A wideband convertor for mode conversion between a TEM coaxial mode in coaxial line and the TM.sub.01 circular waveguide mode in circular waveguide. The convertor takes advantage of the somewhat similar electric field configurations of the two modes. To physically match the coaxial line to the waveguide, a tapered section is employed to provide a gradual diameter transition.

The present invention relates to waveguide-to-coaxial line transition apparatus, and more particularly to a convertor apparatus for converting to or from a TM.sub.01 waveguide mode in circular waveguide from or to a coaxial transmission line, respectively.
The TM.sub.01 mode has unique characteristics which are often utilized in circular waveguide components. To measure such components it is necessary to be able to sense and/or generate the TM.sub.01 mode. However, the coaxial configuration is the commonly used mode on most test equipment, and a mode convertor to the TM.sub.01 mode is required. Mode conversion is also sometimes desired within a component, and this approach is directly applicable.
There are two known approaches for conversion between coaxial line and the TM.sub.01 circular waveguide mode. The first involves inserting the center conductor of a coax line into the endplate of a circular waveguide, thus acting as an excitation probe. "Input Impedance of a Coaxial Line Probe Feeding a Circular Waveguide in the TM.sub.01 Mode," R. H. MacPhie et al., IEEE Tran. Microwave Theory Tech., Vol. MTT-38, pp 334-337, March 1990. The probe is concentric and aligned with the waveguide axis. While this configuration is simple, it is narrow band and requires tuning of the probe length to get a match. Moreover, the operating bandwidth is limited to approximately 10% by the excitation of the higher order "TM.sub.01 -coax" mode.
The second approach first adapts the coaxial line to rectangular waveguide, splits the rectangular waveguide into two arms, and then couples to the circular waveguide with two symmetrically mounted, in-phase apertures. This configuration is large relative to the circular waveguide, is not well matched and has an instantaneous bandwidth of only about 10%, being limited on the upper end by excitation of the circular TE.sub.21 mode.
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a well-matched, wideband device for mode conversion between the coaxial (TEM) and the TM.sub.01 circular waveguide modes.
A further object is to provide a mode convertor for conversion between the coaxial mode and circular waveguide mode which maintains mode purity over the entire TM.sub.01 band, up to the frequency at which the TM.sub.02 mode begins.
Yet another object is to provide a device for conversion between the coaxial mode and circular waveguide mode which is relatively small and simple to fabricate.
Yet another object is to provide a device for conversion between the coaxial mode and circular waveguide mode which allows for maximum power transfer between the modes.

Wideband coax-to-TM.sub.01 converter and testing system using the same


According to one embodiment, a strain sensing element includes a film unit being deformable, a first and a second magnetic unit, and a strain sensor. The first magnetic unit is provided on the film unit and is arranged with the film unit in a first direction. The first magnetic unit includes a first magnetic body layer and a first intermediate magnetic layer. The second magnetic unit is provided on the film unit and is arranged with the first magnetic unit in a second direction crossing the first direction. The second magnetic unit includes a second magnetic body layer and a second intermediate magnetic layer. The strain sensor is provided on the film unit between the first magnetic unit and the second magnetic unit. An electrical characteristic of the strain sensor changes according to a deformation of the film unit.

Pressure sensors that use MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) technology include, for example, a piezo resistance-change type and an electrostatic-capacitance type. On the other hand, a pressure sensor and a strain sensing element using spin technology have been proposed. High sensitivity is desirable in the pressure sensor and the strain sensing element using spin technology.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Strain sensing element and pressure sensor


A computer-implemented method for reducing a computing overhead associated with objects that are local to a particular thread and can be accessed solely by that thread. Dynamically during run-time, an object is determined to be local to a particular thread and can be accessed solely by that thread, whereby a computing overhead associated with that object may be reduced. Likewise, cache locality may be optimized in respect of objects that are determined to be global so as to avoid putting them in the same cache line, whilst thread-local objects are preferably stored in a cache line associated with that thread.

This invention relates to object-oriented programming and particularly to an object""s method execution during run-time.
An object-oriented program can keep track of whether or not an object is thread-local. This can be tracked dynamically using a write barrier, as described in detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/356,532 by Trotter and Kolodner on thread-local heaps.
A global object is an object that can be accessed by more than one thread. A thread-local object is an object that can be accessed by a single thread only. Similar definitions apply to global roots and local roots (e.g., references in the registers and the stack of a thread). The write barrier is used for stores of references into global roots and into objects, in the following manner:
(a) An indicator is associated with object to show whether it is global. If the indicator is set, the object is global; otherwise, it is local.
(b) Before a reference is assigned to a global variable:
i) If the referenced object is local, then trace the sub-graph of objects rooted at the referenced object and mark every object in that sub-graph global.
ii) Do the assignment.
(c) Before a reference is assigned to a field of an object whose global indicator is set:
i) If the referenced object is local, then trace the sub-graph of objects rooted at the referenced object and mark every object in that sub-graph global.
ii) Do the assignment.
Thread-locality is a property that can also be shown to hold statically, e.g., by a compile-time analysis. See, for example, Choi, Gupta, et. al., xe2x80x9cEscape Analysis for Javaxe2x80x9d in OOPSLA 99, 11/99.
The present invention describes opportunities to exploit the thread-local property of an object in order to reduce the computing overhead on that object, and methods for exploiting those opportunities. The observation that thread-locality can be exploited to reduce computing overhead when it is tracked dynamically is new.
We also describe additional opportunities for exploiting thread-locality that have not been previously known (whether the locality property is obtained from a static analysis or tracked dynamically).
The thread-local property of the objects can be exploited in order to reduce the cost of other operations on these objects. In particular, synchronization costs on thread local objects can be avoided. In the implementation of Java, such savings can be significant.
When objects are used to implement re-useable components, e.g., a hash table, a sparse matrix, etc., good programming practice often leads to the implementations being thread-safe, i.e., supporting synchronization in the event that two or more threads attempt to use the object concurrently. The particular means of implementing the synchronization is language dependent. If the object is not actually used by more than one thread, the cost of synchronization is incurred with no actual run-time benefit.
An example of such re-useable components can be seen in Java, where many classes are thread-safe, i.e., they are implemented in such a way that their operation will be correct even if their instances are accessed simultaneously by multiple threads. These thread-safe classes are used in many cases where a non thread-safe equivalent would be safe to use. It is easier and safer to use the thread-safe classes than for the programmer to do the analysis that a non-thread safe version could be used. There are also cases where an object may not need to be thread-safe at one point in its lifetime, but may need to be thread-safe at a later point. Furthermore, the advantages of object-orientation and re-use can be better realized by using the thread-safe classes.
The mechanisms provided in Java to ensure thread-safe access are synchronized methods and synchronized statement. These synchronization mechanisms are implemented using monitors. Monitors are a language-level construct for providing mutually exclusive access to shared data structures in a multi-threaded environment. A low overhead locking scheme for Java is described by David F. Bacon et al. in xe2x80x9cThin Locks: Featherweight Synchronization for Javaxe2x80x9d appearing in the Proceedings of the ACM Conference on Programming Language and Design and Implementation, SIGPLAN Notices volume 33, number 6, Jun. 1998. As explained in this article, in Java the methods of an object may be declared synchronized meaning that the object must be locked for the duration of the method""s execution. Such locking imposes an overhead, which is actually wasted in the event that the object is thread local and can be accessed only by a single thread.
Some experiments suggest that in fact on typical benchmarks and applications, more than 50% of all monitor operations can be seen to be carried out on thread local objects. It is believed that similar results may be seen in other languages.
These experiments indicate the need to provide a mechanism for exploiting the knowledge that an object is local to a particular thread and can be accessed solely by that thread in order to avoid unnecessary computation overhead.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a mechanism for exploiting the knowledge that an object is local to a particular thread and can be accessed solely by that thread in order to avoid unnecessary computation overhead.
According to a broad aspect of the invention there is provided a computer-implemented method for reducing a computing overhead associated with an object based on whether or not it is local to a particular thread and can be accessed solely by that thread, comprising the steps of:
(a) dynamically tracking the object during run-time so as to derive information as to whether or not the object is local to a particular thread and can be accessed solely by that thread, and
(b) using said information to reduce a computing overhead associated with said object.
Such a method finds particular application in Java for objects that are determined to be thread-local, where there are very precise rules as to when modifications to an object must be written back to xe2x80x9cmain memoryxe2x80x9d such that they can be made visible to other threads. These rules require all updates to be written back to the heap whenever a lock is released. This precludes keeping updates only in thread local storage, such as registers, when a lock is released. However, if it is known that an object is thread local, then it is known that no other thread can access the object and the language""s semantics will not be violated by keeping modified values in registers without writing them back to main memory. This can be done using the smart code mechanism described in U.S. patent Ser. No. 09/317,421 to Factor et al.
For example, if it is known that only one thread is accessing the object, it is possible to ignore the effects of weak consistency architectures (e.g., the fact that one processor may see the results of writes in an order different than the one in which they were executed). This too can be done using the smart code mechanism described in U.S. patent Ser. No. 09/317,421 to Factor et al.
The method according to the invention finds particular application for improving cache locality for thread-local objects by:
i) storing objects in cache lines each of which is associated with a respective thread, and
ii) storing objects that are accessed by more than one thread in distinct cache lines.
The method according to the invention also finds particular application for detecting deadlock. For example, in a Java application deadlock can be detected by determining that a thread waits indefinitely for an object that is thread-local since it is impossible for another thread to notify the waiting thread.
The method according to the invention also finds particular application for avoiding synchronization costs on thread-local objects. For example, when used with a language/system that uses monitors, the method includes:
i) maintaining a count of a number of entries by said monitor,
ii) obtaining a monitor lock on a thread local object without synchronization,
iii) upon entering the monitor, incrementing the count without synchronization, and
iv) upon exiting the monitor, decrementing the count without synchronization.

Method and system for reducing the computing overhead associated with thread local objects

International Business Machines Corporation


The invention discloses a flexible bag for cell cultivation, comprising a cultivation compartment and at least one dialysis compartment, wherein the dialysis compartment(s) is/are delimited from the cultivation compartment by one or more dialysis membranes and is/are fluidically connected to a first and a second port in the bag.

The bio-processing industry has traditionally used stainless steel systems and piping in manufacturing processes for fermentation and cell cultivation. These devices are designed to be steam sterilized and reused. Cleaning and sterilization are however costly labour-intensive operations. Moreover, the installed cost of these traditional systems with the requisite piping and utilities is often prohibitive. Furthermore, these systems are typically designed for a specific process, and cannot be easily reconfigured for new applications. These limitations have led to adoption of a new approach over the last ten years—that of using plastic, single-use disposable bags and tubing, to replace the usual stainless steel tanks.
In particular bioreactors, traditionally made of stainless steel, have been replaced in many applications by disposable bags which are rocked to provide the necessary aeration and mixing necessary for cell culture. These single-use bags are typically provided sterile and eliminate the costly and time-consuming steps of cleaning and sterilization. The bags are designed to maintain a sterile environment during operation thereby minimizing the risk of contamination.
One of the successful disposable bioreactor systems uses a rocking table on to which a bioreactor bag is placed. The bioreactor bag is partially filled with liquid nutrient media and the desired cells. The table rocks the bag providing constant movement of the cells in the bag and also efficient gas exchange from the turbulent air-liquid surface. The bag, typically, has at least one gas supply tube for the introduction of air, carbon dioxide, nitrogen or oxygen, and at least one exhaust gas tube to allow for the removal of respired gases. Nutrients can be added through other tubes.
During cultivation, the cells produce metabolites, e.g. ammonium ions and lactate, which have an inhibitory effect on cells. This effect becomes an issue particularly in cultivation at high cell densities, which are required for cost-effective production of biopharmaceuticals such as therapeutic proteins or virus antigens. One way to reduce the concentrations of inhibitory metabolites is to use perfusion cultivation where culture medium is bled off by hydraulic flow through a filter which retains the cells but lets the metabolites and proteins pass through the filter. Expressed proteins can then be recovered from the filtrate and fresh culture medium is continuously supplied to the bioreactor to compensate for the lost liquid.
Due to the hydraulic flow through the filter, perfusion culture at high cell densities has issues with fouling and clogging of the filters. It is also in many cases desirable to retain the expressed protein in the bioreactor for recovery in a harvest step after cultivation. An attractive solution to these issues is to use dialysis cultivation, as described e.g. in R Poertner et al. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol (1998) 50: 403-414. Here, the cell culture is in contact with a dialysis membrane having a cut-off value chosen such that low molecular metabolites diffuse through the membrane, while cells and proteins are retained. There is no significant pressure drop over the membrane, meaning that mass transport is primarily by diffusion and little clogging or fouling will occur.
Dialysis cultivation is most commonly carried out with an external dialysis module, through which the culture is conveyed in a circuit outside the bioreactor. This is inconvenient as it increases the risks of a) contaminating the culture, b) leakage or catastrophic loss of the potentially biohazardous culture and c) attrition of sensitive cells by pumping through the circuit. Internal dialysis modules, placed inside the bioreactor have been described in e.g. Poertner, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,576,211 and 6,933,144, but they are designed for rigid wall bioreactors such as stainless steel reactors or rolling bottles and the arrangements are not suitable for flexible bag bioreactors. They also tend to give low mass transport rates, which is detrimental to the process efficiency.
Accordingly there is a need for flexible bag bioreactors with internal dialysis modules suitable for dialysis cultivation with high mass transport rates.

Cell culture bag with internal dialysis membrane


A mandatory access control method and apparatus, and a physical host are disclosed. The method includes obtaining, by a virtual machine monitor (VMM) from at least one virtual machine, M input/output access instructions delivered by a user, where each of the M access instructions includes an access subject and an access object. According to the subject and the object of each of the M access instructions, the VMM determines N access instructions that comply with a preset mandatory access rule. The VMM accesses a physical device corresponding to the object of each of the N access instructions.

Currently, different industries such as education, enterprise, government, military, operator, health care, and finance have different security requirements. At present, products used in all industries have met a normal security requirement, but scarcely meet a high-level security requirement.
Access control is one of the security requirement, and includes discretionary access control and mandatory access control. A security standard such as GB17859-1999 specifies that a security system with three or more levels need to use the mandatory access control. The mandatory access control is an industry threshold for protecting core content of the military industry, the government, and the like, and is a future development direction of the access control.
The discretionary access control is currently implemented in multiple types of operating systems. The discretionary access control in the existing multiple types of operating systems is often implemented by using discretionary access control similar to that of a Linux operating system. The discretionary access control means that an owner of an object can determine permission to access the object by others. The Linux operating system implements discretionary access control that is based on a "permission bit". The permission bit is divided into three categories: "owner", "group", and "other". When a user determines to transmit an object message to another user, the user can select only permission of "group" or "other", and this is similar to a sharing strategy. A discretionary access control mechanism based on the permission bit has coarse granularity, and cannot be adapted to a scenario with relatively strict security. The mandatory access control requires allocating security classifications to a subject and an object in a system. When the subject requests an access to the object, the system performs permission (readable/writable) determining according to the security classifications of the subject and the object and an access type.
During implementation of the mandatory access control at an operating system layer, a kernel mechanism usually needs to be modified, and a difference between different systems also needs to be considered. Consequently, the implementation is extremely difficult. Currently, there are undiversified manners for implementing the mandatory access control, and only some customized systems implement the mandatory access control. SELinux is a security enhancement module developed based on Linux. By modifying a kernel and user space and expanding an existing GNU/Linux operating system, mandatory access control based on a type enforce (TE) strategy is implemented. For each access, the SELinux makes labels for an access subject and object by modifying kernel mode code of the GNU/Linux operating system, so that a program implements the mandatory access control over each access according to the labels. The solution is implemented by modifying the kernel mode code of the GNU/Linux operating system, and cannot be applied to another operating system. Therefore, an SELinux access is not supported in a Windows operating system, and the solution brings a 5% to 10% performance loss to the GNU/Linux operating system.

Mandatory access control method and apparatus, and physical host


A television with at least one connection, either wired or wireless. Detection of an active device connected to the connection results in proper software and hardware configuration of the television to properly communicate with the device and provide, for example, proper user interface support and access to the device.

Television devices such as LCD or Plasma televisions are becoming more sophisticated each year. Already, most have a processor and memory and a remote control as an input device. Soon, many television devices will have Internet connections and mass storage devices (e.g., disk drives). The Internet connection and storage will be used for many purposes, including the download and storage of content (e.g., movies). The television devices have or will have input ports or other types of connections, either wired or wireless for the connection of devices such as phones, cameras, storage devices, printers, music players, etc.
There are many reasons for connecting such devices to a television device such as, providing an Internet connection (e.g., for content download), providing enhanced caller-id and speaker-phone capabilities to a cell phone, playing content that is stored on the device, printing part of an electronic program guide (EPG) that is stored in the television devices, uploading content such as fonts, patterns, etc., to the television devices, providing videophone capabilities to the television devices, etc.
When a device is connected to existing television devices, there is no reaction. For example, if a cell phone connected to a USB cable is connected into a USB port of the television device, the television device takes no action and it is difficult to perform any useful task with the cell phone and television device combination.
What is needed is a predictable system that provides detection and classification of a device when it is attached to a television device and, responsive to the attachment, activation of corresponding drivers/applets/applications.

System, method and apparatus for responding to device attachment


The present invention relates to an oscillator that is capable of realizing duty balancing.

(a) Field
Embodiments relate to an oscillator determining a switching frequency of two switches controlling an operation of a converter.
(b) Description of the Related Art
In a converter of a pulse frequency modulation (PFM) type, power conversion is realized by a switching operation of power switches. Here, the power switches are operated corresponding to 50% duty balance. That is, the duty between the power switches is controlled to be equal.
However, a duty imbalance is generated between the power switches by a noise generated in a powering line of the converter. The duty imbalance includes a secondary rms current of the converter such that the power conversion efficiency is decreased.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Abstract: The oscillator determines a switching frequency of a converter converting an input voltage according to a switching operation of switches to generate an output voltage.

Abstract: The oscillator determines a first half cycle of a duty signal determining the switching frequency by using a reference current according to a feedback signal corresponding to the output voltage. The oscillator senses a first half cycle period by using an output of the frequency setting unit, and determines the same period as the first half cycle as a second half cycle of the duty signal after the first half cycle.


A bypass turbojet nacelle comprising a fixed structure, a fixed cowl and a cowl movable in translation between advanced and withdrawn positions by a ram with a reverser flap movable thereon, and a deployment system comprising a first slider integral with the movable cowl, a first groove comprising a first part and a curved, second part integral with the fixed structure, a second slider movable in translation in the second groove part, a first connecting rod rotatable on the first slider and on the second slider, and a second connecting rod articulated on both the first connecting rod first end and the reverser flap. The ram rod is articulated on the first connecting rod. Moving the first slider from the advanced to the withdrawn position moves the second slider along the first part and, when the first slider reaches the withdrawn position, the second slider moves along the second part.

An aircraft comprises a fuselage, on each side of which a wing is fixed. At least one bypass turbojet is suspended under each wing. Each bypass turbojet is fixed under the wing by means of a pylon that is fixed between the structure of the wing and the structure of the bypass turbojet.
The bypass turbojet comprises an engine, a nacelle that is fixed around the engine, and a secondary duct that is between the engine and the nacelle and that allows the passage of a secondary flow.
The nacelle comprises a fixed cowl and a movable cowl at the rear of the fixed cowl which is movable in translation between an advanced position and a withdrawn position. In the advanced position, the movable cowl is close to the fixed cowl and forms an aerodynamic continuity. In the withdrawn position, the movable cowl is remote from the fixed cowl towards the rear and creates an opening between the secondary duct and the exterior.
The nacelle also comprises at least one reverser flap that is movable between a stowed position, in which it is positioned outside the secondary duct such as not to impede the secondary duct, and a deployed position, in which it is positioned across the secondary duct such as to impede the secondary duct in order to direct it radially through the opening towards the exterior of the nacelle.
Conventionally, the reverser flap is mounted to move in rotation on the structure of the nacelle and a deployment system moves it from the stowed position to the deployed position when the movable cowl passes from the advanced position to the withdrawn position and vice versa.
Although the system for deploying such a reverser flap is entirely satisfactory, it is desirable to identify different deployment systems and, in particular, a deployment system that makes it possible to delay the deployment of the reverser flap relative to the movement of the movable cowl. Furthermore, it is desirable to identify a deployment system that comprises fewer mechanical members traversing the secondary duct and that makes it possible to optimize the form of the movable cowl, in particular making it thinner and thus making the nacelle more aerodynamic.

Nacelle of a turbojet comprising a reverser flap and a deployment system with delay


A method for vaporizing a liquid stream includes cycling a heat transfer fluid in a closed circuit; feeding the heat transfer fluid to a first heat transfer zone; feeding a liquid stream to be vaporized to the first heat transfer zone; providing heat from the heat transfer fluid to the liquid stream in the first heat transfer zone thereby vaporizing the liquid stream and at least partially condensing the heat transfer fluid; removing the vaporized liquid stream and the at least partially condensed heat transfer fluid and passing the latter to a second heat transfer zone; providing heat from ambient air to the at least partially condensed heat transfer fluid thereby vaporizing the heat transfer fluid; recycling the vaporized heat transfer fluid to the first heat transfer zone using gravitational force exerted on the heat transfer fluid being cycled in the closed circuit.

LNG is usually primarily liquefied methane containing varying quantities of ethane, propane and butanes with trace quantities of pentanes and heavier hydrocarbon components. Usually the LNG is low in aromatic hydrocarbons and non-hydrocarbons such as H2O, N2, CO2, H2S and other sulphur compounds, and the like, as these compounds have usually been removed at least partially before liquefying the natural gas stream, which is then stored or transported in liquid form. For the purpose of this description, 'hydrocarbon stream', 'LNG' or 'natural gas' should not be construed to be limited to a certain composition, but rather be seen as a liquid stream in general, in particular a hydrocarbon containing stream.
It is desirable to liquefy natural gas for a number of reasons. As an example, natural gas can be stored and transported over long distances more readily as a liquid than in gaseous form, because it occupies a smaller volume and does not need to be stored at high pressures.
In order to regasify the LNG stream it is usually pressurized and vaporised. If desired a selected amount of e.g. N2 is added to obtain natural gas having a desired gas quality, e.g. a selected heating value (i.e. energy content when the gas is burned), according to gas specifications or the requirements of a consumer. Alternatively or additionally, the heating value of the natural gas may be adjusted by removing or adding a desired amount of ethane and/or heavier hydrocarbons from the natural gas.
An example of a method for the regasification or vaporization of LNG of the so-called 'intermediate fluid type' is disclosed in US 2005/0274126 A1. More particularly, US 2005/0274126 describes a method and apparatus for vaporizing cryogenic fluids such as LNG in which an intermediate heat transfer fluid is first heated across a heat transfer surface with ambient air and then the heat transfer surface provide heat to vaporize the cryogenic fluid.
A problem of the known method of regasifying or vaporizing LNG is that relatively high capital expenses (CAPEX) have to be made.

Method and apparatus for vaporizing a liquid stream


A synchronizer ring having a stabilized friction characteristic relative to a taper cone and having sufficient mechanical strength and anti-abrasion characteristic. The synchronizer ring is made from a ferrous sintered alloy containing 0.2 to 1.0% by weight of carbon, 8.0 to 15.0% by weight of copper, 0.1 to 7.0% by weight of at least one component selected from a group consisting of chromium, manganese, molybdenum, and phosphorus, and balance iron and inevitable impurities. A free copper is precipitated in a matrix of the sintered alloy. Porosity of the sintered alloy is from 3 to 8 vol %.

The present invention relates to a synchronizer ring, and more particularly, to a type thereof having excellent friction characteristics and sufficient anti-abrasion and endurance characteristics, and provided with stabilized high quality.
Synchronizer rings have been conventionally used in synchronized gear-meshing type transmissions or speed changers. The synchronizer ring 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a friction ring for selectively synchronously sliding with and separating from a rotating opposing member, that is, a taper cone. The synchronizer ring 1 performs the essential operation of matching the circumferential speeds of rotating gears to avoid clashing therebetween when meshing.
As is well known, a conventional synchronizer ring 1, generally formed from brass (Cu--Zn alloy), is cylindrical with an outer surface provided with an outer rim portion 105 and a plurality of teeth 100, and an inner surface 101 for contacting the cone. The plurality of teeth 100 are provided at a predetermined interval to the extreme outer circumference of a synchronizer ring. The teeth 100 are for engaging with a different opposing member such as a toothed ring (not shown). A key groove 104 for engaging a synchronizer key (not shown) is provided to the outer rim portion 105. To the inner surface 101 of the synchronizer ring are provided a plurality of annular grooves 102 for applying friction force. Further, linear grooves 103 are provided, as necessary, orthogonally to the annular grooves 102 for allowing movement of lubricating oil.
Conventional synchronizer rings 1 formed with the above-described structure, must have in general high mechanical strength and high precision. Increases in transmission quality and performance in recent years have increased their reliability. However, in addition to reliability, transmissions are required to provide a luxurious or sporty feel when driving the car. To provide these attributes, the inner surface 101 of the synchronizer ring 1 must have excellent friction and anti-abrasion characteristics. This has increased requirements for friction and anti-abrasion characteristics of the inner surface 101 of synchronizer rings.
Various proposals have been made in an attempt to improve friction characteristic and anti-abrasion characteristic or wear resistance at the inner surfaces of the synchronizer rings. In one example, as described in Japanese Patent Publication (Kokoku) No. SHO-46-15043, a uniform mixture of metal, ceramic, and an oxide are sprayed and fuse-bonded onto the inner surface of the synchronizer ring. Also West German Patent No. 3705661 describes a method for producing a friction ring, the method being applicable during production of the synchronizer ring. In this method, a friction lining, formed from, for example, a sintered powder containing 80% by weight powdered metal material and 20% by weight powdered non-metal material, is flame sprayed onto the inner surface.
However, conventional synchronizer rings obtained by spraying and fuse-bonding a uniformly mixed mixture of metal, ceramic, and oxide onto the inner surface of the synchronizer ring or by flame spraying a friction liner, formed from, for example, a sintered powder containing 80% by weight powdered metal material and 20% by weight powdered non-metal material, onto the inner surface, do not provide friction or anti-abrasion characteristics sufficient to meet increasing consumer demands. Also, the synchronizer rings formed with these methods may lack sufficient strength when metal components are not evenly distributed. Further, quality may become insufficient due to local variation of compositions in the sprayed layer. Frequently, particles incompletely fused in the flame, or which scatter or bounce off during spraying, become trapped in the surface layer of the sprayed film. Because these particles have been known to form excessively rough areas on the surface, the friction characteristic can easily change over a period of time. When these particles become separated from the surface, they have been known to abrade various parts in the transmission. On the other hand, attempts have been made to reduce the excessively rough areas by grinding or machining the surface of the sprayed-on film, but grinding and machining increases costs and wastes materials, affecting the yield.


An audio system generates virtual acoustic environments with three-dimensional (3-D) sound from legacy video with two-dimensional (2-D) sound. The system relocates sound sources within the video from 2-D to into a 3-D geometry to create an immersive 3-D virtual scene of the video that can be viewed using a headset. Accordingly, an audio processing system obtains a video that includes flat mono or stereo audio being generated by one or more sources in the video. The system isolates the audio from each source by segmenting the individual audio sources. Reverberation is removed from the audio from each source to obtain each source's direct sound component. The direct sound component is then re-spatialized to the 3-D local area of the video to generate the 3-D audio based on acoustic characteristics obtained for the local area in the video.

The present disclosure relates generally to presentation of audio at a headset, and specifically relates to determination of spatialized virtual acoustic scenes from legacy audiovisual media.
Humans are able to determine the location of a sound source by subconsciously comparing the sound perceived at each set of ears. The sound perceived at the ears of two users can be different, depending on a direction and a location of a sound source with respect to each user as well as on the surroundings of a room in which the sound is perceived. However, recordings in environments with acoustically reflective surfaces contain sound reflected from the direction of these reflective surfaces, in addition to the direct sound from the source to the microphone. When these recordings are mixed into mono or stereo, the spatial information contained in the reflections is collapsed and lost. Accordingly, much of the legacy video media that was originally produced for stereo speakers or headphones, does not include full audio spatialization.

Determination of spatialized virtual acoustic scenes from legacy audiovisual media


An apparatus for providing diagnostic information to at least one telephone includes a telephony interface device operatively coupled to at least one telephone through a telephone line. The telephony interface device is operatively coupled to a network. The telephony interface device transmits diagnostic information to the at least one telephone. The diagnostic information may include, for example, diagnostic information concerning the network, the telephony interface device itself, and the telephone line.

This invention relates generally to the field of telecommunications and, in particular, to a telephony interface device for providing status and diagnostic information to a telephone operatively coupled to the telephony interface device.
Since the invention of the telephone by Alexander Graham Bell over 100 years ago, various systems have been implemented to allow a homeowner, for example, to transmit and receive information. The communication service that most people have used on a daily basis typically includes copper wires that are routed from a Local Exchange Carrier (your local telephone company) to a small gray box mounted on the side of the home (commonly referred to as a Network Interface Device). This small gray box connects the copper wires of the xe2x80x9clocal loopxe2x80x9d to the telephone wiring inside the home and the RJ-11 (telephone jacks) connection points also within the home. The traditional Network Interface Device that has been used for many years typically has no digital components or microprocessor-based intelligence. It is simply an electronic circuit that detects current and voltage changes that are a result of the switching activity (i.e., open circuit, closed circuit) at either end of the copper wires. Voice is carried as an analog signal over the copper wires and is electrically coupled to a common telephone on one end, and Local Exchange switching equipment at the other.
There are many disadvantages to this conventional arrangement. For example, problems arise when attempting to diagnose various failures that may occur with these conventional Network Interface Devices. Typically, these conventional Network Interface Devices may include a plurality of LED""s that are intended to allow customers and/or field technicians to diagnose system and/or network element status. However, the LEDs are not very useful to customers and/or field technicians in diagnosing system or network element status. In particular, the use of LEDs requires the oftentimes non-intuitive interpretation of LED light combinations to determine the operational status of the system. Moreover, an extra terminal port interface (i.e., a dumb terminal) may be used to provide field technicians with a means to diagnose system or network element status. However, diagnostic terminal port interfaces typically required a high level of familiarity from a trained technician. Moreover, diagnostic terminal port interfaces and LEDs typically provide no information to the end-user when the Network Interface Device is mounted outside of the house. Finally, remote terminal diagnostics have been used in the past by a network operator, but only if network conductivity is available or is intact. As a result, remote terminal diagnostics may not be available when network conductivity problems arise.
Within the last decade or so, advances in communication technology have enabled the use of alternate media as a replacement for the copper wires in the xe2x80x9clocal loop.xe2x80x9d Today, one of these alternate access technologies utilizes the widely deployed Hybrid Fiber Coaxial (HFC) systems that have traditionally carried only Cable Television transmissions to residential areas. Many of these HFC systems have recently been enhanced to provide multimedia services (video, voice, and high-speed data) by incorporating advanced communication technologies in equipment that is connected to the HFC cable. HFC cable networks are typically organized such that there are aggregation points where the physical cable is fanned out into a number of residential areas. These aggregation points are known as xe2x80x9chead ends.xe2x80x9d Media content is formatted and combined by computer-based communication equipment at these xe2x80x9chead endsxe2x80x9d for delivery to customers along the HFC distribution network, which spans the residential areas that are served. Network routing and bridging equipment is also provided at these xe2x80x9chead ends,xe2x80x9d which provide bi-directional interconnection between the access network (which provides residential access for users) and the Service Provider Network (which provides access to the existing Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and the public Internet). At each residence of a paying subscriber, a similar computer-based communication device (hereafter referred to as a Residential Gateway) must be connected to the HFC cable. The Residential Gateway decodes the media content and delivers the transmissions to residential devices in the home (television sets, etc.). In the past, since HFC networks generally carried only video media content, these Residential Gateways were better known as xe2x80x9cset-top boxesxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9ccable boxes.xe2x80x9d Today, these HFC communication devices can handle more than video media content. As a result, the Residential Gateway device has been enhanced to provide interfaces to multiple networks in the home including, for example, cable TV wiring and telephone wiring.
Traditional telephony voice services have evolved to provide many enhanced features above and beyond the basic two-party phone call. These services have traditionally been implemented in the switching equipment of the service provider or in adjunct devices that reside at the Local Exchange Office. Users are able to enable and configure some of these features through configuration xe2x80x9cmenusxe2x80x9d that prompt the user through the playout of tones or voice messages delivered by the Local Exchange Equipment. User input is then accepted, which is typically in the form of Dual Tone Multi-Frequency (DTMF) digits generated by the user handset or spoken words received by the handset. However, as set forth above, there is at least one major drawback to these conventional services. In particular, the enablement and configuration of these features (and the service, in general) depends upon on the integrity of the connection between the Local Exchange Equipment and the Network Interface Unit (at the user""s home), which bridges the user""s home phone wiring. For example, in existing telephony systems, aural diagnostics and status information (in the form of voice prompts) are played and controlled from a Class 5 switch, and therefore depend upon the access network being intact (assuming the technician is at someone""s home).
Conventional Residential Gateway devices such as, for example, the Aplio/Phone device allows users to make telephone calls via the internet. The device acts as a gateway between the user""s phone network in the home and an access network (ISP dialup, or Ethernet connection to a broadband interface device i.e., Cable Modem, DSL modem, etc.) that provides a connection to the public internet. The Aplio/Phone is a simplistic device that does not require the use of a computer for setting up configuration parameters or for making or receiving phone calls. It provides a configuration function that uses the telephone handset and it""s DTMF keypad as the configuration user interface. Pre-recorded voice messages are played to prompt the user for DTMF input for various functions, and to provide confirmation of user entry. For example, the DTMF keypad may be used as a DTMF input to, for example, configure the mode of the device, select language, select ISP preferences, enable and disable features, initiate software upgrades, enter numbers, logins, passwords, etc. However, these voice prompts are only used to configure the unit for initial use and do not provide any status or diagnostic information once configuration is complete.
Voice prompts have been used in certain navigation systems to inform the operator of the status of various systems and relay various instructions via pre-recorded voice messages. For example, in certain automobile applications, voice prompts such as xe2x80x9cyour door is ajarxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9ccheck enginexe2x80x9d have been used to relay information to the driver. Similarly, in certain aircraft applications, voice prompts such as xe2x80x9cPull up! Pull up!xe2x80x9d have been used in ground proximity warning applications to warn pilots when encountering dangerously low altitudes. However, these systems are closed systems (i.e., the voice prompts are activated only by certain predetermined events). For example, they are not interactive systems that can accept user input through a POTS phone for retrieving and configuring diagnostic information and settings.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to have a simple and cost effective telephony interface device that overcomes the disadvantages described above, and provides diagnostic information directly to a telephone that is operatively coupled to the telephony interface device.
One aspect of the invention provides a system for providing diagnostic information to at least one telephone including a telephony interface device operatively coupled to at least one telephone through a telephone line. The telephony interface device is operatively coupled to a network, wherein the telephony interface device transmits diagnostic information to the at least one telephone. The diagnostic information may preferably include diagnostic information concerning the network, the telephony interface device, and the telephone line. The diagnostic information may preferably be transmitted to the at least one telephone through voice prompts. The diagnostic information may preferably be requested through the at least one telephone by a user of the at least one telephone. The at least one telephone may preferably be a Dual Tone Multi-Frequency keypad, and the diagnostic information may preferably be requested through the Dual Tone Multi-Frequency keypad. The transmission of diagnostic information may preferably be an interactive exchange between the telephony interface device and a user of the at least one telephone. The interactive exchange may preferably be carried out at least in part through voice prompts or through the Dual Tone Multi-Frequency keypad.
The network may preferably be a service provider network. An access network may also be provided, the access network operatively coupled between the service provider network and the telephony interface device. A network router may also be provided. The network router may preferably be operatively coupled between the access network and the service provider network. The telephony interface device may preferably be include an access network interface operatively coupled to the network to allow the telephony interface device to be in communication with the network. The telephony interface device may also include a host processor for controlling and routing data between the access network interface and the at least one telephone. The telephony interface device may also include a memory device, the host processor and the memory device each operatively coupled to the access network interface. The telephony interface may also include a signal processor for transmitting diagnostic information to the at least one telephone. The signal processor may preferably be operatively coupled to the access network interface, the host processor, and the memory device. The signal processor may preferably be a digital signal processor. The telephony interface device may also preferably include a telephone interface operatively coupled to the signal processor and to the at least one telephone to allow the telephony interface device to be in communication with the at least one telephone.
Another aspect of the invention provides a telephony interface device for providing diagnostic information to at least one telephone operatively coupled to the telephony interface device. The telephony interface device includes an access network interface to allow the telephony interface device to be in communication with a network. The access network interface is operatively coupled to a host processor for controlling and routing data between the access network interface and the at least one telephone. The access network interface is also coupled to a memory device. A signal processor is operatively coupled to the access network interface, the host processor and the memory device. The signal processor is also operatively coupled to a telephone interface wherein the signal processor is configured to transmit the diagnostic information from the telephony interface device to the at least one telephone. The diagnostic information may preferably include diagnostic information concerning the network and the telephony interface device.
Another aspect of the invention provides a method of providing diagnostic information to at least one telephone. A telephony interface device operatively coupled to the at least one telephone through a telephone line is provided. The telephony interface device is operatively coupled to a network. Diagnostic information is transmitted from the telephony interface device to the at least one telephone. The diagnostic information may preferably include diagnostic information concerning the network and the telephony interface device. The diagnostic information may preferably be transmitted to the at least one telephone through voice prompts. The diagnostic information may preferably be requested through the at least one telephone by a user of the at least one telephone. The at least one telephone may preferably include a Dual Tone Multi-Frequency keypad, and the diagnostic information may preferably be requested through the Dual Tone Multi-Frequency keypad. The transmission of diagnostic information may preferably include an interactive exchange between the telephony interface device and a user of the at least one telephone. The interactive exchange may preferably be carried out at least in part through voice prompts or through the Dual Tone Multi-Frequency keypad.
The network may preferably be comprised of a service provider network. An access network may preferably be provided. The access network may preferably be operatively coupled between the service provider network and the telephony interface device. A network router may also be provided. The network router may preferably be operatively coupled between the access network and the service provider network. The telephony interface device may preferably include an access network interface operatively coupled to the network to allow the telephony interface device to be in communication with the network. The telephony interface device may preferably include a host processor for controlling and routing data between the access network interface and the at least one telephone. The telephony interface device may preferably include a memory device. The host processor and the memory device each may preferably be operatively coupled to the access network interface. The telephony interface may also include a signal processor for transmitting diagnostic information to the at least one telephone. The signal processor may preferably be operatively coupled to the access network interface, the host processor, and the memory device. The telephony interface device may preferably include a telephone interface operatively coupled to the signal processor and to the at least one telephone to allow the telephony interface to be in communication with the at least one telephone.
The invention provides the foregoing and other features, and the advantages of the invention will become further apparent from the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The detailed description and drawings are merely illustrative of the invention and do not limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.

Telephony interface device for providing diagnostic information to a telephone


A display system has a display device, a display control device, and a laser emitting device. The display device has a display part that displays information on a display screen and a laser detection part having a plurality of optical sensors arranged in the vicinity of the display screen of the display part to detect a laser beam that has reached the display screen. The laser emitting device has an instruction input part that inputs an instruction with respect to the displayed information and a laser output part that outputs the laser beam including output information corresponding to the inputted instruction. The display control device has a position calculation part that calculates a position of the display screen irradiated with the laser beam based on positions of the optical sensors that have detected the laser beam, a received information acquiring part that acquires the output information included in the laser beam detected by the optical sensors and a display control part that controls a display of the information displayed on the display part, based on the position calculated by the position calculation part and the acquired output information.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a display system, and particularly relates to the display system capable of giving an instruction of a position on a display screen and inputting information such as authentication information.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a conference and a presentation in which many persons are present proceeds in such a manner that an OHP (over head projector) is used, and a file stored in a personal computer, etc, is projected on a screen via a projector, for explaining a document.
In addition, Japanese unexamined Patent Publication No. HEI4 (1992)-371063 (Japanese document D1) proposes an image display device in which sensors for sensing laser beams are arrayed in a matrix on the screen on which an explanatory material is projected, and a coordinate position on the screen irradiated with laser beams radiated from a laser pointer is detected by the sensors in order to give an effective instruction and an explanation for the document displayed on the screen.
In the conference using the aforementioned image display device and projector, the screen for projecting the document is a large screen, and is set at a place apart from a position of a demonstrator in many cases.
In the above-described Japanese document D1, when the demonstrator points a specific position on the screen by the laser beams radiated from the laser pointer, coordinates of the pointed position are detected, and a symbol M shown by arrow is displayed at this point position, thus making it possible to effectively specify a place desired to be explained by the demonstrator.
However, when there is a plurality of sheets of explanatory material, switching operation of pages is necessary with a mouse, etc, while viewing the screen such as a personal computer, etc, different from the screen.
In addition, when the next document is stored as another file on the personal computer, an operation is necessary such as retrieving this file and opening it on the personal computer.
Further, in recent years, from a viewpoint of preventing unauthorized access to the file, authentication processing is performed, in which a person accessible to this file is specified, and for example password, etc, is provided for each file, and only when a correct password is inputted, this file can be read and rewritten. In the authentication processing, generally, a particular input operation must be performed by the demonstrator, such as inputting an ID code for specifying an individual person in addition to input of the password.
However, in the conference and the presentation, when such the authentication processing is performed every time another file is read, speedy progress of the conference is impossible.
In addition, in order to realize a smooth progress of the presentation, a plurality of files on which security is applied must be read immediately, for the explanatory material displayed on the screen. However, a particular preparation work must be performed in advance by the demonstrator, such as previously performing security release processing in which authentication by password becomes unnecessary.
Further, when it is desired to emphasize an important item or new writing at a time of explaining for the explanatory material displayed on the screen, emphasis and write processing must be performed on a screen of the same explanatory material displayed on the personal computer, etc with a mouse, keyboard or the like, in addition to instructing operation on the screen with the laser pointer.
Accordingly, in the conference and the presentation, it is sometimes necessary to perform authentication operation for opening a new file and particular input operation for explanation, in addition to the instructing operation on the screen. Therefore, an operation load of the demonstrator becomes large, thus interfering with the smooth progress of the presentation in some cases.


The present disclosure relates to a phase shifter, an antenna, and a radio communications device. One example phase shifter includes a cavity, a rotating shaft, a main printed circuit board (PCB), a first slidable part, and a second slidable part. The first slidable part is located on a front side of the main PCB and coupled to the main PCB. The second slidable part is located on a rear side of the main PCB and coupled to the main PCB. The rotating shaft is inserted into the cavity and connected to the first slidable part and the second slidable part. The first arc-shaped phase delay line and the second arc-shaped phase delay line are distributed on a circle with a center that is the same as a center of the rotating shaft, and are located on an outer side of a primary central coupling section.

With the increasingly extensive application of mobile communications, there are higher requirements on a communications capacity and communications quality. A remote electrical tilt antenna with an adjustable downtilt can implement good coverage, and reduce mobile communication interference between cells. A phase shifter is an important part of the remote electrical tilt antenna, and a phase adjustment range of the phase shifter has great impact on an effect of standing wave match. In addition, as a quantity of antenna ports in a radio frequency system of a base station increases, a requirement for miniaturization of the phase shifter becomes more urgent.
The phase shifter changes an output phase at an output port by adjusting a length of signal transmission from an input port to the output port. In the prior art, to improve electrical performance of the phase shifter and expand the phase adjustment range, the length of signal transmission from the input port to the output port always needs to be able to increase or decrease within a relatively wide range, and a size of the phase shifter is increased.

Phase shifter having arc-shaped phase delay lines on opposite sides of a PCB which are adjusted by slidable parts, an antenna, and radio communications device formed therefrom


A plasma etching method that can improve an etching selection ratio of a film to be etched to a film different from the film to be etched compared with the related art is provided. The present invention provides a plasma etching method for selectively etching a film to be etched against a film different from the film to be etched, in which plasma etching of the film to be etched is performed using a gas that can cause to generate a deposited film containing similar components as components of the different film.

The present invention relates to a plasma etching method for performing an etching with using plasma.
A silicon oxide film and a silicon nitride film have excellent characteristics for an insulating film. Therefore, the silicon oxide film and the silicon nitride film are used in many processes in manufacturing of a semiconductor device. In a manufacturing process for a semiconductor device, there are many processes for etching a silicon nitride film formed on a silicon oxide film. For example, there is a manufacturing process for a spacer structure arranged on both sides of a gate electrode in formation of a doping layer in a transistor. In the spacer structure, in general, a silicon nitride film is used. The silicon nitride film is formed on a silicon oxide film formed around the gate electrode. The spacer structure is manufactured by etching the silicon nitride film. The silicon oxide film is used as a stopper film in etching the silicon nitride film.
As a technique for increasing a selected etching ratio of such a silicon nitride film, which is formed on the silicon oxide film, to the silicon oxide film, for example, JP-A-10-303187 discloses a technique for etching a silicon nitride film using a fluorocarbon gas such as a CHF3 gas or a CH2F2 gas as an etching gas.
In the technique disclosed in JP-A-10-303187, the silicon nitride film is etched on the basis of a radical reaction involving a fluorine radical (F*) as main etching species. A fluorocarbon deposited film is deposited on the silicon oxide film. This makes it possible to reduce etching speed and increase the selected etching ratio to the silicon oxide film.


Disclosed is a process to generate and execute relevant, non-redundant test cases starting with an execution trace. An execution trace may be collected. A sequence of actions and the data involved in the actions may then be extracted from the execution trace and persisted separately from one another. Code for a non-deterministic program (“NDP”) may be generated, comprising the sequence of actions but without determining the data. A systematic program analysis of the NDP may be made, exploring possible execution paths and beginning from the path exercised by the persisted data. A new test case may be generated which fixes particular test inputs for the NDP.

Best practices in the development of quality software call for testing code under development at many points. Manual software testing is very expensive in terms of time, money, and other resources, and may not exercise the code sufficiently. Tools have been developed to mitigate these costs by generating test cases automatically. A test case is a set of inputs such as conditions or variables under which a tester will determine whether the code under development meets specifications.
Existing approaches have at least three major drawbacks: First, they are not fully automated, requiring continuing manual intervention. Second, they produce insufficiently relevant test cases, resulting in tests which serve no useful purpose. Third, they produce too many redundant test cases.
A relevant test case exercises a scenario similar to the scenarios which a user of the code is likely to exercise. A redundant test case exercises the same execution path, i.e., the same sequence of statements, as another test case. A collection of test cases is referred to as a "test suite." Adequate testing calls for a test suite of relevant and non-redundant test cases. Currently available tools still require manual intervention, test useless test cases, and test the same execution paths, resulting in wasted time, money, and other resources.
There is a need for automated software testing which is capable of providing, with minimal human intervention, a test suite comprised of relevant test cases which are non-redundant.


An improved conveying roller for a web or a sheet in a paper converting machine comprises a first cylindrical tubular body having a plurality of radial holes arranged in substantially longitudinal rows, and a second fixed tubular body arranged coxially within the first cylindrical tubular body. The first cylindrical tubular body is capable of rotation relative to the second fixed tubular body. Slidable sealing elements are positioned between the first cylindrical body and the second fixed tubular body to define at least one suction or vacuum chamber. The chamber is suitable for being brought selectively in communication with at least one row of the radial holes during the relative rotation of the bodies.

As known, many machines used in the paper converting field, for example rewinding and interfolding machines, are equipped on the surface of their rollers with systems for capturing the web or the sheet of processed paper, in certain operative phases, in order to cause the paper to follow a predetermined path.
In particular, such systems are used to provide the main operations of cutting the paper, of transferring it quickly from a roller to another, of final folding the paper same. To this end, the machines are normally equipped either with mechanical clamps or with pneumatic suction means.
In the latter case, the air suction systems, owing to a certain vacuum grade created within the rollers, cause the processed paper to adhere on the roller surface by means of rows of suction holes.
In more detail, as shown diagrammatically in FIGS. 1 and 2, in a paper conveying roller 101, of known art, the vacuum is transmitted through a plurality of longitudinal channels 102 into roller 101, causing the paper 120 to adhere selectively to the roller surface same by means of a plurality of holes 103. Normally, holes 103 are arranged according to longitudinal rows with respect to axis 104 of the cylinder (transversal with respect to the paper) since the vacuum is made selectively by distributor means. This causes a division of the roller surface into paper suction fields, i.e. where the rows of holes are enabled for suction, and into fields where the processed paper is instead freed from the roller for being for example transferred onto another roller or folded, i.e. the respective rows of holes are not enabled for suction.
In particular, the paper conveying roller is normally coupled, at an end thereof, to a bell-shaped vacuum distributor element 110 to it co-axial but whose rotation is impeded by means of a suspension on ball bearings. The vacuum distributor 110 is equipped with an inlet 111 connected to the suction system of the machine and communicating with a curved opening 112 determined on the distributor same. More in detail, the curved opening 112 extends for a certain angle and, during the rotation of the roller about its own axis, selectively communicates with longitudinal channels 102 and then with the respective rows of holes 103. This way, a portion of roller surface (hatched area in FIG. 1) is obtained in which the sheet or the web of paper is captured by suction and adheres on the roller surface.
With this system, channels 102 are at atmospheric pressure except from when they are in communication with the vacuum distributor. This causes, however, the row of holes 103, which is enabled to suction by alignment with curved opening 112, to start the suction of the sheet on the roller surface 101 only after that the air present in the respective longitudinal channel 102 has been removed. Therefore, there is a delay between the beginning of the suction in channel 102 and the moment where the portion of roller surface located at hole row 103 can actually start the suction of the paper, owing to the vacuum inertia for the presence of air channel 102 and the propagation time of the vacuum for all the row of holes length. Furthermore, as soon as channel 102 is not more enabled for suction, even if there is a delay of the vacuum to disappear, then, in any case, the vacuum is lost and the channel returns to the atmospheric pressure.
A not efficient suction by the holes, on the other hand, can affect the successive operations of the machine causing paper jamming and stop of production.
In any case, the maximum air flow rate is limited.
In order to limit this drawback it is therefore necessary: to limit the length of the roller and then the volume of the chambers in it; this causes a subsequent limitation in the maximum width of the paper that can be processed and then reduces productivity of the machines that have such rollers; starting/stopping the suction of the air channel with a vacuum advance, so that the suction in all the holes starts/stops at a predetermined moment; with a vacuum advance, it is necessary to change the vacuum timing as varies the speed of operation of the machine; working with a high vacuum grade for reducing the time necessary for a row of suction holes to be fully operative.
As described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,207,998, paper dragging rollers also exist formed by a fixed cylinder that form a longitudinal chamber, about which a concentric roller rotates formed by a inner stiff tubular shell having a plurality of holes, and an outer resilient tubular shell, having a plurality of deformable holes. When contacting the paper the deformable holes are open and bring into communication the paper with the holes of the inner shell and the suction chamber, preventing the roller from sliding with respect to the paper. The sealing ability of the holes, however is limited to the contact with a web of paper and with a certain pressure, whereby this type of roller is unsuitable for applications with sheets of paper. Furthermore, it is suitable only for narrow fields of suction.

Roller for conveying a web or sheet of paper in paper converting machines and conveying method thus obtained


Disclosed is a curable composition which is superior in chemical resistance and weather resistance and appearance by the use of oxazolidine compounds, comprising (A) a compound having a carboxylic anhydride group, (B) an oxazolidine compound and (C) a polymer containing an alkoxysilyl group. An epoxy compound (D) may be added to the composition.

Melamine resins and polyisocyanate compounds have been used as curing agents for thermosetting paints but they showed problems in chemical resistance, toxity to human body and the like.
In order to solve these problems, the use of blocked amines has been proposed, but it is difficult to obtains curable compositions having superior properties. For example, Japanese Kokai Publication (unexamined) discloses a hydraulic composition which comprises acid anhydride polymers and polyoxazolidines, but this composition is insufficient in chemical resistance and weather resistance and does not exhibit a superior finishing appearance.


Apparatus for converting multilevel video images into a bilevel image having an accurate rendition of the original grayscale of the image. The apparatus performs enhanced preservation of edge information in the image when using error diffusion techniques.

Many electronic systems to manipulate images in digital form use techniques to convert images with multiple gray levels into images with only two gray levels (bilevel). A simple method to accomplish this conversion is to compare the multi-level input against a fixed threshold value. If the input is greater than the threshold, the output is set to the maximum output level. In the other case, the output is set to the minimum level. In this simple algorithm, the difference between the input level and the output level is ignored.
A more advanced technique known as error diffusion makes use of this ignored difference to create a more accurate bilevel rendition of the input gray levels. This is accomplished by spatially modulating pixels in the output image. The percentage of pixels set to maximum levels in an area of the output image will represent the gray level of the input image. This technique trades off the spatial resolution of the output system for the gray level resolution of the input system. One of the original papers discussing error diffusion by Robert Floyd and Louis Steinberg, entitled "4.3: An Adaptive Algorithm for Spatial Grey Scale", Stanford University, Stanford, Calif.; SID 75 Digest, pp. 36-37, describes the use of this algorithm. An input pixel with gray levels is compared against a threshold, and set to either full brightness, or no brightness (on/off). After this decision, an error is calculated between the new level of the pixel and the original level of the pixel. This error is then "diffused" to surrounding pixels before they are compared with a predetermined threshold. The error is diffused to, and summed with an unprocessed pixel, and the pixel is later thresholded, generating yet another error. Thus, any one pixel in the image may be effected by errors from many previous pixels before being processed. Using current error diffusion techniques, this error is calculated by a simple linear subtraction of the two levels of the pixel.
Typically a percentage of the error signal is diffused to each of 4 pixels that have not been thresholded yet. These might be a pixel adjacent to the pixel being thresholded, and three pixels on the next line of the image. A set of percentages for the error distribution could be referred to as an "error kernel", and typically would add up to 100%. An example of such a set would be:
______________________________________ . . . . . X X X X X X X X X X X A = 5/16 X X X X X X X X X X X B = 1/16 X X X X P A 0 0 0 0 0 C = 7/16 0 0 0 D C B 0 0 0 0 0 D = 3/16 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 . . . . . . ______________________________________
where P is the pixel being processed, and the ratios define the percentage of error diffused to each of the surrounding pixels. Note that pixels on previous lines receive no portion of the error since they have already been converted to bilevel pixels. At each of the locations receiving the error, it is summed with the pixel, and a range check operation is performed to keep the data in range.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,449,150, filed Dec. 29, 1981 and issued on May 15, 1984, in the name of Kato, is directed to a modification of the error diffusion technique. This modification is intended to remove an artifact that is associated with the algorithm. Certain values of inputs will produce noticeable artifacts in the form of patterns and streaks in the output image. Kato solved this by randomizing the threshold used in the original algorithm.

Edge enhancement error diffusion thresholding for document images


In a portable telephone apparatus equipped with an electronic notebook function, a telephone operation key such as a dialing key is mounted on an upper surface of an openable/closable member mounted on an upper surface of a case body, whereas electronic notebook operation keys such as a character input key are provided at a region of a surface of the case body covered by the openable/closable member, and also at a rear surface of the openable/closable member. The portable telephone apparatus further includes a switch for detecting an opening/closing state of the openable/closable member, and a mode selecting unit for selecting a telephone mode and an electronic notebook mode in response to a detection signal derived from the detecting signal. Furthermore, a search key for searching storage data about the electronic notebook is employed on this upper surface of the openable/closable member. When this search key is operated, electronic notebook data such as telephone directory data constructed of one pair of a telephone number and a name, may be displayed on a display unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a portable telephone apparatus. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a portable telephone set including an electronic notebook function capable of registering a plurality of telephone directory data. So-called "telephone directory data" is constructed of one set of name data and telephone number data.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various types of portable telephone sets or apparatuses have been widely marketed due to convenient functions thereof, for instance, everywhere and every time a telephone conversation is available. However, it is practically difficult for every one to correctly remember a large number of telephone numbers of friends, business partners, and community members etc. In a specific case, even if surnames or titles of firms are clearly memorized, last names or names of departments could not be correctly found out. To avoid such a problem, other types of portable telephone sets are very recently commercially available, in which a plurality of so-termed "telephone directory data" arranged by a pair of name data and telephone number data can be registered. In this typical conventional portable telephone set, 10 numeral keys of dialing are utilized as keys for entering character data required to register these names and titles.
However, even when an alphabetic character is employed which needs a smaller character number than other characters, there are approximately 40 sorts of key input data, namely 10 sorts of numeral data, 26 sorts of character data, and several sorts of symbol data. As a consequence, the respective numeral keys used for the dialing function must have 4 or more sorts of key functions. For instance, the numeral key "1" owns 4 different key functions to enter numeral data "1", character data "A", "B" and "C". On the other hand, the above-described conventional portable telephone set is equipped with the data input mode switch for selecting the numeral data input mode and the character data input mode. When, for example, the character data "C" is inputted, even if the character data input mode has been selected by operating the data input mode switch, the key for shifting the input digit must be manipulated after the numeral key "1" has been operated three times. In other words, the conventional portable telephone sets have such a drawback that the key operation must be performed at least four times, depending upon sorts of characters, namely a very cumbersome data input operation is necessarily required.
The present invention has been made in an attempt to solve the above-described drawback, and therefore, has an object to provide a portable telephone apparatus including an electronic notebook function, capable of simply dialing and also of simply performing a data input operation such as a telephone directory data entry operation.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable telephone apparatus including an electronic notebook, capable of automatically selecting a telephone mode and an electronic notebook mode. In the telephone mode, a dialing operation is available, whereas in the electronic notebook mode, a data input operation is available.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a portable telephone apparatus including an electronic notebook function, capable of searching data about the electronic notebook in a telephone mode.

Portable telephone apparatus including electronic notebook function


A yarn deflection unit for a textile machine, having a housing comprising a curved wall section for forming a radially outer wall section of a curved yarn deflection channel. The solution proposed by the invention is distinguished in that the curved wall section has a yarn guiding groove extending along the curvature for receiving and guiding a yarn.

Yarn deflection units for deflecting a running yarn are well known in many designs in the field of textile machines. Such a yarn deflection unit usually interacts with a yarn deflection roller, by means of which the yarn is deflected from a first direction, from which the yarn hits the yarn deflection roller, into a second direction different from the first direction, in which second direction the yarn leaves the yarn deflection roller. Such a yarn deflection unit is known, for example, from German Patent Publication DE 10 2017 115 939 A1. Furthermore, common yarn deflection rollers for textile machines are known, for example, from German Patent Publication DE 10 2009 021 066 A1.
A problem of yarn deflection devices of prior art is that the yarn deflection can be accomplished without disadvantageous effects on the yarn handling only for a deflection angle included by the first and second directions of 90° or greater. For yarn deflections with a deflection angle of less than 90°, several yarn deflection units are usually connected in series in the yarn running direction, and therefore corresponding installation space must be provided.
Furthermore, in the case of air-assisted yarn deflection units, which are known for example from German Patent Publication DE 10 2017 115 939 A1 cited above and in which the yarn or the yarn end is transported in a yarn deflection channel with accompanying air, the further problem of undefined turbulence as a result of back pressure arises for deflection angles of less than 90°, the handling of the yarn or yarn end to be transported consequently no longer being controllable and reproducible.


A system and method for correlating end user error reports with software developer defect logs to thereby update the end user error reports with information from the developer defect logs. With the system and method, when support personnel open an end user error report to address the problem encountered by the user, the mechanisms of the system and method search a defect report database to determine if there is any defect report related to the same error that is the subject of the opened end user error report. If so, the end user error report is updated to include information from the defect report. This information may include, for example, the identity of the source of the problem generating the error, the identity of the fix or patch that solves the problem generating the error encountered by the end user, if any, and the like.

1. Technical Field
The present invention is generally directed to an improved data processing system. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a system and method for updating end user error reports using programmer defect logs.
2. Description of Related Art
Typically, when an end user of a software product experiences a problem with the operation of the software, the end user submits an error report to the software developer so that the software developer may determined and address the source of the error. These error reports, also referred to as Authorized Program Analysis Reports (APARs) include information about the error and the person submitting the error report to the software distributor.
Support personnel associated with the software developer may access, or "open," the error report in order to determine what error was experienced by the user and then attempt to ascertain the source of the problem that cause the error. Meanwhile, the source of the particular problem and error may have been fixed by a software developer during development of fixes or patches to the software product. That is, the support personnel may receive a report of an error that has already been fixed by the software developers but the support personnel may not be aware of this fix or patch. Thus, the support personnel may investigate an error and spend resources trying to determine the source of the error and a possible solution to the problem when the source of the error has already been fixed by an update, e.g., fix or patch, to the software product.
Thus, it would be beneficial to have a system and method for updating end user error reports such that information about fixes or patches that provide a solution to the error may be integrated into the end user error report for review by support personnel.

System and method for updating end user error reports using programmer defect logs

International Business Machines Corporation


A shifting actuator for a transmission including a ball screw drive, having an electric-motor-driven threaded spindle, a multi-part spindle nut, and rolling elements, namely balls, which roll between the threaded spindle and the spindle nut. The nut body has a ball groove, in which there roll balls that are also in contact with the threaded spindle, and is within the sleeve. The shift fork protrudes from the sleeve and is fixed relative to the sleeve and to the main nut body.

An electric-motor actuator system for double clutch transmissions is known from DE 10 2006 019 252 A1, for example. This actuator system operates with a ball screw drive and is suitable for the actuation of both wet and dry double clutches.
A shifting actuator known from EP 1 114 263 B1 for an electromechanically actuated automatic transmission, namely a double clutch transmission, comprises a plurality of selector devices, each of which has an electric motor mounted on a reduction gear mechanism. A shift flange and a shift fork are respectively mounted on a plurality of shift rails of the shift actuator.
Electromechanical actuators can also be used in hybrid drive units. Attention is drawn by way of example in this context to EP 2 913 563 A1, which discloses a vehicle that has an internal combustion engine, a change-speed transmission and an electric motor, wherein a manually actuatable selecting element interacts both with the change-speed transmission and with the electric vehicle drive.
As an alternative to electric-motor actuation of a shifting actuator, a hydraulic actuating system is possible in a manner which is likewise fundamentally known. An example of a hydraulically actuated shifting actuator is disclosed in DE 10 2006 026 977 A1.


A self-contained vehicular traffic travel time information system for a vehicle in an inter-vehicle ad-hoc network includes an on-board vehicular broadcasting unit for communicating with other vehicles within the inter-vehicle ad hoc network. A positioning device identifies the vehicle's position throughout a course of travel. An on-board vehicle processing unit stores road segments throughout the vehicle path of travel. The on-board vehicle processing unit determines a starting position and an ending position for each respective road segment. A length of time for traveling through each respective road segment is determined. A memory storage device stores the segmented road portions and the time of travel associated with each respective road segment. The on-board vehicular broadcasting unit disseminates the determined travel times of recently traveled road segments via a broadcast message to other vehicles within the inter-vehicle ad hoc network.

An embodiment relates generally to vehicle-to-vehicle communications and travel time management information.
It is known in the prior art to use vehicles as probes for measuring traffic conditions in real-time. Individual vehicles provide "floating car data," such as, for example, the vehicle's time, speed, position, and heading, which can be used to estimate travel time and traffic speed. This can in turn be used to alert other operators to an approaching condition variance, as an indicator of road network status, as a basis for detecting incidents, or as input for a dynamic route guidance system.
Such prior art systems communicate their data to a centralized data processing center for determining traffic flow and congestion on traveled roads. The issue with such a system is that there must be a third party entity that must absorb the cost of operating and maintaining a centralized data processing center. If the centralized data processing center becomes offline for any reason, traffic flow updates would not be available.

Method and apparatus for updating travel time estimation


A coin or token sorting apparatus is disclosed. In this apparatus, a hopper within which coins are placed is provided with a floor, the floor also serving as a dispenser for spreading the coins out in generally across the floor. From one side of the floor the coins are provided to a plurality of V-shaped troughs being bisected longitudinally so as to create a coin path down each inner side of each trough. Coins are oriented in a single file as they move down each side of a respective trough. After being so oriented, the coins enter a region of a respective trough having a slot in a bottom thereof, with the coins riding along a narrow ridge of the slot. For each diameter of coin or token, a diverter is provided along the slot so that a coin to be sorted engages the diverter and is lifted off the ridge and directed through the slot. As such, larger coins are sorted first, with smaller coins moving unaffected past a diverter for a larger coin. After sorted coins pass through the slot, they are directed to a receptacle.

This invention relates generally to high-speed sorting devices, and particularly to a coin sorter wherein mixed coins, tokens or a mixture of coins and tokens are distributed into one or more troughs each having serially arranged diverters mounted therein, at least one diverter in each trough for each diameter of coin or token to be sorted, with sorted and counted coins or tokens falling through an opening in a respective trough and passed to a collection receptacle.
The present invention is a coin or token sorter which has its roots in a very early type of coin sorter called a xe2x80x9crailxe2x80x9d sorter. In this sorter, coins or coin-like objects, such as tokens used in casinos, ride downward along a wall and on a lip or rail and are sorted either by an opening or discontinuity in the wall corresponding to the diameter of the coin to be sorted or possibly by a diverter which engages coins of the diameter to be sorted.
In accordance with this invention, there may be generally the following:
A device receives a volume of coins and spreads them into multiple channels of coin flow.
Coins then flow in a respective channel at a moderate downward angle and against a side wall surface of the channel, each side wall being with respect to a generally vertical surface so that there are two channels, and thus two flows of coins, in each trough.
The coins are separated or sorted, at the lower end of the troughs by diverters which first remove the largest coin, then the next smaller coin, then the next smaller coin, etc. Coins may be counted, typically in the area of each diverter, as they are sorted. In addition, for increased sorting speeds, the interiors of the troughs are configured to separate stacked coins.
This invention will be better understood from the following description when considered in conjunction with the appended drawings.


A solar cell includes a graphite substrate, an amorphous carbon layer having a thickness of not less than 20 nm and not more than 60 nm formed on the graphite substrate, an AlN layer formed on the amorphous carbon layer, a n-type nitride semiconductor layer formed on the AlN layer; a light-absorption layer including a nitride semiconductor layer formed on the n-type nitride semiconductor layer; a p-type nitride semiconductor layer formed on the light-absorption layer; a p-side electrode electrically connected to the p-type nitride semiconductor layer; and an n-side electrode electrically connected to the n-type nitride semiconductor layer. The amorphous carbon layer is obtained by oxidizing the surface of the graphite substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a solar cell composed of a nitride semiconductor.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, a semiconductor device composed of a nitride semiconductor such as gallium nitride (GaN) has been researched and developed actively. A semiconductor optical device made of nitride semiconductors such as aluminum nitride (AlN), gallium nitride (GaN), indium nitride (InN) or mixed crystal thereof absorbs light in a wide wavelength region from ultraviolet or blue to infrared by varying its film composition. The nitride semiconductor has a property of direct transition, and the light absorption coefficient thereof is as high as 104 to 105. Furthermore, compared with silicon (Si), which is a material widely used as a semiconductor material for a solar cell, the light absorption coefficient of the nitride semiconductor is more than one-hundred times higher than that of silicon. For this reason, as its application, a solar cell using a nitride semiconductor has been proposed (for example, see Omkar Jani et. al., Appl. Phys. Lett. Vol. 91 (2007)132117).
FIG. 11 shows a cross-sectional view of a solar cell according to prior art. As shown in FIG. 11, the conventional solar cell has a low-temperature grown buffer layer 102 consisting of GaN, an n-type GaN layer 103, a light absorption layer 104 consisting of InxGa1-xN, a p-type GaN layer 105, and a p-type contact layer 106 consisting of p-type GaN, all of which are formed on a sapphire substrate having a main surface with a (0001) surface orientation. A p-side electrode 107 is formed on the p-type contact layer 106. An n-side electrode 108 is formed on the selectively exposed region of on the n-type GaN layer 103.
According to the prior art, in order to suppress carrier recombination due to non-luminescence transition caused by lattice defects or threading dislocations, it is necessary to prepare a nitride semiconductor film having significantly low defects in the crystal. For this reason, a single-crystalline substrate such as a sapphire substrate has been used. Such a single-crystalline substrate, however, is very expensive.
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, a method for preparing a polycrystalline nitride semiconductor film on a graphite substrate by a pulse sputtering method has been proposed (For example, see Japanese Laid-open patent publication No. 2009-200207).

Solar cell and method for fabricating the same