A lightweight, thin, small size adhesion type area sensor is provided. A pixel of the area sensor has an EL element as a light source, and a photodiode as a photoelectric conversion element. A TFT is used with the adhesion type area sensor for controlling the operation of the EL element and the photodiode.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an adhesion type (contact type) area sensor having an image sensor function. In particular, the present invention relates to an adhesion type area sensor having an EL element as a light source and structured by a plurality of thin film transistors arranged in a matrix shape. The EL element called a light emitting element or a light emitting diode or an OLED (Organic Light Emission Diode) includes triplet-based light emission element and/or singlet-based light emission element, for example. Further, the present invention relates to a display device combined with an adhesion type area sensor.
2. Description of the Related Art
Solid state imaging devices having a photoelectric conversion element such as a diode or a CCD for outputting an electric signal having image information from an optical signal having information such as characters and drawings on a page, and picture information have come to be used in recent years. The solid state imaging devices are used in devices such as scanners and digital cameras.
There are line sensors and area sensors in solid state imaging devices having a photoelectric conversion element. A line sensor takes in an image as an electrical signal by scanning photoelectric conversion elements formed in a linear shape over a subject.
In contrast, an area sensor, also referred to as an adhesion type area sensor, has photoelectric conversion elements formed in a plane and arranged above a subject, and takes in an image as an electrical signal. It is not necessary to scan the photoelectric conversion elements with the area sensor, differing from the linear sensor, and therefore components such as a motor for scanning are unnecessary.
FIGS. 24A and 24B show a structure of a conventional area sensor. Shown in FIG. 24A is a perspective view of the area sensor, while a cross sectional diagram of the area sensor is shown in FIG. 24B. A sensor substrate 2501 on which a photoelectric conversion element is formed, a backlight 2502, and a light scattering plate 2503 are formed as shown in the figures.
Light from the backlight 2502 as a light source is refracted within the light scattering plate 2503, and is irradiated to a subject 2504. The irradiated light is reflected by the subject 2504, and is irradiated on a photoelectric conversion element formed on the sensor substrate 2501. An electric current of a size corresponding to the brightness of the light is generated within the photoelectric conversion element when the light is irradiated to the photoelectric conversion element, and image information from the subject 2504 is taken in as an electrical signal within the area sensor.
If the light from the backlight 2502 is not irradiated uniformly to the subject 2504 with the area sensor stated above, an irregularity develops in which the read in image becomes partially brighter and partially darker. It therefore becomes necessary to devise a structure of the light scattering plate 2503 is so that the light is irradiated uniformly to the subject 2504, and to precisely regulate the position of the backlight 2502, the light scattering plate 2503, the sensor substrate 2501, and the subject 2504.
Furthermore, suppression of the size of the backlight 2502 and the size of the light scattering plate 2503 is difficult, and therefore making the area sensor itself smaller, thinner, and lighter is impeded.
In view of the above stated conditions, an object of the present invention is to provide an adhesion type area sensor which is small in size, thin, and lightweight, and in which irregularities in brightness of a read in image do not develop.
The area sensor of the present invention uses a photodiode as a photoelectric conversion element. Further, an EL (electroluminescence) element is used as a light source.
The photodiode herein has a cathode, an anode, and a photoelectric conversion layer formed between the cathode and the anode. An electric current develops due to the photovoltaic effect when light is irradiated to the photoelectric conversion layer.
Further, the EL element is a self-light emitting type element, and is mainly used in an EL display. The EL display is also referred to as an organic EL display (OELD) or an organic light emitting diode (OLED).
The EL element has a structure in which a layer containing an organic compound (hereafter referred to as an EL layer) is sandwiched between a pair of electrodes (an anode and a cathode), and the EL layer normally has a lamination structure. Typically, the lamination structure of a hole transporting layer/light emitting layer/electron transporting layer, proposed by Tang, et al., of Eastman Kodak Co. is used. This structure has extremely high light emitting efficiency, and nearly all research and development into EL displays at present employs this structure.
Electroluminescence generated by the application of an electric field is obtained in the EL element, which has an anode layer, an EL layer, and a cathode layer. There is emission of light in luminescence of the organic compound when returning to a base state from a singlet excitation state (fluorescence), and when returning to a base state from a triplet excitation state (phosphorescence), and the area sensor of the present invention may use both types of light emission.
Furthermore, a structure in which a hole injecting layer, a hole transporting layer, a light emitting layer, and an electron transporting layer are laminated in order on an electrode; and a structure in which a hole injecting layer, a hole transporting layer, a light emitting layer, an electron transporting layer, and an electron injecting layer are laminated in order on an electrode may also be used. Doping of a material such as a fluorescent pigment into the light emitting layer may also be performed.
All layers formed between one pair of electrodes are referred to generically as an EL layer within this specification. Therefore, the above stated hole injecting layer, hole transporting layer, light emitting layer, electron transporting layer, and electron injecting layer are all contained within the EL layer.
Photodiodes and EL elements are formed in a matrix shape on the same sensor substrate. The operation of the photodiodes and the EL elements is then controlled using thin film transistors (TFTs) formed on the substrate in the same matrix shape.
Light emitted from the EL elements is reflected by a subject and irradiated to the photodiodes. An electric current is generated in accordance with the light irradiated to the photodiodes, and an electrical signal having image information of the subject (image signal) is input to the area sensor.
No irregularities in the brightness of the read in image develop with the present invention because light is irradiated uniformly to the subject in accordance with the above structure. It is not necessary to form the backlight and the light scattering plate separately from the sensor substrate, and therefore it is also not necessary to precisely regulate the position of the backlight, the light scattering plate, the sensor substrate, and the subject, differing from the conventional example. A miniaturized, thin, light area sensor can therefore be realized. Furthermore, the mechanical strength of the area sensor itself is increased.
With the area sensor of the present invention it is possible to display an image by the area sensor using the EL elements. The EL elements in the present invention possess a combination of a function as a light source when reading in an image, and a function as a light source for displaying an image. Display of an image is therefore possible without forming a separate electronic display in the area sensor.
Structures of the present invention are shown below.
According to the present invention there is provided:
an adhesion type area sensor comprising a sensor portion, having a plurality of pixels, formed on a sensor substrate, characterized in that:
the plurality of pixels have a photodiode, an EL element, and a plurality of thin film transistors.
According to the present invention there is provided:
an adhesion type area sensor comprising a sensor portion, having a plurality of pixels, formed on a sensor substrate, characterized in that:
the plurality of pixels have a photodiode, an EL element, a switching TFT, an EL driver TFT, a reset TFT, a buffer TFT, and a selection TFT;
the switching TFT and the EL driver TFT control light emitted from the EL element;
the light emitted from the EL element is reflected by a subject and irradiated to the photodiode; and
the photodiode, the reset TFT, the buffer TFT, and the selection TFT generate an image signal from the light irradiated to the photodiode.
According to the present invention there is provided:
an adhesion type area sensor comprising a sensor portion, having a plurality of pixels, formed on a sensor substrate, characterized in that:
the plurality of pixels have a photodiode, an EL element, a switching TFT, an EL driver TFT, a reset TFT, a buffer TFT, a selection TFT; a source signal line; a gate signal line; an electric power source supply line for maintaining a constant electric potential; a reset gate signal line; a sensor gate signal line; a sensor output wiring connected to a constant electric current power supply; and a sensor electric power source line for maintaining a constant electric potential;
a gate electrode of the switching TFT is connected to the gate signal line;
one of a source region and a drain region of the switching TFT is connected to the source signal line, and the other is connected to a gate electrode of the EL driver TFT;
one of a source region and a drain region of the EL driver TFT is connected to the electric power source supply line, and the other is connected to the EL element;
a source region of the reset TFT is connected to the sensor electric power source line;
a drain region of the reset TFT is connected to a gate electrode of the buffer TFT and to the photodiode;
a drain region of the buffer TFT is connected to the sensor electric power source line;
one of a source region and a drain region of the selection TFT is connected to the sensor output wiring, and the other is connected to a source region of the buffer TFT;
a gate electrode of the selection TFT is connected to the sensor gate signal line;
light emitted from the EL element is reflected by a subject and irradiated to the photodiode; and
an image signal generated from the light irradiated to the photodiode is input to the sensor output wiring.
According to the present invention there is provided:
an adhesion type area sensor comprising a sensor portion, having a plurality of pixels, formed on a substrate, characterized in that:
the plurality of pixels have a photodiode, an EL element, a switching TFT, an EL driver TFT, a reset TFT, a buffer TFT, a selection TFT; a source signal line; a gate signal line; an electric power source supply line for maintaining a constant electric potential; a reset gate signal line; a sensor gate signal line; a sensor output wiring connected to a constant electric current power supply; and a sensor electric power source line for maintaining a constant electric potential;
a gate electrode of the switching TFT is connected to the gate signal line;
one of a source region and a drain region of the switching TFT is connected to the source signal line, and the other is connected to a gate electrode of the EL driver TFT;
one of a source region and a drain region of the EL driver TFT is connected to the electric power source supply line, and the other is connected to the EL element;
a source region of the reset TFT is connected to the sensor electric power source line;
a drain region of the reset TFT is connected to a gate electrode of the buffer TFT and to the photodiode;
a drain region of the buffer TFT is connected to the sensor electric power source line;
one of a source region and a drain region of the selection TFT is connected to the sensor output wiring, and the other is connected to a source region of the buffer TFT;
a gate electrode of the selection TFT is connected to the gate signal line;
the polarity of the switching TFT and the selection TFT is the same;
light emitted from the EL element is reflected by a subject and irradiated to the photodiode; and
an image signal generated from the light irradiated to the photodiode is input to the sensor output wiring.
According to the present invention there is provided:
an adhesion type area sensor comprising a sensor portion, having a plurality of pixels, formed on a sensor substrate, characterized in that:
the plurality of pixels have a photodiode, an EL element, a switching TFT, an EL driver TFT, a reset TFT, a buffer TFT, a selection TFT; a source signal line; a gate signal line; an electric power source supply line for maintaining a constant electric potential; a reset gate signal line; a sensor gate signal line; a sensor output wiring connected to a constant electric current power supply; and a sensor electric power source line for maintaining a constant electric potential;
a gate electrode of the switching TFT is connected to the gate signal line;
one of a source region and a drain region of the switching TFT is connected to the source signal line, and the other is connected to a gate electrode of the EL driver TFT;
one of a source region and a drain region of the EL driver TFT is connected to the electric power source supply line, and the other is connected to the EL element;
a source region of the reset TFT is connected to the sensor electric power source line;
a drain region of the reset TFT is connected to a gate electrode of the buffer TFT and to the photodiode;
a drain region of the buffer TFT is connected to the sensor electric power source line;
one of a source region and a drain region of the selection TFT is connected to the sensor output wiring, and the other is connected to a source region of the buffer TFT;
a gate electrode of the selection TFT is connected to the gate signal line;
the reset TFT and the selection TFT are switched from an ON state to an OFF state, or from an OFF state to an ON state at the same time in accordance with the signal input to the reset gate signal line and the sensor gate signal line;
when one of the reset TFT and the selection TFT is in an ON state, the other is in an OFF state;
light emitted from the EL element is reflected by a subject and irradiated to the photodiode; and
an image signal generated from the light irradiated to the photodiode is input to the sensor output wiring.
According to the present invention there is provided;
an adhesion type area sensor comprising a sensor portion, having a plurality of pixels, formed on a substrate, characterized in that:
the plurality of pixels have a photodiode, an EL element, a switching TFT, an EL driver TFT, a reset TFT, a buffer TFT, a selection TFT; a source signal line; a gate signal line; an electric power source supply line for maintaining a constant electric potential; a reset gate signal line; a sensor gate signal line; a sensor output wiring connected to a constant electric current power supply; and a sensor electric power source line for maintaining a constant electric potential;
a gate electrode of the switching TFT is connected to the gate signal line;
one of a source region and a drain region of the switching TFT is connected to the source signal line, and the other is connected to a gate electrode of the EL driver TFT;
one of a source region and a drain region of the EL driver TFT is connected to the electric power source supply line, and the other is connected to the EL element;
a source region of the reset TFT is connected to the sensor electric power source line;
a drain region of the reset TFT is connected to a gate electrode of the buffer TFT and to the photodiode;
a drain region of the buffer TFT is connected to the sensor electric power source line;
one of a source region and a drain region of the selection TFT is connected to the sensor output wiring, and the other is connected to a source region of the buffer TFT;
a gate electrode of the selection TFT is connected to the sensor gate signal line;
the reset TFT and the selection TFT are switched from an ON state to an OFF state, or from an OFF state to an ON state at the same time in accordance with the signal input to the reset gate signal line and the sensor gate signal line;
when one of the reset TFT and the selection TFT is in an ON state, the other is in an OFF state;
light emitted from the EL element is reflected by a subject and irradiated to the photodiode; and
an image signal generated from the light irradiated to the photodiode is input to the sensor output wiring.
According to the present invention there is provided;
a display device comprising a sensor portion, having a plurality of pixels, formed on a substrate, characterized in that:
the plurality of pixels have a photodiode, an EL element, a switching TFT, an EL driver TFT, a reset TFT, a buffer TFT, and a selection TFT;
light emitted from the EL element is controlled in accordance with the switching TFT and the EL driver TFT; and
the sensor portion displays an image in accordance with the light emitted from the EL element; or the light emitted from the EL element is irradiated to the photodiode by being reflected by a subject, and an image signal is generated from the light irradiated to the photodiode in accordance with the photodiode, the reset TFT, the buffer TFT, and the selection TFT.
According to the present invention there is provided;
an adhesion type area sensor comprising a sensor portion, having a plurality of pixels, formed on a sensor substrate, characterized in that:
the plurality of pixels have a photodiode, an EL element, a switching TFT, an EL driver TFT, a reset TFT, a buffer TFT, a selection TFT; a source signal line; a gate signal line; an electric power source supply line for maintaining a constant electric potential; a reset gate signal line; a sensor gate signal line; a sensor output wiring connected to a constant electric current power supply; and a sensor electric power source line for maintaining a constant electric potential;
a gate electrode of the switching TFT is connected to the gate signal line;
one of a source region and a drain region of the switching TFT is connected to the source signal line, and the other is connected to a gate electrode of the EL driver TFT;
one of a source region and a drain region of the EL driver TFT is connected to the electric power source supply line, and the other is connected to the EL element;
a source region of the reset TFT is connected to the sensor electric power source line;
a drain region of the reset TFT is connected to a gate electrode of the buffer TFT and to the photodiode;
a drain region of the buffer TFT is connected to the sensor electric power source line;
one of a source region and a drain region of the selection TFT is connected to the sensor output wiring, and the other is connected to a source region of the buffer TFT;
a gate electrode of the selection TFT is connected to the sensor gate signal line;
light emitted from the EL element is controlled in accordance with the switching TFT and the EL driver TFT; and
the sensor portion displays an image in accordance with the light emitted from the EL element; or the light emitted from the EL element is irradiated to the photodiode by being reflected by a subject, and an image signal is generated from the light irradiated to the photodiode in accordance with the photodiode, the reset TFT, the buffer TFT, and the selection TFT.
According to the present invention there is provided;
an adhesion type area sensor comprising a sensor portion, having a plurality of pixels, formed on a sensor substrate, characterized in that:
the plurality of pixels have a photodiode, an EL element, a switching TFT, an EL driver TFT, a reset TFT, a buffer TFT, a selection TFT; a source signal line; a gate signal line; an electric power source supply line for maintaining a constant electric potential; a reset gate signal line; a sensor gate signal line; a sensor output wiring connected to a constant electric current power supply; and a sensor electric power source line for maintaining a constant electric potential;
a gate electrode of the switching TFT is connected to the gate signal line;
one of a source region and a drain region of the switching TFT is connected to the source signal line, and the other is connected to a gate electrode of the EL driver TFT;
one of a source region and a drain region of the EL driver TFT is connected to the electric power source supply line, and the other is connected to the EL element;
a source region of the reset TFT is connected to the sensor electric power source line;
a drain region of the reset TFT is connected to a gate electrode of the buffer TFT and to the photodiode;
a drain region of the buffer TFT is connected to the sensor electric power source line;
one of a source region and a drain region of the selection TFT is connected to the sensor output wiring, and the other is connected to a source region of the buffer TFT;
a gate electrode of the selection TFT is connected to the sensor gate signal line;
the reset TFT and the selection TFT are switched from an ON state to an OFF state, or from an OFF state to an ON state at the same time in accordance with the signal input to the reset gate signal line and the sensor gate signal line;
when one of the reset TFT and the selection TFT is in an ON state, the other is in an OFF state;
light emitted from the EL element is controlled in accordance with the switching TFT and the EL driver TFT; and
the sensor portion displays an image in accordance with the light emitted from the EL element; or the light emitted from the EL element is irradiated to the photodiode by being reflected by a subject, and an image signal is generated from the light irradiated to the photodiode in accordance with the photodiode, the reset TFT, the buffer TFT, and the selection TFT.
According to the present invention there is provided;
an adhesion type area sensor comprising a sensor portion, having a plurality of pixels, formed on a sensor substrate, characterized in that:
the plurality of pixels have a photodiode, an EL element, a switching TFT, an EL driver TFT, a reset TFT, a buffer TFT, a selection TFT; a source signal line; a gate signal line; an electric power source supply line for maintaining a constant electric potential; a reset gate signal line; a sensor gate signal line; a sensor output wiring connected to a constant electric current power supply; and a sensor electric power source line for maintaining a constant electric potential;
a gate electrode of the switching TFT is connected to the gate signal line;
one of a source region and a drain region of the switching TFT is connected to the source signal line, and the other is connected to a gate electrode of the EL driver TFT;
one of a source region and a drain region of the EL driver TFT is connected to the electric power source supply line, and the other is connected to the EL element;
a source region of the reset TFT is connected to the sensor electric power source line;
a drain region of the reset TFT is connected to a gate electrode of the buffer TFT and to the photodiode;
a drain region of the buffer TFT is connected to the sensor electric power source line;
one of a source region and a drain region of the selection TFT is connected to the sensor output wiring, and the other is connected to a source region of the buffer TFT;
a gate electrode of the selection TFT is connected to the sensor gate signal line;
the polarity of the switching TFT and the selection TFT are the same;
light emitted from the EL element is controlled in accordance with the switching TFT and the EL driver TFT; and
the sensor portion displays an image in accordance with the light emitted from the EL element; or the light emitted from the EL element is irradiated to the photodiode by being reflected by a subject, and an image signal is generated from the light irradiated to the photodiode in accordance with the photodiode, the reset TFT, the buffer TFT, and the selection TFT.
According to the present invention there is provided;
an adhesion type area sensor comprising a sensor portion, having a plurality of pixels, formed on a sensor substrate, characterized in that:
the plurality of pixels have a photodiode, an EL element, a switching TFT, an EL driver TFT, a reset TFT, a buffer TFT, a selection TFT; a source signal line; a gate signal line; an electric power source supply line for maintaining a constant electric potential; a reset gate signal line; a sensor gate signal line; a sensor output wiring connected to a constant electric current power supply; and a sensor electric power source line for maintaining a constant electric potential;
a gate electrode of the switching TFT is connected to the gate signal line;
one of a source region and a drain region of the switching TFT is connected to the source signal line, and the other is connected to a gate electrode of the EL driver TFT;
one of a source region and a drain region of the EL driver TFT is connected to the electric power source supply line, and the other is connected to the EL element;
a source region of the reset TFT is connected to the sensor electric power source line;
a drain region of the reset TFT is connected to a gate electrode of the buffer TFT and to the photodiode;
a drain region of the buffer TFT is connected to the sensor electric power source line;
one of a source region and a drain region of the selection TFT is connected to the sensor output wiring, and the other is connected to a source region of the buffer TFT;
a gate electrode of the selection TFT is connected to the sensor gate signal line;
the polarity of the switching TFT and the selection TFT are the same;
the reset TFT and the selection TFT are switched from an ON state to an OFF state, or from an OFF state to an ON state at the same time in accordance with the signal input to the reset gate signal line and the sensor gate signal line;
when one of the reset TFT and the selection TFT is in an ON state, the other is in an OFF state;
light emitted from the EL element is controlled in accordance with the switching TFT and the EL driver TFT; and
the sensor portion displays an image in accordance with the light emitted from the EL element; or the light emitted from the EL element is irradiated to the photodiode by being reflected by a subject, and an image signal is generated from the light irradiated to the photodiode in accordance with the photodiode, the reset TFT, the buffer TFT, and the selection TFT.
The EL element may have an anode, a cathode, and an EL layer formed between the anode and the cathode.
The EL driver TFT may be a p-channel TFT when the anode of the EL element is connected to a source region or a drain region of the EL driver TFT.
The EL driver TFT may be an n-channel TFT when the cathode of the EL element is connected to the source region or the drain region of the EL driver TFT.
The photodiode may have a cathode, an anode, and a photoelectric conversion layer formed between the cathode and the anode.
The reset TFT may be an n-channel TFT and the buffer TFT may be a p-channel TFT when the anode of the photodiode is connected to a drain region of the reset TFT.
The reset TFT may be a p-channel TFT and the buffer TFT may be an n-channel TFT when the cathode of the photodiode is connected to the drain region of the reset TFT.
The display device may have a touch pen and a touch panel.

Adhesion type area sensor and display device having adhesion type area sensor

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


A method for enhancing the recovery of petroleum from an oil bearing formation during injection of a non-condensible gas comprises the at least periodic injection of a foam forming composition or a preformed foam into the reservoir. The foam which is produced comprises a mixture of a non-condensible gas, water and a non-ionic surfactant. The non-ionic surfactants which can be employed in the present invention are those non-ionic surfactants which have a HLB value of about 14 to less than 20, preferably 15-18, and which provide a stable foam when the surfactant is mixed with brine and/or water and a non-condensible gas. The method is preferably employed within a light oil bearing carbonate formation.

The present invention relates to a method of enhancing recovery of petroleum from an oil bearing formation. In particular, the invention relates to the use of non-ionic surfactants in an enhanced oil recovery operation for the recovery of light oils from carbonate formations.
In the recovery of light oils (i.e., greater than 20.degree. API) from reservoirs, the use of primary production techniques (i.e., use of only the initial formation energy to recover the crude oil), followed by the secondary technique of waterflooding, recovers only about 60 to 70% of the original oil present in the formation.
Moreover, the use of certain enhanced oil recovery (EOR) techniques is also known within the art. These techniques can be generally classified as either a thermally based recovery methods, i.e., utilizing steam, or a gas-drive method that can be operated under either miscible or non-miscible conditions.
The gases which are commonly employed in gas-drive methods are those normally referred to as non-condensible gases, for example, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, methane, mixtures of methane with ethane, propane, butane, and higher hydrocarbon homologues. This class of gases include both natural gas and produced gas. Moreover, these include both "lean" gases, e.g., methane alone, or "rich" gases, e.g., methane mixed with ethane or the like.
For a given crude oil and temperature, the non-condensible gases become miscible with the oil above a pressure known as the minimum miscibility pressure. Above this pressure, these "non-condensible" gases attain a supercritical state wherein their behavior has characteristics of both gases and liquids.
With those enhanced recovery processes which employ non-condensible gases under miscible conditions, the oil can be caused to flow toward a producing well because the non-condensible gas "swells" the oil (i.e., increases the volume by dissolving in the oil) and, thus, reduces the viscosity of the oil.
The method of the present invention is preferably directed to this miscible operation although it is equally effective under non-miscible conditions.
A typical procedure involves injecting a slug of CO.sub.2 followed by the injection of a higher viscosity fluid such as water to "push" the CO.sub.2. See, for example, the discussion in U.S. Pat. No. 2,623,596. Moreover, U.S. Pat. No. 3,065,790 indicates that this process may be more cost effectively employed if a relatively small slug of CO.sub.2 is injected ahead of a drive fluid. In fact, as illustrated by U.S. Pat. No. 3,529,668, this type of recovery procedure is typically performed in "water alternating gas (WAG)" cycles.
Because of the viscosity and density differences between the CO.sub.2 and the oil (i.e., CO.sub.2 has only 5 to 10% of the viscosity of, e.g., light oil), the CO.sub.2 tends to bypass much of the oil when flowing through the pores of the rock reservoir.
One proposed solution to this problem associated with the bypassing of the CO.sub.2 has been through the use of a small amount of water which contains a surfactant, with the CO.sub.2. In particular, a surfactant has been proposed as a means for generating a foam or an emulsion in the formation. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,380,266 to Wellington and U.S. Pat. No. 5,502,538 to Wellington et al. Each of these foams or emulsions is composed of a non-condensible gas, such as CO.sub.2, and water which contains a surfactant.
The purpose of this foam is to inhibit the flow of the CO.sub.2 into that portion of the formation containing only residual oil saturation. In addition, the foam physically blocks the volumes through which CO.sub.2 is short-cutting. This forces the CO.sub.2 to drive the recoverable hydrocarbons from the less depleted portions of the reservoir toward the production well.
However, a number of problems have been encountered in attempting to provide an economical process. First of all, as clearly discussed within U.S. Pat. No. 4,380,266, the use of traditional surfactants, such as ethoxy-sulfates (particularly Alipal CD 128 supplied by GAF Corp.), suffers from problems associated with the instability of the foam produced in this environment. In the Society of Petroleum Engineers paper SPE 14394 (Las Vegas, Nev., Sep. 22-25, 1985), Borchardt, et. al. summarize evaluation of over 40 surfactants for use in CO.sub.2 foam flooding. Thus, while certain surfactants have been suggested for use in this manner, the art has been largely unable to provide a stable foam in this environment.
In particular, when using a non-condensible gas under miscible conditions, the creation of an effective foam is very difficult because either the salt concentration of the water in the formation (connate or injected brine), the residual oil in the reservoir, or the chemical instability of surfactants tends to break the foam or even prevent the foam from forming.
Another problem with the use of non-condensible gases such as CO.sub.2 is the undesirable and uneconomically high adsorption of surfactant onto formation rock. This is a particular problem with respect to systems which employ non-condensible gases such as CO.sub.2 when compared to steam drive methods, due to the fact that adsorption occurs at much lower levels in the higher temperature environment associated with steam as compared to the relatively low temperatures normally encountered in many light oil reservoirs amenable to miscible gas flooding. In other words, adsorption increases as the temperature is lowered.
Further in this regard, the art has employed anionic surfactants as foaming agents within enhanced recovery techniques such as CO.sub.2 flooding of oil formations made of sandstone and/or silica. Because the sandstone has a negative charge, the anionic surfactants are not appreciably adsorbed in the surrounding formation.
However, within a carbonate environment, which comprises primarily carbonate rock having a positive charge, the above described adsorption is effectively reversed. Thus, anionic surfactants are subject to uneconomically high adsorption losses to the formation rock (i.e. greater than about 0.5 mg/g of rock). Accordingly, anionic surfactants are not economically employable within this environment.
Alternative surfactants have failed to provide an economic solution to the above problem. For example, amphoteric surfactants, i.e., those surfactants which include both a positive and negative charge in the molecule, also suffer from high adsorption losses and thus they too are not economically feasible.
Furthermore, non-ionic surfactants, which do not suffer from the above adsorption problems associated with anionic surfactants, have been repeatedly dismissed by the art due to their "low foaming" reputation.
The hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) value is a measure of a surfactants ability to make oil-water emulsions. A non-ionic surfactant having a low HLB value (i.e., less than about 10) is considered oil soluble while a high HLB value (i.e., greater than about 13) are associated with water soluble surfactants. The non-ionic surfactants predominantly employed in car washes, dishwashers, and the like, have an HLB value of preferably about 13-15, most preferably about 13.
However, the need still exists for a surfactant which provides a stable foam and which can be economically employed in carbonate environments.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a foam-forming composition containing a non-ionic surfactant which does not exceedingly adsorb on the surrounding carbonate rock and which provides a stable foam during miscible gas flooding of the formation.
This and further objects will become apparent from the specification and claims which follow.

Enhanced oil recovery technique employing nonionic surfactants


A smoking apparatus includes a stem having a base at a lower end thereof coupled to a bottle containing a fluid and a neck extending upwardly from the base. A central passage extends through the stem from a burner cup disposed atop the neck to the interior of the cup. Smoking hoses are connected to the stem to permit users to draw smoke from the burner cup, through the central passage, through the water, and out of the hose. The hoses are connected to the stem by one-way fittings which permit air to be drawn out of the bottle and into the hose, but prevent air from being drawn through the hose and into the bottle.

Pipes are often used to smoke materials such as tobacco. Moisture from a fluid may be mixed with the pipe smoke to ameliorate harshness and to impart a pleasant flavor or aroma to the smoke. So-called hookah pipes are smoking apparatuses which mixed pipe smoke with moisture.
A hookah pipe has a bottle containing fluid. The bottle may be made of glass, such as crystal. A stem is mounted to the bottle. The stem includes a passage conveying smoke from a burner cup on top of the stem through a down tube projecting from the stem and into the fluid in the bottle. The stem is preferably made of metal. The smoke drawn through the stem is expelled from the down tube beneath the surface of the fluid and allowed to bubble up through the fluid to the surface, absorbing moisture as it rises to the fluid surface. A second passage formed within the stem conveys the now-moistened smoke out to a hose. A smoker smokes the hookah pipe by drawing smoke through the hose.
Hookah pipes may have a plurality of hoses—each with a separate fitting connecting them to the stem—thereby permitting multiple smokers to use the pipe. The stopper prevents air from being drawn through an unused fitting into the stem when the smoker inhales, bypassing the burner and destroying the draft. If, on the other hand, the hookah pipe is intended to be smoked by more than one smoker, each smoker is provided with a separate hose. Multiple smokers smoke the hookah pipe by inhaling alternately through their respective hoses. Smokers who are not currently inhaling may squeeze their hoses to block them, preventing air from being drawn through them down into the stem while the other smoker is inhaling. If one of the non-inhaling users forgets to pinch off his hose, or does so inadequately, the inhaling smoker will draw mostly smokeless air through the open hose, rather than smoke through the burner cup.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Multiple port, pressure-responsive adjustable hookah


A controller is provided which includes a plurality of equally spaced sensors disposed symmetrically about an intersection of at least two orthogonal axes and spaced from such axes by a null zone which is concentric with such sensors. Control circuitry is electrically connected to the sensors to control movement of a controlled object in a direction which is related to the position of an operator's finger and the like relative to such intersection.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a touch activated controller which includes a control pad and which permits sliding action control by movement of a finger or thumb upon a surface of the control pad without the need for the operator to lift his finger or thumb from the control pad surface throughout use of the device.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is well known to use an operator input device to control a cursor or other controlled object on the screen of a cathode ray tube. For example, in the field of computer controls, many devices exist for use in cursor control, including sophisticated proportional movement control devices such as mouse devices, trackballs, light pads, and various types of sensory touch pads. Two known capacitive activated computer control devices are described in Matske et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,736,191 and Bobick, U.S. Pat. No. 4,103,252. However, computer controls are not particularly adaptable for use in the control of video games since computer control needs differ so significantly from video game control needs. In computer operation, the operator is principally engaged with character entry via keystroke operation of a keyboard and only occasionally must remove his fingers from the character entry keys to operate the cursor movement control keys or some other cursor control device. Under the usual computer operating conditions, the operator tends to direct his attention to cursor movement control intermittently, as the need arises. Typically, the computer operator does not rest his finger on the cursor control device as this would bring about a spurious movement response and interfere with his operation of the keyboard keys. Thus, in computer operation, the typical mode of operation of the cursor controller is momentary and only intermittent.
The operation of some devices, as for example, the operation of video games calls for a different type of movement control. For example, in the operation of video games the operator will constantly have his thumb, finger or hand in contact with the motion control device. An important feature of such devices is that the operator be able to maintain such constant contact with the control device without inducing an unintentional response. For example, during use of the typical joystick used for movement control in video games, the operator will customarily grasp the joystick in some neutral position in preparation for rapid repositioning of the joystick out of the neutral position to bring about the next positive movement control.
Similarly, in the use of rocker motion paddle devices, where electrical switches are activated by mechanically depressing the rocker paddle from a neutral position to cause an electrical switch closure and bring about a movement response in a controlled object, the usual practice is to maintain very low pressure contact with the rocker pad switch surface so that when the next movement is required, the response time is minimized between the perceived need for motion and the activation of the motion-controlling switch pad. A positive feature of mechanical switching devices that require pressure for activation is that one can maintain his finger or hand in contact with the device surface without inducing an unintentional switch closure and response. This feature is very important in the control of video games and the like calling for very rapid motion control. However, problems exist in the use of rocker motion paddle devices. In the control of video games, the present level of development calls for operator input devices which provide four direction or eight direction control over movement of the controlled object on the video screen. Control devices such as four or eight position rocker paddle switch pads and various joystick, trackball, and other mechanically activated devices are well known but such mechanical motion controllers are tiresome to use and limit the speed at which an operator can execute control commands.
Computer control devices which are not of the mechanically activated type are known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,736,191 to Matske et al referred to above is a capacitive activated proportional movement control touch pad for computers. Matske et al show a number of capacitive reactive sensor plates arranged as sectors radiating from the center of a circle. However, the center as well as the surrounding sectors of the Matske et al device contain electrodes for detecting motion. Thus, Matske provides no neutral zone where an operator may rest his finger between various movements. This type of touch activated control device will not work well for video game control because it does not provide for the possibility of continuous contact with the pad surface without inducing unwanted motion response.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,103,252 to Bobick referred to above is another example of a computer control device which is not of the mechanically activated type. Bobick describes proportional control over a controlled object by sensing the relative position of an object and four interdigitated electrodes arranged in a circle along two orthogonal axes. Like Matzke et al, the Bobick device does not include a null zone where an operator may rest his finger without eliciting an unwanted control signal response.
In the use of capacitance activated control devices such as those described in the Matske et al and Bobick patents, a control response may also occur accidentally if the operator's finger unintentionally comes into close proximity to or touches the surface of an electrode. This can occur when the finger approaches the response pad surface from too low a path, as might occur with any of the known capacitive responsive inventions.
Another problem is that in video game play, the operators attention is focused almost entirely on the video display screen rather than on the surface of the game controller pad. Thus a sliding motion touch pad that is completely smooth will provide little information to the game player regarding the position of his finger on the control pad surface.
In considering the control circuitry required to operate devices of the type described herein, there are various means for measuring an electrical capacitance or more specifically a change in capacitance due to the presence of an external object such as a finger placed in the vicinity of a sensor electrode. One known means utilizes the capacitance of a sensor plate as part of an RC oscillator circuit. Placing an object near the sensor plate changes the capacitance of the circuit and hence the frequency of oscillation. Thus the presence or absence of an object near the sensor electrode will be indicated by a change in the frequency. This is the means used in U.S. Pat. No. 4,103,252 referred to above. One problem with this means is that there will be cross-coupling of the various oscillators.
Another known means of measuring capacitance is to apply an electrical voltage step to one end of a resistor which is connected on the other end to a capacitive sensor plate. The current through the resistor charges the capacitive sensor causing its voltage to change in accordance with well known principles of electrical RC circuits. The sensor voltage will change more rapidly with less capacitance and more slowly with larger capacitance, as is the case when an object is near the sensor plate. Thus the timing or more specifically the delay of the voltage change is an indication of an object near the sensor. To provide a useful output signal, the time delay of the signal must be compared to the fixed time delay of a reference circuit. This means is used in U.S. Pat. No. 4,595,913 to Aubuchon.
In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide a touch activated switch pad that will permit sliding action control by movement of an object such as a finger without the need for the operator to lift his finger from the pad between control movements or when moving from one sensory electrode to another.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a touch activated switch pad which will enable a user to elicit a control switching response in eight directions through the utilization of only four electrodes.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a sliding contact touch activated switch pad having a central null zone that will accommodate the operator's digit pad thereon without causing a movement response of the controlled object.
It is another object of the invention to provide a controller where the operator's digit pad may be slid from the null zone onto any one of the surrounding electrode pads without the need for lifting the operator's finger from the pad, to accomplish a single final control switching response when only one sensor pad is at least partly covered by an operator's digit pad, and no switching response when the operator's digit pad lies within a centrally located null zone.
Another objective of the invention is to provide a dual final control switching response when any two adjacent electrodes are at least partly covered by a controlling object such as the operator's digit pad.
A further objective of the invention is to provide a sliding contact control interface device where the operator's digit pad can slide about on the control pad surface continuously, eliciting no switching response when the digit pad rests substantially entirely within a defined central null zone, a single final control switching response when the operator's digit pad rests at least partly in contact with a single electrode pad, and a dual final control switching response when the operator's digit pad rests at least partly in contact with any pair of adjacent electrodes.
Another objective of the invention is to provide a sliding contact control interface device within a confined space so that the entire surface of the switch pad can be accessed merely by sliding the digit pad about on the control pad surface, without the need to raise or reposition the operator's wrist from a beginning position.
A further object of the present invention is to provide such a touch activated switch pad which includes a null zone at the center of the pad so that the operator can rest his finger between movement commands without the need to lift his finger from the pad surface.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a touch activated switch pad having a surface with patterned contours that are useful in providing the operator with tactile feedback useful in identifying the position of his finger on the pad without the need for visual confirmation.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a touch activated switch pad that is both simple and intuitive to operate.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improved touch activated switch pad for use with a video game.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a touch activated switch pad that is less fatiguing to operate than mechanically operated switching devices.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a touch activated switch pad that enables the operator to accomplish faster video game play and speed of response.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a touch activated switch pad that facilitates carrying out complex movements such as circular control action that ordinarily is very difficult to achieve with conventional mechanical rocker pad or joystick controllers.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a touch activated switch pad which includes control circuitry which does not utilize variable frequency oscillators or signal time delays.


Methods and systems for providing information to a mortgage recipient or other customer of a financial institution. A system identifies potential customer inquiries and provides a list of scripts responsive to the potential customer inquiries. If none of the scripts address the customer's inquiry, the customer specifies the inquiry and an additional list of scripts is generated. The scripts include scripted text, account information, and financial transaction information. In one variation, the customer accesses a website maintained by the financial institution and views a script responsive to the inquiry. In another variation, the customer telephones a customer service agent who selects a script responsive to the inquiry, and reads the script to the customer. In yet another variation, the script is provided to the customer via an Interactive Voice Response system.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to expert methods and systems for providing customer relations information via the Internet, an interactive automated response system, or an automated expert system accessed by a user.
2. Background of the Technology
Customers of service providers, such as lenders or other financial service providers, frequently inquire about their services, including changes in cost, fee structure, and benefits, for example. Inquiries cover a broad range of issues and may be extremely complex. In the financial lending industry, topics include, for example, current status of rates and balances, changes in rates, financial strategies, and general requests for information. For instance, a customer may inquire about the increase in an adjustable mortgage rate, the maximum rate of the mortgage, and the trends observed in the market.
The customer relations departments of service providers typically are trained to respond to a variety of customer inquiries. However, often customer inquiries exceed the expertise of customer relations agents. Moreover, customer relations agents have the difficult, and sometimes impossible, task of identifying, researching, and solving every issue posed by the customer. As a result, customers may not receive informative, responsive, or complete answers to their inquiries. Even in those cases in which agents properly provide information to customers, often the information is not delivered in a timely manner.
It is well known in the field that customer relations agents may rely on prepared texts or electronic repositories for answers to customer questions. However, these resources are typically cumbersome, inefficient, and time-consuming to research.
There remains an unmet need for service providers, such as financial lenders, to assess efficiently customer issues, and then subsequently answer them completely, accurately, and consistently. Further, there is an unmet need for methods and systems for consistently documenting the results of a conversation with a customer and for providing supporting information to allow an action to be taken by a customer relations agent in a predetermined format. Additionally, there is an unmet need for methods and systems for some customers to avoid agents and directly access personal information to answer, address, and resolve questions and issues.
There thus remains a general unmet need for an expert method and system for providing customer relations information that can assess and deliver comprehensive and responsive information to the customer in a timely and cost-effective manner.

Methods and systems for providing customer relations information


A method is disclosed for making a fiber optic array for use in an optical scanning device. The array includes a substrate and rows of optical fibers stacked on the substrate. The optical fibers are all of a predetermined diameter. In order to precisely space the fibers relative to each other, the fibers in the first row are arranged in grooves in the substrate, and each succeeding row of fibers is disposed on the fibers of the preceding row.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of making a fiber optic array, and more particularly, to a method of making such an array for use in an optical scanning device.
2. State of the Prior Art
It is known in the prior art to use an array of optical fibers in a print head which is used to record information on a light-sensitive recording medium. The fibers can be arranged with their output ends in a linear array extending in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the recording medium, and a light source, such as a light-emitting diode or a diode laser, can be connected to each of the fibers at an input end. The light in each of the fibers is modulated in accordance with an information signal to produce a desired image. Focusing means can be used in front of each fiber to cause the light to be focused to a point on the recording medium. It is desirable for the arrays of optical fibers to have a high packing density, i.e., a high number of fibers per unit width of the array, in order to limit the amount of data buffering needed to produce the output image. There is a problem, however, in using increasingly thinner fibers to increase the packing density. As the fibers are made thinner, handling and alignment of the fibers becomes more difficult, and the thinner fibers are more likely to break in the assembly process.
Another method of increasing the packing density of optical fiber arrays is to use multiple layers, or rows, of fibers, as shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,389,655, to Baues. In the Baues patent, there is shown an optical device for non-impact recording in which the recording head includes a linear array of optical fibers. The recording head comprises an adjustment plate having a plurality of grooves therein, and an optical fiber is secured in each of the grooves to form a first row of fibers. A second row of fibers is arranged above the first row, and the fibers in the top row are offset relative to the fibers in the bottom row. The second row of fibers is also supported in grooves in a second adjustment plate, with the grooves of the second adjustment plate facing the grooves of the first adjustment plate. A problem with this arrangement is that it is very difficult to get the proper spacing between the rows of optical fibers. A further problem is that the array is limited to only two layers, and it is advantageous to have more than two layers in certain applications.


The present invention relates to a transmission rate control method for controlling a transmission rate of user data to be transmitted via an uplink by a mobile station. A radio network controller notifies an initial maximum allowable transmission rate of the user data to the mobile station, when a serving cell of the mobile station is to be changed. The mobile station increases the transmission rate of the user data up to the initial maximum allowable transmission rate notified from the radio network controller automatically, while the serving cell is being changed. The mobile station increases the transmission rate of the user data up to a maximum allowable transmission rate in the changed serving cell of the mobile station automatically, after the serving cell has been changed.

In a conventional mobile communication system, in an uplink from a mobile station UE to a radio base station Node B, a radio network controller RNC is configured to determine a transmission rate of a dedicated channel, in consideration of radio resources of the radio base station NodeB, an interference volume in an uplink, transmission power of the mobile station UE, transmission processing performance of the mobile station UE, a transmission rate required for an upper application, and the like, and to notify the determined transmission rate of the dedicated channel by a message of a layer-3 (Radio Resource Control Layer) to both of the mobile station UE and the radio base station Node B.
Here, the radio network controller RNC is provided at an upper level of the radio base station Node B, and is an apparatus configured to control the radio base station Node B and the mobile station UE.
In general, data communications often cause burst traffic compared with voice communications or TV communications. Therefore, it is preferable that a transmission rate of a channel used for the data communications is changed fast.
However, as shown in FIG. 1, the radio network controller RNC integrally controls a plurality of radio base stations Node B in general. Therefore, in the conventional mobile communication system, there has been a problem that it is difficult to perform fast control for changing of the transmission rate of channel (for example, per approximately 1 through 100 ms), due to processing load, processing delay, or the like.
In addition, in the conventional mobile communication system, there has been also a problem that costs for implementing an apparatus and for operating a network are substantially increased even if the fast control for changing of the transmission rate of the channel can be performed.
Therefore, in the conventional mobile communication system, control for changing of the transmission rate of the channel is generally performed on the order from a few hundred ms to a few seconds.
Accordingly, in the conventional mobile communication system, when burst data transmission is performed as shown in FIG. 2(a), the data are transmitted by accepting low-speed, high-delay, and low-transmission efficiency as shown in FIG. 2(b), or, as shown in FIG. 2(c), by reserving radio resources for high-speed communications to accept that radio bandwidth resources in an unoccupied state and hardware resources in the radio base station Node B are wasted.
It should be noted that both of the above-described radio bandwidth resources and hardware resources are applied to the vertical radio resources in FIGS. 2(a) and 2(c).
Therefore, the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) and the 3rd Generation Partnership Project 2 (3GPP2), which are international standardization organizations of the third generation mobile communication system, have discussed a method for controlling radio resources at high speed in a layer-1 and a media access control (MAC) sub-layer (a layer-2) between the radio base station Node B and the mobile station UE, so as to utilize the radio resources effectively. Such discussions or discussed functions will be hereinafter referred to as "Enhanced Uplink (EUL)".
Radio resource control methods that have been discussed in the "Enhanced Uplink" can be broadly categorized into three as follows. The radio resource control methods will be briefly described below.
First, a radio resource control method that is referred to as "Time & Rate Control" has been discussed.
In such a radio resource control method, a radio base station Node B determines a mobile station UE which can transmit user data and a transmission rate of user data of the mobile station UE per a predetermined timing, so as to signal information relating to a mobile station ID as well as the transmission rate of user data (or a maximum allowable transmission rate of user data).
The mobile station UE that is designated by the radio base station Node B transmits user data at the designated timing and the transmission rate (or within a range of the maximum allowable transmission rate).
Second, a radio resource control method that is referred to as "Rate Control per UE" has been discussed.
In such a radio resource control method, if there is user data that should be transmitted to the radio base station Node B, each mobile station UE can transmit the user data. However, the maximum allowable transmission rate of the user data, which is determined by the radio base station Node B and signaled to each mobile station UE for each transmission frame or each of a plurality of transmission frames, is used.
Here, when the maximum allowable transmission rate is signaled, the radio base station Node B signals the maximum allowable transmission rate itself, or a relative value thereof (for example, binary of an "Up command" and a "Down command"), at this timing.
Third, a radio resource control method that is referred to as "Rate Control per Cell" has been discussed.
In such a radio resource control method, a radio base station Node B signals a transmission rate of user data, which is common among mobile stations UE in communication, or information needed to calculate the transmission rate, and each mobile station UE determines a transmission rate of user data based on the received information.
Ideally, the "Time & Rate Control", and the "Rate Control per UE" can be the best control methods for improving radio capacity in an uplink. However, a transmission rate of user data has to be granted after data volume stored in buffers of the mobile station UE, transmission power in the mobile station UE, or the like are grasped. Therefore, there has been a problem that control load is increased by the radio base station Node B.
In addition, in these radio resource control methods, there has been a problem that overhead becomes larger by exchanges of control signals.
On the other hand, in the "Rate Control per Cell", there is an advantage in that control load by the radio base station Node B is small since the radio base station Node B signals information which is common in cells, and each mobile station UE autonomously seeks the transmission rate of user data based on the received information.
However, the radio base station Node B has to be configured in such a manner that the user data in the uplink from any mobile station UE can be received. Therefore, there has been a problem that an apparatus size of radio base station Node B becomes large to effectively utilize the radio capacity of the uplink.
Accordingly, there has been proposed, for example, a scheme (Autonomous ramping method) that the mobile station UE increases the transmission rate of user data from a pre-notified initial transmission rate in accordance with predetermined rules so that excessive allocation of radio capacity by the radio base station Node B can be prevented, thereby preventing increase of the apparatus size of radio base station Node B, as described in Non-patent Document 1.
In such a scheme, a radio base station Node B determines a maximum allowable transmission rate based on hardware resources and radio bandwidth resources (for example, an interference volume in an uplink) in each sector, so as to control the transmission rate of user data in communicating mobile stations UE. Detailed descriptions of a control scheme based on hardware resources and a control scheme based on an interference volume in an uplink will be given below.
In the control scheme based on the hardware resources, a radio base station Node B is configured to signal a maximum allowable transmission rate to a mobile station UE connected to a sector under the control thereof.
The radio base station Node B lowers the maximum allowable transmission rate so as to avoid shortage of the hardware resources when the transmission rate of user data in the mobile station UE connected to the sector under the control thereof is increased and the hardware resources are insufficient.
On the other hand, the radio base station Node B again increases the maximum allowable transmission rate when the space of the hardware resources become larger at a time of completion of user data transmission in the mobile station UE connected to the sector under the control thereof, or the like.
In addition, in the control scheme based on the interference volume in the uplink, a radio base station Node B is configured to signal a maximum allowable transmission rate to a mobile station UE connected to a sector under the control thereof.
When the transmission rate of user data in the mobile station UE connected to the sector under the control of a radio base station Node B increases and a measured interference volume (for example, a measured noise rise) in the uplink exceeds an allowable value (for example, a maximum allowable noise rise), the radio base station Node B lowers the maximum allowable transmission rate so that the interference volume in the uplink can be within a range of the allowable value (see, FIG. 3).
On the other hand, when the interference volume (for example, the noise rise) in the uplink is within a range of the allowable value (for example, the maximum allowable noise rise), thereby having a space, at the time of completion of user data transmission in the mobile station UE connected to the sector under the control of the radio base station Node B, or the like, the radio base station Node B again increases the maximum allowable transmission rate (see, FIG. 3).
As for the enhanced uplink, there exists a concept of a serving cell (or a serving cell set). FIG. 4 shows an example of a channel connection configuration in the mobile communication system to which enhanced uplink is applied.
Here, in terms of the enhanced uplink, a channel for transmitting user data by using the HARQ processing or the scheduling processing is defined as an Enhanced Dedicated Physical Channel (E-DPCH). A channel for transmitting uplink user data is defined as an Enhanced Dedicated Physical Data Channel (E-DPDCH), and a channel for transmitting uplink control data is defined as an Enhanced Dedicated Physical Control Channel (E-DPCCH).
In the mobile communication system, not only the E-DPCH but also a conventional Dedicated Physical Channel (DPCH) is also transmitted. It is assumed that control information on a layer 3 between the core network and the mobile station UE is transmitted on the DPCH.
In addition, in the mobile communication system, an Absolute Grant Channel (AGCH) transmits the maximum allowable transmission rate of the uplink user data.
The mobile station UE always receives the absolute grant channel (AGCH) that is always transmitted from only one cell. Here, a cell transmitting the AGCH that the mobile station UE should receive is called a "serving cell" of the mobile station UE, and cells belonging to the same radio base station NodeB as the serving cell are called a "serving cell set" of the mobile station UE.
Since the serving cell controls the transmission rate of the uplink user data in the mobile station UE, the radio network controller RNC generally takes control such that a cell having the strongest electric field strength in downlink or uplink would become a serving cell. Here, it is called "serving cell change" that a serving cell of a mobile station is changed.
In the conventional mobile communication system, when resources suitable for the transmission rate of user data transmitted from the mobile station UE which performs the cell change are not allocated to a destination cell in the cell change, the cell change is not performed smoothly.
Accordingly, in such case, the destination cell lowers the signaled maximum allowable transmission rate to have some margin in the resources, and the resources are secured for the mobile station UE. However, there is a problem that all the user data that have been transmitted by that time may be received as errors.
More specifically, in the conventional mobile communication system, there is a problem that significant deterioration in communication quality may occur, since the radio base station NodeB including the destination cell in the cell change cannot allocate the resources to the mobile station in which the cell change is to be performed.    (Non-patent Document 1) 3GPP TSG-RAN R1-040773

Transmission speed control method, mobile station, and radio line control station


A low idling controller (26A) switches an idling state flag from “clear” to “set” upon detecting a non-operation of an operating device (14). A rotational speed controller (26B) switches a rotational speed command from a set rotational speed by a rotational speed command device (27) to a low idling rotational speed based upon the idling state flag. At this time, an engine (8) drives in the low idling rotational speed lower than the set rotational speed. A gate controller (24) stops switching of an inverter (23) while the low idling controller (26A) is lowering a rotational speed of the engine (8).

In general, a construction machine as a hydraulic excavator is provided with an engine using a gasoline, a light oil or the like as fuel, a hydraulic pump driven by the engine, hydraulic actuators composed of hydraulic motors, hydraulic cylinders and the like which are driven by pressurized oil delivered from the hydraulic pump, and an operating device including control levers/pedals configured to control flow amount and direction of the pressurized oil to the respective hydraulic actuators using control valves and the like.
On the other hand, there is also known a hybrid-type hydraulic excavator using both an engine and a generator motor together (refer to Patent Document 1). In this hybrid-type hydraulic excavator, for example, the generator motor and a hydraulic pump are mounted on an output shaft of the engine and an electricity storage device is provided to be electrically connected to the generator motor. The generator motor has an electric generator function of charging the electricity storage device with power generated by a driving force of the engine and an electric motor function of assisting in the engine by power running using power of the electricity storage device.

Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.


A light projection unit is provided that can reduce the production of a portion where the light density is excessively increased on a fluorescent member. This light projection unit includes: a light collection member that includes a light entrance surface and a light emission surface which has an area smaller than that of the light entrance surface; a fluorescent member that includes an application surface to which the laser light emitted from the light collection member is applied and that mainly emits fluorescent light from the application surface; and a light projection member that projects the fluorescent light. The light emission surface of the light collection member is arranged a predetermined distance from the application surface of the fluorescent member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a light projection unit and a light projection device, and more particularly to a light projection unit and a light projection device that include a fluorescent member to which laser light is applied.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, light projection devices are known that include a fluorescent member to which laser light is applied (for example, see WO 2007/105647).
In WO 2007/105647 (pages 11 and 12 and FIG. 3) mentioned above, a light emission device (light projection device) is disclosed that includes a laser diode (laser generator), a light collection lens which is formed with a biconvex lens for collecting laser light emitted from the laser diode and a fluorescent member to which the laser light from the light collection lens is applied. In this light emission device, the laser light emitted from the laser diode is collected by the light collection lens and is applied to the fluorescent member. Then, the laser light is converted in wavelength by the fluorescent member into fluorescent light, and the fluorescent light is emitted to the outside.
However, the inventor of the present application has fully examined the light emission device of WO 2007/105647, and thereby has found the following problems. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 38, when the laser light is applied to the fluorescent member 1003 through the light collection lens 1002, a portion of the application surface 1003a of the fluorescent member 1003 (for example, a light collection point P1001) appears where the light density of the laser light is excessively increased. When the light density is excessively increased on the application surface 1003a of the fluorescent member 1003, it is likely that a fluorescent body and a binder contained in the fluorescent member 1003 are degraded by heat or are degraded by undergoing a chemical reaction caused by light.
One way to reduce the production of the portion of the application surface 1003a of the fluorescent member 1003 where the light density is excessively increased is to displace, as shown in FIG. 39, the application surface 1003a of the fluorescent member 1003 from the light collection point P1001 (see FIG. 38) of the laser light. However, as shown in FIG. 40, the light intensity distribution of the laser light is not uniform but is formed in the shape of Gaussian distribution. Hence, it has been found that, even when the application surface 1003a is displaced from the light collection point P1001 of the laser light, the portion of the application surface 1003a where the light density is excessively increased may be produced.
When vibration, aged deterioration or the like causes the displacement of the laser diode 1001, the light collection lens 1002 or the fluorescent member 1003, the light density on the application surface 1003a of the fluorescent member 1003 is greatly changed. Hence, it has been found that the portion where the light density is excessively increased is produced depending on the direction of the displacement.

Light projection unit and light projection device


A charging device used in a handheld device comprises a main body, a coupling portion connected to an end of the main body and the coupling portion has a connector, and a battery unit connected to another end of the main body. When the charging device is in a first status, the battery unit and the connector are coupled together; when it is in a second status, the battery unit is detached from the connector so that the connector is electrically connected with the handheld device in order to have the handheld device charged.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a charging device and more particularly to a charging device used in a handheld device for charging the handheld device and it is provided with an operation that is easy to use.
2. Related Art
Handheld electronic product is one of the most popular products in the markets today, and it provides the functions of communication, entertainment, navigation and connection to the internet to meet the requirements of consumers. Nevertheless, the biggest problem of an electronic product is the operational hours of its battery; therefore, mobile power source is introduced into the markets for supplying handheld electronic products with an auxiliary power supply.
Referring to FIG. 1, which is an illustration of a conventional mobile phone being charged. A power supply device 2 is electrically connected to a bottom end of a mobile phone 1 for charging the mobile phone 1. However, the overall length is too long with such a connection method; therefore, it is inconvenient to talk on the phone under a charging status.
Referring to FIG. 2, which is an illustration of another conventional mobile phone being charged. A back-couple type power supply device 4 is coupled to a mobile phone 3, so that the power supply device 4 is disposed on a back of the mobile phone 3 for charging and protecting the mobile phone 3. Nevertheless, such a structure is only suitable for certain products; therefore, its applicability is limited.
Furthermore, when the two types of power supply devices 2 and 4 mentioned above are not under usage, their metal connecting portions are exposed which can be damaged or can get dirty easily.

Charging device used in handheld devices


A computer program product including computer usable program code embodied on a computer usable medium for controlling a temperature within a computer system using a fan. The computer program product includes computer usable program code for monitoring the temperature within the computer system; dynamically selecting a fan speed step in response to the temperature, wherein the fan speed step is selected from a fan speed table defining a finite number of fan speed steps each having an associated fan speed; operating a fan at the dynamically selected fan speed step; measuring a fan output variation is measured over a prescribed time interval; and automatically modifying the fan speed table to change the fan speeds associated with each fan speed step, wherein the fan speeds are changed as a function of the measured fan output variation while continuing to drive the fan.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fan control method for cooling a computer system.
2. Background of the Related Art
Computer systems typically include a number of electronic components disposed within a chassis. These components generate heat as a byproduct of electrical power consumption, and require a cooling system to prevent the components from overheating and experiencing thermal damage. A common cooling system includes one or more fans for inducing airflow through the chassis across the electronic components. For example, a personal computer (PC) or server may include one or more onboard fans provided inside the chassis of the PC or server. In larger computer systems, such as in a rack-mounted computer system, a shared blower module having one or more fans may be provided in a chassis for cooling multiple servers mounted in a common chassis. For larger computer systems, such as in a datacenter, a more comprehensive cooling system may include a dedicated computer room having specialized HVAC equipment and a particular arrangement of racks that includes alternating hot and cold aisles.
The large, high-speed fans and blower modules used for cooling servers and other information technology equipment are the primary source of noise in a datacenter. A datacenter typically includes many densely-packaged rack-mounted servers and many fans. The combined noise of the many fans and blower modules in a datacenter produce an undesirable level of noise. Additionally, the many fans and blower modules in a datacenter contribute significantly to the power consumption of the datacenter. Unfortunately, limiting or reducing the amount of airflow through the computer system can require reducing the load on a processor, which causes the computer to run at less than its full processing capacity. In order to allow such large computer systems to operate at full processing capacity or performance, the data center may be physically separated from office spaces to reduce the noise and discomfort experienced by employees. Policies may also require noise levels to be reduced below prescribed limits whenever a person is in the data center.

Dynamically modified fan speed table for cooling a computer

Lenovo Enterprise Solutions (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.


A dichroic is positioned to separate color beams of polarized input light. The color beams are directed to microdisplays that contain correspondingly colored content in a kernel of a Light Management System (LMS). Adjustment of a voltage amplitude of the microdisplays is set to produce a maximum black state of the LMS. In one embodiment, a passive nematic liquid crystal device is utilized as a quarter waveplate. A thickness of a liquid crystal layer (d) is matched to a birefringence (Δn) of the nematic such that retardation dΔn =¼λ.

1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to Light Management Systems (LMSs). The invention is more particularly related to improvements to LMS and their applications to reflective microdisplay based video projectors. The invention is yet further related to utilization of polarized light as an input to a kernel of an LMS and also related to increasing image contrast, black state darkness, and brightness of an LMS using passive nematic cells, waveplates, and devices arranged as described herein.
2. Discussion of Background
Light Management Systems (LMSs) are utilized in optical devices, particularly projection video devices and generally comprises a light source, condenser, kernel, projection lens, and a display screen, and related electronics. The function of the components of a video projector 100 is explained with reference to FIG. 1. As shown, white light 110 is generated by a light source 105. The light is collected, homogenized and formed into the proper shape by a condenser 115. UV and IR components are eliminated by filters (e.g., hot/cold mirrors 116/117). The white light 110 then enters a prism assembly 150 where it is polarized and broken into red, green and blue polarized light beams. A set of reflective microdisplays 152A, 152B, and 152C are provided and positioned to correspond to each of the polarized light beams (the prism assembly 150 with the attached microdisplays is called a kernel). The beams then follow different paths within the prism assembly 150 such that each beam is directed to a specific reflective microdisplay. The microdisplay that interacts with (reflects) the green beam displays the green content of a full color video image. The reflected green beam then contains the green content of the full color video image. Similarly for the blue and red microdisplays. On a pixel by pixel basis, the microdisplays modulate and then reflect the colored light beams. The prism assembly 150 then recombines the modulated beams into a modulated white light beam 160 that contains the full color video image. The resultant modulated white light beam 160 then exits the prism assembly 150 and enters a projection lens 165. Finally, the image-containing beam (white light beam 160 has been modulated and now contains the full color image) is projected onto a screen 170.
A number of prism assemblies are commercially available. In most, the configuration of the prism assembly consists of precisely formed optical components that have been bonded together. The specific construction techniques by which this is accomplished provides differing advantages and disadvantages, and the components and arrangements of components within the prism assemblies vary according to their designs.
One challenge in designing a light engine is to produce an image with the blackest possible dark state. One of the means by which this can be accomplished is to insert quarter waveplates between the microdisplays and the faces of the prism. One function of the waveplate is to compensate the residual birefringence that exists in the high voltage (dark) state of the microdisplay.
To obtain the blackest possible dark state, the conventional procedure is as follows:
The retardation values of the quarter waveplates should be matched to the center of the light spectrum of each channel. For example, the retardation of the waveplate in the red channel might be centered at 150 nm, the green at 135 nm and the blue at 110 nm.
The highest available voltage is applied to all three microdisplays. (this produces the lowest possible value of residual retardation.)
Each waveplate is cut into an "oversized" rectangular piece in which its principle retardation axes are oriented parallel and perpendicular to the edges. The "red" waveplate is placed between the "red" microdisplay and the prism. With the voltage applied to the red microdisplay, the red waveplate is rotated to the angle that produces the blackest dark state in red channel ("tuning" the waveplate). The same procedure is then applied to the green and the blue channels.
Note that the use of "tuned" waveplates is desirable in that they produce the blackest possible dark state. Tuned waveplates are not, however, strictly required. It is possible to use waveplates having arbitrary values in the visible spectra. The axis angle required to obtain the blackest possible dark state with an arbitrary waveplate will, in general, be different from that required for a tuned waveplate. More importantly, although the blackness of the dark state obtained for the arbitrary waveplate can be optimized it will not, in general, be as black as that obtained with a tuned waveplate. However, the blackness difference is likely to be small.
Thus, in the conventional procedure to obtain the blackest possible dark state, the compensating retardation of the waveplate is varied to match the fixed residual retardation of the microdisplay. In theory, this procedure works quite well. In reality, when evaluated for use in a high volume manufacturing environment, the process is found to be difficult, time consuming and expensive to implement.
In addition, in an actual high-volume manufacturing environment, it is found that there are major difficulties in accomplishing proper insertion of the waveplate. These difficulties relate to the physical properties of the quarter waveplate material.
Some waveplates are not flat. This is often the case when the waveplate material is "thick". If the material is not flat, distortion can be introduced into the focus of the image. In addition, proper lamination of the waveplate (as is required in some configurations) is difficult to accomplish.
Some waveplates are too flexible. This is the case when the waveplate material is too thin, almost like cellophane. Such a material cannot be easily manipulated during the assembly process.
In both the thick and thin varieties of waveplate, it is difficult to obtain materials that are defect free. This is particularly important in that the waveplate is close to the focal plane of the microdisplay. Any defects in the waveplate will almost certainly be in focus and visible in the projected image.
An additional difficulty is that the best commercially available waveplate materials are prohibitively expensive (expensive being defined in the context of a kernel application).
Some light engines are designed to produce polarized light and utilize a kernel that requires the input of polarized light. Other light engines are designed to produce unpolarized light and utilize a kernel that requires the input of unpolarized light.

Method and apparatus for increasing microdisplay black state in light management systems and flexibility to utilize polarized or unpolarized input light


A method for detecting an attack, in particular a cyber-attack, on a control device of a vehicle, with the step of: checking communication data that is transmitted via at least one communication channel of the vehicle that is connected to the control device, wherein the checking of the communication data that is transmitted via the at least one communication channel of the vehicle that is connected to the control device includes the examination of whether the communication data transmitted via the at least one communication channel of the vehicle fulfils data requirements that are defined by one or a plurality of changeable rules.

Modern vehicles, in addition to the communication channels internal to the vehicle, regularly comprise one or a plurality of communication interfaces via which harmful data can be introduced into the communication systems of such vehicles. Electronic devices of vehicles can in particular be attacked by data of this sort, from which a functional impairment or functional failure of a control device or the vehicle can result.
No effective yet at the same time resource-saving solutions by means of which such cyber-attacks on vehicles can be recognized or prevented are known to date from the prior art.

Method for detecting an attack on a control device of a vehicle


A dispensing device includes a housing having a material chamber in fluid communication with a material inlet port and a nozzle. The dispensing device also includes a valve in fluid communication with the material chamber and the nozzle. The valve includes a tip, a stem, and a seat. The stem is configured to move relative to the seat to control the flow of material exiting the housing through the nozzle. The tip is fixedly attached to the stem at a second distal. The tip includes a rounded head and a neck, the tip being fixedly attached to the stem by inserting the neck into a bore disposed within the stem.

Valves can be used to control the flow of material through an orifice. Certain valves, such as ball and seat valves and tip seal valves, include an arrangement whereby a shaft or stem includes a particularly-shaped tip, which is mated with a seat. One common shape for the tip is a substantially round ball, though other shapes are known as well. The valve is shut "off" when the tip is engaged with the seat and the valve is "on" when the tip is removed from the seat. The stem is typically connected to a piston or actuator that facilitates the movement of the tip relative to the seat. The tip and stem assembly typically moves linearly relative to the seat, thereby controlling the flow of material through the orifice in the seat. As discussed hereinafter, this type of valve will be identified generically as a "ball and seat" valve, though, as indicated above, the tip may have other shapes besides a "ball."
Such valve systems have many applications. For example, a ball and seat valve can be used as a one-way check valve that limits material flow through the orifice to one direction. Further, it can be used to selectively adjust (limit) the amount of flow through a system. An automatic or manual ball and seat valve can also be used in dispensing and metering systems. Dispensing and metering systems are generally used to provide a measured amount of material for a particular application. Dispensing and metering systems ensure that a specified amount of material is delivered each time the material is required. For example, manufacturing an automobile often requires numerous applications of precisely metered materials, such as the application of sealants to an automobile's body structure. Dispensing and metering devices can eliminate the guesswork, human error, and waste associated with trying to apply a precise amount of material by hand.
In certain applications, a valve can be subjected to harsh conditions that can potentially damage one or more components of the valve assembly. For example, such valve assemblies can be subjected to high pressure, corrosive materials, and strong forces from the flowing material. Such harsh conditions can potentially cause a tip to separate from its stem. Thus, the particular construction of the tip and stem assembly can be of significant importance. In applications subjecting the tip and stem assembly to such harsh conditions, the particular manner of bonding and/or press fitting a tip to a stem can greatly reduce the possibility of valve damage.
A tip and stem assembly can be constructed in many ways. For example, a tip and stem assembly can be made by rounding one end of a solid elongated cylindrical rod. However, the various manufacturing processes that can be used to round one end of a rod could lead to imperfections in the tip. Imperfections in the tip can cause mating problems between the tip and seat, and thereby lead to a leaky valve. A tip and stem assembly could also be made by welding a solid sphere to an end of a rod. However, such an assembly would have very limited bonding surface area between the sphere and the rod, possibly resulting in a tip and stem assembly that is more apt to separate under harsh conditions. Thus, to greatly reduce the possibility of damage to a tip and stem assembly subjected to harsh conditions, the tip and stem assembly should be constructed such that the tip is substantially free from deformities and securely bonded to a stem over a significant surface area.

Dispensing device with valve assembly having continuously smooth transition between tip and stem


A computer implemented method of indexing a plurality of responses for later retrieval and presentation to a user in response to queries, includes, for each of the plurality of responses, receiving at least one representative query for that response. The representative query(s) represent text (e.g. natural language) query(s) to be input by an end user searching for information addressed by that response. Each representative query is parsed into terms. The terms are analyzed to determine which of these terms are more likely to uniquely identify queries for the particular response among terms in representative queries for all indexed responses. Boolean expression(s) satisfied by a text query containing one of the terms determined to more likely uniquely identify that response, and another one of the parsed terms are formed.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,171,409, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference, discloses an information search and indexing method in which information is organized as a plurality of responses to possible queries. The collection of responses may be thought of as an information base. For each response in the information base, a Boolean expression that may be applied to possible queries searching for that response is formulated and stored. When a query is received, stored Boolean expressions for the multiple responses in the information base are applied to the query. Responses associated with the expressions that are wholly or partially satisfied by the query may be presented to an information seeker.
As disclosed in the '409 patent, each Boolean expression needs to be carefully formulated so that a query for an associated response satisfies the expression, without unnecessarily satisfying Boolean expressions associated with other responses.
In this way, and in contrast to conventional query and indexing methods, the actual contents of responses and the expected queries for these responses may be entirely independent.
Designing a collection of Boolean expressions for the plurality of responses is challenging. Each Boolean expression should only be satisfied by an expected queries for the response associated with the expression. The difficulty is compounded as new responses are added to an existing collection of responses.
Generally, the more responses that form part of the information base, the more difficult the formulation of new Boolean expressions becomes. Typically, Boolean expressions are formed manually, by skilled programmers or analysts. Unfortunately, so forming Boolean expressions is time consuming, and requires special skills and understanding in the formation of such expressions.
Accordingly, there remains a need to be able to improve the accuracy of the Boolean expressions and the returned responses.

Automated boolean expression generation for computerized search and indexing