The dynamic loudspeaker driving apparatus consists of at least a power amplifier and a feedback circuit. The power amplifier amplifies an input signal so that the dynamic loudspeaker is driven by the amplified input signal. A detecting circuit is further provided in order to accurately detect a motional voltage produced at an equivalent motional impedance of dynamic loudspeaker, and the feedback circuit negatively feedbacks the detected motional voltage to the power amplifier so that distortions due to a transient response of a vibration system of dynamic loudspeaker will be eliminated. The amplified input signal is supplied to a first terminal of dynamic loudspeaker and a voltage at a second input terminal of dynamic loudspeaker is supplied to the feedback circuit, and impedance components other than the equivalent motional impedance can be canceled. In addition, it is possible to be further provided with a filter circuit having a frequency response characteristics which can be obtained by electrically simulating a voltage transmission characteristic against the equivalent motional impedance of dynamic loudspeaker. Thus, the input signal can be given with a desirable frequency characteristic by the filter circuit and then supplied to the power amplifier.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a dynamic loudspeaker driving apparatus, and more particularly to a dynamic loudspeaker driving apparatus which can reduce levels of distortions in sound from a dynamic loudspeaker.
2. Prior Art
In general, a feedback circuit is arranged between input and output of a power amplifier provided within an amplifier unit of an audio device. By use of this feedback circuit, it is possible to reduce levels of noises and distortion components included in an output signal of the power amplifier.
In addition, the amplifier unit of the audio device may also be provided with a motional feedback circuit (hereinafter, referred to as MFB circuit) which feedbacks a signal corresponding to a vibration of a dynamic loudspeaker so as to reduce a distortion in an operation of the loudspeaker. Theoretically, motional voltage must be applied to a motional impedance of the dynamic loudspeaker, and the MFB circuit negatively feedbacks such motional voltage to the input of the power amplifier.
The above-mentioned motional impedance can be represented by ZM of an electrically equivalent circuit of the dynamic loudspeaker (hereinafter, referred simply to as a loudspeaker) shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 1, Rv designates a dc resistance component of a voice coil, and Lv designates an inductance component of the voice coil. In FIG. 2, a solid line designates voltage Vi supplied to the dynamic loudspeaker, while a short dashes line designates motional voltage VM which is produced at the equivalent motional impedance ZM representative of a vibration system of the dynamic loudspeaker. The operating distortion of the vibration system of the loudspeaker represents a transient response component of the motional voltage VM.
When the MFB circuit is provided to the dynamic loudspeaker, the negative feedback quantity must become extremely large at the frequencies in the vicinity of a lowest resonance frequency of the dynamic loudspeaker. Hence, it is avoided to provide too much negative feedback quantity for the MFB circuit. In general, a frequency characteristic of the dynamic loudspeaker provided with the MFB circuit has a tendency that the frequency response characteristic must be easily lowered at low frequencies at which the negative feedback quantity must be concentrated. In order to prevent such frequency response characteristic from being lowered at low frequencies, a compensating low-ass filter circuit (i.e., compensating LPF circuit) is conventionally provided at an input side of the dynamic loudspeaker so that the frequency response characteristic will be raised at the low frequencies. However, it is impossible to obtain a perfect compensating characteristic from such LPF circuit.
FIG. 3 shows an example of a conventional dynamic loudspeaker driving apparatus providing the above-mentioned compensating LPF circuit. In FIG. 3, a feedback circuit 2 is connected between input and output sides of a power amplifier 1. In this case, a feedback ratio b of the feedback circuit 2 is set further smaller than one, while a gain of the power amplifier 1 is set further larger than one. Meanwhile, a dynamic speaker 3 and three resistors 4 to 6 constitute a bridge circuit 7. An output signal Es of this bridge circuit 7 diagrammatically corresponds to the motional voltage of the dynamic speaker 3, and such signal Es is detected by a transformer 8. A part of a detection signal outputted from the transformer 8 is feedbacked to the input side of power amplifier 1. In the circuit shown in FIG. 3, the resistors 4 to 6 and the transformer 8 represent the MFB circuit.
In addition, a compensating LPF circuit 9 is provided at input side of the power amplifier 1, and lowering of low frequency characteristics of the circuit shown in FIG. 3 is improved and compensated by the MFB circuit. More specifically, the compensating LPF circuit 9 adequately raises a signal level of input signal Vi in the low frequency range, and the lowering of the low frequency characteristics is improved.
The MFB circuit used in the conventional audio amplifier unit is exclusively used for reducing distortions and noises included in a signal outputted from the power amplifier. However, such MFB circuit is not used for perfectly eliminating distortions due to the transient response of the vibration system of the dynamic loudspeaker at all. In short, the main portion of the conventional dynamic loudspeaker driving apparatus is the negative feedback portion, and the MFB circuit is merely used as an auxiliary circuit of the dynamic loudspeaker driving apparatus.
As shown in FIG. 3, the MFB circuit is a detection circuit constituted by the transformer and the bridge circuit consisting of resistors only. Hence, detection voltage detected by this detection circuit is not identical to the motional voltage in a strict sense. In other words, the detection voltage and the motional voltage are different in waveform, peak value and phase. For this reason, it is naturally impossible to provide much negative feedback, and the over-all frequency characteristics must be irregularly varied. Hence, the characteristics which must be given to the compensating LPF circuit must be extremely complicated, so that it is impossible to compensate the frequency characteristic of the dynamic loudspeaker with accuracy. Therefore, the conventional dynamic loudspeaker driving apparatus can only provide the circuit which can adequately raise the output level in the low frequency range.
As described heretofore, in the conventional audio amplifier unit, it is impossible to perfectly eliminate the all distortions due to the transient response of the vibration system of the dynamic loudspeaker.
Meanwhile, the conventional MFB circuit can use a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, a microphone or other sensors in order to detect the motional voltage. Instead of using the above-mentioned sensors, a bridge circuit can be used for detecting the motional voltage produced at a voice coil of the loudspeaker, as described before. These techniques are disclosed in a monthly magazine "Radio Technique" published in Japan; October Issue and November Issue in 1984, and February Issue in 1985, for example.
However, in the above-mentioned MFB circuit using the sensors, a phase revolution of a detection output of such sensor must be increased, for example. Hence, there must be a limit of a feedback quantity due to an ability of the sensor. If the feedback quantity is set large, the MFB circuit will oscillate by itself. As a result, the conventional MFB circuit is disadvantageous in that a distortion reducing effect of the loudspeaker must become small.
On the other hand, the MFB circuit using the bridge circuit is disadvantageous in that the circuit constitution thereof must be complicated.
As described heretofore, the conventional dynamic loudspeaker driving apparatus adopting the MFB circuit must detect the motional voltage. For this reason, it is impossible to sufficiently reduce the levels of the distortions of the loudspeaker.


An image recording device is provided with a first memory which is a volatile memory, a second memory, an input unit through which authentication information is input, an authentication judging unit. The recording unit is controlled to print an image on the printing sheet based on the drive data, which is converted from the image data stored in the first memory or the second memory and is stored in the first memory or the second memory. The drive data or the image data is stored in each of the first memory and the second memory is transmitted therebetween. The image recording device further includes a restricting unit capable of restricting power supply to the converting unit and the first memory in a sleep mode.

1. Technical Field
Aspects of the invention relate to an image recording device configured to record image (image data) in a recording medium, and a computer accessible storage that stores a program for the recording device.
2. Related Art
There is known a printer which is configured, to improve security of a printed matter, such that the printer requires a user to execute an authentication procedure before printing, after the user has transmitted image data from a terminal to the printer.

Image recording device and computer accessible storage storing program therefor


A liquid crystal display device includes: a liquid crystal panel including a pixel having red, green, blue and white sub-pixels; a mode selector selecting one from an RGB mode and an RGBW mode as a driving mode; an RGBW mode signal generating part performing a color correction on RGB input data corresponding to the pixel and converting the RGB input data into RGBW data in the RGBW mode; and an output controlling part outputting RGBW output data by performing a gamma conversion on the RGBW data in the RGBW mode and outputting the RGB input data and a W data for turning off the W sub-pixel as the RGBW output data in the RGB mode.

1. Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates to a liquid crystal display device, and more particularly, to a liquid crystal display device and a method of driving the liquid crystal display device.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
As information technology progresses, various demands for display devices displaying images have increased. Recently, flat panel display (FPD) devices such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) device, a plasma panel display (PDP) device, an electroluminescent display (ELD) device and a field emission display (FED) device have been used. Among various FPD devices, LCD devices have been widely used because of their advantage of a light weight, a thin profile and a low power consumption.
In general, an RGB type LCD device that includes red (R), green (G) and blue (B) sub-pixels as a single pixel has been widely used. However, the RGB type LCD device has a limit in brightness of displayed images. To surpass the above limit, an RGBW type LCD device that includes red (R), green (G), blue (B) and white (W) sub-pixels as a single pixel has been suggested. Since the W sub-pixel displays a white image without an additional color filter, the brightness of displayed images increases.
An RGBW type LCD device receives RGB data from an external system and converts the RGB data into RGBW data. The RGBW data is supplied to each sub-pixel to display an image. When the RGB data for an original image is converted into the RGBW data, various technologies for data conversion are adopted on the basis of color difference between the original image and the displayed image. Although the RGB data is converted on the basis of color difference, the W sub-pixel influences the adjacent R, G and B sub-pixels. As a result, the image displayed by the RGBW type LCD device still has color difference as compared with the original image. Accordingly, the RGBW type LCD device has a limit in displaying the original image without color difference.

Liquid crystal display device including data converting part and method of driving the same


A dummy structure for a printed wiring board (PWB) includes a unit shape defined on the PWB, the unit shape configured to, based on a visual inspection thereof, provide an indication of one of: etching of a PWB circuit element within a desired tolerance range, over etching of the PWB circuit element, or under etching of the PWB circuit element.

The present disclosure relates generally to printed wiring board manufacturing and, more particularly, to a dummy structure and visual inspection method for printed wiring board etching.
Distributed filters are part of the toolkit for radio frequency (RF)/microwave design, and are mostly used at frequencies above the VHF (Very High Frequency) band (30 to 300 MHz). At these frequencies, the physical length of passive components is a significant fraction of the wavelength of the operating frequency, and it becomes difficult to use the conventional lumped element model. These distributed filters may be discrete, packaged devices soldered to a printed wiring board (PWB) as a surface mount component. Alternatively, to reduce cost, filters may be manufactured as part of the PWB so long as line widths and spacing of the components can be tightly controlled to guarantee filter performance. As is known in the art, printed wiring boards (PWB) are relatively difficult to fabricate. PWBs require multiple plating operations in some areas of the structure, and include etched circuits with small tolerances consisting of fine lines and/or fine gaps in other areas of the PWB. Similarly, any PWBs having etched circuits or other structures (e.g., hairpin band pass filter structures) and multiple plating steps are also relatively difficult to fabricate.
To fabricate such PWBs, prior art techniques carefully monitor fabrication and etching processes. Detail prints (i.e., fabrication drawings) define a final top layer plating thickness and also define an etch accuracy for certain top layer board features. As a result, a manufacturer (such as a fabrication or assembly house) may have to procure and produce additional duplicate PWBs in order to deliver one PWB which passes all inspections/tests and meets all of a purchaser's requirements, including critical operational requirements. PWBs which do not pass the required inspections/tests go unused. This results in wasted PWBs and higher unit cost per PWB. Requiring a PWB vendor to perform 100% measurements will also increase the cost. Moreover, even in the event a manufacturer states the PWBs meet a certain etching accuracy, it may be late into the build and integration phase of a product incorporating the PWB before such a defect is realized.

Dummy structure for visual aid in printed wiring board etch inspection


A system for supplying a working fluid to a combustor includes a combustion chamber, a liner that circumferentially surrounds at least a portion of the combustion chamber, and a flow sleeve that circumferentially surrounds at least a portion of the liner. A tube provides fluid communication for the working fluid to flow through the flow sleeve and the liner and into the combustion chamber, and the tube spirals between the flow sleeve and the liner.

Combustors are commonly used in industrial and power generation operations to ignite fuel to produce combustion gases having a high temperature and pressure. For example, gas turbines typically include one or more combustors to generate power or thrust. A typical gas turbine used to generate electrical power includes an axial compressor at the front, one or more combustors around the middle, and a turbine at the rear. Ambient air may be supplied to the compressor, and rotating blades and stationary vanes in the compressor progressively impart kinetic energy to the working fluid (air) to produce a compressed working fluid at a highly energized state. The compressed working fluid exits the compressor and flows into a combustion chamber where the compressed working fluid mixes with fuel and ignites to generate combustion gases having a high temperature and pressure. The combustion gases expand in the turbine to produce work. For example, expansion of the combustion gases in the turbine may rotate a shaft connected to a generator to produce electricity.
Various design and operating parameters influence the design and operation of combustors. For example, higher combustion gas temperatures generally improve the thermodynamic efficiency of the combustor. However, higher combustion gas temperatures also promote flashback or flame holding conditions in which the combustion flame migrates towards the fuel being supplied by fuel nozzles, possibly causing severe damage to the fuel nozzles in a relatively short amount of time. In addition, higher combustion gas temperatures generally increase the disassociation rate of diatomic nitrogen, increasing the production of nitrogen oxides (NOX). Conversely, a lower combustion gas temperature associated with reduced fuel flow and/or part load operation (turndown) generally reduces the chemical reaction rates of the combustion gases, increasing the production of carbon monoxide and unburned hydrocarbons.
In a particular combustor design, one or more late lean injectors or tubes may be circumferentially arranged around the combustion chamber downstream from the fuel nozzles. A portion of the compressed working fluid exiting the compressor may flow through the tubes to mix with fuel to produce a lean fuel-air mixture. The lean fuel-air mixture may then be injected by the tubes into the combustion chamber, resulting in additional combustion that raises the combustion gas temperature and increases the thermodynamic efficiency of the combustor.
The late lean injectors are effective at increasing combustion gas temperatures without producing a corresponding increase in the production of NOX. However, the tubes that provide the late injection of the lean fuel-air mixture typically have a substantially constant cross section that creates conditions around the late lean injectors susceptible to localized flame holding. In addition, the tubes are generally aligned perpendicular to the flow of combustion gases in the combustion chamber. As a result, the late lean injectors may produce large vortices that recirculate hot combustion gases back to the surface of the combustion chamber, producing high thermal gradients and shortening hardware life. Therefore, an improved system for supplying working fluid to the combustor that reduces the conditions for flame holding and/or vortex shedding would be useful.

System for supplying a fuel and working fluid mixture to a combustor


Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method for batch processing received message packets. A plurality of message packets are sent in a batch from a network access layer device to a network layer component based upon a blanking NIC interrupt. The network layer component classifies the plurality of message packets and batches them together per transport connection. The network layer component then sends batches for each transport connection to a transport layer component for transport layer processing.

Computer systems typically utilize a layered approach for implementing functionalities relating to communications frameworks where a protocol layer processes different portions of data traveling from a sender to a receiver. A disadvantage to the layered approach is that it requires examination of data by each layer to determine if any work needs to be performed by that layer before sending the data or packet to the next layer. This examination process requires computer instructions and data to be read and processed by the central processing unit(s) (CPU), consuming CPU cycles and therefore time. For many cases, a given layer of processing may not be needed. Thus, a strictly layered approach to a communication framework may be a high cost approach to data processing for communication of individual packets.

Method for batch processing received message packets


An energy buffer device supplies energy to a consumer in an aircraft, and an electrical system for an aircraft. In one example, the device includes an energy feed device, an energy storage device and an energy supply device. The energy supply device may have line with a larger cross-sectional area than a corresponding line of the energy feed device. With the use of an energy buffer device, power may be switched on only for a short period of time. In addition, in case of a voltage breakdown in an on-board network, energy may be stored in an energy storage device. Supply of energy may thus occur over a short time at correspondingly high power, without placing a load on an on-board network or a generator.

When dimensioning generators, current distributors and electrical lines in aircraft engineering, today dimensioning is predominantly according to the maximum current-power requirement of the connected electrical consumers. This means that generators for the supply of current to the aircraft, current distributors and electrical lines are dimensioned such that all electrical devices present on board can be supplied with the maximum current-power requirement, if need be concurrently.
In this arrangement, the sum of the total peak-current consumption is taken into account. For example, the current distribution network is dimensioned such that concurrent uptake of the peak current of the individual devices is provided for, although the probability of such concurrent uptake is low. As a result of this, disadvantageously, non-used overcapacity is taken into account in the planning of such electrical systems for aircraft, as a result of which the costs of producing an aircraft increase.
By way of intelligent control systems, according to a specified logic, consumers may be broken down into priority classes and may be switched on or off according to the generator loads at the time and the flight phases. For example, when loading or boarding an aircraft it is more important that the lighting of information signs or the drive of a lift device is switched on, than flight current required for operating automatic coffee machines or microwave ovens for heating meals for passengers, for example. While dividing these electrical devices into priority classes in dimensioning the current distribution systems makes it possible to work out the concurrent use of certain device classes, it does however not prevent dimensioning occurring on the basis of the peak-load requirement of the individual devices.
A great many electrical consumers are frequently only temporarily switched on, for example, lift drives for a trolley lift or the electrical lift drive for bins or hat-rack bins. The switch-on duration of such consumers often ranges from only a few seconds to a few minutes. If the allocation of such devices, for example, takes place by means of the above-mentioned priority classes, it may not be possible to activate a consumer when required, because its activation is not provided for in this particular flight phase.


A battery control circuit includes a voltage detection circuit for measuring voltages of electric cells, balancing circuits for balancing the voltages or SOCs of the electric cells, a signal input/output circuit for communicating with the outside, a power supply circuit having two modes: a normal mode and a low consumption mode, and a time management circuit. It receives a signal containing a period of time until the shift of the power supply circuit from the normal mode to the low consumption mode, and stores it in the time management circuit. If a command from the outside has not been sent for a predetermined period of time or when an operation stop command has been sent from the outside, the time management circuit causes the power supply circuit to continuously operate in the normal mode. Then, the battery control circuit monitors an operation continuation period in the normal mode, and causes the power supply circuit to shift to the low consumption mode when the operation continuation period matches the stored period of time.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a battery control circuit to be mounted on a power supply device using an electric storage means such as a lithium secondary battery, a nickel-metal hydride battery, a lead battery, or an electric double-layer capacitor.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a power supply device, a distributed electric power storage device, an electric vehicle, or the like that uses an electric storage means such as a battery, a battery control circuit for managing the state of the electric storage means is mounted. A typical example of the state of the electric storage means to be managed by the battery control circuit is a State of Charge (SOC) indicating how much the electric storage means is charged or how much dischargeable electric charge remains.
In order to optimally use the electric storage means, it is necessary to take, for example, a measure to reduce the SOC if the SOC is too high or a measure to prevent a further drop of the SOC if the SOC is too low. In addition, when a power supply device uses multiple electric storage means which are connected in series, a SOC balancing function to keep the distribution of SOCs of the respective electric storage means within a certain range is needed to maximize the performance of the electric storage means.
As a method for SOC balancing of a multi-series battery among those mentioned above, a method is proposed in which voltages of blocks each including a certain number of battery cells are measured with a voltage detection circuit, and all of hardware means powered by the block having a high voltage of the blocks are turned on to promote discharging of the block (Patent Document 1).    Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2009-278709

Battery control circuit for reducing power consumption


A system and method include acquisition of a plurality of event data associated with an object, each of the plurality of event data associated with a position and a time, assigning of each event data to one of a plurality of time-based frames based on a time associated with the event data, each of the plurality of time-based frames associated with a respective time period, assigning of each event data to one of a plurality of motion-based frames based on a time associated with the event data, each of the plurality of motion-based frames associated with a respective time period associated with a respective motion state, determination of a confidence score based on the plurality of time-based frames of event data and on the plurality of motion-based frames of event data, and presentation of the confidence score and a control selectable to initiate motion-correction of the event data.

According to conventional nuclear imaging, a radiopharmaceutical is introduced into a patient body by injection or ingestion. The radiopharmaceutical emits gamma rays (in the case of single-photon-emission-computer-tomography (SPECT) imaging) or positrons which annihilate with electrons to produce gamma rays (in the case of positron-emission-tomography (PET) imaging). A detector system located outside the body detects the emitted gamma rays (i.e., acquires event data) and reconstructs images based thereon.
Detection of the emitted gamma rays occurs over a period of time, during which the body may move, either inadvertently or due to natural physiological processes such as respiration and heartbeat. Such movement can lead to blurred images, particularly in the brain, abdominal, thoracic and cardiac regions. Some systems address the foregoing by systems detecting patient movement and correcting acquired event data based on the detected movement. The movement may be recorded as motion vectors occurring at particular times during the data acquisition. The motion vectors may then be used to correct the acquired data prior to image reconstruction.
Motion-correction of acquired event data can be resource- and time-intensive. Motion correction may not be needed if the body does not move significantly during imaging or if the particular application does not require high-quality reconstructed images. Accordingly, some systems might be configured to reconstruct acquired event data without first performing motion correction on the data. If the resulting reconstructed image is blurry or otherwise unsuitable, a user may instruct the system to perform motion correction on the acquired event data and to reconstruct the thusly-corrected event data. However, the resulting image may still be unsuitable, in which case the time and resources spent on the motion-correction and additional reconstruction have been wasted. Systems are desired to address the foregoing.

Determination of confidence score for motion correction


A three-dimensional de-interlacing method and apparatus for converting an interlaced scan format image into a progressive scan format image by performing low pass filtering on respective predetermined pixels of a current frame and a previous frame and determining pixel motion index values by comparing a threshold value to a difference value between the respective filtered pixels in a current field in one of the current and previous frames and corresponding respective filtered pixels in preceding and succeeding fields to the current field and in the current and previous frames. A motion mode of a pixel is determined based upon the determined motion index values of temporally and spatially adjacent pixels to the pixel. A spatial interpolation or temporal interpolation on the subjected pixel is selected depending on the determined motion mode.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image format conversion system, and more particularly to a three-dimensional de-interlacing method and apparatus for converting an interlaced scan format into a progressive scan format.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, in the MPEG-2 standard, there are two scan formats: an interlaced scan format and a progressive scan format. In an encoder (not shown) and a decoder, situations can arise where it is necessary to convert an interlaced scan format video signal into a progressive scan format video signal. Such a scan format conversion is referred to as de-interlacing or Interlaced-to-Progressive Conversion (IPC).
FIG. 1 is a flow chart illustrating a conventional three-dimensional de-interlacing method. All operations for de-interlacing are generally performed on each pixel unit of an image field of an interlaced image frame. For example, it is assumed that IPC is performed at a position (i, j) of an n-th field, as shown in FIG. 2. In this case, a pixel at the position (i, j) of the n-th field is referred to as Yn(i, j).
At operation 112, image signals corresponding to the n-th field to be subjected to IPC and preceding and succeeding fields ((n−1)-th and (n+1)-th fields) of the n-th field are input. Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 2, at operation 114, a difference value Dmotion between the pixel of the (n−1)-th field and the pixel of the (n+1)-th field is calculated. Conventionally, the difference value Dmotion between the pixels is determined from pixels Yn−1(i, j) and Yn+1(i, j) located at the preceding and succeeding positions of Yn(i, j) and the pixels Yn−1(i, j+1), Yn−1(i, j+1), Yn+1(i,j−1) and Yn+1(i, j+1) located at the horizontally left and right positions of the pixels Yn−1(i, j) and Yn+1(i, j), using the following Equation 1.
                              D          motion                =                              1            3                                                        ∑                              k                =                                  -                  1                                            1                                                                                                                      Y                                          n                      -                      1                                                                                (                                          i                      ,                                              j                        +                        k                                                              )                                                  -                                                      Y                                          n                      +                      1                                                                                (                                          i                      ,                                              j                        +                        k                                                              )                                                                                                                        (        1        )
Subsequently, at operation 116, the difference value Dmotion is compared with a predetermined threshold value T. If the difference value Dmotion is greater than the predetermined threshold value T, at operation 118, it is considered that the pixel Yn(i, j) has moved and accordingly a motion index value Mn(i, j) is determined as "1". On the other hand, if the difference value Dmotion is smaller than the threshold value T, at operation 122, it is considered that the pixel Yn(i, j) has not moved and accordingly the motion index value Mn(i, j) is determined as "0".
In operation 124, it is determined whether the motion pixel values have been found for all the pixels in the n-th field to be subjected to IPC. Subsequently, if determined, at operation 124, that the motion index values for all the pixels in the n-th field to be subjected to IPC have been determined, at operation 126, a mode value M of each pixel in the nth field is finally determined using a motion index value of a pixel in the n-th field Yn(i, j), and using the motion index values of the pixels at the horizontally left and right positions (e.g., the pixels Yn(i, j±1)) of the pixel Yn(i, j). That is, as shown in FIG. 3, for example, the mode value M of Yn(i, j) is calculated using Equation 2 below.
                    M        =                                            ∑                                                k                  =                                      -                    1                                                  ,                                  +                  1                                                                                M                                  n                  -                  1                                                                          (                                                      i                    +                    k                                    ,                  j                                )                                              +                                    ∑                                                k                  =                                      -                    1                                                  ,                0                ,                                  +                  1                                                                                M                n                                                          (                                  i                  ,                                      j                    +                    k                                                  )                                                                        (        2        )
In operation 128, if the mode value M of Yn(i, j) is "0", it is determined that Yn(i, j) is in a stop mode. On the other hand, if the mode value M of Yn(i, j) is not "0", it is determined that Yn(i, j) is in a motion mode. Subsequently, if determined at operation 128 that the mode value M of Yn(i, j) is in the stop mode, at operation 132, a pixel value is output to which a temporal interpolation method is applied using an average of two temporally adjacent pixels. On the other hand, if determined at operation 128 that the mode value M of Yn(i, j) is in the motion mode, at operation 134, a pixel value is output to which a spatial interpolation method is applied using an edge direction value. Subsequently, at operation 136, the IPC is completed on all pixels of the n-th field to be subject to IPC and the same process is performed on the next field.
However, conventionally, as shown in FIG. 1 operation 126, only the motion information of three pixels (i.e., a current pixel and two pixels at the horizontally left and right positions of the current pixel) are used to determine the motion index value. Therefore, at operation 114, sufficient motion information may not be reflected. In particular, the conventional IPC method cannot provide a robust threshold value T to detect images having a few motions as well as images having many motions, because sufficient motion information is not reflected at operation 114.

Method and apparatus for de-interlacing video signal


A method for adjusting a timing offset value (CO) for a receiver (Node-B) is provided, the receiver being adapted to controlling and receiving reverse radio Sink transmissions from a transmitter (UE) according to predetermined response time requirements. The method comprising the steps of—estimating (11) at least one time budget map (TBM—116, 116′) according to which the available processing time in the receiver is given as a function of the possible timing off-set value (CO); —determining (15) a given timing offset value (CO—106) for the radio fink (RL) of the transmitter in accordance with the estimated time budget map (TBM), such as to provide an optimized offset (CO) value for the base station; —assigning (17) the determined timing offset value (CO) to the radio link.

According to the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) a third generation (3G) mobile phone system, Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), is standardized within the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). WCDMA is based on three main units, the Radio Network Controller (RNC), the Node B and the User Equipment (UE). The communication between the Node B and the UE is based on a common timing scheme between the two units. This timing scheme is defined with a timing offset from the main time (reference) in the Node B. The value of this offset is called the chip offset and is defined individually for each UE, The chip offset is a value between 0 and 38 144 chips rounded to the closest 256 chip border. 38 400 chips correspond to 10 ms. Rounding off to the closest 256 chip border is performed to keep the downlink channels orthogonal.
The Enhanced Uplink features in WCDMA is one example of a communication system in which the base station is controlling, via a downlink control channel, the timing of reverse link transmissions to the base station from at least one user entity and wherein predefined transmission timing slots or opportunities must be observed for the user entity and also on the downlink control channel to the user entity. For WCDMA, Node B schedules uplink transmissions from users via a downlink control channel. The uplink transmission must adhere to a discrete timing scheme in order to operate in compliance with the HARQ process mentioned above on the up-link. In WCMDA, Node B schedules uplink transmissions such that HARQ process downlink control signalling is carried out in a timely manner.
When a UE is connected to the network, the RNC is responsible for choosing and as signing a chip offset for the UE. Choosing different chip offsets for different UE's will spread the processing load in the Node B over time, so that load peaks can be avoided. When a UE is connected to additional Node Bs, the UE will inherit the timing from the connections it previously has made. The standard supports a reconfiguration of the chip offset, but only for one step. i.e. +−256 chips, which corresponds to steps of 0.0667 ms.
It is noted that e.g. a cell range of 150 km gives a round trip time of around 1 ms. Hence, in practical cell applications the maximum chip offset can easily accommodate the variations in UE locations.
In release 6 of the WCDMA a specification, the standard was extended to include the set of features denoted the Enhanced Uplink (EUL) that increase the uplink speed and reduce the delays in the uplink. EUL is based on an uplink transport channel, the Enhanced Dedicated Channel (E-DCH).
The E-DCH uses soft combining and Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) process which implies that the Node B is transmitting Acknowledgements (ACK) and Negative Acknowledgements (NACK) back to the UE to indicate to the UE if it's transmission on the E-DCH was successful or not. If the UE does not receive an ACK it has to retransmit the data. The standard defines exactly when relative to the original transmission, the ACK or NACK shall be transmitted and when the UE shall retransmit its data, since the HARQ handling and the processing of a HARQ process must be ready within a certain time. Consequently, there is an implicit processing maximum delay requirement for the Node B and the UE.
There is a demand for higher throughput in e.g. WCDMA systems. Higher throughput gives the operator of the network the possibility to serve more users and hence render the system more profitable. In order to achieve a higher throughput, more advanced receivers are introduced in the base station. These advanced receivers use technologies like for instance Interference Cancellation (IC), Multi-User Detection (MUD) and Generalized Rake Receiver (GRAKE), all complex units that require extra processing power in the base station for the uplink. Processing capacity is expensive and it is a problem to fit in all the new technologies. This together with the maximum processing delay requirements in 3GPP constitutes a tough requirement on the Node B that can be hard to fulfil.


A support-side substrate having a thermal oxide film on the major surface is bonded to an active-layer-side substrate having a thermal oxide film on the major surface while making the major surfaces oppose each other. The active-layer-side substrate and part of the oxide film are selectively etched from a surface opposite to the major surface of the active-layer-side substrate to a halfway depth of the buried oxide film formed from the thermal oxide films at the bonding portion. A sidewall insulating film is formed on the etching side surface portion of the active-layer-side substrate. Then, the remaining buried oxide film except that immediately under the active-layer-side substrate is selectively etched. A single-crystal semiconductor layer is formed on the support-side substrate exposed by removing the buried oxide film.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an element formation substrate having an SOI (Silicon On Insulator) region and a non-SOI region on the major surface side and a method of manufacturing the same. The present invention also relates to a semiconductor device using the element formation substrate.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, an SOI substrate having an SOI layer formed on an Si substrate is used as an element formation substrate. In addition, various methods (so-called partial SOI technologies) of forming a non-SOI region other than an SOI region on part of an SOI substrate, forming a circuit section compatible with a substrate floating effect in the SOI region, and forming a circuit section incompatible with the substrate floating effect in the non-SOI region have been proposed.
For example, the SOI layer and buried insulating layer (BOX layer) on an SOI substrate are partially removed by etching. A silicon layer is epitaxially grown in the etching region and planarized by polishing, thereby forming a non-SOI region (e.g., Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 8-17694). Alternatively, a bulk region is surrounded by an insulating spacer and conductive spacer to form a non-SOI region whereby the floating body effect is canceled and the SOI region is electrically disconnected from the non-SOI region (e.g., Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 11-17001).
In either method, however, no detailed description is done in association with the structure of the SOI substrate used as a base and the structure of the BOX layer in the SOI region. For example, when an SOI substrate prepared by the bonding method is used as a base, its bonding interface is exposed as a support substrate surface by partially removing the SOI layer and BOX layer. Hence, undesired foreign substances that are inserted in the bonding process may sometimes remain on the support substrate surface. If foreign substances remain on the support substrate surface, it is difficult to form a high-quality non-SOI region. In addition, if the support substrate surface has metal contamination, it is difficult to control its influence on a semiconductor device when a non-SOI region is to be formed, or a semiconductor device is to be formed in the non-SOI region.
As described above, in the conventional element formation substrate prepared by forming a non-SOI region on an SOI substrate, the poor quality of the non-SOI region poses a problem.

Element formation substrate for forming semiconductor device


When a storage capacity of a file server is expanded using an online storage service, elimination of an upper-limit constraint of the file size as a constraint of the online storage service and reduction in the communication cost are realized. A kernel module including logical volumes on the online storage service divides a file into block files at a fixed length and stores and manages the block files to prevent the upper-limit constraint of the file size. When a READ/WRITE request is generated for a mounted file system, only necessary block files are downloaded and used from the online storage service based on an offset value and size information to optimize the communication and realize the communication cost reduction.

A new IT application called cloud computing is drawing attention as a big flow of IT trend of recent years. STaaS (Storage as a service) as an example of the IT application which provides a storage service via the Internet is proliferating. The STaaS is a service of providing a logical storage capacity at a low price, and the STaaS generally provides an external interface for using the storage service in a Web interface format, such as REST and SOAP. Although problems, such as security and compliance, remain in the STaaS, the cost reduction is prioritized, and the use of the STaaS by individuals and companies is expected to increase in the future.
In general, the online storage service features an enormous scalability, but there is an upper limit to the file size that can be stored. For example, in the case of Amazon (registered trademark) S3, although there is no limit to the number of file objects that can be stored in the bucket, the maximum size of the file object is 5 GB, and a single file in a size greater than 5 GB cannot be stored (constraint condition 1). As for file reading, a partial reading process can be executed. However, as for writing, partial writing cannot be performed, and only the replacement of the file stored in the bucket is possible (constraint condition 2). For example, to rewrite a 1 MB block in a 5 GB file, all the 5 GB file needs to be downloaded to rewrite the 1 MB block, and the entire 5 GB file needs to be uploaded at the end. There is a problem that the communication cost increases. Therefore, there is a problem that data communication of an unnecessary part is generated in a Random READ/WRITE process, and the communication cost increases. The data is accessed via a WAN, and the communication speed is significantly slower than the data communication speed to a local disk or the like. There is a problem that the overhead of file listing or READ/WRITE increases in a synchronous communication.
To use the online storage service as a backup external storage of a file server or an external storage for capacity expansion, a mechanism is necessary in which the file server looks like a transparently single file server from the client, and the online storage service is connected from the file server to copy or move data. For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses an existing technique of transparently showing the file server as a single server to the client and concealing the data copy and movement. Patent Literature 2 discloses an existing technique related to the data copy and movement.
In Patent Literature 1, an intermediate apparatus is arranged between a first server including a primary storage, a second server including a secondary storage, and the client. When there is a file access to the primary storage from the client, the access request is changed to a corresponding file on the secondary storage if the access target file is a stub file (file for linking the destination). In this way, it looks as if the stub file is an entity, and the data movement from the primary storage to the secondary storage is concealed from the client.
In Patent Literature 2, updates of high-speed disk volumes are monitored to create update bit maps, OR of each update bit map is calculated to detect segments that are not updated for a predetermined time, and the data is moved from the high-speed disk volumes to low-speed disk volumes (movement between storage tires) based on the detected segment information.

File server apparatus, management method of storage system, and program


A hydrogen storage material includes a nano size material that can be formed in a multi-layered core/shell structure and/or in a nanotabular (or platelet) form.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is related to a hydrogen storage material, and particularly to a hydrogen storage material based on a multilayered core/shell structure.
2. Description of the Related Art
Hydrogen fuel cells have steadily gained acceptance as a mainstream energy source as a result of their environmentally friendly nature and potential for decreasing dependence on foreign oil. Fuel cells can produce large amounts of power without the use of fossil fuels, producing only water as a byproduct. It is hoped that in the near future natural resource guzzlers such as the automobile will run primarily on fuel cells.
Presently, hydrogen can be stored in a rechargeable metal hydride or in a hydride compound that releases hydrogen when reacted with water. Physically, hydrogen can be stored as a compressed gas, a cryogenically cooled liquid, or through surface absorption. The problem with these various storage means as they relate to the automotive industry is that a large tank is required for storing sufficient hydrogen to power a vehicle. This inefficiency has impeded the progress of hydrogen fuel cell use in automobiles.
With the current technology, the compressed hydrogen tank size required for a 1500 kg vehicle with a driving range of 560 km is 340 L at 25 Mpa. This tank stores approximately 6.8 kg of hydrogen. In contrast, a typical gasoline tank for such a vehicle is 70 L. Accordingly, there is a need for a material that can store sufficient compressed hydrogen to power a vehicle without consuming an undue amount of space.
Various hydrogen storage materials and the like are known in the art.

Hydrogen storage material based on platelets and/or a multilayered core/shell structure


Soft programming is performed to narrow the threshold voltage distribution of a set of erased memory cells. Soft programming can shift the threshold voltage of memory cells closer to a verify level for the erased state. A set of memory cells can be soft programmed by soft programming portions of the set to provide more consistent soft programming rates and threshold voltages. A first soft programming pulse can be applied to a first group of cells of the set while inhibiting soft programming of a second group of cells. A second soft programming pulse can then be applied to the second group of cells while inhibiting soft programming of the first group of cells. A small positive voltage of lower magnitude than the soft programming pulses can be applied to the group of cells to be inhibited. The size of the small positive voltage can be chosen so that each memory cell of the set will experience similar capacitive coupling effects from neighboring transistors when it is undergoing soft programming.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to semiconductor technology for erasing and soft programming non-volatile memory devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
Semiconductor memory devices have become more popular for use in various electronic devices. For example, non-volatile semiconductor memory is used in cellular telephones, digital cameras, personal digital assistants, mobile computing devices, non-mobile computing devices and other devices. Electrical Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM), including flash EEPROM, and Electronically Programmable Read Only Memory (EPROM) are among the most popular non-volatile semiconductor memories.
One example of a flash memory system uses the NAND structure, which includes arranging multiple transistors in series, sandwiched between two select gates. The transistors in series and the select gates are referred to as a NAND string. FIG. 1 is a top view showing one NAND string. FIG. 2 is an equivalent circuit thereof. The NAND string depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes four transistors 100, 102, 104 and 106 in series and sandwiched between a first select gate 120 and a second select gate 122. Select gate 120 connects the NAND string to bit line 126. Select gate 122 connects the NAND string to source line 128. Select gate 120 is controlled by applying appropriate voltages to control gate 120CG via selection line SGD. Select gate 122 is controlled by applying the appropriate voltages to control gate 122CG via selection line SGS. Each of the transistors 100, 102, 104 and 106 includes a control gate and a floating gate, forming the gate elements of a memory cell. For example, transistor 100 has control gate 100CG and floating gate 100FG. Transistor 102 includes control gate 102CG and a floating gate 102FG. Transistor 104 includes control gate 104CG and floating gate 104FG. Transistor 106 includes a control gate 106CG and a floating gate 106FG. Control gate 100CG is connected to word line WL3, control gate 102CG is connected to word line WL2, control gate 104CG is connected to word line WL1, and control gate 106CG is connected to word line WL0.
Note that although FIGS. 1 and 2 show four memory cells in the NAND string, the use of four transistors is only provided as an example. A NAND string can have less than four memory cells or more than four memory cells. For example, some NAND strings will include eight memory cells, 16 memory cells, 32 memory cells, etc. The discussion herein is not limited to any particular number of memory cells in a NAND string.
A typical architecture for a flash memory system using a NAND structure will include several NAND strings. For example, FIG. 3 shows three NAND strings 202, 204 and 206 of a memory array having many more NAND strings. Each of the NAND strings of FIG. 3 includes two select transistors or gates and four memory cells. For example, NAND string 202 includes select transistors 220 and 230, and memory cells 222, 224, 226 and 228. NAND string 204 includes select transistors 240 and 250, and memory cells 242, 244, 246 and 248. Each string is connected to the source line by one select gate (e.g. select gate 230 and select gate 250). A selection line SGS is used to control the source side select gates. The various NAND strings are connected to respective bit lines by select gates 220, 240, etc., which are controlled by select line SGD. In other embodiments, the select lines do not necessarily need to be in common. Word line WL3 is connected to the control gates for memory cell 222 and memory cell 242. Word line WL2 is connected to the control gates for memory cell 224 and memory cell 244. Word line WL1 is connected to the control gates for memory cell 226 and memory cell 246. Word line WL0 is connected to the control gates for memory cell 228 and memory cell 248. As can be seen, a bit line and respective NAND string comprise a column of the array of memory cells. The word lines (WL3, WL2, WL1 and WL0) comprise the rows of the array. Each word line connects the control gates of each memory cell in the row. For example, word line WL2 is connected to the control gates for memory cells 224, 244 and 252.
Each memory cell can store data (analog or digital). When storing one bit of digital data, the range of possible threshold voltages of the memory cell is divided into two ranges which are assigned logical data "1" and "0." In one example of a NAND type flash memory, the threshold voltage is negative after the memory cell is erased, and defined as logic "1." The threshold voltage after a program operation is positive and defined as logic "0." When the threshold voltage is negative and a read is attempted by applying 0 volts to the control gate, the memory cell will turn on to indicate logic "1" is being stored. When the threshold voltage is positive and a read operation is attempted by applying 0 volts to the control gate, the memory cell will not turn on, which indicates that logic "0" is stored. A memory cell can also store multiple levels of information, for example, multiple bits of digital data. In the case of storing multiple levels of data, the range of possible threshold voltages is divided into the number of levels of data. For example, if four levels of information are stored, there will be four threshold voltage ranges assigned to the data values "11", "10", "01", and "00." In one example of a NAND type memory, the threshold voltage after an erase operation is negative and defined as "11." Three different positive threshold voltages are used for the states of "10", "01", and "00."
Relevant examples of NAND type flash memories and their operation are provided in the following U.S. Patents/Patent Applications, all of which are incorporated herein by reference: U.S. Pat. No. 5,570,315; U.S. Pat. No. 5,774,397, U.S. Pat. No. 6,046,935, U.S. Pat. No. 6,456,528 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/893,277 (Publication No. US2003/0002348).
When programming a flash memory cell, a program voltage is applied to the control gate (via a selected word line) and the bit line is grounded. Electrons from the p-well are injected into the floating gate. When electrons accumulate in the floating gate, the floating gate becomes negatively charged and the threshold voltage of the cell is raised. The floating gate charge and threshold voltage of the cell can be indicative of a particular state corresponding to stored data.
In order to erase memory cells of a NAND type flash memory, electrons are transferred from the floating gate of each memory cell to the well region and substrate. Typically, one or more high voltage (e.g., ˜16V-20V) erase pulses are applied to the well region to attract electrons away from the floating gate of each memory cell to the well region. The word lines of each memory cell are grounded or supplied with 0V to create a high potential across the tunnel oxide region to attract the electrons. If each memory cell of a NAND string is not erased after application of an erase voltage pulse, the size of the pulse can be increased and reapplied to the NAND string until each memory cell is erased. The amount by which the erase voltage is increased in between pulses is typically referred to as the step size for the erase voltage.
Typical erase operations using prior art techniques can lead to differing erase rates amongst memory cells in a NAND string. Some memory cells may reach a target threshold voltage level for an erased state faster or slower than others. This can lead to over-erasure of faster erasing memory cells because they will continue to be subjected to erase voltages that are applied to sufficiently erase the slower memory cells of the NAND string. Thus, the different erase rates can result in a shorter cycling life of a memory cell or NAND string. Typical erase operations can also lead to disparate threshold voltages among memory cells of a NAND string. That is, one or more memory cells of the NAND string may have a different threshold voltage after application of one or more erase voltage pulses when compared to other memory cells of the string or device. To overcome this effect, a technique generally referred to as soft programming has been used to adjust the threshold voltages of one or more memory cells after erasure. Soft programming includes applying a relatively low program voltage—lower than used for actual programming—to one or more memory cells. Soft programming typically includes applying a program voltage as a series of pulses that are increased by a step size in between each application of the program voltage pulses. Soft programming raises the threshold voltage of the memory cells in order to narrow and/or raise the threshold voltage distribution of the population of erased memory cells. Soft programming, however, may increase program and erase times.
In addition, traditional soft programming can suffer from some of the same effects of disparate properties among different memory cells. The same memory cells that may be slow to erase, may also be slow to soft program. These slower soft programming cells can have lower erased threshold voltages than other cells of the NAND string at the conclusion of soft programming.

Partitioned soft programming in non-volatile memory


This invention pertains to an improved high temperature slag resistant thermocouple sheath for protecting thermocouples used to measure the temperature of synthesis gas, reducing gas, or fuel gas produced by the partial oxidation of ash-containing liquid hydrocarbonaceous and/or solid carbonaceous fuels. The protection thermocouple sheath is made from a continuous binary alloy consisting of about 30 to 70 wt. % of palladium and the remainder silver. It may be used over a temperature range of about 1000.degree. F. to 2400.degree. F.

1. Field Of The Invention
This invention concerns an improved thermocouple for the temperature measurement of hot gases produced by the partial oxidation of ash-containing liquid hydrocarbonaceous and/or solid carbonaceous fuels. More specifically, it concerns a high temperature slag resistant thermocouple sheath.
2. Description Of The Prior Art
Thermocouples are used for measuring temperature in the well-known high temperature partial oxidation system for producing synthesis gas, reducing gas, and fuel gas. Thermocouples are pairs of insulated wires of dissimilar metals which are connected at both ends. When the two junctions of the wires e.g. T.sub.2 and T.sub.1 are at different temperatures, a difference in electrical potential exists between them. The thermal electromotive force (e.m.f) is a measure of the difference in temperature between T.sub.2 and T.sub.1. A voltage-measuring instrument placed in the thermocouple circuit will measure temperature. For example, a sensitive high-temperature thermocouple consisting of platinum-platinum 10% rhodium will generate an e.m.f. of 9.457 millivolts and 17.339 millivolts when the differences between the hot junction and the cold junction in degrees F are respectively 1800 and 3000. Other pairs of metals e.g. chromel-alumel and iron-constantan are used to measure lower temperatures.
A corrosive atmosphere prevails during the operation of a high temperature partial oxidation gasifier. Any unprotected thermocouple in this atmosphere will be attacked and rendered useless, and especially when iron is present in the reaction zone. Various metals, alloys and refractory materials have been used in the past to form thermocouple protective sheaths. However, these materials were found to be unsuitable for long-time operation in partial oxidation systems where the temperature at various locations exceeds 1000.degree. F. Impurities in liquid hydrocarbonaceous fuels and solid carbonaceous fuels, especially iron, readily attack thermocouples. Some noble metals e.g. platinum were found to be a sink for iron. Daily replacement of thermocouple sheaths made from these materials was not unusual. Iron-containing materials e.g. iron oxide are a major additive component in the gasification of fuels such as heavy liquid hydrocarbonaceous fuel and/or solid carbonaceous fuel that already contain iron, vanadium and nickel impurities. See related U.S. Pat. No. 4,668,428, which is incorporated herein by reference.
In coassigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,776,705, which is incorporated herein by reference, a thermocouple is enclosed in a noble metal protective sheath which in turn is inserted inside a multi-segment refractory thermowell. An annular space formed between the outside surface of the sheath and the inside surface of the thermowell is continuously purged with an oxidizing gas or gaseous mixture. Gasification products from the residual slag, which are normally in a form that react with and destroy the thermocouple wires, are neutralized or oxidized within the annular space by reaction with the purge gas mixtures. In contrast, advantageously by the subject invention, the aforesaid purge gas is eliminated, during the partial oxidation reaction, temperature measurments are more accurate, and the design of the thermocouple is simplified at a significant cost savings.


A steering system for a marine vessel is provided with a connecting link attached to first and second marine propulsion devices. The connecting link is selectively disposable in first and second states of operation which either require synchronous rotation of the first and second marine propulsion devices or, alternatively, independent rotation of the two marine propulsion devices. This allows both marine propulsion devices to be operated by a single actuator or, alternatively, independent maneuvering of the two marine propulsion devices during certain types of docking procedures.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to steering systems for marine propulsion systems and, more particularly, to a steering system which allows two or more marine propulsion devices to be selectively locked in synchrony with each other or, alternatively, be allowed to rotate about their respective steering axes independently from each other.
2. Description of the Related Art
Skilled artisans in the field of marine propulsion devices are familiar with many different types of steering apparatus which are provided for the purpose of causing marine propulsion devices to rotate about steering axes relative to a marine vessel to which they are attached. In some applications, two or more marine propulsion devices are locked to each other so that they rotate in synchrony about their respective axes. In some applications, these steering links can be deactivated to allow auxiliary marine propulsion devices to be independently trimmed or tilted out of the water and, when this condition persists, to be unlinked from a main propulsion device.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,658,027, which issued to Sturges on Apr. 25, 1972, describes a single cylinder hydraulic stabilizer for steering. It serves to lock a steering element in its position at any time valve-actuating rods of the device are not being caused to move as a result of steering forces applied thereto. The valve controls the flow of hydraulic fluid from one end of the hydraulic cylinder to the other end of the cylinder so as to permit movement of the valve block itself with respect to a portion of a vehicle, such as a boat.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,227,481, which issued Cox et al. on Oct. 14, 1980, describes a safety steering system for outboard motors. The system controls torque rotation for boats having directable marine outboard motors capable of pivoting about a vertical axis. An arm extending from the motor is connected to a flexible cable having two ends, a first end connected to a steering device and a second end connected to the arm. An actuator control valve interposed along the flexible cable is capable of locking the arm in a single position when no force from the cable is being exerted on the arm.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,266,497, which issued to Toda et al. on May 12, 1981, describes a marine steering arrangement which includes a hydraulic steering machine, variable discharge-type pump units for actuating the hydraulic steering machine and power units for remotely manipulating the pump units. The power units are provided respectively in at least two channels which include a spare channel.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,362,117, which issued to Mishina on Dec. 7, 1982, describes a marine steering gear with emergency steering means. A marine steering gear is equipped with an emergency steering means which comprises an emergency directional control valve capable of replenishing hydraulic fluid or oil to a plurality of pressure chambers of an actuator for a hydraulic steering engine through check valves and stop valves, and a relief valve designed to set a desired charge pressure and installed in lines of oil to be supplied through the directional control valve, check valves, and stop valves so as to forcibly reduce the air volumes in the pressure chambers and thereby hold the rudder blades substantially in a hydraulically locked state.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,431,422, which issued to Hall on Feb. 14, 1984, describes a marine hydraulic steering system control unit for a marine installation. It comprises a helm station including a pump comprising first and second pump discharge ports, which pump is selectively and alternatively operable to deliver fluid under pressure from the first and second pump discharge ports.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,578,039, which issued to Hall on Mar. 25, 1986, describes a marine hydraulic steering system control for a marine installation comprising a helm station including a pump comprising first and second pump discharge ports.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,406,340, which issued to Fetchko et al. on Jun. 18, 2002, describes a twin outboard motor hydraulic steering system. The assembly applies a force to tiller arms of twin marine outboard propulsion units and rotates the propulsion units about a steering axis between a center position and hard over positions to each side of the center position. A tie bar is pivotally connected to the steering apparatus and pivotally connected to the tiller arm of a second propulsion unit. The tie bar may be pivotally connected to the steering apparatus by a ball joint connected to the steering apparatus by a bracket which moves with the member.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,913,497, which issued to Ahlswede et al. on Jul. 5, 2005, discloses a tandem connection system for two or more marine propulsion devices. The connection system is intended for connecting two or more marine propulsion devices together and provides a coupler that can be rotated in place, without detachment from other components, to adjust the distances between the tie bar arms. In addition, the use of various clevis ends and pairs of attachment plates on the components significantly reduces the possibility of creating moments when forces and their reactions occur between the various components.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/873,086 (M09811), which was filed by Lokken et al. on Jun. 21, 2004, discloses a connection device for a marine propulsion system. A selective locking mechanism automatically connects or disconnects two components of the marine propulsion system together in response to rotation of a tube and a rod. This relative rotation of the tube and rod is caused automatically when one of the components of the marine propulsion system is rotated relative to the other component.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/248,483 (M09993), which was filed on Oct. 12, 2005 by Bradley et al., discloses a method for positioning a marine vessel. The vessel positioning system maneuvers a marine vessel in such a way that the vessel maintains its global position and heading in accordance with a desired position and heading selected by the operator of the marine vessel. When used in conjunction with a joystick, the operator of the marine vessel can place the system in a station keeping enabled mode and the system then maintains the desired position obtained upon the initial change of the joystick from an active mode to an inactive mode. In this way, the operator can selectively maneuver the marine vessel manually and, when the joystick is released, the vessel will maintain the position in which it was at the instant the operator stopped maneuvering it with the joystick.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/248,482 (M09992), which was filed by Bradley et al. on Oct. 12, 2005, discloses a method for maneuvering a marine vessel in response to a manually operable control device. A marine vessel is maneuvered by independently rotating first and second marine propulsion devices about their respective steering axes in response to commands received from a manually operable control device, such as a joystick. The marine propulsion devices are aligned with their thrust vectors intersecting at a point on a centerline of the marine vessel and, when no rotational movement is commanded, at the center of gravity of the marine vessel. The internal combustion engines are provided to drive the marine propulsion devices. The steering axes of the two marine propulsion devices are generally vertical and parallel to each other. The two steering axes extend through a bottom surface of the hull of the marine vessel.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,755,605, which issued to Äsberg on May 26, 1998, describes a propeller drive unit. Installation in a boat has two propeller drive units which extend out through individual openings in the bottom of a V-bottomed boat, so that the legs are inclined relative to each other. The leg of one drive unit can be set to turn the boat in one direction at the same time as the leg of the other drive unit can be set to turn the boat in the opposite direction, so that the horizontal counteracting forces acting on the legs cancel each other, while the vertical forces are added to each other to trim the running position of the boat in the water.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,234,853, which issued to Lanyi et al. on May 22, 2001, discloses a simplified docking method and apparatus for a multiple engine marine vessel. A docking system is provided which utilizes the marine propulsion unit of a marine vessel, under the control of an engine control unit that receives command signals from a joystick or push button device, to respond to a maneuver command from the marine operator. The docking system does not require additional propulsion devices other than those normally used to operate the marine vessel under normal conditions. The docking and maneuvering system uses two marine propulsion units to respond to an operator's command signal and allows the operator to select forward or reverse commands in combination with clockwise or counterclockwise rotational commands either in combination with each other or alone.
International Patent Application WO 03/042036, which was filed by Arvidsson on Nov. 8, 2002, describes a remote control system for a vehicle. It comprises a primary heading sensor fixedly attached to the vehicle, the primary heading sensor being adapted to detect a reference heading, a remote control unit comprising a steering input manipulator, the remote control unit being either portable by a user or rotationally attached to the vehicle relative to a marine axis of the vehicle, the remote control unit being adapted to communicate steering input data to a steering computer programmed to process the steering input data into steering commands and to communicate the steering commands to a steering mechanism of the vehicle. The remote control unit comprises a secondary heading sensor which is synchronized with the primary heading sensor with respect to the reference heading, and the steering input data includes information of an active position of the steering input manipulator relative to the reference heading, the active position of the steering input manipulator determining the desired direction of travel of the vehicle regardless of the orientation of the remote control unit relative to the main axis of the vehicle.
International Patent Application WO 03/093102, which was filed by Arvidsson et al. on Apr. 29, 2003, describes a method of steering a boat with double outboard drives and a boat having double outboard drives. The method of steering a planing V-bottomed boat with double individually steerable outboard drive units with underwater housings, which extend down from the bottom of the boat, is described. When running at planing speed straight ahead, the underwater housings are set with "toe-in" (i.e. inclined toward each other with opposite angles of equal magnitude relative to the boat centerline). When turning, the inner drive unit is set with a greater steering angle than the outer drive unit.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,431,928, which issued to Aarnivuo on Aug. 13, 2002, describes an arrangement and method for turning a propulsion unit. The propeller drive arrangement includes an azimuthing propulsion unit, a power supply, a control unit, and a sensor means. An operating means is provided for turning the azimuthing propulsion unit in relation to the hull of the vessel for steering the vessel in accordance with a steering command controlled by the vessel's steering control device. The operating means also includes a second electric motor for turning the azimuthing propulsion unit via a mechanical power transmission that is connected to the second electric motor.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,623,320, which issued to Hedlund on Sep. 23, 2003, describes a drive means in a boat. A boat propeller drive with an underwater housing which is connected in a fixed manner to a boat hull and has tractor propellers arranged on that side of the housing facing ahead is described. Arranged in that end portion of the underwater housing facing astern is an exhaust discharge outlet for discharging exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine connected to the propeller drive.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,712,654, which issued to Putaansuu on Mar. 30, 2004, describes a turning of a propulsion unit. The arrangement for moving and steering a vessel includes a propulsion unit having a chamber positioned outside the vessel equipment for rotating a propeller arranged in connection with the chamber, and a shaft means connected to the chamber for supporting the chamber in a rotatable manner at the hull of the vessel. At least one hydraulic motor is used for turning the shaft means in relation to the hull of the vessel for steering the vessel. The arrangement also includes means for altering the rotational displacement of the hydraulic engine.
The patents described above are hereby expressly incorporated by reference in the description of the present invention.
When two or more marine propulsion devices are independently rotatable about their respective steering axes, it would be significantly beneficial if the marine propulsion devices could be selectively locked to each other for synchronous rotation about their axes or, alternatively, allowed to rotate independently about their individual axes in order to allow an improved degree of maneuverability of the associated marine vessel, especially when the marine vessel is being maneuvered into a docking space.

Selectively lockable marine propulsion devices


An ultrasonic sensor is provided with a sensor body, a cushion member, a retainer part and a waterproof seal. The sensor body has an ultrasonic microphone and a microphone support part. The cushion member covers a protrusion part of the ultrasonic microphone. The retainer part sandwiches a sandwiched part on a proximal end side between the retainer part and an outer peripheral surface of the ultrasonic microphone, while exposing an exposed part on a tip end side in the axial direction of the cushion member. The waterproof seal blocks a gap between a vehicle body component and the exposed part of the cushion member in an on-board state.

JP 3999187 B discloses a mounting structure of an ultrasonic sensor whose performance is not adversely affected by infiltration of water or the like. Specifically, in the mounting structure disclosed in JP 3999187 B, a hole is formed in an outer plate that is exposed to an outer surface, and an ultrasonic sensor is inserted into this hole. A rib for fixing the ultrasonic sensor is provided on an inner surface of the outer plate. The ultrasonic sensor is fixed to this rib via a vibration absorber. The outer plate, rib or vibration absorber located vertically under the ultrasonic sensor is provided with a drainage hole. The drainage hole communicates with a space formed between a casing of the ultrasonic sensor and the outer plate, rib or vibration absorber.


A fire suppression system for use with a cookstove or range operates in several modes or stages to warn of, prevent, and extinguish stovetop fires. The system includes a pressurized supply of fire retardant connected to a nozzle. A fusible link releases the fire retardant through the nozzle. Several sensors are attached to a circuit so that increasing ambient temperature can be monitored. The supply of fire retardant is provided with a low pressure sensor which may be overridden. On sensing a first temperature increase, a fan is switched on. At a second temperature, an alarm is activated. At a third temperature, the stove is shut down. The fusible link is designed to melt at a temperature higher than the third temperature so that provisional measures may be activated prior to dispensing the fire retardant. Methods related to the fire suppression system are also disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fire suppression system for a cookstove or a range. In particular, the invention relates to an automatic self-contained fire suppression system which may be installed (retrofitted) in an existing hood over a cookstove or range or which may be constructed with its own hood for installation over a cookstove or range. The system is further described with reference to a particular method for its use.
2. The Prior Art
It is well known to place an exhaust hood over a cookstove or range. Such a hood usually contains a fan and in some cases contains fire suppression equipment.
Known fire suppression equipment used in hoods placed over cookstoves or ranges are disclosed in several prior U.S. patents. These prior patents disclose numerous arrangements for automatically extinguishing stove fires.
Early fire suppression systems for use with cook stoves and ranges were mainly concerned with delivering fire retardant onto the cooking surface to stop a fat or grease fire. The early systems did not include means for shutting down the stove and the exhaust fan, or activating an alarm.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,653,443 to Dockery, which is hereby incorporated by reference, discloses an improved fire suppression system which, in addition to releasing fire retardant, sounds an alarm, shuts down the stove and exhausts smoke. One of the disadvantages of the Dockery system is that it is not easily retro-fitted into existing hoods.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,773,485 and 4,834,188 to Silverman, which are hereby incorporated by reference, disclose a fire suppression system which is readily retro-fitted to existing stove hoods. Silverman's system is installed within and adjacent to the stove hood. That is, a portion of Silverman's system is fitted within an existing hood and another portion of Silverman's system is located adjacent to the existing hood and the two portions are connected by a series of conduits, wires and pulleys. A clear disadvantage of Silverman's system is that it is not self-contained. Although Silverman suggests that his system is readily retro-fitted to existing hoods, his system requires substantial modification to the existing hood. Holes must be drilled. Pulleys must be mounted to carry wires attached to fusible links. Nozzles attached to conduits must be mounted inside the hood and the conduits must extend through the existing hood to an external supply of fire retardant.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,813,487 and 4,979,572 to Mikulec, which are hereby incorporated by reference, disclose a system similar to Silverman's, but which does not require so much drilling and cutting of the existing hood. Mikulec's system provides most of the mechanical parts in a single piece which is mounted from the rear of an existing hood at a specified angle. This piece is also connected by wire to a device for shutting down the stove. One of the disadvantages of Mikulec's system is that there must be room for it behind the existing hood and the angle of mounting is limited. Moreover, Mikulec's system is limited in features, being essentially a fire extinguisher and a stove shut off switch. In addition, Mikulec's system leaves components exposed to direct heat, grease, and possible fire thereby compromising the operation of the system.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,830,116 to Walden et al., which is hereby incorporated by reference, discloses a fire suppression system where tanks containing fire suppression fluids are located remote from the hood. The system includes means for shutting down the stove, sounding an alarm and activating an exhaust fan. Walden's system is clearly not self-contained and is not easily retrofitted to existing hoods.
All of the known systems have particular disadvantages, some of which are mentioned above. No one of the known systems contains all of the features taught by all of the other systems. Also, while, most stove fires are the result of grease or fat, none of the known systems pays particular attention to the danger of splashing the grease or fat when fire retardant is sprayed through a nozzle over the stove. Unless the nozzles are properly positioned, the first spray of fire retardant may serve only to spread the burning fat or grease beyond the stove top. Moreover, cooking fat and grease always accumulates in the hood over the stove and can clog nozzles unless special measures are taken to prevent this. None of the known systems addresses this problem. Further, all of the known systems rely on a pressurized supply of fire retardant, but none of them provide any means for warning when the pressure is too low to be effective in releasing the supply of fire retardant. While two of the known systems (Silverman and Walden) provide a pressure sensing means at the supply of fire retardant, the pressure sensing means is used to sense release of the retardant and shut down the stove. None of the known systems contains a means for warning that the system may not operate properly because the pressure has dropped too low.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, all of the prior art systems tend to act in only two modes: on or off. In other words, all of the features are activated simultaneously or automatically with a predetermined time delay or not at all. This assumes that all stove fires will require the same treatment and that no early warning or provisional measures can be used to avert a serious fire without engaging the full force of the suppression system. However, it should be appreciated that the release of fire retardant is a drastic step which should be used as a last resort.

Fire suppression system and method for its use


A mobile device is provided that includes a digit input that can be manipulated by a user's fingers or thumb, an air conduction microphone and an alternative sensor that provides an alternative sensor signal indicative of speech. Under some embodiments, the mobile device also includes a proximity sensor that provides a proximity signal indicative of the distance from the mobile device to an object. Under some embodiments, the signal from the air conduction microphone, the alternative sensor signal, and the proximity signal are used to form an estimate of a clean speech value. In further embodiments, a sound is produced through a speaker in the mobile device based on the amount of noise in the clean speech value. In other embodiments, the sound produced through the speaker is based on the proximity sensor signal.

The present invention relates to noise reduction. In particular, the present invention relates to removing noise from speech signals received by mobile hand-held devices.
Mobile hand-held devices such as mobile phones and personal digital assistants that provide phone functions or accept speech input are often used in adverse noise environments such as busy streets, restaurants, airports, and cars. The strong ambient noise in these environments can obscure the user's speech and make it difficult to understand what the person is saying.
While noise filtering systems have been developed that attempt to remove noise based on a model of the noise, these systems have not been able to remove all of the noise. In particular, many of these systems have found it difficult to remove noise that consists of other people speaking in the background. One reason for this is that it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, for these systems to determine that a speech signal received by a microphone came from someone other than the person using the mobile device.
For phone headsets, which are kept in position on the user's head by looping the headset over the user's head or ear, systems have been developed that provide more robust noise filtering by relying on additional types of sensors in the headset. In one example, a bone conduction sensor is placed on one end of the head set and is pressed into contact with the skin covering the users skull, ear, or mandible by the resilience of the headset. The bone conduction sensor detects vibrations in the skull, ear or mandible that are created when the user speaks. Using the signal from the bone conduction sensor, this system is able to better identify when the user is speaking and as a result is better able to filter noise in the speech signal.
Although such systems work well for headsets, where contact between the bone conduction sensor and the user is maintained by the mechanical design of the headsets, these systems cannot be used directly in hand-held mobile devices because it is difficult for users to maintain the bone conduction sensor in the proper position and these systems do not take into consideration that the bone conduction sensor may not be held in the proper position.

Method and apparatus for multi-sensory speech enhancement on a mobile device


A robot system for oral cavity and tooth treatment. The system includes a console, a seat device, a robot and a navigation device. The console includes a display device, an operating device and an emergency stop device. The seat device includes a body support portion, an orientation adjustment portion and a head fixing portion. The robot comprises a main controller, a robotic arm, a manipulator. The navigation device performs navigation inside a tooth in a root canal treatment operation according to pre-stored tooth information. The treatment instrument in the manipulator can be replaceable. The seat device can be adjusted such that a patient can face any direction between forward and downward, or lie prostrate.

In dental treatment procedures currently practiced, a doctor generally performs the therapy and operation manually, which requires the doctor to observe closely to perform an operation. To complete an operation, the doctor need to spend a large amount of physical energy, and need to maintain a posture for a long time, such as keeping his or her head low, among others. As a result, is prone to cause fatigue for doctors, the doctor working for a long time is easy to get tired, thus reducing operation quality.
At present, various dental handpieces are already proposed in related fields to replace the manual operation of a dentist, thereby reducing the workload of the dentist, and realizing intelligent dental treatment. In such dental handpieces, through a camera and a lighting device installed, image of a tooth in the oral cavity of a patient is transmitted to a display, and then the doctor performs an operation based on what is shown on the display. Therefore, the doctor does not need to observe the oral cavity of the patient at a short distance to perform the operation. As a result, the physical energy and stamina required of the doctor is greatly reduced for the operation, the fatigue is much lessened, and the operation quality is improved.
However, the above-described dental handpieces still have the following problems, among others: the dental handpieces comprise only an operating manipulator such as a drill bit; a doctor can only perform an operation through simple control using the manipulator, and cannot intelligently perform different types of dental procedures; the scope of application of such handpieces is narrow, and intelligent control cannot be realized.

Robot system for oral cavity and tooth treatment