The disclosure relates to a coupling element between a hose and a further hydraulic line which may both be, for example, part of a fuel supply system. One system to couple said elements includes a hose-like element including an electrically conductive inside. Further a connecting element couples the hose-like element to the hydraulic line element, where the hose-like element includes an inverted double-walled end. In this way, electrostatic charge may be dissipated via the electrically conductive inside and fastening element.

Hydraulic lines may include all lines which are suitable for the passage of liquids or mixtures of liquids and gases. Lines of this type can be used, for example, as part of a fuel supply system, such as in a motor vehicle, and in the supply of a heating system, a power plant or the like. The fuel supply system of a motor vehicle, which is driven, for example, by a spark ignition or diesel internal combustion engine, typically has a fuel tank with an active or passive delivery module in order to supply the internal combustion engine with fuel via fuel lines. Fuel lines of this type comprise a multiplicity of line elements which can be designed, for example, in the form of tubes, flexible hoses or the like.
Since a fuel supply system includes a multiplicity of components, it is expedient to be able to couple the individual components in a simple manner and optionally also to be able to release them from one another again. For a releasable fastening of hoses, connectors are known, as described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,729,583. The connector presented therein includes two parts, wherein, in particular, good sealing to the hose and a stable design are intended to be made possible.
In a fuel supply system, the risk of an electrostatic charge may also be taken into consideration. Since fuel flows through the various components of the fuel supply system, such as through a primary fuel pump, optionally provided auxiliary pumps, through a fuel filter or through various valves and pipes, an electrostatic charge generated in the various conductive components of the fuel supply system may occur. In order to ensure electrical dissipation of such a charge, in fuel supply systems the components in the fuel flow or all of the components are constructed of conductive material and are coupled to the vehicle ground. This generally takes place by electric lines or else by direct fitting to the vehicle ground.
Dissipation of a possible electrostatic charge is readily possible in components of the fuel supply system that are produced from electrically conductive material, such as from metal and conductive polymer. However, materials of this type have a number of disadvantages. For example, conductive plastic is customarily more expensive and more brittle than nonconductive polymers which are typically used.
In order to deliver fuel from the delivery module/module pot to the associated flange, use is customarily made of a corrugated hose. The latter is customarily coupled nonreleasably to the flange and the delivery module via connectors with shaped profiles. It has turned out that a hose of this type has to be grounded for reliable operation of a motor vehicle. Said hoses are therefore entirely electrically conductive or are electrically conductive at least on the inside thereof, where said hoses are also in contact with the fuel.
Fuel supply systems are furthermore known, for example from DE 10 2005 061 606 A1, which contain a fuel delivery module which is arranged within a fuel tank. A delivery module of this type has a store for collecting the fuel from the tank and for conducting said fuel on to the internal combustion engine, and it may also contain a fuel pump. A fuel filter can be arranged within a delivery module of this type or at another location within the tank. In order to arrange the fuel delivery module and also the fuel filter within the tank, it is also known to use a tank flange which permits various inlets into the tank, such as via hydraulic and electric lines.
It is precisely in a tank flange of this type that the brittleness of electrically conductive polymers results in a reduction in the capability of being flexible in the event of loading or of withstanding forces determined in another manner, as may occur, for example, in the event of the motor vehicle having an accident. Furthermore, in the case of a conductive tank flange, electric insulation with respect to the electric power supply plug-in connectors arranged on the upper side and the picking up of signals from the level sensor are required.
The inventor herein has recognized the issues with the above approaches and provides a system to at least partly address them. In one embodiment, a coupling system comprises a hose-like element including an electrically conductive inside, a hydraulic line element, and a connecting element coupling the hose-like element to the hydraulic line element. The hose-like element includes an inverted double-walled end that houses part of the connecting element, and the inverted double-walled end is configured such that a portion of the electrically conductive inside is on an outside thereof. The coupling system also includes an annular fastening element in electrical contact with the outside of the inverted double-walled end of the hose-like element.
In this way, an end piece of the hose-like element—also called a hose—is guided over a connection of the hydraulic line and, in addition, is turned up in such a manner that a double layer of the hose wall is produced in sections and part of the inside of the hose points outward. Said inside is in electrical contact with a fastening element which is at least partially annular. The fastening element, which may be, for example, a clamping ring, a clamping clip or the like, presses the double layer of the hose wall onto the connection of the hydraulic line and thereby additionally brings about secure and tight coupling between the hose and the hydraulic line. In addition, by a suitable mechanism, such as a metal wire, the inside of the hose can be coupled to a predetermined potential, such as the ground potential of a motor vehicle, via the fastening element.
Because the inside of the hose which faces outward is itself conductive and coupled to a conducting device, electrostatic charge may be directed from the conductive interior of the hose to the conductive device and one or more grounded elements. This may allow the flange to be made of non-conductive materials, increasing the flange flexibility and improving component durability. By doing so, a coupling element for coupling a hose-like element to a hydraulic line may be provided, in particular a tube, and may prevent or dissipate electrostatic charges in a simple manner, and additionally also provide the option of producing a particularly tight coupling.
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.


The present disclosure provides a terahertz detector. The terahertz detector includes a planar array structure that is constituted by a plurality of pixel units, the plurality of pixel units each include N sub pixels and each of the sub pixels includes no more than one signal trigger configured to transform a terahertz signal to an electrical current pulsing signal, and each of the plurality of pixel units detects a signal that is a sum of the electrical current pulsing signals of the N sub pixels, where N is an integer greater than 1.

A terahertz wave is between a millimeter wave and an infrared wave and thus not only has a certain penetration ability like the millimeter wave but also has a relatively high resolving ability like an infrared wave. Thus, a terahertz wave can be used in security inspection of baggage, packages or other items as well as human body security inspection. Applications of the terahertz wave have developed gradually. However, there is currently lacking a method of efficiently generating a terahertz wave and an accurate detecting method using a terahertz wave. A terahertz detector is needed to be studied continuously.
Detection using a terahertz wave may be classified into two technology types, i.e., one is coherent detection and the other is non-coherent detection. Due to low output power of terahertz radiation, loss of transfer, heat radiation, noise, etc., a terahertz signal that is detectable is rather weak. Thus, there is a dire need for a terahertz detector with high sensitivity for the development of terahertz technology. In this context, many types of terahertz wave detectors are being developed. A heat radiation meter is a non-coherent detector that can detect power of radiation and is not able to report phase information. Further, this type detector commonly works at a low temperature in order to reduce detection noise. A pyroelectric transducer has a relative simple structure and operation, and may work in normal temperature. However, a response time of a pyroelectric transducer depends on a process of establishing a new balance temperature, that is, a pyroelectric transducer cannot detect a terahertz signal during changing of temperature. A Golay detector has a wide response frequency band, a low equivalent power of noise, a high response sensitivity and may operate at normal temperature. However, the Golay detector is sensitive to vibration and has bad stability as a whole. In addition, there is a counting type terahertz detector, such as a single electron transistor detector and a quantum cascade laser, which is mainly used to detect photons at a frequency of more than 1 THz while having no effect for a low energy photon at a frequency less than 1 THz. Further, the whole apparatus for a counting type terahertz detector is very expensive and needs to work at a super low temperature, and thus has a limited ability to be widely used.


A selective call receiver receives a selective call signal (400) comprising a preamble signal (410). The selective call receiver comprises receiver circuitry (102) for receiving and demodulating the selective call signal (400). A preamble detector (105) is coupled to the receiver circuitry (102) for detecting the preamble signal (410), and a battery saver circuit (126) selectively activates and deactivates the receiver circuitry (102) in response to a signal from a processor (114). The processor (114) provides the signal to the battery saver circuit (126) to deactivate and activate the receiver circuitry (102) during reception of the preamble signal (410) in response to and subsequent to the preamble detector (105) detecting a portion of the preamble signal (410).

Selective call receivers, such as pagers, are typically small, portable electronic devices powered by batteries that receive selective call signals and demodulate and decode the signals to derive selective call messages addressed to the selective call receiver. The selective call receiver circuitry is designed to include low energy consuming components. Yet, with the desired performance characteristics, the components of the radio frequency (RF) receiver circuit are typically high energy consuming components. Accordingly, it is desirable to selectively energize and de-energize the receiver circuitry. This practice is called battery saving. Reliable battery saving methods energize the receiver circuitry during reception of appropriate portions of the selective call signals to assure that selective call messages addressed to the selective call receiver are received.
Selective call signals typically utilize a binary frequency shift keying (FSK) asynchronous modulation signaling protocol, e.g., the POCSAG signaling protocol originally proposed by British Telecom (POCSAG is an anagram for the Post Office Code Standardization Advisory Group). Conventional asynchronous protocols comprise a lengthy preamble, followed by a synchronization code word (sync code). The sync code contains a predetermined binary sequence used for frame synchronization. After detection of the preamble and the sync code, the protocol operates as a synchronous protocol comprising multiple words of information including address words and data words with the sync code repeated at regular intervals to maintain synchronous communication until the signal is dropped. The selective call receiver, while in synchronous communication, energizes and de-energizes the receiver circuitry in accordance with conventional battery saving routines.
Since detection of the preamble and the sync code following is crucial for converting from asynchronous operation to synchronous operation, the receiver circuitry typically is energized for long periods of time to search for the preamble and, once the preamble has been detected, the receiver circuitry remains energized until the sync code is detected.
Thus, what is needed is a reliable battery saving method and apparatus which can provide additional battery saving during asynchronous selective call receiver operation.

Method and apparatus for preamble battery saving in selective call receivers


A valve for use in an air distribution system has an inlet member for the axial flow of air therethrough along a central axis. A downstream portion of the inlet tapers outwardly in the downstream direction. Support structure is presented from which an extension projects downstream along the axis of the inlet. A damper for controlling air flow through the inlet defines an aperture penetrated by the support structure extension and a second aperture radially displaced from the first aperture. A motor is attached to the damper and is directly coupled to the support structure extension. The motor selectively positions the damper along the support structure extension between a downstream open position and an upstream closed position.

Variable air volume (VAV) ventilation systems provide conditioned air from a central source for distribution to various zones within a building via a network of ducts. The amount of heating and cooling provided to the various zones is controlled by varying the volume of conditioned air provided to each zone. Since heating and cooling requirements vary from zone to zone and within individual zones depending upon factors such as solar load and the nature of zone usage, it is necessary that the amount of conditioned air supplied to a zone in response to local demand be selectively controlled.
In a variable air volume system, the selective delivery of conditioned air to a zone is accomplished through the association of an air distribution box with each zone. Such distribution boxes typically include a supply plenum and one or more air outlets in flow communication with the zone. Additionally, each box has a valve for controllably varying the volume of air delivered to its plenum and to the zone. Such air valves are thermostatically controlled so as to supply the volume of conditioned air, typically through a room diffuser, necessary to maintain or achieve a selected zone temperature.
The use of electric motors for controlling the damper position in VAV air valves is known. Earlier types of electric motor driven air valves are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,082,114; 4,775,133 and 4,884,590, which are all assigned to the assignee of the present invention. The valve of the '114 patent includes a close-ended cylindrical portion downstream of the valve inlet in which a generally tubular member is disposed for movement axially of the valve housing. The size of a series of radial ports, and therefore the flow of air through the valve, is determined by the position of the valve member within the valve housing.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,775,133 discloses an electric motor driven air valve having a cylindrical inlet section and a physically moveable, spring biased backplate on which a drive motor is disposed. The inlet section defines a seating surface upstream of which a support grid is disposed. The spring loaded backplate is supported by a plurality of rods that extend downstream from the inlet section.
A damper assembly includes a splined rod which extends upstream of the damper and into a cooperating spline in the support grid. A threaded spindle extends downstream of the damper plate and is penetrated by a cooperatively threaded gear which is mounted for rotation on the backplate and operably coupled to the threaded spindle. The spring loading of the back plate prevents the binding of the damper drive train after the damper has been driven to the fully closed position.
The invention disclosed in the '590 patent is an air valve having a cylindrical inlet section which defines a seating surface upstream of a support grid. A fixed backplate, upon which a drive motor is mounted, is supported by a plurality of rods that extend downstream of the inlet section. The damper assembly includes a splined rod which extends upstream and into a cooperating spline in the support grid. A threaded spindle extends downstream of the damper plate through a threaded motor driven drive gear mounted on the backplate. A strain sensing device is employed in controlling the operation of the drive motor to prevent binding of the damper drive train on valve closure.
An alternative room air diffuser incorporating fire/smoke protection apparatus is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,800,804. The '804 apparatus, which combines the function of an air valve, a room diffuser and a smoke damper is relatively very complex and expensive. The drive mechanism consists of a motor and associated gear train. The gear train, associated axles and gear case necessitate upstream support structure and a plurality of guide posts and associated guide sleeves. The rod on which the damper rides and the plurality of guide posts are supported at both of their respective ends making a backplate and further associated support structure necessary.
The need for the support structure employed by conventional air dampers such as those referred to above results from the need to mount a relatively massive and/or sophisticated drive mechanism, consisting of a drive motor, gear train and supporting members, directly on a valve damper or on a backplate-like structure. With respect to the damper, compounding the problem caused by the disposition of the drive system on it is the fact that the drive systems are typically asymmetrically mounted and their weight creates a tilting moment in the damper or the need for a relatively substantial support structure to counteract the tilting moment. The damper will tend, otherwise, to bind on the guide structure as the damper translates on its central shaft.
The need continues to exist for an electric motor driven air valve, particularly adapted for use in VAV air distribution boxes upstream of a room air diffuser, which is relatively uncomplicated, lightweight, inexpensive of manufacture and easy to maintain yet which provides for precise control of the volume of air flowing through it to the distribution box it supplies and to the associated room diffuser.


The present invention is directed to overcoming the limitations of available camera angles in video conferencing applications. In particular, the present invention allows a video conference participant to select a virtual viewpoint of that participant, for providing an image to other participants. In a further embodiment, the present invention allows a video conference participant to select a virtual viewpoint of another video conference participant. The present invention provides an input device for receiving selected viewpoint information from a video conference participant. In response to a selected virtual viewpoint, the present invention transforms an image taken of a participant from an actual camera viewpoint. In accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention, multiple cameras may be utilized to obtain reference information.

The present invention relates to an image acquisition system capable of providing a selected virtual camera angle in connection with a video conferencing application. In particular, the present invention allows the selection of a virtual viewpoint in connection with a scene imaged from an actual viewpoint that does not coincide with the selected virtual viewpoint in a video conferencing application.
The use of video conferencing, which allows remote parties to both see and hear one another, is becoming increasingly popular. In particular, such applications facilitate remote communication by providing a visual image of each conference participant. Accordingly, video conferencing allows parties to communicate audibly and visibly, without requiring lengthy and expensive travel.
In a typical video conferencing application, a camera is positioned to obtain an image of each of the video conference participants. The image of one participant is then provided to the other participant. Because the individual participants in a video conference are typically looking at a video monitor providing an image of the other participant, it is impossible to position a camera such that a participant is looking directly into the camera. The angle between the camera viewpoint and the gaze of a participant is particularly large in personal, PC based video conferencing systems and video telephones, where the camera is close to the participant""s face. Because the participants in a normal, face to face conversation, generally look each other in the eye, the angled viewpoint that is typically provided in a video conferencing scenario can be disconcerting.
For the reasons set forth above, there is a need for a method and apparatus capable of overcoming the limitations of camera angle in video conferencing applications. In particular, there is a need for a method and apparatus to permit a virtual viewpoint to be selected, such that a more natural view of a video conference participant could be provided to other participants.
The present invention is directed to solving these and other problems and disadvantages of the prior art. According to the present invention, input is received from a video conference participant regarding a desired camera angle or viewpoint. Image information received by a camera or cameras having an actual angle or viewpoint is received, and that information is processed to create an image of the scene from the viewpoint selected by the user. Accordingly, the present invention provides an image of a scene when viewed from a virtual viewpoint.
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, more than one camera is used to obtain image information regarding a scene. The use of multiple cameras allows a scene to be imaged from multiple actual viewpoints. This in turn provides more image information, facilitating the realistic imaging of the scene from a virtual viewpoint.
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a first video conference participant may select a virtual viewpoint of him or herself in real time or near real time. In particular, by altering the virtual viewpoint while viewing the created image of the scene including the first participant in real time, a more natural viewing angle can be selected. For example, the first video conference participant typically selects a virtual viewpoint that results in the participant""s eyes looking directly out of the display used to output the image. In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a first video conference participant may select a virtual viewpoint with respect to a scene that comprises an image of a second video conference participant. In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, a video conference participant may select a virtual viewpoint from a predefined set of virtual viewpoints.
A video conferencing image acquisition system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention generally includes at least one camera to obtain an image of a scene that includes one or more video conference participants at a first location. In addition, the system includes a processor capable of receiving information regarding a selected virtual viewpoint from an input device, and capable of transforming the image of the scene obtained by the camera or cameras to create an image representing the scene from the selected virtual viewpoint. A video conferencing image acquisition system in accordance with the present invention may additionally include a display at the first location for outputting an image taken by the camera or cameras at the first location to provide feedback in connection with the selection of a virtual viewpoint. Alternatively or in addition, a display at the first location may provide images from an actual or virtual viewpoint obtained from a camera or cameras located at a second video conference location. These different views may be displayed simultaneously in separate windows or in a picture in a picture type arrangement on a single display at the first location. These different views may also be displayed simultaneously on different displays at the first location.

Method and apparatus for overcoming the limitations of camera angle in video conferencing applications


The present invention provides a brine composition for a frozen food which does not raise the freezing temperature even if the ethanol concentration is low, and is therefore able to suppress tissue breakdown caused by the growth of water ice crystals in the tissues (cells) of foods, and a method for producing a frozen food. The brine composition for a frozen food contains 30 to 70% by weight of ethyl alcohol, 0.5 to 10.0% by weight of erythritol, and water. It is preferable that the concentration of the ethyl alcohol is 35 to 60% by weight, the concentration of the erythritol is 0.8 to 5.0% by weight, and the rest is water.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a brine composition for a frozen food, which is used for a brine freezing method for foods, and also relates to a method for producing a frozen food.
2. Description of the Related Art
Both at home and abroad, freezing food is an inevitable topic that needs to be addressed regarding requirements such as the beneficial use of foods upon surplus harvest and bumper catch, adaptation to diversification of dietary habits, and inclination to safe and reliable foods free of additives in addition to the fact that more elaborate and delicious frozen foods are desired.
In order to provide consumers with delicious frozen foods, the following three requirements must be satisfied: acquisition of fresh materials, freezing and thawing techniques to maintain the deliciousness of foods before freezing, and processing techniques suitable for freezing and thawing. In addition, infrastructure development for the distribution of frozen foods is also essential.
Food freezing methods are classified into air blast systems, contact freezing systems, brine systems, liquid nitrogen or liquid carbon dioxide gas freezing systems, and the like depending on the cooling medium used.
Among them, a method of contacting foods with cold air in a freezer (air blast system) is well known. However, the cold air flow hardly contacts the foods sufficiently and that tends to cause uneven freezing on the back, side, and bottom surfaces of the foods placed in the freezer. In addition, due to low heat conductivity, the time for the foods to be frozen to pass through the maximum ice crystal generation zone (−1 to −5° C.) is long so that water in the tissues (cells) of the foods becomes ice crystals which grow and cause tissue breakdown, thereby resulting in the main cause of quality degradation due to dripping at the time of thawing.
Accordingly, in order to prevent quality degradation of foods due to freezing, it is important to pass the foods through the maximum ice crystal generation zone in a short time.
The brine system has as high as about 20 times the heat conductivity compared to the air blast system (Table 1) and is favorable when high quality foods are produced by rapid freezing. However, currently, when most frozen foods are unwrapped, the air blast system is predominant.
TABLE 1Coefficient of heat conductivity (W/m2 · K) of mediumcoefficient ofmediumheat conductivityconditioninactional air4.5~8  air in air blast (I)12~23air flow velocity 1.5~2 m/sair in air blast (II)23~35air flow velocity 4~5 m/sbrine freezing400~500flow liquidin contact freezing device 30~100metal
Meanwhile, there exists a desire for higher quality frozen foods, and a refrigerator has been developed which provides higher heat conductivity due to the application of a high-voltage electric field of 5 to 50 kV and an alcohol brine freezing which is capable of rapidly freezing in an extremely short time and also has low running costs (Japanese Patent No. 3639499 (Patent Document 1) and Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 8-126465 (Patent Document 2)).
However, these conventional methods have the following problems.
When an alcohol is used as the cooling medium, the medium absorbs water from the air and reduces the alcohol content thereof, and therefore, the temperature is hardly reduced. Accordingly, the freezing temperature is also high. For example, when ethanol is used as the brine, although ethanol is safe for foods, low in viscosity and consequently useful as a cooling medium for the brine system, there is a problem that when an aqueous ethanol solution is cooled to −35° C. or lower, the solution adsorbs water in the air during operation, reducing the ethanol content, thereby raising the freezing temperature.    [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent No. 3639499    [Patent Document 2] Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 8-126465

Brine composition for frozen food and method for producing frozen food


A deblocking method for deblocking a boundary between a first block of samples, block P, and a second block of samples, block Q. The method includes determining whether at least one of the P block or the Q block is a combined intra-inter prediction block; and, as a result of determining that at least one of the P block or the Q block is a combined intra-inter prediction block, deblocking the boundary between the P block and the Q block.

This disclosure relates to the encoding and/or decoding of a video sequence, which consists of a series of images (a.k.a., pictures). Each image of the video sequence consists of one or more components. Each component can be described as a two-dimensional rectangular array of sample values. It is common that an image in a video sequence consists of three components: one luma component (Y) where the sample values are luma values, a first chroma component (Cb) where the sample values are chroma values and a second chroma component (Cr) where the sample values are chroma values. Other examples include Y′ Cb Cr, Yuv and ICTCP. In ICTCP, I is the "intensity luma" component. For the remainder of this document we will refer to any luma component Y′, Y or I as Y or simply luma. It is common that the dimensions of the chroma components are smaller than the luma components by a factor of two in each dimension. For example, the size of the luma component of an HD image would be 1920×1080 and the chroma components would each have the dimension of 960×540. Components are sometimes referred to as color components.
A block is a two-dimensional array of samples. In video coding, each component is split into blocks and the coded video bitstream is a series of blocks. It is common in video coding that the image is split into units that cover a specific area of the image. Each unit consist of all blocks from all components that make up that specific area and each block belongs fully to one unit. The macroblock in H.264 and the Coding unit (CU) in HEVC are examples of units.
In HEVC, each picture is partitioned into coding tree units (CTU). A CTU consist of an N×N block of luma samples and two M×M corresponding chroma blocks. A CTU in HEVC is like a macroblock in H.264 and earlier standards but in contrast to macroblocks the CTU size is configurable. Most often, however, the CTU size in HEVC is set to 64×64 luma samples. Each CTU can be recursively quadtree split. The root of the quadtree is then associated with the CTU. The quadtree is split until a leaf is reached, which is referred to as the coding unit (CU). A CU in HEVC always consist of a luma block with equal height and width. How each CTU is split is conveyed in the bitstream. The CU is further the root node of two other trees, the prediction tree that has got prediction units (PUs) as nodes and the transform tree that has got transform units (TUs) as nodes. Some decoding processes in HEVC are done on the CU level, some are done on the PU level and some on TU level. Boundaries between PUs and boundaries between TUs are deblocked—i.e., filtered by a deblocking filter, to reduce discontinuities between TUs and PUs. In HEVC there exist two kinds of prediction types for a PU, intra-prediction which only uses prediction from previously decoded samples of the current picture for prediction, and inter-prediction which uses prediction form at least one previously decoded picture.
In HEVC, deblocking is first applied on vertical boundaries and then on horizontal boundaries. The boundaries are either TU boundaries or PU boundaries. To enable parallel friendly deblocking, the deblocking is performed on an 8×8 sample grid.
A deblocking filter strength parameter (BS) is set for each boundary. If the value of BS is larger than 0, then deblocking may be applied. The larger the boundary strength is, the stronger filtering is applied. First it is checked if any of the blocks at a PU boundary between the blocks is an intra-predicted block then (BS is set to=2), or if both blocks use inter-prediction but and they use different reference frames or have significantly different motion vectors then (BS is set to=1). It is also checked if a TU boundary between the blocks has non-zero transform coefficients in at least one of the blocks (code block flag CBF equal to 1), then (BS is set to=1). This first checks sets a boundary strength (BS) which is larger than 0 to indicate that deblocking should be applied. The larger the boundary strength, the stronger filtering is applied. To reduce/avoid removing natural structures when deblocking, a check that there are not any natural structures on respective sides of the boundary is then applied for luma. In HEVC, gradient calculations are used on respective sides of the boundary using the following inequality: abs(p0−2*p1+p2)+abs(q0−2*q1+q2)<beta, where beta is a parameter based on the quantization parameter for the block and p0, p1, to p2 are samples on one side of the block boundary and q0, q1, to q2 are samples on the other side of the block boundary. The condition is checked at two positions along the boundary, and if both conditions are fulfilled, then the luma samples are deblocked for that 4 sample part of the boundary. Chroma boundaries may always be filtered if one any of the neighbouring blocks are intra coded.
In the current draft of the specification for H.266 (VVC draft 3 JVET-L1001 (see reference [1]) (hereafter "VVC" for short)) a coding tree unit (CTU) is similar to the CTU in HEVC with the difference that the CTU in H.266 has a size of 128×128 luma samples. In VVC, the CTU can be split more flexibly such that a resulting CUs may consist of a rectangular luma block. In VVC, there is no prediction tree as in HEVC. However, a CU in VVC can implicitly be divided into a multiple of TUs. Implicit TUs can however only appear when the CU size has a width or height larger than the maximum transform size. If that is not the case, the CU does not have any prediction tree nor transform tree.
In VVC, deblocking is first applied on vertical CU boundaries and vertical implicit TU boundaries and vertical sub-block boundaries then on horizontal CU boundaries and horizontal implicit TU boundaries and horizontal sub-block boundaries. The deblocking is based on HEVC deblocking.
In VVC two sub-block prediction tools are included AFFINE and ATMVP. A sub-block prediction tool can be characterized as a prediction tool that has more than one set of motion parameters for different parts of a block, e.g. sub-blocks. AFFINE operates on sub-block size 4×4 and ATMVP on sub-block size 8×8. Each sub-block is predicted by specific motion parameters such as at least one motion vector and one indicator of reference frame to predict from. When a CU uses sub-block motion compensation like ATMVP and AFFINE, sub-block boundaries can be created inside CU due to different motion parameters are used in at least some of the sub-blocks. In VVC (JVET-L1001) from Macau, in addition to deblock CU and implicit TU boundaries on 8×8 grid also sub-block boundaries are deblocked on 8×8 grid when motion parameters on respective side of a sub-block boundary differs sufficiently. Both CU, implicit TU and sub-block boundaries can be deblocked in parallel since deblocking is based on HEVC luma deblocking that reads at most 4 samples and writes at most 3 samples, on each side of the boundary, which is sufficient for when deblocking on an 8×8 grid.
In VVC a tool that combines intra-predication and inter-prediction has been adopted (originates from JVET-L0100 test CE10.1.1.c). When the combination is used for vertical or horizontal intra-prediction the prediction block is formed by a weighted addition of the intra-prediction and the inter-prediction where 4 weighting factors (w={ 6/8, ⅝, ⅜, 2/8} for intra and 1-w for inter) are used. Each weighting factor is used for ¼ of the width for horizontal prediction and ¼ of the height for vertical intra-prediction.
FIG. 1A shows an example when the intra-prediction is horizontal prediction. The block is sub-partitioned into 4 sub-blocks: #0, #1, #2 and #3. The weight {w_intra, w_inter} for each part is {6/8, 2/8}, {5/8, 3/8}, {3/8, 5/8} and {2/8, 6/8}. Since each sub-block uses different weights to combine intra-inter prediction, one can say that the magnitude modification for each-sub-blocks are different.
FIG. 1B shows another example when the intra-prediction is vertical prediction. The block is sub-partitioned into 4 sub-blocks where each sub-block has its height equals to ¼ of the height of the original block. Similarly, each sub-block uses different weights to combine intra-inter prediction.
Using different weights to combine intra-inter prediction generates sub-block boundaries. FIG. 1C below shows an example of vertical boundaries from combined intra-inter prediction using horizontal intra prediction.
The direction of cu boundary could be different to the sub-block boundaries, for example, when the sub-block boundaries are horizontal, the cu boundary is vertical. FIG. 1D shows an example of horizontal boundaries from combined intra-inter prediction using vertical intra prediction.
The cu boundary could exist when using equal weights to combine intra and inter prediction. When the combined intra prediction is planar or dc prediction, the combine weights for intra and inter are equal.

Deblocking in a video encoder and/or video decoder


Methods of operating a set of wind turbines for providing a total power demand to a grid according to a grid requirement are provided. A first group of wind turbines is configured to generate an individual active power based on an individual set-point. First individual set-points are generated for the first group such that the set of wind turbines generates the total active power. If a selection of the first group of wind turbines is operating within an individual exclusion range, the operation of the se wind turbines is limited to a maximum period. When the maximum period is reached, second individual set-points are generated to cause these wind turbines to operate outside exclusion range, and third individual set-points are generated for one or more other wind turbines to cause the set of wind turbines to generate the total active power. Systems suitable for such methods are also provided.

Modern wind turbines are commonly used to supply electricity into the electrical grid. Wind turbines of this kind generally comprise a tower and a rotor arranged on the tower. The rotor, which typically comprises a hub and a plurality of blades, is set into rotation under the influence of the wind on the blades. The rotation may be transmitted (optionally through a rotor shaft) to a generator, either directly or through the use of a gearbox. This way, the generator produces electricity which can be supplied to the electrical grid.
During operation of a wind turbine, its structure and components may undergo undesired movements, i.e. oscillatory or repeating displacements in any direction (fore-aft vibrations, side-to-side or lateral vibrations, longitudinal vibrations, torsional vibrations, . . . ) of any magnitude and of any frequency (high or low, constant or varying). If a wind turbine is subjected to the above mentioned collateral movements (e.g. vibrations) during a prolonged period of time, fatigue damage may result.
These undesired movements may occur more easily at specific rotor speeds (rpms) that, depending on the particular configuration of the wind turbine, may induce structural resonance phenomena. In most circumstances, due to the inherent wind variability, modern variable speed wind turbines do not operate at such potentially dangerous rpms for a prolonged period of time. As the wind changes, the rpms may be varied.
Wind turbines are often grouped together in so-called wind farms. A wind farm control is generally aimed at centrally managing and/or controlling the wind farm such that the wind farm as a whole generates, usually according to a planned power generation, a total power to be supplied to the grid. This centralized control of the wind farm may generate suitable individual commands or set-points for the individual control systems of each wind turbine to cause generation of a corresponding amount of active power. The total power generated by the wind farm then should substantially correspond to the active power planned for the wind farm as a whole.
In case of unplanned grid unbalances, a grid operator may issue one or more online requests for the wind farm to vary its power production for compensating said unbalances. Most grid unbalances may refer to an excess of power in the grid, in which case an online request may be generated by the grid operator for the wind farm to reduce the power it is generating.
These online "corrections" may cause at least some of the wind turbines to generate less power than they could, which in most cases is achieved by reducing the rotational speed (rpms) of the rotor. Thus, wind turbines may be ordered to work in a range in which they may experience some undesired movements (as the ones explained before) and corresponding fatigue (in the long term). Additionally, it may be necessary to maintain a wind turbine's operation in such a regime for a prolonged period of time. A wind variation may not necessarily influence the wind turbine's performance to a large extent as it is already producing less than it potentially could.
The present disclosure aims at improving wind farm control and in particular at improving wind farm control in situations wherein a grid requirement is received.

Methods and systems of operating a set of wind turbines


A device and method for creating favorable conditions for achieving adjustable laminar fluid flow is described. In the practical example of a thermal mass flow meter the laminar flow element contains a porous, open celled, flexible material such as stainless steel mesh. The mesh creates a labyrinthine flow path, for the creation of laminar fluid flow, within the laminar flow element. Means for compressing or elongating the steel mesh renders the laminar flow element adjustable over an extended fluid flow range, and provides optimal fluid dynamics.

This invention relates to laminar flow elements as employed in thermal mass flow meters, and in particular to a laminar flow element that is adjustable over an extended fluid flow range.
Thermal mass flow meters are essential monitoring devices for many laboratory and commercial applications. They are routinely employed in semiconductor equipment fabrication, vacuum processes such as vapor deposition, and petrochemical, pharmaceutical, and food processing industries. Their main use is in metering gas flow, and controlling gas flow when used in conjunction with a mass flow controller. In general there are two main methods for metering gas flow; volumetric, and mass based. A problem with volumetric metering is that this type of measurement is dependent on knowing the temperature and pressure of the gas for accurate results. Obviously using volumetric metering operators must recalibrate their equipment for each condition that applies to the gas metering being performed. With a mass flow based system on the other hand, the sensor within the thermal mass flow meter is not significantly effected by changes in temperature and pressure. This is because sensing of gas flow is done by a mass of gas as it passes through a sensing conduit. This is called "Pound Molecular Weight Flow". The process can be envisioned as each molecule of the gas carrying an amount of heat from point A in a sensor conduit to point B in that conduit, with temperature and pressure variations playing an insignificant role.
In a typical thermal mass flow meter incoming gas is split into two streams by an appropriately selected restriction device often referred to as a laminar flow element, or a restrictor flow element. A fixed portion of the gas stream is thus forced to flow through a by-pass conduit, which is the sensor tube for the gas flow. The major portion of the gas stream flows through the length of the other conduit containing the laminar flow element.
The basic concept of the thermal mass flow meter is that if the gas flow is laminar in both the sensor tube and conduit containing the laminar flow element, then the ratio of the flow detected through the sensor tube (Qs), and the flow rate through conduit containing the laminar flow element (Qm) are proportional to one another according to the following equation: ##EQU1##
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,843,881, issued Jul. 4, 1989, a mass flow sensing system suitable for making use of the instant invention is described, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. U.S. Pat. No. 4,843,881 teaches the use of two heated resistor windings on the outer surface of a thin walled, stainless steel sensor tube to impart heat to the gas medium flowing through the sensor tube. When no flow is taking place both windings are kept at the same temperature. During gas flow heat is carried from the winding near the gas flow inlet to a winding further along the length of the sensor tube in the direction of the gas flow outlet, which results in proportional changes in the temperature of the windings. These changes in temperature of the windings results in changes of resistance values of the windings. Each winding is part of a Wheatstone bridge. Instantaneous resistance values are detected by the Wheatstone bridges, and by means of an amplifier circuit an analog output signal of 0 to 5 Vdc (volts, direct current) or 4 to 20 ma (milliamps) is obtained. The sensor tube is appropriately calibrated to indicate the flow rate of the combined gas flow rates taking place in both the sensor tube and in the conduit containing the laminar flow element.
As can be seen from the above description the concept of laminar flow is essential to understanding the functioning of a thermal mass flow meter. Laminar flow is layered, orderly, non-turbulent flow. Laminar flow is defined by a dimensionless number called the "Reynolds Number" which is expressed by the following formula: ##EQU2## where:
p=density of gas (Gm/cc)
D=inside diameter of conduit (mm)
V=velocity of gas flow (mm/sec)
u=viscosity of gas (centipoise)
Fluid flow characterized by a Reynolds Number of less than 2,000 is considered laminar fluid flow.
In the current state of the art in thermal mass flow meter designs laminarity of fluid flow is obtained by the sensor tube being a long, thin walled, capillary tube, with the ratio of length to internal diameter of the capillary tube generally being of the order of 25 to 1. The major portion of the fluid flows through a conduit containing a laminar flow element carefully designed to both restrict fluid flow, and to do so in a manner that most favors the creation of a laminar fluid flow. A wide variety of laminar fluid flow elements are used with different sizes and even geometric attributes to achieve the desired flow domain for different applications. Currently laminar flow element designs necessitate a large number of different laminar flow elements to be kept on hand, with generally cumbersome resultant calibrating procedures. The instant invention on the other hand provides an adjustable laminar flow element so that optimal laminar flow fluid dynamics are obtained over an extended flow range, and by one single laminar flow element.
It is therefore a primary object of the invention to provide a means for obtaining adjustable laminar fluid flow over an extended fluid flow range.
A further object is to provide a laminar flow element for achieving optimal fluid dynamics.
Another object is to provide a single laminar flow element to be used over extended ranges of fluid flow.
Still another object is to provide a cleanable laminar flow element.
An additional object is to provide a laminar flow element that is less susceptible to contamination.
Another object is to provide a combined laminar flow element and desiccant.
A further object is to provide a combined laminar flow element and anti-static device.
Another object is to provide a laminar flow element that can be calibrated by end users of this equipment.

Laminar flow element and method for metering fluid flow


Provided is a mode of alarm transfer for use in a system for transmitting an encapsulated Ethernet signal between an Ethernet termination device (110) connected to a terminal (100) and an Ethernet termination device (120) connected to a terminal (200) being disposed opposite to each other. The Ethernet termination device (110) detects notification form the Ethernet termination device (120) regarding a link down between the terminal (200) and the Ethernet termination device (120), or detects occurrence of a failure on a transmission path between the Ethernet termination device (110) and the Ethernet termination device (120). When a link between the terminal (100) and the Ethernet termination device (110) is disconnected forcibly based on the detection, notification to the Ethernet termination device (120) regarding the link down between the terminal (100) and the Ethernet termination device (110) is withheld.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a network termination device, an alarm transfer system and an alarm transferring method for use in a system for transmitting an Ethernet signal encapsulated by the generic framing procedure (the xe2x80x9cGFPxe2x80x9d) or the like. More specifically, this invention relates to a network termination device, an alarm transfer system and an alarm transferring method, which are collectively designed for a case when a link down of one Ethernet termination device is detected so as to inform a link down alarm to an opponent Ethernet termination device and thereby to disconnect a link with an opponent terminal.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the case where the Ethernet is used for communication between computers (more specifically, personal computers), network monitoring across-the-board as the Internet has not been conventionally conducted. It is due to the fact that the Internet has been offered originally as a best-effort service (which refers to a service usable depending on bandwidth margins, however, such bandwidths or quality are not always guaranteed).
Nevertheless, there are growing movements for utilizing the Internet as a backbone network, and needs for guarantee of the bandwidth and the quality are increasing. For example, a protection function for relieving lines by switching to a backup transmission path upon failures of a main transmission path is required as guarantee of quality.
FIG. 1 shows a sequence of a conventional alarm transferring operation.
Conventional monitoring has been highlighted on whether a data link is established between one terminal and another terminal. In this case, a failure can be detected as disconnection of a link with the opponent terminal regardless of where such a failure happens between the terminals. Further, control for disconnecting the sender""s terminal is carried out, whereby the sender""s terminal can recognize the failure by itself as disconnection to the link.
The above-described operation does not change if a transponder is interposed between the terminals, as long as the transponder transfers data from the terminal intactly without processing.
For example, when a plurality of Ethernet signals are multiplexed and then transferred, it is necessary to identify as to which Ethernet signal each packet is originally contained. Therefore, a method of encapsulating a packet on an intermediate zone by use of the GFP or the like while posting an identification code in a GFP header is conceivable.
However, upon transfer of data encapsulated by use of the GFP technology or the like, data link control between terminals is disabled. As a result, the opponent terminal cannot detect a failure occurred somewhere on the intermediate zone.
An object of this invention is to provide a mode of alarm transfer for use in a case of transferring data encapsulated by the GFP or the like on an intermediate zone of an Ethernet path.
A network termination device of this invention is a network termination device for transmitting a data signal from a terminal connected through a link toward another network termination device via a transmission path. Here, the network termination device includes an alarm processing circuit for detecting notification of a link down of the link connected to the other network termination device and occurrence of a failure on the transmission path. Moreover, the network termination device disconnects the link forcibly and withholds notification of the disconnection outward when the alarm processing circuit detects any of the notification and the occurrence of the failure.
An alarm transfer system of this invention includes a plurality of network termination devices severally connected to corresponding terminals, the network termination devices being connected to one another via a transmission path, in which at least one of the network termination devices includes the above-described network termination device.
An alarm transferring method of this invention is used in a system for transmitting a data signal between a first network termination device connected to a first terminal through a first link and a second network termination device connected to a second terminal through a second link via a transmission path. Here, the method includes the steps of detecting notification from the second network termination device concerning a link down of the second link and occurrence of a failure on the transmission path by use of the first network termination device, and disconnecting the first link forcibly based on the detection. Here, when the step of disconnecting is executed, the first network termination device withholds notification of the disconnection of the first link to the second network termination device.
Another alarm transferring method of this invention of another configuration is used in a system for transmitting a data signal among at least three network termination devices via a transmission path, the network termination devices being severally connected to corresponding terminals through links. Here, the method includes the steps of detecting notification concerning a link down of the link from any other network termination device and occurrence of a failure on the transmission path connected to the network termination device performing detection by use of any one of the network termination devices, and performing forcible link down control based on the detection. Here, the network terminal device withholds notification of execution of the link down control to the rest of the network termination devices.

Network termination device, alarm transfer system and alarm transferring method


A semiconductor package with a chip supporting member is provided, including a lead frame having a die pad and a plurality of leads, and a chip supporting member mounted on a central portion of the die pad. The chip supporting member has a first surface and an opposing second surface attached to the die pad. At least a chip is mounted on the first surface of the chip supporting member to space the chip apart from the die pad via the chip supporting member, so as to prevent the chip from being damaged by thermal stress induced by CTE (coefficient of thermal expansion) mismatch between the chip and lead frame, thereby eliminating delamination, warpage and chip cracks. Moreover, the chip supporting member interposed between the chip and die pad provides greater flexibility for mounting variously sized or shaped chips on the die pad without having to use chips corresponding to profile of the die pad.

The present invention relates to semiconductor packages, and more particularly, to a semiconductor package using a lead frame as a chip carrier, which can reduce or minimize contact area between a chip and a die pad of the lead frame.
A lead-frame-based semiconductor package using a lead frame as a chip carrier usually renders a reliability issue in terms of thermal stresses being generated due to mismatch in CTE (coefficient of thermal expansion) between a chip and a silver paste for attaching the chip to the lead frame and between the silver paste and the lead frame. In particular, the chip is mounted on a die pad of the lead frame via the silver paste and encapsulated by an encapsulant; due to different CTEs (chip: about 4 ppm, silver paste: about 40 ppm, die pad: about 16 ppm), significant thermal stresses would be induced at interfaces between the chip and silver paste and between the silver paste and die pad, such that under temperature variation in a reliability test or practical operating environment, the semiconductor package may be subject to delamination and chip cracks by effect of thermal stresses, making quality of the semiconductor package undesirably degraded. This situation is more severe in the use of a larger die pad or chip in which contact area between the die pad and chip is increased and the die pad would suffer greater thermal stresses during a temperature cycle, thereby resulting in warpage and poor planarity of the die pad and further causing delamination between the chip and die pad.
In response to the above problems, a solution is to use a lead frame having a die pad being formed with an opening. As shown in FIG. 7, this lead frame 40 is composed of a die pad 400 and a plurality of leads 401, and the die pad 400 is formed with at least an opening 402 by which a chip 42 is mounted on the die pad 400 via an adhesive (not shown) and contact area between the chip 42 and die pad 400 can be reduced. However, although the chip 42 would be subject to less thermal stresses due to reduction in contact area between the chip 42 and die pad 400, this structure can only be applicable in the case of the chip 42 being larger in surface area than the opening 402 of the die pad 400, thereby setting a limitation to sizes and types of chips suitably used in the above structure. Moreover, fabrication of a die pad 400 in compliance with profile of the chip 42 increases process complexity and costs of the lead frame 40.
Accordingly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,455,454 discloses provision of a tape between a chip and a die pad of a lead frame. As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, this lead frame 50 is composed of a chip supporting structure including a plurality of supporting bars 502 and tie bars 503 that are integrally formed with the supporting bars 502 and connected to a frame (not shown) of the lead frame 50, and a plurality of leads 501 surrounding the chip supporting structure and connected to the frame. A tape 55 is attached to the chip supporting structure and has one surface thereof covering the supporting bars 502, part of the tie bars 503 and part of the leads 501, allowing a chip 52 to be mounted to an opposing surface of the tape 55.
Provision of the tape attached to the chip supporting structure for accommodating the chip can solve the problem of limitation in chip sizes, making the die pad not necessarily formed corresponding to profile of the chip. However, the use of the tape increases fabrication costs and difficulty in performing a die-bonding process for mounting the chip on the tape. Moreover, as the chip and tape are made of different materials, it may easily causes delamination at an interface between the chip and tape, and thus still fails to solve the problem of delamination between the chip and die pad.
A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a semiconductor package with a chip supporting member, which can prevent direct contact between a chip and a die pad to thereby eliminate chip cracks, delamination between the chip and die pad, and warpage of the die pad in response to thermal stresses, so as to assure reliability of the semiconductor package.
Another objective of the invention is to provide a semiconductor package with a chip supporting member, which allows variously sized or shaped chips to be accommodated by a single type of lead frame without having to fabricate a die pad in compliance with profile of the chips, so as to simplify fabrication processes for the lead frame and thereby reduce fabrication costs of the semiconductor package.
A further objective of the invention is to provide a semiconductor package with a chip supporting member for minimizing contact area between a chip and a die pad, so as to reduce undesirably effect from thermal stresses induced by CTE (coefficient of thermal expansion) mismatch between the chip and die pad on the semiconductor package.
In accordance of the foregoing and other objectives, the present invention proposes a semiconductor package with a chip supporting member, comprising: a lead frame having at least a die pad and a plurality of leads; a chip supporting member having a first surface and a second surface opposed to the first surface, wherein the second surface of the chip supporting member is attached to a central portion of the die pad, and positions on the first surface of the chip supporting member are spaced apart from corresponding positions on the second surface of the chip supporting member by an identical vertical distance; a chip mounted on the first surface of the chip supporting member, allowing the chip supporting member to be interposed between the chip and die pad; a plurality of bonding wires (such as gold wires) for electrically connecting the chip to the leads; and an encapsulant formed on the lead frame for encapsulating the chip supporting member, chip and bonding wires.
The chip supporting member can be made of a dummy die (i.e. functionless chip), a metal plate (such as copper, aluminum, etc.), or a polymer material having a CTE similar to that of the chip. Moreover, without affecting attachment between the chip and die pad, the chip supporting member can be flexibly shaped and sized. In order to prevent formation of voids during fabrication of the encapsulant, the chip support member has a height larger than a minimum distance capable of being penetrated by fillers of a resin used for forming the encapsulant. By disposing the chip supporting member between the chip and die pad, effect of thermal stresses induced by CTE mismatch on the chip and die pad can be reduced, thereby preventing delamination at e.g. comer portions thereof normally subjecting to relatively stronger thermal stresses so as to improve quality and reliability of the semiconductor package.

Semiconductor package with chip supporting member

Siliconware Precision Industries Co., Ltd.


The object is to provide a process whereby it is possible to produce 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene at a high conversion ratio constantly for a long period of time.

2,3,3,3-Tetrafluoropropene (CF3CF═CH2, HFO-1234yf) contains no chlorine and thus is useful as an alternative compound for chlorofluorocarbons to be used for e.g. refrigerants.
As a process for producing HFO-1234yf, a process may, for example, be mentioned wherein 1,1-dichloro-2,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropane (CF3CF2CHCl2, HCFC-225ca) is subjected to a dehydrofluorination reaction to obtain 1,1-dichloro-2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (CF3CF═CCl2, CFO-1214ya), and then, CFO-1214ya is reacted with hydrogen and reduced to obtain HFO-1234yf.
As a method of reducing CFO-1214ya to obtain HFO-1234yf, the following method (i) may, for example, be mentioned.
(i) A method for obtaining HFO-12-34yf by reacting CFO-1214ya and hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst having palladium supported on alumina (Patent Document 1).
However, the catalyst used in the method (i) has a drawback such that while the durability is high, side reactions are substantial to form by-products which can hardly be separated by distillation, and the conversion ratio to HFO-1234yf is low.
On the other hand, as a method for carrying out a similar reduction reaction, the following method (ii) has been proposed.
(ii) a method of reacting RfCF═CX2 (wherein Rf is a C1-10 fluoroalkyl group, and X is chlorine, bromine or iodine) with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst having palladium supported on active carbon, to obtain RfCF═CH2 (Patent Document 2).
However, the catalyst used in the method (ii) has low durability in many cases, whereby it is required to change the catalyst frequently.

Process for producing 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene

Abstract: A process for producing 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, which comprises reacting a raw material compound of at least one of 1,1-dichloro-2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene and 1-chloro-2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, and hydrogen, in the presence of a catalyst, wherein the catalyst is a noble metal catalyst supported on a metal oxide having a Hammett acidity function value (H0) of at least −5.6.


A method for reading a nondestructive readout type ferroelectric memory device including a process in which 1-bit data is written in a pair of a cell for storage and a cell for reference disposed in series in the ferroelectric memory device, and a process in which a response obtained when a pulse is impressed to the 1-bit data written in the pair of a cell for storage and a cell for reference is resonated by a resonant circuit with a specified resonance frequency provided at a readout side to thereby output an output signal to be nondestructively readout.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a ferroelectric memory in which hysteresis characteristics of remanence polarization of ferroelectric are used for data retention, and more particularly to a nondestructive readout ferroelectric memory.
2. Related Art
It is generally known that a ferroelectric material has a hysteresis characteristic, and a ferroelectric memory using such a characteristic can be formed to store data. Conventionally, in the method of reading these memories, a destructive readout that uses polarization reversal currents, which requires rewriting of a memory cell that is selected to be read out, is performed. In this case, there are problems of lowered readout speed and fatigue due to the existence of rewriting operations, which causes a bottleneck as disadvantage to flash memories. Therefore, nondestructive readout methods have been examined. However, these methods entail a variety of problems, such as, for example, a small difference between "1" and "0", a process-related reliability problem for example in a method of reading a current difference such as a 1T type, and the like.
There is a problem in that the difference in the signal amount between "1" and "0" is small in a nondestructive readout method. For this reason, readout methods devised as follows have been proposed.
Japanese Laid-open Patent Application HEI 5-55664 describes a method in which a difference in differential permittivities is read out by applying a pulse below Vc. Japanese Laid-open Patent Application HEI 5-129622 describes a method in which the phase of a second harmonic component of a current response is detected by applying a bipolar pulse below Vc. Japanese Laid-open Patent Application HEI 6-275062 describes a method in which the phase of a second harmonic component of a current response is detected by applying a bipolar pulse below Vc.
Among the above-described art, in the method that uses a difference in differential permittivities for data readout (HEI 5-55664), the difference in differential permittivities is extremely small, such that it is extremely difficult to detect it by an ordinary readout method. Also, the difference may be readily cancelled by influences caused by continuous reading cycles, disturbs and the like.
The method in which the phase detection of a difference of harmonic components is performed (HEI 5-129622, HEI 6-275062) has a substantial problem in the readout sensitivity, because it is almost like picking up a minute signal from among noises.
Besides the above, there has been proposed a nondestructive readout method of reading a difference of currents when a minute bias is impressed.
However, the difference of currents upon impressing a minute bias is a difference that originates in the switching of the ferroelectric device, and there is a tendency that the difference is lost with the passage of time. The greater the difference between the initial "1" and "0," the more remarkable the tendency becomes, and a nondestructive readout is in effect impossible.

Device structure of ferroelectric memory and nondestructive reading method


A method and system align a laser diode on a first substrate to a waveguide on a second substrate. The first substrate includes an edge and a first surface adjoining the edge. The laser diode has an emission exit on the edge. The second substrate includes a back side and a side edge. The waveguide has a waveguide input on the back side and directs light along the side edge. A first alignment mark set on the first substrate is aligned to a second alignment mark set on the second substrate. The first alignment mark set corresponds to the emission exit, is formed on the first surface and is visible from the edge. The second alignment mark set corresponds to the waveguide input, is formed on the side edge, and is visible from the back side. The first substrate's edge is affixed to the second substrate's back side.

In fabricating disk drives, such as energy assisted magnetic recording (EAMR) disk drives, it may be necessary to bond components together. For example, in conventional EAMR disk drives, a laser provides energy used to heat the media for magnetic recording. The laser typically takes the form of a laser diode. The laser diode may be desired to be aligned with a waveguide on the slider and bonded with the slider.
FIG. 1 depicts a conventional method 10 for bonding two substrates, such as a conventional laser diode (or substrate on which the laser diode resides) and a slider. FIGS. 2-3 depict a conventional EAMR head 50 during fabrication using the conventional method 10. FIG. 2 depicts a plan view of the substrates 60 and 70. Thus, two conventional substrates, a slider 60 and a laser diode 70 are shown. Each conventional substrate 60 and 70 includes conventional two-dimensional alignment marks 62 and 72, respectively. Although depicted as squares in FIG. 2, the alignment marks 62 and 72 may have a variety of shapes, including but not limited to interlocking shapes. Each conventional substrate 60 and 70 also includes conventional solder pads 64 and 74, respectively. The conventional substrates 60 and 70 are aligned, via step 12. Typically this is accomplished by aligning the alignment marks 62 on one substrate 60 with the alignment marks 72 on the other substrate 72. FIG. 3 depicts the conventional substrates 60 and 70 after step 12. Thus, the alignment marks 62 and 72 and solder pads 64 and 74 are aligned. The alignment marks 62 and 72 are two-dimensional alignment marks viewable from the planar surfaces of the substrates 60 and 70 on which the solder pads 64 and 74 reside and which are being aligned. Thus, the alignment marks 62 and 72 are depicted as dashed lines in FIG. 3. Once alignment has been achieved, the substrates 60 and 70 are heated to reflow the solder 64 and 74. Mechanical and electrical connection is made between the substrates 60 and 70 by pads 64′/74′, which have been reflowed together.
Although the conventional method 10 may function, the method 10 may be problematic for certain technologies. For example, an edge emitting laser may be desired to be used. An edge emitting layers has an emission exit for laser light on the edge of the substrate. The edge emitting layers may be aligned as shown in FIGS. 1-3. However, in such a case, optical components (not shown) may be required to redirect light from the edge of the laser diode 70 to a waveguide on the substrate/slider 60. If the emission edge is to be oriented closest to the slider 60, then the conventional substrate 70 would be placed such that an edge is closest to the substrate/slider 60. Thus, the conventional substrate/laser diode 70 would be oriented perpendicular to what is shown in FIGS. 2-3. In such a case, however, alignment using two-dimensional alignment marks 62 and 72 may be difficult to accomplish. Fabrication of conventional two-dimensional alignment marks on the edge of the substrate 70 may be challenging. Conversely, alignment without such marks may be extremely difficult to accomplish.
Accordingly, what is needed are improved methods and systems for aligning substrates, for example in alignment of substrates used in EAMR disk drives.

Method and system for aligning substrates for direct laser coupling in an energy assisted magnetic recording head


Some embodiments provide systems and methods to monitor network communications, comprising: a computing device comprising a control circuit and memory with instructions executed by the control circuit to implement: a tunneled monitoring service (TMS) operated local on the mobile computing device; and a tunnel protocol within the mobile computing device that is configured to establish a tunnel interface between software applications and the TMS, wherein the tunnel interface is configured to collect output data transactions, communicated by the software applications, and direct the output data transactions to the TMS; wherein the TMS is configured to initiate a monitoring of each output data transaction relative to predefined criteria to identify relevant parameter information, obtained from one or more of the output data transactions, that have a predefined relationship with one or more of the criteria, and cause results of the monitoring relative to the criteria to be recorded.

Many computing devices communicate with external devices. Such external communications, however, can subject the computing device to security issues. Similarly, such external communications may be intercepted.
Some systems limit external communications from a computing device. Further, some systems utilize a service and/or process of trying to protect content received by and/or communicated from the computing device.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


In carrying out a cell search, the received-signal level (RSSI) at each frequency is measured in the first place, by implementing asynchronous detection in steps of a predetermined frequency-step width over a predetermined search frequency range (from Fini to Fend), After measuring the RSSI, a cell search is carried out by implementing synchronous-detection processing over the frequency range that has a center frequency where the received-signal level is higher than a threshold value and that has the frequency-step width, it is an object of the present invention to obtain a communication terminal unit that can reduce a cell-search time.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a communication terminal unit, a cell-search method, and a program, and more particularly to a communication terminal unit that implements a cell search, while scanning a predetermined search frequency range.
2. Description of the Related Art
According to conventional band-search (cell-search) methods, a mobile terminal as a communication terminal unit implements synchronous detection every channel raster Fr, over an entire band range Fw. Accordingly, the synchronous detection is inevitably implemented with respect to FW/Fr frequencies.
In addition, for example, 3GPP TS 25.304, Chapter 220.127.116.11, June 2004 discloses implementation of a cell search, such as this, while searching over the entire band range.
As described above, according to conventional cell-search methods, synchronous detection is implemented every channel raster Fr, over the entire band range Fw; therefore, the synchronous detection is implemented with respect to FW/Fr frequencies, whereby it takes a long time to implement a cell search. If it takes a long time to implement a cell search, a problem is posed that, when a mobile terminal travels from a region outside the communication range to a region inside the communication range, it takes a long time to implement location registration.

Communication terminal unit, cell-search method, and program


A shared storage system is described herein that is based on an append-only model of updating a storage device to allow multiple computers to access storage with lighter-weight synchronization than traditional systems and to reduce wear on flash-based storage devices. Appending data allows multiple computers to write to the same storage device without interference and without synchronization between the computers. Computers can also safely read a written page without using synchronization because the system limits how data can be changed once written. The system may record a log of append operations performed and ensure idempotence by storing a key specified by the caller in the log along with each log entry. The system also provides broadcasts about appended data to computers so that coordination between computers can occur without direct communication between the computers.

Computer systems (i.e., computers) often share storage devices, particularly in enterprise applications, such as over a storage area network (SAN) or using network attached storage (NAS). Sharing storage allows maintenance operations such as backing up data, ensuring hardware redundancy, and so forth to be consolidated for ease of maintenance by information technology (IT) personnel. In addition, shared storage allows computer systems to share data efficiently by storing data in a common location accessible to each computer. Shared storage also increases storage capacity utilization since multiple computer systems share the storage space. Shared storage also enables the possibility of balancing the workload. Since storage is shared, computing tasks can be moved between one computer and another when one computer is overloaded and another is underutilized. Typically, the storage is persistent, meaning that its content survives power failures. The storage is also page-oriented, meaning that the storage device divides data into fixed-size page frames and supports operations to read or write a page in a given page frame. Typical examples of today's storage technology are magnetic disk and flash memory.
Computers access storage devices via a controller, which is usually a special-purpose device whose only function is to read and write data on the storage device. To read from or write to storage, a computer sends a read operation or a write operation to the controller. Currently, the most popular interfaces to storage are based on disk standards, such as SCSI, SATA, and PATA. These interfaces allow the computer to read or write a page frame at a given address.
One popular approach to updating shared storage is to treat storage as a sequential device, where new data is added to the end of a populated region of storage. This is sometimes called "log-structured storage," because it treats storage as if it were a sequential log of pages, even though the underlying technology can support random writes. Log-structured storage is a useful technique for flash memory for two reasons. First, it avoids having to overwrite a page frequently, which is expensive for flash memory because it requires erasing the multi-page block that contains the page, which in turn implies that the controller saves other useful pages in the block elsewhere before erasing the block. Second, it helps "wear leveling." That is, it helps ensure that all blocks of storage are erased and rewritten the same number of times. Log-structured storage is also useful for magnetic disks because disks can write data sequentially at a much faster rate than they can write data randomly.
Flash memory and other solid-state memory devices are becoming more popular for use in storage systems due to increased reliability and reduced energy usage due to a lack of mechanical moving parts when compared to disk-based devices. In addition, flash memory can perform random read and write operations at a much higher rate than magnetic disks. The lower latencies due to increased I/O performance also motivate more streamlined synchronization mechanisms. These and other characteristics that flash memory has are quite different than disk-based devices and affect strategies for storing data to flash memory.
One limitation of flash memory is that although it can be read or programmed (i.e., written) a page or partial page at a time in a random access fashion, it can only be erased a block at a time (where each device defines the block size). Where the description herein describes reading and writing a page at a time, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that similar principles apply to reading or writing partial pages. Starting with a freshly erased block, a program can write any location within that block. However, once a bit has been set to zero, only by erasing the entire block can it be changed back to one. In other words, flash memory (specifically NOR flash) offers random-access read and write operations, but cannot offer arbitrary random-access rewrite or erase operations. A location can, however, be rewritten as long as the new value's 0 bits are a superset of the over-written value's. For example, an application may erase a nibble value to 1111, and then write the nibble as 1110. Successive writes to that nibble can change it to 1010, then 0010, and finally 0000. In practice, few algorithms take advantage of this successive write capability and in general, applications erase and rewrite the entire block at once or choose a fresh block for writing.
Another limitation is that flash memory has a finite number of write-erase cycles. Most commercially available flash products are rated to withstand around 100,000 write-erase-cycles before the wear begins to deteriorate the integrity of the storage. This effect is partially offset in some chip firmware or file system drivers by counting the writes and dynamically remapping blocks in order to spread write operations between sectors, a technique called wear leveling. Another approach is to perform write verification and remapping to spare sectors in case of write failure, a technique called bad block management (BBM). For portable consumer devices, these wear management techniques typically extend the life of the flash memory beyond the life of the device itself, and some data loss may be acceptable in these applications. For high reliability data storage, however, it is not advisable to use flash memory that has been through a large number of programming cycles. This limitation does not apply to read-only applications such as thin clients and routers, which administrators typically write to once or at most a few times during their lifetime.
Synchronization is a common problem in shared storage systems. It is desirable for each computer system to be able to write when it wants to and read data stored by other computer systems. If multiple computers are allowed to write to log-structured storage, then synchronization is used to ensure consistency with write operations. The synchronization ensures that two computers do not write to the same page frame, which would cause one of the write operations to be overwritten. In the case of flash memory, a write operation that attempts to overwrite a page frame would be lost, since the page frame can only be written once. Synchronization also ensures that there are no holes in the sequence of written page frames. In addition, computer systems may cache data stored in the storage system for faster local access, and the storage system performs steps to ensure cache consistency based on the actions of each computer system.


A PLL circuit has (i) a counter which divides a frequency of a VCO output whose frequency has been divided by a frequency divider and (ii) a memory which stores plural patterns of set cycles of the counter. The memory reads out one of the set cycles designated by a selection signal inputted through a serial bus (SB) from an outside of the PLL circuit. The set cycle, read out from the memory, which has a large amount of data, is inputted through a parallel bus (PB) into the counter, so that it hardly takes time to set a cycle for the counter. Further, even when the number of bits of the counter increases, the setting time is not lengthened.

In digital television broadcasting, a high-frequency receiving device which demodulates a high-frequency signal into I and Q quadrature baseband signals is required in receiving a high-frequency signal (quadrature digital modulation signal) transmitted from a broadcasting station.
FIG. 8 illustrates a general arrangement of a high-frequency receiving device 101 which demodulates a high-frequency signal into I and Q quadrature baseband signals.
In the high-frequency receiving device 101, first, a high-frequency signal transmitted from a broadcasting station is inputted through an input terminal 102 and amplified in a gain variable high-frequency amplifier 103. A frequency of the amplified high-frequency signal is converted in mixer circuits 108 and 109 so as to detect I and Q quadrature baseband signals. The mixer circuit 108 demodulates the high-frequency signal into an I baseband signal by using a 0° signal outputted from a 90° phase shifter 107. Meanwhile, the mixer circuit 109 demodulates the high-frequency signal into a Q baseband signal by using a 90° phase-shifted signal outputted from the 90° phase shifter 107. Each of the two mixer circuits 108 and 109 demodulates the received high-frequency signal into each quadrature baseband signal.
An output of the mixer circuit 108 is amplified in a gain variable baseband amplifier 110. Then, a frequency component out of a desired band is blocked by a low-pass filter 112. Furthermore, an output of the low-pass filter 112 is amplified by an amplifier 114 and outputted as a baseband output (I) from a baseband output terminal 116. Similarly, an output of the mixer circuit 109 is amplified in a gain variable baseband amplifier 111. Then, a frequency component out of a desired band is blocked by a low-pass filter 113. Furthermore, an output of the low-pass filter 113 is amplified by an amplifier 115 and outputted as a baseband output (Q) from a baseband output terminal 117.
A voltage-control local oscillator (VCO) 104, in order to convert a frequency of a high-frequency signal into a frequency of a baseband signal, outputs to the 90° phase shifter 107 a local signal whose frequency is controlled by a control voltage. A local oscillator 105 generates a frequency signal serving as a reference of the local signal.
A PLL circuit 106, based on the frequency signal generated in the local oscillator 105, performs feedback control so that the local signal converges at a value in accordance with a set cycle. The 90° phase shifter 107 generates a 90° phase-shifted signal and outputs the 90° phase-shifted signal and a 0° signal. The 90° phase-shifted signal is a signal whose phase is shifted by 90° from that of the local signal. The 0° phase-shifted signal is a signal whose phase is not shifted at all from that of the local signal.
FIG. 9 illustrates an example arrangement of a general PPL circuit used as the PLL circuit 106. The PLL circuit is for example a circuit disclosed in Document 1: Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 318732/2003 (Tokukai 2003-318732; published on Nov. 7, 2003: Corresponding U.S. patent Publication 2003/0203720A1; published on Oct. 30, 2003).
The PLL circuit 106 illustrated in FIG. 9 includes frequency dividers 118 and 119, counters 120 and 121, a phase comparator 122, a current source 123, and a low-pass filter (LPF) 124.
An output signal of the local oscillator 105 is divided by the frequency divider 118 at a fixed frequency-dividing ratio. Further, an output signal of the VCO 104 is divided at a fixed frequency-dividing ratio by the frequency divider 119 equivalent to a prescaler. The counters 120 and 121 further divide the frequency-divided signals by counting up (or counting down) the frequency-divided signals. The counter 120 is a functional equivalent of a fixed frequency divider in the PLL circuit of Document 1. Further, since it is possible to divide an output signal of the local oscillator 105 with the counter 120 alone, the frequency divider 119 may be omitted. A cycle (frequency-dividing cycle) of the counter 121 is set by a set cycle inputted from outside. Since the set cycle has a value in accordance with a channel frequency, a frequency of a signal counted by the counter 121 is divided in accordance with the channel frequency.
Note that although a cycle of the counter 20 is also usually set, the process is omitted here. Each of the counters 120 and 121 outputs a signal every time a single cycle is counted. The phase comparator 122 outputs a phase difference between the counters 120 and 121. The current source 123 outputs a predetermined current at a time in accordance with the output (phase difference) of the phase comparator 122. The LPF 124 has a capacitor. The capacitor is charged and discharged by the output current from the current source 123, so that the current is converted into a voltage. The voltage becomes a control signal of the VCO 104. The control signal is used to perform feedback control.
Further, as disclosed in Document 2: Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 307459/2000 (Tokukai 2000-307459; published on Nov. 2, 2000), the set cycle of the counter 121 is usually inputted through a serial bus (data signal line) into the PLL circuit 106.
In order to receive a high-frequency signal, it is necessary to input a set cycle in accordance with the high-frequency signal into a counter in the PLL circuit 106. However, since the set cycle is usually inputted through a serial bus, there is such a problem that it takes time to set a cycle.
For example, as illustrated in FIG. 10, when a cycle of the 24-bit counter 121 is set by using an I2C bus serving as a typical serial bus, it takes approximately 7 msec (millisecond) under such a condition that the I2C bus is operated at 400 kHz. Moreover, when the number of bits of the counter 121 increases, the setting time is lengthened proportionately.

PLL circuit and high-frequency receiving device


A method, data processing system, and computer program product for managing services. A computer identifies information in a number of discussions in a discussion forum. The computer determines that the information is associated with a service. The computer then generates a new request for the service in an absence of a current request for the service.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates generally to managing a service and, in particular, to a method and system for early detection and generation of service requests. Still more particularly, the present disclosure relates to a method and system for generating a service request based on information identified in a discussion forum.
2. Description of the Related Art
Today's service providers have different ways of obtaining the information necessary to effectively manage their services for their customers. Different methods may be used to obtain new customers, retain current customers, and improve on the quality of services offered. In today's competitive marketplace, service providers are constantly searching for ways to efficiently identify potential customers and to improve response time to meet customers' needs.
Some service providers manage their services by responding to service requests. A service request includes information that informs the service provider about details regarding the service needed by a customer. For example, an information technology service that provides services for computers may receive a service request from a customer who is experiencing an unusually slow response time from a software application. The service request may include information about the customer's computer, such as the model, amount of memory, and processor speed. The customer may provide the service request in a variety of ways, such as by phone or email.
Service providers that implement service requests may require a quick identification of relevant information for providing the appropriate service to a customer, in order to meet the service level agreements (SLAs). A typical service request often includes only a portion of the information necessary for a service provider to respond with an appropriate service.
Additionally, relying on customers to provide service requests to address problems has disadvantages. For example, a problem that requires service may exist for a considerable amount of time before a customer creates a service request to fix the problem. Moreover, other potential customers may have been experiencing the problem for a considerable amount of time. For example, a software application hosted by a server and shared by multiple users over a network may experience a decrease in performance for several hours before a customer finally creates a service request to inform a service provider of the problem.

International Business Machines Corporation