Embodiments of the present invention generally provide methods and apparatus for testing memory devices having normal memory elements and redundant memory elements. During a front-end testing procedure, normal memory elements that are found to be defective are replaced by redundant memory elements. During the front-end test, redundant memory elements that are found to be defective may be marked as defective by blowing associated mask fuses. During a back-end testing procedure, the results of testing a normal memory element may be masked (e.g., forced to a passing result) if the normal memory element has been replaced by a redundant memory element. Similarly, the results of testing a redundant memory element may be masked if the redundant memory element was previously found to be defective, as indicated by an associated mark fuse. By masking the test results for memory elements (normal and redundant) that have been previously found defective, the memory elements may be tested in the same manner during front-end and back-end testing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to memory testing, and more particularly to masking the results of post-replacement testing of memory elements known to be defective.
2. Description of the Related Art
Memory chips are fabricated using state-of-the-art technologies with minimum feature-sizes implemented on the memory chips wherever possible. Memory chips are designed to allow for the storage of a large amount of information on one chip (currently 512 Mbits or more for a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) chip). One of the major determinants of the cost of producing memory chips is wafer yield, which is defined as the ratio of non-defective chips over the total chips fabricated on a given wafer. In general, the higher the integration density of a memory chip, the higher the probability that one or more memory cells of the memory chip will be defective. Thus, the higher the integration density of the chips fabricated on a given wafer, the lower the wafer yield. Accordingly, it is necessary to correct defects in order to enhance wafer yield, especially with the advent of high-density memory chips.
One effective method of correcting memory cell defects in a memory device is to provide a redundant memory cell array in addition to the normal memory cell array of the memory device. The redundant memory cell array comprises one or more redundant blocks of memory cells used to replace one or more normal blocks of memory cells of the normal memory cell array which contain defective memory cells found during testing. When a normal block of memory cells contains one or more defective memory cells, the entire block is considered defective and needs to be replaced by a non-defective redundant block.
Typically, the redundant memory cell array has one or more programmable redundancy determining units attached thereto, one for each redundant block. During testing of the memory chip, if a normal block of the normal memory cell array is found defective, the redundancy determining unit is programmed to select a non-defective redundant block if the address of the defective normal block is applied to the memory device.
The redundancy determining unit is typically programmed by blowing one or more fusible links, i.e., an address fuse, for each address bit input of the memory device. The address fuses may be conventional fuses, requiring an external device, such as a laser, for blowing. Alternatively, the address fuses may be electrically programmable fuses and the memory device may include an internal circuit for blowing the fuses. Regardless, the address fuses of the programmable redundancy determining unit are selectively blown depending on the address of the defective normal block which the associated redundant block is supposed to replace. For example, the address fuses may be selectively blown externally (e.g., by a laser), or internally, for example, utilizing an on-chip voltage or current source and a plurality of selection-circuits to select unique fuses from existing sets of fuses based on certain input-criteria (e.g., a set of address-bits, enable bits, etc.).
Conventionally, after the replacement is enabled (e.g., post-fuse), if a memory access to the defective normal block is initiated (i.e., a redundancy hit), the programmed redundancy determining unit associated with the replacing redundant block selects the replacing redundant block and stops the selection of the defective normal block.
To properly test for defective memory cells, testing of the interdependency between adjacent cells is of particular importance. A memory cell might be functional in very simple tests, but might fail if adjacent cells behave in a certain way. As an example, a row of memory cells may pass a test when one adjacent row of memory cells contains a first test pattern but may fail the same test when another adjacent row of memory cells contains a second test pattern. Accordingly, the interdependency between adjacent cells has to be tested in order to ensure that the memory device will not fail in user applications.
Conventionally, testing of the interdependency between adjacent cells must be performed prior to replacing defective memory cells with redundant memory cells. This is because prior to any replacement, the normal blocks and the redundant blocks can be accessed in their own address spaces. As a result, testing of interdependency between adjacent cells can be easily carried out by accessing adjacent blocks. After replacement, however, the replacing redundant block is mirrored (or mapped) from the redundant address space into the normal address space at the location of the replaced normal block. As a result, testing of the interdependency between adjacent rows involving a replaced normal row cannot be properly performed.
After front-end testing and replacement of defective fuses, an accelerated aging (burn-in) test is typically performed. After the burn-in tests, the memory devices are typically packaged and a back-end-test is performed to check whether the memory devices still conform to a set of specifications. Because performance of the chip may deteriorate during the burn-in tests, front-end tests are typically run to specifications that are somewhat more stringent than the back-end tests. Because conventional techniques do not allow for testing interdependencies between adjacent memory-cells during back-end testing, these tests are moved into the front-end test. Accordingly, these tests are performed against the more stringent front-end specifications, which results in a higher amount of failing chips and unnecessary yield-losses.
Accordingly, there is a need for an apparatus and method for performing post-replacement (back end) testing of memory devices which overcomes shortcomings existing in the prior art.

Method and apparatus for masking known fails during memory tests readouts


In a conveying apparatus, a support member supports a second guide member such that the second guide member is pivotable between a first position and a second position, a downstream-side edge of the second guide member in a sheet conveying direction being closer to a first guide member than to a fourth guide member when the second guide member is in a first position, the downstream-side edge of the second guide member being closer to the fourth guide member than to the first guide member when the second guide member is in the second position.

There is known a conveying apparatus that conveys a sheet within a conveying path formed inside the conveying apparatus. An image recording apparatus, such as a printer and a multifunction peripheral, is one example of the conveying apparatus.
Some image recording apparatuses include a plurality of conveying paths in the inside of the apparatuses.
Some image recording apparatuses have a manual feed tray on their back surface. A user uses the manual feed tray to insert a sheet onto the inside of the apparatus.
There has been proposed an image recording apparatus that has a manual feed tray and a plurality of conveying paths. The image recording apparatus has a curved path extending from a sheet feed tray to a recording unit and a manual feed conveying path extending from the manual feed tray to a position where the manual feed conveying path converges into the curved path. The recording unit records an image on a sheet that has been conveyed to the recording unit.

Conveying apparatus and image recording apparatus having the same


Provided is a solid-state imaging element configured to automatically extend dynamic range for each unit pixel. A solid-state imaging element includes, for a unit pixel, a first photoelectric conversion element, a first accumulation portion that accumulates electric charge obtained by photoelectric conversion by the first photoelectric conversion element, and a first film that is electrically connected to the first accumulation portion and has an optical characteristic changing according to applied voltage. Furthermore, the unit pixel of the solid-state imaging element can further include a first transfer transistor that transfers electric charge obtained by photoelectric conversion by the photoelectric conversion element to the first accumulation portion, an amplification transistor that is electrically connected to the first accumulation portion, and a selection transistor that is electrically connected to the amplification transistor.

Conventionally, there have been solid-state imaging elements, such as CCD or CMOS image sensors, in which light incident on a sensor unit during a certain exposure time period is photoelectrically converted by a photodiode, and the incident light is converted into electric charge and accumulated in an accumulation portion. However, since the accumulation portion has a finite amount of electric charge accumulated, and, for example, when strong light is incident, the accumulation portion is saturated with electric charge and provides insufficient gray scale. As a method for suppressing insufficient gray scale, it is known to increase dynamic range.
Here, as an example of a technique for extending dynamic range of a solid-state imaging element, Patent Document 1 discloses a solid-state imaging element including a semiconductor substrate that has a light receiving surface on which a photoelectric conversion unit is formed corresponding to each of pixels arranged in a matrix, an electrochromic film that is formed on the semiconductor substrate in optical incidence paths to the photoelectric conversion units in some pixels selected from the pixels and has a light transmittance changing from a first transmittance to a second transmittance according to an applied voltage, a lower electrode that is formed in a layer below the electrochromic film, and an upper electrode that is formed in a layer above the electrochromic film. According to the technique of Patent Document 1, it is considered that the dynamic range can be extended without causing problems such as the increase of power consumption and generation of an unnatural image.

Solid-state imaging element, method of driving solid-state imaging element, and electronic apparatus

SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION


A system for producing an image by a sequence of intensity values representing pixels of the image which employs means for scanning the image at a non-linear rate and further, includes means modulating the basic illumination and intensity of pixels as a function of scanning speed. The scanner provides a reciprocating scan and in a specific embodiment, a bi-directional scan whereby pixels are projected during both forward and reverse line sweep. The scan pattern is typically sinusoidal but can be any repeatable scan. The rate of output of video data is proportional to the rate of scan as is the average intensity of the output.

This invention relates to image display systems in which image elements are projected onto a display surface such as a projection screen, the display surface of a cathode ray tube or, with appropriate precautions, directly onto the retina of the human eye.
Most direct-view video projector display systems are based on cathode ray tube (CRT) technology in which a beam of electrons is directed to impinge on a phosphorescent screen. The resolution and brightness of CRT technology-based displays are inherently limited by the characteristics of phosphors and electron beam control electronics.
Some projection systems have been built using light spot scanning techniques, as distinct from electron beam deflection techniques as used in CRTs. Scanning projection systems typically use two rotating mirrors, one for high speed horizontal scan and one for slower vertical scan. Such a system using two rotating multi-faceted mirrors is described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 2,163,548, issued in 1936. A modern variant is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,097,115. Therein two mirrors are employed in the scanning system. A still further scanning system using rotating multi-faceted mirrors is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,613,201. The spot scanning systems require expensive and precise high speed scanning mirrors. Typically such systems require mirrors with up to 36 precision faces with rotation speeds of 30,000 revolutions per minute in order to provide a system capable of realtime video projection. Such high-speed rotating mirrors typically require air-bearings or other expensive components. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a large screen scanning system that eliminates the need for any rotating high speed multi-faceted mirrors or other elements which are particularly sensitive to failure or wear.
Laser illumination has been used in light scanning systems to illuminate a single pixel of image during a high-speed two-dimensional scan of a large projection screen system. A great deal of effort has been expended on achieving the objective using lasers because of their intense light and characteristic coherence. However, the use of lasers in wide spread commercial applications has been difficult to realize and practice for a number of reasons. Some of the difficulties have been discussed in a paper by C. E. Baker of Texas Instruments Inc., IEEE Spectrum, December 1968. One particular problem is the generally low efficiency of lasers, which results in unacceptably low picture brightness at large screen sizes for a given power consumption. An increase in laser output has involved an unacceptable increase in cost and complexity for all but the most cost-insensitive applications. Another problem involves the production of suitable red, blue and green light components for color displays. Consequently, systems employing multiple lasers have been required which results in increase in complexity and cost. Finally, a high-speed deflection technique is still required. Solutions offered have been a high-speed rotating multi-faceted scanning mirror, or alternatively, a Bragg cell.
White light sources have been found to be more suitable for color projection than lasers, which require a plurality of lasers to generate the desired colors. However, available light sources have the disadvantage of being less collimated and less coherent than a typical monochromatic laser. Thus, white light sources might be considered less than suitable for spot scanning. A white light source requires relatively large components, including concentration lens, modulator and the like in order to achieve a brightness comparable to that of a laser. Large optical components are unwieldy and expensive. Moreover, large modulators are characterized by speed limitations, making them unsuitable for highspeed scanning systems. Finely-focused bright white light sources are difficult to achieve and hence, resolution is limited. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a system which neither requires a laser nor the large and expensive optical components which have in the past generally been associated with a white light scanning system. There are several alternatives to scanning-type systems. Among the alternatives are so called "spatial light modulators" (SLMs). One non-scanning color projection technology, referred to as "light valve technology", uses an oil film deformed by electron bombardment. This technology has been incorporated into two known commercially available systems, the Eidophor theatre projection system and the General Electric color television projector, as described in "Color Television Light Valve Projection Systems," IEEE International Convention, Session 26/1, 1-8 (1973) and "The Fischer Large-Screen Projection System (Eidophor)," by E. Baumann, 20 J. SMPTE 351 (1953). In the Eidophor and G.E. system, a continuous oil film is scanned in raster fashion with an electron beam that is modulated so as to create a spatially-periodic distribution of deposited charge within each resolvable pixel on the flexible film. This charge distribution results in the creation of a phase grating within each pixel by virtue of the electrostatic attraction between the oil film surface and the supporting substrate, which is maintained at constant potential. This attractive force causes the surface of the film to deform by an amount proportional to the quantity of deposited charge. The modulated light valve (incorporating the oil) is illuminated by spatially coherent light from an arc-lamp. Light which is incident to modulated pixels on the oil film is diffracted by the local phase gratings into a discrete set of regularly spaced orders which are made to fall on a Schlieren stop consisting of a periodic array of alternating clear and opaque bars by part of the optical system. The phase perturbations introduced by the modulated electron beam are thus converted into bright spots of light at the screen by the Schlieren projector. A number of non-oil film SLMs have been developed. Among such SLMs are those including deflectable elements, rotation of plane of polarization, and light scattering. Such SLMs employ various effects such as deformation of reflective layers of metal, elastomer, or elastomer-photoconductor, as well as polarization and scattering of ferroelectrics, PLZT ceramics, or liquid crystals. Prior systems have been disclosed by R. Sprague et al., "Linear Total Internal Reflection Spatial Light Modulator for Laser Printing," 299 Proc. SPIE 68 (1981) and W. Turner and R. Sprague, "Integrated Total Internal Reflection (TIR) Spatial Light Modulator for Laser Printing," 299 Proc. SPIE 76 (1991). Still further, SLMs are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,710,732. However, none of these technologies has resulted in high resolution, high brightness, video screen projection systems suitable for the consumer marketplace. An experimental video projector has been described by Murano et al. entitled "A Video Projector Using a PLZT Light Shutter Array," Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, 24 (1985) Supplement 24-2, pp. 139-143. Therein a line PLZT light shutter array was used to modulate light from a Xenon light source. The resulting modulated beam was scanned vertically by a movable mirror and then projected on the screen. However, this system experienced significant problems relating to brightness, uniformity of image, and mirror response time.
What is needed is a system for displaying an image from a sequence of intensity values representing pixels wherein the system is suitable for high volume, low cost production with a reliability acceptable for consumer applications of high resolution video imagery.

System for producing an image from a sequence of pixels


A method of noise value control by controlling the rotation rate of a fan utilizes a set temperature control plot to estimate the noise value of fans and temperature changes of CPUs corresponding to the fans to optimize thermal energy absorption, achieve a suitable noise value, and take less manpower and time.

1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to a method of noise value control by controlling the rotation rate of a fan and, in particular, to a method that estimates the noise value of a fan by setting a temperature control plot.
2. Related Art
Since the creation of Pentium processors, the working frequency of CPUs has ranged from 133 MHz to 2.5 GHz. Popular CPUs used the manufacturing technology of 0.18 micrometers or 0.13 micrometers, but CPUs with high-speed data processing that consist of many transistors generate more thermal energy than before. Today, the power of CPUs with a frequency up to 1 GHz is more than 40 watts, and the power of CPUs such as Pentium 4s with a frequency up to 2 GHz is 70 watts. Such high power causes more thermal energy in the CPUs. If no methods are employed for removing thermal energy immediately in summer, the CPUs may become damaged and prematurely aged. It is thus important to create fans that remove the thermal energy of computers effectively.
The thermal energy of CPUs increases rapidly with the improving working frequency of CPUs. Many manufacturers are trying methods to enhance the rotation rate of fans or include more fans for improving the removing effect. A higher fan rotation rate and more fans cause more noise. Thus finding a balance between rotation rate of fans and noise of fans is a goal of fan design.
Generally speaking, the methods of reducing fan noise can be categorized into two types: one is improving bearings of fans, and the other is reducing the rotation rate of fans. In the former method, the bearings of fans are categorized into three types: sleeve bearing fans, ball bearing fans, and magnetic bearing fans. The operation of sleeve bearing fans causes sliding friction and the operation of ball bearing fans causes rolling friction, so more noise is produced in operation. The operation of magnetic bearing fans reduces the noise of sleeve bearing friction. Acceptance of magnetic bearing fans is not as widespread because of immature manufacturing technology and high expense.
The latter method of reducing rotation rate is an obvious way for reducing fan noise. Fans of fixed rotation rates produce fixed noise values, so changing one fan to another fan is the only way to reduce the noise value. There are no definite adjusting methods for setting control parameters of rotation rate. The only method is adjusting fan rotation rate slowly until the noise value is acceptable, but this wastes manpower and time. It is thus an important issue to reduce noise value by controlling the rotation rate of a fan.
The object of the invention is to provide a method of noise value control by controlling the rotation rate of a fan. The method involves estimating the noise value of a fan by setting a temperature control plot. The method also estimates the noise value of fans and temperature changes of CPUs corresponding to the fans to optimize thermal energy absorption, achieve a suitable noise value, and take less manpower and time.
In accordance with the invention, the method of noise value control by controlling the rotation rate of a fan comprises the following steps:
acquiring a fan module first;
acquiring a corresponding relation of values of the temperature of a target member and values of the operation parameters of the fan module, and a corresponding relation of values of the operation parameters of the fan module and values of the noise;
plotting a relation chart according to values of the temperature of the target member and values of the operation parameters of the fan module, and a relation chart according to the values of the operation parameters of the fan module and values of the noise;
setting a temperature control plot, and plotting it into the relation chart according to the values of the temperature of the target member and values of the operation parameters of the fan module;
obtaining an intersection point (called an operation point) of the fan module, the temperature control plot and the relation chart according to the values of the temperature of the target member and the values of the operation parameters of the fan module;
obtaining the operation parameter value corresponding to the operation point from the relation chart according to the values of the temperature of the target member and the values of the operation parameters of the fan module;
obtaining the noise value corresponding to the operation point from the relation chart according to the values of the operation parameters of the fan module and the values of the noise; and
finally, achieving and maintaining a tolerant range of noise values.
Further scope of applicability of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

Method of noise value control by controlling the rotation rate of a fan


A method of processing a sampled input image having pixels which can have missing information at pixel locations to reconstruct an output image therefrom, including providing a mask for the sampled image to identify valid pixel locations; interpolating by convolution with at least one finite impulse response (FIR) filter(s) applied to the information at valid pixel locations to produce reconstructed information for non-valid pixel locations; and adaptively normalizing the reconstructed information for the non-valid pixel locations produced by applying the FIR filter(s) to the mask so that the valid pixels and the reconstructed information at non-valid pixel locations provide a reconstructed image.

There are many imaging and communications systems which employ an image which is not uniformly sampled, and from which a full image is reconstructed. The human visual system provides an example from nature wherein the spatial positions of the rods and cones provide random samples of the scene imaged on the retina, from which a full image is subsequently reconstructed. Another example of a system dealing with two dimensional signals or images is found in video and electronic still applications where charge coupled device (CCD) sensors are often used. CCDs may have defects or non-valid pixels, and thereby have incomplete information at some pixel locations. Additionally, in the case where a single sensor is used to capture multiple two-dimensional channels, for example the color channels of an image, then a color filter array (CFA) is often employed to discriminate between the color channels. The CFA acts as either a regular or random sampling device in each of the color channels and may, in addition have defects which results in additional incomplete information.
There are many situations in which random sampling of a signal has significant advantages over regular sampling, an excellent review of such advantages being provided by U.S. Pat. No. 4,574,311 entitled "Random Array Sensing Devices." Highlighted in the above-mentioned application is the fact that aliasing can occur when a non-bandlimited signal is sampled. Aliasing is particularly noticeable (as low frequency periodic information) when a non-bandlimited high frequency periodic signal is sampled on a regular sampling grid. Aliasing may also occur when a non-bandlimited high frequency signal is randomly sampled, but in this case the artifact is manifest as broad band noise which is less objectionable.
Various approaches to solving the reconstruction problem have been presented. The above-mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 4,574,311 discloses a triangulation based linear interpolation method that utilizes the spatial distance between irregular samples to reconstruct a continuous image: This requires the calculation of multiple distances at each pixel location and limits the contribution to the reconstruction to the nearest neighbour samples.
In many reconstruction schemes, iterative methods are used, such as the Adaptive Weights Method, an iterative Fourier interpolation technique, described in Benedetto and Frazier, Wavelets: Mathematics and Applications, CRC Press, 1994, pp 336-359. A comprehensive review of approaches to reconstructing irregularly sampled images can be found in IEEE Transactions on Image Processing, Vol. 6, No. 4, April 1997, `Computationally Attractive Reconstruction of Bandlimited Images from Irregular Samples` by Strohmer. Again, recursive or iterative methods are discussed and it is noted that in many cases it is difficult or impossible to extend the methods applicable to one-dimensional signals for use in the reconstruction of signals of two or more dimensions, such as images.

Reconstructing missing pixel information to provide a full output image


A connector assembly having two connector terminals linked by a short cable to reduce the overall size thereof. The connector assembly is used to connect a mobile phone to a peripheral device and has a structure including a cable; a first connector terminal provided at one end of the cable to be connected to the peripheral device; and a second connector terminal detachable from the first connector terminal, electrically connected to a plug connector provided at the other end of the cable and having an interface connector that can be plugged into an interface terminal provided on the mobile phone.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a connector assembly for connecting a mobile phone to a peripheral device, and more particularly to a connector assembly for connecting a mobile phone to a peripheral device and having two connectors linked by a short cable to reduce the overall size of the connector assembly, thereby improving portability.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, mobile phones or terminals refer to handheld devices used for data transmission or wireless communication while the user is moving. It is a current trend that mobile phones are becoming smaller, sleeker and lighter to improve portability and multifunctional to implement broader functions and services.
Mobile phones have an interface terminal, generally at the bottom thereof, for purposes of multimedia processing and battery charging. A mobile phone can be connected to a peripheral device using a separate connector means plugged into the interface terminal.
As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a conventional connector means is a cable 10 having an interface connector 20 at one end thereof and a Universal Serial Bus (USB) jack 30 or a small-sized adapter with a charger circuit. The cable is used to connect a mobile phone to a peripheral device (not shown) such as a PC or a printer, or to charge the battery.
Typically, different models of mobile phones have different types or shapes of interface terminals. When users buy a different or new model mobile phone, they also have to buy a new connector means that fits with that model. As a solution to this problem, mobile phone connection standards recommend that a 24-pin connector be used for the interface terminal and the connector means for battery charging and data communication.
Conventional connector means have a cable structure connecting the interface connector and the USB jack. The length of the cable increases the size of the connector means and thereby reduces the portability. Also, a separate case is needed to contain the connector means when traveling, which increases the price of the connector means. Since most conventional connector means are configured only to charge the mobile phone battery or to perform data transmission, another connector is necessary to connect a mobile phone to a peripheral device, such as a PC or a printer. Also, the mobile phone should be provided with another interface terminal for connection to a peripheral device.

Connector assembly for connecting mobile phone to peripheral device


Methods and systems to determine view cell occlusion, including to project objects of a 3-dimensional graphics environment to a 2-dimensional image plane with respect to the view point, to reduce sizes of corresponding object images, to generate an occluder map from the reduced-size object images, to compare at least a portion of the object images to the occluder map, and to identify an object as occluded with respect to the view cell when pixel depth values of the object image are greater than corresponding pixel depth values of the occluder map. Methods and systems to reduce an object image size include methods and systems to nullify pixel depth values within a radius of an edge pixel, and to determine the radius as a distance from the edge pixel to a second pixel so that a line between the view point and the second pixel is parallel with one or more of a line and a plane that is tangential to a sphere enclosing the view cell and a point on the object that corresponds to the edge pixel.

A 3-dimensional computer graphics environment, such as an interactive walk-through virtual environment, may include millions of triangles. Processing of such graphics data for display is computationally intensive. In many situations, only a relatively small portion of an environment is visible to a user at a given time. Thus, algorithms have been developed to cull triangles that not visible to the user, to reduce the amount of data sent to a graphics pipeline. Culling techniques include view frustum culling and occlusion culling.
View frustum culling is a technique where only triangles contained in a current view frustum are sent to a graphics pipeline.
Occlusion culling techniques seek to identify and cull triangles that are occluded behind other triangles. Occlusion culling techniques include view point and region based techniques.
View point techniques seek to identify occluded triangles with respect to a current view point, or virtual position of a user. View point based visibility tests are re-computed for every frame.
Region based techniques seek to identify occluded triangles with respect to a range of view points, or a view cell. Region based techniques seek to exploit spatial coherence within visible geometry for proximate viewpoints, and temporal coherence of user movement, to amortize costs of visibility culling over multiple frames. Once computed, a visible set is valid until a user moves out of the view cell.
Region based techniques include orthographic projection to project objects onto a bitmap coincident with a ground plane, and thus referred to as rendering in 2.5-dimensions. Orthographic projection involves storing of substantial geometry of rendered objects.
In the drawings, the leftmost digit(s) of a reference number identifies the drawing in which the reference number first appears.

Methods and systems to determine conservative view cell occlusion


An arrangement for cooling electronic components in a system. Several circuit boards are connected to a backplane electrically and through heat pipes, which are mounted on the boards and provide connections between the electronic components on the board and the cooling system. The circuit boards, including the attached heat pipes, can be removed from the backplane by detaching electrical connections on the boards from corresponding connectors on the backplane, while at the same time detaching the ends of the heat pipes from sockets in an expander which forms part of the cooling system. If desired, backplanes can be positioned on both sides of the expander, with sockets provided on both sides of the expander to receive end portions of heat pipes.

The present invention relates generally to the cooling of electronic devices and more particularly relates to an apparatus and method in which electronic devices which are mounted on a circuit board are cooled from a central system, with a detachable portion of the cooling system being secured to the circuit board and being removable therewith.
Microprocessors made using the CMOS (complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor) process are capable of higher performance when cooled. The performance increment is about ten percent per 25 degrees cooling and has been verified using an NCR Corporation NCR 32000 chip set down to the temperature of liquid nitrogen, 77 degrees Kelvin.
Since it is expected that future microprocessor chips will operate with high power consumption, special provisions must be made for cooling the chips. Commonly, the provisions include the use of heat sinks which provide cooling in an air stream. As the power consumption of the microprocessor chips increases, an alternative to air cooling may prove to be advantageous. Once chip cooling considerations have dictated the use of active cooling, the cooling system can also be used to enhance the performance of the processor.
One potential difficulty in applying an active cooling system to the electronic components on circuit boards of a data processing system is that the structure of such a cooling system may interfere with the convenient removal and replacement of the individual circuit boards of such a system. Since these circuit boards may periodically need to be removed and replaced for repairs, maintenance or other purposes, it would be advantageous to provide an arrangement in which the cooling system structure would not interfere with such removal and replacement.

Apparatus for cooling electronic devices


A liquid crystal display device includes first and second substrates facing each other with a liquid crystal layer therebetween, a first data line, a second data line, a gate line, a pixel electrode and a reset electrode on the first substrate, the first data line crossing the gate line to define a pixel region, and a common electrode on the second substrate, during a first period of a frame, the pixel electrode and the reset electrode generating a horizontal electric field with respect to the substrates, and during a second period of the frame the common electrode and the pixel and reset electrodes generating a vertical electric field with respect to the substrates.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the invention relates to a flat panel display device, and more particularly, to an apparatus and a method for driving a liquid crystal display ("LCD") device. Although embodiments of the invention are suitable for a wide scope of applications, they are particularly suitable for obtaining a rapid response speed of liquid crystal molecules, realizing an improved image quality, and obtaining a high-resolution image in an in-plane switching mode ("IPS") liquid crystal display device.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
To overcome a narrow viewing angle generated in a twisted nematic ("TN") mode LCD device, an in-plane switching mode LCD device has been studied and developed, which has the advantage of a wide viewing angle. In general, in an IPS mode LCD device, a common electrode and a pixel electrode are formed in parallel on the same substrate, and a liquid crystal material is controlled by a horizontal electric field formed between the common and pixel electrodes. In comparison, a viewing angle of an IPS mode LCD device is wider than that of a TN mode LCD device.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an IPS model LCD device according to the related art. In FIG. 1, a substrate 10 includes a plurality of pixels in an active area A/A on which an image is displayed. In addition, a plurality of data drivers 30 and gate drivers 40 including integrated circuits (IC) chips are mounted on a tape carrier package (TCP) 20. The data drivers 30 provide video data signals to the active area A/A, and the gate drivers 40 provide scan signals for selectively driving the pixels in accordance with the video data signals. The TCP 20 includes a plurality of conductive lines. Thus, each of the data and gate drivers 30 and 40 is electrically connected to the active area A/A. The data drivers 30 are commonly positioned at the upper side of the substrate 10, and the gate drivers 40 are commonly positioned at the lateral side of the substrate 10.
As illustrated shown in the enlarged pixel structure in FIG. 1, a plurality of data lines Dm−1, Dm, and Dm+1, are commonly formed in a vertical direction, and a plurality of gate lines Gn are commonly formed in a horizontal direction crossing the data lines Dm−1, Dm, and Dm+1. To display color images corresponding to the video data signals, the pixels having red, green and blue color filters are arranged in order of red (R), green (G) and blue (B) with respect to the gate line Gn.
In addition, each of the pixels includes a pixel electrode PE and a common electrode CE on the substrate 10. The pixel electrode PE and the common electrode CE may be formed in parallel to or at an angle of about 45° to the data lines Dm−1, Dm, and Dm+1, to thereby form a horizontal electric field parallel to the substrate 10. Based on the structure of the pixel and common electrodes PE and CE, liquid crystal molecules are aligned by a rubbing process. The rubbing process is performed along the direction of the data lines Dm−1, Dm, and Dm+1, to thereby display a normally black mode of showing a black image on a screen when an electric field is not applied to the pixel electrode PE and the common electrode CE.
FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b) are schematic diagrams illustrating a movement of liquid crystal molecules in a pixel of an IPS mode LCD device according to the related art. FIG. 2(a) shows the alignment state of the liquid crystal molecules when the electric field is not formed, and FIG. 2(b) shows the alignment state of the liquid crystal molecules when the electric field is formed. As shown in FIG. 2(a), when the electric field is not applied to the pixel electrode PE and the common electrode CE, that is, PE=CE=0V, the liquid crystal molecules are maintained in the initial alignment direction. As shown in FIG. 2(b), if the electric field is formed by respectively applying voltages to the pixel electrode PE and the common electrode CE, for example, PE=7V and CE=0V, the liquid crystal molecules rotate in proportion to the level of the applied electric field at the direction of the electric field. As a result, the light transmittance is changed based on the rotation of the liquid crystal molecules, and such an alignment change of liquid crystal molecules is referred to as 'rising'. In addition, as the electric field dissipates between the pixel electrode PE and the common electrode CE, the liquid crystal molecules are re-aligned to the initial state as shown in FIG. 2(a), and such an alignment change of liquid crystal molecules is referred to as 'falling'.
On the rising movement of liquid crystal molecules according to the formation of electric field, the liquid crystal molecules are rapidly rotated in comparison with the level of the applied electric field. On the falling movement of liquid crystal molecules after the electric field dissipates, the liquid crystal molecules are slowly returned to the initial alignment in comparison with those on the rising movement. In particular, the rising movement of the liquid crystal molecules are moved rapidly since the liquid crystal molecules are rotated based on the electric field. In contrast, in case of the falling movement, the liquid crystal molecules are moved depending on properties of the liquid crystal and alignment layer, for example, the elastic coefficient, rotating viscosity, or aligning force. Accordingly, the falling where the liquid crystal molecules are moved slowly causes the inaccurate alignment of liquid crystal molecules when displaying the next frame, thereby deteriorating the image quality.

Apparatus and method for driving liquid crystal display device


A semiconductor device failure analysis method and apparatus and a computer program for the method and apparatus are provided. The method includes: an observation image acquisition process of acquiring a voltage contrast image by charging an exposed conductive layer of a semiconductor device and irradiating the exposed conductive layer with charged particles; a wiring search process of searching for end points connected to the conductive layer based on design data; and a determination process of comparing voltage contrasts of three levels or more set in advance, one of which is set for a wiring depending on a state of an end point of the wiring, with the voltage contrast image acquired in the observation image acquisition process to determine consistency/inconsistency. Since three or more levels are set, for example, a short-circuit formed by a conductive layer connected to a transistor diffusion layer and another wiring can be identified.

As the integration and performance of semiconductor devices advance, analysis of defects of the semiconductor devices is increasingly becoming difficult. In response, to facilitate the analysis of defects of semiconductor devices as much as possible, various techniques for analyzing defects of semiconductor devices have been developed. According to one method for analyzing defects of semiconductor devices, an electron beam inspection apparatus is used to acquire a voltage contrast image and identify defect positions.
According to this method, first, a semiconductor device is polished by polishing or the like, so that a surface of a conductive layer (wirings or vias) to be observed is exposed. Next, the surface of the semiconductor device is charged to a desired voltage, and the exposed conductive layer is next irradiated with charged particles by an electronic beam. Secondary electrons are released from the semiconductor device, and a voltage contrast image formed thereby is observed by a scanning electron microscope (SEM). If a disconnection defect or a short-circuit defect is present in a lower layer of the conductive layer to be observed, the obtained voltage contrast image is different from that obtained from a normal semiconductor device. Thus, by acquiring voltage contrast images of defective and good semiconductor devices and comparing the images with each other, inconsistent positions are detected.
For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an automatic inspection system for an x-ray mask and the like. According to this document, by irradiating a conductive substrate with charged particles by an electron beam, detecting any of the generated secondary electrons, reflection electrons, and transmission electrons, and comparing an image formed by the detected signals with an image used as a reference, defects are automatically detected.
In addition, Patent Document 2 proposes a failure analysis apparatus as an improvement of a conventional technique. According to Patent Document 2, defects are analyzed by using an absorption electric potential method. Based on this method, first, a surface of a wiring or via to be observed is exposed by polishing, and the exposed surface is irradiated with charged particles by an electron beam. Whether a current leaks from the wiring to be analyzed to a substrate of a semiconductor integrated circuit device is displayed as a voltage contrast image. The voltage contrast image obtained by the absorption electric potential method is compared with an expectation image generated by pattern design data. When an end point of the wiring to be analyzed is a layer connected to a drain region of a metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistor, a low contrast is obtained by the absorption electric potential method. On the other hand, when the end point is a layer connected to a gate electrode of a MOS transistor, a high contrast is obtained (paragraphs 0015, 0026, and 0027 of Patent Document 2). When an end point of the wiring to be analyzed is a drain region of a MOS transistor, if a disconnection defect is present in the wiring, a high contrast is obtained. In this way, a disconnection defect can be detected (paragraphs 0032 to 0044 of Patent Document 2). When an end point of the wiring to be analyzed is a gate electrode of a MOS transistor, if a short-circuit defect is present in the wiring and the short-circuit defect causes a leakage current path between the wiring and a semiconductor substrate, a low contrast is obtained. In this way, a short-circuit defect can be detected (paragraphs 0045 to 0047 of Patent Document 2). Thus, Patent Document 2 uses the voltage contrast image obtained by the absorption electric potential method and the expectation image generated by design data, to detect the presence of a current leakage. Namely, defects are detected based on binary data (high contrast or low contrast).
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Kokai Publication No. JP-A-5-258703, which corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 5,502,306.
Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Kokai Publication No. JP2007-155449A

Semiconductor device failure analysis method and apparatus and program


Pairs of isolation members are mounted externally on casing pipe to define isolation zones. The zones are places into communication by bypass means external to the casing and penetrating the isolation members. Consolidation material is flowed through the bypass means to successively fill the isolated zones.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to a method of achieving zonal isolation in open-hole type completions by using a bypass to transport a consolidation material such as cement, or any other sealing material (for example a resin used for sand control and fluid shutoff), to the localized zones to be consolidated. Preferably these zones will be near the end connections of the pipe.
2. The Prior Art
From a production point of view, the most desirable method of completing either a vertical or horizontal well, especially in very competent formations, is to have an "open hole" well, i.e., a well that does not require cementing a casing or liner extending through the production zone. In general terminology, "open hole" can mean any well completion without any tubulars, or with a slotted liner, preperforated liner etc, with or without a gravel pack. However, open hole completions are often not used because of the difficulty encountered when trying to "work over" the completion. The work over could be required because of sand production, near wellbore damage, the need to fracture or acidize the well, or any of several other operations. Most of these operations require that certain zones within the production interval be treated individually. This is not normally possible in long open hole completions because it may be necessary to isolate small sections of the production zone, to ensure that the whole interval can be effectively treated. This is especially true for horizontal wells with long sections.
Numerous techniques have been attempted to achieve zonal isolation, but at the present time they are generally prohibitively expensive and notoriously unreliable. Diverting agents and pills are often used, but they are difficult to remove and may damage the zones of highest productivity. External inflatable packers may be used, but they are very expensive. In addition, inflatable packers have a very large percentage of failures.


A filter device includes a lid (6) configured for detachable mounting to a filter housing, an annular filter element (2) mounted to the lid (6), a closure part (13) embodied as a separate component from the filter element and the lid (6) with the closure part (13) detachably secured to at least one of the lid (6) and the filter element (2).

EP 0 882 483 A2 discloses a filter device with an annular filter element that is arranged in a cup-shaped filter housing that is to be closed by a lid. The annular filter element is flowed through in radial direction from the exterior to the interior, the purified fluid is subsequently axially discharged. A central tube as a support body is integrated into the filter element and forms the wall of the axial interior through which the purified fluid is discharged. The end faces of the filter element are covered by a terminal disk. In addition, on the central tube a sealing bottom is provided on the end face that is facing the lid and closes the axial interior. The sealing bottom is secured fixedly to the lid by a tie anchor.
Mounting and demounting is relatively complex as a result of the anchor which penetrates the filter element axially through the interior space and is attached to the oppositely positioned housing bottom.
The invention has the object to simplify mounting of a filter device or the exchange of the filter element with simple constructive measures while providing an inexpensive manufacture.

Filter device having an annular filter element


Example embodiments relate to a three-dimensional (3D) image processing apparatus and method that may determine a Region Of Interest (ROI) in an entire sensing region of the 3D image processing apparatus, and may obtain a depth image of the ROI. Also, example embodiments may be applied to a surveillance camera system, a motion detection system, a virtual reality simulation system, a distance recognition system for vehicles, a robotic system, a background separation system based on depth information, etc.

1. Field
Example embodiments relate to a three-dimensional (3D) image processing apparatus and method, and more particularly, to a 3D image processing apparatus and method that may improve a depth accuracy of a Region Of Interest (ROI).
2. Description of the Related Art
Depth information as well as color information of an object is required to capture a three-dimensional (3D) image of an object. An existing digital camera or camcorder may not provide a 3D image or video since it may obtain only color information. Accordingly, much research has been conducted to obtain depth information of a 3D image. In particular, a dense depth image in which every pixel has a depth value may be required to capture a 3D shape and motion and restore the 3D shape and motion as a 3D model on a two-dimensional (2D) display. Also, 3D images of an object are required to be obtained in real time. A depth image technology based on a Time of Flight (TOF), which is one of various methods of obtaining a depth image, may measure a time spent between when a light is emitted, reflected by an object, and returned. A depth image may be obtained in real time through the TOF-based depth image technology.
The TOF-based depth image technology may capture a shape or motion of a person or an object as a 3D image, and may be applied to a variety of fields, such as a surveillance camera system, a motion detection system, a virtual reality simulation system, a distance recognition system for vehicles, etc.
However, the TOF-based depth image technology in a current stage may not accurately capture a person or an object. Accordingly, a 3D image processing technology with a higher accuracy is required.

3D image processing method and apparatus for improving accuracy of depth measurement of an object in a region of interest


An image forming apparatus includes an image forming part to form a developer image on a recording medium, a fuser part that includes a fuser member and a heat application member to fix the developer image on the recording medium, a heat application control part to control the heat application member so that a temperature of the fuser member falls within a target temperature range that has been set, a temperature setting part to set a first target temperature range and a second target temperature range. The first target temperature range is a target temperature range for a first fusion that is performed on a first surface of the recording medium, and the second target temperature range is another target temperature range, which is lower than the first target temperature range, for a second fusion that is performed on the first surface of the recording medium.

A fuser device that fixes a toner image formed on a print sheet (medium) by heat and pressure is included in an electrographic printer (image forming apparatus) that transfers and fixes the toner image (developer image) of toner (developer) onto the print sheet.
As a conventional image forming apparatus, a fuser device (image heating device) described in JP Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2003-255755 performs duplex printing on a print sheet. However, when the duplex printing and fusion process are performed on the print sheet, conditions to heat during the fusion process on one surface and the other surface may need to be changed. For example, the fuser device described in JP Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2003-255755 performs a first fusion process and a second fusion process, in which the same medium is used, at respective different temperatures to solve disarrangement of an image due to a difference between gloss on a front surface and that on a back surface of the medium as well as re-melting of toner on the front surface during the duplex printing.
A fusion temperature on the front surface is lower than that on the back surface during performing the duplex printing. However, an image can hardly be obtained easily.
An object of the detailed examples disclosed in the present invention is to easily obtain an image.


A multi-purpose farm apparatus capable of being easily transported and which can be used to perform a variety of tasks. The multi-purpose farm apparatus comprises a trailer, a combination baler and wood splitter and a hydraulic system mounted thereon. The combination baler and log splitter apparatus includes a baling portion having a baling chamber and a first gib assembly comprising a pressure platen and is mounted for reciprocal movement within said baling chamber. The combination baler and log splitter apparatus further includes a log splitting portion having a second gib assembly comprising a splitting wedge and is mounted to said trailer for reciprocal movement. The first gib assembly and the second gib assembly are mechanically coupled to the hydraulic system for effecting reciprocating movement of the first gib assembly and the second gib assembly. The hydraulic system further comprises a hydraulic motor for driving various farm machinery.

The present invention is directed to farm apparatus, and more particularly, to a multi-purpose farm apparatus capable of being easily transported and having a hydraulic system which can be used to drive various farm equipment including a combination baler and wood splitter.
Small farms are a positive influence in society and preserve open space and contribute to the rural economy. Historically, farmers operating small farms have shared their strategies for survival through a network of co-ops and local organizations that, for the most part, either no longer exist or have become part of large agricultural business concerns. This has contributed to the recent decline of small independent farms. In 1930, for example, there were more than seven million small farms. Today it is estimated that the number of small farms has dropped to less than 500,000. This decline of the small farm, along with local distribution networks, has created greater pressures on farmers through a food supply system dominated by large business organizations. Governments responding to such pressures have reacted by subsidizing larger production and distribution operations, which in turn, have resulted in the formation of a large agricultural business industry making it increasingly more difficult for small farms to compete
In order for small farms to effectively compete in such a large agricultural business industry, farmers operating small farms must use their management skills to reduce expenses, such as reducing the need to purchase expensive equipment, while increasing farm productivity and the value of their production. Accordingly, a need exists for low-cost technologies that enable farmers to reduce expenses and maintain or improve productivity. This can partially be achieved by the development of relatively low-cost equipment that can be utilized to perform a variety of functions.
Farmers operating small farms are often required to clear wooded areas to increase planting acreage or to remove dead or dying trees. Since wood can be an alternative energy source for supplemental or even primary space heating, it has become increasing more valuable. Further, wood gathered and processed by the farmer may be used as an additional source of income. Typically, in order to sell such wood, the farmer will cut the tree into 18 to 20 inch lengths, and then split the logs for use as firewood.
Apparatuses for splitting logs are well known in the art. Conventional log splitting devices comprise a wedge-shaped blade that is driven by a hydraulic ram into the log to split the log into two or more pieces to facilitate burning. The split pieces can then be easily transported for sale or use. For a typical small farm the splitting of logs can be accomplished in a few days. Accordingly, since the wood splitting equipment is only operated for short amounts of time, the purchase of such stand alone equipment ties up needed capital.
Farmers having livestock that are over-wintered are required to either produce hay or they must purchase it from others. Since the cost to purchase bales of hay is often economically unfeasible for many small farms, farmers having livestock must grow and bale hay themselves. Various types and sizes of agricultural crop balers are known in the agricultural industry. One form of agricultural baler produces large round bales of approximately four to five feet in width and of a similar diameter. While such bales have good field storage characteristics, they are difficult to handle. Therefore., many farmers operating small farms prefer a type of agricultural baler that produces rectangular-shaped bales of approximately three to four feet in length and one to one-in-a-half feet in width. Such bales are more easily stacked and are more suitable to manual handling.
In recent years, straw bales are again being utilized as an inexpensive though highly energy-efficient building material and have been shown to be a relatively low cost method of construction and can increase the rate of production of dwellings being built by non-trade persons. Further, dwellings constructed using straw bales generally display better insulation and fire resistance characteristics than conventionally constructed dwellings.
While the baling of straw or hay for a small farm can generally be accomplished in a short amount of time, farmers must either give half of the bales produced to the person who bales for others or purchase his own baling equipment. Unfortunately, the cost to purchase and maintain agricultural baling equipment is very expensive and economically unfeasible for the small farm. Furthermore, as with wood splitting equipment, baling equipment is only operated for short amounts of time and the purchase of such stand-alone equipment again ties up needed capital.
In addition to processing firewood and baling straw or hay, farmers operating small farms are often required to perform a variety of other tasks such as generating electricity; pumping water; mixing feeds, cement, and the like; operating presses, sawing wood; cutting grasses or crops; chopping or shredding debris, corn kernals, and the like, and other such tasks. Unfortunately, until now, due to the cost of the individual hydraulic motors necessary to operate each piece of equipment, such equipment was either relatively expensive or was not designed for extensive operation such as for farm use. Accordingly, a need exists for a relatively inexpensive, easily maintained, portable farm apparatus that can be used to perform a wide variety of tasks.
The present invention is directed to multi-purpose farm apparatus that can be used to perform a variety of tasks and comprises a trailer having a portable hydraulic system mounted thereon and which can be used to drive various farm machinery including a combination baler and wood splitter.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the multi-purpose farm apparatus comprises a trailer having a trailer hitch for attaching the trailer to a vehicle such as a truck, tractor, or other such means for transporting the multi-purpose farm apparatus to a remote location; means for baling; means for splitting wood, and a hydraulic system for driving the means for baling and the means for splitting wood.
In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the multi-purpose farm apparatus comprises a combination baler and wood splitter.
In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the multi-purpose farm apparatus comprises a hydraulic system comprising a hydraulic cylinder and a piston rod, whereby the hydraulic cylinder is pivotally secured to the trailer such that the hydraulic cylinder may be operated in a first configuration for operating the baling portion of the combination baler and wood splitter and in a second configuration for operating the wood splitting portion of the combination baler and wood splitter.
In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the multi-purpose farm apparatus comprises means for rotating the log splitting portion into a vertical position, a horizontal position, or any position there between.
In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the hydraulic system of the multi-purpose farm apparatus further comprises a hydraulic motor means for driving a variety of farm machinery.
In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the multi-purpose farm apparatus comprises means for mixing.
In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the multi-purpose farm apparatus comprises means for shredding.
In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the multi-purpose farm apparatus comprises means for mixing concrete.
In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the multi-purpose farm apparatus comprises means for sawing.
In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the multi-purpose farm apparatus comprises means for drilling holes.
In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the multi-purpose farm apparatus comprises means for pumping water.
In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the multi-purpose farm apparatus comprises a pressing means.
In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the multi-purpose farm apparatus comprises an air compressor for use in driving power tools and equipment.
In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the multi-purpose farm apparatus comprises a horizontal bed which can be used to support wood, baling material, tools, and the like.
A primary object of this invention is to provide a multi-purpose farm apparatus that can be used to perform a variety of tasks.
Another primary object of this invention is to provide a multi-purpose farm apparatus that is easily transported.
Another primary object of this invention is to provide a multi-purpose farm apparatus having a variety of farm equipment and machinery mounted thereon.
Another primary object of this invention is to provide a multi-purpose farm apparatus having a hydraulic system for driving a variety of farm equipment and machinery.
Another primary object of this invention is to provide a multi-purpose farm apparatus having a hydraulic motor means for driving a variety of farm equipment.
Another primary object of this invention is to provide a multi-purpose farm apparatus that can be used to bale material.
Another primary object of this invention is to provide a multi-purpose farm apparatus that can be used to split wood.
Another primary object of this invention is to provide a multi-purpose farm apparatus that can be used to perform a variety of tasks and which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.
Another primary object of this invention is to provide a multi-purpose farm apparatus that can be used to perform a variety of tasks and which is relatively inexpensive to operate.
Another primary object of this invention is to provide a multi-purpose farm apparatus that can be used to perform a variety of tasks and which is relatively inexpensive to maintain.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.


Embodiments of the invention are directed to a mobile device system, methods and computer program products for providing a centralized, integrated resource transfer application on the mobile device. The integrated resource transfer application of the mobile device is typically configured to launch, control, modify and operate applications stored on the mobile device. In this regard, the integrated resource transfer application facilitates the user to perform a user activity, using multiple applications from a centralized user interface, without requiring the user to open and close one application after another. Another aspect of the integrated resource transfer application is directed to determination of pertinent applications for the user activity and automatic launching the applications within the central interface, by transferring control between applications, automatically, and in a suitable order.

Existing systems for communication between an entity system associated with a resource entity facility and an external device require a transmission of device communication identifiers of the external device to the entity system. As such, it is difficult for an entity system to establish communication channels with an unidentified user device.

Integrated resource transfer application


A method applied to a receiver of a wireless network for determining an unknown quantity of antennas of a transmitter according to a received network is provided. The method includes: delaying the network signal according to a sum of a reference period and an estimated shift interval to provide a delayed signal; calculating a correlation between the network signal and the delayed signal to generate a correlation index; comparing the correlation index and a threshold to provide a comparison result; and determining the unknown quantity of transmitting antennas according to the comparison result.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method and associated apparatus applied to a receiver of a wireless network, and more particularly, to a method and associated apparatus capable of determining an unknown quantity of antennas of a transmitter according to a network signal received at a receiver.
2. Description of the Related Art
A wireless network, which performs exchange, interconnection, communication and/or broadcasting of packet, data, message, command, audio and video streams by network signals via wireless transmission, is one of the most important network techniques in modern communication technology. Among the various wireless network techniques, multi-input multi-out (MIMO) is a focus of research and development. Reasons contributing to such importance of the MIMO technique are that, without occupying additional bandwidth, the MIMO technique is capable of increasing a network capacity and data transmission rate, reducing bit error rate, strengthening interference resistance, improving directivity through beamforming and/or reinforcing resistance against channel attenuation. For example, the wireless local area network based on the IEEE 802.11n specification has incorporated the MIMO technique. In a MIMO wireless network, one transmitter may be provided with multiple antennas, each sending corresponding single-antenna signals. Network signals received at a receiver are synthesized from the single-antenna signals. Similarly, one receiver may also be provided with one or multiple antennas to receive the network signals transmitted from the transmitter.
Since the network signals transmitted from the transmitter may be transmitted by one or multiple antennas, the receiver is unaware of the quantity of antennas at the transmitter when first receiving the network signals. The sooner the receiver determines the quantity of transmitting antennas at the transmitter, the more quickly the information carried in the network signals can be parsed. Therefore, it is critical that the receiver be able to correctly determine the unknown quantity of transmitting antennas according to the received network signals.

Method and associated apparatus applied to receiver of wireless network for determining quantity of antennas of transmitter


Collaborative management of shared resources is implemented by a storage server receiving, from a first resource manager, notification of a violation for a service provided by the storage server or device coupled to the storage server. The storage server further receives, from each of a plurality of resource managers, an estimated cost of taking a corrective action to mitigate the violation and selects a corrective action proposed by one of the plurality of resource managers based upon the estimated cost. The storage server directs the resource manager that proposed the selected corrective action to perform the selected corrective action.

Various forms of network-based storage systems exist today. These forms include network attached storage (NAS), storage area networks (SAN's), and others. Network-based storage systems are commonly used for a variety of purposes, such as providing multiple users with access to shared data, backing up critical data (e.g., by data mirroring), etc.
A network-based storage system typically includes at least one storage server, which is a processing system configured to store and retrieve data on behalf of one or more client processing systems (clients). The data is stored and retrieved as storage objects, such as blocks and/or files. A block is a sequence of bytes or bits of data having a predetermined length. A file is a collection of related bytes or bits having an arbitrary length. In the context of NAS, a storage server operates on behalf of one or more clients to store and manage file-level access to data. The files may be stored in a storage system that includes one or more arrays of mass storage devices, such as magnetic or optical disks or tapes, by using a data storage scheme such as Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks (RAID). In a SAN context, a storage server provides clients with block-level access to stored data, rather than file-level access. Some storage servers are capable of providing clients with both file-level access and block-level access, such as certain storage servers made by NetApp, Inc. (NetApp®) of Sunnyvale, Calif.
Requirements associated with the data stored in network-based storage systems relating to expected performance, reliability, etc. are collectively referred to as service-level objectives. Service-level objectives may be specified and managed by an administrator, administrative tool, or both. The number of infrastructure layers managing a storage system has increased significantly over time. Exemplary layers that may have a role in managing a storage system include a storage system layer, network layer, hypervisor layer, cache layer, etc. As a result of this increase in infrastructure layers, performance and reliability of the storage system now depend upon different infrastructure layers. For example, the different infrastructure layers are managed by different people or tools, making it hard to derive unified performance guarantees such as service-level objectives. A variety of techniques are emerging to dynamically tackle changes in workloads, changes in service-level requirements, etc. for individual infrastructure layers. Exemplary techniques include tools that make changes to storage data layouts, dynamically instantiate resources for caching, perform volume migration, perform Logical Interface (LIF) migration, etc. These techniques, however, do not provide an end-to-end approach for storage management that interacts with and manages all infrastructure layers. When multiple tools work independently, they may expend more resources than needed to address a service-level objective and risk the possibility that the tools will counteract each other's efforts, cause an error/unavailability, or cause another service-level objective violation.
For example, data migration can be performed at different infrastructure layers (storage-level, hypervisor-level, etc.) to handle service-level objective violations. Two independent tools may react to the same service-level objective and, unaware of one another, attempt to migrate the same data to different locations. Alternatively, if the two independent tools are concerned with two different sets of data on the same resource, both independent tools may determine that their respective service-level objectives would be met if they were dealing with a less congested resource. Unaware of one another, both independent tools may seek similar corrective solutions by each migrating their own set of data from the first resource to a second resource. More time and effort has been expended in each tool performing data migration as compared to only one tool taking corrective action. Additionally, the independence of the tools carries the risk that both tools have migrated their data to the same second resource and gained no advantage: the second resource is congested rather than the first resource and the respective service-level objectives are still unmet.

Collaborative management of shared resources selects corrective action based on normalized cost


A dielectric resonator includes: two dielectric resonant cylinders and a metal cavity, wherein the dielectric resonant cylinders are located within the metal cavity; and it also includes: a fastener and a connector, wherein bottoms of the dielectric resonant cylinders are connected via the connector to form a U-shaped structure, and the connector is fixed on the metal cavity via the fastener. With the dielectric resonator of the embodiments of the present invention, a good close contact between the dielectric resonant cylinders and the metal cavity can be guaranteed, thereby improving the resonant performance of the dielectric resonator.

When an electromagnetic wave is propagated in high dielectric constant substances, a wavelength of the electromagnetic wave will be shortened, by using this characteristic, the traditional metal materials can be replaced with dielectric materials (such as ceramics), under the same index, a volume of the filter can be lessened. The research on the dielectric filter is always a hotspot in the communications industry. Since the filter serves as a major component of wireless communication products, the dielectric filter plays a particularly important role in the miniaturization of the communication products.
Generally, the dielectric filter is mainly composed of dielectric resonant cylinders 103, a sealing cover plate 102, a tuning screw 101 and a metal cavity 104, with reference to FIG. 1.
According to a working principle of a TM mode dielectric resonant cavity, when a dielectric resonator normally operates, high electric-field distribution exists in a binding site between lower end faces of the cylindrical dielectric resonant cylinders 103 and the metal cavity 104. If the contact between the lower end faces of the dielectric resonant cylinders and the metal cavity 104 is insufficient, discontinuous impedance will be caused, field energy cannot be transmitted out, a high dielectric constant and high quality factor of the medium cannot be brought into play, and even the medium will be burn up. Therefore, whether the contact between the lower surfaces of the dielectric resonant cylinders and the surface of the metal cavity is good in a TM mode dielectric filter is especially crucial. How to solve the fixation and contact of the TM mode dielectric resonant cylinders becomes a key research direction of the dielectric filter application.
With reference to FIG. 1, lower end faces of two nonmetal dielectric resonant cylinders whose lower ends are coated with a metal layer (such as ceramics) or lower end faces of metal resonant cylinders 103 are directly welded on the metal cavity 104, which is used for close contact with the undersurface of the metal cavity. The sealing cover plate 102 seals the metal cavity 104 through the screw, to form a hermetic cavity. Since directly welding the dielectric resonant cylinders on the undersurface of the metal cavity has extremely high requirements for welding technology, there is a shedding phenomenon in the entire dielectric resonant cylinder welding process, which severely affects the performance and service life of the dielectric filter.
A TM mode dielectric filter in the related art includes a metal resonant cavity, a cover plate, a tuning screw and a TM mode dielectric resonator, the TM mode dielectric resonator is fixed within the metal resonant cavity through the screw, it is characterized in that, a screw rod part of the screw passes through a location hole of the TM mode dielectric resonator to be screwed down on the bottom or side wall of the metal resonant cavity, the screw rod part of the screw is not in contact with a hole wall of the above location hole, and a transition gasket is set between the head of the screw and the end face of the location hole of the TM mode dielectric resonator to separate them. The assembly technology is complicated in the specific implementation process of the patent, which has higher requirements on structure design, exerts greater impact on the performance, goes against volume production, and has high costs.

Dielectric resonator, assembly method therefor, and dielectric filter