Each pixel of an input image is subjected to first color conversion by means of colorimetric color reproduction and converted to a first color device value of a target color space. Further, a difference DI between a white luminance of an originating color space and a luminance of pixels of the originating color space is calculated. When generating an output image, pixels with a difference DI of 0 keeps the color device value of the originating color space. For the pixels with a difference DI greater than 0, a second color device value is calculated as a color device value of the output image, the second color device value being a sum of the abovementioned color device value and a value which is obtained by multiplying the difference between the first color device value and the abovementioned color device value by a coefficient that is greater than 0 and less than or equal to 1. Due to this, when generating an output image of a target color space from an input image of an originating color space, the color image can be reproduced more brightly while achieving coincident color appearance.

Various methods have been suggested for performing color reproduction between color image reproducing apparatuses having different color characteristics such as a color scanner, a color monitor, a color projector, a color printer, some of which will be described as an example. Although the color image reproducing apparatus is variously called depending on the literatures cited in the following description, it is called "color image reproducing apparatus" in this specification for the sake of clarification.
In a color reproduction method disclosed in Annex D of Non-Patent literature 1, a correspondence relation between a color device value of a color image reproducing apparatus and the Profile Connection Space (PCS) that is specified by the ICC (International Color Consortium) and has
CIE standard illuminant D50 as reference white is obtained first. Then, a color device value of the color image reproducing apparatus which is an input source is converted to a color device value of the color image reproducing apparatus which is an output destination through the PCS. More specifically, the color device value of the color image reproducing apparatus of the input source is converted into the PCS, and then the PCS is converted into the color device value of the color image reproducing apparatus which is the output destination. When the conversion from the color device value to the PCS is performed, if the whites are different, chromatic adaptation conversion of human complete chromatic adaptation type is applied. The color reproduction in this case corresponds to color conversion in which the color device value corresponding to white of the color image reproducing apparatus which is the input source is converted to the color device value corresponding to white of the color image reproducing apparatus which is the output destination.
A color conversion method, which takes the human complete chromatic adaptation into account, is based on the von Kries model. According to this color conversion method, the chromatic adaptation is carried out based on the change in three kinds of spectral sensitivity (ργβ) in the human visual system such that the spectral sensitivity is upon change in illumination, changed in its sensitivity balance without changes in shape of the spectral curves so as to bring the two whites into coincidence. Assume ργβ sensual quantities of illumination 1 be (ρ0, γ0, β0), the ργβ sensual quantities of an object in illumination 1 be (ρ, γ, β), and ργβ sensual quantities of illumination 2 be (ρ0′, γ0′, β0′), with ργβ sensual quantities of the same object under illumination 2 being (ρ′, γ′, β′) Then, the ργβ sensual quantities of the visual system of the object color are expressed by: ρ/ρ0, γ/γ0, β/β0, ρ′/ρ0′, γ′/γ0′, and β′/β0′. In order for the color appearance of the object to be coincident under the illumination 1 and under the illumination 2, it suffices if the above-mentioned ργβ sensual quantities are coincident, as shown in the formula (1) and the formula (2).
                              [                                                                                ρ                    /                    ρ                                                                                0                                                                                γ                    /                    γ                                                                                0                                                                                β                    /                    β                                                                                0                                                              ]                =                  [                                                                                ρ                      ′                                        /                                          ρ                      ′                                                                                0                                                                                γ                      ′                                        /                                          γ                      ′                                                                                0                                                                                β                      ′                                        /                                          β                      ′                                                                                0                                                              ]                                    (        1        )                                                      [                                                                                1                      /                      ρ                                                                                0                                                                    0                                                  0                                                                              0                                                                                1                      /                      γ                                                                                0                                                                    0                                                                              0                                                  0                                                                                1                      /                      β                                                                                0                                                                        ]                                          [                                                            ρ                                                                              γ                                                                              β                                                      ]                          =                              [                                                                                1                      /                                              ρ                        ′                                                                                0                                                                    0                                                  0                                                                              0                                                                                1                      /                                              γ                        ′                                                                                0                                                                    0                                                                              0                                                  0                                                                                1                      /                                              β                        ′                                                                                0                                                                        ]                                          [                                                                                ρ                    ′                                                                                γ                    ′                                                                                β                    ′                                                                        ]                                              (        2        )
Further, the ργβ sensual quantities can be obtained from the tristimulus values XYZ by linear transformation as shown in the formula (3).
                              [                                                    ρ                                                                    γ                                                                    β                                              ]                =                                            M                                            [                                                                            X                                                                                Y                                                                                Z                                                                      ]                                                                                [                                                                                ρ                    ′                                                                                γ                    ′                                                                                β                    ′                                                                        ]                    =                      M                                      [                                                                                X                      ′                                                                                Y                      ′                                                                                Z                      ′                                                                                ]                                                          (        3        )
It is noted that ρ0, γ0, β0, ρ0′, γ0′, β0′ in the above formula (1) may be obtained by substituting tristimulus values (X0, Y0, Z0), (X0′, Y0′, Z0′) of the illumination 1 and the illumination 2 into the formula (3). Further, a matrix of Pitt, a matrix of Estevez, a matrix of Bradford or the like is used as the transformation matrix M in the formula (3).
Further, the von Kries chromatic adaptation prediction formula shown in the formula (4) may be obtained by substituting the formula (3) into the formula (2). Note that D in the formula (4) is shown in the formula (5).
                              [                                                                      X                  ′                                                                                Y                  ′                                                                                Z                  ′                                                              ]                =                              M                          -              1                                                      DM                                      [                                                                    X                                                                                Y                                                                                Z                                                              ]                                                          (        4        )                                D        =                  [                                                                                ρ                    ′                                                                          0                    /                    ρ                                                                                0                                                            0                                            0                                                                    0                                                                                γ                    ′                                                                          0                    /                    γ                                                                                0                                                            0                                                                    0                                            0                                                                                β                    ′                                                                          0                    /                    β                                                                                0                                                              ]                                    (        5        )
In the color image reproducing apparatus of the RGB color system, the correspondence relation between the color device values RGB and the tristimulus values XYZ is as shown in formula (6). It is assumed here that the color device values RGB are obtained by linearly converting the input characteristic by performing inverse gamma correction in advance in consideration of a gamma characteristic of the color image reproducing apparatus.
                              [                                                    X                                                                    Y                                                                    Z                                              ]                =                  Q                                [                                                            R                                                                              G                                                                              B                                                      ]                                              (        6        )
In the formula (6), Q is 3×3 matrix, which will be hereinafter referred to as an RGB-XYZ transformation matrix. The RGB-XYZ transformation matrix Q varies depending on color characteristics of the color image reproducing apparatus. When black tristimulus values (Xk, Yk, Zk) are considered, the formula (6) can be expressed as formula (7).
                              [                                                    X                                                                    Y                                                                    Z                                              ]                =                              Q                                      [                                                                    R                                                                                G                                                                                B                                                              ]                                +                      [                                                                                X                    k                                                                                Y                    k                                                                                Z                    k                                                                        ]                                              (        7        )
Thus, when the black tristimulus values are zero, the color conversion from the RGB of the color image reproducing apparatus having the RGB-XYZ transformation matrix Q of "A" to the R′G′B′ of the color image reproducing apparatus having the RGB-XYZ transformation matrix Q of "B" is as shown in formula (8), using the above-stated color conversion method considering the human complete chromatic adaptation.
                              [                                                                      R                  ′                                                                                G                  ′                                                                                B                  ′                                                              ]                =                              B                          -              1                                                      M                          -              1                                                      DMA                                      [                                                                    R                                                                                G                                                                                B                                                              ]                                                          (        8        )
Note that the matrix D in the formula (8) can be calculated using the tristimulus values of white of each of the two color image reproducing apparatuses and the formulae (3) and (5).
Patent literature 1 suggests a color reproduction method considering incomplete chromatic adaptation in color reproduction between color image reproducing apparatuses having different whites. This method restores white surface reflectances of the conversion source and the conversion destination using a correlated color temperature of white of the color image reproducing apparatus of the conversion source and the conversion destination, and calculates, from two white surface reflectances that are restored, white adaptation white surface reflectance in the state of incomplete chromatic adaptation. Then, the relation between the white surface reflectance of the conversion source and the white adaptation white surface reflectance in the state of incomplete chromatic adaptation is similarly applied to the surface reflectance of other colors, thereby achieving coincident color appearance between color image reproducing apparatuses having different whites.
Further, Patent literature 2 discloses an image processing apparatus that executes desired image processing to an input signal using a color correction table for changing an amount of conversion for a white point in accordance with a white luminance provided from a color image reproducing apparatus, to output the signal to the color image reproducing apparatus. This image processing apparatus uses the characteristic that the human eye tends to adapt to bright light more than to dark light. The processing is performed to make a target white point after the conversion close to a white point of the color image reproducing apparatus in accordance with a white luminance provided from the color image reproducing apparatus being increased.
Furthermore, Patent literature 2 discloses an image processing apparatus that is provided with a color correction table which prioritizes color reproduction and is configured to perform color correction for achieving faithful color reproduction, and a color correction table which prioritizes lightness and is configured to perform color correction that prioritizes lightness. Patent literature 2 further discloses a method of making a target white point after conversion by the color correction table that prioritizes color reproduction close to a white point of the color image reproducing apparatus's, and a method of switching the color correction table that prioritizes lightness and the color correction table that prioritizes the color reproduction according to the input signal such as a natural image or presentation data. In switching the tables according to the input signals, the table is switched to the color conversion table that prioritizes the color reproduction when the input signal is natural image data, and the table is switched to the color correction table that prioritizes lightness when the input signal is presentation data.
Further, Patent literature 3 discloses a method of adding, to the method disclosed in Patent literature 2, processing to change an amount of conversion for a white point according to the elapsed time after the start of color correction.
The methods disclosed in Patent literatures 1 to 3 relate to a color reproduction method of setting the chromaticity of the adaptation white reproduced by the color image reproducing apparatus to a desired chromaticity considering the (incomplete) chromatic adaptation in the human color perception and applying the color conversion on the basis of the adaptation white for other colors than white by the corresponding color reproduction or an equivalent color reproduction.
Further, it is relatively easy for the color display to achieve color reproduction by using a specific color space (e.g., CIE standard illuminant D65 in sRGB and Adobe RGB) in which white chromaticity of a color to be reproduced is specified by means of colorimetric color reproduction. Further, the related methods of the above-mentioned Patent literatures 1 to 3 show the color reproduction method of setting the chromaticity of the adaptation white reproduced by the color image reproducing apparatus to a desired chromaticity considering the (incomplete) chromatic adaptation in the human color perception and applying the color correction (color conversion) obtained on the basis of the adaptation white for other colors than white as the corresponding color reproduction or the equivalent color reproduction.

Image processing techniques for color correction


Method and system for localizing an element present in a piece of content having a plurality of elements. A cost of localizing an element with respect to each of one or more localization sources is first computed. At least one criterion based on which a localization source for localizing the element is to be determined is obtained. A localization source for localizing the element is then selected based on an assessment with respect to the at least one criterion. The element of the content is then localized using the selected localization source.

The Internet and the world-wide web have allowed consumers to complete business transactions with organizations or individuals located across continents. In an increasingly global marketplace, it is becoming imperative for businesses/organizations to localize their websites for visitors in other markets in order to expand their customer base.
Local relevance is the degree to which a website contains content and functionality that is useful to people within a local market. Factors that determine a website's local relevance include the language of the website, units of measure used on the site, relevant marketing offers, relevant imagery, the currency used to denominate the products and services offered on the site, conventions used to format different types of data (for instance dates and monetary amounts), the particular products and services offered on the site, payment types that can be used to transact on the site, shipping methods used to deliver products to customers, local market regulatory compliance (such as duties & tariffs, privacy policies, etc.) and access to local customer service.
Traditionally, much of the cost of localizing a website is incurred by website owners prior to local visitors using the site and generating a return for the owners of the site. Knowing what to localize and how to do it can be very difficult. The incremental return from localization is hard to estimate. Traditionally, the ongoing cost of localizing is also difficult to estimate. The ultimate size of a market in a locale and the pace with which it will grow are difficult for companies to predict. All of these factors make it difficult to determine or budget the amount of investment needed in the localization of a website.
An organization's profit potential in each local market is usually a function of market-specific factors such as population, GDP, maturity of the industry, competition, shipping costs, tax rates, etc. and often changes over time. Because of this, each organization may make a localization decision based on an assessment as to whether the localization will enhance the profitability in each particular locale. In addition, different web pages of a website may or often likely have different potential to drive up the profits. For example, a job posting page of a company is unlikely to directly contribute to profitability. At the same time, a page posting products for sale, which allows a user to make a purchase on that page, is more likely to play a role to enhance the profitability. Given that, different web pages of a website have different priorities in terms of localization. Furthermore, the potential of each page, or even portions of a single page, to drive the profitability likely changes over time. For example, the popularities of products that are displayed on different web pages (or different portions of a single page) may change from locale to locale or over time. In this case, ideally, the localization decision with respect to a particular locale should adapt according to such changes or dynamics in the local market. Traditional localization approaches do not consider such factors and do not offer any solution for such needs.
There is another dimension to localization. When translating a website to another language in order to localize it for a specific market, an organization can choose from several localization sources, which can include machine translation, human edited machine translation, human translation and copy writing. Machine translation is inexpensive, but the quality is inferior to human translation. The editing of machine translation by a human improves the quality of the machine translation at a higher cost than machine translation alone, but because the starting point can be a poor translation, the end result is typically inferior to human translation. Human translation is more expensive than the machine or human edited machine methods, yet results are in general of a superior quality. However, even with human translation, there are vastly different cost structures and associated quality of translations. Professional human translators typically cost more and produce higher quality translations than volunteers or crowd sourced translations. Also, a copy writer goes beyond translation by conveying different and ideally more relevant messages to the website visitors, but it is typically the most expensive approach.
The value derived from localizing a website is a function of factors such as how many visitors will see it, how likely visitors are to "transact" as a result of the localization, how much value a "transaction" generates, and how much the localization costs. Typically, an organization will choose one of the above localization sources and apply it to the entire website without taking into consideration the fact that different areas of the website, or different pages of the website, or even different areas of a single page, may give rise to different levels of significance in terms of potential financial return to the organization. Organizations rarely revisit their decisions in localization, as circumstances change, nor do they consider the full range of localization sources. This consequently impacts the value they can derive from localization. An important reason that organizations do not do that is because there is no efficient approach, system, or tool to efficiently and dynamically allocate localization sources to a website.
The type of localization source used will generate varying degrees of online engagement and conversion rates (i.e., the percentage of website visitors who take a desired action). In addition, different areas or pieces of content within the website have varying levels of importance for localization. For instance, high visibility content and areas containing a call-to-action typically generate greater return on localization investment than other areas. As a result, applying a one-size-fits-all approach for the entire website is not the most efficient or effective approach because it results in organizations over-investing in localizing less important content while under-investing in localizing more important content.
Therefore a need exists to overcome the problems with the prior art as discussed above.

Dynamic determination of localization source for web site content


A dunnage holder constructed by a vertically oriented steel tube that has a generally hollow rectangular cross-section adapted for inserting into a stake hole around an outer rail of a flatbed trailer, the steel tube that has a length of at least 3-inches; and a U-shaped steel channel permanently attached by straddling in an inverted position to a top of the steel tube, the U-shaped steel channel that has an opening sufficiently large to receive a first end of a 4-inch by 4-inch wooden brace therein and to dispose the wooden brace across a full width of a flatbed of the trailer when a second end of the wooden brace is received by a corresponding, oppositely positioned U-shaped steel channel on an opposite end of the flatbed.

Commercial flatbed trailers are frequently used in freight shipping and delivery. The flatbed trailer enables easier loading and unloading onto the flatbed from a high-low lifter vehicle or a fork truck. However, it is desirable that, on the flatbed of the trailer, there are means for restricting the movement of the loaded goods or machine such that they do not move when the vehicle is in motion. It is therefore desirable to provide a strong steel dunnage holder for use on a commercial flatbed trailer to hold securely goods or machines that are loaded onto the flatbed trailer.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a dunnage holder capable of anchoring a 4-inch square wooden brace into position across a flatbed trailer when loading and unloading.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a dunnage holder capable of anchoring 4-inch square wooden brace into position to prevent sliding or movement of the wooden brace during vehicle movement.


A method and system for providing sensorless brushless DC motor control using predictive switch timing requires connecting a stator coil in a bridge configuration, applying a positive excitation voltage across the coil for a predetermined time period, deactivating the excitation voltage, and monitoring the voltage (VEMF) generated due to electro-motive force (EMF) across the coil. The polarity of VEMF changes when the rotor has moved a known distance—typically 90°. After detecting a polarity change, a negative excitation voltage is applied across the coil, deactivated, and VEMF monitored to detect a polarity change. This sequence is repeated to maintain the rotation of the rotor. The motor is preferably set into motion using a start-up routine, which also determines the predetermined time period used during steady-state operation.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the field of motors, and more particularly, to circuits and methods for determining the position of a brushless DC motor's rotor.
2. Description of the Related Art
Brushless DC motors generally comprise a stator and a permanent magnet rotor. The stator includes at least one coil; an excitation voltage is periodically applied across the coils, and the resulting electromagnetic field causes the rotor to rotate with respect to the stator.
To ensure that the application of the excitation voltage is correctly timed, it is necessary to know the position of the rotor with respect to the stator coils. This is conventionally accomplished with the use of one or more Hall effect sensors, with the stator coils activated by drive electronics that are cued by signals received from the sensors. One motor system of this type is illustrated in FIG. 1. Here, a motor 10 includes stator coils 12 and 14 and a Hall sensor 16. A controller 18 operates switches 20 and 22, here bipolar transistors, to periodically apply an excitation voltage VDD across coils 12 and 14, respectively. The position of the rotor is sensed with Hall sensor 16, and reported to controller 18 via an amplifier 20; with this position information, controller 18 can operate switches 20 and 22 as necessary to maintain the rotation of the motor's rotor, and to control its speed if desired.
However, the approach depicted in FIG. 1 has a number of drawbacks. The need for Hall sensors contributes a significant cost to the motor. In addition, the sensors must be placed within the motor along with other electronics, which limits the design of the motor structure, and may degrade its reliability.
One alternative to the use of Hall sensors is employed in some multiple-phase DC brushless motors. Here, the electro-motive force (EMF) generated in a passive coil while another coil is energized is measured and used to determine the position of the rotor.

Method and system for sensorless brushless DC motor control with predictive switch timing


The invention relates to a method for controlling an artificial orthotic or prosthetic knee joint, on which a lower leg component is arranged and which is assigned a resistance device having at least one actuator, by means of which the bending resistance is modified depending on sensor data that is determined during use of the orthotic or prosthetic knee joint by means of a sensor, wherein the absolute angle of the lower leg component is determined exclusively by means of at least one inertial sensor, the angle determined is compared with at least one threshold value, and the bending resistance is modified when the threshold value is reached.

Prosthetic or orthotic knee joints replace or support the function of a natural knee joint. In order to achieve a maximum optimal functionality of the artificial knee joint, there are a multiplicity of designs on the market, which influence the behavior of the knee joints during the standing phase and the swing phase. Mechatronic knee joints are known, in which the movement situations are detected by means of a plurality of different sensors and, on the basis of the sensor data, a resistance device, by means of which the bending resistance (also referred to as flexion resistance) or the extension resistance is varied, is controlled. One basic problem is that the great variety of the possible movement situations can be encompassed only with difficulty in simple rules. In order to control actuators and brakes, therefore, so-called state machines are used, which are highly complex and represent many different activities. Disadvantages with this are the long development time and the use of elaborate components.
EP 1 237 513 B1 relates to a supporting device which replaces the existence or function of a limb and consists of at least two parts, connected to one another by an artificial joint, and a control device. The supporting device comprises a sensor, which detects an inclination angle relative to a line of gravity of a part connected to the joint and is coupled to the control device. The control device is arranged in such a way that it influences the joint on the basis of inclination angle data communicated by the sensor. In one configuration, the inclination angle sensor is arranged as a prosthetic knee joint on a thigh tube; in order to enhance the data situation, a second sensor may be arranged on the lower leg.
DE 10 2008 027 639 A1 relates to an orthotic joint for supporting an anatomical knee joint, having an upper joint part and a lower joint part which are connected to one another in an articulated fashion. A locking element for automatically unblocking and blocking the orthotic joint in an arbitrary position is provided, as is an actuation element for the locking element and a sensor means for detecting relevant information for the unblocking and blocking. An evaluation unit for evaluating the information acquired, and for forwarding this information to a control and/or regulating unit for the actuation element, is likewise provided. The sensor means comprises at least two sensors from the group: inclination sensors, rotation angle sensors, acceleration sensors or gyroscopes, for acquiring information describing the movement state and/or resting state of a person. Two sensors of one type or one sensor each of different types may be selected. All the sensors are arranged downward of the anatomical joint, in particular the knee joint.

Method for controlling an artificial orthotic or prosthetic knee joint


Efficient methods and apparatus for tracking decision-feedback equaliser (DFE) coefficients are described. In an embodiment, updated coefficients for a feed-forward equaliser (FFE) are generated using conventional methods and then these are used, along with an averaged updated value of channel impulse response (CIR) estimate to generate updated DFE coefficients. In an embodiment, the updated DFE coefficients are generated by multiplying the updated CIR estimate (in the frequency domain) and the updated FFE coefficients (also in the frequency domain). The resultant updated DFE coefficients in the frequency domain may then be converted into the time domain before outputting to the DFE.

Digital terrestrial television signals suffer from multi-path interference which leads to pre-echoes which are caused by signals received via paths which are shorter than the path travelled by the principal signal and post-echoes which are caused by signals that have travelled along longer paths. A digital television receiver therefore comprises circuitry, including an adaptive equaliser, to suppress the echoes.
A common method of equalisation of such signals is to use a combination of a feed-forward equaliser (FFE) and a decision-feedback equaliser (DFE). These two different types of equaliser have different characteristics and can be used to deal with different aspects of the interference. The FFE can deal with both precursor and postcursor intersymbol interference (ISI), e.g. both pre-echoes and post-echoes, whilst the DFE can only deal with postcursor ISI but, unlike the FFE, does not enhance noise.
In order to use this combination of a FFE and DFE, initial equaliser coefficients are calculated; however, these initial coefficients are not likely to provide perfect equalisation results straight away and consequently the coefficients may be updated during operation of the equaliser. This updating of coefficients also enables the equaliser to adapt to possible channel changes. Typically the least-mean-square algorithm is used to update coefficients.
The embodiments described below are not limited to implementations which solve any or all of the disadvantages of known methods of updating equaliser coefficients.

Efficient tracking of decision-feedback equaliser coefficients


A method for monitoring at least two microcontrollers using a watchdog is described. The watchdog is associated with a first microcontroller and monitors the communication of a message from the first microcontroller within a time interval of a predefined duration. The message communicated to the watchdog by the first microcontroller contains a contribution which is formed on account of communication between the first microcontroller and a second microcontroller connected to the latter and on the basis of which the watchdog checks the proper method of operation of the second microcontroller. The disclosure also describes a circuit arrangement and a battery with a battery management unit which are configured to carry out the method according to the disclosure.

From the prior art, methods for monitoring a microcontroller using a watchdog are known in which an external hardware watchdog having an independent time base and fixed time window is used for logically and temporally monitoring the program sequence of safety-related program parts of the microcontroller. Such a watchdog is used, for example, as part of the monitoring of motor controllers in which a so-called three-level concept is applied. In this context, a first level comprises the software for controlling the motor, a second level comprises the software for monitoring the motor controller and finally a third level comprises the software for monitoring the hardware used on the first two levels. In this context, a hardware watchdog is used on the third level in order to check a microcontroller used on the first or second level.
In a simple configuration, monitoring the microcontroller using the watchdog can consist in the watchdog monitoring the arrival of reset pulses within a time interval of predetermined duration and initiating a reset of the microcontroller when the reset pulses do not arrive. In a configuration developed further, the watchdog can communicate test questions to the microcontroller and check its answers for correctness and time.
Such a method for monitoring a microcontroller can have the following sequence: the watchdog asks the microcontroller randomly one of several possible questions. The microcontroller forms an answer to this question by combining two answer contributions. The first answer contribution is obtained from a test of the logic of the microcontroller. The second answer contribution is obtained from a function-specific checking of a predetermined multiplicity of software modules, preferably with additional conditions such as correct order and a predetermined number of call ups of each module. The two answer contributions are combined and transmitted to the watchdog in a particular time window. The watchdog checks the answer for correct content and correct reception in time and increments an error counter when an error is detected or resets the error counter if no error is found. After that, the checking method is continued by the watchdog by asking a new question.
If the error counter of the watchdog exceeds a predetermined threshold, the watchdog initiates a safety-related method step which, for example, can consist in the output stages of the system driven by the microcontroller being switched off so that no further operation is possible.
Watchdogs implemented in hardware are usually constructed in a very simple manner and allow communication with only one microcontroller in each case so that, according to the prior art, monitoring of several microcontrollers is only possible by using the same number of watchdogs.

Method for monitoring at least two microcontrollers


An audio/video generation apparatus comprises an audio and/or video generation device operable to generate audio and/or video material, and a metadata generation processor. The metadata generation processor is operable to generate metadata describing the content and/or attributes of the audio/video material. The metadata generation processor is operable to generate a reference value providing a quasi-unique reference to the audio/video material with a reduced amount of data with respect to the audio/video material itself, the reference value being generated from data values representing the audio/video material in accordance with a predetermined relationship. The quasi-unique reference may be stored in association with the metadata describing the audio/video material from which the quasi-unique reference was generated.

Co-pending UK patent applications 0207020.9, 0206994.6, 0206987.0 and 0206995.3 disclose a system and apparatus for generating audio and/or video (a/v) productions. The system may according to one application utilize a camera with a camera utility device and a personal digital assistant (PDA). The camera utility device and the digital assistant are provided with a wireless communications link. The camera is arranged in use to generate a/v material by capturing images and sounds which are recorded on a recording medium such as, for example, a cassette tape. The utility device generates metadata describing the content of the a/v material and/or other attributes of the a/v material such as camera parameter settings used to generate the a/v material.
The metadata may be arranged in the form of a hierarchical data structure including a volume identifier at a first level, and shot or sub-shot identifier at a second level. The volume identifier provides an indication of the data carrier on which the a/v material is stored. The shot or sub-shot identifiers provide an indication of the location of shots or sub-shots of a/v material on the data carrier. Metadata describing the content or attributes of the shots may, for example, be stored in association with the shot or sub-shot identifier in correspondence with the shot or sub-shot of a/v material to which the metadata relates.
Generally, for a system generating metadata describing the content or the attributes of a/v material, it is desirable to efficiently identify the location of the a/v material on a data carrier on which the material is stored, with respect to which the metadata has been generated.

Abstract: Generating a quasi-unique reference from the information material provides a facility for identifying the audio/video material. In one embodiment the quasi-unique reference is a hash value. The hash value provides a quasi-unique reference, which can be efficiently searched in order to identify, the audio/video material. Accordingly, metadata, which describes the content or attributes of the audio/video material, may be uniquely or quasi uniquely associated with the information material.


A voltage-mode pulse width modulation (PWM) VLSI implementation of neural networks, comprising: a voltage-pulse converter for converting an input voltage into a neuron-state pulse; a synapse multiplier, including a multiplier cell for multiplying the neuron-state pulse by an input weight voltage and an integral and summation cell for integrating and summing up the multiplied output and producing a first output voltage; and a sigmoid circuit for converting the first output voltage into a second output voltage with the non-linear activation function of neuron.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a neural network, particularly to a VLSI implementation of neural networks. It shortens the convergence time and eliminates the influence of the initial value by using the GA features, thereby achieving the conservation of hardware resources.
2. Description of the Related Art
Because of its independence on specific model of signal processing, artificial neural networks (ANN) is now widely used in the fields of image processing and pattern recognition. Refer to FIG. 1. A multilayer neural network typically comprising an input layer, an output layer, and a hidden layer. The input layer having a row of cells 1, . . . , 2 or neuron-like units (not shown) serves as an interconnect function, externally connecting a plurality of inputs x1, . . . , xn to the network, wherein each input is coupled to a respective input cell. The hidden layer having a plurality of neuron cells 3, . . . , 4, which is the most important part in the network and has multiple inputs and one output, is responsible for performing the specific functions of the network, wherein the output of each input cell in the input layer is coupled to each of a plurality of neuron cells in the hidden layer. For example, the specific functions can be that each neuron cell multiplies the inputs x1, . . . , xn by a given weight w1, w2, . . . , w3, w4 and adds the products together, as shown in 3 and 4 in the hidden layer. The output layer having at least one cell 5 or neuron-like unit (not shown) serves as the output collection of a plurality of neuron cells 3, . . . , 4 in the hidden layer. For such a network, although now the majorities of neural systems are realized by software simulations, only hardware implementations can fully utilize its advantages of parallel processing and error tolerance. Among the existing 3 methods of VLSI implementation for neural systems, analog circuit has the merits of small chip area, fast speed and low power consumption, but is susceptible to process parameters and interface noises. Digital circuit has the merits of high precision and robustness, but it is area and power consuming. The digit-analog hybrid methodxe2x80x94pulse stream technique combines both the merits of analog and digital methods. It uses digital signal to control analog multiplication, so the area of synapse analog multiplier is small and the neuron digital state signal is immune to noise. Among the various kinds of pulse modulation techniques, pulse width modulation (PWM) is the easiest for circuit implementation, so the PWM VLSI neural network is widely studied.
Although the first proposed structure of 3-transistor synapse multiplier is simple, it has low precision and small linearity range because of the switching noise and working states of the transistors. Furthermore, it uses external non-linear voltages for activation function, which is not suitable for VLSI implementation because of the limited interface. A low gain 2-transistor amplifier is adopted for activation function, but its transfer characteristic is quite different from the ideal sigmoid function, so it is not suitable for ANNs which use Back Propagation (BP) learning algorithm. Although the transfer characteristic of asynchronous neuron proposed is very similar to ideal sigmoid function, it needs complex BiCMOS process. Another novel neuron circuit can easily realize both sigmoid function and its derivative, but its current input is not suitable for voltage-mode sigmoid circuit.
Therefore, an object of the invention is to provide a new building blocks for PWM VLSI neural network, including a simple precise synapse multiplier with large linearity range and a voltages-pulse converter with high precision.
Another object of the invention is to provide a CMOS voltage-mode sigmoid circuit with adjustable gain, whose transfer function is similar to ideal sigmoid function.
To realize the above and other objects, the invention provides a voltage-mode pulse width modulation (PWM) VLSI implementation of neural networks, including a simple precise synapse multiplier with large linearity range and a voltages-pulse converter with high precision. Further, A CMOS voltage-mode sigmoid circuit with adjustable gain is designed, whose transfer function is similar to ideal sigmoid function, thereby constructing a 2-2-1 feedforward PWM ANN.

Voltage-mode pulse width modulation VLSI implementation of neural networks


The developing device 100 includes a stirrer and transferor 122, 124, a magnetic roller 130, and a developing roller 140, that are disposed in a housing 110 which contains the two-component developing agent including the magnetic carrier and the non-magnetic toner, wherein volumetric mean particle size of the non-magnetic toner is set in a range from 6 to 11 μm and proportion of toner particles not larger than 4 μm is set to 8% by number or less, thereby making it possible to prevent imaging defect (ghost) and sticking of the toner onto the developing roller from occurring.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a developing device used in an image forming apparatus such as copying machine, printer or facsimile that utilizes electronic photography technique and, more particularly, to a developing device of non-contact developing system wherein a toner included in a developing agent held onto a magnetic roller is caused to deposit on the surface of a developing roller and then move onto an electrostatic latent image, thereby developing the electrostatic latent image.
2. Description of Related Art
There have been various methods employed by image forming apparatuses that utilize electronic photography technique. Single-drum color superposition system where images of different colors are formed successively on a single photosensitive body has been regarded as a promising technique that makes high-quality color imaging possible, since it allows full-color image formation with less color registration error by precisely depositing the toners of different colors one after another on the photosensitive body.
In recent years, meanwhile, much attention has been focused on tandem-drum system where images are formed with toners of different colors on a plurality of corresponding photosensitive bodies, and the images formed on the respective photosensitive bodies are superposed one after another on a transfer member in synchronization with feeding of the transfer member, thereby to form a full-color image. Although this system has an advantage of high-speed operation, there is such a disadvantage that one set of imaging means such as photosensitive bodies and a developing device must be provided for each color and arranged in tandem, thus resulting in larger size of the apparatus.
To counter this problem, such a compact tandem engine image forming apparatus is proposed that is provided with imaging means made smaller in size by decreasing the space between the photosensitive bodies. In the compact tandem engine image forming apparatus, it is advantageous to dispose the developing device in vertical construction in order to decrease the horizontal size of the imaging means. In other words, it is preferable that the members such as the developing roller, a magnetic roller, stirring-transfer means, etc. that constitute the developing device are disposed right above or obliquely above the photosensitive body, rather than in the same plane as the photosensitive body as in the case of the prior art.
In the case of a developing system that employs a two-component developing agent, however, decreasing the apparatus in size results in such problems as the deposition of carrier onto the photosensitive body and scattering of the toner. When the developing device is made smaller in vertical construction, in particular, circulation, of the developing agent, namely supply of the developing agent from a position near the stirring-transfer means to the developing roller, becomes so complicated that the problems of deposition of the carrier onto the photosensitive body and scattering of the toner become more conspicuous, thus imposing a limitation to the size reduction of the device.
Means for solving the problems of deposition of the carrier onto the photosensitive body are described in Patent Documents 1 through 3 described below that propose a developing device and an image forming apparatus provided with the developing device (hybrid developing system). The developing device comprises stirring-transfer means, a magnetic roller and a developing roller that are disposed in a housing, which contains a two-component developing agent. The stirring-transfer means transfers the developing agent while stirring it. The magnetic roller transfers the developing agent while holding it on the circumferential surface thereof. The developing roller is disposed to oppose the magnetic roller at a predetermined space therefrom and attracts the toner included in the developing agent held by the magnetic roller to deposit electrostatically thereon. With this system, deposition of the carrier onto the photosensitive body is suppressed and the problem of depletion of the carrier becomes less likely to occur, since the carrier does not fly toward the photosensitive body and returns to the magnetic roller even when a small amount of carrier moves from the magnetic roller to the developing roller and deposits thereon.
However, in the hybrid developing system described above, residual toner that has not been used in development and remains on the developing roller is scraped off by a magnetic brush provided on the magnetic roller, while some of the residual toner may not be completely cleaned and remain on the developing roller. When the residual toner is not completely cleaned, part of the previous picture may remain as a ghost in the next development process in the so-called hysteresis phenomenon (refer to FIG. 5). If the residual toner is not completely cleaned after development, there also occurs a problem that the toner sticks onto the developing roller and does not fly to the photosensitive body.    [Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 6-67546 (FIGS. 1 and 2)    [Patent Document 2] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-295613    [Patent Document 3] U.S. Pat. No. 3,929,098

Developing device used in an image forming apparatus


Systems and methods of optimizing communications for a mobile device are provided. The method includes determining a maximum allowable retransmission timeout interval allowed by the mobile device. The method also includes determining that a first communication session used by the mobile device to transmit data has a retransmission timeout interval that exceeds the maximum allowable retransmission timeout interval. The method further includes, in response to determining that the first communication session is using a retransmission timeout interval that exceeds the maximum allowable retransmission timeout interval, terminating the first communication session, and initiating a second communication session.

Computing devices can communicate with each other over a network, using one of more networking protocols. The networking protocols standardize rules for communication between the two devices, promoting seamless communication. The Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) is one example of such a protocol. Additionally, protocols like TCP often provide mechanisms to optimize transmission rates. For example, TCP has a number of mechanisms to modulate transmission rates, so as to mitigate congestion in the network.
One such mechanism proceeds by optimizing a retransmission timeout (RTO) interval setting. When a sender transmits a segment (i.e., a packet of data) in a TCP session, the sender also starts a retransmission timer. If the sender does not receive an acknowledgement of the segment from the intended recipient before the retransmission timer expires (resulting in a RTO), then the sender will typically increase the value of the RTO interval and retransmit the segment. To increase the RTO interval, the sender multiplies (e.g., doubles) the prior RTO interval each time that a RTO occurs, thus resulting in an exponential increase in RTO interval. This congestion mitigation mechanism is well-suited for networks with relatively stable latency. However, in networks where latency can vary widely, congestion mechanisms like RTO interval setting tend to force the network to operate in a worst-case scenario, even when the reality is far from the worst-case at most times.
Wireless mobile networks are one example of such networks were latency is subject to wide variation. In wireless networks, the signal between a mobile device and a remote computing device can be disrupted by physical variables that are generally not applicable to wired networks. For example, such variables can include moving away from a transmission tower, proceeding through a tunnel, entering an elevator, etc. Since these factors tend to change the latency and thus the perceived congestion state of the network, for many wireless mobile networks, TCP's congestion avoidance mechanisms can converge on the worst-case state of the network, even if that worst-case state is only temporary. This can result in slow transmission rates from the mobile device for a period of time that exceeds the temporary loss or disruption of wireless service.
What is needed, then, are systems and methods for optimizing connections in a mobile device.

Optimizing TCP traffic for mobile devices using TCP backoff thresholds


A communication device for performing encrypted communication with at least one further communication device in a communication network is provided. Advantageously, the device is adapted to communicate with a plurality of further communication devices. The communication device comprises a communication unit and a cryptographic unit. Moreover it comprises a key encryption key generator configured to generate at least one key encryption key jointly with the at least further communication device, using the communication unit. Also, it comprises a traffic encryption key generator configured to generate a traffic encryption key, specific to the communication device, for encrypting traffic data by the communication device. The cryptographic unit is preferably configured to encrypt the traffic encryption key using the at least one key encryption key. Moreover, the communication unit is preferably configured to transmit the encrypted traffic encryption key to the at least one further communication device.

So far, in communication networks, performing an encrypted communication between two devices requires a prior knowledge of the two devices with regard to each other. In systems with only two devices, this can easily be achieved by directly establishing a secure channel and exchanging certificates assuring the identity of the devices. In communication networks with a high number of communication devices though, certificate authorities are used for providing certificates to the individual communication devices. Each device is authenticated by the certificate authority with regard to the other devices. For example the European patent EP 0 477 180 B1 shows such a communication system.
Moreover it is known to use key servers for directly providing traffic encryption keys to the devices. The devices then use these traffic encryption keys for encrypting traffic data, they wish to exchange.
It is though disadvantageous to use such a key server, since it has to be online at all times, so that a communication device can request a traffic encryption key at all times.
Accordingly, one object of the invention among others is to provide a communication device and a communication method, which allow for a secure communication of a plurality of communication devices within a communication network while requiring only minimal centralized always online hardware.

Communication device and method for performing encrypted communication in multipoint networks


The present disclosure provides a display panel, a display device, and a manufacturing method of the display panel. The display panel includes a light emitting unit; a color filter layer located on a light emission side of the light emitting unit; and a bonding structure located between the light emitting unit and the color filter layer configured to bond the light emitting unit and the color filter layer, wherein, the bonding structure comprises a quantum dot material for converting ultraviolet light into visible light.

A silicon-based organic light-emitting diode (referred to as OLED) is a micro-display developed in recent years, and can be used for manufacturing OLED displays with high pixels per inch (referred to as PPI) and high refresh frequency due to the mature silicon-based semiconductor process.
A white OLED (referred to as WOLED) plus a color filter (referred to as CF) are used for realizing colorization in related art. In this process, the low temperature color filter (referred to as LTCF) technology can achieve the pixel processing accuracy of 1-2 microns.

Display panel, display device, and manufacturing method of the display panel


It is an object to measure a position of a feature around a road. An image memory unit stores images in which neighborhood of the road is captured. Further, a three-dimensional point cloud model memory unit 709 stores a point cloud showing three-dimensional coordinates obtained by laser measurement which is carried out simultaneously to the image-capturing of the images as a road surface shape model. Using an image point inputting unit 342, a pixel on a feature of a measurement target is specified by a user as a measurement image point. A neighborhood extracting unit 171 extracts a point which is located adjacent to the measurement image point and superimposed on the feature for the measurement target from the point cloud. A feature position calculating unit 174 outputs three-dimensional coordinates shown by the extracted point as three-dimensional coordinates of the feature for the measurement target.

Recent years, a product combining GIS (Geographical Information System) and GPS (Global Positioning System) represented by a car navigation system, etc. has become remarkably popular. Further, on the other hand, it has been expected that the position information by GIS and GPS is applied to safe driving of an ITS (Intelligent Transport Systems); the position information of features located on the road/side of the road is considered to be effective information.
Further, on the other hand, precision improvement and sophisticating of the road management ledger, which records information of features around roads, is expected. However, in order to generate the road management ledger, which records positions of features located on the road/side of the road such as a kilo post, a sign, a guardrail, a white line, etc. in 1/500 scale, surveying with a high precision is necessary, so that static survey using GPS and total station measuring distance/angle is carried out. Further, on bothways of a 30-kilometer section of national roads, sometimes there exist about 2,000 features to be a measurement target. Therefore, it requires huge cost and time to sophisticate and improve the precision of the road management ledgers across the country.
Then, aiming to reduce time and cost for collecting information, MMS (Mobile Mapping System) has drawn attention and research and development thereof have been made.
For example, for obtaining position information of a white line, stereo view using plural cameras or a method for estimating the position information of the white line from the setting position of a camera based on relation between a camera parameter and a vehicle are used.    Non-patent Document 1: Dorota A. Grejner-Brzezinska and Charles Toth, "High Accuracy Dynamic Highway Mapping Using a GPS/INS/CCD System with On-The-Fly GPS Ambiguity Resolution", Center for Mapping Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Geodetic Science The Ohio State University, Ohio Department of Transportation, District 1, September 2004.    Non-patent Document 2: H. Gontran, J, Skaloud, P.-Y. Gilliron, "A MOBILE MAPPING SYSTEM FOR ROAD DATA CAPTURE VIA A SINGLE CAMERA", [online], [retrieved on Feb. 14, 2006], Internet, <URL: http://topo.epfl.ch/personnes/jsk/Papers/3dopt_hg.pdf>    Non-patent Document 3: G Manzoni, R. G Rizzo, C. Robiglio, "MOBILE MAPPING SYSTEMS IN CULTURAL HERITAGES SURVEY", CIPA ODOMETRY APPARATUS 2005 XX International Symposium, 26 Sep.-1 Oct., 2005, Torino, Italy.    Patent Document 1: JP2005-098853    Patent Document 2: JP2006-234703

Measurement apparatus, measurement method, and feature identification apparatus


An excimer laser apparatus is provided with a compact high efficiency dust particle removal means which is capable of maintaining the windows clean with only a small volume of purging gas, and which prevents deterioration of aperture masks without having to increase the cavity length or risking the possibility of leakage from piping connections. The excimer laser apparatus uses, as dust particle removal means, filters (13a and 13b) made of metal or ceramic which is non-reactive with fluorine. A ground potential dust collector can be provided at a downstream side of a static dust particle remover, having an anode and a cathode, for collecting any dust particles which have passed through the static dust particle remover. In addition, clean laser medium gas can be introduced into subchambers (14a and 14b) through gas introducing passages (11a and 11b) provided in the walls of the housing (1) and then into the laser chamber (12) through labyrinths (8a and 8b) without disturbing the clean gas which stays near the internal surfaces of the windows (6a and 6b).

The dust particle removal means of conventional excimer laser apparatus are available in two types, one of which uses a filter (refer to Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application (A) 4-137574; "Control Of Contaminants In XeCl Lasers", LASER FOCUS WORLD, p. 65-68, October 1981; and others), and the other of which uses a static dust particle remover (refer to Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application (A) 58-186985; U.S. Pat. No. 5,027,366; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,029,177).
As regards the filters, stainless steel mesh filters which are anti-corrosive to fluoric gas have been used. However, if these mesh filters are used in an excimer laser apparatus which employs a fluorine based gas (mainly, XeF, KrF and ArF), chromium on the surfaces of the stainless steel fibers which form the mesh reacts with F.sub.2 contained in a laser medium gas to produce a chromium fluoride. A low value chromium fluoride, for example, CrF.sub.2, remains as is on the surfaces of the stainless steel filters, as its vapor pressure is high. However, a high value chromium fluoride, for example, CrF.sub.5, is mostly a gas at the temperatures of a normal laser medium gas, as its vapor pressure is high, and is therefore mixed with the laser medium gas. In laser oscillation to be carried out with a laser medium gas containing CrF.sub.5, any gaseous CrF.sub.5 near the windows which transmit the laser beam is decomposed by the ultraviolet radiation of the excimer laser, and Cr is caused to be deposited on the windows. Consequently, there will be a problem in that the Cr deposits will cloud the windows, lowering the transmission ratio of the laser beam through the windows and reducing the output of the laser beam.
On the other hand, in case of the filters made of an organic material, for example, polytetrafluoroethylene filters, there is a problem in that water and the fluorine in the polytetrafluoroethylene react to produce HF, and CF.sub.4 is produced by the laser beam, thereby reducing the laser output.
As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, a conventional static dust particle remover comprises a dust particle removal case 21, a case cover 22, an inlet 23, an outlet 24, wire electrodes 25 to which a high voltage is applied, cylindrical electrodes 26 having a ground potential, wire electrode support plates 27, current introduction terminal blocks 28 and 29, a stabilizing resistor 31, and a high voltage power supply 32. A high voltage current from the high voltage power supply 32 is introduced into wire electrodes 25 through the stabilizing resistor 31 and the current introducing terminal 29. The four wire electrodes 25 are connected to the wire electrode support plate 27 at the front side and to the wire electrode support plate 27 at the rear side, so that they are in parallel with each other, with each wire electrode 25 having first and second portions connected in series, with the first portion being in a front static dust particle remover and the second portion being in a rear static dust particle remover, as shown in FIG. 10. The front cylindrical electrodes 26 are connected to the dust particle removal case 21 at the front side, and the rear cylindrical electrodes 26 are connected to the dust particle removal case 21 at the rear side. A laser medium gas containing dust particles enters into the dust removal case 21 through the inlet 23 provided at the central position of the dust removal case 21, and dust particles are collected by four cylindrical electrodes 26 and wire electrodes 25 which are arranged in parallel connection. Then the gas is discharged from the outlet 24.
When such cylindrical static dust particle removers are operated for a long period of time, wire electrodes 25 will become disconnected due to wear or unable to discharge due to an insulation layer formed by the deposition of dust particles, and therefore dust removal will not be carried out. If a wire electrode 25 is disconnected, two types of results are expected, depending on the pattern of connection after the point of disconnection. When a broken wire electrode 25 comes into contact with a cylindrical electrode 26, the protection circuit of the high voltage power supply 32 operates to prevent the high voltage from being applied to the other wire electrodes 25. When a broken wire electrode 25 does not come in contact with any other part, the associated cylindrical electrode 26 does not function as a static dust particle remover, and all dust particles which have passed through the associated cylindrical electrode 26 enter into the clean side. The detection of any abnormality in this case is difficult and, even though the abnormality of the static dust particle removers can be detected by providing an abnormality detector, the cross flow fan which circulates the gas does not stop immediately, and therefore the clean side of the static dust particle removers can become contaminated. When this phenomenon occurs, it is necessary to clean off all dust particles deposited at the clean side, and it takes a long period of time to recover the normal condition.
The operating conditions of the static dust particle removers vary with the degree of accumulation of dust particles in the static dust particle removers, along with the increase of operating time of the excimer laser apparatus. For this reason, the static dust particle removers are operated according to the operating condition as the maximum common measure obtained in view of a time dependent change of accumulated dust particles. However, this method makes it difficult to operate the static dust particle removers with satisfactory efficiency of dust collection throughout the overall operating time. Particularly, in the latter half of the service life of the static dust particle removers, when much dust has been deposited thereon, the quantity of dust particles which cannot be collected by the static dust particle removers and which accordingly passes to the downstream side will increase. The static dust particle removers should be large-sized to prevent such undesirable accumulation of dust particles.
In addition, the contamination of the optical system is one of the detrimental factors to the extension of the service life of the laser oscillation. When dust particle compounds or the like, produced by repeated laser oscillation, deposit on the window, the transmission ratio of the laser beam is reduced and the laser output deteriorates. The inventions disclosed in Japanese Published Examined Patent Application (B2) 60-26312 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,018,161 specify that a gas, purified through the filters, be forcibly blown against the window surfaces, and therefore require a great volume of purging gas to prevent involving the laser medium gas containing dust. Meantime, the invention disclosed in Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application (A) 58-186985 specifies a system for cleaning the windows with a clean gas by providing a gas inlet for purified gas in the window areas and a gas circulating passage which reaches the gas inlet through the gas outlet of the discharge tube to the electric dust collector and the standstill zone. However, the gas circulating passage is installed outside the discharge tube and therefore there is a possibility of an increase in the cavity length and leakage from piping connections. Moreover, the above invention includes a problem in that the aperture mask of the conventional apparatus provided outside the chamber reacts with the ultraviolet radiation and the atmospheric gas to result in deterioration, or impurities are produced to contaminate ambient optical components.


The present invention relates to a method of analyzing interference between heterogeneous wireless communication systems, including receiving, by an interference analysis unit, interference parameters from a parameter input unit; receiving, by the interference analysis unit, polarized information from a polarized information input unit and calculating a Polarized Mismatch Loss Factor (PMLF) between a transmission antenna of an interference transmitter and a reception antenna of a victim receiver; and analyzing, by the interference analysis unit, an interference influence of the interference transmitter on the victim receiver based on the interference parameters and the PMLF. In accordance with the present invention, an interference influence between heterogeneous wireless communication systems using different polarized waves can be precisely analyzed by incorporating a loss characteristic according to a polarized mismatch between transmission and reception antennas into the interference influence.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a method of analyzing interference between heterogeneous wireless communication systems, and more particularly, to a method of analyzing interference between heterogeneous wireless communication systems, which analyzes an interference influence between the heterogeneous wireless communication systems by incorporating a loss characteristic according to a polarized mismatch between transmission and reception antennas into the interference influence.
Methods chiefly used to analyze interference between wireless communication systems include a Minimum Coupling Loss (MCL) method and a Monte-Carlo method.
First, in the MCL method, the degree of isolation necessary for a plurality of wireless communication systems to be operated without mutual interference, and an isolation distance and an isolation frequency based on the degree of isolation are calculated using system parameters and a propagation model.
Interference between the wireless communication systems may be prevented by isolating the distances or frequencies between a victim receiver and an interference transmitter form each other based on the calculated isolation distance and isolation frequency.
In contrast, the Monte-Carlo method is a method of setting all parameter values related to an interference environment and then statistically calculating an interference probability. The Monte-Carlo method is a little great in complexity and different in a calculated interference probability according to an input parameter value, but is advantageous in that an interference probability into which a real environment has been incorporated may be calculated and all interference environments may be simulated.
In accordance with the MCL method and the Monte-Carlo method, however, it is difficult to precisely analyze an interference influence between wireless communication systems using different polarized waves.
A pertinent prior art includes Korean Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 10-2010-0053640 (May 20, 2010) entitled 'Adaptation of Transmit Power Based on Maximum Received Signal Strength'.

Method of analyzing interference between heterogeneous wireless communication systems

Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute


A piston assembly of an air pump is provided herein. The piston of the piston assembly has a through exhaust channel along the direction of the piston's back-and-forth movement. The exhaust channel is made up of two aligned exhaust holes, and a space is preserved at where the two exhaust holes interface. A flexible valve piece is provided inside the space, which will flip upward and downward to block the exhaust holes when the piston moves downward and upward, respectively. When the air pump is turned off and the piston stops moving, the exhaust valve piece would be automatically restored to its un-bended state by its own flexibility, allowing the compressed air inside the cylinder to escape through the exhaust holes and around the exhaust valve piece inside the space.

(a) Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to air pumps, and more particularly to a piston assembly for quickly releasing the compressed air and inner pressure inside the cylinder of an air pump.
(b) Description of the Prior Art
When an air pump finishes pumping and is turned off, compressed air and thereby a high pressure are still preserved inside the cylinder of the air pump. When the air pump is later started again and the piston is engaged, the piston is resisted by the preserved high pressure and the air pump would suffer an instantaneous load proportional to the cylinder's inner pressure. If the load is large enough, the air pump might not be able to be started, or the motor of the air pump would burn down.
As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional air pump is therefore provided with a pressure releasing device (A1) that is located either on the cylinder (A2) or along the air pipe (A3). Every time before the air pump is started, a button (A4) of the pressure releasing device (A3) is engaged manually to release the compressed air and the inner pressure inside the cylinder (A2), which is quite troublesome.
Some conventional air pumps are configured with a pressure-sensitive releasing device which would be automatically engaged when the inner pressure inside the cylinder has reached a pre-set threshold. In other words, the inner pressure of the cylinder is always maintained within a safety range. This implies that the inner pressure of cylinder is not entirely removed. The remaining inner pressure inside the cylinder would still cause unstable operation of the piston.
Small air pumps such as those for use in households or with motor vehicles usually do not have a pressure releasing device. Instead, a small through exhaust hole is provided on the cylinder so that a portion of the compressed air is always released via the exhaust hole while the remaining compressed air is pumped out through the air pipe. In other words, this kind of small air pumps sacrifices a portion of the compressed air for the resolution of the start-up inner pressure problem. However, this simple solution is not adequate to high-power and high-pressure air pumps. In addition, as some of the compressed air is wasted, the motor of the air pump has to work longer and consumes more electricity. Also, if the air pump is restarted when the compressed air inside the cylinder has not totally escaped through the exhaust hole, the motor would still suffer an instantaneous load.


Disclosed are embodiments of an integrated circuit die interconnection interposer suited to controlled high performance transmission of electronic or optical signals or combinations thereof. The various embodiments are designed to provide direct path interconnections away from the surface of one or more integrated circuit die. The structures are amenable to improved thermal management and can be fabricated on at semiconductor wafer.

IC packages serve to space transform the I/O of an IC chip to a pattern and pitch which is more suitable to the needs of a next level interconnection device. The next level device may be another IC package, an electronic module or an interconnection substrate such as a printed circuit board (PCB). IC packages are thus created in a wide variety of different constructions based on the requirements of the application ands the number of input/output (I/O) terminals on the die. The package constructions themselves vary from chip scale and wafer level packages created near or at the size of the IC die, to leadframe type structures, to highly complex multi layer interconnection structures all of which serve to translate the I/O on the chip from a fine pitch to a more useful pitch.
IC package substrate structures, especially those used for high performance applications, are designed with great care in an effort to precisely control the characteristic impedance of the electronic signal from the chip to the next level interconnection device. Due to the complexities of the traditional approach to design, manufacture and assembly, signal quality is often degraded or compromised by the intrinsic frailties and inefficiencies of those same design and interconnection manufacturing technologies employed in the creation of higher performance IC packages. Some relief can be obtained by use of more exotic materials which provide a more acceptable signal quality, however, those gains are achievable only at costs that often exceed in multiples the cost of IC they are packaging. While solutions continue to be developed to solve the electrical problems, optical interconnections will be similarly challenged as optical IC solutions come of age. Moreover, it is anticipated that both electrical and optical solutions will be required on a common IC in the near future.
In general, transmission of high speed signals, whether achieved electrically using metal or other conductive materials or optically using optical fiber, requires that precise control of the structure and materials be maintained at every point along the transmission path, starting at the chip itself, to ensure the quality of the transmitted signal. Any disruptions along the transmission path will degrade signal quality. Thus there is present and future need for improved IC package and interconnection structures and alternative interconnection methods that will meet the needs of both high speed electrical and optical interconnections both separately and together and in doing so meet the performance and cost demands of next generation electronic products.

IC packaging interposer having controlled impedance or optical interconnections and an integral heat spreader