An ocean wave energy converter uses one or more buoyant elongated float(s) self orienting toward oncoming wave fronts and movably affixed to a motion stabilized controlled buoyancy frame by down sloping tracks constraining the wave induced motion of the float(s) to an upward and rearward motion as oncoming wave crests impact and lift the barrier(s) and downward and forward as subsequent wave troughs return it. Motion between the barrier(s) and the frame is resisted and energy captured by a programmable electric or hydraulic power take off system. Capture efficiency is further enhanced by adjusting float mass and buoyancy by controlling water entering or exiting cavities in the float(s), use of wave shoaling and focusing means, and adjusting the submerged depth and slope angle of the device with adjustable frame air-water ballast tanks which also allow total float submergence during severe sea states.

Commercialization of Ocean Wave Energy Converters (OWECs) lags significantly behind solar and wind energy even though ocean wave energy is significantly more concentrated, predictable and persistent than the solar energy which produced the winds or the wind energy that produced the ocean waves and swells. Water's high density (over 800 times higher than air) accounts for this high energy density but also increases the challenges of severe sea-state survivability for OWECs. Over 100 OWEC designs have been proposed over the last century yet only a handful of proto-types have only recently been ocean deployed at "commercial scale" (over 150 kw electrical output). No utility scale (over 1 MVV) OWECs have yet been ocean deployed. To make such OWECs survivable in typical 15 meter severe storm waves, most currently proposed OWECs are made of heavy steel plate (like ocean going ships which can survive 15 meter waves). This makes the OWECs both expensive and unresponsive (inefficient) during more normal sea-states. Most OWECs have at least one floating component which moves in response to oncoming waves (i.e., a flop-gate or buoy or float or raft) which is flexibly attached to a second moving or relatively stationary component (a seabed or seawall attachment or a comparable or more massive floating component). As oncoming waves move one component relative to another, a resistive force mechanism absorbs energy (resistive force×distance=energy or work captured).
The "IDEAL OWEC" would be light weight (for high wave responsiveness in all sea conditions), low cost, with high energy capture efficiency in most sea-states, and yet be survivable in severe sea states. It would be deployable in deep water where wave energy levels are highest and potential conflicts with fishing, boating and shoreline visual impacts are minimized. It would be elongated (in the direction parallel to oncoming wave fronts), rather than circular in section, thus intercepting the most wave front energy per unit of OWEC width, area, volume and, therefore, have lower cost/unit width. Circular section and other narrow width buoys, must square their sectional area and cube their volume (exponentially increasing cost) to intercept or access the energy from additional oncoming wave front. Because exactly half of all deep water wave energy is "potential" or "heave" energy (mass of water between the vertical distance between each crest and trough) with the remaining half "kinetic" energy (from the mass of water particle movement), an efficient OWEC must capture most of both wave energy components (or be very inexpensive).
Vertically heaving buoys, can only capture the heave or potential energy component which can never exceed 50% of total wave energy. Near shore deployed floating, bottom pivoting "flap" or "pivoting" or "hinged" gate type OWECs can only capture the kinetic or "surge" energy component of near shore waves which have already lost to bottom friction a major portion of the energy they contained in deep water. Another necessity to high wave energy capture efficiency is to match the wave resistive force of the OWEC to oncoming waves. If the device is too "stiff" or resistive, it will reflect much or most of the impacting wave, partially or totally canceling succeeding oncoming waves, rather than absorbing the wave's energy. If the device's resistive force is too weak, the wave will pass over, under, or through the OWEC rather than being absorbed by it. Because few succeeding waves are alike, an ideal efficient device must sense each successive wave's potential energy and vary the device's resistive force with each wave (or at least adjust to the average wave amplitude and frequency for that time period). If the motion of an OWEC itself produces its own waves, those waves carry away energy not absorbed by the OWEC, and potentially cancel or reduce the energy of oncoming waves. OWECs which have their mass and buoyancy "tuned" to a specific amplitude and period for optimum performance ("resonance" dependent OWECs) with uniform wave produced in a wave test tank have dismal performance in real ocean wave conditions having random amplitudes and periods.

Submergable sloped absorption barrier wave energy converter


An LCD device includes a display unit including pixels having a multi-pixel structure; first and second driving units that drive scanning and signal lines, respectively; an image acquisition unit, and a control unit. Each of the pixels includes first and second pixels, and first and second pixels of pixels are connected to two corresponding signal lines in a checkerboard manner. The first driving unit is controlled to repeatedly scan a first sub-frame of odd lines and a second sub-frame of even lines, and the second driving unit is controlled in such a manner that the polarity of the first pixel of a pixel differs from that of the second pixel of the pixel, the polarities of the adjacent first pixels differ from each other and those of the adjacent second pixels differ from each other, and a polarity signal is inverted when switching is performed between first and second sub-frames.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device, a liquid crystal display method, a display control device, and a display control method. The present invention relates more specifically to a liquid crystal display device, a liquid crystal display method, a display control device, and a display control method that are capable of suppressing the occurrence of inconsistencies in the form of streaks without the size of a thin-film transistor (TFT) being increased.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of an active matrix of a liquid crystal display panel used in, for example, liquid crystal televisions or the like. Here, four rows denoted by n through n+3 and four columns denoted by m through m+3 are shown. Although the pixel positioned at (n+1, m+3) is used as an example to describe constituent elements that constitute one of pixels, the constituent elements of each of the pixels of the liquid crystal panel are the same as those of the pixel positioned at (n+1, m+3), as a matter of course.
A pixel electrode is provided to each of the pixels that perform display, and a liquid crystal capacitor 11 is formed between the pixel electrode and a common electrode opposite the pixel electrode with liquid crystal therebetween. For each pixel electrode, a TFT 12 that functions as a switch is formed, a gate electrode of the TFT 12 is connected to a gate bus line 14, a source electrode of the TFT 12 is connected to a source bus line 13, and a drain electrode of the TFT 12 is connected to the pixel electrode.
Representative examples of a pattern of the polarity arrangement of pixels in a case where liquid crystal is driven will be described using FIGS. 2 and 3.
The pattern of the polarity arrangement shown in FIG. 2 is the most common, and is called dot inversion driving. In the pattern of the polarity arrangement, pixels of positive polarity and pixels of negative polarity are arranged in a checkerboard manner. In dot inversion driving, for example, pixels positioned at the top, the bottom, the right, and the left of a pixel of positive polarity at an arbitrary position have negative polarity. Similarly, pixels positioned at the top, the bottom, the right, and the left of a pixel of negative polarity at an arbitrary position have positive polarity. This pattern has an advantage in that even when the absolute value of the voltage of pixels of positive polarity and the absolute value of the voltage of pixels of negative polarity are not balanced because of inconsistencies in the common voltage, inconsistencies or flicker tends not to occur. However, in dot inversion driving, since the polarity of the output of a source bus line is inverted between positive and negative polarities in units of one line, there is a disadvantage in that the power consumption of a driver integrated circuit (IC) becomes large. In particular, when high-speed writing at 120 Hz or higher is performed in order to realize high-speed responsivity, this disadvantage becomes a severe problem.
Thus, at the time of high-speed driving, as shown in FIG. 3, vertical line inversion driving in which the polarity of pixels arranged in the vertical direction is not inverted within one frame is often performed (for example, see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 63-55590).
When liquid crystal driving is performed, it is ideal that the electric potential whose value is the center point between the positive and negative voltages applied to pixels is applied to the common electrode formed on the counter substrate, liquid crystal being provided between the pixel and common electrodes. When the value of a voltage applied to the common electrode has the central electric potential, the effective voltage applied to the liquid crystal is balanced in terms of positive and negative polarities and brightness does not vary between frames even when display is continuously performed at the same tone. However, it is significantly difficult to make the common voltage be optimal over the entire display unit because of various factors such as use of a transparent electrode ITO whose resistance is relatively high as the common electrode, the resistance of bus lines near TFTs, the parasitic capacitance of TFTs, TFT leakage, variations in liquid crystal capacitance. In this case, the effective voltage applied to a pixel of positive polarity is different from the effective voltage applied to a pixel of negative polarity pixel, and thus there is a problem in that the variations in brightness occur in units of one frame, that is, flicker occurs.
In dot inversion driving described using FIG. 2, positive and negative polarities are finely and evenly arranged in a mixed manner and the variations in brightness cancel each other out, whereby the degree of perception of flicker is greatly reduced. However, when vertical line inversion is employed, flicker occurs in the form of vertical streaks since positive polarities or negative polarities are continuously arranged in each vertical column.
The frequency at which flicker occurs is half the frequency of the driving frequency, and thus in the case of a normal driving frequency of 60 Hz, flicker occurs at a frequency of 30 Hz. Thus, the degree of perception of flicker is very high. In contrast, when the driving frequency becomes high such as 120 Hz or 240 Hz, flicker occurs at a frequency of 60 Hz or 120 Hz, whereby it is not perceived as flicker by the human eye. That is, even when vertical line inversion is employed, if display is performed at high frequencies, general flicker becomes unrecognizable.
In a VA mode, there is a disadvantage regarding the viewing-angle characteristics in halftones. In order to improve the viewing-angle characteristics in halftones, multi-pixel technology is widely used. FIG. 4 is a drawing illustrating a principle of a multi-pixel structure used for achieving a wide viewing angle in liquid crystal televisions and the like. A pixel is divided into two, for example, a sub-pixel A and a sub-pixel B. Regarding an input tone, the pixel is configured in such a manner that the brightness of the sub-pixel A first increases and-then the brightness of the sub-pixel B increases, and thus the entire brightness is adjusted so as to satisfy a gamma characteristic.
There are a plurality of ways to differentiate the electric potential of the sub-pixel A from the electric potential of the sub-pixel B. For example, a dedicated TFT is provided for each sub-pixel as shown in FIG. 5A and, as shown in an equivalent circuit of FIG. 5C, two source bus lines are provided for the same gate bus line using the pattern of the counter electrode ITO as shown in FIG. 5B. By driving TFTs for the sub-pixels A and B, the electric potential of the sub-pixel A can be differentiated from the electric potential of the sub-pixel B.
More specifically, in FIG. 5A, a pixel electrode for the sub-pixel A is denoted by Px1, and a pixel electrode for the sub-pixel B is denoted by Px2. A TFT for driving the pixel electrode Px1 is denoted by TFT1, and a TFT for driving the pixel electrode Px2 is denoted by TFT2. In the pixel electrodes Px1 and Px2, there are slits for inclining liquid crystal at an angle of 45 degrees, which is unique to the VA mode, and part of the slits are also used as slits for separating the pixel electrode Px1 from the pixel electrode Px2. Similarly, liquid-crystal orientation regulation means is necessary for the common electrode provided on the counter substrate. In FIG. 5A, the slits are indicated by broken lines, and the slits only for the counter electrode are shown in FIG. 5B. Here, an insulator protrusion may be formed on the common electrode as orientation regulation means. As shown in the equivalent circuit of FIG. 5C, the pixel electrodes Px1 and Px2 are electrically independent, and what voltages are to be applied to the pixel electrodes Px1 and Px2 are determined by a control circuit.

Liquid crystal display device, liquid crystal display method, display control device, and display control method


A dynamic random access memory device includes a substrate, a plurality of pairs of sources and drains of transistors formed in the substrate and located within an area defined by field oxidation films formed on the substrate. Gate electrodes are formed on gate oxidation films formed on the substrate and located between the pairs of sources and drains. The gate electrodes extend in a first direction perpendicular to the direction of a channel formed between the paired source and drain. A plurality of word lines are formed on the field oxidation films and extend in a second direction identical to the direction of the channel. The word lines are integrally formed with the gate electrodes. A plurality of bit lines are formed in the substrate and include the sources as portions thereof. The bit lines extend in the first direction perpendicular to the direction of the channel. An insulating film covers the word lines and the gate electrodes, and includes contact holes. A plurality of storage capacitors each make connect with related one of the drains through related one of the contact holes formed in the insulating film. Each of the storage capacitors includes a storage electrode extending above related one of the gate electrodes, related one of the word lines and the field oxidation films, a dielectric film surrounding the storage electrode, and an opposed electrode so as to cover the dielectric film.

The present invention generally relates to a metal insulator semiconductor type memory device, and particularly to a metal insulator semiconductor type dynamic random access memory device having stacked capacitor type memory cells. More particularly, the present invention relates to improvement in the structure and layout (arrangement) of memory cells.
A one-transistor one-capacitor type memory cell is widely used as a memory cell of a metal insulator semiconductor type dynamic random access memory (hereafter simply referred to as a MIS type DRAM or just DRAM). Currently, a 1-Mbit DRAM and a 4-Mbit DRAM are available. It is required to reduce the cell size per one bit to achieve the integration density equal to or more than 1 Mbits. A trench type memory cell and a stacked capacitor type memory cell have been proposed in order to reduce the cell size per one bit. A trench type memory cell is a cell in which a capacitor, which is a structural element of a memory cell, is formed in a silicon substrate. A stacked capacitor type memory cell is a cell in which a capacitor is formed above a silicon substrate.
Referring to FIG. 1, there is illustrated the structure of a conventional DRAM. The illustrated DRAM includes a memory cell array 1, which is made up of a plurality of memory cells arranged in a matrix form. The DRAM includes an address buffer 2, a row decoder 3, a column decoder 4, a sense amplifier 5, and a data output buffer 6. Those elements form peripheral circuits of the memory cell array 1. In the illustrated DRAM, it is not reasonable that we try to enhance the integration density of the illustrated DRAM at the sacrifice of electrical characteristics of memory cells. Similarly, it is not reasonable that we try to improve electrical characteristics of memory cells at the sacrifice of the integration density. This means that we should research and develop DRAM devices by taking account of not only the memory cell array 1 but also the peripheral circuits such as the row decoder 3, column decoder 4 and the sense amplifier 5.
FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate equivalent circuits each showing the connection between the sense amplifier 5 and the memory cell array 1. FIG. 2A relates to the folded bit line type, and FIG. 2B relates to the open bit line type. In FIGS. 2A and 2B, MC is a memory cell formed in the memory cell array 1, and S/A is a sense amplifier which is formed in the sense amplifier 5 and
is provided for each of pairs of bit lines BL and BL. As shown, bit lines BL (BL) and word lines WL in conventional MIS type DRAMs are arranged so as to form a mesh. One memory cell MC is provided at an intersection of one bit line BL (BL) and one word line WL. The folded bit line type DRAM has a pair of bit lines BL and BL which are folded at one related sense amplifier S/A and extend in parallel. The open bit line type DRAM has a pair of bit lines BL and BL which extend in opposite directions from one related sense amplifier S/A.
Generally, the sense amplifier S/A includes two transistors forming a flip-flop with respect to a pair of bit lines BL and BL. On the other hand, the row decoder 3 includes one transistor for one word line WL. Therefore, the size of the sense amplifier 5 is necessarily large than the size of the row decoder 3, and thus the design of the sense amplifier 5 is complicated. The bit line pitch (the distance between adjacent bit lines) must match the sense amplifier pitch, with which the sense amplifiers S/A are arranged. Such matching is achieved in the folded bit line type with ease, as compared with the open bit line type. This will be seen from FIG. 2A. That is, one sense amplifier S/A is arranged in the distance between the bit lines BL1 and BL2 (BL1 and BL2).
On the other hand, in the open bit line type, one sense amplifier S/A must be positioned within one pitch of bit lines. Therefore, it becomes difficult to form one sense amplifier S/A within one pitch of bit lines as the size of the memory cells MC are reduced. This means that the bit line pitch must be selected based on the size of the sense amplifiers S/A. In other words, the size of DRAM devices greatly depends on the size of the sense amplifiers S/A (not the size of memory cells MC). If it becomes possible to match the sense amplifier pitch and the bit line pitch without increasing the entire size of the memory cell array 1, an increased integration density can be obtained. This also provide a higher freedom in design of peripheral circuits.
The inventor knows some proposals for overcoming the above-mentioned problems. For example, the following paper discloses an improved open bit line type memory cell configuration: M. Koyanagi et al. "Novel High Density Stacked Capacitor MOS RAM", Japn. J. Appl. Phys. Vol. 18 (1979), Supplement 18-1, PP. 35-42. FIG. 3A is a plan view of a memory cell configuration disclosed in the above-mentioned paper, and FIG. 3B is an elevational view taken along the lines 3B--3B in FIG. 3A. The memory cell includes sources 201, drains 202, storage electrodes 203, opposed electrodes 204, insulating (dielectric) films 205, contact holes 206, bit lines 211, and word lines 212. The illustrated structure employs the stacked capacitor type memory cells. Although the proposed structure provides a field effect transistor (FET) of a reduced size, it is too small to match the sense amplifier pitch and the bit line pitch. In other words, the element density of a memory device greatly depends on the size of the sense amplifiers, as compared with the size of the memory cells.
Another improvement has been proposed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 61-183955. This proposal intends to enhance the integration density by providing the arrangement (layout) of peripheral circuits with an improvement. In the proposal, bit lines extending in opposite directions from a sense amplifier are arranged in an interdigital arrangement. With this arrangement, the sense amplifier pitch is doubled. However, an increased density of memory cells is not expected.
Generally, it is desired that the capacitance value of a capacitor of a memory cell is as large as possible. This is because a large cell capacitance stabilizes the operation of a memory cell and provides increased immunity to soft errors. For these reasons, it is desired to efficiently and effectively utilize an area assigned to a memory cell. However, in the configuration of FIG. 3B, bit lines 211 are formed after forming storage electrodes 203. This makes it difficult to efficiently and effectively utilize the area assigned to memory cells.

Metal insulator semiconductor type dynamic random access memory device


There is provided a flow control apparatus configured for optimizing use of available space within the wellbore for conducting of fluids between the surface and the subterranean formation. The flow control apparatus is useable for conducting all forms of fluid, such as, for example, liquids, gases, or mixtures of liquids and gases. As well, the flow control apparatus is useable for effecting injection of fluid (e.g. a fluid for stimulating hydrocarbon production via a drive process, such as, for example, waterflooding, or via a cyclic process, such as “huff and puff”) into the subterranean formation, and for receiving production of fluid (e.g. hydrocarbon material) from the subterranean formation (including production that is stimulated by gas lift).

Space limitations within wellbores affect the volumetric rate of fluid (e.g. injected frac fluid, produced hydrocarbons, etc.) that is flowable between the surface and a hydrocarbon-containing reservoir. These space limitations are exacerbated by downhole tools which are deployed within the wellbore. To increase the amount of space that is available to enable flowing of fluids within the wellbore, it is desirable to configure downhole tools so as not to unnecessarily occupy this valuable space.

Apparatuses, systems and methods for hydrocarbon material from a subterranean formation using a displacement process


Disclosed in the present application is a capability identifier distribution method, capable of effectively distributing a capability identifier for a terminal device, decreasing signaling overhead caused by capability information reporting and storage. The method comprises: a terminal device, in a non-access stratum (NAS) process, acquiring a capability identifier of a network device for distribution to the terminal device; or, the terminal device, in a radio resource control (RRC) process, acquiring said capability identifier; the capability identifier being used to identify capability information of the terminal device.

With the development of 5G technology, or New Radio (NR) technology, terminal device will have more features and terminal devices will have more capability information as well. This not only brings huge signaling overhead, but also the core network needs to save the capability information of all terminal devices, which brings a great burden to the core network. Therefore, a capability information set of a specific terminal device can be associated with a capability identifier, thereby reducing the signaling overhead caused by reporting and storage of the capability information. At this time, how to allocate capability identifiers to terminal devices has become an urgent problem to be solved.

Capability identifier distribution method and device

GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.


IN a method and a device for determining a probability of occurrence that an overall system fulfills a predefined system performance, the overall system is composed of instances of different classes of partial systems, and each class of partial systems has an associated class fault tree. The method has the following steps: (a) calculating (S1) an overall performance for each failure combination of the number of non-failed instances within a class; (b) automatic selection (S2) of failure combinations, the calculated overall performance of which fulfills the predefined system performance; (c) automatic generation (S3) of an overall fault tree based on the class fault trees of partial systems as a function of the selected failure combinations; and (d) evaluating (S4) of the generated overall fault tree for calculating the probability of occurrence of a fulfillment of the predefined system performance by the overall system.

An example of such an overall system is a train braking system featuring brakes of different types.
Embedded systems are increasingly being used which are safety-critical and are networked with other functions. The increasing range of functions as well as the increasing networking of functions require quality assurance measures that increase the reliability and the safety of the technical systems. These measures typically include fault analysis and fault detection. In such cases test methods, statistical analysis methods and fault analysis methods are used. The quantitative analysis of fault scenarios is highly rated, especially in safety systems.
An example of a safety-critical overall system is a train braking system which is also made up of a number of subsystems or part systems featuring brakes of different brake types. To obtain approval for trains and to furnish proof that the overall technical system satisfies specific technical and availability requirements, it is necessary to determine the probability of occurrence which specifies whether the overall braking system fulfills a predefined system performance, for example, whether the aggregated braking force of all brakes is sufficient for all scenarios

Method and device for determining a probability of occurrence by evaluting an overall fault tree


A method and an apparatus are described to grind a product, for example a product in grain form, which provide to compare a value of estimated weight (pk*) with a predefined quantity (pTARGET) that has to be delivered in a delivery cycle, and that has been set by the user. The value of estimated weight (pk*) is calculated by adding a weight (pk) detected at successive instants (tk) of the delivery cycle with a suitable correction factor (C).

In the state of the art, apparatuses and methods are known for grinding different types of solid products in the form of grains or beans in order to obtain a product in powdered form.
In particular, for the purposes of the present invention, we will refer to coffee grinders which are well known in the art and which allow to grind the coffee beans to obtain the coffee powder necessary to prepare the beverage and at the same time allow to dose the quantity of powder that is delivered.
Known coffee grinders generally comprise a hopper which contains the product to be ground and which is provided with a removable upper lid, by means of which the operator can load the hopper from above with the coffee beans to be ground. The coffee beans then pass through a grinding device, driven by an electric motor, which grinds the product. The ground product thus obtained then reaches a pipe to deliver the coffee powder which takes it to the outside.
Known coffee grinders also comprise a support which projects toward the operator from a front wall of the coffee grinder. The support is configured to receive the filter holder of the coffee machine resting on it. During use, the operator rests the filter holder on the support, drives the coffee grinder, and waits for the coffee powder to be delivered above the filter holder.
Some known coffee grinders allow to control the quantity of powder delivered by regulating the delivery time of the ground product. For example, these coffee grinders require the user to introduce the desired value of the particle size of the coffee powder and the desired delivery time. These data are necessary because the delivery rate of the powder is a function of the particle size of the powder itself.
After the required delivery time has elapsed, it is provided that the electric motor is stopped in order to stop the grinding device.
One disadvantage of known coffee grinders is that they regulate the quantity of powder in an imprecise manner. In fact, since normally in each delivery cycle the coffee grinder delivers a few grams of powder in a delivery time of a few seconds, it is evident that even a few tenths of a second of advance or delay significantly affect the quantity of powder delivered. In particular, due to the inertia of the electric motor, that is, the time that elapses between the instant when the motor receives the stop command and the instant in which the grinding device actually stops, the actual delivery time—and hence the quantity of powder delivered—are generally always higher than those set.
Moreover, due to the non-uniform shape and size of the coffee beans, with the same time and particle size required, the quantity of grains entering the mills of the grinding device can be significantly different between one grinding cycle and the other.
Another disadvantage of known coffee grinders is that rough and approximate regulation can affect the taste of the beverage. It is in fact known that the quality of the beverage depends on many different factors, among which there are also the quantity and conditions of the coffee powder (such as humidity, volume, degree of compaction, etc.) that the water will pass through to extract the drink.
A coffee grinder of the type known in the art is described, for example, by the U.S. Pat. No. 5,462,236. According to the teachings of this document, the user sets the desired weight of ground coffee and the chosen particle size and the coffee grinder delivers the ground coffee for a pre-set time, which is a function of the data entered. In the coffee grinder described in this document it is possible to perform a calibration cycle, in which it is provided to detect the difference between the weight of the ground coffee that has actually been delivered by the device at the end of a delivery cycle and the weight of the ground coffee which has been set by the user. A correction factor is then calculated which is a function of the weight difference detected, for each weight that can be set by the user, and for each of the three particle sizes that can be selected. In this way, a table of correction factors, for each weight and for each particle size, is memorized in the coffee grinder described by U.S. Pat. No. 5,462,236, on the basis of which the delivery time is subsequently corrected, in accordance with a predetermined equation described in the patent text.
One disadvantage of the coffee grinder described by U.S. Pat. No. 5,462,236 is that it requires a long and laborious initial calibration step, which requires diligence, accuracy and precision from the user.
Another disadvantage of the coffee grinder described in this prior art document is that it is "rigid", that is, not flexible, since it is not able, in calculating the correction factor, to take into consideration other factors that can affect the delivery cycle.
Another disadvantage of the coffee grinder described by this prior art document is that it provides to evaluate any possible deviations of the actual weight from the expected weight only at the end of the delivery cycle, and not during the cycle as well. This coffee grinder does not therefore allow a "dynamic" correction in real time of the quantity of ground coffee that is being delivered.
Another coffee grinder of the known type is described in the international patent application no. WO-A1-2012/138327. This prior art document describes a coffee grinder which integrates a weighing apparatus for the ground coffee, in which it is provided to command the drive device that controls the quantity of coffee which is ground on the basis of the weight detected by the weighing apparatus.
One purpose of the present invention is to make available an improved grinding apparatus and method with respect to those known in the state of the art.
Another purpose of the present invention is to make available a grinding apparatus and method which allow to accurately and precisely regulate the quantity of product delivered.
Another purpose of the present invention is to make available a grinding apparatus and method able to autonomously correct the quantity of coffee delivered on the basis of the previous deliveries.
Another purpose of the present invention is to make available a grinding apparatus that is easy to use.
Another purpose is to make available a grinding method able to automatically regulate the quantity to be delivered.
Another purpose is to make available a grinding method which does not require long and laborious initial calibration operations.
The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.


A silane coating composition containing a silicon-based copolymer, a method for treating the surfaces of a metal such as steel, zinc-coated steels, or aluminum, to provide for the formation of a uniform conversion and/or passivation coating which increases the corrosion resistance of bare or painted metal and/or the adhesion properties of the metal, along with a metal having a conversion and/or passivation coating applied thereto are disclosed. Methods of the invention include contacting the requisite metal surface with an aqueous solution of a silane compound and a silicon-based polyether copolymer.

A variety of compositions are known for commercial applications to improve adhesion to inorganic substrates and enhance corrosion protection of metal surfaces. For example, chromium and heavy metal phosphate conversion coatings are used in commercial applications to prepare metal surfaces prior to painting operations. However, growing concerns exist regarding the toxicity profile of chromium and the pollution effects of chromates, phosphates, and other heavy metals discharged into rivers and waterways from the waste streams of these industrial processes. Silane-based conversion coatings are replacing these chromium and heavy metal phosphate conversion coatings, but these silane-based coatings often exhibit non-uniform film thickness resulting in inadequate adhesion and metal surface corrosion protection.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art to provide an effective treatment with uniform film thickness to provide dried in place conversion or passivation coating to inhibit metal surface corrosion and enhance adhesion of paint on or other coatings that may be applied to the surface.

Silane coating compositions containing silicon-based polyether copolymers, methods for coating metal surfaces and articles made therefrom


Techniques for signal routing between a host and dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) are provided. In an example, a routing layer for a dynamic random-access memory die (DRAM can include multiple through silicon via (TSV) terminations configured to electrically couple with TSVs of the DRAM, an intermediate interface area, and multiple routing traces. the multiple TSV terminations can be arranged in multiple TSV areas. The multiple TSV areas can be arranged in two columns. The intermediate interface area can include multiple micro-pillar bump terminations configured to couple, via a micro-pillar bump, with corresponding micro-pillar bump terminations of a semiconductor interposer. The multiple routing traces can couple control TSV terminations of the multiple TSV areas with a corresponding micro-pillar bump termination of the intermediate interface.

Memory devices are widely used to store information in various electronic devices such as computers, wireless communication devices, cameras, digital displays, and the like. Information is stored by programming different states of a memory device. For example, binary devices have two states, often denoted by a logic "1" or a logic "0." In other systems, more than two states may be stored. To access the stored information, a component of the electronic device may read, or sense, the stored state in the memory device. To store information, a component of the electronic device may write, or program, the state in the memory device.
Various types of memory devices exist, including magnetic hard disks, random-access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), DRAM, synchronous dynamic RAM (SDRAM), ferroelectric RAM (FeRAM), magnetic RAM (MRAM), resistive RAM (RRAM), flash memory, phase change memory (PCM), and others. Memory devices may be volatile or non-volatile.
Improving memory devices, generally, may include increasing memory cell density, increasing read/write speeds, increasing reliability, increasing data. retention, reducing power consumption, or reducing manufacturing costs, among other metrics. Advancing memory technology has realized improvements for many of these metrics, but high reliability, low latency, and/or low-power devices tend to be expensive and may be difficult to scale. As the quantity of applications for high reliability, low latency, low-power memory increases, so too does the need for scalable, efficient, and cost-effective devices for such applications.


A light irradiation device having a light source and a plurality of filters for providing a plurality of kinds of colored lights onto an object. The light irradiation device includes a carriage reciprocally movable over the object in one and opposite directions and carrying thereon the light source. The irradiation device also includes a filter frame mounted on the carriage and slidably movable in the one and opposite direction relative to the carriage. The slide frame is attached with the plurality of filters arranged side by side in a horizontal plane. The relative position between the carriage and the filter frame is controllable for changing a filter with remaining one of the filters.

The present invention relates to a light irradiation device or an exposure device, and more particularly, to an improvement on the light irradiation device having a filter unit which includes red, green and blue filters selectively switchable for forming a latent image corresponding to the selected color image on a photosensitive image recording medium.
One example of a conventional image recording apparatus is shown in FIG. 1. The image recording apparatus 50 includes a monochromatic laser printer 55 and a color copying machine 60 coupled to the printer 55. The laser printer 55 generally includes a polygon scanner, a chargeable photosensitive drum, developer unit, and a fixing unit etc. The polygon scanner forms an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum, the image corresponding to an image of an original or an image of a specific color. A toner image is formed on the latent image zone on the drum, and the toner image is transferred onto a plain paper or an overhead projector sheet at the developer unit, and the transferred image is fixed at the fixing unit. The sheet carrying the output image is simply discharged. Alternatively, the image carrying sheet is delivered to the color copying machine 60 by way of a delivery path 51. In the latter case, the laser printer 55 produces mask members M which independently carry a red image, green image and blue image.
The color copying machine 60 has an upper inner portion in which a mask carrying unit having an endless belt 62 is provided. The endless belt 62 is circularly driven in a direction indicated by arrows in FIG. 1 on which the mask member M is electrostatically attracted. The endless belt 62 is formed of a transparent and dielectric material such as PET. The mask member M is subjected to positional alignment with an elongated image recording medium S passing through an exposure stand 71.
At a position above the endless belt 62, a light irradiation device 63 is provided which is movable between a home position H and an end position E in directions indicated by arrows X1 and X2. As shown in FIG. 2, the light irradiation device 63 has a hollow cylindrical rotary body 64 to which a red filter 65R, a green filter 65G and a blue filter 65B are fixed at equi-angular spacing. A light source 80 having a white light lamp 66 and parabolic reflector 67 is positioned inside the filters. The rotary body 64 has an outer peripheral surface formed with a gears (not shown) engageable with a pinion 68. Further, a rack 69 driven by a drive source (not shown) is meshedly engaged with the pinion 68. Therefore, in accordance with the movement of the rack 69, the rotary body 64 is rotated about its axis through the pinion 68 and the gear. Therefore, one of the red, green and blue filters can be positioned in confrontation with the light source 80. As a result, a specific one of the red, green and blue lights is emitted onto the endless belt 62. The light irradiation device is disclosed, for example, in a Japanese Patent Publication No. 57-57692.
Turning back to FIG. 1, the image recording medium such as a microcapsule sheet S is adapted to pass through a space defined between the transparent endless belt 62 and the exposure stand 71 in a direction X3, and is wound over a takeup roller 73 by way of a pressure developing unit 72. The microcapsule sheet S is coated with microcapsules encapsulating therein photo-curable resins and coloring agents of cyan, magenta and yellow photo-curable upon irradiation of red light, green light and blue light, respectively to restrain the color generation. For the exposure operation, the exposure stand 71 has an ascent position to bring into intimate contact with the mask member M carried on the endless belt 62. Therefore, a latent image is formed on the microcapsule sheet S. Another image recording medium such as a cut developer sheet D can be fed to the pressure developing unit 72 in a direction X4, where the developer sheet D is superposed with the latent image section of the microcapsule sheet S and these sheets are pressed together. Accordingly, a visible image is formed on the developer sheet D. Further, thermal fixing unit 74 is provided for fixing the visible image, and a discharge tray 75 is provided to receive the developer sheet D.
For the exposure operation, the printer 55 produces a first mask member MR on which a red color information of one original image is contained. The first or red mask member MR is fed to the endless belt 62 of the mask carrying unit, and is attracted thereto. The mask member MR is subjected to position adjustment to be set at a proper exposure position.
Then, the exposure stand 71 is elevated so that the mask member MR and the microcapsule sheet S are in intimate contact with each other between the exposure stand 71 and the endless belt 62. Thereafter, the light irradiating device 63 is moved in the X1 direction from its home position H to the end position E for the light scan during which red light is irradiated through the red filter 65R onto the microcapsule sheet through the red mask member MR. After the light scanning, the light irradiation device 63 is moved back to the home position H in the direction X2. During this return travel, the rotary member 64 is angularly rotated by a predetermined angle by the rack 69 and the pinion 68, so that the green filter 65G is positioned in confrontation with the light source 80, while the mask member MR is discharged to a mask receiving section (not shown). The same is true with respect to the light irradiations through the green filter 65G and the blue filter 65B, so that latent images are formed at three times on an identical portion of the microcapsule sheet.
Thus, an intended color latent image is formed on the microcapsule sheet S. Then, the exposure stand 71 is moved to its descent position, and the microcapsule sheet S is moved in the X3 direction. In synchronization with the movement of the microcapsule sheet S, the developer sheet D is fed in the direction X4 and the pressure developing operation is performed at the pressure developing unit 72. After the pressure developing operation, the microcapsule sheet S is wound over the takeup means 73 whereas the developer sheet D is fed to the fixing unit 74 and is discharged on to the discharge tray 75.
As described above, the filter change is made by the rotation of the rotary body 64 through the driving engagements of the rack 69, the pinion 68 and the gear of the rotary body. Here, the exact angular rotation amount may be slightly changed due to backlash or irregular meshing engagement between the rack 69 and the pinion 68. Accordingly, precise positional registration of the red, green and blue filters 65R, 65G, 65B may not be attained. In this connection, a filter position detection means is provided for detecting the angular position of the filter, and feed back control is made for the precise position registration with respect to the light source. As a result, overall cost may be increased.
Further, as shown in FIG. 2, in the conventional light irradiation device 63 having the tubular filter member and the light source positioned within the tubular member, a temperature within the tubular member may be excessively elevated, if the light source if of a heat releasable type such as a halogen lamp. To avoid this drawback, a cooling duct may be connected to the interior space of the tubular filter member for feeding cooling air thereinto so as to cool the color resolution filters.
Still however, if a power source is inadvertently shut off, the cooling air supply to the interior of the tubular filter member is stopped. In such a situation, the temperature within the tubular filter member cannot be promptly lowered, since the light source, the filter tube, and the reflector accumulate the heat therein. Due to the nonsupply of the cooling air, the temperature of the tubular filter member becomes elevated, and the inherent color resolution function of the filters may be degraded by the heat.

Light irradiation device having filter unit


The present invention relates to a solid cosmetic composition comprising, as a structure agent, a combination consisting of a saturated straight-chain polymer and an agglutinating agent for this polymer.

There are many cosmetic compositions that are used for coloring and protecting lips, eyes, faces, etc.
As far as lipsticks are concerned, for example, those used at present are cosmetic compositions containing structural agents such as waxes, which are products traditionally used by the consumers. However, these products are heavy, because, when applied to the lips, they are noticed, since they form a film of translucent color, without a perfect and intense covering right at the first application.
Other types of lipsticks that use mixtures with linear structural agents exhibit a non-satisfactory spreadability, and one feels the friction of the lipstick while passing it on one's lips.
As it is known, lipsticks are a complex mixture of solids, semisolids and liquids, such as waxes and emollients that, as time passes, often exudes and undergo oxidation, rendering the appearance and odor of such a product unsatisfactory.
On the other hand, lipsticks with a high concentration of emollients have the problem of flowing through the lips' edges, in addition to having low fixation power.
Many of these problems related to a poor fixation of the product and its unpleasant feeling on the skin also occur with other forms of presentation of solid cosmetic compositions such as blushes, eye shadows, stick-bases, deodorants and the like.
Therefore, it is an objective of the present invention to provide a solid cosmetic composition that can be applied in the form of a bullet or a stick, which can provide the user with a feeling of not using any product.

Abstract: The composition of the invention has a rigid, moldable and stable structure, being suitable for application as, for example, lipstick, blush, eye shadow, stick base, lip protectors (either colorful or colorless), deodorants, perfumes, among others.


A controller 50 of a banknote processing machine 10 is configured to selectively perform a leaving mode, in which the banknote is fed out from each of the storing/feeding units 28, transported to the first cassette (recycle cassette 42) by the transport unit 24, and stored and left in the first cassette, when the first cassette is accommodated in the cassette accommodation unit 40.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a banknote processing machine and a banknote processing method, in which a cassette accommodation unit detachably accommodates a cassette configured to store a banknote therein and to feed out the stored banknote.
2. Related Art
Conventionally, in stores such as a convenience store and a supermarket, a money change machine is provided in a front area where a store clerk exchanges cash with a customer, and a money processing unit is provided in a backyard area where no customers are allowed to enter. In such stores, after the business hours, the money is collected from the money change machine provided in the front area, and stored in the money processing unit provided in the backyard area. Therefore, the money is managed by the money processing unit in the backyard area during the nighttime. Before the business hours on the next day, the money (change fund) used as change for the money change machine in the front area is dispensed from the money processing unit in the backyard area, and the dispensed change fund is stored in the money change machine in the front area. A security guard of a security company periodically collects the money from the money processing unit provided in the backyard area. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 09-161124 discloses a money change machine of the type provided in the front area.
However, as described above, the money is managed by the money processing unit in the backyard area during the nighttime, and the money is left only in the money processing unit. Therefore, it is only necessary for a robber who invades in the store to raid the one place of the money processing unit in the backyard area, and there is a risk that the robber robs the money from the money processing unit before the security guard of the security company arrives at the store. Conventionally, as described above, after the business hours, the money is collected from the money change machine provided in the front area, and stored in the money processing unit provided in the backyard area. Additionally, before the business hours on the next day, the money (the change fund) used as the change in the money change machine in the front area is dispensed from the money processing device provided in the backyard area, and stored in the money change machine provided in the backyard area. Therefore, unfortunately the store clerk takes a lot of trouble.

Banknote processing machine and banknote processing method


A backlight using multiple light-emitting diodes as a light source and illuminating a liquid crystal display panel from its back, the light-emitting diodes being formed of units, the units each being a minimum unit of m×n (where m and n are natural numbers), includes a driving part configured to drive the light-emitting diodes on a unit-by-unit basis; a block setting part configured to group two or more of the units into a block; and a luminance controlling part configured to control the luminance of the light-emitting diodes of the block independently on a block-by-block basis.

Nowadays, mainstream liquid crystal display units display color images by illuminating a transmissive liquid crystal display panel having color filters from its backside with a backlight. Further, conventionally, CCFLs (Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamps) using fluorescent tubes have often been used in backlights, but usage of mercury has been restricted because of environmental concerns. Accordingly, light-emitting diodes LEDs are taking the place of CCFLs using mercury as a light source. (For example, see Patent Document 1.)
Backlights for liquid crystal panels are roughly divided into two types, edge-lit and direct-lit, depending on the placement of a light source. The edge-lit type, which has a light guide plate provided directly behind the back of a liquid crystal panel and has a light source placed on one side of the light guide plate, is used mainly for relatively small liquid crystal panels for displays for cellular phones and notebook personal computers. Further, the direct-lit type, which has a light source placed directly behind the back of a liquid crystal panel, is better in light use efficiency than the edge-lit type and can be lighter. Accordingly, the direct-lit type is being used for large liquid crystal panels.
Further, direct-lit backlights using light-emitting diodes as a light source include those using white light-emitting diodes as a light source and those using light-emitting diodes that emit light of the three primary colors of red, green, and blue and obtaining white light by mixing the colors.
However, the backlights using light-emitting diodes as configured above, which are constantly turned on when the liquid crystal display unit is in use, in the same manner as the conventional backlights using CCFLs, are desired to further reduce power consumption. Accordingly, it has been proposed, as in Patent Document 2, to reduce power consumption by dividing a backlight into multiple sub units and control luminance on a sub-unit basis.
Further, generally, light-emitting diodes are semiconductor devices that vary greatly in both luminance and chromaticity. Accordingly, it is necessary to screen light-emitting diodes because their random usage impairs image quality because of great variations in luminance and chromaticity. For example, Patent Document 3 has been proposed as a method of economically using light-emitting diodes having variations.    [Patent Document 1] Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 7-191311    [Patent Document 2] Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2004-191490    [Patent Document 3] Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2006-133708

Backlight and liquid crystal display unit using same


The present invention relates to the use of isotopically labeled derivatives of isoniazid, ethionamide and related compounds as effective therapy for the treatment of mycobacterial diseases, including Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Recently, the present inventors have shown that isoniazid specifically substituted in the acyl position with 13C greatly increase isoniazid activity, through enhanced formation of INH-NAD and NADP adducts after its activation by the bacterial enzyme KatG, with these adducts being the species that are highly toxic to mycobacteria. It is believed that this is due to kinetic isotope effects on several steps of the pathway, although effects in the reversibility of acyl radical addition to the NAD, perhaps play the major role. It has been shown that another major TB drug, ethionamide (and its related compound prothionamide), undergoes almost identical activation and adduct formation chemistries (Wang, et al J Exp Med 204 73-8 2007). This chemistry is shown in FIG. 1 attached, with a highly reversible initial adduct being formed.

Rationally improved isoniazid and ethionamide derivatives and activity through selective isotopic substitution


In one embodiment, a pillow is constructed of a pillow body having a top portion, a middle portion, and a bottom portion. The top portion has a curved end and two curved sides that are generally parallel to each other. The middle portion is generally cylindrical in geometry. The bottom portion includes an enlarged section that flares outward from the middle portion. The bottom portion may also include a curved central section and narrow end section having a curved end.

This invention relates generally to the field of pillows and, in particular, to pillows that may be used to support various parts of the body.
Pillows exist in a variety of shapes and sizes. Perhaps the most common type of pillow is generally rectangular and is filled with natural or synthetic materials. Such pillows are traditionally designed to support a person's head while lying in bed.
Another type of pillow is generally curved and has an interior well region. Such pillows have found use in supporting babies, when nursing, when sitting among others. Such pillows are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,261,134, 5,661,861, 6,038,720, 6,055,687, 6,685,024, 6,434,770, 6,671,908, 6,532,612, 6,279,185, and 6,412,128, the complete disclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference.
Yet another pillow which has one particular use for supporting a pregnant woman's stomach is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/927,404, filed Aug. 25, 2004, the complete disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference.
Other pillows having a variety of uses are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,763,539, 6,944,898, and 6,857,150 and in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/169,600, filed Jun. 28, 2005, the complete disclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference.
This invention is related to other types of pillows and methods for their use. These are more fully described below.


Methods and numerical tools for designing and optimizing LED systems are provided to achieve a desired luminous performance and to increase reliability and operating lifetime. In addition, methods for designing LED illumination systems are also disclosed to determine an optimum operating power for a desired output luminous flux, given the condition of the rated power of the LED and the heatsink. By the invention, LED illumination systems can be designed with a suitable choice of LED and/or heatsink.

A light emitting diode (LED) is a semiconductor device that emits light when a current is passed through it in a forward direction. Many types of LEDs are known that emit light in various wavelengths including infra-red, visible and ultra-violet regions. Many applications for LEDs are known including as indicator lights of various colours, for use in advertising displays, and in video displays.
In the past LEDs have tended to be lower power devices that produce relatively low power outputs and have not been used for general illumination purposes. More recently, however, high-power LED devices have become known that can provide an alternative to incandescent and fluorescent light sources. LED devices produce more light per watt than incandescent light sources and may therefore be useful as energy efficient light sources, while they have a number of advantages over fluorescent light sources including being easier to dim and not requiring the use of potentially toxic and polluting elements such as mercury to create the plasma that is the source of fluorescent light.
Light emitting diodes (LEDs) have therefore emerged as promising lighting devices for the future. However, LEDs are still primarily restricted to decorative, display and signaling applications so far and have not yet entered the market for general illumination to any great extent.
In photometry, one important factor that is commonly used for comparing different lighting devices is the luminous efficacy (lumen per Watt). One major hindrance to the widespread use of LEDs in general illumination applications is that the luminous flux of LEDs decreases with the junction temperature of the LEDs. The luminous efficacy of various LEDs typically decreases by approximately 0.2% to 1% per degree Celsius rise in temperature. Due to the ageing effect, the actual degradation of luminous efficacy could be higher than this quoted figures. Accelerated aging tests show that the light output can drop by a further 45%. For aged LEDs, the efficacy degradation rate could be up to 1% per ° C. In some applications such as automobile headlights and compact lamps, the ambient temperature could be very high and the size of the heatsink is limited. The drop in luminous efficacy due to thermal problem would be serious, resulting in reduction of luminous output.
In a recent article on lighting titled "Let there be light" (Harris, Mark, IET Engineering & Technology (E&T) Magazine, Vol. 4, Issue 20, 21 Nov.-4 Dec. 2009, pp. 18-21), it was commented that, in respect of LED products, "the majority of LED A-type replacement lamps do not meet manufacturer performance claims" and that "testing reveals that these lamps produce only 10 to 60 percent of their claimed light output". Besides the quality issues, one possible reason for such mismatch in the claimed and actual luminous performance is the understanding of the luminous efficacy figures of LED devices. LED device manufacturers usually cite high luminous efficacy figures which are only correct at a junction temperature of 25° C. In practice, luminous efficacy will decrease significantly with increasing LED junction temperature. At a junction temperature under normal operation, it is not unusual that the luminous efficacy could drop by 25% or more.
FIG. 1 shows a conventional LED. At the heart of the LED device is a light emitting semiconductor material such as InGaN though other materials will be known to those skilled in the art. In the example of FIG. 1 a light-emitting InGaN chip 1 is mounted on a silicon substrate 2 and is connected to electrodes such as cathode 3 through gold wires 4 and solder connection 5. The light-emitting chip 1 is covered by a silicone encapsulant 6 and a plastic lens 7.
When a LED of the type shown in FIG. 1 is used to generate light a substantial amount of heat is generated that will damage the light-emitting chip if not removed. Therefore a heat sink must be provided and beneath the light-emitting chip 1 is a heatsink slug 2. In practice when used to provide a source of light for illumination, conventionally multiple LEDs are provided to form a LED system as shown in FIG. 2 where multiple LEDs 10 are provided on a single heatsink 11.

Method and numerical tool for optimizing light emitting diode systems


Systems and methods related to a synchronization signal particularly well suited for wireless devices in an extended coverage area of a cell of a cellular communications network are disclosed. In one embodiment, a base station transmits a synchronization signal including multiple repetitions of a basic synchronization block during a coherence time of a downlink channel over which the synchronization signal is transmitted. The multiple repetitions of the basic synchronization block during the coherence time enable coherent combining during detection of the synchronization signal at wireless devices located in the cellular communications network. This coherent combining enables, for example, wireless devices located in an extended coverage area of a cell served by the base station to synchronize to the cell using a shorter synchronization signal than that which would be required if only non-coherent combining were used.

There is an increasing need to support efficient and cost-effective devices, or terminals, in a cellular communications network. This is especially true with the increasing interest in and development of Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communication. In the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) standards, unlike traditional services such as voice and web streaming, M2M services often have very different requirements on the cellular communications network due to specific features of M2M services specified in 3GPP Technical Specification (TS) 22.368 V11.6.0, "Service requirements for Machine-Type Communications (MTC); Stage 1." Another distinguishing characteristic in a cellular communications network with M2M communication is the large increase in the number of Machine Type Communication (MTC) devices. Both the different requirements of M2M services and the large number of MTC devices bring forth new challenges to develop a cost, spectrum, and energy efficient radio access technology for M2M applications and MTC devices in a cellular communications network.
In M2M communications, the MTC devices (e.g., smart meters, signboards, cameras, remote sensors, laptops, and appliances) are connected to the cellular communications network. Most of the MTC devices sporadically transmit one or only a few short packets containing measurements, reports, and triggers, e.g., temperature, humidity, wind speed, etc. In most cases, the MTC devices are expected to be static or to have low mobility. A common understanding of MTC devices is that the MTC devices should be of low complexity targeting low-end (low average revenue per user, low data rate, high latency tolerance) applications. The power/energy consumption of the MTC devices is expected to be low as well.
Several factors affect the cost for both manufacturing and operating a given wireless device. The main manufacturing cost drivers are: (1) processing speed (mainly at reception), (2) number of antennas, and (3) bandwidth. Therefore, 3GPP Radio Access Network (RAN) Work Group 1 (i.e., RAN1) has studied Long Term Evolution (LTE) User Equipment (UE) modem cost reduction techniques for provisioning of low-cost MTC UEs based on LTE. The results of the study are documented in 3GPP Technical Report (TR) 36.888 V2.0.0 (3GPP Tdoc RP-120714), "Study on provision of low-cost Machine-Type Communications (MTC) User Equipments (UEs) based on LTE." Since then, an updated Study Item Description (SID) (3GPP Tdoc RP-121441, "Study on Provision of low-cost MTC UEs based on LTE") has been approved which extends the scope of the study to also include study of coverage enhancements. More specifically, the updated SID states that:                A 20 dB improvement in coverage in comparison to defined LTE cell coverage footprint engineered for "normal LTE UEs" should be targeted for low-cost MTC UEs, using very low rate traffic with relaxed latency (e.g. size of the order of 100 bytes/message in UL and 20 bytes/message in DL, and allowing latency of up to 10 seconds for DL and up to 1 hour in uplink, i.e. not voice). In identifying solutions, any other related work agreed for Release 12 should be taken into account.

Synchronization signal design for wireless devices in a long range extension mode


A light-emitting unit adapter module includes a mounting base for mounting, a circuit board accommodated in the mounting base and having electrode pins connectable to an external power source, a light-emitting unit mountable in the mounting base, and a holding-down device fastenable to the mounting base to hold down the light-emitting unit, keeping the tubular electrodes of the light-emitting unit in positive contact with the electrode pins of the circuit board for power input and the heat sink of the light-emitting unit suspending outside the mounting base for quick dissipation of waste heat during operation of the light-emitting devices of the light-emitting unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to light-emitting device mounting technology and more particularly, to a light-emitting unit adapter module, which facilitates mounting and dismounting of the light-emitting unit, avoids heat accumulation and effectively seals off outside moisture.
2. Description of the Related Art
In order to slow down and eventually reverse global warming, many countries around the world are actively applying energy saving and carbon reduction action plains. These action plains may include planting trees and using power-saving electronic products. Nowadays, LED (light emitting diode) has been intensively used in lamp bulb, lamp tube, desk lamp, hand light, backlight, vehicle light and many other lighting fixtures and electronic products. However, only high-performance light-emitting devices can be used for lighting fixture. For use in a lighting fixture, light-emitting chips are bonded to a circuit board, which provides electrical power to the light-emitting chips and control their operation. Although LED has power-saving and high brightness characteristics, its lifespan is limited. During operation of a LED lamp, much waste heat is produced and must be quickly carried away. Accumulation of waste heat will cause the LED lamp to fail soon.
In actual practice, the use of conventional LED apparatus may encounter many problems as follows:
1. When multiple LEDs are bonded to a circuit board to constitute a LED lamp bulb or lamp tube, the maintenance work is complicated. When one LED fails, the whole lamp bulb or lamp tube may have to be thrown away and replaced by a new one. It is a waste to thrown away the whole lamp bulb or lamp tube. However, it is difficult to pick up the other normal LEDs from the failed lamp bulb or lamp tube.
2. A LED lighting fixture has multiple LEDs or light-emitting chips mounted on a circuit board that provides electrical power to the LEDs or light-emitting chips and control their operation. After installation of the LEDs or light-emitting chips in the circuit board, the LEDs or light-emitting chips are not detachable from the circuit board. When one LED or light-emitting chip failed, the circuit board becomes useless, causing waste.
3. When the LED module of a lighting fixture failed and replaced by a new one, the new LED module must be examined to assure positive transmission of power supply. Further, during operation of the LED module, waste heat may be accumulated in the lighting fixture, affecting the performance and shortening the service life.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide a measure or structure that eliminates the aforesaid problems of complicated light-emitting device installation and repair work and accumulation of waste heat.


A kitchen range hood for exhausting gases comprises an outer hood body within which a motor housing is mounted. The motor housing has top, bottom and perimeter side surfaces defining a pair of substantially similar air chambers, a motor and fan being housed in each chamber. An opening in the bottom surface of the housing is aligned below each of the fans. A tray is located in abutment with the housing below the opening in the bottom surface. The tray has a wall and a floor, with at least one air inlet opening in the wall. A bottom panel is connected to the bottom of the hood body about the tray. Air is drawn into the range hood through the air inlet in the tray wall. The range hood is also equipped with an automatic cleaning system, comprising a spray nozzle and hose seated above the floor of the tray.

Kitchen range hoods are used above cooking surfaces to remove grease, common odors and hazardous gases created during the cooking process. There are a wide variety of range hoods available, but they typically comprise one or two openings formed in the bottom of the range hood and a comparable number of devices (motor and fan) for drawing the unwanted gases through the opening(s). In these designs, the fan and its respective motor are positioned above the opening and act to draw gases into the range hood through the opening.
The difficulty with both the single and the double opening designs is that not all of the gases rising from the cooking surface will be drawn through the opening(s). Some of the gases rising from the cooking surface flow around the sides or front of the range hood and remain present in the cooking environment.
A number of range hood designs have been developed to overcome this shortcoming. U.S. Pat. No. 5,448,987 teaches a range hood having two motors that has a lower plate spaced below the bottom of the range hood body. Locating members keep the lower plate spaced apart from the range hood so that the front, left and right sides of the lower plate form a smoke drawing space along with the bottom side of the range hood body. The lower plate is sloped from front to rear and has a hole located at its lowest point to allow any accumulated grease to drip through to a grease cup. Manual cleaning of the range hood is required. However, because the lower plate is fastened to the bottom of the range hood it is difficult to access the interior of the range hood for cleaning or other maintenance.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,979,436 teaches a range hood smoke exhauster having a peripheral air drawing effect. A pair of drawing devices (motors and fans) is mounted above openings in the range hood bottom. A plate is secured to the hood, spaced below the hood bottom. The plate has two openings that are aligned with the openings in the hood bottom and a number of slots or grooves in the peripheral portion of the plate to allow smoke in the area of the periphery of the plate to be drawn into the range hood. This design also requires manual cleaning and suffers from deficiencies related to cleaning, as accessing the interior of the motor housing is difficult.
A further design is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 6,401,709. The range hood has side plates extending below the body, each side plate having an inclined surface. A deflecting plate has a horizontal portion shaped in parallel with the bottom face of the range hood and an inclined portion aligning with the inclined surface of the side plates. The deflecting plate is spaced from the bottom face of the hood body so as to form an inlet port at the front and both sides and to form a suction passage. This range hood also requires manual cleaning of grease-laden surfaces. As with the previous designs, this cleaning is made more difficult by the presence of the deflecting plate, which interferes with access to the range hood interior.
Therefore, while each of the range hoods taught respectively in the '987, '436 and '709 patents provides a peripheral air drawing effect, they all require manual cleaning of the interior surfaces. Given the designs, this manual cleaning is very difficult to accomplish.
Accordingly, it is an object of an embodiment of the invention to provide a dual motor range hood adapted for drawing in air about the periphery of the range hood bottom.
It is a further object of an embodiment of the invention to provide a range hood adapted for drawing in air about the periphery of the range hood bottom that is self-cleaning.
Not all aspects of the invention necessarily address such objects. Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the description that follows.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Dual motor kitchen range hood with perimeter air inlet


A family of space frames formed from one or more parallel, planar layers, with each layer comprising a plurality of prismatic nodes arranged in a spaced, non-periodic or periodic, planar array and a plurality of struts coupling adjacent nodes together. Each node has top and bottom surfaces of the same configuration and p side surfaces interconnecting the top and bottom surfaces or any suitable shape derived from this configuration. P is any odd number greater than three or any even number greater than four. Adjacent layers are coupled via interconnecting struts that are perpendicular to each layer or tilted relative to each layer. Successive layers are the same or different. The space frames can also define, locate, and map out tiled surfaces or block-filled volumes.

Space frames in architecture and building technology are of a relatively recent origin and are characterized by a multitude of prefabricated modular elements that can be assembled in a variety of different ways to provide built-in design flexibility and economy in construction and manufacturing. Space frames have a spacial distribution of elements determined by their geometry and symmetry, and permit a large category of structures that depart from the orthogonal geometries common to conventional architecture. In addition to providing alternative geometries for enclosing space, there is an advantage in that their structural behavior is spacial, i.e., forces are distributed and carried spacially, and generally three dimensionally, resulting in greater performance for material weight input.
Two-dimensional space frames have been known for centuries and have been used as screens, space dividers, window lattices, door panels, ceilings, etc. These are all examples of planar space frames, and the best known examples occur as Islamic or Chinese lattices. Three-dimensional space frames in architecture have been known for several decades and can be traced to the works by Alexander Graham Bell, Buckminster Fuller, Robert LeRicolais, and Mengringhausen. In addition, there have been numerous patents granted on several types of two and three-dimensional space frames and structures. Examples of these include U.S. Pat. No. 3,563,581 to Sommerstein; U.S. Pat. No. 3,722,153 to Baer; U.S. Pat. No. 3,918,233 to Simpson; U.S. Pat. No. 3,974,600 to Pearce; U.S. Pat. No. 4,113,256 to Hutchings; U.S. Pat. No. 4,129,975 to Gabriel; U.S. Pat. No. 4,133,152 to Penrose; U.S. Pat. No. 4,183,190 to Bance; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,620,998 to Lalvani. Related foreign patents include West German patent 2,305,330 to Alcalde Cilveti; French patents 682,854 to Doornbos et al and 1,391,973 to Stora; and Italian patent 581,277 to Industria Officine Magliana. The disclosures of these patents ar hereby incorporated herein by reference.
While construction of two and three-dimensional space frames is known in the prior art, their versatility has been generally limited to periodic geometric designs. That is, the nodes and struts forming the space frames tend generally to provide a repeating pattern. While these structures tend to provide reasonable support, they are limited in spacial appearance and structure.
Thus, there is a continuing need for different geometric designs in two and three-dimensional space frames.

Non-periodic and periodic layered space frames having prismatic nodes


Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method, an apparatus, and a system for amplifying a burst optical signal. The method includes: monitoring an input status of a signal light; when no signal light is input, controlling output power of a pump light so that a gain medium has output optical power and the output optical power is less than a maximum optical power that the gain medium is capable of outputting when a signal light is input; inputting the pump light into a wavelength division multiplexer so that the wavelength division multiplexer combines the signal light and the pump light and inputs the combined light into the gain medium. With the preceding manners, when no signal light is input, the power of the pump light is controlled.

In an optical communication network, there is a type of signal light that is formed from different optical signal packets in time. Time of each optical signal packet is inconsecutive and a particular time interval without a light exists. Power amplitude between two adjacent optical signal packets may be inconsecutive. It is called a burst optical signal. At present, the burst optical signal exists in an optical switching system that is formed from an optical packet switching (OPS) technology or an optical burst switching (OBS) technology and a passive optical network (PON) system of an access network. A device, an instrument, or a system that generates this type of burst optical signal is uniformly called an optical burst signal source. Conventionally, the optical burst signal source includes an optical burst transmitter, an optical burst switch, and so on.
Signal optical power of the burst optical signal is gradually attenuated with an increase of a transmission distance in an optical fiber. To extend the transmission distance of the optical signal, amplification needs to be performed on the optical signal; or, when the burst optical signal passes through an optical component, the signal optical power is attenuated due to an insertion loss of the optical component, and in this case, amplification also needs to be performed on the optical signal. A preferred solution is to use an optical amplifier (a burst optical amplifier) that supports the burst optical signal. An existing optical amplifier is implemented by using a solution of automatic power control (APC) that is also called constant power control. In this solution, output optical power of the optical amplifier is a fixed value, which is specifically as follows: An optical detector is used to monitor intensity of an amplified signal light; when the intensity of the signal light is smaller than the fixed value, a pump source is controlled to increase power of a generated pump light; when the intensity of the signal light is greater than the fixed value, the pump source is controlled to adjust the power of the generated pump light; the pump light and the signal light are input into a wavelength division multiplexer (WDM); the WDM combines the input signal light and pump light and then inputs the combined light into a gain medium; the gain medium absorbs energy provided by the pump light to enable electrons to jump to a high energy level and generate population inversion; a signal photon triggers these activated electrons through a stimulated radiation process and enable the electrons to jump to a lower energy level; in this way, an amplified signal is generated and the amplification of the signal light is implemented.
During the implementation of the present invention, the inventor discovers that: Because the output optical power needs to be kept in a constant state, when no signal light is input, the optical amplifier may drive the pump source to output a pump light with large power so that optical power of amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) generated by the gain medium is equal to the output optical power of the fixed value. In this case, the power of the pump light is higher than that when a signal light is input. In a process from the situation where no signal light is input to the situation where a signal light is input, a serious gain overshoot surge lasting tens of microseconds is caused because the power of the pump light at this time is higher than that when a signal light is input, which causes severe damage on a transmission signal and distortion of the optical signal.

Method, apparatus, and system for amplifying a burst optical signal


A universal launch cable assembly for testing multimode fiber optic cable includes a first connector for interfacing with a light source; a second connector for interfacing with a fiber optic cable to be tested; and a stepped index fiber optic cable having an optical fiber of a diameter larger than the diameter of the fiber in the cable to be tested and being disposed in a curved path and having a numerical aperture for generating a secondary uniform, symmetrical, idealized light source. Also disclosed is an intergrated idealized light source system using the univeral launch cable and having means for adjusting the output of the light source as a function of the diameter of the fiber in the cable to be tested.

It is necessary to test fiber optic cable before installation to determine whether the cable is adequate for the application and free from defects. Testing is accomplished by utilizing a matching launch cable between the test light source and the cable to be tested with a power meter connected to the free end cf the cable under test. The launch cable has to mate with the light source and has to have a connector which is mated to the one on the cable to be tested. Further, the launch cable has to have the same diameter as the cable under test in order to prevent loss from leakage around the mismatched cable diameters. This means that test equipment would have to include at least one launch cable of each different available size: 50, 62.5, 85 and 100 microns. This makes for expensive and cumbersome test equipment. Even with matched diameter cables there is leakage and consequent inaccuracy because of variation within manufacturing tolerances of approximately 3% in diameter and 6% in area. In addition, in multimode fiber optic cable there is typically uneven distribution of light in the cable because of the non-uniform effect of the cable on the different modes of light. Typically the higher order modes travel longer distances than the lower order modes and so the high order modes are more likely to be attenuated, causing a concentration of lower order light in the cable. This creates an inconsistency in test conditions because the actual light distribution from the launch cable is uncertain. While mode scramblers and mode filters are available, they do require matching diameter cables and they are difficult to accurately calibrate for test applications. Inaccuracies are also introduced in fiber optic test equipment due to mismatch in the numerical apertures between the launch cable and test light source when a graded index launch cable is used. This is so because graded index launch cables transmit the light source output with all of its peculiarities and therefore preserve all of the variations in light sources due to manufacturing variations.
A separate problem occurs because of the field personnel's difficulty in obtaining accurate readings due to a misalignment of the launch cable and the cable to be tested or because of differences in diameter in those cables. The difference in diameters may be due merely to manufacturing tolerances or to the use of mismatched cables. The result is that the loss of light at the launch cable/test cable interface requires an arithmetic accommodation of the power meter reading in order to identify the loss attributable only to the cable under test.

Universal launch cable assembly and integrated idealized light source system using same


A fuel safety valve arranged in a fuel supply line between a low-pressure pump and a high-pressure pump, is provided with a valve body which defines a cylindrical cavity having a longitudinal axis and being connected to a duct and a portion of a discharge duct in communication with the cylindrical cavity, a piston sliding with respect to the valve body in the cylindrical cavity along the longitudinal axis, and a spring housed in a variable-volume chamber defined by a portion of the cylindrical cavity between the piston and a closure element. The piston is provided with a through hole supplied with the fuel leading into the variable-volume chamber, and the valve body being provided with a fuel discharge hole connecting the variable-volume chamber to the discharge duct.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a safety valve. It particularly relates to a safety valve and a high-pressure pump for an internal-combustion engine comprising said safety valve.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Internal-combustion engines usually comprise a low-pressure pump, a high-pressure pump, a manifold, a low-pressure supply line connecting the low-pressure pump to the high-pressure pump, and a high-pressure delivery line connecting the high-pressure pump to the manifold or "common rail" as it is generally called.
The low-pressure line generally comprises a metering solenoid valve capable of controlling the amount of fuel supplied to the high-pressure pump, and a safety valve whose job is to discharge excess fuel supplied by the low-pressure pump in order to prevent damage to the low-pressure line caused by high pressures.

Safety valve and high-pressure pump comprising said safety valve


A method of analyzing electronic ink, in which document data for a document containing electronic ink content is received from a software application running on a first processing thread. The first processing thread is employed to provide the document data to an electronic ink analysis process for analyzing on a second processing thread. Control of the first processing thread is then returned to the software application. After the results of the analysis are received, the results are reconciled with the current document data for the document.

As the role of computers has expanded in society, various different techniques have been developed for entering data into computers. One particularly useful technique for submitting data is through handwriting. By writing with a stylus or another object onto a digitizer to produce "electronic ink," a computer user can forego the bulk and inconvenience associated with a keyboard. Handwriting input conveniently may be used, for example, by doctors making rounds, architects on a building site, couriers delivering packages, warehouse workers walking around a warehouse, and in any situation when the use of a keyboard would be awkward or inconvenient. While handwriting input is more convenient than keyboard input in many situations, text written in electronic ink typically cannot be directly manipulated by most software applications. Instead, text written in electronic ink must be analyzed to convert it into another form, such as ASCII characters. This analysis includes a handwriting recognition process, which recognizes characters based upon various relationships between individual electronic ink strokes making up a word of electronic ink.
Handwriting recognition algorithms have improved dramatically in recent years, but their accuracy can be reduced when electronic ink is written at an angle. Likewise, when separate groups of ink strokes cannot be easily distinguished, such as when two words are written closely together, many recognition algorithms cannot accurately recognize electronic ink. Some recognition algorithms also may incorrectly recognize electronic ink as text when, in fact, the electronic ink is intended to be a drawing. For example, a user may annotate typewritten text by writing an electronic ink stroke that underlines, highlights, circles or crosses through some portion of the typewritten text. A handwriting recognition algorithm might then incorrectly recognize these annotation strokes as a dash, the number zero or the letter "O."
The accuracy of many recognition algorithms can be greatly improved by "parsing" (e.g., by analyzing the layout of and/or "classifying") the electronic ink before using the handwriting recognition algorithm. A classification process typically determines whether an electronic ink stroke is part of a drawing (that is, a drawing ink stroke) or part of handwritten text (that is, a text ink stroke). Classification algorithms for identifying other stroke types also are possible. The layout analysis process typically groups electronic ink strokes into meaningful associations, such as words, lines and paragraphs. Layout analysis and classification processes can thus be used to identify which strokes in a collection of electronic ink belong to a single word, which words of the electronic ink are associated with a single line of text written in electronic ink, and which lines of text written in the electronic ink are associated with a paragraph.
While layout analyzing and classifying ink can dramatically improve the recognition of electronic ink, many software application developers are unaware of the importance of these activities before recognizing the electronic ink. Until recently, layout and classification algorithms were not readily available for use with existing software applications. For example, the Microsoft® Windows XP Tablet PC Edition Version 2002 operating system was typically sold with the Microsoft® Windows Journal software application for storing, displaying and manipulating electronic ink. While the Microsoft® Windows Journal software application employs an internal parser, until recently this parser was not accessible to other software applications run by the operating system.
While the parsing process from the Windows Journal software application is now separately accessible by other software applications, the use of this parser is not well known, and this parser cannot easily be employed with many software applications, into which a user may desire to enter handwriting input. Moreover, even if a software application developer were to create a parser specifically for use with a desired software application (which itself may be a difficult and time-consuming process), execution of a parsing process may be quite time-consuming. For example, parsing just a few strokes of electronic ink using a relatively fast microprocessor may take a parser several seconds or even several minutes. If a software application must halt operation until the parsing process is complete, the software application will become too slow for practical use by most users.
Accordingly, there is a need for electronic ink processing techniques that can be employed by a variety of software applications to, for example, analyze the layout of, classify, and/or recognize electronic ink. Further, there is a need for electronic ink processing techniques that can process electronic ink while still allowing the software application employing the techniques to accept new electronic ink input without invalidating the results of the ink processing.