The contour correction processing of a still picture that can suppress the generation of a black edge due to an undershoot in a contour portion is enabled while increasing a feeling for resolution. Moreover, an interpolation device that improves the sharpness of a digital picture is provided without increasing a circuit scale.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for video signal processing, and a camera device and a method therefor, using the apparatus and method for video signal processing. In particular, the invention relates to the apparatus and method for video signal processing for correcting a contour of a picture, and the camera device and method therefor, using the apparatus and method for video signal processing.
2. Description of Related Art
There is known a method for increasing the resolution of a picture, e.g., disclosed in JP-A Nos. 38074/1983 or 29578/1991. The method has, with regard to a camera device, a step of generating a contour correction signal consisting of a preshoot and an overshoot in a horizontal or vertical direction from a video signal for correcting the deterioration of a frequency characteristic through an aperture of an image pickup device, and a step of adding this contour correction signal to the original video signal thereby to increase the resolution of a picture.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing one conventional example of a contour correction circuit used in a video signal processing apparatus. Numeral 1 is a contour correction circuit, 1a is a contour correction signal generation unit, 1b is a gain adjustment unit, 1c is an addition unit, 1d is an input terminal, and 1e is an output terminal.
FIG. 3 is a waveform chart showing a signal of each unit in FIG. 2, and the signal that corresponds to FIG. 2 is marked with the same symbol.
In FIGS. 2 and 3, a digital video signal a input from the input terminal 1d is supplied to the addition unit 1c and the contour correction signal generation unit 1a in the contour correction circuit 1. At this point, FIG. 3(a) shows a portion (a leading or trailing edge portion) in which the contour of this digital video signal a exists.
In the contour correction signal generation unit 1a, a high frequency component of this digital video signal a is sampled. A contour correction signal b consisting of the preshoot and overshoot shown in FIG. 3(b) that synchronize with a contour portion of the digital video signal a is generated from this high frequency component. This contour correction signal b is supplied to the addition unit 1c after a gain has been adjusted by the gain adjustment unit 1b, and is added to the original digital video signal a input from the input terminal 1d. Accordingly, the output terminal 1e obtains a digital video signal c in which the contour portion was enhanced and corrected by undershooting on the low luminance level side and overshooting on the high luminance level side in the contour portion of the original digital video signal a.
According to such contour correction processing, in a conventional digital video signal processing apparatus that primarily handles a moving picture, there was an effect indicating that a feeling for the resolution of a picture increases and image quality improves.
Incidentally, the object of contour correction is to increase an inclination of an edge, but it is not ideal that an undershoot and an overshoot are generated. Accordingly, an art of reducing these undershoot and overshoot is proposed (refer to JP-A No. 316393/1993).
This art indicates that when a contour correction signal including an undershoot and an overshoot is generated in the same manner as described above, the time width of these undershoot and overshoot is shortened by passing this signal through a switching means, and, subsequently, the contour correction signal processed in this manner is added to the original video signal.
Moreover, the invention relates to an interpolation device and method for sample interpolation used in the enlargement of a digital picture, and, more particularly, to a camera device and its imaging method.
An interval (cycle) of a sample (pixel) is also enlarged to sample a part of a digital picture, and to enlarge and display this part. Accordingly, inter-sample interpolation is performed to match the original sample cycle. As such an interpolation method of a conventional image, a linear interpolation method is cited (for example, refer to "More Plain Digital Video Processing" 9th Edition, Published by Hitoshi Kitsuka, CQ Publishing Company, on Aug. 1, 2003, on pp. 168 to 174).
The conventional interpolation method will be described using FIG. 12.
Now, a picture is cut out in a certain direction (for example, a horizontal scanning direction), and a picture P1 having an edge between samples A and B is targeted, as shown in FIG. 12(a), regarding a unit in which the vertical axis indicates a signal level or the horizontal axis indicates a sample cycle t as distance.
When an area including this edge of a part of this type of picture P1 is sampled and this area is enlarged into four times, this edge portion becomes a picture P2 shown in FIG. 12(b). At this point, this picture P2 has the sample cycle T=4t and turns into a very coarse picture. At this point, the samples A, B are the samples A, B in FIG. 12(a). The signal level of the sample B changes greatly for the sample A because of the aforementioned edge.
Further, this type of picture P2 corresponds to a picture as well in which a sample was sampled in the cycle T.
A sample is interpolated to improve the image quality of this type of coarse picture P2. Linear interpolation is performed hitherto as this type of interpolation method, but FIG. 12(c) shows a picture P3 in which this type of linear interpolation was performed. This linear interpolation method connects adjacent samples by a straight line and interpolates the sample of the signal level on this straight line in a cycle t.
In this type of linear interpolation method, a sample at adjacent two points is filtered. Moreover, according to a filter using information about an unlimited sample on a time axis that extends endlessly, as shown in FIG. 12(d), the sample can be interpolated at a point on a sine wave of the, cycle 2T connecting the samples A and B based on a sampling theorem. In reality, interpolation data approximate to the interpolation shown in FIG. 12(d) can be obtained by using a filter having a characteristic approximate to an ideal using the limited number of samples. As the method in which the filter of the characteristic approximate to the ideal using such limited number of samples was used, there is a bicubic method (for example, refer to JP-A No. 2001-157217).

Contour correcting video signal processing apparatus


A cooling system for cooling the interior of an automobile comprising a refillable water reservoir stored onboard the automobile, a water atomizer for dispersing water directly into the interior of the automobile to absorb heat by evaporation, a device for selectively delivering water from the reservoir to the atomizer, a fan for circulating air within the interior using a solar or lighter socket power source, a manually detachable double sided clip for mounting the atomizer adjacent to the fan or to the built in ventilation of the automobile and an intrusion prevention device comprising a plurality of geometric pieces.

This device is used to keep a motor vehicle cabin cool when parked in a hot sunny day. It uses the latent heat of vaporization of a liquid such as water, combined with convection via forced air circulation. A second use for this device is to cool occupant(s) while vehicle is in transit by placing mist in front of built-in blowers in the dash of vehicle.
By November of 1992, "do-it-yourselfers" will no longer be able to charge their vehicles with chlorofluorocarbon based refrigerants. By 1995, chlorofluorocarbon based refrigerants will be banned for automotive use per the Clean Air Act. Owners will have to switch to a substitute which would require major alterations in chlorofluorocarbon based vehicle air conditioning system such as changing the compressor, metering device, etc. As a cost efficient alternative, "Kar-Kool" might be considered as it uses a coolant that does not pollute the environment, nor does it require major alterations. It has an added advantage in that "Kar-Kool" will keep the car cool while parked in the sun which present day air conditioners can't do. Further advantages offered by this device are: negligible gasoline consumption; less pollution due to the fact that gasoline is not combusted while vehicle is in parked position, and minimal gasoline is combusted while vehicle is in transit--the fuel consumption arising from the vehicle carrying the weight of "Kar-Kool"; lower maintenance cost, as one doesn't have to go to an EPA certified mechanic to recharge the air conditioning system; emergency water supply, in case of an overheated radiator, or being stranded in the desert, low capitol costs in manufacturing, and simplicity when compared to present day air conditioners.


An image capturing apparatus comprises an image capturing unit configured to capture images by an image sensor; an acquisition unit configured to acquire information relating to sensitivities of the image sensor used for capturing the images; a composition unit configured to add a plurality of images for generating a composite image; and a development processing unit configured to perform development processing of data of the composite image generated by the composition unit; wherein a plurality of parameters having different characteristics corresponding to the sensitivities of the image sensor are provided as the parameters used for the development processing; further comprising a control unit configured to perform controlling to compare the sensitivities used for shooting the plurality of images and set the parameter corresponding to the highest sensitivity as the parameter used for the development processing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the technique for multiple shooting of images.
2. Description of the Related Art
Multiple shooting is a technique to create splendid visual effects that cannot be achieved from a single shot by composing an image either from multiple shots of an object or from an image decoded from an image file and a shot image. As used herein, the processing of adding a piece of image data to another is referred to as composition and repeated shooting of images is referred to as multiple shooting.
For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-271427 describes a method of adding a shot image and a separate image for composition to generate a composite image. This method comprises converting the image for composition based on information obtained during the shooting of the shot image before generating the composite image. Additionally, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-300372 describes a method of recording composite image data along with information for restoring the pre-composition image data.
However, if multiple shooting is performed under conditions with different ISO speeds or conditions with different resize rates or different brightness correction gains, images with different amounts of noise, dynamic ranges, and resolutions are added to generate a composite image. This may results in inadequate parameters for development processing, thus adversely affecting the appearance of the image.

Image capturing apparatus performing development processing on composite image and control method thereof


Systems, methods, and devices for managing sensor event rules are described. Methods may comprise determining a sensor event rule, wherein the sensor event rule comprises a rule sensor identifier and a rule event identifier. Data indicative of a sensor event may be received. The data may be associated with a first premises device. The data may further indicate an identifier of the first premises device and an identifier of a sensor event. Based on determining that the identifier of the rule sensor identifier corresponds to the identifier of the first premises device and that the rule event identifier corresponds to the identifier of the sensor event, a control signal may be transmitted to a second premise device. The control signal may be configured to cause configuration of one or more settings associated with one or more functions of the second premises device.

Residential electronics and control standards provide an opportunity for a variety of options for securing, monitoring, and automating residences. Wireless protocols for transmission of security information permit placement of a multitude of security sensors throughout a residence without a need for running wires back to a central control panel. Inexpensive wireless cameras also allow for placement of cameras throughout a residence to enable easy monitoring of the residence. A variety of home automation control protocols have also been developed to allow for centralized remote control of lights, appliances, and environmental apparatuses (e.g., thermostats). Traditionally, each of these security, monitoring and automation protocols require separate programming, control and monitoring stations. To the extent that home automation and monitoring systems have been coupled to home security systems, such coupling has involved including the automation and monitoring systems as slaves to the existing home security system. This limits the flexibility and versatility of the automation and monitoring systems and ties such systems to proprietary architectures.
A security system alerts occupants of a dwelling and emergency authorities of a violation of premises secured by the system. A typical security system includes a controller connected by wireless or wired connections to sensors deployed at various locations throughout the secured dwelling. In a home, sensors are usually deployed in doorways, windows, and other points of entry. Motion sensors can also be placed strategically within the home to detect unauthorized movement, while smoke and heat sensors can detect the presence of fire.
A home monitoring system provides an ability to monitor a status of a home so that a user can be made aware of any monitored state changes. A home automation system enables automation and remote control of lifestyle conveniences such as lighting, heating, cooling, and appliances. Typically, these various lifestyle conveniences are coupled to a controller via wireless or wired communications protocols. A central device is then used to program the various lifestyle conveniences.
Rather than having multiple devices to control each of the security, monitoring and automation environments, it is desirable to have a centralized controller capable of operating in each environment, thereby reducing the equipment needed in a dwelling. It is further desirable for such a controller to leverage the centralized control of security, monitoring and automation devices so that sensor events (e.g., security sensors or automation sensors) can trigger actions by other sensors, automation or monitoring devices. It is further desirable for an end-user to be able to program rules by which triggering events and corresponding actions are defined.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Defining and implementing sensor triggered response rules


A friction material characterized by using a resin composition for friction materials, the resin composition containing, as a binder, an aromatic imide oligomer having an addition-reactive group at an end thereof. Also described is a resin composition for friction materials, containing: a powder of an aromatic imide oligomer having an addition-reactive group at an end thereof; at least one type of fiber selected from the group consisting of carbon fiber, aramid fiber, glass fiber, ceramic fiber, and metal fiber; and an inorganic filler. The friction material and a resin composition for friction materials have good formability and in which the binder itself has excellent heat resistance and mechanical properties, compared to a friction material using a phenolic resin as a binder.

Friction materials are used in various applications, such as brake pads, brake linings, clutch facings, and brake shoes of automobiles, industrial vehicles, railcars, airplanes, etc. Resin compositions generally used for making these friction materials are produced by employing a phenolic resin as a binder and blending together the phenolic resin, fibers such as glass fiber, aramid fiber, or metal fiber, and an inorganic filler such as calcium carbonate or barium sulfate.
Patent Literature 1 discloses a phenolic resin composition preferably usable for friction materials etc. The cured molded product made from this composition has good heat resistance despite the fact that it is made of a phenolic resin composition, but its flexural strength after applying thermal history at 350° C. for 8 hours, for example, drops to 43% with respect to its normal-state flexural strength (see Example 1). In recent years, further improved properties are being demanded of friction materials so that they can be used in severer conditions.
Patent Literatures 2 and 3 disclose the disadvantages of using, in friction materials, flame retardants such as antimony compounds and reinforcement materials such as asbestos fibers, which have been employed for improving heat resistance and flame resistance of friction materials.
Accordingly, there has been a demand for friction materials and resin compositions for friction materials in which the binder itself has further improved heat resistance and mechanical properties.
Patent Literature 4 discloses the possibility of using, as linings etc. of brakes and clutches, a filled article made using a mixture of particles of a high-molecular-weight linear aromatic polyimide containing a ketonic carbonyl group and particles of a low-molecular-weight linear aromatic polyimide having an amine end group. The article, however, is not preferable in terms that molding is complex and requires severe conditions, such as a compression process under a pressure of 35 MPa at around 400 to 420° C. or under a pressure of 690 MPa at room temperature, and heat treatment at 400° C. for about 3 hours followed by heating at around 425 to 435° C. for 1 hour.
Patent Literature 5 discloses an aromatic imide oligomer having an addition-reactive group at an end thereof. The document discloses a method of producing a fiber composite material using a solution of the aromatic imide oligomer. However, the document is completely silent about using the oligomer for a friction material.
Patent Literature 1: JP 2003-292728 A
Patent Literature 2: JP 2002-173667 A
Patent Literature 3: JP 2001-240847 A
Patent Literature 4: JP 61-36010 B
Patent Literature 5: JP 2000-219741 A

Friction material and resin composition for friction material


The present invention pertains to a method of writing test data in a memory space within a memory store and includes: generating a header having an address representing the location of the memory space in the memory store, and a seed value; generating test data using the seed value; and storing the header and the test data in the memory space. Another embodiment of the present invention pertains to a method of testing a memory space within a memory store that includes: generating a header having an address representing the location of the memory space in the memory store, and a seed value; generating a set of values using the seed value; storing the header and the set of values in the memory space; retrieving data from the memory space; generating a new seed value using the set of values; and comparing the new seed value with the seed value. The present invention may be embodied in an apparatus for testing a memory space within a memory store that includes: a computer having a storage device interface controller; a storage device having an interface suitable for coupling to said storage device interface controller and the memory store; a first function for generating a header having an address representing the location of the memory space in the memory store, and a seed value; a second function for generating a set of values using said seed value; and a third function for storing said header and said set of values in the memory space.

The present invention pertains to a method and apparatus for testing a storage device. More particularly, the present invention pertains to a method and apparatus for testing storage device I/O functionality during a storage operation, such as a write, read, or erase operation.
The term storage device is commonly used to refer to hard disk drives, which have moving parts, and to solid-state memory devices, which use solid-state memory as their main storage medium and a device interface commonly found in hard disk drives. Testing a storage device may include repeatedly writing and reading test data across selected or all memory locations available on the drive. Erase operations may also be performed. The test data and its address must be tracked or accounted for so that data subsequently read at the same address may be verified. Test data verification and hence, I/O functionality testing becomes increasingly more difficult to accomplish since it may become difficult to distinguish between similar test data that were written at adjacent locations at different time intervals. Increasing the number of different types of test data may reduce confusion between test data stored at adjacent addresses but adds complexity. Moreover, as storage device capacity increases, testing write, erase, and/or read functionality becomes more difficult since more address locations must be tested as capacity increases. Consequently, there is a need for an improved method and apparatus for testing the I/O functionality of storage devices.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a method of writing test data in a memory space within a memory store includes: generating a header having an address representing the location of the memory space in the memory store, and a seed value; generating test data using the seed value; and storing the header and the test data in the memory space.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a method of testing a memory space within a memory store includes: generating a header having an address representing the location of the memory space in the memory store, and a seed value; generating a set of values using the seed value; storing the header and the set of values in the memory space; retrieving data from the memory space; generating a new seed value using the set of values; and comparing the new seed value with the seed value.
In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus for testing a memory space within a memory store includes: a computer having a storage device interface controller; a storage device having an interface suitable for coupling to said storage device interface controller and the memory store; a first function for generating a header having an address representing the location of the memory space in the memory store, and a seed value; a second function for generating a set of values using said seed value; and a third function for storing said header and said set of values in the memory space.
In accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus for testing a memory space within a memory store includes: a computer having a storage device interface controller; a storage device having an interface suitable for coupling to said storage device interface controller and the memory store; a first function for generating a header having an address representing the location of the memory space in the memory store, and a seed value; a second function for generating a set of values using said seed value; a third function for storing said header and said set of values in the memory space; a fourth function for retrieving data from the memory space; a fifth function for generating a new seed value using said set of values; and a sixth function for comparing said new seed value with said seed value.

Method and apparatus for testing a storage device


A back light module includes a bezel, a light-guiding plate, an optical film and a fixing element. The bezel includes frame strips defining an accommodating space. Each frame strip has a bottom surface, a carrier surface opposite to the carrier surface, and a lateral surface connected between the bottom and carrier surfaces and facing to the accommodating space. The lateral surface of the frame strips has a first cave extended from the carrier surface through the bottom surface. The light-guiding plate and the optical film are configured in the accommodating space. The optical film has at least a first protrusion within the first cave. The fixing element is configured on the carrier surfaces of the frame strips and a portion of the optical film and corresponds to the boundary between the first protrusion and the first cave. A display device using the back light module is provided.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a back light module, and more particularly to a back light module with uniform light-emitting and a display device using the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
The liquid crystal display device is widely used in cellar phone, notebook, personal computer, personal digital assistant and other consumer electronic products. FIG. 1A is a schematic disassembling view of a conventional liquid crystal display device. FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional, schematic view of the liquid crystal display device of FIG. 1A. Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, the liquid crystal display device 100 includes a liquid crystal display panel 102 and a back light module 104, and the back light module 104 is located at one side of the liquid crystal display panel 102 for providing the enough brightness to the liquid crystal display panel 102 for displaying.
The back light module 102 includes a bezel 110, a reflector 120, a light-guide plate 130, an optical film 140 and a light source unit 150. The bezel 110 is composed of a plurality of frame strips 112, and the frame strips 112 surrounds an accommodating space 113. Each frame strip 112 has a carrier surface 111 and the display panel 102 is configured on the bezel 110 and contacts to the carrier surface 111. Moreover, the carrier surface 111 has at least one cave 115. The reflector 120 and the light-guide plate 130 are sequentially configured in the accommodating space 113. The optical film 140 is configured on the light-guide plate 130. Further, the optical film 140 has at least one protrusion 142 corresponding to the cave 115 of the frame strip 112 of the bezel 110, and the depth H of the cave 115 is consistent with the thickness T of the protrusion 142 of the optical film 140, so that the protrusion 142 can be located within the cave 115 for temporarily positioning the optical film 140. The light source unit 150 is configured at the light-incident side 132 of the light-guide plate 130 to providing a light to the liquid crystal display panel 102 for displaying images.
However, since the general optical film 140 includes prism film 144 and diffusion film 146 with condensing function, when the light emitted from the light source unit 150 is reflected by the frame strip 112 to the diffusion film 146, several bright lines will resulted therein around the diffusion film 146. Therefore, the uniformity of light-emitting of the back light module 104 would be decreased.
In order to solve the above-mentioned issue, a light-shielding band 160 is configured around the diffusion film 146 to prevent from forming the bright lines around the diffusion film 146 and increase the uniformity of light-emitting of the back light module 104.
However, as shown in FIG. 1B, after the light L emitted from the light source unit 150 emits into the cave 115 of the frame strip 112, the light L will be repeatedly reflected between the frame strip 112 and the light-shielding band 160 and through the prism film 144 several times in the cave 115, therefore the light will be condensed in the cave 115 so as to decrease the uniformity of light-emitting at the protrusion 142.

Back light module and display device using the same


A load management apparatus for use with an electrical system being powered by an electrical generator selectively adds and sheds loads on the electrical generator to prevent overloading of the electrical generator. The load management apparatus learns the load profile for each load during a learning mode and executes one or more load shed processes to control which electrical loads are loading the electrical generator.

Electrical generators are used in a wide variety of applications. Typically, an electrical generator operates in a stand-by mode wherein the electrical power provided by a utility is monitored such that if the commercial electrical power from the utility fails or is otherwise interrupted for a certain period of time, the engine of the electrical generator is started, either automatically or manually by a customer, causing the electrical generator to supply emergency or backup electrical power. More particularly, the engine drives an alternator to provide electrical current to power selected electrical loads ("electrical circuits") that are connected to the electrical generator, which is typically through a dedicated electrical panel, i.e., a transfer panel.
When the electrical power generated by the alternator reaches a predetermined voltage and frequency desired by the customer, the transfer switch transfers the load imposed by the customer from the commercial power lines to the electrical generator. The electrical generator then supplies electrical power to selected loads, which are typically deemed to be critical loads, such as HVAC equipment, refrigerator(s), lighting, sump pumps, well pumps, and, if applicable, medical equipment.
The 2008 edition of the United States National Electrical Code (NEC 2008) required an increase in the ratio of rated generator output to maximum possible loading on the electrical generator. Thus, to meet the NEC stated supply/load requirements, larger electrical generators than previously needed are now required or the generator-connected loads must be limited. Larger electrical generators are generally more costly in acquisition and operating costs, have a larger physical footprint, and are noisier. It is often desirable to hide or otherwise soften the appearance of the electrical generator, such as when used to provide emergency or backup power to a home. Similarly, many homeowners' associations have noise emission requirements that ultimately limit the size of electrical generator that can be used. So, in general, there is a demand for physically smaller electrical generators. However, reducing the physical size of the electrical generator typically also results in a reduction in the rated power output of the electrical generator, which can place a limit on the number of electrical loads that are fed by the electrical generator during utility power interruption. Many users, however, prefer to power as many electrical loads as possible even when utility power is unavailable. With NEC 2008, the number of generator-connectable loads is further limited.
One of the challenges faced by engineers in designing smaller electrical generators without sacrificing power output is preventing overloading of the electrical generator when it is being used to supply electrical power to the generator-connected loads during utility power interruption or failure. One solution has required an electrician to hardwire only those loads, through the transfer panel, that the electrical generator is capable of supporting. Thus, for this traditional wired approach, if the electrical generator was sized to supply 200 Amps of output, for example, the total amperage draw of the electrical loads connected to the electrical generator through the transfer panel would be limited to approximately 200 Amps. NEC 2008 allows consumers to have their power usage monitored, such as for thirty days, with recordings for peak power usage. This data can then be used to select an appropriately sized generator. However, this process is typically expensive and will often result in the consumer needing or wanting a larger sized generator.
Another type of solution is the use of a control module, such as that described in U.S. Publication No. 2007/0222295, which adds and sheds loads based on the demand placed on the electrical generator. With this microprocessor-based model, if a given load is turned off or is otherwise not loading the electrical generator, the control module adds a load on the electrical generator. Similarly, if the current draw of the online loads exceeds the rated output of the electrical generator, or some other value representative of an overload condition, the control module provides command signals to one or more remotely controllable switches to shed ("electrically disconnect") one or more electrical loads until the loading on the electrical generator is matched to or below the rated output of the electrical generator. The plurality of loads are typically prioritized which sets an order by which the loads are added or shed, i.e., remotely controllable switches are switched. In this regard, if a new load is added to the loads to be powered by the electrical generator, the loads must be re-prioritized. This re-prioritization typically requires an electrician to rewire how the loads are connected to the transfer panel or change the association of the remotely controllable switches and the loads so that the control module connects and disconnects the loads in the right order.

Load shed control module for use with electrical generator


A method for adjusting a medical device is provided. The method includes obtaining an initial trajectory of a component of the medical device. The initial trajectory of the component includes a plurality of initial positions. For each of the plurality of initial positions, the method further includes determining whether a collision is likely to occur between a subject and the component according to the initial trajectory of the component. In response to the determination that the collision is likely to occur, the method further includes updating the initial trajectory of the component to determine an updated trajectory of the component.

In the scanning of a medical device, for example, a Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT), in-situ scanning is efficient and precise. However, a collision between a component of the medical device and a patient is likely to occur, which will block the in-situ scanning. Accordingly, it is desirable to avoid the collision between the component and the patient in the in-situ scanning.

Systems and methods for adjusting medical device

SHANGHAI UNITED IMAGING HEALTHCARE CO., LTD.


The invention relates to a vapor-deposition material for the production of high-refraction optical coatings by coating substrates in vacuo. The material is a compound of the formula La.sub.2 TiO.sub.7-x where x=from 0.3 to 0.7.

Thin oxide coatings are widespread in industry, in particular in optics, as protective coatings or for optical function purposes. Thus, they can be used as protection against corrosion and mechanical damage or for coating the surfaces of optical components and instruments, such as, in particular, lenses, mirrors, prisms, etc. In addition, thin oxide coatings are used to produce high-, medium- and low-refraction optical coatings for increasing or reducing reflection. The main area of application is the production of antireflection coatings on spectacle lenses and on elements for camera lenses, binoculars and optical components for optical measuring instruments and for laser technology, furthermore for the production of coatings having a certain refractive index and/or certain optical absorption properties, for example in interference mirrors, beam dividers, heat filters and diathermic mirrors.
The starting materials for the production of these oxide coatings are known per se. Conventional materials are SiO.sub.2 and a wide range of metal oxides, possibly in combination with one another. Selection is essentially empirical, depending on the desired optical properties and the processing properties. The coatings are produced by the vacuum vapor-deposition method, which is known per se. For an exemplary illustration, German Patent 12 28 489 is cited here, which indicates materials which can be used and processing methods and the problems which occur in this connection.
For the production of high-refraction coatins, i.e. coatings which have an optical refractive index of around 2, e.g., about 1.9 to about 2.4, preferably 2.0 to 2.2, the choice of starting materials which are suitable in principle is limited. Suitable starting materials are essentially the oxides of titanium, zirconium, hafnium and tantalum, and mixed systems thereof. The preferred starting material for high-refraction coatings is titanium dioxide.
However, these materials which are suitable per se have a number of disadvantages, which are evident, in particular, from practical processing.
One aspect here is that these substances have high melting and boiling points, which, in addition, are relatively close to one another. From a practical point of view, however, it is important that the vapor-deposition materials are in the fully-melted state before noticeable deposition begins. Only then is a uniform and adequate deposition rate ensured. This is necessary so that homogeneous and uniformly thick coatings form on the objects to be coated. In the case of the oxides of zirconium and hafnium and in the case of titanium/zirconium mixed oxide systems, however, this is not the case under practical application conditions. Said substances do not melt completely, or at all, under conventional working conditions. They are overall difficult to evaporate, and coatings having thickness variations are obtained.
It is therefore desired to reduce the melting points of the base materials by means of suitable additives. Additives furthermore serve to vary within certain limits and set in a specific manner the refractive index in the resultant coating.
The choice of suitable additives for this purpose is restricted by the requirement for freedom from absorption. The only metal oxides which are therefore suitable as corresponding additives are those which have no absorption in the visible spectral region and into the near UV wavelength range (up to about 320 nm).
A further problem is the following:
Although said oxides, as starting material, have only low absorption, or none at all, in the visible wavelength range, which is a prerequisite for the corresponding optical applications, the production of thin coatings by vacuum vapor deposition using these materials nevertheless results, without special precautions, in coatings of high absorption in the visible regions. This is particularly true of titanium dioxide, which is regarded as the starting material of choice for high-refraction coatings. This effect is attributed to loss of oxygen during high-vacuum vapour deposition and the deposition of titanium oxide coatings which are substoichiometric with respect to the oxygen content.
This problem can be circumvented by carrying out the vapor deposition under a vacuum with a certain oxygen residual pressure (about 10.sup.-4 -10.sup.-5 mbar), i.e. with an oxidizing character, and/or subjecting the resultant coatings to subsequent conditioning in oxygen or air. According to the abovementioned German Patent 12 28 489, this technique is particularly advantageous for adding elements or oxides from the rare earths to the materials to be evaporated.
Although the abovementioned problems can be solved by a suitable choice of additives or the selection of appropriate mixtures of materials, the use of mixed systems is not preferred per se in the vacuum vapor-deposition method. The reason is that mixed systems generally evaporate incongruently, i.e. they change their composition during the evaporation process and the composition of the deposited coatings also changes correspondingly. This can normally only be avoided if the mixed systems are discrete chemical compounds which evaporate without material change and can be recondensed.

Vapor-deposition material for the production of high-refraction optical coatings

Merck Patent Gesellschaft Mit Beschrankter Haftung


The present disclosure provides compounds of Formulas (I′) and (I), and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The compounds described herein may be useful in treating and/or preventing proliferative diseases (e.g., cancer). Also provided in the present disclosure are pharmaceutical compositions, kits, and uses thereof for treating proliferative diseases.

The epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR) belong to the ErbB family of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK) and participate in the regulation of cellular homeostasis such as cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, survival and complex processes including angiogenesis and tumorigenesis (Wheeler, D. L.; et al. Nat. Rev. Clin. Oncol. 2010, 7, 493.). It has been established that dysregulated EGFR expression and signaling play a critical role in the etiology of human cancers (Ullrich, A.; et al. Nature 1984, 309, 418. Veale, D.; et al. Brit. J. Cancer 1987, 55, 513. Weichselbaum, R. R.; et al. Head Neck 1989, 11, 437).
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Despite recent advances in medical and surgical therapies, the improvement in lung cancer mortality due to current treatments remains unsatisfactory. Recently, specific targeted therapies for lung cancer have been developed rapidly. One of these targeted therapies, the use of epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR TKIs), was successfully implemented for lung cancer therapy owing to the prevalence of EGFR mutations in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
However, most patients eventually develop acquired resistance to the therapy after approximately one year on this therapy. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop new anti-cancer drugs that effectively treat lung cancer.
Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease that often occurs in the pre- and post-menopause period of women. Most breast cancer cells, such as MCF, are sensitive to estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) with overexpression of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). (Subik, K.; et al. Breast Cancer: Basic Clin. Res. 2010, 4, 35-41. Holliday D. L. & Speirs, V. Breast Cancer Res. 2011, 13, 215. Beelen, K.; et al. Nat. Rev. Clin. Oncol. 2012, 9, 529-541.) In contrast, MDA-MB-231 cell is a triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell because it has low expression of HER2 and no expression of ER or PR. Prognosis and treatment of TNBCs are difficult since most drugs only target one of the three receptors. To develop therapeutic agents for treatment of TNBC patients is also especially important.

Purine compounds possessing anticancer activity


A film formation substrate (200) is a film formation substrate having a plurality of vapor deposition regions (24R and 24G) (i) which are arranged along a predetermined direction and (ii) in which respective vapor-deposited films (23R and 23G) are provided. The vapor-deposited film (24R) has inclined side surfaces 23s which are inclined with respect to a direction normal to the film formation substrate (200). A width, in the predetermined direction, of the vapor-deposited film (23R) is larger than the sum of (i) a width, in the predetermined direction, of the vapor deposition region (24R) and (ii) a width, in the predetermined direction, of a region (29) between the vapor deposition region (24R) and the vapor deposition region (24G).

Recent years have witnessed practical use of a flat-panel display in various products and fields. This has led to a demand for a flat-panel display that is larger in size, achieves higher image quality, and consumes less power.
Under such circumstances, great attention has been drawn to an organic EL display device that (i) includes an organic electroluminescence (hereinafter abbreviated to "EL") element which uses EL of an organic material and that (ii) is an all-solid-state flat-panel display which is excellent in, for example, low-voltage driving, high-speed response, and self-emitting.
An organic EL display device includes, for example, (i) a substrate made up of members such as a glass substrate and TFTs (thin film transistors) provided to the glass substrate and (ii) organic EL elements provided on the substrate and connected to the TFTs.
An organic EL element is a light-emitting element capable of high-luminance light emission based on low-voltage direct-current driving, and includes in its structure first electrodes, an organic EL layer, and a second electrode stacked on top of one another in that order, the first electrodes being connected to the respective TFT. The organic EL layer between the first electrodes and the second electrode is an organic layer including a stack of layers such as a hole injection layer, a hole transfer layer, an electron blocking layer, a luminescent layer, a hole blocking layer, an electron transfer layer, and an electron injection layer.
A full-color organic EL display device typically includes organic EL elements of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) as sub-pixels aligned on a substrate. The full-color organic EL display device carries out an image display by, with use of TFTs, selectively causing the organic EL elements to each emit light with a desired luminance.
Such an organic EL display device is produced through a process that forms, for each organic EL element serving as a light-emitting element, a pattern of a luminescent layer made of an organic luminescent material which emits light of at least the above three colors (see, for example, Patent Literatures 1 to 3).
Such formation of a luminescent layer pattern is performed by a method such as (i) a vacuum vapor deposition method that uses a vapor deposition mask referred to as a shadow mask, (ii) an inkjet method, and (iii) a laser transfer method.
The production of, for example, a low-molecular organic EL display (OLED) has conventionally used a vapor deposition method involving a shadow mask, the vapor deposition method forming organic layers by selective application.
The vacuum vapor deposition method involving a shadow mask uses a shadow mask (full-cover contact type shadow mask) that is so sized as to allow vapor deposition to be performed throughout the entire vapor deposition region of a substrate. The shadow mask is typically equivalent in size to the substrate.
FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a configuration of a conventional vapor deposition device involving a shadow mask.
The vacuum vapor deposition method involving a shadow mask, as illustrated in FIG. 26, forms a pattern by (i) placing a substrate 301 and a vapor deposition source 302 at such positions that the substrate 301 and the vapor deposition source 302 face each other, (ii) forming, in a shadow mask 303, openings 304 corresponding to a pattern of a portion of a target vapor deposition region so that no vapor deposition particles are adhered to a region other than the vapor deposition region, and (iii) depositing vapor deposition particles onto the substrate 301 through the openings 304.
The substrate 301 is placed in a vacuum chamber (not illustrated). The vapor deposition source 302 is fixed below the substrate 301. The shadow mask 303 is either fixed so as to be near (or in close contact with) the substrate 301 or moved relative to the substrate 301 while the substrate 301 and the vapor deposition source 302 are fixed to an inner wall of the vacuum chamber.
Patent Literature 1, for example, discloses a method that involves a load-lock vapor deposition source, the method (i) aligning a mask and a substrate with each other, next (ii) performing vacuum vapor deposition of a first luminescent material from directly below the substrate to form an arrangement of first light-emitting sections each substantially identical in shape to an opening of the mask, then (iii) shifting the mask, and (iv) performing vacuum vapor deposition of a second luminescent material from directly below the substrate to form an arrangement of second light-emitting sections each substantially identical in shape to the opening of the mask.
Patent Literature 2 discloses a method involving a partition wall that is so provided on a substrate, to which display electrodes are provided, as to protrude from the substrate and surround the display electrodes, the method (i) placing a mask on a top surface of the partition wall, (ii) depositing an organic EL medium on the display electrodes surrounded by the partition wall, then (iii) shifting the mask so that an opening of the mask is shifted from the position directly above a display electrode to the position directly above an adjacent display electrode, thereby sequentially forming luminescent layers each substantially identical in shape to the opening of the mask.
The vacuum vapor deposition method involving a shadow mask is used not only to form a luminescent layer but also to form an electrode pattern.
Patent Literature 4, for example, discloses a method for forming an electrode pattern, the method (i) aligning, in a mask equivalent in size to a substrate, short-diameter holes or long and narrow slit pores in a direction which intersects a direction in which the mask is shifted and (ii) performing vapor deposition of an electrode material while the mask is being shifted in a direction in which the short-diameter holes or slit pores are aligned.
In the vacuum vapor deposition method involving a shadow mask as described above, the shadow mask is fixed (for example, welded) to a mask frame under tension for prevention of, for example, bending and distortion.
The vacuum vapor deposition method involving a shadow mask forms a luminescent layer pattern or an electrode pattern that is a vapor-deposited film by (i) providing a shadow mask such as the above so as to be near (or in close contact with) a substrate and (ii) causing vapor deposition particles from a vapor deposition source to be deposited (adhered) onto a desired position of the substrate through an opening of the shadow mask.

Substrate to which film is formed, organic EL display device, and vapor deposition method


In a parallel hybrid vehicle having and internal combustion engine and an electric motor operatively connected to a transmission shaft, a multimode mechanical clutch selectively couples an output shaft of the internal combustion engine to the transmission shaft. The multimode clutch has a two-way unlocked mode where the output shaft and transmission shaft can rotate independently in either direction, and a one-way locked, one-way unlocked mode where the shafts are locked to rotate together in one direction and unlocked for independent rotation in the opposite direction. The clutch may also have a two-way locked mode where the shafts rotate together in both directions. Pawls may be provided to engage and disengage as needed to execute the modes of the multimode clutch actuator.

Parallel hybrid vehicles include both a combustion engine and an electric motor that can be selectively coupled to a gearbox or transmission of the vehicle and to the driven wheels. FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary parallel hybrid vehicle 10 known in the art. The parallel hybrid vehicle 10 includes a pair of driven wheels 12, 14 connected via axles 16, 18 to a differential 20, and a pair of non-driven wheels 22, 24 mounted on axles 26, 28. Depending on the particular vehicle 10, the driven wheels 12, 14 may be either the front wheels or the rear wheels of the vehicle 10. An internal combustion engine 30 has an output shaft 32 connected to a friction clutch 34 at one end of a transmission or gearbox 36. A transmission shaft and internal gearing 38 of the transmission 36 connect the friction clutch 34 to the differential 20 by a drive shaft 42. The electrical components of the drive mechanism for the parallel hybrid vehicle 10 include an electric motor 44 connected to the transmission shaft 38 to provide power to the driven wheels 12, 14 along with or as an alternative to the internal combustion engine 30, and also connected to an inverter 46 the transfers electrical power between the electric motor 44 and a battery 48.
In the parallel hybrid vehicle 10 of FIG. 1, the combustion engine 30 and the electric motor 44 can be selectively coupled to the gearbox 38 and then to the driven wheels 12, 14 by the friction clutch 34. The friction clutch 34 is operated according to the driving situation of the vehicle 10 to utilize the internal combustion engine 30 and the electric motor 44 in different ways. For example, when driving in urban areas, the friction clutch 34 may be closed or engaged to connect the internal combustion engine 30 to the transmission shaft 38 so that power from the engine 30 is delivered to the drive shaft 42. At the same time, the motor 44 may be controlled to provide additional power to the drive shaft 42, or to use the power supplied by the electric engine 30 to recharge the battery 48. In other urban situations, the friction clutch 34 may be opened to disconnect the engine 30 from the transmission shaft 38, and power from the battery 48 is used by the motor 44 to drive the vehicle 10. During that situation, the engine 30 may be completely stopped to conserve gasoline. During acceleration of the vehicle 10, the friction clutch 34 may be re-engaged for more responsive acceleration using power from both the engine 30 and the motor 44. In contrast, the friction clutch 34 may be opened to disconnect the engine 30 from the transmission shaft 38 during deceleration so that the motor 44 can efficiently recharge the battery 48 without power loss due to engine friction.
Under the presently known arrangements of the friction clutch 34 in parallel hybrid vehicles 10, the friction clutch 34 in its closed position locks the output shaft 32 and the transmission shaft 38 for rotation together in either direction. In the open position of the friction clutch 34, the output shaft 32 and the transmission shaft 38 are free to rotate relative to each other in either direction. This arrangement can cause inefficiencies in operation of the parallel hybrid vehicles 10. When the friction clutch 34 is engaged for driving the vehicle 10 under the power of the engine 30 in urban areas or while the vehicle 10 is accelerating under the combined power of the engine 30 and the electric motor 44, easing off the gas and slowing the engine 30 can cause rotating losses as the output shaft 32 slows and the transmission shaft 38 correspondingly slows due to the connection provided by the friction clutch 34, unless the friction clutch 34 is actuated to open and disconnect the engine 30 from the transmission 36. If the friction clutch 34 remains closed, the engine rotating losses will be incurred, which may be desired in vehicles 10 where engine breaking is desirable. If the friction clutch 34 is actuated to disconnect the engine 30, the engine rotating losses may be avoided, but open friction clutch rotating losses remain because the relatively large surface area of the facing clutch plate is subjected oil shear resulting in viscous drag. Additionally, the friction clutch 34 must be reclosed when the engine 30 is called upon to provide power to the driven wheels 12, 14. The former option, i.e. leaving the friction clutch 34 closed, may negate the efficiencies sought to be achieved by the hybrid vehicle 10. The latter option, i.e., opening and closing the friction clutch 34, still may negate the efficiencies sought to be achieved due to the viscous drag and corresponding open clutch rotating losses, as well as increase the duty cycle for the actuation mechanism of the friction clutch 34, thereby potentially shortening the lift cycle of the friction clutch 34. In view of this, a need exists for an improved strategy for switching between the power sources of a parallel hybrid vehicle that may further increase the energy efficiency of the hybrid vehicle without unnecessarily increasing rotating losses and the wear and tear on the components in the transmission system of the vehicle.

Multimode clutch for a parallel hybrid vehicle


Systems and methods for selecting a logging deployment option are provided. One embodiment of a method includes providing a user interface that provides at least one user option regarding well data about a well, mud data about mud, and logging tools configuration data about logging tools at the well, receiving the well data about the well, the mud data about mud, and logging tools configuration data about logging tools at the well, and determining whether at least one of the well data, the mud data, or logging tools configuration data includes a trigger for determining a desired logging option. In response to determining that, at least one of the well data, the mud data, or logging tools configuration data includes a trigger for determining the desired logging option, selecting the desired logging option and providing the desired logging option for display.

There are a plurality of different logging options currently in use to log features of a well. One of these current options includes wireline logging. Wireline logging includes utilizing electric instruments to continuously measure properties of a well and/or geological area that allow the operator to make decisions regarding drilling of the well. Using wireline to deploy logging tools is the preferred logging option, but may be difficult to implement in certain conditions.
Another deployment option for logging tools is the pipe conveyed logging. Pipe conveyed logging may include techniques for gathering down-hole data while drilling, but without the removing drill pipe from the well. Pipe conveyed logging may be implemented when wireline operations are not feasible, such as in high angle/horizontal wells.
While these two deployment options are described herein, others may also be utilized. However, regardless of the deployment options being considered, the decision on which deployment option to choose is currently problematic. Current solutions typically include an operator guessing the best logging option based on his/her experience and personal prioritization of estimated well characteristics. These current solutions result in sub-optimal deployment decision making, leading to an increased cost, failures, and operation times. Further, expensive logging tools may be deployed when such tools are not needed. As such, a need exists in the industry.

Systems and method for selecting a logging deployment option


A series of products, such as bacon packages each having bacon slices carried by a card, are successively conveyed across an endless conveyor weighing scale to determine the weight of each product, and the products are then conveyed by an endless conveyor along a linear path through an inspection station. An elongated scrolling message display unit extends adjacent the linear path, and information characters corresponding to the weight of each product travel on the display unit in synchronism with the flow of the product on the conveyor to provide an inspection person with sufficient time to correct the weight of each off-weight product by adding or removing items from the product. A photosensor detects the leading edge of each product and cooperates to synchronize the location of weight information characters displayed on the display unit.

This invention relates to a conveyor system for automatically weighing a series of successively supplied products which vary in weight and for displaying information corresponding to the weight of each product so that inspection personnel may take corrective action to bring each product to within a predetermined weight range. The system is ideally suited for handling food products such as successively supplied groups or batches of sliced bacon strips supplied by a conveyor from a slicing machine. Thus the system relates generally to the systems disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,954,166, U.S. Pat. No. 5,499,719 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,635,830, the disclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference.
As an example, pork bellies are sliced into individual portion slices which are arranged in overlapping or shingled batches or groups, and it is necessary for each group to have a total weight within a predetermined weight range. The pork bellies are inconsistent in size and density, and it is difficult to calculate the exact number of slices which will be required to make a consistent net weight package that is in compliance with government regulations in regard to weight. Thus an inspection station is used downstream from the slicing machine to determine if the weight of each group or package is in compliance.
Commonly, the groups of bacon slices are successively fed across a conveyor weighing scale, and the groups determined to be too heavy or too light are diverted from the mainstream conveyor to be manually corrected. When off-weight groups are received, it is not known to what degree they deviate from the desired net weight package, and it is necessary for the inspection personnel to weigh the package, calculate the deviation, and add or subtract additional slices. This is usually a bottleneck in the production line, and it is desirable to provide an inspection system which provides for efficiently correcting the weight of each group or package of off-weight product and for minimizing the number of inspection personnel on the production line.


Various embodiments of the present invention provide single-ended and differential current drivers for heat assisted magnetic recording and other applications. For example, a current driver is disclosed that includes an upper output terminal and lower output terminal, a number of current switches operable to selectively contribute electrical currents through the upper and lower output terminals, a control input for each of the current switches operable to control the electrical currents, and a voltage supply operable to establish a voltage across the upper and output terminals.

Various magnetic storage systems such as hard disk drives utilize a write head to record data on a magnetic medium. Data to be recorded is provided to the write head as an alternating electrical current. The electrical current passes through a metallic coil in the write head, generating a magnetic field. The magnetization state of a pole tip in the write head is switched by the magnetic field. As the magnetized pole tip is passed over the magnetic medium, for example a spinning disc having a ferromagnetic plating, the magnetization of regions of the magnetic medium adjacent the pole tip is altered and can later be read back to retrieve the data.
High density magnetic recording implies small grain size with its increased susceptibility to decay of fine-grained recorded information under thermal agitation. Thus, as the grain size is reduced to increase recording density, stability of the recorded information is also reduced. Increasing the ferromagnetic anisotropy of the recording medium reduces susceptibility to thermally-induced decay, but requires write fields in excess of those attainable with conventional write heads. One solution to the writeability versus longevity dilemma for magnetic storage systems is Heat Assisted Magnetic Recording (HAMR), which heats the magnetic medium in the vicinity of a written data bit to near the Curie point using a laser, allowing the write head to switch the magnetic orientation on the medium to store the data bit. Thus, a medium with greater thermal stability may be used with the limited write head field strength by spot-heating the magnetic medium as data are recorded.
There exists a need in the art for improving the laser drive circuitry employed in heat assisted magnetic recording in high density and high-bit-rate magnetic storage systems in order to ameliorate driver headroom limitations and reduce power consumption.


A method and a circuit for detecting a modulation factor in a signal received in amplitude modulation, including comparing the received signal with two first values, comparing the received signal with two second values ranging between the first two values, and considering the presence of an insufficient modulation depth if the received signal ranges between at least two of said values.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to amplitude modulation radiofrequency transmissions and, more specifically, transmissions performed with a modulation factor smaller than one.
An example of application of the present invention relates to electromagnetic transponder systems in which a high-frequency carrier is modulated at least in amplitude by a terminal for transmission to an electromagnetic transponder, for example, carried by a smart card, in the field of the terminal.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Electromagnetic transponder systems are based on the cooperation between an oscillating circuit on the read/write terminal side and a resonant circuit on the electromagnetic transponder side (generally, a portable element), to exchange information by using a high-frequency field radiated by the oscillating circuit of the terminal. Most often, the high-frequency carrier is also used as a remote-supply carrier providing the transponder supply power.
Such systems are for example described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,031,319 and 6,703,921, which are incorporated herein by reference.
An example of application of the present invention relates to transponder systems based on standards ISO 14443 and 15693 according to which the remote-supply carrier radiated by the terminal is 13.56 MHz, while a back-modulation sub-carrier may be used by the transponders to transmit information to the terminal with a 847.5-kHz frequency. This sub-carrier is however not always present, according to applications (of these standards or not). In the terminal-to-transponder direction, the carrier is modulated in amplitude with a modulation factor generally on the order of 10% with a flow rate on the order of 106 kbits/second. The modulation factor is defined as being the amplitude difference between the transmission of a state 1 and the transmission of a state 0, divided by the sum of these amplitudes.
In fact, the standards set a range of acceptable modulation factors that the transponders are supposed to be able to interpret, and that the terminals are supposed to comply with. This range is, in the case of the above-mentioned standards, between 8 and 14%.
FIG. 1 very schematically shows, in the form of blocks, an example of an electromagnetic transponder system to which the present invention applies. A transponder 1 (TR) is intended to be placed in the electromagnetic field of a terminal 2 (TERM) having an inductive element L2 of an oscillating circuit emitting a high-frequency radiation detected by an antenna L1 of transponder 1.
FIG. 2 very schematically shows, partly in the form of blocks, an example of a conventional architecture of an electromagnetic transponder 1, intended to communicate with a read/write terminal (not shown in FIG. 2). The transponder comprises an oscillating circuit 10, formed of an inductive element L1 forming an antenna, in parallel with a capacitor C1 at the A.C. input terminals of a rectifying bridge 11. The rectified output terminals of bridge 11 are connected by a storage capacitor Cs.
The signal detected when transponder 1 is in the field of a terminal is used, on the one hand, for extracting a supply voltage Vdd from the transponder circuits, generally by means of a regulator 12 (REG) and, on the other hand, for decoding the possible data transmitted by the terminal. For this purpose, the transponder includes an amplitude demodulation circuit including, for example a filter formed of a resistor R5 connecting the output of bridge 11 to a first electrode of a capacitor C3 having its other electrode connected to ground (second output terminal of bridge 1); a capacitor C4 conveying the A.C. output component of the previous filter; a resistor R6 connecting the electrode of capacitor C4 opposite to the filter to a first electrode of a capacitor C5 having its other electrode connected to ground; two comparators 13 and 14 of the signal sampled from the second electrode of capacitor C4 with two thresholds Vdd/2−ref1 and Vdd/2+ref1; and an RS-type flip-flop 15, having its set and reset inputs S and R receiving the respective outputs of comparators 13 and 14 and having its output D providing the detected (demodulated) state to a digital interpretation circuit 16 (for example, an arithmetical and logic unit UART).
Thresholds Vdd/2−ref1 and Vdd/2+ref1 are set by a dividing bridge formed of four resistive components R1, R2, R3, and R4 in series between two terminals of application of voltage Vdd, resistors R1 and R4 being of same value and resistors R2 and R3 being of same value so that the bridge sets, via resistor R6, a voltage proportional to half Vdd/2 of supply voltage Vdd.
The function of resistor element R6 is to transfer, onto the sampling node of the signal to be interpreted, value Vdd/2 to center the variations due to the state switching edges of the envelope of the amplitude-modulated signal.
A demodulator such as shown in FIG. 2 is described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,031,319.
To simplify the representation of FIG. 2, account has only been taken of the receive portion of the transponder. In particular, the back-modulation elements enabling modifying the load formed by the transponder in the electromagnetic field of a terminal for a transmission in the terminal-to-transponder direction have not been shown.
FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D illustrate the operation of the demodulator shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 3A shows an example of the shape of a signal transmitted by a terminal to transponder 1. FIG. 3B illustrates the shape of the signal received at the output of rectifying bridge 11 (upstream of filter 13). FIG. 3C illustrates the shape of the signal applied on the comparison inputs of comparators 13 and 14 (for example, the non-inverting input of comparator 13 and the inverting input of comparator 14) and the comparison thresholds set by resistors R1, R2, R3, and R4 (for example, Vdd/2+ref1 above half of voltage Vdd, and Vdd/2−ref1 under). FIG. 3D illustrates the result provided by the D output of flip-flop 15.
As illustrated in FIG. 3A, the carrier (for example, at 13.56 MHz) is modulated in amplitude with a modulation factor according to the state of the transmitted bit. The rate of the amplitude modulation is smaller than the carrier frequency. It can arbitrarily be considered that the high state (level a) corresponds to a state 1, while the low state (level b) corresponds to a state 0. The modulation factor (a−b/a+b) has been exaggerated in FIG. 3A. It is in practice smaller than 20% in ISO standard 14443, type B.
As illustrated in FIG. 3B, once rectified and filtered by elements R5 and C3, the signal is, in principle above or under its average value according to state 1 or 0 of the transmitted bit.
As illustrated in the left-hand portion of FIG. 3C, capacitor C4 filters the D.C. component so that the signal applied on the comparison inputs of comparators 13 and 14 only comprises, around value Vdd/2, edges at state switchings.
As illustrated in FIG. 3D, comparators 13 and 14 detect when the signal comes out of the window defined by thresholds Vdd/2−ref1 and Vdd/2+ref1, and flip-flop 15 provides a state 0 or 1 according to the direction of the detected edge.
However, if the terminal is not able to maintain a sufficient modulation factor (in practice, of at least some ten percent), interpretation errors under the effect of noise are possible, the intervals between the received levels and the thresholds becoming too small. In the extreme case, the thresholds may surround the received signal in both states 0 and 1.
This phenomenon is illustrated in the right-hand portions of FIGS. 3A to 3D which show the case of a signal between amplitudes a′ and b′ defining a smaller modulation factor than in the left-hand portion. As illustrated in FIGS. 3B and 3C, possible noises are likely to come out of the range defined by thresholds Vdd/2−ref1 and Vdd/2+ref1 whatever the state of the transmitted bit, generating erroneous detections (FIG. 3D).
The above problem is more and more present due to the multiplication of the types of terminals and of the types of transponders which are likely to cooperate with one another. Indeed, according to the manufacturing and the architecture of the terminal and/or of the transponder, their respective operation characteristics are likely to influence the other transmission element (transponder or terminal) in a different manner. Further, the environment in which the terminal and the transponder are present may also influence the electromagnetic field and the modulation factor effectively transmitted by the terminal.
In practice, the terminals are set in a characterization phase so that their modulation factor ranges, in the above-mentioned standards, between 8 and 14%. However, in real operation, this rate is likely to vary for the above-discussed reasons and to become undetectable by a transponder.
The fact that a transponder may not succeed in interpreting the data received by a terminal is a first disadvantage.
A second disadvantage is that the terminal receiving no response from the transponder knows that it has not been understood, but does not know why. In particular, other malfunctions may cause a poor detection of the signal by the transponder, without this being linked to the modulation factor.
It would be desirable for the terminal to be able to modify in real time the modulation factor of the signal that it transmits so that said signal can be properly detected by a transponder.
The setting of the modulation factor is not a practical difficulty since terminals are generally equipped with microprocessors to set the transceiver circuits and this setting capacitance most often already exists for the terminal characterization phase. However, terminals are currently unable to set this modulation factor in real time, since they have no coherent information about the reason which causes this absence of a proper reception by a transponder.
The notion of modulation factor is used to characterize the amplitude difference between amplitude-modulation transmitted states 0 and 1. However, other parameters such as, for example, the modulation index, which corresponds to the ratio (a/b) between the two amplitudes, are sometimes used. Referring to these parameters would amount to the same, and would only be other ways of discussing the problem.

Error detection in a signal in amplitude modulation


A winding tube is provided for a web-shaped semi-finished product or finished product. The tube comprises a cylindrical, elongated tube body having an inner wall. A data carrier that can be read in a contactless manner and that contains data about the web-shaped semi-finished product or finished product is secured to the tube body by means of a tubular holding element, positioned within the tube body. The data carrier is held in the interior of the tube body spaced from the inner wall.

Web-shaped semi-finished products or finished products with web widths of up to several meters are generally known in many forms within the framework of industrial manufacturing processes and are preferably made available for processing in windings with diameters of up to several meters. Substantially flexible semi-finished products or finished products are wound onto winding tubes that impart the required stability required for the industrial processing, especially on the one hand at the start of the winding on and on the other hand toward the end of the winding off, even given only a few layers of the semi-finished product or finished product. For example, papers for the industrial printing of newspapers and books, cellulose webs for manufacturing hygienic cloths and cleaning cloths as well as the endless plurality of foils [sheets], textile fabrics and knit fabrics are made available for further processing as web-shaped semi-finished products or finished products on such winding tubes.
The plurality of such web-shaped semi-finished products or finished products whose differences in a manufacturing process are frequently present only in the area of nuances makes a reliable identification of a special web-shaped semi-finished product or finished product difficult. For example, not only papers with different gram weights but also with different surface qualities, color shades or additives can be used for the printing of books, but in addition, the processing of different batches of the same paper in a product should be avoided as a rule.
In order to solve this problem in the manufacturing of cigarette papers and filter papers, DE 202 05 555 U1 suggests integrating a data carrier in the wall of the winding tube which data carrier contains data about the winding tube and about the web-shaped semi-finished product or finished product, which data should be able to be read from the chip in a contactless manner. Such data carriers and the methods for reading and writing are generally known in the form of radio frequency transponder elements (so-called RFID tags).
The known winding tubes are often heavily loaded mechanically during the winding on and winding off of the web-shaped semi-finished product or finished product and are therefore subjected to relatively high wear. The data carrier integrated directly into the winding tube cannot be separated, even from a worn winding tube, with economically justifiable expense for reuse and may hinder the recycling of the winding tube itself.
The data carrier integrated into the known winding tubes is exposed substantially to the same mechanical deformations as the adjacent winding tube. Both a radial compression [buckling] of the winding tube by the wound-on web-shaped semi-finished product or finished product as well as the dynamically oscillating deformation of the winding tube in particular toward the end of the winding off are directly transferred onto the data carrier. This loading may result in a high number of rejections of the data carriers.
The methods used to produce the known winding tubes with data carriers offer no possibility of retrofitting present winding tubes, of removing a data carrier from the winding tube or of replacing one data carrier by another one. The plurality of the possible requirements placed on winding tubes and data carriers for different usages or in different methods therefore requires in principle a data carrier that can be used for all conceivable uses and is therefore very valuable. In particular, when data carriers are desired and should be readable and writable from a fairly remote distance, data carriers with active transmitting apparatuses are necessary that as a rule have their own energy supply. In this instance the required structural space may be large and the expense high so that a recycling of the data carriers is appropriate.
In the known winding tubes, the data carriers are inserted into a hollow space adapted to their shape. This hollow space represents a mechanically weak point of the divided winding tube and a preferred breaking point, especially given a high loading of the winding tube with oscillations. In order to avoid material failure, the known winding tubes provided with data carriers must be manufactured from relatively high-quality materials or with relatively thick walls.
DE 101 15 200 A1 teaches a spool for receiving or transporting wound material. The known spool comprises a data carrier from which information about the spool and/or the wound material can be gathered. The data carrier is designed as a transponder and can be arranged at various positions on the spool. For one, it can be fastened to the inner spool wall. Alternatively, its attachment to a hub-shaped flange part separately attached to the spool body on a conical outer surface of this flange is disclosed. Moreover, an arrangement on the inner side of a radially running front surface of the tube is also suggested.
WO 98/28213 A1 describes a web storage roll, e.g. for paper webs, with an interactively codable and readable information carrier designed as a code carrier comprising a data memory. The code carrier can be arranged, e.g., centrally in a hub that can be inserted into a tube body or it can be adhered to the inside of the tube body wall. However, it can also be arranged alternatively inside the tube body wall in the form of an axially running bore on the front side or inside a bore that radially penetrates the wall.
Furthermore, WO 99/50788 A1 also discloses a winding tube that is provided on its inner jacket surface with a flexible carrier element consisting of paper whose surface facing the inner jacket surface is provided with an adhesive coating. An electronic data carrier is adhered to the carrier element by this adhesive coating. The adhesive coating also serves to adhere the carrier element including the data carrier to the inner jacket surface of the tube body in order to establish a firm connection between winding tube and data carrier. The data carrier, for its part, serves to be able to query information about the winding tube or the winding material from the outside in a contactless manner. Alternatively, the data carrier can also be adhered from the outside to the outer jacket surface of the tube body by the same carrier element, which, however, results in unevenness in the area of the tube diameter, viewed over the tube circumference. Finally, the data carrier can also be fastened in the tube by a tubular object, which tubular object corresponds in its diameter substantially to the inside diameter of the tube.
The invention is based on the problem of suggesting a winding tube with data carrier which winding tube is economical to manufacture and can be used in a variable manner, exhibits good operating and recycling properties and thus avoids the described disadvantages of the known state of the art.


It is an object to manufacture magnetic recording media with the high recording density. Since nonmagnetic portions (8) with a predetermined pattern are formed in a recording auxiliary layer (4) formed on a magnetic recording layer (3), it is possible to actualize a magnetic recording medium where magnetic portions (7) and the magnetic recording layer (3) immediately below the portions (7) are recording units. The nonmagnetic portions (8) are formed by non-magnetization using ion implantation, and it is thereby possible to manufacture magnetic recording media with the high recording density.

With increases in capacity of information processing in recent years, various information recording techniques have been developed. Particularly, the surface recording density of the HDD using the magnetic recording technique continues to increase at an annual rate of about 100%. Recently, the information recording capacity exceeding 160 GB per disk has been required for 2.5-inch perpendicular magnetic recording media used in the HDD, etc. and to respond to such a requirement, it is demanded to actualize the information recording density exceeding 250 GB per square inch.
To attain the high recording density in magnetic recording media used in the HDD, etc. perpendicular magnetic recording media by perpendicular magnetic recording system have been proposed in recent years. In the perpendicular magnetic recording system, adjustments are made such that the axis of easy magnetization of the magnetic recording layer is oriented in the perpendicular direction to the substrate surface. The perpendicular magnetic recording system enables the thermal fluctuation phenomenon to be suppressed as compared with the conventional in-plane recording system, and is suitable to introduce high recording densities.
As the magnetic recording media used in the perpendicular magnetic recording system, CoCrPt—SiO2 perpendicular magnetic recording media have been proposed because such media indicate high heat stability and excellent recording properties (for example, Non-patent Document 1). The media are granular type magnetic recording media where in the magnetic recording layer is formed a granular structure that nonmagnetic particle boundary portions are formed between magnetic particles growing continuously in the shape of pillars, and it is intended to both make magnetic particles fine and enhance the coercive force Hc. It is known to use oxides for the nonmagnetic particle boundary (nonmagnetic portion between magnetic particles), and for example, it is proposed to use one of SiO2, Cr2O3, TiO, TiO2, and Ta2O5 (for example, Patent Document 1). However, there is an upper limit in oxides capable of being contained in the particle boundary, and there are also limitations in improvements in fine particles and isolation.
Meanwhile, in order to further enhance the in-plane recording density, proposed also is a method of forming nonmagnetic areas by ion implantation after forming a magnetic layer (for example, Patent Document 2).    Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2006-024346    Patent Document 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2007-226862    Non-patent Document 1: T. Oikawa et al., IEEE Trans. Magn, vol. 38, 1976-1978 (2002)

Magnetic recording medium with guard layer between auxiliary and magnetic recording layers and manufacturing method of the magnetic recording medium


The rudder order bias integrator of a marine autopilot is reactivated upon substantial completion of a turning maneuver in response to heading error, heading rate and the derivative portion of the rudder order signal. Upon reactivation, the integrator time constant is ramped from a predetermined small value to the normal large time constant of the integrator.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to automatic control for steering systems of marine vessels, otherwise referred to as marine autopilots. The invention is particularly concerned with the integral channel of a PID autopilot with proportional, integral and derivative channels. Specifically, the invention relates to the rudder order bias integrator of such systems.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Marine autopilots are known in the art that provide automatic steering control of marine vessels. Such a system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,074,648, issued Feb. 21, 1978, entitled "Adaptive Autopilot for Marine Vessels" by Reid and Wesner; U.S. Pat. No. 4,692,868, issued Sept. 8, 1987, entitled "Adaptive Autopilot" by Wesner et al; U.S. Pat. No. 4,777,602, issued Oct. 11, 1988, entitled "Digital Autopilot Controller for Marine Vessels", by Wesner; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,799,163, issued Jan. 17, 1989, entitled "Autopilot with Adaptive Weather Adjustment for Marine Vessels" by Wesner. Said U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,074,648, 4,692,868, 4,777,602, and 4,799,163 are assigned to the assignee of the present invention and are incorporated herein by reference.
Such systems include a rudder order bias integrator for removing heading keeping course offset. The rudder order bias integrator automatically computes a bias as a component of rudder order having the effect, in the steering control loop, of removing any bias that may be present in the heading error. Heading error bias results from non-zero average or mean moments acting on the ship. Such moments, which are due to wind and seaway effects or hull, propulsion, or cargo asymmetries, require a non-zero mean rudder position to maintain the ship on course. The bias generated by the integrator automatically provides the rudder correction required to maintain the mean heading aligned to the ordered course. Whenever the course is changed significantly, the bias integrator adapts to the new weather and seaway effects of the newly acquired course at sea.
In the prior art, during a course change, the bias integration function is disabled until the new course is achieved in order to prevent integration of heading error that is not associated with the non-zero mean hull moments. After achievement of the new course, the bias integration function is reactivated in order to begin computing the rudder order bias required on the new course. In the prior art, the bias integration function is reactivated after a fixed period of time, for example, 120 seconds, following the time that the heading error has diminished to within a specific value, for example, 10.degree..
The rate at which the prior art bias integrator corrects the non-zero mean moments is determined by a fixed value integration time constant. The integration time constant is selected large enough to prevent the bias integrator from responding to short term variations of heading error. A large integration time constant, however, results in a correspondingly long period of time for the bias integrator to achieve the required bias for a new course after a course change.
It has been observed on ships at sea that the bias integrator adapts so slowly after course changes that helmsman adjust the course selector of the autopilot for many minutes after completion of a turn in order to maintain the desired ship heading. It is undesirable that an automatic control system should require continuous manual adjustment, but this is the situation with prior art designs. The time that the prior art integrators require to detect the end of a maneuver to a new course and accordingly reactivate integration, as discussed above, increases the already long time for the bias integrator to settle out to the new output because of the long integration time constant. This combination of excessive time periods results in the long delay for the prior art integrator to finally reduce the mean heading error to zero after a course change. Typically, the helmsman adjusts the course selector during this period of time in order to "assist" the autopilot in quickly achieving and maintaining the ordered course.

Enhanced performance bias integrator for marine automatic pilot system


A memory cell is read by first charging a pair of bit lines to given positive potentials and then raising the potential of a cell access line to render access transistors conductive. The cell supply voltage is sufficient to cause substantial hot-electron stress in the n-channel transistors of the cell if it were applied directly across their source-drain paths while they were conductive. However, a limit is imposed on the maximum positive potentials which are applied to the bit lines from the exterior, and on the minimum ratio of the sizes of the cell n-channel amplifier transistors to the sizes of the access transistors, taking into account the threshold voltages of the amplifier transistors, and as a result substantial hot-electron stress does not occur. Substantial hot-electron stress is also prevented during a write operation by arranging that this is effectively preceded by a read operation.

This invention relates to a memory having a CMOS SRAM-cell, the cell including a pair of cross-coupled inverters, and each inverter having a series connection of an inverter-PMOS-transistor and an inverter-NMOS-transistor between two supply terminals for receiving a supply voltage thereon. Outputs of the inverters are coupled to respective bit lines via respective NMOS-access-transistors, and the memory includes precharging means for precharging the bit lines to a predetermined precharging voltage before executing a read-operation.
A memory as defined above is disclosed in an article in IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits, Vol. SC-22, No. 5, October 1987 entitled "A 40-ns/100 pF Low-Power Full-CMOS 256K (32K.times.8) SRAM" by W. C. H. Gubbels et al. This article discusses an advanced SRAM which is constructed by means of a 1.3 .mu.m process. Reliable transistors for a 5 V power supply are obtained using a lightly doped drain (LLD) structure for protecting the transistors against "hot electron stress". The hot-electron stress phenomenon is well-known per se, and is the result of charge carriers in the channel of the relevant transistor being accelerated by the source-to-drain electric field to sufficient energy to ionise the channel material on impact, so that valence band electrons of the channel material are excited into the conduction band. Each time such an event occurs the result is an extra conduction electron and a hole, which may flow to the drain and substrate respectively, giving rise to increased drain-source current and substrate current. If charge carriers generated by impact ionization have sufficient energy, they are able to surmount the energy barrier between the channel material and the insulating material for the transistor gate. Once in the insulating material some carriers become trapped, creating both fixed charge in the insulator and interface traps, which in turn give rise to a change in the transistor characteristics.
A present trend is a desire for memories having larger and larger storage capacities, and this implies a desire for a reduction in memory cell size in order that the larger number of cells required can be accommodated on a reasonably-sized area of substrate. A reduction in memory cell size entails a reduction in size of the constituent transistors of the cell. However, it has been found that if the channel lengths of the cell transistors are reduced to below 1 .mu.m (submicron), for example to 0.8 .mu.m while the operating conditions are maintained unchanged "hot-electron stress" occurs in the NMOS transistors in spite of using a lightly doped drain (LLD) structure for the transistors, resulting in a drastically reduced life expectancy for the cell. It will be evident that the hot-electron stress could be avoided if the voltages supplied to the cells were suitably reduced but it has been found that in general such reduction results in a considerable increase in the time required to access the cells. It is an object of the invention to mitigate this disadvantage.

Static RAM having a precharge operation which exhibits reduced hot electron stress


A method of controlling the output according to a type of connector and an electronic device adapted to the method are provided. The method includes determining whether a first, second and third external connector is inserted into a receptacle, via a circuit connected to the receptacle, wherein the receptacle is configured to receive the first, second or third external connector, each of the first and second connector includes a first number of contacts, and the third external connector includes a second number of contacts less than the first number of contacts; providing an audio output signal to the first external connector in a first manner when the first external connector is inserted into the receptacle; providing an audio output signal to the second external connector in a second manner which differs from the first manner when the second external connector is inserted into the receptacle; and providing an audio output signal to the third external connector in a third manner which differs from the first and second manners when the third external connector is inserted into the receptacle.

1. Field of the Disclosure
The present disclosure relates generally to a method of controlling output based on a type of connector, and more particularly, to a method of controlling the output of the circuit by varying the configuration of a circuit based on a type of connector and an electronic device adapted to the method.
2. Description of Related Art
In recent years, electronic devices such as smartphones, tablet personal computers (PCs), digital cameras, MP3 players, e-book readers, etc. have been generally used in people's daily life. Electronic devices are capable of connecting to external output devices (e.g., earphones, headset, etc.) and also supporting the output of an unbalanced-type of earphones capable of making a call by wire. Electronic devices are capable of supporting a microphone embedded in external output devices. Electronic devices are also capable of supporting external output devices without a microphone to output unbalanced audio signals. Electronic devices may include a connector fitting part (e.g., a socket, a receptacle, etc.) for receiving a connector (e.g., an earphone jack) of an external output device. Examples of the connector of external output devices are 3-, 4-, and 5-conductor versions which have 3, 4 and 5 conductors (contacts), respectively. Most external output devices have a connector of a 3- or 4-conductor version (a 3- or 4-conductor connector). A conventional 4-conductor connector includes standard contacts to support unbalanced-type earphones capable of making a call by wire. Types of earphones may be divided into an unbalanced-type and a balanced-type. Balanced-type earphones are capable of outputting a higher quality audio than unbalanced-type earphones.
Audio signals transmitted from electronic devices may be classified into a balanced-type and an unbalanced-type. Since the balanced-type and an unbalanced-type of audio signals are created with signals that differ from each other, they need individual output contacts configured in different ways. For example, the balanced-type audio signal may be created with an R signal, an L signal, and a G signal, and the unbalanced-type audio signal may be created with an L+ signal, an L− signal, an R+ signal and an R− signal. Conventional electronic devices do not support balanced-type-based audio signals. Therefore, when conventional electronic devices are connected with balanced-type earphones or headsets, they have difficulty in outputting a balanced-type audio of a high quality.
Accordingly, conventional electronic devices may need a separate connector fitting part to support a balanced-type of output devices (e.g., earphones, headsets, etc.). This results in additional costs. Alternatively, conventional electronic device may be implemented to include two 3.5 Φ connector fitting parts with distinguishing marks. However, users may mistake one of the two connector fitting parts and insert a connector into the incorrect fitting part, which causes users inconvenience. Conventional electronic device may also be implemented to include a 3.5 Φ connector fitting part and a 2.5 Φ connector fitting part. However, this asymmetric structure may cause design issues.

Method and apparatus for controlling output based on type of connector