In one embodiment, the invention relates to an ink-imprinted and reusable multilayer cling film of at least one layer for use in combination with a substrate having a rigid smooth surface comprising a non-vinyl flexible polymer cling film which has two smooth surfaces, is substantially free of added plasticizer and provides a 180.degree. peel force after application to glass of from about 30 to about 2500 gms after aging in a 140.degree. F. oven for 72 hours.. In another embodiment, the invention relates to an ink-printed and reusable multilayer cling film of at least two layers which can cling to substrates having a rigid smooth surface without the use of an adhesive material. For example, such multilayer cling film may comprise: (A) a first layer of at least one thermoplastic polymer film having an ink-imprinted upper surface and a smooth lower surface; and (B) a second layer which is a polymeric cling film having an upper surface and a lower surface and comprising at least one non-vinyl thermoplastic elastomer wherein the upper surface of the second layer is in contact with and adhered to the lower surface of the first layer.. In yet another embodiment, the invention relates to an article comprising a substrate having a rigid smooth surface and an ink-imprinted flexible polymeric cling film of at least two layers which are affixed to the smooth surface of the substrate without adhesive whereby the cling film is removably adhered to the substrate.

The term "cling film" as used in the specification and claims may be defined as a polymeric film that adheres directly to a substrate having a smooth surface such as glass, plastic, paper, wood, metal, etc., without the use of glues or adhesives. Cling films can be readily removed from the substrate and reapplied to the same or a different substrate a number of times. Cling films are usually highly flexible polymeric films that cling to a variety of surfaces by cohesion or as a result of a vacuum that is formed when the flexible smooth film is applied to a smooth, rigid surface such as glass, and in some cases to a light matte or textured surface such as in the front of a refrigerator.
Stretch cling films having a wide variety of applications have been known and used for many years for bundling packaged food and other goods. One application of particular interest for the stretch cling films is the bundling of goods for shipping and storage, for example, the bundling of large rolls of carpet, fabric, or the like. Another important and widely used bundling application is the containment and unitization of pallet loads. In these applications, a wrapping cling film is stretched tightly around an article or group of articles, and self-sealed in the stretched condition. In these application, it is essential that the films have cling properties in the stretched state. Good printability is not a requirement.
The present invention is not concerned with stretch cling films, but rather, films which have cling properties in the unstretched state. The cling films of the present invention, particularly when ink-imprinted with a message or design are useful in advertising such as in point of purchase advertising. The unique ability of the cling film to stick to a surface without adhesive is desirable for constant changing of point of purchase advertising. For example, cling films containing a message or design are particularly useful when there is a need for a decal on a product for promotional reasons. Examples include the fronts of refrigerators or microwave ovens where advertising helps to explain the various features of the product. Cling films also are used for advertising products on storefront windows, freezer cases and walk-in coolers. Cling films which have high clarity or can be totally opaque are particularly useful for such purposes.
An important advantage of using a cling film as opposed to an adhesive-backed decal in any application is that the cling film can be easily removed from a substrate without leaving residue.
A recent high volume use of cling film (in particular, vinyl film) has been in the "oil lube sticker" market. When an oil change is obtained at a commercial establishment, the clear cling film sticker is often applied in the upper left-hand corner of the automobile window that informs the owner of the vehicle when the oil in the vehicle should be replaced. The sticker can be easily removed and replaced with a new sticker.
Most of the cling films which have been used are vinyl chloride films (PVC) which have been used extensively because such films are highly flexible, particularly when they contain additives such as plasticizers and/or tackifiers. Generally, the vinyl cling films are calendered films as opposed to extruded or cast films. The films generally comprise 45% to 50% by weight of PVC resin, stabilizers and pigment, and the remainder is a plasticizer such as dioctyl phthalate (DOP). The thicknesses of the film range from about 0.004 to 0.014 inches with both surfaces being double polished. The cling film is generally supplied with a release liner which is usually paper or paperboard stock either with a castcoated or polycoated surface on one side. The cast coating is a clay, and the backside is either free of coating or has a light starch sizing.
It has been known for many years that tackifiers and plasticizers can be added to a polymer to give the polymer the necessary tackiness or cling to adhere to other smooth surfaces. Examples of tackifying additives include surfactants, polybutene, terpene resins, hydrogenated rosins, alkali metal and glycerol stearates and oleates and rosin esters. The use of tackifiers has disadvantages. While tackifiers are known in the art to enhance cling in an olefin cling film, the presence of the tackifier may cause blending difficulties during film manufacture and/or adversely affect optical properties of the film. Another disadvantage of tackifiers, plasticizers and surfactants is that they have a tendency to migrate to the surfaces of the film, and although it has been suggested that such migration to the surfaces enhances the cling properties of the film, the presence of the tackifiers and plasticizers on the surfaces of the films generally reduces the ability of the film to be ink-imprinted. The presence of the tackifiers at the surface also can cause damage to the substrate to which the cling film has been attached.
In addition, the presence of plasticizers and tackifiers in cling films such as vinyl cling films has, in recent years, been the subject of protest by various environmental groups who are opposed to the use of halogenated polymers such as polyvinyl chloride and to the use of certain additives such as the dioctyl phthalate plasticizer commonly used in PVC films.
Accordingly, there is a need for cling films which can replace the vinyl films which can be reapplied after being peeled from a smooth surface, and which do not require the use of plasticizers or tackifiers.


Apparatus for medically treating a tattoo includes a scanned light beam unit having a light beam source assembly adapted to emit light pulses at different wavelengths, a scanner, light detector(s), and a controller operatively connected to the light beam source assembly and the scanner. The controller is adapted: to control the scanned light beam unit to illuminate a first light-pulse-sized region of the tattoo using the light beam source assembly at different wavelengths and at relatively low power; to use the light detector(s) to detect a least-reflecting wavelength of the illumination of the first light-pulse-sized region of the tattoo; and to control the scanned light beam unit to medically treat the first light-pulse-sized region of the tattoo using the light beam source assembly at a wavelength substantially equal to the least-reflecting wavelength and at relatively high power. A method is disclosed for medically treating a tattoo which uses the apparatus.

Conventional techniques for tattoo removal include a clinician directing a fixed-wavelength laser at the tattoo, wherein the laser heats the ink in the tattoo. The heat causes the ink to expand and break up into smaller particles. The body is able to then absorb the small ink fragments and carry them away. The number of sessions depends on the color of the ink of the tattoo. It is also known for a clinician to visually identify a first family of ink colors in the tattoo and use a first laser having a fixed wavelength suitable to remove the first family of ink colors of the tattoo, then to visually identify a different second family of ink colors in the tattoo and use a second laser having a fixed wavelength suitable to remove the different second family of ink colors of the tattoo, and then to visually identify a third family of ink colors in the tattoo and use a third laser having a fixed wavelength suitable to remove the different third family of ink colors of the tattoo.
What is needed is an improved apparatus and an improved method for medically treating a tattoo.

Apparatus and method for medically treating a tattoo


Photothermographic materials are coated with imaging layers and an antihalation layer between the support and thermally developable imaging layers on one or both sides of the support. Such materials can be arranged in association with one or more phosphor intensifying screens capable of providing emission at a predetermined wavelength in imaging assemblies. These imaging assemblies can be exposed to X-radiation and thereby excited to form a latent image in the photothermographic material that can eventually be used for medical diagnosis. The antihalation layers contain radiation absorbing compounds (such as a UV-radiation absorbing compounds) that absorb radiation at the predetermined wavelength (for example at 300 to 450 nm) and have limited absorption at higher wavelengths.

Silver-containing photothermographic imaging materials (that is, thermally developable photosensitive imaging materials) that are imaged with actinic radiation and then developed using heat and without liquid processing have been known in the art for many years. Such materials are used in a recording process wherein an image is formed by imagewise exposure of the photothermographic material to specific electromagnetic radiation (for example, X-radiation, or ultraviolet, visible, or infrared radiation) and developed by the use of thermal energy. These materials, also known as "dry silver" materials, generally comprise a support having coated thereon: (a) a photocatalyst (that is, a photosensitive compound such as silver halide) that upon such exposure provides a latent image in exposed grains that are capable of acting as a catalyst for the subsequent formation of a silver image in a development step, (b) a relatively or completely non-photosensitive source of reducible silver ions, (c) a reducing composition (usually including a developer) for the reducible silver ions, and (d) a hydrophilic or hydrophobic binder. The latent image is then developed by application of thermal energy.
In photothermographic materials, exposure of the photographic silver halide to light produces small clusters containing silver atoms (Ag0)n. The imagewise distribution of these clusters, known in the art as a latent image, is generally not visible by ordinary means. Thus, the photosensitive material must be further developed to produce a visible image. This is accomplished by the reduction of silver ions that are in catalytic proximity to silver halide grains bearing the silver-containing clusters of the latent image. This produces a black-and-white image. The non-photosensitive silver source is catalytically reduced to form the visible black-and-white negative image while much of the silver halide, generally, remains as silver halide and is not reduced.
In photothermographic materials, the reducing agent for the reducible silver ions, often referred to as a "developer," may be any compound that, in the presence of the latent image, can reduce silver ion to metallic silver and is preferably of relatively low activity until it is heated to a temperature sufficient to cause the reaction. A wide variety of classes of compounds have been disclosed in the literature that function as developers for photothermographic materials. At elevated temperatures, the reducible silver ions are reduced by the reducing agent. In photothermographic materials, upon heating, this reaction occurs preferentially in the regions surrounding the latent image. This reaction produces a negative image of metallic silver having a color that ranges from yellow to deep black depending upon the presence of toning agents and other components in the imaging layer(s).
Differences between Photothermography and Photography
The imaging arts have long recognized that the field of photothermography is clearly distinct from that of photography. Photothermographic materials differ significantly from conventional silver halide photographic materials that require processing with aqueous processing solutions.
In photothermographic imaging materials, a visible image is created by heat as a result of the reaction of a developer incorporated within the material. Heating at 50° C. or more is essential for this dry development. In contrast, conventional photographic imaging materials require processing in aqueous processing baths at more moderate temperatures (from 30° C. to 50° C.) to provide a visible image.
In photothermographic materials, only a small amount of silver halide is used to capture light and a non-photosensitive source of reducible silver ions (for example a silver carboxylate or a silver benzotriazole) is used to generate the visible image using thermal development. Thus, the imaged photosensitive silver halide serves as a catalyst for the physical development process involving the non-photosensitive source of reducible silver ions and the incorporated reducing agent. In contrast, conventional wet-processed, black-and-white photographic materials use only one form of silver (that is, silver halide) that, upon chemical development, is itself at least partially converted into the silver image, or that upon physical development requires addition of an external silver source (or other reducible metal ions that form black images upon reduction to the corresponding metal). Thus, photothermographic materials require an amount of silver halide per unit area that is only a fraction of that used in conventional wet-processed photographic materials.
In photothermographic materials, all of the "chemistry" for imaging is incorporated within the material itself. For example, such materials include a developer (that is, a reducing agent for the reducible silver ions) while conventional photographic materials usually do not. Even in so-called "instant photography," the developer chemistry is physically separated from the photosensitive silver halide until development is desired. The incorporation of the developer into photothermographic materials can lead to increased formation of various types of "fog" or other undesirable sensitometric side effects. Therefore, much effort has gone into the preparation and manufacture of photothermographic materials to minimize these problems.
Moreover, in photothermographic materials, the unexposed silver halide generally remains intact after development and the material must be stabilized against further imaging and development. In contrast, silver halide is removed from conventional photographic materials after solution development to prevent further imaging (that is in the aqueous fixing step).
Because photothermographic materials require dry thermal processing, they present distinctly different problems and require different materials in manufacture and use, compared to conventional, wet-processed silver halide photographic materials. Additives that have one effect in conventional silver halide photographic materials may behave quite differently when incorporated in photothermographic materials where the chemistry is significantly more complex. The incorporation of such additives as, for example, stabilizers, antifoggants, speed enhancers, supersensitizers, and spectral and chemical sensitizers in conventional photographic materials is not predictive of whether such additives will prove beneficial or detrimental in photothermographic materials. For example, it is not uncommon for a photographic antifoggant useful in conventional photographic materials to cause various types of fog when incorporated into photothermographic materials, or for supersensitizers that are effective in photographic materials to be inactive in photothermographic materials.
These and other distinctions between photothermographic and photographic materials are described in Imaging Processes and Materials (Neblette's Eighth Edition), noted above, Unconventional Imaging Processes, E. Brinckman et al. (Eds.), The Focal Press, London and New York, 1978, pp. 74–75, in Zou et al., J. Imaging Sci. Technol. 1996, 40, pp. 94–103, and in M. R. V. Sahyun, J. Imaging Sci. Technol. 1998, 42, 23.
Problem to be Solved
As pointed out above, there are considerable differences between conventional silver halide-containing photographic materials and silver halide-containing photothermographic materials. One critical difference is the relatively lower amounts of silver halide in the photothermographic materials. As a result, such materials are very transparent to imaging radiation, and may have poor resolution and edge sharpness due to low absorbance.
Photothermographic materials have been developed and commercialized by Eastman Kodak Company, which materials are sensitive to infrared or near-infrared radiation. While these products have found considerable commercial success, there is an interest in providing photothermographic materials that are sensitive in the visible or UV regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. However, because of the low absorbance of such materials, a lot of radiation will pass through the imaging layers to the backside. This "crossover" radiation, as it is known in the art, may be a concern if the material is imaged on one side only, and in the instances where both sides of the support have imaging layers, such crossover radiation will be a greater concern and may lead to reduced image sharpness.
Conventional "wet"-processed photographic materials are spectrally sensitized to provide absorption of imaging radiation including visible light emitted from phosphor intensifying screens. In addition, absorbing dyes can be used in various layers to reduce light transmittance or crossover as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,803,150 (Dickerson et al.). These dyes, however, can be removed or decolorized during conventional "wet" photographic processing, thus reducing dye stain, Dmin, and haze.
In photothermographic materials, however, light absorbing components cannot be removed during thermal processing and may cause "stain" or residual color in the resulting image. The addition of such components can also result in a loss in photospeed and/or image contrast.
There is a need in the art for away to improved image contrast in photothermographic materials without an unacceptable loss in photospeed and without causing dye stain, high Dmin, or haze.

Photothermographic materials with UV absorbing compounds


A limited contact boxing game and apparatus for playing the game includes a platform having an upper surface for supporting two individuals in a standing or crouched position. A platform is preferably in the shape of a square boxing ring and may be elevated and/or include a set of ropes surrounding the platform. The upper surface of the platform includes two or more spaced apart designated boundary areas of equal size and a tethered ball disposed in the space between the two designated areas. The tethered ball is adapted to be struck by each of the individuals toward the other in order to obtain a score by striking the individuals head or body or by causing the individual to step out of their designated boundary area.

Various games have been developed in which a ball, similar to volley ball or soccer ball is tethered. Such games are typically played in confined areas such as a small residential backyard and the movement of the ball is restricted. For example, it is well known to attach a tethered ball to an upright pole. With such apparatus, the ball is struck with the hand or fist during play of the game and the tethered ball rotates around the support pole in a relatively limited arc of travel.
Another approach to a tethered ball game apparatus is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,523,762 of Garner, Sr. As disclosed therein, the game apparatus includes a generally rectangular playing field within a pair of spaced, parallel side lines and a pair of support posts positioned outside the playing field. A support line extends between the pair of support posts and is attached to the posts at their upper ends. The support line bisects the playing field and extends parallel to the base lines. The tethered line is attached to the support line by means of a tethered line ring and a playing ball is attached to the opposite end so that the playing ball may be struck by one or more players on either side of the support line and caused to travel repeatedly over the support line.
A boxing game which incorporates an adjustable pendulum is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,679,793 of Gonzalez. As disclosed therein, a table game simulates the action of a boxing contest or the like. The game includes a flat board with players and markers and adjustable pendulum used by the players to knock over the opponents game pieces.
While games using a tethered ball have been played in confined areas, it is presently believed that there may be a demand for a tethered ball game based on the sport of boxing. Such games in accordance with the present invention allow two or more individuals to actively participate in a boxing match without actually striking an opponent or being directly struck by the opponent. Nevertheless, the game and apparatus according to the present invention provide a vigorous and enjoyable workout and allow individuals to participate in a modified form of boxing while reducing the risk of serious injury.
Further, the limited contact boxing game and apparatus in accordance with the present invention can be easily adapted to the skills of the participants, for various ages and weight groups, and for emphasis on speed or strength. In addition, the apparatus may be modified for other sports such as kickboxing etc.


An asymmetric PHY pair for communicating over a point-to-point link is disclosed. The PHY pair is asymmetric in that the signal processing power used by one of the PHYs to communicate a unit of data over the link is made to be less than that of the other PHY. This asymmetry is accomplished not merely by reducing the signal processing power of one of the PHYs at the expense of the rate at which symbols can be communicated over the link, but by transferring the signal processing power from one of the PHYs to the other PHY so that the symbol rate can be substantially maintained as compared to the symbol rate of a symmetric PHY pair. The asymmetric PHY pair can be advantageously implemented in many different types of communication systems (i.e., in communication systems where one end is more congested and/or crowded than the other end).

Communication systems are designed to transfer information between two devices over a medium in the presence of disturbing influences. Intersymbol interference (ISI) is one well-known disturbing influence in which transmitted symbols become elongated and interfere with adjacently transmitted symbols. This spreading or "smearing" of symbols is generally caused by the dispersive nature of common communication mediums. Because ISI has the same effect as noise, including a deleterious effect on bit error rate, communication is made less reliable.
One of the most basic solutions for mitigating the effects of ISI is slowing down the speed at which symbols are transmitted over a medium. More specifically, the transmission speed can be slowed down such that a symbol is only transmitted after allowing previously transmitted symbol pulses to dissipate. The time it takes for a symbol pulse to dissipate is called delay spread, whereas the original time of the symbol pulse (including any time before the next symbol pulse is transmitted) is called the symbol time. No ISI will occur if the delay spread is less than or equal to the symbol time.
Although slowing down the symbol rate can reduce or eliminate the effects of ISI and other sources of noise, it is generally an unacceptable solution for many of today's communication applications. In fact, many of today's communication applications require speeds in the multi-gigabit per second range. At such high speeds, ISI can completely overwhelm a signal transmitted over a few inches of printed circuit board trace, a few feet of copper cable, or a few tens of meters of multimode optical fiber.
As a result, additional signal processing components are now commonly found in many of today's communication devices to combat ISI and other sources of noise so that the symbol rate can be maintained at required rates. For example, the physical layer device (PHY) of a communication device communicating over a channel will often include an adaptive decision feedback equalizer (DFE) to perform post-equalization of the channel to reduce ISI, as well as a forward error correction (FEC) encoder/decoder with a high coding gain to further improve the effective signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the channel. Although these additional signal processing components can help to reduce the effects of noise, these components are not without cost. For example, these additional components require additional area, power, and ability to dissipate heat. In communication ends that are congested (e.g., that transmit and/or receive large amounts of data) or that are physically crowded, the added area, power, and heat dissipation requirements can be prohibitive.
The embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawing in which an element first appears is typically indicated by the leftmost digit(s) in the corresponding reference number.

Asymmetric complexity PHYs to reduce power dissipation in point-to-point communication links


A convertible bow arrangement for a boat, permitting the bow of the boat to be converted from a flush deck configuration to an open bow configuration. A deck extension is positioned over a footwell in the flush deck configuration and folded beneath and stowed under a forward hatch in the open bow configuration.

Many pleasure boats sold today are classified as convertible or multi-use boats. Such boats are sold with the accessories for use as a fishing boat, such as trolling motors, depth and fish finders, and live wells, and are also configured for use as runabouts. While it is possible to design many features of such multi-use boats to be compatible with each of their roles, some compromises of desirable features have been necessary in current boats. One of these compromises is the inclusion of an open bow arrangement with a footwell recessed in the front deck of the boat to increase the utility of the boat as a runabout. This footwell may be in the area most desirable for mounting a seat or other support when using the boat for fishing or in the area where a person fishing over the bow of the boat may wish to stand. Improvements to existing boats are desirable to allow more flexible and effective use of a boat for multiple roles.


Descriptors are used, which combine the code words of a transmission block of the same correctability into a subset, and which describe the size of the subset as well as the difference in the correctability of the previously concerned subset.

The invention relates to a method for error correction, in which mechanisms for repetition of data packets with errors are not possible owing to the excessive transmission delays associated with them.
During packet-oriented transmission of data, bit errors generally occur in landline networks owing to overloading at network nodes and, in the case of mobile channels, as a result of atmospheric interference and multipath propagation, and these bit errors are detected by error-recognition codes and lead to rejection of entire packets. So-called reliable transport protocols such as TCP use repetition mechanisms (Automatic Repeat Request Methods) in order to make it possible to transport packets which have been lost or rejected reliably to the receiver despite channels being subject to interference. However, this is associated with a very considerable increase in the transmission delay, which may however be intolerable, especially for communications purposes. Unreliable transport protocols, for example UDP, are therefore used in this case. Although these do not result in any increase in the transmission delay, they do not, however, offer any mechanisms for compensating for packet losses, either. For some time, the audiovisual transport group (AVT) of the IETF have been making intensive efforts to link methods for forward error correction (FEC) and packet-oriented transmission to unreliable transport protocols. In this case, by way of example, a plurality of data packets are coded in one step and the z code words cwi which result from this, where 0≦i<z, of length N are arranged in a memory array such that the code words form the rows or columns of a z×N or N×z matrix. Columns and/or rows are then mapped onto packets of a transport layer, for example RTP/UDP, and are transmitted. In order to make it possible to achieve source-adaptive coding, the code words cwi in a matrix may have different protection against errors and deletions.
If the expression epi is used in the following text to denote the correction capability of a code word cwi, then a so-called error protection profile EPP describes the correction capability of the set of code words which are combined in a matrix EPP={ep0, ep1, . . . epz−1}. The error protection profile for two successive matrices or transmission blocks may be different, depending on whether it relates to the matching of error protection to the source or else to the channel. However, in order to make it possible to decode the code words in a transmission block at the receiver, the corresponding error protection profile must be known to the decoder or must be transmitted to the decoder. This is dependent on reliable signaling, which should be efficient in order to keep the additional overhead as low as possible. It would be very inefficient to transmit a sufficiently large number of fields for this purpose in the header of each transmission packet, and transmission outside the logical channel (out-of-band signaling) involves additional complexity.

Method for correcting errors in a packet-oriented data transmission


Methods and circuit configurations for utilizing memory cells having weak retention times are provided. For some embodiments, rows identified as having weak retention cells may be refreshed more often than “normal retention” cells. As an example, if a normal refresh period is TREF, weak retention cells may be refreshed every TREF/2 or TREF/4 (possibly depending on the actual measured retention time).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to semiconductor memory devices and, more particularly, to volatile semiconductor memory devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
The evolution of sub-micron CMOS technology has resulted in an increasing demand for high-speed semiconductor memory devices, such as dynamic random access memory (DRAM) devices, pseudo static random access memory (PSRAM) devices, and the like. Herein, such memory devices are collectively referred to as DRAM devices. Such devices utilize memory cells consisting of one transistor and one capacitor. Due to leakage, the memory cells require periodic refreshing to protect data that is stored in the memory cell from corruption or decaying over time. The data stored in the memory cell is automatically restored to a full logic level when accessed (e.g., via a read or write operation), but must be periodically refreshed when not accessed. Therefore, DRAM devices typically include refresh circuitry to facilitate memory cell refresh.
The amount of time for which a memory cell can retain data without requiring refresh is commonly referred to as the retention time of the cell. Variables in the manufacturing process may result in a broad distribution of retention times for cells within a DRAM device. Testing procedures designed to determine the retention times of cells are often performed as part of the manufacturing process. During these procedures, cells with retention times that fall below a minimum specified retention time (i.e., "weak retention cells") are identified. In some cases, a manufacturer may offer devices with differing grades, based on different maximum retention time of the cells. For example, cells of a normal grade part may have a lower retention time than a more advanced part. The more advanced grade part may be more desirable, as it requires less frequent refresh operations and, therefore, may consume less standby power. However, cells that have fallen below even the less stringent minimum retention time for normal parts may be considered as having failed.
In some devices, redundancy may be used to replace such failed cells. FIG. 1 illustrates one example of a redundancy scheme utilizing redundant circuitry to replace normal rows 102 having failed cells with redundant rows 104. The replacement may be accomplished by programming programmable read only memory (PROM) registers 106 with the row address of a row with a failed cell, such as row 102F (illustratively having a row address XA). Normal rows with no failed cells are accessed normally, via normal row decoders 111. However, when the normal row XA is accessed (e.g., during a refresh, read, or write operation), the redundant circuitry detects a match with a PROM register 106 and activates a corresponding redundant row 104, via a redundant row decoder 112, instead.
One disadvantage to this redundancy scheme, however, is that the circuitry required to support redundancy (e.g., the redundant rows themselves, the PROM registers, redundant row decoder, and comparison circuitry) occupies a significant amount of chip area, which increases with the number of redundant rows. As a result, only a limited number of redundant rows are typically provided. The advent of portable devices (e.g., cell phones, personal digital assistants, and the like) has brought demands for memory with longer retention times that consume less standby power in order to increase battery life. As a result, the number of weak retention cells may increase beyond the limits of redundancy.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for improved methods and circuit configurations for utilizing memory cells having weak retention times.

Refresh for dynamic cells with weak retention


A circuit device for an LED's driving and stabilizing system includes an AC/DC controllable driving voltage source, a feedback driving controller, an LED demodulation driving controller controllable driving voltage source, an external regulator, and an LED modular device. While various internal conditions or factors of the circuit device may be obtained through integrally or partially setting and computing, the circuit device may also be externally connected to an input signal source according to the characteristics of different attributive conditions to thereby achieve the function of automatic regulation, enabling the LED modular device connected thereto and having been used over a long period of time to have lowered brightness attenuation rate, reduced power loss, reduced heat generation, and accordingly, extended the LED's lifespan.

With the rapid development in technological fields, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) have gradually replaced the bulbs and mercury-containing fluorescent tubes as a light source in commercially available illuminating devices. This is because the LED has low power consumption, long service life, no idling time, and fast response speed, and is flicker-free to protect a user against sore eyes. Moreover, the LED is small in size, vibration-proof, easy for mass production, and may be produced into an extremely small size or an array-type element. Therefore, the LED has been widely used as a light source in digitalized 3C products, automobile lamps, and ornamental lamps. It can be seen that the LED has become a main light source in the development of future illuminating field.
While the currently available LED light source has reached a considerably high brightness, there are still some technical problems in the LED that need improvements. The first problem with LED is heat dissipation. Most of the commercially available LED products and patents to the prior art LEDs pay a lot of attention to the heat radiation efficiency of the LED. While some conventional LEDs have good heat dissipation efficiency to avoid being overheated, these conventional LEDs consume more power supply. And, when the LEDs have been used over a long period of time, they are subject to a gradually increased brightness attenuation rate and accordingly shortened the lifespan.
Further, when the LED is used as a light source for an illuminating device, the illuminating device must only be connected to a direct current (DC) power supply. An alternating current (AC) power supply cannot be used with the LED. Therefore, when it is desired to widely use the LED to replace general lighting devices and illuminating products, an AC/DC converter must be provided along with the lighting devices or illuminating products that use LED as a light source thereof. By doing this, it would inevitably bring inconveniences to the users.

Circuit device for light-emitting diode driving and stabilizing system


An aqueous pharmaceutical composition comprising sodium cromoglicate as an active ingredient and a quaternary ammonium compound such as benzalkonium chloride as a preservative, characterized in that said composition comprises a precipitation inhibitor selected from the group consisting of alkanolamines including 2-aminoethanol and tocopherols including d-.alpha.-tocopherol is provided. The composition has characteristic feature of free from precipitation or turbidity in manufacturing processes and during storage.

Aqueous pharmaceutical compositions in the form of eye drops, nasal drops or other, which comprise sodium cromoglicate [disodium salt of 1,3-bis(2-carboxychromon-5-yloxy)-2-hydroxypropane] having antiallergic activity as an active ingredient, have been used for preventive and therapeutic treatment of allergic conjunctivitis and allergic rhinitis.
It has been known that turbidity or precipitation tends to quite frequently appear in an aqueous pharmaceutical compositions comprising sodium cromoglicate as an active ingredient (see, for example, Japanese Patent Publication (KOKOKU) Nos. (Hei)4-66452/1992 and (Hei)4-78613/1992). It is recognized that the turbidity or precipitation is formed because a quaternary ammonium compound such as benzalkonium chloride, which is added as a preservative, reacts with sodium cromoglicate in the presence of trace metal ions (Pb.sup.2+, Ca.sup.2+, Cu.sup.2+, Al.sup.2+, Fe.sup.2+, Fe.sup.3+, Zn.sup.2+, Mg.sup.2+ or other) contained in the aqueous solution. Recent researches by the inventors of the present invention revealed that the reaction of benzalkonium chloride and sodium cromoglicate as well as resulting precipitation of reaction products are remarkably accelerated especially when concentrations of calcium ion and magnesium ion in the aqueous solution exceed 1 ppm and 10 ppm, respectively.
The generation of turbidity or precipitation seriously disturbs a process of manufacturing an aqueous pharmaceutical composition comprising sodium cromoglicate as an active ingredient, and this is also a significant problem from a viewpoint of storage stability of pharmaceutical preparations. However, considerable amounts of magnesium and calcium are contained as unavoidable impurities in bulk powder of sodium cromoglicate used as a raw material of pharmaceutical preparations, and distilled water for injection used as a solvent also contains a trace amount of metal ions. Therefore, it is practically impossible to achieve complete prevention of the generation of turbidity or precipitation by improving quality of raw materials and circumstantial conditions of a manufacturing process.
For the manufacture of an aqueous composition comprising sodium cromoglicate, methods of adding a precipitation inhibitor (sequestering agent) such as a chelating agent or a nonionic surfactant to the aqueous composition have thus been proposed as means to effectively prevent the generation of turbidity and precipitation.
For example, the following means have been proposed: an aqueous composition comprising sodium cromoglicate as an active ingredient that is added with an effective amount of a pharmaceutically acceptable chelating agent or sequestering agent when a concentration of a metal ion in the aqueous solution exceeds 0.40 ppm (Japanese Patent Publication (KOKOKU) No. (Sho)54-25082/1979); a water-soluble pharmaceutical preparation added with benzalkonium chloride as a preservative and polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate or polyoxyethylene hardened castor oil as an agent for preventing turbidity or precipitation (Japanese Patent Publication (KOKOKU) No. (Hei)4-66452/1992); and an external pharmaceutical preparation containing benzalkonium chloride as a preservative and a nonionic surfactant such as polyoxyethylene hardened castor oil in respective particular amounts (Japanese Patent Publication (KOKOKU) No. (Hei)4-78613/1992).

Aqueous composition containing cromoglycic acid


A method and apparatus for acquiring digital microscope images is disclosed, in which a plurality of magnified images of a specimen are captured for tiling together to provide an overall composite image of the specimen. In accordance with the described method, the specimen is moved relative to an imaging system comprising a microscope and camera in a predetermined path whilst the plurality of magnified images are captured. In a preferred embodiment, the specimen, contained on a slide, is mounted on a movable microscope stage, and is moved beneath the microscope in the predetermined path. The velocity of the movement of the stage and the shutter speed of the camera is computer controlled to capture overlapping, clear images.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for acquiring digital microscope images, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for acquiring a digital image of a specimen, or part thereof, on a microscope slide, which is larger than the field of view of the microscope.
2. Description of the Related Art
The use of digital images of microscope specimens, which are typically displayed on a display screen, is becoming increasingly important in the field of diagnostic pathology. For example, digital images of a microscope specimen may be captured using a microscopy imaging system and the acquired digital image data may be assembled together to form a composite image of the specimen, and transmitted to local or remote locations for diagnosis by a pathologist. Thus, the acquisition of digital images of pathology specimens advantageously enables specimens to be viewed by consultant pathologists at remote locations.
Conventional methods for acquiring a digital image of a microscope specimen which is larger than a single field of view image involves acquiring separate, adjacent field of view digital images or image "tiles" and subsequently mosaicing (also known as montaging or tiling) the adjacent images to obtain an overall composite image of the specimen or part thereof.
For example, WO-A-98/39728 discloses a method and apparatus for acquiring and reconstructing contiguous specimen image tiles. The adjacent image tiles are obtained by computer-controlled positioning of the microscope stage, on which the microscope slide is placed, beneath the imaging system comprising microscope and digital camera. The stage is driven by stepper motors, under control of a computer, in steps to precisely position the stage for acquiring each image tile, contiguous with the preceding image tile. Since the image tiles are contiguous, the image tiles can be readily seamlessly matched or abutted together to form a composite image.
Similarly, in EP-A-0 994 433, in the name of the present applicant, a method of acquiring digital microscope images is disclosed in which adjacent image tiles similarly are obtained by stepwise imaging of the specimen.
Whilst such conventional methods of acquiring digital microscope images result in a high quality composite image of the specimen, the imaging process is time consuming, particularly if imaging of a complete specimen is performed using a medium or high power objective lens in the microscope. This is because the time taken to image the complete specimen is proportional to the number of image tiles in the complete specimen. The higher the magnifying power of the objective lens, the smaller the area of the specimen contained in the field of view, and the greater the number of image tiles.
Moreover, the time taken to acquire an individual image tile is subject to physical constraints. In particular, for each image tile it is necessary to perform the sequential steps of: i) moving the microscope stage to the correct position; ii) pausing to allow the microscope stage to come to rest; iii) if necessary, focusing the microscope, and iv) operating the camera to acquire the image. To prevent excessive vibration or jitter of the stage during the stepwise movement, which would lead to poor quality images, the velocity of movement in step i) and the duration of the pause in step ii) are constrained by the physical limitations of the stage so that the time taken cannot be reduced below a certain amount.
In view of these limitations, imaging of a complete specimen of say 20 mm by 20 mm at 40× magnification may take over an hour and could take five to six hours. This time delay in the image of the specimen becoming available for diagnosis by a pathologist is problematic. In addition, the use of the valuable resource of the imaging system for such a lengthy period of time for only a single specimen may be difficult to justify.
One way of addressing this problem is to limit the area of the specimen to be imaged at high magnification to only selected portions. By restricting the area to be imaged at high magnification, it is possible to reduce the amount of time needed to acquire the specimen images. However, the selection of appropriate areas must be done by a skilled pathologist. In particular, it is necessary for an expert to identify the most significant regions of the specimen, to be viewed at high magnification, in order to make an accurate diagnosis.
If the pathologist is local to the imaging system, then the pathologist can select the relevant areas for scanning. However, this process represents a poor use of the pathologist's time. In addition, if a remote pathologist is then consulted for a second opinion, the remote pathologist will not be able to view, at high magnification, areas of the specimen other than those selected by the local pathologist. This compromises the ability of the remote pathologist to make an accurate diagnosis, since he or she is reliant on the local pathologist having selected all the important areas of the specimen. Many consultant pathologists will be reluctant to give a diagnostic opinion based on the limited images selected by another pathologist, particularly if that pathologist is not know to him or her.
One way of avoiding this problem, suggested in WO-A-98/44446, is to allow the remote pathologist to select the areas of the specimen for scanning at high magnification. However, this solution has the disadvantage that there will be a further delay between the time the remote pathologist makes the selection and the time when high magnification images become available due to the time taken for the specimen area to be imaged.
The method disclosed in EP-A-0 994 433 involves scanning the complete specimen only at high magnification. This overcomes the problem of only selected areas of the specimen being available for viewing by a pathologist at high magnification. However, as explained above, the process of acquiring adjacent high magnification images by stepwise movement of the stage is time consuming.
It would therefore be desirable to provide a method and apparatus for acquiring digital images of a microscope specimen at high magnification more quickly than conventional methods.

Method and apparatus for acquiring digital microscope images


A method for cleaning a surface of a resin layer capable of sufficiently improving peel strength of a metal film formed by plating on a surface which is roughened by performing a desmear treatment on a resin layer containing a resin added with a large amount of filler is provided.

The present invention relates to a method for cleaning a surface of a resin layer and, more particularly, to a method for cleaning a surface of a resin layer in which, after a surface of a resin layer is roughened by a desmear treatment, the thus-roughened surface of the resin layer is cleaned.
A multi-layered wiring board for use in an electronic appliance or the like is often manufactured by a build-up method. In this build-up method, at the time of forming a conductor pattern, a semi-additive method is ordinarily adopted in which, after a recessed portion for a via or the like is formed in a resin layer formed on one surface side or both surface sides of a substrate, a metal film is formed by electroless plating on an entire face of a surface of the resin layer. Next, a mask pattern is formed on the thus-formed metal film by using a dry film or the like such that a portion of a surface of the metal film which forms a conductor pattern is exposed and, thereafter, electrolytic plating is performed by allowing the metal film to be an electricity supplying layer, to thereby form the conductor pattern and a via. Then, the mask pattern is removed and, subsequently, an exposed metal film is removed.
At the time of producing the wiring board as described above, in order to improve adhesiveness between the metal film and the surface of the resin layer, a desmear treatment for roughening the surface of the resin layer is performed. The desmear treatment includes a swelling treatment.
However, an uncured monomer or oligomer present in the recessed portion formed on the thus-roughened surface of the resin layer can not easily be removed by a simple cleaning after the desmear treatment and gives an detrimental effect on the electroless plating or the like to be performed thereafter.
For this account, in Patent Document 1 described below, it is proposed that, in order to remove an uncured monomer or oligomer present in a recessed portion formed on a roughened surface of a resin layer, the roughened surface of the resin layer is subjected to ultrasonic cleaning in which ultrasonic vibration of a frequency of 24.5 kHz is applied.    Patent Document 1: JP-A No. 2000-188474
As proposed in the above-described Patent Document 1, after a surface of a resin layer is roughened by subjecting the resin layer to a desmear treatment, detrimental influence caused by the uncured monomer or oligomer to the electroless plating or the like can be reduced by subjecting the surface of the resin layer to an ultrasonic cleaning in which ultrasonic vibration of a frequency of 24.5 kHz is applied.
Meanwhile, in recent years, in order to prevent peeling or the like to be caused by a difference of the rate of thermal expansion (difference of coefficient of thermal expansion) between the resin layer and a metal film, a filler is added to the resin which forms the resin layer in an amount of 20 wt % or more such that the difference of coefficient of thermal expansion is allowed to be as small as possible.
By adding a large amount of filler to the resin which forms the resin layer in this manner, the difference of the coefficient of thermal expansion between the resin layer and the metal film can be reduced in a manner as originally aimed for.
However, it is found that, when the metal film is formed by electroless plating on the surface which is roughened by subjecting the resin layer to the desmear treatment, peel strength of the metal film is insufficient.
For this account, the present inventors have attempted to perform the ultrasonic cleaning on the surface of the resin layer such that ultrasonic vibration of a frequency of 24.5 kHz which is proposed in Patent Document 1 is applied on the surface of the resin layer roughened by performing the desmear treatment on the resin layer containing the resin added with a large amount of filler.
However, it is found that the peel strength of the metal film formed by the electroless plating on the surface of the resin layer which is subjected to such ultrasonic cleaning as described above is not sufficiently enhanced.

Method for cleaning surface of resin layer


An antenna beam controlling system (ABCS) for use in cellular communication systems. The ABCS allows the antenna's horizontal beam direction and horizontal beam width to be remotely adjusted for optimum reception and transmission. The ABCS, in its basic design, is comprised of at least one antenna reflector that incorporates a reflecting disk for receiving and transmitting RF signals, an antenna rotating assembly, and an electronic controller. All the elements of the ABCS are housed within an antenna enclosure, such as a radome, which is maintained in an environmentally shielded condition by a top and bottom cover. The electronic controller is designed to remotely activate the ABCS and to control and optimize the position of the antenna reflector.

Currently wireless cell phones are used throughout the world and their use is rapidly expanding. Cell phones operate in combination with antenna cell sites that are positioned throughout a reception area to provide optimum coverage. When designing a cell site for a wireless cell communication system, the physical position and the pointing direction of a cell antenna is an important parameter in defining the cell site coverage. Therefore, many cell antennas are installed on top of buildings or on towers to extend the cell site coverage area. To install cell antennas in an outdoor environment, the antennas are mounted on top of a supporting pole installed at each cell site. To install cell antennas in an indoor environment, the antennas are mounted on a wall or ceiling. In both cases, clamping tools are used to secure the placement of the antennas.
Antenna clamping tools are used to firmly install the cell antennas on a wall or an existing structure. Installation or adjustment of antennas is not only very dangerous for technicians, as it requires the technicians to climb up to a tall tower or onto a roof and to use both hands for a long period of time, but is also very tedious, which is costly because the technicians have to repeat many of the same procedures over and over again when adjusting the antenna for optimum reception.
A typical prior art antenna beam controlling assembly is shown in FIG. 13 and is comprised of five major elements: a cell antenna 10, an antenna mounting pole 18, an upper articulated mounting bracket 30, an upper clamp 24 and a lower clamp 26.
The cell antenna 10 has internal reflectors (not shown) for sending and receiving RF signals and includes an upper end 12 and a lower end 14. The mounting pole 18 has an upper end 20 and a lower end 22. To the pole's upper end 20 is attached an upper clamp 24, and to the pole's lower end 22 is attached a lower clamp 26. The upper articulated mounting bracket 30 has an outer end 32 and an inner end 34. The outer end 32 is attached to the upper end 12 of the antenna 10, and the inner end 34 is attached, via the upper clamp 24, to the upper end 20 of the mounting pole 18, as shown in FIG. 13. The lower end 14 of the antenna 10 is attached via a lower clamp 26 to the lower end 14 of the antenna 10.
The installation procedure of the prior art antenna beam controlling assembly is comprised of the following steps: first, loosen a pair of nuts located on the upper clamp 24 and the lower clamp 26, which widens the space of the two clamps.
Second, adjust the lower clamp 26 to support the pole 18 and control the direction angle by rotating the antenna 10 along a known direction of an electromagnetic wave corresponding to a cell sector.
Third, loosen a pair of bolts located on the articulated mounting bracket 30 and move along the folding or the unfolding direction of the articulated mounting bracket 30 to adjust the antenna's downward tilt angle. After adjusting the downward tilt angle, tighten the pair of bolts to secure the antenna. The amount of downward tilt required for the antenna 10 is determined by reading a notch mark 36 on an angle indicator 38 located on a side of the articulated mounting bracket 30.
There has recently been a demand to change the direction of cellular antenna beams, due to changes of the topography around a cell site or the degradation of call quality in dense traffic areas. In addition, because there is usually another cell site closely situated, the interference level with other cell sites should be considered when deciding the location of a cell site. In other words, the different conditions of all cell sites should be taken into consideration. In particular, with respect to the horizontal azimuth angle (i.e., horizontal steering), the electrical horizontal beam steering, which controls the phase of signals transmitted to radiating elements, would change the direction of the beam. As a result, scan loss would occur and the sidelobes would be increased. Therefore, in case of horizontal steering, it would be effective to mechanically control the direction of the beam by rotating the antenna itself either to the right or left. In case of electrical control, the antenna must consist of at least two columns of a radiating-element-array. However, there have been some negative issues such as increased width/size of the antenna, increased design complexity, increased weight of the antenna, or an increase in manufacturing costs of the antenna products.
With the existing wireless communication cell site antenna system discussed above, it is difficult to change the direction of the antenna beam frequently because a person needs to manually adjust the antenna and therefore there is always a danger of an accident. Recently, clamping systems have also been installed on the outside of the antenna and thus combined with the supporting mounting pole. This type of installation requires a larger space for the antenna system and does not offer a zoning friendly appearance. Vertical down-tilting, which comprises electric down-tilting by means of a phase-shifter, could maintain the shape of horizontal beams, and mechanical down-tilting could control the center part of the horizontal beams but could not effectively control the side parts of the horizontal beam shape. Therefore, electrical down-tilting is more effective.
The instant invention solves and/or eliminates many of the problems discussed above that are inherent in the prior art.
A search of the prior art patents and industry literature did not disclose an antenna beam controlling system that read on the claims of the instant application.

Antenna beam controlling system for cellular communication


A temperature sensing apparatus configured to measure a temperature distribution of a surface to be measured is provided. The temperature sensing apparatus includes a lens set, a filtering module, a plurality of sensor arrays, and a processing unit. The lens set is configured to receive radiation from the surface to be measured. The filtering module is configured to filter the radiation from the lens set into a plurality of radiation portions respectively having different wavelengths. The sensor arrays are configured to respectively sense the radiation portions. The processing unit is configured to calculate an intensity ratio distribution of the radiation between the different wavelengths according to the radiation portions respectively sensed by the sensor arrays and determine the temperature distribution according to the intensity ratio distribution. A laser processing system and a temperature measuring method are also provided.

In traditional two-dimensional printing, ink is printed on a paper so as to form a two-dimensional pattern. Recently, three-dimensional printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is researched and developed widely and deeply. In an additive manufacturing technology, a three-dimensional image is sliced into a plurality of two-dimensional images by a computer, and a laser beam is used to weld material powder layer by layer respectively according to the data of the two-dimensional images, so as to form a three-dimensional object.
In a selective laser melting process, the variation of melt pool affects the yield of a printed three-dimensional product. For three dimensional parts, the border conditions of the conductive heat transport have a large influence on the melt pool dimensions, e.g. the shape and size. If the welded structure is suspended, the shape and the temperature distribution of the melt pool irradiated by a laser beam over the suspended welded structure are different from those over a non-suspended welded structure due to different heat dissipation conditions. In this case, if the power of the laser beam is maintained the same as the power for the non-suspended welded structure, the shape of the final welded three-dimensional object will not be satisfactory.

Temperature sensing apparatus, laser processing system, and temperature measuring method

Industrial Technology Research Institute


A magnetic confining apparatus prevents the escape of molten metal through the open side of a vertically extending gap between two horizontally separated members and in which the molten metal is located. The apparatus includes a current conducting coil for generating a horizontal magnetic field and non-magnetic fins for concentrating the current in the surface of the coil which is closest to the open side of the gap. The magnetic field generated by the apparatus extends through the open side of the gap and exerts a confining pressure against the molten metal in the gap.

The present invention relates generally to an improvement on the apparatuses and methods for magnetically confining molten metal which are disclosed in said antecedent applications. More particularly, this application discloses an improved method and apparatus for preventing the escape of molten metal through the open side of a vertically extending gap between two horizontally separated members and in which the molten metal is located.
The present invention is intended to operate in the same environment as that disclosed in the parent application, e.g., a twin-roll, continuous-casting apparatus. While the apparatus disclosed in the parent application is effective in preventing molten metal from escaping through the open side of a gap between two horizontally separated casting rollers, the improved apparatus of the present invention is designed to accomplish the same task more efficiently.
The twin-roll continuous casting environment in which the present invention is intended to operate typically comprises a pair of horizontally spaced rolls mounted for rotation in opposite rotational senses about respective horizontal axes. The two rolls define a horizontally extending gap therebetween for receiving the molten metal. The gap defined by the rolls tapers in a downward direction. The rolls are cooled, and in turn cool the molten metal as the molten metal descends through the gap.
The gap has horizontally spaced, open opposite ends adjacent the ends of the two rolls. The molten metal is unconfined by the rolls at the open ends of the gap. To prevent molten metal from escaping outwardly through the open ends of the gap, mechanical dams or seals have been employed.
Mechanical dams have drawbacks because the dam is in physical contact with both the rotating rolls and the molten metal. As a result, the dam is subject to wear, leaking, and breakage, and can cause freezing and large thermal gradients in the molten metal. Moreover, contact between the mechanical dam and the solidifying metal can cause irregularities along the edges of metal strip cast in this manner, thereby offsetting the advantages of continuous casting over the conventional method of rolling metal strip from a thicker, solid entity.
The advantages obtained from the continuous casting of metal strip, and the disadvantages arising from the use of mechanical dams or seals are described in more detail in Praeg U.S. Pat. No. 4,936,374 and in Lari et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,974,661, and the disclosures of each of these patents are incorporated herein by reference.
To overcome the disadvantages inherent in the employment of mechanical dams or seals, efforts have been made to contain the molten metal at the open end of the gap between the rolls by employing an electromagnet having a core encircled by a conductive coil through which an alternating electric current flows and having a pair of magnet poles located adjacent the open end of the gap. The magnet is energized by the flow of alternating current through the coil, and the magnet generates an alternating or time-varying magnetic field extending across the open end of the gap between the poles of the magnet. The magnetic field can be either horizontally disposed or vertically disposed, depending upon the disposition of the poles of the magnet. Examples of magnets which produce a horizontal field are described in the aforementioned Praeg U.S. Pat. No. 4,936,374; and examples of magnets which produce a vertical magnetic field are described in the aforementioned Lari et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,974,661.
The alternating magnetic field induces eddy currents in the molten metal adjacent the open end of the gap creating a repulsive force which urges the molten metal away from the magnetic field generated by the magnet and thus away from the open end of the gap.
The static pressure force urging the molten metal outwardly through the open end of the gap between the rolls increases with increased depth of the molten metal, and the magnetic pressure exerted by the alternating magnetic field must be sufficient to counter the maximum outward pressure exerted on the molten metal. A more detailed discussion of the considerations described in the preceding sentence and of the various parameters involved in those considerations are contained in the aforementioned Praeg and Lari et al. U.S. patents.
Another expedient for containing molten metal at the open end of a gap between a pair of members is to locate adjacent the open end of the gap a coil through which an alternating current flows. This causes the coil to generate a magnetic field which induces eddy currents in the molten metal adjacent the open end of the gap resulting in a repulsive force similar to that described above in connection with the magnetic field generated by an electromagnet. Embodiments of this type of expedient are described in Olsson U.S. Pat. No. 4,020,890, and the disclosure therein is incorporated herein by reference.
The use of a coil to directly generate the magnetic field adjacent the open end of the gap is more efficient than the use of an electromagnet because when employing an electromagnet, the coil is used to energize the core of a magnet through which magnetic flux must travel to the magnet poles which then generate a magnetic field adjacent the open end of the gap. As a result, there is socalled "core loss" when a coil is employed to energize an electromagnet; but core loss is not a significant factor when the coil is employed to directly generate the magnetic field at the open end of the gap. Even in that case, however, it is important to minimize the energy dissipated by the coil in producing a magnetic field sufficiently strong to confine the molten metal.
A drawback to the latter expedient is that the coil must be placed quite close to the open end of the gap in order to generate a magnetic field which will contain the molten metal there. In the expedient employing an electromagnet, the coil can be relatively remote from the open end of the gap. The closer the coil is to the molten steel, the more severe the thermal conditions to which the coil is subjected. Another drawback to the expedient employing a coil for directly generating the magnetic field at the open end of the gap is that part of the magnetic field is radiated in a direction away from the open end of the gap, thereby decreasing the efficiency of the coil. The problem described in the preceding sentence can also be a problem when employing any electromagnet.
The parent application, Gerber, et al., Ser. No. 07/902,559, discloses a magnetic confining apparatus which employs a single turn coil to directly generate a magnetic field that extends through and is confined substantially to the open side of the gap. In that apparatus, magnetic material encloses all but the front working surface of the front half of the coil, and that magnetic material is used to concentrate current in the working surface of the coil that faces the open side of the gap.
Although the use of such magnetic material is effective in concentrating current in the working surface, it also has several practical limitations.
First, eddy currents induced in the magnetic material by the changing magnetic field produce energy losses and resultant heating of the magnetic material. This effect is minimized by fabricating the magnetic material from thin laminations, but fabrication then becomes more difficult and costly.
Second, the efficiency of the embodiment using magnetic material is further limited by magnetic hysteresis loss in the magnetic material. Magnetic hysteresis loss, a condition which is well-known to those of ordinary skill in the art, refers to energy that is dissipated in the form of heat in magnetic material when a time-varying magnetic field is applied to the magnetic material. Because this energy loss is characteristic of any magnetic material, a molten metal confining apparatus that does not employ magnetic material is desirable.
Each of the above-described energy losses causes heating of the magnetic material. If the current flowing in the coil is strong enough, the heat generated by the above-described energy losses can be severe enough to cause irreversible damage to the magnetic material. Accordingly, there is a limit on the amount of current that can be conducted through the coil, and as a result, there is a corresponding limit on the magnetic confining pressure that can be exerted by the coil. Thus, there is a limit on the amount of molten metal that may be confined by the coil employing magnetic material, in the manner described above, to concentrate current in the working surface. To confine molten metal in amounts exceeding this limit, it is necessary to employ a coil that does not employ magnetic material in such a manner.

Apparatus and method for magnetically confining molten metal using concentrating fins


A cylinder liner for an internal combustion engine is externally threaded at a first end portion. An annular groove having a threaded first side surface is disposed in a cylinder head. The cylinder liner is screwthreadably engaged with threaded annular groove, forcibly engaged with an end surface of the annular groove, and sealed by side thread loading. A seal member and ring disposed about the cylinder liner and in a coolant passage isolates the threads from coolant fluid and optimizes cylinder liner cooling. A minimum crevice volume is provided between the annular groove and the cylinder liner.

Over the decades diesel and gas engines have evolved with basically three different types cylinder block and liner configurations. The integral bore cylinder block, top flanged liner and spacer plate and block combination and the mid supported liner spacer deck block arrangement.
The integral bore cylinder block is generally used for engines where cost, weight and size are the driving force behind the design and durability, and reparability is secondary. This type engine is generally considered light to medium duty.
The top flanged liner and cylinder block have been the industry standard for heavy duty diesel engines for decades. Top flanged liners are hardened for long life goals and easy reparability in case of cylinder bore damage. The engines can be rebuilt to like new at major overhaul by installing new liners.
The mid supported cylinder liner has the features of the conventional flanged liner and in addition permits the cooling fluid level to be raised to the top of the cylinder liner. The advantage for this system is the ability to raise the top ring of the piston to near the top of the piston thus reducing crevice volume in the combustion area. Crevice volume is a factor in lowering fuel consumption and emissions.
Although many of the major deficiencies associated with engine cylinders have been addressed they all fall short of maximization. In this regard, there is left the need for improvement in the areas of emissions by further reducing crevice volume. Crevice volume can be further reduced by maximizing the height of liner cooling to the bottom of the cylinder head. This would allow the piston rings to be placed closer to the cylinder head which reduces crevice volume. Also, by the elimination of clamping on the cylinder liner flange as in the mid or top mounted cylinder liners, undesirable emissions may be reduced. Clamping causes cylinder liner distortion. Without clamping, cylinder bore roundness may be maintained. Cylinder roundness facilitates good piston ring sealing which contributes to a reduction in undesirable engine emissions.
The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems as set forth above.

Cylinder liner connecting arrangement and method


A system comprising a first memory, a second memory, and a controller. The first memory may be configured to store a first firmware. The second memory may be configured to store a second firmware similar to the first firmware stored on the first memory. The controller may be configured to (i) operate the first firmware stored on the first memory, (ii) discontinue operating the first firmware in response to a failure of the first firmware, and (iii) begin operating the second firmware after discontinuing operation of the first firmware.

Conventional systems implement firmware as an important code to control activities of a RAID controller most of the time. The firmware controls activities such as creating, deleting, modifying and scanning a configuration detail during a boot sequence. If an error occurs during the execution of the firmware (i.e., crashing, code breaking, etc.) a conventional RAID controller will stop functioning properly, and the controller will have down time. During such down time, an end user will be unable to access data from the storage device. The RAID controller will need to be updated (or flashed) with the firmware on the same RAID controller in the case of firmware failure. The RAID controller will need to be replaced in the case of a firmware flash chip failure.
RAID controllers are used in several locations including mission critical/scientific computation, banking, data storage and computation, the educational sector, etc. The implementation of a RAID controller depends upon end user requirements and configuration of the RAID controller based on high throughput and/or redundancy. A combination of the end user requirements and configuration of the RAID controller also determines whether a RAID controller is implemented. Currently, if the firmware of the controller becomes corrupted, a greater downtime will result to the end user regardless of the application and configuration of the RAID controller. This situation can be handled either by upgrading the firmware in the faulty RAID controller or by changing in a new RAID controller. The upgrading or changing of the RAID controller will result in more down time at the customer end.
Disadvantages of conventional approaches include (i) greater down time when the firmware crashes and/or the firmware flash chip fails, (ii) if the firmware fails then a field engineer (or customer) has to update the firmware, (iii) the need to spend money to replace the RAID controller in the case of a firmware flash chip failure, (iv) operation being halted in terms of days (i.e., at least a partial day) in the case of firmware crash and/or firmware flash chip failure, (v) if power failure happens while firmware flashing, then the controller may not work, and/or (vi) a mandatory physical dealing in the system and RAID controller in case of firmware crash and/or firmware flash chip failure.
It would be desirable to implement a method and/or apparatus for implementing firmware recovery in a RAID controller by using a dual firmware implementation.

Firmware recovery in a raid controller by using a dual firmware configuration


The present invention describes a display comprising a liquid crystal layer, an illumination system and a reflective layer, where the reflective layer is arranged below the liquid crystal layer, where the reflectivity of the layer is adjustable. In this way the amount of ambient light passing through the display and being reflected by the reflective layer can be altered. Moreover, the present invention describes a method and computer program for controlling reflectivity of a flat display panel in a portable electronic device.

Electronic devices with FDP (Flat Panel Displays) based on different technologies, such as PDP (Plasma Display Panel) and LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) have existed for a number of years on the market now. While offering superior sharpness and level of detail compared to previously existing cathode ray tubes there is a constant need to reduce their power consumption in portable electronic devices. Mainly the power consumption of FDP displays stems from their backlight function used in order to illumine the display when it is used in unfavourable lighting conditions.
In recent years, electronic devices with displays using so called OLED (Organic Light Emitting Display) have appeared on the market eliminating the need of a backlight function and, under special circumstances, possibly also the power consumption of such a display. However, the cost of OLED displays is still higher than that of LCD displays with backlight and at the same time OLED displays may show signs of colour shifting with time. Thus, LCD-based FDP displays will probably still remain the dominant display technology on the market for some time.
Now regarding LCD displays In low lighting conditions which typically occur indoors, a display with high brightness and contrast is desirable, i.e. a fully transmissive display. On the other hand, it is also desirable to have a display that is clearly visible in bright light as well.
Since so far these requirements have been in conflict, design engineers have developed displays which provide a compromise between fully transmissive and fully reflective displays offering satisfactory brightness and contrast in most lighting conditions.
Therefore, the selection of display for an electronic device has been influenced by the lighting conditions in which the display was to be used.
Handheld electronic devices are normally used in all possible lighting conditions. Hence there is a need to develop a display for portable electronic devices which provide good brightness and contrast in all lighting conditions.


A mixer tap is provided that includes: a lever; a temperature adjusting mechanism that enables adjusting a discharge water temperature by rotating the lever from side to side; a discharge amount adjustment mechanism that enables adjusting the discharge amount by rotating the lever back and forth; a side-to-side click mechanism that effects a side-to-side click feeling in association with rotation of the lever from side to side; and a back-and-forth click mechanism that effects a back-and-forth click feeling in association with rotation of the lever back and forth. In the mixer tap, a click feeling is varied depending on a lever back-and-forth position and/or a lever side-to-side position. The difference in the click feeling can provide a user with various items of information. This information allows the improvement of the convenience of the mixer tap.

There is known a water tap in which the discharge amount and the mixing ratio between heated water and cold water can be adjusted by manipulating a handle. In a single lever mixer tap, heated water and cold water can be switched and the mixing ratio can be adjusted by turning a lever handle, and the discharge amount can be adjusted by manipulating the lever handle back and forth (by manipulating the lever handle up and down).
Some mixer taps include a click mechanism. Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 3166820 discloses a click mechanism in turning a lever. In this invention, the click mechanism is implemented in which a damping edge is formed on a damping spring plate in a nearly circular shape and the damping edge is fit into a bump portion. Japanese Patent No. 2779792 discloses a click mechanism in rotating a lever back and forth. In this invention, the click mechanism is implemented by engaging a plurality of recesses formed on both sides of a lever body with a projection formed on a plate spring.
Meanwhile, JP-A-2003-129535 discloses a single lever mixer tap that discharges water at a position at which the position of a lever handle faces a user. It is an object of this invention to prevent a user from unintentionally using mixed water and to aim for resource savings.


A telephone exchange provides dial-up switched connections for customers' broadband data terminal equipment (DTE). In response to data received over an associated narrowband channel, the exchange establishes a broadband transmission path to a broadband DTE associated with the narrowband channel. Upon receiving a number for the called party broadband DTE over the narrowband channel, the switch establishes an interoffice broadband channel for communications between the originating and destination DTE.

This invention relates generally to the switching and transmission of broadband communication channels. The invention is more specifically directed to dial-up switching of such channels upon end user demand and the transmission of such channels through an interoffice communication network.
Transmission of high bandwidth signals between different locations has been typically accomplished utilizing direct point-to-point broadband communication channels. Dedicated (non-switched) broadband communication channels are used to carry the high bandwidth signals. Examples of such applications include cable television and high speed data transmission between computers.
Point-to-point broadband communication channels have several disadvantages. Since each communication station within such a network requires a dedicated channel, it is expensive to reconfigure or modify the network especially when a user's terminal is relocated to a site not already linked to the network. Such networks suffer from a lack of flexibility and are not able to provide those users with only an occasional need of a broadband channel with a cost effective solution.
Digital access and cross-connect systems (DCS) provide a known capability for interconnecting high bandwidth transmission facilities such as DS1 and DS3 transmission links. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,042,062 a plurality of DCS are connected to each other to provide communication links between broadband service users. In that system, local exchanges in response to a customer request control associated DCS to connect broadband terminals over broadband channels directly coupling the DCS.
There exists a need for a flexible broadband communication facility which permits dial-up broadband channels to be handled by the public switched telephone network (PSTN).

Dial-up switching and transmission of broadband communication channels through a local exchange


A dust measurement system measuring the build up of dust on a filter includes a monitoring device, a pitot tube, and an environment control unit. The pitot tube head aligned with the filter. The environment control unit receives the measured speed of air flow and compares the measured speed with a preset value. When the measuring speed is greater than the preset value, the environment control unit outputs the first control signal to the monitoring device, to control the monitoring device to display that the filter does not need to be replaced. When the measuring speed is less than or equal to the preset value, the environment control unit outputs the second control signal to the monitoring device, to control the monitoring device to display that the filter needs to be replaced.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to measurement systems, and particularly to a measurement system for measuring dust build up of a filter.
2. Description of Related Art
Containerized data center is a large centralized computing facility, which includes a container and a plurality of data processing devices arranged in the container. However, the data processing devices produce a lot of heat during operation, so, cooling solutions for the containerized data center becomes very important. In general, some air vents are defined in the container for dissipating heat, and filters are set in the air vents for preventing dust from entering the container. However, air flow may be prevented when there is a build up of dust on the filter. Therefore, there is room for improvement in the art.


An audio object coder for generating an encoded object signal using a plurality of audio objects includes a downmix information generator for generating downmix information indicating a distribution of the plurality of audio objects into at least two downmix channels, an audio object parameter generator for generating object parameters for the audio objects, and an output interface for generating the imported audio output signal using the downmix information and the object parameters. An audio synthesizer uses the downmix information for generating output data usable for creating a plurality of output channels of the predefined audio output configuration.

The present invention relates to decoding of multiple objects from an encoded multi-object signal based on an available multichannel downmix and additional control data.
Recent development in audio facilitates the recreation of a multi-channel representation of an audio signal based on a stereo (or mono) signal and corresponding control data. These parametric surround coding methods usually comprise a parameterisation. A parametric multi-channel audio decoder, (e.g. the MPEG Surround decoder defined in ISO/IEC 23003-1[1], [2]), reconstructs M channels based on K transmitted channels, where M>K, by use of the additional control data. The control data consists of a parameterisation of the multi-channel signal based on IID (Inter channel Intensity Difference) and ICC (Inter Channel Coherence). These parameters are normally extracted in the encoding stage and describe power ratios and correlation between channel pairs used in the up-mix process. Using such a coding scheme allows for coding at a significant lower data rate than transmitting the all M channels, making the coding very efficient while at the same time ensuring compatibility with both K channel devices and M channel devices.
A much related coding system is the corresponding audio object coder [3], [4] where several audio objects are downmixed at the encoder and later on upmixed guided by control data. The process of upmixing can be also seen as a separation of the objects that are mixed in the downmix. The resulting upmixed signal can be rendered into one or more playback channels. More precisely, [3,4] presents a method to synthesize audio channels from a downmix (referred to as sum signal), statistical information about the source objects, and data that describes the desired output format. In case several downmix signals are used, these downmix signals consist of different subsets of the objects, and the upmixing is performed for each downmix channel individually.
In the new method we introduce a method were the upmix is done jointly for all the downmix channels. Object coding methods have prior to the present invention not presented a solution for jointly decoding a downmix with more than one channel.

Enhanced coding and parameter representation of multichannel downmixed object coding


Disclosed are a positive active material for a rechargeable lithium battery including a core including a lithium nickel-based oxide, a lithium iron phosphate-based compound, or a combination thereof; and carbon nanotube grown on the surface of the core, and a rechargeable lithium battery including the same.

Field
This disclosure relates to a positive active material for a rechargeable lithium battery, a manufacturing method thereof, and a rechargeable lithium battery including the same.
Description of the Related Technology
A rechargeable lithium battery includes positive and negative electrodes including a material that can reversibly intercalate/deintercalate lithium ions as positive and negative active materials and an organic electrolyte solution or a polymer electrolyte solution charged between the positive and negative electrodes. The positive and negative electrodes intercalate and deintercalate lithium ions and produce electrical energy through oxidation and reduction reactions.
A positive active material for the rechargeable lithium battery may include an oxide consisting of lithium and a transition metal and having a structure capable of intercalating lithium, for example, a lithium cobalt-based oxide, a lithium manganese-based oxide, a lithium nickel-based oxide, a lithium iron phosphate-based compound, and the like.
This type of positive active material has low electrical conductivity and is mostly mixed with a conductive agent to prepare electrode slurry but has a limit of improving the low electrical conductivity. In order to improve the low electrical conductivity, the positive active material may be coated with carbon on the surface. However, since the positive active material is typically prepared by coating a carbon raw material such as sucrose thereon and firing it, the positive active material has low crystallinity and still includes impurities and thus, may hardly secure satisfactory electrical conductivity.

Positive electrode active material for rechargeable lithium battery, manufacturing method of same, and rechargeable lithium battery including same


Electrical device, in particular a radio device, with an energy storage device. The invention relates to an electrical device, in particular a radio device, with an energy storage device (6) which serves as a current supply. To ensure a high flexibitility in view of the possible use of different energy storage devices with different discharging behaviors, a circuit arrangement (14) is provided for converting a voltage (U.sub.E) supplied by the energy storage device into at least one supply voltage (U.sub.out) which serves for supplying circuits of the electrical device, which is substantially constant, and which is preprogrammable. The circuit arrangement (14) in a first switching state reduces a voltage (U.sub.E) supplied by the energy storage device (6) to the supply voltage (U.sub.out), acting as a downconverter, and in a second switching state steps up a voltage (U.sub.E) supplied by the energy storage device (6) to the supply voltage (U.sub.out), acting as an upconverter. The circuit arrangement (14) comprises components (L, R, S, D, C.sub.1) which are used both in the downconverter and in the upconverter.

The invention relates to an electrical device, in particular a radio device, with an energy storage device serving as a current supply.
There is a trend toward ever smaller and lighter user appliances in the field of mobile radio terminals. The energy storage devices used play an important part as regards the appliance weight because they account for a major portion of the total weight of the appliance. Accumulators are mostly used as energy storage devices. It is a simultaneous object in the design of the energy storage devices to achieve the longest possible operation time by means of the energy which can be stored in the energy storage device. The journal Funkschau 2/95, p. 52, refers to the use of lithium accumulators in mobile radio terminals operating in accordance with the GSM standard ("Global System of Mobile communications"). No further particulars are given on how to realize mobile radio terminals with such accumulators. A particular problem in this connection is the adaptation to the discharging behavior which is different from that of other energy storage devices.

Electrical device with a constant voltage converter


A method and system for dynamically controlling frame retransmissions over a wireless link includes determining for a frame unsuccessfully received over a wireless link a position of the frame in a set of related frames for a packet to which the frame belongs. An allowed number of retransmissions is determined for the frame based on the position of the frame in the set of related frames. Retransmission of the frame is requested up to the allowed number of retransmissions.

Traditional wireless networks include a number of base stations (BTS) and one or more mobile switching centers (MSC)/base station controllers (BSC). The BTSs each cover a geographic region, or cell of the wireless network and communicate with mobile telephones in the cell. The MSCs/BSCs provide switch and soft handoff functionality for the wireless network. To support data calls, wireless networks typically include a data interworking function (IWF). The IWF connects the wireless network to the Internet or other data network.
Each cell of a wireless network is able to support a certain number of wireless calls. This capacity is a function of frequency reuse, carrier to interference ratio, bit-energy to noise ratio, effective bit-rate protocol and other criteria of the wireless link. The wireless link may be based on established standards such as IS-54 (TDMA), IS-95 (CDMA), GMS and AMPS, 802.11 based WLAN, new upcoming standards such as CDMA 2000 and W-CDMA or proprietary radio protocols.
For CDMA and other radio-link protocols, Internet protocol (IP) and other packets are fragmented into a number of radio frames that are transmitted over the wireless link. In the event of transmission errors, a frame is retransmitted up to a set number of times. If the frame is not successfully received by such retransmissions, the radio-link protocol aborts delivery of the frame, continues with the succeeding frames and leaves it to packet layer protocols to recover the lost data. The allowed number of retransmissions is set by negotiation during initiation of a connection.

Method and system for dynamically controlling frame retransmissions in a wireless network