A bus protocol for serial transfer of data between two electronic components via a 3 line bus connection. The bus protocol according to the invention transfers data words without handshake signals for each bit. Each data word is transferred synchronously from a transmitter to a receiver. One bus line is dedicated to a clock signal. The two other bus lines are used for transmitting the data signals and control signals. By assigning the two remaining bus lines differently to data signals and control signals for transfer in the two directions, bus conflicts can be easily solved.

The present invention relates to a method for the serial transfer of data between two electronic bus stations and to a bus station for use in said method.
Electronic consumer products often can be divided in two parts. These are front end and back end. Examples of consumer electronics products with this kind of structure are all kinds of disk players like CD player (Compact Disk), MD player (Mini Disk), DVD player (Digital Versatile Disk) and all its derivatives like video CD player, CD recorder etc. With the front end user commands are received via key entries or remote control device. The commands are forwarded to the back end part where they are executed in order to attain the associated control operation. The two part structure with front and back end has the advantage that both parts can be developed independent from each other. Of course there needs to be an interface between the two sections. This interface can then be used in various applications.
A known interface for data exchange between two electronic units is the xe2x80x9cVideo 6001 DSA Interface 7003xe2x80x9d from Philips. It is a serial bus interface which serves for the serial transfer of data between two electronic components. As usual, in each electronic units there is an interface electronic which is connected on the internal side with the internal address, data and control bus and on the external side with the bus lines of the serial bus connection. Three bus lines are required for the serial data transfer according to the Philips DSA bus description. One line is dedicated to the data signals, a second line STB and third line SCK are reserved for control purposes. In particular these lines are used for handshake signals. If a transmitter wants to send some data, it first clears the data line to indicate that it wants to transmit data. Then it waits for a low level on the ACK line set by the receiver. After this the transmitter sets the data line high and waits for a high level on ACK line from receiver, which signals the end of starting synchronisation.
After this, the transmitter sends its data to the receiver over the DATA line. Data is send in units of 16 bit data words per each transmission phase. The transmitter sets the data line according to the bit to be send. When the DATA line becomes stable, the transmitter clears the STB line to tell the receiver that the information on DATA line is valid. The receiver reads the DATA line after the STB line low status is recognised. Then the receiver clears the ACK line to let the transmitter know that the bit was read. The transmitter sets the STB line high and waits for the ACK line high status. When the ACK line becomes high, one data bit is completely transferred.
As explained above, in the Philips DSA bus protocol each bit of a data transfer is declared to be valid and acknowledged with handshake signals on STB and ACK lines. This is a first reason which makes the bus transfer relatively slow. Furthermore, for each 16 bit data transfer a relatively long starting synchronisation process needs to be done. This is a second reason which makes the data transfer rate small.
After recognising these disadvantages it is an object of the invention to provide a modified bus protocol with which higher data transfer rates can be achieved without increasing the number of bus lines.
This object is achieved with the solution described below. The new bus protocol according to the invention is based on a combination of asynchronous and synchronous serial data transmission. The bits of a data word are transferred synchronously from transmitter to receiver. This means that there are no handshake signals which accompany the transmission of each bit. Instead, the transmitter/reveiver generates the data transfer clock which is transmitted on a dedicated bus line in parallel. Thus, the sampling points for the receiver are predefined by this clock signal as in the well known synchronous serial data transfer mode. Very high data transfer rates are achievable with this type of synchronous data transfer.
In the bus protocol it is specified that a data transfer from master to slave is signalled by sending an edge signal on a bus line which is being configured to be a data line for the master. Another bus line is being configured to be a control line for transmissions from master to slave. For data transfers from slave to master a different bus line is being configured as a data line for the slave and the other bus line is being configured to be a control line for transmissions from slave to master. There is one bus line dedicated to carry clock signals, only. This is valid for both transmission directions, from master to slave and vice versa, depending on the application. With this configurations of bus lines, bus conflicts in the case that the two bus stations are trying to access the bus simultaneously at the same time point can be easily solved in the ongoing transmission without the need of repetitive transmissions.
In such a case, due to the fact that the starting edge signals dedicated to both stations are transmitted over different bus lines, it is easy to achieve that the master will always win this conflict and the slave will change its state to receipt mode during the time period associated to the starting edge signal from master. The master will then synchronise itself to the edge signal on the control line activated by the slave so that synchronous data transmission can take place. Due to the fact that reconfiguration has been performed already during the time period of the start bit it is possible to specify a relatively short fixed delay time for synchronising, i.e. selecting the right phase of the clock signal generated in the transmitter/receiver. After this time period synchronous data transmission over the data line and clock line is commenced.
Advantageously, additional embodiments of the inventive method are disclosed in the respective dependent claims.
Data transfer in the direction from slave to master can easily be made in a similar manner as data transfer from slave to master, according to the present invention.
Transmitting a 16 bit data word in two pieces from master to slave or vice versa is advantageous if 8 bit microcontrollers are used in the bus stations. The internal data bus is often only 8 bit broad, so that a 16 bit data needs to be transfer to memory with tow different bus cycles. Another advantage is that a kind of byte handshake is makes sure that each byte is transferred correctly. For example, if an error occurs during the first transmission phase, data transfer can be interrupted immediately, which allows for a faster repetition of the data transfer.
For a bus station for use in a method according to the invention it is advantageous to connect the bus line dedicated to the data signals to an external interrupt input in addition to a data input in order to assure instantaneous reaction on a starting edge signal send by another bus station. This is in particular advantageous for a slave bus station. By doing so, bus conflicts can be immediately solved within an ongoing transmission without the need to stop transmission and wait for the repetition.

Method for the serial transfer of data between two electronic bus stations and bus station for use in said method


There is provided an imaging apparatus capable of reducing effects given by an object outside a dynamic range of the camera, and capturing an object image with appropriate exposure, when a camera performs imaging. The imaging apparatus is configured to separate image data into a plurality of blocks, extract a specific-color block using an average value of each color component acquired using only a pixel group whose pixel output is included within a predetermined range and the number of the groups, set a weighting coefficient of an exposure-amount calculation for the block to be determined as the specific color, and set the exposure based on the weighting coefficient and an average value of brightness acquired using only the pixel groups whose pixel output and the average value of the brightness of the block are included within the predetermined range.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus capable of performing flash imaging with appropriate exposure control and an appropriate amount of flash of an object having a specific color, and a control method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 05-041830 discusses a technique for detecting, when an image of a person is captured, a face of a person within an imaging screen, and setting exposure value to capture a face detection region with appropriate brightness.
Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2005-065186 discusses a technique for, when flash-imaging is performed, calculating difference between a no-flash image and a pre-flash image of a flash apparatus, extracting reflected light of an object that includes only the light of the flash apparatus, to detect the specific color using that the light source color of the flash apparatus is known.
However, according to the above-described conventional technique, if the object is near the flash apparatus when the flash imaging is performed, or if an object that specularly reflects the flash light is captured, a dynamic range of an image sensor may not be sufficient, thereby failing to accurately detecting a skin color.
Further, according to the above-described conventional technique, a captured image is separated into blocks and a weight coefficient of an amount of flash is varied at a ratio of the skin color included in a block. Therefore, in a case where a large amount of the skin color is included and an object having a high reflection rate is also included in the block, the block is largely weighed to determine the amount of the flash. As a result, the face cannot be captured with appropriate exposure amount. If the number of the separated blocks is increased, the above-described problem can be decreased, however, a processing time for calculation is increased accordingly.

Imaging apparatus capable of controlling exposure including flash amount control of flash apparatus, and control method thereof


Methods, computer program products, and systems are presented. The methods include, for instance: obtaining service life data of a part including a maintenance operation count of the part. The life expectancy of the part is formulated as a function of a life span of the part and the maintenance operation count at a point in time based on the obtained service life data and data interpolated therefrom. A life expectancy model is built based on the function and a plurality of life expectancies are predicted by applying simulated inputs to the life expectancy model. The life expectancies are produced after verification to indicate when to replace the part.

Conventionally, approaches for predicting failures in machine parts are based on reliability engineering, which utilizes failure data that had been sufficiently measured during a design-phase testing of equipment including a subject part in a testing environment. Such approaches include obtaining a failure probability density function which takes the deviation in the number of failure occurrences into account using Weibull distribution, as well as obtaining a failure probability that depends on the operation time of a part subject to the failure analysis. Further, building a parametric model that approximates the probability density function according to the failure data characteristics in place of the Weibull distribution can also be applicable for obtaining the failure probability.

Predicting life expectancy of machine part

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


A refrigerator of the present invention includes a Rankine cycle heat engine and a refrigeration cycle heat engine which share a condenser, and drives a compressor of the refrigeration cycle by an expander of the Rankine cycle. A screw expander and a screw compressor are set up within a common casing, and the exhaust side of a rotating shaft of the screw expander is connected to the discharge side of a rotating shaft of the screw compressor. Preferably, an intermediate space in which an exhaust passage of the screw expander and a discharge passage of the screw compressor are merged together and connected to a condenser, and a coupling which connects the rotating shaft of the screw expander to the rotating shaft of the screw compressor is housed is formed within the casing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a refrigerator.
2. Description of the Related Art
A cooling device for vehicle is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid Open No. 56-43018, the cooling device being configured to drive a compressor included in a refrigeration cycle heat engine by a thermal expander.
In this cooling device, a Rankine cycle is constituted so that a heat medium is vaporized by the heat of an engine to drive an expander, and the heat medium expanded by the expander is, after condensed by a radiator, returned to the engine by a pump, and the compressor of the refrigeration cycle is driven by the expander of the Rankine cycle.
In this cooling device, the refrigeration cycle and the Rankine cycle use the same heat medium (refrigerant), and the refrigerant discharged by the compressor of the refrigeration cycle is condensed by the same radiator as in the Rankine cycle, and then supplied to an evaporator. Therefore, the condensation temperature (pressure) of the refrigeration cycle and the condensation temperature (pressure) of the Rankine cycle are equal to each other.
In the above-mentioned related art, the exhaust side of a rotating shaft of the expander is connected to the suction side of a rotating shaft of the compressor. Therefore, it is needed to provide shaft seal devices respectively on the exhaust side of the expander and on the suction side of the compressor.
If leakage occurs in such shaft seal devices of the refrigeration cycle and the Rankine cycle, the heat medium is leaked out of the system to disable the fulfillment of the capability of the cooling device.


A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a first logic circuit to which a first power supply voltage is applied and which outputs a first signal, a first level conversion circuit to which the first power supply voltage and a second power supply voltage having an amplitude of second voltage level different from the first power supply voltage are supplied and which outputs a second signal, a second logic circuit to which the second power supply voltage is applied and which outputs a third signal, and a second level conversion circuit which 15 connected between the first and second logic circuits, to which the first and second power supply voltages are applied, and which level-converts the third signal of the second voltage level output from the second logic circuit to the first voltage level and outputs a fourth signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and a method of controlling power supply voltage which drive an internal circuit based on a plurality of power supply voltage. For example, separately from a power supply voltage for a logic circuit, the present invention aims at a semiconductor memory device and so on in which a power supply circuit for a step-up circuit and a step-down circuit is required.
2. Related Background Art
A power supply potential detecting circuit for detecting that an external power supply falls to a certain level and generating a reset signal is conventionally known. The reset signal is an important signal which surely initializes an internal circuit and stops operation of an internal power supply generating circuit, when the external power supply stops unexpectedly, irregularly and instantaneously, or is turned on/off unstably. The power supply potential detecting circuit for generating the reset signal is, for example, composed in manner shown in FIG. 21.
FIGS. 22A-22B are potential wave form diagrams of the circuit of FIG. 21. A waveform w13 of FIG. 22A shows a waveform of an external power supply VDD, a waveform w14 shows a waveform of VDD-Vtp of a PMOS transistor Q21, and a waveform w15 shows an output potential of the circuit of FIG. 21.
In FIG. 21, when the potential of the external power supply VDD falls from the constant potential state at time t1 of FIG. 22A, a gate potential and a drain potential (node 12) of a PMOS transistor Q21 with a threshold voltage Vtp gradually falls from VDD-Vtp as shown in FIG. 22B. The potential of the node 12 falls, and at time point t2 when the potential of node 12 becomes lower than a threshold voltage of an NMOS transistor in an inverter IV21, the output potential 14 is turned off as shown in FIG. 22B.
The power supply potential detecting circuit as shown in FIG. 21 is provided by each power supply when there are a plurality of external power supplies provided in the semiconductor device.
However, when using the semiconductor device in which two different external power supplies VDD and VCC are provided, it is likelihood that one or both of external power supplies may stop unexpectedly, irregularly and instantaneously, or break instantaneously. For example, when one external power supply stop or break instantaneously, the external power supply with higher potential among the power supplies VDD and VCC rapidly falls, or the potential of the external power supply with higher potential falls prior to the external power supply with lower potential. Therefore, the potential relationship may be in reverse. When such a reverse of the potential relationship occurs, a junction leak occurs or the internal circuit may malfunction.

Power-on reset semiconductor and method of controlling power supply voltage


A controller is configured to determine a current gear ratio step determined on the basis of gear ratio calculation Rg to be actual gear ratio of revolution Nm of main shaft 3a and revolution Nc of counter shaft 3b as well as gear ratio map for defining gear ratio variable allowance range for each of gear ratio steps. When making a decision of status of the determined current gear ratio step, the controller is configured to make delay timer get started when the gear ratio calculation Rg goes within the gear ratio variable allowance range of next step and halt to make a decision of the current gear ratio step while the delay timer is activated. The controller is also configured to make a decision of the status of the current gear ratio step after a predetermined delayed time Tn*(n=1, 2, . . . ) is elapsed.

In order to rapidly and accurately detect a status of current gear ratio steps of automobile manual transmission, a method has been disclosed which shift position sensors to detect respective current gear ratio steps are respectively provided to gear ratio change mechanism of the transmission. The method has a merit to accurately detect the current gear ratio step, but has a demerit to make a product cost to increase due to complex structure with the same number of the shift position sensors as number of the gear ratio steps.
Meanwhile, a gear ratio indicating apparatus as described in patent document 1: Publication No. JP2008-39111, has also been disclosed which, instead of providing the shift position sensors to the gear ratio change mechanism, a current gear ratio step is supposed to be determined based on signals outputted by two rotational speed sensors which are disposed in input shaft side and output shaft side, respectively.
A gear-position determination apparatus as described in patent document 2: Japan Patent No. 4404096, has also been disclosed which a current gear ratio step is supposed to be determined based on ratio of an engine revolution and a vehicle speed calculated from signals outputted by an engine revolution sensor and a vehicle speed sensor, respectively.
In the gear ratio indicating apparatus as described in the patent document 1, there has a merit to prevent increase of product cost with respect to whole transmission system, because a determination of current gear ratio step is conducted based on the two rotational speed sensors disposed on the input and output shafts and consequently, the structure of electrical signal system becomes to be simplified.
However, when the revolution is not stable due to twist vibration and backlash generating in drive train at time right after a synchronizer has completed to engage with a target gear or when a synchronizer has begun to move to engage with a target gear, it is impossible to calculate an accurate gear ratio based on the respective revolutions of the input and output shafts measured by those rotational speed sensors. In the result, a controller such as engine control unit possibly erroneously detects the current gear ratio step and, in worst case, possibly makes the indicating apparatus flash intermittently on and off. Furthermore, in a jumping upshift, i.e., 2 steps jumping upshift from 2nd to 5th gear ratio step, at the moment of passage of revolutions corresponding to intermediate gear ratio steps (3rd and 4th gear ratio steps in this case), the controller erroneously detects each of the intermediate gear ratio steps as a current gear ratio step as well.
Moreover, in the gear ratio determination apparatus as described in the Patent document 2, a current gear ratio step is supposed to be determined by differential value of vehicle speed in addition to ratio of the engine revolution and vehicle speed.
However, the engine revolution becomes to be temporarily unstable immediately after the clutch has disengaged from the engine. Consequently, the apparatus in the Patent document 2 has a problem that it is hard to accurately detect the current gear ratio step of the transmission. The apparatus additionally has another problem that it is hard to prevent the controller from erroneous detection of the current gear ratio step as long as the differential value of vehicle speed does not exceed a given threshold.


Automatic snowboard binding holding the boot via its sides and having an automatic locking mechanism (11, 14), retention mechanism (6), and a boot-release lever (16) whose operation results in unlocking of the retention mechanism. The boot-release lever is kinematically independent of the locking mechanism (11, 14) in such a manner that it remains stationary when the boot is clipped into the binding.

The invention relates to an automatic snowboard binding comprising a base carrying at least one retention means for holding a boot via at least one of its sides, shaped so as to engage with the retention means, comprising automatic means for locking the retention means, and a boot-release lever whose operation unlocks the retention means, this boot-release lever being articulated about a pin transverse to the base.
Such a binding is known from patent application U.S. Pat. No. 6,105,996, the content of which is incorporated by reference. In this binding, the boot is equipped with two lateral studs which engage in guides into which they are inserted by elastically separating rotatably mounted cams which then lock the studs in the guides. The boot is released by means of a boot-release lever whose operation separates the cams so as to release the boot studs. The boot-release lever is linked kinematically to the cams in such a manner that it is moved by the cams when the boot is clipped (i.e., inserted) into the binding. Thus, on every such occasion, the boot-release lever is unexpectedly raised. This untimely activation of the boot-release lever gives rise to unnecessary wear of the latter and may constitute a source of irritation to the user.
Automatic snowboard bindings are, furthermore, known from patents FR 2 758 994, 2 736 274, 2 758 091, EP 0 778 055, U.S. Pat. No. 5,871,226, U.S. Pat. No. 5,954,358, the content of the US patents being incorporated by reference and also patent application U.S. Pat. No. 5,520,406, the content of which is incorporated by reference in all these constructions the boot-release lever is caused to move when the boot is clipped into the binding.
Patent FR 2 745 192 furthermore discloses a binding whose locking means comprise a rotary disk equipped with a locking notch and with a ratchet serration interacting with a catch which acts simultaneously as a boot-release lever. The boot-release lever is thus not only caused to move when the boot is clipped into the binding, but gives rise to noise when the boot is clipped into the binding by jumping over the teeth of the serration.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,523,852, in the name of the applicant; automatic snowboard bindings are furthermore described which comprise two opposing cam jaws which are equipped with a movement arm intended to be moved by the boot, the cam-shaped part interacting with a blocking element which is movable in a guide in such a manner that a blocking of the jaw is ensured for various positions of the jaw. In these bindings, also, the boot-release lever is moved when the boot is clipped into the binding.
An aim of the present invention is to prevent movement of the boot-release lever when the boot is clipped into the binding.
To this end, the binding according to the invention is defined in that the boot-release lever is kinematically independent of the locking means in such a manner that it remains stationary when the boot is clipped into the binding, for example in a position in which it is lowered along the side of the base.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the retention device is a jaw pivoting about a horizontal axis and integral with an movement arm intended to be moved by the boot during insertion of the boot into the binding this jaw having a part in the form of a cam interacting with a blocking element which is movable in a guide and urged by an elastic means in the blocking direction, the boot-release lever having a part shaped and positioned so as to move the blocking element unidirectionally in the direction of unlocking during raising of the boot-release lever.
The binding preferably comprises two symmetrical, opposed retention devices intended for holding the boot via its two sides, and the blocking elements are connected kinematically together by a bar. The boot-release lever has a lateral arm or tab engaged under said bar for the movement of this bar in the unlocking direction during raising of the boot-release lever.


A method for controlling a hold buffer delay is provided. A control voltage is generated in response to a measurement of at least one of process variation, temperature variation, and supply voltage variation to compensate for a hold violation, and the delay of a buffer is adjusted using the control voltage. A first data signal is provided in synchronization with a first clock signal. A logic operation is performed on the first signal so as to generate a second data signal. A third data signal is generated and outputted in synchronization with a second clock signal, and at least one of the first and second data signals is buffered with the buffer.

Turning to FIG. 1, an example of a conventional system 100 can be seen. In this system 100, input data IN is provided to flip-flop 102. Flip-flop 102 can then generate an output signal for logic 104 in synchronization with an edge of clock signal CLK1 (which is generated from clock signal MCLK by clock tree 110). Logic 104 can then process the output from flip-flop 102, and the output of logic 104 can be provided to buffer 106. Here, buffer 106 is included to include a minimum path length to ensure that no output from logic 104 reaches flip-flop 108 prior to the generation of a corresponding phase or edge of clock signal CLK2 by tree 112 (which is also commonly referred to as a "hold violation"). As a result, the buffer 106 operates as a "hold buffer" that generally eliminates hold violations.
Use of hold buffers (like buffer 106) are very common and have worked very well in conventional applications, but there is an ever-increasing desire to reduce power consumption due at least in part to the increasing use of mobile products that employ batteries as a power sources. With this desire to decrease power consumption, operations of systems (such as system 100) in sub-threshold voltage ranges is becoming desirable. When operating in sub-threshold voltage ranges, though, hold buffers (i.e., buffer 106) can become problematic because the hold buffers (i.e., buffer 106) will increase the largest path length as well as the shortest path length, which can significantly degrade performance under some circumstances. Additionally, these hold buffers can further degrade performance when there are significant process and temperature variations coupled with use of supply voltages within sub-threshold ranges. Therefore, there is a need for a method and/or apparatus that compensates for hold violations within both super-threshold and sub-threshold supply voltage ranges.
Some examples of conventional systems are: U.S. Pat. No. 6,262,612; U.S. Pat. No. 7,978,004; U.S. Patent Pre-Grant Publ. No. 2001/0015665; U.S. Patent Pre-Grant Publ. No. 2003/0058017; U.S. Patent Pre-Grant Publ. No. 2008/0278223; and European Patent No. EP2320565.

Method and apparatus to compensate for hold violations


The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of polyolefin-based graft copolymers comprising a first long chain branched polyolefin block and one or multiple polymer side chains. The functionalized long chain branched polyolefin is produced via the copolymerization of an olefin monomer and an olefin bearing a main group metal hydrocarbyl functionality. The invention moreover relates to polyolefin obtained by said process ends. Subsequently the graft copolymers according to the invention can be produced for example by ring-opening polymerization of cyclic monomers or by transesterification of a preformed transesterifiable polymer, especially polyesters or polycarbonates. The invention moreover relates to polyolefin-based graft copolymers obtained by said process.

The present invention relates to the preparation of polyolefin-based graft copolymers comprising a first long chain branched polyolefin block and one or multiple polymer side chains, the intermediate products and the processes to obtain these products.
Commercially available polyethylene and polypropylene prepared using standard procedures with Ziegler-Natta or single-site catalysts have a predominantly linear molecular structure. Although linear polyolefins have many desirable physical properties, they show a variety of melt processing shortcomings, especially the single-site prepared ones having narrow molecular weight distributions, which typically have a low melt strength. Low melt strength is a problem because it causes local thinning in melt thermoforming, relative weakness in large-part blow molding and flow instabilities in co-extrusion of laminates.
One way of overcoming the shortcomings of linear polyolefins is by means of branching, viz. the provision of polymer side chains extending from the polyolefin backbone.
Despite their ubiquitous presence in our society, polyolefins such as polyethylene and polypropylene are not appropriate for several applications as a consequence of their inherently nonpolar character. This nonpolar character is the reason for the poor adhesion, printability and compatibility that can restrict their efficacy. Hence, it is further desirable to prepare polyolefins bearing for example polar groups so to ensure a good adhesion and printability.
In the prior art copolymers have thus been prepared and considered to overcome the shortcomings of polyolefins mentioned above. However, the preparation of these copolymers is often complicated and cumbersome. Moreover, most preparation methods lack flexibility.
The present invention is directed towards an easy, catalyst-compatible, relatively inexpensive and safe process that can be used for large scale preparation of polyolefin-based graft copolymers comprising a first long chain branched polyolefin block and one or multiple polymer side chains.

Process for the preparation of polyolefin-based graft copolymers comprising a first long chain branched polyolefin block and one or multiple polymer side chains


Disclosed is a dart for aiming at a game board comprising a body portion having a tail portion and spaced therefrom a point portion, the point portion being movable on a line with the horizontal longitudinal axis of the body portion and on a line with the vertical axis of the body so that the point can stick to the board and avoid obstructions on the board. Also described is a dart wherein the body of the dart has a cavity containing a movable ballast capable of moving from the tail portion to the point portion for assisting the adherence of the dart to the game board.

In a metal tip dart game, a dart is thrown at a target area, typically outlined by a wire grid on the face of the dart board. If a dart point strikes an obstruction like a wire, there is a possibility that the dart will bounce from the target and fall to the floor.
Similarly, in a soft tip or electronic game, the dart is thrown at a target which is honeycombed with holes designed to receive the plastic pointed tips of the dart. The areas between the holes, although tapered to help guide the dart points into the holes, occasionally cause the darts to rebound thereby resulting in no score.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,230,322, Bottelsen, pertains to a no bounce dart having an elongated body with a point sliding in one end of the body and a tail carried at the other end of the body. On impact with a target, the momentum of the body causes the point to slide in the body to a position where the body impacts the head of the point and hammers the point into the target. If an obstruction is hit directly, mere horizontal movement of the point may not be sufficient to prevent dart rebound.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,893,787 pertains to a movable point torpedo dart. A movable tip dart is also shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,684,851.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,101,126 teaches a dart having a flexible or pivotal point which serves to reduce bounce off.
U.S Pat. No. 4,697,815 discloses a dart having a cavity into which the rear portion of the point can enter, thereby engaging the rear wall of the cavity and shifting the point into the target.
It is an object of this invention to reduce the bounce off of a dart from an obstruction on a target by utilizing a movable point that is capable of moving both horizontally and vertically as compared to the axes of the dart.
It is a further object of the present invention to enhance the adhesiveness of the dart to the target by utilizing movable ballast which enhances the momentum of the dart and permits changing weight and balance of the dart.


To assign angle-dependent information to an input image in order to highlight and display one-dimensional patterns. First, data of an input image is inputted to a computer (Sa1). An arbitrarily defined constant m is then inputted as a contrast intensity (Sa2). Next, a closed region (x, y) made up of a plurality of pixels in the input image is demarcated as a target region D, degrees of inclination between respective two pixels, namely, a pixel of interest in the target region D and arbitrarily defined neighboring pixels thereof, are summed over a whole circumference around the pixel of interest, and the sum is divided by the number of pixels within the target region to calculate a mean value thereof (Sa3). Furthermore, an amplitude value β of a gradient obtained in step (Sa3) is multiplied by the contrast intensity m (where m is a positive constant) inputted in step (Sa2) and an arbitrarily defined offset value γ is added to the obtained value (Sa4) to obtain a final output image (Sa5).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a digital image processing method and a computer program for extracting a particular portion included in a digital image to be highlighted and displayed or, conversely, to be removed.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a digital image, when comparing a pixel of interest and a neighboring pixel, a vector expressing information related to a change in digitalized image signals (for example, luminance values) of both pixels is generally referred to as a "differential image" or a "gradient image" (in the present specification, the term "differential image" will be uniformly used). A differential image represents a "gradient vector" calculated when comparing two points (two pixels), namely, a pixel of interest and an arbitrarily defined neighboring pixel thereof from respective changes in coordinates and digital values. An "iris filter" is known as an image processing algorithm utilizing a gradient vector. With an iris filter, after obtaining a gradient vector thereof, a "degree of concentration" of an image signal (for example, a luminance value) digitalized from the gradient vector is calculated. Systems for supporting interpretation of a mammographic image by applying threshold processing to the degree of concentration and other calculated values have been disclosed (for example, refer to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. H09-167238, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. H10-289318, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-52295, and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-130049).
An interpretation system of this type is designed based on a model in which a luminance value of a mass shadow decreases radially (in other words, a mass shadow is characteristically brighter toward a center thereof and darker toward a periphery thereof).
However, in reality, mass shadows have various shapes and are not necessarily so simple as to be comprehensively solved by a model such as that described above. The interpretation system described above functions properly for extremely typical mass shapes such as a "normal distribution" whose luminescent spot peaks at a center of the mass. However, at present, the interpretation system is nowhere near a practical level from a comprehensive perspective and is considered to be merely a supplementary tool for diagnostics.
In other words, with mammography interpretation, there are many cases where even a physician with sufficient experience may hesitate to make a decision. While the Japan Radiological Society has formulated a guideline in an attempt to standardize an interpretation method or the like of mammography diagnostics for the purpose of detecting breast cancer, this itself is indicative of how difficult it is to determine a mass.
In particular, with respect to the discovery of a mass in mammography diagnostics of mammary glands, it is extremely difficult to distinguish a simple overlapping of mammary glands from a true mass. In reality, a shape, a boundary and a margin, a relative luminance on an image, and the like are comprehensively determined according to a decision tree of mass categories, and a final diagnosis is made by additionally considering results of other diagnostic approaches.
The present invention has been made in consideration of the above, and a main technical object of the present invention is to provide a novel image processing method and image processing program enabling a characteristic portion in a digital image to be highlighted and displayed.

Image processing method and computer program


An improved system and method for automatically controlling a vehicle speed to a desired cruising speed are disclosed in which a vehicle speed is detected, a target vehicle cruising speed is set on the basis of a vehicle driver's intention, a driving characteristic of a vehicular system is derived, a membership function in a fuzzy estimation is set according to the derived driving characteristic, and the fuzzy estimation is carried out using the membership function to set a controlled variable of an actuator of an engine output, the actuator controlling the engine output using the set controlled variable, with the detected vehicle speed and set target cruising speed as input information. The driving characteristic includes an operating state of a vehicular transmission connected to the engine output in a first preferred embodiment. In a second preferred embodiment, the driving characteristic includes the target cruising speed and the vehicle speed at a time of start of a resume operation in which the vehicle speed is returned to the originally set cruising speed after a cancellation of operation of the automatic cruising speed controlling system.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an improved system and method for automatically controlling a vehicle speed to a desired cruising speed applicable to vehicles.
(2) Background of the Art
A Japanese Patent Application First Publication (Tokkai) sho 60-4428 published on Jan. 10, 1985 and Japanese Utility Model Application First Publication (Zikkai) sho 61-39636 published on Mar. 13, 1986 exemplify systems for automatically controlling vehicle speeds to desired cruising speeds in which a vehicle speed is detected by means of a vehicle speed sensor, the detected vehicle speed is compared with a target vehicle speed set on the basis of a driver's decision, deviations as the result of comparison (a control deviation, first-order difference and second-order difference) are calculated, control variable is set by substituting the values of deviations into a control calculation equation, an actuator is activated on the basis of the result of a calculated equation to adjust an opening angle of an engine throttle valve, so that the vehicular engine output is adjusted to cruise the vehicle at the desired target speed.
In addition, the vehicle speed is stored into a memory at a time when the cruising speed run by the above-described system is released. Then, when the driver resumes the cruising speed run by the system, the resume operation of the system causes the vehicle to run at the stored vehicle speed.
Furthermore, such a method has been proposed to provide a more precise cruise control over the vehicle speed by professor Murakami of Kyushu Kogyo University that a fuzzy estimation is applied to the above-described system in which the control variable is set according to respective membership functions corresponding to the deviation control, first order difference, and second order difference.
However, in the above-identified Japanese Patent and Utility Model application publications, the automatic vehicle cruising speed controlling systems set the control variable only on the basis of the arithmetically operated values derived from the vehicle speed.
In addition, the input information is limited to the vehicle speed information including the control deviation, first-order difference, and second-order difference in the proposed method of fussy estimation described above.
Furthermore, since the membership function to make an input quantity or output quantity correspond to fuzzy quantity is defined, in a.,univalent correspondence, a mismatch occurs between the fuzzy quantities and control gains of the automatic cruising speed controlling system due to changes in running characteristics of the vehicle system, for example, when an automatic transmission mounted in the vehicle so as to connect to the engine output is locked-up, released or shifted down during the running on a ascending slope or descending slope.
Consequently, overshooting or undershooting to the target value of the vehicle speed occurs, control accuracy is deteriorated, and an abrupt change in the opening angle of the throttle valve occurs. Then, the comfortability of the vehicle becomes worse.
On the other hand, during the resume operation by the system to which the fuzzy estimation is applied, the same membership function is used to carry out the fuzzy estimation to set the control variable. The following problem occurs. That is to say, for example, when the vehicle speed difference is 10 Km/h as in the case where the speed ranges from 50 Km/h to 100 Km/h the change rate (acceleration) during the resume operation is largely different from the case where the difference is 50 Km/h as in a case where 50 Km/h to 100 Km/h. In the case of the small speed difference and small acceleration, a time for which the vehicle speed returns to the stored target vehicle speed is believed to be long. Whereas in the case of the large speed difference and large acceleration, the returning time is believed to be short.
In this case, the comfortability of the vehicle again becomes worsened.

System and method for automatically controlling a vehicle speed to a desired cruising speed


A device will detect man-made objects by using a polarizer mounted to a video camera. The polarizer rotates about an axis in front of a lens array of the video camera. The rotation of the polarizer alternately polarizes light received in proportion to the speed of rotation. This produces flashing in intensity for detecting the object as well as background rejection due to its lack of polarization. A man-made object having both horizontal and vertical surfaces of a type that will reflect light that can be polarized will provide flashing through the lens array as the polarizer passes through horizontal and vertical position. On the other hand, backgrounds don't have polarized components and won't flash. Attention is drawn to the man-made target. A high pass filter between the video signal processor and the monitor reduces background from the observed scene, permitting precise lock-on to the target.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates in general to detecting objects by detecting light reflections from an object, and in particular to a system that utilizes a polarizer for viewing the differences between vertical and horizontal polarization of the light reflected from an object.
2. Description of the Prior Art
This invention deals with a method of detecting objects, such as military targets. The targets may be trucks, tanks, artillery, aircraft, command centers and other systems. These objects may be protected by camouflage, foliage, or may be painted with a camouflage paint.
Presently, objects are detected visually through binoculars. Objects also may be detected by other techniques such as radar, infrared and night vision amplification systems. The prior systems do not always adequately detect an object, particularly objects that are camouflaged.
There are needs for detecting objects other than in military applications also. For example, the highest reason for helicopter crashes is due to collisions with high-tension electric wires, guy wires or other suspended cables. These cables are difficult to see by the pilot. At present, there is no particular means for detecting such cables other than visually.


A digital signal detection system, method and computer program product, including (a) partitioning a digital signal into a plurality of frames; (b) calculating a number of zero crossings of the digital signal within each frame; (c) determining whether or not an absolute value of a difference of the number of zero crossings in between frames is less than a first predetermined value; (d) determining whether or not a sum of the zero crossings of the frames is greater than or equal to a second predetermined value and less than or equal to a third predetermined value; (e) calculating a maximum amplitude of the digital signal for each of the frames; (f) calculating an average amplitude of the digital signal for all of the frames; (g) determining whether or not an absolute value of a difference between the maximum amplitude of a frame and the average amplitude is less than a fourth predetermined value times the average amplitude for each of the frames; and (h) determining that a frame contains a narrowband digital signal if the determining steps (c), (d), and (g) are met. The system, method and computer program product are applicable to signal detection circuits, echo cancellation circuits and telecommunications systems.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of telephone communications and more specifically to a method, system and computer program product for improved narrow frequency band signal detection for echo cancellation in telephone communication systems. The present invention includes use of various technologies described in the references identified in the appended LIST OF REFERENCES and cross-referenced throughout the specification by numerals in brackets corresponding to the respective references, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference.
2. Discussion of the Background
The late 1950s marked the birth of echo control in the telecommunications industry with the development of the first echo-suppression devices. These systems, first employed to manage echo generated primarily in satellite circuits, were essentially voice-activated switches that transmitted a voice path and then turned off to block any echo signal. Although echo suppressers reduced echo caused by transmission problems in the network, they also resulted in choppy first syllables and artificial volume adjustment. In addition, they eliminated double-talk capabilities, greatly reducing the ability to achieve natural conversations. [1]
Echo-cancellation theory was developed in the early 1960s by ATandT Bell Labs, followed by the introduction of the first echo-cancellation system in the late 1960s by COMSAT TeleSystems (previously a division of COMSAT Laboratories). COMSAT designed the first analog echo canceller systems to demonstrate the feasibility and performance of satellite communications networks. Based on analog processes, these early echo-cancellation systems were implemented across satellite communications networks to demonstrate the network""s performance for long-distance, cross-continental telephony. These systems were not commercially viable, however, because of their size and manufacturing costs. [1]
In the late 1970s, COMSAT TeleSystems developed and sold the first commercial analog echo cancellers, which were mainly digital devices with an analog interface to the network. The semiconductor revolution of the early 1980s marked the switch from analog to digital telecommunications networks. More sophisticated digital interface, multi-channel echo-canceller systems were also developed to address new echo problems associated with long-distance digital telephony systems. Based on application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) technology, these new echo cancellers utilized high-speed digital signal-processing techniques to model and subtract the echo from the echo return path. The result was a new digital echo-cancellation technique that outperformed existing suppression-based techniques, creating improved network performance. [1]
The 1990s have witnessed explosive growth in the wireless telecommunications industry, resulting from deregulation that has brought to market new analog and digital wireless handsets, numerous network carriers, and new digital network infrastructures such as TDMA, CDMA, and GSM. According to the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association (CTIA), new subscribers are driving the growth of the wireless market at an annual rate of 40 percent. With wireless telephony being widely implemented and competition increasing as new wireless carriers enter the market, superior voice transmission quality and customer service have now become key determining factors for subscribers evaluating a carrier""s network. Understanding and overcoming the inherent echo problems associated with such digital telecommunications networks will enable network operators and telephone companies to offer subscribers the network performance and voice quality they are demanding today. [1]
The detection of the presence of narrow frequency band signals in telephony circuits is of importance for the operation of voice based echo cancellation algorithms. The performance of the voice based echo cancellation algorithms typically degrade upon processing of such narrow frequency band signals. In addition, a control algorithm for the echo cancellation typically malfunctions upon processing of such narrow frequency band signals. The echo cancellation control algorithm uses narrow frequency band signal detection to schedule an adaptive echo filter update and to perform an echo return loss computation.
The above-noted conventional methods and systems typically use spectral analysis techniques in order to detect the presence of single and multiple frequency tonal signals. Some algorithms use frequency domain transforms, such as the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT), to convert samples into the frequency domain and then execute decision logic to identify tones. However, such transforms typically require extensive computations, resulting in the consumption of substantial system resources.
Other conventional systems and methods use a bank of limited bandwidth filters in the time domain to detect certain frequencies. However, such systems and methods typically require multiple filters to detect the presence of any pre-defined tonal signals, resulting in increased system complexity and requiring system resources proportional to a total number of taps of all of the filters.
In addition, the above-noted methods and systems typically only detect tonal signals, which generally is not sufficient for use in an echo canceller control unit.
Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide a novel method, system and computer program product for improved narrow band signal detection based on time domain analysis.
Another object of this invention is to provide a novel method, system and computer program product for detection of narrow frequency band digitized signals in telephony circuits.
Another object of this invention is to provide a novel method, system and computer program product for detection of narrow frequency band digitized signals for echo cancellation in telephony circuits.
Another object of this invention is to provide a novel method, system and computer program product for detection of narrow frequency band digitized signals in telephony circuits using zero crossing and amplitude analysis techniques.
Another object of this invention is to provide a novel method, system and computer program product for detection of narrow frequency band digitized signals for use in satellite-based digital telephony and data communication network systems.
The above and other objects are achieved according to the present invention by providing a novel digital signal detection system, method and computer program product, including (a) partitioning a digital signal into a plurality of frames; (b) calculating a number of zero crossings of the digital signal within each frame; (c) determining whether or not an absolute value of a difference of the number of zero crossings in between frames is less than a first predetermined value; (d) determining whether or not a sum of the zero crossings of the frames is greater than or equal to a second predetermined value and less than or equal to a third predetermined value; (e) calculating a maximum amplitude of the digital signal for each of the frames; (f) calculating an average amplitude of the digital signal for all of the frames; (g) determining whether or not an absolute value of a difference between the maximum amplitude of a frame and the average amplitude is less than a fourth predetermined value times the average amplitude for each of the frames; and (h) determining that a frame contains a narrowband digital signal if the determining steps (c), (d), and (g) are met.
Advantageously, the present invention not only detects single frequency tones but also narrow frequency band signals that are not necessarily tonal signals. In addition, since the present invention operates in the time domain, the present invention requires limited system resources, and uses simple decision logic, so that a fast detection can be achieved, as compared to conventional frequency domain detection techniques.

System method and computer program product for improved narrow band signal detection for echo cancellation


A power storage system includes an electric power conversion apparatus, an electric power generation source, and a power storage unit. The power storage unit is configured to have a stored power voltage equal to or higher than a first control voltage to be given to a control unit, the first control voltage being necessary for electric power conversion operation by a DC-DC converter in the electric power conversion apparatus. The control unit in the electric power conversion apparatus is configured to start operating and control an operation of a first switch, when a generated power voltage of the electric power generation source reaches a second control voltage lower than the first control voltage.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electric power conversion apparatus for charging a power storage unit with a generated electric power received from an electric power generation source, a power storage system, and an power storage method.
2. Description of the Related Art
An electric power conversion apparatus that converts and obtains a generated electric power received from an electric power generation source (for example, an electric power generation source such as photovoltaics including a solar battery using natural energy) is known in the related art (refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 9-135575). An electric power conversion apparatus that charges a power storage unit (for example, a storage battery) with the obtained electric power is also known in the related art (refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2004-120950).
In such electric power conversion apparatus, it is important to efficiently charge the power storage unit with the generated electric power received from the electric power generation source. For example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2007-104810, an electric power conversion apparatus is disclosed that can prevent deterioration in charging efficiency.
FIGS. 8A and 8B are circuit diagrams for describing the electric power conversion apparatus A disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2007-104810. FIG. 8A illustrates a circuit configuration of an entire power storage system C disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2007-104810. FIG. 8B illustrates a circuit configuration of a control unit A1 and a DC-DC converter A2 of the electric power conversion apparatus A in the power storage system C.
The electric power conversion apparatus A in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2007-104810 illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 8B charges a power storage unit B2 with a generated electric power Eg received from an electric power generation source B1 and includes a control unit A1, a DC-DC converter A2 including a switching element A3 and a Schottky diode A4 (refer to FIG. 8B), and a Schottky diode A5. The electric power conversion apparatus A has a configuration that converts the generated electric power Eg into a pulse-like boosted electric power, rectifies it with the Schottky diode A4 (refer to FIG. 8B) that operates as a first rectifying unit, and thus generates a first boosted electric power. In addition, the electric power conversion apparatus A maintains operation at a second boosted electric power obtained by rectifying the pulse-like boosted electric power using the Schottky diode A5 (refer to FIG. 8A) that operates as a second rectifying unit.
The power conversion apparatus A disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2007-104810 has a circuit configuration in which the operation is maintained at the second boosted electric power obtained by rectifying the first boosted electric power using the Schottky diode A5 and if the power storage unit B2 is not charged, an amount of energy stored in the power storage unit B2 is prevented from being consumed. However, an electric power necessary for electric power conversion operation by the DC-DC converter A2 can be supplied only from the electric power generation source B1 side. Because of this, for example, although the electric power generation source B1 generates the electric power Eg (the generated electric power greater than the electric power necessary for the power conversion operation by the DC-DC converter A2) with which the power storage unit B2 can be charged, if the generated power voltage Vg fails to reach the voltage to be given to the control unit A1, which is necessary for the electric power conversion operation by the DC-DC converter A2, the control unit A1 may not operate the DC-DC converter A2. Thus, although the electric power Eg with which the power storage unit B2 can be charged is generated, the charging may not be performed on the power storage unit B2. This brings about a disadvantage that the generated electric power Eg becomes useless, and thus the efficiency with which the charging can be performed is decreased as much as the generated electric power Eg is useless.

Electric power conversion apparatus, power storage system and power storage method


A device for preventing fouling organisms in seawater from attaching to the exposed surfaces of a marine vessel, buoy, oil rig platform, or other seawater structure. The antifouling device includes a zinc coating applied to the exposed surfaces of the seawater structure which are susceptible to fouling. When a small negative charge is impressed upon the seawater structure, a Helmholtz double layer forms at the interface between the zinc coating and the seawater which is precludes fouling. The slight negative charge impressed upon the zinc coating also prevents dissolution of the zinc into the seawater which would otherwise be expected.

The present invention relates to an antifouling and anticorrosion device which applies a high voltage potential between a titanium anode and the conductive surface of the hull of a ship. The high voltage and the small current in the ship's submerged hull surface effectively prevents adherence of marine organisms to the hull while simultaneously preventing corrosion of the hull.
The shipping industry has long faced a serious problem caused by the adherence of marine organisms to ship hulls. Such fouling of a ship's hull increases the operating cost of a ship and decreases its efficiency. Marine organisms which become attached to the hull must periodically be removed, thereby usually taking the ship out of operation for extended periods of time for dry dock maintenance. Also, if fouling is not prevented, sea organisms will continue to attach to the hull and will cause ever increasing operating costs associated with additional fuel requirements and decreased speeds.
The prior art teaches several ways of removing marine organisms, including barnacle growth, from a ship. Barnacles can be mechanically scraped from the ship while in dry dock. Cleaning machines have been developed having rotating brushes which can remove barnacles and other marine organisms from the hull.
Another method of overcoming the fouling problem has been to use highly toxic paints on the hulls of ships. Such paints retard the build up of marine growth on the hull. A toxic element in the paint, such as a compound of copper or mercury which is soluble in seawater, is controllably dissolved into the water to provide protection over several years. For example U.S. Pat. No. 3,817,759 contemplates the use of an antifouling coating comprising a polymeric titanium ester of an aliphatic alcohol since titanium is known to have good corrosion resistance and low water solubility which prevents premature leaching and exhaustion of the coating.
Another antifouling method described in the prior art has been to coat the hull with a metallic paint whose ions are toxic to marine life, i.e., copper, mercury, silver, tin, arsenic, and cadmium, and then to periodically apply a voltage to the hull to anodically dissolve the toxic ions into the seawater thereby inhibiting marine life growth. This method is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 3,661,742 and in U.S. Pat. No. 3,497,434.
Antifouling systems which rely on dissolution of toxic paint into the seawater have limited utility since the coating applied to the hull is depleted and the hull must be periodically repainted. This problem is made even more severe in those systems which make the hull anodic to force dissolution since this increases the rate of dissolution. This poses a potentially serious problem since once the hull is exposed it to will be dissolved, resulting in pitting or puncturing of the hull.
Various other apparatuses have been proposed which rely upon application of a voltage to the hull of the ship or provision for flow of current through the hull of the ship to retard growth of marine organisms on the hull. Some systems have proposed the electro-chemical decomposition of seawater causing gases to be produced near the submerged surfaces of the hull. Proponents of such systems maintain that the gases prevent the adherence of marine organisms such as barnacles, algae, etc. Others suggest that high current can cause shock and retard the growth of marine organisms on the hull. None of these systems, however, have proven commercially successful for reasons of cost and poor antifouling results. Examples of these systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,196,064 and the Russian Patent No. 3388.
Solution to the problem of fouling requires a full understanding of the phenomenon involved. Fouling occurs especially on stationary structures and on ships in port, and there is relatively little fouling of a ship's hull while underway in the open sea. Although not understood in all respects, the phenomenon of fouling apparently is encouraged by bacteria and colloidal particles which in water solution possess an electric charge. For instance, amino acids are negatively charged and in combination as protein molecules are attracted to a ship's hull which is normally positive with respect to the protein molecules. These materials provide the elements of the marine organism food chain and form the initial film which appears on a ship's hull and attracts further sea creatures.
After formation of the initial phase of the food chain on the ship's hull, bacteria will form on the hull surface in one to three days, followed by an algae slime in three to seven days. Protozoans are observed within one to three weeks and finally barnacles attach to the hull in three to ten weeks. Interruption of the food chain will prevent adherence of marine organisms such as barnacles.
Another problem related to fouling of a ship's hull which the shipping industry has long attempted to solve is that of corrosion. Corrosion normally occurs to underwater portions of a ship's hull because the seawater acts as an electrolyte and current will consequently flow, as in a battery, between surface areas of differing electrical potential. The flow of current takes with it metal ions thereby gradually corroding anodic portions of the hull.
Various techniques have been developed to prevent corrosion. Sacrificial anodes of active metals such as zinc or magnesium have been fastened to the hull. Such anodes, through galvanic action, themselves corrode away instead of the hull. Other systems use cathodic protection by impressed current. Such systems utilize long life anodes which are attached to the hull to impress a current flow in the hull. The result is that the entire hull is made cathodic relative to the anode, thereby shielding it from corrosion. Such systems operate at very low voltage levels.
One cathodic protection system found in the prior art utilizes a titanium anode plated with platinum. The platinum acts as the electrical discharge surface for the anode into the electrolytic seawater. No current is discharged from any surface portions of the electrode comprising titanium. This particular system impresses high current densities on the anode on the order of 550 amps per square foot. Since there is a high current flow from the platinum or other non-soluble anode metal, there is a very low potential. There is essentially no current flow from the surface of the titanium. An example of such a system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,313,721.
A titanium alloy has in another prior art system been used as a sacrificial anode. A pure titanium anode cannot be successfully used as a sacrificial anode because of the dielectric oxide layer which forms on its surface unless a quite high voltage is applied to it. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,033,775 a titanium alloy is used with such elements as cobalt, nickel, maganese, zinc, tin or the like to effect a lowering of the polarization potential of titanium thereby making it a good sacrificial anode. Indeed it has long been recognized that pure titanium does not perform satisfactorily as a soluble or sacrificial anode material because of the electrically resistant oxide film that forms on its surface.
A final problem faced by those desiring to develop a successful antifouling system is hydrogen embrittlement of the ship's hull. When electrolytic action takes place close to the surface of the ship's hull, such as in some of those systems described above, hydrolysis of the seawater may occur. Such hydrolysis releases hydrogen ions which cause embrittlement of the ship's hull. Consequently, it is important in any antifouling system which is installed that the system not be operated at such high currents to cause hydrolysis of the water thereby releasing hydrogen. This problem has prevented others in the art from developing a high voltage antifouling device which can successfully prevent the adherence of marine organisms without causing hydrogen embrittlement.

Electrochemical system for the prevention of fouling on steel structures in seawater


An electro-slip clutch may include a friction stack for receiving input rotation from an input shaft and a surrounding hub and for attaching to an output member. A bearing surface may be provided adjacent the friction stack and a solenoid may further be provided. The solenoid may include a plunger in a first position pressing against the bearing surface with a first degree of force and in a second position different than the first position relative to the bearing surface. Thus, torque transmitted through the friction stack is adjustable by the solenoid. A method of operating a clutch mechanism may include providing a solenoid adjacent a friction stack and providing a first current level to the solenoid, the first current level energizing a coil of the solenoid and pushing a plunger within the solenoid towards the friction stack with a first degree of force.

This invention relates generally to clutches, and more particularly, this invention relates to a slip clutch for intermittent, continuous, or overload slip, or for braking.
Slip clutch mechanisms of various constructions are used in many applications to couple a driving shaft to a driven shaft or other device, and to limit the transmitted torque. They may also be used in or as hinges to hold one device in a predetermined angular position with respect to another device, for example, the lid of a case for a laptop computer. In the latter type of uses, the slip clutches provide the function of brakes.
The prior art discloses many different slip clutch constructions using various spring arrangements to establish a slip torque between a driving and driven member to thereby limit the torque transmitted.
Some of these prior art devices are relatively complicated, requiring a large number of parts and helical springs and most are limited in the slip torque range they can provide. Also, there is a constant demand of organizations using small slip clutches for a more economical device.


A system that stabilizes or supplements the variable power output from an external energy source by producing power from aluminum alloys. The aluminum alloy produces hydrogen from water, and also releases heat. During this process, the aluminum alloy is oxidized to alumina mixture, which can be recycled in a smelting unit to regenerate the aluminum alloy. The aluminum alloy can be easily transported in existing transportation system to different locations. The system produces electricity on-demand using portions of the existing power generation and transportation systems with minimal carbon footprint/emission.

To reduce carbon emissions, renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, geothermal, and hydroelectric can be used to replace fossil hydrocarbons for production of electric power to be carried on an electrical grid. However, the use of renewable energy sources for power production is hampered by high costs, location restrictions and intermittent power output. In many cases, long range power lines bring power to the point of consumption hundreds, or even thousands of miles away from the energy source.
Conventional methods of electricity generation based upon coal require the mining of the coal, which is then typically transported by rail to a power plant. At the power plant, the coal is used to generate electricity, releasing fossil carbon dioxide and other pollutants into the atmosphere. In electrical generation from natural gas, the natural gas is piped to an incineration site where the gas is burned to eventually drive an electrical turbine. However, the burning of natural gas also releases fossil carbon to the atmosphere.
In an effort to reduce carbon emissions, alternative energy sources are being developed. For example, hydrogen can be used to produce power in an internal combustion engine, and hydrogen can also be used to produce power in fuel cells. However, even "clean" hydrogen is usually produced from reforming of fossil hydrocarbons, which has a large carbon footprint. Alternatively, hydrogen may be produced by the splitting of water, however, this requires a significant amount of energy. In addition, the storage and distribution of hydrogen is expensive.

Methods, apparatuses, and systems for the extensible and recyclable use of solid matter in the supply chain for the generation of electricity


A vital sign information recording system includes a data collector configured to collect behavior-associated information of a subject and vital sign information of the subject, and a display configured to display a presumed behavior of the subject and the vital sign information of the subject. At least one of the data collector and the display has a controller configured to determine the presumed behavior of the subject based on the behavior-associated information, and to display the presumed behavior of the subject and the vital sign information of the subject in a mutually associated manner on the display.

The presently disclosed subject matter relates to a vital sign information recording system, a vital sign information analyzer, and a vital sign information display method.
In a test which is undertaken not under management of a medical personnel, such as an electrocardiographic test by the Holter method or a sleep apnea test, a subject himself/herself records what kinds of behaviors he/she performed during the test. The subject uses a physical tool, a function of an electronic device, or the like, to record the behaviors. For example, the subject records the behaviors by making a note on paper, or by operating subject's event keys of a test instrument.
The medical personnel checks both the record of the behaviors during the test, which was made by the subject himself/herself, and vital sign information recorded by a Holter monitor or a sleep apnea test instrument. When the record of the behaviors of the subject and the vital sign information of the subject are associated with each other, a highly accurate test result can be obtained. For example, based on the record of the behaviors such as exercising, going up/down stairs, getting out of bed, sleeping etc. reported by the subject, the medical personnel checks the vital sign information during each of the behaviors. Thus, the medical personnel can perform edition with high accuracy, and obtain a highly accurate test result.
To this end, the subject has to record the behaviors accurately in order to obtain a highly accurate test result. However, it is actually very troublesome for the subject to record the behaviors accurately. This becomes a burden on the subject. For this reason, there is a possibility that a recording omission or a recording mistake may arise.
A related art deals with a measurement of human behavior by selectively using various sensors such as an acceleration sensor, a barometer, a thermometer, and an electrocardiographic monitor (see, e.g., JP2012-239891A).

Vital sign information recording system, vital sign information analyzer, and vital sign information display method


A non-ageing low-alloy hot-rolled strip-form formable steel has a carbon content of between 0.02 and 0.10 wt. % and a thickness of between 0.5 and 5.0 mm. In order to bind N so as to achieve a non-ageing steel, while permitting direct entry of the steel to rolling from casting, the contents of titanium, nitrogen and sulphur in wt. % satisfy the conditions: EQU Ti.gtoreq.2.28 N EQU Ti.ltoreq.3.43 N+1.5 S. and the steel is free from titanium carbide and niobium carbide and contains nitrogen in an amount of less than 0.007 wt. %.

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a non-ageing low-alloy hot-rolled strip-form formable steel. The steel has good mechanical and surface properties. Typically such a steel has a thickness in the range 0.5 to 5.0 mm.
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
A low-alloy hot-rolled steel strip of a given thickness and a given C-content may be obtained in accordance with a known method in which a cast steel slab with a thickness of between 25 and 300 mm is first cooled down and then before hot-rolling heated up to, and homogenized at, a temperature of between 1100.degree. C. and 1250.degree. C.
As the slab cools down any nitrogen present in the steel combines with aluminum into aluminium nitride. This binding of N is preserved as the slab is heated up again if the temperature is kept not higher than about 1100.degree. C. This gives a product which is non-ageing.
If the steel is heated to higher temperatures, free nitrogen goes increasingly into solution in the steel, which means that the steel becomes less non-ageing. This ageing occurs in particular after pickling and re-rolling of the hot-rolled steel strip. This ageing has a disadvantageous effect on the mechanical properties of the formable steel. During forming of age-hardened steel, flow lines develop on the surface, which means that the surface quality of the finished product is not ideal.
Also if the slab is not sufficiently cooled before being re-heated, or if it is taken directly from the casting heat into an homogenizing furnace, free nitrogen will remain present in the steel, because nitrides are unable to form. Then also non-ageing material is not obtained, even if the furnace temperature is low. For reasons of energy saving and stock limiting it is becoming increasingly common not to cool the cast slabs down to ambient temperature but to place them in the furnace at a higher temperature or even send them through a furnace directly after casting. In addition, for reasons of savings in energy and savings in material and product properties, it is sought to reduce the furnace temperature down to 1000.degree. C. or even down to 850.degree. C. So, in this known method, the energy saving desired is impossible if it is intended to manufacture a non-ageing product.
It is to be noted that dissolved nitrogen in the steel may also have a disadvantageous influence on the achievement of a good strip shape and an even thickness. In particular this is the case when, for reasons of energy saving, a low temperature in the re-heating furnace is sought. A low temperature in the re-heating furnace implies low rolling temperatures. At these relatively low rolling temperatures, dissolved nitorgen impedes a complete recrystallization of the steel between the different forming stages in the hot-rolling process. This means that the hardness of the steel may vary considerably during forming, leading to the drawbacks described.
Dissolved nitrogen may also prevent a complete recrystallization of the hot-rolled steel, if the steel is coiled at a temperature below 700.degree. C. A coiling temperature below 700.degree. C. is desirable from the point of view of oxide control and homogeneity of mechanical properties. The level of mechanical properties is seriously affected by incomplete recrystallization.
Some specific prior art proposals will be referred to below, where they are more easily discussed in the light of the following explanation of the present invention.

Non-ageing low-alloy hot-rolled strip-form formable steel


A power-on reset circuit for resetting the register values contained on an integrated circuit upon power-up of the integrated circuit. The power-on reset circuit can be implemented either internal or external to the integrated circuit. The power-on reset circuit generates a reset signal as long as the supply voltage is not in the operational range and maintains the reset signal for a certain time after the supply voltage has returned to its nominal value. The power-on reset circuit also provides accurate detection of a serious supply voltage drop and has low power consumption. The power-on reset circuit comprises a battery, a voltage-referenced switching circuit, a current source, a capacitor and a voltage buffer.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a power-on reset circuit used in electronic devices and particularly to a power-on reset circuit required upon the power-up of an integrated circuit to set the integrated circuit to a known and predefined state.
2. Related Art
Integrated circuit (IC) technology continues to advance, with ICs able to perform a greater number of increasingly complex functions. Consequently, the power consumption of ICs is increasing with the increasing complexity of the IC. Furthermore, there is a demand for longer battery life in mobile electronic systems, therefore, power consumption is a major concern in designing mobile electronic systems. Decreasing power consumption decreases cooling costs, power supply costs, packaging costs, and improves reliability. At times when an IC is not operating, the battery can be disconnected from the IC to disable operation of the chip, reducing power consumption.
A concern in powering-up an IC after the battery has been disconnected is the state into which each of the registers in the IC enters upon power-up. If a single latch or flip-flop powers-up into an undesirable state, a catastrophic failure of the IC may occur. Therefore, at power-on of the IC, each register must be cleared to a predefined state by a power-on reset (POR) circuit. Then, after a predetermined interval of time, the IC is able to enter values into the registers. In this way, the first state of all of the registers at power-on of the IC is always the cleared state. Therefore, the IC will always power-up properly. The POR circuit allows resetting to predetermined register values, allowing the IC to be used immediately without performing any programming operations.
In the past, a common POR circuit compared two voltages with a simple comparator as shown in FIG. 1. A comparator compares two input voltages (V+ and V- ) and outputs a high or low voltage signal depending on whether V+ is higher or lower in voltage value than V-. As used herein, a high output voltage signal refers to the battery voltage while a low output voltage signal refers to ground.
It is well known in the art that a comparator comprises a differential pair of transistors having inputs at the positive and negative inputs of the comparator. As shown in FIG. 1, the positive input of the comparator is connected to a resistor/capacitor divider and the negative input to the comparator is connected to a completely resistive voltage divider.
Timing diagrams of the comparator POR circuit are included in FIG. 1. During power-up of the voltage supply, the completely resistive voltage divider follows the rise of the supply voltage, but at a lower voltage. Thus, V- will be at a lower voltage than the supply voltage as it rises with the supply voltage during power-up. The resistor/capacitor divider voltage will rise as the capacitor begins to charge to the final supply voltage value as shown in FIG. 1. The capacitor functions as an open circuit under DC conditions, therefore, current will not flow through the capacitor, and the capacitor will eventually maintain the final supply voltage value after it is fully charged.
The resistor/capacitor divider voltage, V+, will charge slower than the completely resistive divider voltage, V-. The resistor/capacitor voltage, V+, will eventually match or `compare` with the value of V- and continue to increase to the larger supply voltage value. Prior to the input voltage comparison, the output of the comparator will be low since V+ will be at a lower voltage than V-. A low output comparator voltage resets all registers on the IC. At the point of comparison, when V+ equals V-, the comparator changes from a low to high output value, thus releasing register control of the IC back to the inputs of the registers. The dashed line in the timing diagrams displays the time where V+ and V- are compared, changing the state of the output.
A disadvantage of the comparator POR circuit shown in FIG. 1 occurs when the battery supply voltage ramps up slowly. As the battery supply voltage ramps up slowly, the capacitive delay is eliminated because the capacitor charges as fast as the voltage rises. Thus the capacitor voltage maintains the supply voltage while the completely resistive divider remains lower than the supply voltage. Therefore when a comparator has an input where V+ is always higher than V-, the output is always high, and no reset operation occurs, causing failure of the IC.
Another common POR circuit is the basic voltage referenced dualcomparator circuit shown in FIG. 2. This circuit consists of two comparators with a voltage reference applied at opposite polarity terminals of each comparator. The first comparator has a resistive divider at its negative input while the second has a current source, transistor switch and a capacitor at the positive input.
The timing diagrams in FIG. 2 shows the operation of the dualcomparator POR circuit. Upon power-up of the supply voltage, the first comparator output voltage will change from high to low when V-.sub.1 compares to V+.sub.1, the voltage reference. The behavior of the transistor switch is determined by the output of the first comparator. When the output of the first comparator is a high voltage upon power-up, the transistor switch is "on" and sinks all current from the current source. When the voltage of V-.sub.1 reaches and exceeds V+.sub.1, the output of the first comparator changes to low voltage, and the transistor switch is "off," preventing current flow through the transistor switch. The current then travels to the capacitor and begins raising the voltage of V+.sub.2.
The output of the second comparator is low initially since the reference voltage, V-.sub.2, is higher than V+.sub.2 because V+.sub.2 is shorted by the transistor switch to ground. When the transistor switch turns "off," the capacitor at V+.sub.2 charges up to a voltage that exceeds V-.sub.2, and the output of the second comparator changes from low to high voltage. When the output of the second comparator is low voltage, the circuit resets the IC register system as needed.
A disadvantage of the dual-comparator POR circuit is the use of a voltage reference which must be operational during the power-up of the IC, or turned on before power-up of the IC to provide a voltage reference to the POR circuit. The voltage reference must be either external to the chip or designed on-chip. Utilizing a voltage reference in a POR circuit in mobile electronic devices results in additional costs, power consumption and complexity.
Implementing an on-chip voltage reference requires providing for the circuit to turn the voltage reference on before or during power-up of the IC. Powering the voltage reference at all times results in increased power consumption. In the alternative, repeatedly powering-up voltage reference accurately, internal or external to the IC, is difficult, inconvenient, and adds complexity to IC design. Additionally, if implemented external to the IC, the voltage reference requires that a pin or pins be added to the IC, adding further complexity and size to the IC.
Another common method of resetting the registers in an IC is by utilizing the circuit shown in FIG. 3. The circuit shown in FIG. 3 uses a programmable unijunction transistor (PUJT) to simplify the design. In the past, POR circuits used a resistor/capacitor configuration (RC) shown to the right of the dashed line in FIG. 3. The RC provides a delay in the rise of the battery supply voltage as the capacitor charges up, resetting the registers in the IC system. The addition of a PUJT and the resistors on the left hand side of the dashed line in FIG. 3 to the RC POR circuit removes the need to detect a voltage drop. The PUJT is basically a p-n-p-n device with an anode gate. FIG. 4 shows the PUJT in greater detail.
With the addition of the PUJT and a resistor to the RC POR circuit, the capacitor supports the anode voltage as V.sub.cc. When the battery voltage drops, the PUJT triggers when its gate drops to about 0.7V below the anode. The capacitor discharges when the PUJT triggers, ensuring a reset by pulling the reset line low to implement a full register reset.
The first disadvantage of the RC POR circuit is that it requires a fast power-up and power down of the battery supply voltage. If the supply voltage powers up or down too slowly the RC time delay does not occur and reset does not generate a reset signal. Additionally, the RC POR circuit fails to provide accurate detection of a large supply voltage drop and does not provide the needed reset signal to prevent erratic operation of the IC.
The second disadvantage is that the RC components need to be so large that they may need to be implemented external to the IC. Furthermore, PUJTs are not available in IC fabrication technology so the PUJT must be implemented external to the IC. Also, if the voltage supply decreases slowly, capacitance slowly discharges, and the PUJT gate never becomes 0.7 volts below the anode of the PUJT, and no reset operation occurs.


The present invention provides a system that allows documents of various types to be shared between users at geographically dispersed client computers. The users may contemporaneously manipulate the documents and each user's manipulations are displayed to the other users in real time using a lightweight synchronization process.

It is often desirable for persons located in disparate locations to collaborate to produce a common product. In many cases these persons must travel to a single location to facilitate such collaboration. There is increasing interest in collaboration tools that allow such persons to work at their disparate locations while still viewing the same information and collaborating together in real time. The existing tools for such collaboration are limited in functionality and efficiency. For example, the some of the existing collaboration tools are limited to a single or very few document types and cannot practically be expanded beyond those document types. Other tools are very inefficient with respect to synchronization of information displayed to different users, with the result that the different users cannot share information practically in real time, but must deal with long latency periods.
Accordingly, there is a need for a system that efficiently allows collaborative sharing of different document types.

System and method for collaborative information display and markup


In some examples, to define a connection path of an initiator to target ports of a plurality of controller nodes that manage access of data in a storage system, a provisioning system determines loads of respective sets of target ports, and selects a selected set of target ports from among the sets of target ports for inclusion in the connection path based on the determined loads.

A storage system can include a storage device or an array of storage devices to store data. The storage system may be accessible by initiators over a network. A controller node can be used to manage access of data in the storage system. In some examples, for fault tolerance, multiple controller nodes can be used to manage access of data in the storage system. An initiator can access the storage system using a primary controller node, and in case of a fault of the primary controller node, can failover to a backup controller node to access the storage system.
Throughout the drawings, identical reference numbers designate similar, but not necessarily identical, elements. The figures are not necessarily to scale, and the size of some parts may be exaggerated to more clearly illustrate the example shown. Moreover, the drawings provide examples and/or implementations consistent with the description; however, the description is not limited to the examples and/or implementations provided in the drawings.

Target port set selection for a connection path based on comparison of respective loads

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP


A gas storage assembly that has an enclosure within which are disposed at least about 100 inorganic tubules are present for each cubic micron of volume of the enclosure. The assembly has a storage capacity of at least 20 grams of hydrogen per liter of volume of the enclosure.

Molecular hydrogen, H2, has been examined as a possible alternative fuel source. Unfortunately, molecular hydrogen also has numerous drawbacks that have prevented its wide scale use as a fuel. One such disadvantage is the gaseous state of molecular hydrogen. Hydrogen gas is exceptionally difficult to store and transport. The prior art is replete with attempts to design simple, inexpensive hydrogen storage devices to address this need. These attempts include U.S. Pat. No. 4,838,606 to Hunter (Hydrogen Storage System); U.S. Pat. No. 6,074,453 to Anderson (Ultrafine Hydrogen Storage Powders); U.S. Pat. No. 6,143,052 to Kiyokawa (Hydrogen Storage Material); U.S. Pat. No. 6,672,077 to Bradley (Hydrogen Storage in Nanostructure with Physisorption); U.S. Pat. No. 5,906,792 to Schulz (Nanocrystaline Composite for Hydrogen Storage); U.S. Pat. No. 5,653,951 to Rodriguez (Storage of Hydrogen in Layered Nanostructures); and the like. The disclosure of each of these patents is hereby incorporated by reference into this specification.
Attempts have been made to provide hydrogen storage devices comprised of carbon nanotubes. By way of illustration, U.S. Pat. No. 5,653,951 of Rodriguez et al. describes a hydrogen storage device comprised of carbon nanotubes (see, e.g., claim 26).
The hydrogen storage efficiency carbon nanotubes is not that great, generally being less than about 15 grams of hydrogen per liter of storage volume. It is an object of this invention, in one embodiment thereof, to provide a storage assembly with a storage capability substantially greater than about 15 grams of hydrogen per liter of storage volume.