The present invention is a decoding apparatus for decoding an encoded video signal capable of displaying a secondary video synchronously with a primary video. The decoding apparatus includes: an auxiliary information analyzing part that analyzes auxiliary information including display auxiliary information about a display position and/or a display size of the secondary video, and applied time information by which the display auxiliary information is applied; a reference time counter that indicates a reference time at which a video is decoded and displayed; a comparing part that compares the applied time information with the reference time counter; a display screen forming part that uses a primary video and a secondary video to form a display screen; and a control part that controls the display screen forming part, wherein the control part controls the display position and/or the display size of the secondary video by affording a command to the display screen forming part using the display auxiliary information, based on an output result of the comparing part.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a decoding technique for decoding encoded video signals for the purpose of display.
2. Description of the Related Art
The background arts of the present invention include an art described in JP-A No. 134572/2000 and an art described in ISO/IEC 13818-2 (MPEG2 Video) of a non-patent document. In JP-A No. 134572/2000, as a problem to be solved by an invention, an art of "outputting videos, sounds, subpictures, and the like by digital signals to a digital TV receiver from a reproducing apparatus such as a DVD player" is described. A means for solving the problem is described as "A PCM voice signal decoded by a voice decoder 11 is timed in a presentation engine 17, and then is converted into a packet in a PCM/1394 packet conversion part 27. A subpicture decoded in a subpicture decoder 15 is timed in the presentation engine 17, and then is converted into a packet in a 1394 packet conversion part 29. Video PES is converted into TS along with SCR in an MPEG-PS/TS conversion part 25, and is converted into a packet in an MPEG-TS/1394 packet conversion part 31. Each isochronous packet is sent to a digital TV via a link layer 33 and a physical layer 35." An art for specifying the display position and the display size of an encoded video signal is described in the ISO/IEC 13818-2 (MPEG2 Video).
Recently, a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) player has come into wide use as a kind of a decoding display device that decodes an encoded video signal for display. The DVD player reads bit streams from a disc in which encoded video signals are stored, and decodes the video signals by a decoder in the player to display the decoded video signals.
In a DVD, a secondary video called a subpicture in addition to a primary video can be reproduced. The secondary video may be closely related to the primary video, and in such a case, it is desirable that the primary video and the secondary video are synchronously displayed. For example, in the above-described JP-A No. 134572/2000, an art for synchronously displaying a primary video and a secondary video is disclosed.
On the other hand, it is preferable that, when a primary video and a secondary video are displayed in combination, the position and the size of the secondary video can be changed according to the contents of the primary video. For example, in FIG. 2A, to avoid a person in a primary video from being hidden by a secondary video, the secondary video is superimposed in an upper right portion. On the other hand, in FIG. 2B, the person in the primary video moves to the right within the video. At this time, if the position of the secondary video is unchanged from that in FIG. 2A, the secondary video would hide the person. Hence, if the display position of the secondary video can be moved to the left as shown in FIG. 2B according to the movement of the person in the primary video, the person would not be hidden.
In the case of this example, since a display position of the secondary video must be specified taking harmony with the primary video into account, it is preferable to provide a system which permits the contents producer of the primary video to specify the display position of the secondary video. In this case, it is preferable that a display position and a display size can be specified on a frame basis. The same is also true for the image size of secondary video.
An art of specifying a display position and a display size of an encoded video signal is disclosed in ISO/IEC 13818-2 (MPEG2 Video). In the art, information of a display position and a display size is inserted in an encoded video signal, and the display position can be specified on a frame basis.
By the way, the contents of such additional information for a secondary video signal such as a display position and a display size are strongly dependent on applications. That is, various types of systems such as different types of storage media including a DVD, and distributions by broadcasting systems and the Internet employ encoded video signals, and in each of the systems, required functions, types of additional information, formats, and transmission methods generally differ.
Hence, if the analysis and extraction of such additional information were performed by hardware, it would be difficult to provide the flexibility to accommodate various applications. If new applications emerge in the future, the hardware will have to be changed to accommodate them, requiring high costs.
On the other hand, if additional information is analyzed and extracted by software, flexibility can be provided, so that it is possible to relatively easily cope with new applications that may emerge in the future. However, processing by software can be slow because of its processing speed, so that the above-described specification on a frame basis may not be guaranteed.
A problem of the present invention is to realize in view of the above circumstances a decoding display device which decodes encoded video signals, which can specify the display position and the display size of secondary videos and the like on a frame basis, and which are flexible in specification method.
An object of the present invention is to solve the problem and provide a decoding apparatus with increased usability.

Decoding apparatus for encoded video signals


A master unit and a plurality of slave units are connected by way of a communication path. The master unit sends to the slave units timing signals generated by its own cycle signal generator by way of a communication path. The slave units determine the cycle difference and the phase difference between a timing signal generated by its own cycle signal generator and the timing signal sent from the master unit and, in accordance therewith, determine a cycle adjustment amount. The cycle signal generators of the slave units adjust the timing signal cycle based on the cycle adjustment amount.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a synchronizing control system for a plurality of controllers.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a controller such as a numerical controller or a robot controller, the motor control is implemented in accordance with timing signals of a fixed cycle generated by the hardware of the controller, that is to say, by an interpolation cycle (ITP signal). A main CPU of the controller delivers the motion amount of each ITP signal interval to a DSP (digital signal processor) that controls a servomotor. The DSP distributes the command motion amount to each control cycle (position, speed control cycles) obtained by further subdividing of the ITP signal interval to control the position and speed of the motor.
On the other hand, a system in which a controller such as a numerical controller or robot controller is connected in plurality and a plurality of controllers are synchronously operated is also known.
In this system, a timing signal from a controller serving as a master unit is transmitted to controllers of slave units by way of a bus or a network, and motors to be driven and controlled by the controllers are synchronously operated as a result of the synchronous operation of the plurality of controllers in accordance with this timing signal.
While timing signal lag occurs in controllers of this type due to transmission delays and so on, a technique for correcting this lag to generate signals of the same timing has been disclosed (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-125210).
In addition, a moving body communication system in which, in the data transmission between a base station apparatus and a base station controller, the predicted arrival time of a data frame sent from the base station controller is estimated by the base station apparatus and this predicted arrival time is notified to the base station controller and, at the base station controller, the transmission timing of the data frame is sped up in accordance with this notified predicted arrival time has also been disclosed (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-358793).
As a synchronization system for a plurality of controllers such as numerical controllers or robot controllers connected by a bus or network, a patent application proposing a method for correcting timing signal synchronization lag in which the controller serving as a slave unit itself comprises timing signal generation means, and the master unit and slave unit are synchronized as a result of correction of the phase difference between a timing signal sent from the controller of the master unit and a timing signal generated by the slave unit itself has also been submitted in Japan (Japanese Patent Application Serial No. 2005-60863; disclosed as Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-244264 on Sep. 14, 2006).
In the invention described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-244264, the phase difference between the timing signal sent from the controller of the master unit and the timing signal generated by the slave units itself is determined, and the timing signal generated by the slave units itself is corrected so that the phase difference thereof is "0".
However, in the invention described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-244264, while the master unit and the slave unit generate their own respective timing signals that are synchronized by correction of the phase difference thereof, because the timing signals are generated by way of respectively independent timing signal generation means, there may be a case where the cycle itself of the timing signals may differ. When the timing signal cycle differs, the actuated timing of the motors driven by the controllers deviates and a stable synchronous control cannot be produced.


A delay locked loop (DLL) circuit that includes a delay line having a plurality of delay elements. Each delay element can be adapted to receive a clock input signal and generate a clock output signal, where the phase of each clock output signal is offset from the clock input signal. The delay line can be configured so that one clock input signal is a reference input clock signal and at least one clock output signal is a delay-line output clock signal. The feedback portion of the circuit can be configured to generate delay adjust signals based upon the phase offsets between pairs of clock signals. The delay adjust signals are fed back to the delay elements causing the reference input clock signal and the clock output signals to be phase-shifted apart equally about 360 degrees.

A delay-locked loop is capable of generating multiple clock phase outputs from a clock signal input. It is desirable to have a delay-locked loop which has reduced circuit component matching requirements while generating multiple clock outputs equally spaced about 360 degrees.
Prior art inventions disclose delay locked loops that utilize chains of delay elements and relatively complex control schemes to generate a set of clock signals. The delay-locked loop of U.S. Patent Publication No. 2004-0223571 receives an input clock signal, then generates a single delay adjust signal by means of a phase detector, and control circuitry. The single delay adjust signal then controls the delay time of all of the delay elements in the chain. At a minimum, the control circuitry of this application includes a counter control circuit with digital memory, and a digital-to-analog converter. The set of generated clock signals is then further processed by additional circuitry that includes a phase interpolator, selection circuitry, and other feedback controls.
It would be desirable to provide a delay lock loop that improved on existing designs and is better suited for high speed data applications.


A memory device for a mobile phone is provided. The memory device includes a flash memory for storing program data and user data; an interface circuit configured for interfacing the flash memory to a microprocessor; a first memory for copying the program data of the flash memory; and a second memory for executing the program data of the first memory wherein the first and second memories are independent memories. The flash memory is a NAND-type flash memory and the interface circuit is an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) including a read-only memory (ROM) for storing program codes and an error correction circuit. Additionally, the first and second memories are preferably random-access memories (RAM). By utilizing a NAND-type flash memory in place of a conventional NOR-type flash memory, the memory device can achieve a larger storage capacity at a lower cost.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a memory device, and particular, a memory device for a mobile phone having a large capacity at low cost.
2. Description of the Related Art
A memory for an existing mobile phone includes a flash memory for storing a program for controlling the operation and function of the mobile phone and an SRAM (Static Random Access Memory) for executing the program. The flash memory is typically a NOR-type memory that stores user data files as well as the program. The user data may include an address book containing phone numbers and associated user names, e-mail messages and downloaded content from the Internet. In addition to the required operational programs, the memory may also store on-screen images and icons to be used during operation and programming of the phone.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a mobile phone 100 employing a conventional memory device 15.
Referring to FIG. 1, a microprocessor (MPU) 20 provides overall control to the operation of the mobile phone 100 by a control program stored in the memory device 15. An analog circuit 40 provides an air-interface to a mobile communication system via antenna ANT and a user-interface 50 provides an interface for a user through an LCD display, keypad, and microphone. A power and reset circuit 60 is provided to reset and initialize the MPU 20 and memory 15 upon start-up of the mobile phone 100. The memory device 15 includes a NOR-type flash memory 10 for storing application programs and user data and a Random Access Memory (RAM) for executing the programs.
In the conventional memory as shown in FIG. 1, the NOR-type flash memory 10 is simply attached to a microprocessor (MPU) 20 so that upon the mobile phone 100 resetting, the MPU 20 generates a dedicated reset vector address, reads a program code from the flash memory 10, and performs a program in the RAM 30 according to a program sequence. Moreover, all user data received through the air, via an antenna ANT, or downloaded from a PC (personal computer) are stored in the NOR-type flash memory 10 being a non-volatile one to be available to a user when necessary.
Storage of user data as well as program data in the NOR-type flash memory imposes cost and space constraints on the manufacture of the existing mobile phone. Especially due to the rising demand for multimedia functions in the mobile phone, the conventional memory structure has the problem that an expensive memory is used for simply storing data. For example, a 4 Mb or above memory is typically used to store one MP3 file.
Therefore, a need exists for a low-cost, large capacity memory device which occupies the same area or smaller than that of a conventional memory device.


An electronic device includes: a body 12 having an electronic component 20, and a cover 14 pivotally attached to the body and having a liquid crystal panel 36. The electronic component of the body is cooled by a fan 22. The liquid crystal panel of the cover is illuminated by a discharge tube 38 and a reflector 40. An air inlet 44 of the cover is arranged being opposed to an air outlet 30 of the body. The discharge tube is cooled by a flow of air produced by the fan for cooling the electronic component of the body. By cooling the discharge tube, the life of the discharge tube is maintained long.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electronic device such as a note-book type personal computer and others.
2. Description of the Related Art
The note-book type personal computer includes: a body having electronic components such as CPU and others and also having a keyboard; and a cover pivotally connected to the body. The cover includes: a display element such as a liquid crystal display element; and a lighting device for lighting the display element. The lighting device includes: a light guide plate; a discharge tube (cold cathode ray tube) arranged on a side of the light guide plate; and a reflector.
A problem is caused in which a luminous intensity of the discharge tube is lowered even when the liquid crystal element has not come to the life. The reason is described as follows. Liquid mercury charged in the discharge tube is collected at positions close to the electrodes arranged at both end portions of the discharge tube. Metal of the electrodes of the discharge tube is spattered by electrons generated in accordance with discharging, and particles of metal, which have been spattered in this discharging process, attach to a tube wall of the discharge tube as if the particles of metal covered the liquid mercury. Therefore, although a sufficiently large quantity of mercury has been charged into the discharge tube, a quantity of mercury contributing to the emission of light is reduced. Therefore, the luminous intensity of the discharge tube is lowered and the life of the discharge tube is shortened.
Originally, portions close to the electrodes at both end portions of the discharge tube are portions where a large quantity of heat is generated and the temperature is high. However, in the structure in which the discharge tube is supported by a reflector through a support member, heat generated by the discharge tube is thermally conducted to the reflector through the support member. Therefore, temperatures of portions close to the electrodes of the discharge tube are lowered. Since liquid mercury is collected to positions in the discharge tube where the temperatures are low, that is, since liquid mercury is collected to positions close to the electrodes at both end portions of the discharge tube, the above problems are caused. Therefore, when a portion except for both end portions of the discharge tube is cooled, for example, a central portion of the discharge tube is cooled, liquid mercury is collected in the central portion of the discharge tube, the temperature of which is low. Therefore, a quantity of mercury contributing to the emission of light is not reduced. Accordingly, luminance of the discharge tube is not reduced and it becomes possible to prevent the life of the discharge tube from being shortened.
For example, there is a proposal in which an air flow is generated in a cover by a natural convection, and a discharge tube is cooled by this air flow. (Concerning this technique, refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) Nos. 61-294528, 4-290107, 5-93908 and 2002-189207.) However, according to this method, a quantity of air in the flow is so small that cooling can not be sufficiently executed. There is another proposal in which a fan is provided in a cover so as to cool a discharge tube. (Concerning this method, refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 10-54985). However, when the fan is arranged in the cover, the cover size is increased. Therefore, it becomes necessary that the entire cover is redesigned.


The present invention discloses a ratchetable open-ended wrench comprising wrench body and retractable jaw member. The wrench body comprises head with two opposite jaws and a receiving hole. The inner surface of the receiving hole has a sunken slot with an inner circular arc surface. The retractable jaw member is slidably mounted in the sunken slot and has two opposite sides, and one side is directing to the receiving hole and has a second engaging portion. The retractable jaw member and the head are against with an elastic member. The retractable jaw member is able to move from a first position to a second position in the sunken slot, and is able to limit a workpiece to rotate in the receiving hole when at the first position and to allow the workpiece to rotate in the receiving hole when at the second position.

Conventional ratchetable open-ended wrenches, such as U.S. Pat. No. 1,320,668, U.S. Pat. No. 7,111,529, and US Patent Application No. 20100083797, respectively mainly comprises: a wrench body and a retractable jaw member; the wrench body comprising head with two opposite jaws and a receiving hole between the two jaws; the retractable jaw member being slidably mounted on the head, the first side being directing to the receiving hole and having engaging portion; the retractable jaw member and the head being against with an elastic member; the retractable jaw member being able to move from a first position to a second position in the sunken slot, and being able to limit a workpiece rotating in the receiving hole when at the first position and allowing the workpiece to rotate in the receiving hole when at the second position.
However, the aforementioned prior arts have the following disadvantages: (a) the elastic member of the U.S. Pat. No. 1,320,668 is mounted in a cave transversely provided on the lateral side of the head; the cave is hard to be manufactured, and is exposed outside so as to decrease the pleasing to the eyes; moreover, the retractable jaw member only has one engaging surface, so that the retractable jaw member is very easy to be moved when in driving status so as to decrease the driving force; (b) the elastic member of the U.S. Pat. No. 7,111,529 is mounted in a penetrating gap provided on one jaw so as to decrease the strength of the jaw; moreover, the retractable jaw member only has one engaging surface, so that the retractable jaw member is very easy to be moved when in driving status so as to decrease the driving force; (c) the retractable jaw member of the US Patent Application No. 20100083797 only has two engaging surfaces, so that the retractable jaw member is very easy to be moved when in driving status so as to decrease the driving force; moreover, the width of the retractable jaw member is not enough, and the slot for receiving the spring is provided on the engaging portion which mainly stand the driving force, so that the strength of the retractable jaw member is decreased, and the retractable jaw member is very easy to be damaged.


There is provided an electronic keyboard musical instrument that gives the performance feeling closer to that given by an acoustic piano and enables techniques of expression closer to those used when playing the acoustic piano. Touch information is generated based on first information output when an ON event of a first (deep) SW of a switch section occurs, and a tone generator section generates a musical tone according to the touch. When an OFF event of a third (shallow) SW of the switch section occurs during key release, the musical tone being generated is progressively damped, and at the same time a musical tone having a predetermined characteristic is generated. The OFF event of the third SW is made equivalent to a damper-leaving position in a key stroke of an acoustic piano keyboard.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electronic keyboard musical instrument that gives performance feeling and expression closer to those given when an acoustic piano is played.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, an electronic piano has become fairly closer to an acoustic grand piano in its tone-generating system. However, as far as a manner of tone generation responsive to a key release is concerned, the conventional electronic piano has failed to exhibit a sufficient reality.
To eliminate this inconvenience, the present assignee developed an electronic keyboard musical instrument that employs a double sound source (key-on source and key-off source) system in which musical tones generated by an acoustic grand piano during damping at the time of key release are sampled and used as key-off tones generated by the electronic keyboard musical instrument.
However, in the conventional electronic keyboard musical instrument, no consideration has been give of the idea of controlling a musical tone using a position of a string touching a damper member during key release as a turning point. Therefore, although musical tones generated upon key release show reality, the performance feeling given by the musical instrument is different from that given by an acoustic grand piano.
It is an object of the invention to provide an electronic keyboard musical instrument that gives performance feeling closer to that given by an acoustic piano (e.g. a grand piano) and enables the technique of expression closer to that used when playing the acoustic piano.
To attain the above object, in a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic keyboard musical instrument comprising an actuating member, an output member that is actuated by the actuating member to output a plurality of pieces of information according to respective actuating positions of the actuating member, a touch information-generating device that generates touch information based on first information output by the output member when the actuating member is in a vicinity of an actuation-terminating position thereof, a musical tone-generating device that generates a musical tone according to the touch information generated by the touch information-generating device, and a control device responsive to second information output by the output member during returning of the actuating member, the second information being generated on a side closer to an actuation-starting position of the actuating member than a position in which the first information is generated, for providing control such that the musical tone being generated is progressively damped and a musical tone having a predetermined characteristic is generated, wherein the output member outputs the second information when the actuating position of the actuating member is equivalent to a damper-leaving position in a key stroke of an acoustic piano keyboard.
According to the first aspect of the invention, when touch information is generated based on first information output by an output member when an actuating member is in a vicinity of an actuation-terminating position of the actuating member, a musical tone is generated according to the touch information, and in response to second information output by the output member during returning of the actuating member, the second information being generated on a side closer to an actuation-starting position of the actuating member than a position in which the first information is generated, the musical tone being generated is progressively damped, and at the same time a musical tone having a predetermined characteristic is generated. Further, the output member outputs the second information when the actuating position of the actuating member is equivalent to a damper-leaving position in a key stroke of a real piano keyboard. Therefore, it is possible to make closer the performance feeling and techniques of expression to those available from the real piano.
To attain the above object, in a second aspect of the invention, there is provided an electronic keyboard musical instrument comprising an actuating member, an output member that is actuated by the actuating member to output a plurality of pieces of information according to respective actuating positions of the actuating member, a touch information-generating device that generates touch information based on first information output by the output member when the actuating member is in a vicinity of an actuation-terminating position thereof, a musical tone-generating device that generates a musical tone according to the touch information generated by the touch information-generating device, and a storage device responsive to one of pieces of second information output by the output member during actuation in a key-depressing direction, the pieces of second information being generated on a side closer to an actuation-starting position of the actuating member than a position in which the first information is generated, the one of pieces of the second information corresponding to a key position remotest from a non-key-depression position, for assigning a first value defined by a plurality of bits to a marker indicative of the one of pieces of the second information corresponding to the key position remotest from the non-key-depression position, and storing the assigned first value, the storage device being responsive to another one of the pieces of the second information different from the first information being output by the output member when the actuating member is in a vicinity of an actuation-starting position thereof during returning of the actuating member, the other one of pieces of the second information corresponding to a key position closest to the non-key-depression position, for assigning a second value defined by a plurality of bits to a marker indicative of the other one of pieces of the second information corresponding to the key position closest to the non-key-depression position, and storing the assigned second value, and a parameter control device that controls musical tone parameters based on the stored first and second values.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, when touch information is generated based on first information output by an output member when an actuating member is in a vicinity of an actuation-terminating position, a musical tone is generated according to the touch information. In response to one of pieces of second information output by the output member during actuation in a key-depressing direction, the pieces of second information being generated on a side closer to an actuation-starting position of the actuating member than a position in which the first information is generated, the one of pieces of the second information corresponding to a key position remotest from a non-key-depression position, a first value defined by a plurality of bits is assigned to a marker indicative of the one of pieces of the second information corresponding to the key position remotest from the non-key-depression position, and the assigned first value is stored. On the other hand, in response to another one of the pieces of the second information different from the first information being output by the output member when the actuating member is in a vicinity of an actuation-starting position thereof during returning of the actuating member, the other one of pieces of the second information corresponding to a key position closest to the non-key-depression position, a second value defined by a plurality of bits is assigned to a marker indicative of the other one of pieces of the second information corresponding to the key position closest to the non-key-depression position, and the assigned second value is stored. Musical tone parameters are controlled based on the stored first and second values. Therefore, even when an output member for outputting a large number of information items is used, a similar sounding system can be applied irrespective of the number of output information items. Therefore, even when the number of make contacts of each switch or the number of output values of a sensor is increased, the sounding system need not be modified very much. This makes it possible to realize a more advanced sounding system while suppressing the cost of development, i.e. contributes to commonality of systems.
Preferably, the output member has a plurality of contacts, and outputs the information according to respective closing states of the contacts.
Preferably, the output member has three contacts.
Preferably, the output member has four contacts.
Preferably, the electronic keyboard musical instrument further comprises a key-off waveform-generating device that generates key-off waveforms.
More preferably, the electronic keyboard musical instrument further comprises a slicing device that slices a key-off waveform generated by the key-off waveform-generating device.
Further preferably, the parameter control device controls a level to which the slicing device slices the key-off waveform, based on the stored first or second value.
To attain the above object, according to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic keyboard musical instrument comprising an actuating member, an output member that is actuated by the actuating member to output information according to an actuating position of the actuating member, a detection device that detects a touch condition of a key in a second half of a depression stroke thereof in a key-depressing direction, out of a whole key-depression and key-release stroke of the key, an assigning device responsive to the touch condition of the key being detected by the detecting device, for assigning a musical tone corresponding to the key which is depressed to a predetermined channel a tone-generating device that generates the musical tone assigned to the predetermined channel, and a control device that controls the assigning device such that when a predetermined position in a first half of the depression stroke shallower than the second half of the depression stroke is crossed by the key in a key-releasing direction without the key, to which the musical tone assigned to the predetermined channel corresponds, being re-depressed, the assignment of the musical tone to the predetermined channel is canceled, and when the key, to which the musical tone assigned to the predetermined channel corresponds, is re-depressed without crossing the predetermined position in the key-releasing direction, and a re-touch condition different from the detected touch condition of the key is detected by the detection device upon the re-depression, the musical tone is assigned to a channel different from the predetermined channel according to the re-touch condition of the key.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, when a predetermined position in a first half of a depression stroke shallower than a second half of the depression stroke is crossed by a key in a key-releasing direction without the key, to which a musical tone assigned to a predetermined channel corresponds, being re-depressed, the assignment of the musical tone to the predetermined channel is canceled, and when the key, to which the musical tone assigned to the predetermined channel corresponds, is re-depressed without crossing the predetermined position in the key-releasing direction, and a re-touch condition different from the detected touch condition of the key is detected by a detection device upon the re-depression, the musical tone is assigned to a channel different from the predetermined channel according to the re-touch condition of the key, that is, until key-off is effected, all the tone-generating channels except for ones used for tone generation are made available. Therefore, it is possible to obtain an musical tone effect as will be produced when a key is repeatedly struck with a damper pedal being continuously stepped on. Further, a musical tone can be produced without completely returning the key to its key-off position, and hence it is possible to play fast a passage of a musical piece to be played fast for performance.
The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


Disclosed and claimed is a method of demulsifying a produced emulsion into oil and water by adding a surfactant to the produced emulsion. The surfactant comprises any combination of surfactants having a plurality of hydrophilic groups.

The production of crude oil from reservoirs typically results in significant quantities of non-produced crude oil remaining in the reservoir. After primary oil recovery has been performed, secondary recovery (typically involving water injection), is frequently begun to produce trapped oil. Frequently, much oil remains in the reservoir and tertiary recovery operations have been developed to produce the remaining oil. Most tertiary recovery methods for recovering such remaining crude oil include surfactant-polymer enhanced oil recovery floods, such as injecting combination of surfactants and polymers in brine solutions into the reservoir. Other methods for enhanced oil recovery may include gas injection, chemical injection, ultrasonic stimulation, microbial injection, and thermal recovery. If the oil recovered using enhanced oil recovery floods cannot be efficiently treated (e.g., the emulsion broken into dry oil and clean water), then most if not all oil producers will be reluctant to conduct chemical floods in favor of other less aggressive and lower recovery processes.
Results of such conventional methods include a produced emulsion that typically contains crude oil, water, surfactant, and polymer. Drawbacks include difficulties in separating the emulsion into clean water and dry oil for efficient recovery of the crude oil and proper disposal of the water in an environmentally safe manner. Heat has been used to aid in resolving such emulsions but is not economical due to the large amounts of water involved. Solvent extraction is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,559,148, "Method of Extracting and Reutilizing Surfactants from Emulsions," but is also not practical due to the large capital investment and flammable solvent handling issues.
Consequently, there is a need for improved methods of resolving the crude oil and water emulsions. Additional needs include improved methods for demulsifying the produced emulsion to produce a clean separation of the crude oil and water.

Method for resolving emulsions in enhanced oil recovery operations


In a frictional drive device comprising a pair of drive disks (48) each rotatably supported by a frame (10) around a central axial line (A) in a mutually opposing relationship and configured to be individually rotatively actuated by a pair of first actuators (45), a plurality of drive rollers (58) arranged along an outer periphery of each drive disk each via a roller bracket (52) which is rotatable around a center line (B) extending in a radial direction at an angle with respect to the central axial line of the drive disks, each roller bracket rotatably supports the corresponding drive roller so as to be rotatable along a prescribed plane of rotation, and an annular main wheel (100) disposed at least approximately coaxially with respect to the central axial line and engaged by the drive rollers of the drive disks, the main wheel comprising an annular member (102) and a plurality of driven rollers (106) supported along the annular member so as to be rotatable around a tangential line of the annular member, each drive roller is configured to be selectively turned around the center line of the corresponding roller bracket. Thereby, the drive efficiency of the frictional drive device can be improved over a wide range of drive mode. When the frictional drive device is incorporated in an inverted pendulum type vehicle as a drive unit (40), the variable arrangement for the drive rollers can be conveniently used for imparting a yaw moment to the vehicle.

Known is an inverted pendulum type vehicle or an omni-directional vehicle incorporated with a frictional drive device which comprises a pair of drive assemblies individually actuated by electric motors and a main wheel held between the drive assemblies and frictionally driven by the drive assemblies. See WO2008132779A1 (US20100096905A1) for instance. Each drive assembly comprises a drive disk coaxially opposing the drive disk of the other drive assembly and a plurality of drive rollers obliquely arranged along the circumference of the drive disk at a regular interval so as to be individually rotatable. The main wheel comprises a ring-shaped annular member rotatably supported by a frame around a central axial line thereof and a plurality of driven rollers arranged along the circumference of the annular member so as to be rotatable around the respective tangential lines. As the drive disks are turned by the electric motors, the driven rollers are frictionally driven by the drive rollers. When the drive rollers are turned around the tangential directions of the main wheel, the vehicle is driven in a lateral direction. When the main wheel is turned around the central axial line thereof, the vehicle is driven in a fore and aft direction. The direction of motion of the vehicle can be selected as desired by suitably adjusting the difference between the rotational speeds of the two drive disks.
In such a vehicle, the force that the drive rollers apply to the driven rollers includes a component that turns the main wheel carrying the driven rollers around the central axial line of the main wheel and a component that turns the individual driven rollers around their respective central lines. The ratio of these two components of force is determined by the angular relationship of each drive roller with respect to the axial center line of the main wheel. This angular relationship characterizes the skewed relationship between the axial center line of the main wheel and axial center line of each drive wheel. This angular relationship may be represented by the angle between the intersection line of the contact surface between two lines; one of the lines being the intersection line defined the contact surface between the rive roller and driven roller and the plane of rotation of the drive roller, and the other line being the central axial line of the driven roller projected onto the aforementioned contact plane. This angle is called as a skew angle θ in the following description.
The skew angle θ is zero when the speed vectors of the drive roller and driven roller at the contact surface between them is perpendicular to each other, and is 90 degrees when the two speed vectors are parallel to each other. The smaller the skew angle is, the smaller the ratio of the rotational speed of the driven roller to the difference in the rotational speed between the two drive disks becomes. Conversely, as the skew angle approaches the 90 degree angle, the greater the ratio becomes. If there is no slippage between the drive roller and driven roller, in theory, the ratio becomes infinite when the skew angle is 90 degrees. However, in reality, the maximum value of the ratio is reached when the angle is somewhat smaller than 90 degrees.
An inverted pendulum type vehicle using such a frictional drive device is enabled to travel in the fore and aft direction by the rotation of the main wheel around the central axial line thereof, and the drive efficiency at such a time can be optimized by setting the skew angle close to zero. The vehicle is enabled to travel laterally by the rotation of the individual drive rollers around the respective center lines thereof or the tangential lines of the main wheel, and the drive efficiency at such a time can be optimized by setting the skew angle close to the 90 degree angle.
Thus, the drive efficiency of a frictional drive device of the aforementioned type can be optimized by setting different skew angles depending on the drive mode of the frictional drive device. The same is true with an inverted pendulum type vehicle using such a frictional drive device for a drive unit thereof. The drive efficiency of the vehicle can be optimized by setting different skew angles depending on the drive mode of the vehicle.

Frictional drive device and inverted pendulum type vehicle using the same


The present disclosure relates to the production of an application for transcoding video files for devices having limited computing power by means of using a grid computing platform. The platform offers storage space for the user (making use of the distributed storage capacity of the GRID platform and its own security mechanisms) where both the original video and the transcoded video will be stored. The solution also provides the device with middleware with GRID capacities in order to achieve complete GRID integration. That means that the transcoding application could either be run directly in the terminal or in the GRID.

There are two starting points to approach this invention. On one hand, the increase in the number of mobile devices (and other multimedia devices having limited computing power) capable of playing back multimedia contents, and on the other hand, the already existing distributed computing network (known as GRIDs).
Focusing on the first point, new mobile devices (smartphones, PDAs, etc.) are increasingly designed with displays having greater resolution and better video playback performance.
However, there is a trend of recording very high resolution videos (even in high definition) or using compressed formats requiring a significant processing capacity in order to achieve a smooth playback and strongly limiting the video playback possibilities offered by current devices. For example, there are few mobile telephones which support the DivX codec, one of the most widespread on the Internet for video distribution. As a result, the content providers or the users themselves are forced to convert the content to enable playing it back on their terminals. To that end, there are several options, but generally some hardware and an application external to the terminal is needed such as:                The user can use a local DLNA server with direct access to the video file source for carrying out the conversion, while the DLNA client application which must be run in the terminal receives and plays back the content.        The content provider itself could be responsible for converting the original video for generating a converted copy suitable for the specific needs of the user terminal.
In this line of creating copies of content, the provider or the user could use a web service exclusively intended for conversion provided by a third party. This third party could in turn use the infrastructures supplied by a cloud computing provider, such as Amazon EC2, for example, in order to perform costly video conversions. However, this option is more content provider orientated and, in any case, the original file must be sent to the third party, the converted video being recovered later on. This process consumes a large bandwidth and having this bandwidth is not always possible for the end users.
Changing the focus towards distributed computing networks, the GRID platforms have been mainly used for intensive computing tasks (complex scientific calculations for industrial simulations). However, until the arrival of cloud computing, there were not many commercial initiatives offering computing capacities for the end users from their own devices. Today there are products such as Amazon® EC2 or Google® App Engine which allow contracting a specific amount of remote computing power.
On the other hand, the XtreemOS project financed by the European Commission under the 6th Framework Programme allows easy and harmonious integration with the GRID platforms. In fact, one of the specific research lines of XtreemOS focuses on accessing the GRID platforms from mobile devices, offering the end users the capacities offered by GRID computing. The present invention thus focuses on exploiting the native capacities of GRID platforms from devices with a limited computing power in order to transcode video in the GRID, taking into account that those tasks related to video conversion (format, resolution, etc.) require high computing power not usually available on the user terminals such as mobile telephones, PDAs, etc.
Converting average or high quality videos using codecs such as DivX, Xvid or H.264 is a high consumption process in terms of processing, memory and storage space. Many devices with limited computing power (such as mobile telephones, PDAs, portable multimedia devices, etc.) are not intended for carrying out this conversion either because they do not have enough capacity or the time necessary for the conversion is too long, or even because the battery consumption would be excessive for such terminals. Given that the computing capacity of the equipment continues to grow year after year, it is difficult to quantify what is understood by limited computing capacity, but it can be considered that the computing capacity is limited when the equipment in question is capable of performing a number of instructions per second which is at least one order of magnitude below what a mid-range personal computer would be capable of performing. For example, currently a mid-range PC tends to be equipped with Core 2 Duo processors, with a performance of the order of tens of thousands of MIPS (millions of instructions per second). In turn, a current mobile terminal, such as the Nokia® N800 Tablet PC for example, is equipped with a processor from the ARM11 family with a processing capacity less than one thousand MIPS.
On the other hand, many of those devices are equipped with some type of data interface, such as Wi-Fi or 3G, and have relatively advanced operating systems installed. Furthermore, they incorporate some video play back applications and video codecs which are run directly in the terminal itself. The video source can be local or is downloaded and played back from an external source by means of streaming techniques. But in any case, the playback is only possible if the video is coded with one of the codecs supported by the terminal. If not, the video must be transcoded into a suitable format if the terminal has an application specifically designed to that end, but even in this case, carrying out the transcoding in the same terminal would not be advisable given the following situations:
i) the video source is not local,
ii) the user does not want to consume the limited resources of its terminal.
Other solutions based on Web services provided by third parties (such as the online video file conversion service, flixcloud, for example,) attempt the prior installation of the conversion application in the Web server and use a Web interface which will not always be the native interface of the operating system of the terminal, forcing the applications of the terminal to be modified. Modifying the application would be less complex or would not even be necessary with a solution based on middleware with GRID capacities.

Method for transcoding and playing back video files based on grid technology in devices having limited computing power


A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a set top box having a controller to present media content, and provide access to related media content based upon access information, where the related media content is determined based upon monitoring of the media content, where the related media content is retrieved based on a query of a plurality of sources over the internet for ancillary information, and where the access information is associated with each of the plurality of sources and the ancillary information is at least one among a video blog, a pod cast or a website. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Media content (e.g., television programs, documentaries, and movies) often has related content and/or ancillary information associated with the media content. Television shows can have previously-aired episodes that contain an inter-related plot, while other information, such as blogs, can be related to a particular show. However, finding and accessing the related content and ancillary information can be time-consuming and sometimes costly.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Apparatus and method for managing media content


A water soluble contrast enhancement compound and composition, and a method of use thereof, are disclosed for improving sidewall profiles in photoresist patterning and developing. The compound consists of a 1-oxy-2-diazonaphthalene sulfonamide salt.

In conventional semiconductor chip manufacturing techniques, photoresist is routinely used to define areas in the wafer surface that are to be etched or into which dopants are to be diffused.
According to conventional processes, a layer of photoresist is deposited on top of the semiconductor chip layer to be worked. Next, selected portions of the layer of photoresist are exposed to a light source containing a preselected wavelength. The exposed portions of the photoresist become soluble in a developer compound, while the unexposed portions remain insoluble. The developer compound is next used to strip away or "develop" the photoresist, thus defining areas in the chip surface for diffusion or plasma etching.
Although contact printing processes are known, the photoresist layer is often used with a projection printing process. According to this printing process, an opaque projection mask is first printed on a transparent plate to define the areas of the photoresist which are to be exposed. Ultraviolet light containing the selected wavelength is transmitted through the projection mask and an image reduction lens of appropriate power and is then projected on the photoresist layer.
As the critical dimensions of the imaged features of integrated circuits have grown smaller and smaller, diffraction around the edges of the features has grown more and more pronounced. The resultant diffraction patterns degrade imaging in that they produce photoresist-defined areas having wider dimensions and sidewalls with undesirable slopes.
This diffraction problem has conventionally been solved with a contrast enhancement layer placed on top of the photoresist layer. The contrast enhancement layer is initially opaque, but becomes transparent upon exposure to the same light that develops the photoresist. On the deposition of a sufficiently thick contrast enhancement layer, only the intended area of the photoresist will be exposed. Substantially perpendicular photoresist sidewalls result, which means that the size of an etched feature plasma etched thereafter can be more strictly dimensioned.
Conventional contrast enhancement compounds have a serious drawback in that they are not water-soluble. Typically, these compounds must be coated onto the photoresist with the aid of an organic solvent. Conventional photoresists are however also somewhat soluble in this organic solvent, and thus the contrast enhancement layer coating process may endanger the integrity of the underlying photoresist. The exposure time of the photoresist to the organic solvent must therefore be closely watched.
After the photoresist layer has been exposed, it is necessary to strip off the conventional contrast enhancement compound with further organic solvent, which will then again tend to attack the photoresist. Not only does the use of an organic solvent pose a problem in preserving the integrity of the underlying photoresist, it also introduces further steps, time and expense in the manufacturing process. Finally, the conventional contrast enhancement compound has been found to be thermally unstable and to have a poor shelf life.
A need has therefore arisen in the industry for a contrast enhancement composition that does not require an organic solvent, that simplifies the patterning process, and that has longer shelf life than previously known enhancement compositions.

Water soluble contrast enhancement composition with 1-oxy-2 diazonaphthalene sulfonamide salt and polyvinyl alcohol


A shock absorber for mounting between a first frame member and a second frame member of a bicycle includes a first member adapted to couple to the first frame member and a second member disposed within the first member and adapted to couple to the second frame member. The first and second members rotate relative to each other, and an elastic member is disposed between the first member and the second member so that the elastic member expands and contracts in response to relative rotation of the first member and the second member. A linking mechanism couples the first member with the second member so that the first member and the second member are axially and radially immovable relative to each other.

The present invention is directed to bicycle components and, more particularly, to a bicycle shock absorber wherein the shock absorber elements are linked together through first and second annular members coupled to corresponding first and second tubular members.
Cycling grows in popularity not only as a transportation means but, to a greater extent, as a mode of recreation. In addition, cycling is a popular competitive sport for professionals and amateurs. It is known that mountain and road bicycles are currently provided with front or rear suspensions to absorb shocks transmitted to the rider both on and off the road. Numerous structures, ranging from simple to complex, are used for such suspensions. For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application 9-290790 teaches an inexpensive bicycle suspension with a simple structure. This suspension comprises a cylindrical external member with a plurality of projections extending inwardly and an internal member mounted inside the external member and having a plurality of projections extending radially outwardly, wherein the plurality of projections extending from the external member radially face the plurality of projections extending from the internal member. Elastic members are mounted between the external member and the internal member and are compressionally deformed by the relative rotation of the two members. Side plates are integrally attached to both ends of the internal member. The external and internal members may be integrally linked to respective front and rear frame members of the bicycle, wherein the rear frame member is fixed to the side plates.
In the conventional structure described above, the internal member is prevented from axial movement by the side plate attached to the internal member. However, the internal member and external member sometimes slip in the radial direction when the rider mounts the bicycle or when a shock is applied to the frame. When the two members slip in the radial direction, there is a risk that they will come into contact and sustain damage.

Bicycle shock absorber linked together through first and second annular members


A method of making an interconnect that includes providing an interconnect structure in a dielectric material, recessing the dielectric material such that a portion of the interconnect structure extends above an upper surface of the dielectric; and depositing an encasing cap over the extended portion of the interconnect structure.

As integrated circuits become more complex, process integration requires several processes. Also, the continuing miniaturization of electronic devices requires that interconnects be positioned at multi levels in the device. For copper, the requirement of several layers of metallization becomes increasingly complicated by the associated requirement of etch stop and diffusion barrier structures at each level.
In damascene processing, the interconnect structure or wiring pattern is formed within trenches or vias formed within a dielectric film. Using known techniques a photoresist material is used to define the wiring pattern. The patterned photoresist acts as a mask through which a pattern of the dielectric material is removed by a subtractive etch process such as plasma etching or reactive ion etching. The etched openings are used to define wiring patterns in the dielectric layer. These wiring patterns can extend from one surface of the dielectric layer to the other surface of the dielectric layer. Alternatively, the wiring patterns can be confined to a single layer, that is, not extend to the opposite surface of the dielectric layer.
The wiring patterns are then filled with a metal using a filling technique such as electroplating, electroless plating, chemical vapor deposition, physical vapor deposition or a combination thereof. A barrier layer is typically used to minimize atomic diffusion of the conductive metals into the dielectric.
In the single damascene process, via openings are provided in the dielectric layer and filled with a conducting metal, which is often referred to as metallization, to provide electrical contact between layers of wiring levels. In the dual damascene process, the via openings and the wiring pattern openings are both provided in the dielectric layer before filling with the conducting metal. The dual damascene process can simplify the manufacturing process by eliminating some internal interfaces. Damascene processing followed by metallization is continued for each layer in the electronic component until the electronic device is completed.
Barrier layers are often needed between the dielectric material and the conductive material in order to prevent atoms of the conductive material from diffusing into and at times through the dielectric material and into other active circuit device structures. Diffusion of conductive material in the device can cause inter-level or intra-level shorts through the dielectric material. Also, junction leakage can result, and threshold voltage (Vt) levels of the transistors formed within the substrate can shift. In some cases, device functionality can be destroyed.
Diffusion is a particular concern when a high diffusivity element is used as a conductive material in the semiconductor structures. For example, copper atoms often exhibit relatively high diffusion mobility in most dielectric materials. Yet, in spite of this problem, copper is a favored material for interconnects because of its superior conductivity.
FIGS. 1A and 1B are representational cross-sectional views of process steps taken to provide a copper interconnect of the prior art. With reference to FIG. 1A, a dual-damascene copper interconnect is represented, which includes trench 16 and via 17, copper line 12 embedded in dielectric 10, cap layer 14 (e.g. silicon nitride, silicon carbide, or silicon oxide) and interlayer dielectric 15. As shown, via 17 is etched in the interlayer dielectric 15 and the cap layer 14 to expose copper line 12. Typically, a barrier layer (e.g. tantalum, tantalum nitride) is deposited on the patterned interlayer dielectric using a PVD process. A copper seed layer is then deposited over the barrier layer, followed by a Cu plating process to fill the trench 16 and via 17 with copper 18 as shown in FIG. 1B.
Misalignment of one patterned interlayer over another interlayer each with its embedded interconnect structures often leads to vias that do not fully land on the underlying conducting lines or conducting lines that do not fully land on the underlying vias. Unlanded vias and lines can significantly reduce electrical connection to the lower metallization and result in low process yield or in field failures. As a result, electronic circuits are designed with specific alignment tolerance values. For example, in 65 nm node technology, via diameter is about 100 nm and the overlay budget is about 40 nm. Therefore, there is an interest to provide interconnect structures with relaxed manufacturing tolerance values, particularly for high-density wiring designs.

Interconnect structures with encasing cap and methods of making thereof

International Business Machines Corporation


A computer system includes a processor and program storage coupled to the processor. The program storage stores a software instruction translator that, when executed by the processor, is configured to receive source code and translate the source code to a low-level language. The source code is restricted to a subset of a high-level language and the low-level language is a specialized instruction set. Each statement of the subset of the high-level language directly maps to an instruction of the low-level language.

Various processor designs include processors or coprocessors that are intended to accelerate execution of a given set of processing tasks. Often times, these processors or coprocessors, which may be referred to as "accelerators," achieve good cost or energy efficiency in particular processing tasks, such as scaling, filtering, transformation, sum of absolute differences, etc. To achieve good efficiency, some accelerators utilize a specialized instruction set that is designed to execute in a highly efficient manner for a given set of tasks.
Writing software code in a specialized instruction set is arduous for programmers because they are required to learn both a new language and its associated syntax. Additionally, debugging software code written in a specialized instruction set may only be performed on machines that can compile the specialized instruction set, which may be inconvenient. However, high-level programming languages such as C may contain many statements that cannot be effectively compiled to the specialized instruction set for execution on an accelerator utilizing that specialized instruction set. Further, statements of a high-level programming language may map to tens or even hundreds of low-level instructions in the specialized instruction set, which reduces the efficiency of code generated for execution by the accelerator using a high-level programming language. Consequently, a programming language that is familiar to programmers, may be easily debugged, and maintains the efficiencies of a target specialized instruction set when translated to the specialized instruction set is desirable.

Systems and methods for software instruction translation from a high-level language to a specialized instruction set


Implementations described herein include surgical distraction devices having a distal movement assembly having a pusher plate comprising a first slot extending along a first axis disposed in a first side and a second slot extending along a second axis disposed in a second side thereof. The first axis is oriented at an angle of from about 60 to about 160 degrees from the second axis. The device further includes a first and second paddles, each paddle having a corresponding engagement mechanism for movably coupling the respective first or second paddle to the pusher plate when engaged in the respective slot. Rotational actuation of the proximal drive assembly causes proximal or distal movement of the pusher plate, causing the first and second engagement members to move relative to their respective slots, thereby moving the first paddle and the second paddle in opposing directions. Methods of using such surgical distraction devices to determine size of an intervertebral space are also described.

Spinal surgeries that require implantation of devices into intervertebral spaces are well known. In order to determine an appropriate size intervertebral implant, it may be necessary to use tools to measure the intervertebral space. Currently used tools may include tools that include snap-on heads of varying size that are switched out until the appropriate diameter across the intervertebral space is determined. Alternatively, a number of different tools, each of different size, may be used.


Methods, systems, and computer program products may aggregate data in electronic communications. The method may include detecting, by a computer system, receipt of one or more text-based electronic communications, and identifying, by the computer system, first data of interest with a predetermined characteristic in the text-based electronic communications. The method may additionally include extracting, by the computer system, the identified first data of interest from the text-based electronic communications, and obtaining, by the computer system, an initial first set of associated data that is associated with the extracted first data of interest from at least one electronic resource external to the computer system. The method may further include displaying, by the computer system and independently of the text-based electronic communications and the at least one electronic resource, the extracted first data of interest with the obtained initial first set of associated data.

The present inventions relate to electronic communications systems, and more specifically, to electronic communications systems that aggregate (or collate) data from electronic communications and other electronic resources.
Electronic communications systems transmit electronic messages, such as email, instant messaging, and text messaging, from senders to recipients. Each electronic message may contain information that may be partly or entirely encoded as text data representing characters. The body of an email message may, for example, be encoded as ASCII text data that can be viewed, printed, searched, saved, and/or otherwise manipulated. This data may contain a sequence of characters of special interest to a recipient. For example, a shipper may send an email message to a customer to report a tracking number that identifies a shipment in transit to that customer. The customer may then use that number to obtain information about the shipment by entering the tracking number into a form on the shipping company's website.

Aggregating data in electronic communications


A response form processing system (22) is provided which allows for the processing of response forms (10) which comprise a group code (20), questions (12) and (14), response prompts (16) and response blocks (18). The system (22) comprises a group code reader (24) and a response scanner (28) which are coupled to a processor (26). The processor (26) receives information from the group code reader (24) which identifies which questions are present on a particular response form (10). The processor (26) then receives the scanned responses from the response scanner (28). The processor (26) organizes and tabulates the responses and is capable of producing reports comprising the information received from the response forms (10).

A common method of receiving feedback from customers of a variety of businesses is through the use of response forms such as comment cards. An owner of a business can use the responses gleaned from his customers to improve services, spot unsatisfactory areas of his products or services or to evaluate marketing techniques and potential. In short, the comments of a customer who has just patronized an establishment are one of the most powerful sources of information to the owner of a business. In the past, the inconvenience to the customer of filling out a response form or using other methods of customer surveys have reduced the effectiveness and accuracy of the comments received. For example, if a response form takes more than just a few seconds for a customer to fill out, chances are that the average customer will not bother to fill out the form unless he is especially dissatisfied with some area of the business. This inconvenience results in inaccurate data compiled from these systems.
Accordingly, a need has arisen for a system for soliciting responses from customers that will encourage the accurate compilation of data from a customer base. A further need has arisen for a system and method of processing the response forms into useful formats such that the data compiled can be used effectively.


The present invention provides a method and apparatus for transmitting a preamble for multiple channel estimation. The method includes generating a channel estimation sequence, allocating the channel estimation sequence to some of a plurality of symbols in which a preamble is transmitted, and transmitting the preamble. The channel estimation sequence is generated by bisecting a sequence having a length N, generating a first sequence and a second sequence by adding a Zero-padded Suffix (ZS) having a zero value to a last part of each of the two bisected sequences, copying the first sequence and the second sequence at least once, and allocating the first sequences and the second sequences to some of the symbols.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to wireless communication and, more particularly, to methods and apparatuses for transmitting and receiving a preamble for multiple channel estimation in an Ultra-WideBand (UWB) wireless communication system.
2. Related Art
The existing narrow band multiple access method has a limit in performing multimedia high-speed data wireless transmission. Accordingly, there is a lot of interest in UWB communication. UWB communication is technology for transmitting a very wide signal by using a short radio frequency pulse of a nanosecond or lower. A UWB communication system may be defined as a system having a frequency band whose center frequency is 20% or higher or whose bandwidth is 500 MHz or higher.
A preamble for channel estimation may be used in a UWB communication system. The preamble is a previously agreed signal which is added to the front part of a data section, and is used for power control of the signal, frequency offset correction, and time offset correction. The preamble may be transmitted in a plurality of symbol periods, for example, a plurality of Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbols in the time domain. A channel estimation sequence is transmitted in some of the plurality of symbols.
A preamble, more particularly, a channel estimation sequence used in a UWB communication system requires a structure that may separate signals overlappingly received from the multiple antennas of a single relay terminal or from several relay terminals at the same time in order to enable the estimation of a UWB channel having a very large number of paths and improve reliability and the data rate. The simplest method of satisfying the requirement is to configure channel estimation sequences so that the sequences do not overlap in the time and frequency domains for each terminal. This method, however, is not preferred because the length of the channel estimation sequence is increased and frequency efficiency is deteriorated according to an increase in the number of relay terminals.
Meanwhile, a Space-Time Block Code (STBC) which may be used to estimate a channel in a multiple antenna system is basically designed such that codes transmitted for each antenna are orthogonal to each other in order to separate signals transmitted at the same time from the channel. Accordingly, a channel may be estimated without waste of frequency by using an STBC-based channel estimation sequence even in a cooperative communication environment including a plurality of relay terminals. This common channel estimation sequence, however, is problematic in that channel estimation performance is deteriorated because interference is generated between symbols if the number of multiple paths is many as in a UWB channel.
Accordingly, there is a need for a method and apparatus for transmitting a preamble including a channel estimation sequence, which are capable of improving the channel estimation ability of a system that performs transmission while performing frequency hopping, such as a UWB system, in an environment in which one relay terminal using multiple antennas or a plurality of relay terminal relays a signal through cooperation.

Methods and apparatuses for transmitting and receiving preamble for multiple channel estimation

Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute


A hydraulic system of an industrial vehicle includes an oil tank in which hydraulic oil is retained; a hydraulic pump that draws in the hydraulic oil from the tank and supply the oil to a loading actuator and a brake unit; a brake valve that controls the hydraulic oil to be supplied to the brake unit according to an operation of a brake operation tool; a hydraulic oil cooler that cools the hydraulic oil; a cooling passage that allows the hydraulic oil to flow toward the cooler and further allows the oil cooled in the cooler to flow toward the brake unit; and a switching valve that switches between a first oil passage that cuts off a supply of the hydraulic oil from the hydraulic pump to the cooling passage and a second oil passage that allows the supply of the hydraulic oil from the hydraulic pump to the cooling passage.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-264417 discloses a known hydraulic system of an industrial vehicle, for example. The hydraulic system disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-264417 includes a hydraulic pump for a brake and a hydraulic pump for an operating machine that are driven by an engine, a wheel cylinder that is driven by hydraulic oil discharged from the hydraulic pump for a brake, a brake operation valve disposed between the hydraulic pump for a brake and the wheel cylinder and provided with a brake pedal, an accumulator connected to a pipe that branches off from a pipe connected to the hydraulic pump for a brake, a cylinder for an operating machine that is driven by hydraulic oil discharged from the hydraulic pump for an operating machine, and an operating-machine operation valve disposed between the hydraulic pump for an operating machine and the cylinder for an operating machine.
The above-described hydraulic system may include a hydraulic oil cooler configured to cool hydraulic oil for cooling a brake unit, and may supply the hydraulic oil, which has been cooled in the hydraulic oil cooler, to the brake unit. In this case, the hydraulic system needs a dedicated hydraulic pump and oil tank for the cooling of the brake unit in addition to the hydraulic oil cooler. This configuration causes an increase in the number of necessary components of the hydraulic system and a mounting space for those components, which leads to an increase in size of the industrial vehicle to which the hydraulic system is mounted.
The present disclosure, which has been made in light of the above-mentioned problem, is directed to providing a hydraulic system of an industrial vehicle that allows the number of components and a mounting space for the components to be reduced.


In a method for detecting a motion of an object with the aid of an image recording system (e.g., HDR camera) which includes an image sensor, a first reset and a second reset are performed at a time interval during the exposure of the image sensor, an extent of a region of constant brightness is measured from the image of an object, and the motion (direction, velocity, and optionally acceleration) of the object is ascertained from the relationship between the measured extent and the time interval between the first and second resets. This motion determination is achieved with the aid of a single image.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for determining relative motion with the aid of a camera.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is already known to use an image recording system in a motor vehicle in order to obtain images of the vehicle's surroundings and, in combination with a driver assistance system, to facilitate the driving of the vehicle. An image recording system of this type includes at least one image sensor and one optical system associated with this image sensor, which maps a recorded field of the vehicle's surroundings onto the image sensor. The image sensor used in an image recording system of this type must process a broad range of different illumination levels in order to be able to deliver a usable output signal both in blazing sun and in poorly illuminated tunnels. While in the case of a conventional image sensor exposure sensitivity often follows a fixedly adjusted linear or logarithmic characteristics curve, image sensors have already been proposed (published German patent application document DE 103 01 898 A1 and published German patent application document DE 10 2006 027 121 A1) in which individual linear segments of this characteristics curve are individually adjustable. A characteristics curve of this type relates the absolute brightness of an object to the grayscale value in the image obtained from the object.
From the article "Velocity measurement based on image blur" by M. Celestiono and O. Horikawa in ABCM Symposium Series in Mechatronics, Vol. 3, pp. 633-642, 2008, it is furthermore known to measure the velocity of a vehicle over the ground in order to check the reliability performance of the tachometer. For this purpose, an image of the road segment traveled by the vehicle is detected by an image sensor which is integrated into the vehicle, and the detected image is compared with a previously recorded image. Velocity information is derived from the image blurred as a function of the velocity.

Method for determining relative motion with the aid of an HDR camera


An optical pickup for picking up signals from an optical disk comprises a hologram to split a laser beam emitted from a laser light source into one 0th diffraction light beam and two 1st diffraction light beams, and also to diffract return light beams reflected from the optical disk with two grating areas formed on one surface thereof. The diffracted light beams from the hologram are detected by a 6-piece-divided photodetector. The number of parts included in the system has been greatly reduced.

The present invention relates to a three-beam-type optical pickup and a hologram which is suitable for use in this type of optical pickup.
FIG. 1 shows a constitution of a conventional three-beam-type optical pickup. In this figure, a laser light beam emitted from a laser diode 1 is split into three beams through diffraction by a diffraction grating 2, and split light beams pass through a non-polarizing beam splitter 3 and a collimator lens 4. Light beams which were made into parallel beams by the collimator lens 4, are focused by an object lens 5 so as to form light spots on a signal surface of a disk 6. Return light beams reflected by the disk signal surface return to the beam splitter 3 through the same light paths as their incident paths, are reflected by the beam splitter 3 to the direction of a detector 9, and pass through a plano-concave lens 7 and a cylindrical lens 8. The return light beams transmitted from the cylindrical lens 8 form spots on a 6-piece-divided photodetector 9. Shapes of the spots on the 6-piece-divided photodetector 9 are also illustrated in FIG. 1 for three cases (a), (b) and (c) in which the disk signal surface is just in the focusing plane, the optical pickup is too near to the signal surface, and the optical pickup is too far from the signal surface, respectively.
In this case, a focusing error signal (F.E.), a tracking error signal (T.E.), and a reproduced RF signal (R.F.) are expressed as the following respective equations:
F.E.=( A+C )-( B+D ) PA1 T.E.=E-F PA1 R.F.=A+B+C+D
where A to F represent outputs from respective photosensors of the 6-piece-divided photodetector 9. Detecting methods of the above focusing error and the tracking error include an astigmatism method and a three beams method, respectively.
The foregoing conventional three-beam-type optical pickup necessitate eight devices: the laser diode 1, the diffraction grating 2, the beam splitter 3, the collimator lens 4, the object lens 5, the plano-concave lens 7, the cylindrical lens 8, and the 6-piece-divided photodetector 9. As these many optical devices are necessary, the conventional three-beam-type optical pickup is costly, it is not easy for the pickup to be miniaturized and made light, and it is complicated to adjust the pickup because of many adjusting points.
Moreover, though there exists a hologram having two grating areas which are constituted in such a manner that diffraction light beams from the hologram are focused on different two points, the two grating areas are formed on one surface of the hologram.


In a sensor device for determining ambient conditions of a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, comprising at least one transmitter for emitting electromagnetic radiation, in particular infrared radiation, comprising at least three receivers for receiving electromagnetic radiation, in particular infrared radiation, wherein at least one transmitter is assigned to at least one receiver for determining precipitation on at least one glass surface, in particular the windscreen of the motor vehicle, and wherein at least three receivers are aligned for receiving electromagnetic radiation from different angular regions, it is provided as essential to the invention that the spatial receiving regions of at least one first and at least one second receiver are aligned substantially horizontally, that the spatial receiving region of at least one third receiver is aligned substantially upwards.

Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a sensor device for determining ambient conditions of a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, comprising at least one transmitter for emitting electromagnetic radiation, in particular infrared radiation, comprising at least three receivers for receiving electromagnetic radiation, in particular infrared radiation, wherein at least two receivers are each assigned to one transmitter for determining precipitation on at least one glass surface, in particular the windscreen of a motor vehicle and wherein at least three receivers are aligned for receiving electromagnetic radiation at different angular regions. The invention further relates to a vehicle having a sensor device according to the invention and a method for determining the position of the sun using a sensor device according to the invention.
Brief Description of the Related Art
Methods and devices for determining ambient conditions are used in many vehicles. The ambient conditions can, for example, comprise weather influences such as the wetting state of the windscreen or the position of the sun. Optical sensor devices, for example can be used to determine the wetting state of the windscreen, in which for example, an infrared signal is coupled into the windscreen and after a defined transit distance of the infrared radiation in the windscreen, it can be determined by means of the coupled-out component of the signal how great is the proportion of total reflections in the windscreen. The proportion of total reflections is here influenced by the wetting of the windscreen, for example, with water. In addition to the wetting state of the windscreen, the position of the sun relative to the vehicle is an important parameter since the position of the sun can be incorporated as a parameter in control programs for air-conditioning systems for example. In many cases, combined rain-light sensors can be used to determine the parameters by using dedicated receivers for the illumination state in addition to the transmitters and receivers for determining rain.
For example DE 10 2009 007 521 B4 describes a method for determining the position of the sun for an air-conditioning system of a motor vehicle. Here solar radiation sensors are used of which one is inclined to the right by a certain angle with respect to the vehicle longitudinal direction and the other is inclined to the left by a certain angle. The angle of the position of the sun with respect to the vehicle longitudinal direction and the intensity of the solar irradiation can be determined by means of the solar radiation sensors. During a rotation of the sensor about a vertical axis, the intensity of the solar irradiation is determined multiple times by the left and the right sensor and the normalized difference is calculated from the intensity values. The elevation of the sun is determined from a stored elevation characteristic of the sensor for the determined normalized difference. For the determined elevation of the sun and the current normalized difference, the azimuth angle is determined from the stored elevation characteristic of the sensor.
A disadvantage of the known devices and methods is that solar position sensors provided especially for this purpose must be used. These additional sensors increase the number of components required and increase the costs of the device.

Sensor device for determining ambient conditions of a vehicle, in particular of a motor vehicle and method for determining the position of the sun


A method and device for transmitting data packets from a server to at least one client concerns i) estimating a time lapse between the transmission of a successive first and second packet, on the basis of information relating to the first packet, the information being representative of whether or not the first and second packets transport image data from the same image, and ii) triggering and defining retransmission of the second packet, on the basis of said time lapse. In one embodiment, the client estimates the time lapse on the basis of the type of the second packet and on the basis of statistical results concerning the type of the second packet and requests the retransmission of a packet awaited for a longer time than that time lapse. In another embodiment, the server estimates the time lapse on the basis of the type of payload of a first packet to retransmit and of at least one second packet following the first packet to retransmit and spontaneously retransmits the second packet with the first packet on the basis of that time lapse.

The present invention concerns a method and device for transmitting data, in particular video data. It concerns, in particular, video data transmission implementing error control by data retransmission.
In the case of video transmission by packets over a network in which the RTP protocol is used (RTP being an acronym for "Real-Time Transport Protocol"), the network is not reliable since it does not provide stable transmission conditions and losses may occur.
In the context of H.264 video coding or SVC (acronym for "Scalable Video Coding"), the video transport unit is the NAL (acronym for "network abstraction layer"). The NAL may be viewed as a container grouping together the video data behind a header which gives a description of those data.
The IETF (acronym for "Internet Engineering Task Force") has defined RTP payloads for transporting AVC NALs (AVC being an acronym for "Advanced Video Coding") as set out, for example, in the paper by S. Wenger et al., "RTP payload format for H.264 video", of February 2005.
This payload format was then extended for SVC as set out, for example, in the paper by S. Wenger et al., "RTP payload format for SVC video" of Jul. 9, 2007. In this context, four types of payload have been defined:                single NAL unit packet,        single time aggregation packet, or STAP,        multiple time aggregation packet, or MTAP,        fragmented unit packet, or FU.
Single NAL packets have been defined for backward compatibility with prior standards but their use is not recommended. It is assumed, in what follows, that this type of packet is not used. The other types of payload are described with reference to FIG. 1, in which a video data stream 105 is represented in the top line and in the bottom line that video stream is represented encapsulated into packets 110 to 130.
As can be seen, an STAP packet contains one NAL (the case of packet 115) or several NALs (the case of packet 110) which correspond at the same moment, for example to layers, or slices, that is to say portions of the same frame that are independently decodable from each other. An MTAP packet 130 contains several NALs which correspond to different moments. A packet FU 120 or 125 is used to transport NALs which cannot be transported by a single packet, for example due to a packet size limitation. The MTU (acronym for "Maximum Transfer Unit") defines the maximum packet size which ensures that the packet will not be fragmented by the network.
Error control mechanisms based on retransmission are generally grouped together under the name "ARQ" (acronym for "Automatic Repeat Request"). ARQ is a very effective tool for finding lost data. It is based on the detection, at the client, of losses and the transmission of an acknowledgement of receipt, or ACK (abbreviation of "acknowledgement"), or of an acknowledgement of non-receipt, or NACK (abbreviation for "Non ACK"). The server retransmits the non-received data that are the subject of a NACK.
However, this mechanism was designed for applications without time constraints, such as those for file transfer. It is generally accepted that this type of mechanism is too slow for applications which do not allow delay, such as videoconference or very short delays, such as video on demand. The delay induced by ARQ is the combination of two delays. The first depends on the network and it is regarded here as not being possible to reduce. It corresponds to the transmission time lapse of the NACK and to that of the retransmission of the lost packet. The second is linked to the delay in detecting the data loss. When RTP packets are transmitted over the network, a sequential number is inserted into each packet. The successively transmitted packets thus have successive numbers.
The client detects losses when it identifies a gap in the successively received numbers. Thus, when a packet is lost, the client must wait to receive the packet following the one lost in order to detect the loss of the packet. This delay further increases when several successive packets are lost.
Several solutions have been proposed to improve the reactivity of ARQs by reducing this second delay. The document U.S. Pat. No. 7,124,343 describes a server which transmits a packet to a client over a first link and an indicator of transmission of that packet over a second link. When it receives the indicator, the client launches a time measurement with which it estimates the time lapse for arrival of the packet. When the client considers that the packet should already have arrived, it transmits a NACK to the server. However, this solution imposes the use of two links, or channels, which is not always feasible and reduces the bandwidth available for the video data.
The document US 2004 0,013,114 describes client/server applications in which a time slot is allocated to the server to transmit packets. The server retransmits all these packets if it receives a NACK concerning one of these packets. However, this solution also reduces the bandwidth available for the video data.

Method and device for transmitting data, in particular video


A system is provided for heat sinking and environmental dissipation of heat generated by one or more ICs mounted to a printed circuit board. The system includes a primary thermally conductive plate and one or more thermally conductive discs attached to the primary plate. The one or more thermally conductive discs make intimate contact with the one or more ICs mounted to the printed circuit board such that the heat generated by the one or more ICs in operation transfers through the one or more discs and onto the plate, whereupon the heat laterally distributes across the primary plate and dissipates into the environment.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is in the field of electronics thermal management, pertaining particularly to the management of printed circuit boards (PCBs) used in the telecom and other industries where such boards are mounted in close proximity to each other in a rack or housing, e.g., telecommunications system channel bank. The present invention pertains to methods and apparatus for creating and maintaining acceptable operating temperatures on said boards through use of a specialized heat sink attached to the board's integrated circuits (ICs).
2. Discussion of the State of the Art
In the field of electronics, PCBs are used to support mounted electronics components, including integrated circuits for use in powering and providing function to electronic devices and systems. In the field of telecommunications, a plurality of PCBs are often arranged as a group in parallel relationship to each other and in close proximity to each other, especially in telecommunications equipment like telecommunications channel banks.
In typical individual PCB structures, there are a variety of techniques and apparatus employed for the purpose of helping maintain acceptable temperatures for heat-generating ICs mounted to the board. Of these known types, individual passive heat sinks and thermally conductive board layers are the most common. These, however, have become increasingly less effective with the advent of higher speed ICs required on the PCBs of telecommunications and other industries. These faster ICs generate more heat, and, when enough are mounted together on a PCB, can generate enough heat to render individual passive sinks or conductive layers inadequate. The problem is exasperated further when multiple boards are operating in close proximity to one another.
More thermally effective types of heat dissipation systems are available in the art such as micro-fans, thermoelectric heat sinks, or heat-pipe assisted sinks. While thermally effective, there is a higher cost for implementing these types and there are more reliability problems with the use of these systems. Moreover, the housing arrangement typically required of a plurality of PCBs arranged in parallel and in close proximity to each other, such as in a telecommunications channel bank, for example, makes implementation of space-consuming control contrivances very difficult if not impossible. This is because systems like telecommunications channel banks have very limited space available between installed cards (PCBs) and may have no permissible space outside of channel banks to provide mounting space for heat rejection surfaces that may be used in heat pipe systems or the like.
Therefore, what is clearly needed in the art is a thermal heat sink and dissipation system for temperature control and maintenance of multiple ICs mounted to a PCB that may be implemented with other like PCBs in tight, minimally-spaced board configurations and that may be provided of low-cost materials and labor.

Heat dissipation system for multiple integrated circuits mounted on a printed circuit board