Retrofit connectors that secure together the outside sheathing and underlying structural members of wood-frame or masonry houses, preventing damage when subjected to lateral stresses from a hurricane, or transverse loads from an earthquake. The connectors have special bushings and bearing surfaces that tie the outside sheathing and underlying structural members together, but allow deflection, and transfer of energy to other structural members. Different embodiments of the connectors allow them to adapt to most wood-frame and masonry homes, and to most roof pitches.

This invention relates to innovative connectors and fasteners that make buildings stronger, and helps protect them from earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, and strong winds.
Recent studies of earthquake damage on wood-frame buildings indicate that the outside wall sheathing is the most important structural member in preventing destruction to a home. Sheathing that is tightly secured to a house, stiffens the vertical components against damaging deformations.
The initial failure location on buildings during hurricanes is at the roof to wall connection, or at the wall to floor connection. This invention uses the outside wall sheathing to help tie the roof and floor to the walls, and stiffens the wall to distribute wind loads to the roof framing and end walls.
Failure and loss of the roof sheathing is common during hurricanes, mainly because of inadequate fastening of the roof sheathing to the underlying structural members. The roof system provides stability to a house by supporting the tops of exterior and interior load-bearing walls.
Sheet metal joints perform better than nailed joints in high winds and during seismic activity. Strong connectors, secured by sturdy fasteners, will insure that the major structural members of a house are securely tied together. Rigid outside sheathing, securely fastened to the walls, strengthens the link between the horizontal and vertical components of a structure.
Earthquake studies of a single-family building showed that failure was mainly due to the improper connection of wall studs to sole plates; the failures were attributed to nail withdrawal from the framing (Goers, 1976).
Tests of wall studs to sole plate connections showed that the studs were uplifted from the sole plate, and the nails which connected the bottom of the plywood sheathing to the sill were punched out of the sheathing (Kamiya et al., 1981).
The outside sheathing allows the naturally flexible wood wall studs to deform just enough to absorb the earthquake forces without cracking. When the outside sheathing is secured tightly to the studs, top plate, rafter, and sole plate, without becoming disconnected, it increases their load-bearing strength.
Steel connectors, between different components of a wood-frame buildings superstructure, provide continuity so that the building will move as a unit in response to seismic activity (Yanev, 1974). Outside sheathing helps transfer earthquake forces to the ground while greatly strengthening the resistance to lateral seismic motions (Yanev, 1974).
In 1974, wind-study testing of a full-scale house showed that the initial failure location was at the roof to wall connection, or at the wall to floor connection (Tuomi and McCutcheon, 1974). The stiffness of the wall influences the distribution of wind loads to the roof framing and end walls (Polensek, 1976).
In 1990, tests were done on (prior art) rafter/top plate connectors (hurricane clips) that are installed on a house during construction; it was found that hurricane clips are sometimes three to five times stronger than conventional toe-nailing under uplift loads (Canfield, 1990). Retrofit of prior art hurricane clips is difficult or impossible on existing houses.
Studies of damage from Hurricanes Andrew and Iniki show that most of the wind damage to a gable end of a home was from the difference in pressure inside and outside the home. Almost all pictures of damaged wood or masonry buildings show the gable end blown away from the building. (FEMA reports FIA-22, FIA-23)
Pictures never show the gable end blown into the building. This is due to the Bernoulli Effects, where the pressure differential between wind blowing around and over a building, and high pressure air inside, blows out a wall or roof.
An airplane rises due to the pressure differential of faster air moving over a wing, compared to the high pressure of slower moving air under a wing. So too does the side walls blow out of a house due to the Bernoulli effects of wind blowing perpendicular to the wall. Gable ends blow out of a house, because of higher pressure in the house compared to the extremely low pressure on the leeward edge of the wind direction.
Once the side wall or gable end of a house is blown out, the rigidity of the roof and entire house is compromised due to wind getting into the house. Driven rain, along with the wind can damage everything in the house, along with damaging the structural integrity of the roof and walls of the house.
Loss of the roof sheathing was consistently observed after Hurricane Iniki and Hurricane Andrew. The primary cause of sheathing damage was inadequate nailing into the underlying structural members of the roof. There was evidence of missing, corroded, misapplied, and too few nails or staples attaching the roof sheathing to the rafters, purlins, or trusses.
If an earth tremor is strong, the nails holding the outside wall sheathing may be inadequate in size or quantity. Many nails are driven into the edge of the sheathing where the wood can split and lose connection with the underlying studs.
If the outside sheathing detaches from the wall studs, the walls cannot transfer lateral forces or transverse loads and the building can rack and collapse. When the outside sheathing is sufficiently attached to the structural framing, the sheathing and structural framing function together.
A sturdy wall system absorbs, resists, and transfers forces imposed by wind and earth movements. Improperly secured sheathing may not function effectively in resisting transverse loads and lateral forces.
Previously, framers did not understand the structural importance of outside wall sheathing. Improper nail size, length, or type, along with an improper fastening schedule, could jeopardize the anchoring ability of the outside sheathing. Plywood can still be applied with power-driven staples.
Many times, the exterior sheathing is applied to the wall when it is constructed on the ground, then raised in place. This helps keep the wall from racking when raised, but is heavier to lift and may be weaker than sheathing applied to a wall in place.
Part of my co-pending application, Ser. No. 08/191,852, filed on Feb. 2, 1994, ties the rafter to the outside sheathing and underlying top plate. This is one of the weakest failure points on a house during a hurricane.
This continuation-in-part application has unique connectors to tie together major structural members of a house using the important outside sheathing. These major structural members include the gable end rafter and joist, the sole plate and walls, and the corner post, rafter, and top plate. These unique connectors are held to the outside sheathing, and underlying or exposed structural members using unique fasteners, or nails, screws, and bolts.
The stability of the walls is dependent on the roof for top lateral support. The roof sheathing can be composed of boards or plywood. It ties the rafters and roof trusses together, and prevents the roof from racking. The roof sheathing may have been applied carelessly in the past, as it was felt that the weight of the roof cladding would keep the roof on tight.
Previously, framers did not understand the structural importance of roof sheathing. Improper nail Haze, length, or type, along with an improper fastening schedule, could jeopardize the anchoring ability of the roof sheathing. Plywood may be applied with power-driven staples. In humid or salt-air climate, the nails or staples can corrode and lose holding power.
A number of connectors have been developed to tie together the roof rafter and the top plate, or wall stud and sole plate. Previous connectors were made to be used during construction of the structure and covered by the outside sheathing.
These connectors cannot be retrofitted to existing structures without extensive dismantling or damage to the inside wall board or outside sheathing. Without dismantling the walls, a homeowner can""t tell if hurricane clips are correctly fastened to their house. Older homes usually don""t have hurricane clips or any type of sheet metal connectors installed on their house to prevent racking, or movement between structural members.
Prior tie connectors are also limited to the number of roofing and structural members that can be tied together. Since prior connectors are made for installation on the frame-work of a building, they cannot tie the outside sheathing to a building. All previous connectors were designed to be covered over by the outside sheathing. Since they do not tie the outside sheathing to the underlying structural members of the house, they cannot prevent the house from racking in an earthquake or wind storm.
The roof lock in U.S. Pat. No. 1,452,599 to Hames, March 1922, and the dock bracket in U.S. Pat. No. D.290,223 to Westerheim, June 1987 did not tie the rafter to the top plate and outside sheathing. The hurricane tie in U.S. Pat. No. 4,714,372, December 1987, and snugging connector in U.S. Pat. No. 4,896,985, January 1990, both to Commins, can tie the rafter to the top plate in the skeleton structural framework of new construction. They can not be used as a retrofit on existing houses; they did not tie the sheathing to the top plate and rafter; they did not go around the frieze board; they did not tie into a stud or top plate directly underneath a rafter; and they did not tie together two 2xc3x974""s of the top plate.
The bearing connector in U.S. Pat. No. 5,109,646, May 1992, to Colonias et al. is used to carry roof loads, but can tie together a rafter, top plate, and two 2xc3x974""s of the top plate together in the skeleton structural framework of new construction. This connector can not be used as a retrofit on existing houses; it did not tie the sheathing to the top plate and rafter; it did not go around the frieze board; and it did not tie into a stud or top plate directly underneath a rafter.
The building construction ties in U.S. Pat. No. 2,300,113, to Faber, October 1942, can tie the rafter to the joist and wall stud in the skeleton structural framework of new construction. They can not be used as retrofit on existing houses; they did not tie the sheathing to the top plate and rafter; they did not tie the rafter and top plate together or go around the frieze board; and they did not tie together two 2xc3x974""s of the top plate.
The free gusset metal ledger hanger in U.S. Pat. No. 4,353,664, to Gilb, October 1982, is used to provide ledger support around the inside perimeter of buildings or at internal concrete or masonry walls. This connector can not be used as a retrofit on the outside of existing houses; it did not tie the sheathing to the top plate and rafter; it did not tie together a rafter and top plate; it did not go around the frieze board; it did not tie into a stud or top plate directly underneath a rafter; and it did not tie together two 2xc3x974ls of the top plate.
The wall tie in United Kingdom patent 2,096,664, to Durrant, October 1982, is used to strengthen mortar joints in brick walls. This connector can not be used as a retrofit on the outside of existing wood houses; it did not tie the sheathing to the top plate and rafter; it did not tie together a rafter and top plate; it did not go around the frieze board; it did not tie into a stud or top plate directly underneath a rafter; and it did not tie together two 2xc3x974ls of the top plate.
The connecting plate for wood members in Germany patent 238,822, to Sauer, March 1986, is used to connect planks, boards, or strips, using bending slots and nail holes. This connector, by its large bending slots, is a weak connector. Bending this connector weakens the metal, especially since most carpenters would hammer the connection to make it fit on planks and boards. This connector is useful for attaching together boards that intersect at odd angles, not equal to 90 or 45 degrees. This connector may be used as a retrofit on existing houses, but was intended for attaching beams and planks in the skeleton structural framework of new construction. It did not tie the sheathing to the top plate and rafter or go around the frieze board; it did not tie into a stud or top plate directly under a rafter; and it did not tie together two 2xc3x974""s of the top plate.
The metal connectors in Switzerland patent 214,358, April 1941 are used to connect wood and metal members together. The connectors can tie I-beams, angle iron, and wood boards to metal frames in skeleton structural framework of new construction. They can not be used as retrofit on existing houses; they did not tie the sheathing to the top plate and rafter; they did not tie the rafter and top plate together; they did not go around the frieze board or tie into a stud or top plate directly under a rafter; and they did not tie together two 2xc3x974""s of the top plate.
The apparatus and method for securing a building during high winds in U.S. Pat. No. 5,319,986 to Winger, June 1994, is used to secure several of the roof rafters to the ground by cables and anchors. This system is employed only when high winds are expected, as the cables must be extended and attached to the ground anchor manually. In a post-and-beam constructed house where the inside rafters are exposed, the cables and attaching hardware are exposed to view. Cables can kink, stretch, rust in place, and break. This system did not tie down the roof sheathing or roof shingles. This system will not work if the homeowner is not home to secure the anchoring cables. It cannot work in areas where tornadoes can occur without warning, especially if the home owner is sleeping or is seeking shelter in the basement or interior room. The system requires extensive and expensive carpentry work and expensive hardware.
The house anchor in U.S. Pat. No. 1,864,403, to Bradley, June 1932, uses cables and ground anchors to secure the roof to the ground. It did not tie together the rafter and ridge plate or tie them straight down to the ground; since the rafter and ridge plate are not secured together and tied to the ground on the gable end of the house, the house is vulnerable to winds on the side of the house that can push or pull and separate the gable end of the rafter plate to ridge plate connection. Cables can stretch and break. Parts of the house anchor include eye-bolts and cable guides which can pull out from wood when subjected to perpendicular pulling forces as from strong winds.
The exterior anchoring apparatus for surface sheets in U.S. Pat. No. 1,864,403, to Bradley, March 1967, uses metal rods and clamps to secure exterior sheathing to a roof. This system cannot be retrofit to an existing roof. It did not tie the sheathing securely to the rafter and ridge board.
Objects and Advantages
Accordingly, several objects and advantages of my invention are that it helps hold the gable and hip ends of a building from being blown in or out by hurricanes, tornadoes, and wind storms.
This invention helps prevent the outside sheathing of the gable and hip ends on existing buildings from detaching during an earthquake. It also allows some deflection in the joint without separating. The invention tightly holds the outside sheathing to the roof rafter, top plate, joist, and wall stud using unique, but simple and economical connectors and fasteners.
Objects of this invention are that it easily, quickly, and economically protects buildings from the destructive effects of earthquakes. It is a further object of this invention that it easily, quickly, and economically protects houses from the destructive winds of hurricanes. It is a still further object that the connectors and fasteners are strong, attractive, permanent, functional, uncomplicated, simple to manufacture, easy to install, and economical. Many of the embodiments can be made from a single sheet metal blank, without any welding.
Another objective is for the rafters or roof trusses to be secured together and locked to the wall and roof sheathing. The invention can be used as an accurate spacer for trusses and for attic ventilation. This invention can be used during construction and can be retrofit onto existing homes.
The installation procedure is simple so that a handy homeowner can install the connectors and fastener hardware. Except for expensive, custom-built homes, most homeowners had no input or knowledge on how strong their houses are built. Now homeowners can retrofit their homes by themselves or with a hired contractor. Installation of this invention will make a house more resistant to strong winds and seismic activity.
Since the invention is mostly on the outside of a house, it is unadorned, but can be covered with the homeowners choice of wood trim, veneer, gingerbread, other architectural facades, or can just be painted to match or contrast with the house.
Previous disasters showed that many nailed connections on destroyed or damaged homes were undersize, mis-installed, or completely missing. By being installed on the outside of a house, an inspector, homeowner, or insurance agent can see if there are any missing connectors and fasteners. Since the bushings are made of the correct size and material, no undersize or wrong material fasteners can be installed.
Masonry houses don""t fare well during an earthquake because the house can""t flex, it usually snaps instead. This invention allows the sheathing connection on a house to deflect or flex by using a bushing and bearing surface for low friction.
The outside sheathing is one of the most important structural members when a house is under stress of hurricane-force winds or seismic activity. This invention helps prevent the wood of the outside sheathing from splitting. It also holds the outside sheathing securely to the underlying structural members.
None of the prior art connectors hold on the outside sheathing, because they went on a house before the outside sheathing was installed. None of the previous connectors use a bushing and bearing surface to allow motion, and still hold the sheathing and underlying structural members together.
There are several embodiments of this invention in order to fit on as many different types of houses as possible. Several embodiments of this invention protect most types of wood-frame construction. Numerous houses, including brick and concrete-block, have the gable end constructed of wood. Several embodiments of this invention protect most types of masonry houses constructed with wood gables.
A further object is that this invention can be used on various size houses. A still further object is that the embodiments of this invention are retro-fit onto new and old homes made of wood or masonry. There may be insurance discounts for homeowners who have this invention installed.
These and other objectives of the invention are achieved by a system of simple and economical connectors and fasteners that allow a homeowner or contractor to quickly and easily protect the weakest parts of a building against earth tremors and high winds.
Advantages of each will be discussed in the description. Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description.

Retrofit hurricane and earthquake protection


Provided is a vitrification process method of aluminum and filter radioactive wastes to produce high quality of glass solidification fit for legislations and rules as vitrification final product, comprising developing frit composition needed in vitrifying the aluminum and filter radioactive wastes, suitably mixing the aluminum and filter radioactive wastes with the frit and producing glass solidification having composition range of oxides of aluminum and filter radioactive wastes to maintain lower than 100 poise viscosity which is operating parameter of a melting furnace. The vitrification process method of aluminum and filter radioactive wastes comprise mixing the aluminum and filter radioactive wastes with the frit in an induction heating low temperature melting furnace and meting it at the temperature of 1,100˜1,200° C. to produce glass solidification.

Generally, low and intermediate level radioactive waste generated in the nuclear power plants and nuclear reactor facilities includes spent filter radioactive wastes produced in HVAC.
This spent filter radioactive wastes include stainless steel or aluminum material of frame, and filter of which contents have glass fiber and/or aluminum foil as filter media.
To dispose the spent filter radioactive wastes, after the metal frame and filter contents are separated, the metal frame is subject to decontamination and post-treatment, and glass fiber and aluminum foil may be pressed for drum-packaging. However, the drum-packaging disposal have been decided as inappropriate because there is a possibility of explosion on packaging and concern of generation of hydrogen gas (Al+2NaOH→½Al2O3+Na2O+H2) in the disposal site after packaging. Thus stable disposal method for them is needed.

Vitrification process method of aluminum and filter radioactive wastes


The invention provides various derivatives of arglabin, a sesquiterpene lactone isolated from Artemisia glabella. These compounds are effective for suppressing tumor growth in mammals. A method of suppressing tumor growth in humans is also described.

Cancer is a leading cause of death in the United States and affects people worldwide. Surgery, radiation and chemotherapy are the most widely used therapeutic modalities. Chemotherapy agents create conditions within the cell that limit cell growth and replication. DNA synthesis may be inhibited by preventing purine biosynthesis, pyrimidine biosynthesis, the conversion of ribonucleotides to deoxyribonucleotides, antimetabolites, intercalation, or cross-links. RNA synthesis, for example, may be inhibited by antimetabolites. Protein synthesis may be inhibited, for example, by agents that deaminate asparagine. Additionally, agents that inhibit the function of microtubules can be used as chemotherapy agents.
Chemotherapy agents typically affect both neoplastic and rapidly proliferating cells of normal tissue such as bone marrow, hair follicles and intestinal epithelium. Anorexia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, suppression of bone marrow function and hair loss are some of the negative effects commonly associated with chemotherapy. Development of a chemotherapy agent that is an effective antitumor agent with minimal toxicity would be advantageous.

Arglabin compounds and therapeutic uses thereof


A method of making dialkylaromatics as a primary product is described. The design involves a dual reaction zone system, both reaction zones containing alkylation catalysts. The olefin feed is split into two portions (or two feeds are used), the first portion being fed to a first alkylation reaction zone and reacted with a first olefin. The other portion of olefin is reacted in a second reaction zone with the linear alkylaromatics formed in the first reaction zone to form the dialkylaromatics.

Linear alkylbenzenes (LAB) are compounds that have significant commercial importance. Linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) compounds made by sulfonation of linear alkylbenzene are used in the manufacture of detergents and other products. Because linear alkylbenzenes are more easily biodegradable than branched alkylbenzenes, linear alkylbenzenes have essentially replaced branched alkylbenzenes in detergents and other products. In particular, linear alkylbenzenes with long alkyl chains, such as chains having about 10 to about 14 carbons, are commonly used. However, linear alkylbenzenes with longer chains and with shorter chains also are commercially important.
Linear alkylbenzenes often are made by alkylation of benzene with olefins. Positional isomers, such as 2-phenyl, 3-phenyl, 4-phenyl, 5-phenyl, and the like, result from this alkylation of benzene with long chain olefins. The distribution of the phenyl along the alkyl chain produces different products.
Historically, linear alkylbenzenes have been manufactured commercially using Friedel-Crafts condensation employing catalysts such as aluminum chloride, or by using strong acid catalysts such as hydrogen fluoride, for example, to alkylate benzene with olefins. In 1995, a solid bed alkylation process, the Detal™ process, using a solid non-corrosive acid catalyst was introduced.
Current LAB manufacturing processes employing solid alkylation catalysts use kerosene-based C9 to C16 material from a Pacol™ dehydrogenation process, which is typically a mixture of about 9-15% olefins in paraffin.
Gas-to-liquid (GTL) technologies for the generation of C9 to C16 range of hydrocarbons have raised interest in the possibility of producing LAB using a GTL-based feed source. The ability to use a GTL feedstock would reduce dependence on crude-based feedstocks.
Dialkylbenzenes made from C10 to C13 olefins and benzene have been recognized as promising candidates in tertiary oil recovery applications and for use as lubricants. Demand for dialkylbenzenes has been steadily increasing in recent years.
Currently, there is no commercial process to make dialkylbenzenes as a primary product. They are presently produced in small quantities as a side reaction in the manufacture of linear alkylbenzenes. The typical ratio of dialkylbenzenes:linear alkyl benzenes in a linear alkylbenzene complex is about 1-5 wt %, which is too low to support the increasing demand for dialkylbenzenes in the face of relatively steady demand for linear alkylbenzenes.
Thus, there exists a need for methods for making dialkylbenzenes.

Process for production of dialkylbenzenes


Actuator for adjusting pitch angle of a rotor blade of a wind turbine rotatably mounted on a rotor hub, comprising a first drive element connectable with the rotor blade, a second drive element in meshing engagement with said first drive element, a lubricating device for lubricating the two drive elements and lubrication controller. A rotor with a rotor hub, on which at least one rotor blade is rotatably mounted, with actuator adjustable pitch angle. A wind turbine comprising such rotor and such actuator. Selective lubrication of zero teeth of the gear stage of the actuator considers the rotary position of the drive elements of the gear stage with respect to each other. The lubricating device includes a lubricant passage to selectively supply portion of first drive element and/or portion of second drive element meshing therewith depending on engagement position of drive elements or rotary position of rotor blade.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an actuator for adjusting the pitch angle of a rotor blade of a wind turbine, which is rotatably mounted on a rotor hub, comprising a first drive element connectable with the rotor blade, a second drive element in meshing engagement with said first drive element, as well as a lubricating device for lubricating the two drive elements. The invention furthermore relates to a rotor with a rotor hub, on which at least one rotor blade is rotatably mounted, whose pitch angle can be adjusted by an actuator as mentioned above. Finally, the invention relates to a wind turbine comprising such rotor and such actuator.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Wind turbines regularly employ rotors whose rotor blades are rotatably mounted on the rotor hub, so that the pitch angle of the rotor blades can be adjusted. By means of large roller bearings, the rotor blades can be mounted at the rotor hub so as to be rotatable about their longitudinal axis, so that an actuator accommodated inside the rotor hub can change the pitch angle of the rotor blades. For this purpose, so-called pitch drives are used, as they are disclosed for instance in DE 200 17 994 U1. Preferably, the drive movement of an actuator motor is transmitted to the rotor blade via a gear stage. Advantageously, the rotor blade can be flanged directly onto the inner ring of the large roller bearing, which constitutes a stewing ring and has an internal toothing with which a drive pinion is meshing, which is arranged inside the slewing ring and is seated on a drive shaft.
Of course, the actuators in such rotors of wind turbines must be lubricated. An example for a lubricating device in the rotor of a wind turbine is shown for instance in DE 200 21 026 U1. A lubrication problem arises for instance in that the pitch angle of the rotor blades is not frequently changed, as there is an optimum pitch angle for the rotor blades over a wide wind range, so that the rotor blades actually are only twisted when the wind is too strong or the turbine must be stopped for maintenance purposes. This leads to the fact that the actuators remain in the same position for most of the operating time, and in the gear stage of the actuator always the same pair of teeth of the meshing drive elements is in engagement with each other. The lubricant thereby can be displaced, so that an increased wear occurs at this pair of teeth. The pair of teeth of the stewing ring and of the drive pinion, which is in engagement with each other in the optimum pitch angle position of the rotor blades, often is also referred to as pair of zero teeth or as zero tooth. These zero teeth of the drive elements in the wind turbine rotors gradually suffer from chipping at their tooth flanks and exhibit strong wear after some time. The torques resulting from the attack of wind must always be tolerated at the same point of attack, which is even aggravated by vibrations and oscillations likewise suffered by the tooth engagement.
To avoid these problems it has already been proposed to offset the meshing drive elements with respect to each other after some time, so that in the working position of the rotor blade they are meshing with other teeth. In the case of wind turbines, however, this is not easily possible merely because of the enormous dimensions of the turbine. A disassembly of the rotor blade is extremely time-consuming. Even inside the rotor hub, the actuator cannot easily be repositioned. Therefore, it has already been considered to provide the meshing drive elements with an associated lubricating wheel which meshes with one of the drive elements and transfers lubricant onto the same. From time to time, the actuator is operated, in order to thereby ensure lubrication. However, such design of the lubricating device is very costly. In addition, the pitch angle of the rotor blades must be changed at undesired times.

Actuator for adjusting a rotor blade pitch angle


An upper-level host has a control unit and a host controller for controlling the operation of a device. The host controller includes a buffer memory that reads data from the device into the buffer memory. The control unit reads data from the buffer memory and handles interruptions from the device. Moreover, the host controller reads data for every unit amount from the device with a part of the data of predetermined capacity left in the device, and reads data corresponding to a part of the data of predetermined capacity from the device into the buffer memory if the buffer memory is empty as the data in the buffer memory is transferred to the control unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a control method for controlling a data transfer control unit, and more particularly to a control method for controlling the data transfer so that an upper-level host reads the data from a device such as a hard disk and accepts an interrupt signal from the device.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In recent years, the information electronic apparatuses represented by a mobile phone have widely spread in the world. It is well known that most of the information electronic apparatuses can operate using digital data.
Also, it is well known that such an information electronic apparatus includes a device such as a hard disk. When data is read from the device, or hard disk, an interface for making data transfer is based on standards that can cope with the higher speed due to an increased amount of transfer data. On the host part, for controlling the interface, the CPU carries out the control of the data transfer process. However, due to a request for a higher data transfer rate, a throughput (amount of job (work) processible per unit of time by the computer) in the data transfer is decreased. This becomes serious under the influence of a transfer control process carried out by the host.
The conventional data transfer control unit was disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 07-013898 or Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-345091, for example. Referring to FIGS. 1 to 6, the conventional data transfer control unit will be described below. FIGS. 1 to 3 show a data transfer control unit in the conventional example, and FIGS. 4 to 6 show another data transfer control unit in the conventional example. And FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the data transfer control unit in the conventional example, FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the data transfer control unit in the conventional example, and FIG. 3 is a timing chart showing the signal operation for the data transfer control unit in the conventional example. Also, FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of another data transfer control unit in the conventional example, FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of another data transfer control unit in the conventional example, and FIG. 6 is a timing chart showing the signal operation for another data transfer control unit in the conventional example.
As shown in FIG. 1, LSI 1 is an upper-level host, i.e., a personal computer that comprises a CPU 10 as the control unit, and an ATA (AT Attachment) host controller 3 for controlling the operation of an ATA (AT Attachment)/ATAPI (AT Attachment Packet Interface) device 2 such as a hard disk or a CD-ROM drive. And, a process for reading the data from a storage medium within the ATA/ATAPI device 2 via the ATA host controller 3, or a data transfer process, is executed upon a command from the CPU 10.
In FIG. 2, steps A1 to A6 and A8 involve a control process of the CPU 10 for the ATA host controller 3 located inside the LSI 1. Also, steps B1, B2 and B7 involve a control process of the ATA host controller 3. Herein, data transfer, as used in this invention, means transferring data, especially when the upper-level host 1 reads the data from the ATA/ATAPI device 2.
Step A1 is a process for the CPU 10 to set the parameters required for the data transfer, including a start sector number, a sector size, a data size and a mode in the data transfer, on the ATA/ATAPI device 2 for performing the data transfer process.
Step A2 is a process for the CPU 10 to set the parameters required for the data transfer, including a data size and a mode in the data transfer to the ATA/ATAPI device 2 for performing the data transfer process on the ATA host controller 3.
Step A3 is a process for the CPU 10 to write a command for starting the actual transfer process by the parameters set at step A1 via the ATA host controller 3 into the ATA/ATAPI device 2.
Step A4 is a process for confirming the ATA/ATAPI device 2 of processing object as to whether or not the ATA/ATAPI device 2 has normally accepted the start of transfer process for the step A3.
Step A5 is a process for setting the ATA host controller 3 to a data transfer mode (read mode) to enable the ATA host controller 3 to start reading the data.
And step A6 is a process for detecting an interrupt signal from the ATA/ATAPI device 2, while the CPU 10 is reading the data from the ATA/ATAPI device 2 via the ATA host controller 3.
Then, the ATA/ATAPI device 2 issues an interrupt signal, after transferring the total data of a predetermined reading capacity to the ATA host controller 3.
Step A8 is a process for detecting whether or not the transferred data resides in a buffer memory 6 laid in the ATA host controller 3, namely, reading the value of a register indicating a state of the buffer memory 6. Then, at step A9, it is determined whether or not the state of the buffer memory 6 is empty, as a result of processing at step A8. If the state of the buffer memory 6 is empty, an interrupt process is enabled (not shown). Then, a transfer end process is performed.
The ATA host controller 3 switches to the data transfer mode at step B1 by accepting an instruction of step A5 from the CPU 10. That is, the ATA host controller 3 is switched to the data transfer mode.
At step B2, the ATA host controller 3 performs the data transfer process for reading the data from the ATA/ATAPI device 2 in accordance with the ATA protocol. Then, at step B7, a determination is made whether or not step B2 is repeated up to the data size set at step A2. In this manner, the LSI1, as the host, reads the data from the ATA/ATAPI device 2.
However, the prior art had the following disadvantages. That is, the data transfer rate is decreased owing to a polling process for the state of the ATA host controller 3 from the CPU 10 at steps A8 and A9, until it is recognized that the state of the buffer memory 6 in the ATA host controller 3 is empty at step A9.
That is, since a data signal 17 on a CPU bus 9 is attended with a cycle D8 in the polling process, as shown in a timing chart of FIG. 3, the cycle D8 and the data transfer cycle take place on the CPU bus 9 at the same time, resulting in the problem that the data transfer rate is decreased.
Also, in the prior art, the CPU 10 may not start the polling process for the state of the buffer memory 6 immediately, but may wait for a fixed time after the ATA/ATAPI device 2 issues the interrupt signal to begin the polling process.
In this case, however, due to a difference in the size of the buffer 6 for the ATA host controller 3 or the transfer rate of the CPU bus 9, it is required to individually set the timing from the recognition of an interruption to the start of the polling process for the buffer state. When the ATA host controller 3 is diverted to some other system, there is the disadvantage that the portability (transplantation) of a control program is lost because the processing method is different depending on the system.
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a means for laying a mask circuit 13 for masking an interrupt signal 12 input into the ATA/ATAPI device 2 till the end of transfer in the ATA host controller 16 is employed in the conventional example, as shown in FIG. 4. By using an EMPTY signal 14 (see FIG. 4) that is output from the buffer memory 6 indicating that the buffer is empty, the interrupt signal 12 output from the ATA/ATAPI device 2 is controlled. That is, based on the interrupt signal 12 from the ATA bus in FIG. 6, an interrupt signal 20 is output to the CPU bus 9 when an FIFO EMPTY signal 19 of ATA host controller internal signal is "H". Accordingly, step B1 for masking the interrupt signal and step B11 for removing the mask of the interrupt signal 12 after step B4 are added in FIG. 5. Hence, it is possible to suppress the polling process at steps A8 and A9 for the ATA host controller 16 from the CPU 10 in FIG. 1 and avoid a decrease in the data transfer rate.
However, with this data transfer method, there is the disadvantage that an interrupt signal can not be recognized until the buffer memory 6 becomes empty. If an interruption due to a data transfer error occurs from the ATA/ATAPI device 2, while the interrupt signal from the ATA/ATAPI device 2 is being masked depending on the state of the buffer memory 6 within the ATA host controller 16, an error process by the CPU 10 is delayed leading to an inconvenience that the system performance is degraded. If the data transfer via the CPU bus 9 is not made for some reason, the interrupt signal is not recognized at all, resulting in a problem that the system is frozen.

Control method for data transfer control unit


Clock generation techniques are disclosed to provide clock generation with duty cycle replication. The clock generation techniques may further compensate for clock insertion delays and minimize distortion due to clock distribution networks.

Integrated circuits generally rely on precise clock signals to perform their intended functions. Integrated circuit performance may suffer if the clock signal is degraded, such as from duty cycle distortion of the clock signal. Duty cycle refers to the relative relation between the positive and negative pulse widths of the clock signal (e.g., a sinusoidal signal). Duty cycle distortion may occur due, for example, to process, voltage, and temperature (PVT) variations.
As integrated circuit performance and interface speeds increase, there is a greater need to control duty cycle distortion because the distortion, for example, may degrade a larger percentage of the shrinking clock period. Furthermore, system and interface requirements increasingly utilize both edges (i.e., the rising and falling edges or different phases of the clock signal) to increase performance and thus, duty cycle distortion becomes increasingly significant.
Additionally, timing margins may be reduced when the duty cycle of the incoming clock is not matched or when internal circuits contribute to the distortion of the duty cycle. Consequently, duty cycle distortion may make it difficult to meet system timing requirements and may affect timing equations. As a result, there is a need for techniques to reduce duty cycle distortion.


The exchange of commands and data between I/O devices, such as DASDs, and a computer system, preferrably a multiprocessor computer system, usually takes place via I/O adapters. The question arises of how to couple these I/O adapters to the computer system. In prior art solutions, the I/O adapters were either attached to the second level cache or to a memory bus. The present invention relates to a method of coupling the stream of I/O commands and I/O data to the computer system via the processor busses. Because of the high bandwidth of the processor busses, an additional transmission of I/O data does not disturb regular data traffic on the processor bus. One advantage of using the processor busses for the transmission of I/O data is that pins of the second level cache chips don't have to be used for the attachment of I/O adapters any more and thus become available for other purposes. For example, the bandwidths of processor busses or memory busses can be increased, or additional processor busses can be accomodated.

A typical multiprocessor computer system comprises several processors, cache memories of different hierarchy levels, storage controlling devices, a main memory, and means that control data exchange with I/O devices.
When describing the different memory levels the processors address, one has to start with the first level cache. Each processor has its own, individually assigned first level cache integrated on-chip. Therefore, the wiring delay is small for read and write operations to this cache and the latency is low, which means that a very fast access to the data and instructions stored in the first level cache is possible.
The next level in the hierarchy of cache storage means is the second level cache. The task of this cache is to provide data exchange with the first level cache. The storage size of the second level cache is much greater than that of the first level cache, and usually, the second level cache is not integrated on the processor chip, but placed on a dedicated chip (or set of chips). Therefore, the latency for a second level cache access is not as low as for the first level cache.
There exist several concepts for the realization of a second level cache structure in a multiprocessor computer system.
One of these concepts is to assign an individual second level cache to each processor, which means that each processor can only address the data in its personal cache. Therefore, each of these "dedicated caches" holds exactly the data units requested by its processor; and of course, two of these caches usually hold different data units.
Let us suppose that processor 1 writes to a cache line contained in its second level cache, and that a copy of said line is also contained in a second level cache owned by a different processor, e.g. by processor 3. In the moment the write access to cache 1 occurs, the page in cache 3 is not valid any more. Therefore, a mechanism has to exist (the so-called switching-and-snooping network) that signals to cache 3 that the data of a certain line has become invalid, in order to maintain data integrity.
The necessity of keeping track of different versions of one and the same cache line in the second level cache falls away when a shared cache structure is realized. "Shared" means that each processor addresses the same second level cache storage space. The accessible lines that have been copied to and that are now contained in the second level cache are the same for all processors.
This also implies that a shared second level cache built in order to have a performance similar to that of individually assigned second level caches has to have an absolute storage size that is several times the size of one of said individual caches. When realizing said shared cache concept, one usually employs several second level cache chips in parallel.
Between second level cache and processors, data is transferred via so-called processor busses. As a certain line that a processor wants to address can be stored on any of the second level cache chips, each second level cache chip has to be connected to each of the processors of the multiprocessor system via one of said processor busses. In order to take advantage of a low latency of the second level cache, each processor bus has to be capable of high-speed data transmission and provide a high-bandwidth communication link. Usually, regular instruction and data flow on the processor bus, from the second level cache to the processor, and vice versa, only requires about 20% of the maximum data transfer rate possible on said processor bus.
All the devices described so far, the processors and the second level cache chips, may be mounted on one multi-chip module. This module exchanges data via memory busses with a main memory, consisting of at least one memory card. Each memory card comprises a storage controller, which also provides the clocking system for the whole memory card, and several memory banks.
When a processor requests data which is not accessible in the second level cache yet, lines have to be transferred from a memory bank of the main memory to the second level cache. On the other hand, cache lines that have been modified in the second level cache have to be rewritten to the main memory in order to ensure data integrity.
Data exchanged between the computer system on the one hand and external devices, such as discs, tapes, etc. on the other hand is generally referred to as I/O-traffic. Usually, I/O devices are coupled to an I/O adapter, which is connected to the computer system via the second level cache. One or two of the processors of the multiprocessor system, the so-called service assist processors (SAPs), are especially responsible for handling data exchange between the I/O devices and the main memory.
In a multiprocessor system, each of the second level cache chips has to accomodate processor busses connecting said second level cache chip to each of the processors, memory busses linking said cache chip to a memory card, and additional data links for exchanging data with I/O devices. All these connections require a lot of the second level cache chip's pins.
Usually, a chip has a side length of 14.5 or 16 mm. The lower side of the chip bears an array of blobs of solder, in order to connect the chip to the ceramic substrate, the multi-chip module. For a typical chip, the number of soldering tags is 1240. One would be tempted to increase the number of pins by simply increasing the chip size. When soldering the chip to the substrate according to the "flip chip technique" (described, for example, in L. F. Miller's article "Controlled Collapse Reflow Chip Joining", IBM J. Res. Develop., May 1969, p. 239-250), und thus heating up both the chip and the substrate, shear strains arise because of the different coefficients of expansion of chip and substrate. The occurence of these shear strains imposes physical limits to the increase in chip size and to the increase in pin count.
Therefore, pins are valuable, and any method that contributes to saving pins, especially pins of a second level cache chip, permits a better layout and improved performance.
One method for saving pins is the introduction of switching means. For example, both a memory bus and a data link to an I/O adapter can be coupled to a switching network which, for its part, is connected to a second level cache chip. Thus, the memory bus and the I/O data link share the same cache chip pins, and therefore, a lot of the pins that formerly were necessary to accomodate both the memory bus and the I/O data link become available. Of course, one does not have to switch between a memory bus and an I/O data link, one could as well switch between links to different I/O devices, or, in case a multiprocessor system with a clustered shared second level cache is realized, between connections to different clusters.
The introduction of switches has several disadvantages, though. For example, let us consider the case that both an I/O data link and a memory bus are connected via a switch to a second level cache chip. When data traffic occurs on both the I/O data link and the memory bus, the switch can only permit access to the second level cache to one of them, which means that the other one can't exchange data with the cache at that time and has to wait for several cycles. Furtheron, the implementation of additional switches requires additional chips. Increasing the number of chips always means that packaging becomes more difficult and that the wiring delay of certain signals increases. The main disadvantage of the use of switches is therefore the occurence of additional delays which severely degrade system performance.
So far, reference has only been made to a single multiprocessor system. In order to further increase system performance, concepts of parallel computing have been realized where several of said multiprocessor systems are connected. Each of these multiprocessor systems still addresses its individual memory, but there also exists a central shared memory which every multiprocessor system can address. The storage size of this central memory is much larger than the size of the memories individually assigned to each multiprocessor system. For each data structure (list, cache, lock structure) contained in said central memory, ownerships are defined which enable or disable access of a certain multiprocessor system to said data structure. One of the multiprocessor systems, the so-called coupling facility, is dedicated to managing both the communication/synchronization between the different multiprocessor systems and the access (and access rights) of the multiprocessor systems to the central memory which is attached to said coupling facility. This implies that all data that one of the multiprocessor systems fetches from or stores to the central memory has to be exchanged between said multiprocessor system and the coupling facility. Thus, strong data links have to exist between the systems and the coupling facility, and the bandwidth required for these links in order to permit quick access of all multiprocessor systems to the central memory is much higher than the bandwidth required for the transmission of conventional I/O traffic between a computer system and its external devices. Therefore, with respect to a coupling facility, the question arises of how to connect such an additional intersystem communication link to the computer system.
Again, one solution is the introduction of switching means in order to couple said intersystem communication link to the second level cache. With this method, it is possible to accomodate the link and still meet pin count requirements. Because of the additional wait cycles caused by switching means, the latency of an access to the computer system is increased. Thus, the introduction of switching means might be a correct concept for a coupling facility of today, but for future parallel systems, latency will have to be much lower.

System with intersystem information links for intersystem traffic having I/O traffic being transmitted to and from processor bus via processor means

International Business Machines Corporation


A reagent delivering article comprising porous sintered polycrystalline diamond where the delivering article is capable of retaining at least one chemical reagent and releasing the chemical reagent in a fluid or has reactive sites on diamond surfaces of the article.

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/597,786, Publication No. US2008070308, Serial, filed as PCT Application No. PCT/DK05/00428 on Jun. 27, 2005, which is hereby incorporated by reference, discloses a porous article for delivering chemical substance that is capable of retaining at least a chemical reagent and releasing the chemical reagent in a solvent.

Polycrystalline articles for reagent delivery


A digital video disk player having a quick playback function and a method of reproducing an optical disc using the digital video disk player. The quick playback function is accomplished by analyzing reproduction control information and searching the titles corresponding to a predetermined title, calculating the running time of each title based on the video title information corresponding to the searched titles, and reproducing the selected title on the basis of the calculated running time. Accordingly, a selective reproduction of a title corresponding to a main movie among a plurality of titles recorded on the disk can be performed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical disk player, and more particularly, to a digital video disk player having a quick video playback function and a method of reproducing an optical disc using the digital video disk player.
2. Description of the Related Art
Optical disk players for recording and reproducing video and audio data on semi-permanent optical disks have been developed, in accordance with recent developments of audio and video information media. An optical disk player reproduces videos and/or audios recorded on an optical disk by outputting them via pictures and/or speakers. Besides being randomly accessible, the optical disk player is advantageous in that it is able to reproduce signals with high resolution and high fidelity.
Various types of optical disk players, such as compact disk players (CDPs), laser disk players (LDPs), compact disk graphic players (CDGPs), video compact disk players (VCDPs), and the like have been developed and are widely used. More recently, digital video disks (DVDs) have been developed utilizing motion picture compression technologies of MPEG-2 (motion picture experts group) and DVD players for reproducing them.
The DVDs reproduced by a DVD player typically include a program chain called a first playback program chain (FP_PGC), and the DVD player reproduces such program chain first for the manufacturers' preferences. Since the DVD player necessarily reproduces the FP_PGC, manufacturers usually insert advertisements demanded by disk producers or any other information such as FBI warning messages in that portion.
Mostly, FBI warning messages and feature previews of movie productions are inserted in the program chain recorded on the disk. Since the disks are typically fabricated not to allow users to implement other functions such as stop, fast forward scan (FFS), skip, or the like while the FBI warning messages or feature previews are played, users are forced to watch those portions. Further, the DVD player does not move to a main movie recording area even when the reproduction of the program chain ends, but instead moves to a menu of the disk using a navigation command.
Accordingly, there have been problems in conventional DVD players as the user must watch unwanted advertisements or information at the time of reproduction of a disk, and the user can not start to reproduce a main movie unless a user selects the movie after moving to a menu of the disk.

Method and apparatus for reproducing optical disk player having quick video playback function


A retaining system including a power cord retaining system and a cord plug retaining system for use with a power tool. The power cord retaining system is configured for accommodating an extension cord and includes a cord capture formation for retaining the extension cord disposed on the tool, and a cord channel disposed on the tool and configured for supporting a loop of the cord substantially along an arc defined by the loop. In the preferred embodiment, the cord capture formation defines an enclosed aperture for retaining the cord at two points, and the cord channel defines a semi-circular arc for supporting the cord loop substantially along its apex. The plug retaining system is configured for maintaining electrical continuity between the plug and the receptacle and includes a contact portion for engaging a plug or a cord, and an attachment device for attaching the contact portion to the tool.

The present invention relates generally to portable electric power tools designed for use with extension cords, and specifically to a system for securely retaining the extension cord to the tool in a way which reduces stress on the cord, and which prevents cord pullout.
Conventional portable electric power tools, including but not limited to drills, hammer drills, sanders, grinders, circular saws, reciprocating saws, routers, power fastener drivers, garden weed trimmers, leaf blowers and the like are typically provided with a power cord which, depending on the manufacturer and model, varies in length from about six inches to about 12 feet. Regardless of the length of the standard equipment cord or tool cord, users often need to employ extension cords to reach remote work sites. For example, on construction sites, long extension cords are often connected to portable generators. In such cases, if the extension cord is merely plugged into the tool cord, pulling on the tool, which often occurs during use, may cause the extension cord to become detached from the tool cord, which disrupts work and is frustrating to the operator. Also, the junction of the tool cord and the extension cord often becomes caught on workplace obstructions, causing the tool to become disconnected from the extension cord.
To address this problem, operators often tie adjacent ends of the extension and tool cords together in a knot. While making a more secure junction, the knot has a tendency to become caught on workpiece edges or on other surfaces, requiring the operator to interrupt work and free the caught knot. Another disadvantage of the knot is that it requires tight bends to be made in both the tool cord and the extension cord. Repetitive sharp bending stresses of this type cause stresses on the internal wiring of the cords and may result in fraying of the cords and/or short circuits.
One attempted solution to this problem is to provide a tool which lacks a tool cord, but instead has an electric receptacle for directly receiving an extension cord. While this solution removes the problems associated with the extension cord-tool cord knot, a new problem is introduced in that pulling on the tool during work or movement causes the extension cord to become detached from the tool. The plug is vulnerable because it is only held in place by the friction between the receptacle and the plug, which can vary depending on the plug manufacturer and by the amount of wear. As the plug wears, its ability to grip the male receptacle blades decreases resulting in degradation of fit, increasing the ease by which the plug can become disconnected. Further, as the plug loosens, power to the tool may become intermittent or be completely lost. When this occurs, work is interrupted, which is often frustrating to the operator. Also, tool vibration may cause loosening of otherwise securely held extension cord plugs.
To address the problem of retention of the extension cord on the tool, tools have been provided with cord retention and plug retention systems. Such systems are typically configured with formations such as hooks and/or loops which bend the extension cord in a serpentine manner near the tool receptacle and thus isolate the cord plug from a pulling action on the cord. In this manner, pulling on the tool while attached to the cord will not cause the extension cord to become unplugged from the tool.
However, such conventional systems are often unsatisfactory because they cause excessive and/or sharp bends in the cord, which shorten the life of the extension cord and may cause short circuits. Such stresses occur when the cord is forced into sharp bends around hooks or other projections. One related and important design criteria of such systems is that construction workers working on ladders or on second stories of buildings often raise and/or lower the tool by the cord. Especially with heavier tools, this places a significant load on the cord. When the cord has sharp bends, particularly where the cord leaves the retention system, there is excessive and potentially damaging stress placed on the cord. This problem is especially severe where the retention system creates a right angle bend in the cord as it exits the system. In instances where the tool has a tool cord, the stresses are severe enough to cause the tool cord to be pulled out of the tool.
Another disadvantage of conventional cord retention systems is that the cord is not sufficiently secured in the system or at other locations on the holder. One problem resulting from this disadvantage is that when a tool is moved backward, as in a sawing motion, a slack condition in the extension cord may cause the cord to become disengaged from portions of conventional systems. Another problem is that when operating in heavy vegetation or crowded work environments, the many cord loops created by conventional systems are prone to becoming caught on branches or other environmental obstructions, which may cause the cord to become detached from the retention system.
Still another disadvantage of conventional extension cord retention systems relates to the fact that extension cords are provided in a variety of gauges or thicknesses. Conventional cord retention systems are incapable of accommodating a wide range of cord gauges.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved cord retention system for a power tool which reduces stress on the cord, especially when the cord is used to raise and/or lower the tool.
Another need is for an improved cord retention system for a power tool which positively secures the cord to the tool.
Still another need is for an improved cord retention system for a power tool which accommodates a range of extension cord gauges.
A further need is for an improved plug retention system for a power tool which positively secures the plug to the tool.
Yet another need is to provide an improved plug retention system which accommodates a variety of types of extension cords.
A still further need is to provide an improved cord retention and plug retention system which positively secures the cord and the plug to the tool.


An electrode is mounted in a vertical manner in an electrolytic liquid in an electrolytic cell. A harmful gas collecting hood is disposed within the electrolytic cell to cover the entire upper portion of the electrode. One end of a bottom surface of the hood lies at a higher location than the other end of the bottom surface of the hood. An inlet of a harmful gas treating pipe line is disposed in the vicinity of that portion of the bottom surface of the hood which lies at the higher location thereof. A harmful gas generated around the electrode is smoothly guided to the inlet by a guide effect of the hood and sucked into the inlet.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrolytic test machine, and particularly, to an electrolytic test machine including a) an electrolytic cell in which an electrolytic liquid is stored, b) an electrode mounted in a vertical direction in the electrolytic liquid, and c) a harmful gas treating device for treating a harmful gas generated around the electrode.
2. Description of the Related Art
The above electrolytic test machine is used, for example, for a cathode peel-off test for a coating film (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No.195612/1995). This test is carried out using an aqueous solution of NaCl as an electrolytic liquid. The test is carried out such that the polarity of a test material is set at a negative polarity (i.e., as a cathode), while the polarity of the electrode is set at a positive polarity (i.e., as an anode). Therefore, a chlorine gas, which is a harmful gas, is generated on the side of the electrode with electrolysis of the aqueous solution of NaCl.
A simple chlorine gas treating device has been devised. The device includes an exhaust fan for exhausting a chlorine gas released from the aqueous solution of NaCl and flowing within the electrolytic cell, and an adsorbing member for adsorbing the exhausted chlorine gas.
With the above chlorine gas treating device, however, the entire opening in the electrolytic cell must be tightly sealed, resulting in a complicated sealing structure.
In addition, with the above chlorine gas treating device, it is impossible to inhibit the production of NaClO in the aqueous solution of NaCl and the dissolution of the chlorine gas into the aqueous solution of NaCl. As a result, the coating film of the test material is whitened by a bleaching effect of NaClO, and the appearance of the coating film is considerably different from a corroded state in a natural environment. Another problem that arises is that the concentration of chlorine in the aqueous solution of NaCl is increased and hence, an irritant odor is generated during replacement of the test material or during replacement of the aqueous solution of NaCl which degrades the working environment.
Further, in the above chlorine gas treating device, an abnormality may be produced in the exhaust system in some cases. The abnormalities of this type include problems with the exhaust fan, clogging of the adsorbing member, forgetting to mount a new adsorbing member after removal of the clogged adsorbing member, and the like. When an abnormality occurs in the exhaust system, the abnormality must immediately be detected and corrected.


A drying system for drying a personal hydration system having a fill opening and a supply tube includes a dryer assembly providing a flow of forced air to be introduced into the fill opening of the personal hydration device. The dryer assembly includes seal-forming structure engageable with the fill opening to form a seal between the dryer assembly and the fill opening to enhance the pressurization and inflation of the personal hydration system. The dryer assembly also includes a channel defining a relief valve for permitting exhaust of air flow from the fill opening upon pressurization and inflation of the personal hydration system. The dryer assembly further includes a resilient cam arm for enabling the dryer assembly to sealingly fit variously sized fill openings.

Many athletes and others use back-mounted or waist-mounted personal hydration systems to carry water or other drinking liquid with them during strenuous activities. The systems typically include a flexible bag or hydration bladder in which the liquid of choice is contained, and a flexible supply hose running from the bladder to the mouth of a user to allow the user to take in liquids easily. The hydration bladder may be formed with various size fill openings that allow the user to pour water or a desired drink into and out of the bladder, and a removable cap is provided for opening and closing the fill opening. The outermost end of the supply hose is equipped with a valve that prevents air from entering into the system, and selectively enables the dispensing of liquid into the mouth of the user usually upon biting the valve. Such systems are convenient and provide hands-free hydration in lieu of carrying canteens, bottles, cans and other containers.
Once a user has completed activity, the nature of the materials involved in the personal hydration system does not readily allow for drying of the hydration bladder and the supply hose. This allows for retention of the liquid in the bladder for long periods of time, and therefore the possibility for growth of potentially harmful microorganisms, such as bacteria, mold and mildew.

Drying system for personal hydration systems


A metal pillar via structure, formed in a composite dielectric layer, contacting an underlying first level metallization structure, and contacting an overlying second level metallization structure, has been developed. The sides of the metal pillar via structure are first encapsulated with insulator sidewall spacers, and than by a composite dielectric layer, with the top surface of the metal pillar via structure, planar with the top surface of the composite dielectric layer. The metal pillar via structure is comprised of a refractory metal such as tungsten.

(1) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to processes used to manufacture semiconductor devices, and more specifically to processes used to create metal vias, used to interconnect metallization levels.
(2) Description of Prior Art
The semiconductor industry is continually attempting to provide the customer with higher performing silicon devices, while still maintaining, or even decreasing the cost of silicon chips. These objectives have been met by the semiconductor industry achieving micro-miniaturazation, or the ability to successfully create sub-micron device features. Significant advances in specific semiconductor fabrication disciplines, such as photolithography and dry etching, have allowed micro-miniaturazation to become reality. For example more sophisticated exposure cameras, as well as the development of more sensitive photoresist materials, have allowed sub-micron images in photoresist layers to be created. Similar advances in anisotropic, reactive ion etching, (RIE), has resulted in the sub-micron images in the overlying photoresist layer, being successfully defined in underlying materials, used for the fabrication of semiconductor devices.
However as specific features are reduced in size, several new concerns, not encountered with devices fabricated using less aggressive groundrules, are created. For example via holes in an interlevel dielectric material, used to interconnect metallization levels, when filled with a via metal, are difficult to properly fill due to the decreasing diameter of the via hole. The conformality of the depositing via metal decreases as the dimensions of the via hole shrink. Lack of metal in the via hole can result in significant reliability problems in terms of electromigration. In addition the narrower spaces between metal lines present problems when using standard insulator processes to fill these sub-micron spaces. The problems encountered with sub-micron features, namely the difficulty in filling narrow via holes with metal, as well as filling narrow spaces, between metal structures with insulator, have been addressed. For example Allman, et al, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,312,512, Fisher, et al, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,917,759, and Cote, et al, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,262,354, have described methods for creating narrow metal vias, as well as methods for insulator filling of narrow spaces between metal structures. However this invention will describe a fabrication process that offers a more complete solution to the sub-micron metal and insulator fill situation.

Optimized process for creating and passivating a metal pillar via structure located between two metal interconnect structures

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.


A connection element for light profiles in a sheet pile wall has a base strip (12) for attaching to a component of the sheet pile wall and a hook strip (14) provided at the flat side of the base strip (12) for engaging the interlock (32) of a light profile (30). The hook strip (14) that encloses an inner chamber (16) exhibits a straight connection section (20) that originates at the base strip (12) and runs at least approximately at a right angle to the longitudinal direction of the base strip (12) and a hook section (22) that follows the connection section (20) and runs in an arc-like manner for at least 180°, with the free end of said hook section (22) together with the flat side of the base strip (12) defining a jaw (28). According to the invention, the ratio between the greatest inner width (a) of the inner chamber (16) of the hook strip (14) to the width (c) of the opening jaw (28) is in a range between 2.6 and 2.9.

The invention relates to a connection element for light profiles intended for use in a sheet pile wall, the connection element having a base strip for attaching to a component of the sheet pile wall and a hook strip provided at the flat side of the base strip for engaging the interlock of a light profile, whereby the hook strip that encloses an inner chamber exhibits a straight connection section that originates at the base strip and runs at least approximately at a right angle to the longitudinal direction of the base strip, and a hook strip that follows the connection section and runs in an arc-like manner for at least 180°, where the end of said hook strip together with the flat side of the base strip define a jaw. The invention also relates to a sheet pile wall made of light profiles and potentially of provided carrier elements, whereby at least two light profiles and/or at least one light profile and one carrier element are connected to each other by such a connection element.
For some time now, sheet pile walls are also erected made of so-called light profiles. Light profiles are sheet piles that—in contrast to conventional sheet piles—are made by cold rolling. Due to the manufacturing process, only sheet piles with relatively thin walls can be manufactured, limiting the production of interlocks for connecting the light profiles to each other or even with other components of the sheet pile wall to simple interlock configurations. The term "other components of the sheet pile wall" refers, among others, to carrier elements, such as I-beams, T-beams, tubular piles and the like, hot-rolled sheet piles or also additional light profiles. To achieve a flexibility when erecting the sheet pile walls that is comparable to conventional sheet pile walls, the inventor of the connection element described here has also developed connection elements that can be used to connect light profiles with differently designed sheet pile wall components, such as carrier elements, for example I-beams, T-beams, tubular piles and similar elements.
With the known connection elements for light profiles as described in EP 1 688 544 A1, the connection element is provided with a hook strip for engaging the interlock of the light profile, where the hook strip exhibits a connection section that protrudes from the base strip of the connection element and that is followed by a hook section that runs 180° in the shape of an arc and with its free end defines a jaw together with the flat side of the base strip. As has been shown that in principle this described basic shape of the hook strip is suited for engaging the interlocks of light profiles. However, light profiles are characterized by a multitude of variations, for example in the wall thickness of the light profiles, such that the known connection elements encountered problems when using connection elements for light profiles made by different manufacturers or with different dimensions.

Connection element and a sheet pile wall having such a connection element


An armature damper according to the present invention acts to abut against the arm of an armature to stop the arm at a predetermined backward position. The armature damper is formed in a manner that the surface thereof abutting against the arm is formed by a rigid body member and an elastic member is integrally joined to the rear surface of the rigid body member, and the elastic member is formed to protrude from the outer side of the rigid body member at least at the engaging portion between a positioning armature stopper and the armature damper. The protruded portion is used as a buffer at the engaging portion between the armature stopper and the armature damper.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an armature damper used for a wire dot printer, a method of manufacturing the armature damper and a dot head using the armature damper.
2. Description of the Related Art
The wire dot printer is arranged to move a printing wire (hereinafter, simply referred to as a wire) called a needle forward and backward to strike the tip end of the wire against a print medium thereby to print a dot-shaped image thereon. Since the wire dot printer employs such the printing method, the wire dot printer can simultaneously print plural slips etc. in a stacked state and so is employed for business use. Although there are various kinds of methods as the printing method of moving the wire (needle) forward and backward, the method called a clapper type is generally employed. The clapper type has been employed widely since the structure thereof is simple and a relatively long stroke can be secured. Such the kind of the printing method is proposed by JP-A-2005-75000, for example.
The dot head of such the clapper type includes armatures each for driving a corresponding wire backward and forward. The armature is pivotally supported at a portion near the one end thereof so as to be rotatable. The armature is provided with an attracted portion opposing to a core, at the intermediate portion between the pivotally supported portion and the free end of the armature. An arm is extended from the free end of the armature so as to be integrated with the armature. A needle for printing is provided at the tip end of the arm. The needle is attached to the arm in a manner that the axial direction of the needle crosses with the longitudinal direction of the arm at the tip end of the arm. The armature and the arm integrally provided with the armature rotate in the operation direction around the pivotally supported portion when the attracted portion is attracted by the magnetic force generated by the core. When the armature and the arm integrally provided with the armature rotate in the operation direction in this manner, the needle provided at the tip end of the arm moves forward. In contrast, when the magnetic force having been generated by the core disappears, the armature and the arm integrally provided with the armature rotate in the restoring direction by a spring force etc. and so the needle moves backward.
The dot head is arranged in a manner that a plurality of the armatures each thus configured are disposed radially around a print portion.
The dot head is provided with an armature damper in corresponding to the armatures. At the time of the rotation of the armature in the restoring direction, that is, at the time of the rotation of the needle in the backward moving direction, the armature damper abuts against the one side of the arm thereby to stop the arm at a predetermined backward position while absorbing the rebounding operation of the arm. To this end, the armature damper is configured in an annular shape (doughnut shape) so as to oppose to the one sides of the respective arms of the plurality of armatures which are disposed radially. A plurality of outer peripheral projections for positioning are provided at the outer periphery of the annular armature damper. The plurality of outer peripheral projections engage with projections which are provided at the inner periphery of an armature stopper disposed in an annual shape on the outer periphery side of the armature damper. According to this engagement relation, the armature damper is positioned and fixed so as to oppose to the one sides of the respective arms of the plurality of armatures.
Heretofore, the outer peripheral projections of the armature damper are assembled to have a small clearance with respect to the projections of the armature stopper. Usually, since the armature damper abuts against the arms of the armatures, the armature damper is formed by a rigid body with a high intensity. Thus, even when the outer peripheral projections of the armature damper are formed with a high accuracy, it is substantially difficult to assemble in such a manner that the clearance between the outer peripheral projections of the armature damper and the projections of the armature stopper is made zero thereby to completely make them coincide. As a result, as described above, there is a quite small clearance between the outer peripheral projections of the armature damper and the projections of the armature stopper.
At the time of the printing operation, since the arm of the armature repeatedly abuts against the armature damper at a high speed, the armature damper vibrates. Thus, there may arise such a phenomenon that the armature damper having been engaged with the armature stopper via the clearance deviates positionally due to the vibration, whereby the outer peripheral projections of the armature damper deviate from the projections of the armature stopper and so the armature damper is damaged.

Armature damper, method of manufacturing armature damper, and dot head


A bypass mechanism allows a memory controller to transmit requested data to an interconnect before the data's error code has been decoded, e.g., a cyclical redundancy check (CRC). The tag, tag CRC, data, and data CRC are pipelined from DRAM in four frames, each having multiple clock cycles. The tag includes a bypass bit indicating whether data transmission to the interconnect should begin before CRC decoding. After receiving the tag CRC, the controller decodes it and reserves a request machine which sends a transmit request signal to inform the interconnect that data is available. Once the transmit request is granted by the interconnect, the controller can immediately start sending the data, before decoding the data CRC. So long as no error is found, the controller completes transmission of the data to the interconnect, including providing an indication that the data as transmitted is error-free.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to computer systems, and more particularly to a method of transmitting data from a memory device of a computer system to a requesting device such as a processor.
2. Description of the Related Art
The basic structure of a conventional computer system includes one or more processing units connected to a memory hierarchy via a fabric interconnect, and various peripheral devices such as a display monitor, keyboard, network interface, and permanent storage device. The processing units communicate with memory and the peripheral devices by various means, including a generalized interconnect or bus. In a symmetric multi-processor (SMP) computer, all of the processing units are generally identical, that is, they all use a common set or subset of instructions and protocols to operate, and generally have the same architecture. An exemplary processing unit is the POWER™ processor marketed by International Business Machines Corp. The processing units can also have one or more caches, such as an instruction cache and a data cache, which are implemented using high speed memory devices. Caches are commonly used to temporarily store values that might be repeatedly accessed by a processor, in order to speed up processing by avoiding the longer step of loading the values from system memory (i.e., random-access memory, or RAM). These caches are referred to as "on-board" when they are integrally packaged with the processor core on a single integrated chip. Each cache is associated with a cache controller (not shown) that manages the transfer of data between the processor core and the cache memory. The memory hierarchy can include additional caches such as a level 2 (L2) cache which supports the on-board (level 1) caches. The L2 cache acts as an intermediary between system memory and the on-board caches, and can store a much larger amount of information (instructions and data) than the on-board caches can, but at a longer access penalty. Multi-level cache hierarchies can be provided where there are many levels of interconnected caches.
When providing memory values (instructions or operand data), the memory controller or cache controller can use an error correction code (ECC) circuit to detect and correct certain errors in the values received from the memory array for transmission to the requesting unit (i.e., processor). A bit in a value may be incorrect either due to a soft error (such as stray radiation or electrostatic discharge) or to a hard error (a defective cell). ECCs can be used to reconstruct the proper data stream. Many error control codes provide information about the specific location of the erroneous bit(s). Some ECCs can only be used to detect and correct single-bit errors, i.e., if two or more bits in a particular block are invalid, then the ECC might not be able to determine what the proper data stream should actually be, but at least the failure can be detected. Other ECCs are more sophisticated and allow detection or correction of double errors, and some ECCs further allow the memory word to be broken up into clusters of bits, or "symbols," which can then be analyzed for errors in even more detail. These latter errors are costly to correct, but the design tradeoff is to halt the machine when double-bit (or higher-order) errors occur. Error-correcting memory controllers traditionally use Hamming codes, although some use triple modular redundancy. One particular error detection method is known as a cyclical redundancy check (CRC). In CRC detection, a check value is added to the data to be transmitted based on the remainder of a polynomial division of the data. When the data and check value are received, this calculation is repeated and corrective action can be taken against presumed data corruption if the check values do not match.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Early data tag to allow data CRC bypass via a speculative memory data return protocol

International Business Machines Corporation


Provided is an electronic assembly including (a) an interconnect carrier having an electrically insulating core and at least two electrically conducting layers formed at the electrically insulating core; (b) a first integrated circuit chip mounted at a first side of the interconnect carrier; (c) a second integrated circuit chip mounted at a second side of the interconnect carrier opposite to the first side; and (d) an interconnection structure electrically connecting the first integrated circuit chip with the second integrated circuit chip. The electric interconnection structure extends around the insulating core and includes at least one electric conductor path which is designed in such a manner that an impedance match between the first integrated circuit chip and the second integrated circuit chip is provided. Further, there is provided an electronic system comprising such an electronic assembly.

In the field of electronic manufacturing for many years there is a continuous demand to realize increasing product functionalities of electronic assemblies with reduced structural shape. This demand is met with a continuously increasing miniaturization of electronic assemblies. Thereby, not only the integration density of semiconductor chips and Integrated Circuit (IC) structures inside a chip package but also the integration density of other components such as component carriers and interconnect devices can be increased e.g. by means of (i) smaller conductor traces and/or (ii) multilayer structures allowing for a wiring circuitry within "three dimensions". Further, there are (miniaturization) approaches where electronic components are embedded within component carriers such as Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs).
Small IC structures inside a chip package need to be connected to other ICs and/or to the "outside world" such as conductor paths or contact pads formed on or at a component carrier. In particular, in High Frequency (HF) applications there are often required small interconnections with the same cross section from one end to another in order to avoid HF signal reflections due to impedance jumps. Such unwanted impedance jumps are observed for instance in many via connections wherein an electric contact between two chips is realized by a fully or partially metallized via which has been formed within a multilayer component carrier in a direction perpendicular to the orientation of the planes of the layer structures of the multilayer component carrier.

Electronic assembly and electronic system with impedance matched interconnect structures

AT&S Austria Technologie & Systemtechnik Aktiengesellschaft


A method and system organize and retrieve information using taxonomies, a document classifier, and an autocontextualizer. Documents (or other knowledge containers) in an organization and retrieval subsystem may be manually or automatically classified into taxonomies. Documents are transformed from clear text into a structured record. Automatically constructed indexes help identify when the structured record is an appropriate response to a query. An automatic term extractor creates a list of terms indicative of the documents' subject matter. A subject matter expert identifies the terms relevant to the taxonomies. A term analysis system assigns the relevant terms to one or more taxonomies, and a suitable algorithm is then used to determine the relatedness between each list of terms and its associated taxonomy. The system then clusters documents for each taxonomy in accordance with the weights ascribed to the terms in the taxonomy's list and a directed acyclic graph (DAG) structure is created.

A key resource of most, if not all, enterprises is knowledge. For example, in a customer service environment, customers expect prompt and correct answers to their information requests. These information requests may relate to problems with products the customer has purchased, or to questions about products they may decide to purchase in the future. In most cases, the answer to the customer's question exists somewhere within the enterprise. In other cases, the answer may have existed in the enterprise at one time, but is no longer there. The challenge is to find the answer and provide it to the customer in a timely manner. Further complicating the situation is the fact that very few customer service representatives possess the skills necessary to assist customers on more than a limited number of topics. Unfortunately, providing customer service representatives with the knowledge necessary to adequately serve customers involves time-consuming and expensive training. Even with training, customer service representatives will inevitably encounter questions for which no reasonable amount of training can prepare them to answer without expert consultation. The delay endured by the customer as the customer service representative consults with an expert is inconvenient, and often intolerable.
One solution to this problem has been to replace the customer service representative with a Web site of product-unique or vendor-unique reference material. Whenever the customer has a question, he/she is referred to the Web site for the answer. Another possible approach is for the vendor to maintain an email address specifically for customer inquiries, and to instruct customers to send all information requests to the email address. In addition to reducing the cost of providing customer service support, these solutions also afford the customer service representative a convenient forum for preparing a personal and comprehensive response. Unfortunately, they are considerably less timely than either of the previous two approaches, sacrifice the quality of the customer interaction and dehumanize the entire process.
Some enterprises employ Web search engines in an effort to provide reliable access to relevant information in the enterprise (e.g., on a company's computer network). Unfortunately, because these web search engines check for particular textual content without the advantage of context or domain knowledge, they generally do not reliably and consistently return the desired information. This is at least partly due to the fact that languages are not only inherently ambiguous, but also because they are susceptible to expressing a single concept any number of ways using numerous and unrelated words and/or phrases. By simply searching for specific words, prior art search engines fail to identify the other alternatives that may also be helpful.
What is desired is a system that can quickly deliver timely and highly relevant knowledge upon request.

System and method for implementing a knowledge management system


An optical apparatus having a grip for gripping a camera body. The apparatus includes a lens element, a lens barrel configured to retain the lens element, a focus detection sensor disposed on an outer peripheral portion of the lens barrel, and a ring-shaped operation member configured to manually adjust at least focusing or zooming. The focus detection sensor is disposed on an outside of the ring-shaped operation member and on a same side as the grip of the camera body with respect to an optical axis of the lens element.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical apparatus such as a digital camera, a video camera, a digital still camera, a television camera, and an interchangeable lens including a focus detection sensor for automatically focusing on an object.
2. Description of the Related Art
With a television auto focusing (TVAF) function in a video camera and a television camera, a video signal from an image sensor such as a charge-coupled device (CCD) is captured while a focusing lens is moved in a small amount to determine a focusing direction according to the difference in contrast values obtained before and after moving the focusing lens.
In such a TVAF system, when a focusing lens is disposed at a position close to an in-focus position, the focusing lens can immediately enter an in-focus state. However, in the case where the degree of blurring is high, it is necessary for a user to determine an in-focus position only after moving the focusing lens up to an end of a focusing lens movable range. Thus, the video image becomes unsightly for the user.
Thus, in a significantly defocused state, the contrast is very low, and a user cannot determine a focusing direction. Accordingly, in this case, it is necessary for a user to move the focusing lens to an infinitely distant end or a closest end to look for a position at which a contrast signal of a level is higher than a predetermined level. During this operation, the user is required to watch unfocused images, which causes the user to feel uncomfortable.
Meanwhile, a digital still camera employs a passive focus detection sensor as an auto focusing mechanism. A passive focus detection sensor can detect the difference between two images separated by a separator lens, and compute a focusing direction and an amount of unfocus, to immediately obtain an in-focus state. In recent years, a focus detection sensor is formed as a general-purpose module. Thus, a digital still camera has been downsized, the cost of manufacturing a digital still camera has been lowered, and the performance of a digital camera has been more stabilized.
A hybrid video camera has been marketed which uses the TVAF function for normal auto focusing and an inexpensive separate focus detection sensor module for moving a focusing lens to an in-focus position at a high speed in the case where the degree of blurring is high.
In a method discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 08-146287, a focus detection sensor module is disposed inside a lens hood so as to eliminate parallax between an optical element and a range-finding area of the focus detection sensor.
In a conventional method, it is difficult to mount a lens hood on an optical apparatus with high accuracy because a focus detection sensor module is disposed inside a lens hood. Thus, it is difficult to align a range-finding area with a shooting area with high accuracy. Furthermore, it is necessary to provide an electrical contact between a focus detection sensor and a lens barrel in order to detach a focus detection sensor module together with a lens hood. Thus, in a conventional method, the configuration of the apparatus becomes complicated and it is difficult to stably perform an auto focus (AF) function.


The present invention relates to a cutting device for cutting continuous webs, whereby a draw roller (29) with pulling surfaces (42) and a rotating cutting means (33) are rotatable by separate drive units (28 and 32 respectively) so that the speed of rotation of the draw roller (29) and the rotatable cutting means (33) can be varied relative to each other, whereby the relationship between the transport speed of the web and the speed of rotation of the rotatable cutting means (33) can be varied.

Cutting devices of the abovementioned type are already known from e.g. DE, A1,3 836 505, but these prior art cutting devices do not permit quick and easy variation of the speeds of the web and cutting means relative to each other.
The object of the present invention has been to provide a cutting device of the abovementioned type which eliminates said problem.
Using a cutting device constructed in accordance with the present invention, it is possible to quickly and by simple means vary the speeds of the web and cutting means relative to each other and thereby obtain a cutting device with advantageous properties.
The object of the invention is also to achieve that the initially defined cutting device permits cutting of continuous webs irrespective of whether said webs have edge perforations or not.

Cutting device for cutting continuous webs