In an in-operation system check processing device, an automatic exploration unit automatically checks presence/absence of devices of the in-operation system and relationship between the devices according to the design data of the in-operation system. A check list storage unit contains information on check conditions concerning problems of the devices constituting a network system found afterward. A system check unit detects a problem existing in the actual in-operation system by collating the design data and the result of the automatic exploration with the check conditions stored in the check list storage unit. A caution information output unit outputs caution information relating to the problem. Thus, it is possible to prevent a failure which may be caused in the in-operation system with a high probability and improve the operation quality.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to an in-operation system check processing device that checks a configuration of a computer system in operation in order to achieve stabilization of an operation of the computer system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, comparison checks between design information of a computer system and a substantiation thereof are performed manually during testing after construction of the computer system or the like. Comparison checks between design information of the computer system and the substantiation thereof are hardly ever performed after commencement of actual operation and provision of services.
On the other hand, there are techniques for checking design information with respect to restrictions as design support for a system or a network. An example of such a technique is an information network design support device described in Patent Document 1.
For the purpose of automatically checking for potential errors in a design result to arrive at an error-free design result in a prompt manner, with respect to the design of an information network that is realized by a combination of multi-vendor commercial devices and commercial software, the information network design support device according to Patent Document 1 is provided with functions for: conducting design work, for each network component, based on a network configuration table that is a list for inputting a specification or an attribute of the network component or a network configuration diagram that is a graphical form of the network configuration table; automatically performing, upon conclusion of such work, all required checks with respect to the completed network configuration table; and displaying check results in a list format in order to prompt a designer to perform design changes.
(Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open H07-319930)
In order to maintain the operation quality of a computer system constituted by a plurality of devices, it is necessary to accumulate caution information such as information related to malfunctions due to erroneous configuration or information related to hardware and software constituting the system on a daily basis through the operation of the computer system, and to check the configuration of the computer system in operation using the accumulated caution information.
However, due to the extremely large number of parts including software and hardware which constitute a computer system, manually conducting all these checks is extremely difficult.
The information network design support device according to Patent Document 1 is arranged to check for errors in design information and is not equipped with functions to check whether the configuration of a present system actually in operation is correct and to check for discrepancies with the design information. In addition, the device is not provided with a function for maintaining and, further, improving the operation quality of a network system by, for instance, performing a check on correspondence with caution items discovered afterwards and which were not contemplated at the time of design.

In-operation system check processing device, method, and program thereof


Well completion cement may be pumped through a side pocket mandrel that includes parallel rows of filler sections to exclude cement from void space within the side pocket tube. The filler sections are drilled with cross-flow jet channels and surface upsets to stimulate scrubbing turbulence by well working fluid behind a cement wiper plug. The wiper plug includes leading and trailing groups of wiper discs secured to an elongated shaft. The two wiper groups are separated by a distance that permits the leading seal group to gain traction seal before the push seal on the trailing wiper group is lost. A spring centralizer spans a center section of the shaft between the two wiper groups to maintain axial alignment of the shaft as the plug traverses the length of a mandrel.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for subterranean well completion. In particular, the invention relates to the manufacture, operation and use of side pocket mandrel tools that accommodate a through-bore flow of cement and enhance a turbulent flow of well working fluid behind the cement wiper plug within the side pocket mandrel as the plug is driven past the mandrel.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Side pocket mandrels are special purpose tubing sections assembled along a production tubing string within a subterranean well for producing fluid such as crude petroleum and natural gas. These special purpose tube sections include relatively short cylindrical barrels (side pockets) in parallel axis alignment with the primary tubular bore axis but laterally off-set therefrom. These side pockets have a bore opening within the tube section interior and an aperture between the barrel interior and the exterior of the mandrel wall. These side pockets constitute receptacles for fluid flow control devices such as valves or property measuring instruments. In the case of valves, fluid flow from the tubing bore into the well annulus or vice versa is controlled.
By means of wireline suspension structures, valve elements may be placed in or removed from the side pockets without removing the tubing string from the well. These flow control options are of great value to well production managers.
Another aspect of well production control that is facilitated by side pocket mandrels is gas lifting. There are many petroleum reservoirs holding vast quantities of petroleum fluids having insufficient internal driving force to raise the native fluid to the surface. Because of the reservoir depth, traditional pumping is not an option. In these cases, the formation fluids may be extracted by means of gas lifting.
There are numerous gas lifting techniques but, in general, a compressible fluid such as nitrogen, carbon dioxide or an external source of natural gas is compressed into the well annulus and selectively admitted into the production tubing bore via side pocket valves. A pressure differential rising of the gas flow within the tubing bore to the surface may be exploited to aspirate a petroleum flow along with the lift gas or to drive a plug along the tubing bore having a column of liquid petroleum above the plug.
When a well is first opened, the reservoir may have sufficient internal driving energy to produce a commercially adequate flow of the formation fluid to the surface. In time, however, that internal energy source may be dissipated long before the reservoir value is depleted. Production experience may anticipate such production developments by positioning side pocket mandrels in the production tube long before the actual need for gas lifted production. When the need for gas lifting arises, the only downhole operations required to begin gas lifting are the wireline placement of the gas lift valve elements in the respective side pockets. When compared to the enterprise of withdrawing and returning several miles of production tubing or coil tubing in a well, wireline procedures are minimal.
Such considerations are more imperative in those cases in which much of the well bore remains uncased. Extremely deep or long, horizontal well bores are examples. For example, a long well bore may be completed with minimum casing length. Below the casing, the raw borehole remains uncased through the formation production face. Completion of the well may include a single "trip" placement of production tube with cross-over and cementing valves. The well annulus between the production tube and borehole wall is cemented above the production zone for isolation. Production flow from the production zone is opened by perforating the production tube and surrounding cement annulus.
Unfortunately, a single trip completion with side pocket mandrels for later gas lifting, for example, has not previously been an available option. Delivery of the cement slurry down the production tube bore unreasonably contaminates the internal labyrinth of the side pocket mandrel.
It is an object of the present invention therefore, to provide a side pocket mandrel that may be cleaned of cement before it sets.
Another object of the invention is a method of single trip well completion that includes pre-positionment of side pocket mandrels that will be operatively available for subsequent gas lift operation.
Also an object of the invention is an apparatus for scouring the flow bore of a side pocket mandrel of cement or other contaminant.


The automatic vehicle braking device is equipped with a braking force control processing portion which, based on the judgment result of a collision judgment processing portion and the judgment result of a steering avoidance judgment processing portion, imparts a turning property in a direction of head-on collision to the vehicle when the lateral position of the obstacle with respect to a travel route curve is large in a condition in which the driver is unconscious of a high possibility of collision between the vehicle and the obstacle and has taken no steering avoidance action yet. As a result, it is possible to reduce the speed of the vehicle and, at the same time, mitigate the damage suffered by the vehicle occupants at the time of collision.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an automatic vehicle braking device, in particular, an automatic vehicle braking device for automatically braking a vehicle when there is a possibility of collision between the vehicle and an obstacle.
2. Description of the Related Art
Vehicle travel safety devices have conventionally been proposed. For example, there has been proposed a device in which travel environment factors about a vehicle, more specifically, the distance (inter-vehicle distance) to a vehicle ahead and the relative speed of the vehicle ahead with respect to one's vehicle are detected. When the distance between one's vehicle and the obstacle (the vehicle ahead) has become smaller than a predetermined distance, there is generated a deceleration (primary braking) capable of letting the driver know that a braking force has been generated by an automatic brake device. When the state in which the distance between one's vehicle and the object (the vehicle ahead) is within the predetermined distance persists for a predetermined period of time, a further deceleration is generated (secondary braking). In the above-described conventional device, the braking force generated to brake the vehicle is basically imparted uniformly to the right and left wheels to thereby brake the vehicle (see JP 2005-041465 A).
In another conventional device proposed, which is a further improvement over the above-described one disclosed in JP 2005-041465 A, the start of the operation of a vehicle occupant protecting device such as a seat belt, and of the brake device, is expedited according to the lap rate when the vehicle is to collide with an obstacle based on width-related information such as the width of the obstacle and its position in the width direction with respect to one's vehicle (see, for example, JP 2005-28992 A).
Further, there has been proposed a device in which, to cope with a situation in which the driver takes a steering avoidance action while a conventional device of the type as disclosed in JP 2005-28992 A is exerting a braking force, the distance between one's vehicle and the obstacle and the relative speed thereof are detected to make a judgment as to whether there is a possibility that they come into contact with each other. When a steering operation performed by the driver is detected in the case in which it is determined that there is a possibility of contact, brake pressure is controlled for each wheel such that the turning property of the vehicle in that steering direction is enhanced (see, for example, JP 07-21500 A).
However, the conventional device as disclosed in JP 2005-041465 A has the following problem. That is, a braking force is generated uniformly in the right and left wheels, which merely produces the effect of reducing the speed of the vehicle. When the vehicle collides with an obstacle while offsetting with respect thereto (hereinafter referred to as offset collision), the damage suffered by the vehicle occupants is more serious as compared with that in the case of a head-on collision.
The conventional device as disclosed in JP 2005-28992 A has a problem in that no consideration is taken of how to cope with a situation in which the driver takes a steering avoidance action while a braking force is being exerted.
On the other hand, when, as in JP 07-21500 A, the turning property of the vehicle is excessively enhanced after the steering avoidance action by the driver, the operational stability of the vehicle may be deteriorated.


A touch input control method comprising steps is provided: displaying an interface comprising at least one object; gathering signals as to actual touches for calibration purposes. In use, calculating coordinates of the touch; determining whether the coordinates of the actual touch match the predetermined touch coordinates of the object; creating an adjustment signal if the coordinates of the touch is not the same as the predetermined touch coordinates of any object; determining which finger used for touch input, and retrieving a touch offset direction and a touch offset distance of the determined finger of the user from a calibration database; and applying compensation to the coordinates of the touch, so as to determine the touched object. An electronic device using the touch input control method is also provided.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to an electronic device and a touch input control method thereof.
2. Description of Related Art
Electronic devices with touch screens, mobile phones, digital photo frames, electronic readers (e-reader), for example, are popular. The user inputs information by touching objects such as icons and virtual keyboard displayed on the touch screen. Usually, each of the objects displayed on the touch screen associates with a predefined touch coordinates. When the user touches the touch screen, the electronic device detects the coordinates of the touched portion, compares and analyzes the coordinates touched with the predefined coordinates of the object, so determining the object that the user has touched. However, due to the different touch habits, such as individual parallax, different fingers used for touching, different manners and different orientations for gripping the devices, when the user touches an object displayed on the touch screen, more or less deviation occurs between the coordinates touched and the predetermined coordinates of the object, which results in wrong determinations and input errors.
Therefore, what is needed is an electronic device and a touch input control method thereof to alleviate the limitations described above.

Electronic device and touch input control method for touch coordinate compensation

Fu Tai Hua Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.


This invention relates to inhibition of the complement signaling using an anti-C5 antibody. Specifically, the invention relates to methods of treating a complement-mediated disease or complement-mediated disorder in an individual by contacting the individual with an anti-C5 antibody.

The complement system is part of innate immunity that plays a key role in host defense. However, activated complement also has the potential to cause significant tissue injury and destruction and dysregulated complement activity has been found to be associated with a number of rare and common diseases such as paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, age-related macular degeneration etc. Thus, anti-complement therapy is a promising way of treating these human disorders.
Complement C5 is a critical protein in the terminal pathway of complement activation and is the precursor protein for generating the potent pro-inflammatory mediator C5a, as well as the cytolytic membrane attack complex (MAC).
A number of human inflammatory and autoimmune diseases are mediated by C5a and/or MAC, and blocking C5 activation should prevent C5a and MAC generation and be of therapeutic value. A humanized mouse anti-human C5 mAb, eculizumab, has been used to treat two complement-mediated diseases paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) and atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS). However, not all PNH patients are responsive to eculizumab treatments and one of the reasons for non-responsiveness is genetic polymorphism of human C5 with loss of epitope binding to eculizumab.
Thus, there is a need in the art for anti-human C5 mAbs that can inhibit terminal complement activity via different mechanisms and contact sites on C5 and thereby more effectively treat complement-dependent pathologies. The present invention addresses and meets these and other needs.

The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania


A metal mold cooling device capable of employing a cooling pipe having a small diameter insertable into a cooling hole having a small diameter, and capable of performing fine supply control of a cooling liquid to the metal mold for fine temperature control thereto. A cooling pipe is connected to a compressed air source through a pipe and a first change-over valve. Further, the pipe is connected to a branch pipe to which a second change-over valve is connected. A hermetic cooling liquid tank connected to a water source is connected to the second change-over valve. A third change-over valve is provided between the compressed air source and the cooling liquid tank so as to apply pneumatic pressure onto a surface of the cooling liquid in the cooling liquid tank. Since the cooling liquid tank is provided in addition to the water source, pneumatic pressure from the compressed air source can be utilized. The cooling liquid in the cooling liquid tank is compressed and is supplied to the cooling pipe. Therefore, spraying is achievable even by a cooling pipe having a small diameter. Further, supply of the cooling liquid can be finely controlled by controlling valve opening timing of each of the change-over valves.

The present invention relates to a metal mold cooling device, and more particularly, to such device capable of introducing sufficient amount of a cooling liquid into a cooling hole of the metal mold, the hole having relatively small diameter.
Cooling to the metal mold at every predetermined cycle is required so as to produce desirable cast products. To this effect, conventionally, a cooling liquid such as a water is ejected into a cooling hole formed in the metal mold so as to remove evaporation heat therefrom. For example, according to the metal mold cooling technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Kokai Nos. 61-108462 and 63-299848, a pipe connected to an air source is inserted into the cooling hole drilled into the metal mold, and a water supplying pipe branched from the pipe is connected to a water tank. Water in the water tank is introduced into the pipe through the water supplying pipe by making use of a negative pressure generated within the pipe for ejecting the water at a tip end of the pipe.
Japanese Patent Application Kokai No. 60-72641 discloses improvement in a metal mold temperature control in which a cooling passage is provided in the metal mold for selectively ejecting one of liquid, gas(air) and liquid/gas mixture into the passage. To this effect, a cooling pipe is connected to an inlet opening of the cooling passage, and the cooling pipe is branched into first branch pipe to which a liquid tank is connected and a second branch pipe to which an air tank is connected. The first and second branch pipes have first and second change-over valves, respectively. By controlling valve opening timing of these change-over valves by means of a timer, one of the liquid, gas and liquid/gas mixture is selectively introduced into the cooling passage.
However, in the device disclosed in the Japanese patent application Kokai Nos. 61-108462 and 63-299848, cooling liquid ejection from the ejection opening of the pipe is only achievable in a case where a cross-sectional area of the pipe is greater than that of the water supplying pipe. It is impossible to perform water ejection if the cross-sectional area of the pipe is smaller than that of the water supplying pipe. Therefore, if the pipe has a small cross-sectional area, the cross-sectional area of the water supplying pipe must be designed to be further smaller than that of the pipe. As a result, insufficient cooling water supply results. Particularly, if the cooling hole has an extremely small diameter to such extent of a tip end portion of a cast removal pin, such drawbacks is brought into highlighted problem.
In the device disclosed in the Japanese Patent Application Kokai No. 60-72641, if only the cooling liquid such as water is supplied into the metal mold cooling passage in a case where the latter has the small diameter, the water is evaporated within the passage, thereby increasing the pressure in the passage. Thus, subsequent cooling liquid cannot be introduced into the passage. Further, in supply of the liquid/gas mixture, if the pneumatic pressure is greater than the hydraulic pressure, cooling liquid supply may be restrained, and reversely, if the hydraulic pressure is greater than the pneumatic pressure, air supply may be restrained. Accordingly, fine temperature control to the metal mold may not be achievable. In order to obviate this drawback, pressure control units are respectively required in the liquid tank and the air tank, which in turn, renders the overall device intricate.


An electrical connection that is equipped with a pullout prevention clip which can be advantageously used to prevent an electrical plug from being accidentally removed from the connection. The electrical connection includes a socket member formed recessed in an electronic device for receiving a plug, the plug is molded with a groove in an outer peripheral surface, a shaft member attached to the electronic device for anchoring a clip member and acting as an axis pivotally or slidingly engages the clip member, the clip member has a cutout portion for engaging the groove in the plug upon deployment and thereby preventing the plug from being accidentally or unintentionally pulled out.

A majority of computer equipment or other electronic equipment that requires electrical connection to a power source or to other peripheral equipment are provided with a recessed electrical connector in the back panel of the equipment. An electrical plug, of either the female type or the male type, is then plugged into the electrical connector for providing power or other accessory communications to the accessories. For instance, in the case of a computer, other peripheral equipment such as printer, scanner, display panel must be electrically connected to the base unit of the computer. This type of electrical connection is normally provided by plugging a plastic molded plug into a recessed connector that is provided on the back of equipment. This type of electrical connection can be easily disconnected, even when it is unintended. When a user moves the equipment slightly, when someone trips over the electrical cord and when the equipment is transported to another location, the plug in the back of the equipment can be easily disconnected or unplugged accidentally. When such disconnection occurs during the operation of the computer, major data loss can occur which can cause severe problems for the user.
While some manufactures provide electrical connectors that are equipped with screws on the side of the plug, such connection to the back of an equipment or the disconnection from the back of any equipment can be tedious and time consuming since all the screws must be disconnected first before the plug can be removed. Furthermore, during the connection phase, it is also time consuming since the screws must be threaded into screw holes in the back of the computer.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an electrical connection that cannot be accidentally disconnected from the back of an electronic equipment.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an electrical connection that has pullout prevention feature.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an electrical connection that is equipped with a clip member for securing a female or male plug on its outer surface.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an electrical connection by using a clip member to either pivotally or slidingly engaging an electrical plug on its outer surface.

Electrical connections having pullout prevention feature


A system for detecting liquid flow from a nozzle in a semiconductor processing device includes a first fiber optic sensor, a second fiber optic sensor, and an amp. The first fiber optic sensor and second fiber optic sensor are located on opposite sides of at least one nozzle. The first fiber optic sensor transmits light, and the second fiber optic sensor receives more of the light when the nozzle is not dispensing liquid than when the nozzle is dispensing liquid. The amp is coupled to the first fiber optic sensor and second fiber optic sensor. The amp indicates whether the nozzle is dispensing liquid according to an amount of the light received at the second fiber optic sensor.

During the production of semiconductor devices, manufacturing equipment uses nozzles to dispense liquid chemicals onto semiconductor wafers. The manufacturing equipment may include devices, such as suckback valves, to prevent the liquids from continuously dripping onto the deck of the semiconductor manufacturing equipment or on the wafer. In the event that the suckback valve or other equipment fails to prevent dripping, the wafers produced by the manufacturing equipment may include corrosion or other defects.

System and method for detecting liquid flow from a nozzle in a semiconductor processing device


Disclosed herein is an electronic method for monitoring a wearable device, the device being in communication with a receiving device, comprising the steps of, transmitting, from the wearable device via a wireless communications protocol, an encoded signal capable of being received by the receiving device, the encoded signal including information identifying the wearable device and information regarding the status of the device, wherein, upon receipt of the encoded signal, the receiving device decodes the signal, and dependent on the received information regarding the status of the wearable device, the receiving device performs one or more of sending a broadcast signal including the encoded signal via a transceiver, sending the encoded signal to a second receiving device via a wireless communications network, sending an alarm signal to a second device and sounding an alarm.

Drowning is an ever present risk in many environments, including the home environment. Children especially do not comprehend the danger of water and drownings can occur in only a few unsupervised minutes. Whilst nothing can replace direct supervision of children, many devices are available commercially which, when operated correctly, can reduce the risk of drowning.
For example, wearable devices that provide an alert in the event of the device being immersed in water (which is indicative of the wearer being in the water and potentially in danger) are known. Such devices are worn (typically by children, but also by other users such as disabled adults or pets) and will cause an alarm to be triggered in the event of the device being immersed in water.
However, such devices are also potentially limited in their ability to reduce the risk of drowning in that a person must still be physically near the user wearing the device in order to hear the alarm and take action within a reasonable time. Where a person is not near the user, auditory warnings may be of limited or no use. Furthermore, the device must be being worn at the time the child (etc.) enters the water in order to be effective.

Water safety alarm and supervision aid including methodology embodied in the alarm for alerting a third party via a communications network


A lithotripsy system, used to break calculi and stones, consisting of a flexible energy probe assembly, which can be inserted into a small and flexible endoscope, and an energy source. The flexible energy probe assembly consists of a target mass, an impact rod and a return spring. The energy source supplies an impact to the target mass which then transmits the energy from the impact rod to the stone. A return spring then restores the target mass and impact rod to their original position after each impact. The energy source can be a mechanical, electrical or pneumatic system.

Many patients develop stones within their common bile, urinary, renal or ureteral systems. These stones may block ducts and cause great pain and therefore must be removed. Several approaches are available for treating such stones.
The traditional approach has been open surgery where multiple incisions are made to approach and remove the stone from the duct. This treatment results in a relatively long recovery period for the patient, and has fallen into disfavor.
Currently, extra-corporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) has become the treatment of choice for many patients. In these devices the patient is subjected to shock waves. The shock waves pass through the patients' skin and break up the stones. However, there are stones which cannot be removed by this technique because of their location, volume or composition. In general, these difficult stones are candidates for alternate surgical approaches.
Among the alternate lithotriptors are those which operate on electro-hydraulic, pneumatic and ultrasonic principles, as well as devices which use laser energy to fragment the stones. U.S. Pat. No. 5,160,336 to Favre and U.S. Pat. No. 5,449,363 to Brust et al. which disclose pneumatically driven devices which are useful alternatives to conventional open surgery. However, even with these devices, there is a need for a lithotripsy system which can deliver high energy to the stones and operate with small and flexible endoscopes.


An image pickup apparatus includes a plurality of pixels each including a read-out node to which an electric charge generated in a photoelectric conversion unit is transferred, an output unit configured to convert the electric charge transferred to the read-out node into a voltage and output the resultant voltage to a signal line, and a switch including a first node electrically connected to the read-out node. Each switch includes a second node different from the first node, and a particular number of second nodes are electrically connected to a common bypass wiring.

1. Field of the Invention
One aspect of the embodiments relates to an image pickup apparatus, and more particularly, to a technique of adding signals.
2. Description of the Related Art
One of techniques to add signals in an image pickup apparatus is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2009-033316. In this technique, floating diffusion parts (hereinafter, referred to as FD parts) of pixels adjacent in a vertical direction are electrically connected to each other via an FD-part connection switch. This connection is made for all pixels in a whole effective pixel array area of a solid state image pickup device. Each FD part functions as a part of a charge-voltage conversion unit that converts a transferred electric charge into a voltage.
In the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2009-033316, when electric charges of three or more FD parts are added together, it is necessary to provide two FD-part connection switches for each FD part to electrically connect the FD part to another FD part at an upper or lower location. This configuration results in an increase in capacitance of the charge-voltage conversion unit. The increase in capacitance of the charge-voltage conversion unit makes it difficult to achieve a high charge-to-voltage conversion factor in converting the electric charge generated in the photoelectric conversion unit into a voltage. In view of the above, one aspect of the embodiments provides an improved technique to add electric charges of FD parts.


A sacroiliac joint support mechanism for installing to a seat of a golf vehicle, having a sacroiliac joint support cushion for abutting to the posterior wall region of the sacroiliac joint, angling elements for creating an angle of support and an attachment elements for fixedly installing the sacroiliac joint support mechanism to an open span between a golf vehicle seat bottom and a golf vehicle seat back.

The sacroiliac joint is a firm, small joint that lies at the junction of the spine and the pelvis. The joint comprises sacroiliac ligaments for connecting the sacrum with the ilium, where the sacrum comprises five fused vertebrae forming the posterior wall of the pelvis, and the ilium is the broad upper portion of pelvis. The sacroiliac joint does not move much, but it is critical to transferring loads between the upper body and the lower body.
Many golfers suffer from sacroiliac joint pain brought on from swinging a golf club and riding in golf vehicles. A golfer relies on the sacroiliac joint to execute a proper golf swing, where the golf swing comprises transferring forces between the legs, hips and upper body. The sacroiliac joint is a key element in transmitting these forces and the joint becomes inflamed and sore over repeated swings.
A golf vehicle seat typically has a seat bottom and a seat backing where an open span exists between the seat bottom and seat back. The open span leaves the posterior wall region of the sacroiliac joint unsupported and prone to sacroiliac joint aggravation when driving or riding in the golf vehicle, especially across rough terrain.
What is needed is a sacroiliac joint support mechanism for inserting to an open span between a seat bottom and a seat back of a golf vehicle for supporting sacroiliac joints of golfers riding in golf vehicles.

Sacroiliac joint support mechanism for use with a golf vehicle


A system and method for data sampler drift compensation in a SerDes receiver. Off-data values are received at a drift compensation engine from a plurality of data value selectors coupled to one of a plurality of data sampler pairs of a speculative Decision Feedback Equalizer (DFE) of a SerDes receiver. A drift compensation value for each of the data samplers is generated by the drift compensation engine based upon the off-data values received from each of the plurality of data value selectors and, a sampling level of each of the data samplers of the plurality of data sampler pairs of the DFE is adjusted based upon the drift compensation value from the drift compensation engine.

Analog Serializer/Deserializer (SerDes) receivers used in high-speed communication systems, are designed to sample an analog waveform and then reliably detect the sampled data. SerDes receivers utilize multiple data samplers, such as 1-bit Analog-to-Digital converters, to regularly sample incoming analog signals and to convert the samples to digital values. In operation, the sampling level of each of these data samplers is calibrated during startup and cannot be subsequently re-calibrated during live traffic operations. However, during operation, the data samplers of the SerDes receiver are subject to voltage and temperature (VT) changes which may result in drift in the sampling level of the data samplers. The drift of the sampling level of the data samplers due to changing VT conditions is a potential source of undesirable bit-errors. Adjustment, or trimming, of the sampling level of the data samplers is required to optimize receiver performance during dynamic changes in VT conditions.
It is known in the art to provide duplicate receiver circuitry, operating in parallel, wherein one receiver processes live traffic while the other receiver performs standard calibration procedures, and periodically exchanging the function of these two receivers. However, utilizing duplicate receiver circuitry requires significant area and increases power consumption, and is therefore not a feasible solution in many applications. Placing completely, or partially, redundant receivers in a SerDes device is not acceptable from a power or area perspective.
Additionally, it is known in the art to use Forward-Error-Correction (FEC) feedback to correct data sampler VT-drift errors. Utilizing FEC feedback, if a data sampler has drifted to a sampling location that results in bit-errors in the received data stream, the bit-errors are detected by the FEC and correction statistics are collected for each data sampler. The correction statistics are then used to correct the VT drift condition of the data sampler. However, some standards, including PCI Express (PCIe) Gen5, promulgated by the Peripheral Component Interconnect Special Interest Group (PCI-SIG), of Beaverton, Oreg., are designed without the use of FEC, thereby eliminate the ability to use FEC to correct the data sampler VT-drift. Leaving the drift uncompensated, as is currently done in many receivers, is not viable at modern data rates.
Accordingly, what is needed in the art is an improved system and method for adjusting the sampling level of data samplers in a SerDes receiver in response to dynamic operating conditions, such as changes in voltage and temperature during operation of the receiver.

System and method for data sampler drift compensation


A reversible fishing rod holster comprising a hip plate and a tube configured to receive a fishing rod. The hip plate includes at least one slot configured to enable a hip plate to be attached to a belt. The hip plate further includes at least one aperture configured to receive at least one fastener attached to the tube for removably attaching the tube to the hip plate. The tube receives the handle end of the fishing rod, securing it for hands free fishing. The tube includes at least one fastener for removable attachment to the hip plate. The tube further includes an inner sleeve configured to house an extendible spike. The spike may be extended and secured in the ground, allowing the user to move away from the water. The holster includes at least one fastener to secure the spike in place. The holster is reversibly configured for attachment to the right or left side of the user's belt, for right and left-handed use.

The present invention relates generally to fishing equipment and more particularly to holsters for holding a fishing rod. Generally one thinks of a fisherman as standing by a body of water holding a fishing rod in his hands. In reality, a fisherman spends much of his time struggling to hold his fishing rod under his arm or braced on the ground while baiting the hook or removing his catch. Many of the tasks involved in fishing are difficult, if not impossible, to accomplish while at the same time holding a fishing rod. Placing a fishing rod on the ground is not a preferred solution as it may result in a snagged or tangled line, dirt in the reel mechanism or even a fish catching the rod instead of the rod catching a fish. While there are several patents for fishing rod holders that are designed to be hung from a belt, the fishing rod holster of the present invention is preferable over other fishing rod holders found in the art because it allows the user to position the holster on either side of his or her body as well as providing a means for securing the rod in the ground.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,874,573 issued Apr. 1, 1975, to Fruscella et al, discloses a one piece fishing rod holster with slots for attachment to a belt and has loops with which to hold the fishing rod. One drawback associated with the Fruscella et al, device is that the holster is not reversible such that it may be worn on the left or right side, nor does it include a retractable spike to allow for securing the fishing rod in the ground.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,511,336 issued Apr. 30, 1996, to Bishop describes a fishing holder with a hip plate and a cylindrical tube for holding the fishing rod. The tube is attached such that it angles to the side and away from the body. However, this configuration does not position the rod in front of the fisherman's body for easy access to the line, nor does it allow the fisherman to anchor the rod in the ground or position the rod on either side of his or her body.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,569,466 issued Feb. 11, 1986, to Webber discloses a fishing rod holster that includes a base having slots for accepting the fisherman's belt. The holster has rigid support loops hingedly mounted to the base portion to support the rod. However, the Webber device does not enable a user to wear the holster on either side of the body nor does it offer a means for securing the rod in the ground.
What is needed, then, is a device to hold the fishing rod in a manner approximating the way a fisherman would hold the rod for himself, such that the fisherman's hands are free and the rod is positioned in a manner that would allow the fisherman to continue fishing or to bait the hook or to remove a catch. Such a device would be reversible, such that the same holster might be worn on either the left or right side of the body, and would further provide a means for securing a fishing rod in the ground to further free the hands of the fisherman.


The present invention facilitates communications between a first network and a second network using an information routing device having an auto-configuration feature. The auto-configuration feature negotiates what authentication protocol will be used when the networks transfer information. Once the authentication protocol is negotiated by the device, the device intercepts and stores information transferred between networks. In this manner, the device can emulate a first network when coupled to a second network by providing the necessary stored information directly to the second network, and vice versa.

The Internet is a vast, globe-spanning, collection of interconnected computer networks and the associated programs, protocols, and standards that enable these computers to communicate with each other. The World Wide Web ("web"), a popular application of the Internet, relies on a combination of various protocols and standards to make vast collections of digital content accessible via the Internet.
The globe-spanning nature of the Internet lets a user contact any computer connected to the Internet from any other computer connected to the Internet. This fundamental property of the Internet, combined with the ease of publishing content on the web, is largely responsible for the explosive growth of the Internet as a medium of communication.
An Internet service provider (ISP) is a company that provides individuals and other companies access to the Internet and other related services. An ISP has the equipment and the telecommunication line access required to have a point-of-presence on the Internet for the geographic area served. A dial-up Internet connection may be initiated between an ISP and a personal computer (PC) when the PC user provides the correct username and password to the ISP.
A point-to-point protocol (PPP) connection typically is used to establish a connection between an ISP and a personal computer (PC). Essentially, a PPP packages a computer's internet protocol (IP) packets and forwards them to the server where they can be put on the Internet. Before establishing communications over a point-to-point link, each end of the PPP link must send out link control protocol (LCP) packets. LCP packets either accept or reject the identity of the peer computer based on criteria such as common configurations and packet size limits.
Once the LCP packets accept the link, traffic can be transported on the network. To gain Internet access, the PC will send a request to the ISP, and the ISP then will challenge the PC to provide the correct username and password. Various authentication protocols may be used to ensure that the correct information has been provided to the ISP. Once the username and password have been authenticated, the ISP allows the user access to the Internet. Generally, the username and password must be provided to the ISP to establish a connection between the user's PC and the ISP.
A drawback associated with having to provide a username and password when challenged by the ISP is that a PC user is burdened by having to enter that identification information, which may increase the time and effort required on the part of the PC user. Another drawback associated with having to provide network identification information when challenged by the ISP is that multiple PC users in a local area network (LAN) may be denied access to the Internet because they do not know the master username and password. Although this may be an advantageous security feature in some settings, it may be desirable to share the Internet access through one ISP account, for example, in a house having three computers.
In view of these disadvantages it would be desirable to provide a device that facilitates information transfer between networks by automatically providing a first network with information when the first network requests that information from a second network.
It further would be desirable to provide a device that can intercept and store network authentication information by emulating a first network when coupled to a second network, and can emulate a second network when coupled to a first network.
It also would be desirable to provide a device that can emulate an ISP and interrogate a PC, so the device can obtain network authentication information without having had that information initially.
It also would be desirable to provide a device that can emulate a PC by automatically providing network authentication information to an ISP without having the PC user enter that information.

Information routing device having an auto-configuration feature


A phase interpolator circuit includes differential pairs of transistors, current source circuits, and a transimpedance amplifier circuit. Each of the current source circuits is coupled to provide current through one of the differential pairs of transistors. The transimpedance amplifier circuit converts the current through the differential pairs of transistors into a voltage signal.

The present invention relates to electronic circuits, and more particularly, to techniques for phase shifting periodic signals.
A digital periodic clock signal is often used to sample a data signal that is transmitted to an integrated circuit from an external source. Different techniques can be used to align the rising and falling edges of the clock signal with respect to a sampling window of the data signal so that the data signal can be sampled accurately. As the clock signal frequency and the data rate increases, the sampling window decreases, and the sampling timing is more constrained. A phase interpolator circuit is an example of a circuit that can be used to generate a desired phase shift in a high frequency sampling clock signal.
FIG. 1A illustrates a prior art phase shifting system. The system of FIG. 1A includes a control circuit 10, a multiplexer block 15, slew rate circuits 21-24, and analog phase interpolator 30. FIG. 1B illustrates details of analog phase interpolator (API) 30. Phase interpolator 30 includes two differential pairs formed by n-channel metal oxide semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) 41-44, variable current sources 51-52, resistors 61-62, and voltage comparator 71.
A phase interpolator circuit can generate any one of a number of different phases in a periodic output signal relative to the phases of periodic input signals. A phase interpolator circuit can generate a sinusoidal output voltage signal VOUT that is a weighted sum of two sinusoidal voltage input signals, as shown in equations (1)-(3).VOUT=R×[(α×sin(ωt))+(β×cos(ωt))]=C×sin(ωt+θ)  (1)
                    C        =                  R          ×                                                    α                2                            +                              β                2                                                                        (        2        )            θ=Arctan(β/α)  (3)
In equations (1) and (2), R is the resistance of resistor 61, R is also the resistance of resistor 62, α and β are the currents through current sources 51-52, respectively, and w is the angular frequency of the periodic input signals of the phase interpolator. The phase interpolator can generate a phase shift θ in VOUT between 0° and 360° relative to the periodic input signals. A desired phase shift in VOUT can be generated by setting the values of α and β as a weighted summation of two variable current sources 51-52.
In the system of FIG. 1A, multiplexers in multiplexer block 15 select four of the clock signals C0, C45, C90, C135, C180, C225, C270, and C315 as output clock signals CLKA, CLKB, CLKC, and CLKD based on control signals CS1 from control circuit 10. The four selected clock signals CLKA, CLKB, CLKC, and CLKD are transmitted to slew rate circuits 21-24. Slew rate circuits 21-24 convert clock signals CLKA, CLKB, CLKC, and CLKD into four signals A, B, C, and D that are more sinusoidal in shape. The four sinusoidal signals A-D are transmitted to the gate terminals of transistors 41-44 in phase interpolator 30, respectively. Voltage comparator 71 generates periodic output signals OUT and OUTB at its differential outputs based on the voltage drops generated across resistors 61-62.
The four selected clock signals CLKA, CLKB, CLKC, and CLKD determine which of 8 different 45° wide regions RG0-RG7 between 0° and 360° the phase shifts in OUT and OUTB occur in. FIG. 1C illustrates the 8 regions RG0-RG7 between 0° and 360°. Clock signals C0, C45, C90, C135, C180, C225, C270, and C315 have relative phases of 0°, 45°, 90°, 135°, 180°, 225°, 270°, and 315°, respectively. Multiplexer circuits 101-112 in multiplexer block 15 select the 4 clock signals shown in one of columns 2-9 of Table 1 below as clock signals CLKA, CLKB, CLKC, and CLKD based on control signals CS1 to generate a phase shift in output signal OUT that is within the region RG0-RG7 indicated in the top row of that column. Output signal OUTB is the inverse of output signal OUT.
TABLE 1Input SignalRG0RG1RG2RG3RG4RG5RG6RG7AC0C45C90C135C180C225 C270C315BC180 C225C270C315C0C45C90C135CC45C90C135C180C225C270C315 C0DC225 C270C315C0C45C90C135C180
Control circuit 10 generates control signals CS2 and CS3 for controlling the weight current ratios of current sources 51-52, respectively. Control circuit 10 generates control signals CS1 for selecting the regions RG0-RG7 that the phases of OUT and OUTB are generated in. The currents through current sources 51-52 are varied to change the phase shift of OUT and OUTB within the selected regions RG0-RG7.

Techniques for phase shifting periodic signals


At a network device configured to control access to a network, a client device authentication request is received from a client device. The request includes identity credentials and a temporary media access control (MAC) address of the client device. The client device is successfully authenticated based on the identity credentials. After authentication, a new MAC address is established in the client device. A data frame is received from at the network device. It is determined whether the client device is using the new MAC address based on the received data frame. If it is determined that the client device is using the new MAC address, the client device is permitted access the network.

Ethernet addresses are typically 48-bit values, managed by The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802 Registration Authority Committee (RAC). Organizations desiring globally unique Ethernet addresses apply for and purchase blocks of Ethernet addresses. The 48-bit address space is finite, and new Ethernet use cases could consume globally unique addresses at a staggering rate. For example, deployment of cheap Internet-of-Things (IoT) sensors (in many cases battery powered and with a short lifetime), and the rapidly increasing numbers of virtual machines in a data center are both situations that could consume huge blocks of Media Access Control (MAC) addresses. Another type of Ethernet address defined by IEEE 802 is the "local" address type. Local MAC addresses are an alternative to globally unique MAC addresses when a MAC address of a device is not bridged beyond a local network. Conventional address allocation protocols permit an organization to allocate local MAC addresses at random in an uncontrolled, uncoordinated manner leading to address collisions in the local network.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Allocation of local MAC addresses to client devices


A binding device includes an L-shaped frame including two uprights, a crossbar-shaped platen interconnecting the upright, a central screw having a bottom end secured to the platen, and a rectangular table having two rear corners secured to bottoms of the uprights; a base including two arcuate openings each formed along an edge of an upper portion of the side, and two adjustment knobs secured to both sides of the table proximate a front end of the table; and a heater releasably secured to a rear end of the table and a vertical section of the frame and including a front heating area. The adjustment knobs are adapted to slide in a range defined by two ends of the opening. The platen is adapted to lift and lower by operating the screw and press one or more books to be bound on the table. A book binding method is also disclosed.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to binding devices and more particularly to an improved binder and a book binding method by utilizing same.
2. Related Art
A conventional binder is shown in FIGS. 1 to 4. A rectangular hard cover 10, in its extended state, comprises a lengthwise central adhesive 12 formed on its central portion 11. A plurality of sheets of paper are placed on either half portion of an inner surface of the cover 10. Fold the other half portion onto the sheets of paper. Next, hold the cover 10 in an upright position prior to inserting a lower portion thereof into a U-shaped slot 21 of a binder 20 to rest on a heating element 22 on the bottom of the slot 21. Next, activate the heating element 22 to melt the adhesive 12. Next, wait for a predetermined period of cooling time. Finally, remove the bound book from the binder 20.
However, the prior art binder suffered from a couple of disadvantages. For example, the slot 21 has a limited width. Thus, multiple book binding is not possible. Further, a person may have to use one hand to hold a book to be bound having a thickness less than the width of the slot 21 in an upright position prior to activating the heating element 22 for binding (i.e., the width of the slot 21 is not adjustable for accommodating books of different thickness). Thus, the need for improvement still exists.


A landing leg assembly for a heavy duty commercial vehicle includes a first leg member defining an interior space, a second leg member telescopingly engaging the first leg member and movable between a retracted position and an extended position with respect to the first leg member, a gear assembly at least partially located within the interior space of the first leg member and operably coupled to the second leg member and configured to receive an input from a user to move the first leg member between the retracted and extended positions, the gear assembly including a shaft member and a gear member fixed for rotation with the shaft member, and an integral, single-piece bearing member including a bore that rotatably receives the shaft member, wherein the bearing member comprises a powdered metal and is directly welded to the first leg member.

The embodiments as disclosed herein relate to a landing leg assembly for heavy-duty commercial vehicles such as semi-trailers, and specifically to a landing leg assembly that includes a gear arrangement operable to move the landing leg assembly between a retracted position and an extended position, where the gear arrangement is at least partially supported by a bearing member comprising a powdered metal bearing welded directly to components of the landing leg assembly without the requirement of secondary mounting arrangements or components.


A video player tablet, or a mobile device includes a processor configured to receive live video and audio data from a communication network and format the video and audio data for display on the tablet. The processor is also configured to receive live meta-data from the communication network and format the meta-data for display on the same tablet. The processor is further configured to select the meta-data, and time synchronize the selected meta-data with the video and audio data for simultaneous display on the tablet, or mobile device.

In recent years, mobile communication services have expanded and increased in popularity around the world. Many advanced networks offer wireless mobile communication service for voice calls, mobile phone messaging services (e.g., text and/or multimedia) and data communications. The data services, for example, enable surfing the world wide web, e.g., via a browser. The speeds of the data communications services have steadily increased as service providers have migrated the networks to newer generation technologies with broadband data communication capabilities, and the mobile stations have steadily advanced to take advantage of the new network technologies. The data communication capabilities of the mobile stations and the broadband data communication services offered by the networks enable users to perform more and more tasks and to access a rapidly expanding variety of content, all from their mobile stations. Examples of mobile station content items include, without limitation, media, games, messaging, social networks, stores, and any other applications or information for use on a mobile phone or on a tablet computer.
Referring to tablet computers, or simply tablets, these devices differentiate themselves from mobile phones in that they are larger than mobile phones and are used mainly for viewing published content from the Internet, such as video and news. Mobile developers today are increasingly creating applications for use on tablets. These applications are usually supplied through online distribution, rather than traditional methods of boxed software or direct sales from software vendors. These suppliers, knows as "app stores", provide centralized catalogues of software from the operating system (OS) supplier or device manufacturer, and allow easy installation and updates via network communication. The app store is often shared with smartphones that use the same operating system.
It may be desirable to provide a mobile device, such as a tablet, with a capability of receiving multiple sources of live information that are related to each other, but are published and processed at different rates. For example, it may be desirable for a user to view video that is streamed live from the Internet to a client player using HTTP Live Streaming (also known as HLS) communications protocol. Furthermore, it may be desirable for the same user to simultaneously view other information, such as meta-data, that provides additional information related to the HLS video. Assembling meta-data and HLS video (for example), in which each is published and processed at a different rate and perhaps from different sources, for simultaneous display, in real-time has not as yet been implemented.
Hence, a need exists for improved technologies for synchronizing information (for example, HLS video and meta-data) that is published and processed at different rates, so that a viewer may comprehend the multiple information displayed on a mobile device, or a tablet.

Time synchronization of video and data inside a mobile device


A timing signal generation circuit according to the present invention includes: a delay circuit for transmitting an input clock signal while delaying the clock signal, the delay circuit having a plurality of intermediate taps capable of outputting the clock signal at their corresponding positions in the delay circuit; a detection delay circuit for transmitting the clock signal while delaying the clock signal, the detection delay circuit having a plurality of intermediate taps capable of outputting the clock signal at their corresponding positions in the detection delay circuit; a plurality of sample/hold circuits each having a sampling signal terminal, the sampling signal terminals being connected to corresponding ones of the plurality of intermediate taps of the detection delay circuit; a plurality of boundary delay circuits for detecting an edge of the clock signal, the boundary detection circuits being connected to respective output terminals of the sample/hold circuits; and an output selection circuit for extracting the clock signal via at least one of the plurality of intermediate taps selected in accordance with an edge position of the clock signal detected by the boundary detection circuits, the output selection circuit outputting the extracted clock signal as a timing signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the generation of timing signals (or internal clock signals) used in semiconductor integrated circuits (ICs), and more particularly to a timing signal generation circuit and a data transfer circuit, etc., utilizing the timing signal generation circuit.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, semiconductor ICs such as microprocessors and high-speed memories are expected to operate at inconceivably high speeds, e.g., 80 MHz or 100 MHz, and even 150 MHz or 200 MHz. However, circuit chips required to operate at such high speeds are susceptible to the problem of phase shifting of clock signals, which hinders their high-speed operation capabilities.
This problem will be described with reference to FIGS. 33 and 47 below.
FIG. 46 is a schematic diagram showing a manner in which clock signals are input to conventional semiconductor ICs (semiconductor chips). A clock signal generation circuit receives an external clock signal from a timing signal generation circuit located on the same circuit board, via an external clock signal input terminal. The clock signal generation circuit generates an internal clock signal which is in synchronization with the external clock signal. The generated internal clock signal is supplied to various circuits in the semiconductor chip. The external clock signal output from the timing signal generation circuit on the circuit board is also supplied to the external clock signal input terminals of other semiconductor chips on the same circuit board. Various processes are performed by the semiconductor chips using the internal clock signal (generated by the clock signal generation circuit) as a timing signal. For example, data may be input from an output circuit to the signal input terminals of other semiconductor chips via a data output terminal, in accordance with a timing signal.
FIG. 47A shows the waveform of an external clock signal generated by the above-mentioned timing generation circuit on the circuit board. FIGS. 47B and 47D show a signal waveform taken at a clock terminal of an output circuit. Specifically, FIG. 47B describes the case with only a small internal delay. FIG. 47D describes the case with a large internal delay. FIG. 47C shows an output waveform from a semiconductor chip having a small internal delay. FIG. 47D shows an output waveform from a semiconductor chip having a large internal delay. In FIG. 47C, the output from the semiconductor chip becomes stable by the time a subsequent semiconductor chip makes an access for reading out a signal. On the contrary, in FIG. 47E, the output from the semiconductor chip is not stable or established yet by that time.
As shown in FIG. 46 and FIGS. 47A to 47E, the data in an output signal from an output circuit of one semiconductor chip can be stably read by a subsequent semiconductor chip in synchronization with a clock signal on the circuit board as long as the cycle of the clock signal is sufficiently longer than the internal delay time of the clock taken at the output circuit of the former semiconductor chip. On the other hand, when the cycle of a clock signal is not sufficiently longer than the internal delay time of the clock (taken at the output circuit of the former semiconductor chip), the data in the output signal from that output circuit is not stabilized yet when it is read by a subsequent semiconductor chip.
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem of internal delay, a circuitry technique called PLL (Phase-Locked Loop) is conventionally employed in many cases. This technique will be described below. (See literature such as IEEE Journal of Solid state Circuits vol. 27, no. 11, November 1992, p. 1599 for conventional PLL techniques.)
The main cause for the internal delay time of a clock signal, taken at an output circuit of a semiconductor chip, is the delay time of a clock driver. The delay time of a clock driver is typically increased by a large capacitance resulting from a large number of destinations of clock driver lines, which increases the time required for charging/discharging of the clock driver. FIG. 48 shows the schematic configuration of a PLL circuit for eliminating the delay time of a clock driver. Conventional PLL circuits adopt the configuration shown in FIG. 48 in order to minimize such delay in a clock driver.
First, as shown in FIG. 48, an external clock signal is input to one end of a phase difference detection circuit. Another end of the phase difference detection circuit is coupled to the output of a clock driver (i.e., a clock driver line). A voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) is controlled by the output of the phase difference detection circuit. The output of the VCO controls the clock driver. Specifically, the phase difference detection circuit controls the voltage at a control terminal of the VCO so that the entire circuit becomes stable when the output of the clock driver matches the external clock signal in terms of both phases and cycles. In that state, the apparent delay time caused by the clock driver becomes zero. Thus, conventional PLL circuits can provide a large advantage of eliminating the apparent delay time caused by the clock driver.
However, the above-described conventional technique has a problem of a long "setup time", which is defined as the time required from the beginning of the generation of a given clock signal till it becomes possible to stably generate the clock signal. The setup time can take several dozen clocks to several thousand clocks (amounting to several microseconds to several milliseconds in some extreme cases). Until the setup time elapses, normal operation cannot be expected.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A RAID device changes the redundancy of the RAID configuration, while allows various RAID level conversions and capacity increase. Using new and old RAID configuration definition information which define at least a RAID level and a number of logical devices, the control unit performs RLU mapping based on the respective RAID configuration definition information, and performs staging and write back to change the RAID configuration. Therefore various RAID level conversions and capacity increase can be implemented.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a RAID apparatus which manages the redundancy of data using a physical disk such as a magnetic disk and a logical device expansion method thereof, and more particularly to a RAID apparatus which increases the capacity of the RAID group or adds redundancy to the RAID group, and the logical device expansion method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a storage device using such storage medium as a magnetic disk, magneto-optical disk and optical disk, the storage medium is actually accessed by the request of a data processing apparatus. When the data processing apparatus handles large capacity data, a storage system included a plurality of storage devices and a control apparatus is used.
In such a storage system, a redundant configuration is used to improve the reliability of the stored data and the reliability of the device. For the redundant configuration, the disk device normally uses a multiplex configuration of disks called a RAID (Redundant Array of Inexpensive (or Independent) Disks). As RAID functions, RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 0+1, RAID 2, RAID 3, RAID 4 and RAID 5 are known.
In such a RAID configuration, the RAID level is fixed in the system. However, if the redundancy is increased, the reliability improves but the performance drops, and if the redundancy is decreased, the reliability drops but the performance improves. The redundancy is determined by the system configuration of the user, but there is a demand that the user wants to change the redundancy after installing the system. The redundancy can be easily changed if the system is shutdown.
But when an online system is constructed, it is desirable that the redundancy can be changed in an active status without shutting down the system. Prior proposed method is to change the redundancy in an active status by decreasing or increasing the parity blocks (e.g. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H7-306758 (see FIG. 2, FIG. 7, FIG. 8).
According to this proposal, in the configuration of RAID 5, data is read from a physical disk group to a cache memory, redundancy is decreased from 2 parities or 1 parity to 1 parity or 0 parity, or redundancy is increased from 0 parity or 1 parity to 1 parity or 2 parities, and the data is written from the cache memory to the physical disk group.
If an I/O request is received from the host during this redundancy conversion processing, the redundancy conversion processing is interrupted and it is judged whether the I/O request is for the area where the redundancy change has completed or for the area where the redundancy has not been changed, and then the I/O request is executed. In the case of redundancy reduction, the actual disks must be decreased, and in the case of redundancy increase, the actual disks must be increased.
In prior art, however, the redundancy can be changed in an active status, but the change of various RAID levels cannot be supported since this is a technology to simply decrease or increase the number of parity blocks, where the range of change of the redundancy is limited.
Further, it is difficult that the demand for increasing the capacity of the RAID group without changing the RAID level in an active status be implemented.

RAID apparatus and logical device expansion method thereof


A return amplifier for two-way coaxial cable systems, of the type having a distribution centre distributing first feed signals, and a separate second signal delivery system having facilities for distributing second feed signals onto said cable system and reception facilities for receiving return signals from said cable system, the system having feeder amplifiers for receiving first and second feed signals, and having return amplifiers having a standard amplifier assembly having a plurality of electronic circuits, and in which first and second said electronic circuits are settable to provide varying return amplifier specifications, and each of said first and second circuits having receptacles for receiving plug in attenuator components for varying the specifications of the return amplifier, the plurality of plug in attenuator components each being of identical design and being adapted to interfit with either the first or second electronic circuit, and the attenuator components having a range of varying performance characteristics so that an attenuator component can be selected and plugged in to respective ones of the first and second electronic circuits to produce the performance specifications desired for the return amplifier at a predetermined location in the cable system, and to a method of operating a return amplifier of the type described.

It is well known practice to transmit signals in two directions, along a common electrical wire transmitting system, a typical example being a telephone system. Telephone wire transmission systems are well known for transmitting voice transmissions and also for transmitting electronically generated signals from a wide variety of equipment such as security systems, facsimile machines, and a wide variety of computer information for example, coded signals concerning credit transactions, and transferring information to and from computers connected to the telephone wire system. Due to the nature of the telephone wire transmission systems, there are significant restrictions on the speed, and volume, of information which can be transmitted within a given time span. In the past this has not been a significant problem. However, with the ever increasing popularity of the so called "Internet", the ability to transmit very large volumes of information at high speed in both directions has become critical. The telephone wire transmission system does not readily accommodate itself to the very substantial expansion of the volume of information as well as the increase in speed of transmission that is required to satisfy the growing number of customers requiring Internet services. As a result, Internet servicing companies are seeking alternative means of transmission.
Telephone wire transmission systems are also subject to intermittent interference from a variety of sources, and are sometimes simply so overloaded that they are incapable of accepting further transmissions.
Coaxial cable transmission networks for distributing cable television services are becoming widely accepted in many cities and towns, and provide excellent services for distributing television signals to television sets of subscribers on the network. Such cable television distribution systems are based on a coaxial wire cable, having a single central conductive core, and a woven sheath of wire or other form of conductive sheath, insulated from the core. Such coaxial cable is capable of transmitting much greater volumes of information at high speed, and with very little interference. In the past such cable systems have been used for one way transmission of television signals from the head end signal source to the consumers television sets.
The existence of wide spread cable television signal networks has lead to the development of their use as a means of connecting consumers to the Internet system. The coaxial cable systems, with feed signal amplifiers located along the cables at spaced intervals, and with their substantial freedom from interference, lend themselves particularly well to the rapid transmission of high volume signals such as are generated by the Internet system. Consequently consumers are increasingly looking to the coaxial cable television networks as a means of connecting their computers to the Internet, so as to avoid the difficulties of connections via the telephone wire systems.
However, one of the problems encountered in using coaxial cable networks for distribution of Internet signals is that the cables are required to carry signals in both directions simultaneously. Thus the consumer will wish to be receiving signals from an Internet source, and will wish to be generating return signals, generated from his or her computer, back onto to the Internet. In theory the coaxial cable networks are ideally suited to this type of two-way transmission. In practice however, there are problems which arise from the original design of such cable systems. Since the coaxial cable networks are relatively long, the feed signals on the networks gradually become attenuated and decrease in strength as they pass along the length of the cable. In the case of television feed signals this problem is overcome, as mentioned above, by the use of feed signal amplifiers located in the coaxial cables at spaced intervals. These feed signal amplifiers ensure that all subscribers on any particular cable network will receive television signals (and Internet signals) of adequate strength, and they will also amplify the Internet feed signals, so that in spite of the considerable length of any one particular cable, the feed signals will all be substantially of the same signal strength to all households on that cable network.
However, such feed signal amplifiers are capable only of amplifying the feed signals fed into the coaxial cable from the head end where the television and Internet signals originate, and cannot amplify return signals, passing in the opposite direction.
As a result, when it is attempted to adapt or modify the coaxial cable system for two-way transmission, the return signals are unable to pass through the feed amplifiers already incorporated in the network. Return signal amplifiers have been used to amplify the return signals, and these return signal amplifiers are located alongside the feed amplifiers on the cable network and pass the return signals around the feed amplifiers, and increase the return signal strength. In this way the return signals bypass the feed signal amplifiers, and at the same time their signal strength is maintained at the desired level so that it can be fed back to the Internet server.
The problem of signal strength is aggravated by the fact that the attenuation of signal strength is greater in the higher range of frequencies, and is lower in the lower range of frequencies. The feed amplifiers in use on cable systems are already designed to overcome these problems, and equalise the signal strength over the entire frequency band of the feed signals. However, the adaptation of an existing one way cable network to accept return signals such as Internet signals requires that the return amplifiers be installed on the already existing cable network.
The return amplifiers designed for maintaining signal strength of the return signals must be designed so as to amplify the signals over the entire frequency range of the return signals back up to a uniform level of signal strength, across the entire range of frequency. However the signal strength of the return signals at any given location on an existing cable network can only be determined by actually measuring the return signals at that location. This signal strength will vary from one location to another. Consequently the return amplifier cannot be produced as a standard item, but must have performance characteristics which vary from one cable location to another.
Typically, the return frequency signals will be in the range of from about 5 to 42 megahertz. If the amplification of the signals does not produce a uniform signal strength over this entire range then the signals received back at the origin of the feed signals, i.e. the Internet server, will be distorted.
Another problem in the design and construction of such return signal amplifiers is the fact that return amplifiers will be required at spaced locations along any given length of coaxial cable in the system. These locations will correspond to the locations of the already installed feed signal amplifiers. Return amplifiers with standard characteristics will not be equally suitable at each location. In fact, it will be found that before a return amplifier is installed by the installer, the return signal strength at that location must be tested and a return amplifier must be installed having the correct amplifying characteristics for that particular location in the coaxial cable network. These specifications will vary from one return amplifier location to another along any given length of the coaxial cable.
In theory it is perfectly possible to manufacture a whole range of return amplifiers having a range of different performance characteristics. A coaxial line crew could carry a large supply of such return amplifiers with them, and after testing and checking the signal strength at a particular location, could then select and insert the appropriate return amplifier having the correct specifications for that location. In practice however this is not possible, since it will require a very large investment for supplying an adequate inventory of return amplifiers covering a full range of characteristics, to each particular line crew. In addition, transporting such a large inventory of return amplifiers covering a wide range of different characteristics, presents a problem of transporting a large number of bulky and relatively heavy objects.
A further problem is the fact that the line crew will be required to climb up to the coaxial cable and then check the signal strength and then come down and select the appropriate return amplifier and then climb back up again and insert it.
For all of these reasons, providing an adequate number of return amplifiers having ranges of different characteristics to meet all conditions and requirements on a given coaxial cable network becomes a logistical nightmare, and a severe financial strain, and causes much undesirable additional labour.
For all of these reasons therefore it is desirable to provide a uniform standardized return amplifier circuit, contained in a standardized return amplifier housing, and having a plurality of plug-in components, which can simply be carried in the personal equipment of the lines person. After climbing up to the cable the lines person can simply attach and connect the standardized return amplifier, and then test the signal strength and characteristics and then insert the appropriate plug-in components to produce a return amplifier having the necessary characteristics for that particular location in the system.
This problem is further complicated by the fact that return amplifiers have two separate circuit components that must be preset for any particular location. It is desirable that both of these circuits can be arranged to receive plug in sub components , which have the effect of presetting the characteristics of that amplifier . It is still further desirable that these plug in components shall be interchangeable as between the two circuits. In this way a lines person will be required to carry only one type of plug in component, in an adequate range of performance characteristics, so that when the signal strength has been measured at that location, the return amplifier can readily be set to the correct performance, by simply selecting the plug in components having the correct values for the two circuits.
This greatly reduces the requirement for carrying a large inventory of different return amplifiers and greatly reduces the financial burden of carrying such an inventory and also reduces the logistical problems and the time consuming effort by the lines crew of checking signal strength and then attaching the correct return amplifier.

Return amplifier for two way cable transmission and method


A method is provided for producing a superconductive electrical conductor (7) in which a layer of an yttrium-barium-copper oxide (YBCO) is applied as a superconductive material onto a textured metal base directly or after prior application of a buffer layer, and is subjected to a heat treatment. To this end an interlayer of a metallic material which is compatible with the crystal structure of YBCO, or with the structure of a buffer layer suitable for the application of YBCO, is initially applied all around onto an elongate metal support (1). The support (1) provided with the interlayer is subsequently processed so that predetermined texturing is imparted to the interlayer as a metal base for the layer of YBCO material or for the buffer layer. The layer of superconductive YBCO material is then applied all around, directly onto the textured interlayer or onto the buffer layer previously applied thereon, and the heat treatment is finally carried out.

A superconductive electrical conductor consists of a special material, which enters the superconductive state at sufficiently low temperatures. The electrical resistance of a correspondingly constructed conductor thereby tends towards zero. Suitable materials are for example YBCO (yttrium-barium-copper oxide) or BSCCO (bismuth-strontium-calcium-copper oxide). Sufficiently low temperatures for such a material to achieve the superconductive state lie, for example, between 4 K and 110 K. Corresponding superconductive conductors are referred to as high-temperature superconductors. Suitable refrigerants are for example nitrogen, helium, neon and hydrogen or mixtures of these substances, respectively in the liquid state.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,739,086, which was mentioned in the introduction, describes various methods for producing high-temperature superconductors. In the case of a BSCCO superconductor, for example, a silver tube is filled with the BSCCO material in powder form, and is sealed. The superconductive state is achieved by mechanical shaping of the tube and subsequent heat treatment (annealing). In the case of the YBCO superconductor which is particularly suitable for electrical cables and windings owing to its outstanding electrical properties, a buffer layer likewise consisting of metal is initially applied onto an e.g. biaxially textured strip of metal as a substrate, and then the YBCO material is applied thereon. The substrate consists for example of nickel, copper or iron, or an alloy. Copper or silver, for example, are used for the buffer layer. The YBCO material is subsequently brought into the superconductive state likewise by heat treatment. The superconductive conductor produced in this way—as already mentioned—may be used advantageously in electrical cables and windings for electrical motors and magnets. Owing to the strip shape, however, it can in this case be bent only in one direction.

Method for producing a superconductive electrical conductor