A software distribution architecture having a television broadcast system as its infrastructure. Software from a software repository (1600) is mixed into a television broadcast system and transmitted into one or more selected channels at prescribed dates and times. An at-home subscriber, capable of receiving with a receiver (1608) the one or more select channels, switches to the one or more channels carrying the software distribution with a channel selector (1611). The subscriber, having programmed a controller (1616) with a programmer (1620) for the date, time, software ID, and channel of the software broadcast, then downloads the software package to a storage device (1622) for ultimate transfer to a PC (1624). A validation and accounting system (1628) then records the software download transaction and transmits this information over a PSTN (1632) to a provider accounting system (1630) such that the subscriber is billed for the software package which was downloaded.

With the enormous number of users connecting online to access a wide variety of products and services, network bandwidth is becoming a limiting factor in providing these products and services. The typical connection mode for home users is a 56K analog modem which is sufficient for surfing various web sites of interest by the user but is becoming increasingly prohibitive for network traffic that comprises streaming audio, video and lengthy file downloads. Conventional software distribution methods include providing hard copy manuals and distribution media such as floppy diskettes, and more recently, compact disks (CDs) which contain the software application files and electronic versions of the manuals.
More recently, vendors have moved to offering for purchase software applications and electronic manuals by direct download from vendor websites over a global communication network (commonly known as the Internet). This introduces enormous cost savings for the vendor by eliminating any paper costs, distribution costs, and media costs incurred by conventional methods of distribution. However, this method of distribution is very time consuming for a user who has a low bandwidth analog connection (e.g., 33K and 56K) and can even be prohibitive for those who have the more recent digital connections such as digital subscriber line (DSL) and cable modems which operate in the megabyte download regime. For example, where operating systems or application bundles contain many applications, the file sizes can approach 500 megabytes or more. Download of a file this size using a 56K modem will take many hours at best, and ties up the user's telephone line, if they have only the single telephone line to connect to the network. Furthermore, the download process can be interrupted by any number of causes such as power interruptions, connection problems, etc., making such a download prospect tedious, if not nearly impossible. Therefore such massive downloads, as seems to be the current trend in software distribution, may very well be prohibitive for most users having analog connections, and even those coming online today in the presence of newer and more faster connection technologies such as DSL and cable modems.
Another headache related to existing on-line distribution methods is that vendor servers can handle only a fixed number of users who are accessing the server for a download. Therefore, users must "stand in line" to gain access to the server in order to initiate a lengthy download of the software. Thus distribution of one or more applications on the same server or even dedicated application distribution servers can be a tedious process for the user and impacting customer relations with the vendor.
Current on-line payment methods also are not well established to where the customer believes his or her account information is secure and will not be compromised during its transmission to the software vendor. Therefore, the public-switched telephone network (PSTN) remains the only secure accepted method for transmitting such account information.
However, the infrastructure exists to handle such massive download capabilities. The existing broadcast television and cable industry has such an infrastructure in place at this time. The high bandwidth of such a system would alleviate any lengthy download problems by saving many hours of dedicated connection time required for most user having analog connections. Additionally, the process would be painless for the user since programming to download a broadcast software distribution is very similar to using existing video tape recorders to record a television program. The user need not be present during the download process as it would be accomplished automatically. Furthermore, such broadcast industry also has in place the accounting and billing systems to automatically bill the user according to any particular software that may be downloaded across a broadcast channel. Therefore, it is desirable that the television broadcast infrastructure be used to distribute software to the user.

Software downloading using a television broadcast channel


The present application relates to an electrode assembly and a secondary battery. The electrode assembly includes a cell and a protective layer. The cell includes a cell body and an electrode tab protruding from a top surface of the cell body. In a length direction of the cell, at least one end of the protective layer extends beyond the height at which the anode electrode in the cell body protrudes at the end, and the extended dimension is no more than 3 mm. As such, the burr of the anode electrode of the cell body is wrapped by the protective layer, which alleviates the phenomenon that the burr on the anode electrode pierces the package bag and chemically reacts with the aluminum layer of the package bag, thereby reducing the risk of leakage of the package bag.

With the development of science and technology, various electronic products emerge in an endless stream and become an indispensable part of daily life. Since secondary batteries, such as lithium-ion batteries, have advantages of high energy density, long cycle life, environmental friendliness and reproducibility, they have been widely used in various electronic products.
In the related art, the secondary battery generally achieves isolation between the current collector and the aluminum plastic film through a separator. As the requirement for the energy density of the secondary battery is becoming higher with the time, the thicknesses of the separator, the aluminum plastic film, and the current collector are also reduced. On the one hand, the thinned collector current is prone to become a sharp corner at both side edges in the width direction when the battery core is formed after pressing, and the sharp corner increases the possibility that the current collector pierces the aluminum plastic film. On the other hand, there is a burr on the die-cut surface of the anode current collector. When the burr pierces the aluminum plastic film, the anode copper foil is in contact with the aluminum layer in the aluminum plastic film, and then a chemical reaction causes corrosion of the portion. In severe cases, leakage phenomenon occurs in the aluminum plastic film.


An electronic device includes a housing defining an exterior shape of the electronic device, a processor, a power supply structured to receive line power and to convert the line power for use by the electronic device, a storage unit structured to store data, and a number of data interfaces structured to receive a data connection. The electronic device has a particular form factor that is compatible with positions in a circuit breaker receiving area of a load center. The electronic device is structured to provide the functionality of at least one of a set-top box, a network data interface, a telephone base station, a security system hub and a home controller.

Field
The disclosed concept relates generally to electronic devices, and more particularly, to electronic devices installed in load centers. The disclosed concept also relates to load centers.
Background Information
Load centers or panel boards are generally a central interface point for power distribution to a premise (e.g., building; residence). Load centers receive and/or send utility power through a main feed, main breaker, main lugs, backfed circuit breaker etc. The utility power is then distributed out to various branch circuits via circuit breakers installed in the load center.
The circuit breakers are installed into position (e.g., without limitation, slots) in the load center. The positions are compatible with a particular form factor. Only circuit breakers having the form factor that is compatible with the positions may be installed into the positions in the load center.
While load centers are the central interface point for power distribution at a premise, the premise likely receives many other utilities such as cable and telephone service. However, these other utilities are not routed through the load center. The functionality of prior load centers has been limited to dealing with power distribution.
There is thus room for improvement in load centers. There is also room for improvement in electronic devices included in load centers.

Electronic device and load center including the same


One or more user experience metrics are obtained for one or more types of wireless communication networks. One or more user experience indicators may be displayed on a screen in conjunction with a signal strength indicator. Different sets of user experience metrics may also be obtained, each set being associate with an application on a user device. Each set of user experience metrics may be displayed in conjunction with a list of applications. A user may provide user input selecting a wireless communication network and the user device may be configured to use the selected wireless communication network.

A large and growing population of users enjoys entertainment through the consumption of media items, including electronic media, such as electronic books (also referred to herein as ebooks), electronic newspapers, electronic magazines and other electronic reading material. Users employ various electronic devices to consume such publications. Among these electronic devices are electronic book readers, cellular telephones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), smart phones, portable media players, tablet computers, electronic pads, netbooks, desktop computers, notebook computers and the like.
These electronic devices (e.g., user devices) often use wireless communication networks, wired communication networks (e.g., Ethernet networks) or other networks to download or upload digital media items. In addition, applications (e.g., streaming video applications, online banking applications, social network applications, browsers, email applications, etc.) may also user the communication networks to transmit or receive data (e.g., may receive email or may watch streaming videos using the wireless communication networks). The wireless communication networks or systems may be cellular (e.g., wireless wide area networks) such as Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) networks, High Speed Packet Access Plus (HSPA+) Long Term Evolution (LTE) networks, Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) networks, Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) networks, etc. The wireless communication networks may also include WiFi (e.g., wireless local area networks) such as 802.11g networks, 802.11n network, etc. Some wireless communication networks may use multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) communication protocols (e.g., LTE networks, LTE Advanced networks, WiMAX networks, 802.11n networks, 802.11ac networks, etc.).
An electronic device will often display a signal strength indicator within the display of the electronic device. The signal strength indicator may be a graphical representation of the strength of a radio signal received from a wireless communication network. For example, a smart phone (or cellular phone) may display "signal bars" in the upper portion of a screen to indicate the strength of radio signals received from an LTE or an HSPA+ network. In another example, a tablet or an electronic reader may display signal bars to indicate the strength of radio signals received from an 802.11n network.

Determining user experience metrics for different communication networks


A dual beam electrical contact is provided with a first connection section, a middle section, and a second connection section. The first connection section has opposing substantially parallel first and second arms. Each arm has a bottom end and a cantilevered top end. The middle section connects the bottom ends of the arms to each other. The middle section has a general "S" shape with a first end of the middle section connected to the bottom end of the first arm and an opposite end of the middle section connected to the bottom end of the second arm.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electrical contacts and, more particularly, to a dual beam electrical contact.
2. Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 4,288,141 discloses an insulation displacement contact for an electrical connector with a link having a double bend that connects two arms. U.S. Pat. No. 4,317,609 discloses an electrical contact with opposing tines connected by a U-shaped section. U.S. Pat. No. 4,591,230 discloses contact members having a pair of legs that are bent from an initial parallel position into a position to partially overlap each other. U.S. Pat. No. 3,823,392 discloses a female contact blade with bent overlapped leg portions. U.S. Pat. No. 4,850,904 discloses female pin contacts with a bent portion and opposing contact pieces. U.S. Pat. No. 4,795,379 discloses a four leaf receptacle contact with a U-shaped connector and opposing arms. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,004,426 and 4,932,906 also disclose cantilever spring arms.


A method of fabricating a device is provided which includes selectively implanting one or more dopants into a semiconductor wafer so as to form doped and undoped regions of the wafer; forming fins in the wafer with at least a given one of the fins being formed both from a portion of the doped region of the wafer and from a portion of the undoped region of the wafer; forming dummy gates on the wafer; depositing a filler layer around the dummy gates; removing the dummy gates forming trenches in the filler layer, at least one of which extends down to the undoped portion of the fin and at least another of which extends down to the doped portion of the fin; selectively forming a gate dielectric lining the trenches which extend down to the undoped portion of the fin; and forming replacement gates in the trenches.

Local interconnect structures are used to electrically connect different transistors fabricated on a common substrate. Typically, first and second metallization layers are used to make these electrical contacts between certain regions of the wafer. However, with nanowire devices, this significantly limits density scaling since one is limited by middle-of-line (MOL) wiring density and not by active nanowire density.
Specifically, the first and second metallization layers seriously limit the density of integrated circuits. For instance, metal layers are often used to connect gates in a cross couple configuration which significantly limits density scaling due to constraints on first metal layer patterning.
Hence, a need exists to solve the local interconnect density problem to insure continuous scaling.

Gate to diffusion local interconnect scheme using selective replacement gate flow

International Business Machines Corporation


An electric motor or generator assembly includes a component, such as a stator, having a plurality of windings. A wire set including a plurality of individually conductive wires twisted together is manipulated within a core to establish the desired number of windings having the desired cross sectional area. In one example, a plurality of such wire sets are manipulated simultaneously to establish the windings. Litz wire is one example type of wire set that is useful in an assembly designed according to this invention. There are more than 100 individual wires within each winding according to one example stator designed according to this invention.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to electric motors and generators. More particularly, this invention relates to electric motor and generator components having electrically conductive windings with large cross sections.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Electric motors and generators are well known and in widespread use. There are a variety of applications for electric motors and generators. Depending on the application, different motor and generator characteristics are required.
In conventional electric motors and generators, stator windings are constructed by winding coils of conductors. For many applications the coils are constructed using one to three single strand conductors in parallel in order to provide the desired characteristics. For higher speed or low voltage applications, however, the electromagnetic design often requires a coil that has a lower number of turns and a proportionally increased cross sectional area of each turn. The increased cross section is typically achieved by using larger cross section conductors or a plurality of conductors in parallel.
Motors and generators having a large cross sectional area per turn of the winding are difficult or impractical to manufacture using conventional approaches. Large cross-section conductors, for example, are difficult to manipulate and form. A disadvantage of using a plurality of conductors in parallel is that it can be difficult to maintain the several parallel conductors together during the manufacturing or winding process.
Additionally, whichever of the approaches is chosen, there is a requirement for making an electrical connection between the winding wires and an external power source. In conventional arrangements, a separate lead wire is connected to the stator winding to make such a connection. This introduces an additional manufacturing step and introduces the possibility for a less than perfect connection to be made.
This invention addresses the need for being able to easily manufacture and design an electric motor or generator component requiring windings with large cross sectional areas.

Electric motor and generator component having a plurality of windings made from a plurality of individually conductive wires


A power source is provided with a holder-case housing a plurality of slender power modules. Cooling-air passes through on the surfaces of power modules by passing air through the holder-case. An air-duct is formed in the holder-case and intermediate air-inlets are opened in a central portion of the air-duct. A plurality of rows of power modules housed in the holder-case are cooled by the air inhaled from the intermediate air-inlets.

This application is based on Japanese Application No. 22028 filed on Jan. 29, 1999, and Japanese Application No. 94634 filed on Apr. 1, 1999 in Japan, the contents of which are incorporated hereinto by reference.
This invention relates to a high current power source used primarily to power a drive motor for automobiles such as hybrid and electric automobiles.
A high current power source used to power an automobile drive motor achieves high output voltage by connecting power modules in series. This is for the purpose of increasing drive motor output. In a power source used for this type of application, an extremely high current passes through batteries. For example, in hybrid automobiles, an extremely high current passes through batteries when staring and accelerating. This is because the automobiles are accelerated by the output of the batteries. In addition, high current also passes through batteries when rapidly charging in a short time.
The high current power source requires compulsory cooling when the temperature of the batteries rises. In a power source in which a plurality of rows of power modules arranged in a lateral fashion are housed in a holder-case, it is important to cool each power module equally. If a difference in temperature is produced in the batteries, high temperature batteries will easily deteriorate in efficiency.
For example, the structure for housing a plurality of power modules in a holder-case and cooling each power module equally is described in Japanese Non-examined Patent Publication HEI 10-270095 (1998). As shown in the cross-section view of FIG. 1, a holder-case 102 described in the Publication is provided with an air-inlet 1035 in the lower part and an air-outlet 1036 in the upper part, and allows cooling of power modules 101 by letting air flow from the air-inlet 1035 in the lower part into the air-outlet 1036 in the upper part. Cooling adjustment fins 1047 are provided within the holder-case 102 to adjust the air speed flowing on the surface of the power modules 101.
A holder-case with this structure makes the air speed flowing on the surface of power modules provided in the upper part higher than the air speed flowing on the surface of power modules provided in the lower part. If the air speeds flowing on the surfaces of the upper and lower power modules are the same, the lower power modules are cooled more effectively than the upper power modules since the temperature of air flowing on the surface of the lower power modules is lower than the temperature of air flowing on the surface of the upper power modules, and thereby the difference in temperature is produced.
Gaps between cooling adjustment fins and power modules are formed to be gradually narrower toward the upper part to make the air speed flowing on the surface of power modules in the upper part higher than the air speed flowing in the lower part. This is because air speed becomes higher when gaps are formed to be narrower.
A power source with this structure can cool the upper and lower power modules because the lower power modules are cooled by low temperature air and the upper modules are cooled by rapid flowing air. However, in this structure, it is extremely difficult to cool the upper and lower power modules under the same conditions. This is because cooling-air temperature of lower power modules is low and cooling-air temperature of the upper power modules is high. Even if the air speed flowing on the surface of upper power modules is increased, it is difficult to cool the upper power modules efficiently, due to the high temperature air, like the lower power modules are cooled. For this reason, power modules provided near an air-inlet can be cooled efficiently, however power modules provided near an air-outlet can not be cooled efficiently. This type of power resource has the drawback that the difference in temperature is produced. Thus, the power modules provided near the air-outlet may easily deteriorate in efficiency.
The present invention was developed to resolve these types of problems with prior art power sources. Thus it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a power source that can cool all of the whole power modules housed in the holder-case equally and efficiently, and prevent batteries from deteriorating in efficiency due to the difference in temperature.
The above and further objects and features of the invention will more fully be apparent from the following detailed description with accompanying drawings.
The power source of the present invention is provided with a holder-case in which a plurality of rows of slender power modules are housed in a parallel fashion. The power modules are cooled by passing air through the holder-case.
Further, the power source of the present invention is provided with a main air inlet on one end and an air-outlet on the other end. An air-duct is formed between the air-inlet and the air-outlet. The air-duct is provided with intermediate air-inlets for supplying air to the air-duct. In this power source, both the main air-inlet and intermediate air-inlets supply air to the air-duct to cool a plurality of rows of power modules housed in the holder-case.
A power source of this structure has the feature all of the power modules housed in the holder-case can be cooled equally and batteries can be prevented from deteriorating in efficiency due to the difference in temperature. The power source can cool all of the power modules equally and efficiently by both the main air-inlets and intermediate air-inlets air supply to the air-duct.
Further, in the power source of the present invention, air-outlets can be provided at both ends of a holder-case and intermediate air-inlets, which pass through the holder-case, can be provided on the way of the air-duct. By this, air flows into an air-duct disposed in the holder-case through the intermediate air-inlets. The air flowing into the air-duct compulsorily cools a plurality of power modules disposed in the air-duct.
A power source with this structure has the feature that all ofthe power modules housed in the holder-case can be cooled equally and efficiently and batteries can be prevented from deteriorating in efficiency due to by the difference in temperature. Especially, the power source with this structure can cool power modules housed in the middle of the holder-case efficiently by passing cold air through the middle part of the holder-case, which is considered to be the most difficult to cool, from the intermediate air-inlets.

Power source containing rechargeable batteries


A sheet feeder for feeding a transfer sheet to a transfer region of an image forming machine such as a copier and a printer. The sheet feeder has a driving roller for driving a idle roller so that the transfer sheet is nipped between the driving roller and the idle roller, and conveyed to the transfer region; the idle roller for being rotated by the movement of the driving roller, in which a hardness of the idle roller is more than 0.degree. and not more than 60.degree. in Asuka C Scale; and a shutter for suspending and allowing the conveyance of the transfer sheet by opening and closing operations of the shutter. The driving roller of the sheet feeder is still rotating while the shutter is suspending the conveyance of the transfer sheet.

The present invention relates to a sheet feeding device for an image forming apparatus which is used to feed a transfer sheet to a transfer region, and more particularly relates to a pair of conveyance rollers disposed in a conveyance passage of the sheet feeding device.
In an image forming apparatus, a relatively simple sheet feeding device is adopted which is operated in the following manner: before a transfer sheet sent out from a sheet feeding cassette is conveyed to a transfer region, it is brought into contact with a shutter member which blocks a conveyance passage and stops the sheet; the shutter member is withdrawn synchronously with the movement of a toner image formed on an image forming body; and then the transfer sheet is conveyed again.
In the simple sheet feeding device, a drive roller which is always rotated and an idle roller which comes into pressure contact with the drive roller, are adopted as a pair of conveyance rollers, and when a transfer sheet is stopped by the shutter member, the drive roller slips on the transfer sheet, so that an idling condition can be maintained.
However, the drive roller is a solid rubber roller, and the idle roller is a resin roller or a solid rubber roller. Therefore, while the drive roller is slipping on the transfer sheet, the transfer sheet is vibrated due to the friction between the drive roller and the transfer sheet, so that unpleasant noise is generated.
In order to prevent this unpleasant noise, it is effective to lower the pressing force of the idle roller against the drive roller. On the other hand, when the pressing force is lowered, the conveyance force of the transfer sheet is also lowered, so that there is a possibility that the transfer sheet can not be conveyed appropriately.
The present invention has solved the aforementioned problems, and it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a sheet feeding device for an image forming apparatus in which abnormal sound caused when a transfer sheet is vibrated during slippage, can be prevented without reducing the conveyance force.

Sheet feeding device for an image forming apparatus


A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device compensates for temperature changes by holding constant a bit line precharge level. A memory device according to the present invention may include an electrically programmable memory cell array connected to a plurality of word lines and a plurality of bit lines, a bit line voltage supplying circuit for supplying a bit line voltage to the bit lines, a shut-off circuit connecting the memory cell array and the bit line voltage supplying circuit, and a shut-off controlling circuit for controlling the shut off circuit. The shut-off controlling circuit may be constructed to compensate for temperature changes in order to hold the bit-line precharge level constant.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device, and more particularly, to a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device capable of compensating for a change of a bit-line precharge level due to temperature change.
2. Description of the Related Art
In A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device, word lines and bit lines are arranged in a matrix of rows and columns, respectively, and memory cells are positioned at the intersections of these rows and columns. The word line is selected by a row address, and the bit line is selected by a column address. Data in the memory cell at a selected position is read through an input and output circuit.
As an example of a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device, a NAND flash memory device has a basic structure consisting of a string of a plurality of memory cells connected to a bit line, and a block of which a plurality of these strings share one contact.
The nonvolatile semiconductor memory device is configured to include a memory cell array, a page buffer and the like. The memory cell array is comprised of the blocks having a plurality of strings as a basic unit. Each string includes a plurality of memory cells serially connected. Each of the memory cells has a floating gate and a control gate, and electrically performs program and erase operations by accumulating electrons in the floating gate or discharging the accumulated electrons, respectively. A memory cell with accumulated electrons in its floating gate is called a "programmed cell", and a memory cell from which electrons are discharged from its floating gate is called an "erased cell".
The program and erase operations of the nonvolatile semiconductor memory device use an F-N tunneling phenomenon. The threshold voltage of a cell transistor depends on whether or not electrons are injected into the floating gate or electrons are discharged from the floating gate. An erased cell acquires a negative threshold voltage (for example, −3V) by discharging electrons from the floating gate to a bulk, a source or a drain. In this instance, the erased cell is called an "on cell". A programmed cell has a positive threshold voltage (for example, +1V) acquired by injecting electrons into the floating gate. At this time, the programmed cell is called an "off cell".
In order to confirm whether or not the memory cell is a programmed cell or an erased cell, a read voltage V read (for example, +4.5V) is applied to non-selected word lines, and 0V is applied to a selected word line. This is called a "reading operation". Before the reading operation is performed, a bit line precharging process needs to occur. When the bit line is precharged, the bit line has a specific precharge level. After the bit line is precharged the reading operation can take place. At this time, if the memory cell connected to the selected word line is an erased cell, the precharge level of the bit line decreases. However, if the memory cell is a programmed cell, the precharge level of the bit line is maintained. Thus, the reading operation determines whether the memory cell is an erased cell or a programmed cell.
To precharge the bit line, a transistor characteristic known as "shut-off" is used, explained as follows. In an NMOS transistor, which includes a drain (D), a source (S), and a gate (G), a power supply voltage (Vcc) is applied to the drain (D). Let the gate-source voltage be expressed as VGS, and the gate voltage be expressed as VG. Then the voltage precharged to the source (S) is VG−VTH, being determined by VGS−VTH. When VGS>VTH, the NMOS transistor is turned-on, and the source (S) is precharged. But if the level of the source (S) is VGS−VTH or more, the NMOS transistor is turned-off. This characteristic of the NMOS transistor is called "shut-off". Accordingly, the bit line has the precharge level determined by VGS−VTH due to the shut-off characteristic of the transistor.
The precharge level VG−VTH of the bit line is influenced by the threshold voltage of the transistor due to the shut-off characteristic. That is, if the threshold voltage rises, the precharge level of the bit line drops, and if the threshold voltage drops, the precharge level of the bit line rises. The transistor's threshold voltage changes, however, with changing temperature. Generally, the threshold voltage decreases by about 2 mV per 1° C. temperature rise. Accordingly, if the temperature varies, the precharge level of the bit line varies. If the temperature increases then the threshold voltage decreases, causing the precharge level of the bit line to increase. Similarly, if the temperature decreases, then the threshold voltage increases, causing the precharge level of the bit line to decrease. This is a drawback because a memory cell sensed as an on cell at a high temperature may be erroneously sensed as an off cell at a low temperature.

Temperature compensated bit-line precharge


In an implementation, a system includes a simulation engine that is executable to simulate actions performed by a plurality of devices in a distributed system. The system also includes a plurality of pluggable device models that are accessible by the simulation engine via an interface. Each of the device models represents one of the devices and is configured to map a cost of performing at least one of the actions to an action latency by the corresponding device.

The compoundity of devices is ever increasing, and as the compoundity of these devices increase, so generally do the costs in designing and manufacturing the devices. Additionally, these devices may be combined with other devices to form systems having even greater compoundities. For example, devices may be combined to form a distributed system which includes computing devices, network connection devices, applications which are executed on the computing devices, and so on. Therefore, operation of a distributed system may involve a variety of different interactions between the devices which affect the overall functionality of the system.
One technique which may be utilized to determine the suitability of devices and systems to provide desired functionality is through the use of simulations. Simulations may be utilized to test the functionality of devices to perform desired actions without having to actually produce the devices and/or arrange them into the desired distributed system configuration. However, traditional simulation techniques are overly complicated with regard to model development and configuration and result in great inefficiencies, especially when simulating a distributed system.
Therefore, there is a continuing need for improved techniques for device simulation, especially in distributed systems.

Systems and methods for device simulation


Method and apparatus for controlling the cooling of a strand in a continuous casting installation, in which the cooling or, respectively, the solidification behavior of the strand ensures by means of the quantity of cooling agent used for cooling the strand, whereby the required quantity of cooling agent is determined, constantly and in real time, dependent on a predetermined target temperature distribution. A cooling model is used with which a temperature distribution in the strand can be calculated from a quantity of cooling agent.

The invention relates to means and methods for controlling the cooling of the resultant strand in a continuous casting installation.
It is known to partition into segments the cooling means for the cooling of a strand during continuous casting. What is known as a cooling curve, i.e. a target cooling of the strand depending on strand speed, i.e., casting speed, is thereby allocated to each strand segment. By measuring the strand speed, the optimal target cooling of the strand in the region of a cooling segment is determined via the cooling curve, and the quantity of cooling agent (e.g. the amount of water, given water spray means for cooling) is set corresponding to this target cooling. In this way it is possible to cool a strand acceptably given a constant strand speed or, respectively, given a strand speed that is changes relatively slowly. However, these ideal conditions are not always present. Rather, during operation, more rapid changes in the strand speed can occur such that the cooling is no longer acceptable using the known method. This applies in particular under the condition that the strand speed is strongly dependent on operational demands, such as for example the supply of the casting material.
German patent DE 44 17 808 A1, fully incorporated herein by reference, discloses a method for continuous casting of a metal strand, whereby a strand with a liquid core enclosed by a strand shell is drawn out of a cooled open-ended mold, and is supported in a strand support means downstream from the open-ended mold and is cooled using a cooling agent. In order to take into account changes in the thermodynamic state of the strand, such as changes in the surface temperature of the center temperature of the shell thickness, and also the mechanical state, such as the deformation behavior, etc., these are constantly included in a mathematical simulation model through solution of a heat conduction equation. Thus, the cooling model disclosed in DE 44 17 808 A1 is an inverse cooling model, i.e., a cooling model that calculates the cause (quantity of cooling agent) dependent on the effect (temperature). In a procedure of this sort, the heat equations are solved. However, there is a limit in the degree, i.e, the depth of a possible modeling of the actual heat relationships in the strand. This limitation of the depth of the model significantly restricts the precision in the calculation of the strand temperature.


Embodiments of the present disclosure describe background reordering techniques and configurations to prevent wear-out of an integrated circuit device such as a memory device. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving information about one or more incoming access transactions to a memory device from a processor, determining that a wear-leveling operation is to be performed based on a cumulative number of access transactions to the memory device, the cumulative number of access transactions including the one or more incoming access transactions, and performing the wear-leveling operation by mapping a first physical address of the memory device to a second physical address of the memory device based on a pseudo-random mapping function, and copying information from the first physical address to the second physical address. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

Storage devices such as, for example, non-volatile memory devices, may have notably reduced lifetimes due to individual storage elements being worn-out earlier than other storage elements. Current wear leveling methods have been developed to mitigate the wearing of the individual storage elements. For example, current wear leveling methods may include "out-of-place" storage of sectors of information in conjunction with garbage collection processes. However, such methods may require storage of large amounts of meta-information to track what information is stored at storage locations of the storage device. The meta-information may be stored in the storage device itself. The overhead for reorganizing the information using such methods may grow significantly with the utilization of the storage device and may not have a fixed relation to an access rate to the storage device. Further, in current methods, the order in which the data is organized may not be pre-determined and the reordering may be based on a wear-level of individual storage elements of the storage device. These current methods may not support fine granular access to the storage device such as occurs when the storage device is used as a part of main memory for a processor.

Background reordering—a preventive wear-out control mechanism with limited overhead


A device for generating vortex in cooling water for cylinders of internal combustion engines is disclosed. In the device, a steel casing is inserted into the bottom portion of a cooling water passage of a cylinder head. The steel casing is comprised of inner and outer rings, with an annular cavity being formed between the two rings and allowing engine oil to pass through. A plurality of pressure units are radially mounted to the inner ring. Each of the pressure units is radially movable in opposite directions in response to the pressure of the engine oil in the annular cavity, thus forming vortex in the cooling water passing through the inner ring. The device of this invention enlarges the cooling water contact area of the cylinder, thereby improving the cylinder cooling effect and increasing the engine output power.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates, in general, to a water system for cooling cylinders of internal combustion engines and, more particularly, to a device for generating vortex in cooling water flowing through the water passages of a cylinder, thus enlarging the cooling water contact area of the cylinder and improving the cylinder cooling effect and increasing the engine output power.
2. Description of the Prior Art
FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the construction of a typical water system for cooling a cylinder of an internal combustion engine. As shown in the drawing, the typical water system for cooling cylinders is comprised of two cooling water passages, that is, a first passage 11' formed in a cylinder head 11 and a second passage 12' formed in a cylinder block 12. The system also includes a gasket 13, which is positioned at the junction between the cylinder head 11 and the cylinder block 12, with a plurality of communication holes being formed on the gasket 13 and allowing the two passages 11' and 12' to communicate with each other therethrough.
In the operation of the above system, cooling water passes from the first passage 11' of the cylinder head 11 into the second passage 12' of the cylinder block 12 through the communication holes of the gasket 13. When the cooling water passes through the two passages 11' and 12' , it cools both the combustion chamber and the cylinder, thus increasing the output power of an engine.
However, the typical system has the following problem. That is, since the cooling water in such a system only forms a parallel flow while the water flows from the first passage 11' into the second passage 12', the cooling water contact area of the cylinder is regrettably limited, thus reducing the cylinder cooling effect.

Device for forming vortex in cooling water for cylinders


The invention provides methods of screening for compounds that increase levels or activity of Aryl hydrocarbon Nuclear Receptor Translocator (ARNT) and/or Hypoxia Inducible Factor 1α (HIF1α), for the treatment and prevention of diabetes-related disorders, including type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus, impaired glucose tolerance, insulin resistance and beta cell dysfunction; compounds identified by said screening methods; and methods of using said compounds. Also included are methods for treating or preventing diabetes-related diseases using ARNT and/or HIF1α polypeptides and polynucleotides, and for using information regarding the expression, level or activity of ARNT and/or HIF1α in predictive medicine, e.g., diagnostic assays, prognostic assays, monitoring clinical trials, and pharmacogenetics.

The pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes is believed to involve two core defects: insulin resistance and β-cell failure (Martin et al., Lancet, 340:925-929 (1992); Weyer et al., J. Clin. Invest., 104:787-794 (1999); DeFronzo et al., Diabetes Care, 15:318-368 (1992)). Important advances towards the understanding of the development of peripheral insulin resistance have been made in both animal models and humans (Bruning et al., Cell, 88:561-572 (1997); Lauro et al., Nat. Genet., 20:294-298 (1998); Nandi et al., Physiol. Rev., 84:623-647 (2004); Sreekumar et al., Diabetes, 51:1913-1920 (2002); McCarthy and Froguel, Am. J. Physiol. Endocrinol. Metab., 283:E217-E225 (2002); Mauvais-Jarvis and Kahn, Diabetes. Metab., 26:433-448 (2000); Petersen et al., N. Engl. J. Med., 350:664-671 (2004)). However, the mechanisms underlying β-cell failure in humans are less well understood, partly due to difficulty accessing the pancreas, and the small contribution of islets to the total pancreatic mass.


A method of controlling temperature of a heat source in contact with a heat exchanging surface of a heat exchanger, wherein the heat exchanging surface is substantially aligned along a plane. The method comprises channeling a first temperature fluid to the heat exchanging surface, wherein the first temperature fluid undergoes thermal exchange with the heat source along the heat exchanging surface. The method comprises channeling a second temperature fluid from the heat exchange surface, wherein fluid is channeled to minimize temperature differences along the heat source. The temperature differences are minimized by optimizing and controlling the fluidic and thermal resistances in the heat exchanger. The resistances to the fluid are influenced by size, volume and surface area of heat transferring features, multiple pumps, fixed and variable valves and flow impedance elements in the fluid path, pressure and flow rate control of the fluid, and other factors.

Since their introduction in the early 1980's, microchannel heat sinks have shown much potential for high heat-flux cooling applications and have been used in the industry. However, existing microchannels include conventional parallel channel arrangements which are not optimally suited for cooling heat producing devices which have spatially-varying heat loads. Such heat producing devices have areas which produce more heat per unit area than others. These hotter areas are hereby designated as "hot spots" whereas the areas of the heat source which do not produce as much heat are hereby termed, "warm spots". In the simplest case, a hot spot is an area of a heat source, for example a microprocessor, which has a substantially higher heat flux than the other areas of the heat source. In addition, a substantially varying heat flux across the surface of the heat source can induce temperature differences along the heat source surface, thereby forming multiple hot spots.
FIG. 1A illustrates a perspective view of a heat source 99 having multiple hot spots therein. As shown in FIG. 1A, although the hot spots have a higher heat flux than other areas in the heat source, a peripheral area proximal to the hot spot also has a higher temperature relative to the non-hot spot areas, due to the propagation of heat through the heat source material. Therefore, the area shown within the dashed lines in FIG. 1A that is peripheral to the hot spots are higher in temperature than the areas outside of the dashed lines. Therefore, the hot spot area as well as the immediate surrounding area is defined as the hot spot and is called an interface hot spot region.
Alternatively, the heat source 99 does not have any hot spots, as shown in FIG. 1B. FIG. 1B illustrates a perspective view of a heat source 99 having no hot spots therein along with an aligned graph which represents the temperature variation as a function of distance in the X and Y directions. Although the heat source 99 in FIG. 1B does not have any hot spots, the physics of heat propagation in materials dictates that the middle of the heat source 99 will have a higher heat flux than the surrounding areas and edges of the heat source 99. This is shown in the graph in FIG. 1B. Prior art heat exchangers only focus on cooling the heat source and thereby do not focus on the aspects of hot spot cooling or overall temperature uniformity.
What is needed is a fluidic cooling loop system with a heat exchanger utilizing various design controls and cooling methods to achieve temperature uniformity in the heat source. What is also needed is a fluidic cooling loop system with a heat exchanger utilizing various design and control methods to effectively cool hot spots in a heat source.

Method and apparatus for achieving temperature uniformity and hot spot cooling in a heat producing device


A method and apparatus for bonding a non-conductive member to a conductive member by applying adhesive between mating surfaces of the non-conducting and conducting member and placing an electrode adjacent the non-conductive member overlying the mating surface. An RF generator applies an electric field between the non-conducting and conducting members to cure the adhesive by dielectric heating.

Modern adhesives cure at a very slow rate, sometimes in the order of days. It is known to speed the curing of these adhesives as well as improving increased bond strength by heating the adhesives. Various means exist for heating adhesives to aid in their curing.
Several common means of heating adhesives include conduction, convection and radiant heating of the adhesive. Conduction heating is achieved by placing a wire in the adhesive and passing a current through the wire. The current heats the wire which in turn heats the adhesive. Conduction heating has the disadvantage of requiring a conductive wire to be placed in the adhesive bond. The wire is difficult to be properly located within the adhesive and weakens the bond.
Radiant or convection heating is achieved by placing the part to be bonded with adhesive in a radiant or convection oven. The adhesive is heated indirectly by heat passing through the parts. Convection or radiant heating requires that both the parts and the adhesive be heated in an oven. Some parts bonded with adhesives such as thermoplastics, may weaken or deform when heated to the temperatures necessary to cure the adhesive. Further, radiant and convection heating generally require upwards of twenty minutes to cure the adhesive.
Another method of curing adhesives by concentrating heat within the adhesive is taught and disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,749,833, issued Jun. 7, 1988 to Novorsky et al. Novorsky et al. teaches induction heating of an adhesive. Spherical particles of steel are placed within the adhesive and moved in rolling contact with one another to establish an accurate space between two members to be bonded in an adhesive joint. The adhesive joint is placed between or adjacent to an induction coil and a current is passed through the coil. The current passing through the coil induces the spherical particles to heat thereby heating the surrounding adhesive. As in the method of conduction heating, induction heating also requires the addition of foreign metal particles within the adhesive thereby decreasing the strength of the bond.
It is known to heat polar materials including adhesives in a high frequency electric field by a process called dielectric heating. U.S. Pat. No. 3,291,671, issued Dec. 13, 1966 to Hecht, teaches a fusing of plastic films by dielectric heating. A water containing paper board separated by one or more polyethylene films is placed between two electrodes. A radio frequency (RF) generator is attached to the electrodes and passes an electric field through the polyethylene film and water containing paper board. The polyethylene films fuse to one another and to the paper board. This illustrates dielectric heating but not the dielectric heating of an adhesive to promote curing.
Dielectric heating to cure adhesives is shown and disclosed in EPO Patents 0,339,494 and 0,339,493, both filed Apr. 20, 1989 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/187,358 filed May 28, 1988 now U.S. Pat. No. 4,941,936. These patents teach the bonding of a fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) exterior member to a U-shaped FRP reinforcement member. A bead of two-part epoxy resin adhesive is placed between the exterior and reinforcement members. The bonded assembly is then moved to a chamber containing a dielectric heater. The first electrode having roughly the same contour as the outer skin is placed against the outer skin member and a second electrode having a concentrator is placed over the reinforcement member. A high-frequency electrostatic field of between 300 and 8,000 volts is applied through the electrodes. The high frequencies range between 25 and 40 MHz. This apparatus teaches curing times of approximately 30 to 40 seconds. The apparatus uses a plurality of electronically isolated concentrators rather than a single elongated electrode. The patents teach that an elongated electrode used to bond parts exceeding 47 inches at 34 MHz experiences uneven heating. This is believed to result from peaks of energy radiating from the elongated electrode as the length approaches 1/15th of the wavelength of alternating voltage. The EPO patents require a separate electrode for both surfaces of the members being bonded.
The EPO patents teach away from the use of long electrodes (i.e., electrodes longer than 1/15th the RF wavelength) by teaching the need for a plurality of isolated concentrators. Additionally, the EPO patents do not teach the use of a conductive frame as an electrode.
It is a primary object of this invention to utilize RF dielectric heating for bonding a member to a conducting frame. The conducting frame is used as one electrode of the RF circuit. Nonuniform heating of elongated plates is reduced by pulsing the RF electric field. Adhesive cure can be monitored and controlled by the plate current between the electrodes thereby minimizing the time and energy necessary for dielectric heating.


Home base station nodes (110) that support multi-carrier operation are disclosed. In some embodiments, two carrier signals are transmitted on different frequencies to one or more user devices that support multi-carrier operation, and different global cell identifiers are broadcast on the two carrier signals. Control messages are sent and received for both of the two carrier signals over a single control-plane interface between the home base station (110) and either a core network node (170) or a home base station gateway (120).

The usage of mobile broadband services using cellular networks has shown a significant increase in recent years. In parallel to this growth there has been an ongoing evolution of 3G and 4G cellular networks, such as the High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA) and Long-Term Evolution (LTE) networks developed by members of the 3rd-Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) and WiMAX networks developed by members of the WiMAX Forum. These network technologies continue to be developed and improved to support ever-increasing performance requirements with regards to capacity, peak bit rates and coverage.
Operators deploying these networks are faced with a number of challenges related to such things as site and transport costs and availability, a lack of wireless spectrum, and so on. Many different techniques are considered for meeting these challenges and providing cost-efficient mobile broadband services.
One option for increasing the capacity and peak rates in 3GPP cellular networks is carrier aggregation. The principle behind carrier aggregation techniques, sometimes referred to as "multi-carrier" technology, is that a given mobile terminal ("user equipment," or "UE," in 3GPP terminology) can be served by multiple distinct carrier signals, at different frequencies and even in different frequency bands, at the same time. Previously it has been possible for a UE to use only one carrier at a given time. Carrier aggregation increases the maximum bit rate available to a given UE, and can also improve network capacity due to better resource utilization. Carrier aggregation was introduced for LTE in Release 10 of the 3GPP standards and for HSPA in Release 8. In the initial release, carrier aggregation was limited to two adjacent downlink carriers.
One principle adopted for carrier aggregation in 3GPP is that the UE is assigned a primary component carrier on which it receives most of the control information. Transmission of user data, on the other hand, can be performed on both the primary component carrier and on one or more secondary component carriers.
In one mode of operation in LTE networks, carrier aggregation can operate such that the UE receives uplink and downlink scheduling commands only on the primary component. In other modes of operation in LTE networks, the UE receives scheduling commands on all component carriers. However, regardless of the mode of operation, the UE is only required to read the broadcast channel (in order to acquire system information parameters) on the primary component carrier. System information related to the secondary component carriers can be provided to the UE in dedicated RRC messages. (For details on carrier aggregation, see 3GPP TS 36.300, v. 10.3.0, April 2011, available at http://www.3gpp.org/ftp/Specs/html-info/36300.htm.)
From the point of view of a base station (a "NodeB" or "NB" in HSPA systems, or an "evolved NodeB" or "eNB" in LTE systems), each carrier is associated with its own cell. So, support for carrier aggregation means that the base station (which may be at a single site or split among several transmission points) supports multiple cells. In other words, the base station broadcasts multiple Cell IDs.
Another option available to the operator is the deployment of home base stations or other small base stations that complement the traditional macro cellular network. In LTE, home base stations are known as "HeNBs," while in HSPA systems these home base stations are called "HNBs". The Femto Forum (www.femtoforum.org) refers to these small, complementary base stations as "femtocells" or simply "femtos." Some of the benefits of these small base stations are lower site costs, due to smaller physical size and lower output power, as well as increased system capacity and coverage due to the closer deployments of base stations to the end user.
A network operator can configure cells as Open, Hybrid or Closed. Open cells are open to use for all subscribers, with no preference to perform cell reselection to individual cells. Closed cells broadcast a CSG (Closed Subscriber Group) cell type indicator and a CSG identifier. The broadcasted information elements (IEs) are called "CSG Indicator" and "CSD ID", the former indicating values of either "true" or "false" and the latter indicating a 27-bit identifier uniquely pointing at a CSG in the used Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN). Closed cells are only available for use by mobiles belonging to the identified CSG. When the cell is closed, the CSG Indication broadcasted has the value "true". Hybrid cells also broadcast a CSG (Closed Subscriber Group) identity, but in this case the CSG Indication broadcasted has the value "false". Hybrid cells are available for all users. In addition, users belonging to the CSG have a preference for selecting CSG cells with the same CSG identity.
The number of deployed home base stations could be very large. For that reason, and because they are considered to be less reliable nodes, solutions have been introduced for home base stations to connect to the core network via a home base station gateway. For LTE, this home base station gateway is referred to as HeNB GW; for HSPA, it is known as HNB GW. For the purposes of this document, the term H(e)NB GW will be used to refer to either.
The H(e)NB GW serves to hide the home base station from the rest of the network. In the LTE/SAE case, the HeNB GW is optional. As a result, the S1 interface is used by the HeNB to connect to either an HeNB or the core network (the evolved packet core, or EPC, in LTE), and the HeNB GW therefore has S1-interfaces on both sides of it. To the rest of the network, an HeNB GW looks like a large eNB with many cells. From an HeNB's point of view, a HeNB GW looks like a core network node (i.e, the Mobility Management Entity, or MME).
The LTE architecture for HeNBs is illustrated in FIG. 1. In the upper part of FIG. 1, it can be seen that the illustrated HeNB 110 sends and receives control information to and from EPC 130 via the S1-MME interface. In this case, the control information is relayed via the HeNB GW 120, which appears to HeNB 110 as an MME. HeNB 110 sends and receives user data over the S1-U interface; this is via the SeGW 140, which is another component of EPC 130. Still another component of the EPC 130 is the Home eNodeB Management System (HeMS), which facilitates operation and maintenance (OAM) of HeNBs.
In the lower part of FIG. 1, several HeNBs 110 are connected to MMEs in the EPC 130 via HeNB GW 120, which is considered part of the radio access network (RAN). However, another HeNB 110 is connected directly to the MME/S-GW functionalities 170 in EPC 130, in the same manner as conventional eNBs 160.
An HeNB 110 that is connected to the network via an HeNB GW 120 is connected to only one HeNB GW 120. In this configuration, the HeNB 110 does not support the network node selection (NAS Node Selection Function, or NNSF). Instead, the HeNB GW 120 supports the network node selection functionality, enabling support for MME-pools. In the case when the HeNB 110 connects directly to the EPC 130, the HeNB 110 supports the network node selection functionality.
In the HSPA/WCDMA case, an HNB GW is mandatory. A new Iuh interface is defined between HNBs and the HNB GW, and the normal Iu interface is used between the HNB GW and the core network. To the rest of the network, the HNB GW just looks like a large RNC with many service areas. (Service area is the UTRAN concept for one or multiple cells). The HNB only connects to one HNB GW, so the HNB does not have the network node selection functionality. Instead, the HNB GW supports the network node selection functionality enabling support for MSC and SGSN-pools.
According to the current standards, each logical H(e)NB only supports a single cell. In HSPA/WCDMA this is a specified restriction aimed at reduce HNB complexity. In LTE this is due to the use of all of the 28 bits of E-UTRAN Cell ID (E-CGI) for routing of S1 signaling towards the HeNBs. For normal eNBs the first 20 bits of the E-CGI correspond to the eNB ID used for message routing and the remaining 8 bits correspond to the Cell ID within that eNB. For HeNBs, the entire 28 bits of the E-CGI indicate a specific HeNB and are used for message routing.

Carrier aggregation support for home base stations


A method implemented in software and a software system for dynamically determining how to display one or more statements of interest (such as an offer or soft offer) is disclosed. After receiving one or more statements of interest from potential buyers, a software-implemented method determines a preferred manner for displaying one or more statements of interest received from the potential buyers to the seller, and displays the offers in a grid layout. The grid layout shows a number of buyers interested in making a hard offer in a manner that gives the seller insight regarding pricing their property as well as other factors that are determined to likely make the property more valuable. The one or more statements of interest are categorized into one or more categories, including the seller's displayed (and quoted) price. Each of the categories is associated with a price range, and optionally the price range is determined using machine learning techniques.

Conventionally, while buying and selling a real estate asset, a seller has to, among a myriad of other things, arrange an online listing and/or an open house where a plurality of buyers come and tour the real estate asset to decide whether to buy the real estate asset or not. Once the buyer desires to buy the asset then then the typically a buyer or buyer's agent proposes a first price to the seller to buy the real estate asset. Often, the seller may receive plurality of interests from a plurality of buyers with different ranges of prices for selling the real estate asset.
In this conventional approach, the buyers are not provided a transparent system for buying the real estate asset, and this can cause buyers to miss an opportunity to buy the real estate asset because of a slightly higher offer placed by some other buyers which they were unaware. Additionally, in the conventional approach the seller may not be completely aware of the number of or amounts of offers that the seller's agent has received. Further, because the seller has incomplete information, the seller cannot make fully informed decisions about, for example, correcting a cosmetic defect or adjusting the asking price.
In addition, the current real estate process of offers and counteroffers lacks transparency and auditability. This system relies on agents to be completely competent, honest, transparent, and timely; accordingly, there are many variables in the selling and buying process. Stated another way (and not surprisingly) all agents are not equal.
Quite simply, neither buyers nor sellers have a more complete and informative overview of the process. For example, a potential buyer in a proposed real estate transaction cannot in real-time track the status of an offer; a seller cannot in real-time track how many offers have been received on a property, nor how their agent is handling those offers without speaking to the agent. Similar problems are endemic in the rental property application process at the time of this application. A crisis in confidence is the inevitable result.
Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of described systems with some aspects of the present disclosure, as set forth in the remainder of the present application and with reference to the drawings.

Algorithm and technical system for displaying offers


The present invention provides an optical apparatus for deforming a reflecting surface of a mirror, comprising a base plate, a plurality of first actuators each configured to apply a force to the surface opposite to the reflecting surface, a plurality of second actuators each having rigidity lower than that of the first actuator, and configured to apply a force to the surface opposite to the reflecting surface, a sensor configured to detect information indicating a driving status of each of the plurality of first actuators, and a control unit configured to control, based on an output of the sensor, driving of each of the plurality of first actuators and driving of each of the plurality of second actuators so that a shape of the reflecting surface is changed to a target shape.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical apparatus for deforming the reflecting surface of a mirror, a projection optical system using the optical apparatus, an exposure apparatus, and a method of manufacturing an article.
Description of the Related Art
Since an astronomical telescope and an exposure apparatus used to manufacture a semiconductor device and the like are required to improve the resolution, it is necessary to accurately correct the optical aberration of an optical system used in these apparatuses. To achieve this, there are proposed optical apparatuses for correcting the optical aberration of an optical system by deforming the reflecting surface of a mirror included in the optical system (see patent literatures 1 and 2). Each of the optical apparatuses described in patent literatures 1 and 2 has a plurality of actuators each for applying a force to the rear surface (a surface opposite to the reflecting surface) of the mirror, and can correct the optical aberration of the optical system by controlling the driving of each actuator to deform the reflecting surface of the mirror.
If the mirror vibrates when the optical apparatus deforms the reflecting surface of the mirror, it may become difficult to accurately correct the optical aberration of the optical system. The optical apparatus is, therefore, required to support the mirror so that the eigen frequency of the mirror becomes high. In the optical apparatuses described in patent literatures 1 and 2, however, an actuator having low rigidity is used as each actuator for applying a force to the rear surface of the mirror, and the mirror can be supported at its peripheral portion by a supporting member. In the optical apparatuses described in patent literatures 1 and 2, therefore, it is difficult to support the mirror so that the eigen frequency of the mirror becomes high.
[Patent Literature 1] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-4146
[Patent Literature 2] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-64076

Optical apparatus, projection optical system, exposure apparatus, and method of manufacturing article


A method of mounting a metal blade root to a composite propeller blade body includes inserting a connection portion of the blade body into a bore formed in the blade root, wherein the connection portion comprises at least one depression formed in an outer surface thereof, and applying pressure to the outer surface of the blade root to cause it to deform and engage with the depressions, thereby mechanically coupling the blade root to the propeller blade body.

Modern propeller blades typically include a metal root 10 (sometimes referred to as a "tulip" in the industry), such as illustrated in FIG. 1.
The metal blade root 10 comprises an approximately cylindrical portion which extends into a hub arm of a hub of a propeller system, and which defines one or more bearing races 12 that rotatably secure the blade root to the hub arm via a retention bearing assembly. The other end of the metal root defines a cup 16 having a shape that is approximately conical with an oval cross-section. Often, the edge of the cup 16 may extend further along the pressure and suction surfaces than the leading and trailing edges, giving rise to a "tulip" shape.
Spar and shell propeller blades are often manufactured by first forming a carbon-foam spar 18 that is bonded to the metal root 10, then mounting leading and trailing edge foam fillers 42, 44 to the carbon-foam spar, and finally forming a shell 52 around the entire structure from a material such as glass, Kevlar®, etc., which is finally sealed using resin transfer moulding. An example of such a construction is described in EP0610273 and illustrated in FIG. 2.
The carbon-foam spar 18 is typically formed from carbon fibres 22 braided around a polyurethane foam core 20. To form the spar 18, the blade root 10 is connected to the polyurethane foam core 20, such that it fills the cupped end 16 of the blade root 10. Once connected to the blade root 10, the foam core 20 may be used as a braiding mandrel. A structural layer is formed by braiding of carbon fibres 22 over the foam core 20 and the blade root 10, which ensures good attachment of the spar 18 to the blade root 10.
Such blades are light and effective for their intended purposes. However, manufacturing the blade root 10 is expensive due to its complex shape.


A method for optimizing a register file hierarchy in a multithreaded processor. The method includes providing a register file hierarchy with a plurality of register file cells, associating the plurality of register file cells with respective threads when the processor is operating in a multithreaded mode and flattening the plurality of register file cells with a single thread when the processor is operating in a single threaded mode. The register file cells correspond to threads of the multithreaded processor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to processors and more particularly to register files within processors.
2. Description of the Related Art
Known processors provide registers for storing data or for providing status or control information regarding the state of the processor. A known method of organizing registers within a processor is via a register windowing technique to access a plurality of registers in a register file. With register windowing, a register window includes a predetermined number of contiguous registers, and the window can be moved linearly within the register file. At any given time, the register window permits program access to a subset of the total number of registers in the register file. Control registers are associated with the register window so that a program can manipulate the position of the window within the register file and monitor the status of the window.
Multi-threaded processors with register windows serialize register window management instructions or pay a high price in area for "flattening" their register windows, i.e., making all register windows available all the time. One of the major costs in implementing multi-threading within a processor is the replication of the architectural registers. For example, in a four thread processor, the number of registers is quadruplicated, resulting in a significant core area increase. A side-effect of a register window issue is a more challenging timing due to longer wires. The issue is compounded because register file (RF) cells are fairly large due to multiple ports.
The issue may be further complicated in architectures (e.g. the Sun Microsystems SPARC architecture) which use register windows to enable faster procedure calls. In these architectures, instructions such as a SAVE instruction and a RESTORE instruction are used to switch from one instruction window to another instruction window while overlapping the output register (OUT) of the caller with the input registers (IN) of the callee. Each register window also has local registers, which are not shared (i.e., the local registers belong only to the callee). Most implementations have several (e.g. eight) register windows for a single thread.
When the actual number of register windows is not enough for a particular function, the actual register windows are spilled to memory, to make room for new register windows. When returning to a procedure whose register windows were spilled to memory, the register windows are "filled" from the proper memory addresses. A register file implementing all the register windows in relatively large, multi-ported register file cells can be prohibitively large (and, possibly, slow). For example, an integer register file with eight register windows of 16 registers each would require, for a four threaded processor, 4*8*16=512 registers per processor (only for the register windows; there are also global registers and temporary registers which are part of the register file design; these registers, in a multi-threaded processor implementation, are per thread, but global across a thread's windows). The main advantage of such a register file is that all the windows' registers are, potentially, available for the pipe to read, so there is no need to serialize the pipe on window manipulating instructions (like SAVE or RESTORE).
The terms "thread" and "strand" are used for a multi-threaded processor design. The term "strand" is used for the processor's hardware resources supporting the execution of one software thread.

Versatile register file design for a multi-threaded processor utilizing different modes and register windows


An apparatus for orbital change of a satellite incorporates a capture mechanism for space debris and a tether connecting the capture mechanism to a satellite. The tether is extendable to position the capture mechanism relative to the space debris. A controller is employed for timed release of the space debris by the capture mechanism for orbital change by the satellite.

1. Field
Embodiments of the disclosure relate generally to the field of spacecraft orbital maneuvering and more specifically to a method and apparatus for creating orbital plane change of a spacecraft by momentum transfer obtained through capture and release of space debris.
2. Background
Modern spacecraft often require the ability to change orbits to fulfill their mission requirements. Engine and propellant requirements to accomplish these plane changes add weight to the spacecraft increasing complexity and cost of the required launch capabilities as well as the spacecraft itself. Additionally the amount of propellant which can be carried is finite which creates life limitations on the spacecraft if significant maneuvering is required.
It is therefore desirable to provide alternatives for providing orbital changes in spacecraft without the use of expendable propellant.

Method and apparatus for satellite orbital change using space debris


A design-review-output apparatus comprising: an identification unit 14 that, based on circuit information, which correlates and contains target-object identifiers that identify target objects of a circuit, and design-review information, which contains attributes for target design-review objects for each one or more design-review items in a circuit board design, identifies target-object identifiers that correspond to the target design-review items; an image-creation unit 16 that, based on the target-object identifiers identified by the identification unit 14 and board information that correlates the target-object identifiers with the position on the board of the target objects identified by the target-object identifiers, creates a design-review image that includes an image of the target design-review objects on the board; and an output unit 17 that outputs that design-review image.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a design-review-output apparatus that outputs a design-review image for performing design review related to circuit board design.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, in circuit board design, in order to prevent poor product quality, technology has been developed to automatically perform the work of checking the design according to specified rules (for example, refer to Japanese unexamined patent publication No. H11-330784 (Pg. 1, FIG. 1), and Japanese unexamined patent publication No. H9-34925 (Pg. 1, FIG. 1).
However, whether or not there are problems in any of the specified check items related to the circuit board design must be checked by performing a design review. The design review referred to here is a visual check of the designed board. In this design review, since checking is performed visually, there is a problem in that something may be overlooked.
Particularly, in the case where the design review is performed by a person who is new at design review and is still inexperienced, there is a good possibility that an item or object to be checked will be overlooked. Therefore, whether the design review can be performed accurately or not largely depends on the skill and experience of the person performing the design review.

Design review output apparatus, design review support apparatus, design review system, design review output method, and design review support method

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A process to improve the polymeric filtration aid performance used in removal of gypsum from phosphoric acid/gypsum slurry. A synergistic effect has been observed by using a Dual Injection method. This method more specifically involves using two polymers (A & B) of different chemistry and injecting into slurry at a different time. The polymer chemistry of filtration aid A is selected from the group consisting of non-ionic, anionic, and cationic polymers and the polymer chemistry of filtration aid B is selected from the group consisting of sulfonated polymers. The polymer (A & B) usage is reduced by around 50% and performance improved.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates, generally, to filtration aids. A process has been developed to improve polymeric filtration aid performance in the removal of gypsum from phosphoric acid/gypsum slurry.
2. Description of the Related Art
During the process of producing phosphoric acid (for fertilizer), gypsum is formed as a by-product in the 25-45% phosphoric acid solution. This gypsum is filtered out with various types of vacuum filters. Polymeric filtration aids have been used to enhance filtration time for faster production and higher recovery of the phosphoric acid.
The polymeric filtration aids are high molecular weight polymers, of various chemistries and molecular weights specific for various phosphate ores. The chemical class of the polymers that have been used is classified as non-ionic, anionic or cationic in nature.
The normal application of the polymers is by making a 0.5-3% polymer solution and injecting this into the gypsum/phosphoric acid slurry prior to filtration (by vacuum filter). The amount of polymer filtration aid for maximum performance varies with each production facility and ranges from 5-150 ppm (via volume of slurry). The amount of performance improvement by the filtration aid varies typically from 5-70%.

Dual injection of two polymeric filtration aids for gypsum removal from phosphoric acid/gypsum slurry


Safety equipment includes both a securing apparatus for glasses or eyewear and having incorporated therein hearing protection devices. In particular, the hearing protection devices and the way in which they are connected may vary in numerous ways to provide flexible, simple, and convenient safety equipment.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to wearable safety equipment and, more particularly, to an apparatus that may provide ear and eye protection.
2. Description of Related Art
Equipment that aids in protecting people under potentially dangerous conditions comes in a variety of forms and provide a variety of functions. However, safety equipment is only effective if it actually worn and properly used. And even though a person may know it is better for them to use safety equipment in a particular situation, everyone does not always do so. The excuses or rationalizations for doing so are numerous and sometimes are the fault of the person; however, the safety equipment itself can contribute to a person's reluctance to use it because it is cumbersome, easy to forget, or difficult to use.
Two particular areas of safety equipment that are typically useful are hearing protection and eye protection. Safety glasses or regular eyewear are useful in a wide variety environments to help protect a wearer's eyes from debris, dust, flying particles and the like. A retaining strap of some sort is particularly useful in that it helps keep the eyewear in place around a person's neck and it helps keep the eyewear securely in place when the eyewear is being used. Ear protection is another useful type of safety equipment that comes in a wide variety of styles. Individual foam ear plugs are useful but can be easily forgotten and, even if remembered, are typically stuffed in a person's pocket from where they need to be retrieved before being useful.
There have been previous attempts to address the issues described above such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,541,677 and 6,604,823. However, these attempts also have certain drawbacks. In particular, ease of adjustment and potentially unsafe configurations are drawbacks exhibited by the devices described in those patents. There remains, therefore, an unmet need for a combination eyewear retainer and ear protection device that provides improved safety, simplicity, flexibility, and ready customization for various sized users.


A flat panel display includes a plurality of pixel circuits, each pixel circuit including a switch and a storage capacitor, in which the storage capacitor receives pixel data from a data line when the switch is turned on. A scan driver controls the switches of the pixel circuits, in which the scan driver turns on a first switch of a first pixel circuit for a first length of time within a frame period, and turns on a second switch of a second pixel circuit for a second length of time within the frame period, the first length of time being different from the second length of time.

The description relates to signal compensation for flat panel displays.
Referring to FIG. 1, an example of a liquid crystal display 100 includes an array of rows and columns of pixel circuits 13, each pixel circuit 13 corresponding to a scan line (e.g., 20a, 20b, 20c, or 20m) and a data line (e.g., 16a, 16b, or 16n). The scan lines (collectively referenced as 20) are driven by a scan driver 22, and the data lines (collectively referenced as 16) are driven by a data driver 10. Each pixel circuit 13 includes a transistor (e.g., 12ba, 12bn, or 12ca) and a storage capacitor (e.g., 14ba, 14bn, or 14ca). A timing controller 24 controls the scan driver 22 to send scan signals on the scan lines 20 to successively turn on the transistors 12 of each row, allowing the data driver 10 to send pixel data through the data lines 16 to corresponding storage capacitors 14. For example, the gate electrode of the transistor 12ba is connected to the scan line 20b. The transistor 12ba functions as a switch positioned between the storage capacitor 14ba and the data line 16a. When the transistor 12ba is turned on (e.g., by sending a logic high scan signal on the scan line 20b), the storage capacitor 14ba is connected to the data line 16a and is charged to the voltage level on the data line 16a. The pixel data stored in the storage capacitors 14 correspond to gray levels of pixels of an image shown on the display 100.

Signal compensation for flat panel display


A side air-bag for use in a motor vehicle is disclosed. The side air-bag is formed from two superimposed layers (1) of a laminar material such as fabric. Each layer (1) has a leading edge (3) and a trailing edge (4). The air-bag includes at least one internal tether (8) which extends from the leading edges (3) to the trailing edges (4), with the length d of the tether being less than the width D of the elements (1) forming the airbag between the leading edge (3) and a trailing edge (4) at a point where the tether (8) is positioned.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an air-bag for use in a vehicle such as a motor car and more particularly relates to a side air-bag.
2. Description of Related Art
A side air-bag may be mounted in position, for example, in the backrest of a vehicle seat or in part of the side wall or a side door of the motor vehicle. The air-bag being configured, when inflated, to be located between the occupant of a seat and the adjacent side of the vehicle.
A side air-bag may prove to be of particular benefit in a side impact situation. However, in a side impact situation an intruding vehicle or object can, even at relatively low speeds, impact with an occupant of the vehicle very shortly after the impact situation has commenced, and consequently it is desirable to be able to inflate a side air-bag in the minimum amount of time. Consequently, it is desirable to be able to inflate the side air-bag using a minimum quantity of gas.
However, it is also desired that a side air-bag should be as thick or "deep" as possible in the transverse direction across the vehicle, in order to provide the maximum cushioning effect for the occupant of the vehicle relative to an intruding vehicle or object.
In view of the above, it is apparent that there exists a need for a side air-bag which can be inflated quickly using a minimum quantity of gas, but which has a relatively high thickness or "depth."


Provided is an image forming system that allows a user to quickly reach a desired setting item so as to resume alteration of the setting of the image forming apparatus and a job manipulation between a mobile terminal and an image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus starts an operation of changing the setting when an operation panel part is operated. Then, a terminal apparatus displays setting items of the image forming apparatus on a display panel in the form of a menu map. When an operation for determining a setting item is performed on a menu-map screen on the terminal apparatus, the image forming apparatus changes a setting screen to be displayed on the display panel to a setting screen for the setting item indicated by transmitted information.

The present disclosure relates to an image forming system and a setting screen manipulating method that allows a terminal apparatus to manipulate a setting screen of an image forming apparatus.
According to a typical case, an image forming apparatus sends to an information terminal apparatus information defining an operational screen for utilizing functions of the image forming apparatus. The information terminal apparatus creates an operational screen according to the received screen definition information and transmits an execution request to the image processing apparatus according to an operation that is performed by using the operational screen.
According to another typical case, a mobile terminal displays, on a display part, a screen for making a selection among image processing functions that are executable by a multifunction apparatus according to function selection information received from the multifunction apparatus. When a user selects one of the functions, the mobile terminal transmits item data indicating the selected function to the multifunction apparatus.

Image forming system and setting screen manipulating method for allowing terminal apparatus to manipulate setting screen


The present invention discloses an afterload device for ex situ heart perfusion, which includes an afterload energy storage module, a pressure regulation module and two flow rate regulators that are connected through a conduit. The afterload energy storage module includes a rigid closed container and a flexible container. The perfusion fluid flows into the flexible container from one side thereof through the conduit, and the perfusion fluid flows out from the flexible container at another side thereof as the flexible container is subjected to the action of the medium pressure in the rigid hermetic container. The pressure regulation module includes two pressure regulation valves and a compressible-medium source, for regulating the pressure range within the rigid hermetic container to be always maintained between the set diastolic pressure and the set systolic pressure.

Ex situ heart perfusion (ESHP) is an effective means of promoting preservation and functional evaluation of a donor heart. Using this technique, not only can a dysfunctional donor heart be evaluated ex vivo, but also a heart of poor quality can be repaired ex vivo to change its performance, thereby expanding a donor pool.
The ex situ heart perfusion was first proposed by Oscar Langendorff in the late 19th century. In a traditional perfusion of Langendorff mode, a perfusion fluid is reversely perfused through a cardiac aortic cannula. Due to the action of a hydraulic pressure of perfusion, an aortic valve is closed and the perfusion fluid flows into a coronary artery to supply oxygen and energy to the heart, thereby enabling a heart to keep beating for hours.
This is an effective perfusion manner, but since the reverse perfusion is non-physiological, the measured cardiac function parameters and the pressure waveform of the aorta are quite different from those within the actual body, which affects the quality of perfusion and is not suitable for the application in a heart function research. Thus a perfusion manner in a working mode emerges, where the perfusion fluid is positively perfused into the heart, to simulate the environment in which the heart flows correctly in the body.
The heart is a power source that drives blood circulation, which pumps fresh blood sent by a pulmonary vein into an arterial system by means of the contraction of a ventriculus sinister. The heart must squeeze the blood into an artery to the maximum extent, and must overcome the resistance of the arterial system, also called as an afterload. In an ex situ perfusion system, a blood vessel is replaced by a medical tube, and when pumped out, the blood flows back to the heart without encountering any resistance. This is significantly different from the actual physiological condition in the body. The afterload degree directly affects the function of the heart and affects the quality of the perfusion.
Thus it can be seen that, it is an urgent problem to be solved to provide an afterload device for ex situ heart perfusion.

Afterload device for ex situ heart perfusion


A colorant-containing curable composition containing a tetraazaporphyrin compound represented by formula (1), wherein rings A1, A2, A3, and A4 each independently represent a benzene ring or a pyridine ring, at least one of the rings A1, A2, A3, and A4 represents a pyridine ring, R1 and R2 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group provided that R1 and R2 are not hydrogen atoms at the same time, m represents an integer of 1 to 8, and n is an integer of 1 to 4.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a colorant-containing curable composition containing a dye favorable for forming a color filter for use in liquid crystal display devices and solid-state imaging devices, a dye-containing color filter, and a production method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
Dyeing, printing, electrodeposition and pigment dispersion methods have been known as the methods of producing a color filter for use in liquid crystal display devices (LCDs) and solid-state imaging devices (CCD, CMOS, and the like).
Among them, the pigment dispersion method is a method of producing a color filter by photolithography by using radiation ray-sensitive colored compositions containing a pigment dispersed in various photosensitive compositions, and has an advantage that the resulting products are resistant to light, heat, and others, because they contain a pigment. Because photolithographic patterning is higher in positional precision, the method has been employed widely as a method favorable for producing color filters for large-screen, high-definition color displays.
In the pigment dispersion method, a color filter is prepared by forming colored pixels in a desirable number of color tones, by forming a coated film by coating and drying a radiation ray-sensitive composition on a glass substrate, for example, by a spin coater or a roll coater, exposing the coated film through a pattern to light, and developing the film, and additionally, repeating the operation for respective colors. Negative-type photosensitive compositions containing an alkali-soluble resin, a photopolymerizable monomer, and a photopolymerization initiator are known as the compositions for use in the pigment dispersion method (e.g., Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) Nos. 2-199403, 4-76062, 5-273411, 6-184482, and 7-140654).
On the other hand, recently, there exists a need for further improvement in definition of the color filters for solid-state imaging devices. However, it is difficult to improve the definition further with conventional pigment dispersion systems, and, because of the problem of unevenness in color caused by bulky pigment particles, the systems are not suited for applications that demand fine patterning, such as solid-state imaging devices,
Considering these problems, a system containing a solvent- or water-soluble dye instead of pigment is disclosed (e.g., JP-A No. 2002-278056).
However, such dye-containing curable compositions have the following new problems (1) to (4) and demand further improvement:
(1) Normally, it is difficult to obtain a liquid curable composition having a desirable spectrum, because the dye is less soluble in aqueous alkaline solutions and organic solvents.
(2) It is difficult to control the solubility (developing property) of hardened and unhardened areas, because the dye often interacts with other components in the curable composition.
(3) It is necessary to add a dye in a greater amount when the dye has a low molar absorption coefficient (ε), and thus, to relatively reduce the amounts of the polymerizable compound (monomer), binder, and other components such as photopolymerization initiator in the curable composition, resulting in problems of deterioration of the hardening property of the composition and the heat resistance and developing property after hardening.
(4) Dyes are generally lower in light resistance and heat resistance than pigments.
In addition, different front the color filters for production of semiconductors, the color filters for solid-state imaging devices demand a film thickness of 1.5 μm or less, and thus, it is necessary to add a colorant in a greater amount in the curable composition, which raises the similar problems.
Accordingly, in production of high-definition color filters, it was difficult to satisfy the practical requirements for fine thin-film colored patterns. Thus, there exists a need for development of a dye and a curable composition that solve the problems above.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Colorant-containing curable composition, color filter and production method thereof