The access method comprises the following steps:                i) receiving a request coming from a user for accessing at least one digital document, said request comprising an identifier (303) designating the digital document and an identifier (304) designating said user;        ii) searching locally for at least one collection (C1) containing the identifier (303) of the document and the identifier (304) of the user, each collection (C1, C2) being stored locally in response to a positive verification with regard to at least one condition agreeing to supply the document according to at least one access right linked to the collection; and        iii) in the case of a positive search, supplying said corresponding document (303) to said user (304) thus designated.

The present invention relates to controlling access to a shared document in a communication network of the "station-to-station" or distributed type, commonly referred to as having "peer to peer" topology.
Over the last few years, station-to-station networks have become an alternative to client/server networks, widespread until now. This is because, through their distributed architecture, station-to-station networks make it possible to share a large number of digital data items between a large number of users, without also requiring an expensive infrastructure.
In practice, in a station-to-station network, each station acts as client and server. Thus, each station can request a digital data item or document from any other station whatsoever on the network and the data exchange can take place directly from one station to another.
Subsequently, the term "digital document or data item" applies to both digital images or videos, or also to digital texts or the like.
Thus, in a station-to-station file exchange, each station can be both client and server.
This means that the digital data received by a client can be supplied to other users by the server of this client.
Digital data accessed by many people can therefore be replicated on a number of machines and supplied by more servers.
The system therefore adapts on its own to demand and the communication and storage costs are distributed between all the servers.
On the contrary, in a conventional client/server system, the data are supplied by a single server or by a set of machines fixed in advance.
The capacity of these conventional servers must be proportioned in advance which leads either to over-proportioning (the cost of the server is then too high), or to under-proportioning (the data are not supplied sufficiently quickly).
Another advantage of the station-to-station system is that the digital data are supplied directly from the machines of the users.
The storage space can therefore be considered in practice as unlimited.
However, station-to-station networks are unstable. This is because client devices (and consequently server devices) periodically connect to or disconnect from the network, thus making the presence of data highly uncertain. Moreover, the addresses of the client and/or server devices are unpredictable and liable to be different at each connection.
The result of this is that accessing the contents in a station-to-station type communication network also constitutes a great difficulty since the latency time for obtaining the data item is no longer due simply to the time necessary for retrieving the data as in the conventional client/server topology, but also the time for searching for a server device having this data item available. Depending on the topology of the station-to-station network concerned, this search phase can be non-negligible.
In order to remedy these drawbacks, a known solution consists of using a central server that guarantees a minimum quality of service. Such a solution is referred to as using Hybrid station-to-station networks.
In a known manner, sharing a digital data item through a hybrid station-to-station communication network consists of the sequence of the following steps:                selecting the document to be shared;        associating a unique identifier making it possible to find the location of the document in the network;        calculating a thumbnail image from the original data item;        updating an index table at the central server by associating an identifier of the shared document with one (or more) station(s), each of these stations being a server for this document.
This series of known steps is used in the majority of station-to-station networks for sharing a document with a community of users, that is to say that anyone can access this shared document from the moment this person knows the identifier. This is referred to as public sharing.
On the other hand, a document can be shared with a group of friends and the accessing of this document restricted to this group of friends. This is referred to as restricted access sharing (private sharing).
In this case, the private sharing of a document requires two additional steps:                selecting the addressees; and        sending notification to each of these addressees so as to inform them that a new document is capable of being shared.
In practice, the present invention finds a preferred, but non-limiting, application in a hybrid distributed communication network with restricted sharing.
Unlike conventional client/server systems, the shared data item in a station-to-station network is available on a number of servers, which increases the risk of malevolent operations with regard to the access to this data item thus shared.
It is therefore necessary to put in place an access control adapted to the sharing of this data item on each server.
In practice, each server is a machine belonging to a user who must be able to totally control what takes place on his machine. For example, a user must be able to verify what is stored locally. He must also be able to restrict the access to a data item on his machine or alternatively share it with other users.
The putting in place of such an access control mechanism restricts the number of servers who agree to supply a data item to a user, which is contrary to the main advantage of the station-to-station system where a data item in great demand can be supplied by many servers.
The Applicant was faced with the problem of providing an access control adapted to the sharing of a document in a station-to-station network which does not reduce too greatly the number of servers available for a user while being relatively efficient, not very expensive and simple to put in place.

Method and device for controlling access to a shared document in station-to-station communication network


A process for preparing a toner for electrophotography comprising a resin binder and a colorant, including the steps of (1) forming primary particles containing the resin binder and the colorant in an aqueous medium in the presence of a nonionic surfactant; and (2) aggregating the primary particles, and unifying the aggregated particle; and a toner for electrophotography obtainable by the process defined above, containing a crystalline polyester in an amount of 60% by weight or more in the toner, wherein the toner has a volume-median particle size (D50) of from 1 to 7 μm. The toner for electrophotography obtained by the present invention can be suitably used in, for example, development of a latent image formed in electrophotography, electrostatic recording method, electrostatic printing method, or the like.

In recent years toners have been desired to have smaller particle sizes from the viewpoint of achieving even higher image qualities. Processes for preparing toners include a melt-kneading and pulverization method, and a wet process such as an emulsification and aggregation method. When a toner containing a resin binder containing a crystalline polyester as a main component is prepared by the melt-kneading and pulverization method, it is difficult to control the pulverization, thereby making it impractical.
JP2004-198598 A and JP-A-Hei-9-311502 each discloses an invention relating to the preparation of a toner by an emulsification and aggregation method, which is a wet process. However, in the process described in JP2004-198598 A, an applicable resin binder is limited to one that is soluble in an organic solvent, and in the case of a resin having low solubility in an organic solvent, the yield of toner is dramatically lowered. In addition, in the process described in JP-A-Hei-9-311502, although an aqueous medium is used in place of an organic solvent, fine particles are formed by a mechanical means, a specialized disperser is necessitated to obtain a mechanical force for forming particles having smaller sizes.
In addition, JP2002-296839 A and JP-A-Hei-7-333890 each discloses an invention using a masterbatch of a colorant in a wet process. However, in the process described in JP2002-296839 A, an applicable resin binder is limited to one that is soluble in an organic solvent, and in the case of a resin binder having low solubility in an organic solvent, the yield of toner is undesirably dramatically lowered. In addition, even in the solvent suspension method described in JP-A-Hei-7-333890, not only a resin binder is limited to one that is soluble in an organic solvent, but also a particle size of a droplet which can be prepared by a suspension method is limited, so that the toner is limited in controlling its particle size and particle size distribution.

Process for preparing toner for electrophotography


Provided is a washing machine that includes a washing tub to accommodate laundry, the washing tub provided to be rotatable, and a liquid applicator that sprays a liquid to prescribed regions inside the washing tub. The liquid applicator may include a first nozzle having a first outlet arranged in a first direction to spray the liquid toward a first region of the washing tub, and a second nozzle having a second outlet arranged in a second direction to spray the liquid toward a second region of the washing tub. The first and second directions may be different directions.

1. Field
Embodiments may relate to a washing machine.
2. Background
In general, a washing machine removes contaminants on clothes or bed linens (hereinafter, referred to as "laundry") using water, detergent, and mechanical actions.
Further, washing machines may be classified into top-load type washing machines with an laundry entrance/exit hole formed in an upper surface of the cabinet for entering and existing the laundry, which performs washing by a rotational water flow generated as the washing tub rotates and drum-type washing machines with a laundry entrance/exit hole formed in a front surface of the cabinet to perform washing by dropping water to the laundry as the drum rotates.
In the conventional top load type washing machines, however, the water supply unit and the detergent supply unit are disposed at a side of an upper portion of the cabinet, and thus, water and detergent may be forced to be supplied only to a lower portion of a side of the washing tub. Accordingly, the water and detergent are not evenly applied to the laundry. This may result in a deterioration of washing and rinsing performance.


An information processing apparatus includes a first control unit configured to control an operation to be performed by the information processing apparatus and a second control unit configured to control an operation of an operation unit equipped with a display device. The first control unit generates first graphic data corresponding to a screen to be displayed by the display device. The second control unit generates second graphic data corresponding to a software key. Further, the information processing apparatus combines the first graphic data with the second graphic data to form composite graphic data and causes the display device to display the composite graphic data.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus that includes an operation unit equipped with a display device, a method for controlling the information processing apparatus, and a storage medium.
Description of the Related Art
A recent image processing apparatus having a scan function and a print function is generally equipped with a touch panel, in addition to hardware keys (e.g., numeric keys), as an operation unit configured to receive a user operation. The numeric keys include numeric keys from 0 to 9 and symbol keys, such as * and #.
Hereinafter, an example of processing that is performed by a main body controller 100 and an operation unit 150 in such an image processing apparatus will be described in detail below with reference to FIG. 9. In a case where a user operates hardware numeric keys 901 or a touch panel 152, input information is transmitted to an operation unit central processing unit (CPU) 151. The operation unit CPU 151 acquires necessary information based on the input information transmitted from the hardware numeric keys 901 or the touch panel 152. Then, the operation unit CPU 151 transmits the acquired information to a main body CPU 101. For example, in a case where the user presses any one of the hardware numeric keys 901 (e.g., a key having the number 3), character information corresponding to the pressed key is transmitted to the main body CPU 101. Further, in a case where the user performs a touch operation on the touch panel 152, coordinate information representing a touched position is transmitted to the main body CPU 101.
The main body CPU 101 identifies a screen to be displayed by a display device 153 based on the information transmitted from the operation unit CPU 151, and generates graphic data 902 corresponding to the identified screen and transmits the generated data to the display device 153. The main body controller 100 stores, beforehand, various types of information (including texts and images) that is necessary to generate graphic data corresponding to each of a plurality of screens to be displayed on the display device 153. The main body CPU 101 generates necessary graphic data based on the above-mentioned information. The display device 153 displays a screen based on the transmitted graphic data 902. Through the above-mentioned processing, an intended screen can be displayed on the display device 153 according to a user operation via the hardware numeric keys 901 or the touch panel 152.
On the other hand, eliminating the hardware keys is desirable to realize cost reduction based on downsizing of the operation unit and improve the design of an image processing apparatus. To this end, enabling a user to perform every input operation with the touch panel is essentially required.
In this case, the image processing apparatus can be configured to display software keys, as a substitute for the numeric keys provided as hardware keys, on the display device to receive an input from a user via the touch panel.
However, to cause the display device to display the software keys, the main body CPU is required to generate graphic data appropriately changed. To this end, it is necessary to change or modify the configuration of the main body controller. The costs will increase greatly.

Information processing apparatus, information processing apparatus control method, and storage medium


The present disclosure is a novel utility of a software defined radio (SDR) based Distributed Antenna System (DAS) that is field reconfigurable and support multi-modulation schemes (modulation-independent), multi-carriers, multi-frequency bands and multi-channels. More specifically, the present invention relates to a DAS utilizing one or more Daisy-Chained Rings of Remote Units. The present invention enables a high degree of flexibility to manage, control, enhance, facilitate the usage and performance of a distributed wireless network such as Flexible Simulcast, automatic traffic load-balancing, network and radio resource optimization, network calibration, autonomous/assisted commissioning, carrier pooling, automatic frequency selection, frequency carrier placement, traffic monitoring, traffic tagging, pilot beacon, etc. As a result, a DAS in accordance with the present invention can increase the efficiency and traffic capacity of the operators' wireless network.

Wireless and mobile network operators face the continuing challenge of building networks that effectively manage high data-traffic growth rates. Mobility and an increased level of multimedia content for end users requires end-to-end network adaptations that support both new services and the increased demand for broadband and flat-rate Internet access. One of the most difficult challenges faced by network operators is maximizing the capacity of their DAS networks while ensuring cost-effective DAS deployments and at the same time providing a very high degree of DAS remote unit availability.
In order to provide DAS network capacity which is high enough to meet short-term needs of network subscribers in specific locations yet also avoid costly and inefficient deployment of radio resources, DAS network planners prefer to employ DAS architectures and solutions which provide a high degree of dynamic flexibility. Therefore, it would be advantageous for wireless network operators to employ a DAS solution which has a high degree of flexibility to implement dynamic rearrangements based on ever-changing network conditions and subscriber needs. Also, the more future-proof a DAS deployment can be, generally the lower its life cycle cost.
DAS network planners and system integrators employ a wide range of innovative approaches for helping to ensure that a particular DAS deployment is as cost-effective as possible. The types of costs considered by network planners and integrators include DAS deployment or DAS installation cost, as well as operational costs including maintenance costs, emergency restoration costs and network re-arrangement costs. Rearrangement costs are particularly significant for indoor DAS applications, due to frequent changes in building use and facility needs changes. Therefore, it would be advantageous to employ DAS systems and methods which are based on as few DAS transport facilities as possible to minimize installation and/or lease costs and have self-healing capabilities to avoid the need for costly emergency restoration services.
In order to obtain a high degree of DAS remote unit availability, two primary conditions must be satisfied. First, the DAS remote unit itself must be inherently reliable.
Second, the transport media e.g., optical fiber, must be very reliable. It is well known that electronic and/or optical connections themselves are a significant root cause of failure or reduced availability in a DAS network. Companies who maintain outdoor DAS networks have reported that a failure of outside plant optical fiber facilities is not as rare as would be desirable. Therefore, it would be advantageous to employ systems and methods which offer higher redundancy and/or self-healing features in the event of failure of a transport media connection.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Daisy-chained ring of remote units for a distributed antenna system


An OCT imaging method of some exemplary aspects includes acquiring a first three dimensional data set by applying an OCT scan targeting a first three dimensional region of a sample, creating a first two dimensional map based on representative intensity values respectively of a plurality of pieces of A-scan data included in the first three dimensional data set, designating a second three dimensional region of the sample based on the first two dimensional map, acquiring a second three dimensional data set by applying an OCT scan targeting the second three dimensional region, and generating image data from at least part of the second three dimensional data set.

OCT is an imaging technique capable of representing a light scattering medium at a resolution of micrometer level or less, and is used for medical imaging, nondestructive testing and the like. OCT is a low-coherence-interferometry-based technique and typically utilizes near infrared light to ensure the reaching depth of the light into a sample of a scattering medium.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,884,945 discloses a method of processing an OCT data set represented as a function of optical depths that is obtained by a measurement of backscattering or back reflection in order to acquire OCT data efficiently and to acquire OCT data from a specific region of a sample accurately and in a short time. The method includes a step of analyzing an OCT data set to identify landmark region data of at least the first subset, a step of placing the OCT data set based on the landmark region data, and a step of processing at least the second subset of the OCT data set based on the correspondence between the OCT data set and the landmark region data.
Further, U.S. Pat. No. 8,405,834 discloses a method for monitoring disease progression. The method includes a step of acquiring an OCT survey scan data set represented as a function of optical depths that is obtained by a measurement of backscattering or back reflection, a step of analyzing the survey scan data set to identify a landmark region, a step of assigning a location in the sample or a location relating to a fixed position to an element of the survey scan data set to register part of the survey scan data set representing at least part of a diseased or affected tissue region relating to the landmark region, and a step of monitoring the changes in the diseased or affected tissue region at different points in time.

Method of optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging, method of processing OCT data, and OCT apparatus


A control apparatus receives at least one image data transmitted from an external apparatus to the control apparatus, stores the at least one image data on a storage medium, and detects whether or not a predetermined instruction is received by the control apparatus. The control apparatus causes a display apparatus to display a menu relating the at least one image data if the predetermined instruction is received by the control apparatus after the control apparatus starts receiving the at least one image data from the external apparatus and before a predetermine time has elapsed. The control apparatus causes the display apparatus to display a list of image data stored in the storage medium if the predetermined instruction is received by the control apparatus after the control apparatus starts receiving the at least one image data from the external apparatus and after the predetermine time has elapsed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technique of controlling a display apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the popularization of image capture apparatuses such as digital cameras and digital video cameras, the methods of storing still images and moving images captured by an image capture apparatus are changing. Conventionally, methods of storing still images in a photographic medium and moving images in an analog recording medium, such as a video tape, were the mainstream. However nowadays, the method of storing still images and moving images in a digital recording medium such as an HDD is the mainstream.
With the method of storing data captured by an image capture apparatus in a recording apparatus, including a digital recording medium, generally the method of connecting the image capture apparatus or the recording medium to the recording apparatus by wire is employed, but recently various other methods have been proposed. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2010-011419 proposes a system which automatically transmits an image data stored in a communication device, to an external apparatus by simple operation of a user.
For example, data transfer using near field wireless communication, as described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2010-011419, assumes home use. The system disclosed in this patent literature allows a user to store a desired image data in a home server such as a PC or an HDD recorder and browse the stored image data on a display apparatus such as a digital television.
However, when the user browses the desired image data stored in the home server as described above, the user must search the home server for the desired image data, select the desired image data, and give an instruction for reproducing the desired image data. For example, when the user wants to browse the desired image data immediately after the desired image data is transferred to a home server, he or she is forced to perform a complicated operation in order to browse the desired image data, and this operation takes time.

Control apparatus and method for controlling display apparatus


A roof cutter and a method of cutting a roof is provided. The roof cutter includes a base that is movable between a retracted configuration and a cutting configuration. In the retracted configuration, the blade is displaced from the roof. In the cutting configuration, the blade is positioned so as to facilitate cutting of the roof. The roof cutter includes a stop assembly and an engagement member that is configured to engage with the stop assembly when the base is in the cutting configuration, thereby establishing a maximum cutting depth. A dampening mechanism softens impacts associated with the blade moving to the cutting depth and absorbs vibrations associated with cutting the roof at the cutting depth. An adjustment assembly is configured to selectively adjust the cutting depth and/or to selectively restrain the base in the retracted configuration, thereby preventing the blade from cutting the roof.

Flat roofs, such as flat commercial roofs and other similar structures (each a "roof structure"), include several layers of materials for strengthening, protecting, and/or weather-proofing the roof. As a result, cutting holes in such roofs can be very difficult, often requiring specialized roof cutters. These roof cutters include a blade for cutting through the various layers of the roof and a handle for allowing an operator to guide the cutter. Unfortunately, using existing cutters to cut through typical roof structures subjects the operator (and the cutter) to a great deal of vibration, thereby increasing the risk of injury to the user (and/or damage to the cutter and/or to the roof). Consequently, it would be beneficial to have a system for and a method of mitigating vibrations.
Existing powered roof cutters include a base for holding a blade relative to a roof, such as while cutting the roof and/or while positioning the cutter for cutting the roof. Accordingly, the cutter is moveable between a cutting configuration for cutting the roof and a retracted configuration for positioning the cutter. More specifically, the base is rotatably moveable between a cutting position and a retracted position, respectively, by pivoting the base about a rear axle of the cutter. In this way, the blade, which is displaced forward of the rear axle, moves along an arc as it moves into engagement with the roof and as it cuts deeper into the roof. Unfortunately, movement of such bases from retracted to cutting configurations often results in a hard impact, depending on the skill of the operator, the structure of the roof, and other factors. These hard impacts can cause harm to the operator and/or damage to the cutter 10 and/or the roof. Consequently, it would be beneficial to have a system for and a method of mitigating hard impacts associated with moving cutters between retracted and cutting configurations.


An audio processing apparatus comprises a receiver (705) which receives audio data including audio components and render configuration data including audio transducer position data for a set of audio transducers (703). A renderer (707) generating audio transducer signals for the set of audio transducers from the audio data. The renderer (7010) is capable of rendering audio components in accordance with a plurality of rendering modes. A render controller (709) selects the rendering modes for the renderer (707) from the plurality of rendering modes based on the audio transducer position data. The renderer (707) can employ different rendering modes for different subsets of the set of audio transducers the render controller (709) can independently select rendering modes for each of the different subsets of the set of audio transducers (703). The render controller (709) can select the rendering mode for a first audio transducer of the set of audio transducers (703) in response to a position of the first audio transducer relative to a predetermined position for the audio transducer. The approach may provide improved adaptation, e.g. to scenarios where most speakers are at desired positions whereas a subset deviate from the desired position(s).

In recent decades, the variety and flexibility of audio applications has increased immensely with e.g. the variety of audio rendering applications varying substantially. On top of that, the audio rendering setups are used in diverse acoustic environments and for many different applications.
Traditionally, spatial sound reproduction systems have always been developed for one or more specified loudspeaker configurations. As a result, the spatial experience is dependent on how closely the actual loudspeaker configuration used matches the defined nominal configuration, and a high quality spatial experience is typically only achieved for a system that has been set up substantially correctly, i.e. according to the specified loudspeaker configuration.
However, the requirement to use specific loudspeaker configurations with typically a relatively high number of loudspeakers is cumbersome and disadvantageous. Indeed, a significant inconvenience perceived by consumers when deploying e.g. home cinema surround sound systems is the need for a relatively large number of loudspeakers to be positioned at specific locations. Typically, practical surround sound loudspeaker setups will deviate from the ideal setup due to users finding it impractical to position the loudspeakers at the optimal locations. Accordingly the experience, and in particular the spatial experience, which is provided by such setups is suboptimal.
In recent years there has therefore been a strong a trend towards consumers demanding less stringent requirements for the location of their loudspeakers. Even more so, their primary requirement is that the loudspeaker set-up fits their home environment, while at the same time they of course expect the system to still provide a high quality sound experience. These conflicting requirements become more prominent as the number of loudspeakers increases. Furthermore, the issues has become more relevant due to a current trend towards the provision of full three dimensional sound reproduction with sound coming to the listener from multiple directions.
Audio encoding formats have been developed to provide increasingly capable, varied and flexible audio services and in particular audio encoding formats supporting spatial audio services have been developed.
Well known audio coding technologies like DTS and Dolby Digital produce a coded multi-channel audio signal that represents the spatial image as a number of channels placed around the listener at fixed positions. For a loudspeaker setup which is different from the setup that corresponds to the multi-channel signal, the spatial image will be suboptimal. Also, channel based audio coding systems are typically not able to cope with a different number of loudspeakers.
(ISO/IEC) MPEG-2 provides a multi-channel audio coding tool where the bitstream format comprises both a 2 channel and a 5 multichannel mix of the audio signal. When decoding the bitstream with a (ISO/IEC) MPEG-1 decoder, the 2 channel backwards compatible mix is reproduced. When decoding the bitstream with a MPEG-2 decoder, three auxiliary data channels are decoded that when combined (de-matrixed) with the stereo channels result in the 5 channel mix of the audio signal.
(ISO/IEC MPEG-D) MPEG Surround provides a multi-channel audio coding tool that allows existing mono- or stereo-based coders to be extended to multi-channel audio applications. FIG. 1 illustrates an example of the elements of an MPEG Surround system. Using spatial parameters obtained by analysis of the original multichannel input, an MPEG Surround decoder can recreate the spatial image by a controlled upmix of the mono- or stereo signal to obtain a multichannel output signal.
Since the spatial image of the multi-channel input signal is parameterized, MPEG Surround allows for decoding of the same multi-channel bit-stream by rendering devices that do not use a multichannel loudspeaker setup. An example is virtual surround reproduction on headphones, which is referred to as the MPEG Surround binaural decoding process. In this mode a realistic surround experience can be provided while using regular headphones. Another example is the pruning of higher order multichannel outputs, e.g. 7.1 channels, to lower order setups, e.g. 5.1 channels.
As mentioned, the variation and flexibility in the rendering configurations used for rendering spatial sound has increased significantly in recent years with more and more reproduction formats becoming available to the mainstream consumer. This requires a flexible representation of audio. Important steps have been taken with the introduction of the MPEG Surround codec. Nevertheless, audio is still produced and transmitted for a specific loudspeaker setup, e.g. an ITU 5.1 loudspeaker setup. Reproduction over different setups and over non-standard (i.e. flexible or user-defined) loudspeaker setups is not specified. Indeed, there is a desire to make audio encoding and representation increasingly independent of specific predetermined and nominal loudspeaker setups. It is increasingly preferred that flexible adaptation to a wide variety of different loudspeaker setups can be performed at the decoder/rendering side.
In order to provide for a more flexible representation of audio, MPEG standardized a format known as 'Spatial Audio Object Coding' (ISO/IEC MPEG-D SAOC). In contrast to multichannel audio coding systems such as DTS, Dolby Digital and MPEG Surround, SAOC provides efficient coding of individual audio objects rather than audio channels. Whereas in MPEG Surround, each loudspeaker channel can be considered to originate from a different mix of sound objects, SAOC allows for interactive manipulation of the location of the individual sound objects in a multi channel mix as illustrated in FIG. 2.
Similarly to MPEG Surround, SAOC also creates a mono or stereo downmix. In addition, object parameters are calculated and included. At the decoder side, the user may manipulate these parameters to control various features of the individual objects, such as position, level, equalization, or even to apply effects such as reverb. FIG. 3 illustrates an interactive interface that enables the user to control the individual objects contained in an SAOC bitstream. By means of a rendering matrix individual sound objects are mapped onto loudspeaker channels. SAOC allows a more flexible approach and in particular allows more rendering based adaptability by transmitting audio objects in addition to only reproduction channels. This allows the decoder-side to place the audio objects at arbitrary positions in space, provided that the space is adequately covered by loudspeakers. This way there is no relation between the transmitted audio and the reproduction or rendering setup, hence arbitrary loudspeaker setups can be used. This is advantageous for e.g. home cinema setups in a typical living room, where the loudspeakers are almost never at the intended positions. In SAOC, it is decided at the decoder side where the objects are placed in the sound scene (e.g. by means of an interface as illustrated in FIG. 3), which is often not desired from an artistic point-of-view. The SAOC standard does provide ways to transmit a default rendering matrix in the bitstream, eliminating the decoder responsibility. However the provided methods rely on either fixed reproduction setups or on unspecified syntax. Thus SAOC does not provide normative means to fully transmit an audio scene independently of the loudspeaker setup. Also, SAOC is not well equipped to the faithful rendering of diffuse signal components. Although there is the possibility to include a so called Multichannel Background Object (MBO) to capture the diffuse sound, this object is tied to one specific loudspeaker configuration.
Another specification for an audio format for 3D audio has been developed by DTS Inc. (Digital Theater Systems). DTS, Inc. has developed Multi-Dimensional Audio (MDA™) an open object-based audio creation and authoring platform to accelerate next-generation content creation. The MDA platform supports both channel and audio objects and adapts to any speaker quantity and configuration. The MDA format allows the transmission of a legacy multichannel downmix along with individual sound objects. In addition, object positioning data is included. The principle of generating an MDA audio stream is illustrated in FIG. 4. In the MDA approach, the sound objects are received separately in the extension stream and these may be extracted from the multi-channel downmix. The resulting multi-channel downmix is rendered together with the individually available objects.
The objects may consist of so called stems. These stems are basically grouped (downmixed) tracks or objects. Hence, an object may consist of multiple sub-objects packed into a stem. In MDA, a multichannel reference mix can be transmitted with a selection of audio objects. MDA transmits the 3D positional data for each object. The objects can then be extracted using the 3D positional data. Alternatively, the inverse mix-matrix may be transmitted, describing the relation between the objects and the reference mix.
From the MDA description, sound-scene information is likely transmitted by assigning an angle and distance to each object, indicating where the object should be placed relative to e.g. the default forward direction. Thus, positional information is transmitted for each object. This is useful for point-sources but fails to describe wide sources (like e.g. a choir or applause) or diffuse sound fields (such as ambiance). When all point-sources are extracted from the reference mix, an ambient multichannel mix remains. Similar to SAOC, the residual in MDA is fixed to a specific loudspeaker setup.
Thus, both the SAOC and MDA approaches incorporate the transmission of individual audio objects that can be individually manipulated at the decoder side. A difference between the two approaches is that SAOC provides information on the audio objects by providing parameters characterizing the objects relative to the downmix (i.e. such that the audio objects are generated from the downmix at the decoder side) whereas MDA provides audio objects as full and separate audio objects (i.e. that can be generated independently from the downmix at the decoder side). For both approaches, position data may be communicated for the audio objects.
Currently, within the ISO/IEC MPEG, a standard MPEG 3D Audio is being prepared to facilitate the transport and rendering of 3D audio. MPEG-3D Audio is intended to become part of the MPEG-H suite along with HEVC video coding and MMT (MPEG Media Transport) systems layer. FIG. 5 illustrates the current high level block diagram of the intended MPEG 3D Audio system.
In addition to the traditional channel based format, the approach is intended to also support object based and scene based formats. An important aspect of the system is that its quality should scale to transparency for increasing bitrate, i.e. that as the data rate increases the degradation caused by the encoding and decoding should continue to reduce until it is insignificant. However, such a requirement tends to be problematic for parametric coding techniques that have been used quite heavily in the past (viz. HE-AAC v2, MPEG Surround, SAOC, USAC). In particular, the compensation of information loss for the individual signals tends to not be fully compensated by the parametric data even at very high bit rates. Indeed, the quality will be limited by the intrinsic quality of the parametric model.
MPEG-3D Audio furthermore seeks to provide a resulting bitstream which is independent of the reproduction setup. Envisioned reproduction possibilities include flexible loudspeaker setups up to 22.2 channels, as well as virtual surround over headphones and closely spaced loudspeakers.
US2013/101122 A1 discloses an object based audio contents generating/playing apparatus enabling the object based audio contents to be played using at least one of a WFS scheme and a multi-channel surround scheme regardless of a reproducing environment of the audience.
WO2013/006338 A2 discloses a system that includes a new speaker layout (channel configuration) and an associated spatial description format. WO2013/006338 A2 aims to provide an adaptive audio system and format that supports multiple rendering technologies. Audio streams are transmitted along with metadata that describes the "mixer's intent" including desired position of the audio object(s).
US2010/223552 A1 discloses a system configured to capture and/or produce a sound event generated by a plurality of sound sources. In particular, the system may be configured such that the capture, processing, and/or output for sound production of sound objects associated with separate once of the sound sources may be controlled on an individual bases.
In summary, the majority of existing sound reproduction systems only allow for a modest amount of flexibility in terms of loudspeaker set-up. Because almost every existing system has been developed from certain basic assumptions regarding either the general configuration of the loudspeakers (e.g. loudspeakers positioned more or less equidistantly around the listener, or loudspeakers arranged on a line in front of the listener, or headphones), or regarding the nature of the content (e.g. consisting of a small number of separate localizable sources, or consisting of a highly diffuse sound scene), every system is only able to deliver an optimal experience for a limited range of loudspeaker configurations that may occur in the rendering environment (such as in a user's home). A new class of sound rendering systems that allow a flexible loudspeaker set-up is therefore desired. This flexibility can comprise various elements including not only the positions of the loudspeakers, but also the number of loudspeakers and their individual characteristics (e.g. bandwidth, maximum output power, directionality, etc.).
Hence, an improved audio rendering approach would be advantageous and in particular an approach allowing increased flexibility, facilitated implementation and/or operation, allowing a more flexible positioning of loudspeakers, improved adaptation to different loudspeaker configurations and/or improved performance would be advantageous.

Audio processing apparatus and method therefor


A password scheme is provided that can be used for security of cable modems in a cable network. In the system, the password is unique to each modem, the password is not fixed for the life of the device, is not shared across cable systems, is easily recoverable after a compromise, and is changed periodically based on some type of configuration. In the system each modem creates its own random password. Then the modem encrypts the password using a public key provided by the cable system and stores the encrypted password in a Management Information Base (MIB) operated by the cable system. The MIB operator decrypts the encrypted password corresponding to the public key and recovers the password. The cable operator uses the password to log in remotely to the modem. If a compromise or change of the public key or password occurs, the password is regenerated using the same procedure.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a system for password access to consumer premises equipment (CPE), such as a cable modem with Wi-Fi transmission capability, in a network, such as a cable system which can be scalable between a network with only a few connected cable modems to a much larger system with many cable modems connected.
2. Related Art
CPE system devices typically require passwords to enable developers to access a cable system. Passwords enable access to each cable modem (CM) in the system. It is desirable to have system configurations available that provide a cable system operator strong unique passwords that are dynamic and can be distributed in a CPE environment on a large scale depending on the cable system configuration and needs.

Password scheme that can be used for security of modems in an independently operated cable system that is scalable with dynamically changeable passwords


A torque detection device includes: a torsion bar that couples a first shaft to a second shaft such that the first shaft and the second shaft are rotatable relative to each other; an annular magnet that is fixed to the first shaft; a pair of magnetic yokes that are fixed to the second shaft and that are arranged to face the magnet; and Hall ICs. Each of the magnetic yokes has a plurality of lugs arranged at equal intervals in a circumferential direction, and each lug becomes narrower toward its distal end, and has a curved profile with rounded corners when viewed from a radial direction of the corresponding magnetic yoke.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a torque detection device that detects, for example, a steering torque of a steering wheel and an electric power steering system that includes the torque detection device.
2. Discussion of Background
A torque sensor described in US 2004/0093961 A is formed of a torsion bar, a ring-shaped magnet, a pair of annular magnetic yokes, a magnetic sensor, and the like. The torsion bar couples an input shaft to an output shaft such that the input shaft and the output shaft are coaxial with each other. The magnet is attached to an end portion of the input shaft. The magnetic yokes are attached to an end portion of the output shaft. The magnetic sensor detects the density of magnetic fluxes induced by the magnetic yokes from the magnet. Each of the magnetic yokes has lugs that are arranged at equal intervals along the entire circumference of the magnetic yoke. The number of the lugs is equal to the number of N-poles and S-poles of the magnet. The magnetic sensor is placed in a gap formed between the axially facing magnetic yokes, and detects the magnetic flux density in the magnetic yokes.
When torque (steering torque) is input into a portion between the input shaft and the output shaft through a steering operation of a steering wheel, the torsion bar is twisted, and the relative position between the magnet and the magnetic yokes in the circumferential direction changes. The torque sensor detects the steering torque input into the portion between the input shaft and the output shaft on the basis of the magnetic flux density that changes in the magnetic yokes in accordance with the change in the relative position.
In the torque sensor described in US 2004/0093961 A, the shape of each lug of each magnetic yoke has an acute triangular or trapezoidal shape. In this case, the magnetic fluxes in each magnetic yoke are likely to unexpectedly leak from the acute-angled portion of each lug. Therefore, it is difficult for the magnetic sensor to highly accurately detect the magnetic flux density of the magnetic yokes. That is, it is difficult for the torque sensor to highly accurately detect a torque.

Torque detection device and electric power steering system


A connector assembly comprises a first connector and a second connector configured to be mated with each other. The first connector includes a plurality of first contacts, a first housing and a first shell. The first contacts are arranged and retained in a pitch direction by the first housing The first housing is covered at least in part with the first shell The first shell includes a spring portion and a contact portion. The spring portion extends in the pitch direction. The spring portion is long in the pitch direction. The contact portion is supported by the spring portion so as to be movable in a direction perpendicular to the pitch direction. The second connector includes a second shell. The second shell is brought into contact with at least the contact portion of the first shell so that the first shell and the second shell are connected to each other when the second connector is mated with the first connector.

This invention relates to a connector assembly which comprises a first connector and a second connector. For instance, the first connector is configured to be mounted on and fixed to a circuit board, and the second connector is configured to be connected to a cable.
For example, this type of a connector assembly is disclosed in JP-A 2008-277020, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. The connector assembly of JP-A 2008-277020 comprises a connector for a circuit board (first connector) and a connector for a cable (second connector). The first connector includes a first shell. The second connector includes a second shell. The first shell is configured to be connected to a grounding portion of the circuit board. The second shell is configured to be connected to a shield wire of the cable. When the first connector and the second connector are mated with each other, the second shell of the second connector is brought into contact with at least a part of the first shell of the first connector so that the shield wire of the cable is electrically connected to the grounding portion of the circuit board via the two connectors.
The first connector and the second connector of the connector assembly of JP-A 2008-277020 have tongue pieces. The tongue piece of the first connector and the tongue piece of the second connector are connected to each other so that electrical paths between the shield wire of the cable and the grounding portion of the circuit board increase in number. However, the two shells of the connector assembly may be not sufficient in contact with each other when the connector assembly is small in size so that the shielding performance of the connector assembly may be reduced.

Connector assembly with grounding shield

Japan Aviation Electronics Industry, Limited


The present invention relates to a new method for making partitions in fixed or openable by means of drawing aside, pushing or pulling, window or door frames, bearing glass panels. The method is implemented by means of a series of standardized profiles made form aluminium, plastic or other desired material. As illustrated in FIG. 14, which is proposed for publication, the method is in particular implemented by means of a first profile designed so as to receive a glass panel and a second profile fitted onto the first to form horizontal and vertical partitions, as well as a third and fourth standardized profiles used in the circumference of the window or door frame.

Making partitions, uniform or non-miniform, in window or door frames of all types, either fixed or openable by means of drawing, pulling or pushing, is a broadly used technique, mainly because of aesthetic preferences, and is well known in the prior art. The partition elements are used to divide transparent glass or other transparent and non-transparent panels. Such constructions are up today made using normally wooden partition elements and here it is well known that such constructions entail a high cost and often present aesthetic deficiencies, whereas it is also known that wood shows a low strength in all kinds of stresses and in particular in the wear due to weather conditions, thereby necessitating frequent and costly maintenance.
Thus, a first object of the invention is to effectively overcome the above disadvantages of the prior art and to provide a new method of making partitions into window or door frames of all types using a series of standardized profiles, which because of the material they are made from (e.g. aluminium or plastic), offer the advantages of a high strength without any substantial maintenance, as well as the low manufacturing and assemblying cost because of the standardization in the entire process. Furthermore, it should be noted that the method proposed in the present invention eliminates the need of using the traditional battens used to support the glass panels.
The above object of the invention is accomplished by means of a series of profiles and in accordance to a preferred embodiment of the invention a pair of mutually assembled profiles, which may be offered in the desired dimensions and form, their spacing varying and being adjusted by means of a plastic packing, which slides within suitable recession channels of the profiles. Assemblying of these profiles ensures an optimum aesthetic appearance, a variety of combinations of forms, colours and generally design, which might either be the same on either side or different on each side of the frame.
A further object of the invention is to provide the maximum possible safety by means of the abovementioned, standardized, mutually assembled partition profiles, not only because of the partitions in the glass panels and the partition profiles which after having been assembled is impossible to disconnect and break the door open, but also because of the preferable introduction within the interior gap formed between the assembled profiles of steel plates to further increase safety.
A further object of the invention is to secure the maximum possible water and air-tightness and therefore to drastically reduce and even eliminate the heat losses due to air leakages at the circumferential joints of the glass panels. Such heat losses are by far greater in conventional window and door frames bearing partitions, because of the increased perimeter wherefrom such leakages may occur. This object of the invention is accomplished by means of a flexible plastic packing, which is introduced on either side of the glass panel within suitable recession channels in the abovementioned mutually assembled profiles.

Standardized profiles for window or door frame partitions and method of assembly


The present in relates to an electric energy Micro Generator, integrated by a pneumatic motor and an electric Generator coupled magnetically, where the pneumatic motor is propelled by the fluid pressure associated with: air, natural gas, bitter gas, nitrogen, etc. designed to be intrinsically safe, with an index of protection against intrusion of solid objects or dust, accidental contacts, or water IP 67, according to the International Electro technical Commission, for use in hazardous locations “where fire or explosion may exist due to flammable gases or vapors, flammable liquids, combustible dust or flammable fibers or in suspension”. “Classified as Class I, Division 1, Group A, B, C and D, according to U.S. National Electrical Code, and which has its main field of application remote installations that lack electricity, but that dispose of a pressure associated with a fluid.

In various industries there is a need for alternative energy: pneumatic, electrical, mechanical, thermal, etc. but most of them have not been applied to high-risk industries.
In remote installations, considered of high risk, there is the need of electricity, which normally meets using photovoltaic systems, combustion generators, or Micro Turbines with mechanical coupling; having as possible sites of application off shore installations, devil traps, skate measurements, pipeline corridors, oil wells in remote areas, among others.
Here are some key technological problems of principal systems of electric energy generators and alternatives employed:
Photovoltaic Systems:
1. Requires large areas of instant generation,
2. Its efficiency depends on the time of solar radiation which will depend on the meridian where it is found.
3. Preventive maintenance due to direct exposure to the environment, and
4. Susceptible to theft n remote installations or unmanned areas.
Combustion Generators:
1. Non-ecological product due to fuel consumption,
2. Increased risk of explosion . . . due to the possibility of spark generation associated with the propulsion and the generation part,
3. High maintenance cost.
4. Constant supervision in refueling and checking the generator, and
5. High cost of fuel used.
Micro Turbines:
1. The propellant gas is mixed with the turbine and the electrical system, increasing the risk of corrosion and ignition to the electrical winding,
2. They do not adapt to field variations, specific flows are required for specific designed conditions,
3. Works at high revolutions above 9,000 rpm, generating more wear between moving parts, and
4. It requires a considerable gas flow to carry the turbine at such high rpm, which means more gas consumption.
Aiming to avoid and better the technological inconveniences of the alternatives of generating electric energy mentioned above, the present invention offers a Micro power electric Generator, integrated by a pneumatic motor and an electric generator magnetically coupled, where the pneumatic motor is propelled by the pressure associated to a fluid, air, natural gas, bitter gas, nitrogen, etc., designed to be intrinsically safe and that has as its main scope of application remote installations that lack electric energy, but that will dispose of pressure associated to a fluid.
In other words the Micro Generator of the present invention uses the Associated Pressure as means to a fluid propellant, where the pneumatic motor moves the electric generator through the force derived from the pressure through a magnetic coupling, replacing a mechanically coupled shaft.
The implementation of magnetic coupling in the Micro Generator of electric energy of the present invention, ensures that there is no possibility that the fluid used as propelling means, the high pressures associated to said fluid, the pneumatic motor and none of the pieces that integrate it have contact and/or penetrate into the space of the electric generator:
However, with regard to motors and electric generators, is known to be a group of devices that are used to convert mechanical energy into electrical or vice versa, with electromagnetic means. A machine that converts mechanical energy into electricity is called a generator, alternator or dynamo, and a machine that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy is called a motor.
Principles of the Electric Generator (stator & winding) are fully known the multiple accomplishments of the electric energy generators are well known as well as electric motors, all of them based in the induction principle of Faraday and Lenz Law. All these electrical engines are distinguished by an inducted circuit that generates a magnetic field that induces in another circuit an electromotive force, and the habitual practice of the induced is that both are built by a winder placed in the interior of a hollow cylindrical casing, built of ferromagnetic material called stators that are placed in grooves disposed to the effect, while the inductor circuit is disposed in a cylindrical rotor that interacts with the stator which is fed the necessary energy to generate the inductor field.
In most generators the inductor circuit consists of a winding whose coils are housed in slots or in arms that act as polar expansions with a winding in each arm, the feeder of the winding inductor is performed by means of a continuous current that generates a magnetic field, in both cases by spinning through an external mechanical force, the magnetic flow of said rotor penetrates the coils of the induced stator in a sequential form, thus generating a senoid of electromotive induced force.
In the motors the form of engine performance is the same but vice versa to the generators, the fixed field keeps being in the rotor driven with continuous current and the armature coils of the stator are divided into several parts and are fed by an exterior AC. The variation of the waves of the armature current causes a magnetic reaction with the winding poles of the fixed fields, and forces said fields to rotate at a constant speed dragging the shaft mechanically; the speed is determined by the frequency of the current in the potential line of the alternate current.
Combustion generators consist of an electric motor and a mechanically connected generator so that the engine turns the generator. The motor delivers mechanical energy that the generator transforms it into electrical energy. Both motor and generator are usually mounted on the same base and can be moved and installed as a single unit.
FIG. 1 shows a traditional power generator, where the motor moves by electricity (input) moving the generator to produce electricity (output), by a mechanically coupled shaft.
It is important to stress that the electric energy generators described, by using a mechanical coupling, where the electrical part is exposed to either the environment or to the propellant gas, are at risk of an electric spark generation, increasing the danger for installations where you may find the presence of corrosive gases, toxic and or explosives.
The present invention relates to an electric energy Micro Generator, integrated by a pneumatic motor and an electric generator coupled magnetically:                Substituting the mechanical coupling by the magnetic, which allows us to separate hermetically the propellant part from the generator ensuring that there is no possibility that the fluid used as a propellant, the high pressures associated to said fluid, the pneumatic motor nor any of its parts that integrate it, have contact and/or penetrate into the space of the electric generator;        providing an alternative on the methods of generating electric energy in a sure and ecological manner and obtaining the necessary energy for the operation of equipment of low energy consumption such as SCADA, situation lights, audible alarms, automation equipment, intercoms, paging and physical security systems, among others.
An additional object of this invention is to provide a Micro electric energy Generator integrated by a pneumatic motor and electric generator propelled magnetically and that uses as propellant the pressure associated to a fluid: air, natural gas, bitter gas, nitrogen etc. where said pressure may be as low as 5 Kg-cm2 and as high as at least 700 Kg-cm2 returning the fluid to its original process and providing a sustainable process and intrinsically safe in our electric energy Micro Generator process.
Protection against fine dust: no penetration of dust and complete protection of contacts, and protection against harmful ingress of water at 1m Immersion you will not have major quantitative effects of damage to the equipment immersed in water under definite pressure conditions and time (at 1 m of submersion);
for use in hazardous locations "where fire or explosion may exist due to flammable gases or vapors, flammable liquids, combustible dust or flammable fibers or in suspension" Classified as Class I, Division 2, Group A, B, C and D, that according to U.S. National Electrical Code, specifically refers to:
gas or vapor in abnormal or dangerous places outside the normal operations of a plant: acetylene, hydrogen and other materials with similar characteristics most common flammable substances, such as butane, gasoline . . . natural gas and propane.
Another object of this invention is to provide an electric energy Micro Generator, which has as its main scope remote installations that lack electricity, but that dispose of pressure associated with fluid.
The above and other objectives of the present invention will be established with greater clarity and detail in subsequent chapter.

Electrical energy microgenerator with magnetic coupling

Abstract: In this regard, it is important to mention that:                The pressure associated with the propellant fluid can be as low as 5 Kg/cm2 and as high as up to at least 700 kg/cm2;        The implementation of magnetic coupling ensures that there is no possibility that the fluid used as propelling means, the high pressures associated with said fluid, the pneumatic motor and none of the pieces that integrated it, have contact and/or enter the space of the electric generator and        The fluid used as propelling means is not consumed, is returned to its original process, providing a sustainable and intrinsically safe process.


A computer input device, capable of operating in a mouse mode and in a touch mode, includes a body, a control unit and a switch. The body includes a first housing, a second housing and a hinge interconnecting the first and second housings. The body is movable between a flat position where the first and second housings are positioned side by side in a line, and an inverted-V position where the first and second housings co-define an included angle. The control unit provides a first input function which enables the input device to operate in the mouse mode and a second input function which enables the input device to operate in the touch mode. The switch is configured to have the control unit perform the first input function when the body is in the flat position and perform the second input function when the body is in the inverted-V position.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates generally to a computer input device, and more particularly to a computer input device which can be used as a mouse and a touch input device.
2. Related Prior Art
Touch technology is widely used in electronic devices. Taiwan Pat. Nos. M361061, M356176, M326757 and Taiwan Pub. No. 200842670 are exemplary of patents directed to computer mice of the type where at least one touch pad is employed.
Specifically, Taiwan Pub. No. 200842670 is directed to a computer input device which includes a body and a control mechanism situated on a side edge of the body. The control mechanism is employed with a mouse function on one side and a touch function on the other side. Besides, the control mechanism is able to rotate about an axis, which is vertical to the side edge of the body, with respect to the body to present either the side or the other side on top. When the control mechanism has its mouse-function side on top and be flush with a top surface of the body, the input device serves as a mouse. On the contrary, when the control mechanism is rotated 180 degrees about the axis with respect to the body to have its touch-function side on top and be flush with the top surface of the body, the input device serves as a touch input device. In any case, the computer input device of that patent can function, either in mouse mode or in touch mode, only when the body and the control mechanism are arranged in a flat position. Considering the ergonomics, the flat configuration renders the computer input device unfit for a mouse.
To be an ergonomic design, a foldable mouse as described in Taiwan Pat. No. M329206 includes a mouse body, a support portion and a pivoting structure to connect the mouse body and the support portion. The mouse body defines a cavity in a side thereof to receive the support portion when the mouse is folded. On the other hand, when the support portion is withdrawn from the cavity and turned away from the mouse body, the mouse as a whole appears in an inverted-V position and fits comfortably within a user's palm. However, the mouse itself performs only one job, namely the mouse function, no matter it is in the original position or the inverted-V position.
Additionally, U.S. Pat. No. 6,040,820 is directed to an input device used as a track ball mouse and a ball mouse. The input device includes a first housing and a second housing hinged to the first housing. A track ball is mounted on the first housing. When the first and second housing are folded upon one another, the input device serves as a track ball mouse which allows fingers to rotate the track ball in order to control cursor on a screen. When the first and second housing are unfolded in a flat position, the track ball is turned upside-down to contact the desk and the input device serves as a ball mouse.

Combination mouse and touch input device


A method for testing an integrated circuit, the method including performing a series of at least three tests, each including: selecting two nodes among at least three nodes for taking a clock signal from an integrated circuit, taking two clock signals at the two selected taking nodes during a test duration, detecting and counting events appearing in a jitter signal between the two clock signals taken, during the test duration, and determining from numbers of events counted a test result proportional to a sum of jitter variances of the two clock signals taken, and at the end of the series of tests, determining by a matrix calculation the jitter variance of each clock signal taken.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure generally relates to the manufacture and test of integrated circuits, including by way of example, Systems On Chips SOC.
2. Description of the Related Art
New integration technologies tend to offer a higher density of transistors and more rapid interconnections. By integrating heterogeneous circuits on a same chip to make a "system on chip", it is possible to reduce the times and costs for designing and manufacturing such systems.
Thus, Systems On Chip SOC increasingly tend to gather into a same integrated circuit hardware components such as heterogeneous processor cores, specialized circuits, and memories, as well as a complex communication architecture called "Network On Chip" NOC, linking these components between them. Due to the increasing complexity of systems on chip, it is desirable to implement design, modeling and simulation tools allowing a system to be tested at different designing steps, so as to be able to validate the system at each of these steps. It is also desirable to be able to test a system or an integrated circuit once it is totally or partially embedded into a chip. Now, testing integrated circuits becomes more and more expensive and constitutes a great part of the total manufacturing cost of the circuit. To reduce the cost of these tests, additional circuits, called integrated testing circuits may be provided during the manufacture of the integrated circuit to perform these tests. These tests are usually called Built-In Self Tests BIST.
In addition, built-in self tests increasingly tend to allow the performances of the system to be analyzed. During an adjusting phase, these tests may be applied to an isolated part of the system. These tests may concern the sources of clock signals such as phase-lock loops PLL, frequency synthesizers, clock trees, interconnections between the different parts of the system, and also the noise generated by the parts of the system. Analyzing the integrity of signals may be performed by a frequency analysis, a parameter analysis S, a jitter analysis, etc. The integrity of the supply voltages of a system is a crucial point for high speed serial links, and in particular for memory interfaces. The supply voltages in an integrated circuit may be subjected to disturbances which importance may be linked to the length of the links supplying these voltages to the different parts of the integrated circuit. The supply voltages may also be subjected to variations resulting in particular from the activity of the various parts of the integrated circuit.
However, analyzing the integrity of supply voltages, which may be performed in the frequency domain, is highly complex due to the small amplitude of the oscillations appearing in the supply voltages. Generally, there is no metric means allowing the supply voltage integrity to be characterized.
It is however desirable to be able to test an integrated circuit so as to obtain significant and reliable information on the integrity of supply voltages of the integrated circuit.

Method and device for analyzing the behavior of a power supply in a circuit


A method for forming a trench with a buried plate includes the steps of forming a trench in a substrate, depositing a non-doped silicate oxide in the trench and placing a doped silicate glass filling thereon. A buried trench plate is formed around the lower region of the trench in the substrate.

Field of the Invention
The invention lies in the field of integrated circuits. The invention relates to a trench capacitor and a corresponding production method.
For discussion purposes, the invention will be described with reference to the formation of a single trench capacitor.
Integrated circuits (ICs) or chips contain capacitors for purposes of the charge storage element, for instance, a dynamic random access memory (DRAM). The charge status in the capacitor represents a data bit.
A DRAM chip contains a matrix of memory cells configured in rows and columns, which are controlled by word lines and bit lines. The reading of data from the memory cells or the writing of data therein is accomplished by activating appropriate word lines and bit lines. A DRAM memory cell typically contains a transistor that is connected to a capacitor.
The charge stored in the capacitor dissipates over time due to leakage currents. Before the charge dissipates to an indeterminate level below a threshold value, the storage capacitor must be refreshed. For this reason, such memory cells are referred to as dynamic RAM (DRAM). Methods for producing memory capacitors are taught in the following documents: U.S. Pat. No. 5,867,420 to Alsmeier, U.S. Pat. No. 5,065,273 to Rajeevakumar, U.S. Pat. No. 4,649,625 to Nicky C. Lu, U.S. Pat. No. 5,658,816 to Rajeevakumar, U.S. Pat. No. 5,512,767 to Noble, Jr., U.S. Pat. No. 5,869,868 to Rajeevakumar, U.S. Pat. No. 5,691,549 to Lam, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,641,694 to Kenney, U.S. Pat. No. 5,744,386 to Kenney, U.S. Pat. No. 5,310,698 to Wild, U.S. Pat. No. 5,831,301 to Horak et al., and Europe Patent No. 0 949 680 A2, corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 6,008,104 to Schrems. A substep in the forming of a trench capacitor is the forming of a buried plate that forms the outer capacitor electrode.
The closest prior art with respect to the forming of the buried plate is European Patent Application 0 271 072, corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 4,755,486 to Treichel et al. Typically, the buried plate is disposed in the lower region of the trench capacitor, and an insulating collar isolates the upper region of the trench. The object of the insulating collar is, among other things, to prevent leakage currents between the two capacitor electrodes of the trench capacitor. It is, therefore, necessary that leakage currents occurring as a consequence of dopant residues be avoided in the region of the insulating collar. The dopant residues emerge in the forming of the buried plate. The forming of a buried plate for the purpose of producing a trench capacitor is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,618,751 to Golden et al., which first describes that an arsenic-doped glass layer being deposited in the trench directly on the exposed silicon substrate. An undoped glass or ozonic TEOS is deposited on the arsenic-doped glass layer. Next, the trench is filled with varnish. In the top region of the trench, the layers are removed again. Lastly, in a drive-in step at elevated temperature, the buried plate is formed by diffusion of the dopant out of the arsenic-doped glass.
It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a trench with buried plate and method for its production that overcomes the hereinafore-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices and methods of this general type and that forms the buried plate such that dopant residues do not remain in the top region of the trench where the insulating collar is formed, and, thus, leakage currents that can discharge the trench capacitor are avoided.
With the foregoing and other objects in view, there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a method for forming a trench with a buried plate, including the steps of forming a trench in a substrate, the trench having a sidewall, an upper region, and a lower region, forming an undoped silicon oxide layer on the trench sidewall in the upper and lower regions of the trench, forming a doped silicate glass fill in the upper and lower regions of the trench, removing the doped silicate glass fill and the undoped silicon oxide layer from the upper region of the trench, and increasing temperature to diffuse dopant from the doped silicate glass fill into the substrate through the undoped silicon oxide layer and to form a buried plate in the substrate in the lower region of the trench.
In the method according to the invention, a trench is etched in a substrate, and an undoped silicon oxide layer is formed, on which a doped silicate glass fill is applied. In another advantageous step of the method according to the invention, the dopant diffuses from the doped silicate glass fill through the undoped silicon oxide layer during a temperature step and forms a buried plate.
The underlying idea of the invention is to form an undoped silicon oxide layer below the silicate glass fill that delivers the dopant for the buried plate. As such, with the aid of oxide etching the doped silicate glass can be removed from the region of the upper trench in which the insulating collar is formed without leaving any residues. This result occurs because of the protective undoped silicon oxide layer, which keeps the dopant from the silicate glass fill away from the sidewall of the trench. With the etching process that removes the silicate glass fill and the undoped silicon oxide layer, the silicate glass fill is completely removed through the underlying undoped silicon oxide.
In accordance with another mode of the invention, the doping of the undoped silicon oxide layer is less than 1018 cmxe2x88x923, and the doping of the doped silicate glass fill is greater than 1018 cmxe2x88x923.
In accordance with a further mode of the invention, at least one of the group consisting of boron, phosphorous, and arsenic is used for the doping of the doped silicate glass fill.
In accordance with an added mode of the invention, the undoped silicon layer is formed by thermal oxidation.
In accordance with an additional mode of the invention, the undoped silicon oxide layer is formed in an integrated processing step immediately prior to the deposition of the doped silicate glass fill.
In accordance with yet another mode of the invention, the undoped silicon oxide layer is deposited in an integrated processing step immediately prior to the doped silicate glass fill.
In accordance with yet a further mode of the invention, the undoped silicon oxide layer is formed to a thickness between 0.1 and 25 nm.
In accordance with yet an added mode of the invention, the trench having the doped silicate glass fill is filled with varnish, the varnish in the upper region of the trench is removed, the doped silicate glass fill and the undoped silicon oxide layer are removed in the upper region of the trench, the remaining varnish is removed from the trench, an oxide cover layer is deposited and then temperature is increased to diffuse dopant into the substrate, and the oxide cover layer, the doped silicate glass fill, and the undoped silicon oxide layer are removed.
In accordance with yet an additional mode of the invention, the oxide cover layer is removed and the doped silicate glass fill and the undoped silicon oxide layer are removed from the lower region of the trench.
In accordance with again another mode of the invention, the trench having the doped silicate glass fill is filled with a sacrificial silicon material, the sacrificial silicon material, the doped silicate glass fill, and the undoped silicon oxide layer are removed in the upper region of the trench, temperature is subsequently increased to diffuse dopant into the substrate, an insulation trench layer is deposited in the upper region of the trench, and the sacrificial silicon material, the doped silicate glass fill, and the undoped silicon oxide layer are removed from the lower region of the trench.
In accordance with a concomitant mode of the invention, a second undoped silicon oxide layer is deposited in the trench having the doped silicate glass fill, the trench is filled with varnish, the varnish, the second undoped silicon oxide layer, the doped silicate glass fill, and the undoped silicon oxide layer are removed in the upper region of the trench, the varnish is removed in the lower region of the trench, and temperature is subsequently increased to diffuse dopant into the substrate.
Other features that are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.
Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a trench with buried plate and method for its production, it is, nevertheless, not intended to be limited to the details shown because various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.
The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Trench capacitor with buried plate and method for its production


A light emitting device includes a light emitting element, a first phosphor which emits a light by being excited by a light emitted from the light emitting element and a second phosphor which emits a light by being excited by the light emitted from the light emitting element and/or the light emitted from the first phosphor. The light emitted from the light emitting element, the light emitted from the first phosphor and the light emitted from the second phosphor are mixed to make an inclination angle of a line, on a chromaticity diagram, connecting a chromaticity coordinate of the light emitted from the first phosphor and a chromaticity coordinate of the light emitted from the light emitting element equal to an inclination angle of an isotemperature line of light of a predetermined color temperature.

Light emitting diodes (LEDs) have been used as light sources of various kinds of electric apparatuses such as a display device, an illumination apparatus and so on because they can emit a high brightness light with low power consumption. With recent practical use of blue (B) LEDs in addition to red (R) and green (G) LEDs, various luminous colors have been achieved by combining these RGB LEDs together or combining LEDs with phosphors for converting a wavelength of a light emitted from the LEDs.
In addition, there has been known a light emitting device which produces a white light by mixing a blue light directly emitted from a blue LED and a yellow light produced by colliding a blue light with a phosphor. In the light emitting device producing the white light as described above, a YAG-based phosphor, for example, is dispersed in a resin material, such as a silicone resin or the like, which seals a blue LED. The YAG-based phosphor converts a wavelength of the blue light emitted from the blue LED into a wavelength of the yellow light.
However, in case where the white light is produced by mixing the blue light and the yellow light, chromaticity coordinates of the mixed lights vary in all directions for each manufactured object if a full width at half maximum of an emission wavelength or a peak wavelength varies, or a concentration of the phosphor contained in the resin material is uneven due to a manufacturing tolerance of the blue LED.
For example, as shown in FIG. 6, a yellow phosphor (chromaticity coordinate Y(xY, yY)) and a red phosphor (chromaticity coordinate R (xR, yR)) are combined to prepare a phosphor layer of a chromaticity coordinate RY(xRY, yRY). In addition, the phosphor layer and a blue LED chip (chromaticity coordinate B(xB, yB)) are combined to produce a color temperature of 3500K. In this case, a color temperature line set at 5000K of white by the blue LED chip and the yellow phosphor is not in parallel with an isotemperature line (with an angle θ) of 3500K, which results in a deviation in the color temperature.
In recent years, since light emitting devices using LEDs, e.g., a light source for an illumination apparatus, have been frequently used in combination of several of them, there is a need to minimize a manufacturing deviation in a color temperature for each light emitting device.
As one of conventional techniques for reducing color temperature deviations, there has been known a white light emitting device which reduces a color temperature deviation by classifying ranks of blue LEDs based on their emission wavelengths and luminances, and adjusting luminances of phosphors to correspond to the ranked LEDs (see, e.g., Japanese Patent No. 4201167). In this technique, the blue LED and the phosphor are appropriately combined together such that chromaticity coordinate of a light emitted from the blue LED and chromaticity coordinate of a light emitted from the phosphor are plotted on an isotemperature line at desired color temperature. In this way, a chromaticity coordinate deviation in the mixed light is made to lie on the isotemperature line. The isotemperature line refers to a line on a chromaticity diagram on which chromaticity coordinates providing the same color temperature are plotted. If a chromaticity coordinate deviation lies on the isotemperature line, a color temperature deviation is decreased.
Further, there has been known an LED light source including a color temperature adjusting member containing a phosphor (second phosphor) which emits a light of a color different from a color of a light emitted from a phosphor (first phosphor) which emits a yellow light (see, e.g., Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2009-231569). In this LED light source, even if there is a deviation in an LED emission wavelength, concentration of the first phosphor, and so on, the second phosphor can be used to arbitrarily set a chromaticity coordinate of a final light emitted from the color temperature adjusting member.
The techniques described above may reduce a color temperature deviation of a monochromatic light and perform color temperature adjustment. However, these techniques still have a problem that it is difficult to make the 5000K color temperature line of a white light by the blue LED chip and the yellow phosphor parallel to the 3500K isotemperature line (with the angle θ), which may result in difficulty in implementing desired color temperature.


The present application discloses a therapeutic antimicrobial composition comprising mucocidin antimicrobial peptides or analogue or fragments thereof having antimicrobial activity.

1. Field of the Invention
The present application relates to the field of antimicrobial agents. The present application also relates to methods of inhibiting microbial growth using human derived peptides.
2. General Background and State of the Art
The mucosal tracts including oral and nasal cavity are exposed to a large spectrum of pathogenic and commensal microorganisms1. The mucosal integrity is preserved by various defense processes including physical barrier, luminal secretions such as mucins, antibacterial substances, the mucosal immune system, and the ability of the mucosa for rapid healing1-6. The homeostasis and integrity of the gastrointestinal mucosa ultimately depend upon a balance between defensive and aggressive factors. The mucosal barrier function was known to play a major role in mucosal protection against luminal bacteria, but the discovery of Toll-like receptors and antimicrobial peptides in the intestinal epithelium has opened a new concept of intestinal defense7-9. The oral cavity is known to teem with complex ever changing spectrum of large microbial populations and sustains repeated abrasions, yet maintains healthy mucosal integrity. Salivary secretions not only have essential functions in the digestive process but also play a critical role in protecting epithelium and mucosa from infection by batteries of secreted proteins, i.e. salivary mucins, proline-rich proteins, IgA, cystatins, elafin, protease, lysozyme, lactoferrin, lactoperoxidase, histatins, and also contains antimicrobial peptides such as defensins, and cathelicidin8,10-12. Antimicrobial peptides are the gene-encoded effector molecules of the innate immune system from insects to humans13,14. The peptides are active against a broad spectrum of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria as well as some fungi and enveloped viruses3,15,16. These peptides play a major role in the management of the normal microflora. In mammals, the antimicrobial peptides are great contributors to antimicrobial efficacy of phagocytes such as neutrophils and macrophages, but the peptides are also expressed in epithelial cells17. In humans, there are three known families of antimicrobial peptides called defensins, cathelicidin and dermicidin. Defensins are divided into the α-defensins found in neutrophils, macrophages, and Paneth cells in the small intestine, and the β-defensins, which are found widespread in epithelial cells18,19. Cathelicidin is found mainly in neutrophils16,20,21. Members of this protein family share a highly conserved N terminus of 12 kDa named cathelin. Dermicidin is primarily found in the sweat gland although it was also expressed in skin and nerves22.
During the investigation of orphan genes yet to be defined for their role in the human salivary gland, a clone was isolated from the subtracted cDNA library of human submandibular gland that was found to be non-redundant in the GenBank database (National Center for Biotechnology Information, NCBI), European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), and DNA DataBank of Japan (DDBJ), which also showed a characteristic positive expression in the salivary epithelium by RNA in situ hybridization. The C77-91 orphan gene was intensely expressed in the interlobular ductal and some serous acinar cells of human submandibular gland and was named "mucocidin" that expresses 46 amino acids peptide (pl=9.45) possessing an antimicrobial activity on E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudonomas aeruginosa, Aspergellous niger, and Candida albicans. The gene encoding mucocidin is the same as the salvic gene registered in Genbank (AY177672)23. Mucocidin consists of a typical hydrophobic amino acid rich domain in the N-terminus and multiple consensus sequences of phosphorylation site and a single glutamine residue that may serve as a possible crosslinking site catalyzed by transglutaminase and four basic amino acids in the C-terminus. Northern blot analysis, in situ hybridization, gene micro-array dot blot analysis and immunohistochemical staining of human organs and tissues using the antibody against the synthetic mucocidin peptide showed that it is widely expressed in various tissues and organs and more so in gastrointestinal tract and exocrine glandular ductal epithelium.


A channel structure, i.e. iron trough or iron runner, for flow of molten pig iron during tapping of a blast furnace, comprises a wear lining which provides the surface along which the iron flows, a permanent lining outside the wear lining and an outer lining of high thermal conductivity outside the permanent lining. The outer lining has a bottom wall and two opposed side walls thermally connected at their lower ends to the bottom wall. To improve resistance to thermal stress, outside and adjoining at least one, but not all, of the walls of the outer lining, there is at least one refractory insulating lining layer, and the other or others of the walls of the outer lining are thermally coupled to heat dissipating means.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a channel structure for flow of molten pig iron during tapping of a blast furnace, and also to a method of cooling such a structure. The channel structures employed for guiding the flow of molten pig iron from a blast furnace include firstly a main channel known as an "iron trough" which extends from the taphole and carries both iron and slag and secondly channels branching from said main channel known as "iron runners" and usually carrying either slag or iron.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Typically, such a channel structure comprises at least a wear lining which during operation provides a surface contacting the iron, a permanent lining in which the wear lining is contained, and a steel or concrete support outside the wear lining. A typical iron trough is for example ten to twenty meters long and three meters wide. Examples are shown in EP-A-90761 and EP-A-143971 where coolant passages are located in the lining layers, inwardly of the outer support, and EP-A-60239 where the metal support which is of channel shape has spaces in it for coolant, particularly air.
"Iron and Steel Engineer", October 1988, pages 47-51, especially FIG. 2 on page 48, describes a water-cooled iron trough having a wear lining, an alumina permanent lining, two carbon layers of high thermal conductivity outside the permanent lining and a steel box of channel shape which is water-cooled on all three sides.
It is noted here that the present invention is not limited to water-cooled channel structures, but also relates to air-cooled structures, and to structures which are cooled in other ways, for example with a glycol/water mixture, as is also described in the same article in the "Iron and Steel Engineer".
The wear lining of an iron trough or runner may for example consist of a refractory concrete. Carbon in Combination with aluminium oxide bricks may be used for the permanent lining, or for example just aluminium oxide bricks. The outer lining between the steel outer boundary of the permanent lining is for example made of graphite, carbon or semi-graphite.
On account of strength considerations, the steel of the outer support should achieve no temperature higher than about 200.degree. C. The pig iron comes out of the blast furnace directly into contact with the wear lining and has a temperature of about 1450.degree. C.-1550.degree. C. As a result substantial thermal stresses occur in the structure. The way in which this thermal load is accommodated in the design of the iron trough or runner largely determines the life of the iron runner.
A problem can for example be that, as a consequence of the thermal stresses, the iron trough or runner begins to crack, as described in copending application U.S. Pat. No. 447053 filed 5th January 1990 and not yet published and also copending European application 89203088, Australian application 46940/89 and Indian application 917/MAS/89, not yet published. This cracking leads to the defect that escaping liquid pig iron fills a space on the outside of the steel support, which makes repair expensive. To carry out the repair the iron trough or runner has to be removed completely at the position of the breakout in order to be able to remove the now solidified pig iron. After that the trough or runner has to be fitted again. All this is expensive. It also occurs that, because the trough or runner overflows, liquid pig iron falls into a space between the steel support and the "shore" which supports the iron trough or runner. Then too the solidified pig iron has to be removed and this has the same drawbacks as mentioned above.

Channel structure for flow of molten pig iron


A computer-implemented method includes receiving data generated using at least one sensor of a vehicle; and simultaneously performing multiple different prediction tasks on the data using a multi-task neural network, wherein the multi-task neural network comprises at least one shared parameter inference matrix comprising parameters shared between the multiple different prediction tasks, and the at least one shared parameter inference matrix was over-parameterized during training into at least one shared parameter matrix and multiple task-specific parameter matrices, each of the multiple task-specific parameter matrices being associated with a different one of the multiple different tasks.

There is increasing interest in autonomous vehicles and, as a result, increasing development of sophisticated embedded vision systems that can capture large volumes of scene data and then apply machine-learning strategies for performing perception tasks that enable an autonomous vehicle to make decisions while maneuvering. State-of-the-art machine learning models have significantly grown in size in recent years. Large models show great expressivity but are practically difficult to deploy for embedded vision applications where inference systems have relatively limited computational capabilities and relatively low memory. Additionally, perception tasks for autonomous driving often require real-time or near real-time inference to ensure safety, but large models are usually slow in inference.
To reduce inference time with a limited computational budget and to improve joint performance, multi-task learning (MTL) is a common design choice for embedded perception tasks when multiple related tasks are to be learned and inferenced at the same time. In general, the motivations for MTL can be many-folds, including: mitigating the data sparsity challenge by exploiting useful information from other tasks, reducing inference time with a limited computational budget, in terms of both memory and computational bandwidth, improving joint performance of all tasks, and reducing training time. However, there is a trade-off between the performance of each individual task, and the multi-task model parameter size.

Systems and methods for deep multi-task learning for embedded machine vision applications

Continental Automotive Technologies GmbH