A rotation transmission device includes a two-way clutch and an electromagnetic clutch for engaging and disengaging the two-way clutch and which can be easily assembled without the need for a shim to prevent movements of the clutches. The two-way clutch (10) and the electromagnetic clutch (50) are mounted in a housing (3) including at one end a positioning arrangement (5). The two-way clutch (10) and the electromagnetic clutch (5) are biased by an elastic member (7) supported by the positioning arrangement (5) toward an anti-separation ring (8) provided on the inner periphery of the housing (3) at the other end thereof, and are thus prevented from moving.

One known rotation transmission device which can selectively transmit rotation of a driving shaft to a driven shaft includes a two-way clutch and an electromagnetic clutch for selectively engaging and disengaging the two-way clutch.
The rotation transmission device disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication 2009-293679A includes an outer ring, an inner ring mounted inside the outer ring, and a control retainer member and a rotary retainer member each having bars and mounted between the inner and outer rings such that the bars of the control retainer member are arranged circumferentially alternating with the bars of the rotary retainer member, whereby pockets are defined between circumferentially adjacent pairs of the bars of the respective retainer members. The rotation transmission device further includes rollers each two of which are mounted in one of the pockets, and elastic members each mounted in one of the pockets and biasing the two rollers in the one of the pockets away from each other to a stand-by position where the rollers can instantly engage a cylindrical surface formed on the inner periphery of the outer ring and one of cam surfaces formed on the outer periphery of the inner ring such that when the inner ring rotates in either direction, one of each pair of rollers engages the cylindrical surface and the cam surface, thereby transmitting rotation of the inner ring to the outer ring.
The rotation transmission device further includes an electromagnetic clutch mounted on an input shaft connected to the inner ring. The electromagnetic clutch is configured to move the control retainer member in the axial direction. When the control retainer member is moved in the axial direction by the electromagnetic clutch, the retainer members are rotated relative to each other in the direction in which the circumferential widths of the pockets decrease due to the action of a torque cam provided between the opposed surfaces of a flange of the control retainer member and a flange of the rotary retainer member, thereby moving the pairs of rollers in the respective pockets to the disengaged position and thus preventing transmission of rotation from the inner ring to the outer ring.
In this rotation transmission device, when the control retainer member is moved by the electromagnetic clutch in the direction in which the flange of the control retainer member moves away from the flange of the rotary retainer member, the control retainer member and the rotary retainer member are rotated relative to each other in the direction in which the circumferential widths of the pockets increase under the biasing force of the elastic members mounted between the respective pairs of rollers. Thus the rollers can instantly engage the cylindrical surface and the cam surfaces, so that the rollers scarcely move in the circumferential direction when engaging the cylindrical surface and the cam surfaces, and the response time is short too.
In the rotation transmission device disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication 2009-293679A, the two-way clutch constituted by the inner and outer rings, the pairs of rollers and the retainer members, and the electromagnetic clutch for controlling the two-way clutch are covered by a housing. With the two-way clutch and the electromagnetic clutch mounted in position in the housing, if the two-way clutch and the electromagnetic clutch are movable relative to each other or relative to any other members of the device, it is impossible to control the two-way clutch with high accuracy.
In order to avoid this problem, it has been an ordinary practice to insert a shim between the opposed portions of the built-in components comprising the two-way clutch and the electromagnetic clutch to keep these components immovable. But in order to reliably keep the built-in components immovable, it is necessary to insert shims having different thicknesses one by one to select the most suitable one. This step is extremely troublesome. The shim increases the number of parts and thus the cost, of the rotation transmission device. It is therefore desired to assemble the rotation transmission device more easily and to reduce the cost.


The present technology discloses a multi-die package. The package comprises a lead frame structure and three dies including a first flip chip die, a second flip chip die and a third flip chip die stacked vertically. The first flip chip die is mounted on the bottom surface of the lead frame structure through the flip chip bumps; the second flip chip is mounted on the top surface of the first flip chip die through flip chip bumps; and the third flip chip die is mounted on the top surface of the lead frame structure through flip chip bumps.

Miniaturization and portability are overwhelming trends in customer electronics which pushed the Integrated Circuit (IC) package to be more compact. New packaging methods, for example, three-dimension packaging (3D-Packaging) technology, have been used to achieve such goals. For the 3D-packaging technology, two or more dies with respective functions are overlapped one onto another in a single package. The packaged dies might include central processing unit (CPU) chips, field-programmable gate array (FPGA) chips, radio frequency (RF) chips, memory chips, flash chips, analog chips, power device chips, and so on. Compared with conventional 2D-packaging methods for which dies are placed side by side, the 3D packaging method stacks the dies in a compact space with small footprint on a printed circuit board (PCB). Also, the 3D-packaging technique can allow packages to have shorter delay, lower noise, higher speed, and fewer parasitical effects than other packaging techniques.
FIG. 1 illustrates a tri-stacked 3D-package 11 in accordance with the prior art. An integrated circuit system 10 includes a first IC die 101 such as a controller die, a second IC die 102 such as a first power die, and a third die 103 such as a second power die stacked on one another. The integrated circuit system 10 is assembled in the package 11 as a ball grid array package in FIG. 1. The third IC die 103 is attached to a top surface of a package substrate 112 and solder balls 113 are positioned on a back surface of the package substrate 112 to connect the package 11 onto a PCB.
The electrical communication between the stacked dies 101,102,103 and the package substrate 112 is formed by metal bonding wires 111. The bonding wires 111 are leaded from the contact pads 115 on the dies 101,102,103, and are attached to the substrate 112. The electrical connection among dies 101, 102, 103 can also be by bonding wires 111 (not shown in FIG. 1).
Although the package 11 can provide relatively high packaging density, it has drawbacks due to the bonding wires. First, the bonding wires require extra area beyond the dies 101, 102, 103 for wire span and contact pad on substrate, and thus can limit further miniaturization of the package 11. Also, a lower die must be large enough than the upper die to expose the contact pad for connection, thus the die area is restricted. Additionally, a relatively thin and long metal bonding wire typically has relative high resistance, parasitical capacity and inductance unsuitable in a high power system. Finally, the use of wire bonding technology can have high cost and high process time because the wires are made of gold and fabricated one layer at a time.

Multi-die packages incorporating flip chip dies and associated packaging methods


A control circuit for connecting a load to a voltage source includes an electronic holding circuit having latched and unlatched states. When latched, the electronic holding circuit connects the load to the voltage source. A thermal device responsive to excessive current demand by the load automatically places the holding circuit in its unlatched state, and disconnects the load from the voltage source. The circuit may also be placed in its unlatched state by sensing a current in a resistor to unlatch the circuit without requiring a current sufficient to cause the thermal device to respond.

This invention relates to the art of control circuits and, more particularly, to control circuits for automatically disconnecting a load from a voltage source when a predetermined condition is sensed. The invention is particularly applicable to use with electric motors and will be described with specific reference to electric motors. However, it will be appreciated that the invention has broader aspects and can be used with other electrically operated devices.
It is common to provide automobiles with motor-operated devices such as power windows, power antennas, power seats and power sun roofs. Control circuits for such motors commonly use mechanical current relays that are sensitive to vibration and voltage variations and do not provide overload protection. In such a case, a separate device must be provided for overload protection.
It would be desirable to provide a reliable control circuit having decreased sensitivity to vibration and voltage variations, while also providing overload protection.


The present invention provides a serial/parallel conversion circuit that has both a serial/parallel conversion function and a buffer function for absorbing clock frequency differences, together with a data transfer control device and electronic equipment. The serial/parallel conversion circuit (elasticity buffer) comprises a data holding register which holds serial data DIN that is input based on a CLK1 clock (480 MHz) in USB 2.0 HS mode; a determination circuit which determines whether or not held data is valid, by unit of a data cell; and a selector which outputs from the data holding register the data of data cells that have been determined to be valid, based on a CLK2 clock (60 MHz) having a frequency lower than that of CLK1. A data cell in which data of the first bit has been determined to be valid is deemed to be valid in the next CLK2 clock cycle. The determination of whether or not data cells are valid is done in each clock cycle of CLK2, and the output of data in a data cell that is determined not to be valid is made to wait for one clock cycle. A write pulse signal is generated and the data holding register and data status register are operated thereby.

Japanese patent application no. 2000-325341 filed Oct. 25, 2000 is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
The present invention relates to a serial/parallel conversion circuit, a data transfer control device, and electronic equipment.
The universal serial bus (USB) standard has recently attracted attention as an interface standard for connections between personal computers and peripheral equipment (generally speaking: electronic equipment). This USB standard has the advantage of enabling the use of connectors of the same standard to connect peripheral equipment such as a mouse, keyboard, and printer, which are connected by connectors of different standards in the prior art, and of making it possible to implement plug-and-play and hot-plug features.
In comparison with the IEEE 1394 standard which is also attracting notice as a standard for the same serial bus interface, this USB standard has a problem in that the transfer speed thereof is slower.
In this case, attention is being paid to the decision to use the USB 2.0 standard which can implement a data transfer speed of 480 Mbps (in HS mode), far faster than those of the previous USB 1.1 standard, while maintaining backward compatibility with USB 1.1. The USB 2.0 transceiver macrocell interface (UTMI), which defined interface specifications for the physical-layer and logical-layer circuitry under USB 2.0, has also been determined.
An aspect of the present invention relates to a serial/parallel conversion circuit which converts serial data into parallel data, the serial/parallel conversion circuit comprising:
a data holding circuit which receives and holds serial data that is input based on a first clock;
a determination circuit which determines whether or not data held in the data holding circuit is valid, by unit of a data cell configured of a plurality of bits; and
a circuit which outputs data of a data cell that has been determined to be valid, based on a second clock having a frequency lower than a frequency of the first clock.
Another aspect of the present invention relates to a serial/parallel conversion circuit which converts serial data into parallel data, the serial/parallel conversion circuit comprising:
a data holding circuit which receives and holds serial data that is input based on a first clock;
a circuit which outputs data from the data holding circuit based on a second clock having a frequency lower than a frequency of the first clock;
a data status holding circuit which holds a status of data held in the data holding circuit; and
a write pulse generation circuit which generates first to N-th write pulse signals having pulses that go active periodically once every N clock cycles of the first clock, and a period at which a pulse of each of the first to N-th write pulse signals going active is shifted from one another by one clock cycle of the first clock,
wherein the data holding circuit holds data, based on the first to N-th write pulse signals, and
wherein the data status holding circuit holds the data status, based on the first to N-th write pulse signals.

Serial/parallel conversion circuit, data transfer control device, and electronic equipment


A fluid pressure liquid lens includes: a fluid pressure driving portion which is configured to include a first cavity, a fluid pressure generating groove, and an actuator generating a fluid pressure on liquid so as to adjust the fluid pressure by using the actuator; a first transparent elastic membrane which is disposed on an upper surface of the fluid pressure driving portion to seal an upper portion of the first cavity of the fluid pressure driving portion and of which the curvature is changed according to the fluid pressure of the liquid; and a transparent substrate which is disposed on a lower surface of the fluid pressure driving portion to seal a lower portion of the first cavity of the fluid pressure driving portion and which is made of transparent material passing through incident light, wherein a focal length is adjusted by using the fluid pressure generated by the actuator.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid lens and, more particularly, to a fluid pressure liquid lens capable generating a fluid pressure by using an electromagnetic actuator integrated with the liquid lens and adjusting a focal length by using the generated fluid pressure.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In general, an optical lens is a transparent member having at least two refracting surfaces of which the refractive indexes are different. Such an optical lens has been widely used for various fields such as cameras, telescopes, and microscopes. As an example, the optical lens is adapted to camera modules used for mobile terminals such as cellular phones or PDAs. Recently, the mobile terminals have been developed as multi-purpose electronic apparatuses having various multimedia functions such as camera, game, music replaying, broadcasting, and the Internet as well as an audio transmitting/receiving function. Therefore, much more functions needs to be integrated into a limited small space of the mobile terminal.
In addition, in order to obtain better images, the camera module is designed to include an auto focusing function, an auto zooming function, an auto macro function, an anti-shaking functions, and the like. However, with respect to a camera module having high-grade functions installed in a mobile terminal, there is a limitation in the size of the camera module due to the size of the lens and the size of the lens driving unit.
In other words, in order to implement the high-grade functions, in addition to a basic lens, various types of lenses such as a wide angle lens, a standard lens, a telephoto lens, or a zoom lens are replaced according to the purpose. In addition, in order to implement the auto macro function, optical properties such as a focal length need to be adjusted, and separate motor and driver for the adjustment need to be installed. Therefore, there is a problem in that the overall size of the camera module inevitably increases.
Recently, a liquid lens capable of adjusting the focus and magnification of the lens without a lens driving unit has been developed. In the liquid lens, a curvature of the lens is changed by using a change in surface tension according to a voltage, so that an auto focus function and a zoom function are obtained. The change in curvature of the liquid lens is obtained by using electrowetting. In this manner, the liquid lens using the electrowetting does not require mechanical movement of the lens, so that it is possible to reduce the size of the camera module.
In addition, there has been a liquid lens where a curvature of a transparent elastic membrane formed in a lens chamber is changed by changing a pressure, that is, a fluid pressure applied to optical liquid contained in the lens chamber, so that an auto focus function and a zoom function are implemented. Since the liquid lens does not also require the mechanical movement of the lens, so that it is possible to reduce the size of the camera module.
However, in most of the fluid pressure liquid lenses in the related art, a separate fluid pressure generating unit is needed, so that it is difficult to put the fluid pressure liquid lens to practical use. In addition, there is a problem in that the size of the fluid pressure liquid lens increases due to the fluid pressure generating unit.

Kyungpook National University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation


A semiconductor memory device having an improved storage capacitor is disclosed. The memory device comprises a dynamic memory cell which including a gating transistor having first and second semiconductor regions formed on a surface of a semiconductor substrate and opposite in conductivity type to the semiconductor substrate, a gate insulating layer formed on the surface of the substrate between the first and second regions, a gate formed on the gate insulating layer and a first insulating layer covering the surface of the gate, and a storage capacitor having a second insulating layer thicker than the first insulating layer and formed on the surface of the semiconductor substrate via the first insulating layer, the second insulating layer having a trench exposing the surface of first region, a first conductive layer formed on the side wall of trench of the second insulating layer and connected to the first region, a dielectric insulating layer formed on the first conductive layer and a second conductive layer formed on the dielectric insulating layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a dynamic type semiconductor memory device employing one-transistor type dynamic memory cells composed of a storage capacitor and a gating MOS transistor and, more particularly to an improvement of a structure of the storage capacitor of the memory cell.
2. Description of the Related Art
In memory technology, the emphasis has been made on increasing the memory capacity i.e., the integration density of memory cells in a single semiconductor chip. To this end, it is important to minimize the surface area of the respective memory cells because the surface area of the chip usable for a memory cell array is limited. Under the above circumstance, the one-transistor type memory cell composed of a storage capacitor and a gating transistor is advantageously utilized in the dynamic memory device with its minimized occupation area. In this memory device employing the one-transistor type memory cells, a capacitance value of the storage capacitor is a very important factor to determine a read-write characteristic of the memory device, because data stored in the storage capacitor is read out in accordance with a capacitance ratio between the storage capacitor and a stray capacitance of a bit line. Particularly, for a high signal-to-noise ratio, it is required that the capacitance of the storage capacitor should be large compared to the stray capacitance of the bit line. In order to provide the storage capacitor having a large capacitance, the so-called stack-type capacitor and the trench-type capacitor have been known.
The stack-type capacitor is constructed in such a manner that a pair of capacitor plates with a dielectric insulating layer are formed above a major surface of a semiconductor chip to overlay the gate of the gating transistor of the memory cell and a part of a word line. Namely, according to the stack-type capacitor structure, the storage capacitor is partially overlapped with the gating transistor so that a resultant surface area occupied by such large capacitance storage capacitor and the gating transistor can greatly reduced.
The, the trench-type capacitor is formed in such a manner that a groove or trench is formed in a major surface of the semiconductor chip and an upper capacitor plate is formed in the trench along its surface via an insulating layer. According to the trench-type capacitor, an effective surface of the capacitor plate is increased in a vertical direction along the depth of trench so that the storage capacitor having a relatively large capacitance is obtained with a small surface area on the semiconductor chip.
However, the conventional capacitor techniques stated above have many shortcomings. In regard to the stack-type capacitor, first, the surface area is not increased so much in comparison with that of the conventional planar-type capacitor since the stepped part formed over the gate electrode, the word line or the like is small. To increase the capacitance, it is necessary to increase an area occupied by a memory cell. In regard to the trench type capacitor, wherein the trench is formed in the semiconductor substrate, the capacitance can be increased by forming the trench deeper without enlarging the memory cell. However, this capacitor has short-comings that the leakage of stored charge increases with the depth of the trench and that adjacent trenches must be separated sufficiently to prevent the mutual contact of depletion layers expanding from these trenches, so as not to cause a leakage between the trenches.

Semiconductor memory device having improved dynamic memory cell structure


Keystone correction for a projector. An uncorrected graphic is displayed on a display unit utilizing pixels. The uncorrected graphic is projected from the display unit onto a projection screen to form an uncorrected image. An orientation of the uncorrected image relative to the projection screen is captured. The uncorrected graphic is transformed into a pre-distorted graphic for projection from the display unit onto the projection screen so as to form a corrected image with an orientation more aligned with the projection screen than the orientation of the uncorrected image and such that the pre-distorted graphic utilizes more pixels in the display unit than a second pre-distorted graphic, wherein if formed, would be formed by transforming the uncorrected graphic such that the second pre-distorted graphic forms a second corrected image with a maximum rectangular area inside the uncorrected image when projected from the display unit onto the projection screen.

Digital projectors are widely used for business and classroom presentations, as well as for home entertainment applications. A digital projector receives a video signal from a host computer or other video source, such as a DVD player, and displays a graphic using a display unit within the digital projector in accordance with the video signal. Display units may include pixel displays such as liquid crystal display (LCD) chips, liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) chips, or digital micromirror device (DMD) chips. The graphic is then projected from the display unit onto a projection screen using a light source and lens system, so as to form a projected image on the projection screen.
In ideal conditions, the digital projector projects the graphic onto the projection screen along a projection axis that is perpendicular to the projection screen to form an image on the projection screen. In such ideal conditions, there is minimal keystone distortion and the proportions of the image are generally similar to the proportions of the graphic displayed by the display unit.
Keystone distortion occurs when the projection axis is not perpendicular to the projection screen due to the position of the digital projector relative to the projection screen. Keystone distortion causes an image to have a stretched, often trapezoidal appearance on the projection screen. Thus, the proportions of an image with keystone distortion are not similar to the proportions of the graphic displayed by the display unit.
It has generally been considered to provide keystone correction capabilities in a digital projector. Consistent with keystone correction capabilities, a graphic is projected from the display unit onto a projection screen to form an image having keystone distortion. A transformation is then applied to the graphic so that the graphic is displayed on the display unit with a pre-distortion that is the inverse of the keystone distortion. As a result, when the pre-distorted graphic is projected onto the projection screen to form an image, the resulting projected image is aligned with the projection screen.
The transformation is often entered manually by the user, who selects the transformation in a trial-and-error process.

Image projection system with keystone correction


A vehicle navigation system (e.g., GPS) with multi-use display generator that provides for the switching of a displayed image from a navigational based image to a non-navigational image such as a favorite photo. This versatility allows for the user of a vehicle navigation to avoid having to look at a boring display of map images and instead view more desirable non-navigation images such as full 100% displays of a favorite photo shot. Also if the system is in a map image mode and the user does not utilize any portion of the vehicle navigation system for a predetermined period of time an automated switchover system is provided to cause a predetermined or randomly chosen favorite photo to appear on the display. An addition option of the system is to provide an automatic switchover to the favorite display mode whenever a determination is made by the system that it will not be needed for a long period such as when the user is on a long country road or when the destination is inputted and there are no options that will arise for an extended period. Various display modes are also featured that enable greater non-navigation display mode options and activation choices.

In general, the currently used GPS or global positioning vehicle navigation systems make it possible for drivers to pinpoint their exact geographic location as their GPS ground receiver interacts with a network system of orbiting satellites. GPS ground receivers collect satellite signals from the GPS satellite network and use that information to recognize the vehicle's position. The vehicle's location is determined in terms of a reference format (e.g., latitude and longitude) using the GPS ground receiver.
In addition to GPS ground receivers providing drivers with information about their current geographic location, they can also generate driving directions to assist drivers in reaching their final destination. Some ground receivers can also estimate the driver's arrival time to a specific destination by calculating the speed and direction of travel. A GPS receiver can thus be used in association with a background map to place a user's vehicle at a particular location on that map, and, if a receiver is left on, the system can trace a path across a map as the receiver moves. In other words the receiver can stay in constant communication with GPS satellites to see how its location is changing. With this information and its built-in clock, the receiver can provide several pieces of information:                How far you've traveled (odometer)        How long you've been traveling        Your current speed (speedometer)        Your average speed        A "bread crumb" trail showing you exactly where you have traveled on the map        The estimated time of arrival at your destination if you maintain your current speed
To obtain this last piece of information, the user needs to give the receiver the coordinates of the desired destination by way of inputting location data in system memory made available for storing navigation data. This feature of inputting location data also allows a user make a record of specific points on Earth. The basic unit of user input is the waypoint. A waypoint is the coordinates for a particular location. A user can save this in the receiver's memory by:                A user can tell the receiver to record its coordinates while at a particular location.        A user can find the location on a map (the internal map or another one) and enter its coordinates as a waypoint.
A user can also combine a series of different waypoints to form a route. One way to use this function is to periodically record waypoints as a trip is made so as to provide for backtracking, or to allow for following the same route again in the future.
The vehicle navigation systems are equipped with a display screen that illustrates the active reference map and highlight the driver's current position relative to the active map. The vehicle navigation systems have map data stored in internal memory and/or derived from map information stored on computer diskette, CD-ROM, or other computer memory storage device. Under prior art GPS systems, the display screen will only display the various reference map or driving map and other navigation based information (includes operating means to have the system perform its navigational function such as zoom and menu bars) stored or otherwise made available.
Even with improvements in map imaging (e.g., more recent introduction of display drivers that can accommodate 3D-mapping), a navigation display is not appealing or interesting to an operator or passenger of a vehicle when it is not being directly relied upon for navigation purposes. However, these systems are typically retained "on" for long periods once activated for convenience.

Vehicle navigation system with multi-use display


A method for producing a semiconductor device including the steps of forming an insulating layer on a substrate, the insulating layer having a plurality of concave portions, forming a non-single crystalline silicon layer on the surface of the insulating layer. The non-single crystalline silicon is patterned so that each concave portion is independently melted and the patterned non-single crystalline silicon layer flows into each of the concave portions to form a single crystalline region by irradiation with an energy ray; and, a semiconductor element is also formed in the single crystalline region.

The present invention relates to a method for producing a semiconductor device, more particularly to a method for producing a semiconductor device on a single crystallized region which is formed in a concave portion of an insulating layer by melting polycrystalline silicon or amorphous silicon therein.
In one method for forming elements in a semiconductor device, proposed by the present inventors in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 55-98397 and Japanese Patent Application No. 56-154012 (filed Sept. 30, 1981), concave portions are formed in an insulating layer formed on a substrate, a polycrystalline silicon layer is formed on the insulating layer, and the polycrystalline silicon is melted by irradiation with a laser, electron beam, lamp, or other energy ray over the polycrystalline silicon layer to cause the polycrystalline silicon to flow into the concave portions, thereby forming single crystallized regions therein.
The problem with this method is that while the upper surfaces of the resultant single crystallized regions in the concave portions should be level with the nonconcave portions of the insulating layer, this is difficult in practice. When the molten polycrystalline silicon flows into the concave portions, more tends to flow into some portions than others. This results in some single crystallized regions protruding above and other regions recessed below the level of the nonconcave portions of the insulating layer. Further, some of the molten polycrystalline silicon may not flow into the concave portions and will remain on nonconcave portions. These problems complicate the process of production of the semiconductor device.

Forming selective single crystal regions in insulated pockets formed on silicon by energy beams and devices formed in the pockets


A semiconductor device including a first function block operating at a first operation voltage having a first range and for generating a data signal, a second function block operating at a second operation voltage having a second range, and a voltage level control unit for performing or not performing a level shifting operation on a voltage level of the data signal depending on the existence or non-existence of a difference between the first operation voltage and the second operation voltage, and for transmitting a level-shifted data signal or the data signal to the second function block.

1. Field
The inventive concept relates to semiconductor devices, and more particularly, to semiconductor devices for applying a stable voltage to function blocks and for reducing and/or preventing a time delay.
2. Description of the Related Art
Function blocks operating at different voltages from each other may be included in a single semiconductor device. Here, a voltage level shifting operation is required to transmit and receive signals or data between the function blocks operating at the different voltages. In addition, a voltage that is applied to function blocks, which are designed to be operated with the same voltage, may vary.


A radio transceiver including a transmitter and a receiver. A filter coupled to an output of the transmitter, the filter has one or more inductors and one or more capacitors, where the filter is tuned by varying one or more capacitance values of the one or more capacitors in the filter to tune the filter. The one or more capacitors are Barium Strontium Titanate (BST) ceramic integrated capacitors that are each tuned by application of a bias voltage thereto. A filter tuner circuit is configured to apply the bias voltage to the one or more capacitors, where the bias voltage is initially established as a stored initial value, and where the bias voltage is refined by a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller configured to optimize a power within the transceiver. This abstract is not to be considered limiting since various implementations may incorporate more, fewer or different elements.

In modern radios such as those used in cellular telephones, a high performance receiver path is used to detect signals below −110 dBm in the presence of blocking signals up to −20 dBm. This makes design of the radio and the frequency synthesizer challenging in terms of reducing power consumption. The receiver (Rx) path may also be used to sense the transmitter (Tx) signal for either envelope tracking or tuning the antenna. Furthermore, the receiver may be used to detect blockers or jamming signals to improve the quality of the wanted signal. This introduces practical implementation problems such as VCO (voltage control oscillator) pulling in the receiver.
In radio designs using full duplex (simultaneous Rx and Tx) modes of operation, such as those used in certain code division multiple access (CDMA) cellular telephone and next generation technologies, transmitted signals entering the receiver input can be an especially significant problem. In these technologies, an auxiliary Rx channel is sometimes used for power level sensing and balancing of both receiver and transmitter. These additional channels are known, and commercial ICs for implementing such auxiliary channels exist.
Consider the design of a conventional full duplex radio transceiver such as that depicted in FIG. 1. In such a design, a transmitter 100 output signal is passed to an antenna 104 through a switch 108. Since modern receiver designs may operate over multiple bands, multiple transmitters and receivers may be represented by transmitter 100 and receiver 112. Since the transmitter and receiver share the same antenna, for each band of frequencies used by the receiver, the design shown in FIG. 1 utilizes a separate filter 116, 120 through 124 (e.g., a SAW filter or the like) configured as notch filters. Switch 108 switches to the correct notch filter for the band of transmitted signals based on commands from a control processor 130 based on a selected channel or band. These notch filters are used to prevent the relatively high power from the RF amplifier 134 of transmitter 100 from entering the front end low noise amplifier of the receiver 112 and either damaging the receiver or degrading operation thereof.
As worldwide radio receivers are developed, as many as 20 (or possibly more) bands of frequencies may need to be accommodated to truly handle each possible frequency band.


There is provided a radio communication apparatus including a first radio communication unit that performs proximity communication by first radio communication, a second radio communication unit that performs the proximity communication by second radio communication via a magnetic field, a detection unit that detects the magnetic field generated in the second radio communication, and a control unit that controls radio communication by the first radio communication unit based on a detection result detected by the detection unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a radio communication apparatus, a radio communication method, and a program, and in particular to a radio communication apparatus that transmits/receives data by using a plurality of communication instruments, a radio communication method, and a program.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, communication apparatuses that perform long-range radio communication such as WLAN (Wireless LAN) and Bluetooth (registered trademark) and those that perform non-contact communication such as a non-contact IC card and RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) have been widely used. With widespread use of a plurality of types of radio communication instruments, high-speed data transmission by using a plurality of radio communication instruments is being discussed. In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-364145, for example, after an IC card to be a communication partner in an IC card system is identified, high-speed data transmission is achieved by switching to a communication protocol that performs Bluetooth communication.
Also, radio communication capable of performing large-capacity communication by proximity large-capacity radio communication (non-contact communication, TransferJet) using electric field couplers capable of mutually establishing electric field coupling is proposed. For example, simultaneous transmission/reception of different data by incorporating a radio communication system by an IC card system and that by TransferJet into one radio communication apparatus can be considered.

Radio communication apparatus, radio communication method and program


A gas separation apparatus includes a separation membrane module including at least one gas separation membrane element in a housing, a casing for blocking external air, and a heat source unit for adjusting a temperature of a heat medium with which the casing is filled. The casing holds greater than or equal to two separation membrane modules.

In order to separate a specific component from a source fluid such as a liquid or a gas, it has been known to use a separation membrane module in which a separation filter that causes the specific component to selectively permeate therethrough is mounted in a housing (for example, Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2009-39654 (PTL 1), Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2015-208714 (PTL 2), Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2002-282640 (PTL 3), and Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 7-80252 (PTL 4). In the separation membrane module, the separation filter may be heated or cooled during operation, at the start of operation, or at the stop of operation.
For example, PTLs 1 and 2 describe separation membrane modules in which a plurality of separation membrane elements including heating means around the separation membrane elements are disposed in a housing. PTL 3 describes a gas separation module in which a gas separation filter is mounted in a housing, and describes that a heating source is provided on the outer periphery part of the housing or in the housing to heat the gas separation filter. PTL 4 describes a membrane module including a cooling jacket for cooling a liquid in contact with a pervaporation membrane.

Gas separation apparatus and gas separation method


A hydraulic seal arrangement for a rotating machine, particularly a gas turbine engine, comprises a hydraulic seal and a hydraulic trap. When the machine is shut down, oil is retained in the hydraulic trap. When the machine is restarted, the oil from the hydraulic trap is available to re-make the hydraulic seal, thereby reducing or avoiding the leakage that typically occurs in such seal arrangements until the flow of oil through the seal arrangement is re-established.

It is known to use a hydraulic seal to seal between two relatively rotating shafts. U.S. Pat. No. 6,568,688 describes such a seal, in which oil is continuously fed from the low-pressure side of the seal, passes through the seal to provide cooling, and is recovered to the low-pressure side of the seal for scavenging.
FIG. 1 is a sectional view, at top dead centre, of a known hydraulic seal arrangement, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,568,688. A low pressure shaft 12 and a high pressure shaft 14 are concentric shafts of a two-shaft gas turbine engine, rotating at different speed about a common axis of rotation 16. The high pressure shaft 14 is supported on a bearing 18.
To the right-hand side of bearing 18, and radially outward of high pressure shaft 14, is a region 20 of relatively low pressure; and to the left-hand side of bearing 18, and radially inward of high pressure shaft 14, is a region 22 of relatively high pressure. The two regions and 22 must be effectively sealed from each other in operation, and to achieve this a hydraulic seal, indicated generally by 24, is provided between the two shafts 12 and 14.
The hydraulic seal 24 comprises an annulus 26 which is provided in the interior of the high pressure shaft 14 and extends radially outwards across the whole circumference of the shaft 14. The annulus is defined by radially inwardly extending walls 27, which extend around the whole circumference of the shaft 14. Projecting into the annulus 26 is a web 28 which is arranged on the low pressure shaft and extends radially outward across the whole circumference of the shaft 12.
In operation, a large portion of the annulus 26, and especially that portion of it that surrounds the free end of the web 28, is filled with oil or some other hydraulic medium 30, as indicated by the hatched area.
In operation, a continuous feed of oil is maintained into the annulus 26, in the following manner. An oil jet (not shown) between the two shafts 12, 14 delivers oil in the direction shown by the arrow 32. Some of this oil serves to lubricate the bearing 18; the remainder tends to collect on the inner wall 34 of the high pressure shaft 14, owing to the centrifugal effects arising out of the rotation of the shafts 12, 14. The inner wall 34 lies at the radially outward side of the space between shafts 12 and 14.
It is also possible, in an alternative embodiment of the known arrangement, for the oil to be fed in along the centre of the hollow shaft 12.
Again under centrifugal effect, oil also enters the annulus 26 through an annular inlet area 36, the annulus 26 lying still further radially outward than the inner wall 34. In the process, the oil 30 collects in the annulus 26 both to the left and to the right sides of the web 28, creating an optimum siphon-type hydraulic seal as shown.
It will be appreciated that the radially inwardly extending side walls defining the annulus 26 act as weirs and limit the oil level within the annulus. The surface or liquid level of the oil, on each side of the web 28, will be ultimately constrained by the radially inward extension of the respective side wall. This can be seen in the annular inlet area 36.
On the left-hand side of the web 28, the surface or liquid level 38 of the oil 30 is further radially outward than on the right-hand side of the web 28, because the left-hand side communicates with the region 22, in which the pressure is higher than in the area 20 with which the right-hand side is in communication.
A scoop plate 40 in the annulus 26 defines a passageway 42, through which excess oil can flow to an outlet duct 44. In this way, a continuous flow of oil is maintained through the hydraulic seal 24. (Other ways of achieving throughflow are known, and will be familiar to the skilled reader of this specification; for example, oil may flow over one of the weirs, typically on the opposite side of the web 28 to the oil jet.) This prevents undesirable overheating and coking of the oil 30, which would occur if the oil was allowed to remain for too long within the annulus 26. In general, the amount of heat transferred to the oil is highly dependent on the depth of immersion of the fin 28 in operation.


A gallium arsenide FET having a gate pad with interleaved source and drain regions on two opposing sides of the gate pad, a plurality of gate fingers extending from the gate pad and disposed between each adjacent pair of a source region and a gate region.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to field effect transistors (FETs) and, more specifically, to power and low noise FETs.
1. Brief Description of the Prior Art
Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) FETs are generally formed by providing a substrate of semi-insulating GaAs having a doped region at a surface region thereof with metallization on the doped surface region which makes an ohmic contact with the doped region to form source and drain regions and further metallization on the doped surface region which forms a Schottky barrier diode with the doped region to form the gate region, the channel extending between the source and drain in the doped region of the substrate and under the gate.
The layout topology of the FET and its effect on device performance is an area that is very weakly addressed in the literature. The interdigitated and pi gate feed structures have been industry standards for the last ten years with only minor modifications. The interdigitated FET has served well in low noise and power applications where a large gate periphery is required in a compact form. The pi FET has typically served in low noise designs where a small gate periphery is desired. In the pi configuration, the source is formed as many separate spaced apart segments with the gate being a thin line between the source segments and drain, the gate also including fingers extending therefrom between the source segment. In the interdigitated configuration, both the source and drain are formed as many separate spaced apart segments, the source and drain segments being interleaved or alternating and the gate being a thin line having fingers which extend between each opposing pair of source and drain elements. Both of these topologies limit the size of the FET periphery on MMIC chips and have parasitic components that increase the noise figure and limit the high frequency performance of the FET. The spider FET allows more FET area on the MMIC chip and allows the parasitics to be minimized by its topology.
A standard technique used in prior art FETs to minimize noise and improve gain has been the reduction of gate length. However, a simple reduction of gate length to lower the gate to source capacitance (Cgs) and to improve transconductance (gm) results in a greatly increased gate resistance (Rg) from the thin gate line and very little noise figure reduction.

Low parasitic FET topology for power and low noise GaAs FETs


A method and apparatus for generating a grayscale image. The method and apparatus receive a single value. From the single value, the method and apparatus generate a set of grayscale weighting values. The method and apparatus generate the grayscale based on a color image and the set of grayscale weighting values. By limiting the number of values to a single value, the method and apparatus prevents a user from arbitrarily selecting a number of possible weighting values which could result in a grayscale image that is too dim or too bright. This single control method and apparatus quickly and efficiently produces a grayscale image that is neither too bright nor too dim.

Digital images can be color (e.g., made up of red, green, and blue components) or black and white (e.g., grayscale). Many image editing applications have the ability to convert color images to black and white (grayscale) images. Such image editing applications generate a luminance (or brightness) for each pixel based on a weighted sum of the levels of green, blue, and red in the pixel. However, most of these applications have pre-set weights for their conversion functions. Such applications do not provide an option for the user to alter the weights for the conversion functions. Some image editing applications do allow the user to adjust the weights for conversion functions. However, such prior art image editing applications give the user too many options by allowing any of the weights to be set independently. The results of setting all three weights to arbitrary levels are often poor. Therefore, there is a need in the art for an image editing application that gives a user some control over grayscale conversion, but constrains the weighting to values that produce acceptable results.

Method and interface for converting images to grayscale


A computer display system which displays an image and a magnified portion of the image. The magnified portion of the image is selected un,der control of a pointing device connected to the computer. A method is described for changing the characteristics of the magnified portion. A configuration utility which creates the magnified portion of the display includes a menu of display properties for the magnified portion. The properties are selected from the display menu, and each refresh of the area within the magnified portion of the image is refreshed with the selected properties. In a text/browser application, the background color, text color, text style and size may be selected differently than the remaining portion of the image displayed on the computer display.

The invention relates generally to computer display systems which have a sliding window for selecting a portion of an image to be magnified. Specifically, a window representing a magnified cursor is generated which is positionable in response to motion of a pointing device. One such system is described more particularly in the aforesaid related patent application. The magnifiable cursor described in the foregoing patent application provides the ability to read small detail on a computer-driven display. The cursor in its normal operation may be used to invoke a magnifiable cursor from a display tool bar on the computer-driven display. Once invoked, the cursor becomes a sliding window which is movable across the display screen. When positioned at a location of interest on the display screen, the slidable window permits viewing of the area under a pseudomagnification, i.e., the detail within the slidable window is expanded to a larger size by using multiple pixels within the slidable window to display the image detail within the slidable window. The ability to change the display scale of certain detail selected by a user should not be application-specific, but rather should be applicable to any browser/editor application independent of the operating system of the computer display system.
When positioning a magnifiable cursor over the display screen, it is disadvantageous to refresh the screen within the sliding window during the positioning process. Accordingly, as set forth in the aforesaid patent application, the sliding window is greyed in during positioning of the sliding window, by comparing the velocity of movement of the cursor with respect to a nominal threshold value. As the cursor is positioned to a selected location, the velocity decreases below the threshold value and refresh of the screen, particularly in the area of the slidable window, may be effected.
While magnifying a particular portion of a display image is desirable from a number of standpoints, it is also desirable to have properties within a sliding window displayed differently than the remaining portion of the display image. For instance, it may be advantageous to the user to display the portion of the image within the sliding window with different properties, i.e., different colors, text size, or even a different text font than outside of the sliding window. Accordingly, to make full use of the capabilities of the magnifiable cursor, the present invention is directed to controlling these properties of the display image within the sliding window.
It is an object of this invention to provide a method to change the properties of image detail displayed within a magnifiable cursor.
This and other objects of the invention are provided for by a set of instructions which can be read from a computer readable medium by a computer display system. The computer display system is equipped with a magnifiable cursor which generates a sliding window positionable by a pointing device operated by the user. When the sliding window is located at the user""s discretion on a particular detail to be displayed, the detail is magnified by displaying it over a greater number of pixels than detail which is outside of the sliding window. The sliding window has its own set of properties which may be different from those properties of the displayed image outside of the sliding window boundary. Background color, font style and size, of detail within the sliding window are independently controlled from the properties used to display the remaining portion of the image outside of the sliding window.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the selection of the properties for detail displayed within the sliding window may be selected from pull-down menus which are available when the magnifiable cursor is invoked. The pull-down menus can provide selections for background color, text color, font type, or text size as properties to be used to display image detail appearing within the sliding window.
In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the configuration menu may be selected by the user by clicking a mouse button, which is detected as a signal for invoking the configuration menu. Properties for the magnified portion of the image display may then be selected from the displayed pull-down menu.

Method for selecting display parameters of a magnifiable cursor

International Business Machines Corporation


An assembly verification test uses a sliding cart to transport work-in-process units from an assembly facility to a test area. The cart has a generally square frame with multiple vertical and horizontal frame members. The front end of the cart has wheels that engage the floor. The rearward end of the cart has wheels that are vertically offset from the front wheels and ride along a chassis of the test station that is located above the floor. The upper end of the cart has guide rails for slidably receiving work unit trays from assembly and offloading the trays to the test area. The wheels allow the cart to move laterally from side to side along the length of the test area so that the cart may be easily repositioned in front of any of the test slots.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to the process of assembling and testing a product, and, more specifically, a highly flexible process capable of handling both large jobs and small jobs efficiently by minimizing any impact from job change-over and optimizing cycle times.
2. Background Art
A manufacturing process for electronic equipment such as computers includes assembly, inspection, and testing. Assembly involves installing the various components including cables, labels, screws, etc. The assembly operators must be able to build many different products. The smaller the job size, the more frequently the operators will have to change to a new product. Each unit is inspected and tested to ensure proper cable routing and component installation.
In computer manufacturing, testing typically includes a configuration test, a run-in test, a software pre-load onto the hardfile, a verification test, and a high potential (hi-pot) test. These tests are either initiated from a floppy disk or through a Local Area Network (LAN) with minimal code on the diskette. A LAN is the most efficient way to test the product and pre-load the hardfile. This requires the installation of a LAN card in the assembly process. For customers that did not request a LAN card, a temporary slave card is installed which must be removed prior to the verification test. A hi-pot test is required to verify that the unit is safe and to get UL approval.
If a unit fails one or more of the tests, it must be debugged. This includes both component failures and workmanship-induced failures. Replacement parts must be made available to the debug operator. Once the failure is verified, the faulty part is tagged and replaced. A floor control system is used to track the unit through the process. The system ensures that all steps are completed and all tests are passed.
Manufacturing setup time includes parts presentation to assembly and debug, ensuring the correct test code and preload are available, and familiarizing the operators with the assembly process for the new product. In a manufacturing cell environment where operations have been streamlined, it is critical that setup times are reduced. It is also critical that cycle times are optimized to minimize the time from when an order is placed until it is shipped.
There are many ways to lay out a manufacturing line to maximize efficiency depending on the business strategy. If the strategy is based on large orders of a specific product (i.e. build to plan, build to order for a dealer, etc.), large lines with material handling solutions are often implemented. If the strategy is oriented towards small orders (i.e. build to order for specific customers), workcells with minimum material handling are typically used.
Conventional methods typically work well for one strategy or the other, but not both. A large manufacturing line usually has separate areas for assembly, inspection, configuration, run-in, pre-load, card removal, verification, hi-pot, and packaging, including queues between each area. Large lines work best when they are fully staffed; otherwise, significant balancing between operations is required. One downfall of this approach is the intrinsic separation between operations (an assembler has little awareness of how a workmanship error impacts configuration). If the inspection area finds an error, there may already be numerous units in the queue with the same error. These circumstances reduce the ownership felt by the operators. In addition to this risk, WIP inventory is higher due to the queues between operations.
Testing products on a large line is typically done to optimize workload. Gravity conveyors, carts, or other equipment is frequently used for this purpose. Due to the sensitivity of hardfiles, a lane or cart has to be fully loaded before the units are powered on for testing. The sensitivity is due to the risk of a unit being brought into test hitting one that is already powered on, thereby causing possible hardfile damage. Consequently, this risk increases the cycle time for those units that arrive early to a lane. If a unit in the middle of the batch fails, the whole batch is held up during repair. In addition, it is more efficient for the operator when all the units in a batch are the same. Otherwise differences in test times and processes reduce efficiency as all of the units must wait for the longest requirement to complete. For large batches of the same product, these impacts are minimized.
Cells are usually designed for specific product families using Group Technology theories. The "textbook" cell is often used for machining operations, not assembly and test. The traditional Group Technology workcell recommends dedicating cells to specific products (e.g. different cells would be used for each product type with different parts or processes). Because of varying product demand, dedicating cells to specific product types restricts the ability of process designers to optimize capacity and staffing. For example, some manufacturers have implemented cellular-based concepts that divide operations. These designs have assembly cells and separate testing and burn-in areas. Thus, although the assembly process is improved, WIP is increased due to queues, loss of ownership resulting from separation of operations, and staffing imbalances between areas.
Unfortunately, it is impractical to install both manufacturing cells and large lines to solve these problems. Such a facility would incur even higher costs and decreased efficiency since fixed support structures would be required in both areas. Physically separate lines would require management to round up for staffing needs in both places, thereby reducing their ability to optimize staffing.
What is needed is a manufacturing line with ultimate flexibility that is able to assemble and test any product on any cell efficiently regardless of job size.

Vehicle for facilitating assembly verification test

International Business Machines Corporation


Techniques related to vehicle operation. A processor determines that at least one condition is met related to a vehicle. In response to the at least one condition being met, the processor generates a natural language output having a query. The processor determines that an affirmative response to the query is received and causes a downshift of a transmission of the vehicle in response to the affirmative response.

The present invention relates in general to transmission vehicle operations, and more specifically, to an advanced vehicle transmission control unit based on context.
A transmission is a machine in a power transmission system, which provides controlled application of the power. Often the term transmission refers simply to the gearbox that uses gears and gear trains to provide speed and torque conversions from a rotating power source to another device. Additionally, the term transmission can refer to the whole drivetrain, including clutch, gearbox, prop shaft (for rear-wheel drive), differential, and final driveshafts. In motor vehicles, the transmission adapts the output of the internal combustion engine to the drive wheels. Such engines need to operate at a relatively high rotational speed, which is inappropriate for starting, stopping, and slower travel. The transmission reduces the higher engine speed to the slower wheel speed, increasing torque in the process. Typically, a transmission has multiple gear ratios (or simply "gears") with the ability to switch between them as speed varies. This switching can be done manually (by the operator) or automatically. In motor vehicles, the transmission generally is connected to the engine crankshaft via a flywheel or clutch or fluid coupling, partly because internal combustion engines cannot run below a particular speed. The output of the transmission is transmitted via the driveshaft to one or more differentials, which drive the wheels.

Advanced vehicle transmission control unit based on context

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


The present invention provides a method for conveying information over a communication network such as a Digital Loop Carrier (DLC) network free of in-band signaling information for at least a portion of an established communication between at least two users so as to reduce the information error rate associated with the established communication. For communication links that support robbed-bit signaling (RBS), the RBS signaling is disabled to allow the communication link to be operated in a clear channel mode. When appropriate, operations can be switch from the clear channel mode back to the RBS mode. Embodiments are described for one-stage DLC systems having a local digital switch (LDS) connected to a remote terminal (RT) by a communication link conforming to either the TR-303 protocol or the TR-008 protocol. In addition, embodiments are described for two-stage DLC systems that also have a distance terminal (DT) connected to the RT by a second communication link.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to telecommunications networks and, more particularly, to a method for reducing information error rates and increasing throughput of communication channels within telecommunication networks.
2. Description of the Related Art
The use of communication networks such as telephony networks and data communication networks (e.g., the Internet) by the general public to convey information has increased significantly in the past several years. The information is represented by analog and/or digital communication signals. A telephony network provides traditional telephony services (e.g., voice communications, facsimile communications, analog data) over such media as twisted metallic wire pairs (e.g., tip/ring pairs), coaxial cables, fiber optic cables, air, free space, and other media. The Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) is an established telephony network which is accessible to the general public. A data communication network is a network in which information signals are conveyed throughout the network in digital form. Examples of a data communication network include the public Internet and computer communication networks (e.g., corporate communication networks, educational communication networks, governmental communication networks).
Often, users of telephony networks, computer communication networks, and other communication networks gain access to such networks via local access networks such as a Digital Loop Carrier (DLC) system. An exemplary DLC system is shown in FIG. 1. DLC 10 comprises Remote Terminal (RT) 28 connected to Local Digital Switch (LDS) 20 via communication link 26. Communication signals are exchanged between LDS 20 and communication link 26 via interface 24. LDS 20 is connected to PSTN 12 and Public Internet 14 via communication links 18 and 16, respectively. Remote Terminal 28 is connected to user 1 (34) via communication link 30 and to user 2 (36) via communication link 32. Users 1 and 2 thus have access to PSTN 12, Public Internet 14, and to each other. For the sake of clarity only two users are shown in FIG. 1. In practice, DLC systems connect hundreds or even thousands of users. Moreover, an actual DLC system, such as the one shown in FIG. 1, may provide access to a variety of communication networks in addition to the ones shown.
Communication links 30 and 32 are currently implemented with metallic wires (i.e., tip/ring pairs) through which analog communication signals (e.g., voice, facsimile) are conveyed between the users (30, 32) and Remote Terminal 28. Communication links 30 and 32, when implemented as metallic tip/ring pairs, are part of the well-known Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) telephony system and such links are commonly referred to as POTS lines. POTS lines typically are able to convey analog communication signals within a limited bandwidth spanning the frequency range of 0-4 KHz, commonly referred to as Voice Frequencies (VF). The VF range is typically further band limited to a frequency range of 200-3400 Hz due to additional analog filtering by DLC 10 equipment.
Users who wish to communicate with data communication networks, such as the Public Internet, typically use modems to transmit and receive analog data signals over the POTS lines. The analog signals from communication links 30 and 32 are converted to digital signals by RT 28 and are conveyed over communication link 26. The digital signals are processed in accordance with a protocol being followed by DLC 10 and are transferred to LDS 20 which transmits such digital signals to either PSTN 12 or Public Internet 14 via communication links 18 or 16, respectively. A protocol is a set of rules and standards that govern the operation of the various equipment of a communication network such as a local access network so as to control, monitor, and/or manage communications between users of the same or different networks and also between equipment of the same or different networks. Part of the protocol information is referred to as signaling information which is used to initiate communication between users, monitor the channel through which information is being conveyed during user communications, and terminate communications between users. The signaling information is often generated by the various communication network equipment (e.g., RT 28, LDS 20).
Before users of the same or different networks can communicate with each other, the communication is established in accordance with the protocol. A communication is established when the system has allocated appropriate network resources (e.g., a communication channel) and has followed certain procedural steps defined by the protocol, to allow users to convey communication signals to each other within a communication network or different networks. The communication signals conveyed between users is referred to as user information. Examples of protocols used by local access networks (particularly in North America) include the well-known TR-303 Hybrid Signaling protocol and the TR-008 protocol.
Still referring to FIG. 1, LDS 20 also receives user information from either PSTN 12 or Public Internet 14 and transmits such information to RT 28 which converts the information to the proper analog signal for propagation through communication links 30 or 32. The signaling information is extracted by RT 28 and the remaining user information is relayed to the users. It should also be noted that communication links 30 and 32 need not be analog POTS lines, but can be other communication links through which digital and/or analog communication signals are conveyed.
The user information conveyed through the various communication links of local access network 10 is packaged and structured in accordance with well-defined communication channel formats. An example of a communication channel format used in many local access networks and other communication networks is the well-known Digital Signal Zero (DS0) channel format. A DS0 channel is defined as a communication channel with an information capacity of 64 kbps (64,000 bits per second). Part of the information conveyed through the communication channels represents protocol information. Communication links can be also be formatted as per a Digital Signal One (DS1) structure. A DS1 contains 24 DS0 channels.
The digital signals conveyed between RT 28 and LDS 20 over communication link 26 are organized in a particular fashion dictated by the protocol being followed by the local access network.
Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown how digital signals are organized and conveyed over communication link 26 between LDS 20 and RT 28 as per the TR-303 Hybrid Signaling protocol. Communication link 26 is organized as a DS1. Typically, the analog signals from the users are sampled by RT 28 at a rate of 8000 samples per second. RT 28 converts each sample to an 8-bit word, which is then placed in a particular DS0 channel within the DS1 of communication link 26. In particular, the digital signals are organized as frames 38, with each frame being 125 xcexcsec long (i.e., length of one sample). Each frame 38 comprises data for 24 DS0 channels 40, where each DS0 channel contains the 8 bits of data representing a sample from a particular user, and a framing bit 43 used as an indicator for separating the frames. Thus, a DS1 can serve up to 24 separate users.
The TR-303 Hybrid Signaling protocol allows signaling information to be integrated with user information and both types of information are conveyed through the DS1. Such a technique of integrating user information with signaling information is commonly referred to as in-band signaling (or in-slot signaling). Still referring to FIG. 2, part of each user""s information, and in particular, the least significant bit 42 of each DS0 channel of every sixth frame is discarded and replaced with a signaling bit that represents signaling information for that DS0 channel. The information that replaces the discarded user information is referred to as in-band signaling information. The in-band""signaling scheme where the least significant bit of user information is purposely discarded and replaced with signaling information is referred to as robbed-bit signaling (RBS). The TR-303 Hybrid Signaling protocol uses the robbed-bit signaling scheme.
FIG. 2 discloses a particular form of RBS structured in what is commonly known as a DS1 frame format. In this particular version of RBS, the least significant bit 42 of every DS0 channel within the 6th frame, the 12th frame, the 18th frame, the 24th frame, etc., is replaced with signaling information. For purposes of clarity, only the configuration of the 6th frame is shown in FIG. 2.
As the popularity of data communication networks such as the Internet increases, there is an ever increasing need by users of local access networks to convey information to and from such networks at higher and higher speeds. At such high speeds and in view of the limited bandwidth of the POTS lines, signal degradation is often a problem. The analog data signals tend to be more susceptible to noise and are more easily distorted by bandwidth limited media such as POTS lines.
It will be readily understood that the use of the RBS scheme, or other in-band signaling schemes, in which part of the user information is sacrificed for signaling information, is another contributor to the signal degradation suffered by local access network 10 and other similar communication networks. The use of in-band signaling schemes often degrades the performance of local access networks and other communication networks, because of the increase in the information error rate (e.g., high bit error rates) and/or lowered throughput. Typically, a certain amount of errors occurs in the conveyance of user information at a particular speed for a particular amount time. For a certain time period, the ratio of the amount of errors occurring in conveyed user information to the amount of user information is defined as information error rate. The throughput is defined as the actual amount of information conveyed. Often, subscribers or the local access network equipment must reduce the speed at which information is being conveyed through the local access network in order to lower the information error rates to an acceptable level. For example, many subscribers who use 56 Kb/s, 33.6 Kb/s or even 28.8 Kb/s modems to convey information through communication channels of local access networks have to operate their modems at lower speeds because of the exacerbating effects of in-band signaling such as RBS. As a result, the throughput of these communication channels is decreased.
It is therefore, an object of the present invention to eliminate substantially the adverse effects (e.g., increased information error rate, lowered throughput) of in-band signaling schemes such as RBS during communications between users of local access networks or other communication networks.
The present invention provides for a method, which when applied to a communication network that uses in-band signaling, suspends the application of in-band signaling for at least a portion of established communication between at least two users of the communication so as to reduce information error rates associated with the established communication. The method of the present invention comprises the steps of establishing communication between at least two users in accordance with a protocol and conveying information free of in-band signaling information so as to reduce information error rates associated with the conveyed user information.
In one embodiment, the present invention is a method for conveying information in a communication network, the method comprising the steps of (a) establishing communication in accordance with a protocol; and (b) conveying user information free of in-band signaling information so as to reduce information error rates associated with the conveyed user information.
In another embodiment, the present invention is a method for conveying information in a local access network that follows a protocol which uses in-band signaling, the method comprising the steps of (a) establishing communication between at least two users in accordance with the protocol; (b) suspending in-band signaling; (c) entering a clear channel mode; (d) remaining in the clear channel mode until it is determined that conditions exist which warrant returning to in-band signaling; and (e) ending the established communication when at least one of the users terminates communication.
In yet another embodiment, the present invention is a method for conveying information in a DLC communication network that follows the TR-303 Hybrid or TR-008 Signaling protocol, the method comprising the steps of (a) establishing communication between at least two users using a DS1 frame format for the robbed-bit signaling scheme in accordance with the TR-303 Hybrid or TR-008 Signaling protocol; (b) suspending the use of robbed-bit signaling; (c) entering a clear channel mode; (d) resuming robbed-bit signaling when it has been determined that conditions exist that warrant returning to in-band signaling; and (e) ending the established communication as per the TR-303 Hybrid or TR-008 Signaling protocol when at least one of the users goes on hook.


A method includes storing a research paper and a set of candidate resources including media content. The method further includes encoding each of one or more first content fields in the research paper into a first vector based on a first field type associated with each of the one or more first content fields. The method further includes encoding each of one or more second content fields in each of the parsed set of candidate resources into a second vector, based on a second field type associated with each of the one or more second content fields. The method further includes comparing the first vector with the second vector to determine a final set of resources based on the comparison. The method further includes controlling a display screen to output the determined final set of resources and the research paper.

Typically, a researcher may study a large number of research papers to understand latest progress in a domain of interest. For example, a researcher may read a particular research paper and further identify and study one or more relevant research papers cited in the research paper. Generally, the researchers search for the one or more cited research papers on a search engine. The study and search may be a time consuming and may be a tedious task based on the domain of interest and prior knowledge of the researcher. In certain solutions, the researcher may manually search to find online resources (for example video, slides) scattered around web pages to get an overview of the identified research papers and the domain of interest. As may be evident, the manual process of search of the online resources associated with the research paper may be time consuming and cumbersome in case a large number of research papers. Thus, there is a need for an enhanced method to search and extract media content of online resources associated with research papers for effective understanding of the domain of interest for the researchers.
The subject matter claimed in the present disclosure is not limited to embodiments that solve any disadvantages or that operate only in environments such as those described above. Rather, this background is only provided to illustrate one example technology area where some embodiments described in the present disclosure may be practiced.

Extraction of multi-modal online resources associated with research papers


The invention pertains to a flat product in the form of a wall for a heat exchanger that is operated with cooling mediums in the form of corrosive liquids that contain biological organisms. In order to protect the wall of the heat exchanger against corrosion on the side that comes in contact with the cooling medium and to prevent biological organisms from settling down on the heat exchanger wall, the wall consists of a titanium or titanium alloy layer and a copper/titanium alloy layer that is integrally connected to the titanium or titanium alloy layer by means of an intermediate alloy layer.

The invention pertains to a flat product of metal, in particular, in the form of a wall for a heat exchanger which consists of a composite material comprising a titanium or titanium alloy layer and a copper alloy layer.
The invention also pertains to a heat exchanger, the wall of which can be exposed to a cooling medium in the form of a liquid that contains biological organisms, wherein said wall consists of a copper alloy layer that faces the cooling medium and a titanium or titanium alloy layer that tightly adjoins the copper alloy layer and faces away from the cooling medium.
Heat exchangers of this type are known in the form of tubular elements (GB 2 151 744 A). In this known heat exchanger, the tube walls consist of two layers, wherein the inner tube consists of copper or a copper alloy and the outer tube consists of titanium. Both tubes have the same wall thickness of 0.5 mm. The inserted inner tube is hydraulically expanded in order to bring the inner tube in contact with the outer tube over its entire surface.
The development of such a tubular heat exchanger with double layer walls was based on the notion that, although titanium provides an excellent protection against corrosion, biological organisms are deposited or settle down (biofouling) on its contact surface with cooling mediums in the form of liquids that contain biological organisms, e.g., seawater or brackish water. This is caused by the distinctive biocompatibility of titanium and impairs the heat transmission. In extreme instances, it may even occur that the heat exchanger becomes clogged. These disadvantages can be eliminated if the inside of the titanium tube is lined with a copper tube, namely because copper has a toxic effect on biological organisms. However, it is disadvantageous that the copper or copper alloy only provides a weak protection against corrosion when it comes in contact with aggressive mediums such as seawater (0.5 mm erosion/year), and that the heat transmission from the inner copper tube to the outer titanium tube is also more or less impaired on the boundary between the copper tube and the titanium tube if both tubes tightly adjoin one another (high heat transmission resistance).
In another heat exchanger of this type which is realized in the form of a multi-tube heat exchanger, the tubes of titanium are connected to a tube receptacle plate of a copper alloy (JP 60 11 70 99 A). In case of an interruption in the operation of the heat exchanger, the water circulation is shut down such that the protection against electric corrosion between the different metals of the tubes (titanium) and the tube receptacle plate (copper alloy) is no longer effective. In order to prevent an undesirable electric corrosion in such instances, sacrificial electrodes that are in intimate and electrically conductive contact with the titanium tubes and consist of the same copper alloy as the tube receptacle plate are arranged on the surface of the titanium tubes. If the water circulation is shut down, the occurring electric corrosion only takes place between the titanium tubes and the sacrificial electrodes such that the undesirable electric corrosion between the tubes and the tube receptacle plate is prevented. The sacrificial electrodes are replaced as required such that a permanent protection against electric corrosion between the titanium tubes and the tube receptacle plate is ensured.

Flat product of metal, in particular, in the form of a wall for heat exchangers, as well as a heat exchanger with a double layer wall of copper and titanium


A request to delete a directory from a storage is received. The directory is unlinked from a parent metadata object. A success confirmation that the directory is unlinked from the parent metadata object is provided. After the success confirmation is provided, one or more metadata objects of the directory are marked for deletion, and the one or more marked metadata objects and at least one of their descendant metadata objects are identified and deleted.

A primary system is configured to store file system data. The primary system is configured to perform a backup snapshot and send the file system data to a storage system. The backup snapshot may be a full backup snapshot or an incremental backup snapshot. A full backup snapshot includes all of the file system data of the primary system at a particular moment of time. An incremental backup snapshot includes the file system data of the primary system that has changed since a previous backup snapshot. The primary system may modify some of the file system data and/or delete some of the file system data in the time between backup snapshots.

Asynchronous deletion of large directories


A fluid compressor includes a case, a fixed scroll, an orbiting scroll, a motor, and at least one anti-rotation unit. The case is configured to form an external appearance thereof. The fixed scroll is fixed in the case. The orbiting scroll is engaged with the fixed scroll at one side of the fixed scroll, and performs partitioning of a compression chamber. The motor provides the orbiting scroll with drive power. The anti-rotation unit is coupled to a side surface of the orbiting scroll so as to prevent rotation of the orbiting scroll.

A fluid compressor may include a fixed scroll and an orbiting scroll that form a compression chamber, and an anti-rotation unit preventing rotation of the orbiting scroll.
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the principal components of a conventional fluid compressor.
Referring to FIG. 1, the conventional fluid compressor may include a main frame 1, a fixed scroll coupled to an upper side of the main frame 1, and an orbiting scroll 3 disposed between the main frame 1 and the fixed scroll 2 to form a the compression chamber by engaging with the fixed scroll 2.
For example, the orbiting scroll 3 may move or oscillate according to rotation of a rotary shaft (not shown) in a manner that fluid is compressed between the orbiting scroll 3 and the fixed scroll 2.
In this case, an Oldham ring 4 acting as an anti-rotation unit for preventing rotation of the orbiting scroll may be disposed between the main frame 1 and the orbiting scroll 3.
The Oldham ring 4 may include a first protrusion 5 protruding toward the orbiting scroll 3 and a second protrusion 7 protruding toward the main frame 1. A first groove 6 in which the first protrusion 5 is inserted may be formed at the bottom surface of the orbiting scroll 3, and a second groove 8 in which the second protrusion 7 is inserted may be formed at the top surface of the main frame 1.
The conventional fluid compressor has disadvantages in which much vibration and much noise are generated in the Oldham ring 4 during operation thereof.
In addition, as a bearing 9 provided in the orbiting scroll 3 gradually increases in size, the fluid compressor can more easily operate at a higher speed.
The conventional fluid compressor has disadvantages in that the diameter of the bearing provided to the orbiting scroll 3 is restricted due to the first groove 6.
Further, the fluid compressor provided with two compression chambers classified into an upper compression chamber provided at an upper part of the orbiting scroll and a lower compression chamber provided at a lower part of the orbiting scroll may have difficulty in arrangement of the Oldham ring. In order to arrange the Oldham ring in the fluid compressor, the fluid compressor has to secure an additional space corresponding to the length of the first groove 6 at the outside of the compression chamber.


A symbiotic aquaponic growth system is a system for growing plants. An aquaculture reservoir holds water and aquatic animals. Water and waste is transported to a filtering germination tray that serves to hold germinating seeds as well as to filter solid waste from the water. Plants are supported in a tubular growing member that rotates due to water flowing from the filtering germination tray onto the tubular growing member. The aquaculture reservoir, the filtering germination tray, and the tubular growing member are contained within an enclosure that may be closed via a lid and a shuttered door. Water is transported from the aquaculture reservoir to the filtering germination tray through a fluid distribution assembly. Water and nutrients are provided to plants in the tubular growing member by dipping the plant roots into the aquaculture reservoir as well by the water falling onto the plant roots from the filtering germination tray.

Obtaining fresh fruits and vegetables is generally only possible by purchasing the fruits and vegetables from a market. If one does not wish to purchase fruits and vegetables from an external source, it is possible to grow fresh fruits and vegetables in a personal garden. However, due to space considerations, this is not always feasible. An alternative method to growing plants in soil is by growing the plants in a hydroponic growing system. A hydroponic system eliminates the need for soil and plants are grown in water with mineral nutrient solutions. An aquaponic system combines a hydroponic system with an aquaculture system in order to form a symbiotic relationship. In a traditional aquaponic system, water containing excretions and other waste from the aquaculture system is fed into the hydroponic system. The byproducts in the water from the aquaculture system are broken down by nitrification into nitrates and nitrites, allowing the plants in the hydroponic system to acquire nutrients from the aquaculture system. The water is then recirculated back to the aquaculture system. Aquaponic systems are advantageous as food may be grown year round regardless of the natural environment. The present invention seeks to improve upon the benefits provided by conventional aquaponic growth systems.
The present invention is a symbiotic aquaponic growth system that allows for the growth of plants in virtually any environment. The present invention provides nutrients, water, and light to allow plants to grow. Nutrients are provided from the waste of fish or other aquatic species within the present invention. The present invention additionally provides a space for seed germination before the resulting plants are grown in the present invention. The present invention has minimal electrical power requirements in order to function and may be utilized in environments with or without natural light.


The invention relates to a method for determining the actual angle position of a rotatable magnetic component in an electric drive (10) having an odd number of pole pairs. An actual angle measurement value (φAMR,k) of the rotatable component is measured using an angle sensor (28) which only measures the actual angle measurement value (φAMR,k) within a predefined reduced angular area, and an associated device (20) for determining an actual angle position of a rotatable magnetic component in an electric drive (10). According to the invention, the actual angle measurement value (φAMR,k) measured exclusively for the reduced angular area is converted using the direction and the sign of the magnetic field of the rotatable magnetic component in a clear angular position in non-reduced angular area, the direction and sign of the magnetic field of the rotatable magnetic element (12) being determined by applying first test impulses (Ua, Ub, Uc) to the electric drive (10) and by evaluating the resulting second test impulses (I1, I2, Ia, Ib, Ic) which are produced in the electric drive (10) in reaction with the applied first test impulses (Ua, Ub, Uc).

The invention is based on a method for determining a current angular position of a rotatable magnetic component in an electric drive, and on a device for determining a current angular position of a rotatable magnetic component in an electric drive.
Drives which have a variable rotational speed and are based on synchronous machines constitute the prior art. In order to be able to correctly actuate the synchronous machine, information about the current rotor angle must be available. In this context, the necessary degree of disambiguity is dependent on the number Zp of pole pairs of the motor. The rotor angle must be unambiguously known only within a range of the magnitude 360°/Zp. It is therefore irrelevant whether the angle is x° or x°+(360°/Zp).
The rotor angle is usually measured with the aid of an angle sensor. One known possibility is to use a signal-generator magnet and an AMR angle sensor, i.e. an angle sensor which utilizes an anisotropic magneto-resistive effect. However, as a result it is not possible to measure a rotor angle which is unambiguous in an unlimited angle range from 0 to 360° but rather only a rotor angle which is unambiguous in a limited angle range from 0 to 180°. It is therefore not possible to differentiate between a rotor angle of x° and one of x°+180°. Consequently, such an angle sensor system can be used only for synchronous machines with an even number of pole pairs.
In order to obtain an angle signal which is unambiguous in the unlimited angle range from 0 to 360°, the AMR angle sensor can be combined with two Hall sensors. German laid-open patent application DE 102 48 060 A1 describes, for example, such a magnetic field sensor arrangement for an angle sensor and a method for operating such a sensor arrangement. The described magnetic field sensor arrangement comprises an angle sensor by means of which the current angular position of a rotatable magnetic component can be measured in a predefined angle range. At least two sensor elements, by means of which the current magnetic field direction of the magnetic component can be measured, are assigned to the angle sensor, wherein the sensor elements are arranged with respect to one another in such a way that their axes which characterize the main measuring direction enclose an angle. However, with the described magnetic field sensor arrangement, additional components in the form of sensor elements are necessary.
In addition it is known that the rotor angle can be estimated by measuring electrical variables. For this purpose, two known effects can be utilized. For example, the voltage which is induced in the stator coils of the synchronous machine is dependent on the rotor angle. Furthermore, the inductances of the stator coils can depend on the rotor angle, depending on the design of the synchronous machine.
For example, German laid-open patent application DE 10 2006 004 166 A1 describes a method and a circuit arrangement for estimating the rotor angle of a synchronous machine in a stationary state. In accordance with the described method, three brief voltage pulses are applied to the stator windings of the synchronous machine in various directions. The rotor angle is then determined from the measured increases in current.
Patent AT 397 727 B describes, for example, a method and a circuit arrangement for the sensorless sensing of the rotational angle of a rotor of a synchronous machine. The described method determines the rotor angle by means of voltage pulses, it being assumed that the inductances of the stator coils of the synchronous machine depend on the rotor angle in an approximately sinusoidal shape.
It is therefore in principle possible to dispense with an angle sensor and to estimate the rotor angle. However, these angle-estimating methods require complex calculations, generate noise and are less accurate than if an angle sensor system is used.

Method and device for determining a current angular position of a rotatable magnetic component in an electric drive