The present invention provides a method performed by user equipment, including: acquiring, from a base station, paging-related parameters, where the paging-related parameters include paging search space configuration parameter-related information; and determining, according to the paging search space configuration parameter-related information, an association mechanism for mapping a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) monitoring occasion in a paging search space to a PDCCH monitoring occasion for paging, where when the information indicates that a paging search space configuration parameter has been configured and a search space indicated by the paging search space configuration parameter is not a type0-PDCCH common search space, a non-default association mechanism is used; when the information indicates that the paging search space configuration parameter is not configured, or the paging search space configuration parameter-related information indicates that the paging search space configuration parameter has been configured and the search space indicated by the paging search space configuration parameter is a type0-PDCCH common search space, a default association mechanism is used.

In March 2016, at the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) RAN #71 Plenary Session, a new research project on 5G technology standards (see Non-Patent Document 1) was approved. The goal of the research project is to develop a New Radio (NR) access technology to meet all of the application scenarios, requirements, and deployment environments of 5G. NR mainly has three application scenarios: enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) communications, massive machine type communications (mMTC), and ultra-reliable and low latency communications (URLLC). In June 2017, at the 3GPP RAN #75 Plenary Session, a corresponding 5G NR work project (see Non-Patent Document 2) was approved.
5G supports a paging mechanism. For example, when a network needs to initiate a connection to a certain UE, but the UE is in an RRC_IDLE or RRC_INACTIVE state, then the network can transmit a paging message in one or a plurality of certain areas (for example, a tracking area), so as to page the UE. On the other hand, in order to reduce power consumption of UE, 5G also supports discontinuous reception (DRX), and the basic mechanism thereof is to configure a DRX cycle for the UE, such that the UE only needs to monitor downlink control signaling, such as paging-related control signaling, for part of time within a DRX cycle, and can be in a dormant state for the rest of time (for example, a receiver can be turned off).
At the physical layer, a paging message is borne on a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH), and the PDSCH is scheduled via a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH). One PDCCH consists of one or a plurality of control-channel elements (CCEs), and one CCE consists of a plurality of (for example, six) resource-element groups (REGs). The REG is defined within a control-resource set (CORESET). One CORESET includes one or a plurality of resource blocks (each resource block consists of 12 consecutive subcarriers in the frequency domain) in the frequency domain, and includes one or a plurality of (for example, one, or two, or three) OFDM symbols in the time domain.
Not all of UE in a cell needs to monitor paging. UE in the RRC_CONNECTED state determines, according to whether a parameter pagingSearchSpace (also referred to as pagingSearchSpace) has been configured (for example, configured via dedicated signaling), whether to monitor paging. UE in the RRC_IDLE or RRC_INACTIVE state has to monitor paging, no matter whether the parameter pagingSearchSpace has been configured (for example, configured via SIB1).
UE monitors a PDCCH at some time domain and frequency domain positions configured by the network where PDCCH transmissions may occur. These time domain and frequency domain positions can be associated with a certain CORESET and a time domain pattern of the CORESET. Such configuration information can be referred to as search space configuration information, and a search space for paging can be referred to as a paging search space. FIG. 1 is an example of search space configuration, where all of PDCCH monitoring occasions in a search space are numbered chronologically in ascending order.
UE, when receiving paging, only needs to monitor part of PDCCH monitoring occasions (referred to as PDCCH monitoring occasions for paging) in a paging search space. Steps in which UE determines a PDCCH monitoring occasion for paging can be described as follows:
1. Determining a paging search space. If the parameter pagingSearchSpace has been configured (no matter which search space the parameter pagingSearchSpace is configured to), then a search space indicated by the parameter pagingSearchSpace is used as the paging search space; otherwise, a type0-PDCCH common search space (the type0-PDCCH common search space is a search space used to monitor SIB1 scheduling information, and may also be referred to as search space 0 because the ID thereof is 0) is used as the paging search space.
2. Determining an association mechanism, that is, which mechanism is used to define which PDCCH monitoring occasions in the paging search space as PDCCH monitoring occasions for paging. The existing 3GPP standards and specifications define two association mechanisms: a default association mechanism and a non-default association mechanism. If the parameter pagingSearchSpace has been configured, then the non-default association mechanism is used; otherwise, the default association mechanism is used.
3. Determining a paging frame (PF).
One or a plurality of PFs are defined in each DRX cycle. The UE is associated with one of the PFs according to a UE identifier (for example, a UE identification determined according to a parameter 5G-S-TMSI, for example, UE_ID=5G-S-TMSI mod 1024). For example, the UE calculates, via the following formula, a system frame number (SFN) where the PF associated therewith is located:(SFN+PF_offset)mod T=(T div N)*(UE_ID mod N)
where
SFN is the system frame number where the PF to be calculated is located.
PF_offset is an offset value used to calculate the PF.
T is a DRX cycle. For example, a default DRX cycle can be configured by a parameter defaultPagingCycle in paging control channel configuration information (for example, configuration information indicated by a parameter pcch-Config).
N is the number of PFs in the DRX cycle. Both N and PF_offset can be configured via a parameter nAndPagingFrameOffset in the paging control channel configuration information.
4. Determining a paging occasion (PO).
Each PF corresponds to one or a plurality of POs, and each PO corresponds to a group of PDCCH monitoring occasions for paging. For example, the number of PDCCH monitoring occasions for paging corresponding to each PO is equal to the number of PDCCH monitoring occasions required for performing one beam sweeping.
The number (Ns) of POs corresponding to each PF can be configured via a parameter ns in the paging control channel configuration information. The UE is associated with one of the POs according to the UE identifier. For example, the UE calculates, via the following formula, the index of a PO associated therewith:i_s=floor(UE_ID/N)mod Ns.
5. Determining a corresponding PDCCH monitoring occasion for paging in the associated PO according to a reference beam (for example, an SSB index; generically, different SSBs use different transmission beams) and/or other parameters.
In the existing 3GPP standards and specifications, the paging control channel configuration information is defined as follows:
PCCH-Config ::=SEQUENCE {defaultPagingCyclePagingCycle,nAndPagingFrameOffsetCHOICE {oneTNULL,halfTINTEGER (0..1),quarterTINTEGER (0..3),oneEighthTINTEGER (0..7),oneSixteenthTINTEGER (0..15)},nsENUMERATED {four, two, one},firstPDCCH-MonitoringOccasionOf?OCHOICE {sCS15KHZoneTSEQUENCE (SIZE (1..4)) OF INTEGER (0..139),sCS30KHZoneT-SCS15KHZhalfTSEQUENCE (SIZE (1..4)) OF INTEGER (0..279),sCS60KHZoneT-SCS30KHZhalfT-SCS15KHZquarterTSEQUENCE (SIZE (1..4)) OF INTEGER (0..559),sCS120KHZoneT-SCS60KHZhalfT-SCS30KHZquarterT-SCS15KHZoneEighthTSEQUENCE (SIZE (1..4)) OF INTEGER (0..1119),sCS120KHZhalfT-SCS60KHZquarterT-SCS30KHZoneEighthT-SCS15KHZoneSixteenthTSEQUENCE (SIZE (1..4)) OF INTEGER (0..2239),sCS120KHZquarterT-SCS60KHZoneEighthT-SCS30KHZoneSixteenthTSEQUENCE (SIZE (1..4)) OF INTEGER (0..4479),sCS120KHZoneEighthT-SCS60KHZoneSixteenthTSEQUENCE (SIZE (1..4)) OF INTEGER (0..9959),sCS120KHZoneSixteenthTSEQUENCE (SIZE (1..4)) OF INTEGER (0..17919)}OPTIONAL,-- Need R...}
in case of the default association mechanism, for step 4 and step 5 in which UE determines a PDCCH monitoring occasion for paging,
the value of Ns can only be 1 or 2. If Ns=1, then for a given PF, only one PO exists, and the PO starts from an SFN where the PF is located. If Ns=2, then for a given PF, two POs exist; the PO corresponding to i_s=0 is located in the first half frame of an SFN where the PF is located, and the PO corresponding to i_s=1 is located in the second half frame of the SFN where the PF is located.
The UE determines PDCCH monitoring occasions according to a relationship for mapping an SSB index to a PDCCH monitoring occasion in the type0-PDCCH common search space, and uses these PDCCH monitoring occasions as PDCCH monitoring occasions for paging.
FIG. 2 is an example of the default association mechanism. It is assumed that Ns=1, and a base station transmits only SSB1 and SSB9 (that is, one beam sweeping involves only two beams), then UE detects either SSB1 or SSB9, and calculates the position of the PDCCH monitoring occasion for paging according to the index of the detected SSB and the relationship for mapping the SSB index to the PDCCH monitoring occasion in the type0-PDCCH common search space. It can be seen that, during calculation, the UE only cares about the SSB index used thereby, and does not care how many and/or which SSBs are actually transmitted by the base station.
In case of the non-default association mechanism, for step 4 and step 5 in which UE determines a PDCCH monitoring occasion for paging,
starting from the first PDCCH monitoring occasion in an SFN where the PF is located, all of "valid PDCCH monitoring occasions" (for example, PDCCH monitoring occasions not overlapping an uplink symbol) in the paging search space can be used as PDCCH monitoring occasions for paging (numbered from 0 in a chronological order).
the first PO (namely the PO corresponding to i_s=0) starts from the SFN where the PF is located.
If a parameter firstPDCCH-MonitoringOccasionOfPO has been configured, then PDCCH monitoring occasions for paging corresponding to the (i_s+1)-th PO are S consecutive PDCCH monitoring occasions for paging starting from the PDCCH monitoring occasion indicated by the (i_s+1)-th value of the parameter firstPDCCH-MonitoringOccasionOfPO, where S is the number of actually transmitted SSBs, and for example, S can be determined via a parameter ssb-PositionsInBurst in SIB1.
If the parameter firstPDCCH-MonitoringOccasionOfPO is not configured, then PDCCH monitoring occasions for paging corresponding to the (i_s+1)-th PO are S consecutive PDCCH monitoring occasions for paging starting from the PDCCH monitoring occasion for paging numbered (i_s*S), where S is the number of actually transmitted SSBs, and for example, S can be determined via the parameter ssb-PositionsInBurst in SIB1.
FIG. 3 is an example of the non-default association mechanism. It is assumed that PDCCH monitoring occasions 0 and 1 are both "valid PDCCH monitoring occasions," that is, can be used as PDCCH monitoring occasions for paging; the parameter firstPDCCH-MonitoringOccasionOfPO is not configured; Ns=1, and a base station transmits only SSB1 and SSB9 (that is, S=2), then, for a given PF, PDCCH monitoring occasions for paging corresponding to a corresponding PO are two consecutive PDCCH monitoring occasions starting from the PDCCH monitoring occasion numbered 0.
Additionally, in the existing 3GPP standards and specifications, a network can allocate one or a plurality of "bandwidth parts" (BWPs) to each UE. Each BWP includes one or a plurality of consecutive resource blocks (RBs). Uplink and downlink BWPs used by UE during initial access are respectively referred to as an initial active uplink BWP and an initial active downlink BWP, and uplink and downlink BWPs used by UE during non-initial access (that is, in cases other than initial access) are respectively referred to as an active uplink BWP and an active downlink BWP. One paging search space can be configured for each BWP via the parameter pagingSearchSpace.
In the existing 3GPP standards and specifications, a paging-related mechanism has the following problems:
1. When the parameter pagingSearchSpace in SIB1 is not configured, UE in the RRC_IDLE or RRC_INACTIVE state determines a PDCCH monitoring occasion for paging according to a default association mechanism. On the other hand, if a base station expects that UE in the RRC_CONNECTED state also monitors paging in the same paging search space, the base station needs to configure the parameter pagingSearchSpace of the UE to 0; however, in this way, the UE in the RRC_CONNECTED state is caused to use the non-default association mechanism to determine a PDCCH monitoring occasion for paging. However, the type0-PDCCH common search space cannot provide an active default association mechanism and an active non-default association mechanism at the same time. For example, as shown in FIG. 2 (the default association mechanism), UE assumes that PDCCH monitoring occasion 1 uses beam 0 to perform transmission; however, as shown in FIG. 3 (the non-default association mechanism), UE assumes that PDCCH monitoring occasion 1 uses beam 1 to perform transmission. However, a base station using analog beamforming cannot simultaneously use different beams to perform transmission at the same time (for example, on one or a plurality of symbols).
2. Ns (the parameter used to configure the number of POs corresponding to each PF) is a cell-level parameter, and is used for both the default association mechanism and the non-default association mechanism, where in the default association mechanism, only Ns=1 or Ns=2 can be configured, while in the non-default association mechanism, Ns=1 or Ns=2 or Ns=4 can be configured. The problems are as follows:
If some UEs in a cell use the default association mechanism (for example, UE in the RRC_IDLE or RRC_CONNECTED state), and the other UEs use the non-default association mechanism (for example, when an active downlink BWP of the UE and CORESET associated with the type0-PDCCH common search space do not overlap in the frequency domain), then the UE using the non-default association mechanism cannot use Ns=4.
For the default association mechanism, only in "SSB and CORESET multiplexing state 2 or 3," and only when the transmission period of the SSB is 5 ms, it is possible to configure Ns=2. In all of the other cases, only Ns=1 can be configured. In other words, although Ns is a configurable parameter, the value thereof is almost completely dependent on other parameters, and the value places a limit on both the default association mechanism and the non-default association mechanism, so that the configuration of Ns of the non-default association mechanism is extremely inflexible.
3. In Time Division Duplex (TDD), the parameter firstPDCCH-MonitoringOccasionOfPO is used to indicate the first PDCCH monitoring occasion of each PO. The problem is that, cycles in which downlink slots (and/or symbols) configured in a cell occur and cycles in which POs (for example, the first PO corresponding to the first PF in each DRX cycle) occur may not have an integer multiple relationship therebetween (that is, the former is not an integral multiple of the latter, and the latter is not an integral multiple of the former). Therefore, the following cases may occur: for a given PO number (for example, the first PO corresponding to the PF), in some DRX cycles, a PDCCH monitoring occasion indicated for the PO by the parameter firstPDCCH-MonitoringOccasionOfPO is a "valid PDCCH monitoring occasion"; however, in other DRX cycles, a PDCCH monitoring occasion indicated for the PO by the parameter firstPDCCH-MonitoringOccasionOfPO is not a "valid PDCCH monitoring occasion" (and cannot be used as a PDCCH monitoring occasion for paging).
Therefore, the paging mechanism in the existing 3GPP standards and specifications needs to be improved. For example, the definitions of the default association mechanism and the non-default association mechanism need to be improved, so as to ensure that UE in the RRC_CONNECTED state can determine a PDCCH monitoring occasion for paging according to the default association mechanism. As another example, the definition of Ns and/or the configuration mechanism for Ns is improved, so as to ensure a flexible configuration for Ns in the non-default association mechanism. As yet another example, the mechanism of the parameter firstPDCCH-MonitoringOccasionOfPO indicating the first PDCCH monitoring occasion of the PO is improved, so as to ensure that the indicated PDCCH monitoring occasions for paging are all "valid PDCCH monitoring occasions."

Method performed by user equipment, and user equipment


A method and system that detect image pixels of noisy and sharp image edges, and enhance such pixels differently than other pixels, so that noise around the detected pixels is essentially not boosted. A detection process is conducted on a pixel basis, wherein each pixel is checked together with its neighboring pixels inside a rectangular window centered around a selected/current pixel to determine whether the current pixel belongs to a noisy and sharp vertical image edge or a noisy and sharp horizontal image edge. If the current pixel is classified as a regular pixel, image detail enhancement is performed normally at the current pixel location. Otherwise, mean values of pixels in a rectangular window centered with the current pixel are used to calculate the unsharp signal. The unsharp signal is then processed as in the case of the regular pixels to obtain a detail enhanced image.

Image detail enhancement is frequently used in digital video systems such as digital television sets. A goal of image detail enhancement is to improve the image sharpness. As such, image high frequency components that contain image details are extracted, enhanced and added back to the original image so that the details in the processed image become more obvious to a viewer.
FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a conventional image detail enhancement system 10, also known as unsharp masking. An original image ƒ is passed through a low pass filter (LPF) 12 to obtain an image ƒ1 (unsharp signal), wherein the image ƒ1 is subtracted from the original image ƒ in a node 14, to obtain the difference (ƒ−ƒ1). The difference (ƒ−ƒ1) is then boosted by a factor of K (K>0) in a multiplier 16, before being added back to the original image ƒ in a node 18, to generate an enhanced output image g. The relationship between the output signal g and the input signal ƒ can be expressed as:g=(ƒ−ƒ1)*K+ƒ  (1)
The low pass filter 12 can be either a one dimensional (1D) filter or a two dimensional (2D) filter. If it is a 1D filter, the detail enhancement process can be performed along the horizontal and vertical directions separately.
A shortcoming of such conventional image detail enhancement systems is that in addition to enhancing image details, image noise may also be enhanced. Typically image noise consists of high frequency, and as such it is extracted and boosted during such detail enhancement processes.
To control noise in detail enhancement, some conventional detail enhancement systems apply a coring function to the extracted high frequency component (ƒ−ƒ1). FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of such a detail enhancement system 20 further including a coring block 22, wherein the relationship between the output signal g and the input signal ƒ can be expressed as:g=K*coring(ƒ−ƒ1)+ƒ  (2)
Different coring functions can be utilized, and an example coring function can be:
                              coring                                                                          (            x            )                          =                  {                                                    0                                                                                if                                                                                                      x                                                                              <                  T                                                                                x                                                                                if                                                                                                      x                                                                              ≥                  T                                                                                (        3        )
Basically, the example coring function truncates small amplitude input values of x to 0 and leaves large amplitude value of x unchanged. A threshold value T is used to check the amplitude value of x. A coring function is useful in preventing noise enhancement in a flat image area. This is because in a flat image area, the amplitude of (ƒ−ƒ1) is relatively low and may be truncated to 0 by the coring function, whereby noise in those areas is not boosted. However, for noise along image edge areas, a coring function is not effective.
Yet another conventional detail enhancement system that attempts to control noise, utilizes checking the local variance at each pixel location and adjusts the enhancement gain accordingly (i.e., the enhancement gain is adaptively adjusted based on the local variance level). FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of such a detail enhancement system 30 which includes a local variance checker 32. The variance checker 32 checks the local variance around a current pixel, wherein a parameter α (0≦α≦1) is generated based on the variance level. The higher the local variance value, the larger the value of α. The relationship between the output signal g and the input signal ƒ can be expressed as:g=(ƒ−ƒ1)*K*α+ƒ  (4)
Such a system also helps prevent noise in a flat image area from being enhanced. In a flat image area, local variance level is low and therefore α has a small value. As a result, according to relation (4), flat image areas are not much enhanced and noise is not boosted substantially.
However, a shortcoming of the above detail enhancement systems is that neither system can prevent noise enhancement around image edge areas. When noise around image edge area is enhanced, it can have very undesirable results. FIG. 4 shows an example of noise enhancement around image edge areas, by a detail enhancement process. FIG. 4(a) shows the original image with noise, and FIG. 4(b) shows the detail enhanced image. In this example, both a coring function and local variance checking are used in the detail enhancement process to suppress noise. However, it can be seen in FIG. 4(b) that noise around image edge areas is still substantially enhanced (each small rectangular block in FIG. 4 is size of a pixel). Such poor results (artifacts) are especially obvious for sharp image edges having a horizontal or vertical direction. For a slant image edge, such artifacts are less visible.
There is, therefore, a need for a method and system for detecting and processing noisy edge in an image detail enhancement process so that noise enhancement around edge areas is virtually eliminated.

Method and apparatus for detecting and processing noisy edges in image detail enhancement


The invention relates to a method of producing a sintered Nd-Fe-B magnet which has a cylindrical or annular shape and is magnetized in radial directions with polar anisotropic orientation. In a cylindrical mold cavity filled with a Nd-Fe-B magnetic alloy powder a pulse of magnetic field is produced so as to cause polar anisotropic orientation of the magnetic powder with at least six poles distributed around the circumference, and a pulse-like pressure is applied to the powder in the mold cavity to compact the powder into a cylindrically shaped body while the pulse of magnetic field is lasting. The shaped body is sintered, and subsequently the side surface of the sintered body is abraded to remove projecting regions, which are attributed to anisotropic shrinkage during sintering, until the surface becomes accurately cylindrical.

This invention relates to a method of producing a polar anisotropic rare earth magnet, and more particularly to a method of producing a cylindrical or annular permanent magnet which is magnetized in radial directions and has polar anisotropy by compacting and sintering a magnetic powder essentially composed of Nd, Fe and B. The rare earth permanent magnet is suitable for use in motors for electric and electronic devices.
Several methods have already been proposed for producing sintered, cylindrical or annular permanent magnets with radial orientation or polar anisotropic orientation. For example, in compacting a magnetic powder in a cylindrical mold with a hydraulic press a known method to realize polar anisotropic orientation is arranging several poles of electromagnets around the side wall of the mold, and a known method to realize radial orientation is arranging two electromagnets axially of the mold to interpose the mold therebetween with the same poles of the respective magnets directed toward the mold to utilize repulsion between the magnetic fields. However, these methods have disadvantages such as the need of using large-sized electromagnets, difficulty of varying the number of poles and insufficiency of orientation because of difficulty in producing magnetic fields of desirably high intensity.
In the case of producing a plastic magnet by injection molding the magnetic powder in the melted resin can be oriented to a sufficiently high degree by applying magnetic fields of relatively low intensity. However, because of containing a binding resin which is a nonmagnetic material plastic anisotropic magnets are inferior to sintered anisotropic magnets in magnetic characteristics.
It is well known that a magnetic field of very high intensity and very short duration, viz. a pulse of magnetic field, can be produced by instantaneously supplying a large current to a coil from a capacitor. For producing a polar anisotropic magnet, JP-A 59-216453 proposes to repeatedly apply a pulse of magnetic field to the magnetic powder under compression with a static press means such as a hydraulic press to thereby induce polar anisotropic orientation. However, by this method the orientation becomes disordered because the duration of each pulse of magnetic field is far shorter than the duration of pressing and also because the magnetic field can be produced only intermittently during the compressing process.
In view of the above problems, we have already proposed to use a pulse of magnetic field and a pressure pulse in combination for shaping a magnetic powder into a cylindrical green body with polar anisotropic orientation. (JP-A 58-157901, JP-A 61-243102 and JP-A 61-241905.) However, in the case of producing a polar anisotropic rare earth magnet essentially composed of Nd, Fe and B, there is another problem which is attributed to anisotropy of shrinkage of the sintered magnet body. That is, the sintered body exhibits a greater amount of shrinkage in the direction of magnetization than in the direction perpendicular thereto. Therefore, when an annular green body is sintered the sintered body has dents and projections on its side surface and hence, with exaggeration, has a petaloid shape in plan view. With such deviation from an annular shape the magnet can hardly be used in rotating machines.

Method of producing polar anisotropic rare earth magnet


Oriented or strength-enhanced embossed film is produced by introducing a thermoplastic film having an inert liquid lubricant covering its surfaces into the nip between at least one pair of rotating compression rolls under sufficient pressure to reduce the thickness of the film, and simultaneously embossing at least one of the film surfaces within the nip. While various inert liquids may be used as the lubricant, use of water for this purpose is preferred. The lubricant is believed to provide a hydrodynamic wedge at the film-compression roll interfaces, and for best results it is preferred to spray the lubricant (most preferably, water) into both incoming sides of the nip of the compression rolls.

This invention provides a process in which orientable thermoplastic film is converted simultaneously into an embossed oriented film. Moreover, by use of certain thermoplastic films in the process, novel thin embossed films having desirable strength properties are produced. Such films are useful in the manufacture of backsheets for diapers, surgical dressings, sanitary napkins, etc., and for various packaging applications.
In accordance with this invention there is provided a method of producing oriented or strength-enhanced embossed film which comprises (i) introducing into the nip between at least one pair of rotating compression rolls one or more thermoplastic films having an inert liquid lubricant covering the film surfaces proximate to at least one pair of said compression rolls, the pressure between at least said one pair of compression rolls being sufficient to reduce the thickness of the film(s) passing through the nip thereof; and (ii) simultaneously embossing at least one film surface within said nip.
Two or more films may be superimposed on each other and passed through the compression rolls in order to effect the reduction in film thickness, film orientation or strength enhancement, and film embossing. When applying the process to two or more superposed films, the two outer sides of the film bundle are thoroughly wetted with the lubricant, preferably by spraying the lubricant (e.g., water) thereon as the superposed films are proceeding into the compression nip. Thus the outer side of the outermost films directly confronting the rolls are wet as they are proceeding into the nip.

Method for producing an embossed oriented film


A lubricating grease exhibits good lubricating performance in a hot and high-vacuum environment, and contains an alkyl substituted tetraphenylether as a base oil having incorporated therein bentonite as a thickener and at least one solid lubricant selected from the group consisting of molybdenum disulfide and tungsten disulfide.

The present invention relates to a grease that exhibits good lubricating performance in a hot and high-vacuum environment. More particularly, the present invention relates to a lubricating grease that contains an alkyl substituted tetraphenylether as a base oil having incorporated therein bentonite as a thickener and at least one solid lubricant selected from the group consisting of molybdenum disulfide and tungsten disulfide.
The drive mechanism of machines that are to be used in a hot and high-vacuum atmosphere is composed of many mechanical elements such as gear wheels and bearings, and the use of lubricants is essential for smooth operation of these elements. To this end, solid lubricants typified by molybdenum disulfide are coated on the surface of metal parts to be used in a hot and high-vacuum atmosphere. In some cases, such solid lubricants are combined with soap-based greases containing petroleum lubes as base oils.
The use of solid lubricants alone has the problem that the lubricating film has a relatively weak adhesion to the substrate and is prone to separation in applications where high stresses are to be exerted. The combination of solid lubricants with soap-based greases that contain petroleum lubes as base oils has its own problems such as evaporation loss and deterioration loss, which result in the fouling of the interior of the machine in which the lubricant is used.
In order to solve the aforementioned problems, it is important that the lubricant to be used insure prolonged and consistent lubrication in a hot and high-vacuum atmosphere without experiencing any evaporation loss and deterioration loss, which would otherwise foul the interior of the machine in which the lubricant is used.


A temperature adjustment control device includes a heat diffusion layer, a heat flux sensor, and a temperature changing body provided in this order from a surface making contact with a human body. The heat flux sensor is disposed on the temperature changing body and outputs a sensor signal corresponding to a heat flux. The heat diffusion layer is disposed opposite to the temperature changing body through the heat flux sensor. The heat flux sensor outputs the sensor signal corresponding to the heat flux passing through the heat flux sensor in a direction in which the heat diffusion layer, the heat flux sensor, and the temperature changing body are arranged. A control portion controls a start and a stop of the power supply to the temperature changing body based on the sensor signal outputted from the heat flux sensor.

Patent Literature 1 proposes an electrical carpet as a temperature adjustment control device including a heater as a temperature changing body which becomes hot when energized, a controller which controls energization of the heater, and a pyroelectric sensor as a human body detection portion.
More specifically, the electrical carpet also includes a cover making contact with the human body. The heater is disposed inside the cover, and the pyroelectric sensor is disposed outside the cover. When the pyroelectric sensor detects infrared light from the human body, presence of the human body is determined and the heater is energized. When absence of the human body is determined, energization of the heater is stopped. In short, energization of the heater is started and stopped under automatic control.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


An air compressor that can take in air at a particular pressure at the input and compress the air such that it exits an output at a much greater pressure until a desired pressure is reached in a piston assembly, at which point, the air compressor can shut off automatically by moving a switch. A tank does not need to be part of the compressor assembly, and thus, the air compressor is capable of determining the pressure and shutting off at the desired pressure regardless of the particular tank that is removeably connected to the air compressor. The switch can be moved to an off position by an arm pivotally connected to a carriage. In addition, the air compressor can utilize a piston assembly having a plurality of stationary o-rings for receiving a piston.

Air compressors are known in the art for supplying a flow of pressurized air for a variety of applications. They often use a motor that repetitively drives a piston to compress the air. As the air is compressed, it is often provided to and stored in a tank from which it can then be dispensed. The tank is typically brought up to a particular pressure by the compressor, at which point, a pressure sensor provides a signal that shuts off the motor. When the pressure in the tank drops to a particular pressure, as sensed by the pressure switch, or the compressor is manually turned on again, the motor will turn back on to continue the flow of pressurized air to the tank.
Typical consumer air compressors provide air pressures of about 200 psi or lower. Some applications, however, may require pressures greatly exceeding 200 psi. For example, paintball guns often have tanks that are filled to very high pressures such as 3000 psi-4500 psi. Similarly, scuba tanks are also filled to very high pressures. Thus, most consumer air compressors are not suitable for high pressure applications.
Furthermore, piston assemblies used for common air compressors utilize an interference fit of metallic sealing ring that is attached to and moves with the piston. Due to the number of cycles that the piston is required to undergo during operation, piston failure, and thus compressor failure, is often attributed to wear experienced by the piston components.

Air compressor and piston for air compressor


Embodiments pertain to a novel imaging member, namely, an imaging member or photoreceptor comprising a protective outer layer which comprises light-absorbing composition that substantially prevents any light absorption by the overcoat layer. The composition comprises a low strength thermal plastic resin and a high optical density yellow dye. Thus, the light-blocking protective layer reduces the intrinsic light shock suffered by conventional overcoat layers without negatively impacting electrical properties of the overcoat layer and while improving print quality.

The present embodiments pertain to a novel imaging member, namely, an imaging member or photoreceptor comprising a protective outer layer which comprises light-blocking composition that substantially prevents any light absorption by the overcoat layer. The composition comprises a low strength thermal plastic resin and a high optical density yellow dye with a molar extinction coefficient of 5000 M−1 cm−1 or higher. In this manner, the light-blocking protective layer reduces the intrinsic light shock suffered by conventional overcoat layers without negatively impacting electrical properties of the overcoat layer and while improving print quality.
In electrophotographic or electrophotographic printing, the charge retentive surface, typically known as a photoreceptor, is electrostatically charged, and then exposed to a light pattern of an original image to selectively discharge the surface in accordance therewith. The resulting pattern of charged and discharged areas on the photoreceptor form an electrostatic charge pattern, known as a latent image, conforming to the original image. The latent image is developed by contacting it with a finely divided electrostatically attractable powder known as toner. Toner is held on the image areas by the electrostatic charge on the photoreceptor surface. Thus, a toner image is produced in conformity with a light image of the original being reproduced or printed. The toner image may then be transferred to a substrate or support member (e.g., paper) directly or through the use of an intermediate transfer member, and the image affixed thereto to form a permanent record of the image to be reproduced or printed. Subsequent to development, excess toner left on the charge retentive surface is cleaned from the surface. The process is useful for light lens copying from an original or printing electronically generated or stored originals such as with a raster output scanner (ROS), where a charged surface may be imagewise discharged in a variety of ways.
The described electrophotographic copying process is well known and is commonly used for light lens copying of an original document. Analogous processes also exist in other electrophotographic printing applications such as, for example, digital laser printing or ionographic printing and reproduction where charge is deposited on a charge retentive surface in response to electronically generated or stored images.
To charge the surface of a photoreceptor, a contact type charging device has been used. The contact type charging device includes a conductive member which is supplied a voltage from a power source with a D.C. voltage superimposed with a A.C. voltage of no less than twice the level of the D.C. voltage. The charging device contacts the image bearing member (photoreceptor) surface, which is a member to be charged. The outer surface of the image bearing member is charged with the rubbing friction at the contact area. The contact type charging device charges the image bearing member to a predetermined potential. Typically the contact type charger is in the form of a roll charger such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,387,980, the relative portions thereof incorporated herein by reference.
Multilayered photoreceptors or imaging members have at least two layers, and may include a substrate, a conductive layer, an optional undercoat layer (sometimes referred to as a "charge blocking layer" or "hole blocking layer"), an optional adhesive layer (sometimes referred to as an "interfacial layer"), a photogenerating layer (sometimes referred to as a "charge generation layer," "charge generating layer," or "charge generator layer"), a charge transport layer, and an optional overcoating layer in either a flexible belt form or a rigid drum configuration. In the multilayer configuration, the active layers of the photoreceptor are the charge generation layer (CGL) and the charge transport layer (CTL). Enhancement of charge transport across these layers provides better photoreceptor performance. Multilayered flexible photoreceptor members may include an anti-curl layer on the backside of the substrate, opposite to the side of the electrically active layers, to render the desired photoreceptor flatness.
The electrical properties of some photoreceptors can change upon exposure to light, and these undesirable changes can result in poor print quality. Past studies have shown that this problem is caused by light shock, which is in turn due to the interaction of blue light with the photogenerating layer. In the case of organic photoreceptors having an overcoat layer, it has been discovered that the light shock is intrinsic to the overcoat layer itself and strongly wavelength dependent (e.g., the majority of the light shock being caused by 400-500 nm light).
In the case of overcoated drum photoreceptors, light shock occurs during replacement of xerographic customer replacement units (CRU) and/or photoreceptor service where the unit is exposed to ambient light for over 1 to 2 minutes. Standard overcoat layers are known to absorb in the ultraviolet (UV) region of 450 nm or less, indicating that the UV component of sun light or fluorescent room light is the major cause of light shock which is manifested as a local change in image density (darkening or lightening) due to a local change in charge transport properties induced by UV or visual light. The typical life time of the defect can be as long as several days.
Prior solutions focused on the interaction of light with the photogenerating layer but did not address intrinsic overcoat layer light shock protection. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,713,220, incorporated herein by reference, discloses a method for reducing the effects of light shock by preventing 400-500 nm light from interacting with the generator layer by doping a light-absorbing material into a charge transport layer comprising arylamine. However, intrinsic light shock observed in organic overcoat layers is not resolved by the method taught by U.S. Pat. No. 6,713,220. Thus, there is a need for a solution to the intrinsic light shock experienced by organic overcoat layers.
Conventional photoreceptors are disclosed in the following patents, a number of which describe the presence of light scattering particles in the undercoat layers: Yu, U.S. Pat. No. 5,660,961; Yu, U.S. Pat. No. 5,215,839; and Katayama et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,958,638. The term "photoreceptor" or "photoconductor" is generally used interchangeably with the terms "imaging member." The term "electrophotographic" includes "electrophotographic" and "xerographic." The terms "charge transport molecule" are generally used interchangeably with the terms "hole transport molecule."


A closure for a container is provided with a top portion and a skirt depending from an outer periphery of the top portion. A generally circular rim extends downwards from the lower surface of the top portion. A liner is attached to the closure between an outer surface of the rim and an inner surface of the skirt. The liner is configured to provide a fluid tight seal for containers having varied neck dimensions and/or profiles. One or more projections extend into a space formed between the lower surface of the top portion, an inner surface of the skirt, and an outer surface of the rim, with the liner enveloping and being supported in the closure by the one or more projections.

Referring generally to the figures, various embodiments of a closure assembly are described. The closure discussed herein may be particularly suitable for containers, such as large capacity containers (2.5 gallon, 3 gallon, 5 gallon, 6 gallon etc.) configured for use with liquid dispensers. For example, the closure may be used to seal water bottles that are usable in water dispensers.
There is a relatively high degree of standardization in the water bottling industry, as many of the dimensions for closures are required to lie within relatively tight tolerances, in order for the closures to provide an effective liquid-tight seal on a range of conventional container neck finishes. However, variations stemming from bottles being manufactured by different suppliers or in different batches, or wear and tear, etc. may result in some variation between neck lip portion diameters and profiles between bottles.
As such, the closure as discussed herein includes a liner or gasket which is configured to be capable of forming a fluid-tight interface between the closure and the container when the closure is attached to the neck of the container, irrespective of variations between the size and profile of the neck portions of the different types of water bottles to which the closure may be applied. Additionally, the closure includes one or more posts extending from an inner surface of the closure. The one or more posts are configured to provide support and structure to which the liner may adhere to when the liner is flowed into, and allowed to cool in the closure. The additional support of the posts is configured to increase the adherence of the liner to the closure, and prevent and/or resist movement, detachment and/or deformation of the liner during application and removal of the closure to or from a container.


A person tracking method, comprising: acquiring N frames in units of time windows; acquiring, in time windows, tracking paths of a target person according to the N frames; and constructing continuous tracking paths by means of continuous time windows, so as to obtain the tracking results of the target person.

Person tracking technology is widely used in video surveillance, and it is mostly implemented by the approach of "detection+association", that is, persons are detected from each frame of the video, and then these person detection frames are associated with person identity to achieve the purpose of tracking person's trajectories.
The above-mentioned information disclosed in the Background section is only used to enhance the understanding of the background of the present disclosure, so it may include information that does not constitute the prior art known to those skilled in the art.

Person tracking method, device, electronic device, and computer readable medium

BEIJING JINGDONG SHANGKE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.

BEIJING JINGDONG CENTURY TRADING CO., LTD.


An orthomode junction for separating and/or combining orthogonally-polarized radiofrequency wave signals, comprises a body which has a main cavity forming a main waveguide, which has a blind end, and auxiliary cavities forming auxiliary waveguides, which communicate laterally with the main cavity in the vicinity of the blind end thereof, and a deflection insert situated at the blind end of the main cavity and facing the auxiliary cavities, the deflection insert having different shapes on the side of the auxiliary cavities respectively.

More specifically, the field of transmission devices employing orthogonal polarization duplexers (also known as Orthogonal Mode Transducers, most commonly known by their abbreviation OMT) inserted between an electronic unit able to generate and/or to pick up radiofrequency signals, and an antenna, for example a parabolic antenna.
More specifically, polarization duplexers, or OMTs, are devices which are used to combine in emission mode or to separate in receive mode two orthogonally-polarized (one vertically and one horizontally) signals. Thus, it is possible to use the one same frequency band to emit and receive simultaneously distinct signals of which the electrical fields are mutually perpendicular.
Known polarization duplexers, or OMTs, comprise orthomode junctions for separating/combining orthogonally-polarized radiofrequency wave signals, which junctions are made in a body which has a main cavity forming a main waveguide, which has a blind end and an end generally coupled to an antenna, for example a parabolic antenna, and auxiliary cavities forming auxiliary waveguides, which have ends which communicate laterally with the main cavity in the vicinity of the blind end thereof, and ends which are coupled to an electronic unit. The adjacent parts of the main cavity that form a main waveguide, and of the auxiliary cavities that form auxiliary waveguides, are generally referred to as junctions.
Nevertheless, it is essential that, in emission and/or in reception, these junctions provide inter-polarization isolation between the two orthogonally-polarized signals so as to avoid exchanges of energy that would produce interference and noise detrimental to the communication.

Waveguide device and method for separating and/or combining orthogonally polarized signals of radiofrequency waves


There are provided an ultrasonic imaging system and method which can correct a phase shift effect to image a real change in acoustic impedance in a living body.

The present invention relates to an ultrasonic imaging system and method which image an image in an object using ultrasonic waves.
An ultrasonic imaging system used in medical imaging diagnosis can display and observe a tomographic image of the tissue of a soft part of a living body and an image of the blood flow flowed in a living body in substantially real time on a monitor using a pulse echo method. The ultrasonic imaging system also gives no radiation exposure of an imaging diagnostic system using radiation to an object, which offers high safety. Further, it is small and inexpensive. It is used widely in a medical field.
The imaging mechanism of a prior art ultrasonic imaging system will be described as follows. The ultrasonic imaging system transmits an ultrasonic wave from an ultrasonic probe having an array of piezoelectric materials to an object. Timing transmitting the ultrasonic wave from the devices of the array is controlled. The focal point position of the ultrasonic wave in the object is controlled. A signal which has been received by each of the devices of the array is added by shifting time according to a distance difference between a desired position and the position of each of the devices to strengthen a signal from the desired position. An ultrasonic pulse is scanned over the entire imaging region to acquire a tomographic image. In the prior art, in such pulse echo method, an echo (receive signal) from an interface in which acoustic impedance in an object is changed is received to envelope detect the receive signal so as to use an absolute value of the echo for imaging a tomographic image.
Prior art about trials to perform imaging while the code of an echo remains or using phase information is proposed (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 55-136043 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-137546).
In the prior art methods, when using code information of an echo (receive signal), phase shift of an echo signal due to a change in acoustic impedance cannot be discriminated from phase shift of an echo signal due to other factors. It is difficult to image an acoustic impedance map of a real object.
The above-described other factors are the following two factors (1) and (2).
(1) Since the center frequency of an ultrasonic pulse is changed by attenuation in a living body, an apparent phase is shifted. (2) Due to phase shift in the lateral direction of an ultrasonic beam, a signal from a noted echoing object near the ultrasonic beam is received as a phase shift signal.
A first object in such prior art methods is to correct a phase shift effect of a receive signal of (1) and (2) to image a real change in acoustic impedance in a living body.
A second object is an object about monitoring the treating effect of a coagulation therapy described below. The coagulation therapy is a method for thermally treating the affected part of prostatomegaly, prostatic cancer or liver cancer by irradiating strong focusing ultrasonic waves or irradiating electromagnetic waves such as RF waves or microwaves. The above-described phase information imaging is expected to accelerate development of a minimally invasive therapy using coagulation which has been developed in recent years.
In these therapies, treatment can be conducted without making a large incision on the surface of a body. Their clinical use has been enlarged, which makes an effect decision method important. When there is a treating leak of cancer, the cancer grows therefrom. It is important to decide whether a part to be treated has been completely treated. At present, contrast CT, contrast MRI, and contrast ultrasonic wave methods are used. It is difficult to perform imaging in the CT or MRI during treatment. Since a contrast agent is used, treatment is stopped once to perform effect decision. When it is failed, the treatment is restarted.
To conduct more effective treatment, it is desired that effect decision can be performed while conducting treatment. Distortion imaging using a pressurizing method has been studied as a tissue imaging method without using an ultrasonic contrast agent. This is considered to be applied only to a location where pressurizing can be performed effectively. From the above reasons, a simplified tissue hardness imaging method is necessary.
A third object is an object about a contrast ultrasonic wave method. The contrast ultrasonic wave method is a method for observing a time difference between the functions of a living body using a behavior injecting a contrast agent as a trigger. This can image the contrast of a difference in blood vessel system for each tissue of a liver (that is, arterial dominant for a liver cancer and portal dominant for other normal tissue parts).
In this case, it is important that a signal from a contrast agent be discriminated from a signal from the tissue of a living body for imaging. In the prior art, a contrast between echo signals from a contrast agent and the tissue of a living body is provided by a method for using a frequency change in an echo signal such as using nonlinearity of the response of a contrast agent to employ a second harmonic wave. Since the tissue of a living body also has nonlinearity, the contrast is hard to provide. Improvement in the contrast is desired.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe transmits an ultrasonic beam to an object to receive an echo. A transmit beamformer transmits a transmit signal via transmit/receive SWs to the probe in delay time matched with a transmit focal point according to the signal under the control of a control system. An ultrasonic signal returned from the object to the probe is converted to an electric signal by the probe to be transmitted via the transmit/receive SWs to a complex receive beamformer. The complex receive beamformer performs dynamic focus adjusting delay time according to reception timing. A phase shift correction part uses the output of the complex beamformer outputting beams of a real part and an imaginary part to correct phase shift. due to frequency-dependent attenuation, correct phase shift in the lateral direction of the beam, or correct both. After phase shift correction, an acoustic impedance change amount operation part obtains a derivative about the space position of acoustic impedance. The signal subject to filtering processing is image displayed via a scan converter on a display part.


A vise includes a base and two opposed jaws. At least one of the jaws is movable with respect to the other so that an object can be gripped therebetween. At least one of the two opposed jaws includes a frame and an array of polygon-shaped pins stacked parallel to one another. The frame has a bottom side and two opposed sides tapering towards the bottom side. The pins are disposed on the bottom side. Each pin has a cross-sectional shape such that when stacked together, the pins fit flush with one another and an area defined by the frame is tiled by the pins without any substantial gaps therebetween. The pins are oriented such that the tapering opposed sides direct force vectors to increase a pin-to-pin clamping force and the frame selectively clamps down on the pins such that the pins are held in place.

Irregularly shaped parts are frequently encountered in cast and forged components which require finishing operations. These irregularly shaped parts present significant challenges when being held with a typical vise, as shown in FIG. 1. These irregularly shaped parts may lack symmetry or flat surfaces or must be positioned in an orientation that complicates typical workpiece holding methods. The disadvantage of standard vise jaws, shown in FIG. 1, is that flat surfaces do not provide good support for round or abnormally shaped parts. Although round parts can be accommodated through the use of accessories such as V-blocks, this does not address irregular geometries.

Positive interlock network (PIN) vise and mold


A read/write head for an optical storage system is implemented using at least one liquid crystal cell, the liquid crystal cell being of the type in which the retardance of a radiation beam therethrough is determined by an externally applied voltage. In an optical storage system of the type having regions of differing absorption to determine logic states the liquid crystal cell can activated by a voltage which provides the liquid crystal cell with the characteristics of a quarter wave plate. In this configuration, the liquid crystal cell is positioned in the collimated beam between the linearizing beam splitter and the storage medium. In the optical storage system in which logic states are identified with the orientation of magnetic regions, the liquid crystal cell is positioned between the linearizing beam splitter and the beam splitter used to separate the radiation components. When two liquid crystal cells with controllable retardance are included in read/write head, a read/write head which can be used in either type of optical storage system can be provided. The use of the adjustable retardance liquid crystal cells permits both an optimization of the read/write head, but permits adjustment to compensate for changes in the optical properties.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates generally to optical systems for the storage and retrieval of information and, more particularly, to the read/write head of the optical information storage system which directs radiation to the storage medium and then directs radiation resulting from the interaction with the medium to the radiation detectors.
2. Description of the Related Art
The optical storage systems, at present can generally be placed into one of two categories, the categories determined by the optical property used to identify different logical states on the storage medium. The first optical storage system can be referred to a differential absorption (or reflection) of a radiation beam impinging on the storage medium surface. In the differential absorption optical systems, each logical states are associated with changes in the intensity of a beam of radiation interacting with the storage medium. In the second category of optical storage systems, changes in the rotation of plane polarized beam of radiation are used to identify optical states. In either category, a multiplicity of encoding techniques can be used in the storage of the information on the storage medium.
Referring now to FIG. 1, an implementation of the differential absorption type of optical storage system, also referred to as a "write once erasable phase" change storage system, is shown. In particular, the read/write head of the optical storage system is used to determine a change in the absorption resulting from the interaction of radiation with the optical information storage medium 15. Radiation from a light source 10, typically a laser diode or light emitting diode, is collimated by lens 11. The resulting collimated light beam is passed through a polarization beam splitter 12, the beam splitter 12 positioned and oriented to pass only light having predetermined linear polarization. The linearly polarized beam is transmitted through the quarter wave plate 13. With the proper orientation of the quarter wave plate 13, the radiation beam is changed to a nearly circularly polarized state. The circularly polarized radiation beam can be considered to comprised of two components having a left hand oriented or right hand oriented component. The radiation beam is then focused by objective lens 14 on a predetermined location of storage medium 15. The storage medium 15 can be a rotating disc with storage material having at least two states of absorption. The two states of absorption will provide a detectable difference in the intensity of the radiation beam applied thereto. The radiation reflected from the storage medium 15 is recollimated by lens 14. The recollimated radiation, for which the orientation of the circular polarization is reversed by the reflection from the storage material and passage through the objective lens, is transmitted through the quarter wave plate 13 once again. The second passage of the radiation through the quarter wave plate converts the circularly polarized radiation state to a state of linear polarization of the radiation which is orthogonal relative to the linear polarization of the original radiation beam. The resulting radiation beam is applied to beam splitter 12. The polarization of the reflected radiation beam, having been rotated by 90.degree. by the media reflection and the double passage through the quarter wave plate, the reflected radiation beam will be reflected, rather than transmitted, by the beam splitter 12. The reflected radiation from the beam splitter 12 is applied to detector 18. The detector 18 responds to the magnitude of the detected radiation beam. The output signal from the photodetector 18 is a function of the amplitude of the beam reflected from the storage medium and is therefore a measure of the reflectivity of the local region upon which the radiation beam is focused. The signal from detector 18 is amplified by amplifier 20. Because there is a correlation between the local regions of controlled reflectivity with absorption, the output signal of the detector 18 identifies the reflectivity of a (currently addressed) region of the storage medium having the radiation beam applied thereto. By applying the radiation beam to localized regions of the storage medium in a manner consistent with the geometry of the information stored thereon, retrieval of information can be performed on the storage medium.
Referring to FIG. 2, the implementation of the read/write head in an optical information storage system relying on differential rotation of the planar polarization of a optical radiation caused by the interaction of the optical radiation with the storage surface is shown. This type of storage system, also known as a magneto-optical storage system, relies on the Kerr effect wherein the rotation of a plane of polarization is different when a magnetic material has a magnetic orientation parallel to or a magnetic orientation anti-parallel to the direction of the radiation interacting with the magnetic material, i.e., the differential change in polarization of a reflected beam depends upon the orientation of the magnetization of the local domain with which the radiation interacts. As with the implementation for detecting a change in reflected light amplitude, the radiation from a light source 10 is collimated by lens 11 and one plane of polarization is selected by passing the collimated beam through the partial beam splitter 12'. Because linearly polarized radiation can be considered to be comprised of two circularly polarized radiation components, the interaction with the magnetic layer forming a portion of storage medium 15 effects the two circularly polarized components differently. As a result, after interaction with the storage material, the reflected radiation is not linearly polarized parallel to the applied radiation, but an elliptical polarization of the reflected radiation results in a rotation of the reflected linear polarization due to the circular dichroism and the circular birefringence of the storage media. The reflected radiation is recollimated by objective lens 14. The recollimated beam is applied to beam splitter 12' and the components of the radiation beam orthogonal to the plane of polarization of the radiation impinging on storage medium, i.e., the components induced by the interaction, are reflected by the beam splitter 12. Some of the light with polarization parallel to the impinging radiation can also be reflected from the magneto-optic region. The radiation reflected by the beam splitter 12' is transmitted through retardation plate 16 to correct to ellipticity introduced into the radiation beam. The polarization beam splitter 17 divides the radiation reflected from beam splitter 12' into radiation components which have been rotated by the interaction with the storage material. Each detector 18 and 19 receives a component resulting from one orientation of the magnetic regions of the storage medium interacting with the impinging radiation beam. The differential amplifier 20' is used to enhance the detectability of the small signals, the rotation due to the Kerr effect typically being less than 2.degree. relative to reflected radiation which had not been subjected to differential interaction of the circularly polarized components with the optical storage material and to cancel the large DC component of the two radiation components.
The foregoing implementations of read/write heads have the problem that the retardation plates must be provided which are specific to the parameters of the device. For example, the quarter wave plate 13 (in FIG. 1) and the retardation plate 16 (in FIG. 2) both depend on the radiation emitted by the radiation source 10. The radiation source 10, e.g., a light emitting diode, can have aging effects which cause the wavelength of the emitted radiation to vary. A need has therefore been felt for a read/write head for optical storage devices which can be adjusted as conditions change and to compensate for variations in the media and for variation in the properties of the optical components. In addition, a need has been felt for a read/write head which can be adapted to either the differential absorption or the differential polarization device.

Apparatus and method for optimizing performance in an optical storage system read/write head


Provided are an electrical junction box for which the time required for production is short, and a method for manufacturing the electrical junction box. An electrical junction box houses an electric device. A plurality of external devices are connected to each other via the electric device housed in the electrical junction box. The electrical junction box includes a housing box and a connector. The housing box is provided with an insertion port 40 into which the connector is inserted, and an opposite opening that is opposite to the insertion port. The insertion port and the opposite opening have the same axial direction. Inside the housing box, a component can be attached to the connector.

An electrical junction box (see, e.g., JP 2014-236621A) that connects a plurality of vehicle-mounted devices is often mounted in a vehicle. The electrical junction box disclosed in JP 2014-236621A includes a plurality of connectors. Connectors connected to the vehicle-mounted devices are mounted to the connectors. Thus, the plurality of vehicle-mounted devices are connected to the electrical junction box. The electrical junction box disclosed in JP 2014-236621A supplies power that has been supplied from one vehicle-mounted device to another vehicle-mounted device, for example.

Electrical junction box and method for manufacturing electrical junction box


A system for dissipating heat from a semiconductor board includes a first substrate including an opening formed therein, a second substrate attached to a surface of the first substrate, and a microchip positioned in the opening and bumped to the second substrate. The system further includes a heat sink directly adhered to the microchip. A method of manufacturing a heat dissipating semiconductor board includes forming an opening in a first substrate and positioning a microchip in the opening. The method further includes directly adhering the microchip to a heat sink, bonding the microchip to a second substrate and boding a surface of the first substrate to the second substrate.

Heat generation is an undesired byproduct of operating microchips. Typically, excess heat flows to a heat sink through thermal vias and wire bonds. However, as wiring systems become more complex, designers are increasingly being challenged to place the thermal vias, especially in applications with limited space. These problems are exacerbated in high temperature operating environments. While simple components such as FETS, diodes and low power integrated chips (IC) have solutions, problems exist for high pincount devices such as microchips, flash memory, SRAM, etc.
Thus, in automotive engine applications, such as automotive transmissions, designers face a daunting challenge. In such an environment, often approaching 140 Celsius, the maximum operating temperature can be as low as 150 Celsius, leaving a window of only 10 Celsius. While cooling systems can help alleviate these problems, such systems add both cost, as well as weight, to the system, and can therefore be undesirable.
FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art circuit board 100 including substrate 105. A plurality of flip chips. IC's and other electronic devices 140 are mounted to substrate 105 using appropriate techniques. In addition, microchip 110 is wirebonded 120 to the substrate, with wirebond 120 providing at least some heat sink functionality for microchip 110. As can be seen in FIG. 1, microchip 110 includes a significant footprint on the substrate 105, especially when including the wirebond 120.
Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a system for dissipating heat that would overcome the aforementioned and other disadvantages.


When a correlation between an L channel and an R channel of a reproduction-target sound source is considerably high, virtual sound obtained from a reproduction signal is often more likely to be localized inside the head of a listener. A device includes: a correlation analysis unit (3) that analyzes a degree of correlation between a surround L channel signal (SL signal) and a surround R channel signal (SR signal); and an output signal control unit 4 that controls, based on the degree of correlation between the SL signal and the SR signal obtained as a result of the analysis performed by the correlation analysis unit (3), a ratio between: the signals outputted from a front L speaker (7) and a front R speaker (8); and the signals outputted from a near-ear L speaker (9) and a near-ear R speaker (10).

Conventional technologies of virtual sound localization include a method of localizing virtual sound in front of and behind a listener using an HRTF.
With this method, virtual sound is generated as follows.
Firstly, a speaker is placed at a desired position of virtual sound localization, and then an HRTF is measured from this speaker to the entrance of the external ear canal of the listener. This measured HRTF is set as a target characteristic. Following this, an HRTF is measured from a reproduction speaker to a listening position. Here, the reproduction speaker is used for reproducing a reproduction-target sound source. This measured HRTF is set as a reproduction characteristic. Note that the speaker placed at the desired position of virtual sound localization is used only for measuring the target characteristic and thus is not used for sound reproduction. Only the reproduction speaker is used for reproducing the reproduction-target sound source.
Then, an HRTF used in virtual sound localization is calculated from the target characteristic and the reproduction characteristic. The calculated HRTF is set as a filter characteristic. This filter characteristic is convoluted into the reproduction-target sound source which is then reproduced from the reproduction speaker. As a result, virtual sound localization can be implemented in such a manner that it seems to the listener as if the sound was reproduced from the speaker placed at the desired position of sound localization, although the sound is actually being reproduced from the reproduction speaker.
For generating the virtual sound as described above, there are two cases where: (1) reproduction speakers for reproducing the reproduction-target sound source are placed in front of the listener typically as in the case of a front virtual surround system; and (2) front speakers are placed in front of the listener and near-ear speakers are placed near the ears of the listener. A method for further increasing the accuracy in virtual sound localization by using the front speakers and the near-ear speakers is disclosed (see Patent Literature 1).

Audio signal processing device and audio signal processing method


A laser beam detection and tracking system includes a focal plane array sensor providing pixel data and a field programmable gate array controller receiving the pixel data for determining a centroid of the illuminating spot of the impinging laser beam and for determining variably sized windows of interest disposed around the spot for selecting a subset of pixels of the array for communicating a subset of the pixel of a window frame of data from the array to the controller for increasing the array frame rate for reducing laser jitter during tracking of the beam for improved beam tracking performance.

Space-based laser communication systems establish and maintain constant spatial orientation between satellites for providing a continuous closed-loop communications link. A ground system will search for a space system initiating a laser communication link with the ground system. The space system directs a laser beam at an electro-optical focal plane array sensor of the ground system. A focal plane array is known as an imaging sensor. A detected pixel is a pixel having a magnitude value of pixel data exceeding a detection threshold level. The pixel data is a decimal value of the magnitude of the impinging light on a pixel in the array. The pixel data is a decimal value equal to or exceeding the predetermined detection threshold level. Pixel data is typically any number of N parallel bits. The pixel data is typically used to establish and maintain a communications link. The ground system must acquire, detect and then track by signal processing the laser beam of the space system in a continuous and closed-loop process. The ground system acquires continuous frames of image data as long as the laser is impinging the sensor. Each frame may consist of millions of pixels. Each pixel is associated with a respective row and column in the focal plane array. These systems may be space satellites. Two satellites may attempt to initiate, establish, and maintain an efficient and optimal laser communication link. Each satellite must be able to independently sense and acquire the presence of the laser light. That is, each satellite must be able to detect the laser light to initiate a communications link, and subsequently maintain continuous tracking of that laser light originating from the satellite attempting to initiate the communication link to ensure unbroken connectivity of that link. The sensor may be a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) focal plane array, which would be continuously scanning a portion of space within a field of view searching for the laser beam where the satellite may be positioned. Once a laser signal, originating from the space satellite, impinges on the photodetector array surface of the imaging sensor of the ground system, output data from that sensor can then be processed by a signal processing system. The output data from the signal processing system would then be sent to a positing controller for commanding a pointing mechanism to move the sensor field of view as the sensor is continuously moved so as to continuously track the laser beam. Continuing technological advancements in satellite imaging sensors are now making these focal plane array sensors much larger with multi-mega pixels. The sensors have more complex structures and operate at even faster data rates, which places further stringent performance requirements on signal processing speeds to attain faster pointing response times, more precise pointing command resolution, and ever faster closed loop system response times.
The beamwidth of the impinging laser beam is affected and influenced by space phenomenology. The laser beam propagates from the originating satellite where the laser beam originates, to the receiving satellite on which the focal plane array imaging sensor resides. The spot beam is affected by physical interaction of the impinging laser beam with the surface of the imaging sensor, and any related and ensuing motion between the impinging laser beam and sensor surface. This motion is laser jitter and disadvantageously affects the ability of a tracking system to smoothly track the laser beam source.
The positioning of the sensor operates by continuous closed-loop control. That is, the signal processing system continuously accepts the imaging sensor outputs to calculate and update the impinging laser light on respective X and Y Cartesian coordinate centroid locations with respect to the illuminated spot of laser light illuminating individual pixels of the focal plane array. The signal processing system then outputs pointing commands to the positioning controller for controlling the pointing mechanism. In this way, continuous tracking of the impinging laser is maintained. When no laser beam is impinging on the focal plane array, the signal processing system is still accepting and processing inputs from the focal plane array while the focal plane array is continuously scanning over the field of view while awaiting for the arrival of a laser signal. When no laser beam is received, the pointing mechanism receives no updated pointing commands from the signal processor system so the focal plane array remains fixed in the position or the signal processing system can enter a scanning mode searching for a signal.
Various sensor control systems have been used. U.S. Pat. No. 6,469,815 teaches utilizing a quadrant sensor that is a multi-channel photo-detector. Each of the four sensor quadrants requires a dedicated processing channel. The received laser signal also requires conversion into electrical signals and threshold circuits, which supply thresholds for the converted electrical signal to be compared against. This system is for acquisition of the laser signal only. The spacecraft requires a second sensor to perform laser tracking. U.S. Pat. No. 6,522,440 also teaches the use of a four-quadrant photo-detector and respective channel processing circuitry and fine laser tracking is accomplished by relative power comparisons. U.S. Pat. No. 5,142,400 teaches two different sensors in a transceiver using a matched pair of reflecting telescopes and processing electronics and software for the comparison of two different optical beams for detection, acquisition, and tracking of the laser. U.S. Pat. No. 5,973,310 teaches three embodiments necessitating the use of binning of signals received from the imaging sensor. In the case the imaging sensor, the sensor is a charged coupled device. The sensor requires the use of a modified discrete Fourier transform of the binned signals and phase relationships. The sensor requires a finite impulse response transform with phase relationships, requires the collection of N image samples of the binned signals and calculation of an error angle, and lastly requires an iterative and repetitive methodology used for reducing window size until the signal is located. U.S. Pat. No. 6,556,324 teaches the use of separate sensors for the respective acquisition and tracking functions as well as three assemblies to implement the functions of point ahead, coarse, and fine pointing. U.S. Pat. No. 4,979,221 teaches a system where pixel data is used to create respective binary addresses for locating a given pixel on a charge coupled device array and sub-pixel centroiding. U.S. Pat. No. 5,517,016 teaches the storage and comparisons between three stored sets of collected pixel brightness magnitude data for further processing as well as requiring the determination of a relative angle between receive and transmit laser beams. U.S. Pat. No. 5,517,016 teaches the use of multiple radial compare window frames of data and uses a number of pixels to make logic decisions. U.S. Pat. No. 5,592,320 teaches scanning logic, scan controller, and signal processor elements as segregated system elements.
These cited patents teach that separate sensors are required for implementing the respective laser acquisition and tracking functions. The cited patents teach individual sensors necessitate additional processing hardware. The cited patents teach software and logic resources required for the acquisition sensor to cue the tracking sensor while incurring increased system size, weight, power, thermal control, and complexity. The cited patents teach the use of additional hardware and software for storage and preprocessing of sensor data for centroid processing and calculations, teach expensive and complex optical signal processing and components, optical beam power splitting, and optical beam power measurements. The optical components are sensitive to space radiation and thermal environments, suffer aging effects, maintaining mechanical alignment and calibration is critical. The cited patents also teach custom and fixed nonmodifiable system designs for any given satellite. The cited patents teach hardware intensive based implementations rather than reprogrammable software. The cited patents teach hardware intensive implementations require more control and monitoring by the signal processing system that has overall responsibility for the control and monitoring the functions of all other individual subsystems that make up the total satellite. The cited patents also teach centroid calculations used for data comparing and repetitive, iterative processes to eventually converge on X and Y values, rather than operating in real-time, or on-the-fly mode of operation.
There are critical problems with the teachings of the cited references. The operational limitations and shortfalls are due to slow signal processing and the obtainable precision of the pointing commands that the signal processing system uses to generate for the pointing commands. This signal processing time directly impacts the sensor positioning and repositioning response time that is defined as the time required for the sensor pointing mechanism and positioning controller to accept and respond to new pointing commands and to then point to that commanded location. The sensor pointing response time is extremely critical, as the response time is a dominant factor to ensure a continuous and highly accurate tracking of the impinging laser beam. Typical values of signal processing time, as measured between the signal processing mechanism accepting inputs from the imaging sensor, calculating the X and Y Cartesian coordinate centroid values to the final output of pointing commands to the sensor's pointing mechanism and positioning controller is on the order of milliseconds. Slow signal processing time and inadequately low pointing resolution of the generated pointing commands are problems of the closed-loop system response. In considering the imaging sensor, the signal processing mechanism and the sensor pointing mechanism and positioning controller as a single, closed-loop system, the overall system response of the closed-loop system is approximately on the order of 30.0 Hz. This overall response time is too slow and as such, will not accommodate the requirements of advanced imaging sensors.
Another problem is that the prior systems do not implement an efficient and optimal use of the imaging sensor built-in and primary operating feature. This feature is called the frame rate. Satellite imaging sensors with focal plane arrays, operate in one of two modes. When the focal plane array is operating in the full frame mode, all the individual pixels of that focal plane array surface are examined for any impinging laser light. This scanning process is done internally by the focal plane array internal electronics. The focal plane array will output pixel data and specialized control signals whether a laser is impinging the surface or not. When no laser light is present, then the pixel data is then zero. The specialized control signals will be different for each of the focal plane arrays made by respective manufacturers. These specialized control signals are used for timing control and sequencing for signal processing of the focal plane array pixel data. The full frame mode is typically used for laser signal detection and acquisition, when the focal plane array is initially staring into a field of view while waiting for a laser signal to impinge on the array. The second mode of focal plane array operation is a window of interest mode. The window of interest mode is predefined a priori within the signal processor to output a smaller N×N pixel subset of the focal plane array pixels. The cited references teach, in terms of speed, accuracy and precision, a signal processor that reduces the full scan to a fixed-sized window of interest of a fixed number of pixels. As such, the scanning limits system response time.
Another problem with prior system is the use of quadrature photodetector cells as an imaging sensor, be it for either for laser detection, acquisition or tracking functions. These quadrature photodetector cells devices offer a very limited small field-of-views in terms of how much space the sensor can scan through at any given time and the outputs from these quadrature photodetector cells devices are error signals. Error signals only provide the signal processor with limited data in which even further processing is required, which then allows a less precise coarse laser tracking function. Quadrant detectors or quad cells have been the principal means of achieving precise sensing of laser beams within an acquisition and tracking scheme. A drawback to a quad cell implementation is a highly restricted field of view for the four cell quadrant detectors. Precise optical alignment between the sensor and laser beam line-of-sight is not always achievable. The use of wide-angle field-of-view detectors allows for simplification of apparatus design and a decreased latency associated with switching between acquisition and tracking.
The use of a two-dimensional CMOS focal plane array as a detector device, exhibits superior performance for certain region-of-interest as compared to the equivalent charge coupled device detector arrays. Current advances in sub-micron feature CMOS technology have been exploited by developers of visible detector arrays to provide features, such as micron sized pixel dimensions, random access readout and image windowing, which are not available using alternate detector implementation approaches. For example, the ability to address individual pixels in a CMOS focal plane array enables dynamic switching to a selected region-of-interest, or a localized area of processing, with readout supported at high frame rates. In this case, the digital processing capability nominally used for an array of 1000×1000 pixels can be applied to a smaller field of view, for example to a 10×10 pixel area in order to support a significantly higher readout rate. For one example, a sub-array frame rate of 1000 frames per second (fps) is sought in order to close the sensing loop with a fast steering mirror as the actuator. The overall objective is to close the loop in a high bandwidth pointing and tracking test bed. The test bed will be used to test several performance metrics associated with a pointing acquisition and tracking scheme for orbital laser communications.
In particular, CMOS technology is allowing for more capable sensing and processing of data in a location removed from the host computer. The applications for CMOS detectors are increasing rapidly. However, only a few of the publications consider the application of these devices to spacecraft or space-borne systems. The reason appears to be the susceptibility of visible bandwidth CMOS focal plane array devices to total dose ionizing radiation damage, as well as proton displacement damage resulting in increased photodiode dark current. However, CMOS device scaling to sub-micron feature sizes have generally increased radiation hardness capability of both the CMOS circuitry as well as the photodiodes to much higher levels than those reported in the past. The goal of this test bed construction is to provide a means for independent analysis and application specific testing of visible silicon detector arrays with high-frame-rate readout and with region-of-interest capabilities.
The systems of the cited references disadvantageously require multiple sensors and processors, require sensor data pre-formatting and processing, have sensor limited field-of-view and poor output data, have slow millisecond pointing responses, have low pointing resolution in milliradians, do not process data in near-real time, require additional processing for laser jitter mitigation, are unable to reprogram internal sensor operations in near-real time, and require costly and complex optical technologies. These and other disadvantages are solved or reduced using the invention.

Electro-optical focal plane array digital sensor system


A method for determining an absolute orientation in a global coordinate system is provided. In each grid position an image capturing device is directed to a selected object located in a scene. The method comprises: (A) reconstructing a scale model of the scene using point, line and/or region correspondences in multiple views of the scene obtained by the image capturing device placed in at least three grid positions; (B) obtaining location coordinates of at least three grid positions in the global coordinate system; and (C) determining a similarity transform from a photogrammetric coordinate system to the global coordinate system by determining rotation, translation and scale of the image capturing device for each grid position.

There are many situations wherein it is important to know both position and orientation of a camera (or eye in an optical see through system). For example, this is the case with an augmented reality system.
Orientation can be determined if all 3 Euler Angles—yaw, pitch and roll—are known. It is relatively straightforward to determine pitch and roll since gravity can be used as a reference and measurements can be made using accelerometers. Yaw, however, is more difficult to determine.
Indeed, even though various references are available including solar or astral sources, Coriolis forces, Earth's magnetic field or introduced infrastructure such as radio beacons to find yaw, for many applications these references are too unreliable, too noisy or require apparatus which is too bulky.
The present technology allows to determine the global azimuth (absolute yaw) without introducing any infra structure to the site (other than that one required for RTK GPS).


This invention provides a layered catalyst system for hydro-denitrification of hydrocarbons, such as vacuum gas oil, used for hydrocracking to produce various fuels. The layered catalyst system of this invention comprises a first layer of a nickel-molybdenum-phosphorus/alumina catalyst or a cobalt-molybdenum-phosphorus/alumina catalyst and a second layer catalyst comprising a nickel-tungsten/silica-alumina-zeolite or a nickel-molybdenum/silica-alumina-zeolite catalyst. The preferred aspects of the combination of the layered catalysts disclosed herein are: (a) the first layer alumina catalyst has a molybdenum content greater than about 14% by wt.; (b) the first layer alumina catalyst has a relatively large pore size, such as at least about 60 .ANG.; and (c) the second layer catalyst contains at least about 2% of a zeolite component. The layered catalyst system of this invention and the attendant process produces improved denitrification of feedstocks, improved catalyst life and other advantages.

This invention relates to catalyst systems and processes for hydrotreating hydrocarbons by contacting the hydrocarbon with hydrogen in the presence of an appropriate catalyst. An aspect of hydrotreating which is of particular interest in this invention is denitrification in connection with hydrocracking.
Denitrification of hydrocarbon streams in petroleum refining is particularly important relative to hydrocracking in order to lower the nitrogen content of the feed stream to an acceptable level before subjecting the hydrocarbon feed stream to the complete hydrocracking process. In general, it is desirable to reduce the nitrogen content of the hydrocarbon feed stream to less than 10 parts per million by weight (ppm), preferably less than about 2 ppm and in many cases for increased catalyst life it is important to have the nitrogen content reduced to a level of less than 0.5 ppm.
Hydrodenitrification catalysts which have been used have various disadvantages, which include a tendency to foul with coke or other contamination at an excessive rate, which results in shorter catalyst life than is desired. As the catalyst fouls or deactivates, the denitrification process temperature must be increased to maintain activity. When the maximum temperature allowed by process and equipment limitations is reached, the catalyst must be replaced or regenerated.
Hydrotreating catalysts of various compositions are known in the art. For example, nickel-molybdneum and similar catalysts are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,210,521; U.S. Pat. No. 4,363,719; U.S. Pat. No. 4,534,852 and U.K. Application No. 2,073,770, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. However, none of these prior disclosures addresses the problems of catalyst activity and catalyst life in a way which is relevant to the present invention.
It is the object of this invention to provide a denitrification catalyst system which has increased activity, increased operating life and thereby improved economics for hydrotreating processes. The increased life of the denitrification catalysts is desirably provided by reducing the tendency for coking and improving the tolerance of the catalysts for poisons as well as improving the diffusion of hydrocarbons in the catalysts. Other objects of this invention will be apparent from the description herein.

Process for hydrodenitrogenating hydrocarbon oils


A light absorber includes an insulating substrate; a reflective layer that is provided on the insulating substrate, that is composed of a metal, and that has conductivity; a conductive pattern that is disposed on the reflective layer and that has defined therein at least one first opening; a nano-antenna that is disposed on the reflective layer and that vertically overlaps the at least one first opening; and an insulating pattern having a first portion that is interposed between the reflective layer and the conductive pattern and having a second portion that is interposed between and completely fills a vertical space between the reflective layer and the nano-antenna so that the reflective layer, the conductive pattern, and the nano-antenna are electrically insulated from each other.

The present disclosure relates to a light absorber, and more particularly to a meta-material-based light absorber having absorption characteristics for light in multiple wavelength bands.
By using an artificial structure smaller than the wavelength of light, light incident on the material may be controlled. A material made up of a collection of these artificial structures is called a metamaterial. Metamaterials consist of a collection of composite elements formed from common materials such as plastics and metals. If the structures in the material are smaller than the wavelength of light, since the light incident on the material is affected by the distribution of the approximate refractive index on average, metamaterials are typically arranged in a repeating pattern. That is, the optical properties of a metamaterial are generated by its structure and arrangement, not by the properties of its constituent materials.
Recently, as the demand for advanced ICT devices such as the Internet of Things and wearable devices increases, researches on metamaterials that exceed the characteristics of existing materials are actively carried out. Through metamaterial manufacturing technology, materials with optical properties that have not yet been found in nature may be realized. The properties of the metamaterial may be easily adjusted by controlling the shape, size, orientation, and arrangement of the metamaterial, so that it may be applied to a wide range of fields. Recently, various studies have been conducted to apply metamaterial to energy harvesting technology. In order to apply the metamaterial to various fields, it is necessary to study the metamaterial which has absorption characteristics for wavelengths of multiple bands, has high integration, and is easy to be manufactured.

Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute