A control method of a multilevel converter includes: classifying power modules that start working, need to update an output state or stop working to form m power module groups; and controlling power modules in a same one of the power module groups to start working, update the output state or stop working at the same time, and sequentially controlling the m power module groups to start working, or update the output state or stop working, according to a preset time interval. The number of power modules in each power module group is less than or equal to a preset value, causing a change value of an output level of the each power module group to be less than or equal to a preset voltage value.

FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram illustrating a converter with power modules in series. The converter can be MMC, cascaded H-bridge and the like. Referring to FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, any power module has a common mode voltage Uc and a parasitic capacitance C to ground. When the common mode voltage Uc changes, the common mode current Icm1 and Icm2 flow through the parasitic capacitance C. The current will flow through the power semiconductor circuit or control circuit inside the power module, then pass through the impedance network to the housing, and then flow to the ground through the parasitic capacitance C. The impedance network may be a combination of passive components such as resistors and capacitors. The larger the common mode voltage Uc transitions, the larger the common mode current is, and the more serious the signal interference caused by the common mode current flowing through the control circuit is. As a result, the power semiconductor circuit or control circuit inside the power module may work abnormally, and the system may be shutdown.
In order to reduce the interference signal, the commonly used methods include adding hardware circuits inside the power module, bypassing the common mode current, shielding the sensitive circuits, or enhancing the ability of the sensitive circuits to resist common mode interference. These methods have the disadvantages of complicated circuit, increased cost, long debugging cycle, and non-significant effects.
It should be noted that the information disclosed in the background section above is only used to enhance the understanding of the background of the disclosure, and therefore may include information that does not constitute the prior art known to those of ordinary skill in the art.

Control method of multilevel converter and the multilevel converter


A liquid ejection head includes a substrate and a flow path forming member on the substrate, the flow path forming member forming an ejection orifice from which a liquid is ejected and a liquid flow path. The flow path forming member is formed of an inorganic material, contains at least a flow path side wall portion forming a side of the liquid flow path and has a member covering a substrate side end part of an inner wall of the flow path side wall portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid ejection head and a production process thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
A variety of systems is proposed regarding a liquid ejection head which ejects a minute droplet at a desired position to form an image. A general liquid ejection head has a construction including an energy-generating element for generating energy for ejecting a liquid, a substrate having a circuit for driving the energy-generating element, an ejection orifice from which the liquid is ejected and a liquid flow path communicating with the ejection orifice. As an example of a process for producing the liquid ejection head having such a construction, there is mentioned a process in which a flow path forming member is directly formed by means of a photolithographic method on a substrate obtained by forming a circuit and an energy-generating element on a silicon wafer. In the flow path forming member of the liquid ejection head produced by such a process, there are limitations on material and thickness from the viewpoint of production. In addition, the flow path forming member is thinly formed from the viewpoint of achieving desired ejection characteristics, and the thickness thereof is generally from several microns to several tens microns. Therefore, the resistance of the flow path forming member to physical shock and vibration may be insufficient in some cases. Further, it may be difficult in some cases to thinly and evenly form the flow path forming member by means of the photolithographic method. For example, a pinhole or gap is formed in the flow path forming member, and so a liquid may leak from a liquid flow path in some cases.
In order to improve the long-term reliability of the liquid ejection head, various investigations have been made from a structural point of view. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,600,856 discloses a process in which another member is arranged at a position where no liquid flow path is formed, and a flow path forming member is formed thereon for enhancing the strength of the flow path forming member thinly formed from the viewpoint of a production process. According to this process, another member is filled into the flow path forming member except for a portion where the liquid flow path is formed, and the strength of the flow path forming member can be improved.
In the process described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,600,856, a gap is easily formed at a portion in particular where a side wall of the flow path forming member comes into contact with a substrate as illustrated in FIG. 6 (portion A in particular), and there is a possibility that a liquid may leak from a liquid flow path. That is, in U.S. Pat. No. 7,600,856, the flow path forming member is formed by means of a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method so as to cover a mold material of the liquid flow path. However, it is however hard for the film-forming gas to reach a part where the mold material provided with a structurally narrow space comes into contact with the substrate. Therefore, the film forming rate at that part becomes low. As a result, a gap such as pinholes or cracks is easily formed in the flow path forming member at a part where the flow path forming member comes into contact with the substrate.
Even when a flow path forming member is formed of a resin, the flow path forming member may be detached from the substrate, or cracking may occur in the flow path forming member at a part coming into contact with the substrate in some cases. When the detachment or cracking occurs, a problem that a liquid leaks from a liquid flow path is caused.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a liquid ejection head capable of reducing liquid leakage from a liquid flow path.

Liquid ejection head and production process thereof


An automatic transmission includes a first planetary gear set including a first sun gear, a first pinion, and a ring gear of the first planetary gear set. The transmission includes a second planetary gear set including a second sun gear, a second pinion, and a common gear. The transmission includes a third planetary gear set including a third sun gear, the second pinion, a third pinion, and the common gear. The transmission also includes a fourth planetary gear set including the common gear, a fourth pinion, and a ring gear of the fourth planetary gear set. The second planetary gear set and the third planetary gear set form a Ravigneaux gear set. The fourth planetary gear set is concentrically arranged with the second planetary gear set or the third planetary gear set, and the second and third planetary gear sets are radially inward of the fourth planetary gear set.

I. Field of the Disclosure
This disclosure relates generally to an automatic transmission for transmitting a rotation of an input shaft to an output shaft at a speed selected from a plurality of speeds by selectively engaging or disengaging a plurality of torque-transmitting elements.
II. Description of the Related Art
The "background" description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description which may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly or impliedly admitted as prior art against the present invention.
In recent years, a growing demand exists for a multi-speed automatic transmission that provides a plurality of gear ratios suited to a driver's preferences. Automatic transmissions that include six or more speeds, for example, have been proposed to augment vehicle drivability. However, as the number of speeds within these multi-speed automatic transmissions has increased, problems of packaging components within a transmission which hinder assembly of the transmission into a vehicle have arisen.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.


A method is for manufacturing a cartridge (10, 27, 30) for containing and meterably dispensing a reservoir (11) contained flowable dental material (36). The reservoir (11) is connected to a cannula section (14) for dispensing the dental material (36). A separate functional element (15) is connected to the cannula section (14). The cartridge (10, 27, 30) is manufactured together with the functional element (15) according to a multicomponent injection molding method. The functional element (15) is designed as a detachable closing element. The functional element (15) and the cartridge (10, 27, 30) are positioned during the manufacture such that the functional element (15) is mounted at least partially in the cannula section (14). The functional element (15) has a plug part (16) for closing the cannula section (14) and a cannula duct (24) of the cannula section (14) is filled at least partially with the plug part (16).

Such a cartridge is known from DE 10 2008 057 443 A1, where the functional element is a valve device.
It is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,391,590 B1 that a functional element is designed as a cap, which is pulled over a cannula opening of a cannula duct to close the cannula section. It is disadvantageous here that the cartridge and the cap for the cartridge must be manufactured in two mutually independent manufacturing steps, wherein the cap is placed, as a rule, by hand by a person or in an automated manner on the cannula opening of the cannula section. This causes high manufacturing costs. In addition, with the cap already placed, there is a risk of air inclusions during the filling of the cartridge with the dental material, as result of which the shelf life of the dental material may be reduced and/or the quantity of the filling may show undesired variations in a comparison of a plurality of cartridges. Such air inclusions may lead to the loss of the cap, especially during transportation, because of the expansion of the air, as a result of which the storage stability is reduced. Even though the inclusion of air can be reduced when filling the cartridge without cap, there is a risk now that dental material will escape from the cannula opening of the cannula section, as a result of which dental material will be lost. This leads to higher manufacturing costs. Such cartridges are intended for single-time use especially in the field of dentistry. However, there is a risk when using caps that the cannula section will be reclosed with the cap in order to use a residual material that is preset later. There is a risk of contamination of the dental material and/or of an increased risk for infection because of its undesired reclosing of the cartridge that was once opened.
A cartridge, in which fibers or a flocking are connected to the cartridge in the area of an outlet of the cannula section, is known from U.S. Pat. No. 6,059,570. This functional element is used to apply, spread and/or burnish the dental material. It is disadvantageous here that the application of the fibers or of the flocking is carried out in an independent manufacturing step and fully independently from the manufacture of the cartridge. It is also disadvantageous that the cannula section is rigid in the area of the fibers or flocking. As a result, there is a risk that a treatment with the functional element is perceived by a patient as being unpleasant and/or painful. In addition, there is a risk that undesired injuries will develop because of the rigid design. The spreading and/or burnishing of the dental material is also made difficult by the rigid design of the cartridge and of the cannula section.
Furthermore, it is disadvantageous in prior-art cartridges that there is a risk of an especially abrupt rupture of material in case of an overstressing due to an excessively strong force or an excessively high pressure being applied to press the dental material out of the cartridge and/or the reservoir.

Method for manufacturing a cartridge for containing and meterably dispensing a flowable dental material and such a cartridge


Methods and apparatus for reducing sensitivity to nonlinearities in the receiver of a digital communications system are disclosed. One aspect can be referred to as a Post-Distortion Decision Feedback Equalizer (PDFE). A gain stage is often implemented as a variable gain amplifier (VGA), and can introduce significant nonlinearities, a problem exacerbated by signals with a large peak-to-average ratio (PAR). One embodiment provides feed forward information from the VGA regarding its status to a DFE, and the DFE adjusts its filtering based on the provided information. The advantages are also applicable to fixed-gain amplifiers and to transversal filters.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention generally relates to digital communications. In particular, the invention relates to filtering techniques in a receiver.
2. Description of the Related Art
The performance of digital communication systems can be measured in terms of Bit Error Rate (BER). Two common blocks found in digital receivers are: Decision Feedback Equalizers (DFEs) and Variable Gain Amplifiers (VGAs). Some features of both blocks will be discussed in this section.
A common type of nonlinearity encountered in practical amplifiers is compression, as depicted in FIG. 1. In FIG. 1, it can be seen that as input power increases, output power eventually saturates. This is referred to as gain compression. The 1 decibel (decision block) compression point (a commonly applied metric) refers to the point at which the gain of the amplifier drops by 1 dB below the small signal gain (the gain at very small input power levels).
Adaptive Filtering and Decision Feedback Equalizers
Adaptive filtering is a common and powerful function that finds use in a large variety of applications. One application is the basic communication problem, in which information is sent from one place to another. When an applied filter is used to compensate for the effects of the channel across which the information was sent, it is typically referred to as an equalizer.
One source of error in information transmission is intersymbol interference (ISI), which arises when a signal is sent across a dispersive channel. Dispersive channels tend to spread the energy of a transmitted signal out over time, so that both past and future symbols can interfere with the current symbol.
To further illustrate this point, consider a transmitted signal, t, which is sent across a dispersive channel with impulse response h. The received signal, x, is given by Equation 1.
                                                                                x                  k                                =                                                                                ∑                    n                                                                                h                      n                                                                                t                                              k                        -                        n                                                                                =                                                                                h                      0                                                                                t                      k                                                        +                                                            ∑                                              n                        <                        0                                                                                h                        n                                                                                t                                                  k                          -                          n                                                                                +                                                            ∑                                              n                        >                        0                                                                                h                        n                                                                                t                                                  k                          -                          n                                                                                Eq          .                                                    1
The second term in Equation 1 arises from the precursor component of the channel impulse response, and models interference from future symbols with the current symbol. The third term in Equation 1 arises from the postcursor component of the channel impulse response, and models interference from previous symbols with the current symbol. Equalization techniques can be used to reduce or remove these components.
Oftentimes, prior knowledge of the channel characteristics is not known, making it difficult to define a relatively good, such as an optimum filter. To overcome this problem, filters are often made adaptive, allowing the filters to "learn" the channel characteristics.
Adaptive Transversal Filters
The adaptive transversal filter is a typical component in adaptive equalization applications, and is a well-understood non-recursive structure. It operates in the discrete time domain and has a finite impulse response (FIR). A generalized block diagram of the adaptive transversal filter is shown in FIG. 2.
For convenience, the input history and coefficients are expressed as vectors in Equations 2 and 3.Xk=[xk xk−1 . . . xk−N]T  Eq. 2Wk=[W0k W1k . . . WNk]T  Eq. 3
Coefficient adaptation is performed based on the desired response, dk, and the filter output, yk. dk is often a training (pilot) signal, which can be a copy of the transmitted sequence stored in the receiver, or the hard decisions of a Decision Feedback Equalizer (DFE). Commonly used adaptation algorithms attempt to minimize the mean-square error, E[εk2], where the error signal is given by Equation 4.εk=dk−yk=dk−WkTXk  Eq. 4
Equation 5 expands the square of the error signal.εk2=(ik−WkTXk)2 =dk2+WkTXkXkTWk−2dkXkTWk  Eq. 5
To produce a reasonably simplified expression for the mean-square error, several assumptions can be made: Wk is fixed; and Xk, dk, and εk are statistically wide-sense stationary. With these assumptions, the mean-square error is reduced as shown in Equation 6.E[εk2]=E[d[k]2]+WTE[XkXkT]W−2E[d[k]XkT]W  Eq. 6
From Equation 6, it is clear that the mean-square error is a quadratic function of the coefficient vector W. This quadratic function is referred to as the error surface, and it contains a global minimum at the optimal coefficient vector. In one embodiment, a task of the adaptation engine is to walk the coefficients down the error surface to a point as close as possible to the optimal solution.
There are a large variety of basic algorithms available to converge the coefficient vector to the optimal solution, including Newton's method, the steepest descent method, least-mean square (LMS), and recursive least squares (RLS). LMS is one of the most commonly used algorithms due to its ease of computation. LMS achieves its simplicity by approximating the mean-square error, E[εk2], with εk2, leading to the following coefficient update equation expressed in Equation 7.Wk+1=Wk+μεkXk  Eq. 7
In Equation 7, μ is a step-size scalar that can be used to control convergence rate and steady-state accuracy.
In the above illustrative description, the filter and associated algorithms operate on real-valued data. The extension to complex-valued data and coefficients is well known in the art and is included in the scope of the present disclosure. Similarly, in the illustrated description, an optimal coefficient vector is typically chosen as the one that minimizes the mean square error between the filter output and the desired response.
Blind Equalization
When the desired response, dk, is unknown, adaptation should be done in blind mode. There are many algorithms capable of blindly converging for an adaptive filter, and they make use of higher-order statistics of the filter's input. Some prominent algorithms include Sato's algorithm and the Constant Modulus Algorithm (CMA).
Decision Feedback Equalizers
An alternative to the feedforward transversal filter, known as the Decision Feedback Equalizer (DFE), was originally proposed by Austin in 1967 and showed superior performance to its linear counterpart. It was later modified by George et al. (1971) to be adaptive. Adaptive DFEs typically use adaptive transversal filters in both feedforward and feedback roles (although the feedforward section is not mandatory), as shown in FIG. 3.
The role of the feedforward section is to reduce the precursor component of the ISI, while the feedback section reduces the postcursor component. In a traditional symbol-rate DFE, precursor and postcursor components spaced at integer multiples of the symbol period are corrected. For example, a DFE with N feedback taps can correct for postcursor components that occur at spacings of T, 2T, . . . , NT from the current symbol.
DFEs can be implemented in analog or in digital form. A digital implementation uses analog-to-digital conversion of the filter's input signal.
DFEs are often operated in decision-directed mode, which uses the output of the decision device as the desired signal. In this case, the error signal is given by the difference between the decision device's output and input. This is advantageous, as it does not require a training signal to converge the adaptation engine, although convergence can be more difficult. A block diagram for a decision-directed DFE is illustrated in FIG. 4.
In FIG. 4, a common error signal and adaptation engine are used to adapt both the feedforward and the feedback sections. The generation of this error signal can be challenging, as in an analog implementation, it is typical to sample and hold and then scale the soft decisions (input of the decision device) before subtracting them from the hard decisions (output of the decision device). This ensures that the delay through the decision device is accounted for, and also prevents the hard decisions from swamping the small signal level of the soft decisions.
Fractionally Spaced Equalizers
Fractionally Spaced Equalizers (FSEs) are transversal equalizers (used as a linear equalizer or the feedforward portion of a DFE) whose taps are spaced at some fraction of the symbol period. A typical choice is T/2 spacing, which allows correction of both the in-phase instant and the quadrature instant in the channel impulse response.
For an ideal, jitter-free sampling clock, equalization of anything but the ideal in-phase sampling instant provides no improvement in performance. However, when a realistic, jittered clock is considered, the true sampling instant slides around the ideal point. Because of this, there is advantage in providing equalization across more of the symbol period. In real-word systems, FSEs provide superior performance to symbol-rate equalizers.
RAM-DFEs store a list of feedback correction values in a table which is indexed by the pattern history. These have been used primarily in disk-drive applications. There does not appear to be a prescribed technique associated with RAM-DFEs for programming or indexing the table of coefficients to overcome BER degradations due to nonlinearities in an amplifier, such as a variable gain amplifier.
Yungsoo Kim et al., in "A Decision-Feedback Equalizer with Pattern-Dependent Feedback for Magnetic Recording Channels", IEEE Transactions on Communications, Volume: 49, Issue: 1, pg. 9-13, January 2001, describes a RAM-DFE that attempts to address pattern dependent nonlinearities, but in complex and different way than the techniques disclosed herein. Kim's paper describes a method that is not based on feedforward information supplied by a preceding VGA, but rather solely on information internal to the DFE.
Many attempts have also been made on the transmit side to improve linearity. This has been done with analog feedback techniques (e.g., Cartesian feedback, polar feedback, dynamic biasing), digital feedback techniques (e.g., pre-distortion), and amplifier design (e.g., use of highly linear Class A structures).
The negative impact of nonlinearities on the Bit Error Rate (BER) of digital communication systems is well known. Several methods have already been developed to reduce the sensitivity of a digital communications system to nonlinearities in the signal path. These include, but are not limited to, predistortion, Cartesian feedback, and the design of composite amplifiers. Most of these solutions are targeted towards the transmit side of the link.
One relatively common situation found in a digital communication receiver is illustrated in FIG. 5. In FIG. 5, the VGA represents a variable gain amplifier, the AGC represents an automatic gain control block, and the DFE represents a decision feedback equalizer. Despite its apparent complexity, FIG. 5 is relatively simple to understand. The VGA amplifies the incoming RX signal to a desired level. The AGC feedback loop ensures the correct amount of gain is applied by the VGA. The DFE is a filter that helps remove inter-symbol interference (ISI) from the incoming signal.
The VGA can be a major source of nonlinearity in the receiver. One particularly common form of nonlinearity in a VGA is compression, which is often described using the 1 dB compression point (the signal power level at which the gain of the VGA drops by 1 dB).
Oftentimes, the incoming signal can have a large peak-to-average ratio (PAR), as a result of the modulation scheme, ISI, or some other phenomenon. To avoid degradations in BER associated with nonlinearities, the VGA is backed off from its 1 dB compression point. Generally speaking, one of two scenarios results: 1) the implementation of an overly power-hungry/complex VGA, or 2) an unacceptably high BER.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Post-distortion filter for reducing sensitivity to receiver nonlinearities


A computer system include: a system unit; a charging unit which outputs a charging current to a battery unit for supplying electric power to the system unit; and a first temperature compensating unit which selectively adjusts the level of the charging current so that the temperature of the charging unit is substantially maintained within a predetermined range.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relate to a computer system having a battery unit detachably mounted thereto as an auxiliary power source and a charging unit for charging the battery unit, and a control method thereof.
2. Description of Related Art
In general, a computer system, such as a laptop computer or a mobile computer, may be provided with an adapter unit for supplying electric power to operate and a battery unit as an auxiliary power source.
Such a computer system is provided with a charging unit for charging the battery unit. The charging unit may be provided with a switching part such as an FET (Field Effect Transistor) which is supplied with electric power through the adapter unit and selectively outputs a charging current to the battery unit; and a switching controller which controls the switching part so that the charging current reaches a predetermined target value.
However, when the battery unit is charged, a lot of heat may be generated from the charging unit due to a switching operation of the switching part. As a result, the heat may affect a control operation of the switching controller. In particular, as the switching part is arranged closer to the switching controller, the heat may more significantly affect the control operation of the switching controller, thereby lowering reliability of the control operation of the switching controller. Thus, a life span of the battery unit may be shortened. Also, the design of the charging unit may be restricted.
Further, the heat may be generated from the battery unit as well as the charging unit. This may also affect operations of the computer system, and in a worst scenario, the safety of the computer system may be affected in case of excessive heat.

Computer system with charging unit and control method thereof

Samsung-ro, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do


An overdriving apparatus including a memory unit, a position unit and an overdriving unit is provided. The memory unit stores a present frame received and outputs a previous frame stored in the memory unit. The position unit generates pixel position information according to a display control signal of the present frame. The overdriving unit determines a corresponding relationship between several pixel grey values of the present frame and several display areas of a display panel according to the pixel position information, so as to select a corresponding specific table group of each of the pixel grey values from a plurality of overdriving tables. The overdriving unit further generates an overdriving frame by looking up the corresponding specific table group of each of the pixel grey values.

1. Technical Field
The invention generally relates to an overdriving apparatus of a display panel and an overdriving method thereof, and more particularly, to an overdriving apparatus generating an overdriving frame according to an overdriving table of response times of different liquid crystals and an overdriving method thereof.
2. Related Art
With the advancement of display technology, three-dimensional display devices (3D display device) capable of displaying 3D images gradually become main research topics in the display device field. FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram illustrating playing of a three-dimensional display apparatus. As illustrated in FIG. 1A, 3D display devices are usually used in corporation with shutter glasses. Besides, during a process of playing images, when odd number images IMG11, IMG13 . . . reach the stable status, a left eye of an observer is covered by the shutter glasses so that just a right eye is able to see the image. Then, when even number images IMG12, IMG14 . . . reach the stable status, the right eye of the observer is covered by the shutter glasses so that just the left eye is able to see the image. Accordingly, the left eye and the right eye of the observer are able to respectively receive images at different angles, and the images are thereby combined to achieve the 3D effect.
In order to ensure the images reach the stable status, the present 3D display devices mostly drive the liquid crystal display panel by an overdriving method, so as to speed up a response time of the liquid crystals. FIG. 1B is a structure schematic diagram illustrating an overdriving apparatus of a conventional three-dimensional display apparatus. Referring to FIG. 1B, the overdriving apparatus 100 includes a memory unit 110 and an overdriving circuit 120. The memory unit 110 stores a present display frame IMG11, and transmits a previous display frame IMG12 to the overdriving circuit 120. The overdriving circuit 120 stores an overdriving table. Accordingly, the overdriving circuit 120 looks up the overdriving table according to the previous display frame IMG12 and the present display frame IMG11, and generates the overdriving display frame according to the query result.
It is to be noted that, the overdriving table stored in the overdriving circuit 120 is established based upon response times of the liquid crystals on a middle scanning line of the liquid crystal display panel. However, the liquid crystal penal is driven in a sequential scanning approach. That is, there are different requirements on time for liquid crystals located on different scanning lines to reach the stable status. Therefore, under a condition where the conventional overdriving circuit 120 is based upon the response times of the liquid crystals on the middle scanning line, the generated overdriving frame would cause too strong transitions of the liquid crystals on an upper area of the display panel and insufficient transitions of the liquid crystals on a lower area of the display panel. Accordingly, the 3D imaged watched by the observer would have a problem of a cross-talk between stereo images, and thereby lower the 3D image quality.

Overdriving apparatus and method thereof


An apparatus for restraining movement of a vehicle occupant in the event of a side impact to the vehicle includes an air bag module (10) in the vehicle door (12). The air bag module includes front (60) and rear (50) air bags, a source (70) of inflation fluid, and a flow control apparatus (94). The flow control apparatus (94) is actuatable into either a first condition for directing inflation fluid from the source into the front air bag (60) or a second condition for directing inflation fluid into the rear air bag (50). A sensor (26) senses the position of the vehicle occupant and provides a position signal indicative of the vehicle occupant's position. An actuator (80) is responsive to the position signal for actuating the flow control apparatus (94) into either the first or conditions. When the vehicle occupant's seat (20) is disposed forward of a predetermined position in the vehicle, the actuator (80) places the flow control apparatus (94) in the first condition to direct fluid from the inflation fluid source into only the front air bag (60). When the seat (20) is disposed rearward of the predetermined position in the vehicle, the actuator (80) places the flow control apparatus (94) in the second condition to direct fluid flow from the inflation fluid source only into the rear air bag (50).

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an apparatus for protecting an occupant of a vehicle in the event of a collision or the like. The present invention is particularly directed to an apparatus for protecting an occupant of a vehicle in the event of a side impact to the vehicle.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is known to use an inflatable air bag located in a vehicle door to protect an occupant of the vehicle in the event of a side impact to the vehicle. The air bag is inflated, when a side impact is sensed, to restrain movement of the vehicle occupant. However, because a vehicle occupant typically sits in a seat which is adjustable between different forward and rearward positions, the air bag, when inflated, may not be in the optimum position relative to the occupant.
In the occupant protection device shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,072,966, two inflatable air bags are located in a vehicle door, one in front of the other. Each air bag has its own separate inflator. Regardless of the forward/rearward position of the vehicle occupant's seat, both inflators are actuated in the event of a collision. Each air bag is inflated by its own inflator.

Apparatus for protecting an occupant of a vehicle upon a side impact to the vehicle


A camera provides an autofocus function by capturing a series of images when a lens is at different positions, analyzing the images to identify a best-focused image, and outputting the best-focused image. Unselected images can be discarded. The camera can include a FIFO buffer that receives image data from an image sensor as the image sensor captures images. When a photographer activates a shutter button, an analysis system, which may be implemented in software, analyzes the images in the FIFO buffer and selects the best-focused image for output. In alternative embodiments, the movement of the lens and the capture of the images can be before or in response to activation of the shutter button.

Taking clear and sharp photographs generally requires focusing the lens of a camera on the object being photographed. Traditionally, the photographer manually focuses the camera lens for the photograph being taken, so that an image of the object lies on the plane of the film or image sensor that captures the image. This manual focusing can take some time and skill. Accordingly, cameras with autofocusing have been developed to simplify photography.
FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a digital camera 100 containing a known autofocus system. Camera 100 includes a lens 110 that is mounted on a drive mechanism 115 capable of changing the distance between lens 110 and an image sensor 120, and a motor 130 under the control of a controller 140 moves lens 110 for focusing on a target object. A pulse generator 135 measures the rotation of motor 130 and generates a pulse signal that controller 140 can use for tracking movement of lens 110. For autofocusing, a range finder 150 that receives light through lens 110 determines a distance between an image plane of lens 110 and the plane of image sensor 120. Range finding may, for example, be implemented using known phase difference detection techniques. Controller 140 receives the distance determined in range finder 150 and activates motor 130 to move lens 110 the distance required to place the image plane of lens 110 on image sensor 120. When lens 110 is properly focused and the photographer operates the shutter button of camera 100, image sensor 120 captures the image, which can be digitally stored in a memory 160.
The autofocus system described above generally adds to the cost of camera 100. In particular, camera 100 requires specific components such as range finder 150 with associated optics (not shown) and pulse generator 135 that may only be used for autofocusing. Additionally, motor 130 and drive mechanism 115 must be able to move lens 110 a controlled distance in either direction, and a relatively expensive stepper motor or voice coil motor may be required for adequate control of drive mechanism 115.
An autofocus system is desired that can reduce camera cost and/or size through reduction of the number and cost of autofocusing components.


A memory device including a single transistor having functions of RAM and ROM and methods for operating and manufacturing the same are provided. The memory device includes a single transistor formed on a substrate. The transistor may be a memory transistor having a gate with a nonvolatile memory element, or the nonvolatile memory element is provided between the transistor and the substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device. More particularly, the present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device including a single transistor having functions of random access memory (RAM) and read-only memory (ROM), and methods for operating and manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
While RAMs allow fast data access, they are volatile, meaning that they lose their contents when the power is turned off. In contrast, ROMs, which are computer memories on which data has been prerecorded, retain their contents even when the power is turned off. ROM has a data access rate that varies depending on the type of memory, but is much slower than that of RAM. For example, flash memories, which are a variation of electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) that can be written and read by an electrical signal, are similar to ROM in that they retain their contents even when the power is turned off. At the same time, the flash memories have characteristics similar to RAM in that they can be erased and reprogrammed. Flash memories are faster than EEPROM, but they are not as fast as RAM. Also, since flash memories can write data by injecting electric charges through tunneling, their write voltages are high and their write time is long.
To overcome the above problems, nonvolatile RAMs (NVRAMs) have been developed. To get a NVRAM, a dielectric film of a capacitor in 1T-1C dynamic RAM having an array of unit cells, each having a single transistor and a single capacitor, is replaced by a capacitor with a ferroelectric film such as PZT (PbZrxTi1xe2x88x92xO3), and an electrode is replaced by a heat resistant metal such as platinum (Pt). However, the NVRAM has a problem in that the fabrication process is complicated because a new process recipe is used to pattern a ferroelectric material and a heat resistant metal that are hard to etch. Another problem of NVRAM is that the direction of voltage applied must be changed for data recording and writing, and it is not commercially viable due to high applied voltage. Furthermore, it is more difficult to effectively utilize space than if a flash memory is used since the NVRAM includes capacitors together with transistors.
To solve above problems, it is a first feature of an embodiment of the present invention to provide a memory device having the advantages of both RAM and ROM, a small size, a simple construction, a low operating voltage and a simple fabrication process due to the use of a current fabrication process.
It is a second feature of an embodiment of the present invention to provide a method for operating the memory device.
It is a third feature of an embodiment of the present invention to provide a method of manufacturing the memory device.
In order to achieve the first feature, the present invention provides a memory device including a single transistor wherein the single transistor is a memory transistor having a gate including a nonvolatile memory element.
The nonvolatile memory element may be formed between a gate insulating layer and a gate conductive layer, both layers constituting the gate, and connected to first and second bit lines separated from each other.
The first and second bit lines may pass below or above the nonvolatile memory element.
The nonvolatile memory element preferably includes semiconductor quantum dots formed on the gate insulating layer and an amorphous material layer covering the plurality of semiconductor quantum dots, wherein the amorphous material layer stores carriers emitted from the semiconductor quantum dots and maintains the carriers in a nonvolatile state until the emitted carriers are recaptured into the semiconductor quantum dots.
The semiconductor quantum dots are preferably silicon dots arranged at regular intervals, and the amorphous material layer, which is an amorphous dielectric layer, is preferably an amorphous silicon nitride layer or an amorphous alumina layer. Also, the amorphous dielectric layer may be replaced with an insulating layer such as a silicon oxide layer (SiO2). The first and second bit lines are preferably conductive impurity layers formed from the surface of the substrate to a predetermined depth.
In another embodiment, a memory device includes a substrate, a transistor formed on the substrate, and a nonvolatile memory means formed between the transistor and the substrate. The nonvolatile memory means preferably includes an amorphous material layer formed on the substrate and semiconductor quantum dots formed on the amorphous material layer, wherein the amorphous material layer stores carriers emitted from the semiconductor quantum dots and maintains the carriers in a nonvolatile state until the emitted carriers are recaptured into the semiconductor quantum dots. Preferably, the transistor includes: first and second metal layer patterns formed on the amorphous material layer, both being separated from each other; an insulating layer formed on the amorphous material layer so as to cover the semiconductor quantum dots and the first and second metal layer; and a word line formed on the insulating layer at a position corresponding to a position where the semiconductor quantum dots are formed.
Preferably, the memory device further includes: an interlayer dielectric layer formed on the insulating layer for covering the word line; a via hole formed in the interlayer dielectric layer and the insulating layer so that the first metal pattern is exposed; and a fourth metal layer pattern formed on the interlayer dielectric layer for filling the via hole and passing across the word line.
In order to achieve the second feature of an embodiment of the present invention, the present invention provides a method for operating a memory device including a single transistor formed on a substrate, wherein the single transistor is a memory transistor having a gate with a nonvolatile memory element, and the nonvolatile memory element is connected to a bit line comprised of first and second bit lines passing across the gate. According to the method, an addressing voltage and a write voltage are applied to the gate and the bit line, respectively, to write data to the nonvolatile memory element.
First and second write voltages are preferably applied to the first and second bit lines, respectively, to store data xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d to the nonvolatile memory element, and the first and second write voltages are the same as or different from each other. The second write voltage is preferably applied to the first bit line to store data xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d, the first write voltage is preferably applied to the second bit line to store data xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d, and the first and second write voltages are the same as or different from each other. A first write voltage may be applied to the second bit line to store data, and a second write voltage higher than the first write voltage may be applied to the second bit line to store different data.
The written data may be read by measuring the conductivity of the nonvolatile memory element. An addressing voltage may be applied to the gate, and then a current measuring means connected to the first bit line to measure current between the gate and the first bit line and thus measure the conductivity of the nonvolatile memory element, whereby data xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d or data xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d is read depending on the measured current.
The present invention also provides a method for operating a memory device including a substrate, a transistor formed on the substrate, the transistor having a gate, a drain connected to a bit line, and a source connected to a source of another transistor, a nonvolatile memory element formed between the gate and the substrate, and a metal line parallel to a word line connected to the transistor. According to the method, data is written by changing the conductivity of the nonvolatile memory element when the metal line is grounded. The nonvolatile memory element may be comprised of a material layer for storing carriers and semiconductor quantum dots formed thereon.
A write voltage and an addressing voltage may be applied to the bit line and the word line, respectively, when the metal line is grounded, to write data by changing the conductivity of the carrier storing material layer. Data may be written by changing the addressing voltage while the write voltage remains constant or by changing the write voltage while the addressing voltage remains constant.
In this case, the written data may be read by measuring the conductivity of the nonvolatile memory element. Preferably, a read voltage is applied to the bit line, and then a current measuring means is connected to the metal line to measure current between the bit line and the metal line and thus the conductivity of the nonvolatile memory element.
Different first or second read voltages may be applied to the bit line to measure current between the bit line and the metal line and thus read data. A read voltage and an addressing voltage may be applied to the metal line and the word line, respectively, and then a current measuring means may be connected to the bit line to measure current between the metal line and the bit line and thus the conductivity of the nonvolatile memory element.
In order to achieve the third feature of an embodiment of the present invention, the present invention provides a method of manufacturing a memory device. The manufacturing method includes: defining a field region and an active region in a substrate; forming a field oxide layer on the field region; forming an insulating layer on the active region; patterning the insulating layer to form first and second bit lines separated from and parallel to each other on the active region; forming a memory element for storing data in a nonvolatile state on the insulating layer and the first and second bit lines so that the memory element passes across the first and second bit lines; and forming a word line on the insulating layer and the memory element.
Preferably, the step of forming the memory element further includes: forming a plurality of spaced semiconductor quantum layers on the insulating layer and the first and second bit lines, and forming an amorphous material layer covering the semiconductor quantum dots on the insulating layer. The step of forming the memory element preferably includes the steps of forming an amorphous material layer on the insulating layer and the first and second bit lines, and forming spaced semiconductor quantum dots on the amorphous material layer.
The amorphous material layer may be an amorphous dielectric layer, and the amorphous dielectric layer may be an amorphous silicon nitride layer, an amorphous alumina layer or a silicon oxide layer (SiO2).
In another embodiment of the present invention, a method of manufacturing a memory device includes: forming a nonvolatile amorphous material layer on a substrate; and forming a transistor on the nonvolatile amorphous material layer so that semiconductor quantum dots for emitting carriers to the amorphous material layer or recapturing the emitted carriers by application of a voltage are formed between the transistor and the amorphous material layer.
The step of forming the transistor preferably comprises: forming first and second metal layer patterns on the nonvolatile amorphous material layer; forming semiconductor quantum dots on the nonvolatile amorphous material layer between the first and second metal layer patterns; forming a gate insulating layer covering the resultant in which the semiconductor quantum dots are formed on the substrate; and forming a word line corresponding to the semiconductor quantum dots on the gate insulating layer.
The manufacturing method may further include: forming an interlayer dielectric layer covering the word line on the gate insulating layer; forming a via hole for exposing the first metal layer pattern; and forming a fourth metal layer pattern for filling the via hole and passing across the word line on the interlayer dielectric layer.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a memory device having advantages of RAM and ROM and a low operating voltage. Furthermore, the memory device is comprised of a single transistor, thus reducing the overall size of the device. The memory device is manufactured by a current CMOS fabrication process, thereby simplifying the fabrication process.

Memory device comprising single transistor having functions of RAM and ROM and methods for operating and manufacturing the same


An apparatus for use in printing to a rotational media having a surface to be printed to and being rotatable about an axis extending away from the surface is provided. The apparatus includes an engaging arrangement to engage the rotational media so as to impart controlled rotational movement thereto about the axis. The engaging arrangement is configured to be coupled to printer gearing on a printer, such that rotation of the printer gearing on the printer causes rotation of the rotational media when engaged on the engaging arrangement.

Inkjet printers generally have a printhead, from which the ink for printing is expelled onto a medium. The printhead (or "pen" as it is sometimes known) generally has a large number of nozzles that expel ink onto the medium with a very high degree of precision.
The printhead in a printer is generally much smaller than the medium to be printed on. The medium is therefore advanced past the printhead in a first direction (in a so-called media-feeding direction). In order to print to areas of the media perpendicular to the media-feeding direction, the printhead itself is translated across the medium in a direction perpendicular to the media-feeding direction. The width of a strip of medium that can be printed to on one translation of the printhead is called a swath, which corresponds to the height of the printhead. Therefore, substantially the whole of a two dimensional surface can be printed using one or more swaths by perpendicular advancement of the medium to each swath after completion of each swath. Thus, printing can be achieved by using a printhead, which has a maximum printhead height that is less than the dimension of the medium in the first direction. In order to ensure that the image to be printed is accurately produced, the changing positioning of the printhead relative to the medium must be highly accurate.
When regularly shaped paper is the medium pinch rollers can control the advancement of the medium accurately. However, accurate positioning of some types of media is not possible using such pinch rollers. Misalignment of the media can cause printable ink to be placed on the printer parts. Additionally, uneven loading of the pinching rollers will cause inconsistent pen to paper spacing leading to reduction of consistent drop placement on the paper and poor print quality.

Method and apparatus for rotational media printing

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


An upright keyboard musical instrument has an open/close board attached to the top position of a case, wherein the lower surface of the open/close board is subjected to mirror surface finishing and is supported by a lid prop, which is rotatably arranged in proximity to the top board to rotate about a support axis and is formed in an L-shape to have a plurality of support surfaces, realizing different angles for the open/close board being opened. The mirror surface of the open/close board projects images representing internal members of the case, such as an emblem and actions. By appropriately rotating the lid prop, it is possible to realize a desired angle for the open/close board, thus realizing tone volume control and visually entertaining effects in musical performance.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to upright keyboard musical instruments such as upright pianos, which are equipped with top boards having opening and closing functions.
This application claims priority on Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-97533, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, keyboard musical instruments such as grand pianos and upright pianos are equipped with top boards, which are attached to top positions of main bodies and are free to be opened or closed. During musical performance, top boards are appropriately opened so that musical tones are emitted to the outside of the cases and are thus increased in tone volume. Japanese Patent Application Publication No. H11-305761 discloses an example of a keyboard musical instrument, which is equipped with a support rod for supporting the lower portion of a top board to be opened, and a buffer device for preventing the top board from rapidly rotating when it is closed. Conventionally known keyboard musical instruments control tone volumes by opening and closing top boards, wherein they prevent user's fingers from being caught between cases and top boards, which are opened or closed.
Conventionally known keyboard musical instruments (particularly, upright pianos) allow top boards to be opened or closed only for the purpose of tone volume control. When users play keyboard musical instruments such as grand pianos with top boards in the open condition, for example, they can directly view movements of hammers included in actions, which demonstrate entertaining effects in musical performance. In contrast to grand pianos, upright pianos cannot demonstrate such entertaining effects in musical performance.


An airborne radar warning receiver for track-while-scan radar including a first radar frequency receiver and logic circuitry for determining an increase in pulse rate frequency, second radar frequency receiver connected to a signal filter and an automatic gain control amplifier connected to the receiver and a logic circuitry connected to the amplifier and to the pulse rate frequency logic whereby the ratio is determined between the time from the start of scan until the radar beam illuminates the aircraft and the total scan time, thereby indicating the center of a search scan sector. A third radar frequency receiver connected to a signal filter and a logic circuitry connected to the receiver for indicating when signals are being radiated indicative of the launching of a radar controlled missile.

The general approach in the field of track-while-scan radar systems has been to designate and scan a search sector. Some systems do this by employing two orthogonally mounted scanning antennas. Each antenna may radiate a beam which is 10.degree. wide in one direction and 2.degree. wide in the other, and scan a search sector 20.degree. wide. Scanning generally is accomplished by electro-mechanically shifting the antenna beam while the antenna remains stationary, rather than by physically oscillating the antenna. The scans are unidirectional, i.e. when the beam reaches the right-hand end of its scan sector it is blanked and flies back to the left side to start the scan again. The usual scanning rate is 16 times/sec during which the beam may be energized for 50 milliseconds and blanked for 12.5 milliseconds during flyback. The location of an aircraft in the radar scan sector can be determined by measuring the time required for the main beam to scan from the edge of the scan sector to the aircraft.
Many systems are capable of engaging only one target at a time. In one particular system, operating doctrine requires that the radar operators align the target in the center of the scan sector. The operators rotate hand wheels which control the antenna array and move ;he scanned sector so that the target return signal is maintained at the sector center. With regard to tracking, an automatic angle tracking circuit provides only for automatic tracking within the scanned sector. The antenna is not slaved automatically, therefore the angle tracking operators must position the antenna manually to keep the target at the center of the scanned sector.

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force


Described are edible citrate-rich compositions, including natural juice beverages fortified with natural occurring citrates and synthesized citrate sources that will aid in treatment and prevention of urolithiasis and other urinary tract disorders. Urolithiasis encompasses conditions in which stones are formed or reside in the urinary system and includes nephrolithiasis (stones in the kidneys), ureterolithiasis (stones in the ureter) and cystolithiasis (stones in the bladder).

The incidence of urolithiasis is increasing worldwide. Established risk factors for urolithiasis include dehydration, family history, obesity, bowel disease, and diets high in sodium and animal protein. Additional approaches to preventing or treating urolithiasis are needed. While compositions that are high in citrate have been utilized in the prevention of urolithiasis, the inconvenience and taste of such preparations have resulted in poor patient compliance. While there have been attempts to produce citrate rich beverages that delivers clinically significant citrate to individuals such that the occurrence of kidney stones is prevented or reduced, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 9,278,112 ('112 patent), these compositions are believed to be tasteless beverages that are problematic resulting in poor patient compliance. Additionally, the beverage envisioned by the 112 patent requires significant volumes to achieve clinical benefit.
What is needed is a beverage that are citrate rich products—including beverages (liquids, powders, liquid concentrates) that not only prevents the onset of kidney stones but treats all forms of urolithiasis. Additionally, such a beverage to improve patient compliance should be comprised of naturally occurring sources (e.g. citrus juices) that are be fortified with naturally occurring source(s), of added citrate or in the alternative added citrates that are synthesized citrate supplements. It is also desirable to consumption of such a beverage in consumer friendly volumes results in higher urinary citrate levels and alkalization of urine such as to produce urine pH at about 6 to 7.1.
A beverage is further needed in that about 8 ounces of (one serving) is sufficient to produce desired therapeutic effect with continued use every day having a citrate level that is about 4500 mg (2000-6500 mg) per serving. A beverage having fortified citrate levels is further need that may optionally contain Ca, K, Mg, Zinc, mineral supplements, vitamin supplements and soluble fiber is also needed. It is also desirable that such a beverage will also contain lower potassium levels, lower acidity levels and lower glycemic index. Additionally, for ease of use and patient safety, it is desirable that such a beverage has a shelf life that is extended by various methods of pasteurization process.

Juice beverage for prevention and treatment of renal stones


Systems, methods, and devices for providing hour-of-service (“HOS”) calculations via a web based host server instead of on an onboard mobile device. In the various embodiments, an onboard vehicle recording device and driver-carried mobile devices may operate independently. The onboard vehicle recording device and driver-carried mobile device(s) may exchange information independently with a host server rather than exchanging information together onboard the vehicle.

Drivers of heavy-duty trucks are required to record their hours-of-service ("HOS") record of duty status ("RODS"). Drivers can use automatic onboard recorder systems hard mounted in their heavy-duty trucks to automate this process using a combination of a driver-carried mobile device, onboard vehicle recording devices, vehicle communications hardware, host servers in communication with the vehicle, and mobile, host, and vehicle software applications resident on the driver-carried mobile device, onboard vehicle recording devices, and host servers, respectively.
Current onboard recorder systems require an HOS application to reside on the mobile device to perform HOS calculations and present HOS data to the driver. Current onboard systems are complex and costly. Changes in regulations and/or software changes require new software to be installed in the driver-carried mobile devices, vehicle recording devices, and/or host servers. As a result, maintenance of software across a vehicle fleet using current onboard systems is expensive for fleet owner/operators, which has resulted in limited adoption of the current systems. The multitude of different driver-carried mobile devices, such as smartphones, tablet computers, laptop computers, etc., with different device characteristics, such as screen size, resolution, memory, operating systems, etc. has also increased the cost of the current HOS systems because multiple native versions of the mobile software must be developed to operate on each different driver-carried mobile device. Additionally, drivers who use multiple driver-carried mobile devices, such as an original equipment manufacturer in-dash display, a personal smartphone, and a laptop computer are required to purchase and install several instances of the HOS software, one for each device, and maintain synchronous versions of the HOS software among the multiple devices.
While the vehicle is in operation, mobile workflow systems capture information onboard from vehicle computers, trailer computers, input from the driver, and/or other auxiliary inputs. This information is collected and generated onboard the vehicle and only later synchronized with the host systems using wireless communications. Systems today require the use of mobile computing and communication systems with onboard software that calculates HOS information, generates instructions to the driver, and reports actual events as they occur on the road. This method requires significant onboard processing and storage. These systems can also be costly to maintain and update since new software has to be transmitted to the mobile system wirelessly or installed manually when the operator can "catch and cable" the onboard system. The requirement to synchronize mobile and host applications adds complexity, cost, and errors to current fleet management systems.

Off-board hours-of-service (“HOS”) processing


Flash artifacts in ultrasound flow images are suppressed to achieve enhanced flow discrimination. Flash artifacts typically occur as regions of elevated signal strength (brightness or equivalent color) within an image. A flash suppression algorithm includes the steps of estimating the flash within an image and then suppressing the estimated flash. The mechanism for flash suppression is spatial filtering. An extension of this basic method uses information from adjacent frames to estimate the flash and/or to smooth the resulting image sequence. Temporal information from adjacent frames is used as an adjunct to improve performance.

This invention relates to ultrasound imaging systems and, more particularly, to methods and apparatus for imaging moving fluid and tissue.
Color Doppler, power Doppler and B-mode flow imaging are methods currently used to image blood flow. In each method, the flow signal is isolated from the larger tissue signal by a temporal high-pass filter which blocks out echoes from stationary or slowly moving reflectors. However, flash artifacts (also referred to as xe2x80x98flashxe2x80x99) occur as a result of tissue and/or transducer motion that obscures the desired flow signals.
Previous methods for ultrasound flash suppression involve one-dimensional processing along time (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,782,769, issued Jul. 21, 1998) whereupon an abrupt change in flow brightness at a given spatial location is assumed to be an artifact and is suppressed. However, certain blood flow phenomena have similar temporal characteristics such that suppressing flash without suppressing the flow signal is difficult if not impossible. These prior art methods often include spatial smoothing as an adjunct to improve performance, but the primary flash suppression mechanism remains temporal filtering.
In flow imaging, enhanced flow discrimination is achieved by employing a robust and efficient method of suppressing flash artifacts through real-time processing of two-dimensional image frames so as to enhance visibility of the flow signals. The processing is performed on detected image data at the back end of the ultrasound imager prior to display. Real-time image processing at the back end of the ultrasound imager has become practical with the advent of faster and cheaper CPUs (central processing units) and digital signal processors.
The preferred embodiments of the invention take advantage of the spatial characteristic of flash artifacts to estimate and suppress them more effectively and reliably. Flash artifacts typically occur as regions of elevated signal strength (brightness or equivalent color) within an image. The flash suppression algorithm in accordance with a preferred embodiment comprises the steps of estimating the flash within an image and then suppressing the estimated flash. Here, the flash suppression mechanism is spatial filtering. An extension of this basic method uses information from adjacent frames to estimate the flash and/or to smooth the resulting image sequence. Temporal information from adjacent frames is used only as an adjunct to improve performance.

Flash artifact suppression in two-dimensional ultrasound imaging


The invention relates to an electrochemical device intended for the production of products through electrochemical reaction of reactants, said electrochemical device comprising a stack of electrochemical cells (10), each cell (10) comprising a structure (16), two bipolar plates (18a, 18b) shared with adjacent cells (10), a membrane/electrode assembly (20) and two intermediate elements (21, 22) arranged to carry a current and the reactants/products to/from the membrane/electrode assembly (20).

Such devices are known to those skilled in the art and are generally used as electrolyser to produce oxygen and hydrogen from water and electricity or as a fuel cell to produce water and electricity from oxygen and hydrogen. Among such devices, ion exchange membrane devices of the AEM (alkaline exchange membrane) and PEM (proton exchange membrane or polymer electrolyte membrane) type can be cited. These devices use a plurality of electrochemical cells in series, stacked between two end plates, along the longitudinal axis of the device, so as to form a stack. Such devices are described, for example, in Patent Publications WO 2011/114094 or US 2013/0122388. In these devices, the structure of an electrochemical cell comprises a frame formed of at least two parts, between which the membrane is held by the clamping of its peripheral area. A pressure is applied along the longitudinal axis of the device to ensure a good contact between the various elements of the cells. The axial pressure is generally applied by pressing, to a greater or lesser degree, the end plates which are connected by axial tie rods mounted around the cells. Consequently, high pressure is applied especially in the peripheral area of the membrane, which may cause it to weaken.
Further, the devices also comprise other support elements, notably supports for the electrodes as described in US 2013/0122388, so that known devices comprise a very large number of elements, which are difficult to manufacture and therefore expensive to produce. Further, the large number of elements makes it difficult to control the sealing between the various reactants and products, while it is evidently desired to avoid mixing hydrogen and oxygen. US 2013/0122388 describes, in particular, the use of a flat sealing gasket arranged at the periphery of the cell, between the frame and a bipolar plate, which makes it difficult to apply uniform pressure and achieve a regular distance between each cell.

Abstract: According to the invention, said structure (16) of the cell (10) comprises a single frame (23) made in one piece, said frame (23) having upper and lower faces respectively arranged to form a plane contact with the bipolar plates (18a, 18b) disposed on either side of said frame (23), and a central opening (26) arranged to receive the membrane/electrode assembly (20) and the two intermediate elements (21, 22), said frame (23) comprising all the orifices (38, 40, 42, 44) necessary for feeding reactants and evacuating products, and housings (34, 54a, 58a, 60a) arranged to receive sealing means (36, 56a, 56b; 62a, 62b, 64a, 64b) ensuring the sealing of each reactant and product.


Optical code signal components are generated and then transformed into signal bearing art that conveys machine readable data. The components of an optical code are optimized to achieve improved signal robustness, reliability, capacity and/or visual quality. An optimization program can determine spatial density, dot distance, dot size and signal component priority to optimize robustness. An optical code generator transforms tiles of an optical code or image embedded with the optical code into signal-bearing art using stipple, Voronoi, Delaunay or other graphic drawing methods so as to retain prioritized components of the optical code. The optical code is merged into a host image, such as imagery, text and graphics of a package or label, or it may be printed by itself, e.g., on an otherwise blank label or carton. A great number of other features and arrangements are also detailed.

Optical codes, such as well-known one and two-dimensional barcodes, are ubiquitous and critical in a wide variety of automatic data capture applications. Indeed, barcodes are so widespread, it is now common to see a variety of barcode types on a single object to carry different types of data, or to improve readability by redundantly encoding the same data on different parts of the object.
This growing use of barcodes poses a number of challenges for package and label designs. First, each barcode must occupy a distinct space to ensure that it can be read reliably. This takes up valuable space that could be used for more important information, such as product information and artistic design elements that enhance the value and attractiveness of the object to users. Second, it creates a potential for confusion and complexity in image processing for image-based scanners, which are rapidly replacing laser scanners. While laser scanners can be directed at particular barcodes, one at a time, image-based scanners capture image frames that may contain part or all of one or more of the optical codes. Third, to reduce the visual impact of these codes, they are often reduced in size and confined to difficult to find locations on the objects. This makes them less reliable, and harder for users and machine vision equipment to locate and read reliably.
Other types of optical codes, such as robust digital watermarks, provide alternatives to conventional barcodes that address these challenges in various ways. Digital watermarks may be hidden within other images on the object, and thus not occupy valuable, dedicated space. They also may be redundantly encoded over the object surface to improve the ease of locating and reliably reading the digital data codes they carry (referred to as the payload, or message). This simplifies the task of imaging the object to obtain image frames from which the digital watermark payload can reliably be decoded. The watermark technology also improves computational efficiency and reliability of automatic data capture in a variety of usage scenarios. It does so because it facilitates reliable data capture from arbitrary and partial views of the object or label, even if ripped, smudged or crinkled.
While digital watermarks provide these enhancements, there are important applications where there is a need for improved optical data carrying capability that meets aesthetic, robustness, and data capacity requirements.
One challenge is the formation of minimally invasive optical codes for host image areas lacking image content that can mask the optical code or even act as a carrier of it. In these areas, it is possible to generate a subtle tint that carries machine-readable data. Additionally, in some cases, it is possible to select ink colors, or a combination of inks, to reduce visibility of the optical code to humans while retaining reliability for standard visual light scanning. For visual quality reasons, it is generally preferable to generate an optical code at a higher spatial resolution and space the graphical elements (e.g., dots) of the code at a distance from each other so that they are less noticeable.
However, there are often limits to color selection and resolution that preclude these options. Many objects are printed or marked with technology that does not allow for color selection, and that does not reliably mark dots below a minimum dot size. The use of low-resolution thermal printers to print optical codes on small labels, sometimes at high print speeds, is one example. Other examples include commercial printing of small packages that use techniques like dry offset or flexographic printing, which are incapable of rendering with high quality and consistency at high resolution and small dot sizes. Moreover, there are often restrictions based on design and cost constraints of using additional inks. Finally, even if rendering equipment can leverage higher resolution and smaller dot marking, and various color inks, the image capture infrastructure or mode of image capture may be incapable of capturing higher resolution or color information.
Another persistent challenge is the need to reliably read data from increasingly smaller spatial areas. The demand for increasing data capacity is fundamentally at odds with reliable recovery of that data from a limited area.
As detailed in this specification, we have developed several inventive optical code technologies that address these and other challenges for various applications. One inventive technology is a method for generating an optical code that optimizes parameters for visual quality and robustness (reliability) constraints. These parameters include spatial density, dot placement (e.g., spacing to avoid clumping), dot size and priority of optical code components. In the latter case, the priority of code components, such as reference (synchronization) signal and payload components, is optimized to achieve improved robustness and visual quality.
Inventive technologies include methods for converting optical code components into signal rich art. These methods include techniques for drawing line art so as to emphasize prioritized components of the optical code. They also include methods for generating stipple, Voronoi and Delaunay patterns from optical code components.
Additional inventive technologies include optical code insertion and decoding methods. The optical code insertion methods merge the optical codes into host image content, such as a package or label design. Certain embodiments of the insertion method take into account and leverage attributes of a host image to improve visual quality and robustness. Embodiments of the decoding methods efficiently and reliably decode the payload from degraded images captured of marked objects.
These inventive methods are implemented in optical code generators, inserters, optimizers and decoder components. These components are implemented in software modules executed by processors of various kinds, such as those used in thermal label printers, pre-press workstations, mobile devices, and image-based barcode scanners of various kinds. The software instructions may also be converted to logic circuitry, such as application specific integrated circuits, programmable gate arrays, or combinations of them.
Additional inventive features will become apparent in the follow detailed description and accompanying drawings.

Generating signal bearing art using stipple, voronoi and delaunay methods and reading same


An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a charging device to be applied with a charging voltage, an exposure device, a developer carrier to be applied with a development voltage, a developer supplying member to be applied with a supply voltage, a developer regulation member to be applied with a regulation voltage, and a voltage controller. The developer carrier has thereon a developer having a charge amount Q/M. The charge amount Q/M satisfies 25 [μC/g]≦|Q/M|≦40 [μC/g]. The image carrier has a surface potential Vopc, the development voltage is expressed as Vdb, and the developer carrier has a developer layer potential Vtnr thereon. The developer layer potential Vtnr relative to a difference between the surface potential Vopc and the development voltage Vdb is expressed by a ratio γ. The ratio γ satisfies 0.1≦γ≦0.2.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.
2. Description of Related Art
A related art image forming apparatus employing an electrophotographic method has served as, for example, a printer, a photocopier, a facsimile device, and a multi-functional peripheral. In the related art printer, for example, a surface of a photosensitive drum is uniformly charged by a charging roller, and is irradiated with the light by a light emitting diode (LED) head to form an electrostatic latent image thereon. After a development device disposed in the related art printer develops the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image on the photosensitive drum, the toner image is transferred to a sheet by a transfer roller and is fixed onto the sheet by a fixing device.
The development device includes a development roller, a toner supplying roller, and a development blade, and allows toner supplied from a toner cartridge to be charged, so that a thin layer of the toner is uniformly formed on the development roller. Accordingly, a development voltage, a supply voltage, and a regulation voltage are adjusted and respectively applied to the development roller, the toner supplying roller, and development blade. The toner undergoes friction between the development roller and the toner supplying roller, and between the development roller and the development blade (e.g., Patent Document 1).
Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. H08-334955
Such a related art printer, however, may cause phenomena such as blur by transfer, fog, smudge, and filming which cause deterioration of image quality in a case where a surface potential of the photosensitive drum and a setting value of the development voltage are not appropriate. The blur by transfer is a phenomenon in which the toner is not sufficiently adhered across an image portion on a sheet in the course of transfer of the toner image to the sheet. The fog is another phenomenon in which a small amount of the toner is adhered across a non-image portion (blank portion), while the smudge is a phenomenon in which the toner is locally adhered to a non-image portion, a half-tone portion and the like in a granular manner, a streak manner, or a band-like manner. The filming is another phenomenon in which a white portion is locally formed in a granular shape, a streak shape, or a band-like shape when a solid image is printed across the sheet.
The present invention is proposed in consideration of the aforementioned situations, and provides an image forming apparatus capable of reducing occurrences of blur by transfer, fog, smudge, filming, and the like, thereby improving image quality.


A prosthesis is provided for repairing a defect in a muscle or tissue wall. The prosthesis has a preformed shape that conforms to the wall to facilitate placement and minimize shifting of the prosthesis when positioned on the wall. The prosthesis may include a body formed of a sheet of surgical mesh fabric having a flexible body surrounded by a peripheral edge that may be welded or fused so that the body is capable of resuming the preformed shape after being temporarily deformed to allow for implantation. The body is adapted to the inclination of the external iliac vessels. In one embodiment, the body includes a first portion configured with a shape of a cap and a second portion with a substantially spherical shape that is connected to the first portion at the lower edge thereof. The first portion has a first radius of curvature and the second portion has a second radius of curvature that is less than the first radius of curvature. The second portion includes an outer edge that forms an angle with the lower edge of the first portion that is greater than 100xc2x0 at the apex of the prosthesis.

This application is a national stage filing under 35 U.S.C. xc2xa7371 of PCT International application PCT/US99/20929, filed Sep. 10, 1999, which was published in English under PCT Article 21(2).
Foreign priority benefits are claimed under 35 U.S.C. xc2xa7119(a)-(d) or 35 U.S.C. xc2xa7365(b) to French application number 98/11332, filed Sep. 11, 1998.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an implantable prosthesis, and more particularly to a prosthesis for repairing a hernia.
2. Description of the Related Art
A defect in a muscle or tissue wall, such as a hernia, is commonly repaired with an implantable prosthesis that is configured to cover and/or fill the defect. In many instances, a flat sheet of an implantable, non-resorbable, flexible mesh material, such as BARD MESH, has been employed for the parietal repair of hernias and eventrations of the abdominal wall. However, a surgeon may experience some difficulty positioning the mesh between the parietal peritoneum and the abdominopelvic wall. The mesh may also fold or wrinkle and be difficult to maintain in position.
Applicant previously developed an implantable prosthesis for repairing a defect in a muscle or tissue wall to alleviate some of these concerns. The prosthesis, which is disclosed in WO 95/07666 and is assigned to C. R. Bard, the assignee of the present application, is made of an implantable, nonabsorbable and flexible material that is formed to independently assume a curved shape adapted to conform to the anatomical shape of the wall. The prosthesis includes a body comprised of a first portion formed in the shape of a cap and a second portion having a substantially spherical shape connected to a lower edge of the first portion. The second portion has a radius of curvature that is less than the radius of curvature of the first portion. The second portion includes an outer edge that meets the lower edge of the first portion at the apex of the body, which is the highest point of the curved prosthesis.
This prosthesis has proven useful and has become established in the practice of muscle or tissue wall repair in the inguinofemoral region. The prosthesis is not subject to stresses when deformed and, therefore, has no tendency to shift upon implantation. The prosthesis reinforces the abdominal wall at the anatomical region of concern.
It has nevertheless been observed that the reinforcement of the abdominal wall offered by the prosthesis could be extended.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved prosthesis for repairing a defect in a muscle or tissue wall by configuring the prosthesis with regard to certain anatomical zones.
The present invention is an implantable prosthesis for repairing a defect in a muscle or tissue wall. The prosthesis includes a body of prosthetic material having a preformed three-dimensional contoured shape that independently assumes a curved shape adapted to conform to the wall. The body is configured to adapt to the inclination of the external iliac vessels to facilitate a desired placement of the prosthesis when employed for repairing an inguinal hernia.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the body includes a first portion with a first lower edge and a second portion with a second outer edge, the second portion being connected to the first portion at the first lower edge. The first portion is configured to have a shape of a cap and the second portion is configured with a substantially spherical shape. The first portion has a first radius of curvature and the second portion has a second radius of curvature that is less than the first radius of curvature. The second outer edge and the first lower edge meet at an apex of the body, the second outer edge forming an angle with the first lower edge that is greater than approximately 100xc2x0 at the apex.
According to one aspect of the invention, the angle is between approximately 101xc2x0 and approximately 120xc2x0.
According to another aspect of the invention, the first portion includes a first outer edge and the second portion includes a second outer edge, and the body further includes a third portion with a third lower edge and a fourth portion. The third portion is connected to the first outer edge and the fourth portion is connected to the third lower edge and to the second outer edge.
A depression may be formed between the second and fourth portions which is configured to be placed proximate the external iliac vessels when the prosthesis is positioned on a wall to repair an inguinal hernia. The angular orientation between the first lower edge and the second outer edge and the depression between the second and fourth portions are adapted to the inclination of the external iliac vessels to facilitate placement of and to minimize shifting of the prosthesis when positioned on the wall. The angular orientation and the depression also provide a degree of deformation for matching adjacent contours.
According to a further aspect of the invention, the prosthesis is configured with a ratio of the surface area of the third portion to the total surface area of the prosthesis from approximately 0.25 to approximately 0.40.
According to still another aspect of the invention, the third portion has a third radius of curvature that is substantially equal to the first radius of curvature along the first outer edge. This configuration reduces the incidence of wrinkles or folds occuring between the first portion and the third portion so that the first and third portions do not partially cover each other upon or after implantation, thereby ensuring that the overall size of the prosthesis is sufficient to adequately cover the desired portion of the wall.

Preformed curved prosthesis that is adapted to the external iliac vessels


A display method of a scenario emoticon using an instant message service is provided. The display method includes displaying a scenario emoticon selection region showing at least one thumbnail image of at least one scenario emoticon; receiving an input of a selection upon one from the at least one thumbnail image; and displaying, in response to the selection, a scenario emoticon on a display region within a chat window where an instant message is output. When the play file is played, the at least one object is displayed according to a preset scenario, if a user interaction upon the object is input while the play file is played, a status of the object is changed in response to the user interaction.

Generally, social network services (SNS) provide the following three functions.
First, the SNS provides a network or networking function that enables a user to have relationships with other users and maintain and manage the relationships. Second, the SNS provides a communication function that enables users to exchange messages. The users may have public, semi-public, and private communication with each other. Third, the SNS provides a media sharing function that enables media objects, such as photos, music, and music videos, to be shared based on the SNS, and also, conversations about the media objects account for a great part thereof. In this respect, the SNS can be regarded as functioning as a networking platform, a communication platform, and a media platform.
Meanwhile, recently, an instant message service has been commercialized. The instant message service enables acquaintances to exchange instant messages and thus instantly share information in a mobile and online environment using the SNS functioning as the communication platform.

Display method of scenario emoticon using instant message service and user device therefor


Reading methods of nonvolatile memory devices including a substrate and a plurality of memory cells which are stacked in a direction intersecting the substrate. The reading methods apply a bit line voltage to a plurality of bit lines and apply a first string selection line voltage to at least one selected string selection line. The reading methods apply a second string selection line voltage to at least one unselected string selection line and apply a read voltage to a plurality of word lines. The reading methods apply a first ground selection line voltage to at least one selected ground selection line and apply a second ground selection line voltage to at least one unselected ground selection line.

1. Field
Example embodiments of the inventive concepts relate to semiconductor memory, and more particularly, to nonvolatile memory devices, reading methods thereof, and memory systems including the nonvolatile memory devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
A semiconductor memory device is a memory device that may be implemented with semiconductor materials, for example, silicon (Si), germanium (Ge), gallium arsenide (GaAs) and/or indium phosphide (InP). Semiconductor memory devices are largely categorized as volatile memory devices and/or nonvolatile memory devices.
A volatile memory device is a memory device in which stored data is erased when a power source is shut off. Volatile memory devices may include Static Random Access Memory (SRAM), Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) and/or Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (SDRAM). A nonvolatile memory device is a memory device that retains stored data even when a power source is shut off. Nonvolatile memory devices may include Read-Only Memory (ROM), Programmable Read Only Memory (PROM), Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EPROM), Electrical Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM), flash memory, Phase-change Random Access Memory (PRAM), Magnetoresistive Random Access Memory (MRAM), Resistive Random Access Memory (RRAM) and/or Ferroelectric Random Access Memory (FRAM). A flash memory device is largely categorized into NOR type and/or NAND type.
A three dimensional 3D array structure in which memory cells are vertically stacked may enhance a degree of integration of semiconductor memory devices.

Nonvolatile memory devices, read methods thereof and memory systems including the nonvolatile memory devices


A wound dressing for use in a vacuum wound therapy treatment includes a backing layer for positioning over a wound to define a reservoir in which a reduced pressure may be maintained over the wound. A portal member affixed to the backing layer provides a connection to a reduced pressure source through an opening in an ambient surface. A primary port extends between the opening and a primary aperture in a reservoir surface to providing fluid communication between the reservoir and the reduced pressure source. At least one supplemental port establishes fluid communication between the primary port and a supplemental aperture in the reservoir surface that is distinct and substantially spaced from the primary aperture.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates generally to a wound dressing for treating an open wound with a vacuum wound therapy treatment. In particular, the disclosure relates to a dressing having a portal member providing a connection to a vacuum system such that a reservoir over the wound may be evacuated.
2. Background of Related Art
The body's natural wound healing process is a complex series of events beginning at the moment of injury. Initially the body reacts by delivering proteins and other factors to the wound through the blood stream to minimize the damage. Blood clots to prevent blood loss while cells engulf bacteria and debris to carry it away from the wound site. Next, the body begins to repair itself in a stage of healing often referred to as the proliferative phase. This phase is characterized by the deposition granulation tissue in the wound bed. Granulation tissue provides a base structure over which cells may migrate inwardly from the periphery to close the wound. Finally the process ends as collagen gives strength to new tissue over time often forming a scar.
One technique for promoting the natural healing process, particularly, but not exclusively during the proliferative phase, is known as vacuum wound therapy (VWT). Application of a reduced pressure, e.g. sub-atmospheric, to a localized reservoir over a wound has been found to assist in closing the wound. The reduced pressure may be effective to promote blood flow to the area to stimulate the formation of granulation tissue and the migration of healthy tissue over the wound by the natural process. Also a reduced pressure may assist in removing fluids exuding from the wound, which may inhibit bacterial growth. This technique has proven effective for chronic or non-healing wounds, but has also been used in for other purposes such as post-operative wound care.
The general VWT protocol provides for the introduction of an absorbent filler material, such as non-reticulated foams, non-woven fabrics, or gauze, into the wound to absorb exudates. The wound and the absorbent filler material may then be overlaid by a flexible cover layer such as a polymeric film, for example, to establish a vacuum reservoir over the wound where a reduced pressure may be applied by individual or cyclic evacuation procedures. To allow the reduced pressure to be maintained over time, the cover layer may include an adhesive periphery that forms a substantially fluid tight seal with the healthy skin surrounding the wound.
Although some procedures may employ a micro-pump contained within the vacuum reservoir, most VWT treatments apply a reduced pressure using an external vacuum source. Thus, fluid communication between the vacuum source and the reservoir must be established. To this end, a cover layer will often include a connector or portal member to which air hoses from an external vacuum system may be connected.
An aspect of concern in a VWT treatment is the migration of the filler material and wound exudates in the direction of airflow when the reduced pressure is applied. These substances may be deposited on surfaces within a portal member, for example, and over time cause the obstruction or complete occlusion of these portal members. This phenomenon may limit the level of exudate flow from the wound area, or may even prohibit the application of a reduced pressure to the wound area, thus limiting or defeating the effectiveness of the VWT treatment. Accordingly, a need exists for a dressing suitable for use in a VWT procedure.

Wound dressing port and associated wound dressing