertically biased and rotatable brushes and other disturbers can be provided to promote the dislodgement of foreign substances from the surface being cleaned. A preferred universal-type connection between the cleaning head and a vacuum fitting attached thereto facilitate the manipulation of the attachment and allow pressure to be brought to bear on the nose of the cleaning head, thereby promoting the dislodgement of foreign substances from the surface being cleaned.
The present invention is distinguished over the prior art in general, and these patents in particular by a pivot connection for connecting the wand of a vacuum cleaner hose to a vacuum cleaner nozzle of the type having an exhaust aperture through which air is drawn into a vacuum hose. A three-sided curved duct extends upwardly from a top surface of the nozzle, the duct having a transverse generally rectangular cross section with a curved front wall and contiguous laterally opposed side walls. The front wall and side walls have lower portions surrounding the exhaust aperture on three sides, upper ends defining a generally rectangular open end disposed in an angular plane with respect to a vertical axis, and interior surfaces forming an arcuate extension of the exhaust aperture. A hose connector member is pivotally mounted on the nozzle and has an elongate tubular portion with a generally rectangular flange at a lower end sized and shaped to engage the interior surfaces of the duct in a sliding air-sealing relation, and a central longitudinal bore dimensioned to receive and frictionally engage a tubular wand attached to one end of a vacuum hose. The hose connector is pivotal in a vertical plane about a horizontal axis between a lowermost position and an uppermost position relative to the nozzle and the duct.
Another aspect of the present invention is the pivot connection in combination with a nozzle of generally square or rectangular configuration having a slightly concave or flat main body portion with a central exhaust aperture through which air is drawn into a vacuum hose. The main body portion has a top surface, a bottom surface, and opposed straight sides. A series of spacer protrusions formed in the surface of the main body extend downwardly from the bottom surface and along a horizontal plane to serve as legs to space the concave bottom surface a predetermined distance above the surface to be cleaned. The nozzle is configured to draw air between the surface to be cleaned and the bottom surface of the nozzle at a substantially uniform velocity which is proportional to the inflow velocity of the vacuum hose, and to maintain little or no difference in static pressure between the air under the nozzle and the static pressure of the air above the nozzle.

Pivot connection for vacuum cleaner nozzle


A measuring device for measuring a wavefront aberration of an optical system includes a first mask for defining light that enters the optical system, and a second mask having first to fourth openings. The first opening transmits a component of the light passing through the optical system without removing information about the wavefront aberration of the optical system, and the second to fourth openings transmit components of the light passing through the optical system having the information about the wavefront aberration of the optical system removed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device for measuring the performance of an optical member, and more particularly, to a device for measuring the wavefront aberration of a projection optical system that projects a pattern image of a reticle onto a substrate.
2. Description of the Related Art
Projection exposure apparatuses have been used in which a photosensitive substrate is exposed with a pattern provided on a reticle (photomask) when devices, such as semiconductor devices or liquid crystal display elements, are manufactured by photolithography. It is important that the projection exposure apparatuses use a projection optical system that has high imaging performance and provides little aberration, because the pattern on the reticle is required to be precisely transferred onto the photosensitive substrate at a predetermined reduction ratio. Particularly, transfer patterns have become more sensitive to aberration of the optical system in order to meet recent demands for finer semiconductor devices. For this reason, it is necessary to precisely measure optical performance (e.g., wavefront aberration) of the projection optical system. Further, it is important to simplify and speed up the measurement and to reduce the cost from the viewpoints of productivity and economic efficiency.
In a known measuring method, a pattern of a reticle is actually transferred onto a wafer, and a resist image of the pattern is observed and inspected with a scanning electron microscope. However, the measuring time is long, and inspection reproducibility is low because of errors resulting from resist application and development. In order to overcome these problems, a point diffraction interferometer (PDI) including a pinhole for forming an ideal spherical wave and a shearing interferometer (or a Talbot interferometer) using shearing interference have been proposed. Further, a line diffraction interferometer (LDI) has been recently proposed which has a slit for forming an ideal spherical wave only in a one-dimensional direction (for example, see Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 2000-146705 and 2000-097666).
In a measuring device that measures the wavefront aberration with a PDI, a mask having a pinhole for forming light having an ideal spherical wavefront as a reference wavefront, and a window, through which light having a wavefront containing aberration information about an optical system to be measured passes, is placed behind the optical system. An image of an interference pattern (interference fringes) produced between the wavefront of light passing through the pinhole and the wavefront of light passing through the window is captured by an imaging element, and is processed to calculate a wavefront aberration of the optical system. In a measuring device that measures the wavefront aberration with an LDI, a mask having a slit for forming light having an ideal spherical wavefront only in a one-dimensional direction as a reference wavefront, and a window, through which light having a wavefront containing aberration information about an optical system to be measured passes, is placed behind the optical system. An image of an interference pattern (interference fringes) produced between the wavefront of light from the slit and the wavefront of light from the window is captured by an imaging element, and is processed to calculate a wavefront aberration of the optical system.
In these measuring devices for measuring a wavefront aberration, in general, the ideal wavefront is spherical, or spherical only in a one-dimensional direction, and a light-receiving surface of the imaging element for detecting the wavefront is flat. Therefore, the wavefront aberration obtained by analysis contains not only aberration of the optical system, but also an aberration component resulting from the detection of the spherical wavefront with such an imaging element. In order to remove the aberration component resulting from the spherical wavefront, for example, it is conceivable to place a Fourier transform lens directly before the light-receiving surface of the imaging element so that substantially parallel light enters the light-receiving surface, or to subject the interference pattern to specific processing.
In these methods, however, an additional aberration component is sometimes produced by manufacturing error of the Fourier transform lens or precision error in image processing (e.g., precision error in determination of a processing area).
A mask having a pinhole (or a slit) and a window is obtained, for example, by forming a chromium film on a transparent substrate made of quartz. However, it is difficult to remove an aberration component resulting from the thickness of the substrate, an aberration component resulting from the displacement (particularly in the height direction) of the imaging element, and an aberration component resulting from manufacturing error of the interferometer. In particular, when the wavefront aberration of a projection optical system having a high numerical aperture (NA) is measured precisely, an aberration component resulting from the manufacturing error of the interferometer is increased.

Wavefront-aberration measuring device and exposure apparatus including the device


First and second piezoelectric thin layers are arranged on an upper surface of a vibration plate which covers a pressure chamber. An individual electrode is formed on an upper surface, of the second piezoelectric thin layer, at a portion facing the pressure chamber, and a connecting terminal to be connected to a FPC wire via solder is arranged to be separated from the individual electrode at a portion not facing the pressure chamber. A common electrode is formed on a lower surface of the first piezoelectric thin layer to face the pressure chamber. A connecting portion which faces the individual electrode and the connecting terminal and does not face the common electrode is formed between the first and the second piezoelectric thin layers. The individual electrode, the connecting terminal, and the connecting portion are connected via an electroconductive material filled in communicating passages formed in the second piezoelectric thin layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid transporting apparatus which transports a liquid, and a piezoelectric actuator.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an ink-jet recording head described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2003-311983, an individual electrode is arranged, on an upper surface of a piezoelectric layer, at a portion facing an ink chamber (pressure chamber), and a connecting electrode (connecting terminal) is connected to an end portion of the individual electrode. The connecting electrode has a base layer which is made of a metallic material having low wettability and is connected to the individual electrode, and an electrode drawing layer which is formed on an upper surface of the base layer at an area excluding a peripheral portion of the base layer. When the electrode drawing layer and a power supply terminal are connected by solder, the solder stops at a base layer having low wettability and is prevented from flowing to a surface of the individual electrode. Accordingly, a deformation of the piezoelectric layer is prevented from being inhibited by the solder which has flowed to the individual electrode.
However, in the ink-jet recording head described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2003-311983, as the electrode drawing layer is formed at a substantially central portion of the upper surface of the base layer, an area of the electrode drawing layer is small with respect to the connecting electrode. Consequently, even if the electrode drawing layer is formed of a material having wettability higher than that of the base layer, when an amount of solder at the time of connecting the electrode drawing layer and the power supply terminal is large, there is a possibility that the solder crosses over the electrode drawing layer and flows to the base layer. Moreover, the individual electrode and the connecting electrode are connected on an upper surface of the piezoelectric layer at which the connecting terminal and the power supply terminal are connected by the solder. As a result, the solder flows to the surface of the individual electrode via a connecting portion of the individual electrode and the connecting electrode, and there is a possibility that the deformation of the piezoelectric layer is inhibited by the solder which has flowed to the surface of the individual electrode.

Liquid transporting apparatus and piezoelectric actuator


A snelled fly file for a fisherman to carry on their person is described. The file provides a fisherman instant identifiable and organized access to a snelled fly collection, thereby offering convenience and easily visible, instant selection. The two covers hold see-through bags of snelled flies within, each with identification cards whereby two flies can be held within each bag. The lanyard is preferably worn around the fisherman's neck, with instant open access to the flies within. The bags are removably contained between the two covers thereby allowing for the exchange of any bags of flies. This give a fisherman the ability to organize and retrieve his snelled flies as the fishing conditions may warrant.

Fly fishing is an art which typically requires a wide variety of flies with which to attract a fish. Fly fishermen spend a considerable amount of time and effort in choosing, attaching, and removing flies in efforts to entice fish. The convenient storage and access to fishing flies has challenged fishermen since even before modern times. Various devices have been offered to assist fly fishermen in storing and organizing fishing flies. Fishermen have used their hats, tackle boxes, vests, and assorted other boxes and contraptions in efforts to improve fly access and changes. The advantages afforded by immediate access to flies are well known. These advantages include not only time savings, but lessened movement around and through waters within which the fish lurk.
Snelled flies can further improve efforts at fly fishing and convenience. Snelled flies are well known in the art of fly fishing. A snelled fly is a fly fitted with a relatively short length of leader. The leader is affixed to the fly on one end, with a loop on the opposite end. Various devices have been purveyed which offer organizational access to snelled flies. Keeping snelled flies organized, labeled, untangled, easily accessed, and immediately handy are challenges not previously successfully met. The present invention offers a unique apparatus for organizing, separating, and storing flies. The present invention also enables the fishermen to carry the flies upon his person and in a position immediately accessible both physically and visually, without hampering fishing in any way.


The present invention is a simulation training device in which a user's form can be so corrected as to coincide with a correct form displayed on a TV screen, a resin film of a pale dark color is mounted on one surface of a transparent convex member to form a half mirror, an enlarging lens is arranged on the back surface of the half mirror and joined therewith, and the half mirror is supported by legs adjustable in height and at an angle.

This invention relates to a simulation training device and, more particularly, to a simulation training device for allowing a user to correctly swing while so correcting his own swinging form for a golf, a baseball, a tennis or the like, as to coincide his own swinging form with a television (heretofore referred to as "a TV") image by enlarging his swinging form from a TV screen, imaging his swinging form on a half mirror and further imaging an instructor's swinging form together on the half mirror by standing in front of the half mirror while swinging.


A forced harmonic vibration master gear for use in a device for detecting imperfections in a production gear includes a gear body having a plurality of gear teeth. Each of the plurality of gear teeth has a graduation of material added thereto extending from a form diameter of each tooth to an end of the tooth to decrease the pressure angle of the tooth. The forced harmonic master gear when used to test an unacceptable production gear, induces in the unacceptable production gear, when rotating, a vibrational force that is at least 50 percent greater than a vibrational force exhibited by the unacceptable production gear when a standard master gear is used to test the unacceptable production gear, in at least one band of 70 Hz to 150 Hz, 151 Hz to 300 Hz, 301 Hz to 550 Hz, 551 Hz to 1250 Hz and 1251 Hz to 2000 Hz. When the forced harmonic master gear is used to test an acceptable production gear, the acceptable production gear, when rotating, exhibits a vibrational force that is no more than 25 percent greater than a vibrational force exhibited by the acceptable production gear when a standard master gear is used to test the acceptable production gear.

The present invention relates to a master gear. More particularly, the present invention relates to a master gear for use in gear checking, that uses forced harmonic vibration.
Gears, particularly those used in gear systems for automotive use, e.g., automotive transmissions, are often checked to assure that the gears are properly formed. That is, the gears are checked to assure that they are formed without burrs, grind marks, and the like. Other imperfections include plus material in tooth formation, waviness and improper finish and imperfections in the involute. These imperfections can cause vibration and "noise" that can be transferred to the vehicle which can result in vehicle vibration, noise and reduced life of the driving or driven components.
The gears are checked in a dynamic environment, that is with the gear rotating at some predetermined speed. The gear being checked, or production gear, is driven and meshes with a reference or standard gear, or master gear. In a typical arrangement, the production gear is driven (i.e., applies a driving torque) and the master gear is configured similar to the mating gear of the gear being checked. The master gear has a resistance applied to simulate an actual operating environment. Imperfections in the gear are typically identified at the normal frequency of the gear or at a harmonic of that frequency.
In order to determine whether there are imperfections in the production gear, external devices or sensors (such as accelerometers) are used to monitor the vibrations induced in the system by the rotating gears. In a typical arrangement, measurements are taken at the gear being tested (on the testing structure adjacent to the gear) and at the master gear, for example on the master gear spindle.
It has, however, been found that at times, there are vibrations induced in the system that are above a desired or target level, but that do not exceed a threshold level indicating an imperfection in the gear. Essentially, although the checking system performs satisfactorily, it may not be sufficiently sensitive (e.g., induce sufficient energy to the tested gear) to identify imperfections that otherwise should be corrected.
Accordingly, there is a need for a gear checking system and master gear that are sufficiently sensitive to identify otherwise acceptable imperfections in gears. Desirably, such a master gear induces exaggerated energy levels in gears that exhibit imperfections, but does not exhibit such an exaggeration in gears that exhibit normal or within range vibration.


A service level management document is modeled by a multi-path, navigable graph. The graph is comprised of nodes connected by lines where each node represents part of a modeled service level management document and each line represents the relationship between connected nodes. Each node has a predetermined shape that corresponds to the role of each node in the graph, such as by designating whether the node is a root node, branch node, leaf node, or branch graph node. Moreover, the shape can distinguish whether the node is optional or required. The background color of each node is indicative of the state of the information within a configuration page linked to a corresponding node. The configuration pages of a graph collectively describe the content of the modeled service level management document.

The present disclosure relates to service level management, and in particular to systems, methods and computer program products for summarizing service level management documents in a multi-path, navigable graphical representation.
A distributed enterprise computing system allows different individual applications, services, or other components to interoperate, thus allowing an enterprise to quickly build and deploy business applications. In order to ensure that transactions in a distributed enterprise computing system are performed in a timely manner, service level agreements are typically established between a software service provider and a customer. A service level agreement is part of a service contract that formally defines the quality of service, e.g., level of performance, delivery time, etc., expected by the interoperating components under a given set of circumstances.
As such, a software service provider typically manages a service utilized by a customer based upon the terms of a service level agreement. In certain systems, a large number of service level agreements must be managed. For instance, some applications require the management of hundreds of service level agreements.

Navigable graph of a service level management document


Methods, systems, and computer-storage media fare provided for utilizing a GPU for user-defined image compositing operations. A sequence of compositing operations is determined for a graphical image document based on at least one user-defined layer property such as a layer mode or an opacity level. A domain-specific language runtime, such as Halide runtime, is used to provide encoded objects for each operation within the sequence with the code being optimized for the GPU platform. A command buffer with a plurality of commands comprising the encoded operations is created and committed to the GPU for execution of the compositing operations. Commands are committed to the GPU in an asynchronous nature such that additional command buffers may be created and committed the GPU prior to receiving a response from the GPU on an earlier command buffer.

Because a graphics processing unit (GPU) can generally perform image processing functions faster than a central processing unit (CPU), it is often desirable for image processing applications to utilize the GPU for at least some functions. However, because different GPU platforms call for different coding languages (including different optimizations) and application programming interfaces, the image processing application would either have limited utility or would require manually-written code for each GPU platform with which the application could be used. Current solutions include using a domain-specific language compiler, such as Halide, to generate and optimize code for different platforms. However, traditional use of these domain-specific languages involve either sending each operation individually to the GPU or sending predetermined sequences of operations. These traditional uses do not work with image compositing processes because the sequence of functions are not predetermined and individually require too little computational power relative to the space and time needed to send data to and from the GPU such that use of the GPU is inefficient. As such, there exists a need for efficiently performing user-defined compositing operations on a GPU.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

User-defined image compositing on graphics processing units


A device in a motor vehicle, with which signals which are generated by a sensor and represent a physical magnitude are transmitted on signal lines. The device includes a voltage divider which is composed of the sensor and at least two impedances which are connected each at one end of the sensor. The signals generated by the sensor are guided, via signal lines connected at its terminals, to a differentiator, by which the usable signal is obtained, and interference signals coupled onto the signal lines are eliminated. Alternatively, the device can also be used for transmission on a signal line pair of any desired potential difference present at an impedance.

A large number of regulation and control systems are used today in automotive engineering. With many of these systems, it is necessary to sense various physical magnitudes by means of a sensor system, and convey them to the corresponding control device. An example that may be mentioned here is sensing of the oil temperature in the transmission, in the context of the transmission control system.
FIG. 5 shows a prior art circuit arrangement for a transmission control system in which the signal generated by the temperature sensor, which in this case represents the temperature of the oil in the transmission, is transmitted by means of two signal lines to the control device. To this end, there is mounted in the transmission (107) a sensor means (201) which is connected, via a first signal line (301a) and a second signal line (301b), to an input circuit (202') contained in a control device (306). Signal UTol' generated by the sensor means is transmitted by means of the first signal line. The sensor means is connected to the ground A/D-GND of the control device via the second signal line. The input circuit consists of a component (RV1) which is used as a protective resistor, and of a filter which is made up of components RF1 and CF. The input circuit is connected via a first signal line (305a) and a second signal line (305b) to a microcontroller (204'). Signal UTol* is transmitted to the microcontroller by means of the first signal line. The second signal line connects the microcontroller to ground A/D-GND.
Since the transmission and the control device are arranged physically apart from one another in the vehicle, the signal lines must be routed outside the control device. As a result, interference signals can in some circumstances be coupled onto the two signal lines.
An arrangement for blanking out interference signals on signal lines is described in German Patent No. 42 22 475. In a first exemplifying embodiment, an arrangement is presented that can be used in the transmission of analog signals. In this context, the original signal is transmitted on a first signal line, and the time derivative of the original signal is transmitted on a second signal line. At the receiving end, the derived signal transmitted on the second signal line is integrated by means of an integrator. An analog AND instruction is applied to this integration signal and to the original signal transmitted on the first signal line. The interference signals coupled onto the transmission link are thereby eliminated. In a second exemplifying embodiment, an arrangement is presented which can be used in the transmission of digital signals. To this end, the original signal is transmitted on a first signal line, and the inverted original signal is transmitted on a second signal line. At the receiving end, the two signals are each digitized by means of a digitizing stage. The coupled-in interference is thus also present in digitized form. The digitized signal of the inverted original signal transmitted on the second signal line is inverted again at the receiving end. A logical AND instruction is applied to this signal and to the digitized signal of the original signal transmitted on the first signal line. The interference signals coupled onto the transmission link are thereby eliminated.
The arrangements in the first and the second exemplifying embodiment have the disadvantage that they must use not only very precisely operating components, but also components that are very well tuned to one another. If this is not the case, a certain proportion of the interference signal may still be present in the usable signal.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,906,384 describes an arrangement with which interference signals, which are overlaid on the usable signal during processing thereof in processing components, are eliminated. In an exemplifying embodiment, an arrangement is presented in which the usable signal is fed on the one hand unchanged to first processing components, and on the other hand in inverted form to second processing components. With the prerequisite that the first and the second processing components are identical, the same interference is then superimposed on the signals present after processing by the processing components. The signals present after processing by the processing components are both fed to a subtracter. The interference caused by the processing components is thereby eliminated.
This arrangement has, however, the following disadvantages: On the one hand, implementation is complex because of the double processing components required. On the other hand, the processing components must be very well matched to one another, since the interference signals can be eliminated only if they are generated identically. In addition, the signal level of the usable signal is doubled by this arrangement.
It is the object of the present invention to improve the elimination of interference signals coupled onto the signal lines during the transmission of signals.

Device in a motor vehicle for transmitting signals generated by means of a sensor


A system and methodology providing workload management in a database cluster. In one embodiment, for example, a method for allocating workload amongst a plurality of database servers sharing access to data comprises steps of: periodically collecting information about workload at each database server; distributing the workload information to each of the plurality of database servers; in response to a client connected to a first database server requesting that work be performed, examining the workload information to determine whether the requested work should be performed at a second database server having a lower workload than the first database server; if it is determined that the work should be performed at the second database server, automatically transferring the client connection to the second database server and performing the requested work at the second database server; and otherwise, performing the requested work at the first database server.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to database management and, more particularly, to a system and methodology providing workload management in distributed database management systems.
2. Description of the Background Art
Computers are very powerful tools for storing and providing access to vast amounts of information. Computer databases are a common mechanism for storing information on computer systems while providing easy access to users. A typical database is an organized collection of related information stored as "records" having "fields" of information. As an example, a database of employees may have a record for each employee where each record contains fields designating specifics about the employee, such as name, home address, salary, and the like.
Between the actual physical database itself (i.e., the data actually stored on a storage device) and the users of the system, a database management system or DBMS is typically provided as a software cushion or layer. In essence, the DBMS shields the database user from knowing or even caring about the underlying hardware-level details. Typically, all requests from users for access to the data are processed by the DBMS. For example, information may be added or removed from data files, information retrieved from or updated in such files, and so forth, all without user knowledge of the underlying system implementation. In this manner, the DBMS provides users with a conceptual view of the database that is removed from the hardware level. The general construction and operation of database management systems is well known in the art. See e.g., Date, C., "An Introduction to Database Systems, Seventh Edition", Part I (especially Chapters 1-4), Addison Wesley, 2000.
In recent years, users have demanded that database systems be continuously available, with no downtime, as they are frequently running applications that are critical to business operations. In response, distributed database systems have been introduced to provide for greater reliability. More recently, "Shared Disk Cluster" database systems have been introduced to provide increased reliability and scalability. A "Shared Disk Cluster" (or "SDC") database system is a system that has a cluster of two or more database servers having shared access to a database on disk storage. The term "cluster" refers to the fact that these systems involve a plurality of networked server nodes which are clustered together to function as a single system. Each node in the cluster usually contains its own CPU and memory and all nodes in the cluster communicate with each other, typically through private interconnects. "Shared disk" refers to the fact that two or more database servers share access to the same disk image of the database. Shared Disk Cluster database systems provide for transparent, continuous availability of the applications running on the cluster with instantaneous failover amongst servers in the cluster. When one server is down (e.g., for upgrading the CPU) the applications are able to continue to operate against the shared data using the remaining machines in the cluster, so that a continuously available solution is provided. Shared Disk Cluster systems also enable users to address scalability problems by simply adding additional machines to the cluster, without major data restructuring and the associated system downtime that is common in prior SMP environments.
Although Shared Disk Cluster database systems provide increased availability and reliability, they also introduce a number of new challenges. Among these challenges are that different SDC systems are used for running a wide variety of applications, each of which may have different workload profiles and resource requirements. SDC systems are subject to varied deployment requirements both in terms of the applications that users want to run on the cluster and how they want to run those applications. For example, one organization may want to run a single application across many nodes of a cluster while another may want to use its cluster to consolidate and run several applications that were previously run on different machines. Also, some users may have monolithic applications which are evenly spread out among nodes of the cluster, while others want to partition the cluster so that certain applications run on certain nodes of the cluster so as to allocate resources amongst applications sharing use of the SDC.
The demands placed by the applications on the cluster may also differ to a considerable agree in different deployment environments. For example, a cluster may host both an order entry application which is write intensive as well as a read-only application (e.g., an application serving up Web pages). A SDC may also host both mission critical production applications as well as lower priority applications (e.g., development or testing applications). Thus, there are many different ways that organizations may wish to utilize SDC systems. Organizations may, in fact, wish to deploy a combination of several of the different types of applications described above on a single cluster.
What is needed to make most effective use of SDC systems is a comprehensive workload management solution that will enable users to host several different types of applications with differing business priorities, transaction profiles and availability requirements on a single cluster. This workload management solution should provide support for deploying any combination of applications and should allow each of the applications to peacefully and cooperatively share the use of the SDC, even if the applications have very different requirements for performance. The present invention provides a solution for these and other needs.

System and methodology providing workload management in database cluster


A method includes determining a first device status when at a first moment, determining a touch parameter of a first side area of the curved screen of the electronic device as a first response threshold based on the first device status, where a pressure sensor is disposed in the first side area of the curved screen, receiving a first operation, responding to the first operation when the first operation meets the first response threshold, determining a second device status at a second moment, adjusting the touch parameter from the first response threshold to a second response threshold based on the second device status, receiving a second operation of the user in the first side area of the curved screen, and responding to the second operation when a pressure threshold of the second operation meets the second response threshold.

Touchscreens are widely applied to electronic products such as a mobile phone, an ebook, and a digital camera, to facilitate a user operation. Existing touchscreens include a capacitive touchscreen and a resistive touchscreen. A commonly used capacitive touchscreen uses current induction of a human body to work. Generally, the capacitive touchscreen is a four-layer compound glass screen. An inner surface and an interlayer of the glass screen are each coated with one layer of ITO (coated conductive glass), and an outermost layer is a thin protective layer of silica glass. An ITO-coated layer is used as a working surface, four electrodes are led out from four corners, and an inner ITO layer is used as a shield layer to ensure a good working environment. When a finger of a user touches the capacitive touchscreen, because of an electric field of a human body, the finger of the user and a surface of the capacitive touchscreen form a coupling capacitor (for a high-frequency current, the capacitor may be considered as a conductor). The finger of the user sucks a small current from a touch point on the surface of the capacitive touchscreen, and the current separately flows from the electrodes at the four corners of the capacitive touchscreen. Because the current flowing through each of the four electrodes is in direct proportion to a distance between the finger and each of the four corners, a controller may obtain a location of the touch point and respond accordingly by accurately calculating four current proportions.
With updating and upgrading of electronic products, screen sizes of touchscreens on some electronic products are getting larger, resulting in a higher probability of misoperations in an operation process. In a handheld operation state, when the finger of the user touches the touchscreen, misoperations frequently occur. With development of bendable screen and side sensor technologies, more touch operations may be performed on a side surface of a mobile phone. In addition to conventional operation areas of a power button and a volume button, there may be more other operation areas, and a new operation area brings a new feature function. This brings more convenience to the user. However, because the side is a location at which a palm of the user holds the mobile phone, if a new touch operation is added in this area, a risk of misoperations greatly increases in a process in which the user holds the mobile phone. Once misoperations occur frequently, experience is greatly affected. Therefore, it is very important to prevent a misoperation during side interaction.

Touchscreen response method and electronic device


Reading and verify operations are performed on non-volatile storage elements using temperature-compensated read voltages for unselected word lines, and/or for select gates such as drain or source side select gates of a NAND string. In one approach, while a read or verify voltage is applied to a selected word line, temperature-compensated read voltages are applied to unselected word lines and select gates. Word lines which directly neighbor the selected word line can receive a voltage which is not temperature compensated, or which is temperature-compensated to a reduced degree. The read or verify voltage applied to the selected word line can also be temperature-compensated. The temperature compensation may also account for word line position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to technology for non-volatile memory.
2. Description of the Related Art
Semiconductor memory has become more popular for use in various electronic devices. For example, non-volatile semiconductor memory is used in cellular telephones, digital cameras, personal digital assistants, mobile computing devices, non-mobile computing devices and other devices. Electrical Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM) and flash memory are among the most popular non-volatile semiconductor memories.
Both EEPROM and flash memory utilize a floating gate that is positioned above and insulated from a channel region in a semiconductor substrate. The floating gate is positioned between the source and drain regions. A control gate is provided over and insulated from the floating gate. The threshold voltage of the transistor is controlled by the amount of charge that is retained on the floating gate. That is, the minimum amount of voltage that must be applied to the control gate before the transistor is turned on to permit conduction between its source and drain is controlled by the level of charge on the floating gate.
When programming an EEPROM or flash memory device, such as a NAND flash memory device, typically a program voltage is applied to the control gate and the bit line is grounded. Electrons from the channel are injected into the floating gate. When electrons accumulate in the floating gate, the floating gate becomes negatively charged and the threshold voltage of the storage element is raised so that the storage element is in a programmed state. More information about programming can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,859,397, titled "Source Side Self Boosting Technique for Non-Volatile Memory;" and in U.S. Pat. No. 6,917,542, titled "Detecting Over Programmed Memory;" both patents are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
Some EEPROM and flash memory devices have a floating gate that is used to store two ranges of charges and, therefore, the storage element can be programmed/erased between two states (an erased state and a programmed state). Such a flash memory device is sometimes referred to as a binary flash memory device.
A multi-state flash memory device is implemented by identifying multiple distinct allowed/valid programmed threshold voltage ranges separated by forbidden ranges. Each distinct threshold voltage range corresponds to a predetermined value for the set of data bits encoded in the memory device.
In present non-volatile storage devices, such as NAND flash memory devices, temperature variations present various issues in reading and writing data. A memory device is subject to varying temperatures based on the environment in which it is located. For example, some current memory devices are rated for use between −40° C. and +85° C. Devices in industrial, military and even consumer applications may experience significant temperature variations. Temperature affects many transistor parameters, the dominant among which is the threshold voltage. In particular, temperature variations can cause read errors and widen the threshold voltage distributions of the different states of a non-volatile storage element. Currently, temperature variations are compensated for by changing the read/verify voltages applied to a selected word line in a way which accounts for the temperature variation of a selected storage element's threshold voltage. This approach can, at best, address the average shift in the distribution of threshold voltages of a storage element which, for simplicity, are all assumed to be in the same data state. However, an improved technique is needed for further reducing the spread of each state's threshold voltage distribution resulting from changes in temperature.

Method for operating non-volatile memory using temperature compensation of voltages of unselected word lines and select gates


A high efficiency amplitude/phase modulation amplifier circuit (100) includes a first (102) and a second (106) high efficiency amplifier. These amplifiers (102 and 106) amplify two constant amplitude/phase modulated signals. A combiner (104) combines the output signals from the amplifiers (102) and (106) to produce a combined signal to a load (108). Two shunt elements (202 and 204) are included to prevent the reactive components of the combined signal from reaching the amplifiers (102) and (106). With no reactive components reflected back, the amplifiers (102 and 106) can remain non-linear even though they are used to amplify an amplitude/phase modulated signal which includes Amplitude Modulation (AM) components.

Amplitude/phase modulation such as Quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) combine amplitude and phase modulation to produce a higher information throughput for a given spectral bandwidth than is available by using phase or amplitude modulation alone. The spectrum efficiency is however gained through the detriment of power efficiency. Although the phase modulation in a QAM signal takes advantage of the high DC to RF power efficiency, the efficiency of the QAM signal is limited to that of the amplitude modulation amplifiers. As is known, amplitude modulation requires the use of linear power amplifier systems to preserve the information modulation in the carrier envelope. Linear amplifiers are notorious for their efficiency. For example, a single ended linear power amplifier (class AB) will have a maximum efficiency at a peak power of 37%. This efficiency decreases as the output power level decreases with the average efficiency being lower than the peak power efficiency. It can be seen that although QAM signals provide an improvement in spectral efficiency they are limited to the linear power amplifier efficiency of AM systems. It is therefore appreciated that a high efficiency QAM system is highly desired that would not suffer from the low efficiency of amplitude modulation linear amplifiers.

Efficient amplitude/phase modulation amplifier


The disclosed computer-implemented method for attributing potentially malicious email campaigns to known threat groups may include (1) identifying a potentially malicious email campaign targeting at least one organization, (2) detecting, within the potentially malicious email campaign, an incriminating feature that has been linked to a known threat group, (3) determining, based at least in part on detecting the incriminating feature linked to the known threat group, that the known threat group is likely responsible for the potentially malicious email campaign, and then in response to determining that the known threat group is likely responsible for the potentially malicious email campaign, (4) attributing the potentially malicious email campaign to the known threat group. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Computer security systems are often used to detect email attacks on computing devices. For example, a computing device may include a computer security system. In this example, the computer security system may detect a malicious email accessed by the computing device via the Internet.
Unfortunately, some conventional computer security systems may be unable to determine whether a particular email attack is an isolated incident or part of a targeted email campaign. For example, certain organizations (such as corporations and/or government entities) may have computing devices that include conventional computer security systems. In this example, the conventional computer security systems may be unable to determine whether malicious emails accessed by the computing devices are part of a comprehensive malicious email campaign targeting these organizations.
Even in the event that certain conventional computer security systems are able to determine that a particular email attack is part of a targeted email campaign, these security systems may be unable to accurately attribute the targeted email campaign to a known threat group. In other words, these security systems may be unable to determine which threat group is responsible for the targeted email campaign. As a result, these security systems may be unable to warn the organizations about the targeted email campaign and/or the responsible threat group in time to deploy any effective countermeasures.
The instant disclosure, therefore, identifies and addresses a need for systems and methods for attributing potentially malicious email campaigns and their corresponding malicious executables to known threat groups.

Systems and methods for attributing potentially malicious email campaigns to known threat groups


A microprocessor, a method for enhanced precision sum-of-products calculation and a video decoding device are provided, in which at least one general-purpose-register is arranged to provide a number of destination bits to a multiply unit, and a control unit is adapted to provide at least a multiply-high instruction and a multiply-high-and-accumulate instruction to the multiply unit. The multiply unit is arranged to receive at least first and second source operands having an associated number of source bits, a sum of source bits exceeding the number of destination bits, connected to a register-extension cache comprising at least one cache entry arranged to store a number of precision-enhancement bits, and adapted to store a destination portion of a result operand in the general-purpose-register and a precision enhancement portion in the cache entry. The result operand is generated by a multiply-high operation or by a multiply-high-and-accumulate operation, depending on the received instructions.

In digital signal processing applications one of the most frequently used functions is the sum-of-products:
      SoP              (                        S          i                ,                  C          i                ,        n            )        =            ∑              i        =        1                    n        -        1                                                  S        i            ·              C        i            wherein SoP is Sum of Products, n is number of products, i is a counter value, Si is the ith of n samples of a quantized signal, and Ci is the ith of n coefficients (e.g. filter or transformation coefficients).
DSPs (Digital Signal Processors) and also some standard microprocessors have dedicated instructions for fast and efficient sum-of-products calculations. A very commonly used instruction is a "MAC" (Multiply-and-Accumulate) instruction which combines the inner loop multiply and add operation into a single instruction.
Operands of microprocessor instructions are represented by a limited number of bits. The limit is defined by the register width of the microprocessor hardware. For integer operands this limit defines the maximum range of values that can be represented. In digital signal processing operands represent quantized analog signals and the operand size limit defines the precision or in other words the quality of the analog signal approximation.
As an example, general purpose microprocessors very often have the same size limit for source and destination operands, set by the width of their general purpose registers. For example, microprocessor architectures that follow modern RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computer) concepts may have a large set of equally sized general purpose registers being used for the source and destination operands of compute instructions.
Multiplying two integer numbers with n bits size generates a product of 2·n bits size for unsigned numbers and a product of 2·n−1 bits size for signed numbers. Depending on the source operand sizes results of multiply instructions may not fit completely in a general purpose register having the same size as the source register. By adding up a sequence of products, sum-of-products calculations may generate result operands having even more bits than a single product. For example, a sum-of-product calculation with n=16, and Si, Ci being signed 16-bit values generates a product of 2·16−1+4=35 bits size.
A common type of multiply instruction found in the instruction sets of many general purpose microprocessors contains storing the low order bits of the product in the destination register. This type of multiply instruction is often used to support high level languages, but is not very well suited for DSP computations. The results of multiply instructions and of sum-of-products calculations can overflow. For DSP computations, "multiply-high" instructions that store the high order bits of the product may be used. The results of single multiply instructions cannot overflow. However, precision of the result operand is reduced because the low order bits of products are discarded.
With increasing gate density and associated decreasing cost of digital circuits, some modern general purpose microprocessors provide fast multiply operations and in principle could be used also for applications typically executed on a DSP. However, due to the width of destination registers the precision of sum-of-product calculations remains limited.
DSPs are a special class of microprocessors. Typically DSPs contain accumulator registers with an extended width to avoid loss of precision in single product and sum-of-products calculations. In general purpose control and compute applications the extended width registers of DSPs provide only little benefit. Additionally, the irregular register sizes and different sizes of source and destination operands and registers complicate the programming model or register set and limit the efficiency (code density and performance) of DSPs in general purpose control and compute programs.
Hence, general purpose microprocessors may not be very well suited for DSP applications and DSPs may not be very well suited for general purpose control and compute applications. For applications with mixed requirements microprocessor architectures with high efficiency and performance in both categories would be beneficial.
However, general purpose microprocessors may be used for DSP algorithms despite the precision versus register size problem.
An example approach suitable for most general purpose microprocessors, source operand sizes may be chosen small. By using source operands of small size (bit width) the results of sum-of-products calculation may be prevented from overflowing. For example, in video or graphics applications, samples are typically 8 to 12 bit values and coefficients 12 to 16 bit values. The length n of sum-of-products calculations for video/graphics is small, in the range of 2 to 8. For example, a processor with 32-bit registers can correctly calculate sum of products of this type. However, resource efficiency is low when using 32·32-bit multiplications, since in video/graphics applications typical output samples have 8-bit precision and for intermediate calculations 16 to 20 bits are sufficient.
Using multiply-high instructions is another example approach provided by some microprocessors having additional multiply instructions that store the high order bits of products in the destination register. This concept is also used for MAC (Multiply-and-Accumulate) instructions. With this concept, operands are treated as fixed point numbers with the decimal point left of the most significant bit. In principal this is approach may be used for DSP algorithms. For small operands, the data paths (multipliers, registers, Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)) can be split into multiple smaller pieces to enable SIMD (Single Instruction Multiple Data) operations. However, the least significant bits of products that must be calculated anyway to obtain the most significant bits are discarded and do not contribute to the precision of sum-of-product calculations.
Yet another approach is based on two concatenated general purpose registers for multiply/MAC destination operands, which may be a typical solution for many DSP algorithms. However, the available number of destination registers is reduced by half.
In US 2002/0178203 A1 it is shown that instead of using general-purpose-registers, additional dedicated accumulator registers may be used. The programming model for the microprocessor may include one or more dedicated accumulator registers for extended precision sum-of-product calculations. To make use of the extended precision special Multiply and MAC instructions are provided that specify an accumulator register as destination. At the end of a sum-of-products sequence a separate instruction transfers the accumulator content (typically with optional shifting, rounding and clipping) to a general purpose register. However, extra instructions are required at the end of sum-of-product sequences to transfer the accumulator content to a general purpose register. This decreases performance, especially for short sequences. The programming model of the processor becomes more complex and the opcode map, i.e. the map for the portions of a machine language instruction that specify the operation to be performed, requires extra space for the multiply and MAC instructions that specify an accumulator

Enhanced precision sum-of-products calculation using high order bits register operand and respective low order bits cache entry


A solid oxide fuel cell includes unit cells, a first side plate and a second side plate respectively attached to opposite lateral surfaces of the unit cells, and a first electricity collector and a second electricity collector arranged between the unit cells. Each of the unit cells includes a support body block. The support body block includes a first surface, a second surface parallel to the first surface, a plurality of first channels and a plurality of second channels existing between the first channels. Each of the unit cells further includes air electrodes formed on inner surfaces of the first channels, fuel electrodes formed on inner surfaces of the second channels, a first electricity collecting layer formed on the first surface and electrically connected to the air electrodes and a second electricity collecting layer formed on the second surface and electrically connected to the fuel electrodes.

A fuel cell is a device for converting a change in free energy caused by oxidation reaction of fuel to electric energy. As examples of the fuel cell, there have been developed a phosphate fuel cell, a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, a molten carbonate fuel cell and a solid oxide fuel cell.
The solid oxide fuel cell is capable of generating electric energy at a high temperature of 600° C. to 1,000° C. Therefore, the solid oxide fuel cell enjoys highest energy conversion efficiency among the fuel cells developed thus far. Thanks to the high energy conversion efficiency, the solid oxide fuel cell, if practically available, can become a substitute for the existing energy converters. If hydrogen is used as the fuel of the solid oxide fuel cell, it is possible to reduce emission of carbon dioxide (CO2). It is therefore expected that the solid oxide fuel cell will be used as an energy source for a future energy system.
In the meantime, the solid oxide fuel cell is operable at a high temperature and is capable of causing reaction within a fuel electrode (anode). This provides an advantage in that the solid oxide fuel cell can use not only hydrogen but also other kinds of fuel such as a natural gas and a coal gas. Unlike the molten carbonate fuel cell, the solid oxide fuel cell does not use liquid electrolyte and does not suffer from problems of material corrosion, electrolyte loss and electrolyte supplement. Complex power generation can be performed through the use of high-quality waste heat dissipated from the solid oxide fuel cell. This makes it possible to enhance the efficiency of a power generation system as a whole.
The solid oxide fuel cell is composed of a unit cell including an oxygen ionic conductive electrolyte, an air electrode (cathode) and a fuel electrode (anode), latter two of which are arranged on the opposite surface of the electrolyte. If an air and reducing fuel such as hydrogen are supplied to the respective electrodes of the unit cell, reduction reaction of oxygen occurs in the air electrode, thereby generating oxygen ions. The oxygen ions move toward the fuel electrode through the electrolyte and react again with reducing fuel such as hydrogen supplied to the fuel electrode, thus generating water. At this time, electrons are generated in the fuel electrode and are consumed in the air electrode. Electricity can be obtained by interconnecting the fuel electrode and the air electrode.
The solid oxide fuel cell is largely divided into a tubular type and a planar type. The tubular type solid oxide fuel cell is disclosed in many different patent documents, e.g., KR10-0286779B and KR10-0344936B.
JP2004-31158A discloses a fuel cell in which a plurality of parallel channels is formed in an electrolyte support body and in which an air electrode and a fuel electrode are formed on the inner walls of each of the channels.
In the fuel cell disclosed in JP2004-31158A, a cap is arranged between an upper unit cell and a lower unit cell. The cap is provided to discharge an exhaust gas going through reaction in the unit cells. A plurality of discharge holes and an exhaust gas flow path are arranged in the cap so that an air and a fuel gas should not be mixed with each other. The fuel introduced passes through the fuel gas flow path, the discharge holes and the exhaust gas flow path. Then, the fuel is discharged to the outside. The air introduced passes through the air flow path, the discharge holes and the exhaust gas flow path. Thereafter, the air is discharged to the outside.
The cap has a plate shape. A rectangular exhaust gas flow path is formed in the central region of the cap. A plurality of discharge holes is formed in the position of the exhaust gas flow path corresponding to the fuel gas flow path or the air flow path. Thus, the cap has a structure substantially hard to manufacture.
The cap is not a power generating part. For that reason, there is a problem in that the power generation area per unit volume is reduced if the cap is arranged between the unit cells adjoining each other.
In the fuel cell disclosed in JP2004-31158A, the flow paths of upper and lower unit cells adjoining each other are not connected to each other. For that reason, the fuel introduced takes part in reaction only when passing through the channels of the unit cells of the respective layers. Thereafter, the fuel is discharged to the outside. In order to increase the reaction area of a fuel gas and an air and to enhance the power generation efficiency, it is necessary to increase the length of the fuel gas flow paths and the air flow paths of the unit cells, eventually increasing the size of the unit cells. In this case, however, the moving route of electrons becomes longer and the power generation efficiency grows lower. This poses a problem in that it is difficult to increase the power generation capacity. Moreover, a difficulty is involved in forming long channels in an electrolyte support body. It is also highly likely that defects are generated in the process of forming the long channels. In addition, there is a need to increase the size of the cap which is hard to manufacture.
Korean Patent No. 0815207 discloses a fuel cell in which a plurality of parallel channels is formed in an electrolyte support body and in which an air electrode and a fuel electrode are formed on the inner walls of the channels. In this fuel cell, passages are formed in the channels so as to interconnect air flow paths and fuel flow paths formed in upper unit cells and lower unit cells adjoining each other. With the structure of this fuel cell, electricity collecting plates have to be installed on the opposite side surface of each of the unit cells to which side plates are coupled. Therefore, each of the unit cells requires two electricity collecting plates. In general, the electricity collecting plates are made of an expensive metallic material. It is therefore necessary to reduce the number of the electricity collecting plates installed. Since the electricity collecting plates are installed on the opposite side surface of each of the unit cells, the distance from the air electrode and the fuel electrode formed on the inner surfaces of the channels distant from the side surfaces to the electricity collecting plates becomes longer. This poses a problem of increasing the moving distance of electrons.


A master substrate 15 having a plurality of substrate areas A arranged in a matrix shape is prepared, and a piezoelectric oscillation element 5 is carried in each of the substrate areas A. A main cover 16 made of a metal having a plurality of cover areas B having a one-to-one correspondence with the substrate areas A is placed and joined on the master substrate 15. The main cover 16 is together cut along the outer periphery B′ of each of the cover areas B, to simultaneously obtain a plurality of electronic devices. The productivity can be improved by simplifying the assembling steps.

1.Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing an electronic device used for electronic and communication equipment such as portable communication equipment and an electronic computer.
2.Description of Related Art
Conventionally, electronic devices containing piezoelectric oscillation elements such as surface acoustic wave elements and crystal oscillation elements (electronic devices with built-in piezoelectric oscillation elements) have been used for electronic and communication equipment such as portable communication equipment and electronic computers.
As such electronic devices, a "crystal oscillator" which is the electronic device containing the crystal oscillation element will be described by way of example.
The conventional crystal oscillator has an insulating base 21 constructed by laminating plate-shaped insulating layers 21a and 21b and a frame-shaped insulating layer 21c, as illustrated in FIG. 23, for example. An area on an upper surface of the plate-shaped insulating layer 21b and surrounded by the frame-shaped insulating layer 21c is provided with a pair of connecting pads 22. A crystal oscillation element 25 having a pair of oscillation electrodes electrically connected through conductive adhesives is attached to the connecting pads 22. A cover 27 made of a metal is joined to the top of the frame-shaped insulating layer 21c through a wax material, thereby air-tightly sealing a space where the crystal oscillation element 25 is carried (see JP2001-274649-A, for example).
Such a crystal oscillator is set into thickness sliding oscillation at a predetermined frequency corresponding to the characteristics of the crystal oscillation element 25 when a varied voltage from the outside is applied between the oscillation electrodes of the crystal oscillation element 25 through an input/output terminal 23 provided on a lower surface of the insulating base 21. A reference signal having a predetermined frequency is oscillated and outputted by an external oscillation circuit on the basis of the resonance frequency. Such a reference signal is utilized as a clock signal in the electronic and communication equipment such as the portable communication equipment, for example.
The insulating base 21 in the above-mentioned crystal oscillator is generally formed by dividing a large-sized master substrate to obtain pieces. The crystal oscillation element 25 is attached to each of the obtained pieces (the insulating base 21), and the cover 27 is joined to the top of the frame-shaped insulating layer 21c, thereby manufacturing the crystal oscillator.
The cover 27 in the above-mentioned crystal oscillator is cut down by dividing a large-sized metal plate (a main cover), similarly to the insulating base 21.
The cover 27 is electrically connected to a ground terminal through the insulating base 21. When the crystal oscillator is used, the cover 27 is held at a ground potential so that noise from the outside is shielded.
The space where the crystal oscillation element 25 is carried may be air-tightly sealed by attaching a seal ring made of a metal so as to surround the crystal oscillation element 25 in place of the frame-shaped insulating layer 21c and joining the cover 27 made of a metal to the top of the seal ring by seam welding or the like.
In the above-mentioned conventional crystal oscillator, however, it is necessary to divide the large-sized master substrate to obtain the individual insulating bases 21 and divide a large-sized main cover to obtain the individual covers 27 prior to the assembling thereof so that the two types of members are respectively obtained by separate dividing steps.
Consequently, the assembling steps of the crystal oscillator become complicated, which does not improve productivity.
When the crystal oscillator is assembled after preparing the individual insulating bases 21 and the individual covers 27 in advance, as described above, each of the plurality of insulating bases 21 must be held in a carrier in order to perform work for the assembling.
Furthermore, the cover 27 is positioned and mounted on the individual insulating base 21 held in the carrier, so that the assembling steps for the crystal oscillator become complicated.

Method of manufacturing electronic device


The following disclosure relates to a flow rate measuring device and method capable of correcting a gradient. More particularly, the following disclosure relates to a flow rate measuring device and method capable of correcting a gradient that may measure a flow rate having a minimized measurement error by including a sensor unit provided on a bottom surface of an inner portion of a fuel tank in order to accurately measure a flow rate value remaining in the fuel tank to obtain distance information between the bottom surface of the fuel tank and an oil surface and gradient information of the fuel tank itself.

In order to measure a flow rate value remaining in a fuel tank for a ship or a vehicle, a flow meter including a float that ascends or descends or a pressure gauge has been used.
In the case of using the flow meter including the float that ascends or descends depending on an amount of fuel, when shaking of the ship or the vehicle is present, an oil surface is inclined, such that a measurement error of a remaining flow rate occurs. Therefore, it is impossible to accurately measure the flow rate.
The pressure gauge, which is a device calculating a pressure of liquid or gas in a closed container or a pressure generated due to gravity, measures a pressure changed depending on a remaining flow rate in the fuel tank to calculate a remaining flow rate value.
Also in the case of using the pressure gauge, a measurement value of the remaining flow rate is not accurate, and when shaking of the ship or the vehicle is severe, a measurement error of the remaining flow rate becomes large more and more, similar to the case of using the flow meter including the float that ascends or descends.
That is, in the case in which rolling and pitching of the ship due to shaking of water are severe or in the case in which the vehicle is driven on an uphill or a downhill, an oil surface of oil remaining in the fuel tank is inclined, such that it is impossible to accurately measure the remaining flow rate.
In Korean Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 10-2005-0041330 (entitled "Flow Rate Measuring Device of Fuel Tank Using Pressure Sensor" and referred to as Related Art Document 1), a flow rate measuring device of a fuel tank using a pressure sensor including air tubes mounted at multiple places of a corresponding width of the fuel tank and having an internal air pressure changed by an amount of fuel ascending or descending in the air tubes depending on a remaining amount of fuel of the fuel tank, a pressure measuring device measuring a pressure of air changed by the amount of fuel ascending or descending in the air tubes mounted at the multiple places, a controlling unit receiving the pressure of the air measured by the pressure measuring device to calculate a remaining amount of fuel, and a displaying unit receiving a signal of the controlling unit to display the remaining amount of fuel has been disclosed.

Flow rate measuring device and method capable of correcting gradient


Attenuated strains of Gram negative bacteria carrying a mutation in one or more ysc genes or homologs are provided, as are methods of use for immunization against infection with a pathogenic strain and for delivery of a therapeutic agent.

Yersinia pseudotuberculosis is an enteropathogenic gram negative bacterial species that infects humans and other mammals. There are three species of Yersinia that are pathogenic for humans and other mammals: Y. pseudotuberculosis and Y. enterocolitica are enteric pathogens, and Y. pestis is the causative agent of bubonic plague and is believed to have evolved from Y. pseudotuberculosis less than 20,000 years ago. Y pseudotuberculosis is transmitted through the fecal-oral route, when contaminated food and water are ingested. Colonization requires the expression of one or more of the Yersinia virulence factors encoded in a naturally occurring plasmid, pYV.
The virulence plasmid pYV, found in pathogenic Yersinia strains, encodes about 30 genes that are responsible for encoding the structural, regulatory and secretory components of the type III secretion machinery, and for the effector molecules transported by this machinery called Yops (Yersinia outer proteins; see Hueck, C. J. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 62: 379-433, 1998 for a review of type III secretion systems). This plasmid-encoded type III secretion system allows Yersinia to secrete and translocate Yops into the host cell where they disrupt cellular processes.
Chromosomal genes encoding a second type III secretion machinery have been found in Yersinia spps. The chromosomally-encoded type III secretion system in Y. pseudotuberculosis is different from the chromosomally-encoded type III secretion system found in Y. enterocolitica. In addition, a flagellar secretion system in Y. enterocolitica, Y. pseudotuberculosis and Y. pestis is a transport system that has homology to type III secretion systems.

Compositions and methods for bacterial immunity and secretion of proteins


A process for preparing dialkyl terephalate comprising the following steps:—i) providing furan-2,5-dicarboxylate; ii) esterifying the furan-2,5-dicarboxylate with alcohol to form furan-2,5-carboxylic acid dialkyl ester; iii) reacting the furan-2,5-carboxylic acid dialkyl ester with ethylene under Diels Alder conditions, elevated temperature and pressure and in the presence of a catalyst such that dialkyl terephthalate is produced; wherein the Diels-Alder reaction is free from solvent; wherein the catalyst comprises a clay comprising metal ions and having Lewis acidity.

Terephthalic acid (TA) and other aromatic carboxylic acids are widely used in the manufacture of polyesters, commonly by reaction with ethylene glycol, higher alkylene glycols or combinations thereof, for conversion to fibre, film, containers, bottles, packaging materials and moulded articles. An important polyester of this type is polyethylene terephthalate (PET), derived from the esterification of terephthalic acid, or transesterification of dialkyl terephthalate, with ethylene glycol. PET is ideal for use in packaging applications owing to its durability, high resistance to oxygen and water, low weight to filling volume, low permeability to gas and non-toxicity to humans. Current global PET production exceeds 50 million tonnes per annum.
A particularly advantageous benefit in the use of PET is its ease of recycling, typically either via melting and reforming or via depolymerisation (hydrolysis, alcoholysis or glycolysis) to reform the constituent monomer units. Recycling of PET does not result in the excessive loss of mechanical properties, so it can be reused many times, thus reducing gas emissions and saving energy.
It follows that a sustainable process for the production of PET from biomass is also desirable. The fluctuating cost of petroleum and the reduction in global crude oil reserve impacts current PET production processes, making them increasingly expensive and unsustainable. Also desirable are new improved processes for the production of the constituent monomers used in the production of PET. A successful example is the production of ethylene glycol (EG), historically synthesised solely from petroleum sources, which accounts for 30% w/w of PET. EG can now be obtained from bio-derived ethylene or from platform molecules such as sorbitol and xylitol. The production of TA by oxidation of p-xylene, however, represents the second largest global consumption of acetic acid; a process which is very environmentally damaging. P-xylene itself is a fossil-derived chemical and accounts for the remaining 70% w/w of PET, but there is no simple bio-replacement for this molecule.
A number of routes have been explored in attempts to obtain bio-derived terephthalic acid.
The first route is via 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF) which is sourced from glucose or cellulose. For example, US-A-2010331568 describes a catalytic process for the conversion of DMF to para-xylene, where the DMF starting material may be synthesized from carbohydrates (e.g., glucose or fructose).
Another route, disclosed in US-A-2011087000 utilises fermentation of sugar to isobutanol followed by dehydration to isobutene, which upon dimerisation, dehydrocyclisation and oxidation of product gives a bio-derived TA.
A third route converts sugar beets to a mixture of intermediates which are further processed to give para-xylene as one of the products; see for example, Sheldon, R. A. Green and Sustainable Manufacture of Chemicals from Biomass: State of the Art; Green Chemistry 16, 950-963 (2014). This route also forms the basis for production bio-based PET, described in WO-A-2009/120457.
A further route, the "absolute ethane route" utilises ethene as the sole starting material to obtain para-xylene (Route D); Lyons, T. W., Guironnet, D., Findlater, M. & Brookhart, M.; Synthesis of p-Xylene from Ethylene. Journal of the American Chemical Society 134, 15708-15711 (2012). The synthesis proceeds via trimerisation of ethene to hexene, conversion to hexadiene over an iridium complex catalyst, Diels-Alder addition of ethene to hexdiene and then catalytic dehydrogenation of the product 3,6-dimethyl cyclohexene.
Finally, the "absolute furfural route" proceeds via oxidation of furfural to fumaric and maleic acids, which are subsequently dehydrated to maleic anhydride. Diels-Alder addition of furan (obtainable from decarbonylation of furfural) (disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,780,552) to maleic anhydride gives an exo-DA adduct which is subsequently converted to anhydride and phthalate salt and finally to TA. Analysis of the obtained TA with accelerator mass spectroscopy showed it had a 100% bio-based carbon content (Tachibana, Y., Kimura, S. & Kasuya, K.-i. Synthesis and Verification of Biobased Terephthalic Acid from Furfural. Scientific Reports 5, 8249, doi:10.1038/srep08249; 2015).
WO-A-2010/099201 (Gevo Inc) discloses methods for producing isobutene, isoprene, and butadiene from mixtures of C4 and/or C5 olefins by dehydrogenation. The C4 and/or C5 olefins can be obtained by dehydration of C4 and C5 alcohols, for example, renewable C4 and C5 alcohols prepared from biomass by thermochemical or fermentation processes. Isoprene or butadiene are then polymerized to form polymers such as polyisoprene, polybutadiene, synthetic rubbers such as butyl rubber, etc. in addition, butadiene can be converted to monomers such as methyl methacrylate, adipic acid, adiponitrile, 1,4-butadiene, etc. which can then be polymerized to form nylons, polyesters, polymethylmethacrylate etc.
WO-A-2009/120457 (The Coca-Cola Company) discloses a bio-based polyethylene terephthalate polymer comprising from 25 to 75 wt % of a terephthalate, which is selected from terephthalic acid, dimethyl terephthalate, isophthalic acid, and a combination thereof; and from 20 to 50 wt % of a diol selected from ethylene glycol, cyclohexane dimethanol, and a combination thereof; wherein at least 1 wt % of the terephthalate and/or the diol is derived from bio-based material. Also disclosed is a method of producing a bio-based polyethylene terephthalate polymer comprising a) obtaining a diol comprising ethylene glycol; b) obtaining a terephthalate comprising terephthalic acid, wherein the diol and/or the terephthalate is derived from bio-based material; and c) reacting the diol and the terephthalate to form a bio based polyethylene terephthalate polymer, which comprises from 25 to 75 wt % of the terephthalate and from 20 to 50 wt % of the diol.
WO-A-2009/064515 (BP Corporation N. Am. Inc) discloses a process for the production of terephthalic acid comprising a) reacting a 2,5-furandicarboxylate with ethylene in the presence of a solvent to produce a bicyclic ether; and b) dehydrating the bicyclic ether. Also disclosed is a terephthalic acid composition having a purity sufficient for direct conversion by reaction with a least one glycol to polyester, suitable for the manufacture of fibre and film without additional purification comprising less than about 25 ppm of 2,5-furan-dicarboxylic acid as an impurity.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,321,714 (UOP LLC) discloses a process of making terephthalic acid or a derivative of terephthalic acid comprising: reacting a diester derivative of 2,5-dimethylfuran with a dienophile containing an unsaturated 2-carbon unit, in the presence of a catalyst to form a para-xylene derivative and optionally reacting the para-xylene derivative to terephthalic acid. The catalyst comprises a metal oxide having Bronsted acidity and further comprises an electron rich metal promoter. Suitable catalysts include solid acid catalysts, metal oxides, ionic liquids, and zeolites. A preferred catalyst is tungstated zirconia.
Despite the prior art, the problem remains that the starting biomass has first to be reduced with oxygen atoms partially or completely removed, and thereafter oxidised to form TA. This has considerable impact on the atom economy of the processes. Additionally, the oxidation step employs the same harsh and destructive reaction conditions currently employed in typical TA synthesis. Atom economy is the measurement of how many atoms of reactants end up in the final product and how many end up in by-products or waste, and is a useful indicator of the environmental impact of a given reaction.
We have now found that a route involving the synthesis of dialkyl terepthalate (preferably diethyl terephthalate (DET) as a potential precursor for bio-based PET) via Diels-Alder addition of 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid to ethene using a heterogeneous, clay-based catalyst results in a yield and selectivity higher than any other reported route. The route is solventless, and involves fewer steps than the prior art.

Process for the production of dialkyl terephthalate