A method for viewing a document file and a projection apparatus using the method are provided. The method is suitable for a projection apparatus which has a built-in file viewer. In the method, multi-lingual word banks supported by the projection apparatus are grouped to obtain a plurality of language groups. Each of the language groups shares at least one of the word banks. One of the language groups is linked in response to an input condition, and the linked language group is provided to the file viewer for performing a loading operation, so as to allow the file viewer to view the document file.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a technique of viewing a document file. More particularly, the invention relates to a method of viewing a document file through a projection apparatus and a projection apparatus using the method.
2. Description of Related Art
Most projectors on the market cannot be applied to directly view and project files including Microsoft Office files, e.g., Word files, Excel files, PowerPoint files, and so forth. Generally, a projector can project the contents of a Microsoft Office file through three different ways as indicated below.
1. The Microsoft Office file is decoded by a computer (e.g., a notebook computer or a personal computer), and the decoded file is transmitted via a signal transmission line (e.g., a VGA transmission line or an HDMI transmission line) to the projector for projection.
2. The Microsoft Office file is converted by a computer into a certain format that can be decoded by the projector, and the converted file is transmitted to the projector for decoding and projecting actions.
3. A file viewer or an Office reader is built in the projector, such that the projector can view and project the contents of the Microsoft Office file by means of the file viewer.
As for the third way mentioned above, due to restrictions imposed by the file viewer itself or by the projector hardware (e.g., insufficient memory capacity or processing power from a processing core), multi-lingual word banks respectively containing different languages supportable by the projector cannot be simultaneously loaded on the file viewer. As such, given that a certain Word file contains a word bank that is not loaded on the file viewer, the file viewer is not able to read the contents of the Word file, such that the projector cannot correctly project the contents of the Word file. For instance, when a certain Word file simultaneously contains Chinese texts, English texts, and Japanese texts, for instance, and only the Chinese and English word banks can be loaded on the file viewer based on the above-mentioned restrictions, the file viewer cannot read the Japanese texts of the Word file, and accordingly the projector is incapable of projecting the Japanese texts of the Word file.
On the other hand, Taiwan Patent No. 578094 relates to support multi-lingual language when the memory space is limited. However, as described in this patent, only a single language data/word bank can be loaded at one time, and accordingly the simultaneous loading of multi-lingual data/word banks is still not possible.

Method of viewing document file and projecting the document file by projection apparatus


The present application provides a near field information transmission method and system, an information transmitting client, an information receiving client, and an information system. The information transmitting client transmits an acquisition request to the information system. The information transmitting client receives a random number that corresponds to the acquisition request and is returned by the information system. The random number corresponds to the information of said information transmitting client. The information transmitting client uses the random number as a service set identifier of a hotspot, and the service set identifier is broadcast through a beacon frame of a wireless communication protocol. The present techniques conduct near field information transmission conveniently and accurately.

Information plays a very important role in social life. Valuable information needs to be exchanged among people. Along with the development of mobile communication technologies, in particular, near field information transmission has become increasingly popular. In the application scenario of near field payment, for example, a first issue of a third party payment is how to transmit a seller's account information to a buyer.
The conventional techniques primarily use the following methods for near field information transmission.
Two-dimensional code scanning requires a transmitting party to turn on the camera function to take a picture of the information and transmit the picture to a receiving party. The two-dimensional code scanning method has light requirements and needs complex operations.
Global Positioning System (GPS) positioning requires the transmitting party to obtain latitude and longitude data through GPS and then transmit the latitude and longitude data to an information system through a mobile network and the information system identifies corresponding information based on the latitude and longitude data. GPS has relatively high requirements for the data collection accuracy. When two transmitting parties are very close to each other, in particular, it is difficult to determine which one is the transmitting party. In general, the accuracy of GPS positioning tends to be affected by a number of factors. As a result, it is difficult for the accuracy of near field information transmission to meet the requirements.
Voice transmission has very high requirements for the surrounding environment, and moreover, noise interference tends to affect the voice collection, thereby lowering the accuracy of near field information transmission.
Manual input requires the transmitting party to manually input information by means of a text message or other methods, which is inconvenient and easy to result in errors from any negligence, thereby making it difficult to ensure the accuracy of near field information transmission.
In summary, the conventional techniques cannot conduct near field information transmission conveniently and accurately.


An equalizer for equalizing an input signal includes an infinitive impulse response (IIR) filtering portion for filtering the input signal to produce N filtered outputs; a gain-adjusting portion coupled to the IIR filtering portion with N gains for adjusting the N filtered outputs to produce N gained outputs, respectively; and an adder for summing the N gained outputs to generate an equalized output signal. N is an integer larger than 2.

With the great advance of audiovisual systems such as stereo system or television system, equalizers become one of the key components to the audiovisual systems with different quality.
An application example of an equalizer is shown in FIG. 1A, which is an image captured from an application program Winamp of a Microsoft Windows OS (operating system). WINAMP can control audio in the Microsoft Windows OS, wherein a plurality of virtual control buttons are provided for equalization 100, e.g. volume control 102 and sound balance 104. In this example, the equalizer 102 includes ten bands, e.g. 60 Hz, 170 Hz, 310 Hz, 1 KHz, 3 KHz, 6 KHz, 12 KHz, 14 KHz and 16 KHz, independently adjustable through respective virtual dragging buttons 101. The buttons 101 of equalizer 100 shown in FIG. 1A are all tuned at a level of zero decibel (dB), which means the original audio signal is present. FIG. 1B illustrates a frequency response corresponding to the equalizer 100 set at a "0 dB" level, which is ideally flat. In another example, the buttons 101 of equalizer 100 are all set at a level of +12 decibel (dB), as shown in FIG. 2A, in which the desired ideal result is intended to be an absolutely flat frequency response as shown in FIG. 2B. Conventionally, extremely high hardware cost is inevitable in order to achieve the ideally flat frequency response. For example, a complex time-domain circuitry involving inverse Fourier transformation is needed as well as a high-performance microprocessor, e.g. a 32-bit ARM (Advanced RISC Machine) or MIPS (Microprocessor without Interlocked Pipeline Stages) microprocessor. In addition to high cost, it is also a waste of the hardware resource.
Alternatively, the prior art may adopt a low-cost equalizer including several band-pass filters to roughly process several bands by way of a design tool MATLAB. FIG. 3 exemplifies a frequency response of an equalizer including two band-pass filters to process two bands by way of MATLAB. As shown, the two band-pass filters BPA and BPB are roughly centered on frequencies f1 and f2. Accordingly, when all the dragging buttons are tuned to +12 dB, the frequency response only appears flat around the regions near the frequencies f1 and f2. Moreover, serious distortion of audio signals occurs at crossing bands, and thus the quality of the audio signals deteriorates seriously.

Equalizer using infinitive impulse response filtering and associated method


Conventionally, a laser beam is amplified by making a single pass through an amplifier but the laser beam emitted from the oscillator generally has low energy, so the energy stored in the amplifier cannot be fully extracted and only low laser output power and overall efficiency result.

This invention relates to a method for amplifying a solid-state laser by passing a laser beam through an amplifier several times while compensating for the thermal distortion in the laser beam by means of bending mirrors, polarizers, a Faraday rotator and a phase conjugate mirror in combination with the amplifier.
Conventionally, a laser beam is amplified by making a single pass through an amplifier (J. L. Emmett et al., Lawrence Livermore Laboratory, No. UCRL-52863, April (1980)). The conventional method of laser beam amplification is shown schematically in FIG. 1, in which the laser beam is indicated by 1 and the amplifier by 2.
The laser beam 1 emitted from the oscillator generally has low energy and the single-pass system shown in FIG. 1 is unable to exhibit a saturation behavior in amplification; therefore, the energy stored in the amplifier 2 cannot be fully extracted and only low laser output power and overall efficiency result.
An object, therefore, of the present invention is to provide an efficient method for laser beam amplification that can produce an output of high quality by employing bending mirrors, polarizers, a phase conjugate mirror, etc. in combination with the amplifier.

Method for amplifying a solid-state laser

Abstract: According to the method of the invention for amplifying a solid-state laser, the laser beam is passed through the amplifier multiple times and with spatial uniformity so as to achieve efficient extraction of the energy stored in the amplifier and the thermally induced distortion of the laser beam can be compensated by the single amplifier.


In a method of producing a metal structure by photoreducing metal ion, a substance capable of suppressing growth of metal crystal is added to a medium in which metal ion is dispersed to prevent growth of the metal crystal produced by photoreduction of the metal ion, thereby processing resolution of a metal structure formed of the metal crystal is improved.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a method of producing a metal structure by photoreduction of metal ion. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a metal structure, whereby processing resolution thereof is improved by suppressing growth of metal crystal constituting the metal structure.
2. Background Art
In recent years, fine processing technologies using light such as optical lithography technology and optical disk manufacturing technology are widely utilized, and such technologies have been studied in a variety of fields.
For example, the fine processing technology using light, which is most widely applied at present, is the above-mentioned optical lithography technology. The optical lithography technology is a backbone technology for manufacturing a variety of electronic devices such as semiconductor chips. The technology relates to a massive copying technology using a photo-transferring technology in principle, in which a metal in a specified region is dissolved, separated out, or removed finally in a chemical manner, thereby a desired metal pattern is formed as a metal structure. Therefore, this method may be used only for two-dimensional processing, and it is impossible to use the method to freely form a metal structure having a three-dimensional structure.
On the other hand, a technique for forming a metal pattern by irradiating directly a laser beam on a specified material is known as a technology for forming a desired metal pattern as a metal structure other than the above-mentioned optical lithography technology. More specifically, there are a technique involving irradiating a focused laser beam onto a medium having metal nanoparticles dispersed therein, to thereby melt and bind the metal nanoparticles at the focal point of the laser beam, thereby a metal pattern is formed as a metal structure; and a technique involving irradiating focused light onto metal ion, thereby the metal ion is photoreduced and a metal body is separated out, thereby a metal pattern is formed as a metal structure.
Here, in the above-mentioned technique involving separating out the metal body by photoreducing the metal ion, an arbitrary metal pattern can be formed as a metal structure in response to the track of scanned focused laser beam by scanning the focused laser beam which irradiates the material ion. Accordingly, a metal structure having a three-dimensional structure can be freely formed, and its applicable range is extremely wide, thereby studies and developments have been made upon the technique in a variety of fields in recent years.
A method of improving the processing resolution of the metal structure in the technique involving photoreducing the metal ion to separate out the metal body is also known.
In general, an absorption rate of light increases when metal structure is separated out, and hence there are many cases where the reaction proceeds explosively just at the moment when an increased amount of the metal structure exceeds a certain threshold value. There is a problem that, when such a phenomenon occurs, the photoreduction of the metal ions existing in the vicinity of the focal point proceeds at the same time, thereby the processing resolution of the metal structure degrades. In the method disclosed in JP2006-316311A, a specified pigment is added to a material, thereby an absorption spectrum and an absorption cross section of a non-processed material are maintained at constant, and the processing resolution is prevented from degradation by propagating energy of the laser beam to an area other than the focal point of the laser beam, besides photoreduction efficiency at the focal point of the laser beam is improved.
This method could improve the processing resolution to a micrometer order, but a higher-precision nanometer-order processing resolution was yet required.

Photoreduction processing method of three-dimensional metal nanostructure


A method is provided to perform an imaging scan on a target tissue. The imaging scan includes generating a signal directed at a portion of a target tissue using a collimator that includes a slot, wherein a source of a signal assembly is incoherently interrupted. The method also includes receiving at least a portion of the signal from the portion of the target tissue at a linear signal detector positioned directly opposite from the signal assembly with respect to the target tissue, and simultaneously translating the linear signal detector and adjusting a width of the at least one slot of the collimator such that a fan width of the signal at the linear signal detector corresponds to a width of a detector window disposed in the linear signal detector. The method also includes rotating a stage about the target tissue, and repeating performing the imaging scan on the target tissue.

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women and the second leading cause of cancer death in American women. Screening mammography has been credited for a significant reduction in breast cancer mortality. However, conventional planar mammography has certain limitations. One of these is the representation of three-dimensional (3D) information in a two-dimensional (2D) image. Representation of 3D information in a 2D image introduces a significant error due to tissue superimposition and is a major factor responsible for false positives and missed cancers.
To overcome this limitation, imaging techniques aiming to provide some depth information have been developed. One of these imaging techniques is digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT), which involves acquiring a set of radiographic cone beam projections by moving the x-ray tube over a limited angular range along an arc over the breast and combining these projections to reconstruct a quasi-3D image. DBT has been shown to decrease the recall rate by 15-37% when used for screening and increase the cancer detection rate by 1.2-2.7 per 1000. DBT has sometimes been referred to as "3D" mammography. However, the images are not truly 3D as the third axis is derived from the planar data. Indeed, the performance of DBT is limited by its inability to provide true 3D, isotropic imaging. Further, in-plane DBT resolution is about 10 times higher than the in-depth resolution, leading to a reduced ability to detect and localize lesions.
A different imaging technique, dedicated breast computed tomography (BCT), acquires cone beam projections of the breast over a full 3D 360 degrees to produce a 3D reconstruction of the breast volume. BCT provides improved depth localization of lesions and reduces overlapping features, with the aim of improving diagnostic performance. In general, BCT requires a higher radiation dose due to the increased number of projections. However, dedicated BCT mammography systems have developed low exposure protocols comparable to conventional, planar mammography and/or DBT. Both BCT and DBT images can be used to generate planar mammography images to enable screening in the same device.
However, 3D-capability using radiation exposures comparable to planar mammography has not completely solved the problem of missed or wrongly classified cancer in mammography. This is because the contrast resolution and spatial resolution of BCT (versus mammography and DBT) is limited. Breast cancer presents in mammograms as features such as masses, microcalcifications and architectural distortions. Breast cancer detection is among the most challenging areas in radiography because a high degree of imaging contrast is required to detect the subtle differences in x-ray attenuation due to breast cancer. Injecting an enhancing contrast agent (e.g., iodine) has been suggested, especially in detecting low-grade lesions and for avoiding unnecessary biopsy procedures. Breast cancer detection also requires a high degree of spatial resolution in images (50-100 microns) in order to detect and classify architectural distortions and micro-calcifications. The majority of DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ) present with microcalcifications and these are also the sole feature used in detecting approximately 40% of all mammary carcinomas. BCT using cone beam radiation is unable to detect cancers smaller than 250-300 microns due to its limited spatial resolution whereas planar mammography and DBT are both capable of visualizing microcalcifications smaller than 100 microns in size. Thus present day BCT spatial resolution limits its clinical potential.
Accordingly, a need exists for methods, devices, and systems to improve image resolution and contrast, while reducing noise and radiation dose, in BCT.

Methods and systems for computed tomography tissue imaging


The present document discloses a solution for utilizing guard time intervals of another wireless communication system. First, it is detected in a first wireless communication apparatus of a first wireless communication system a guard time interval following a transmission of a second wireless communication apparatus of a second wireless communication system. Thereafter, the first wireless communication apparatus is configured to schedule a transmission in the first wireless communication system to a transmission time interval starting on or after the beginning of the detected guard time interval and ending within the detected guard time interval of the second wireless communication system.

In many radio communication systems, guard time intervals are utilized to avoid interference. The guard time intervals may be used to avoid time domain inter-symbol interference caused by a non-ideal radio channel or inter-channel interference between consecutive transmissions. While, such guard time intervals reduce the interference, they represent time periods when a transmission medium is not in use to transfer payload data.


A method and apparatus of identifying a system is disclosed. The method comprises estimating at least one parameter in a second-order model of the system, and approximating at least one parameter in a first-order model of the system from the at least one second-order model parameter. The method may also comprise sampling an input to the system, sampling an output from the system. The apparatus comprises a device for estimating at least one parameter in a second-order model of the system, and device for approximating at least one parameter in a first-order model of the system from the at least one second-order model parameter.

The three-parameter model comprising a steady-state gain, time constant, and time delay is well known in the controls industry and may form the basis of numerous tuning methods for PID controllers. The three-parameter model represents an information-efficient means of characterizing HVAC systems and also most chemical engineering processes to a reasonable degree of accuracy, even when the actual order is very high. Although the three-parameter model can be identified in heuristic ways through the application of specific test signals, an automated method of identification is desired due to the existence of multiple minima in parameter estimation cost functions formulated from input and output measurements.
Because the order of the true system is normally not known a priori, application of any type of recursive estimation scheme to the above class of systems would normally require parallel identification of multiple model candidates. An appropriate order would then need to be determined based on some cost function. In HVAC systems, computational resources on control devices are often limited due to the low-cost nature of the industry. Parallel identification of a potentially large number of models might therefore require computational storage and processing capabilities in excess of what is typically available.
One approach for identifying time delay models from input-output measurements is to estimate the parameters in several models in parallel, each model having a different time delay. However, this approach is computationally expensive and cumbersome to implement on-line, especially when the range of possible time delay values is not known very accurately beforehand. Techniques for estimating time delays in certain types of discrete-time models have been proposed but these techniques only estimate the time delay to the nearest integer multiple of the sampling period. Moreover, the problem of having multiple minima still exists when trying to estimate the time delay more accurately, i.e., when not an exact integer multiple of the sample period.
Although discrete models such as the ARMAX model are very popular and easy to implement, these models suffer from a number of deficiencies. For example, any translation from physically meaningful continuous-time system representations requires non-linear transformations, such as matrix exponentiations. The continuous-time parameters then have a non-linearly distributed relationship with the discrete parameters, making it difficult to relate changes in the estimated parameters to an original parameter of interest. In addition, fixed sampling intervals are normally required for ARMAX and other similar discrete models and the selection of a sampling rate is a critical design decision. It is known that the optimum sampling rate for control and for system identification are normally not the same. Hence, certain adaptive control methods based on discrete models suffer from sub-optimal sampling rates in either the control or identification aspect. In addition, anti-aliasing filters and other signal processing elements that are needed for robust estimation of the discrete model form end up becoming part of the estimated process model.
Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide a system and method for characterizing a system. It would also be advantageous to adopt a "state variable filter" (SVF) method as a mechanism for directly estimating the parameters in a continuous-time model from input-output measurements. Direct estimation of continuous-time parameters offers several advantages over the discrete-time methods mentioned above. Most notably, the SVF method is less sensitive to sampling rates and is more amenable to the development of techniques for the estimation of a continuous-value time delay. The present invention demonstrates the latter advantage by developing a new transformation for obtaining the parameters in the desired first-order plus time delay characterization from parameters estimated in the continuous-time model. This approach yields near-optimal parameter estimates for given input-output data sets. The overall parameter estimation method is implemented as an automated testing tool that automatically applies step changes to the process under investigation, where the duration of each step is dynamically determined from the estimated parameters. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a system and method that allows systems, such as HVAC systems, to be automatically tested to validate performance, tune control loops, and configure controllers.
It would be desirable to provide for a system and method for an automated testing tool having one or more of these or other advantageous features.

System and method for characterizing a system


A disposable dispensing cartridge comprises a reservoir adapted to contain a solution to be dispensed; a chamber in fluidic communication with the reservoir through a first unidirectional valve. The chamber comprises an outlet portion with a second unidirectional valve allowing passage of the solution out of the chamber. The disposable cartridge is connectable via a second connecting portion to a pressurizing device. The pressurizing device is adapted to apply a reduced pressure within the chamber; drawing a predetermined volume of solution from the reservoir, through the first unidirectional valve, into the chamber; and to apply a raised pressure within the chamber, drawing the determined volume of solution out of the chamber, through the second unidirectional valve. The second connecting portion comprises a check valve being arranged to allow gas, but not the solution, to flow in and/or out of the chamber via the second connecting portion. The disposable cartridge is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Medical assay instrumentation requires the use of reagents and/or samples, such as blood samples in immunoassays, stored in a machine and added to a prepared sample. In typical medical assay instrumentation, a prepared sample is added to a cuvette or other vessel mounted on the machine. The particular reagent required for the given test is brought on station from a tray, or carousel, containing a number of different reagents. Whilst on station, the reagent container is opened, and a pipette inserted into the reagent in order to withdraw a volume of fluid. The pipette is then moved by the machine into a position directly above the cuvette and the required volume of reagent is typically dispensed into the cuvette by a positive displacement pump, for example, a syringe driven by a stepper motor. Following the dispensing of the reagent, the pipette is then moved off station, and the pipette tip is washed and rinsed, or alternatively discarded in the case of a disposable pipette. This dispensing process is complex and expensive, particularly where the pipette is washed and rinsed following each dispense of reagent. Furthermore, the machine is required to move the pipette from the reagent container to the cuvette and then to a further position at which the pipette is washed. This movement adds to the complexity of the machine, leading to an increased risk of component failure. Additionally, the movement of the machine leads to a long cycle time for each of the reagent dispenses. This in turn limits the throughput of the machine, and thereby the speed with which the laboratory can return the test results to the health care professionals.
A known solution to this problem is to provide a cartridge which contains both a reservoir of reagent and a multi-use dispense tube. This solution is advantageous in that the dispense tube does not need to be washed or discarded after each dispense. Also, the movement of the machine is limited to the delivery of the required cartridge to a dispense station. As soon as the delivery of reagent is completed, the next reagent cartridge can be brought into position.
In WO 2005/019092, a reagent dispensing cartridge includes a reagent reservoir, a reagent dispensing assembly in communication with the reagent reservoir and an actuator assembly. The reagent dispensing assembly includes a reagent metering chamber, a piston moving within the metering chamber, and two spring loaded one-way ball valves. The reagent reservoir includes a collapsible fluid bladder supported in a rigid cover. Piston displacement in one direction causes an amount of fluid to enter the metering chamber through the valve positioned between the fluid reservoir and the metering chamber, and piston displacement in the other direction propels the fluid out of the metering chamber. The dispensing cartridge is however complex to fabricate and is not disposable.
WO 2006/048643 discloses a dispensing system dispensing sub-milliliter volumes of reagent and comprising a cartridge, an armature and a nozzle assembly. The cartridge comprises a hollow body, which is divided into a first chamber and a second chamber by a valve seat. The first chamber forms a reservoir which, in use, retains reagent to be dispensed by the system. The second chamber defines an axial armature bore within which the armature can move. The nozzle assembly retains the armature in the bore. The reagent dispensing system also includes a solenoid coil of conventional construction having a bore. The second chamber of the cartridge is adapted to be mounted within the bore, thereby enabling the magnetic field generated by the coil to move the armature. Movement of the armature causes reagent from the reservoir to be expelled through the nozzle assembly. Here, the disposable parts including the cartridge, armature and nozzle assembly are rather complex and expensive to manufacture.
The reagent cartridge disclosed in patent number WO 2007/122387 comprises a reagent reservoir in fluid communication with a deformable dispense tube that is a least partially compressible to dispense a known volume of reagent from the tube. Compression of the tube is performed by a hammer actuated by a piezoelectric actuator. Despite its simplicity, the disposable cartridge is not convenient in use. Indeed, since the tube has a very small internal diameter, the volume of fluid dispensed by a single strike of the tube is in the order of 100 nanoliters. Dispensing larger volumes of reagent requires cycling the hammer, possibly slowing down the dispensing operation. Moreover, dispensing accurate volumes of reagent requires the carefully alignment of the tube with the hammer, an operation that must be performed for each cartridge and requires specific skills form the operator.

Disposable dispensing cartridge for medical assay instrumentation


The present application relates to the field of display technology and, in particular, to an array substrate, a manufacturing method of the array substrate, and a display device. An array substrate comprises: a base substrate having a pixel display area and a gate drive circuit area; a first thin film transistor formed in the pixel display area, the first thin film transistor comprising a first gate insulating layer; a second thin film transistor formed in the gate drive circuit area, the second thin film transistor comprising a second gate insulating layer, where a thickness of the second gate insulating layer is smaller than a thickness of the first gate insulating layer.

Oxide semiconductor (e.g., indium gallium zinc oxide) may be used to form an active layer of a Thin Film Transistor (TFT) in existing array substrates. The oxide semiconductor has the characteristics of high mobility while being available in large-sized products.
It should be noted that the information disclosed in the above Background section is only used to enhance the understanding of the background of the present application, and therefore may include information that does not constitute prior art known to those of ordinary skill in the art.

Array substrate, manufacturing method thereof, and display device

FUZHOU BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.

BEIJING BOE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CO., LTD.


A strobe pop-up device for moving a strobe assembly to pop-up, bounce, and closed positions includes: a strobe assembly having a strobe, and a strobe connecting link, a bottom end of which is rotatably supported by a main body of the camera to move the strobe assembly to the pop-up, bounce, or closed position; an elastic element that is located at a point where the strobe connecting link is connected to the main body of the camera, and biases the strobe assembly toward a direction the strobe assembly stands upright; and a bounce-position maintaining element which fixes the strobe assembly to be in an inclined position at a predetermined angle between the closed position and the pop-up position. The point where the main body of the camera is connected to the strobe connecting link is disposed closer to a subject to be photographed than the strobe when in the closed position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a strobe device and a camera having the strobe device, and more particularly, to a strobe pop-up device of a camera that can lock a strobe assembly within a camera, or move the strobe assembly to a pop-up and/or a bounce position.
2. Description of the Related Art
A camera often includes a strobe device built in a camera body, which can be popped up by pressing a button. Such a strobe pop-up device typically includes a pressure spring biasing the strobe to a pop-up location, and a fixing lever operable by a motor. The strobe is held within the camera by the fixing lever which is subject to an elastic force of the pressure spring. When a user releases the fixing lever by pressing the button, the strobe springs up to the pop-up location by the elastic force of the pressure spring.
Such a conventional pop-up device requires a gear train having of a plurality of gears for transmitting a driving force of motor to the fixing lever in order to move the fixing lever between a fixing location and a release location using the driving force of the motor. As a result, a large space is required to accommodate the gear train, which hinders miniaturization of the camera. In addition, use of the fixing lever increases the number of components for the strobe pop-up device, thereby increasing the manufacturing cost of the camera. Furthermore, such a strobe cannot be fixed in an intermediate position (so-called a bounce position) to illuminate the flashing light toward the ceiling for obtaining indirect lighting with the strobe.


Embodiments provided herein provide methods for preparing patterned neutral layers using photolithography, and structures prepared using the same. A method of preparing a structure may include disposing a film over a surface of a substrate, and removing plurality of elongated trenches from the film so as to define a plurality of spaced lines. A neutral layer may be disposed over the outer surface of each line, and may include a neutral group attached to the outer surface of that line via a covalent bond or a hydrogen bond. The surface of the substrate between the lines may be substantially free of the neutral layer.

This application generally relates to preparing patterned layers using photolithography, and structures prepared using the same.
The electronics industry has spent a significant amount of time and effort to reduce the lateral dimensions of patterned materials in electronic devices. For example, photolithography is a widely known technique in which light is used to pattern a photoresist, that then is used to pattern another material, such as to define lines, trenches, holes, or more complex patterns. In photolithography, the lateral dimensions of the pattern defined in the photoresist may be the same as the lateral dimensions of the other material. The electronics industry continues to research techniques for reducing the size of lateral features within photolithographically defined patterns.
It would be desirable to define patterns having smaller lateral dimensions than are presently achievable using photolithography. Such patterns may be referred to as "sub-lithographic." One exemplary method for achieving sub-lithographic patterns in materials utilizes directed self-assembly (DSA) of block copolymers, which also may be referred to as guided self-assembly or templated self-assembly. DSA has the potential to extend scaling for lines, trenches, and holes.

Preparing patterned neutral layers and structures prepared using the same

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited


An infrared (IR) signature matching system comprises a heating and cooling device, a plurality of sensors configured to detect information related to the IR signature of the heating and cooling device and a background environment, a controller operably coupled with the heating and cooling device and the plurality of sensors. The controller is configured to receive the information from the plurality of sensors and adjust the temperature of the heating and cooling device until the IR signature of the heating and cooling device and the IR signature of the background environment are at least substantially matched in a selectable sub-region of the IR spectrum. Other systems, control circuits and related methods for matching IR signatures and cloaking objects in the IR spectrum are disclosed herein.

IR imaging equipment (e.g., IR cameras) may be employed to capture information regarding IR emissions in the electromagnetic (EM) spectrum for environments of interest (EOI), and to make observations about objects of interest (OOI) or targets of interest (TOI) within those environments. An object (e.g., OOI, TOI, etc.) may be distinguished from its environment (i.e., background) by observing differences in the IR emissions between the object and its background (e.g., objects, materials, etc.). Because IR emissions are at least partially related to temperature of an object, the IR imaging equipment can indirectly measure the thermal profile of an object by detecting IR emissions within the field of view of the IR imaging equipment.
There are situations in which it may be desirable to cloak the detection of the IR emissions of an object, such as during combat. For example, passive infrared (PIR) devices may be used to detect IR emissions, and may be further configured to trigger improvised explosive devices (IEDs) when a difference in temperature is detected from the background temperature, such as, for example, when a hot engine of a vehicle travels down the road. Military vehicles such as high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicles (HMMWV), armored vehicles (e.g., Buffalo), and other similar vehicles may have their IR signatures masked (i.e., matched to the IR signature of the background), which may protect the vehicle from detection by IR imaging equipment. The temperature of the vehicle may be adjusted in order to mask the IR signature of the engine for a period of time long enough to drive through choke point suspected to be secured with PIR devices and IEDs. Another combat situation involves weapons systems that use IR detection as a seeking method or for terminal guidance to "look" for TOIs, which have IR emissions that are different from the background. In order to hide the TOI from such weapons systems, the IR signature of the TOI, or an object placed in front of the TOI, may be matched with the IR signature of the background.
Conventional methods for cloaking an object in the IR spectrum include matching the reflectivity of an object. Matching reflectivity of an object may be desirable for situations in which the user of IR imaging equipment relies on an outside IR source to illuminate the objects for detection; however, not all IR imaging equipment relies on outside IR sources to illuminate the objects for detection. Other conventional methods may match the IR emissions over a fixed wavelength range of the IR spectrum. The inventors have appreciated that there is a need for improved methods for cloaking objects from detection within the IR spectrum.

Infrared signature matching system, control circuit, and related method


A motor control apparatus to control a motor external to the motor control apparatus includes a microcontroller unit (MCU). The MCU includes mixed signal motor control circuitry adapted to perform back electromotive force (EMF) motor control in a first mode of operation. The mixed signal motor control circuitry is further adapted to perform field oriented control (FOC) in a second mode of operation.

Since their inception, electric motors have become more commonly used blocks in electrical, electronic, and electromechanical systems. Over time, different types of motors have been invented. Some motors have more specialized uses, while other motors, for example, the AC induction motor, have relatively widespread use in many areas.
The applications of electric motors have also evolved over time. Consequently, electric motors are now used in many areas of scientific, consumer, industrial, and medical products. Although in some applications, for example, a typical consumer-grade cooling fan, the electric motor is powered on or off, other applications entail more sophisticated control of motors. For example, the speed, torque, direction of rotation, and perhaps other attributes of motors are controlled in various applications.
To provide the capability to control various attributes of motors, motor controllers have been developed. The motor controllers usually include an electronic circuit that is used together with a power semiconductor drive circuit, such as an inverter. Different motor controllers can control different motors, such as alternating current (AC) motors or direct current (DC) motors, using techniques such as back electromotive force (back EMF) control, and field oriented control (FOC), direct space vector modulation (DSVM), pulse width modulation (PWM), etc., as persons of ordinary skill in the art understand.

Apparatus for motor control system and associated methods


Methods and systems for on demand logistics management are disclosed. An on-demand logistics system includes an electronic hardware processor configured to receive an on-demand request, the request indicating an on-demand location for an on-demand transaction, determine locations of a plurality of vehicles on a plurality of delivery routes, determine whether the on-demand location is within a threshold distance of at least one of the plurality of delivery routes based on the vehicle locations and assign the on-demand transaction to a vehicle based on the determination.

Internet based ordering is becoming more commonplace. Many service providers offer expedited shipping that can satisfy consumer demands quickly, albeit at enhanced cost. Users of such services often require delivery of items within hours, rather than days. As demand for such services increases, the ability to timely fulfill requests is threatened. Accordingly, an innovative system and process for identifying and efficiently using pickup and delivery resources is needed.

Methods and systems for on-demand dynamic vehicle routing


A control unit (120) of a production index information generating device (100) groups, based on log information of a production device, processing targets to generate groups for which end time of processing falls within a predetermined interval, classifies the processing targets contained in the groups into classes based on a number of the processing targets contained in each of the groups, generates cycle time information for each of the classes, which specifies cycle time of each of the processing targets contained in corresponding one of the classes, and determines a production capability of the production device. Accordingly, an index specifying a capability of the production device may be obtained with ease.

The present invention relates to a technology of generating information on production.
In production of semiconductors or the like, with regard to a product to be produced, a simulation is performed on production devices used in production processes, time required for each of the production devices, and the like, to thereby make a production plan (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,889,178).
When the simulation is performed for making the production plan, an operator needs to manually input, for example, indices specifying capabilities of the production devices used in the production processes, and task needs time and effort.

Production index information generating device, program therefore, and production information generating method

Computer and Automation Research Institute, Hungarian Academy of Sciences


A fixed window for use in an opening in a supporting structure. The window comprises a glazing material, a spigot, an interior trim ring and an exterior trim member. The glazing material is bonded directly to the supporting structure, which provides a window that is less likely to be pushed through the opening in the supporting structure when exposed to harsh environmental conditions and is less likely to leak when compared to framed windows. The exterior trim member is dimensioned to substantially shield the sealant used to bond the various components together from ultraviolet radiation, thus permitting use of stronger, ultraviolet radiation sensitive sealants. The components that comprise the window frame that holds the glazing material are produced from a unitary blank that can accommodate glazing materials of various thickness and can be installed on supporting structures having various thickness.

The constant exposure to harsh environmental conditions can significantly deteriorate the structural components of a window, especially windows on vehicles such as boats that are in frequent use for commercial purposes, such as fishing and are exposed to rapidly changing environments. The junction between two dissimilar materials on a window is often a common point of failure. This is especially true for the junction between the window pane or glazing material and the window frame holding it therein. Over time, corrosion forms on the window frame and breaks the watertight seal between the glazing material and the window frame. Therefore, in rough conditions at sea or during rainstorms the window is prone to leak.
Window frames for use in boats made of a corrosion-resistant material such as aluminum or stainless steel have been contemplated by the prior art. However, these window frames are typically overly expensive for use in a recreational or small commercial applications. Accordingly, attempts have been made to provide a marine window and frame that is less prone to failure, while economical enough for use on smaller types of watercraft.
Boisvert (United States Patent Publication No. 2003/0110718 A1) discloses a marine window assembly for installation within a boat cabin wall. The glazing material is sealed directly to the cabin wall and clamped in place by a shielding member that is positioned around the periphery of the glazing material on the outside of the cabin. The shielding member is fastened to the cabin wall by bolts that extend through channels drilled in the cabin wall and are secured by nuts applied from inside the cabin. The window assembly disclosed by Boisvert does not use a frame to hold the window, however requires that first and second transverse sections are cut around the perimeter of the opening for the glazing material to be positioned in the plane defined by the outer surface of the cabin wall. Moreover, holes must be drilled into the cabin wall to accommodate the bolts that are used to secure the shielding member to the cabin wall. The modifications to the cabin wall and opening therein, increase the amount of time and skilled required to install the window. In addition, the holes drilled into the cabin wall add a potential point of failure, wherein water can penetrate into the cabin.
Gates (U.S. Pat. No. 3,967,424) discloses a frameless boat window that is sealed directly to outer surface of a cabin wall. The glazing material is dimensioned to be larger than the window opening in the cabin wall. A fin is bonded to the interior surface of the glazing material which extends through the opening in the cabin wall and is fastened to the interior trim in order to clamp the window to the cabin wall. The glazing material is sealed to the cabin by a sealant. Since the sealant is directly exposed to the sunlight, it must be able to withstand ultraviolet radiation. Silicone based sealants or adhesives are resistant to ultraviolet radiation, however they lack the strength of polyurethane sealants, which are sensitive to ultraviolet radiation. Therefore, windows that are adhered using silicone based sealants are more prone to leakage and failure.


Embodiments can provide a medical imaging patient bed with an integrated electronic ruler system, comprising a light strip, mounted to the medical imaging bed; a trough comprising an open end and a closed end, mounted to the medical imaging bed and oriented such that the light strip is bounded by the open end and the closed end of the trough; a laser distance meter attached to the open end of the trough; a microcontroller; and a power source configured to provide power to the light strip, laser distance meter, and microcontroller; wherein the microcontroller is configured to illuminate the light strip after one or more distance measurements are received from the laser distance meter when an object is inserted into the trough; wherein a position of the illumination of the light strip corresponds to the one or more distance measurements received from the laser distance meter.

Current imaging patient beds lack the ability for a user to easily mark scan limits in reference to the patient body position on the scanning bed (especially in the case of whole body imaging). Previous solutions have included adhering a physical ruler to the patient bed, which required a user to manually enter the scan limits. Other solutions included the use of an array of linear encoding electromechanical switches along the patient bed that marked the scan limits electronically. However, this method was cumbersome to use and the materials were relatively expensive.


A paste suitable for a negative plate of a lead-acid battery comprises lead oxide and composite particles comprising carbon and silica.

The lead-acid battery is an electrochemical storage battery generally comprising a positive plate, a negative plate, and an electrolyte comprising aqueous sulfuric acid. The plates are held in a parallel orientation and electrically isolated by porous separators to allow free movement of charged ions. The positive battery plates contain a current collector (i.e., a metal plate or grid) covered with a layer of positive, electrically conductive lead dioxide (PbO2) on the surface. The negative battery plates contain a current collector covered with a negative, active material, which is typically lead (Pb) metal.
During discharge cycles, lead metal (Pb) supplied by the negative plate reacts with the ionized sulfuric acid electrolyte to form lead sulfate (PbSO4) on the surface of the negative plate, while the PbO2 located on the positive plate is converted into PbSO4 on or near the positive plate. During charging cycles (via an electron supply from an external electrical current), PbSO4 on the surface of the negative plate is converted back to Pb metal, and PbSO4 on the surface of the positive plate is converted back to PbO2. In effect, a charging cycle converts PbSO4 into Pb metal and PbO2; a discharge cycle releases the stored electrical potential by converting PbO2 and Pb metal back into PbSO4.
Lead-acid batteries are currently produced in flooded cell and valve regulated configurations. In flooded cell batteries, the electrodes/plates are immersed in electrolyte and gases created during charging are vented to the atmosphere. Valve regulated lead-acid batteries (VRLA) include a one-way valve which prevents external gases entering the battery but allows internal gases, such as oxygen generated during charging, to escape if internal pressure exceeds a certain threshold. In VRLA batteries, the electrolyte is normally immobilized either by absorption of the electrolyte into a glass mat separator or by gelling the sulfuric acid with silica particles.
One major problem with existing lead-acid batteries is their low cycleability at high rate charge/discharge conditions required for advanced applications such as hybrid electric vehicles and distributed storage. The main failure mode in these operating conditions is called "negative plate sulfation", which is a term used to describe the phenomenon of kinetically irreversible formation of lead sulfate (PbSO4) crystallites. Ideally during each charge/discharge cycle all the lead sulfate on the negative plate is reversibly converted to lead and then back to lead sulfate. However, in reality this is not the case and during each cycle more and more lead sulfate is irreversibly formed in the negative plate. The formation of increased amounts of lead sulfate leads to several undesirable effects: the conductivity and porosity of the plate is decreased, the accessibility of sulfuric acid to the active phase is hindered and less Pb is available to participate in the discharge process, all this in combination leading to failure of the battery to deliver the required voltage and power. This phenomenon is especially pronounced when fast charge/discharge rates are used.
One known method for reducing the problem of "negative plate sulfation" is to add carbon to the paste used to produce the negative plate, generally as part of an expander formulation comprising barium sulfate, carbon, and a lignosulfonate or other organic material. The carbon increases the electrical conductivity of the active material in the discharged state thereby improving its charge acceptance. An example of such an approach is discussed in "Mechanism of action of electrochemically active carbons on the processes that take place at the negative plates of lead-acid batteries", Pavlov et al, Journal of Power Sources, 191, 2009, 58-75, in which the effect of adding different forms of carbon at varying levels between 0.2 to 2% by weight of the negative plate paste is studied. The carbon materials investigated are NORIT AZO activated carbon and the carbon blacks VULCAN XC72R, Black Pearls 2000 and PRINTEX® XE2.
Carbon as an additive has been proven to enable high dynamic charge acceptance and improved cycle life of both flooded and VRLA lead-acid batteries. Addition of carbon to the negative plate changes the morphology of the plate, affects the chemical processes of lead sulfate-lead transformations and thus slows down the process of negative plate sulfation in parallel to improving the charge acceptance characteristics of the battery. Carbon blacks are among several types of carbons studied, along with graphite and activated carbons, and have been demonstrated to offer the most promising results in improved cycleability and charge acceptance. Unlike graphite and activated carbons, carbon blacks consist of submicron aggregates comprised of nm size primary particles. This allows for increased conductivity of the negative plate and for high accessibility of their surface area. Carbon black loadings up to 3 wt. % (alone or in combination with other carbons) have been tested in VRLA and flooded batteries (see, for example, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0325068). Higher loadings of high surface area carbons are desirable but there are several challenges in the manufacture of the negative plates when high carbon loadings are targeted. Thus, high loadings of carbon require higher amounts of water to be added to the paste and lead to decreased viscosity and problems with pasting the electrodes over the grid. In addition, during cycling, some of the carbon can "shed off" the electrodes and ultimately negatively affect the cycle life of the battery.
Although carbon addition assists in increasing the electrical conductivity of the negative plate in its discharged state, it does not address another issue associated with sulfation and that is the accessibility of the sulfuric acid electrolyte to the active material. Thus, lack of uniform and controlled distribution of sulfuric acid within the negative plate electrode has been identified as one of the main contributing factors to sulfation, particularly with flooded cell batteries.
According to the invention, both the problems of reduced electrical conductivity and sulfuric acid access are addressed by adding a composite particle comprising carbon and silica to the negative plate paste. The carbon acts to improve the electrical conductivity of the active material, while the presence of silica in the composite particle will act as "glue" holding the carbon particles in aggregates which have controlled porosity and stability during the cycling process. In flooded type lead acid batteries the composite carbon silica particle will also assist in minimizing the acid stratification issue observed during cycling due to partial gelling of the electrolyte. Thus the addition of composite carbon-silica particles to the negative electrode of flooded batteries enables formation of an electrode structure where at least partially the sulfuric acid electrolyte is immobilized onto the electrode and issues with acid accessibility and stratification are significantly improved.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0180264 discloses a lead-acid battery comprising a cathode, an anode and an electrolytic solution, wherein into the anode is added an active carbon or a carbon black or a mixture thereof containing at least one simple substance selected from the group consisting of Hf, Nb, Ta, W, Ag, Zn, Ni, Si, Mg, Al, Co, Mo, Cu, V, Mn, Ba, K, Cs, Rb, Sr and Na, or at least one compound thereof. The disclosed battery containing carbon with the above additives as impurities in 10-5000 ppm concentration levels has improved high efficiency charging characteristics. In addition, an anode containing an activated carbon produced from coconut husk containing up to 15,000 ppm of natural impurities (Cu, Mn, Al, Si and K) is stated to improve the high efficiency charging characteristics and charge acceptance. For all examples the loading of the additive metal substance to the carbon does not exceed 15,000 ppm or 1.5 wt. %.


A method for making a cooked rolled snack food from a starch based dough. The starch based dough is admixed with a small average particle size monoglyceride. The dough is then rolled and cooked in hot oil. The fatty acid chain is disposed within the helical amylose molecules in the starch-based dough and provides structural support within the helix. This support helps control inward expansion of the rolled dough snack during frying.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a method for making an improved rolled snack food and more particularly to a method for making a rolled snack food having a light and crispy texture.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventional tortilla snack piece products are prepared from corn masa dough made from a traditional nixtamalization process. The masa dough is then compressed between a pair of counter rotating sheeter/cutter rollers that are located closely together, thereby providing a pinch point through which the dough is formed into sheets and cut into a desired shape. Often the desired snack piece shape is that of a triangle. After the dough is cut, the snack pieces are transported towards and through a toaster oven for an increased stiffness for insertion into the fryer. The toasted snack pieces are then passed through a proofing stage where the snack pieces are exposed to ambient air to equilibrate moisture throughout the snack piece. The snack pieces are then fried in hot oil before being routed into a seasoning tumbler where flavored seasonings or salts are added to the snack pieces. The snack pieces are then sent to be packaged.
Snack pieces made from this process typically have a substantially flat geometry, even if the snack pieces have a curl as a result of the frying process. However, there are advantages for snack pieces to have to other geometries. For example, a rolled snack piece can be more easily placed into a consumer's mouth, resulting in a bite-sized or more easily consumable snack. Moreover, the bulk density of rolled snacks is higher than the bulk density of snacks having a substantially flat geometry. As a result, less packaging can be used to contain the same weight of rolled snacks. Accordingly, a need exists for a rolled snack food.
A rolled snack food can be made by rolling the cut dough pieces following sheeting before the pieces are toasted. One such apparatus for rolling pieces of dough is disclosed is U.S. Pat. No. 6,393,974. Unfortunately, texture problems that do not occur in prior art flat snack pieces arise during cooking of rolled dough pieces. For example, when prior art substantially flat snack pieces are cooked in hot oil, steam within the dough can cause the snack pieces to expand mostly outward. This outward expansion creates voids within the snack piece. These voids help create a lighter, crispier texture.
In a rolled snack piece, however, the expansion occurs radially, both inward and outward. When the rolled snack piece is placed into the fryer, the moisture in contact with the hot oil in the outer portion of the fried snack piece turns to steam causing both inward and outward radial expansion of the snack piece. The inward expansion of the rolled snack food, upon insertion into the fryer, closes off the inner portion of the rolled snack food. Thus, frying oil does not fully permeate the rolled snack piece. This inhibits oil displacement of water. Corn masa becomes hard and unpalatable at low oil levels. As a result, the inner portion of the snack piece has an undesirably hard texture. Moreover, inward radial expansion further compresses the inner portion of the snack piece which increases the particulate density, and decreases any voids that help provide a lighter, crispier texture. A higher particulate density means there are fewer voids to provide a lighter, crispier texture. As a result, a hard texture is created throughout the inner portion of the rolled snack food. Hence, a need exists for a method to control inward expansion of a rolled snack food during frying.
In addition, while the moisture content upon leaving the toast oven in a prior art substantially flat masa-based snack piece is between about 25% and about 35% moisture, the moisture content of a rolled dough snack piece, upon leaving the toast oven, is about 45% to 50% moisture. There is a larger temperature gradient within a rolled snack piece that makes it more difficult to remove water uniformly. This is due, in part, to the decreased surface area that the rolled dough has exposed in the toast oven. For example, as the rolled snack piece passes through the toast oven, the temperature of the inner part of a rolled snack piece is lower than the temperature of the outer, exposed part. This results in uneven moisture removal, and higher moisture contents near the inner portion of the rolled snack piece. As indicated above, because the inner portion of the snack piece is closed off during frying, it is difficult to remove the moisture by oil displacement in the inner portion of the snack piece. Higher moisture contents in the finished snack piece product can contribute to a harder texture.
Consequently, the need exists for a rolled snack piece having a light, crispy texture. Moreover, a need exists for the light, crispy texture to be substantially uniform throughout the cross-section of the rolled snack piece.
Several prior art solutions were tried in an attempt to satisfy this need. For example, one prior art solution for softening a fried dough involves using a potato or rice starch. When these starches are heated and fried at high moisture contents, the starch binds tightly to itself resulting in a glassy, hard texture. This glassy texture typically allows for rapid breakdown of the snack during mastication. Unfortunately, when potato or rice starch was added to the masa used in the rolled snack piece, the rolled snack pieces expanded radially inward, forcing the rolled snack piece to close up upon frying, and made the product bind so tightly that breakdown failed to occur during mastication. Thus, adding potato or rice starch, rather than resulting in a softer texture, resulted in a highly undesirably hard texture.
Other prior art softening compounds such as dextrins and lecithins failed to survive the frying process and resulted in excessive browning of the rolled snack pieces. Moreover, strong off flavors also became apparent. Fully hydrogenated, high melting vegetable oil (less than 5 iodine value) was also tried. Such oil provides voids in the food products creating less hardness, however, the hardstock leached directly into the oil due to its inability to complex with the starch in the masa. Moreover, oil quality was negatively impacted. Hence, a need exists for a method of making a fried, rolled snack piece having a light, crispy texture. The method should be conducive to cooking in hot oil, yet not severely impact oil quality. Moreover, the method should avoid excessive browning and off-flavors.

Method for making a rolled snack food product having a light crispy texture


A digital coin timepiece that generates a tactile presentation which indicates elapsed time including a body member that includes a tactilely readable display surface that provides haptic feedback comprising first vibrations in a first location on the display surface when the tactilely readable display surface is touched by a user, with the first vibrations providing haptic feedback representing an actual minute or elapsed minutes so that the user can determine the actual or approximate time without having to view the display surface.

Wrist and pocket watches have been developed that are readable by touch alone for the visually impaired or in the dark via a combination of protuberances, studs, projections, annular slots, discs and plates (U.S. Pat. Nos. 365,032, 360,641, 1,222,369 and 2,168,314). Other watches deliver time information by employing a silent vibration device (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,559,761 and 6,052,339), square-areas, cursors, and symbolic codes (U.S. Pat. No. 5,311,487) and Braille (U.S. Pat. No. 2,091,146).
Other developments include timepieces that provide a readily interpretable tactile display of the time, preferably without requiring the user to learn a complex code and can easily be read by both a visually impaired or sighted person. U.S. Pat. No. 7,079,454 discloses a display comprises a display area and at least one moveable portion within the display. The moveable portion is moveable with respect to the display to form at least one displayed character that is recognizable by touch by a user and has a tactilely detectable shape that is independent of a system of dots. Others in the industry are exploring ways to use magnetized ball bearings to represent the hour and minute hands of a watch.
More and more, however, individuals are routinely obtaining the time not via a physical wristwatch or timepiece but rather a digital consumer device, particularly mobile devices. Meanwhile, the field of haptic or tactile feedback technology has advanced significantly in recent years enabling an individual to touch a smooth surface or touch screen interface and experience the sensation of touching a physical object. In the past, a tool or stylus was required to reproduce the simulation, but now haptic textures can be read via an individual's finger or fingertips. Devices can now record the force, speed, acceleration, vibrations, and motions of a user in connection with a real object and those attributes can then be used to simulate or recreate the tactile sensation of touching that object through electromechanical or electromagnetic actuators, electrovibrations or reverse-electrovibrations, and other haptic technology. For example, Disney's TeslaTouch uses electrovibrations such that "when a finger is placed on the surface of the touch panel, a periodic motion of the electrical charges is induced in the tip of the finger. This results in a periodic attraction force between the finger and the panel modifying the friction between the sliding finger and the panel and thus producing a sensation of tactile texture."
A method is needed that can provided a sighted or visually impaired person the ability to tactilely read the time or the approximate time on a smooth surface or touch screen readily without having to view the device.

Digital coin timepiece for tactilely determining elapsed time


A compact photonic time delay unit. The unit includes a plurality of compact optical delay elements, a plurality of delay bypass elements, with each delay bypass element being associated with a respective one of the compact optical delay elements, and a plurality of compact optical switches. Each of the compact optical switches is configured to controllably switch an optical signal through one of the compact optical delay elements or through the associated delay bypass element. In some aspects, the compact optical delay elements, delay bypass elements, and compact optical switches are disposed on a single electro-optical chip.

The present invention generally relates to compact photonic time delay units.
Variable true time delay for different signal paths are increasingly needed for space applications like phased arrays with wide fields of regard. Photonic transmission media can provide low loss delay with very wide bandwidth when used with modulated optical carriers. However, an array of such waveguides and/or fibers needs to be appropriately directed with low loss, high bandwidth, low electrical power, and compact switches to be broadly useful.


A network device receives, from a set-top box within a local network, a discovery request for a server application within the local network. The network device identifies, based on the discovery request, a wide area network (WAN) Internet Protocol (IP) address for a router in the local network and retrieves, from a database of multiple discovery records, a particular discovery record with an IP address that matches the WAN IP address for the local network. The network device sends, to the set-top box, the particular discovery record for use in initiating a communication session with the server application.

Continued improvements to high speed networks have provided multiple avenues for consumers to access digital media. This increased access to content via multiple devices has driven a demand for device interoperability to enable consumers to easily view/share digital content on multiple devices. As one example, some network service providers offer media management services that allow customers to access digital media content from a local computer for presentation on a customer's television. For example, the media management services may allow a customer to access digital content, such as pictures, streaming media, home videos, etc., on a cable-ready television.
Some organizations, such as the Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA), have developed standards for device interoperability that simplify the exchange of digital content between different devices. However, some new devices and legacy devices do not conform to such standards.


A method of Lissajous scanning includes transmitting a plurality of light pulses at a plurality of time moments based on a trigger signal; driving about a first rotation axis at a first driving frequency (f1) according to a first driving signal and driving about a second rotation axis at a second driving frequency (f2) according to second driving signal; controlling the first and second driving signals to generate a Lissajous scanning pattern according to a predefined frame rate (FR); selecting the first and second driving frequencies such that the frame rate is a greatest common divisor thereof and such that they satisfy the following equation: f2−f1=(2*N+1)*FR; determining the plurality of time moments; and generating the trigger signal based on the determined plurality of time moments, wherein the plurality of time moments (ti) are determined according to the following equation:

Lissajous scanning is a type of scanning implemented in display application, light scanning applications, and light steering applications, to name a few. For example, Lissajous scanning may be used in displays, Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR), and automotive headlights in which light beams are steered by a scanning system according to a Lissajous pattern.
Lissajous scanning is typically done by two resonant scanning axes which are each driven at constant scanning frequency with a defined frequency ratio/difference therebetween that forms a specific Lissajous pattern and frame rate. However, to date, Lissajous scanning results in the generation of random irregular patterns, non-rectangular patterns, and/or non-maximized pattern density. Accordingly, Lissajous scanning has not been optimized for sensitive applications, such as LIDAR, that require regular, dense patterns. In safety critical applications, again such as LIDAR, this could lead to lower resolutions or gaps in data.
Therefore, an improved system and method that is capable of generating a dense, rectangular, repeatable pattern with Lissajous scanning may be desirable.

Method of rectangular 2D pattern generation with lissajous scanning

Abstract: t    i      =                  2            i          +     1             8     *     FR     *           F      1                     F      2                ,           where    :          F     1          =            f     1        FR       ,         F    2      =            f     2        FR       ,     i   =   0    ,  1  ,     2            …                     (                  4                      F        1                             F        2                   -      1          )        .


A multi-row rolling bearing, which has a cage for rows of rolling elements that is detachably connected to a respective adjoining cage. For assembly and safety of assembly, the detachable connection between the cages is at least one predetermined breaking point.

A rolling bearing of the pre-cited type is described in DE 100 02 026 A1. The disclosed bearing is a radial bearing comprising two rows of cylindrical rolling elements, particularly needle rollers. Each of the two rows comprises a cage for guiding the associated rolling elements as well as a means for a positional fixing of the two cages relative to each other in a pre-assembled state of the bearing. The two cages can be connected directly to each other through a detachable connection which is independent of the remaining bearing components and creates a pre-assembled state of the bearing. The detachable connection of the cages can be configured as a friction-locking clamped joint which permits relative movements, or the connection can also be a positive-engagement connection in form of a plug connection of the bayonet type comprising a snap engagement, or a clip connection. It is further possible to use a glued connection in which the thermal resistance of the glue approximates to zero when an operational value of the bearing temperature is reached.
The purpose of this detachable connection between the cages is to create a relative movability between the cages so that, upon occurrence of tilting moments that can cause a clamping of the rolling elements and, as a result, also torsional torques on the cages, these torques are reduced or completely avoided. Moreover, the detachable connection is also meant to provide the possibility of uniting the cages into a pre-assembled unit with the aim of avoiding errors of assembly.
Multi-row rolling bearings in a bearing arrangement are also described in DE 10 2008 032 027 A1. These bearings are configured as cylindrical roller bearings with the rollers of adjoining rows having different lengths. This known bearing arrangement is an idler pinion bearing which is described in detail in the cited document whose entire content is integrated herewith into the present application as subject matter of the disclosure.


A vehicle hydraulic oil reservoir assembly includes a main reservoir and an auxiliary reservoir. The main reservoir has a lower portion and an upper portion. The auxiliary reservoir has a lower portion and an upper portion. The auxiliary reservoir has a port formed in the upper portion thereof. The lower portion of the auxiliary reservoir is communicated with the lower portion of the main reservoir. A breather vent is in communication with atmosphere. A vent pipe communicates the port with the breather vent.

Utility vehicles, such as tractors, include a main hydraulic oil reservoir and at least one auxiliary reservoir. On current production tractors, the auxiliary reservoirs have air vent lines that communicate back to the upper end of the main reservoir. With such an arrangement, when a towed implement, such as a wagon with a dump cylinder is coupled to the tractor hydraulic system, oil will be drawn out of the main reservoir. In such situations, the main reservoir oil level will always be below the auxiliary reservoir oil level, and the main reservoir can be emptied while unused oil remains in the auxiliary reservoir. If the main reservoir oil level gets too low, no more oil can be supplied to the dump cylinder, and extra, unused oil will remain in the auxiliary reservoir.
Previously, EH valves and extra pumps have been used to insure the maximum amount of oil is used from the auxiliary reservoir. However, such components are costly and require control software and wiring harness integration and place an extra hydraulic load on the tractor.


A near-eye display system includes a display panel to display a near-eye lightfield frame including an array of elemental images and an eye tracking component to track a pose of a user's eye. The system further includes a de-magnification optical element and a rendering component to adjust the rendering of foveal image content in the integral lightfield frame based on the pose of the user's eye. A method of operation of the near-eye display system includes determining, using an eye tracking component of the near-eye display system, a first pose of a user's eye and decreasing a magnification level at which foveal image content is to be displayed within the foveal field of view for the first pose. The decreased magnification level of the foveal image content is perceptible at a resolution higher than a native resolution of the display panel.

Head-mounted displays (HMDs) and other near-eye display systems can utilize an integral lightfield display or other computational display to provide effective display of three-dimensional (3D) graphics. Generally, the display systems employ one or more display panels and an array of lenslets, pinholes, or other optic features that overlie the one or more display panels. As HMDs generally have wide viewing angles (e.g., the angle subtended from corners of the image to the pupil of the viewer's eye), image resolution is an important factor, especially in virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) display systems requiring considerable computing resources and transmission bandwidth to generate high-resolution imagery for viewer immersion. The impact on resources can be especially problematic systems utilizing HMDs, as the high-throughput image rendering and transmission processes are performed in parallel for each eye of a user.

Eye tracked lens for increased screen resolution


The invention disclosed herein generally relates to an improved clamp assembly for attaching two or more objects, such as furniture, tables, desks, dividers or other panel elements together of variable thicknesses. The elements of the clamp assembly invention generally include a clamp body with a clamp stop and clamp spine, a cross-dowel, an actuating screw and clamp lever. The clamp assembly imparts a compressive clamping force by utilizing a fulcrum-lever arrangement whereby the clamp lever is moved in an arcuate trajectory by rotating the actuating screw in the desired direction as the clamp lever pivots about a fulcrum point. This allows the user to easily place and connect various objects, such as tables, desks, courtesy and privacy panels and another desired object that the user desires to secure in a desired arrangement by imparting a compressive force to the panel element that is to be connected to another panel element.

The present invention relates generally to apparatus and methods for connecting pieces of material together or for connecting two or more objects together. In certain embodiments, the present invention is related to apparatus and methods for connecting two or more pieces of furniture, tables or office equipment together in desired configurations. More specifically, the invention disclosed herein is directed to a novel clamp and method for connecting furniture, tables, privacy panels or other office equipment, or any other materials or objects to be connected securely together in a desired configuration.
Generally, various types of table and desk units are made available which improve the amount of workspace available to one in a typical home or office environment. Such units may include a privacy panel or courtesy panel permanently fixed to the unit that prohibits the movement or reconfiguration of the unit into different locations or arrangements as dictated by office space needs. When the time comes to disassemble and move these units, one must remove the screws or nails holding the panels in contact with the unit which typically results in damage to the unit as well as the appearance of unsightly holes and scratches to the surfaces of the furniture unit. In other instances, the hardware attaching the various panels to the unit is typically located underneath the unit or panel elements connected to the unit which is difficult to access and manipulate for assembling or disassembling the unit from the panel elements.
It is known in the art to utilize various clamping means to impart a straight-line or axial force between the desks, panels or tables being connected together. Such clamping means, such as the generally known C-clamp requires the use of a screw or knob which is turned to bring the ends of the clamp together to impart an axial compressive force between the desk, panel and/or table surfaces disposed between the ends of the C-clamp. It is often quite difficult, if not impossible, to position the clamp in a location suitable to allow the user to easily manipulate the clamp screw to secure the unit and panel elements together in a connected fashion. Such clamps tend to protrude from the assembly at various points, either internally or externally, affecting the aesthetic appearance of the desk and panel assembly and may cause injury to a person using the assembly where they may inadvertently contact those portions of the clamp protruding from the assembly. In similar manner, the user's clothing may be caught by the clamp hardware protruding from the clamp assembly causing damage to the person's clothing.


The present invention relates to a process for preparing copolymers of tetrafluoroethylene with ethylene, and optionally with a third monomer, of vinylic character.. The process is characterized in that tetrafluoroethylene is caused to react with ethylene and with the optional third, vinylic, monomer in an aqueous emulsion with the aid of a polymerization initiator of peroxy type, at a temperature within the range between 30.degree. and 95.degree. C. and under a pressure within the range of from 1.5 to 4.0 MPa, in the presence of tert.-butyl alcohol and of 1,1,2,2-tetrachloro-1,2-difluoroethane.

Such copolymers are usually prepared in suspension in chlorofluorocarbon solvents, in an aqueous suspension or in an aqueous emulsion.
The polymerization in suspension in chlorofluorocarbon solvents does not permit fast reaction speeds to be achieved even if the process is to be carried out under low pressures and at low temperatures.
Regarding polymerization in aqueous suspension, considerably large amounts of tert.-butanol, which is the main constituent of the reaction medium, have to be used in the processes disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,479,367 and 3,870,689. Furthermore, with these techniques, discharging the reaction products from the reactor is not easy, in that a slurry is obtained, which is difficult to be handled.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,859,262, use is proposed of particular salts of manganese as polymerization initiators. These salts increase the reaction speed. However, although use of organic solvents is avoided, the disclosed process does not permit reaction speeds greater than 60 grams of tetrafluoroethylene/ethylene copolymer per liter per hour. Still in this patent, a technique of polymerization in aqueous emulsion is disclosed. This disclosure does not permit reaction speeds of 85 grams of copolymer per liter per hour to be exceeded. One should finally observe that use of chain transfer agents for regulating molecular weight of the obtained polymers causes a further decrease in reaction speed.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,426,501, a process is taught for carrying out the synthesis of tetrafluoroethylene-ethylene copolymers in aqueous emulsion, which permits greater reaction speeds to be obtained. According to such a process, the reaction should be carried out at 95.degree. C. under a pressure of 4.1 MPa. Under such conditions, to prevent explosion risks, a gaseous mixture fed to the reactor is diluted with chloropentafluoroethane.
The above disadvantages are avoided by the present invention over the above references which are hereby incorporated by reference.

Process for preparing tetrafluoroethylene-ethylene copolymers


A buffered crossbar switch is provided with a buffer to port relationship that supports cells and packets of variable size. A novel scheduler is provided that allows for an efficient crossbar switch, where the relationship between the number of internal buffers is less than the number of ports squared. This allows for a switch that can be implemented that requires less buffer memory.

Packet switching is the core technology of the Internet. The Internet consists of end-hosts, links, and routers. A router consists of several processing stages. At the very least, a router has two main processing stages: address lookup and switching. This patent focuses on the switching stage of the Routers/Switches.

Network operators would like to build their networks using routers that give performance guarantees. They want routers that provide throughput, bandwidth and delay guarantees. For example, large corporations might want to guarantee a fixed bandwidth between their company sites. Similarly, if a network operator can guarantee a maximum delay through their network, they can also sell services to customers who run real-time applications such as video and voice.
FIG. 1 is an illustration of an architecture of a buffered crossbar with three ports. This is a buffered Crossbar that includes an internal FIFO in cross points. A buffered Crossbar running at a speedup of two can also behave identically to an OQ switch. The scheduler for a buffered crossbar allows inputs and outputs to schedule independently and in parallel making it much simpler and, therefore, more practical than for a traditional unbuffered crossbar. Simplifying the scheduler comes at the expense of a more complicated crossbar; it now has to hold and maintain N2 packet buffers. Generally, in a buffered crossbar, the buffer size of each FIFO buffer should be at least twice the amount of traffic that can arrive at a crossbar port over the roundtrip time delay of a control signal exchanged between the Line Card and the Crossbar. The roundtrip time delay (RTT) is in the order of 600 to 800 ns. As a result, for 10 Gbps line rate, the minimum size of each FIFO buffer becomes 2 Kbytes.
Minimum Internal Buffer Size: 2*N*N Kbytes.
NBuffer Size (Mbytes)Number Of FIFOs160.5 256322.01024648.04096 (non manufacturable)
Current buffered crossbar switch architectures require the use of N*N buffers for an N port switch. This memory requirement severely limits the number of ports that a single chip can handle. This limitation is due to the fact that on-chip memory is very expensive in terms of cost and space. With current processes and switch architectures, the largest realizable switch fabric which could support packets with Variable size up to 2 KBytes can be at most 32×32 with very big internal memory. Current buffered crossbar switch architectures do not Support Jumbo packets with Variable Packet size up to 64 Kbytes with switch size more than 8×8.
Thus, there exists a need in the art for a buffered crossbar that requires less space for buffers, yet that delivers desired performance. As will be seen, the invention provides this in a novel and elegant manner.

Buffered crossbar switch with a linear buffer to port relationship that supports cells and packets of variable size