Methods and apparatus are provided for a User Equipment (UE) configured to have multiple cells in a DownLink (DL) of a Time Division Duplex (TDD) communication system so as to determine a power of an acknowledgement signal that the UE transmits in a control channel and to determine a number of acknowledgement information bits that the UE multiplexes with data information bits in a data channel. A transmission power of the control signal is determined based on DL Assignment Index (DAI) Information Elements (IEs) in DL Scheduling Assignments (SAs) that the UE detects through multiple transmission time intervals and through the multiple configured DL cells. The number of acknowledgement information bits in the data channel is determined based on a DAI IE of an UpLink (UL) SA associated with the transmission of the data channel.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is generally directed to a wireless communication systems and, more specifically, to the transmission of acknowledgement information in an uplink of a communication system.
2. Description of the Art
A communication system includes a DownLink (DL) that conveys transmission signals from a Base Station (BS), or NodeB, to User Equipment (UE) and an UpLink (UL) that transmits signals from UEs to the NodeB. A UE, also commonly referred to as a terminal or a mobile station, may be fixed or mobile and may be a wireless device, a cellular phone, a personal computer device, a mobile electronic device, or any other similar fixed or mobile electronic device. A NodeB is generally a fixed station and may also be referred to as an access point or some other equivalent terminology.
More specifically, the UL transmits data signals carrying information content, of control signals providing control information associated with the transmission of data signals in the DL, and of Reference Signals (RSs), which are commonly referred to as pilot signals. The DL also conveys transmissions of data signals, control signals, and RSs.
UL data signals are transmitted through a Physical Uplink Shared CHannel (PUSCH) and DL data signals are conveyed through a Physical Downlink Shared CHannel (PDSCH). In a case where a PUSCH transmission does not occur, a UE conveys UL Control Information (UCI) through a Physical Uplink Control CHannel (PUCCH). However, when a PUSCH transmission occurs, a UE may convey UCI together with data through the PUSCH.
DL control signals may be broadcast or sent in a manner that is UE-specific. Accordingly, UE-specific control channels can be used, among other purposes, to provide UEs with Scheduling Assignments (SAs) for PDSCH reception, or in other words, a DL SA, or a PUSCH transmission, or in other words, a UL SA. The SAs are transmitted from the NodeB to respective UEs using DL Control Information (DCI) formats through respective Physical DL Control CHannels (PDCCHs).
The NodeB may configure a UE through higher layer signaling, such as Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling, a PDSCH and a PUSCH Transmission Mode (TM). The PDSCH TM or PUSCH TM is respectively associated with a DL SA or a UL SA and defines whether the respective PDSCH or PUSCH conveys one data Transport Block (TB) or two data TBs.
PDSCH or PUSCH transmissions are either scheduled to be assigned to a UE by the NodeB through higher layer signaling or through physical layer signaling, such as PDCCH signaling, using a respective DL SA or UL SA, or correspond to non-adaptive retransmissions for a given Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest (HARQ) process. Scheduling by higher layer signaling is referred to as Semi-Persistent Scheduling (SPS), and scheduling by PDCCH is referred to as dynamic scheduling. A PDCCH may also be used to release a SPS PDSCH or a SPS PDSCH. If a UE misses a PDCCH, or in other words, fails to detect a PDCCH, it also misses the associated PDSCH or PUSCH. This event will be referred to as a Discontinuous Transmission (DTX).
The UCI includes ACKnowledgment (ACK) information associated with a HARQ process, i.e., a HARQ-ACK. The HARQ-ACK information may consist of multiple bits corresponding to positive ACKs for TBs the UE correctly received or negative acknowledgements (NACKs) for TBs the UE incorrectly received. In a case where a UE does not receive a TB, it may transmit a DTX, which includes tri-state HARQ-ACK information, or both the absence and the incorrect reception of a TB can be represented by a NACK (in a combined NACK/DTX state). One consequence of a UE not conveying a DTX to the NodeB is that Incremental Redundancy (IR) cannot be used for its HARQ process. This leads to throughput loss. Another consequence is that PDCCH power control, based on DTX feedback, is not possible.
In Time Division Duplex (TDD) systems, DL and UL transmissions occur in different Transmission Time Intervals (TTIs) which are referred to as subframes. For example, in a frame comprising of 10 subframes, some subframes may be used for DL transmissions and some may be used for UL transmissions.
FIG. 1 illustrates a frame structure for a TDD system according to the related art.
Referring to FIG. 1, a 10 millisecond (ms) frame consists of two identical 5 ms half-frames. Each 5 ms half-frame 110 is divided into 8 slots 120 and 3 special fields: a DL Pilot Time Slot (DwPTS) 130, a Guard Period (GP) 140, and an UL Pilot Time Slot (UpPTS) 150. The length of DwPTS+GP+UpPTS is one subframe 160 and is 1 ms long. The DwPTS may be used for the transmission of synchronization signals from the NodeB while the UpPTS may be used for the transmission of random access signals from UEs. The GP facilitates the transition between DL and UL transmissions by absorbing transient interference.
The number of DL subframes and the number of UL subframes per frame can be different from each other and multiple DL subframes may be associated with a single UL subframe. The association between the multiple DL subframes and the single UL subframe is in the sense that HARQ-ACK information of bits generated in response to PDSCH receptions (which are data TBs) in the multiple DL subframes needs to be transmitted in the single UL subframe. This number of DL subframes is referred to as the bundling window and, in the example of FIG. 1, it is usually smaller than or equal to 4 subframes and it is always smaller than or equal to 9 subframes.
One method for a UE to convey HARQ-ACK information in a single UL subframe, in response to receiving PDSCHs in multiple DL subframes, is HARQ-ACK bundling where the UE transmits an ACK only if it correctly receives all data TBs, otherwise, the UE transmits a NACK. Therefore, HARQ-ACK bundling results in unnecessary retransmissions and reduced DL throughput as a NACK is transmitted even when a UE incorrectly receives only one data TB and correctly receives all other data TBs.
Another method for a UE to convey HARQ-ACK information in a single UL subframe, in response to receiving data TBs in multiple DL subframes, is HARQ-ACK multiplexing, which is based on PUCCH resource selection.
Yet another method for a UE to convey HARQ-ACK information in a single UL subframe, in response receiving data TBs in multiple DL subframes, is joint coding of the HARQ-ACK bits using, for example, a block code such as the Reed-Mueller (RM) code, which will be described below. The primary focus of the descriptions herein is on joint coding of HARQ-ACK bits. Although the transmission of HARQ-ACK information was described for brevity only for a PUCCH, the coding method is fundamentally the same for transmission in a PUSCH.
If a PDSCH conveys one TB, the respective HARQ-ACK information consists of one bit which is encoded as a binary '1' if the TB is correctly received, such that the binary '1' indicates an ACK, and is encoded as a binary '0' if the TB is incorrectly received, such that the binary '0' indicates a NACK. If a PDSCH conveys two TBs, in accordance with the Single User-Multiple Input Multiple Output (SU-MIMO) transmission method with a rank higher than one, the HARQ-ACK information consists of two bits [o0ACK o1ACK] with o0ACK corresponding to the first TB and o1ACK corresponding to the second TB. If a UE applies bundling in the spatial domain, it generates only one HARQ-ACK bit. The transmission of one HARQ-ACK bit may use repetition coding and the transmission of two HARQ-ACK bits may use a (3, 2) simplex code.
FIG. 2 illustrates a PUSCH transmission structure according to the related art.
Referring to FIG. 2, the subframe 210 includes two slots. Each slot 220 includes NsymbUL symbols used to transmit data, a HARQ-ACK, or a RS. Each symbol 230 includes a Cyclic Prefix (CP) to mitigate interference due to channel propagation effects. The PUSCH transmission in one slot may be either at a same BandWidth (BW) or at a different BW than in the other slot. Some symbols in each slot are used to transmit RS 240, which enables channel estimation and coherent demodulation of the received data and/or HARQ-ACK information. The transmission BW consists of frequency resource units which will be referred to as Physical Resource Blocks (PRBs). Each PRB includes NscRB sub-carriers, or Resource Elements (REs), and a UE is allocated MPUSCH PRBs 250 for a total of MscPUSCH=MPUSCH·NscRB REs for the PUSCH transmission BW.
The last subframe symbol may be used for transmitting a Sounding RS (SRS) 260 from one or more UEs. The SRS provides the NodeB an estimate of the channel medium the respective UE experiences over the SRS transmission BW. The NodeB configures to each UE the SRS transmission parameters through higher layer signaling such as RRC signaling. The number of subframe symbols available for data transmission is NsymbPUSCH=2·(NsymbUL−1)−NSRS, where NSRS=1 if the last subframe symbol is used for SRS transmission and NSRS=0 otherwise.
Each RS or SRS is assumed to be constructed using a Constant Amplitude Zero Auto-Correlation (CAZAC) sequence. Orthogonal multiplexing of CAZAC sequences can be achieved by applying different Cyclic Shifts (CSs) to the same CAZAC sequence.
FIG. 3 illustrates a transmitter for transmitting data and HARQ-ACK in a PUSCH according to the related art.
Referring to FIG. 3, encoded HARQ-ACK bits 320 are inserted by puncturing encoded data bits 310 by the data puncturing unit 330. A Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) is then performed by the DFT unit 340. The REs for the PUSCH transmission BW are selected by the sub-carrier mapping unit 350 as instructed from a controller 355. An Inverse Fast Fourier Transform (IFFT) is performed by an IFFT unit 360, CP insertion is performed by a CP insertion unit 370, and time windowing is performed by a filter 380, thereby generating a transmitted signal 390. For brevity, the encoding and modulation processes and additional transmitter circuitry such as a digital-to-analog converter, analog filters, amplifiers, and transmitter antennas are not illustrated.
The PUSCH transmission is assumed to be over a single cluster 395A or over multiple clusters 395B of contiguous REs in accordance to the DFT Spread Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple (DFT-S-OFDM) method for signal transmission.
FIG. 4 illustrates a receiver for receiving a transmission signal as illustrated in FIG. 3 according to the related art.
Referring to FIG. 4, an antenna receives a Radio-Frequency (RF) analog signal and after further processing by units such as filters, amplifiers, and analog-to-digital converters, which are not shown for the purpose of brevity, a received digital signal 410 is filtered by a filter 420 for time windowing and the CP is removed by CP removal unit 430. Subsequently, the receiver unit applies a FFT by an FFT unit 440, selects the REs used by the transmitter by sub-carrier de-mapping by a sub-carrier demapping unit 450 under a control of controller 455. Thereafter, an Inverse DFT (IDFT) unit 460 performs an IDFT, an extraction unit 470 extracts the HARQ-ACK bits and places erasures at the respective REs for the data bits, and finally generates the data bits 480.
Assuming for simplicity that the PUSCH conveys a single data TB, for HARQ-ACK transmission in a PUSCH a UE determines the respective number of encoded HARQ-ACK symbols as shown in Equation (1)
                              Q          ′                =                  min                                (                                          ⌈                                                                            O                                              HARQ                        -                        ACK                                                              ·                                          β                      offset                                              HARK                        -                        ACK                                                                                Q                      m                                        ·                    R                                                  ⌉                            ,                              4                ·                                  M                  sc                  PUSCH                                                      )                                              Equation                                                            (          1          )
In Equation (1), OHARQ-ACK is a number of HARQ-ACK information bits, also referred to as a HARQ-ACK payload, βoffsetHARQ-ACK is a parameter that the NodeB conveys to the UE through higher layer signaling, Qm is a number of data information bits per modulation symbol (Qm=2, 4, 6 for Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (QPSK), Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) 16, QAM64, respectively), R is a data code rate of an initial PUSCH transmission for the same TB, MscPUSCH is a transmission BW in a current subframe, and ┌ ┐ is the ceiling function that rounds a number to a next integer.
The data code rate is defined as shown in Equation (2)
                    R        =                              (                                          ∑                                  r                  =                  0                                                  CB                  -                  1                                                                          K                r                                      )                    /                      (                                          Q                m                            ·                              M                sc                                  PUSCH                  -                  initial                                            ·                              N                symb                                  PUSCH                  -                  initial                                                      )                                              Equation                                                            (          2          )
In Equation (2), CB is a total number of data code blocks, Kr is a number of bits for a data code block number r, NsymbPUSCH-initial is a number of subframe symbols for the initial PUSCH transmission of the same TB and MscPUSCH-initial is a number of respective REs for the PUSCH transmission BW. The maximum number of encoded HARQ-ACK symbols is limited to the number of REs in 4 DFT-S-OFDM symbols (4·MscPUSCH) which may be located in the two subframe symbols adjacent to the RS in each of the two subframe slots, as shown in FIG. 2. The determination of the number of encoded HARQ-ACK symbols in a case where a PUSCH conveys multiple TBs, using for example the SU-MIMO transmission method, is similar to the case where a PUSCH conveys one TB, and thus, a respective description is omitted for brevity.
FIG. 5 illustrates a PUCCH structure in one subframe slot for the transmission of multiple HARQ-ACK information bits using the DFT-S-OFDM transmission method according to the related art.
Referring to FIG. 5, after encoding and modulation, using respectively, for example, a RM block code and QPSK (not shown for brevity), a set of the same HARQ-ACK bits 510 is multiplied by mixer 520 with elements of an Orthogonal Covering Code (OCC) 530 and is subsequently DFT precoded by the precoder unit 540. For example, for 5 symbols per slot carrying HARQ-ACK bits, the OCC has a length of 5 {OCC(0), OCC(1), OCC(2), OCC(3), OCC(4)} and can be either of {1, 1, 1, 1, 1}, or {1, exp(j2π/5), exp(j4π/5), exp(j6π/5), exp(j8π/5)}, or {1, exp(j4π/5), exp(j8π/5), exp(j2π/5), exp(j6π/5)}, or {1, exp(j6π/5), exp(j2π/5), exp(j8π/5), exp(j4π/5)}, or {1, exp(j8π/5), exp(j6π/5), exp(j4π/5), exp(j2π/5)}. The output of the DFT precoder is passed through an IFFT unit 550 and it is then mapped to a DFT-S-OFDM symbol 560.
As the previous operations are linear, their relative order may be inter-changed. Because the PUCCH transmission is assumed to be in one PRB which consists of NscRB=12 REs, there are 24 encoded HARQ-ACK bits transmitted in each slot (which includes 12 HARQ-ACK QPSK symbols) and a (32,OHARQ-ACK) RM code is punctured into a (24,OHARQ-ACK) RM code. The same or different HARQ-ACK bits may be transmitted in the second subframe slot. A RS is also transmitted in each slot to enable coherent demodulation of the HARQ-ACK signals. The RS is constructed from a CAZAC sequence 570, having a length of 12, which is passed through an IFFT 580 and mapped to another DFT-S-OFDM symbol 590.
The PUCCH structure of FIG. 5 can only support limited HARQ-ACK payloads without incurring a large coding rate because it can only support 24 encoded HARQ-ACK bits. For example, a single RM code can be used for HARQ-ACK payloads up to 10 bits and a dual RM code can be used for HARQ-ACK payloads between 11 and 20 bits. With a dual RM code, the mapping to successive elements of the DFT can alternate between elements from the output of a first RM code and elements from the output of a second RM code in a sequential manner, which is not shown for brevity. For HARQ-ACK payloads of more than 20 bits, convolutional coding can be used.
FIG. 6 illustrates a UE transmitter block diagram for HARQ-ACK signals in a PUCCH according to the related art.
Referring to FIG. 6, the HARQ-ACK information bits 605 are encoded and modulated by an encoder and modulator 610 and then multiplied with an element of the OCC 625 for the respective DFT-S-OFDM symbol by a mixer 620. The output of the mixer 620 is then precoded by a DFT precoder 630. After DFT precoding, sub-carrier mapping is performed by a sub-carrier mapper 640, under control of controller 650. Thereafter, the IFFT is performed by an IFFT unit 660, a CP is added by a CP inserter 670, and the signal is filtered by a filter 680 for time windowing, thereby generating a transmitted signal 690. For brevity, additional transmitter circuitry, such as a digital-to-analog converter, analog filters, amplifiers, and transmitter antennas are not illustrated in FIG. 6.
FIG. 7 illustrates a NodeB receiver block diagram for HARQ-ACK signals according to the related art.
Referring to FIG. 7, after receiving a Radio-Frequency (RF) analog signal and converting it to a digital received signal 710, the digital received signal 710 is filtered by a filter 720 for time windowing and a CP is removed by a CP remover 730. Subsequently, the NodeB receiver applies a FFT by a FFT unit 740, performs sub-carrier demapping by a sub-carrier demapper 750 under the control of a controller 755, and applies an Inverse DFT (IDFT) by an IDFT unit 760. The output of the IDFT unit 760 is then multiplied with an OCC element 775 for the respective DFT-S-OFDM symbol by a mixer 770. An adder 780 sums the outputs for the DFT-S-OFDM symbols conveying HARQ-ACK signals over each slot, and a demodulator and decoder 790 demodulates and decodes the summed HARQ-ACK signals over both subframe slots in order to obtain the HARQ-ACK information bits 795.
In TDD systems, as a UE needs to transmit HARQ-ACK information corresponding to potential TB receptions over multiple DL subframes, a DL Assignment Index (DAI) Information Element (IE), or DL DAI IE, VDAIDL, is included in each DL SA in order to assist the UE in determining there is a HARQ-ACK payload it should convey in a PUCCH. As the NodeB cannot predict whether there will be a DL SA for a given UE in future DL subframes, the VDAIDL is a relative counter which is incremented in each DL SA transmitted to a UE and starts from the beginning after the DL subframe is linked to the UL subframe of the HARQ-ACK signal transmission. Then, if the last DL SA is missed by the UE, the incorrect HARQ-ACK payload is transmitted which may cause incorrect understanding of at least some of the HARQ-ACK bits at the NodeB. In all following descriptions, the DL DAI IE is assumed to consist of 2 bits with the values of "00", "01", "10", "11" respectively indicating VDAIDL=1, VDAIDL=2, VDAIDL=3, and VDAIDL=4.
FIG. 8 illustrates a setting for a DL DAI IE according to the related art.
Referring to FIG. 8, a bundling window consists of 4 DL subframes. In a DL subframe 0 810, the NodeB transmits a DL SA to a UE and sets the DL DAI IE value to VDAIDL=1. In DL subframe 1 820, the NodeB transmits a DL SA to the UE and sets the DL DAI IE value to VDAIDL=2. In DL subframe 2 830, the NodeB does not transmit a DL SA to the UE, and thus, there is no DL DAI IE value. In DL subframe 3 840, the NodeB transmits PDSCH to the UE and sets the DL DAI IE value to VDAIDL=3. If the UE misses the DL SA in the last subframe, it cannot know this event and an erroneous operation occurs as the UE cannot report a respective DTX or NACK.
If a UE does not detect a DL SA transmitted by the NodeB in a subframe other than the last one in a bundling window and detects a DL SA transmitted in a subsequent subframe in the same bundling window, it can infer from the DL DAI IE value of the latter DL SA the number of previous DL SAs it has missed. The total number of DL SAs a UE detects in a bundling window is denoted by UDAI. Therefore, a UE can know that it missed VDAI,lastDL−UDAI DL SAs where VDAI,lastDL is the DL DAI IE value in the last DL SA that the UE detects in a bundling window. The actual number of DL SAs the UE may actually miss can be larger than VDAI,lastDL−UDAI. This happens if the UE misses DL SAs after the last DL SA that it detects.
If a UE has a PUSCH transmission in an UL subframe where it also transmits HARQ-ACK information, the UE may transmit the HARQ-ACK information in the PUSCH. In order to avoid error cases where the UE has missed the last DL SA and in order to ensure the same understanding between the NodeB and the UE for the HARQ-ACK payload the UE transmits in the PUSCH, a DAI IE is also included in the UL SA so that there is an UL DAI IE to indicate the HARQ-ACK payload. If the PUSCH transmission is not associated with a UL SA, a UE assumes that there is a DL SA in every DL subframe in the bundling window.
As for the DL DAI IE, the UL DAI IE value VDAIUL is also assumed to be represented by 2 bits with the values of "00", "01", "10", "11" respectively indicating VDAIUL=1, VDAIUL=2, VDAIUL=3, and VDAIUL=4 or 0. The UL DAI IE bits "11" map to VDAIUL=4 if the UE detects at least one DL SA in the bundling window; otherwise, they map to VDAIUL=0. In a case where the bundling window is larger than 4 subframes, the UL DAI IE value of "00" is assumed to indicate VDAIUL=5 if 1<UDAI≦5 or VDAIUL=9 if UDAI>5. Similar, the UL DAI IE value of "01" is assumed to indicate VDAIUL=6 if 2<UDAI≦6, the UL DAI IE value of "10" is assumed to indicate VDAIUL=7 if 3<UDAI≦7, and the UL DAI IE value of "11" is assumed to indicate VDAIUL=8 if 4<UDAI≦8.
In order to increase peak data rates, the NodeB can configure a UE with Carrier Aggregation (CA) of multiple cells to provide higher operating BWs. For example, in order to support communication over 60 MHz to a UE, a CA of three cells of 20 MHz each can be used. Assuming that the PDSCH in each cell conveys different TBs, the UE generates separate HARQ-ACK information for the respective TBs it receives in each cell. This is similar to single-cell TDD operations, where the UE generates separate HARQ-ACK information for the respective TBs it receives in each DL subframe for which the HARQ-ACK transmission is in the same UL subframe.
The NodeB, using higher layer signaling, can configure a set of c cells to a UE and activate a subset of A cells (A≦C) for PDSCH reception in a subframe, using for example Medium Access Control (MAC) signaling, however a UE may not transmit or receive in inactive cells. If a PDSCH activating or deactivating configured cells is missed, the UE and the NodeB may have a different understanding of the active cells. Moreover, in order to maintain communication, one cell with a DL/UL pair always remains active and is referred to as a Primary cell (Pcell). PUCCH transmissions from a UE are assumed to be only in its Pcell and HARQ-ACK information is conveyed only in a single PUSCH.
FIG. 9 illustrates a parallelization of the DL DAI IE design in FIG. 8 for operation with multiple DL cells according to the related art.
Referring to FIG. 9, a NodeB transmits DL SAs to a UE in 3 DL subframes in Cell 0 910 and sets the respective DL DAI IE values according to the number of DL SAs transmitted to the UE only for PDSCH transmissions in Cell 0 910. In a similar manner, the NodeB transmits DL SAs to the UE in 2 DL subframes in Cell 1 920 and 2 DL subframes in Cell 2 930 and sets the DL DAI IE values according to the number of DL SAs transmitted to the UE only for PDSCH transmissions in Cell 1 920 and Cell 2 930, respectively.
Alternate designs to the parallelization of the DL DAI design for PDSCH transmission in a single DL cell to multiple DL cells can be based on a joint DL DAI design across DL cells and DL subframes. For each DL subframe in the bundling window, the DL DAI counter operates first in the cell-domain before continuing to the next DL subframe in the bundling window.
FIG. 10 illustrates an operation of a joint DL DAI design across cells and DL subframes according to the related art.
Referring to FIG. 10, DL DAI IE values are shown only for DL subframes and configured DL cells where the NodeB transmits a DL SA to a UE. The DL DAI counter starts from DL subframe 0 in Cell 0 1010 and continues in the cell-domain DL subframe 0 for Cell 1 1020 and Cell 2 1030. After all DL SAs across the DL cells in DL subframe 0 are counted, the DL DAI counter continues sequentially for the remaining DL subframes in the bundling window in the same manner as used for the DL subframe 0. This DL DAI IE is also assumed to consist of 2 bits mapping to the values of VDAIDL=1, 2, 3, 0. After VDAIDL=3, the next value is VDAIDL=0 because VDAIDL is computed modulo 4.
For a UE is configured for communication over multiple DL cells, the fundamental conditions to properly convey HARQ-ACK information to the NodeB remain the same as for single-cell communication. In other words, for transmission of an HARQ-ACK payload of OHARQ-ACK bits encoded with a (32,OHARQ-ACK) RM code in a PUSCH, the UE and the NodeB should have the same understanding of OHARQ-ACK. As the PUSCH transmission power is determined by assuming a data transmission and as the transmission powers of HARQ-ACK REs and data REs are the same, the HARQ-ACK reception reliability depends on the number of respective PUSCH REs which scales linearly with OHARQ-ACK as indicated in Equation (1). Therefore, whenever possible, OHARQ-ACK should not be a maximum value in order to avoid unnecessarily consuming PUSCH REs.
For HARQ-ACK transmission in a PUCCH, since a UE may miss some DL SAs, a common understanding for the HARQ-ACK payload between the UE and the NodeB is achieved only if the HARQ-ACK payload is always the maximum value of OHARQ-ACKmax=Nbundle·(C+C2) bits or, with spatial-domain bundling, OHARQ-ACKmax, bundle=Nbundle·C bits, where Nbundle is the size of the bundling window, C is the number of DL cells configured to the UE, and C2 is the number of configured DL cells where the UE is configured a PDSCH Transmission Mode (TM) conveying 2 TBs.
Using the maximum HARQ-ACK payload in a PUCCH does not create additional resource overhead. The UE may transmit a NACK or a DTX (in a case of tri-state HARQ-ACK information) for the TBs it did not receive, however, the NodeB already knows of the DL cells with no DL SA or PDSCH transmission to the UE and can use the knowledge that the UE transmits a NACK for each of those DL cells (a priori information) to improve the HARQ-ACK reception reliability. This is possible because a linear block code and QPSK are assumed to be used for the encoding and modulation of the HARQ-ACK bits, respectively, and the NodeB can consider as candidate HARQ-ACK codewords only the ones having a NACK (binary '0') at the predetermined locations corresponding to cells without DL SA transmissions to the UE. Due to the implementation of the decoding process, the use of the a priori information would be impractical or impossible if a convolutional code or a turbo code was used for the encoding or if QAM was used for the modulation of the HARQ-ACK bits.
Although using the maximum HARQ-ACK payload for transmission in a PUCCH does not generate additional resource overhead, it often results in a larger transmission power than necessary for achieving the desired reception reliability. PUCCH transmissions with larger power than necessary increase UE power consumption and create additional interference degrading the reception reliability of signals transmitted by UEs in the same BW in other cells.
The PUCCH transmission power PPUCCH(i) in UL subframe i is assumed to be given as shown in equation (3), which is in units of decibels (dBs) per milliwatt (dBm).PPUCCH(i)=min{PCMAX,c, h(nHARQ-ACK(i))+F(i)}  Equation (3)where PCMAX,c is the maximum allowed UE transmission power in its Pcell, h(nHARQ-ACK(i)) is a monotonically increasing function of the nHARQ-ACK(i) HARQ-ACK information bits the UE assumes it is transmitting, and F(i) is a general function capturing all other parameters affecting PPUCCH(i) in UL subframe i. However, the present invention is not limited to the exact expression of h(nHARQ-ACK(i)), for example, it may be determined as h(nHARQ-ACK(i))=α·10 log 10(nHARQ-ACK(i)) with α being a positive number, or h(nHARQ-ACK(i)) can be provided by a table indicating the transmission power as function of nHARQ-ACK(i). It is noted that the above expression does not account for possible multiplexing with the HARQ-ACK of additional information, such as a Service Request Indicator (SRI) used by a UE to indicate it has data to transmit. The key issue is for a UE to determine the proper nHARQ-ACK value. If nHARQ-ACK is too small the HARQ-ACK reception reliability is degraded. If nHARQ-ACK is too large, interference and UE battery consumption increase unnecessarily.
One possibility is for nHARQ-ACK(i) to be equal to the number of TBs the UE receives in a respective bundling window. This avoids excessive transmission power, but may underestimate the required transmission power as some DL SAs may be missed, thereby decreasing the HARQ-ACK reception reliability. Another possibility is to derive nHARQ-ACK(i) from the maximum HARQ-ACK payload as nHARQ-ACQ(i)=Nbundle·(C+C2). This ensures that the required HARQ-ACK reception reliability is always met, but will often result to the transmission power being excessively large. A variation of the second possibility is to consider only the number of activated cells A and the configured TM in each such cell. Then, nHARQ-ACQ(i)=Nbundle·(A+A2) where A2 is the number of activated cells with a configured TM conveying 2 TBs. However, excessive transmission power is again not avoided as not all active cells may transmit PDSCH to the UE in every DL subframe in the bundling window.
Therefore, there is a need to set the HARQ-ACK transmission power in a PUCCH while achieving the desired HARQ-ACK reception reliability in case of DL CA for a TDD system.
There is also a need to set the HARQ-ACK transmission power in the PUCCH while minimizing interference and UE power consumption in case of DL CA for a TDD system.
There is also a need to establish a common understanding between the UE and the NodeB about the correspondence between the HARQ-ACK information bits in the transmitted codeword and the respective cells and subframes in the case of a DL CA for a TDD system.
Finally, there is also a need to minimize the number of PUSCH REs allocated to HARQ-ACK transmission in case of DL CA for a TDD system.

Generation of HARQ-ACK information and power control of HARQ-ACK signals in TDD systems with downlink of carrier aggregation


A charge pump for a current switch having at least one current source includes a current summation circuit for generating an output to the current switch. A first current source supplies a first current to the summation circuit. A second current source selectively supplies a second current to the summation circuit. A switch connects the second current source to the summation circuit, such that the current source of the current switch is proportional to the output of the summation circuit.

The present invention relates to current switches, such as those utilized in phase-locked loops, and more particularly to a charge pump used with a current switch.
Current switches are utilized to supply a constant current to a load circuit, such as a phase-locked loop. The input voltage of a phase-locked loop""s voltage-controlled oscillator requires high precision, and when generating input voltage by charging or discharging capacitance proportional to phase difference, the current from a current source must be precisely supplied for charging/discharging purposes.
A need has developed for a charge pump for a current switch of a phase-lock loop circuit for accurately controlling the current sources In order to shorten the phase-locked loop loading, thereby substantially increasing the initial charging current and decreasing the charging current when the phase-locked loop controlling voltage reaches the loading (settled) range.
In accordance with the present invention, a charge pump for a current switch having at least one current source is provided. The charge pump includes a current summation circuit for generating an output to the current switch. A first current source supplies a first current to the summation circuit. A second current source selectively supplies a second current to the summation circuit. A switch connects the second current source to the summation circuit, such that the current source of the current switch is proportional to the output of the summation circuit.


An EL element comprising: a light transmitting substrate; a light transmitting electrode layer formed on the substrate; a light emitting layer containing a positive ion exchanger; a dielectric layer; a back electrode layer; and a dielectric insulation layer disposed between the light transmitting electrode layer and the light emitting layer. The dielectric insulation layer is formed of a synthetic resin that is insoluble with a synthetic resin binder forming the light emitting layer. The present invention provides an EL element having an improved illuminating performance, where an occurrence of a dark spot is suppressed, in addition to a suppression of an occurrence of a black spot.

The present invention relates to an EL element used for illuminating display units, operation panels or the like in various kinds of electronic apparatus.
EL elements are increasingly used in the sophisticated multi-functional electronic appliances for illuminating the display units and the operation panels. A conventional printing type EL element is described with reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3.
FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of a conventional EL element. The conventional EL element comprises: a transparent insulating film 1 made of polyethylene terephthalate or the like material; a light transmitting electrode layer 2 formed by a sputtering process or an electron beam deposition process covering the whole area of upper surface of the insulating film, or a light transmitting electrode layer 2 formed by printing a transparent synthetic resin containing indium tin oxide or the like material dispersed therein; a light emitting layer 5 formed of a synthetic resin binder 3 containing phosphor 4 of zinc sulfide or the like materials, which emits light, dispersed therein; a dielectric layer 6 of synthetic resin binder containing barium titanate or the like material dispersed therein; a back electrode layer 7 of silver/resin or a carbon/resin composite formed on the dielectric layer 6; and an insulating layer 8 formed of an epoxy resin, polyester resin or the like material. The light emitting layer 5, the dielectric layer 6, the back electrode layer 7 and the insulating layer 8 are overlaid by printing one after the another on the light transmitting electrode layer 2.
An EL element mounted in an electronic appliance is driven by an AC voltage supplied to the light transmitting electrode layer 2 and the back electrode layer 7, the AC voltage is supplied from a circuit of the electronic appliance (not shown). The phosphor 4 contained in the light emitting layer 5 emits light to illuminate display panel, LCD or the like of the appliance from a backside of the display.
When the above-configured EL element emits light in a high humidity environment, a combination of the humidity in the air and the voltage applied sometimes creates a carbonized synthetic resin binder in the synthetic resin binder 3 of light emitting layer 5, which is called a black spot and it impairs the illuminating performance. In order to prevent it, the phosphor 4 of zinc sulfide is generally covered with a moisture barrier layer 4A of metal oxides such as aluminum oxide, titanium oxide, silicon dioxide or the like, and aluminum nitride or the like materials.
In the conventional EL elements, however, if some of phosphors 4 are coagulated with each other when they are treated to be covered with the moisture barrier layer 4A, as shown in FIG. 3(a), the boundary portion 9 between the phosphors 4 may be left uncovered by the moisture barrier layer 4A. Or, when a mixture of the phosphors 4 and the synthetic resin binder 3 dissolved in a solvent are stirred, the moisture barrier layer 4A may get damaged as a result of collision between the phosphors 4, and the phosphor 4 may be exposed as illustrated in FIG. 3(b). Under such circumstance, there is a problem that the metal ion can elude out from the phosphor 4 in the high humidity environment, which leads to a deteriorated electrical insulation with the light emitting layer 5. Thus the black spot phenomenon readily appears.
To address the above-described problem, the inventors of the present application proposed in the Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-196109 to disperse a positive ion exchanger in the light emitting layer 5, so that the ion eluded out of the phosphor in high humidity environment is captured by the positive ion exchanger contained in light emitting layer. In this way, the light emitting layer maintains good insulating property in the high humidity environment even if covering of the phosphor with the moisture barrier layer is incomplete; thus the black spot becomes difficult to appear.
The above described improved EL element works well in so far as it is used in the portable telephone and the like normal electronic apparatus where the voltage applied is within a range of several volts to twenty volts. However, if it is lit at a high brightness for a long time driven by a high voltage e. g. several tens or one hundred volts, the EL element tends to exhibit a problem, or a so-called dark spot. The dark spot is not seen during OFF time, but when the EL element emits light, some area appears darker than the surrounding area. This area is called a dark spot. The dark spot phenomenon is significant among those EL elements in which the light transmitting electrode layer is formed by a sputtering process and formation of the moisture barrier layer of the phosphor is insufficient.
The present invention aims to address the above problem, and provides an EL element of an improved illuminating property where generation of the dark spot is suppressed, besides the suppression of the black spot.
An EL element of the present invention comprises: a light transmitting substrate; a light transmitting electrode layer formed on the substrate; a light emitting layer containing positive ion exchanger; a dielectric layer and a back electrode layer. A dielectric insulation layer is further provided, between the light transmitting electrode layer and the light emitting layer, with a dielectric insulation layer being formed of a synthetic resin that is insoluble with the synthetic resin binder forming the light emitting layer.
The present invention provides an EL element of improved illuminating property, with which the generation of the dark spot is well suppressed, besides the suppression of the black spot.

EL element with dielectric insulation layer

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A beam steerer comprising a mirror, a joint, and two linear actuators. The joint, which is attached to a periphery of the mirror is rotatable about two perpendicular axes. The linear actuators control rotational movement of the mirror about the two axes. A laser beam or other signal is reflected off of the mirror and redirected to define a field of regard and a focal point in front of the mirror. The beam steerer may be mounted behind a window of an object such that a plane of the window and the focal point coincides and a foot print of the field of regard of the beam through the window is smaller compared to a corresponding foot print when the beam directed onto the mirror is aligned with the joint and the alignment is maintained throughout the rotation of the mirror about the joint.

The present invention relates to a beam steerer, and more particularly to a reflective surface rotatable about a fulcrum with a focused beam directed onto the surface offset from the fulcrum such that the focused beam may be reflected off of the surface and directed through an aperture.
Optical communication relates to the transmission of speech, data, pictures or other information by light, and in this regard, optical communication has greatly enhanced global communication in today's society. For example, optical communication has helped to enable communication between two satellites orbiting the earth.
Generally, during the past 50 to 80 years, the development of optical communication has accelerated as the importance of world wide communication has increased. However, this development was impeded prior to the 1960s because a suitable light source was not available that could be focused. Prior to the 1960s, the only suitable light source was from a plurality of independent atomic radiators and even these light sources could not be focused into a narrow beam of light to be effective. During the 1960s, with the demonstration of the first laser, the focusability problem was overcome and communication in the optical wavelength was made possible and has since then greatly increased.
Since the 1960s, optical communication between two land based communications stations (i.e., fixed points) was made possible as well as optical communication between two satellites (i.e., moving objects). With respect to the land based communication stations, a laser beam carrying data may be pointed to a land based communication station to transmit data to such station. However, optical communication between two satellites was more difficult to accomplish. The reason is that the laser beam could not simply be pointed to the receiving satellite because the two satellites are continually in motion and as such the transmitting satellite as well as the receiving satellite was constantly in flux. In other words, the line of sight of the transmitting laser and the receiving satellite would constantly become misaligned such that the optical communication between the two satellites would constantly be interrupted.
One solution is to develop a laser beam that could track the movement of the transmitting satellite as well as the receiving satellite. In this regard, an inner outer gimbal was used to solve this problem. The prior art inner outer gimbal comprises an inner ring and an outer ring, and a mirror mounted to the inner ring. The inner and outer rings rotate about two axes that are perpendicular to each other. As such, a laser beam could be reflected off of the mirror and directed to a moving receiving satellite. Further, the inner outer gimbal enables the receiving satellite to receive a transmitted laser beam at different angles. Without the inner outer gimbal, the transmitted laser beam would have to be directed to the receiving satellite such that the transmitted laser beam would enter the receiver mounted to the receiving satellite in perfect alignment. However, with the inner outer gimbal, the transmitted laser beam could be reflected off its mirror to align the transmitted laser beam to the receiver.
Nonetheless, technological advances in other areas such as flight, global communication, communication systems utilizing satellites as well as other commercial ventures have created a need for devices that direct laser beams such as the inner outer gimbal to be become smaller, lighter, more reliable, quieter and have a smaller foot print through a conformal window.

Two axis independent driven single hinged gimbaled mirror beam steerer


A remediation method and system is disclosed. A plurality of conductors is installed into the subsurface to introduce electrical current to produce heat in the subsurface. One or more agents are released into the subsurface to cause or accelerate the decomposition of one or more pre-existing halogenated organic compounds and release halogen ions, improving electrode performance.

ERH is an in situ technology that heats subsurface soil and groundwater, usually for the purpose of removing environmental contaminants such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Common VOCs include many halogenated compounds—industrial solvents such as trichloroethene (TCE) and pesticides such as ethylene dibromide. As the subsurface is heated, VOCs are driven into the vapor phase and soil moisture is boiled into steam. The resulting steam and VOC vapor mixture is removed from the subsurface by applying a vacuum that draws the gases into a well and pulls them to the surface for treatment.
ERH uses the heat generated by the resistance of the soil matrix to the flow of electrical current to raise subsurface temperatures. ERH is equally effective in water saturated and unsaturated (vadose zone) soils. To implement the technology, electrodes are placed into the ground so that they are spaced throughout a targeted contaminated region. The vertical limits for ERH are set by the depth to which boreholes for electrode construction can be drilled. Alternatively, electrodes can be installed by pile driving—inserting a circular pipe or sheet pile into the subsurface.
The ERH electrodes conduct electrical current into the subsurface and are designed to input electrical current into the targeted depth interval. The subsurface interval that is exposed to electrical resistance heating is called the conductive interval. In the conductive interval, the electrode construction materials are non-insulated and the borehole annulus is packed with a conductive material to increase the effective diameter of the electrode. In those portions of the subsurface where electrical resistance heating is not required, the electrode construction materials are electrically insulated and the borehole annulus is filled with relatively non-conductive materials such as sand, bentonite, or neat cement grout. Drilled electrodes are typically 8-12 inches in diameter and spaced 12-24 feet apart, though sizes and spacing outside of these common ranges are occasionally used.
FIG. 1 depicts an illustrative simple bored (drilled) electrode, referred to as a "pipe electrode". A borehole 100 is created. A galvanized or low carbon steel screen 104 having a diameter of 4 inches is inserted in borehole 100 and extends from the total depth. A galvanized or low carbon steel casing 102 also having a diameter of 4 inches, is inserted into borehole 100, beginning at the top of screen 104 and extending to just above grade surface. In the provided example, screen 104 is surrounded with conductive backfill 106, however, the conductive backfill depth interval does not usually coincide with the length of the screened interval as shown here. The conductive backfill interval 106 is the region where the electrical current flows through the soil. A layer of Bentonite clay 108 or other relatively non-conductive material, surrounds galvanized casing 102 just above galvanized screen 104. Above Bentonite clay 108 is a layer of cement grout 110. An oversleeve 112 having a diameter of approximately 8 inches and preferably made of chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) surrounds the upper portion of galvanized casing 102. Within the depth of oversleeve 112 are the following layers stacked upwardly: sand 114, conductive backfill 116, bentonite clay 118 and cement grout 120. Sand layer 114 is typically fine masonry sand and is inserted in the borehole to prevent the upper particle layers from sinking into the wet cement grout as they are added to the borehole during construction. The upper section of conductive backfill 116 is the subsurface neutral. The subsurface neutrals for all electrodes are shorted together by a small wire (not shown)—this damps down the near-surface voltage gradients for personnel safety. Bentonite clay layer 118 prevents liquid cement grout 120 from seeping down into permeable conductive layer 116 as the liquid grout is added to the borehole during construction; alternatively, fine masonry sand could be used instead of Bentonite clay. A power cable 122 is connected to electrode 100 to conduct an electrical current. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that other electrode configurations are possible, including different types of conductive and non-conductive materials.
In the provided example electrode, a thermocouple 124 is situated to monitor the temperature of gases that are being extracted from electrode 100 by vacuum. It is often also necessary to monitor temperatures at various depths in the subsurface. Such temperature monitoring can be performed using temperature monitoring points (TMPs) that contain a plurality of thermocouples.
FIG. 2 depicts an illustrative plot plan of a remediation site with a treatment area 210. Circles 202 represent electrodes, which also serve as vapor recovery wells. Triangular marking 204 represents a TMP. Diamond 206 is a vapor recovery well that does not serve as an electrode. Shaded circles 208 are co-located monitoring wells and TMPs.
An ERH power control unit (PCU) is used to control the voltage that is applied to the subsurface. Each electrode differs in electrical phase from all of the electrodes that surround it and will thus conduct current to adjacent out-of-phase electrodes. Resistance by the subsurface environment to this flow of electrical current heats the soil and groundwater between the electrodes.
However, the electrical current does not uniformly heat the subsurface. Geometry causes the current flux or current density to be higher near the electrodes. This effect is most apparent when considered from a plan view perspective as shown in FIG. 3. The regions within a few inches of electrodes 302 have a higher current flux as shown by the broken lines, and therefore heat more quickly than other regions. This non-uniform heating is undesirable because it is less energy efficient. In addition, most applications of ERH require heating to the boiling temperature of water. A higher current flux at the electrode-soil interface would lead to stronger boiling there. If the soil immediately adjacent to the electrode begins to dry out, then its local resistance will begin to increase; this can lead to a vicious cycle—more resistance, more heating, more drying, more resistance, etc. Electrode dryout can lead to a condition in which the electrode becomes essentially non-conducting.
It is common practice to drip water into the vadose zone portion of electrodes in order to combat electrode dryout. Alternatively, the electrode may be cooled to prevent dry out. It is also common practice to add conductive ions to the electrode, either as solids or liquids during installation of the electrode or in water-dissolved form in conjunction with electrode drip water. The conductive ions reduce the local soil resistance, reduce local heating, and ease dry-out problems. One could say that drip water and electrode cooling treat the symptom (higher heat due to greater current flux) while adding conductive ions treats the problem by reducing the heat generated by the higher local current flux. In theory, though never achievable in practice, one could establish the proper conductivity gradient with radial distance from the electrode to match the current flux over that radial distance to provide absolutely uniform heat generation. In this ideal scenario, the concentration of conductive ions should be inversely proportional to radial distance (for a cylindrical electrode)—i.e. the slope of the gradient should be steep.
The addition of conductive fluids has two disadvantages:                1. If conductive ions are added only during electrode installation, then diffusion of the ions will reduce their concentration over time and reduce the impact of the addition. Even if the ions are added in conjunction with drip water, the flow of the drip water itself can easily transport the ions away from the electrode. Under either scenario, the slope of the concentration gradient tends to be too broad and flat.        2. All conductive ions (at least at effective concentrations) are considered to degrade the quality of the groundwater and are to some extent counter-productive to the goal of restoring the groundwater to optimal conditions.
Accordingly, there is a need to produce a conductive ion concentration gradient that more closely approaches the theoretical ideal to enhance ERH and related remediation processes.

Electrode heating with remediation agent


A washer fluid heating device includes: a cover portion attached to one end of a container to face an accommodation space of a washer fluid; heating means that includes a case having a proximal end portion attached to the cover portion and extending toward the accommodation space, and a heating unit provided inside the case to heat the washer fluid inside the accommodation space through the case; and a detector for detecting a no-water burning state generated due to a decrease in washer fluid inside the accommodation space. The detector is provided inside the case and disposed on a side of the proximal end portion of the case from the healing unit.

As described in Patent Literature 1, a device having a configuration, in which a heating chamber is accommodated in a heat insulating and hot water storing chamber, and an electric heater is accommodated inside the heating chamber, has been known as a washer fluid heating device. A washer fluid is heated by the electric heater inside the heating chamber, and then supplied to a washer nozzle by driving of a washer pump, and sprayed from the washer nozzle. In such a heating device, when the washer fluid in the heating chamber decreases, there is concern that so-called no-water burning may occur. In the device described in Patent Literature 1, the washer fluid in the heat insulating and hot water storing chamber may be allowed to flow into the heating chamber when an outflow passage of the washer fluid is open at the upper portion of the heating chamber. In this way, the heating chamber is prevented from being empty, and no-water burning is prevented.
Meanwhile, as described in Patent Literature 2, a device in which a heater is provided in a tank of an electric water heater has been known. In this device, no-water burning is prevented by suspending heating when a temperature difference between a first thermosensor attached to a flange face of the heater and a second thermosensor attached to an external wall of the tank is greater than or equal to a set value.


A utility vehicle comprises a driver seat; a passenger seat positioned such that the passenger seat and the driver seat are arranged side by side in a rightward and leftward direction; a console box provided between the driver seat and the passenger seat; a shift lever operated by a driver to perform a shifting operation; and a grab member provided in the vicinity of the passenger seat and secured to the vehicle body frame; wherein the shift lever is provided between the driver seat and the passenger seat and is positioned closer to the driver seat than a center of the console box in the rightward and leftward direction; and the grab member is provided between the driver seat and the passenger seat and is positioned closer to the passenger seat than the center of the console box in the rightward and leftward direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a utility vehicle having an off-road mobility. In particular, the present invention relates to a utility vehicle including a driver seat on which a driver is seated, a passenger seat on which a passenger is seated, a plurality of driving operation members arranged in the vicinity of the driver seat, and a grab member disposed in the vicinity of the passenger seat.
2. Description of the Related Art
U.S. Pat. No. 7,793,764 discloses a utility vehicle including a driver seat and a passenger seat which are arranged side by side in a rightward and leftward direction. In the vicinity of the driver seat, a plurality of driving operation members are arranged. The driving operation members include, for example, a brake pedal for braking primarily in driving and temporary stop, a parking brake lever for braking primarily in parking, and a shift lever for changing a transmission ratio position. A grab member is disposed in the vicinity of the passenger seat. The grab member is attached onto, for example, an upper frame of a vehicle body frame at an outer side in the vehicle width direction when viewed from the passenger seat.
If the grab member is positioned between the right and left seats, the passenger can grab the grab member using a hand (left hand when the passenger seat is located at the right side) closer to the center in the vehicle width direction. In some utility vehicles, the shift lever and the parking brake lever are arranged between the right and left seats so that the driver can operate them with a hand (right hand when the driver seat is located at the left side) closer to the center in the vehicle width direction. In this arrangement, the grab member could be close to the driving operation members between the right and left seats.


Systems and methods presented herein provide for the management of link rates for connecting targets devices (e.g., storage devices) to initiators (e.g., host systems). In one embodiment, an expander includes a plurality of PHYs including a PHY having a first link rate and a PHY having a second link rate that is different than the first link rate. The expander also includes a link manager communicatively coupled to the PHYs and operable to process a connection request from an initiator for the first link rate, extract a timer from the connection request, and determine whether the first link rate is available. The link manager is also operable to start the timer when the link manager determines that the first link rate is unavailable and issue a response to the initiator to inform the initiator that the timer has started and that connection at the first link rate is delayed.

Some data systems employ multiple target devices which may be accessed by host systems or other "initiators" to read and write data. Examples of such systems include data storage systems with multiple storage devices virtualized into logical volumes. Expanders are operable to interconnect between the target devices and the initiators via physical interfaces, or "PHYs", to increase the number of targets that the initiators may access. The connection rates of the PHYs, or "link rates", to the targets can vary. And, some of the initiators consistently request specific link rates. Accordingly, once the desired link rates to the targets become occupied, certain initiators may be excluded from accessing PHYs that support the targets via the faster link rates that they request.

Managing arbitration in mixed link rate wide ports

Avago Technologies General IP (Singapore) Pte Ltd


Methods and apparatus for managing document workflow, including generating a nonce for providing participant access for a particular step of the document workflow, generating a first number of nonce elements, and assigning nonce elements to a plurality of participants of a step of the document workflow preceding the particular step in a one-to-one correspondence. The nonce is determinate from a number of the nonce elements that is greater than or equal to a second number and less than or equal to the first number.

Composite documents may involve documents having multiple parts that are of different formats, e.g., text, spreadsheets, images, video, html, etc. These parts may further be under the control of different individuals, groups or organizations. It is often desirable to generate such composite documents using a specific sequence, e.g., a document workflow, while providing differing access rights to differing participants throughout the sequence.
For the reasons stated above, and for other reasons that will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the present specification, there is a need in the art for alternative methods for managing document workflow.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


An approach is provided for performing a device-level and/or an application-level security check of a device. In the device-level check, a device hash is generated based on a subscriber identity module identifier (SIM ID), a device identifier, the number of secured applications, and the names of the secured applications. A temporary device hash is generated during a booting of the device. If the device hash is determined to not match the temporary device hash, the applications are removed from the device during the booting of the device. In the application-level check, an application hash is generated based on the SIM ID, the device identifier, and the application name. A temporary application hash is generated during a loading of the application. If the application hash is determined to not match the temporary application hash, the application is removed from the device without running the application.

An enterprise that adopts a bring-your-own device policy is vulnerable when a smartphone or other wireless computer device that includes sensitive enterprise information is stolen or lost. Known security techniques support wiping the stolen or lost device, or wiping or otherwise restricting user access to applications and application data stored on the device. Other known security techniques lock down the ability to place or receive calls on a smartphone that has been lost or stolen. The sensitive information on a lost or stolen device continues to be vulnerable if the subscriber identity module (SIM) card of the device is removed. Someone who steals a device and removes the SIM card of the device may replace the removed SIM card with another SIM card or leave the device without a SIM card. Removal of the SIM card prevents the aforementioned wiping of the device or applications on the device.

Subscriber identity module-based authentication of a wireless device and applications stored thereon

International Business Machines Corporation


A method for immutability of review verifications includes: storing a blockchain; receiving a review submission from a reviewer about an entity comprising feedback; identifying a review identifier unique to the review submission; generating a new review block for the blockchain including the review submission including the review identifier; receiving verification submissions from other reviewers about the review submission indicating positive or negative verification of the review submission; generating verification blocks for the blockchain that include the verification submissions; adding a trustworthiness block to the blockchain for the review once enough positive verifications are received; and adding a trustworthiness block to the blockchain for the reviewer once they have enough trustworthy reviews.

When consumers are interested in trying a new service, such as a restaurant, hotel, entertainment venue, utility, service provider, mechanic, etc., often times the consumer will seek reviews to help guide them in their decision. Traditionally, consumers could ask friends and neighbors for their reviews. With the rise of the Internet and increased accessibility to web pages and mobile applications, a vast number of websites and application programs have gained prominence as a platform to collect and aggregate consumer reviews of services. A consumer interested in a new service may utilize such a tool to view reviews of a particular product or service they are interested in, or to identify a product or service in a given area based on overall consumer reviews for each of the products or services in that area.
However, while a plethora of services may be available to consumers, all existing services utilize private processes for the submission and curating of reviews. As a result, the reliability of such services can often be questioned by consumers, as bad reviews may disappear for some entities or be given greater weight in others. In some cases, services have even been found to be soliciting payment in exchange for hiding or obscuring bad reviews and for making favorable reviews more prominent. Due to the lack of transparency in the submission and curating processes, consumers often question the trustworthiness of the reviews for a given service, negating the main purpose of such tools. While this can be combated through legal action when these practices are exposed, there is presently no known technology based way to verify the review as being trustworthy. Some closed loop services, such as currently offered by Amazon® can confirm if a person actually purchased a product when providing a review, but does not prevent people avoidance of these mechanisms and works for only a limited population of products and users.
Thus, there is a need for a technological solution for reviews of a service and verification thereof to determine trustworthiness of reviews and reviewers in a manner that is transparent and resistant, if not immune, to tampering.

Method and system for review verification and trustworthiness scoring via blockchain


The disclosure herein describes a server-side system that dynamically enhances user experience on a remoting client device. During operation, the system monitors user inputs on the client device. When a user input involving a predetermined interaction between the user and the GUI on the client device is detected, the system alters parameters of frame encoding based on the user interaction. Frame updates transmitted to the client device during the user interaction are encoded with the altered encoding method to improve user experience. Once the user interaction is ended, the system reverts back to the normal encoding method.

In display remoting technologies, the graphical user interface (GUI) of an application or operating system is captured at a server and sent as a stream of pixel data to a client device at the location of a user. Inputs by the user into the client device may be captured and transmitted to the application or operating system running at the server. Display remoting is used in a variety of circumstances, including when using Internet conferencing applications, when remotely accessing home or office computers, when using Microsoft Windows terminal services, instant gaming (or "game streaming") services, or when accessing a virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI), among others.
When a user connects to a lightly-loaded remoting server over a fast LAN network, the user experience can be comparable to consuming the content locally, i.e., comparable with using a locally-executing desktop. However, in environments with limited network bandwidth and/or CPU resources, the performance of display remoting technologies may deplete as demands increase, resulting in degraded user experience such as jerky or delayed animation. In certain situations where a user interacts with the GUI of a client device, for example when the user drags a UI object on the screen or scrolls a window, poor remote displaying performance may be particularly impacting on user experience because the interface might appear unresponsive to the user's actions or the interaction may appear jerky. What is needed is a more efficient approach for remote graphical user interface streaming.

Virtual desktop encoding based on user input behavior


A training restraint having double loops formed of two separate, flexible straps joined together by an interlocking cover is extremely strong, tamper resistant and more easily molded than single strap devices. The restraint is designed to be folded into a compact storage position which can be easily carried by law enforcement personnel yet is instantly ready for use. The restraint is designed for repeated use and is provided with indicia to identify the device for training purposes.

1. Field of Invention
The subject invention is generally related to restraining devices for use by law enforcement personnel and is specifically directed to an improved disposable restraining device having flexible straps forming two secure loops.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Restraining devices such as handcuffs are well-known and have been available for many years. The best known restraining devices are handcuffs consisting of a pair of metal rings which are placed about the wrists of an individual and locked into place. While traditional handcuffs serve the purpose of restraining an individual, they have a number of drawbacks. Conventional handcuffs are heavy, bulky to carry, expensive, require a key and are often inconvenient, particularly in multiple arrest situations such as riots and the like. Because of these drawbacks, it has become more and more desirable to design handcuffs which are lightweight, inexpensive and do not require a key. Moreover, it has become desirable to utilize disposable handcuffs, particularly in multiple arrest situations.
Further, there has been a movement toward using disposable handcuffs due to the increasing concern of the spreading of AIDS, as well as Hepatitis, since restrained individuals who struggle violently often create open wounds which result in blood on the handcuffs. Disposable handcuffs assure that the handcuffs will not be reused and thereby create a carrier for communicable diseases through contamination due to cuts or abrasions received during the detainment.
Disposable handcuffs are available which address some of the problems of conventional key-operated handcuffs. U.S. Pat. No. 4,964,419 entitled "Keyless Handcuffs", issued to R. L. Kariker on Oct. 23, 1990; U.S. Pat. No. 4,854,138 entitled "Restraining Device", issued to Robert S. Charland on Aug. 8, 1989; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,910,831 entitled "Two-Loop Law Enforcement Restraining Device Formed From A Single, Flat Strap" issued to Richard F. Bingold on Mar. 27, 1990 illustrate some types of disposable handcuffs.
While such prior art double-loop disposable handcuffs meet the functional requirements of a restraining device, a major disadvantage is that a detainee can release himself by tampering with the device. For example, the prior art plastic disposable handcuffs may be friction cut by vigorously rubbing a piece of string or twine, such as a shoelace against the strap until sufficient heat is generated to cut through the plastic. Alternatively, the detainee may release himself by using a small piece of wire or a pin or nail to wedge underneath the locking area of the handcuff to shim open the locking wedge which secures the loops in place, thereby allowing the strap to be withdrawn and releasing the handcuffs.
The subject invention is specifically directed to an improvement of the type of disposable handcuffs generally described in my U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/327,042, now abandoned, entitled "Flexible Strap Restraining Device" which is an improvement over the prior art devices. Specifically, the device of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/327,042 includes a flexible strap having a core material, such as a metal wire, which is designed to prevent the detainee from cutting or melting through the strap by vigorously rubbing it against a piece of string. The invention also includes a unique locking mechanism designed to prevent the detainee from using a pin or wire to shim open the lock to release himself. In order to increase the stowability of the device and provide law enforcement personnel with a convenient means for carrying it, this invention also includes an integral hinge located in the center of the strap. In addition, the invention may include a sliding cover which slides onto the strap and over the hinge area and locking mechanisms.
While the device of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/327,042 addresses many of the problems of the prior art devices, one drawback is that the integral hinge located in the center portion of the strap may result in a weakened area between the two loops where stress is the greatest. Moreover, due to the single strap design with the locking mechanisms and hinge located on the strap, the wire core material cannot extend through the entire strap and is not included in the center portion of the strap where the hinge is located. Thus, the center portion is more susceptible to being friction cut or broken by the detainee.
While the locking mechanism of the single strap device is designed to include additional locking features, another disadvantage is that the locking mechanisms are exposed and may be pried open to release the strap. Although the addition of the sliding cover to the strap may provide some protection, the sliding cover is not an integral part of the device and the detainee may be able to forcibly move the cover from its intended position to expose and tamper with the locking mechanism. Also, since the sliding cover is not an integral part of the device, the cover may become detached and lost. Further, the addition of the sliding cover to the strap may be cumbersome because of the location of the cover on the strap when the device is not in use. In addition, because the sliding cover is not required to operate the single strap device, the device may be applied without the sliding cover and any additional protection would be lost.
Another disadvantage of the single flexible strap device is that the hinge located in the center of the strap has a tendency to spring "flat" and the device may not stay folded for storage. In addition, the single strap device must be unfolded and then assembled into the loops before it is ready for use. Further, the long narrow part of the single strap device is more difficult to mold and costly to produce. Also, the addition of the sliding cover to the single strap device would require the manufacture of an additional part which may further increase the production costs.
Therefore, there is a need for an improved, disposable double-loop restraining device which is extremely strong, tamper resistant, easily carried and ready for instant application and is less costly to produce.


A golf ball cleaner with a housing having the outward appearance of an ordinary golf ball, the housing separable into two hollow, semi-spherical sections for placement of a golf ball therein for cleaning. Each hollow section includes a pad made of a sponge-like material releasably attached to the interior face thereof. One pad further includes a layer of a slightly abrasive fiber on the outside surface thereof such that cleaning is effected without scratching the surface of the golf ball. The two halves are releasably joined at common, overlapping annular edges which allows rotation of one half relative to the other half about an axis perpendicular to the plane of joining. The twisting motion of the two halves and friction caused by the pads effect cleaning of the golf ball.

The present invention relates to devices for cleaning balls and, in particular, to devices for cleaning golf balls.
Heretofore, golf ball cleaners have been stationary objects located at various tee stations along the golf course. These prior art golf ball cleaners are generally not located at each tee station or between tees, and therefore a golfer having a soiled ball has to wait until he encounters a tee station having a golf ball cleaner.
Even when a golfer finds a golf ball cleaner at a tee station, they can be dry, or contain a dirty cleaning liquid. A dry golf ball cleaner will not clean a golf ball, while one with a dirty cleaning liquid defeats the purpose of cleaning the golf ball.
Furthermore, it is difficult to know whether the prior art golf ball cleaners are full or contain dirty water. Also it is generally not possible for the golfer to clean a dirty or contaminated golf ball cleaner or even add new water to it. Therefore, the golfer must take each golf ball cleaner as he finds it, as one cannot tell the condition of the golf ball cleaner until a golf ball has been removed therefrom.
Accordingly, it is desired to alleviate the problems and shortcomings of prior art golf ball cleaners.
Also, it is desired to provide a novel golf ball washer which is portable.
Furthermore, it is desired to provide a golf ball washer to which cleaning fluid can be easily added or where cleaning fluid can be easily changed.


The invention relates to an apparatus for the control of a pasteurizing process, designed to be applied to the middle area of a pasteurizer, located downstream of a heating area from which bottles (1) of product carried by a conveyor (2) come, and upstream of a bottle cooling area. In said middle area of the pasteurizer, provision is made for four tanks (7, 8, 9, 10) containing water at differentiated temperatures which feed an equal number of sprayers (3, 4, 5, 6) located above the bottles (1) in movement. The two middle tanks (8, 9) are each divided into two chambers (12, 13; 24, 25) separated by an upright partition (11; 23). In the event that the conveyor (2) should undergo an emergency stop, the bottles (1) that at the moment are in the area having the highest temperature are automatically sprayed with water at a lower temperature coming from the corresponding tanks whereas the high temperature is maintained in the tanks having the highest temperature until the emergency state is over. For the purpose pipelines (15, 21, 27, 33) are provided which suitably connect the various tanks (7, 8, 9, 10) to one another and to the sprayers (3, 4, 5, 6) located above the bottles (1).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for the control of a pasteurizing process.
In greater detail, such an apparatus checks the temperature to which the product to be pasteurized is subjected during the emergency stop periods of the conveyor inside a pasteurizer so that the product is not impaired.
The concerned apparatus is designed to be applied to the middle area of a pasteurizer where the real pasteurizing process occurs, said process being particularly connected with the treatment of beer contained in bottles or cans.
2. Prior Art
It is known that said middle area in the pasteurizer is located downstream of a heating area where temperature becomes increasingly higher and upstream of a subsequent cooling area. The bottled product is carried through the various areas of the pasteurizer having different temperatures by means of a conveyor provided with a feed motion. The temperature of the bottled product is modified by spraying water coming from a series of sprayers onto the bottles arranged on the conveyor. Said sprayers are fed from pipelines drawing the water from the tanks located underneath the conveyor and in which the water temperature is kept within predetermined values by suitable heating means.
It is known that in case of an emergency stop of the conveyor (due for example to the occurence of a critical situation downstream), the temperature of the water sprayed onto the bottles in the pasteurizer's middle area (where said temperature reaches the highest values) must be lowered in order to avoid the bottled product being damaged. Practically the temperature must become lower than the pasteurization temperature which is slightly higher than 60.degree. C., and must be held underneath the above value as far as the emergency period goes on.
Presently, in accordance with the known art, the temperature decrease is carried out by introducing cold water coming from the waterworks into the tanks feeding the sprayers while hot water is at the same time evacuated, for well-apparent balancing purposes.
The above operation involves a two fold drawback, namely there is a water waste and energy is lost in the form of hot water.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The main object of the present invention is to eliminate the above drawback by providing an apparatus for the temperature control during the emergency periods in a pasteurizing apparatus which allows the use of recycle water, so that it is no longer necessary to draw cold water from the waterworks and evacuate hot water which is then thrown away.
The foregoing and further objects are attained by an apparatus for the control of a pasteurizing process, designed to be applied to the middle area of a pasteurizer, located downstream of a heating area from which bottles of product carried by a conveyor come, and upstream of a bottle cooling area, in which middle area provision is made for four tanks containing water at differentiated temperatures which feed an equal number of sprayers located above the bottles in movement, the two middle tanks being each divided into two chambers separated by an upright partition, the first chamber of each group being covered with a sloping shed and being provided with a water recycle pipeline, pipelines equipped with respective pumps being also provided for suitably connecting the various tanks to one another and to the sprayers located above the bottles. In the event that the conveyor should undergo an emergency stop, the bottles that at the moment are in the area having the highest temperature are automatically sprayed with water at a lower temperature coming from the corresponding tanks whereas the high temperature is maintained in the tanks having the highest temperature until the emergency state is over.

Apparatus for the control of a pasteurizing process


An extended depth-of field microscope includes (a) a microdisplay having an array of emitters capable of illuminating a sample with structured illumination, (b) an image sensor for capturing an image of the sample, and a microscope objective configured to direct the structured illumination toward the sample and direct light from the sample toward the image sensor, wherein the microscope objective has tunable focal length and is object-space telecentric such that tuning of the focal length does not substantially affect magnification of either one of the image formed on the image sensor and the structured illumination projected into object space.

Three-dimensional (3D) microscopy has a broad range of applications from biomedical imaging to high-precision metrology. A wide range of optical methods offer the capability of imaging the 3D shape of a testing sample. For instance, microdeflectometry is a powerful noncontact tool modified from phase measuring deflectometry (PMD) for measuring nanometer defects on a freeform surface with large shape variation. A typical PMD system projects a fringe pattern in front of the surface under test and uses a camera to observe the fringe displacement reflected from the local surface. With the knowledge of the system geometry obtained from a rigorous process of calibration, surface gradient data are quantitatively measured and can be converted into surface shape via numerical integration. Microdeflectometry modifies the typical PMD system and uses a setup similar to the reflective light microscope, where the illumination module shares the optical path with the camera detection through the microscope objective and projects an aerial fringe image in front of the surface. By observing the fringe displacement, microdeflectometry measures small surface slope variation within a large angular range equivalent to the system numerical aperture with micron-level lateral resolution, which enables inspection of nanometer-sized defects within hundreds of microns of freeform surface height variation.
Structured illumination microscopy (SIM) is a widefield imaging technique in which structured illumination, e.g., a fringe pattern, is superimposed on the sample while capturing images. The fringe pattern is often shifted or rotated in steps between the capture of each image set. Though SIM has been used as an independent metrology tool, SIM has lower measuring stability for local variation than microdeflectometry.
Conventional 3D imaging techniques, such as microdeflectometry and SIM, are subject to the limit of a generally small depth of field (DOF) of standard microscopy systems. For instance, a microscope objective with a numerical aperture (NA) of 0.25 and a working wavelength of 0.5 μm has about ±8 μm DOF given by nλ/NA2, which theoretically is the half-width of the full DOF. (Here, λ is the wavelength of light imaged by the microscope objective and n is the index of refraction of the medium between the microscope objective and the sample.) Such a shallow DOF limits the capability of imaging a thick target or a surface with substantial height variation. Conventional extended depth-of-field (EDOF) microscopy extends the DOF by mounting the microscope objective or sample on a z-axis translation stage and taking measurements at different depths, with subsequent combination of focused data from the stack of images captured along the z-axis. However, the speed of z-axis translation must be kept low to prevent inertial vibration, which makes image capture a time-consuming process.
Researchers have developed a wide variety of techniques to accelerate the process of obtaining EDOF measurements. For instance, several non-scanning methods, including wavefront coding, chromatic methods, and volume holographic microscopy, have been demonstrated to obtain EDOF images in one single shot. These methods, however, either diminish depth information or provide very limited axial sampling, which is not applicable to high resolution three-dimensional measurements. Alternatively, another group of techniques improves scanning speed by integrating additional scanning devices that do not require mechanically moving the microscope objective or sample. One such example is a relay system with a scanning mirror for achieving remote scanning. Another example of non-mechanical scanning utilizes a commercially available focus-tunable lens for performing optical depth scanning. Among the commercial choices of focus-tunable lenses, the acoustic tunable lens (from, e.g., TAG Optics) provides a highest speed at 140 kHz. The electrically tunable lens (from, e.g., Optotune) provides only up to 400 Hz scanning rate but, on the other hand, supports stepwise scanning, retains system flexibility, and has the largest aperture for high power microscopic application. Successful implementations of an electrically tunable lens include multi-photon excitation microscopy, confocal microscopy, optical coherence tomography, photoacoustic microscopy, selective plane illumination microscopy, oblique back-illumination microscopy, and optical projection tomography.

Systems and methods for extended depth-of-field microscopy

Arizona Board of Regents on Behalf of the University of Arizona


An anti-shake structure for auto-focus module includes an auto-focus module for driving a lens to move forward and rearward in a light incident path, i.e. in z-axis direction, so that the lens focuses light on an image sensor; a frame for holding the auto-focus module therein; a lens suspender with a compensation lens arranged thereon being connected to a plurality of suspension wires while the latter are connected at respective another end to the top cover plate of the frame, so that the compensation lens is correspondingly suspended in the frame in the light incident path and located behind the lens; and a shake compensation driving unit for driving the lens suspender to move horizontally along x-axis or y-axis direction, so as to compensate any image shift caused by hand shaking.

With the advancement in scientific technologies and the modularization and miniaturization of camera lens, it is now possible to produce digital cameras having a very small size, and most of currently available mobile phones are provided with the function of a digital camera. On the other hand, to highlight the differences between the advanced camera devices and the low-level camera devices, higher image quality and more functions, such as highly increased pixels, multi-point auto-focus (AF) function, anti-shake (AS) function, etc., have been further added to the advanced camera devices.
However, every new function added to the image capturing module of a camera device would necessitate the increase of a corresponding modular mechanism to thereby increase the size of the image capturing module. Therefore, it has become a target of all image capturing module manufacturers to further reduce the size of the capturing module that has more functions.
There are various types of auto-focus driving structures for the conventional miniature lens. Among others, the voice coil motor (VCM) is the currently most widely employed auto-focus driving structure. The VCM includes an assembly of coils, magnets and plate springs to hold a lens thereto, so that the lens is able to move forward and rearward in an optical axis direction to thereby achieve the object of auto focusing or zooming. The VCM has the advantages of small size, low power consumption, accurately actuated displacement, and cost-effective, and is therefore very suitable for short-distance driving in miniature lens auto-focusing.
With respect to the anti-shake function, it is achieved mainly through several ways. For example, the imaging element can utilize a compensation movement of a mechanism supporting frame to offset the influence of shake during shooting picture on the forming of a blurred image. Or, the lens can be provided with a mechanical structure to eliminate the shake. Or, two gyro sensors can be used to detect any angular vibration of the imaging element in yaw and pitch directions, and actuate the lens by magnetic force to compensate such vibration.
The same inventor of the present invention filed U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/630,688 entitled "Anti-shake Auto-focus Module Structure" on Dec. 3, 2009. According to the disclosure of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/630,688, a movement signal generated by a shake sensor is used to drive the whole auto-focus module to instantaneously move along x-axis or y-axis direction, so as to compensate any shake caused by hands.
Now, based on the previous structural design, the inventor further designs a new anti-shake structure for the auto-focus module. Unlike the U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/630,688 that teaches the instantaneous movement of the whole auto-focus module to compensate any shake, the new anti-shake structure in the present invention moves only one compensation lens in the camera lens to achieve the compensation of shake caused by hands, so that the anti-shake structure is simpler, the shake compensation can be driven with lower power consumption, and the effect of shake compensation can be produced more quickly to satisfy the requirement for use with an advanced camera lens module.

Anti-shake structure for auto-focus modular