The present invention provides a phase retarder made of a copolymer prepared by polymerizing one non-cyclic olefin monomer (A) selected from ethylene and xcex1-olefin compound having 3 to 20 carbon atoms, one cyclic olefin monomer (B) selected from cyclic olefin compound such as norbornene, and one cyclic vinyl monomer (C) selected from vinyl compound having a cyclic unit made of an aromatic hydrocarbon or an alicyclic hydrocarbon such as styrene or vinylcyclohexane; wherein (1) an amount of the aromatic vinyl monomer is from about 1 to about 20 mol % and a total amount of the non-cyclic olefin monomer (A) and the cyclic olefin monomer (B) is from about 80 to about 99 mol % in case the component (C) is the aromatic vinyl monomer, or (2) an amount of the alicyclic vinyl monomer is from about 80 to about 99 mol % and a total amount of the non-cyclic olefin monomer and the cyclic olefin monomer is from about 1 to about 20 mol % in case the component (C) is the alicyclic vinyl monomer. The present phase retarder makes it possible to conduct uniform polarizing conversion within a wide wavelength range using a single plate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a phase retarder that makes it possible to conduct uniform polarizing conversion in a wide wavelength range using a single phase retarder.
2. Description of the Related Art
Commonly used phase retarders are obtained by monoaxial stretching or biaxial stretching of thermoplastic resins such as polycarbonate, polyallylate, polystyrene, polyvinyl alcohol, norbornene resin and the like. When a ratio (R450/R590) of retardation at light having a wavelength of 450 nm (R450) to retardation at light having a wavelength of 590 nm (R590) is defined as a wavelength dispersion coefficient xcex1, the wavelength dispersion coefficient xcex1 of a phase retarder obtained from these thermoplastic resins is about 1.00 or more. The wavelength dispersion coefficient xcex1 is a value peculiar to a substance.
In order to conduct uniform polarizing conversion within a wide wavelength range using a polarizing conversion element such as phase retarder, the wavelength dispersion coefficient xcex1 is preferably less than about 1.00. An ideal phase retarder generates retardation so that a ratio of retardation to wavelength has a constant value, for example xc2xc or xc2xd, at any wavelength. In other words, a value determined by dividing retardation at each wavelength by its wavelength is constant in an ideal phase retardation film. Therefore, an ideal wavelength dispersion coefficient xcex1 of the phase retarder is 450/590 (nearly equal 0.76).
To attain such wavelength dispersion properties, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2-120804 proposes to laminate two phase retarders having different wavelength dispersion properties, while Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 5-100114 proposes to laminate a xcex/2 plate and a xcex/4 plate. However, in case two or more phase retarders are laminated, the cost increases and the thickness inevitably increases, and also there was a problem such as large angle dependence of optical properties.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a phase retarder that makes it possible to conduct uniform polarizing conversion within a wide wavelength range using a single phase retarder.
As a result of diligent research, the present inventors have found that a phase retarder, that can achieve the object described above, can be obtained by stretching a polymer prepared by copolymerizing three kinds of monomers in a composition ratio within a range as described herein. Thus, the present invention has been completed.
That is, the present invention provides a phase retarder comprising a copolymer prepared by polymerizing the following components (A), (B) and (C):
(A) at least one non-cyclic olefin monomer selected from ethylene and xcex1-olefin compound having 3 to 20 carbon atoms;
(B) at least one cyclic olefin monomer selected from cyclic olefin compound; and
(C) at least one aromatic vinyl monomer selected from vinyl compound having a cyclic unit made of an aromatic hydrocarbon, or at least one alicyclic vinyl monomer selected from vinyl compound having a cyclic unit made of an alicyclic hydrocarbon;
wherein (1) the amount of the aromatic vinyl monomer is from about 1 to about 20 mol % and the total amount of the non-cyclic olefin monomer (A) and the cyclic olefin monomer (B) is from about 80 to about 99 mol % in case the component (C) is the aromatic vinyl monomer; or
(2) the amount of the alicyclic vinyl monomer is from about 80 to about 99 mol % and the total amount of the non-cyclic olefin monomer (A) and the cyclic olefin monomer (B) is from about 1 to about 20 mol % in case the component (C) is the alicyclic vinyl monomer.
Further scope of applicability of the present 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.
The present invention will now be described in detail. In the phase retarder produced by stretching and orienting a copolymer comprising a repeating unit of a monomer having a positive polarizability and a repeating unit of a monomer having a negative polarizability, retardations originating in each repeating unit offset each other and the retardation of the copolymer becomes a difference in retardation originating in each repeating unit Therefore, the wavelength dispersion properties of the copolymer are decided by wavelength dispersion properties of each repeating unit and magnitude of the retardation of the component originating in each repeating unit. Thus, wavelength dispersion can be controlled with introducing repeating units having different polarizabilities and wavelength dispersions in the polymer.
The role of the repeating unit originating in each of the non-cyclic olefin monomer (A), the cyclic olefin monomer (B), and the aromatic vinyl monomer or alicyclic vinyl monomer (C) as components of the polymer constituting the phase retarder of the present invention will now be described concretely. It is considered that the repeating unit originating in the non-cyclic olefin monomer (A) has the role of imparting the flexibility to the polymer and, moreover, the polarizability is positive to the direction of a main chain of the polymer and the wavelength dispersion coefficient xcex1 A is considered to be nearly equal 1.00. It is considered that the repeating unit originating in the cyclic olefin monomer (B) has the role of improving the heat resistance of the polymer and, moreover, the polarizability is generally positive to the direction of a main chain of the polymer and the wavelength dispersion coefficient xcex1B is considered to be nearly equal 1.00. It is considered that the repeating unit originating in the aromatic or alicyclic vinyl compound (C) having a cyclic unit made of an aromatic or alicyclic hydrocarbon has the role of improving the transparency to the polymer and, moreover, the polarizability is negative to the direction of a main chain of the polymer and the wavelength dispersion coefficient xcex1C is considered to be 1.00 or more. Proper control of a copolymerization ratio of the non-cyclic olefin monomer (A), the cyclic olefin monomer (B), and the aromatic or alicyclic vinyl monomer (C) makes it possible to design a copolymer having excellent balance between the flexibility, transparency, heat resistance and wavelength dispersion properties.
With respect to a component ratio of the repeating unit originating in the non-cyclic olefin monomer (A), the repeating unit originating in the cyclic olefin monomer (B) and the repeating unit originating in the vinyl monomer (C) having a cyclic unit in the copolymer, the amount of the repeating unit originating in the aromatic vinyl monomer is about 1 to about 20 mol % and the total amount of the repeating unit originating in each of the non-cyclic olefin monomer (A) and the cyclic olefin monomer (B) is about 80 to about 99 mol % in case the vinyl monomer (C) is the aromatic vinyl monomer. In view of the flexibility and heat resistance, the amount of the repeating unit originating in the cyclic olefin monomer (B) is preferably about 40 mol % or more. The amount of the repeating unit originating in the non-cyclic olefin monomer (A is preferably about 1 mol % or more.
In case the vinyl monomer (C) is the alicyclic vinyl monomer, the amount of the repeating unit originating in the alicyclic vinyl monomer is about 80 to about 99 mol % and the total amount of the repeating unit originating in each of the non-cyclic olefin monomer (A) and the cyclic olefin monomer (B) is about 1 to about 20 mol %. Each amount of the non-cyclic olefin monomer (A) and the cyclic olefin monomer (B) may be preferably selected within a range from about 0.5 to about 19.5 mol %. In view of the flexibility and heat resistance, the amount of the repeating unit originating in the cyclic olefin monomer (B) is preferably about 10 mol % or more. The amount of the repeating unit originating in the non-cyclic olefin monomer (A) is preferably about 1 mol % or more.
When using the aromatic vinyl monomer as the vinyl monomer (C), the amount is about 20 mol % or less based on the whole copolymer because retardation is easy to generate due to large polarizability and a wavelength dispersion coefficient is large. To control the wavelength dispersion coefficient of the copolymer to a proper value, the amount of the aromatic vinyl monomer is preferably about 10 mol % or less. In case the aromatic vinyl monomer is styrene, the amount is preferably about 9 mol % or less. When using the alicyclic vinyl monomer, the amount is about 80 mol % or more based on the whole copolymer because retardation is difficult to generate due to small polarizability and a wavelength dispersion coefficient is small.
The vinyl monomer (C) having a cyclic unit has a function of controlling the wavelength dispersion properties to the phase retarder of the present invention. To obtain a copolymer having xcex1 of 0.76, a combination of x, y and z may satisfy the following equations (I) and (II):
(xcex1Ax+xcex1By)xe2x88x92xcex1CZ=0.76Rxe2x80x83xe2x80x83(I)
(x+y)xe2x88x92z=Rxe2x80x83xe2x80x83(II)
where xcex1A, xcex1B and xcex1C each denotes a wavelength dispersion coefficient of a polymer made only of a non-cyclic olefin monomer (A), a polymer made only of a cyclic olefin monomer (B), and a polymer made only of a vinyl monomer (C) having a cyclic unit; x, y and z each denotes a retardation at a wavelength of 590 nm of a repeating unit originating in each of the non-cyclic olefin monomer (A), the cyclic olefin monomer (B), and the vinyl monomer (C) having a cyclic Unit; and R denotes a retardation at a wavelength of 590 nm of a phase retarder made from the copolymer.
Since the wavelength dispersion coefficients xcex1A and xcex1B of each homopolymer of the non-cyclic olefin monomer (A) and the cyclic olefin monomer (B) used in the present invention are nearly 1.00, a proper copolymerization ratio is decided by the magnitude of the wavelength dispersion coefficients xcex1C of the vinyl monomer (C) having a cyclic unit. For example, in the case of xcex1C of 1.10, a copolymerization ratio z: (x+y)=2.4:3.4 is preferable. If the phase retarder is a xcex/4 plate, x+y=500 nm and z=353 nm. For example, in the case of xcex1C of 1.02, a copolymerization ratio z: (x+y)=12:13 is preferable. If the phase retarder is a xcex/4 plate, x+z=1,911 nm and y=1,764 nm. As is apparent from these examples, the larger the difference between xcex1A and xcex1C and that between xcex1B and xcex1C, the better because x, y and z are respectively small. That is, it is preferable in view of easy processing of the phase retarder.
The phase retarder of the present invention is preferably made of a polymer, which usually has a glass transition temperature (Tg) of about 100xc2x0 C. or higher and also has the heat resistance, in view of operating environment. It is more preferable that a polymer has a glass transition temperature of about 140xc2x0 C. or higher.
The respective monomers constituting the copolymer will now be described. The non-cyclic olefin monomer (A) is ethylene and/or an xcex1-olefin compound having 3 to 20 carbon atoms. Examples of the xcex1-olefin compound having 3 to 20 carbon atoms include straight-chain xcex1-olefin having 3 to 20 carbon atoms, such as propylene, 1-butene, 1-pentene, 1-hexene, 1-octene, 1-decene, 1-dodecene, 1-tetradecene, 1-hexadecene, 1-octadecene or 1-eicosene; and branched xcex1-olefin having 4 to 20 carbon atoms, such as 4-methyl-1-pentene, 3-methyl-1-pentene, or 1-methyl-1-butene. Among these compounds, ethylene having 2 carbon atoms and straight-chain xcex1-olefin having 3 or 4 carbon atoms such as propylene or 1-butene are preferable in view of the flexibility of a film formed from the polymer of the present invention, and ethylene is particularly preferable for the same reason. Ethylene and xcex1-olefins described above may be used alone, or two or more kinds of them may be used in combination.
The cyclic olefin monomer (B) is a compound having a polymerizable carbon-carbon double bond in a carbon ring and a monomer capable of introducing a cyclobutane ring, a cyclopentane ring, a cyclohexane ring, or an alicyclic ring like a ring formed by bonding two or more rings of them into a main chain of the copolymer when copolymerized. Specific examples thereof include norbornene derivative having an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms such as methyl group, ethyl group or butyl group introduced therein (which is commonly referred to as norbornene) such as bicyclo [2, 2, 1]hept-2-ene, 6-alkylbicyclo[2, 2, 1]hept-2-ene, 5,6-dialkylbicyclo[2, 2, 1]hept-2-ene, 1-alkylbicyclo[2, 2, 1]hept-2-ene, or 7-alkylbicyclo[2, 2, 1]hept-2-ene; dimethanooctahydronaphthalene derivative having an alkyl group having 3 or more carbon atoms introduced at the 8-position and/or the 9-position of dimethanooctahydronaphthalene (which is commonly referred to as dimethanooctahydronaphthalene) such as tetracyclo[4, 4, 0, 12,5, 17,10]-3-dodecene, 8-alkyltetracyclo[4, 4, 0, 12,5, 17,10]-3-dodecene, or 8,9-dialkyltetracyclo[4, 4, 0, 12,5, 17,10]-3-dodecene; norbornene derivative having one or plural halogens introduced into a molecule; and dimethanooctahydronaphthalene derivative having a halogen introduced at the 8-position and/or the 9-position. These cyclic olefins may be sued alone, or two or more kinds of them may be used in combination.
The vinyl compound having a cyclic unit as the component (C) is prepared by bonding a vinyl group, which forms a main chain by the copolymerization of the non-cyclic olefin monomer (A) and the cyclic olefin monomer (B), with a unit containing a cyclic unit. Specific examples of the cyclic unit include aromatic hydrocarbon group having about 6 to about 14 carbon atoms and alicyclic hydrocarbon group having about 3 to about 12 carbon atoms.
The vinyl compound having an aromatic hydrocarbon group includes styrene and a derivative thereof. The styrene derivative is a compound prepared by bonding styrene with the other group, and examples thereof include alkylstyrene such as o-methylstyrene, m-methylstyrene, p-methylstyrene, 2,4-dimethylstyrene, o-ethylstyrene, or p-ethylstyrene; substituted styrene having a hydroxyl group, an alkoxy group, a carboxyl group, an acyloxy group or a halogen introduced into the benzene nucleus of styrene, such as hydroxystyrene t-butoxystyrene, vinylbenzoic acid, vinylbenzyl acetate, o-chlorostyrene, or p-chlorostyrene; and vinylbiphenyl compound such as 4-vinylbiphenyl or 4-hydroxy-4xe2x80x2-vinylbiphenyl.
The alicyclic hydrocarbon group to be bonded with the vinyl group includes a group derived from a cyclic paraffin having about 3 to about 12 carbon atoms or a derivative thereof, such as cyclopropane, cyclobutane, cyclopentane, cyclohexane, cycloheptane, cyclooctane, cyclodecane, norbornene, or adamantane.
Among the vinyl monomer (C) having such a cyclic unit, a monomer having a unit of the benzene ring as an aromatic hydrocarbon is preferable in view of the wavelength dispersion properties. For example, styrene and a derivative thereof are preferable. The vinyl compounds having a cyclic unit may be used alone, or two or more kinds of them may be used in combination within the aromatic vinyl compound or alicyclic vinyl compound.
The copolymer for phase retarder of the present invention comprises a repeating unit originating in the non-cyclic olefin monomer (A), a repeating unit originating in the cyclic olefin monomer (B), and a repeating unit originating in the vinyl monomer (C) having a cyclic unit. Specific examples of the copolymer include ethylene/norbornene/styrene copolymer, ethylene/dimethanooctahydronaphthalene/styrene copolymer, propylene/norbornene/styrene copolymer, propylene/dimethanooctahydronaphthalene/styrene copolymer, ethylene/norbornene/t-butoxystyrene copolymer, ethylene/norbornene/vinylcyclohexane copolymer, ethylene/dimethanooctahydronaphthalene/vinylcyclohexane copolymer, propylene/norbornene/vinylcyclohexane copolymer, and propylene/dimethanooctahydronaphthalene/vinylcyclohexane copolymer.
The mode of copolymerization in the copolymer may be any copolymerization mode of random copolymerization and block copolymerization as far as the effect of the present invention is not adversely affected. It is preferable to avoid the mode wherein the resulting copolymer exhibits blocking properties that enable three kinds of constituent monomers to form a domain, because the transparency is sometimes lowered.
The copolymer used in the phase retarder of the present invention can be prepared, for example, by copolymerizing a non-cyclic olefin monomer (A), a cyclic olefin monomer (B) and a vinyl monomer (C) having a cyclic unit in the presence of a metallocene catalyst. In that case, copolymers having different copolymerization compositions and molecular weights can be obtained by appropriately varying the amount of the non-cyclic olefin monomer (A), the cyclic olefin monomer (B) and the vinyl monomer (C) having a cyclic unit as well as the polymerization conditions such as polymerization temperature and polymerization time.
These copolymers may contain various additives such as ultraviolet absorbers, antioxidants, lubricants, antistatic agents, antibacterial agent, anti-fogging agents, and plasticizers as far as the effect of the present invention is not adversely affected.
The phase retarder of the present invention is usually produced with forming the copolymer described above into a sheet and stretching the sheet. Although the method of forming into a sheet is not specifically limited, methods such as solvent casting method and melt extrusion method can be employed. Examples of the stretching method include, but are not limited to, transverse stretching by means of the tenter method and longitudinal stretching by means of stretching between rolls.
According to the phase retarder thus obtained, polarizing conversion can be conducted uniformly within a wide wavelength range. In the case of a xcex/4 plate, a circular polarizing plate for wide wavelength range can be made by using in combination with a linear polarizing plate. In the case of a xcex/2 plate, a polarizing rotating element for wide wavelength range can be made by using in combination with a linear polarizing plate. Therefore, the phase retarder can be used in anti-reflection filters for various liquid crystal display devices, cathode ray tubes (CRT), touch panels and electroluminescences (EL), and can also used in liquid crystal projectors.


A coffin, for allowing inclination for display of a deceased person in a natural position. The coffin has a pair of side walls that are divided at a transverse seam into first and second longitudinal portions. The side walls have top and bottom edges which are planar across the seam when in a planar position, and are hingeably attached at the top edges to allow the first portion to be inclined with respect to the second portion. A brace assembly maintains the coffin in its inclined position. Bellows conceal the brace assembly to maintain the aesthetics of the coffin. Following display of the deceased person, the brace assembly is released and the coffin is returned to the planar position for transport.

The invention relates to an inclining coffin. More particularly, the invention relates to a coffin that has a first portion that may be raised to an inclined angle to support a deceased person in a more natural position.
When people pass away it is a common custom for loved ones to view the body of the deceased person while situated within the coffin of their ultimate burial. In particular, xe2x80x98open casketxe2x80x99 wakes and ceremonies are commonplace throughout the western world.
A typical coffin is rectangular in shape, and beside upholstery and bolters found in more expensive models, the deceased is generally laid flat. This is however a relatively unnatural position, and can be quite upsetting for a person to view their beloved in this manner.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,434,804 to Cornet et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,993,129 to Underwood et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 3,955,252 to Reda; U.S. Pat. No. 2,449,424 to Stieber; and U.S. Pat. No. 2,230,433 to Pinto all discloses schemes for inclining the deceased within a coffin. All of these schemes, however, employ complex systems that are mounted within the coffin which attempt to provide a desirable result.
U.S. Pat. No. 11,166 to Lyeth discloses a coffin. Upon cursory examination, Lyeth appears to disclose a two-piece coffin, which seem to have hardware to detach said pieces. Closer examination, however, reveals that the hardware in Lyeth is simply a primitive scheme for permanently affixing multiple panels used to create the coffin.
While these units may be suitable for the particular purpose employed, or for general use, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as disclosed hereafter.
It is an object of the invention to produce a coffin that is capable of inclining a portion thereof, so that the deceased is supported in an inclined position. Accordingly, the coffin has a bipartite constructionxe2x80x94namely having a first longitudinal portion and a second longitudinal portion, which are hingeably attached to allow the first portion to be angularly raised with respect to the second portion, so that an upper portion of the deceased may be raised at an angle to the lower portion of the deceased.
It is another object of the invention to provide a coffin that can be maintained in the raised position. Accordingly, at least one bracing assembly is provided which is easily operable to support the first portion in the raised position when desired.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide a coffin provides a pleasing external appearance that conceals hardware used to incline the first portion. Accordingly, bellows are provided, extending on the sides of the coffin between the first and second portions thereof, to conceal the bracing assembly and the gap created between the first and second portions when the first portion is inclined with respect to the second portion.
It is a still further object of the invention that the coffin may be lowered to a level position, and then secured in that position for burial. Accordingly, the bracing assembly may be easily disengaged, and a bracket is provided on the bottom portion opposite the hinges that facilitates permanent attachment of first and second portions for burial.
The invention is a coffin, for allowing inclination for display of a deceased person in a natural position. The coffin has a pair of side walls that are divided at a transverse seam into first and second longitudinal portions. The side walls have top and bottom edges which are planar across the seam when in a planar position, and are hingeably attached at the top edges to allow the first portion to be inclined with respect to the second portion. A brace assembly maintains the coffin in its inclined position. Bellows conceal the brace assembly to maintain the aesthetics of the coffin. Following display of the deceased person, the brace assembly is released and the coffin is returned to the planar position for transport.
To the accomplishment of the above and related objects the invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Attention is called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only. Variations are contemplated as being part of the invention, limited only by the scope of the claims.


A mounting apparatus for an expansion card includes a fixing bracket receiving the expansion card, and a supporting member mounted to the fixing bracket. The fixing bracket includes an end plate fixing a rear end of the expansion card. The supporting member includes a support wall substantially parallel to the end plate of the fixing bracket. The support wall includes a holding portion to retain a front end of the expansion card. The supporting member is slidable to render the distance between the supporting member and the end plate of the fixing bracket substantially equal to the lengths of various expansion cards.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for mounting expansion cards.
2. Description of Related Art
Expansion cards are generally installed in a chassis of an electronic device, such as a computer or a server, with the front ends of the expansion cards fixed to the chassis. When the expansion cards are horizontally placed in the chassis, the rear ends of the expansion cards may be supported with an anti-sag support apparatus. However, the anti-sag support apparatus has a particular size and may not function properly in relation to an expansion card of a different size.

Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd.


Disclosed is a signal processor formed using digital waveguide networks. The digital waveguide networks have signal scattering junctions. A junction connects two waveguide sections together or terminates a waveguide. The junctions are constructed from conventional digital components such as multipliers, adders, and delay elements. The signal processor of the present invention is typically used for digital reverberation and for synthesis of reed, string or other instruments.

This invention relates to the field of digital signal processing and particularly to signal processing useful in digital music synthesis and other applications.
Digital music synthesis has attracted increased interest as data processors have undergone new developments which provide increased performance capabilities. Digital music synthesis has many applications such as the synthesis of stringed, reed and other instruments and such as the synthesis of reverberation.
In actual practice, it has been difficult to provide satisfactory models of music instruments, based upon quantitative physical models, which can be practically synthesized on a real-time basis using present-day computers and digital circuitry.
Most traditional musical instruments, such as woodwinds and strings, have been simulated by additive synthesis which consists of summing together sinusoidal harmonics of appropriate amplitude, or equivalently by repeatedly reading from a table consisting of one period of a tone (scaled by an "amplitude function") to "play a note." Another method consists of digitally sampling a real musical sound, storing the samples in digital memory, and thereafter playing back the samples under digital control. FM synthesis as described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,018,121, has also been successful in synthesizing many musical sounds including brasses, woodwinds, bells, gongs, and some strings. A few instruments have been simulated by "subtractive synthesis" which shapes the spectrum of primitive input signals using digital filters.
All of the foregoing methods (with the occasional exception of subtractive synthesis) have the disadvantage of not being closely related to the underlying physics of sound production. Physically accurate simulations are expensive to compute when general finite-element modeling techniques are used.
Digital reverberation has also been difficult to achieve. Although digital music synthesis has employed digital reverberation as a post-processing function for many years, there still remains a need to be able to simulate with digital signal processing the quality of reverberation which exists in natural listening-space environments. The basic acoustics of reverberation in natural listening-space environments, such as concert halls, has a long history with many different design theories. The goal of digital reverberation is to produce digital signal processing methods which simulate the effect that a good concert hall or other good "listening space" has on sound. This goal is made difficult because typical good listening spaces are inherently large-order, complex acoustical systems which cannot be precisely simulated in real-time using commonly available computing techniques.
In architectural acoustics, an understanding of digital reverberation is important in the design of concert halls with good acoustical qualities. In digitally synthesized music, reverberation is a part of the synthesized instrumental ensemble and provides enrichment to the sound quality. For these reasons, there have been many attempts to capture the musically important qualities of natural reverberation in digital music synthesis.
Digital room simulation (reverberation) has been implemented by simulating specular reflection in actual or approximate concert-hall geometries. The diffusive scattering of sound in such natural listening environments must be considered in order to obtain high-quality reverberation models. However, practical models which accommodate diffusing reflections have been beyond the reach of present computing power when applied to listening spaces of nominal size over the audio frequency band.
In another implementation of digital reverberation, an approximation to the impulse response between two spatial points in a real concert hall has been recorded. The effect of the hall on sound between these two points can be accurately simulated by convolving the measured impulse response with the desired source signal. Again, this implementation leads to a prohibitive computational burden which is two to three orders of magnitude beyond the real-time capability of typical present-day mainframe computers.
The current state of high-quality digital reverberation based upon large (concert hall) spaces, although well understood, is too expensive to synthesize by computation. Because there is much detail in natural reverberation that is not important perceptually, models for reverberation need to be simplified so as to become computationally practical.
One example of a computationally simple model relies upon convolving unreverberated sound with exponentially decaying white noise thereby producing the heretofore best known artificial reverberation. The digital reverberator designs based upon quantitative physical models need to be replaced by models based upon simple computations which retain the qualitative behavior of natural listening space reverberation.
Some basic building blocks of presently known digital reverberators include cascaded and nested allpass networks, recursive and non-recursive comb filters, tapped delay lines, and lowpass filters. The early reflections can be exactly matched for a fixed source and listener position using a tapped delay line, and the late reverberation can be qualitatively matched using a combination of allpass chains, comb filters, and lowpass filters. Using a lowpass filter in the feedback loop of a comb filter simulates air absorption and nonspecular reflection. These known techniques for reverberation have been the basis for reverberation design for more than a decade. Although these elements do provide some essential aspects of reverberation, especially for smoothly varying sounds at low reverberation levels, they do not provide reverberation on a par with excellent natural listening-space environments.
In accordance with the above background, there is a need for techniques for synthesizing strings, winds, and other musical instruments including reverberators in a manner which is both physically meaningful and computationally efficient. There is a need for the achievement of natural and expressive computer-controlled performance in ways which are readily comprehensible and easy to use.

Digital signal processing using waveguide networks

The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University


A near-field optical or magneto-optical data storage system uses an optical focusing device for focusing an incident optical beam to a small size focal spot. The optical focusing device includes an objective lens, an optically transparent base plate, and an optically transparent adapter. The adapter is secured to, and disposed intermediate the objective lens and the base plate, and includes an opening that faces the base plate. A fluid fills the adapter opening to form a fluid cell when the adapter is secured to the base plate. The fluid has an index of refraction that substantially matches the index of refraction of the base plate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to optical focusing devices, and it particularly relates to a high numerical aperture (NA) optical focusing device. More particularly, the present invention relates to an optical focusing device that generates an evanescent optical field for enabling its use in data storage systems such as optical and magneto-optical (MO) disk drives.
2. Description of Related Art
In a MO storage system, a thin film read/write head includes an optical assembly for directing and focusing an optical beam, such as a laser beam, and an electro-magnetic coil that generates a magnetic field for defining the magnetic domains in a spinning data storage medium or disk. The head is secured to a rotary actuator magnet and a voice coil assembly by a suspension and an actuator arm positioned over a surface of the disk. In operation, a lift force is generated by the aerodynamic interaction between the head and the disk. The lift force is opposed by equal and opposite spring forces applied by the suspension such that a predetermined flying height is maintained over a full radial stroke of the rotary actuator assembly above the surface of the disk.
A significant concern with the design of the MO head is to increase the recording or areal density of the disk. One attempt to achieve objective has been to reduce the spot size of the light beam on the disk. The diameter of the spot size is inversely proportional to the numerical aperture (NA) of an objective lens forming part of the optical assembly, and proportional to the wavelength of the optical beam. As a result, the objective lens is selected to have a large NA. However, the NA in objective lenses cannot be greater than 1 if the focusing spot is located in free space, thus limiting the spot size.
Another attempt to reduce the spot size and to increase the recording areal density has been to use solid immersion lenses (SILs) with near field recording, as exemplified by the following references:
U.S. Pat. No. 5,125,750, titled "Optical Recording System Employing a Solid Immersion Lens". PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 5,497,359, titled "Optical Disk Data Storage System With Radiation-Transparent Air-Bearing Slider". PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 5,689,480, titled "Magneto-Optic Recording System Employing Near Field Optics". PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 5,881,042, titled "Flying Head with Solid Immersion Lens Partially Mounted on a Slider". PA1 Lee, C. W., et al., "Feasibility Study on Near Field Optical Memory Using A Catadioptric Optical System", Optical Data Storage, Technical Digest Series, Volume 8, pages 137-139, May 10-13, 1998; and PA1 "Parallel Processing", 42 Optics and Photonics News, pages 42-45, June 1998.
Yet another attempt at improving the recording head performance proposes the use of near-field optics, as illustrated by the following reference:
A catadioptric SIL system is described in the following references, and employs the SIL concept as part of the near-field optics:
While this catadioptric SIL system can present certain advantages over conventional SILs, it does not appear to capture the entire incident, collimated beam. This represents a waste of valuable energy that could otherwise increase the evanescent optical field.
Other concerns related to the manufacture of MO heads are the extreme difficulty and high costs associated with the mass production of these heads, particularly where optical and electro-magnetic components are assembled to a slider body, and aligned for optimal performance. In addition, the sphericity of the SIL limits the choice of optical material with high index of refraction and could increase the manufacturing cost of the SIL.

High numerical aperture optical focusing device for use in data storage systems


A method for temperature quantification using magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF) includes acquiring MRF data from a region of interest in a subject using an MRF pulse sequence with smoothly varying RF phase for MR resonant frequencies that is played out continuously. For each of a plurality of time intervals during acquisition of the MRF data the method further includes comparing a set of the MRF data associated with the time interval to an MRF dictionary to determine at least one quantitative parameter of the acquired MRF data, determining a temperature change based on the at least one quantitative parameter and generating a quantitative map of the temperature change in the region of interest. The region of interest can include aqueous and adipose tissue.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a non-invasive imaging method that allows detailed pictures to be obtained within the human body. MM thermometry can be used to quantitatively map temperature changes within the body in near-real time for use in monitoring thermal surgical procedures. However, current MR thermometry methods are typically used to map temperature changes for aqueous tissues (water-based tissues) and can be difficult to use to map temperature changes quickly and accurately in adipose tissues (fat-based tissues).
Temperature monitoring in both adipose and aqueous tissues is important for guidance of thermal therapies in vivo. Conventional MR thermometry in aqueous tissues is based on the proton resonant frequency-shift (PRFS), which is a negative shift in the water molecule's proton resonant frequency with heating. This shift appears in the phase of a type of MRI image known as the gradient echo image. These images are able to be acquired in a few seconds, enabling near-real time mapping of temperature for aqueous tissues with MM. However, adipose tissues do not exhibit this shift in frequency due to the lack of free water protons, therefore, PRFS can be unreliable to map temperature changes in adipose tissues. To obtain temperature maps in adipose tissues, proton T1 or T2 relaxation mapping is typically employed. Relaxation techniques rely on changes in T1 or T2 to monitor changes in temperature. Magnetic relaxation of fat is known to be related to temperature changes. However, relaxation methods require accurate and precise mapping of T1 and T2, which can be difficult to achieve in the high temporal resolution (˜3 s) required for guidance of therapies and on the time scale needed for near-real time imaging. Additionally, the relationship between relaxation and temperature must be calibrated prior to imaging. To obtain temperature contrast in both water and fat, recent methods combine PRFS with accelerated relaxation mapping. These methods, however, require the acquisition sequence and/or reconstruction to be modified to incorporate relaxation mapping which can slow the temporal resolution of the sequence and force compromises in mapping the relaxation.
Magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF) is a framework that enable quantitative mapping of multiple tissue properties simultaneously in any tissue type. Conventional MRF sequences have been developed that can map both relaxation and resonant frequency simultaneously. This is accomplished by combining a temporal acquisition with dictionary matching reconstructions based on modeling of all possible signal evolutions. However, conventional MRF requires at least 30 seconds of acquisition to reconstruct accurate property maps and is typically performed only once, not dynamically through time. Additionally, the sensitivity of MRF mapping changes in these properties has not been explored.
It would be desirable to provide a system and method for quantitative mapping of temperature changes in aqueous and adipose tissue using MRF that overcome the aforementioned drawbacks.

Magnetic resonance fingerprinting thermometry

The Regents of the University of Colorado

Government of the United States, As Represented by the Secretary of Commerce


A system (140) that delivers messages receives a message intended for the receiving party. The system (140) determines whether the message should be delivered to the receiving party and converts the message to an audible message when the message should be delivered to the receiving party. The system (140) then initiates a telephony call to the receiving party and delivers the audible message to the receiving party during the telephony call.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to message delivery and, more particularly, to systems and methods that provide filtered message delivery based on user-defined criteria.
2. Description of Related Art
Today, many types of mechanisms exist to allow people to communicate. These mechanisms include voice calls, e-mail, facsimiles, and other types of direct and indirect messaging. When the receiving party is unavailable, the sending party must typically leave a message with a mailbox of a dedicated or unified messaging system.
In order for the receiving party to determine whether any new messages exist in the mailbox, the receiving party usually must query the messaging system using a communication device, such as a computer or telephone. To accomplish prompt and effective delivery of the new message, the receiving party must establish a network connection by, for example, connecting to the Internet or dialing a specified telephone number.
Recently, several systems have been developed to notify the receiving party that a new message has been deposited in his or her mailbox. These systems sometimes involve the use of pagers, short message service (SMS), and caller ID technologies. After receiving the notification, the receiving party must still initiate a network connection or telephone call to the messaging system in order to retrieve the full message.
These conventional systems have a number of drawbacks. For example, the systems require that the receiving party have a special-purpose device with specific non-voice oriented capabilities, such as a pager or caller ID device.
Also, the systems do not differentiate between messages. In other words, the systems treat all messages similarly, whether the messages are high or low priority or from important or unimportant sending parties.
Further, the systems require the receiving party to initiate a network connection or telephone call to retrieve the messages without knowledge of the content of the messages. This is particularly true where a message includes an attachment, such as an audio, video, or image file.
Therefore, there exists a need for systems and methods that provide notifications of certain messages, including message attachments, to a receiving party without requiring that the receiving party have any special-purpose device with non-voice oriented capabilities.

Systems and methods for providing filtered message delivery


According to the present invention, a semiconductor device is provided wherein a stepdown-type DC-DC converter includes a first off detection circuit, a second off detection circuit, a capacitor, a capacitor, a diode, inverters, an inductor, a first level shift circuit, a second level shift circuit, a third level shift circuit, a 2-input NAND circuit, a 2-input NAND circuit, a high-side N-channel power MOS transistor and a low-side N-channel power MOS transistor. The first off detection circuit and the second off detection circuit reduce fall times of the gates of the N-channel power MOS transistors, thereby reducing dead time.

DC-DC converters, inverters or regulators and the like are provided with high-side switching elements and low-side switching elements at output sections thereof. In addition, mask time setting circuits for setting a dead time during which the pair of switching elements are simultaneously switched off are provided in order to prevent both switching elements from being simultaneously switched on, whereby breakthrough currents are generated.
In the DC-DC converter described in US Patent Application Publication 2004/0207372 or the like, in consideration of variations in elements, it is necessary to set a long delay time of the mask time setting circuit to make sure that the high-side and low-side switching elements are not simultaneously switched on. Therefore, a problem may exist where the dead time is lengthened, thereby preventing improvement of conversion efficiency of the DC-DC converter.

Semiconductor device, with an off detection circuit


A method may include obtaining traffic loading and resource utilization information associated with a network for the network time domain; obtaining machine-to-machine resource requirements for machine-to-machine tasks using the network; receiving a target resource utilization value indicative of a network resource limit for the network time domain; calculating a probability for assigning each machine-to-machine task to the network time domain, wherein the probability is based on a difference between the target resource utilization value and the traffic loading and resource utilization associated with the network; calculating a probability density function based on an independent and identically distributed random variable; generating a schedule of execution of the machine-to-machine tasks within the network time domain based on the probabilities associated with the machine-to-machine tasks and the probability density function; and providing the schedule of execution of the machine-to-machine tasks.

Network resource allocation and utilization is a critical factor in any network. Given the expansive nature by which networks may be used, network operators need to manage these resources carefully to ensure quality of service and maintain other performance metrics. For example, machine-to-machine communications, such as, for example, utility monitoring, remote alarm system monitoring, vehicular telematics, vending machine monitoring (e.g., stock level checks), file back-up, etc., can consume network resources, in addition to other types of communications (e.g., voice communications, text communications, etc.).

Dynamic machine-to-machine communications and scheduling


A method for controlling or regulating a compressor 4 that can be switched on and off on demand, wherein a control unit 6 that switches the compressor 4 on and off is provided with the compressor. In a method of this type, it must be ensured that the compressor 4 is not damaged due to overheating. This is attained due to the fact that the control unit 6 operates the compressor 4 continuously during a regulating process until a limiting value is reached, and that said control unit operates the compressor in a cyclic manner once the limiting value is reached. This method makes it possible to complete regulating processes even if a critical limiting value is already reached.

The present invention pertains to a method for controlling or regulating a compressor or motor that can be switched on and off on demand, wherein a control unit that switches the compressor on and off is provided with the compressor. The invention also pertains to a compressor or motor that can be switched on and off on demand, wherein a control unit that switches the compressor on and off is provided with the compressor.
Some modern motor vehicles are equipped with a pneumatic rear suspension in order to maintain the height of the motor vehicle constant, independently of the motor vehicle load. If the motor vehicle needs to be raised after being loaded, the pneumatic springs are supplied with compressed air via a compressor. While the compressor is switched on, heat is developed in the compressor, leading to a temperature increase. If this temperature becomes excessively high, the compressor may be damaged. This is, in particular, the case if the motor vehicle is repeatedly subjected to heavy loads and the motor vehicle body is raised to the previous level with the aid of the pneumatic suspension. However, the compressor may also be damaged due to the improper utilization of the pneumatic suspension. Due to these circumstances, it is important to protect overheating of the compressor while it is switched on.
A compressor that can be switched on and off on demand is known from DE 196 21 946, wherein a control unit that switches the compressor on and off is provided with the compressor. The compressor is equipped with an overload protection means that protects it from overheating and functions as described below: while the compressor is switched on, the temperature in the compressor is estimated with the aid of the control unit based on the on-time of the compressor. The control unit switches off the compressor as soon as the estimated value exceeds an upper temperature threshold, above which the compressor may be damaged. Due to this measure, the compressor is able to cool off. An estimated value for the temperature in the compressor is also calculated in the control unit during the cooling-off phase. As soon as this estimated value falls short of a lower temperature threshold, the control unit switches the compressor on or allows the compressor to be switched on at a later time if the compressor is currently not needed.
The method for controlling or regulating a compressor that can be switched on and off on demand, which is known from DE 196 21 946 C1, can be carried out without temperature sensors because only estimated values for the temperature of the compressor are calculated in the control unit. In addition, the compressor of the pneumatic suspension is reliably protected from overheating, i.e., damage to the compressor is largely precluded, namely even if the pneumatic suspension is improperly actuated. However, it was determined that the upper temperature threshold is always reached or exceeded while the compressor is in use, i.e., the regulating process is interrupted by the control unit. This means that the regulating process is, if at all, only completed after a relatively long time delay, i.e., after the compressor has cooled off below the lower temperature threshold. Since the compressors of pneumatic suspension systems are, in most instances, well encapsulated for acoustic reasons and as protection from mechanical damage, the cooling-off time may last between a few minutes and 15 min. Such a long interruption or delay in the regulating process is unacceptable.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to develop a method for controlling or regulating a compressor or motor that can be switched on and off on demand, in which interruptions of the regulating processes are largely prevented.
Another object of the present invention is to develop a compressor or motor that can be switched on and off on demand, wherein a control unit that switches the compressor on and off is provided with the compressor that serves for carrying out the aforementioned method.

Compressor that can be switched on and off on demand and method for controlling or regulating such a compressor


An improved ocean energy converter having a semi-submerged device designed to harvest energy from the ocean. Each device is connected to others to form long lines forming an interconnected array of ocean energy devices that are anchored at right angles to the prevailing ocean waves. The front and back sections of each energy module have internal ballast. Each device has a submerged inverse curved wing sections attached to floating stabilizer tubes. The trailing edge of the wings has several struts attached which support propellers that drive internal air compressors. The air compressors are connected together and connected to the other air compressors in the array of devices and those in turn are connected to a high pressure line leading underwater to an onshore air turbine electric generator connected to the local power grid.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to the field of energy, specifically to a device that can produce mechanical and electric energy from ocean wave sources with maximum efficiency, minimum cost and maintenance without producing any greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions, directly or indirectly.
2. Prior Art
The Industrial Age began little more than 150 years ago powered primarily by wood, coal and petroleum. Today, our energy economy seems to be humming along like a perpetual motion machine. Billions of people enjoy an unprecedented standard of living and nations are floating in rivers of wealth, in large part because, around the world, the energy industry has built an enormous network of oil wells, supertankers, pipelines, coal mines, power plants, transmission lines, cars, trucks, trains and ships—a gigantic, marvelously intricate system that almost magically converts oil and its hydrocarbons cousins, natural gas and coal, into the heat, power and mobility that animate modern civilization. For one hundred years this manmade wonder has performed nearly flawlessly, transforming coal, oil, and natural gas into economic and political power and turning the belief that the surest way to still greater prosperity and stability is simple: find more oil, coal and natural gas. Today, cheap petroleum, with its high power density and transportability, has become the premier energy choice and the foundation of our comfortable and mobile life style.
Now globalization is pushing mankind into the future, the escalation of quality of life for billions, meaning more energy and food consumption and pollution and disease. But it is being challenged by a sobering reality: global population in 1800 was 1 billion, it doubled by 1925, then doubled again to 4 billion by 1975 and grew to 6 billion in the year 2000. We are entering a new century where we are facing the consequences of our almost total reliance on a single energy source. A crunch point is coming not when we have run all the oil wells dry, but when demand outstrips production. This is when energy prices will skyrocket. Moreover, there is a growing consensus that we are heading for an imminent peak in oil production, if not already past it. Even after massive investment by the oil companies in non-OPEC, the areas in Alaska and the North Sea are about to enter a period of irreversible decline. The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that the oil industry needs to invest several trillion dollars over the next 30 years in exploration and production.
The search for new sources of energy is now one of the most important challenges for the new century. Fully 25% of the world's proven oil reserves sits under Saudi Arabia. Add its four neighboring kingdoms and that number soars to 66%. The absolute cost of carbon-based fuels, particularly petroleum, has increased dramatically over the last decade along with the political and military consequences caused by the world's increasing reliance on it. And now there is a direct connection between petroleum emissions and the increasing problems of global warming, urban pollution and serious health issues for children as well as the elderly.
Energy production has now been conclusively linked to global warming. Its emissions emit CO2 and particulate that reduce the ozone layer and add micro-particles to the atmosphere. The only solution is to develop an energy that does not produce heat, carbon dioxide, carbon participate, SO2, and waste products or need an extensive global supply and refining system. Also we do not want an energy producing technology that fills up the countryside with machinery eyesores and noise. Oil certainly does not meet these new requirements, nor does ethanol, biomass or even wind or conventional hydropower. Only solar and ocean power meet these high energy standards.
Such a transition of substance will have profound implications for the economy, the environment, and U.S. foreign policy. Thomas Friedman, New York Times columnist and author of "The World is Flat, A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century" has published an article in Foreign Policy magazine, stating that the price of oil and the pace of freedom always move in opposite directions. Many of the Third World countries suffer from polluted cities affecting their tourism, high petroleum import costs and growing power grid failures weakening their economies and their fragile currencies. These countries can now produce their own renewable energy producing infrastructure utilizing an advanced materials, design and production system developed in America.
There are approximately twelve generic types of wave energy conversion systems. A wave energy converter may be placed in the ocean in various possible situations and locations. It may be floating or submerged completely in the sea offshore or it may be located on the shore or on the sea bed in relatively shallow water. An energy converter on the sea bed may be completely submerged, it may extend above the sea surface, or it may be an energy converter system placed on an offshore platform. Apart from wave-powered navigation buoys, however, most of the prototypes have been placed at or near the shore. Some systems extract energy from surface waves. Others extract energy from pressure fluctuations below the water surface or from the full wave. Some systems are fixed in position and let waves pass by them, while others follow the waves and move with them. Some systems concentrate and focus waves, which increases their height and their potential for conversion to electrical energy. All the current competing technologies convert wave action into energy by providing some way for the wave to transfer its kinetic energy to a piston or turbine, either storing this energy briefly or passing it immediately into a generation device.
Many such devices rely upon a single float for absorbing a wave's energy. The vast majority of prior art for converting wave energy into useful energy rely upon the potential energy of a wave, i.e., the lifting power of the wave. They are based on surface area or displacement as the key factor in energy absorption. Surface operating wave energy converters use the surface area to capture the smaller less powerful surface waves to power them while submerged wave energy converters use displacement to capture a much larger percentage of the total wave energy spectrum in the form of the gravity wave. In general, only a fraction of the incident energy can be absorbed by a floating body. The amount of absorption depends upon the number of degrees of freedom that are excited in the floating body. There are six degrees of freedom namely, heave, yaw, roll, surge, pitch, and sway. A certain amount of energy absorbed will be dissipated as waves radiate outward from the body. The energy in the incident wave is either absorbed, reflected, or transmitted by the body. But displacement type wave energy converters are much more expensive and can only pull energy out a small surface area.
There are only a very few wave generator systems operating today and all but one are still in the design, testing or prototype stage. Wave power development has been dominated by large scale constructions developed by engineers with hydropower and offshore oil derrick backgrounds. The reasons for limited growth of wave generation are primarily due to the unusual characteristics of the source of the energy—ocean waves. Waves are almost entirely composed of wind and gravity driven pressure waves which carry potential energy. Inefficient multiple energy conversion systems are currently used to convert potential energy to usable kinetic energy. Another major problem is location. The ocean environment is the most lethal environment to man and machine. It places machinery under constant attack from shock, moisture, salt, debris, biological forms and cold temperatures. The second part of this problem is the need to place wave power generation systems in high wave power areas which are out at sea. Ocean waves are greatly diminished in strength by shallow depths. This requires long power transmission infrastructure which is costly and suffer from considerable power loss in the lines. Current on shore based coastal wave energy device systems are costly and eye sores. The ocean based systems are also dangerous to navigation. The offshore type sited in the most powerful wave areas need expensive deep ocean anchoring systems and are exposed to the worst storm conditions.
(a) Current ocean energy systems absorb a limited spectrum of the ocean's energy. This is specially important in low density energy where energy cannot afford to be lost;
(b) Many of these devices are large scale in an attempt to maxniize overall energy conversion efficiency, where due to the issue of low density energy, total surface area is even more important than energy conversion efficiency;
(c) Many of the devices use complicated multi-stage energy conversion system to convert ocean's potential energy to kinetic energy;
(d) Due to the complexity and size of many of the devices their surfaces and working parts are vulnerable to fouling from floating debris and marine growth;
(e) Many devices require complex mooring systems which are costly to install and may ensnare ocean wildlife;
(f) Some devices are not self-righting;
(g) Some devices remain on the surface in storm conditions making them vulnerable;
(h) Many devices have a large number of parts which increase the chances of breakdowns and increase build costs;
(i) Many devices are composed almost entirely of custom manufactured parts which increases overall costs and makes scalability harder to achieve;
(j) Most devices are designed to operate individually off their own dedicated mooring system which, reduces their overall surface area and increases build costs;
(k) Due to their complexity many devices have internal, inertial/mass and surface frictions;
(l) Many devices have complicated electrical systems requiring expensive and vulnerable seals;
(m) Many devices are designed to be situated near shore where the highest energy areas are further offshore and in the open ocean;
(n) Most devices cannot be fabricated of recycled materials which decreases their total lifecycle energy costs;
(o) Most devices are stand alone devices which do not offer reduced wave areas for fish trawlers and private ships;
(p) Most devices are not designed for mass production to reduce costs;
(q) Some devices have an observable outline on the surface of the ocean making them eyesores;
(r) Many devices cannot function as a storm surge barriers but cannot because the moored devices have gaps between them;
(s) Many devices do not adapt well to fresh water production;
(t) The natural cycling of wave's energy pulses require the use of higher capacity electrical equipment reducing overall system economics;
(u) Most devices need more hydrodynamic damping to reduce rolling and pitching ensuring an economic production of electricity;
(v) Many devices don't float as low in the water as possible.
(w) Some devices do not have a significant amount of added damping in relation to their total displacement;
(x) Many devices do not have inherent load shedding incorporating features that inherently limit loads and motions once the rated-power wave amplitude has been reached, de-tuning in large waves to prevent excessive loads and motions;
(y) Most devices do not have a degree of resonant response introduced to improve power capture in small waves;
(z) Most devices require closely machined high tensile parts which are expensive and difficult to mass produce;
(aa) Most devices use complicated electrical systems or water reservoirs to eliminate the pulse characteristics of wave energy;
(bb) Most devices cannot meet the global strategy to deal with the successful commercialization of a low density global energy source. This requires large numbers of devices operating all over the world and includes an ease of transportability across national border;
(cc) Most wave energy converters are not smart enough to adapt instantly to the changing ocean conditions so that they can absorb the maximum amount of energy while at the same time able to reduce their energy profile to be able to survive massive storm conditions.


A method of forming a thin film transistor on a transparent plate. A silicon layer having an active area is provided. A first ion implantation is performed to form a deeper doped region in the silicon layer. A second ion implantation is performed to form a shallower doped region in part of the silicon layer. A transistor structure is formed on the silicon layer located at the active area. A glass plate is formed on the transistor structure. An annealing process whose temperature is about 200xc2x0 C.xcx9c600xc2x0 C. is performed to peel the silicon layer from the deeper doped region and the shallower doped region, and to form a silicon thin film adhered to the transistor structure. Thus, the silicon thin film transistor can be formed on the glass plate without a high temperature process.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display process, and more particularly, to a method of forming a thin film transistor on a transparent plate.
2. Description of the Related Art
Active matrix LCDs (Liquid Crystal Displays) have been developed for mass production. The active matrix LCDs are highly integrated circuits whose level of integration is enhanced by using a technique of producing a semiconductor film on a substrate. The active matrix LCDs enable display of animation with high resolution. Such high resolution animation is obtained with a TFT (Thin Film Transistor), which is a switching element of a matrix display portion, disposed on one of two substrates with a liquid crystal interposed between them.
In the typical manufacturing process for forming a high resolution LCD, the HTPS (high temperature polysilicon) having a high mobility of about 30 to 150 cm2/Vxc2x7sec is used for the material of a channel layer in the TFT. When the polysilicon is used, the TFT is formed to have sufficient speed to be utilized as a driver in the LCD.
However, the polysilicon film is typically formed by a SPC (Solid Phase Crystallization) method that applies heat to an amorphous-silicon film formed on the substrate to induce crystallization or by a low pressure CVD method that directly deposits the polysilicon on the substrate. These film making methods are carried out at a high temperature of 700xc2x0 C. to 900xc2x0 C., so the polysilicon TFT LCD production process is called a high temperature process. In the high temperature process, an expensive substrate such as a heat-resistant quartz plate or the like is required, which leads to a high cost. Additionally, the size of the quartz plate has a limitation, which hinders the LCD from achieving large scale.
An object of the present invention is to provide a method of forming a thin film transistor on a transparent plate.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of forming a silicon thin film transistor on a glass plate without a high temperature process.
To achieve these objects, the present invention provides a method of forming a thin film transistor on a transparent plate. A semiconductor layer having an active area is provided. A first ion implantation is performed to form a deeper doped region in the semiconductor layer. A second ion implantation is performed to form a shallower doped region in part of the semiconductor layer. A transistor structure is formed on the semiconductor layer located at the active area. A glass plate is formed on the transistor structure. An annealing process whose temperature is about 200xc2x0 C.xcx9c600xc2x0 C. is performed to peel the silicon layer from the deeper doped region and the shallower doped region, and to form a semiconductor thin film adhered to the transistor structure.
The present invention improves on the prior art in that the silicon layer is peeled from the deeper doped region and the shallower doped region to form the TFT on the glass plate with the annealing process whose temperature is about 200xc2x0 C.xcx9c600xc2x0 C. Thus, the invention can use the cheaper glass plate and use single crystal silicon having a higher mobility (about 500 cm2/Vxc2x7sec) than polysilicon as the channel layer in the TFT, thereby reducing cost, raising performance, and ameliorating the disadvantages of the prior art.

Method of forming a thin film transistor on a transparent plate

Industrial Technology Research Institute


Various methods and systems are provided for reconstructing magnetic resonance images from accelerated magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data. In one embodiment, a method for reconstructing a magnetic resonance (MR) image includes: estimating multiple sets of coil sensitivity maps from undersampled k-space data, the undersampled k-space data acquired by a multi-coil radio frequency (RF) receiver array; reconstructing multiple initial images using the undersampled k-space data and the estimated multiple sets of coil sensitivity maps; iteratively reconstructing, with a trained deep neural network, multiple images by using the initial images and the multiple sets of coil sensitivity maps to generate multiple final images, each of the multiple images corresponding to a different set of the multiple sets of sensitivity maps; and combining the multiple final images output from the trained deep neural network to generate the MR image.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a medical imaging modality that can create images of the inside of a human body without using x-rays or other ionizing radiation. MRI uses a powerful magnet to create a strong, uniform, static magnetic field. When the human body, or part of the human body, is placed in the magnetic field, the nuclear spins associated with the hydrogen nuclei in tissue water become polarized, wherein the magnetic moments associated with these spins become preferentially aligned along the direction of the magnetic field, resulting in a small net tissue magnetization along that axis. MRI systems also include gradient coils that produce smaller amplitude, spatially-varying magnetic fields with orthogonal axes to spatially encode the magnetic resonance (MR) signal by creating a signature resonance frequency at each location in the body. The hydrogen nuclei are excited by a radio frequency signal at or near the resonance frequency of the hydrogen nuclei, which add energy to the nuclear spin system. As the nuclear spins relax back to their rest energy state, they release the absorbed energy in the form of an RF signal. This RF signal (or MR signal) is detected by one or more RF coil arrays and is transformed into the image using a computer and known reconstruction algorithms.
The MRI acquisition process may be slow due to the large volume of data collected. Undersampling, or collecting less k-space data, may decrease scan times; however, this may result in aliasing artifacts that may obscure relevant anatomy. Advanced MRI reconstruction techniques, such as parallel processing, may accelerate scan times by reducing the amount of data collection without aliasing.

Methods and systems for magnetic resonance image reconstruction using an extended sensitivity model and a deep neural network

THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY


A guidewire has a coil with a side of the coil winds having solid physical connections between the coil winds to prevent the connected coil wind side from expanding resulting from the application of force by an actuating member. The application of longitudinal force to the coil causes the unconnected coil wind side to expand while the connected side does not expand, resulting in the guidewire assuming a different configuration.

Intracorporal medical devices have been developed and used to navigate and access the tortuous vascular anatomy and other hollow conduits of a mammalian body. Some of these devices include intravenous guidewires, stylets, intravenous catheters and related devices like endoscopes and colonoscopes that have a predetermined degree of flexibility and may have straight or pre-formed, shaped ends to guide the device through the anatomical conduit. Of the devices that are employed to reach vascular blockages, each has certain advantages and disadvantages. Many fall short of desired performance before reaching a vascular blockage because of a prolapse at a vascular bifurcation, an inability to enter a bifurcation or to be directed to the site of therapy. Others may reach an occlusion but then require a different device to be introduced before crossing the stenosis. The medical industry has striven to reach a balance between the flexibility required to negotiate around tortuous pathways and the rigidity necessary to stabilize a catheter's advancement. Many intravenous interventional guidewires provide directability, flexibility or stiffness but fail to do all or a combination at the same time. These products typically have pre-formed flexible distal ends that provide minimal directability but not true directability, flexibility and stiffness combined, which would be the most useful advantage. Additionally, most physicians must use a series of different diameter guidewires to perform one procedure, creating a procedure that costs additional time, money and risks patient safety from vascular injury.
Accessing occlusions having relatively sharp angles and passage constrictions using conventional guidewires having pre-formed "J" shapes or angled distal ends requires rotating the guidewire while simultaneously moving it proximally and distally. This action can cause damage to the fragile endothelial cell layer lining blood vessels. Additionally, conventional guidewires can lose their ability to be rotated when the flexible distal ends enter vessels of reduced diameter. Rotation of the guidewire following inserting the distal end into a vessel having a reduced diameter may produce relatively high frictional forces between the walls of the small vessels and the guidewire. A desirable device would therefore require reduced rotation and increased ability to advance in a forward or distal direction through tortuous anatomies.
Another undesirable characteristic of conventional guidewires is the inability to support a catheter at the flexible, tapered, distal end. When a catheter is advanced over a guidewire toward a vascular location in and close to a bifurcation, the catheter tends to proceed in a straight line rather than following the guidewire. Further, the natural pulsation of the vascular system of a living animal can cause a conventional guidewire to move within the body and thereby lose its distal location. To address the undesirable characteristic of a conventional guidewire that allows a catheter to prolapse, a guidewire that is stiffer on the distal end yet still able to be directed into a vascular bifurcation would prevent the catheter from proceeding in a straight line. It would also allow a stiffer catheter or a catheter with a larger diameter to be used.
Physicians generally have four objectives when using such vascular devices: (1) To reach the occlusion; (2) To reach the occlusion without causing vascular damage; (3) To cross the occlusion once it is reached; and (4) To reach the occlusion and cross it in as little time as possible. A device able to accomplish all four objectives would be extremely advantageous. It is not uncommon for a physician to place a catheter somewhere in a vessel and exchange the first guidewire with one or more secondary guidewires having progressively stiffer distal ends to prevent prolapse of the devices placed over the guidewire(s). These four objectives would be resolved by a guidewire stiff enough to be advanced through the vasculature and yet be directed into branched vessels with minimal rotational torque and minimal sliding back and forth in proximal and distal directions to enter a bifurcation. Yet another advantage would be having a guidewire stiff enough to be pushed and yet be directed into branched vessels with minimal torquing.
Vascular occlusions defined as Chronic Total Occlusions are blockages that can occur anywhere in a patient's vascular system, including coronary, carotid, renal, iliac, femoral, cerebral, popliteal and other peripheral arteries.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,676,249 to Arenas et al. discloses a guidewire having a moving internal member to provide stiffness when required, but does not disclose a directable distal end or the ability to cross occlusions. Another, U.S. Pat. No. 5,542,434 to Imran et al., discloses a longitudinally movable core wire made of a memory metal alloy that stiffens when subjected to thermal energy. Yet another, U.S. Pat. No. 5,605,162 to Mirzaee et al., uses a pull wire to draw the distal coil proximally to stiffen the distal end. These devices allow the wire to become stiff and yet torquable when desired, but fail when a catheter needs to be slid over the device. Both devices are deficient when they reach an occlusion with heavily calcified plaque in that they do not have sufficient stiffness to cross the occlusion.
For all these and other reasons there is a clear need for a guidewire that can vary the shape of its distal end, is relatively stiff and also has the ability to cross an occlusion.


Methods and systems for content selection using touchscreens are disclosed. A method for selecting content using a touchscreen includes determining first content displayed at least partially within an area of a touchscreen where the area is defined by a shape drawn on the touchscreen by a user, magnifying the first content on the touchscreen, receiving user input identifying one or more deletable content portions displayed within the first content, and selecting a desired content where the desired content is obtained by removing the deletable content from the first content. Corresponding systems and computer readable media are also disclosed.

1. Technical Field
Embodiments relate to touchscreen user-interfaces.
2. Background Art
Mobile computing devices are available in many forms. Example mobile computing devices include mobile telephones, smartphones, personal digital assistants, navigation devices, netbook computers, mobile computers, gaming devices, and the like. Many mobile computing devices feature a touchscreen as the only means, or at least a major means, of user interface for display and user input.
Many applications that run on mobile computing devices allow the user to enter user input and select content using the touchscreen interface. However, as the touchscreen interfaces become increasingly smaller, the selection of content through the touchscreen interface becomes more difficult and error-prone.
Touchscreen technology has undergone substantial improvements. However, conventional methods of content selection using a touchscreen, particularly small touchscreens, are still cumbersome for users. For example, using conventional content selection methods, a user would painstakingly point to and select each object, or precisely select an area containing the objects of interest in order to select multiple objects of interest displayed on the touchscreen. Use of a stylus is typically needed for precise selection. Even finger-based touchscreen devices, such as the iPhone from Apple, Inc., require tedious and precise selection where text of interest must be specifically highlighted, often in small print. As the touchscreens become smaller and the content gets increasingly more complex (e.g., text and graphics combined, multicolumn display, framed display, and the like) the content selection becomes increasingly tedious and error-prone. Also, as the range of applications available on touchscreens increase and the need to use information or content across multiple applications increase, more efficient ways of selecting content from one application, for example, to be used in another application, increases.
Therefore, as users perform an increasing range of tasks in the cramped confines of relatively small touchscreen interfaces, more effective access to functions of computing devices and applications should be enabled. Therefore, improved methods and systems for content selection on touchscreen interfaces are desired.

Finger-friendly content selection interface


A pipe connector includes a casing, a valve block mounted in the first end of the casing and movable between a close position and an open position and normally supported in the close position by a spring inside the casing, a locking block holder mounted in the second end of the casing and movable between a locking position and an unlocking position and normally supported in the locking position by a spring inside the casing, and locking blocks transversely mounted in the locking block holder and movable with the locking block holder along a tapered inside all portion of the casing to lock/unlock a pipe that is inserted into the locking block holder to move the valve block to the open position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to pipe connector and more particularly, to such a pipe connector, which allows quick mounting/dismounting of the pipe without any tools.
2. Description of the Related Art
Pipes and pipe connectors are commonly used for delivering a flow of gas or fluid. A pipe connector to which the invention pertains is adapted to receive a rigid pipe. According to conventional designs, a tool must be used to fasten tight the pipe connector after insertion of the pipe into the pipe connector, or to unfasten the pipe connector when wishing to disconnect the pipe from the pipe connector. It takes much time to fasten tight or unfasten the pipe connector. Further, when fasten the pipe connector excessively tight, the parts of the pipe connector or the pipe may be damaged accidentally. Further, before disconnecting the pipe from the pipe connector, the worker must turn off the flow source and empty the pipe. However, the worker may spend a lot of time to find the location of the main valve of the flow source.


A buffer circuit includes first and second inputs and first and second outputs. The buffer circuit is configurable to buffer a differential input signal received at the first and the second inputs to generate a differential output signal at the first and the second outputs in a current mode logic buffer mode based on a control signal. The buffer circuit is configurable to buffer the differential input signal to generate the differential output signal in an H-bridge buffer mode based on the control signal.

FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art current mode logic (CML) buffer circuit 100 that is used in a transmitter circuit. CML buffer circuit 100 includes constant current source circuit 101, switch circuits 102-103, and resistors 104-105. CML buffer circuit 100 is coupled between a node at a supply voltage VCC and a node at a low voltage VSS (e.g., ground).
CML buffer circuit 100 buffers a differential input signal VIN to generate a differential output signal VOUT. The differential input signal VIN is based on input voltage signals IN and INB (i.e., VIN=IN−INB). The differential output signal VOUT is based on output voltage signals VOP and VON (i.e., VOUT=VOP−VON). The conductive states of switch circuits 102-103 are controlled by input voltage signals IN and INB, respectively. Input voltage signal INB is the logical inverse of input voltage signal IN. The voltage range for both of signals IN and INB is from voltage VSS to voltage VH, where VH is the voltage of the node between switch circuits 102 and 103. CML buffer circuit 100 generates output voltage signal VOP between switch circuit 102 and resistor 104. CML buffer circuit 100 generates output voltage signal VON between switch circuit 103 and resistor 105.
When input voltage signal IN is in a logic high state, switch circuit 102 is closed, input voltage signal INB is in a logic low state causing switch circuit 103 to be open, and the current I1 from current source circuit 101 flows through switch circuit 102. Differential output signal VOUT equals I1×R1, where R1 equals the resistance of each of resistors 104-105.
When input voltage signal IN is in a logic low state, switch circuit 102 is open, input voltage signal INB is in a logic high state causing switch circuit 103 to be closed, and the current I1 from current source circuit 101 flows through switch circuit 103. Differential output signal VOUT equals −I1×R1.
The common mode voltage VCM of CML buffer circuit 100 equals (I1×R1)/2. The peak-to-peak differential voltage swing of the differential output signal VOUT equals 2×I1×R1.
FIG. 2 illustrates a prior art H-bridge buffer circuit 200 that is used in a transmitter circuit. H-bridge buffer circuit 200 includes constant current sources 201-202, switch circuits 203-206, and resistors 207-208. H-bridge buffer circuit 200 is coupled between a node at a supply voltage VCC and a node at a low voltage VSS.
H-bridge buffer circuit 200 buffers a differential input signal VIN to generate a differential output signal VOUT. The differential input signal VIN is based on input voltage signals IN and INB (i.e., VIN=IN−INB). The differential output signal VOUT is based on output voltage signals VOP and VON (i.e., VOUT=VOP−VON). The conductive states of switch circuits 203 and 206 are controlled by input voltage signal IN, and the conductive states of switch circuits 204-205 are controlled by input voltage signal INB. Input voltage signal INB is the logic inverse of input voltage signal IN. H-bridge buffer circuit 200 generates output voltage signal VOP between switch circuits 203-204. H-bridge buffer circuit 200 generates output voltage signal VON between switch circuits 205-206.
H-bridge buffer circuit 200 also includes a circuit such as an amplifier (not shown) that generates a constant voltage VCM between resistors 207-208. Voltage VCM equals the common mode voltage of output voltage signals VOP and VON.
When input voltage signal IN is in a logic high state, switch circuits 203 and 206 are closed, input voltage signal INB is in a logic low state causing switch circuits 204-205 to be open, and the current I2 from current source 201 flows through switch circuit 203, resistors 207-208, switch circuit 206, and current source 202. Differential output signal VOUT equals I2×2×R2, where R2 equals the resistance of each of resistors 207-208.
When input voltage signal IN is in a logic low state, switch circuits 203 and 206 are open, input voltage signal INB is in a logic high state causing switch circuits 204-205 to be closed, and the current I2 from current source 201 flows through switch circuit 205, resistors 208 and 207, switch circuit 204, and current source 202. Differential output signal VOUT equals −I2×2×R2.
H-bridge buffer circuit 200 generates a peak-to-peak differential voltage swing in VOUT that equals 4×I2×R2. If R1 equals R2, then H-bridge buffer circuit 200 draws half as much current as CML buffer circuit 100 to achieve the same output voltage swing in VOUT (i.e., I1=2×I2). As a result, H-bridge buffer circuit 200 consumes less power than CML buffer circuit 100.
However, H-bridge buffer circuit 200 generates a more limited range in the common mode voltage VCM of the differential output signal VOUT than CML buffer circuit 100. The common mode voltage VCM of the differential output signal VOUT of H-bridge buffer circuit 200 is limited based on the equation VCM≧(I2×R2)+VL+VSW2, where VL is the voltage of the node between switch circuits 204 and 206, and VSW2 is the voltage drop across switch circuit 204 or 206.
H-bridge buffer circuit 200 has less voltage headroom between supply voltage VCC and low voltage VSS compared to CML buffer circuit 100, because H-bridge buffer circuit 200 includes two current source circuits 201-202 that each consume a portion of the voltage drop between VCC and VSS. In addition, H-bridge buffer circuit 200 has a higher output capacitance than CML buffer circuit 100 at the nodes that generate output voltage signals VOP and VON. The higher output capacitance in H-bridge buffer circuit 200 slows down transitions in output voltage signals VOP and VON. H-bridge buffer circuit 200 generates more symmetrical waveforms in output voltage signals VOP and VON than CML buffer circuit 100.

Configurable buffer circuits and methods


Disclosed is a scanning image display device for displaying an image on a plurality of display screens. The image display device includes a light source, a scanner for two-dimensionally scanning with light from the light source, and a controller which is electrically connected with the light source and the scanner. The controller controls the light source and the scanner to form an image on the surfaces to be scanned. The scanner is configured to be capable of scanning the independent plurality of scanning surfaces with the light from the light source.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a scanning display device for forming an image by two-dimensional scanning with a light beam, and more particularly to a scanning display device having a plurality of scanning surfaces. In addition, the present invention relates to a video image taking apparatus such as a digital still camera or a digital video camcorder, having the scanning display device serving as an electronic viewfinder.
2. Related Background Art
An apparatus for recording an image obtained by an image pickup device represented by a charge-coupled device (CCD) includes a so-called digital stall camera (hereinafter referred to as a DSC) and a digital video camcorder (hereinafter referred to as a DVC) The DSC and the DVC each are generally provided with a finder for exhibiting an image taking area to a user.
For a large number of apparatuses, an optical view finder having a specific optical system is used as the finder in addition to an optical system for performing image pickup by a CCD or the like. However, in the case of such an optical view finder system using the optical system in addition to the optical system utilized for image pickup, there is a problem in that an image taking region observed through the finder is different from an image taking region of an image which is actually taken by a so-called parallax, in particular, in close-up image taking.
In contrast to this, there is an electronic viewfinder for displaying, as an image, a signal from the image pickup device such as the CCD on a display panel like a small size liquid crystal panel and enlarging the image for observation using an optical system. According to the electronic viewfinder, without being processed, the signal from the image pickup device is utilized. Therefore, an image having same view angle as that of the image, which is actually to be taken, can be observed, so that the image taking region can be determined with parallax error-free view.
An electronic viewfinder system using a scanning image display device as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-084291 has been proposed as an electronic viewfinder system in which a high-resolution image can be obtained. The scanning image display device is of a finder system which does not utilize a conventional display device such as a liquid crystal panel, and can obtain the high-resolution image. Because the liquid crystal panel or the like is not utilized as the display device, for example, a manufacturing problem such as the occurrence of a pixel defect is unlikely to cause.
On the other hand, for a large number of DSCs and DVCs, a direct-view display element having a size of several inches is provided on the side surface or rear surface of a main body in addition to a conventional near eye viewfinder. The direct-view display element is utilized instead of the viewfinder by displaying the signal from the image pickup device without being processed as in the electronic viewfinder. In this case, as compared with the conventional viewfinder, an effect such as an improvement of the degree of freedom of posture in image taking is obtained. The direct-view display element is also used to display an image taking condition, a battery level, the number of taken images, and the like. Therefore, an effect such as an improvement of convenience is large when the DSC or the DVC is used.
However, the direct-view display element has a defect that display is hard to be viewed in an environment of lighted surroundings such as the outdoors on a bright day. Therefore, the direct-view display element cannot always serve as the viewfinder.
Therefore, in the DSC and the DVC, in order that an image taking region is checked regardless of a state such as lighting of the surroundings and convenience that information including a current image taking condition is also displayed is ensured, it is preferable that the direct-view display element is provided on the side surface or, rear surface in addition to the electronic view finder.
When the DSC or the DVC is provided with two display systems, that is, both the electronic viewfinder and the direct-view display element, it is necessary to provide at least two display devices such as liquid crystal panels. Therefore, a reduction in size and weight of an image taking apparatus becomes difficult, so that an increase in cost of the image taking apparatus occurs.