Provided are a method for manufacturing an imaging-module and an imaging-module manufacturing device that can increase the flexibility of the component arrangement in an electronic device. A relative position of the lens unit and the imaging device unit, held on an axis perpendicular to a measurement chart, and the measurement chart on the axis is changed and images of the measurement chart are captured at the relative positions in the state where, when the lens unit is installed in an electronic device, a magnetic field having a magnitude equal to a magnitude of a magnetic field applied to the movable image-stabilizing unit is applied to the movable image-stabilizing unit. A compensation amount is calculated using signals acquired by capturing the images of the measurement chart, a tilt of the imaging device unit relative to the lens unit is adjusted, and the imaging device unit is fixed to the lens unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and a device for manufacturing an imaging module having an optical image stabilizing function.
2. Description of the Related Art
As is well known in recent years, some of imaging modules installed in electronic devices, such as mobile phones, smartphones, or tablet computers, have an optical image stabilizer (OIS) function (see JP2012-256017A).
An OIS mechanism disclosed in JP2012-256017A employs a so-called suspension support structure. The OIS mechanism has a structure in which a movable image-stabilizing unit (imaging unit) is supported at four corners using four suspension wires and the movable image-stabilizing unit is driven in two-axis directions perpendicular to the optical axis for image stabilization. A mechanism for driving the movable image-stabilizing unit includes magnets, disposed on four outer-peripheral side surfaces of a cover portion on which the movable image-stabilizing unit is mounted, and a coil, disposed on a fixed-body-side yoke so as to oppose the magnets. This driving mechanism allows the movable image-stabilizing unit to be driven for image stabilization independently of two axes perpendicular to the optical axis.
An imaging module is manufactured as a result of fixing a lens unit having such an OIS mechanism (having a movable image-stabilizing unit and suspension wires) and a lens group to an imaging device unit having an imaging device. When the lens unit and the imaging device unit are fixed to each other, a so-called one-sided blurring problem, which renders a portion of an image out of focus, occurs unless the position of the lens group relative to the imaging device is accurately set. Thus, a method is provided for fixing a lens unit to an imaging device unit in the state where a lens group is adjusted to be in a predetermined reference position using a jig disclosed in, for example, JP2012-256017A.
JP2010-021985A discloses the following method for manufacturing an imaging module. In the method, an imaging device unit and a lens unit are set on an axis perpendicular to a measurement chart. The relative position of the imaging device unit, the lens unit, and the measurement chart on the axis is changed. A reference position of a lens group is calculated on the basis of results obtained after an imaging device captures images of the measurement chart multiple times at the relative positions. The imaging device unit and the lens unit are fixed to each other in the state where the tilts and the positions of the imaging device unit and the lens unit have been adjusted on the basis of these calculated results.
An imaging module having an OIS mechanism of a suspension support structure is affected by a magnetic field produced by an electronic device on which this imaging module is mounted. FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view of a main portion of a smartphone 2 when an imaging module 1 is mounted on the smartphone 2. As illustrated in this drawing, a speaker 3 is disposed near the imaging module 1. Thus, the imaging module 1 is affected by a magnetic force generated by the speaker 3, thereby resulting in a problem of tilting of the lens group from the reference position.
JP2009-071495A describes that when a speaker, which is a magnetic-field generating unit, has a magnetic force of 100 gausses, a reliable operation of an imaging module is ensured in a state where the imaging module is spaced apart from the speaker by 10 mm or longer.

Method for manufacturing imaging module and imaging-module manufacturing device


A rotor pair for a compressor block of a screw machine includes a secondary rotor that rotates about a first axis and a main rotor that rotates about a second axis. The number of teeth of the main rotor is 3 and the number of teeth of the secondary rotor is 4. The relative profile depth of the secondary rotor is at least 0.5 rk1 is an addendum circle radius drawn around the outer circumference of the secondary rotor and rf1 is a dedendum circle radius starting at the profile base of the secondary rotor. The ratio of the axis distance of the first axis from the second axis and the addendum circle radius rk1 is at least 1.636.

Screw machines, whether this be in the form of screw compressors or in the form of screw expanders, have been in practical use for several decades. Configured as screw compressors, they have superseded reciprocating piston compressors as compressors in many areas. With the principle of the intermeshing pair of screws, not only gases can be compressed by applying a certain amount of work. The application as a vacuum pump also opens up the use of screw machines to achieve a vacuum. Finally an amount of work can also be produced by passing through pressurized gases the other way round so that mechanical energy can also be obtained from pressurized gases by means of the principle of the screw machine.
Screw machines generally have two shafts arranged parallel to one another on which a main rotor on the one hand and a secondary rotor on the other hand are located. Main rotor and secondary rotor intermesh with a corresponding screw-shaped toothed structure. Between the toothed structures and a compressor housing which accommodates the main and secondary rotor, a compression chamber (working chambers) is formed by the tooth gap volumes. Starting from a suction region as the rotation of main and secondary rotor progresses, the working chamber is initially closed and then continuously reduced in volume so that a compression of the medium occurs. Finally as rotation progresses, the working chamber is opened towards a pressure window and the medium is expelled into the pressure window. Screw machines configured as screw compressors differ by this process of internal compression from Roots blowers which operate without internal compression.
Depending on the required pressure ratio (ratio of output pressure to input pressure), various tooth number ratios are appropriate for efficient compression.
Typical pressure ratios can be between 1.1 and 20 depending on the tooth number ratio, where the pressure ratio is the ratio of compression end pressure to suction pressure. The compression can take place in a single- or multistage manner. Attainable final pressures can, for example, lie in the range of 1.1 bar to 20 bar. Insofar as at this point or hereinafter in the present application reference is made to pressure information in "bar", in each case this pressure information relates to absolute pressures.
In addition to the already mentioned function as a vacuum pump or as a screw expander, screw machines can be used in various areas of technology as compressors. A particularly preferred area of application is the compression of gases such as, for example, air or inert gases (helium, nitrogen, . . . ). However, it is also possible, although this imposes especially structurally different requirements, to use a screw machine to compress refrigerants, for example for air-conditioning systems or refrigeration applications. For the compression of gases specifically with higher pressure ratios, usually a fluid-injected compression, in particular an oil-injected compression is used; however it is also possible to operate a screw machine according to the principle of dry compression. In the lower-pressure area, screw compressors are occasionally also designated as screw blowers.
Over the past few decades, considerable success has been achieved in regard to the manufacturability, reliability, smooth running and efficiency of screw machines. Improvements or optimizations in this context frequently relate to optimizations of the efficiency depending on number of teeth, wrap-around angle and length/diameter ratio of the rotors. The incorporation of the transverse sections in the optimization process has only taken place recently.
Experiments have shown that the transverse section of the rotors, in particular the transverse section of the secondary rotor has a substantial influence on the energy efficiency. In order to obey the toothed structure laws, the transverse section of the secondary rotor must find its correspondence in the transverse section of the main rotor. The profile of the rotor in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the rotor is here designated as transverse section. Various types of transverse section generation such as, for example, rotor- or rack-based transverse section generating methods are now known from the prior art. If a specific process has been decided upon, a first draft transverse section is generated in a first step. This is conventionally further optimized in a plurality of successive (revising) steps according to various criteria.
Here both the optimization aims per se (energy efficiency, smooth running, low costs) and also the fact that the improvements of one parameter in some cases necessarily result in a deterioration of another parameter, are known. However, there is a lack of a specific solution as to how a good overall optimization result (i.e. a compromise between the various individual parameter optimizations) can be achieved.
Some optimization approaches which are known in the prior art with a view to improving the energy efficiency, smooth running and costs will be explained as an example hereinafter. Furthermore, problems which can arise here will also be mentioned.
1 Energy Efficiency
The energy efficiency of compressor blocks can advantageously be influenced in a known manner by minimizing the internal leakages in the compressor block and in particular by reducing the gap between main rotor and secondary rotor. Specifically here a distinction should be made between the profile gap and the blow hole:                Via the profile gap the pressure-side working chambers have direct communication to the suction side and therefore the greatest possible pressure difference for backflows.        Consecutive working chambers are interconnected via a theoretically unnecessary passage which is designated as blow hole. In some cases this is also designated as head rounding opening. This blow hole is obtained through the head rounding of the profiles, in particular the profile of the secondary rotor. Pressure-side working chambers are connected to the respectively adjacent working chamber via pressure-side blow holes, suction-side working chambers are connected to the respectively adjacent working chambers via suction-side blow holes. Unless specified otherwise, the term "blow hole" is to be understood hereinafter as "pressure-side blow hole".
Ideally, in order to minimize internal leakages, a short profile gap length should be combined with a small (pressure-side) blow hole. However, the two quantities behave fundamentally contrarily. That is, the smaller the blow hole is modelled, the larger the profile gap length must be. Conversely, the blow hole becomes larger, the shorter is the profile gap length. This is explained, for example, by Helpertz in his dissertation "Method for the stochastic optimization of screw rotor profiles", Dortmund, 2003, on page 162.
The requirement for a short profile gap length can be achieved in a known manner with a flat profile with a relatively small relative profile depth of the secondary rotor. Whether a profile is designed to be rather flat (small profile depth) or deep (large profile depth) can be clearly quantified here by means of the so-called "relative profile depth of the secondary rotor" which relates the difference between addendum and dedendum circle radius to the addendum circle radius of the secondary rotor. The higher is the value, the more compact is the compressor block and for example, has more quantity delivered than a comparable compressor block with the same external dimensions.
Profiles designed to be very flat accordingly have a poor utilization of installation volume, i.e. they result in large compressor blocks with comparatively high material expenditure or comparatively high manufacturing costs.
Pressure-side blow holes as described above must not be designed to be too large in order to minimize the return flow of already compressed medium in preceding working chambers (i.e., in lower-pressure working chambers). Such return flows increase the energy expenditure for the overall conveying capacity achieved and result in an undesirable increase in the temperature and pressure level during compression which overall reduces the efficiency. The area of the blow hole (blow hole area) can be kept small whereby the head roundings of the profiles in the transverse section are designed to be small. Specifically, this can be achieved by a strong curvature in the head region of the leading tooth flank of the secondary rotor and in the head region of the trailing tooth flank of the main rotor. However, the stronger is this curvature, the more rapidly production-technology limiting regions are reached since this for example results in high wear on profile millers and profile grinding disks during the manufacture of main rotor and secondary rotor.
Suction-side blow holes on the other hand do not have a negative influence on the energy efficiency since only working chambers in the suction region are interconnected via these at the same pressure.
Another cause of efficiency-reducing internal leakages is the so-called chamber interstitial volume which can form during expulsion of the last working chamber (i.e. the working chamber in which the highest pressure prevails) into the pressure window. The working chamber then no longer has a connection to the pressure window from a certain rotational angle position of the rotors. A so-called chamber interstitial volume remains between the two rotors and the pressure-side housing end wall.
This chamber interstitial volume is disadvantageous because the enclosed compressed medium can no longer be expelled into the pressure window and is even further compressed during the further rotation of the rotors, which leads to an unnecessarily high power consumption (for the over-compression), an unnecessarily high additional heat input, evolution of noise and a reduction in the lifetime, in particular of the roller bearings of the rotors. In addition, a deterioration in the specific power is caused by the fact that the fraction enclosed in the chamber interstitial volume is returned to the suction side after the over-compression and therefore is no longer available to the compressed air user. In the case of oil-injected compressors, incompressible oil is additionally in the chamber interstices and is squeezed.
2 Smooth Running
However, other properties such as, for example, the smooth running also have a decisive influence on a good profile for main rotor or secondary rotor.
In addition to good osculation of the flanks and low relative speeds between the tooth flanks of main and secondary rotor, the division of the drive torque between the two rotors also has a decisive influence on the two rotors. An unfavourable distribution is known to frequently result in so-called rotor rattling of the secondary rotor in which the secondary rotor has undefined flank contact with the main rotor and the secondary rotor consequently alternately has contact with the leading and the trailing main rotor flank. If the two rotors are held at a distance by means of a synchronous transmission, the aforesaid rotor rattling is necessarily displaced into the synchronous transmission. Good smooth running not only ensures low sound emissions from the compressor block but for example also provides for a less vibration-prone compressor block, a long lifetime of the roller bearings and low wear in the tooth structure of the rotors.
3 Costs
In particular, the manufacturability and the degree of utilization of the installation volume have an effect on the material and manufacturing costs of screw compressor blocks.
Compact compressor blocks with a high utilization of installation volume are achieved by a large tooth gap volume which in turn depends on the profile depth and the tooth thickness.
The further the relative profile depth is increased, the higher utilization of installation volume is achieved but at the same time, the risk of problems with running properties and manufacturability is higher:                With increasing profile depth, in particular the tooth profiles of the secondary rotor will necessarily become increasingly thinner and consequently increasingly flexible. This makes the rotors increasingly temperature-sensitive and when viewed overall, has an unfavourable effect on the gaps in the compressor block. The gaps have an appreciable influence on the internal leakages, i.e. return flows from higher-pressure compression chambers in the direction of the suction side, and can thus cause a deterioration in the energy efficiency of the compressor block.        Furthermore, in the case of flexible teeth the difficulties with rotor manufacture increase.                    Thus for example, there is an increased risk that the requirements in particular for the shape tolerances, which are already high in any case, cannot be adhered to.            Furthermore, flexible teeth require lower feed and intersection speeds both during profile milling and also during subsequent profile grinding and thus increase the processing time and consequently the manufacturing costs.                        An increasing profile depth also has the result that the rotor per se becomes more flexible. The more flexible the rotors are designed, the more the risk increases that the rotors start running amongst one another or in the compressor housing.
In order to ensure operating safety even at high temperatures or at high pressures, the gaps must consequently have larger dimensions. This in turn has a negative influence on the energy efficiency of the compressor block.

Rotor pair for a compression block of a screw machine


Systems and methods for operating and hybrid driveline are presented. In one example, driver demand torque may be supplied to vehicle wheels via a hydraulic torque path and a friction torque path. Torque is distributed between the friction torque path and the hydraulic torque path in a way that ensures that driver demand torque is met and the friction torque path transfers torque up to its capacity.

A parallel hybrid driveline may include an engine, a driveline disconnect clutch, and an electric machine. The engine and electric machine may be selectively operated in response to vehicle operating conditions. If the engine is stopped, it may be restarted by the electric machine when the driveline disconnect clutch is closed. However, closing the driveline disconnect clutch to start the engine may cause a torque disturbance in the vehicle driveline because it may be difficult to accurately estimate torque transferred by the driveline disconnect clutch. Additionally, driveline inefficiencies may reduce the vehicle's fuel efficiency if the torque converter clutch is fully open during vehicle launch.
The inventors herein have recognized the above-mentioned disadvantages and have developed a method for operating a driveline, comprising: operating an electric machine in a torque control mode in response to a torque converter clutch torque capacity available at a transmission line pressure being greater than a driver demand torque; and operating the electric machine in a speed control mode in response to the torque converter clutch torque capacity available at the transmission line pressure being less than the driver demand torque.
By operating an electric machine in a speed control mode when transmission line pressure is low, it may be possible to reject driveline torque disturbances via the electric machine and deliver a desired driver demand torque. Additionally, by operating the electric machine in a torque control mode when transmission line pressure is higher, it may be possible to lock a torque converter clutch to improve driveline efficiency while providing at least a portion of driver demand torque via the electric machine.
The present description may provide several advantages. In particular, the approach may improve driveline efficiency while providing a desired driver demand torque. Additionally, the approach may improve vehicle drivability via improving vehicle launch. Further still, the approach may improve engine starting.
The above advantages and other advantages, and features of the present description will be readily apparent from the following Detailed Description when taken alone or in connection with the accompanying drawings.
It should be understood that the summary above is provided to introduce in simplified form a selection of concepts that are further described in the detailed description. It is not meant to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, the scope of which is defined uniquely by the claims that follow the detailed description. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any disadvantages noted above or in any part of this disclosure.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Methods and systems for hybrid driveline control


Color management in which a spectral gamut is determined for spectral gamut mapping by constructing subdivisions of a set of samples spanning the spectral gamut. The samples are designated by specifying device values and are subdivided based on their lightness, chroma and hue under a reference illuminant such that the number of samples in each subdivision is limited by a predetermined number. A color value to be spectrally gamut mapped is accepted, and converted into a colorimetric value under the reference illuminant. The converted colorimetric value includes a lightness, a chroma and a hue. Subdivisions within a tolerance of the converted colorimetric value are identified using its lightness, chroma and hue. Samples within the identified subdivisions are searched to find a sample that matches acceptably to the color value relative to an objective function.

Color management controls the color conversion of a color image from a source device to a destination device, such as from an image scanner or digital camera to a color printer or monitor. In color management, there is often a mismatch between the gamut of colors available to the source device and the gamut of colors available to the destination device. The adjustment for this gamut mismatch is referred to as gamut mapping.
Conventional gamut mapping is typically performed in a colorimetric color space which is three-dimensional. Examples of colorimetric color spaces in which conventional gamut mapping may be performed include CIEXYZ color space or CIELAB color space. The appearance of a reproduction resulting from such colorimetric color management is dependent on viewing conditions. In particular, the appearance of the reproduction may not match the original when the reproduction is viewed under a light source different from that assumed in conventional gamut mapping.
More recently, spectral color management has been considered. Spectral color management is advantageous over colorimetric color management, in that spectral color management uses spectral reflectance data that includes far more information than colorimetric data to represent the original color. In comparison to three-dimensional colorimetric data, spectral reflectance data will often use 31 dimensions or more to represent the spectral reflectance of a color stimulus. For spectral reflectance data using 31 dimensions, each of the 31 dimensions corresponds to a reflectance for a wavelength at 10 nm intervals in the visible wavelength spectrum of 400 nm to 700 nm. Accordingly, the use of spectral reflectance data in spectral color management usually results in a color reproduction with a better color match under arbitrary illuminants than a reproduction resulting from colorimetric color management.

Spectral gamut mapping by constrained subdivision of gamut


The present invention relates to a method of fabricating an SOI SJ LDMOS structure that can completely eliminate the substrate-assisted depletion effects, comprising the following steps: step one: a conducting layer is prepared below the SOI BOX layer using the bonding technique; the conducting layer is prepared in the following way: depositing a barrier layer on a first bulk silicon wafer, and then depositing a charge conducting layer, thereby obtaining a first intermediate structure; forming a silicon dioxide layer on a second bulk silicon wafer via thermal oxidation, then depositing a barrier layer, and finally depositing a charge conducting layer, thereby obtaining a second intermediate structure; bonding the first intermediate structure and the second intermediate structure using the metal bonding technology to arrange the conducting layer below the SOI BOX layer; step two: a SJ LDMOS structure is fabricated on the SOI substrate having a conducting layer. The present invention is capable of releasing the charge accumulated at the lower interface of the BOX layer, eliminating the effect of the vertical charge on the charge balance between the p-type pillar and the n-type pillar, and therefore completely eliminating the substrate-assisted depletion effects and elevating the breakdown voltage of the device.

Lateral double-diffused MOSFET (abbreviated as LDMOS) is a crucial technology to high voltage integrated circuits and power integrated circuits, wherein MOSFET stands for metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor. LDMOS is characterized in that between a trench region and a drain region is arranged a relatively long lightly-doped drift region which is doped in the same way as the drain region. Arranging the drift region may increase a breakdown voltage thereof.
A super-junction LDMOS (abbreviated as SJ LDMOS) is an improved LDMOS, in which a group of n-type pillars and p-type pillars arranged in an alternate manner replace a lightly-doped n-type drift region of a traditional LDMOS. Theoretically, with the charge compensation between p-type pillar and n-type pillar, SJ LDMOS may have a high breakdown voltage, and meanwhile the heavily-doped n-type pillars may have a very low on-resistance. Therefore, super-junction devices may achieve a good balance between the breakdown voltage and the on-resistance. However, the substrate-assisted depletion effects result in a decrease in the breakdown voltage of the SJ LDMOS device.
The substrate-assisted depletion effects refer to that lateral super junctions are affected by a vertical electric field such that the symmetrical p-type pillars and n-type pillars in the super junctions may not be completely depleted at the same time, that is to say, the charge balance between the p-type pillar and the n-type pillar is destroyed. For a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate in off-state, the back-gate effect of the substrate motivates non-uniformly distributed charges to accumulate at the interface between the buried oxide layer and the bottom silicon film by the action of the vertical field, enlarging the charge difference between the p-type pillar and the n-type pillar. This thereby results in that the p-type pillars and the n-type pillars fail to be completely depleted at the same time at a theoretically-calculated breakdown voltage.
There are generally two solutions to eliminate the substrate-assisted depletion effects of the SJ LDMOS.
One solution is to use a complete insulation substrate such as a sapphire substrate. As another example, a substrate obtained by etching a SOI substrate and filling epoxy resin into the thus-etched vacant cavity may be used. This solution may enable the substrate-assisted depletion effects to be completely eliminated, but its process is complicated and inordinately thin silicon increases on-resistance of devices.
Another solution is to prepare the SJ LDMOS on a common substrate (such as bulk silicon or SOI), and the charge balance between the pillars is achieved by, for example, designing the super junctions to be conical, controlling a width of the column, blending a SJ structure and a reduced surface field (RESURF) structure, or introducing a buffer layer. However, this solution is unfavorable for its failure to control distribution of impurities in the pillars and to realize the charge balance at the entire drift region.

Method of fabricating SOI super-junction LDMOS structure capable of completely eliminating substrate-assisted depletion effects

Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences


Methods, systems, and devices are described for providing a reconfigurable multi-chip WWAN processing platform on a communications device. The processing platform allows the device to access multiple WWANs and multiple WWAN technologies concurrently. A first multiplexer is communicatively coupled with a number of baseband processing chips. A first baseband processing chip is selectively coupled with a first transceiver and a first UICC module to establish a first connection. A second baseband processing chip is selectively coupled with a second transceiver and a second UICC module to establish a second connection operable concurrently with the first connection. A multiplexer controller performs a configurable search for available networks. One or more networks are selected. The controller selects a specific transceiver for each selected network based on the capabilities of the transceiver. Baseband processing chips that consume less power serve as proxies for other baseband processing chips that consume more power.

Wireless communications systems are widely deployed to provide various types of communication content such as voice, video, packet data, messaging, broadcast, and so on. These systems may be multiple-access systems capable of supporting communication with multiple users by sharing the available system resources (e.g., time, frequency, and power). Examples of such multiple-access systems include code-division multiple access (CDMA) systems, time-division multiple access (TDMA) systems, frequency-division multiple access (FDMA) systems, orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA) systems, and 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE).
Generally, a wireless multiple-access communication system can simultaneously support communication for multiple wireless terminals. Each terminal communicates with one or more base stations via transmissions on the forward and reverse links. The forward link (or downlink) refers to the communication link from the base stations to the terminals, and the reverse link (or uplink) refers to the communication link from the terminals to the base stations.
Wireless networks enable the wireless terminals to establish wireless connections with the base stations over remote private or public networks using radio, satellite, and mobile phone technologies. An example of a wireless network includes a wireless wide area network (WWAN). A WWAN uses mobile telecommunication cellular network technologies provided by the multiple-access systems described above to send and receive data. Wireless terminals with WWAN connectivity can support multiple WWAN data technologies, but the wireless terminals often are able to support only one WWAN technology at any given time.

Reconfigurable multi-chip processing platform for concurrent aggregation of wireless technologies


A new and distinct cultivar of Poinsettia plant named ‘BKPONVW’, characterized by its broadly upright and uniformly mounding plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; large and full inflorescences with white-colored flower bracts; and excellent post-production longevity.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Poinsettia plant, botanically known as Euphorbia pulcherrima Wild. and hereinafter referred to by the name 'BKPONVW'.
The new Poinsettia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Maasdijk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new uniform and freely-branching Poinsettia plants with good postproduction longevity.
The new Poinsettia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in February, 2013 in Maasdijk, The Netherlands of a proprietary selection of Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. identified as code number 99-0263, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. 'Stargazer', disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,022, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Poinsettia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands in January, 2014.
Asexual reproduction of the new Poinsettia plant by terminal vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands since February, 2016 has shown that the unique features of this new Poinsettia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.


Apparatus and associated methods relate to a gas detection apparatus including a main optical element configured to: (1) direct a first portion of light emitted from a light generating element (after the first portion of light has interacted with a target medium) to a primary detector via a second optical element, and (2) direct a second portion of light emitted from the light generating element to a reference detector via a third optical element. In various examples, the main optical element may be a reflector such as a mirror. The light generating element may, for example, be a red, green, and blue (RGB) light emitting diode(s) (LED(s)). The optical train may, for example, have a single/unitary molded transparent acrylic construction and internal reflective surfaces. A gas detection apparatus may standardize the optical path used by the light generating element and the primary/reference detectors, advantageously providing for reliable operation.

Optical systems include a variety of components for generating and manipulating light. For example, an optical system may have a light generating source such as an LED or laser. The optical system may include one or more lenses to focus and direct the generated light, and may include one or more mirrors to reflect the generated light. Light generating sources may produce visible light, infrared light, ultraviolet light, or other types/frequencies/wavelengths of light. Some light sources may emit light in a narrow frequency band, while other light sources may emit light with a wide frequency band (e.g., white light).
Gas detectors are devices that detect the presence of gases in an area. A gas detector may be used to detect a gas leak or other emissions, and may interface with a control system (e.g., industrial machinery/electronics) so a process can be automatically shut down when hazardous or leaking gas is detected. A gas detector may sound an alarm to operators in the area where a leak is occurring, which may give operators the opportunity to escape a hazardous situation. Gas detectors may be used to detect combustible, flammable, and/or toxic gases, and may be used to monitor oxygen depletion. Gas detectors may be portable or may be integrated with fixed industrial equipment.


A fuel injector apparatus comprising a piezoelectric driving stack and injector assembly wherein a flow control member of the fuel injector apparatus is driven directly by the piezoelectric stack without additional amplification means or interposing elements while the flow area of the nozzle portion is variably adjustable to deliver controlled flow rates in a desired flow profile to improve engine performance and reduce emissions. The injector configuration is adapted to support required flow rates with minimal linear movement of the flow control member.

A fuel injector is a device for actively injecting fuel into an internal combustion engine by directly forcing the fuel into the combustion chamber at an appropriate point in the combustion cycle. For piston engines, the fuel injector is an alternative to a carburetor, in which a fuel-air mixture is drawn into the combustion chamber by the downward stroke of the piston. Current fuel injectors suffer from an inability to operate at high frequencies, which limits their applicability to advanced and emerging engine designs. In addition, current injectors cannot vary the fuel delivery profile for each injection/combustion cycle, which further limits their inclusion in more sophisticated combustion configurations, particularly those operating at higher frequencies. Furthermore, current injector configurations have a response lag associated with various factors, including a stroke amplification requirement, which impedes higher frequency operation. Finally, injectors which rely on piezoelectric actuators cannot directly actuate the flow control member that allows fuel to pass through an injection orifice into a combustion chamber due to an inability to move the flow control member a sufficient distance off seat to allow sufficient fuel to flow at a desired rate. For purposes described herein, "direct" actuation is defined as the direct physical interaction of the prime actuating device with the primary flow control member which, when moved by the prime actuating device, immediately causes fuel to flow into the combustion chamber, typically through a nozzle portion. "Direct actuation" is defined herein as having a one-to-one relationship between the actuating device and the flow control member with no additional interposing elements, amplification steps, flow channels, control pressures or other such ancillary elements necessary to operate the flow control member.
Current piezoelectric stack actuator systems used in fuel injectors do not rely on direct actuation of the nozzle assembly—in particular, that portion of the nozzle that allows fuel to flow. Instead, the piezoelectric stack is typically used to simply open and close a separate valve which varies hydraulic pressure to assist in opening the nozzle. As a result, this multi-step process of indirect hydraulic actuation and amplification creates an inherent limit to the operational frequency of the injector due to the intrinsic response lag. Consequently, these dual stage piezoelectric injectors cannot support the higher frequency operations of advanced and emerging engine technologies.
In typical fuel injectors, a nozzle assembly portion is located adjacent the combustion chamber of the engine. The nozzle includes a pin, considered the primary flow control member, and an orifice through which fuel flows into the combustion chamber. When the pin seats on a sealing portion of the orifice, fuel flow is cut off. When the pin is unseated from the sealing portion of the orifice, fuel flow is enabled.
In existing injector configurations, hydraulic amplification is used to open and close the nozzle. High pressure fuel is delivered to the entire nozzle compartment. The shape of the pin results in over-balanced pressure, causing the pin to be seated on the orifice in a closed position. An upstream actuator opens a pressure relief valve associated with the fuel delivery system, reducing pressure on one side of the pin; this results in a directional net linear force and causes the pin to lift off its seat and the nozzle to open. By closing the relief valve, pressure returns to its original level and the pin reseats to close the nozzle.
When a piezoelectric stack is used in this manner, the overall system is mechanically and operationally complex. Amplification is required due to the limited displacement of the piezoelectric stack; however, amplification requires more intricate flow arrangements within the body of the injector, additional valves, and sealing elements. More importantly, hydraulic amplification introduces significant response lag due to the two-step actuation process. This unavoidable response lag prevents a hydraulically amplified injector, even those using piezoelectric actuators, from operating at higher frequencies, such as those that might be required for pulse detonation engines.
Present injector actuation methods have other inherent limitations. For example, such injectors can only operate in a binary fashion; i.e., either fully open or fully closed. It would be preferable to provide essentially analog control of the entire fuel injection profile over each injection/combustion cycle. Attempts have been made to obtain such analog control by simply opening and closing the injector valve frequently and at differing durations in each injection cycle. Unfortunately, this approach creates an even higher operational demand due to the multiplication of actuation cycles during each injection cycle.
Two primary technologies used as "actuating" means, electromagnetic actuators and piezoelectric actuators, have inherent strengths and weaknesses. First, electromagnetic actuators (also known as solenoids) can supply sufficient linear stroke (displacement) of an injector pin to support desired maximum fuel flow, but can operate only in two modes: fully open and fully closed. A solenoid valve is an electromechanical valve incorporating an electromagnetic solenoid actuator. The valve is controlled by an electric current through a solenoid. In some solenoid valves, the solenoid acts directly on the main valve. Others use a small, complete solenoid valve, known as a pilot, to actuate a larger valve. Piloted valves require much less power to control, but are noticeably slower. Piloted solenoids usually require full power at all times to open and remain open, whereas a direct acting solenoid may only require full power for a short period of time to open, and only low power to hold in a closed position. Irrespective of the type of solenoid used, the actuator will still suffer from significant response lag, which is exacerbated as operational frequencies increase. And, again, the solenoid actuated injector is only able to operate in two states: fully open and fully closed.
The second actuator type, using a piezoelectric device, can provide faster response than a solenoid actuator, but has miniscule stroke length. Generally, a standard piezoelectric stack provides maximum displacement of 1/10th of 1% of its height; stacks with single crystal piezoelectric material can provide displacement up to 1% of their height. Consequently, heretofore, this limited stroke length has forced piezoelectric actuation mechanisms in fuel injectors to be used in an amplification configuration. Necessarily, prior injector configurations relying on amplification have been unable to deliver direct actuation.
Various attempts have been made to increase or amplify the displacement of piezoelectric actuators. For example, one design includes a geometrically-constrained piezoelectric actuator device that amplifies displacement along an opposing axis using a diamond-shaped enclosure. As the piezoelectric element contracts or expands in a horizontal direction, the external diamond-shaped enclosure also changes shape, causing the vertical vertices of the enclosure to move a slightly greater distance than the horizontal vertices, which are controlled by the piezoelectric element. Unfortunately, the inclusion of this mechanical feature introduces the limitation of a mechanical spring variable that limits high frequency operation of the actuator and longevity. Additionally, this flextensional tensional approach used to increase displacement also results in a decrease in the maximum force applied, which is another increasing displacement by only a very small amount and would still require amplification if used as an actuator in a fuel injector.
Information relevant to other attempts to address these problems can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,786,652; 7,455,244; 7,406,951; 7,140,353; 6,978,770; 6,834,812; 6,585,171; and 4,803,393. However, each one of these references suffers from one or more of the following disadvantages which will tend to impede high frequency operation and the optimization of each combustion cycle to create maximum efficiency: indirect actuation, partial spring actuation; complex mechanisms with a plurality of components and parts; operation only in a fully open or fully closed position; stroke distances which would require prohibitively long piezoelectric stacks; multiple boosters required to achieve necessary forces; actuating mechanisms that are unable to accommodate sufficient stroke; the inclusion of spring elements likely to induce valve float at higher frequency operation; indirect actuation via hydraulic amplification resulting in lag and hysteresis; no analog control of valve position; and inability to provide refined prestress on the piezoelectric stack to avoid placing it in tension or adapting to differing operating parameters. Additionally, it is evident that these other attempts fail to provide an injector having a one-to-one relationship between the prime actuating force and the flow control member without interposing elements. Consequently, these other attempts do not provide direct actuation.
For example, Nakamura et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,786,652 B2 issued Aug. 31, 2010, describes an injection apparatus using a multi-layered piezoelectric element stack. The invention disclosed by Nakamura et al. is directed to a need for a multi-layer piezoelectric element that can be operated continuously with a high electric charge without peel-off or cracking between the external electrode and the piezoelectric layer, which can lead to contact failure and device shutdown. The injector apparatus described by Nakamura et al. uses a needle valve which is sized to plug an injection hole to shut off fuel. The injector apparatus includes a spring underneath a piston valve member so that when power is removed from a piezoelectric actuator, the spring actually causes the valve to open and allow fuel injection. The stack only acts to close the valve. Furthermore, Nakamura et al. does not describe a method for prestressing the piezoelectric stack. General operation of the injector is either fully open or fully closed, with no ability to provide variable injection rates. The fuel flow rate is controlled by an orifice and is not adjustable. Additionally, it is unclear how the piezoelectric stack described by Nakamura et al. would provide sufficient stroke or contraction to move the needle sufficiently to unplug the injection hole, even with the inclusion of a supplementary spring. For the operational requirements associated with pulse detonation engines, the injector described by Nakamura et al. would neither enable sufficient flow nor operate at a sufficiently high frequency. Thus, the injector described by Nakamura does not have a one-to-one relationship between the prime actuating force and the flow control member without interposing elements and is therefore not directly actuated.
Further, Boecking, U.S. Pat. No. 7,455,244 B2 issued Nov. 25, 2008, describes a piezoelectric fuel injector for injecting fuel into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, wherein the injector includes a first and second booster piston, and the first booster piston is actuated using a piezoelectric stack to actuate the second booster piston which then moves a pin off seat to open the injection opening. The injector described by Boecking is directed to a need for a fuel injector of especially compact structure. Multiple springs within the injector body are used to generate closing forces. The system described by Boecking is a complex mechanism with minimal stroke displacement to move the pin sufficiently to support high volume fuel delivery. Due to the inclusion of spring-loaded elements, the described injector will suffer float at higher frequency operation. Additionally, Boecking's injector relies on the movement of a small needle valve, which will inhibit the ability to deliver flow at higher rates. Further, Boecking's injector does not have a one-to-one relationship between the prime actuating force and the flow control member without interposing elements and is therefore not directly actuated.
Stoecklein, U.S. Pat. No. 7,406,951 issued Aug. 5, 2008, describes a piezoelectric fuel injector for injecting fuel into an internal combustion engine wherein the fuel injector has an injection valve member that is indirectly actuated by a piezoelectric actuator. Stoecklein suggests that the injection valve member is "directly" actuated by the piezoelectric stack, but the description confirms that hydraulic amplification is used between the actuator and the injection valve. Hence, as defined herein, the injector of Stoecklein is not directly actuated. Additionally, the valve member relies on a spring element to move into a closed position. Stoecklein's invention also attempts to solve the problem in prior piezoelectric fuel injectors whereby intermediate positions of the valve between fully open and fully closed are unstable and cannot be maintained. Stoecklein describes a solution involving multistage hydraulic boosting of the actuator stroke to achieve stable intermediate stop positions. To overcome system pressure and open the valve member, an initial force is applied by reducing the current supply to the piezoelectric actuator. The shrinking length causes a pressure decrease in a hydraulic coupling chamber and, in turn, the control chamber. After a critical pressure has been reached, the valve opens to an intermediate stroke position. In order to achieve a complete opening of the valve member, the boosting is changed once the piezoelectric actuator has traveled a certain amount of its stroke distance. However, Stoecklein's approach does not address issues of response lag nor adaptation to operate at high frequencies. Furthermore, although limited two-stage control is described, highly granular, essentially analog control is not supported by Stoecklein's injector system. As with the prior referenced designs, the injector includes springs which can cause valve float at higher operational frequencies. Stoecklein also confirms that a stroke of several hundred micrometers would be required to deliver desired flow rates, whereas the stroke available from reasonably sized stacks is on the order of 20 to 40 microns. Additionally, the injector of Stoecklein must rely on a two-stage boost to achieve sufficient opening. As in the other referenced designs, Stoecklein's injector also does not have a one-to-one relationship between prime actuating force and the flow control member without interposing elements and is therefore not directly actuated.
Rauznitz et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,140,353 B1 issued Nov. 28, 2006, describes a piezoelectric injector containing a nozzle valve element, a control volume, and an injection control valve for controlling fuel flow wherein a preload chamber is used to apply a preload force to the piezoelectric stack elements. Rauznitz et al. emphasizes the necessity of the hydraulic preload to adequately prestress the piezoelectric stack to ensure reliable operation. However, as described, the injector of Rauznitz et al. only operates in fully closed and fully open positions. Hence, even though the injector may improve firing for opening and closing to address flow profile, it fails to provide analog control of the valve position to deliver highly granular control of the flow profile throughout each combustion/injection cycle. Additionally, opening and closing of the valve requires amplification with actuation of multiple components. Thus, the injector of Rauznitz et al. fails to provide direct actuation of the valve control member, limiting application in high frequency injection scenarios, and, fails to provide highly granular control of the fuel flow profile, limiting use, for example, in pulse detonation engines. Finally, the injector is designed to accommodate only smaller injector needles and would not support large injector sizes to accommodate increased fuel flow. Thus, this Rauznitz et al. injector does not have a one-to-one relationship between the prime actuating force and the flow control member without interposing elements and is therefore not directly actuated.
Rauznitz et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,978,770 B2 issued Dec. 27, 2005, describes a piezoelectric fuel injection system and method of control wherein the fuel injector contains a piezoelectric element, a power source for activating the element to actuate the injector, and a controller for charging the piezoelectric element directed to control of the injection rate shape. The system disclosed by Rauznitz et al. delivers closed, intermediate and fully open control. These three positions are further supported by rapid opening and closing of a nozzle valve element to create an improved rate shape; however, precise control and analog positioning of the nozzle valve needle throughout its stroke length is not possible. Furthermore, the injector uses springs to bias the valve element into a closed position, which introduces complexity and will cause the injector to suffer float at higher frequency operation. Thus, this Rauznitz et al. injector does not have a one-to-one relationship between the prime actuating force and the flow control member without interposing elements and is therefore not directly actuated.
Neretti et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,834,812 B2 issued Dec. 28, 2004, describes a piezoelectric fuel injector directed to providing inward displacement of the valve to avoid external soilage. The valve is contained within an injection pipe and is moveable along its axis between a closed and an open position by expansion of the piezoelectric actuator. There are only two valve positions—fully open and fully closed—without the ability for analog or variable injection. A mechanical transmission is placed between the piezoelectric actuator and the valve in order to invert the displacement produced by expansion of the piezoelectric actuator and displace the valve in an inward direction. This mechanism adds complexity to the injector assembly. Thus, the injector of Neretti et al. does not have a one-to-one relationship between prime actuating force and the flow control member without interposing elements and is therefore not directly actuated.
Boecking, U.S. Pat. No. 6,585,171 B1 issued Jul. 1, 2003, describes a fuel injector system comprising a fuel return, high pressure port, piezoelectric actuator stack, hydraulic amplifier, valve, nozzle needle, and injection orifice. The piezoelectric stack of the Boecking injector does not directly actuate the nozzle needle. Close examination reveals that the piezoelectric stack instead actuates a separate hydraulic amplifier to open the valve, which allows the nozzle needle to move off the injection orifice. The needle of the Boecking injector is not directly actuated by the piezoelectric stack. Furthermore, the Boecking injector is limited to operation in two discrete modes: on and off. Hence, Boecking's injector does not have a one-to-one relationship between prime actuating force and the flow control member without interposing elements and is therefore not directly actuated.
Takahashi, U.S. Pat. No. 4,803,393 issued Feb. 7, 1989, describes a piezoelectric actuator for moving an object member wherein the actuator includes a piezoelectric element, an envelope having a bellows, and a pressure chamber where work oil is hermetically enclosed. The invention disclosed by Takahashi is directed to the need for an improved piezoelectric actuator that can prevent the breakdown of the piezoelectric element due to slanting attachments and defective sliding. This is achieved by an envelope between the piezoelectric element and the valve or object member, the envelope containing a resilient member and hermetically containing a fluid. The inclusion of the envelope and spring mechanisms in the injector of Takahashi introduces the problem of valve float at higher operational frequencies, along with indirect actuation limitations. Additionally, the piezoelectric actuator of Takahashi is not used to directly actuate the needle which controls flow but, instead, is used to move a separate upstream control valve which then allows flow to be delivered to the injector assembly. Hence, Takahashi's injector does not have a one-to-one relationship between prime actuating force and the flow control member without interposing elements and is therefore not directly actuated.
Consequently, there exists a need for a fuel injector having the rapid response afforded by direct actuation of an injector nozzle pin (flow control member) by a piezoelectric stack without interposing elements between the prime actuating force and the flow control member. There is also a need for such an injector able to provide dynamic, controlled variable flow throughout an entire combustion/injection cycle, avoiding limitations to flow rate resulting from simplistic on/off operation and selection of orifice size. There is a further need for a fuel injector able to accommodate higher frequency cycling and higher pressure operating conditions. There is also a need for a high frequency injector having minimal latency and response lag. There is an additional need for a high frequency injector able to accommodate relatively high flow rates. There is also a need for an injector that does not require boost or amplification of the actuator mechanism to meet operational requirements.

Directly-actuated piezoelectric fuel injector with variable flow control


A waxy component-containing lubricating oil stock derived from the multi-stage catalytic oligomerization of a lower olefin such as propylene is subjected to selective catalytic hydrodewaxing in the presence of certain acidic zeolites, e.g., H-ZSM-23 and H-ZSM-35, preferably associated with a hydrogenation component such as platinum, palladium or zinc, to provide a high viscosity, low pour point lubricating oil product.

This invention relates to the manufacture of high quality lubricating oils and, in particular, such oils based on oligomerized lower olefins. The invention is especially directed to the preparation of a high viscosity index, low pour point, low cloud point lubricating oil by the catalytic dewaxing of a waxy component-containing lubricating oil stock derived from the oligomerization of a light olefin such as propylene over a zeolite oligomerization catalyst.
Viscosity index (V.I.) is a quality parameter of considerable importance for distillate lubricating oils to be used in automotive engines and aircraft engines which are subject to wide variations in temperature. This Index indicates the rate of change of viscosity with temperature. A high viscosity index, e.g., one of at least about 85, indicates an oil that does not tend to become viscous at low temperature or become thin at high temperatures Measurement of the Saybolt Universal Viscosity of an oil at 100.degree. and 210.degree. F., and referral to correlations, provides a measure of the V.I of an oil. For purposes of the present invention, whenever V.I is referred to, the V.I. as noted in the Viscosity Index tabulations of ASTM D567 published by ASTM, or equivalent, is intended.
Recent developments in zeolite catalysts and hydrocarbon conversion processes have created interest in utilizing olefinic feedstocks, such as petroleum refinery streams rich in lower olefins, for the production of C.sub.5 + gasoline, diesel fuel, lube stocks, etc. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,960,978; 4,021,502; 4,150,062; 4,211,640; 4,227,992; 4,456,779; and, 4,547,612 disclose the conversion of C.sub.2 -C.sub.5 olefins by catalytic oligomerization into heavier hydrocarbons over acidic zeolites catalysts.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,520,221 describes a process for producing high V.I. lubes by oligomerizing light olefins over a ZSM-5 type catalyst, the surface acidity of which has been inactivated by treatment with a suitable base material, e.g., a bulky alkylpyridine such as 2,6-di-tert-butyl pyridine.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,524,232 discloses a combination process for producing high V.I lubricating oils from light olefins employing in separate stages a small pore size zeolite catalyst, e.g., ZSM-23, and an intermediate pore size zeolite catalyst, e.g., ZSM-5.
It is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,568,786 to catalytically oligomerize light olefin to heavier hydrocarbons in a first stage employing a medium pore acidic zeolite catalyst, e.g., H-ZSM-5, the surface of which has been rendered inactive for acidic reactions by chemisorption of a surface deactivating agent, e.g., a bulky amine such as di-tert-butyl pyridine as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,520,221, supra. The oligomerized product is then further oligomerized/interpolymerized over a second and/or different acid catalyst, e.g., boron trifluoride or an acidic zeolite such as HZSM-5 which may or not be surface treated, to provide lubricant range hydrocarbons.
In accordance with the olefin oligomerization process described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 140,361, referred to above, a lower olefin such as propylene is oligomerized in the presence of, as catalyst, acidic ZSM-23 zeolite which has been surface-neutralized by a bulky dialkyl pyridine compound, e.g., 2,4,6-collidine (2,4,6-trimethyl pyridine). As in U.S. Pat. No. 4,568,786, supra, the resulting product is further oligomerized over an acidic oligomerization catalyst such as boron trifluoride or an acidic zeolite such as ZSM-5 to provide lube range materials.
While the lubricating oil stocks obtained by the procedures described in aforesaid U.S Pat. No. 4,568,786 possess desirably high V.I.s, e.g., at least about 85, they also contain significant quantities of waxy components which result in their having high pour points and high cloud points. Removal of at least a portion of these waxy components while retaining the high V.I.s of the oils is necessary in order to provide a lubricating oil product of acceptable low temperature characteristics.
Numerous catalytic dewaxing processes featuring the use of a zeolite hydrodewaxing catalyst have been developed to remove waxy components of a hydrocarbon oil feed by one or more chemical mechanisms such as isomerization and cracking U.S. Pat. No. 4,222,855 describes the use of ZSM-23 and ZSM-35 as hydrodewaxing catalysts for the hydrodewaxing of a lube fraction derived from petroleum, i.e., a distillate fraction boiling within the approximate range of from about 450.degree. to about 1050.degree. F. The hydrodewaxed oil is said to possess a V.I. which is considerably higher than that obtained with ZSM-5 hydrodewaxing catalyst.
Other catalytic hydrodewaxing processes are disclosed in, inter alia, U.S. Pat. No. Re. 28,398 (of original U.S. Pat. No. 3,700,585) and U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,894,938; 4,176,050; 4,181,598; 4,229,282; 4,247,388; 4,259,174; 4,376,036; 4,419,220; 4,472,266; 4,474,618; 4,501,926; 4,541,919; 4,554,065; and, 4,601,993 to mention a few.

Catalytic dewaxing lubricating oil stock derived from oligomerized olefin


Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a fingerprint registration method and device. The method includes: obtaining a fingerprint to be registered and a target fingerprint, extracting fingerprint features from the fingerprint to be registered and the target fingerprint, in which the fingerprint features include a ridge feature and a phase feature, performing a rough registration using ridge features of the two fingerprints, and then obtaining phase difference information of phase features of the two fingerprints in a phase overlap region, adjusting the rough registration result according to the phase difference information to obtain a final registration result of the two fingerprints. In some embodiments, it does not simply depend on the ridge feature to perform the fingerprint registration and add the phase feature on the basis of the ridge feature, and perform twice registration, thereby improving the accuracy of fingerprint registration.

As fingerprint has characteristics of stability, high distinction degree and easy collection, it is widely applied in criminal investigation, access control, attendance check and device unlock. In these applications, the fingerprint may be identified automatically. Currently, automatic fingerprint identification technology is measured by recognition rate. When qualities of a pair of collected fingerprints are high, it may be accurately determined whether the two fingerprints come from the same finger through the automatic fingerprint identification technology in the related art.
However, in practical applications, a fingerprint collection device has a two-dimensional collection plane, while human fingers are elastic and three-dimensional. The collected fingerprint may produce a large distortion if the finger is pressed on the plane unevenly or laterally, thereby causing changes on the frequency and the curvature of ridges and the positions and the directions of minutiae of the collected fingerprint.

Fingerprint registration method and device


A display method of an embodiment (i) determines a suitable length of an off period of an LED in accordance with a gray scale transition time, i.e., a time during which a transmittance of a liquid crystal is being changed, and (ii) turns off a light source for the determined length of the off period in a first half part of a one frame period. This makes it difficult for a halfway change in a gray scale transition to be reflected in a brightness of a pixel. Also, by performing a gray scale transition emphasis process to a display signal when the gray scale transition is caused, it is possible to increase the brightness of the pixel in the midst of the gray scale transition and to reduce a response time of the pixel. As such, it is possible to further improve a quality of moving image display.

As display devices, the following display devices have been conventionally known: an impulse-type display device such as CRT (cathode-ray tube), for example, and a hold-type display device such as a liquid crystal display device, for example.
In the impulse-type display device, a lighting period during which an image is displayed and a blanking period during which no image is displayed are repeatedly alternated in each pixel. Thus, even in a case where a moving image is displayed, for example, a viewer rarely views an image blurring of a moving object in the moving image. This is because the blanking period is inserted at timing when an image corresponding to one screen is rewritten. Therefore, the viewer can distinguish the moving object from a background and view the moving image without experiencing discomfort.
On the other hand, in the hold-type display device, a brightness of each pixel is maintained during a one frame period (one vertical period) during which an image corresponding to a one screen is rewritten. In the hold-type display device, in a case where a moving image is displayed, a viewer views an image blurring of a moving object in the moving image. Specifically, the viewer views blurring of a contour of the moving object. Such a phenomenon is called a moving image blurring (pseudo contour), and it is thought that the image blurring is caused due to the following (i) and (ii): (i) incapability of a display condition of the pixel to instantaneously respond to a gray scale transition and (ii) viewer's visual tracking of the moving object.
Because the hold-type display device has a drawback that such a moving image blurring is caused in a moving image display, the impulse-type display device has been long employed in a display such as a television to perform a moving image display.
It has been recently strongly demanded that the display such as a television be thin in thickness and light in weight. In such a circumstance, the hold-type display device, which is easy to be thin in thickness and light in weight, has been increasingly employed to such a display.
A liquid crystal display device, in particular, has features of a reduced thickness, a light weight, and a low power consumption. The liquid crystal display device has been recently widely used, replacing CRT, in various fields such as a television, a monitor, a mobile device such as a mobile phone, and the like.
However, the liquid crystal display device is generally very inferior to other display devices such as CRT in terms of a response speed to a display signal. In the liquid crystal display device, a display gray scale is changed by causing a change in a voltage applied to a liquid crystal layer of the pixel that forms a display screen, and thereby causing a change in an alignment condition of liquid crystal molecules so as to cause a change in a transmittance of the pixel. In the liquid crystal display device, a response speed of the pixel is equal to an inverse of a time (response time) required for the alignment condition of the liquid crystal layer to reach an alignment condition corresponding to an applied voltage.
However, it takes a certain amount of time before the alignment condition of the liquid crystal layer to reach the alignment condition corresponding to the applied voltage. In a liquid crystal panel compatible with a frame frequency of 120 Hz per second, for example, it is intended that rewriting in each pixel is performed 120 times per second. However, there may be a case that it takes two or more frame to cause a response in the pixel.
This may cause a problem that a desired display gray scale cannot be realized in a recent liquid crystal display device with a large screen or a high definition display. This is because, in this liquid crystal display device, a driving time (writing time) of each pixel is so short that the writing time may not be long enough to fully cause a change in an alignment condition of a liquid crystal molecule in response to a change in an applied voltage.
A driving method called overshoot driving (overdriving), which is a driving method (tone transition emphasis process) of a liquid crystal display device, has been recently proposed as a technique of improving a response speed of a liquid crystal (see the patent literature 1, for example).
The tone transition emphasis process is a driving process that (i) applies an exaggerated voltage to a pixel in response to a gray scale transition, so as to speed up a response of a liquid crystal of the pixel, and thereby (ii) improves a response speed of the pixel.
Specifically, in a case where a gray scale is changed from a gray scale A to a gray scale B greater than the gray scale A, a voltage greater than a writing voltage for the gray scale B is applied to a pixel during a predetermined period. After this, the targeted writing voltage for the gray scale B is applied to the pixel. This speeds up a change in alignment of liquid crystal molecules, and thereby causes a increase in the response speed of the liquid crystal. As such, it is possible to further speed up the response speed of the pixel for the gray scale transition from the gray scale A to the gray scale B.
In contrast to the above case, in a case where the gray scale is changed from the gray scale A to a gray scale C less than the gray scale A, a voltage less than a writing voltage for the gray scale C is applied to the pixel during a predetermined period. This can bring about an effect similar to the effect obtained in the above case.


An apparatus for converting image format and methods thereof in a video signal processing system. The apparatus includes an analog-to-digital converting unit for sampling original color signals at predetermined intervals and converting the sampled signals into digital signals; a color-space converting unit for converting a digital signal of the analog-to-digital converting unit into a brightness signal and a color tone signal and for outputting these signals; a storage unit for storing a look-up table representing linear interpolation coefficients converted in response to a conversion of an image size; a horizontal scaling unit for linearly interpolating one cycle of the brightness signal and color tone signal in response to a conversion of image size with reference to the look-up table of the storage unit, and for horizontally scaling by repeatedly outputting the outcome linearly-interpolated; a line memory unit for momentarily storing a horizontally scaled signal by the horizontal scaling unit; a vertical scaling unit for interpolating a cycle of a horizontal scaling signal provided by the line memory unit in response to the conversion of the image size with reference to the look-up table, thereby vertically scaling by repeatedly outputting the linearly interpolated data; and a frame memory unit for storing signals vertically and horizontally-scaled by the vertical scaling unit and for converting vertical and horizontal frequencies of the vertical and horizontal scaled signals.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for converting image format and methods thereof in a video signal processing system, and more particularly, to an image format converting apparatus and methods thereof by which a converted image of first-rate quality is realized when horizontal and vertical dimensions of an image are converted at any rate and at the same time, and the amount of hardware and computation necessary for an image conversion can be reduced.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, the term xe2x80x9cmultimediaxe2x80x9d refers to a system which can transmit information relating to characters, pictures, audio and the like and is applied to televisions, computers, videophones, and the like.
It is necessary to convert the format of a video signal during interface processing in multimedia applications in which systems of different types are combined together into a system. Such combinations could include a personal computer connected to another personal computer, a personal computer connected to a television, a television connected to a television, etc.
An example of such image format conversion is conversion of an image from 500xc3x97400 resolution to 300xc3x97300 resolution; in this case, the horizontal scale-down ratio is 5 to 3 and the vertical scale-down ration is 4 to 3.
This is basically achieved by converting such time factors as horizontal and vertical frequency, pixel frequency and the like and such dimensional factors as the horizontal and vertical size of an image.
Then the time factor-conversion is realized by using a memory buffer and the dimensional factor-conversion is realized by using filters.
For example, when five image samples are input in order to scale down an image in the ratio of 5 to 3, three image samples have to be produced.
According to the conventional format-converting method, the number of samples is interpolated by 3 to be increased by a factor of three, and then is decimated by 5 to be decreased by a factor of ⅕.
Using this process, interpolations and decimations each have to be carried out more than 30 times.
Meanwhile, according to the conventional image format-conversion method using hardware, lines (verticality) or pixels (horizontality) are skipped at predetermined intervals to scale down the image in size, and lines (verticality) or pixels (horizontality) are folded at predetermined intervals to scale up the image in size.
Such conventional methods allow the hardware to be easily realized, but there is a problem in that the image appears coarse, and in particular, characters appear broken in the case where a PC image containing many characters is scaled-down.
Conventional methods require a filter having a number of taps to prevent the quality of an image from deteriorating when converting image format; nxe2x88x921 line memory units are needed when a filter having n taps is used for scaling in a vertical direction.
Accordingly, there is a disadvantage with the conventional method thus performed because it is expensive to manufacture hardware capable of providing a high quality image when performing an image format conversion.
Accordingly, the present invention is provided to solve the aforementioned problem and it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for converting an image format and methods thereof in video-signal processing systems in which a space-position in one cycle is computed in advance by using periodicity of input sequence and output sequence and the outcome resulting from the computation is repeatedly applied, so that a converted image of good quality is obtained, and at the same time, an amount of computation and size of the hardware can be reduced.
In accordance with the object of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus, comprising: an analog-to-digital converting unit for sampling original color signals at predetermined intervals and converting the sampled signals into digital signals; a color-space converting unit for converting a digital signal of the analog-to-digital converting unit into a brightness signal and a color tone signal and for outputting it; a storage unit for storing a look-up table representing linear interpolation coefficients converted in response to a conversion of an image size; a horizontal scaling unit for linearly interpolating one cycle of the brightness signal and color tone signal in response to a conversion of image size with reference to the look-up table of the storage unit, and for horizontally scaling by repeatedly outputting the outcome linearly-interpolated; a line memory unit for momentarily storing a horizontally scaled signal by the horizontal scaling unit; a vertical scaling unit for interpolating a cycle of a horizontal scaling signal provided by the line memory unit in response to the conversion of the image size with reference to the look-up table, thereby vertically scaling by repeatedly outputting the linearly interpolated data; and a frame memory unit for storing signals vertically and horizontally-scaled by the vertical scaling unit and for converting vertical and horizontal frequencies of the vertical and horizontal scaled signals.
In accordance with the object of the present invention, there is provided a method comprising the steps of: sampling each of original color signals at predetermined intervals and converting the sampled signals into digital signals; converting the digital signals transformed by the analog-to-digital converting unit into a brightness signal and a color tone signal; linearly-interpolating one cycle of the brightness and color tone signals in response to conversion of an image size with reference to a look-up table provided with linear-interpolated coefficients and horizontally-scaling by using repeatedly the linearly-interpolated data; vertically scaling the horizontally scaled signals with reference to the look-up table; and storing the vertically and horizontally scaled signals in a frame memory unit and converting vertical and horizontal frequencies of the vertically and horizontally scaled signals.

Image format converting apparatus and methods in video signal processing system


A shoe storage box includes a bottom board, a first side board, a top board, a second side board, a rear board and a front board. A V-shaped notch is formed at a joint between each of the bottom board and the first side board, the first side board and the top board, the bottom board and the rear board such that the first side board is able to be vertical to the bottom board, the top board is vertical to the first side board, and the rear board is able to be vertical to the bottom board. A ventilation layer is received in the shoe storage box so that air circulation between inside and outside the shoe storage box is secured.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a shoe storage box, and more particularly to a shoe storage box which is collapsible and has a ventilation layer so that air inside the shoe storage box is able to have good air circulation with ambient air.
2. Description of Related Art
With reference to FIG. 6, a conventional shoe storage box has a hollow body (90) with a front open end and a rear open end and a cover (91) pivotally connected to a side face defining the front open end. Each of two opposite outer side surfaces adjacent to the side face which connects to the cover (91) is provided with dovetailed protrusions (92) and dovetailed recesses (93) each defined adjacent to one of the dovetailed protrusions (92). A vent (94) is provided in the cover (91). When the shoe storage box is to be combined with another shoe storage box, the user just slides the dovetailed protrusions (92) in the corresponding dovetailed recesses in another shoe storage box. After the dovetailed protrusions (92) are fully received in the dovetailed recesses (93), the combination between two shoe boxes is finished. With the pivotal movement of the cover (91), the user is able to store shoes inside the hollow body (90). Further, due to the vent (94), air inside the hollow body (90) is able to circulate with the ambient air outside the shoe storage box.
However, to have a stable support to the shoe storage box, the user normally places the shoe storage box against a wall, which stops the air circulation of the shoe storage box. Therefore, the odor and moisture of the shoes inside the shoe storage box is contained inside the shoe storage box and can not be dissipated.
To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention tends to provide an improved shoe storage box to mitigate and obviate the aforementioned problems.
The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an improved shoe storage box to allow air circulation under any circumstances.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide an improved shoe storage box having a ventilation layer inside the shoe storage box to filter out odor from the shoes such that even when the shoe storage box is placed indoors, the air will not be polluted.


Methods, systems, and apparatuses for antenna designs for radio frequency identification (RFID) tags are described.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to antennas for radio frequency identification (RFID) tag devices.
2. Background Art
Radio frequency identification (RFID) tags are electronic devices that may be affixed to items whose presence is to be detected and/or monitored. The presence of an RFID tag, and therefore the presence of the item to which the tag is affixed, may be checked and monitored by devices known as "readers." Readers typically transmit radio frequency signals to which the tags respond. Each tag can store a unique identification number. The tags respond to the reader-transmitted signals by providing their identification number, bit-by-bit, so that they can be identified.
What is needed are improved antenna configurations for tags that enable increased communication ranges, communications over desired frequencies, relatively small tag form factors, and decreased tag costs.

Antenna designs for radio frequency identification (RFID) tags


[Problem] To provide a termination control apparatus that can provide an optimum termination state. [Solution] Included are: an input terminal to which an input signal is inputted; a termination resistance unit that terminates the input terminal by use of a variable resistor the resistance value of which can be set; a voltage measurement unit that measures the voltage of the input signal; and a control unit that changes the resistance value or a target voltage range when the voltage is not within the target voltage range having been set for the input signal on the basis of both an absolute maximum rated value and an operation-guaranteed voltage.

Various criteria such as an "absolute maximum rating", a "Direct Current (DC) standard", or an "Alternate Current (AC) standard" to be satisfied are defined for an input signal to an electronic device such as a semiconductor device in terms of standards. The "absolute maximum rating" for an input signal is a voltage value that should not exceed even instantaneously, because the device may be destroyed at the voltage value. The "DC standard" for an input signal is a range of an input voltage within which the device can perform an intended normal operation. The "AC standard" for an input signal is a time standard such as an input timing of a signal, which should be satisfied for causing the device to perform an intended normal operation.
When a signal that violates the absolute maximum rating or the DC standard is input and output between electronic devices, the signal may cause a failure or an erroneous operation of an electronic device on the input side. In view of the above, a measure in which an appropriate termination resistance is disposed is required to be taken so that an input signal satisfies the absolute maximum rating or the DC standard. The value of the termination resistance in this case (hereinafter, referred to as a "termination resistance value") is required to be an appropriate value, which is set so that an input signal satisfies the absolute maximum rating or the DC standard.
Meanwhile, a termination resistance may be incorporated in an electronic device in order to reduce a mounting area or the cost. For instance, a Double Data Rate 2-Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (DDR2-SDRAM) is capable of shaping the waveform of an input signal with use of a built-in termination resistance, as an On Die Termination (ODT) function. Note that it is necessary for the user to set the termination resistance value to an appropriate value in advance.
As a method for obtaining an appropriate termination resistance value, there is a method by theoretical calculation such as simulation. In the method, it is necessary to consider various parameters such as drawing a wiring pattern, which may affect wiring electrical characteristics. However, it is not easy to obtain accurate values of parameters. Therefore, it is often the case that a large workload or a large amount of money is necessary for calculating an appropriate termination resistance value as a result.
Also, a method in which changing a termination resistance value and evaluating an actual device are repeated may be used in order to obtain an appropriate termination resistance value. In this method, it is necessary to evaluate an actual device each time a termination resistance value is changed. Therefore, an appropriate termination resistance value may not be obtained within a short period of time, and it is often the case that a large workload is required.
Various techniques for changing the termination resistance value of an input terminal are known. A multiprocessor device described in PTL 1 changes the termination resistance value according to the number of devices connected to a bus on the signal output side.
A memory control device described in PTL 2 detects occurrence of an undershoot or an overshoot. Further, the memory control device described in PTL 2 changes the termination resistance value when an undershoot or an overshoot occurs, and controls the driving performance of a device on the transmission side when it is difficult to eliminate an undershoot or an overshoot only by using the termination resistance value.

Termination apparatus, termination control method, and storage medium on which termination control program has been stored


A composition for reducing a level of senescence of a cell or subject, a method of reducing a level of senescence in a cell or subject by using the composition, and a method of preventing and treating symptoms or diseases related to or caused by senescence of a cell or subject.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates to a composition for reducing a level of senescence of a cell or a subject, a method of reducing a level of senescence in a cell or a subject by using the composition, and a method of preventing and treating symptoms or diseases related to or caused by senescence of a cell or a subject.
2. Description of the Related Art
Senescence or aging is a degenerative phenomenon that occurs over time. In the case of humans, physiological activities may deteriorate with aging and the activities of certain enzymes or the secretion of certain hormones may increase. Senescence is a permanent halt of cellular division. Replicative senescence or cellular senescence has been observed as an aging model at the cell level. When cells are continuously cultured, cells divide multiple times, but cells can no longer divide as they get older. Senescent cells are resistant against programmed cell death, and some senescent cells remain in a non-dividing state for several years.
SMAD specific E3 ubiquitin protein ligase 2 ("Smurf2") is one type of E3 ubiquitin protein ligase. It is known that Smurf2 binds to SMADs, which play a key role in the regulation of the TGF-beta signaling pathway, and thereby regulates the stability of TGF-beta proteins.
There remains a need for a composition and a method of reducing senescence by regulating the expression of the activity of Smurf 2 in a cell or a subject.

Composition for reducing senescence of cell or subject comprising smurf2 inhibitor and use thereof


A detection circuit includes an amplifier circuit, a rechargeable unit, a first comparator, a second comparator, a reference voltage providing circuit, a first resistor R1, a second resistor R2, and a processing unit. The amplifier circuit is connected to a bridge circuit sensor and amplifies signals output by the bridge circuit sensor to an output voltage Vo. The reference voltage providing circuit provides a reference voltage Vref1. A charge current of the rechargeable unit is (Vref1−V0)/(R1+R2), and a discharge current is (Vref1−VCC)/R1. The processing unit controls the rechargeable unit to be charged for a time period T1 and to be discharged during a time period T2. The processing unit then calculates the output voltage Vo according to an equation: (Vref1−V0)×T1/(R1+R2)=(Vref1−VCC)×T2/R1, and obtains the signals according to the output voltage Vo.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to detection circuits and, particularly, to a detection circuit for detecting signals produced by a bridge circuit sensor.
2. Description of Related Art
Sensors are commonplace in electronic devices. The types of sensor may include a pressure sensor, a capacitance sensor, a bridge circuit sensor, and the like. The sensors detect a change in parameter, such as the pressure value and the capacitance value, and produce corresponding signals, and a circuit detects/receives signals and takes corresponding action. However, for the bridge circuit sensor, an amplifier and a high precision analog to digital (A/D) converter are needed to sense the signals produced by the bridge circuit sensor. The high precision A/D converter is expensive.
An electronic device and a method, to overcome the described limitations are thus needed.

Detection circuit for detecting signals produced by bridge circuit sensor

Fu Tai Hua Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.