A unit light source module configured as a 3D display system includes a light emitting unit including a plurality of point light sources corresponding to a number of viewpoints and a light collecting unit disposed a predetermined distance apart from the light emitting unit and collecting and outputting the light source outputted from the plurality of point light sources.

A display panel is a panel to display information through a screen, and widely used for home-appliances. Recently, an LCD is commonly used as an example of display panel.
In general, an LCD is a display device widely used in the related industries as a display device developed to replace a cathode ray tube used for a monitor of a TV or a computer, because of strong point of being easy in miniaturization, having a high quality and low power consumption.
Particularly, concomitant with recent continued expansion of demand of mobile communication terminals such as mobile phones and PDAs, markets for small display panels mounted on mobile communication terminals are being exponentially expanded.
The display panels pass through various correcting processes during manufacturing for mura, chromaticity, color shading and contrast. At this time, as the mobile communication terminals are gradually mounted with color display panels that require high degrees of technologies and qualities, an accurate correction is essentially involved, and improvement of efficiency in correcting process is also accompanied in association with full scale of mass production.
As noted from the foregoing, as the display markets are activated, various types of display correcting methods are being developed.
Accordingly, the present invention is provided to solve the aforementioned problems, and therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a mura correcting method of display panel configured to derive a target gray for outputting a target luminance to allow deriving a target luminance desired from a reference gray which is an input value when a display panel is lit, through which a change rate of the reference gray and the target gray can be derived to correct the lighting of the display panel.
It should be emphasized, however, that the present invention is not limited to a particular disclosure, as explained above. It should be understood that other technical subjects not mentioned herein may be appreciated by those skilled in the art.
In order to accomplish the above object, in one general aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a mura correcting method of display panel for correction when a display panel is lit, the method comprising:
applying a current corresponding to a first reference gray to the display panel to thereby light the display panel, and measuring a first measurement luminance thereto (first luminance measurement step);
measuring a luminance of adjacent other gray from the first reference gray and deriving a first gamma curve to a luminance change based on the first measurement luminance (first gamma curve deriving step);
setting an actual luminance corresponding to the first reference gray as a first target luminance, and deriving a first target gray corresponding to the first target luminance from the first gamma curve (first target gray deriving step);
lighting the display panel by applying a current corresponding to a second reference gray separate from the first reference gray and measuring a second measurement luminance thereto (second luminance measurement step);
measuring a luminance of adjacent other gray from the second reference gray and deriving a second gamma curve to a luminance change based on the second measurement luminance (second gamma curve deriving step);
setting an actual luminance corresponding to the second reference gray as a second target luminance, and deriving a second target gray corresponding to the second target luminance from the second gamma curve (second target gray deriving step); and
deriving a correction value graph using a first target gray value and a second target gray value respectively corresponding to the first reference gray and the second reference gray (correction value deriving step), wherein
the display panel is lit by applying a current corresponding to the corrected gray instead of relevant gray using the correction value graph when the display panel is lit.
Preferably, but not necessarily, the first gamma curve deriving step may include:
setting a different first comparison gray within a pre-set first measurement area that is adjacent to the first reference gray (first process);
lighting the display panel by applying to the display panel a current corresponding to the first comparison gray, and measuring a first comparison luminance thereto (second process); and
deriving a first gamma curve relative to a luminance value change within the first measurement area by using the first measurement luminance and the first comparison luminance (third process).
Preferably, but not necessarily, the second gamma curve deriving step may include:
setting a different second comparison gray within a pre-set second measurement area that is adjacent to the second reference gray (fourth process);
lighting the display panel by applying to the display panel a current corresponding to the second comparison gray, and measuring a second comparison luminance thereto (fifth process); and
deriving a second gamma curve relative to a luminance value change within the second measurement area by using the second measurement luminance and the second comparison luminance (sixth process).
Preferably, but not necessarily, the correction value deriving step may include deriving a slope (a) of the correction value graph using a numerical expression of G2′−G2=a(G1′−G1)G2′−G2=a(G1′−G1), where
G1: first reference gray
G1′: first target gray
G2: second reference gray
G2′: second target gray.
Preferably, but not necessarily, the correction value graph may be derived by a graph with a shape of linear function where a reference gray value and a target gray value respectively form an axis, wherein the display panel is lit by inputting the target gray value corresponding to the reference gray value.
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention have the following advantageous effects in order to solve the aforementioned problems:
First, a separate gamma curve is derived by deriving a comparison luminance adjacent to a measurement luminance relative to a reference gray when lighting of display panel is tested, and a target gray is derived in order to output a target luminance through the derived gamma curve, whereby a correct target gray can be advantageously outputted by correcting the reference gray using the target gray;
Second, generation of error can be advantageously minimized by separately deriving a gamma curve of a section corresponding to within a measurement area by setting a pre-set separate measurement area in a reference gray and by deriving a plurality of comparison luminance within the measurement area;
Third, a correction of lighting of a display panel can be simply implemented by independently deriving a target gray from each area by setting a plurality of measurement areas, through which a correction value graph can be derived that shows a change rate of target gray in response to changes in reference gray.
It should be emphasized, however, that the advantageous effects of the present invention are not limited to particular disclosures, as explained above. It should be understood that other advantageous effects not mentioned herein may be clearly appreciated by those skilled in the art.
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention thus described will be explained hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the exemplary embodiments are not to limit the present invention to particular shapes, but to help appreciate the present invention more clearly through the exemplary embodiments.
The mura correcting method of display panel prevents mura (modified uniformly redundant array, non-uniformity distortions, phenomena of uneven screen display from generating on an entire display panel by correcting through the display panel being lit with a correct luminance in response to a gray inputted through a luminance value measured when testing the lighting of a manufactured display panel.
Hereinafter, the mura correcting method of display panel according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5.
FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a state in which lighting of display panel is photographed by a photographing unit in a mura correcting method of display panel according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating an entire progressing process of a mura correcting method of display panel according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating a process deriving a first gamma curve in FIG. 2;
Furthermore, FIG. 4 is a schematic view illustrating a gamma curve relative to luminance changes in a mura correcting method of display panel of FIG. 1, and FIG. 5 is a schematic view illustrating a correction value graph in a mura correcting method of display panel of FIG. 1.
In general, a phenomenon of mura (stain, spot) is generated on an entire surface of display panel when a current corresponding to a set luminance is applied when each pixel is lit on the display panel, and luminance outputted from the pixels is not correctly outputted. Thus, in order to prevent the mura thus described from being generated, there is a need to correct the luminance outputted from the pixels, as described in the present invention. Furthermore, the mura can be prevented from being generated by correction in which the luminance is evenly outputted from each pixel of the display panel.
To be more specific, the mura correcting method of display panel according to the present invention may largely include a first luminance measurement step (S100), a first gamma curve deriving step (S200), s first target gray deriving step (S300), s second luminance measurement step (S400), a second gamma curve deriving step (S500), a second target gray deriving step (S600) and a correction value deriving step (S800).
First, a current is applied to a display panel (100) to light the display panel (100) when the lighting of display panel (100) is tested as illustrated in FIG. 1, and luminance is measured using a discretely arranged photographing unit (200).
Then, the first luminance measurement step (S100) may be such that a current corresponding to a first reference gray (G1) is applied to the display panel (100) while the photographing unit (200) is arranged, to thereby light the display panel (100) and a first measurement luminance (L1) thereto is measured. Here, the first reference gray (G1) is any one gray selected from when the display panel (100) is lit.
Furthermore, when the first measurement luminance (L1) is same as the theoretical luminance to be outputted from the first reference gray (G1), the display panel (100) may not need a separate correction, but if the first measurement luminance (L1) is not same as the theoretical luminance to be outputted from the first reference gray (G1), correction is required.
To put it differently, the first measurement gray (L1) may be a state in which an error is generated from the luminance to be actually outputted from the first reference gray (G1). As stated above, a first luminance measurement step (S100) is progressed to first measure the first measurement luminance (L1) of the display panel (100) that is lit after the first reference gray (G1) is set.
Thereafter, the luminance is additionally measured by lighting another gray adjacent to the first reference gray (G1) through which a first gamma curve deriving step (S200) is implemented to derive changes in luminance in the display panel (100).
To be more specific, the first gamma curve deriving step (S200) may be to measure a luminance at a relevant point by setting other gray within an adjacent area based the first reference gray (G1) through which changes in luminance in response to changes in gray is derived.
In more details, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the first gamma curve deriving step (S200) may first derive a first measurement area (A1) adjacent to the first reference gray (G1)(S210). Here, the first measurement area (A1) may mean a partial area adjacent to the first reference gray (G1), and may set a first comparison gray (G1+Δ, G1−Δ) (described later) within the first measurement area (A1).
For example, the first measurement area (A1) may be set at an area having a +5 or −5 gray deviation based on the first reference gray (G1), which may be selectively adjusted by a user.
After deriving the first measurement area (A1), a first process setting a first comparison (G1+Δ, G1−Δ) adjacent to the first reference gray (A1) within the first measurement area (A1) may be implemented (S210).
To be more specific, the first comparison gray (G1+Δ, G1−Δ) may be set by other adjacent gray, at least more than one adjacent gray, based on the first reference gray. At this time, as elaborated above, the first comparison gray (G1+Δ, G1−Δ) may be set within the first measurement area (A1), and more than one may be selected.
Thereafter, a second process (S220) may be implemented where a relevant current may be applied to the first comparison gray (G1+Δ, G1−Δ) to light the display panel (100) and to measure the first comparison luminance (L1+Δ, L1−Δ) (S220). Here, the first comparison luminance (L1+Δ, L1−Δ) may define a relevant luminance measured by the photographing unit (200) as illustrated in FIG. 4, in response to the first comparison gray (G1+Δ, G1−Δ).
A third process (S230) may be performed where the first comparison luminance (L1+Δ, L1−Δ) corresponding to the first comparison gray (G1+Δ, G1−Δ) is derived to thereafter derive a first gamma curve (D1) using the first measurement luminance (L1) and the first comparison luminance (L1+Δ, L1-Δ) (S230). To be more specific, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the third process (S230) indicates the changes in luminance measured in response to a gray applied from the measurement object of display panel (100), which may be derived through the first measurement luminance (L1) and the first comparison luminance (L1+Δ, L1−Δ) respectively measured from the first reference gray (G1) and the first comparison gray (G1+Δ, G1−Δ).
At this time, the first gamma curve (D1), which is a degree of changes in luminance in response to a gray applied from the display panel (100), may be certified only within the first measurement area (A1) and may be in a state of not being certified. Here, the derivation of the first gamma curve (D1) through the first measurement luminance (L1) and the first comparison luminance (L1+Δ, L1−Δ) respectively measured from the first reference gray (G1) and the first comparison gray (G1+Δ, G1−Δ) may be derived from the following numerical expression 1.
                                          L                                                                          1                                              L                                                                                1                        +            Δ                          =                              (                                          G                                                                                1                                                              G                                                                                1                                +                Δ                                      )                    c                                    (                  Numerical                                                              Expression                                                              1                )
where, L1 is first measurement luminance (L1), L1+Δ is first comparison luminance (L1+Δ, L1−Δ), G1 is first reference gray (G1), and G1−Δ is first comparison gray (G1+Δ, G1−Δ). Furthermore, C represents a change rate of the first gamma curve (D1).
As noted from the foregoing, the change rate of first gamma curve (D1) can be derived through the numerical expression 1, whereby the first gamma curve (D1) within the first measurement area (A1) can be derived.
That is, the first measurement luminance (L1), which is a luminance value corresponding to the first comparison gray (G1+Δ, G1−Δ) adjacent along with the first reference gray (G1) and the first comparison luminance (L1+Δ, L1−Δ) are respectively measured, and a change rate of luminance value in response to the changes in gray within the first measurement area (A1) are measured to derive the first gamma curve (D1).
Here, the first gamma curve (D1) can accurately derive the gamma value by measuring not only the first measurement luminance (L1) of first reference gray (G1), which is a simple point, but also measuring the first comparison luminance (L1+Δ, L1−Δ) corresponding to the plurality of first comparison grays (G1+Δ, G1−Δ) within adjacent first measurement area (A1). Through the foregoing processes, the first gamma curve deriving step (S200) is implemented and thereafter, a first target gray deriving step (S300) may be implemented.
The first target gray deriving step (S300) may set an actual luminance corresponding to the first reference gray (G1) as a first target luminance (L1′), and apply the first target luminance (L1′) to the first gamma curve (D1) to derive a first target gray (G1′).
To be more specific, the first target gray (G1′) may correspond to an input gray for actually outputting a luminance value to be measured by the first reference gray (G1) when there is no need to make a correction by the display panel (100).
Furthermore, the first target luminance (L1′) may be a luminance value to be outputted from the first reference gray (G1) when there is no need to make a correction by the display panel (100). If the display panel (100) is correctly operated, the first target gray (G1′) and the first reference gray (G1) output a same luminance, but actually there is a difference.
For example, when the first reference gray (G1) is 200, the first measurement luminance (L1) measured therefrom is 80, and an actual first target luminance (L1′) is 85, a current corresponding, not to the first reference gray (G1), but to the first target gray (G1′), must be applied to light the display panel (100) in order for the display panel (100) to output a luminance of 85.
Of course, although the first target luminance (L1′) is a luminance value actually to be outputted from the first reference gray (G1) as elaborated in the foregoing, it is actually different from the first measurement luminance (L1), such that, in order to output the first target luminance (L1′), a current corresponding to the first target gray (G1′) instead of the first reference gray (G1) must be applied.
As a result, changes in luminance value outputted in response to changes in gray inputted through the first gamma curve (D1) may be derived and a first target gray (G1′) corresponding to the first target luminance (L1′) may be derived using thereof.
The first target gray (G1′) thus derived may be applied instead of a current corresponding to the first reference gray (G1) when the display panel (100) is lit, to thereby allow the display panel (100) being lit with a correct lamination. After the first target gray (G1′) is derived, a second luminance measurement step (S400) may be additionally implemented.
The second luminance measurement step (S400) may be such that a current corresponding to a second reference gray (G2) separate from the first reference gray (G1) is applied to the display panel (100) to light the display panel (100) and to measure a second measurement luminance (L2) thereto.
To be more specific, the second luminance measurement step (S400) may be processed separately from the first luminance measurement step (S100), where the second reference gray (G2) is set, and a current thereto is applied to light the display panel (100). Furthermore, the second measurement luminance (L2) is measured through the photographing unit (200) when the display panel (100) is lit.
Here, it is preferable that the second reference gray (G2) be disposed at an outside of the first measurement area (A1), and not be adjacent to the first reference gray (G1). That is, the second luminance measurement step (S400) is akin to the first luminance measurement step (S100), and may independently set the second reference gray (G2) to derive the second measurement luminance (L2). Successively, the second measurement luminance (L2) may be measured to allow a second gamma curve deriving step (S500) to be implemented.
The second gamma curve deriving step (S500) may be derived through a process actually same as that of the first gamma curve deriving step (S200). To be more specific, the second gamma curve deriving step (S500) may be such that an adjacent second measurement area (A2) is first derived from the second reference gray (G2). Here, the second measurement area (A2) may be set in the same standard as that of the first measurement (A1) elaborated in the second reference gray (G2).
After the second measurement area (A2) is derived as explained above, a fourth process may be implemented setting a second comparison gray (G2+Δ, G2−Δ) adjacent to the second reference gray (G2) within the second measurement area (A2).
Furthermore, a current corresponding to the second comparison gray (G2+Δ, G2−Δ) may be applied to light the display panel (100), and then a fifth process of measuring a second comparison luminance (L2+Δ, L2−Δ) may be implemented. Here, the second comparison luminance (L2+Δ, L2−Δ) may indicate a luminance measured by the photographing unit (200), as illustrated in FIG. 4, in response to the second comparison gray (G2+Δ, G2−Δ).
After the second comparison luminance (L2+Δ, L2−Δ) corresponding to the second comparison gray (G2+Δ, G2−Δ) is derived as explained above, a sixth process of deriving a second gamma curve (D2) is implemented using the second measurement luminance (L2) and the second comparison luminance (L2+Δ, L2−Δ).
To be more specific, the second gamma curve (D2) defines changes in luminance measured in response to the applied gray, as in the above first gamma curve (D1), and may be derived through the second measurement luminance (L2) and the second comparison luminance (L2+Δ, L2−Δ) respectively measured from the second reference gray (G2) and the second comparison gray (G2+Δ, G2−Δ). At this time, the second gamma curve (D2), which is a degree in which luminance is changed based on gray applied from the display panel (100), is certified only within the second measurement area (A2), and is not in a state of being certified in other areas.
Here, the second gamma curve (D2) through the second measurement luminance (L2) and the second comparison luminance (L2+Δ, L2−Δ) respectively measured from the second reference gray (G2) and the second comparison gray (G2+Δ, G2−Δ) may be derived through the following numerical expression 2.
                                          L                                                                          2                                              L                                                                                2                        +            Δ                          =                              (                                          G                                                                                2                                                              G                                                                                2                                +                Δ                                      )                    c                                    (                  Numerical                                                              Expression                                                              2                )
Here, L2 is a second measurement luminance (L2), L2+Δ is a second comparison luminance (L2+Δ, L2−Δ), G2 is a second reference gray (G2), G2+Δ is a second comparison gray (G2+Δ, G2−Δ), and C is a change rate of second gamma curve (D2).
The change rate of second gamma curve (D2) may be derived through the numerical expression 2 as explained above, whereby the second gamma curve (D2) within the second measurement area (A2) may be derived.
As the abovementioned first gamma curve (D2), the second gamma curve (D2) can accurately derive a gamma value by measuring not only the second measurement luminance (L2) of second reference gray (G2), which is a simple point, but also the second comparison luminance (L2+Δ, L2−Δ) corresponding to the plurality of second comparison grays (G2+Δ, G2−Δ) within adjacent second measurement area (A2) thereof.
In the present exemplary embodiment, the first gamma curve (D1) and the second gamma curve (D2) may be respectively derived using the luminance value and relevant gray measured in the first measurement area (A1) and the second measurement area (A2), but actually may be also derived using a curve graph of same numerical expression as illustrated in FIG. 4.
However, because no certification was made actually on sections other than the first measurement area (A1) and the second measurement area (A2), it is preferable that the first gamma curve (D1) and the second gamma curve (D2) be mutually and separately set.
Now, a second target deriving step (S600) may be implemented after the second gamma curve (D2) is derived through the second gamma curve deriving step (S500).
The second target gray deriving step (S600) may be such that an actual luminance corresponding to the second reference gray (G2) is set as a second target luminance (L2′), and a second target gray (G2′) corresponding to the second target luminance (L2′) in the second gamma curve (D2) is derived.
Likewise, the second target gray (G2′) may be also derived through the second gamma curve (D2) similarly to the abovementioned first target gray (G1′). A correction value deriving step (S800) may be implemented after deriving the first target gray (G1′) and the second target gray (G2′) respectively.
The correction value deriving step (S800) may be such that the change rate of target gray relative to the changes in reference gray is measured through the target gray (G1′) and the second target gray (G2′) values respectively corresponding to the first reference gray (G1) and the second reference gray (G2). Furthermore, a correction value graph may be derived, as illustrated in FIG. 5, through the measured change rate of target gray (S800).
To be more specific, the correction value deriving step (S800) may derive a correction value graph through the following numerical expression 3, as illustrated in FIG. 5.G2′−G2=a(G1′−G1)  (Numerical Expression 3)
Furthermore, the correction value graph thus derived through the numerical expression 3 may be expressed by a graph of a linear functional shape as shown in the following numerical expression 4.Y=aX+b  (Numerical Expression 4)
Here, X in the thus derived numerical expression 4 may correspond to a reference gray, and Y may correspond to a target gray.
As a result, the display panel (100) may be lit with a correct luminance by applying a current of the target gray value corresponding to the reference gray value using the numerical expression 4 when the display panel (100) is lit.
As the mura correction method of display panel according to the present invention is configured through the abovementioned processes, the first gamma curve (D1) within the first measurement area (A1) based on the first reference gray (G1) can be derived, and reliability of the first gamma curve (D1) can be obtained using the first comparison luminance (L1+Δ, L1−Δ) measured through the plurality of first comparison grays (G1+Δ, G1−Δ) when the first gamma curve (D1) is derived.
Furthermore, the first target gray (G1′) and the second target gray (G2′) are independently derived from each of the first measurement area (A1) and the second measurement area (A2), through which a correction value graph showing the change rates of the first target gray (G1′) and the second target gray (G2′) in response to the changes in the first reference gray (G1) and the second reference gray (G2) can be derived, whereby the display panel (100) can be simply corrected.
Thus, the present invention can derive a gamma curve relative to a plurality of points adjacent to the correction points through which a correction value can be derived to increase the correction accuracy, unlike the prior art where only desired particular point is measured to derive a gamma at a relevant position by measuring only a particular point through which a correction value is derived.
Hence, an entire luminance of the display panel (100) can be evenly made by correction so that a luminance corresponding to a gray outputted by each pixel in the display panel (100) can be outputted.
At this time, when resolution of the display panel (100) is so high as to have excessive number of pixels, the correction value may be derived by a 4*4 block or a 8*8 block unit because of memory capacity and calculation amount of display panel (100), and luminance between blocks can be equally corrected.
Thus, the mura correction method of display panel according to the present invention can derive a correction value so that each pixel or each block can output an even luminance from the display panel (100) having a plurality of pixels, through which mura can be prevented from being generated.
As noted above, exemplary embodiments of the present invention has been described, and in addition to the aforesaid exemplary embodiments, the present invention may be embodied in other forms without departing from the purport or scope of the invention. Thus, the invention is not intended to limit the examples described herein, but is to be changed within the same scope and equal category of enclosed claims.

De-mura amendment method of display panel


A dozing blade assembly includes a dozing blade, and a cutter mounted to the dozing blade. The cutter includes a compound digging face extending between a proximal edge and a distal edge. The compound digging face has a steeply oriented center segment, and shallowly oriented outer segments, for balancing downward penetration with forward pushability during moving the dozing blade assembly through material of a substrate. Purpose-built mounting surfaces on the blade can be used to provide for the different orientations, using flat plates to form the cutter.

Tractors equipped with dozing blades are used for a great many different purposes. Applications which will be familiar to most include pushing loose material such as landfill trash, construction debris, and soil about a worksite. Such dozing activities are indispensable to forestry, waste handling, building construction, and light to medium civil engineering. Small to mid-sized tractors are commonly used in these industries.
Dozing is also an integral part of larger scale activities such as mining and major civil engineering projects. In these contexts, rather than pushing loose material across a surface, tractors equipped with dozing blades are often used to dig material from a substrate. In the case of rocky terrain, commonly encountered in opencast mines, or where substrate materials otherwise have a high structural integrity, quite large and powerful machines equipped with rugged dozing blades are often required. These and analogous activities are generally referred to as "production dozing." In production dozing, a tractor equipped with a heavy-duty dozing blade is typically driven across, and through, a substrate such that a cutting edge of the dozing blade penetrates downward and forward through the material of the substrate, overcoming the structural integrity of the material, and causing it to fail. In large scale surface mining activities, a tractor, typically equipped with ground engaging tracks, may make successive passes across an area where surface material is to be removed, forming a slot in the substrate in each pass. Due to the harsh environment, frequent repair, replacement, and servicing of the equipment is often necessary. Moreover, to maximize productivity it is often desirable to employ machine operators who are highly skilled. Unskilled operators have been observed to manipulate a dozing blade or otherwise operate a tractor such that the tractor stalls while attempting to form a slot in a substrate. In other instances, rather than stalling the tractor, unskilled operators can sometimes cut a slot that is too shallow than what is theoretically possible, or even skim the dozing blade across a surface of the substrate without loosening any substantial amount of material over at least a portion of a given pass. Stalling the machine, or removing too little material, understandably impacts efficiency. For these and other reasons, there remains a premium in the pertinent industries on sophisticated equipment design and operation, as well as operator skill.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,238,648 to D. E. Cobb et al. is directed to a bulldozer with a stinger bit, for the apparent purpose of enabling a reasonably deep cut through hard material without overtaxing the tractor engine and tractive ability. These goals are apparently achieved by making the stinger bit adjustable or retractable, such that it can be used to ease initial penetration. This design would apparently enable a normal use of the full width of the blade, and an alternative use with the stinger bit extended. While Cobb et al. may have provided advantages over the state of the art at that time, there remains ample room for improvement. Moreover, the features necessary to enable the functionality of the stinger bit, such as hydraulic actuators and the like, can add non-trivial expense, complexity and maintenance requirements to the machine.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Track-type tractor, dozing blade assembly, and dozing blade with steep center segment


A mobile device includes an adjustable impedance matching network coupled between a power amplifier and an antenna and has an adjustable impedance element. An impedance sensor is coupled between the power amplifier and adjustable impedance matching network. A processor is configured to a) calculate a corrected antenna load impedance based upon a sensed impedance at inputs of the impedance matching network and a current value of the adjustable impedance element, and b) determine a new value for the adjustable impedance element based upon the corrected antenna load impedance. The processor is also configured to c) set the adjustable impedance element to the new value, and d) sense a new impedance at the inputs and determine if the sensed new impedance is within a threshold value of the power amplifier impedance, and repeat steps a), b), and c) if the sensed new impedance is not within the threshold value.

In the field of RF signal transmission, it is known that the output impedance of an RF signal source should match the input impedance of its load as closely as possible. The better the match, the greater the efficiency of the power transfer is between the source and the load. Theoretically, if the impedances are exactly matched, the load absorbs 100% of the signal transmitted from the source. On the other hand, when there is a difference between the load impedance and the impedance of the source, the load does not fully absorb the entire signal from the source and "reflects" a portion of the signal back toward the source.
In a conventional RF transmission system, a transmitter is connected to an antenna through a device normally referred to as a matching network, or antenna coupler. The function of the matching network is to transform the impedance of the antenna to the desired characteristic impedance of the transmitter.
If the elements of such a transmission system remained constant, the coupler could be fixed and would not need to be changed. However, in practice, there are many factors which vary the impedance of the various elements in the transmission system, and thus, the impedance of the antenna coupler may also be changed. For example, the characteristics of antennas may change over time as the antennas endure wear and tear.
In addition, in mobile RF transmission systems, the characteristic impedance of an antenna may vary considerably with changes in the natural surroundings of the antenna. Further, the impedance of the antenna and other elements in a transmission system may be dependent upon the frequency of the signal being transmitted. Thus, mobile frequency hopping transmission systems encounter many changes in the characteristic impedance of the elements of the system for which it may be helpful to change the operation of the matching network between the transmitter and its associated antenna.
Conventional systems use differing techniques to identify when the matching network should be changed, and to identify what changes needed to be made. For example, it is known to measure the Voltage Standing Wave Ratio ("VSWR") of a transmitting system. If the VSWR exceeded a predetermined threshold, such as 2.5, the elements of the coupler could be altered to reduce the VSWR. Because the VSWR measures the ratio between the forward and reflected signals, it is considered a measure of the relative "goodness" of the impedance matching, a high VSWR indicating a relatively poor match and, accordingly, a relatively high reflected signal. A high VSWR therefore wastes power in a portable device and reduces the radiated signal magnitude.
Exemplary advances in devices to measure the impedance of a load, which are helpful in communications devices including matching networks, have been made. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,386,194 and 5,206,600 to Moehlmann, assigned to the same assignee as the present invention, disclose an impedance detector that samples the voltage and the current of a signal passing through a transmission line, and derives the impedance parameters independently of the amplitude or phase of the signal.
U.S. Pat. Pub. 2008/0266021 to Van Bezooijen et al. discloses a communications device including a power amplifier coupled to an antenna via a matching network. An impedance detector is coupled to the input of the matching network. The impedance detector measures the impedance at the input of the matching network. A control unit is coupled to the impedance detector and compares the impedance at the input of the matching network with a reference value representing the nominal load line impedance, and adjusts the matching network accordingly.
The control unit of this system, however, may require many iterations in changes until the impedance is properly matched. Consequently, new mobile wireless communications devices employing new methods of matching antenna load impedances to amplifier impedances may be needed.

Mobile wireless communications device with adjustable impedance matching network and associated methods


A new cultivar of Dianthus plant named ‘CORAL REEF’ that is characterized by pronounced compact habit, grey-green foliage, and flowers that are bright salmon pink with a pale pink edge. In combination these traits set ‘CORAL REEF’ apart from all other existing varieties of Dianthus known to the inventor.

This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(f) of the application for a grant of European Community Plant Breeders Rights which was filed for the instant plant variety on Jul. 26, 2007, Application Number 2007/1687.
The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of carnation that is grown for use as a flowering plant for pots and containers. The new cultivar is known botanically as Dianthus×hybrida and will be referred to hereinafter by the cultivar name 'CORAL REEF'.
'CORAL REEF' is a complex hybrid plant that is the product of a breeding program started by the inventor in 1985. The breeding program is ongoing, conducted in a cultivated area of Houndspool, Dawlish, Devon, United Kingdom. The primary focus of the breeding program is to produce new cultivars of carnations that exhibit unique growth habit. The inventor selected 'CORAL REEF' in 2003 for its flowers that are bright salmon pink with a pale pink edge that bloom from May through October.
'CORAL REEF' is a dwarf carnation exhibiting pronounced compact habit, grey-green foliage, and an abundance of bright salmon pink flowers. 'CORAL REEF' resulted from the open pollination between Dianthus 'Devon Flavia' (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,903) as female parent plant and an unidentified and unknown variety of Dianthus as male parent plant. Dianthus 'Flavia' is a cultivar of unknown parentage but derived from Dianthus gratianopolitanus (species, unpatented) and other Dianthus species and hybrids.
'CORAL REEF' is distinguishable from the female parent by pronounced compact habit and deeper pink flowers. Dianthus gratianopolitanus, also known as the Cheddar Pink, has pink flowers on a loose open plant habit.
The variety of Dianthus which is considered by the inventor to most closely resemble 'CORAL REEF' is Dianthus 'Devon Yolande' (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,029). 'Devon Yolande' has pale pink flowers with a darker center, but 'CORAL REEF' has a wider dark center and narrower pale margin.
Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was first accomplished by the inventor in 2000 in a cultivated area of Houndspool, United Kingdom. The method of asexual propagation used was vegetative cuttings. Since that time the characteristics of the new cultivar have been determined stable and are reproduced true to type in successive generations.


The disclosure relates to interactive and adaptive systems and methods for tracking location-sensitive objects. An example method includes presenting a first set of user interfaces for receiving a visual image of the location-sensitive object, and using the image to determine an identifier and identify a geographic location. The example method also includes transmitting the identifier and the location to a remote computing device, and in response to receiving location-specific requirements. A second set of user interfaces may be generated and presented to guide a user to comply with the location-specific requirements.

Applying for services typically involves many rigid steps as involved parties needs to carefully collect, inspect and weigh application information to decide whether an applicant is a good risk and price it according. Accordingly, obtaining certain services can be challenging to market at a retail level in general or non-specific service locations.

Systems and methods for locating objects and related facilities


An exercise apparatus is provided. The exercise apparatus includes upper-body and lower-body sections, the sections being made of a stretchable material that form fits around the wearer. Each of the sections is configured to have coupled thereto a weight, or a plurality of weights, as selected by the wearer. The weights can be positioned and attached to the apparatus at any location on the apparatus as chosen by the user, such that the position and size of the weights is customizable by the individual wearer. Also, the exercise apparatus includes ports for receiving elastic members, the ports being coupled to the apparatus at predetermined locations on the apparatus. The ports allow the wearer to releasably couple an elastic member between any two ports chosen by the wearer, such that the elastic member provides elastic resistance to the wearer as the wearer moves his/her joints in the apparatus.

1. Technical Field
This disclosure relates generally to exercise equipment, and in particular to an exercise apparatus that can be worn by an individual user to exercise.
2. State of the Art
Exercise has long been touted as a means for keeping oneself not only physically fit but mentally and emotionally fit as well. Exercise is a broad term that encompasses such activities as recreational sports, running, cross-training, weightlifting, dance, yoga, and martial arts, just to name a few. However, just because exercise comes in a variety of forms that are widely available does not mean that exercise is commonly undertaken.
There are many reasons why exercise is not a more commonplace activity in our everyday lives. One reason might be the amount of effort required to not only get started but the additional effort required to maintain an exercising routine. To get started with an exercise routine, it often requires the appropriate clothing, gear, or equipment. For some, a gym membership that provides the membership holder access to the latest and greatest equipment is the only way to exercise. However, many do not have access to a gym or wish to pay the membership fees. Not to mention, even after a membership is purchased, the effort it takes to get to the gym many times precludes membership holders from actually using the membership. In addition, many believe that, without the proper gear, the effort they put into exercising will not produce the desired result. As a result, they simply do not start.
Another reason why exercise is not a more commonplace activity is that exercising takes time. It takes time to plan our exercise routine, prepare to exercise, and then actually exercise. This time requirement regularly conflicts with our general lack of spare time. In fact, it is the absence of time that often precludes us from having the opportunity to exercise. For example, the demands of a career often consume the extra hours in our day that we might otherwise be able to dedicate to exercising. Likewise, responsibilities to our families, friends, and social contacts consume our available spare time that we might be able to dedicate to exercising. Indeed, the demands on our time are plentiful and they routinely take precedence over and extinguish the time needed to exercise.
Another reason why exercise is not a more commonplace activity is that many persons simply do not know how to exercise. Without knowing how to exercise, a person will likely never start. And, even if they do start, exercising without knowing how to do so will likely result in limited results, which will discourage those persons from sustained exercise.
In view of the above, there is a need in the physical fitness industry for an exercise apparatus that deals with the problems described above. The exercise apparatus described herein addresses these problems.

Exercise apparatus and method of use thereof


The present invention provides a passive superconducting sensor for quench detection in a superconducting coil. The sensor consists of a first circuit electrically connected to two voltage taps of a superconducting coil. The first circuit uses nonsuperconducting components and preferably contains a resistive element. The first circuit is magnetically coupled to a second circuit by a hybrid transformer. The second circuit is superconducting and contains a readout coil and preferably a second hybrid transformer. The second hybrid transformer is magnetically coupled to a sense coil which detects flux changes in the superconducting coil. The readout coil is coupled to a readout device which measures changes in the current through the readout coil. The current in the readout coil can be made a function only of the resistance of the superconducting coil between the voltage turns and thus can be used to detect a quench.

Superconducting magnets and inductors are capable of generating high magnetic fields and thereby storing large amounts of energy. Superconducting inductors are very efficient for these purposes because no energy is lost to resistive or joule heating in the superconducting current path. Every superconducting material has a critical temperature T.sub.c for a given ambient magnetic field above which the material is no longer superconducting. If a region of a superconducting material loses its superconducting property (i.e. becomes normal or quenches), joule heating occurs in the normal or resistive, nonsuperconducting region. If the region is small enough or the cooling sufficient enough, the heat will be dissipated and the region will return to its superconducting state.
If the region is large, such that sufficient joule heating occurs and overcomes the system's ability to dissipate the heat, the normal zone will propagate and grow larger, causing a catastrophic condition which can result in severe damage to the inductor or magnet as even more energy is dissipated in portions of the inductor or magnet. This runaway condition can result in the uncontrolled dumping of the entire magnetic energy of the inductor or magnet into a localized region, thus causing damage to itself and possibly to the load. It could also result in a service outage of the inductor or magnet which could be intolerable if the inductor or magnet where part of a device having a critical military application. Early detection of a quench, however, permits the energy stored in the magnet or inductor to be dissipated in a controlled fashion. The energy can be dissipated in a variety of ways such as through dump resistors or by making the entire magnet or inductor go normal in a controlled fashion. Catastrophic damage due to overheating is thereby avoided.
Generally, a superconducting inductor is any current path composed of a superconducting material since any current path has a self-inductance. Superconducting inductors, and especially superconducting energy storage inductors, are generally configured as coils called solenoids or toroids. Superconducting magnets, which are a special case of superconducting inductors, often have more complex shapes, so as to appropriately shape the magnetic field they produce.
Several techniques exist for detecting and locating normal regions in a superconducting magnet or inductor. The principle technique has been the use of a series of voltage taps. Voltages are measured by voltmeters at various points along the coil of the superconducting material, with the objective of correlating changes in voltage with the changes in resistivity due to the creation of a normal region. A severe drawback with using voltage taps is that in addition to the resistive voltage associated with a normal zone, a superconducting inductor produces inductive voltages resulting from the charging and discharging of the coil. These "common mode" inductive voltages are variable and change with any changes in the magnetic field. Also, since normal zones must be detected when they are small, the resistive voltage drop resulting from a quench is very small, typically 1.0-2.0 volts; whereas the common mode inductive voltage between two voltage taps is typically much larger and can be tens of kilovolts. If voltage taps are used, some technique must be utilized to eliminate the inductive voltage from the voltage measured at the taps. Typically, this involves subtracting out the inductive voltage by comparing the signal to a reference voltage. In any event, the technique involves subtracting two voltage measurements, one entirely inductive and the other mostly inductive but also having a small resistive component, with the goal of recovering the small resistive component.
As mentioned above, the inductive voltage across the inductor's terminals may be tens of kilovolts during normal operation. This means that an effective sensor must be capable of being operated effectively at these high common mode voltages. This places a severe constraint upon any electronic components attached to the voltage taps to measure and detect a quench since these components must be designed to operate at these high inductive voltages. Also, since the components may be placed close to the voltage taps, they must operate in high magnetic fields, and preferably at cryogenic temperatures.
It would be desirable, therefore, to develop a sensor for quench detection in superconductors under operating and quiescent conditions wherein a quench can easily be detected without encountering the difficulties mentioned above, which are associated with voltage taps.

Passive superconducting quench detection sensor


Radially expandable intraluminal stents (11) suitable for providing interior support within a human blood vessel are disclosed. A material (33') used to construct the stent (11) is formed into diamond cells (35). The diamond cells (35) each have arms (37) of equal length. Diamond cells (35) are interconnected to other diamond cells (25) by legs (39, 39a) or to pairs of smaller cells (41) which have a common vertex and four arms (43) of equal length. Needle-like prongs (51, 53) are attached to the diamond cells (35) at their vertex to function as attachment means for a biological membrane (57').

Expandable stents have now proved to be extremely useful in treating occluded blood vessels and/or diseased blood vessels. Whereas there are numerous expandable stents that are now commercially available, these stents invariably undergo a foreshortening in axial length as a result of their radial expansion. When treating a diseased blood vessel, and oftentimes when treating an occluded blood vessel, such as a coronary artery or other peripheral vessel, there is a desire to carry a tubular graft in surrounding relationship to the stent in order to deliver the graft with the stent to patch a diseased vascular location affected with lesions or the like. It is believed such grafts may prevent intimal cell proliferation caused by direct contact of a metal stent with the vessel wall which frequently otherwise results in early stent occlusion. Heretofore, truly acceptable techniques have not been developed for carrying such grafts to a desired location in surrounding relationship to a stent on a balloon catheter or the like. Because such present commercially available stents undergo axial foreshortening as a result of expansion, tubular grafts secured to the exterior of such a stent would be likewise subject to such foreshortening and would undergo undesirable wrinkling even if they were slightly elastic.


The present disclosure provides a process for preparing an aryl ketone of Formula I, comprising reacting a substituted benzene of Formula II with a carboxylic acid of formula IIIa and/or a carboxylic anhydride of formula IIIb in presence of an alkyl sulfonic acid acting as catalyst cum solvent/contacting medium. I, II, IIIa, IIIb, wherein, R1, R2, R3 and R4 are as defined in the description.

Aryl ketones are both valuable intermediates and end products (active ingredients) in a vast array of high-value added products, which include pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, biocides, flavours & fragrances, antioxidants and fine chemicals.
Aryl ketones typically are prepared by the reaction of an aromatic compound with the corresponding carboxylic acid anhydride or the carboxylic acid chloride in the presence of a corrosive Lewis acid (such as AlCl3, FeCl3, SnCl4, TiCl4, BF3, ZnCl2) or Bronsted acids (such as HF, PPA, H2SO4) as catalyst. Disadvantages associated with this approach include the use of toxic and corrosive acid halides as the acylating agents. When the acyl reactant is an acyl halide, the catalyst used is typically a Lewis acid such as AlCl3 or ZnBr2. When the acyl reactant is a carboxylic acid, the catalyst used is typically a protic acid, such as Hydrogen fluoride or Polyphosphoric acid.
During the workup of acylation mixtures of this type the Friedel-Crafts catalysts are destroyed by hydrolysis and produce relatively large amounts of hydrochloric acid in the effluent along with the formation of huge amount of sludge. Aluminum chloride, the most effective and commonly used Lewis Acid reagent for this reaction, is an unpleasant, hazardous material to handle. Large quantities of aluminum chloride, at least stoichiometric, are usually needed for the said acylation. In some acylation reactions two or three times the stoichiometric amount of aluminum chloride has to be used, which generates aluminium oxychloride species upon hydrolysis with water. Also, the hydrochloric acid produced as by-product needs to be neutralized or otherwise disposed of, which makes this process highly polluting and environmentally harmful.
Also, in case the acyl halide reactant such as an acyl chloride is used, this must be first prepared from the carboxylic acid, typically using a reagent like thionyl chloride that is not a particularly desirable compound to handle on large scale. Hydrogen chloride gas is released during the formation of the acyl chloride (along with SO2 when using Thionyl chloride) and in the acylation reaction must be abated with an acid gas scrubber.
Also, the solvent of choice for many such conventional Friedel-Crafts acylation processes is a chlorinated hydrocarbon, such as dichloromethane or ethylene dichloride, whose use in industrial synthesis has become increasingly less acceptable.
Another reported method used to prepare said aryl ketone involves the condensation of a carboxylic acid derivative with an active aromatic compound. Carboxylic acids are preferred starting materials because they are less expensive and less corrosive than the corresponding carboxylic acid anhydrides or carboxylic acid chlorides.
For example, British Patent 1,164,046 discloses the preparation of aryl ketones by aromatic acylation using a carboxylic acid and liquid hydrogen fluoride as the condensing agent. The disadvantage associated with this process is the use of liquid hydrogen fluoride which presents severe toxicity, corrosion and handling problems.
European Patent Application 87-303,162 discloses the preparation of diaryl ketones (benzophenones) comprising contacting an aromatic compound with an aromatic carboxylic acid or an acid chloride thereof in the presence of a strong acid such as Trifluoromethanesulfonic acid and a weak acid (equal to Chloroacetic acid) as solvent. A disadvantage to this method is that the solvent cannot be reused without drying.
European Patent Application 82-304,341 similarly discloses the reaction of an aromatic carboxylic acid with an aromatic compound in the presence of a stoichiometric amount of a fluoroalkane sulfonic acid to obtain diaryl ketones.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,041,616 discloses the preparation of aryl ketones comprising contacting an aromatic compound with a carboxylic acid in the presence of a catalytic amount of an organic sulfonic acid while removing the water of reaction as an azeotrope from the reaction mixture. However the disadvantage associated with this process is the additional unit operation of azeotropic distillation to remove the water liberated in the reaction, since otherwise reaction does not proceed to the required extent, which results in lower yields, since the substrate subjected to higher temperatures under acidic conditions.
German patent application 26 16 583, discloses the preparation of aryl ketones comprising reaction of non-hydroxylated aromatic compounds with a carboxylic acid or a carboxylic acid anhydride in the vapour phase at 250° C. to 500° C. in the presence of an acid silica/alumina catalyst having a surface area of at least 50 m3/g. However, with this process using amorphous or crystalline silica/alumina catalysts undesired by-products of very different structures are formed, for example in the case of the reaction of Benzene with Benzoic acid, biphenyl, diphenylmethane and alkylated benzenes are also formed in addition to the desired benzophenone. A particularly serious disadvantage of this process is the short life of the catalysts; thus, the amount of the desired Benzophenone drops considerably if the reaction time is increased to 24 hours.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,962,743 discloses a process for preparing aryl ketones comprising reaction of an aromatic compound with a carboxylic acid in the presence of a reaction medium comprising polyphosphoric acid and a strong protic acid, wherein the strong protic acid is methane sulfonic acid. However, this method does not provide for a method for recovery and reuse of the polyphosphoric acid and methane sulfonic acid.
Comprehensive Organic Synthesis, Volume 2, 1991, Pages 707-731, has disclosed that polyphosphoric acid in the presence of protic acid is most frequently used, but suffers from several well-known disadvantages, particularly on scale-up. Its extreme viscosity requires that reactions to be carried out at elevated temperatures to permit stirring, and it is a poor solvent for organic substrates. Hydrolysis during work-up is often tedious.
Yamoto et al., 1991, have reported the use of phosphorus pentoxide in methane sulfonic acid as a more convenient reagent for dehydrative cyclization of lactones and unsaturated carboxylic acids, being a mobile liquid with good solvent properties.
Synthesis (13), 2165-2168 (2004) discloses acylation of aromatic compounds such as Anisole using aliphatic & aromatic carboxylic acids in presence of a combination of graphite with MSA, while no reaction was observed in the presence either graphite or MSA.

Org. Lett., 2011, 13 (9), pp 2232-2235, "Greener" Friedel-Crafts Acylations discloses utility of methanesulfonic anhydride for promoting the Friedel-Crafts acylation reaction of aryl and alkyl carboxylic acids using toluene as solvent.
Iranian J. Catalysis 1(2), 65-70 (2011) discloses solvent free ortho acylation of phenols and naphthols with different organic acids in the presence of methanesulfonic acid as a Bronsted acid. Although the said reference refers to a solvent free reaction but as per the disclosure provided therein the said process comprises use of excessive carboxylic acid (1:5 m/m of substrate:carboxylic acid) and the catalytic amount of methane sulfonic acid (0.4 mol). However, this neither mentions nor teaches or indicate to a person skilled in the art about the possibility of recovery of carboxylic acid nor of its reuse, thus making the process commercially unattractive.

Asian J. Chemistry: 29 (4), 749-754 (2017) discloses synthesis of 4, 6-diacetylresorcinol comprising contacting resorcinol with acetic acid in presence of MSA and P2O5.

However, the above examples do not allow the efficient recovery and re-use of the solvent/contacting medium, and also generate large amounts of effluent during work-up.
The problems typically associated with the prior art are summarized as follows:                1. The conventional Friedel-Crafts aromatic acylation typically utilizes an acyl halide reactant, usually an acyl chloride. This must be first prepared from the carboxylic acid, typically using a reagent like thionyl chloride that is not a particularly desirable compound to handle on large scale. Hydrogen chloride gas, is released in the formation of formation of the acyl chloride (along with SO2 when using thionyl chloride) and in the acylation reaction and must be abated with an acid gas scrubber.        2. The conventional Friedel-Craft acylation generates a large volume of waste, especially when acylation is done using acyl chlorides and/or in presence of corrosive Lewis acid catalysts.        3. Also, the solvent of choice for many such conventional Friedel-Crafts acylation processes is a chlorinated hydrocarbon, such as dichloromethane or ethylene dichloride, whose use in industrial synthesis has become increasingly less acceptable.        4. Use of excessive quantity of carboxylic acid and/or its corresponding anhydride to act as contacting medium and/or        5. The use of Polyphosphoric acid and the like as contacting medium have the disadvantage of having a high viscosity of the reaction mixture thus requiring the reaction to be carried out at high temperatures.        6. Still other methods previously disclosed require extra unit operations like azeotropic distillation to remove the water formed in the reaction, to take the target reaction in the forward direction.
In recent years, much of the research efforts are devoted towards developing "greener" or sustainable technologies for pharma and fine chemical products involving C—C bond forming steps. While there are exciting developments in heterogeneous catalysis, there is still a need for an improved and environmentally friendly method suitable for batch manufacturing of aryl ketones, especially for those involving the Friedel-Crafts acylation.
In view of the shortcomings in the prior art regarding the health, safety and environment aspects of conventional Friedel-Crafts acylation, there is a dire need to find a process which is both environmentally friendly and commercially viable to carry out the said acylation reactions. Also it is becoming increasingly important to provide economically feasible processes for recycling key raw materials.
The present invention satisfies the existing needs, as well as others, and generally overcomes the deficiencies found in the prior art.
All publications herein are incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application were specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. Where a definition or use of a term in an incorporated reference is inconsistent or contrary to the definition of that term provided herein, the definition of that term provided herein applies and the definition of that term in the reference does not apply.

Commercially viable process for preparation of aryl ketones


A phase locked loop circuit which obtains an output signal coincident in frequency and phase with a target signal which is acquired by multiplying the frequency of a reference signal by a ratio represented by the sum of a first fraction and a second fraction, the circuit includes a controlled oscillator including the same number of stages of annularly connected amplifiers as a number which is obtained by dividing, by 2, a least common multiple of a denominator of the first fraction, a denominator of the second fraction and 2, the same number of multiphase signals as the least common multiple being extractable from the controlled oscillator, the frequency of the multiphase signals being controlled by a digital control signal and an analog control signal, one of the multiphase signals being output as the output signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a phase locked loop (PLL) circuit and a receiver using the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
A phase locked loop circuit is used to obtain an output signal synchronized (locked) in frequency and phase with a target signal which is acquired by multiplying the frequency of a reference signal by a desired ratio. A typical PLL includes a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) whose oscillating frequency is controlled in accordance with a given control voltage, an analog phase detector for detecting a phase difference between the reference signal and the output signal of the VCO, an analog filter for removing unnecessary waves from the output signal of the analog phase detector, and an amplifier for amplifying the output signal of the analog filter to generate the control voltage.
The PLL is not limited to the above-mentioned analog form, and may be in digital form. [R. Staszewski, "ALL-Digital PLL and Transmitter for Mobile Phones", IEEE J. of Solid-State Circuits Vol. 40, No. 12, DEC 2005.] (hereinafter simply referred to as a related art) describes a digital PLL. This PLL includes a VCO, a time to digital converter (TDC) for detecting a frequency difference and a phase difference between a reference signal and the output signal of the VCO to output a digital detection signal corresponding to the frequency difference and the phase difference, a digital filter for performing filter processing of smoothing the digital detection signal, and a digital-analog converter (DAC) for converting the output signal of the digital filter to generate a control voltage of the VCO. While the analog PLL uses the analog filter including an external capacitor, the digital PLL is capable of replacing the analog filter with an on-chip digital filter. It is known that the digital PLL can thus be configured with a smaller area than the analog PLL.
However, as the TDC converts the frequency difference and the phase difference into a digital detection signal, quantization noise is generated. Since the resolution of the TDC is finite, quantization noise corresponding to one least significant bit (LSB) might be generated even in a locked (synchronized) state. The transfer function of the quantization noise to a PLL output is a low-pass type, and the cutoff frequency thereof depends on a loop band. On the other hand, the transfer function of the phase noise generated in the VCO to the PLL output is a high-pass type, and the cutoff frequency thereof depends on the loop band. Thus, if a narrow loop band is set to remove the quantization noise, the phase noise of the VCO is not easily removed. On the other hand, if a broad loop band is set to remove the phase noise of the VCO, the quantization noise is not easily removed.
JP-A 2004-312726 (KOKAI) describes a double-loop PLL including a digital loop for frequency lock, and an analog loop for phase lock. The PLL described in JP-A 2004-312726 (KOKAI) sets a narrow loop band of the digital loop to remove the quantization noise and sets a relatively broad loop band of the analog loop to remove the phase noise of the VCO.
In general, if the frequency ratio between the target signal and the reference signal is an integral number, a PLL can be relatively easily configured by use of an integral divider having a division ratio coincident with the above the frequency ratio. However, considering recent technical demands, it is desirable that the frequency ratio be not limited to an integral number but be extended to a fractional number. For example, a fractional N-PLL switches the division ratio (integral number) of a variable divider between two or more values to obtain a pseudo fractional division ratio.
Generation of unnecessary waves called a fractional spurious is one disadvantage of the fractional N-PLL. Even if the double-loop PLL described in JP-A 2004-312726 (KOKAI) is simply combined with the fractional N-PLL, the generation of the fractional spurious is unavoidable.

Phase locked loop circuit and receiver using the same


Systems and methods for simultaneously monitoring operations data for multiple wells in real-time using a graphical user interface.

In some fields, the ability to monitor data for activities in real-time is extremely important. Monitoring operations data, for example, in real-time during well construction activities is useful for preventing a catastrophic event and safe completion of the well.
Most conventional techniques for monitoring operations data during well construction activities, however, rely on a display that is often limited to operations data for a single activity and/or fails to correlate the relationship between the various operations data.
Referring now to FIG. 1, a conventional display 100 for monitoring operations data during well construction activities is illustrated. The display 100 illustrates a geo-mechanical model with a brown line, a light blue line and a dark blue line. The brown line represents pore pressure, which gives an indication of pressure contained inside the wellbore. To maintain this pressure, an equivalent amount of downhole mud weight known as equivalent circulating density or ECD, is necessary to maintain the balance of pore pressure in the wellbore. If the pore pressure is greater than the ECD, then a kick occurs. The light blue line represents mud weight and the dark blue line represents the facture gradient. If the ECD is more than the fracture gradient, then the geological formation will be fractured resulting in mud losses. Rapid mud losses can result in a stuck drillstring within the wellbore. Another line represents sheer failure, which corresponds with pack-off tendencies. Pack-off occurs when cuttings and/or cavings fall into the wellbore and the drillstring becomes stuck.
Referring now to FIG. 2, another conventional display 200 for monitoring operations data during well construction activities is illustrated. The display 200 illustrates the parameters necessary to make sure that the wellbore is properly cleaned. The first log in the display 200 represents the cutting load and transport efficiency. The next log represents the equivalent circulating density (ECD) in the wellbore. The cutting load is the amount of drill cuttings in the wellbore and transport efficiency represents how efficiently drill cuttings are being brought out of the wellbore.
Operations data that is represented in two-dimensional formats often fails to convey other essential data such as, for example, the relationships between different operations data for a well at different times relative to the construction of the well. Two-dimensional formats are particularly inefficient when attempting to obtain a global perspective of the construction of multiple wells during different activities. As a result, conventional techniques fail to permit simultaneous monitoring of operations data for multiple wells and often require a high level of oversight among multiple highly-skilled personnel to monitor operations data for multiple wells in real-time and to correlate the relationship between the real-time operations data and an engineering model. These limitations can lead to catastrophic events during well construction activities that might otherwise be prevented using a more intuitive graphical user interface to display and monitor the operations data for multiple wells in real-time.

Systems and methods for monitoring operations data for multiple wells in real-time


A multi-port coupler for coupling an pumping light source to a cladding pump fiber for optical amplification, includes a central signal fiber and a plurality of pumping fibers arranged around the central signal fiber, the central signal fiber and the plurality of pumping fibers being unified and a front side is reduced in diameter, wherein an emitted light confining waveguide part is provided around a core of the signal fiber located at the center, and the emitted light confining waveguide part whose outer diameter is larger than that of the core has a higher refractive index than a cladding and a lower refractive index than the core and the emitted light confining waveguide part is formed continuously from a splicing point of the cladding pump fiber to a coupler front end branched into multiple fibers.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multi-port coupler for use in an optical fiber amplifier, a fiber laser, or the like for optical communications, particularly for short distance transmission systems, and an optical amplifier and a fiber laser using the same.
Priority is claimed on Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-149696 filed on May 30, 2006 and Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-260881 filed on Sep. 26, 2006, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a cladding pump structure is adopted in a high power optical amplifier, a fiber laser, and the like. This cladding pump structure supplies pumping light propagating through a cladding in order to amplify light propagating through a core of an optical fiber. The cladding pump structure is widely adopted and simultaneously a high power laser diode (hereinafter, referred to as LD) for multi-mode fiber output is used. A cladding pump fiber uses a double cladding structure having multiple cladding layers arranged around a rare earth element doped core.
To introduce light of a high power multi-mode LD into the cladding pump fiber, a multi-port coupler is used. The multi-port coupler has a function for coupling light of at least two multi-mode fibers to the cladding pump fiber and simultaneously connecting respective cores of the cladding pump fiber and a single-mode optical fiber (hereinafter, referred to as SM fiber) through which a conventional optical signal passes. The function of the multi-port coupler can obtain high power by connecting a number of LDs respectively having the power of only several watts (W) to the cladding pump fiber. A structure of an optical amplifier using the multi-port coupler is illustrated in FIG. 1.
An optical amplifier 21 of FIG. 1 is constructed to include a multi-port coupler 22 into which signal light and pumping light are incident and a cladding pump fiber 23 whose end is connected to an output terminal of the multi-port coupler 22. In the multi-port coupler 22, a signal fiber 25 constructed with a central SM fiber and pumping fibers 24 constructed with multi-mode fibers arranged around the signal fiber 25 are unified. A front side of the multi-port coupler 22 is reduced in diameter. The signal light and the pumping light can be incident into the cladding pump fiber 23 for optical amplification connected to a reduced-diameter output terminal of the multi-port coupler 22. Although not illustrated in FIG. 1, a signal light source is connected to the signal fiber 25 coupled to the multi-port coupler 22. LDs 10 are connected to the plurality of pumping fibers 24, respectively. The optical amplifier 21 excites rare earth ions doped into the core of the multi-port coupler 22 by propagating the pumping light (for example, a wavelength of 910-980 nm) to the cladding of the cladding pump fiber 23 through the multi-port coupler 22. The optical amplifier 21 amplifies incident signal light by propagating the signal light to the core of the cladding pump fiber 23 through the multi-port coupler 22, such that the amplified signal light (or high power signal) is output from the cladding pump fiber 23. In this type of optical amplifier, the gain level is 20 dB or more and the maximum power is 1 W-1 kW.
However, the lifetime of LDs 10 should be prolonged to improve reliability in a conventionally used optical amplifier in which a multi-port coupler and a cladding pump fiber are combined.
To prolong the lifetime of LDs, not only a high reliability design of the LD itself but also temperature management as a use condition is important. However, in the conventional optical amplifier, the LDs may suddenly fail according to use condition, thereby adversely affecting high reliability of the overall optical amplifier.
From the keen examination by the applicants, it has been found that an pump LD is suddenly damaged since high power signal light output from the optical amplifier returns from an external reflection point to the optical amplifier. Since the reflected light is inversely amplified while passing through the core of the cladding pump fiber and also light leaked into the cladding reaches the pump LD due to splice loss occurring in a splicing point between the cladding pump fiber and the multi-port coupler, the pump LD is damaged, thereby causing the failure. In particular, when the gain of the optical amplifier is 20 dB or more, the power of the light which is passed through the optical amplifier reaches more than 100% of it's own output power. When this strong reflected light, whose power can be ten times higher than that of the pump LD itself, goes backward into the LD, the LD is damaged.
To address this problem, the applicants have conducted research on a structure for preventing the pump LD from being damaged even when the reflected light returns to the optical amplifier.
On the other hand, an optical isolator is conventionally used in conventional technologies for suppressing the reflected light itself. However, there is a problem in that the optical isolator may attenuate the reflectance to only about −20 dB and also the optical isolator for light of several watts (W) or more is too expensive.
Since the reflected light propagates inside the core of the amplification fiber, the reflected light is not emitted to the pump LD as long as the light is not leaked from the core. According to the examination on how the reflected light is incident into the LD, it has been found that the reflected light is emitted to the pump LD due to the main cause of splice loss of the core caused at the splicing point of the multi-port coupler and the cladding pump fiber.
The loss in the splicing point occurs since core diameters (or intensity distribution sizes) of two fibers are very different from each other. In general, the high power cladding pump fiber has the core diameter of 20 μm or more. On the other hand, the core diameter of an SM fiber used for signal propagation is about 5 μm. For this reason, the magnitude of the loss in the splicing point becomes 5 dB or more, particularly in a propagation direction of the reflected light.
The reason why the core diameter of the cladding pump fiber is large is that the optical power density is very large in a high power amplifier and the optical fiber is affected by the non-linear optical effect. To avoid this influence, the core diameter of the cladding pump fiber is increased and consequently the low optical energy density in the fiber is designed. However, since multi-mode transmission is difficult and also bend loss is large in the core whose sectional area is large, the core is not proper for the signal fiber. Accordingly, it is desirable that the transmission fiber has a core whose sectional area is small and the amplification fiber has a core whose sectional area is large. Since the multi-port coupler is arranged between these two fibers, splice loss may be reduced to a certain degree if the sectional area of the core of the multi-port coupler has a middle size between the sizes of the sectional areas of the two fibers. It is obvious that the structure of the multi-port coupler increases the splice loss without decreasing the splice loss, since an outer diameter of a fiber in the multi-pump coupler is reduced to conventionally couple multiple fibers to one fiber.
FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate a splicing point of the conventional multi-port coupler 22 and the cladding pump fiber 23 shown in FIG. 1. A front end of the multi-port coupler 22 connected to the cladding pump fiber 23 unifies a central signal fiber 25 having a core 26 and a plurality of pumping fibers 24 around the signal fiber 25, and has a structure in which the multi-port coupler 22 is reduced in diameter in a tapered shape toward an end so that an outer diameter of the multi-port coupler 22 can be the same as that of the cladding pump fiber 23. In the front end, the diameter of the core of the central signal fiber 25 is further reduced. When the cladding pump coupler 23 whose core has a large diameter is connected, a difference between the core diameters of fibers at both sides is further increased.
When the above situations are considered, it is actually difficult to reduce splice loss occurring in the splicing point of the multi-port coupler.

Multi-port coupler, optical amplifier, and fiber laser


Topical patch preparations that contain a delayed-type hypersensitivity inducer, e.g., 1-dichloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (DNCB), and methods for using the same are provided. The subject topical patch preparations are made up of an adhesive gel composition that is present on a support, where the adhesive gel composition includes the delayed-type hypersensitivity inducer, a water-soluble polymer gel, water and a water holding agent. In using the subject topical patch preparations, the topical patch preparations are applied to a skin surface of a subject and maintained at the site of application for a period of time sufficient for an effective amount of the delayed-type hypersensitivity inducer to be administered to the subject, where this maintenance period typically does not exceed about 60 minutes. The subject invention finds use in a variety of applications where the administration of a delayed-type hypersensitivity inducer is desired, and is particularly suited for use in the treatment of HIV associated disease conditions, e.g., AIDS.

The field of this invention is delayed-type hypersensitivity inducing agents.
The number of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) patients worldwide has been increasing rapidly in recent years, and is said to be approximately 33 million (WHO; end of 1998). Against this backdrop, there is a rush to develop a vaccine for HIV. However, but because of the mutation of the configuration of the virus following infection, a feature of HIV, an accurate vaccine has not yet been found. In addition, although many therapeutic medications for HIV have been developed, none completely cure HIV. Furthermore, current AIDS drugs (protease inhibitors, non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, etc.) employ complex techniques. Long-term administration of these agents causes patients to suffer persistent adverse events, such as anemia, peripheral neuritis, pancreatitis, nausea, and headaches. Also, the possibility of long-term administration resulting in drug resistance cannot be ruled out. Yet another disadvantage of current treatment modalities is cost, in that current therapeutic medications for HIV are extremely expensive, often ranging between $15,000 to $20,000 per person per year, which necessarily limits patient access.
One type of agent that represents an effective alternative to current HIV treatment modalities is the delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) inducing agent, which type of agent has been researched as an immunomodulator that elicits immunological response in HIV patients by increasing the activity of the immune system cells in the body. Delayed-type hypersensitivity inducers are substances that induce Type 4 hypersensitivity when they come into contact with human skin, and they include trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid, picryl chloride(PC), 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene(DNFB), and 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (DNCB). Of these, DNCB has been widely used in the treatment of HIV and in immunological research, and the present invention focuses on DNCB as a DTH inducer in many embodiments, as described in greater detail below.
DNCB was discovered in Germany before World War II. Research conducted in the 1950s in the US demonstrated that DNCB is not carcinogenic. Later, in the 1970s, safety research was conducted in various types of animals. DNCB is generally known to be a powerful, delayed allergy-inducing skin irritant in humans, and is used in, among other things, immunological tests of skin diseases.
Research on DNCB therapy in HIV patients began slowly from the middle of the 1980s, and research on DNCB therapy in HIV patients was conducted in the first half of the 1990s, from which DNCB was claimed to be effective for treating HIV. However, this claim was not proved. In the latter half of the 1990s, the development of PCR analysis technology began to confirm the efficacy of DNCB in HIV patients. In addition, DNCB was also previously investigated as a possible treatment for cancer: tests were conducted in which DNCB was applied locally to induce a delayed allergic reaction and thereby utilize its immunity inducing capabilities. However, these findings have not been put to practical use. Furthermore, DNCB has been used in, among other things, the treatment of warts.
A method for using DNCB in HIV patients that has been employed in recent years has been to dissolve the DNCB in an acetone solvent and impregnate a gauze-like cloth with the resulting product and apply this to the skin. This topical preparation is then dried, covered and left to stand for several hours (typically at least 8 hours). This long application time means that an HIV patient would be restricted for at least 8 hours, a fairly long time, which would prevent that person from leading the same lifestyle as a healthy person.
There is considerable interest, therefore, in the development of a topical DTH inducing agent composition that could efficiently deliver an effective amount of a DTH inducing agent to a host in a short period of time.
Relevant Literature
References of interest include: Stricker et al. Dendritic cells and dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB): A new treatment approach to AIDS. Immunol Letters 1991;29:191-196; Stricker et al. Pilot study of topical dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) in human immuno deficiency virus infection. Immunol Letters 1993;36:1-6; Stricker et al. Topical dinitrochlorobenzene in HIV disease. J Am Acad Dermatol 1993;28:796-797; Stricker et al. Clinical and immunologic evaluation of HIV-infected patients treated with dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB). J Am Acad Dermatol 1994;31:462-466; Stricker R B, Goldberg B, Mills L B, Epstein W L. Improved results of delayed-type hypersensitivity skin testing in HIV-infected patients treated with topical dinitrochlorobenzene(DNCB). J Am Acad Dermatol 1995;33:608-611; Stricker and Goldberg. Safety of topical dinitrochlorobenzene. Lancet 1995;346:1293; Stricker et al. Improved results of delayed-type hypersensitivity skin testing in HIV-infected patients treated with topical dinitrochlorobenzene. J Am Acad Dermatol 1996;35:491-493; Stricker et al. Decrease in viral load associated with topical dinitrochlorobenzene therapy in HIV disease. Res Virol 1997;148:343-348; Traub et al. Topical immune modulation with dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) in HIV disease: A controlled trial from Brazil. Dermatology 1997;195:369-373; Stricker et al. Topical immune modulation (TIM): A novel approach to the immunotherapy of systemic disease. Immunol Letters 1997;59:145-150; Oracion et al. DNCB treatment of HIV-infected patients leads to beneficial immunologic outcomes, reduced viral load, and improved measures of quality-of-life. J Invest Dermatol 1998;110:476.
Topical patch preparations that contain a delayed-type hypersensitivity inducer, e.g., 1-dichloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (DNCB), and methods for using the same are provided. The subject topical patch preparations are made up of an adhesive gel composition that is present on a support, where the adhesive gel composition includes the delayed-type hypersensitivity inducer, a water-soluble polymer gel, water and a water holding agent. In using the subject topical patch preparations, the topical patch preparations are applied to a skin surface of a subject and maintained at the site of application for a period of time sufficient for an effective amount of the delayed-type hypersensitivity inducer to be administered to the subject, where this maintenance period typically does not exceed about 60 minutes. The subject invention finds use in a variety of applications where the administration of a delayed-type hypersensitivity inducer is desired, and is particularly suited for use in the treatment of HIV associated disease conditions, e.g., AIDS.

Topical patch preparation containing a delayed-type hypersensitivity inducer and methods for using the same