A method and device for encoding a plurality of image frames uses two separate encoders, where each image frame is divided into two portions to each be encoded by one of the two encoders, where the image frame is divided to minimize motion across the boundary between the two portions, such that the two encoders may operate independently of each other without a substantial bit rate penalty or reduced encoding quality.

In recent years the numbers of monitoring cameras, e.g., network camera monitoring systems, have increased. Similarly, the possible image resolution of an image captured by an image sensor of a monitoring camera has increased. This is advantageous from a monitoring perspective, since more details in the monitored scene may be captured. However, from an encoder perspective, this development has resulted in that an image captured by a high-resolution image sensor may be too large for one encoder (encoder chip) to encode at an acceptable frame rate. Advantageously, the concept of tiles/slices in, e.g. H.265 encoding may be employed to produce a single encoded image from image data encoded by a plurality of encoders, such as two encoders. Consequently, image data of an image frame can be divided into at least a first and a second portion of image data, where the first portion is encoded by a first encoder, and the second portion is encoded by a second encoder, wherein the two encoders have separate buffer memories (reference buffers) for reference encoding.
A problem arises when motion vectors are to be found, as this means that theoretically, both encoders need to have access to the entire reference frame, requiring copying in both directions between the two encoders. In practice, a motion vector search is not performed in the entire reference frame, though, but in a limited search window, in order for the search to be finished in a short enough time to maintain a desired frame rate. Therefore, it will not be necessary to copy the whole reference frame slice or tile from one encoder to the other, but only a sufficiently large portion to accommodate the search window.
However, copying image data from the first encoder to the second encoder, and vice versa, is cumbersome. It is also necessary to synchronise to ensure that both encoders have completed a previous image frame before encoding of a new image frame starts.
To avoid reading and copying from the reference buffer of the other encoder, the search window for the motion vector search may be restricted. In particular, the encoders may be restricted to not search for motion vectors in reference frames produced by the other encoder. This may be achieved in a system that allows for using different search windows for different parts of the image by setting the motion search window at the boundary between the portions of the image data such that motion search will not be performed over the boundary.
A drawback of that approach is that it may be costlier (require more bitrate) to encode image data near the boundary, due to motion in the image data between image frames. In the case of motion in the image data near the boundary, the motion prediction (using a block matching algorithm) will likely not work well for blocks of pixels near the boundary, since image content may move from the image data encoded by the first encoder in a first image frame to the image data encoded by the second encoder for a subsequent image frame. This in turn may result in that these block of pixels will be encoded I-blocks, or encoded as P-blocks with much residual data to be encoded, thus increasing the bit rate.
There is thus a need for improvements within this context.

Method and device for encoding a sequence of image frames using a first and a second encoder


A new and distinct cultivar of Scaevola plant named ‘Duescalbu’, characterized by its semi-compact, mounded and outwardly spreading plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; freely flowering habit; violet-colored flowers; and good container and garden performance.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Scaevola plant, botanically known as Scaevola aemula and hereinafter referred to by the name 'Duescalbu'.
The new Scaevola plant a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create compact and freely branching Scaevola plants with numerous attractive flowers.
The new Scaevola plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany in July, 2007 of a proprietary selection of Scaevola aemula identified as code number F-019-001, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Scaevola aemula identified as code number F-02-001, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Scaevola plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Rheinberg, Germany in May, 2010.
Asexual reproduction of the new Scaevola plant by vegetative cuttings in a controlled environment in Rheinberg, Germany since June, 2010 has shown that the unique features of this new Scaevola plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.


It is an object of the present invention to provide a procedure for realizing inexpensive and simple production of 3-indole-pyruvic acid. A transformant is made using a polynucleotide having a specific nucleotide sequence encoding a protein having an oxidase activity, and oxidase is generated by culturing the transformant in a medium to accumulate the oxidase in the medium and/or the transformant. Further, tryptophan is converted into 3-indole-pyruvic acid in the presence of the transformant and/or a culture thereof to produce 3-indole-pyruvic acid.

In a chemical method for producing 3-indole-pyruvic acid disclosed by Giovanna De Luca et al., 3-indole-pyruvic acid was produced with a yield of 50 to 62% by reacting tryptophan as a starting material with pyridine aldehyde in the presence of a base for dehydrating a proton acceptor (see JP Sho-62-501912 [Patent Document 1], International Publication 87/00169 Pamphlet [Patent Document 2]). In this method, the required base and pyridine aldehyde are expensive and the yield is low. As a result, production cost are very high. Politi Vincenzo et al. produced 3-indole-pyruvic acid with the yield of 64% by a condensation reaction using indole and ethyl-3-bromopyruvate ester oxime as raw materials followed by acid hydrolysis (see Europe Patent Application Publication No. 421946 [Patent Document 3]). This method, however, requires a purification step using silica gel, the yield is low, the raw materials are expensive and the industrial production cost is very high.
On the other hand, an enzymatic method for production of 3-indole-pyruvic acid using an aminotransferase is known (see the following reaction formula 1).

In an example of this method, 3-indole-pyruvic acid is generated from 40 mM L-tryptophan (L-Trp) and 80 mM 2-ketoglutaric acid by reacting L-Trp and 2-ketoglutaric acid with an L-tryptophan aminotransferase derived from Candida maltosa and purifying the resulting 3-indole-pyruvic acid using an ion exchange resin to achieve the yield of 721 (see Bobe Ruediger et al., East Germany Patent DD 297190 [Patent Document 4]). By reacting L-Trp and 2-ketoglutaric acid with an aspartate aminotransferase to generate 3-indole-pyruvic acid, which is then purified by extracting the reaction solution with petroleum ether and fractionating by column chromatography and the fraction is collected (see Mario Materazzi et al., JP Sho-59-95894-A [Patent Document 5]). Aminotransferases encoded by an aspC gene and a tyrB gene derived from Escherichia coli is described in International Publication No. 2003/091396 Pamphlet [Patent Document 6] and US Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0282260 [Patent Document 7]. In these methods of using an aminotransferase, the yield is low and a keto acid (e.g. 2-ketoglutaric acid) is required as an amino group acceptor in addition to L-Trp. In addition, an amino acid corresponding to the amino group acceptor present in an amount of equivalent moles to 3-indole-pyruvic acid to be generated is produced as a byproduct. Furthermore, an excessive amount of keto acid relative to L-Trp is added to the reaction system in order to enhance the yield. Thus, unreacted keto acid remains after the reaction. Due to these reasons, a purification step employing an ion exchange resin is required in order to collect the 3-indole-pyruvic acid from the reaction solution. Thus, manipulation of the reaction is complicated and the cost is high.
Another known method for producing 3-indole-pyruvic acid from L-Trp employs an L-amino acid oxidase a. In this regard, however, 3-indole-pyruvic acid is decomposed into indoleacetic acid (see the following reaction formula 3) by hydrogen peroxide which is produced as a byproduct when tryptophan is oxidized by L-amino acid oxidase (see the following reaction formula 2). Thus, a method of decomposing hydrogen peroxide by adding catalase to the reaction system (see the following reaction formula 4) is proposed (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,002,963 to De Luca, et al., 1991 [Patent Document 8]).

In the above method, an immobilized enzyme column is used in which L-amino acid oxidase derived from a snake venom and catalase derived from bovine liver have been immobilized to a carrier. Then, a solution containing L-Trp is passed through the column to react, and the produced 3-indole-pyruvic acid is adsorbed to an ion exchange column, eluted with methanol, subsequently exsiccated and collected. However, in this method, only 0.2 g of 3-indole-pyruvic acid is acquired from 0.5 g of L-Trp, and the yield is low (40%). Further, in this method, the steps such as immobilizing the enzymes and purifying by the ion exchange resin are complicated and it is also necessary to collect or recycle unreacted L-Trp, which leads to an increased cost.
The L-amino acid oxidase derived from microorganisms is provided by John A. Duerre et al., who crudely purified L-amino acid oxidase (deaminase) derived from Proteus rettgeri and detected an oxidation activity for L-Trp by an activity measurement method of detecting an amount of consumed oxygen (see Journal of Bacteriology, 1975, vol. 121, No. 2, p656-663 [Nonpatent Document 1]). Furuyama et al. confirmed that L-phenylalanine oxidase derived from Pseudomonas sp.P-501 also acted upon L-Trp by an activity measurement method by detecting the amount of consumed oxygen (see Noda Institute for Scientific Research, JP Sho-57-146573-A [Patent Document 9]).
However, in any of these methods, the oxidase activity was detected by measuring the amount of consumed tryptophan, the amount of consumed oxygen or the amount of produced hydrogen peroxide. The indole-pyruvic acid was not directly quantified. This seems to be because 3-indole-pyruvic acid is decomposed into indoleacetic acid by hydrogen peroxide produced by the reaction with amino acid oxidase. On the other hand, there is no example in which 3-indole-pyruvic acid is generated using a microbial cell or a treated microbial cell. Further, how tryptophan is metabolized by the microorganism and what metabolite is generated by the microorganism are unknown.
The microorganisms having oxidase activity and belonging to genera Achromobacter, Proteus, Morganella, Pseudomonas and Neurospora are disclosed in International Publication No. 03/056026 Pamphlet (patent Document 10). However, when 3-indole-pyruvic acid was industrially produced on a large scale, there was a limit to produce it by a microbial cell reaction alone.
Further, in the method of using aminotransferase or the method of using L-amino acid oxidase derived from the snake venom among the aforementioned technology known publicly, the reaction yield is low, keto acid as the byproduct or unreacted L-tryptophan remains and is mixed in the reaction solution. Thus, a chromatographic separation step is required to collect the 3-indole-pyruvic acid, thus the manipulation is complicated and the cost is high.
Under the circumstance as above, it is required to develop the method for producing 3-indole-pyruvic acid inexpensively and conveniently.    Patent Document 1: JP Sho-62-501912-A    Patent Document 2: International Publication WO87/00169 Pamphlet    Patent Document 3: Europe Patent Application Publication No. 421946    Patent Document 4: East Germany Patent DD 297190    Patent Document 5: JP Sho-59-95894-A    Patent Document 6: International Publication No. WO2003/091396    Pamphlet    Patent Document 7: US Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0282260    Patent Document 8: U.S. Pat. No. 5,002,963    Patent Document 9: JP Sho-57-146573-A    Patent Document 10: International Publication No. 03/056026 Pamphlet    Nonpatent Document 1: Journal of Bacteriology, 1975, vol. 121, No. 2, p656-663.

Oxidase gene and method for producing 3-indole-pyruvic acid by utilizing the gene


A liquid crystal display device includes a power consumption reduction portion that analyzes a histogram of first image data of an image and generates second image data and a first luminance control signal, wherein, when the image includes an irrelevance region which is substantially irrelevant to degradation of display quality, the power consumption reduction portion analyzes a histogram of first image data of other region of the image except for an excluded region, and wherein the excluded region includes at least the irrelevance region; a timing controller that is supplied with the second image data and the first luminance control signal and generates gate control signals, data control signals and a second luminance control signal; a gate driving portion that generates gate voltages using the gate control signals; a data driving portion that generates data voltages using the second image data and the data control signals; a liquid crystal panel that displays the image using the gate voltages and the data voltages; a backlight control portion that generates a backlight control signal using the second luminance control signal; and a backlight unit that supplies light according to the backlight control signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device, and more particularly, to a liquid crystal display (LCD) device and a method of driving the same.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Until recently, display devices have typically used cathode-ray tubes (CRTs). Presently, many efforts and studies are being made to develop various types of flat panel displays, such as liquid crystal display (LCD) devices, plasma display panels (PDPs), field emission displays, and electro-luminescence displays (ELDs), as a substitute for CRTs. Of these flat panel displays, LCD devices have many advantages, such as high resolution, light weight, thin profile, compact size, and low voltage power supply requirements.
In general, an LCD device includes two substrates that are spaced apart and face each other with a liquid crystal material interposed between the two substrates. The two substrates include electrodes that face each other such that a voltage applied between the electrodes induces an electric field across the liquid crystal material. Alignment of the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal material changes in accordance with the intensity of the induced electric field into the direction of the induced electric field, thereby changing the light transmissivity of the LCD device. Thus, the LCD device displays images by varying the intensity of the induced electric field.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a LCD device according to the related art.
Referring to FIG. 1, the LCD device 10 includes a liquid crystal panel 20 displaying images, a backlight unit 30 supplying light to the liquid crystal panel 20, a driving circuit portion 40 operating the liquid crystal panel 20 and the backlight unit 30.
The liquid crystal panel 20 includes first and second substrates facing each other and a liquid crystal layer between the first and second substrates. The liquid crystal panel 20 includes a plurality of gate lines GL1 to GLn along a first direction and a plurality of data lines DL1 to DLm along a second direction. The plurality of gate lines GL1 to GLn and the plurality of data lines DL1 to DLm cross each other to define a plurality of sub-pixel regions. In each sub-pixel region, a thin film transistor T, a liquid crystal capacitor Clc and a storage capacitor Cst are formed.
The backlight unit 30 is below the liquid crystal panel 20 and supplies light to the liquid crystal panel 20 according to control of the driving circuit portion 40.
The driving circuit portion 40 includes a timing controller 50, a gate driving portion 70 and a data driving portion 60. Each of the gate driving portion and the data driving portion includes a plurality of drive ICs.
The timing controller 50 is supplied with signals and image data from an external system and generates control signals to control the gate driving portion 70, the data driving portion 60, and the backlight unit 30. The control signals and the image data are supplied to the corresponding component of the gate driving portion 70, the data driving portion 60, and the backlight unit 30.
The gate driving portion 70 performs ON/OFF operations of the thin film transistors T in response to the control signals from the timing controller 50. The gate lines GL1 to GLn are sequentially scanned by one row line each for one horizontal period. For the horizontal period, the corresponding thin film transistors T are turned on, and data voltages for the corresponding row line pass through the thin film transistors T and applied to the liquid crystal capacitors Clc and the storage capacitors Cst.
The data driving portion 60 selects a reference voltage corresponding to the image data. The selected reference voltage is applied as the data voltage to the liquid crystal panel 20.
Recently, driving methods to reduce a power consumption of the backlight unit 30 have been proposed. The driving methods minimize a luminance of a backlight unit 30 for a low gray level, and more particularly, a luminance for a black. Accordingly, a power consumption of the backlight unit 30 is reduced, and a contrast ratio of the LCD device is improved. Further, by using the driving methods, a dynamic contrast ratio is improved. In other words, when images are displayed for a plurality of frames, brightnesses corresponding to minimum gray levels of the images are reduced, and thus the dynamic contrast ratio is improved.
Of these driving methods, there is a driving method that performs a gray level conversion for an image data of a low gray level and reduces a luminance of a backlight unit, thus displays an image having substantially the same brightness as an image displayed by a normal mode. In this driving method, a correlation analysis between a brightness of an input image data and a luminance of a backlight unit is performed, and according to the correlation analysis, the image data is converted and supplied to a liquid crystal panel and the luminance of the backlight unit is reduced.
However, in case of displaying an image including a plurality of image data of high gray levels, when an image data conversion is performed, image data of more than a predetermined gray level are all saturated and have in common a maximum gray level. Accordingly, display quality may be degraded.
To prevent this problem, for a particular image including image data, a number of which is equal to or more than a reference number and which each have a gray level equal to or more than a reference gray level, an image data conversion and a luminance reduction of a backlight unit are not performed, and a normal mode which does not make the image data conversion and the luminance reduction is performed. For other type of image, the image data conversion and the reduction of luminance are performed. However, since the particular image is not operated in a power consumption reduction mode, reduction of power consumption is limited.

Liquid crystal display device and method of driving the same


A livestock herding cart with a chassis having forward and rearward wheel assemblies that allows movement upon a raised track. Connected to the chassis is a seat and moveable gate. The seat is positioned above the chassis and the gate extends below the chassis. The cart is used by releasing a group of livestock into a center alleyway of the raised track. The cart is then moved toward the livestock group with the gate extending substantially perpendicular to the chassis until the group exits the center alleyway. Then a second group of livestock are released into the center alleyway and the operator raises the gate and moves the cart to a position behind the second group of livestock. The operator then lowers the gate and moves towards the second group repeating the process.

This invention relates to an apparatus and method for herding livestock, and more particularly to a mobile livestock cart and the method of using the cart in relation to conventional livestock pens. While this invention is particularly adaptable for hog confinement buildings and the like, the terms "hogs" or "swine" as used herein are not limiting terms and are to be considered generic to other species of livestock or poultry.
Presently, when herding livestock, individuals will manually guide animals through an alleyway using a combination of panels, electric prods, and guide sticks. Some individuals even use dogs to assist in this activity.
Inherent with this process are a number of problems. First, because of the size of the alleyway, only a limited number of animals will fit into the alleyway. Therefore, after an individual guides the first group of animals from the alleyway and into the chute, to get behind the next group of animals, the individual must either exit the chute, which in many cases involves climbing over a series of gates several feet apart, or navigate back through the next group of animals in the chute one at a time. Neither method is desirable as exiting the chute is time consuming and navigating back through the chute can be dangerous resulting in bruises, scrapes or worse injuries. As a result, a need exists for a device and method that allows an individual to herd an initial group of animals through an alleyway and then move behind a subsequent group without exiting the alleyway or navigating back through a group of animals one at a time.
Therefore, a primary object of the present invention is to provide a mobile cart that assists in herding livestock.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a safe and fast way of herding, loading and unloading livestock.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a mobile livestock cart that can be operated with a minimum of difficulty in a livestock confinement building.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a mobile livestock cart that is durable and economical to manufacture.
These and other objects will become apparent from the following description of the invention.

Method and apparatus for a mobile cart for herding livestock


An in vitro method of determining the type of a fibroepithelial tumour of the breast in a biological sample is provided. The method comprises the steps of obtaining an expression profile of one or more genes selected from the group consisting of PRAME, ADH1 B, CTHRC1, NPTX2, NEFL, ABCA8, DAPL1, TP63_v2, COL17A1, GCNT2, CCL19, MMP3, FN1, TRERF1, TRIM29, TESC, KIF20A, UHRF1, HEPACAM2, APOD, SERHL2. KIF15, HOXD13, GAGE2B, CALML5, C2orf40, ADH1C, CYP1B1, SPAG11B, GRB7, UBE2C, SYNGAP1, TP63_v1, LAMB1, OR5P3, SPC25, SHISA2, SCARA5, LHX2, RORC, DPYSL4, CH25H, and CHST1 in a sample and determining the differential activity of the one or more genes relative to a control; correlating the differential activity of the one or more genes relative to the control to obtain a p-score; and determining the type of fibroepithelial tumour based on the p-score, wherein a p-score of less than 0.5 is indicative of a fibroadenoma and a p-score of 0.5 and above is indicative of phyllodes tumour. Particularly, the said method is exemplified using an expression profile of five genes comprising of PRAME, FN1, CCL19, ABCA8 and APOD. A method for managing the treatment of a subject with a fibroepithelial tumour of the breast is also provided as well as a kit when used in the methods of the present invention.

Fibroepithelial tumours are biphasic tumours that consist of epithelial and stromal tissue. In the breast, fibroepithelial tumours represent a heterogeneous group of tumours that range from benign to malignant. Of these, fibroadenomas account for a large percentage of benign fibroepithelial tumours, while phyllodes tumours (PT) range from benign to malignant and have unpredictable clinical outcomes.
The heterogeneous nature of fibroepithelial tumours equates to a wide range of clinical and pathological features. Accordingly, distinction between fibroadenomas and PTs is important in order to guide the surgical decision for margin width during resection of breast tumours and for appropriate clinical management.
However, it is not always possible to definitively diagnose fibroadenomas from PTs. Fibroadenomas and PTs share some overlapping morphology, and biopsy or excision material for diagnosis may be limited. Furthermore, morphologic predictors of malignancy such as mitotic activity, infiltrative borders, tumour necrosis, positive margins and tumour size are not definitive markers of malignancy.
There is therefore a need for a method to differentiate fibroadenomas and PTs that allows definitive diagnosis of a PT, which would in turn guide clinical management of the patient.


A driving device drives a liquid crystal display panel in which the number of source lines is by one larger than the number of columns of pixel electrodes and in which the columns of pixel electrodes are arranged between the source lines. The driving device has a configuration in which potential output terminals, in a central region, are not connected to any source line. A voltage follower is connected to an output switching section. Additionally, potential output terminals are connected through switches to input terminals, respectively. The switch connects a first terminal to a second terminal with control signal at a high level and connects the first terminal to a third terminal with at a low level.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a driving device for driving an active matrix LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) panel.
2. Discussion of Background
An active matrix LCD device has a liquid crystal interposed between a common electrode and a plurality of pixel electrodes. Each pixel electrode is provided with an active device such as a TFT (Thin Film Transistor) and the active device is used to control whether a voltage of a source line is to be set for the pixel electrode.
The common electrode is set at a predetermined potential and each pixel electrode is set at a potential according to each pixel value of a display image. A state in which the potential of the pixel electrode is higher than the potential of the common electrode will be referred to as positive polarity. Furthermore, a state in which the potential of the pixel electrode is lower than the potential of the common electrode will be referred to as negative polarity.
FIG. 29 is an explanatory drawing showing an example of the potential of the common electrode and potentials to set the pixel in white or in black by each of polarities. The below will describe an example of the normally white case. The potential of the common electrode is denoted by VCOM. In FIG. 29, Vpb, Vpw, VCOM, Vnw, and Vnb represent respective potentials, which are in the relation of Vnb<Vnw<VCOM<Vpw<Vpb. For displaying the pixel in black by positive polarity, the potential of the source line connected to the pixel is set at Vpb; for displaying the pixel in white by positive polarity, the potential of the source line connected to the pixel is set at Vpw. For setting the pixel in halftone display by positive polarity, the potential of the source line connected to the pixel is set at a potential higher than Vpw and lower than Vpb. For displaying the pixel in black by negative polarity, the potential of the source line connected to the pixel is set at Vnb; for displaying the pixel in white by negative polarity, the potential of the source line connected to the pixel is set at Vnw. For setting the pixel in halftone display by negative polarity, the potential of the source line connected to the pixel is set at a potential lower than Vnw and higher than Vnb.
The active matrix LCD device is preferably driven so as to minimize consecutive arrangement of pixels of the same polarity, for prevention of crosstalk. FIG. 30 is an explanatory drawing showing a general LCD device. As shown in FIG. 30, pixel electrodes 50 are arranged in a matrix pattern and each pixel electrode is provided with a TFT 51. In FIG. 30, pixels for red display are denoted by "R," pixels for green display by "G," and pixels for blue display by "B."
As shown in FIG. 30, the device is provided with a source driver 60 for setting potentials of the respective source lines S1 to Sn and the source lines are connected to respective output terminals D1 to Dn of the source driver 60. In the example shown in FIG. 30, each TFT 51 is disposed on the left side of the pixel electrode 50 and is connected to the source line present on the left side of the pixel electrode 50. Furthermore, gate lines G1, G2, G3, . . . are provided for respective rows of pixels and each gate line is connected to TFTs 51 of the respective pixel electrodes in the corresponding row. The gate lines are sequentially selected and the TFTs 51 in the selected row make the pixel electrodes 50 conductive to the respective source lines. As a consequence, the pixel electrodes 50 in the selected row are controlled to potentials equal to those of the source lines present on the left side of the pixel electrodes. The TFTs 51 in non-selected rows keep the pixel electrodes 50 nonconductive to the source lines. As the gate lines are sequentially selected, the source driver 60 sets the potentials of the respective source lines to potentials according to pixel values of the respective pixels in each selected row, thereby displaying an image according to image data.
In the general LCD device shown in FIG. 30, the source driver 60 controls the polarities of adjacent pixels so as to be different from each other, for example, as described below. During selection of a gate line of an odd-numbered row in a certain frame, the source driver 60 sets potentials of the source lines S1, S3, S6, . . . of the odd-numbered columns to potentials higher than the potential VCOM of the common electrode (not shown) and sets potentials of the source lines S2, S4, S6, . . . of the even-numbered columns to potentials lower than VCOM. During selection of a gate line of an even-numbered row, the source driver 60 sets potentials of the source lines S1, S3, S5, . . . of the odd-numbered columns to potentials lower than VCOM and sets potentials of the source lines S2, S4, S6, . . . of the even-numbered columns to potentials higher than VCOM. As a consequence, the display panel is controlled to make adjacent pixels alternately positive and negative, as shown in FIG. 30. In FIG. 30, "+" represents positive polarity and "−" negative polarity.
Furthermore, the source driver 60 switches the potentials of the source lines so as to invert the polarities of the individual pixels at every switch of frame. Namely, in the next frame to the foregoing frame, the source driver 60 sets the potentials of the source lines of the odd-numbered columns to potentials lower than VCOM and sets the potentials of the source lines of the even-numbered columns to potentials higher than VCOM during selection of a gate line of each odd-numbered row. During selection of a gate line of each even-numbered row, the source driver 60 sets the potentials of the source lines of the odd-numbered columns to potentials higher than VCOM and sets the potentials of the source lines of the even-numbered columns to potentials lower than VCOM. As a result, the polarities of the respective pixels become opposite to those of the pixels shown in FIG. 30.
In this driving method, every time the selected row is switched, the potentials of the individual source lines are varied from the potentials higher than VCOM to the potentials lower than VCOM or from the potentials lower than VCOM to the potentials higher than VCOM. For this reason, power consumption becomes greater. Particularly, since power consumption of the LCD panel is proportional to the square of a potential difference in each source line upon switching of the selected row, the increase in the number of potential switching times of the source lines leads to increase in power consumption.
There is a proposed LCD device capable of implementing control to make the polarities of adjacent pixels different, while reducing power consumption (cf. Patent Document 1). In the LCD device described in Patent Document 1, the TFTs connected to the gate lines of the odd-numbered rows are formed on the left side of the source lines and the TFTs connected to the gate lines of the even-numbered rows are formed on the right side of the source lines. This configuration prevents the potentials of the source lines from varying from potentials higher than VCOM to potentials lower than VCOM or from varying from potentials lower than VCOM to potentials higher than VCOM, at every select period.

Driving device for liquid crystal display panel


A rollover warning and detection method for a transport vehicle is adaptively adjustable to take into account the CG height of the vehicle. Measures of the vehicle speed, lateral acceleration and yaw rate are sampled during normal driving conditions and used to estimate the CG height of the vehicle. The centrifugal acceleration acting on the vehicle is calculated as the product of vehicle speed and yaw rate, and the CG height is estimated based on the relationship between the calculated centrifugal acceleration and the measured lateral acceleration. The estimated CG height of the vehicle is used to adjust various calibrated rollover detection thresholds so that algorithm outputs such as rollover warnings automatically take into consideration vehicle loading effects.

Various rollover warning and detection systems have been developed for the heavy duty truck market. These systems can warn the driver when the risk of rollover is considered to be high and/or intervene (by braking, for example) to reduce the likelihood of rollover. The measurable vehicle parameters relevant to rollover include the steering wheel angle and the vehicle's roll angle, lateral acceleration, yaw rate and speed. In the U.S. Pat. No. 6,542,792 to Schubert et al., for example, an impending rollover is detected by comparing the roll rate vs. roll angle operating point of the vehicle to a calibrated threshold. However, the rollover susceptibility of a transport vehicle varies dramatically with the placement, distribution and weight of its cargo load because these factors alter the vehicle's center-of-gravity (CG). For example, a semi trailer with a full load of cotton candy will have a lower weight but a higher CG than a flatbed trailer loaded with a single slab of pig iron. Accordingly, what is needed is a rollover warning and detection method for a transport vehicle that adapts to different load conditions.

Rollover warning and detection method for transport vehicles


[Problem] Provided are a base station, a terminal station, a radio system, a radio control method and a storage medium capable of estimating with high accuracy a utilization status of a frequency band which is assigned to or of which a preferential use is permitted to another radio system.

In wireless communication, because of the finiteness of frequency resources, technology for efficient frequency utilization has been regarded as important. Accordingly, "cognitive radio" technology has attracted a lot of attention in recent years. Cognitive radio is a technology where, for example, from among all frequency bands targeted for use, a wireless base station itself searches for a frequency band which is currently not in use in the vicinity of the wireless base station, and use it for its communication. For example, when there exists in a radio system a frequency band which is currently unused, a base station of its own radio system may perform wireless communication using the frequency band. Accordingly, frequency resources can be used efficiently.
In a cognitive radio, a base station and a terminal station existing in an area covered by the base station detect a frequency band of which no radio wave exists. Here, as a method for detecting a frequency band of which no radio wave exists, for example, there can be mentioned a method where detection is performed in terms of a value of received signal power in each of the candidate frequency bands whose use for communication is desired, from among all frequency bands targeted for use.
Specifically, first, whole of the frequency bands targeted for use is divided into bands each having a constant bandwidth. Then, an RF (Radio Frequency) signal is converted to a baseband signal by the use of an RF circuit such as an orthogonal demodulator and a synthesizer which is operable over a wide range of bandwidth. A base station and a terminal station calculate a value of received signal power in each band, and search for a band for which the calculated value of received signal power is smaller than a predetermined threshold value. Also can be considered a method where a band of a small value of received signal power is searched for by changing a center frequency successively and calculating a value of received signal power in each band.
Here, a band of smaller value of received signal power than a threshold value can be considered to cause less interference on other radio systems or be less affected by the interference caused by other radio systems. Accordingly, such a band can be regarded as an empty frequency band, that is, it can be used for wireless communication.
In relation to the above description, for example, Patent Document 1 describes a method where; a base station or a terminal station existing in the area covered by the base station calculates a received signal power value in the vicinity of the base station or the terminal station on every frequency band targeted for use, and whether a band is empty or not is judged by comparing the calculated received signal powers with a predetermined threshold value. Patent Document 1 further describes an improvement in accuracy of the detection of an empty frequency band in the vicinity of the own base station by exchanging the calculation and judgment results between a plurality of base stations.

Base station, terminal station, radio system, radio control method and storage medium

Abstract: [Solution] A base station of a radio system, which estimates a utilization status of a frequency band which is assigned to or of which a preferential use is permitted to another radio system, wherein the base station comprises an estimation means which estimates a utilization status of said frequency band, on the basis of a received signal power ratio between a received signal power value of the other radio systems and a received signal power value of the own radio system, which is obtained at least one sensing apparatus.


A sonic-type fluid flow measuring system wherein reflections or echoes of an ultrasonic acoustic emitter are sensed and typically comprise a number of frequencies representative of a number of discrete velocities of flow in a volume of fluid. As a sample, they simply appear as a voltage plot as a function of time and wherein the time width of a given signal excursion relates to the frequency of a given signal. Thereafter, this time domain signal sample is converted to a frequency domain sample whereby the presence and magnitude of each frequency component, or velocity component, is isolated, this being typically done by what is known as a Fast Fourier Transform. The highest frequency, velocity, signal from each of a rapid succession of samples is then obtained and stored in a memory. The highest and lowest of these are then discarded, and the remaining are averaged to obtain more likely representations of velocity. As the goal is to determine an average fluid velocity for a whole cross section of fluid flow, the measured peak velocity is a detected reference from which a lesser velocity, for example, 0.9, of it is chosen. To achieve a value for volume of flow, the average velocity is then multiplied by the cross-sectional area of the containment through which flow occurs.

There are many instances where it is necessary or desirable to determine the average velocity of a cross section of a fluid, particularly as flowing through some type of containment vessel. Average velocity is needed in such an instance in order to determine volume of flow, as by simply multiplying average velocity by the cross section of fluid. However, as is well known, the velocity of flow often varies within a discrete volume, particularly as between levels of a given cross section of it, making it difficult to determine the average velocity.
One prior system, which is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,083,246, employs an electromagnetic sensor, this being placed in the flow stream typically near the bottom of a channel of flow. Its output varies as a function of a sensed electromagnetic field, sensing being limited to the region closely adjacent the sensor, and thus it senses the velocity at its particular level in the flow. In accordance with this patent, liquid level, height of liquid, must also be sensed and the output of the electromagnetic unit modified as a funtion of liquid height to obtain a velocity signal which it is asserted is representative of average flow of the fluid in which the sensor is immersed.
A second type of flow velocity measurement device is of the Doppler shift type wherein an acoustic signal of a known frequency is emitted into a moving fluid, and reflected signals, particularly from objects in it, are sensed and their frequency compared with the emitted signal. With this method, a difference frequency or frequencies. Doppler frequencies, are thereby obtained, each representative of a discrete velocity. A modification of this approach employs several sensors, and their outputs are averaged.
One significant problem with electromagnetic type sensors is that accuracy often tends to fall off fairly rapidly with time of usage, particularly where there is any foreign matter which can adhere to the sensor. This is a significant problem in the case of usage in sewage lines.
A distinct problem with acoustic-type devices is that they respond to multiple acoustic reflections, each from a distinct floating object, particle, or other moving interface with the fluid, and as these reflectors may be moving at different velocities depending upon such variables as their height and/or other distance from a containment wall, a variety of velocity indicating signals are received. In the past, different approaches for selecting particular reflected Doppler signals as indicating velocity have been attempted. Perhaps the most prominent one has been that of choosing the signal having the greatest amplitude or the average frequency of several discrete highest amplitude signals. The problem with this approach is that there is no assurance that it is derived from a reflecting source or sources which yield a true average velocity. For example, the echo or echoes may be from a large object which is substantially submerged and is moving at a much less than average velocity. On the other hand, it, or they, may be from an object moving on the surface and thus at a higher than average velocity. Thus, this approach is inherently susceptible of significant inaccuracies.
It is, accordingly, the object of this invention to overcome the aforesaid and other problems relating to prior art devices and to provide an improved velocity measurement system which is significantly more accurate and reliable.


A method and apparatus for controlling emissions of acid forming gases such as sulfur dioxide from cement plants is disclosed. Gaseous effluent from the cement plant pyroprocessing chamber is routed to the plant's raw mill to heat and dry the feed meal used in cement production. When the raw mill is in operation microfine lime particles are sprayed into the raw mill using a nozzle system. The spraying of hydrated lime into the raw mill scrubs acid forming gases in the process gaseous effluent. When the raw mill is not operational, microfine lime is sprayed into a gas conditioning tower that is also used to reduce the temperature of the effluent gases to facilitate efficient collection of dust particles prior to emission of the cleansed effluent flow into the atmosphere.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for pollution control, and is particularly directed to controlling atmospheric emissions from cement plants.
2. Background
Over the past several decades air pollution control has been a priority concern of society. In the United States primary regulatory authority over industrial source air emissions resides in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA"). Over the years, the EPA has increased the stringency of its air pollution control programs, both by decreasing the limits on acceptable emissions and by continually increasing the number and types of regulated pollutants. The regulatory approach has been to require sources of air pollution to adopt the best available control technologies ("BACT"). In some instances, particularly where potentially toxic compounds are released into the atmosphere, sources are required to use the maximum available control technology ("MACT").
The foregoing control programs are applicable to cement manufacturing facilities, including those which use a raw mill to grind the raw materials ("feed meal") before it is fed into a pyroprocessing kiln. Two well known types of devices to remove common particulates from the gaseous effluent stream of a cement plant are electrostatic precipitators (ESPs) and fabric filter baghouse (FFB) collectors. ESPs are generally recognized as being capable of a high particle collection efficiency of fine particles when the particles have the proper electrical resistivity. FFBs are also generally recognized as being capable of a high particle collection efficiency of fine particles when the particles have the proper characteristics. Typically, the effluent gas stream is "conditioned" prior to discharge such that the particulates can be more efficiently filtered by ESPs or FFBs. However, ESPs and FFBs are designed to remove particulates and do not remove many gaseous pollutants. Certain species of acid-forming gases can penetrate conventional particulate collection devices such as ESPs or FFBs resulting in emissions violations, causing downstream corrosion of components, and contributing to visible condensed particles which form after exiting the stack. In particular, ESPs and FFBs do not remove sulfur dioxide and other gases that form acids when dissolved in water.
The release of acid-forming gases from a cement plant may violate pollution control standards, may contribute to the "detached plume" phenomena and may contribute to acid rain. Acid forming gases are now known to contribute to the formation of visible plumes of effluent that violate opacity regulations even when the total quantity of acid forming gases released into the atmosphere is comparatively minor. For example, one air pollution control problem for cement plants is the formation of a detached plume. Experimental studies have identified the detached plumes as being comprised primarily of ammonium sulfate and ammonium chloride particulates that form and condense as the emissions from the stack cool in the atmosphere a distance from the stack. The ammonium particulates are in a size range of approximately one micron, which is a size that is efficient at scattering and reflecting light. The small size of the particulates and their high scattering efficiency means that an optically opaque plume can be comprised of a comparatively small total mass of ammonium sulfate and ammonium chloride particulates. These detached plumes consist of a white plume of fine particles that may last for hours or days depending on plant and atmospheric conditions. The plumes are highly noticeable and may violate pollution control regulations for opacity, and are considered a potentially serious problem.
One solution to this problem would be to add a wet chemical scrubber immediately after the ESP or FFB. However, conventional methods to scrub acid forming gases are typically expensive and inconsistent with the economic operation of an energy efficient cement plant. For example, conventional wet scrubbers, which commonly use spray droplet sizes greater than 1000 microns, typically use 10-100 gallons per minute of scrubbing liquid to scrub 1000 standard cubic feet per minute of effluent gases (1-10 kilograms of liquid per kilogram of gas). Consequently, the consumption of water, scrubbing chemicals, and energy would be quite large for a conventional liquid scrubber.
The hot cement kiln gases must be cooled to approximately 150° C. to have acceptable particulate emissions from an ESP or cooled to approximately 180° C. to protect a FFB from overheating. Modern cement plants commonly use two methods to cool and condition hot process gases before they enter an ESP or FFB. A gas conditioning tower ("GCT") uses a spray of water to cool and condition the gaseous effluent. Further cooling and conditioning may then be performed by passing the gaseous effluent through the cool wet limestone of a raw mill that is used to grind the raw materials into a "feed meal," which is then transported to the pyroprocessing kiln. However, cooling in the raw mill only occurs when the raw mill is operational. When the raw mill is on, the gas conditioning tower typically must only cool the gaseous effluent to around 250° C. After it leaves the GCT, in the mill-on state, the effluent is then further cooled to between 90° C. and 140° C. as it passes through the raw mill. However, when the raw mill is off, the cooling tower must provide all of the necessary cooling. There are thus two distinct operational states of the cement plant, corresponding to a mill-on and a mill-off condition.
One prior art solution to the problem of sulfur dioxide emissions from a cement plant, as disclosed in the inventor's prior U.S. Pat. No. 6,464,952, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference, is to inject a high-pH lime slurry into the spray used in the GCT. As described therein, while other high pH materials can be used, a lime slurry is a desirable scrubbing material because lime is chemically compatible with other chemical constituents of cement, i.e., the cement will not be deleteriously contaminated if small quantities of lime enter the feed meal subsequent to the GCT. The lime slurry reacts with sulfur dioxide and other acid forming gases to produce thermally stable salts, thereby reducing emissions of acid forming gases.
Nonetheless further methods and apparatuses for reducing acid forming gases to be efficiently and economically scrubbed are desired.

Method and apparatus for controlling acid gas emissions from cement plants


There is provided an electrically conductive paste which can prevent the increase of the volume resistivity of an electrically conductive film formed from the electrically conductive paste even if the electrically conductive film is heated to a soldering temperature of about 380° C. when the electrically conductive paste is a resin type electrically conductive paste using a silver powder and a silver-coated copper powder. In an electrically conductive paste containing a resin, a silver powder and a silver-coated copper powder having a copper powder, the surface of which is coated with a silver layer, the resin is an epoxy resin having a naphthalene skeleton, and there is added a dicarboxylic acid, preferably a dicarboxylic acid having a rational formula of HOOC—(CH2)n—COOH (n=1-8), and more preferably a dicarboxylic acid having a rational formula of HOOC—(CH2)n—COOH (n=4-7).

An electrically conductive paste prepared by mixing or compounding a solvent, a resin, a dispersant and so forth with an electrically conductive metal powder, such as silver or copper powder, is conventionally used for forming electrodes and electric wires of electronic parts by a printing method or the like.
However, silver powder increases the costs of the paste since it is a noble metal powder although it is a good electrically conductive material having a very low volume resistivity. On the other hand, the storage stability (reliability) of copper powder is inferior to that of silver powder since copper powder is easily oxidized although it is a good electrically conductive material having a low volume resistivity.
In order to solve these problems, as metal powders for use in electrically conductive pastes, there is proposed a silver-coated copper powder wherein the surface of copper powder is coated with silver (see, e.g., Patent Documents 1-2). It is also proposed that a silver powder and a silver-coated copper powder are used as metal powders for an electrically conductive paste (see, e.g., Patent Document 3).
In recent years, as an electrically conductive paste used for forming an electrically conductive film such as a busbar electrode of a solar cell or the like, it is attempted to use an electrically conductive paste using a silver-coated copper powder, which is cheaper than silver powder, in place of an electrically conductive paste using silver powder, and it is studied to use an electrically conductive paste using a silver powder and a silver-coated copper powder.
In typical silicon solar cells, a baked type electrically conductive paste using a silver powder is burned at a high temperature of about 800° C. in the atmosphere to form an electrode. However, an electrically conductive paste using a copper powder or a silver-coated copper powder is used, the copper powder or the silver-coated copper powder are oxidized when it is burned at such a high temperature in the atmosphere. For that reason, it is required to use special techniques such as burning in an inert atmosphere, so that the costs thereof are enhanced.
On the other hand, in an HIT (Heterojunction with Intrinsic Thin-layer) solar cells (monocrystalline hybrid type solar cells), a curable resin type electrically conductive paste using a silver powder is usually heated at a temperature of about 200° C. in the atmosphere to be cured to form an electrode. Since copper powders and silver-coated copper powders are resistant to oxidation even if they are heated at such a low temperature in the atmosphere, it is possible to use a curable resin type electrically conductive paste using a silver-coated copper powder, and a curable resin type electrically conductive paste using a silver powder and a silver-coated copper powder.


A system includes a point-of-use container having a plurality of removable bins with each bin for a different recyclable material. A pickup container, transportable to a pickup location, has a plurality of bins corresponding to the point-of-use bins, each bin having a hinged lid with a catch for maintaining the lid normally closed. A truck body has a set of bins corresponding to the pickup container bins and an automated arm mechanism for picking up and inverting the pickup container over the truck body bins. A computer is programmed to control the arm mechanism to perform the required movements. A barcode on the pickup container is read and lid catch releases selectively operated when each bin is over a corresponding truck body bin to dump the contents of the container bins. The container is returned to its pickup location and released.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a refuse recycling separation and collection system for garbage, trash, and the like, and more particularly to a system for mechanically picking up and dumping separated materials.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the past few years, a number of trash pickup trucks and containers have been developed which permit pickup of trash by a trash truck operated by one person. For example, in my Patent No. 4,175,903 I disclose such an apparatus and a container especially designed to facilitate the lifting of the container and the dumping of its contents. Similar apparatus has been disclosed in the following U.S. Pat. No. 2,933,210; U.S. Pat. No. 4,726,726; U.S. Pat. No. 4,543,028; U.S. Pat. No. 4,722,658; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,669,940. In more recent years, many communities have begun to require separation of garbage and trash into several groups, for example, cans, bottles, and paper. Such materials are required to be carried to curbside in separate containers and manually dumped into trash trucks having separate compartments for each type of separated material. The purpose is to be able to reclaim a large portion of such materials to thus minimize the trash disposal problem as well as to conserve national resources. To comply with these requirements, truck manufacturers have provided multiple compartment trucks. However, each separate container must be picked up and dumped by hand into the appropriate section of the truck. One example is the General Engines Company, Inc. of Thorofare, N.J. that provides a multi-compartmented dump truck body which can be unloaded in a manner such that each compartment is dumped separately.
There is no known system in which the collection and dumping of the materials from a divided container into separate compartments on the truck can be accomplished mechanically. Known collection systems require two or more persons to expedite pickup. Furthermore, the householder has the problem of keeping several separate containers in the home and delivering the same to several outdoor containers. This is, of course, an inconvenience, requires time and labor, and discourages recycling. Thus, there is a need for a mechanized pickup system which will reduce the labor and costs of separating and collecting materials for convenience and encouragement of recycling.

System for mechanized pickup of separated materials


A flame detector that comprises a housing adapted to contain a flame sensor and circuitry for processing signals produced by the sensor; the housing has a predetermined outer diameter, and a thin, highly thermally reflective coating is adhered to an outer surface of the housing to shield the sensor and circuitry from high ambient temperatures, whereby the detector is operable at the high ambient temperatures while having an outer diameter that is substantially the same as the predetermined diameter. A flame that has a predetermined flicker rate range is detected by detecting radiation within a compartment with a sensor, determining whether the detected radiation has an intensity which exceeds a predetermined threshold intensity, determining whether the detected radiation that exceeds the threshold has a flicker rate that is within the predetermined range, and determining whether a predetermined number of flickers that occur at a rate within the range have been detected within a variable time interval, and, if so, indicating that a flame is present within said compartment, the variable time interval starting upon detection of an initial flicker and ending after a predetermined delay unless a subsequent flicker is detected during said delay, a subsequent flicker detected during said delay extending the variable time interval for a predetermined time period such as that of the predetermined delay.

This invention relates to the detection of flames with flame detectors that are sufficiently rugged to withstand extremely high temperatures, and yet sufficiently small in size to allow mounting in small areas (such as in aircraft compartments or engine nacelles).
Aircraft fires, if undetected and not suppressed, can cause catastrophic consequences. It is therefore extremely desirable to accurately detect fires that occur in, e.g., engine nacelles and storage compartments, and quickly suppress the flames. A detector should be sufficiently rugged to remain operational for some time even in the presence of extreme temperatures, so that as the crew takes steps to suppress a detected fire (e.g., by releasing chemical suppressants) the detector can continue to provide reliable information about the state of the fire so that the crew can make an informed decision as to whether to take more severe action (such as landing the aircraft immediately). In fact, one military specification requires aircraft flame detectors to remain functional when exposed to a temperature of 2000.degree. F. for 60 seconds. That same specification, however, as well as many other applications, requires the detector be sufficiently compact to be mounted within small, narrow spaces.
Many known detectors are housed in an anodized aluminum shell that has an outer diameter chosen to meet the size specifications. Encased within the housing is a flame sensor (e.g., a thermopile, pyroelectric, or photoresistive sensor) and a circuit card containing the detector electronics. To protect these components from shock and vibration, the remainder of the cavity is typically filled with a mechanically damping potting compound.
To increase tolerance to high temperatures, some detectors enclose the detector housing within a layer of thermally insulating potting material, which is itself surrounded by an additional outer shell (typically made from steel with a tin-plated outer surface). The added volume of material provides thermal insulation for the detector components mounted within the housing, but at the expense of increasing the size (i.e., the outer diameter) of the detector assembly.
To avoid needlessly expending chemical suppressants or unnecessarily landing and evacuating the aircraft, false alarms must be prevented. For example, the detector must distinguish between flames generated by chemicals such as hydrocarbons (to which a response is desired) and other sources of heat and light, such as ordinary sparking, sunlight, lightning, and fluorescent lighting. Additionally, it is desirable that the detector differentiates between brief flashes of hydrocarbon flames and sustained flames to which a response must be made.

High temperature resistant flame detector


The invention relates to a safety controller and to a method for loading a new operating program onto such a safety controller. The safety controller has an input module for automatically reading process signals, a failsafe signal processing module for automatically processing the process signals, and a failsafe output module which produces control signals as a function of the signal processing module. The signal processing module comprises at least one programmable processor and at least one read only memory. A current operating program for the processor is stored in a non-volatile form in the read only memory. A download device for transferring a new operating program is provided in the safety controller, with the download device enabling or inhibiting the transfer of a new operating program in a failsafe manner as a function of enabling information.

The present invention relates to a safety controller for failsafe control of safety-critical processes, and more particularly to a safety controller for failsafe disconnection of a machine or machine system. The invention also relates to a method for loading or transferring a new operating program onto such a safety controller.
For the purposes of the present invention, a safety controller is a device or combination of devices connected to each another, which receive process signals from sensors of a machine or machine system and which use these signals to produce output signals by means of logic operations and, if appropriate, by means of further signal or data processing steps. The output signals are supplied as control signals to actuators which carry out specific actions or reactions in the machine or machine system. One preferred field of application for safety controllers is in the field of machine safety, namely monitoring of emergency stop buttons, two-hand controllers, guard doors, light curtains, stationary or rotary condition monitors and the like. Sensors such as these are used, for example, in order to safeguard a machine which otherwise might cause a hazard to the operator. When the guard door is opened or when the emergency stop button is operated, a process signal is produced which is supplied as an input signal to the safety controller. In response to the input signal, the safety controller switches off the dangerous part of the machine in a failsafe manner, by means of a connected actuator.
A characteristic feature of a safety controller in contrast to a "normal" controller is that the safety controller must always ensure that the process (such as the dangerous machine) being controlled is in a safe state. This requirement even applies when a malfunction occurs within the safety controller or in a device which is connected to it. Safety controllers are therefore subject to extremely stringent requirements for their own failsafety, which results in considerable additional effort during development and manufacture. Generally, safety controllers require special licensing from responsible supervisory authorities before they are used, such as, in Germany for example, from the professional societies dealing with work safety or from a technical supervisory association. The safety controller must comply with specific safety standards which are defined, such as defined in European Standard EN 954-1. The present invention takes account of these special requirements. The expression "safety controller" therefore in this case relates only to a device or a combination of devices which are approved for the control of machines, machine systems and the like in accordance with at least Category 3 of the above-mentioned European Standard.
A programmable safety controller offers the user the capability of individually defining, in accordance with his requirements, the logical operations on the input signals with the aid of software, specifically the so-called user program. A programmable safety controller thus replaces the previously normal wiring to the individual sensors with the aid of logic switching elements. In order to make it possible to carry out this function, a programmable safety controller has an operating program which is separate from the user program and which defines the basic functional scope of the safety controller. In particular, the operating program contains program code by means of which the hardware components of the safety controller are addressed directly and are thus "brought to life".
Furthermore, safety control rules are also generally implemented in the operating program, which the user program calls up as prepared functional modules and which the user can configure by means of input and output signals at any given time. For example, prepared functional modules for failsafe evaluation of a two-channel emergency-stop button or of a two-channel guard door might be contained in the operating program. In the user program, the user can now only define how the provided modules, i.e. the emergency stop button and the guard door, should be logically linked to one another.
For safety reasons, the user has no access to the operating program, i.e. he can neither replace nor modify the operating program. In the art, the operating program is often referred to as firmware.
WO 98/44399 discloses a method for programming a safety controller in which the safety control rules are stored in the safety controller in the form of functional modules. By means of his user program, the user can select the functional modules, he can configure them and he can logically link them to one another. This is done by means of a programmer, with which the commands for selection, configuration and logic operations on the functional modules are transferred to the safety controller. As explained above, however, it is impossible for the user to access the safety control rules implemented in the functional modules, i.e. he can neither replace them nor modify them.
The inhibited access to the operating program corresponds to the well accepted practice for safety controllers, since the operating program in conjunction with the hardware of the safety controller are subject to licensing by the responsible supervisory authorities. If it were possible for the user to access the combination of hardware and operating program, the manufacturer of the safety controller would not be able to guarantee the failsafety in accordance with the verified certification, according to the general opinion.
However, the common practice has the disadvantage that a functional change in the operating program of the safety controller can be carried out only by the manufacturer of the safety controller himself. If a functional change or an update is desired in the operating program, the user must either send the safety controller to the manufacturer or must request specialist or approved servicing personnel from the manufacturer. This is inconvenient and expensive and, furthermore, may also be disadvantageous in terms of shutdown times for the machine system in which the safety controller is used.
When no safety factors are involved, such as in the case of commercially available personal computers, it is common practice that a user can carry out software updates on his own responsibility by obtaining new software from the manufacturer and loading it onto the personal computer, possibly after instruction. This also applies to so-called operating systems which represent an operating program in the sense of the present invention. According to well established opinion, however, such a procedure is not feasible for safety applications because this would result in the manufacturer of the safety controller losing sole control over the combination of hardware and operating program. In consequence, unchecked combinations of hardware and operating programs would be possible, which would represent a safety risk.

Safety controller and method for loading a new operating program onto the safety controller


In a method for refining a position estimate of a low earth orbiting (LEO) satellite a first position estimate of a LEO satellite is generated with a GNSS receiver on-board the LEO satellite. Corrections are received at the LEO satellite. The corrections are processed on-board the LEO satellite such that a corrected LEO satellite position estimate of the LEO satellite is generated for the first position estimate.

Low Earth Orbiting (LEO) satellites are satellites that orbit approximately 160-2000 km above the surface of the earth. For a variety of reasons it is useful to know an accurate orbit and/or position of a LEO satellite. However, within the altitude range of a typical orbit, a LEO satellite will often experience atmospheric drag and other forces which can make station keeping and accurate prediction of the orbit and/or position of the LEO satellite difficult.
Using typical methods for orbit and/or position determination/estimation, orbits of LEO satellites at any given time are generally known or knowable to within approximately 20 meters of their actual positions. This is useful information, however for many applications, more accurate information is needed. One mechanism which may be used to improve the knowledge of the actual position and/or orbit of a LEO satellite is the inclusion of a GNSS receiver on the LEO satellite. Using the positioning capabilities of the GNSS receiver, it may be possible to ascertain a position to within approximately 5-15 meters of the actual position of the LEO satellite. However, for many applications this improvement still does not provide sufficiently accurate LEO satellite position and/or orbit information.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Refining a position estimate of a low earth orbiting satellite


A system and method for recovering from mispredicted paths in pipelined computer architectures. Targets within an instruction window exhibit spatial locality. To exploit this property, a mechanism detects the branch target within the instruction window. A second process eliminates the need for full renaming and re-execution of mispredicted paths by handling a dependency chain of instructions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to computer architecture, and in particular to a method and system to reduce the branch misprediction penalty, a problem in pipelined computer architectures.
2. Description of the Related Art
As microprocessor throughput rate is the overriding factor dictating overall system performance, designers use numerous techniques to increase microprocessor throughput. Microprocessor performance can be described as the number of computations per second or instructions executed per microprocessor clock cycle. To improve the instructions per clock (IPC), as well as increasing the clock speed, a common approach is to utilize microprocessor pipelining. Pipelining breaks execution of an instruction into several stages, all of which can be run in parallel. Simply put, pipelining is a technique whereby the next cycle function execution is started before the current cycle function execution is completed.
Using pipelined processing, instruction processing is broken up into several stages, sometimes called xe2x80x9cpipestages.xe2x80x9d A processor can start the execution of parts of a complex instruction in an early pipeline stage before the preceding instruction has been completed in the last pipeline stage. To facilitate calculations in parallel, pipelined processors execute instructions along predicted paths, and then validate the data resulting from a predicted path.
An out-of-order pipelined processor may perform several relevant pipestages out of order. Examples of such pipestages include: fetching of the instruction from the memory hierarchy to the processor; decoding opcodes, architectural sources and destinations; allocating physical destination registers; identifying physical sources; determining which instruction are to be executed within the next instruction cycle; executing instructions; and retiring registers and memory values.
Instructions are executed out-of-order and their results are temporarily stored. Instructions are retired when all previous instructions have retired and the instruction itself is executed and, if needed, verified. An instruction may be executed, but not retired if, for example, it found to be in wrong path and has to be discarded.
Instructions are executed along a speculated path based on branch prediction. This prediction is checked when the branch direction is verified. In case of misprediction, the wrong path should be discarded and instruction should be executed from the correct path.
In pipelined processors, data can be loaded into the register file when the execution stages have successfully completed the execution stage generating the data. This pipestage, where the branch outcome is resolved, is called the branch resolution stage. Data is typically retired when it has undergone xe2x80x9cde-speculationxe2x80x9d where the data is validated as accurate by the pipeline control logic. In a pipelined processor, each execution pipestage is implemented in an execution unit, with the first of such execution units receiving instructions and data from the register file. To return data results after execution in a traditional pipelined processor, each execution unit has a separate return bus coupled to the register file or some cases execution units can share an arbitrated return bus. In the traditional pipelined processor, each execution unit accomplishes de-speculation so that data can be directly retired to the register file.
Conditional branches present problems for pipelined processors. Since the conditional branch status is computed at the execute pipestage, there would be a bubble in the pipelined processor if the conditional branch is stalled until it is resolved. To reduce this penalty, speculative processors attempt to predict the direction of the conditional branch, and fetch the subsequent instructions according to the prediction. In case of a processor misprediction, all the xe2x80x9cbogusxe2x80x9d instructions are flushed. When a microprocessor speculatively executes instruction along a mispredicted path, the processor must 1) recover from the mispredicted path; and, 2) restart by executing the instructions from the correct branch target. The time lost, calculated by the number of cycles, is called the xe2x80x9cmisdirection penalty.xe2x80x9d Two major factors increase the misdirection penalty. First, super-pipelining techniques increase the distance (in terms of pipestages and cycles) of the branch resolution stage. When the distance between branch resolution stages is increased, more instructions are incorrectly fetched before the misprediction is detected. These mispredicted instructions are flushed and new instructions are fetched, increasing the misprediction penalty. Secondly, increasing the speculation degree, accomplished by expanding the instruction window fetched by the processor, results in a higher misdirection penalty, since less valid instructions are available as candidates for execution. These mispredicted instructions are also flushed, increasing the misprediction penalty.
Thus, what is needed is a fast method and system to recover from branch misdirection that can be used in microprocessors utilizing super-pipelining and increased speculation degree techniques.
The fast branch misprediction recovery process and system detects a branch target within an instruction window. Once the branch target is detected, an instruction dependency chain of the branch target can be recovered within the instruction window. Bogus instructions are flushed from the instruction window. The remaining instructions in the instruction window are executed.

Fast branch misprediction recovery method and system


A thermally insulated, spill-resistant bevarage container and dispenser having a resealable threaded lid at the top end thereof, and an internal straw receiver and drinking spout. The annular sidewall and bottom end of the container are comprised of an interior and exterior layer of liquid impervious thermoplastic, housing therebetween a single layer of lightweight thermal insulation material. The insulation material maintains the temperature of the contained beverage, whether hot or cold, for an extended period of time. The straw receiver is comprised of a tubular passageway extending from the top of the cup downward outside the thermal insulation of the sidewall to open into the bottom interior of the beverage containment chamber of the container. The non-insulated straw receiver allows hot beverages to cool slightly before being drank. Affixed to the top of the container and aligned over the straw receiver is a tubular extension structured to serve as a drinking spout. Both the straw receiver and aligned drinking spout are sized and shaped for receiving a conventional disposable straw, used to extend the length of the drinking spout when desired. The drinking spout is affixed with a removable tethered cap to allow sealing when desired. The top outer edge of the container is affixed with two oppositely disposed tab handles to which are attached an elongated carrying strap.

1. Field of the Invention:
This invention relates to insulated beverage containers in general, and more precisely to a spill-resistant thermally insulated cup with a built-in straw receiver. This device is especially useful for bicyclists and motorists who require the use of at least one hand while riding or driving.
2. Description of the Prior Art:
People often wish to carry some type of beverage with them while driving, riding a bicycle or even jogging. One obvious disadvantage to carrying an open cup or bottle of some type is the frequent occurrence of spills. Various types of single serving containers have since been introduced to solve this problem, including commuter cups, and the relatively new plastic containers with affixed straws. Both of these types of containers have various disadvantages, including lids that require two hands to remove, holders that do not fit the containers, containers that must be tilted upward for the user to drink the contained beverage, and containers that are not insulated, allowing the contained beverage to become unpalatably cold or warm. Many of these containers may also leak considerably when turned on their side. Any operation that requires the use of two hands, such as removal of lids, or that distracts the driver from maintaining eye contact with the road, is potentially dangerous and could result in an accident. Bicyclists are especially suspectable to this situation, where they must be momentarily distracted to replace the container in a holder. The holders often do not securely retain the containers or they can be inadvertently dropped by the rider, causing the rider to stop and retrieve his possibly damaged container. Bicyclists often go out on extended outings where they find the plastic containers with affixed straws convenient and correctly sized for conventional holders, but inadequate for maintaining the temperature of their beverage. Heavy thermos type containers are not only inconvenient for bicyclists due to the limited weight restrictions, especially for bicycle racers, but they also require the use of two hands to operate.
Although plastic containers with integral straws and insulated commuter cups are known, and solve some of the problems associated with transporting beverages, neither one completely solves all the problems previously mentioned, especially those experienced by the bicyclist.
A past art patent search was conducted in the U.S. Patent Office to examine insulated beverage cups. Two U.S. patents, one issued to Andreozzi, U.S. Pat. No. 4,607,755, dated Aug. 26, 1986, and the other to Bruffey, U.S. Pat. No. 4,596,341, dated June 24, 1986, represent devices indicative of lidded containers with integral straws. The Andreozzi device teaches a lidded cup with an internal tube affixed with an external flexible elongated straw. The flexible straw would be very inconvenient to operate without the use of two hands. Andreozzi also provides a bracket handle for attachment to an automobile door frame, which would not be compatible for attachment to the frame of a bicycle or somewhere on the rider himself. The Bruffey device teaches a toy drinking cup having a detachable lid affixed with an external drinking spout and internal dip tube. Bruffey's device does not have any form of support structure for attachment to a bicycle or the rider, and it also appears very difficult to clean due to the right angle formation of the drinking spout. Both the Andreozzi and Bruffey devices are not structured for maintaining the temperature of the contained liquid for an extended period of time due to what appears to be poor thermal insulation.
On Apr. 12, 1977, Finch was issued U.S. Pat. No. 4,016,998, for an improved drinking vessel with inherent straw. Finch does not appear to provide thermal insulation for his cup, nor is it particularly designed to be spill resistant in that he does not provide a sealable cap or lid. A conventional drinking straw could not be inserted into his straw channel due to its curved design. There is also no supporting straps or brackets for attachment to a person or object.
Barmherzig was granted U.S. Pat. No. 3,268,792, on Aug. 23, 1966, for a beverage container with an extendable and retractable drinking straw. Barmherzig's internal straw is accessible only by removal of an external tethered cap. The container does not appear insulated nor affixed with any carrying structure for attachment to a person or object.
Shung-Der Tsay was issued U.S. Pat. No. 4,684,032, dated Aug. 4, 1987, for a thermos bottle with retractable tube. Shung-Der Tsay teaches a complicated, multi-unit container which not only appears expensive to manufacture, but extremely difficult to clean. The container is also not structured with an attachment member for connection to an object or person.
None of the previously mentioned past art devices solve all the disadvantages previously mentioned. Cleaning of the integral straws or tubes of several of the past art devices appears extremely difficult due to the acutely angled or curved structure. Use of conventional disposable straws is impossible with most of the past art devices due also to the angling of the tubes. Modifications and adaptations would therefore first have to be anticipated and then implemented in these past art devices to produce a device with the functions and structure of my invention.


An amplifying circuit includes a compensation unit with a feeding forward path to reduce the effect of the common mode noise on the output signals of a differential amplifier. The compensation unit includes a capacitive network connected to input nodes and output nodes of the differential amplifier. The capacitive network provides the feeding forward path.

The present invention relates generally to electronic circuits, and in particular to common mode noise in differential amplifiers.
Differential amplifiers are widely used in electrical circuits to amplify a difference in voltages between two input signals to produce amplified differential output signals.
FIG. 1 shows a typical differential amplifier 100 having driver transistors N1 and N2, load transistors P1 and P2, and a current source N3. Differential amplifier 100 receives differential signals INA and INB and outputs differential output signals OA and OB.
In most electronic circuits, a noise at the input signal can affect the output signal. In differential amplifier 100, since the INA and INB are differential signals, a noise that is common to the INA and INB signals may be absent from the differential component of the OA and OB signals. Although the common mode noise is absent from differential component of OA and OB signals, high frequency component of the common mode noise can still be transmitted to the outputs in common mode. This can create a problem when differential amplifier 100 drives a non-differential element. For example, FIG. 1 shows differential amplifier 100 driving an inverter 102.
FIG. 2 shows various signals for FIG. 1 in which differential amplifier 100 operates in two exemplary conditions; one condition has no noise and the other includes noise. As shown in FIG. 2, the transition point of the OUT signal of inverter 102 shifts by a time T because of the effect of the common node noise. This time shift may cause a circuit having differential amplifier 100 and inverter 102 to perform improperly.
Therefore, in some cases, differental amplifier 100 is unsuitable for driving a non-differential element. Conventional methods use various types of feedback to compensate the common mode noise or voltage shifts. This feedback usually requires that some of the common mode noise or the voltage shift be seen at the output before the proper compensation can be applied. This is inherently slow relative to some common mode noise that can be experienced.
The various embodiments of the present invention provide methods and circuits for reducing the common mode noise effect of differential amplifiers through a feed forward approach. This feed forward approach has the benefit of compensating nearly instantaneously. Therefore, much higher frequency common mode noise may be compensated.
In one aspect, a circuit includes a differential amplifier having a first differential input node and a second amplifier input node for receiving differential input signals, and having a first differential output node and a second differential output node for outputting differential output signals. An isolation unit connects in series with a supply path of the differential amplifier between a supply node and a compensation node. A capacitive network connects to the compensation node and the first and second differential amplifier input nodes. The isolation unit and the capacitive network form a compensation unit for reducing the effect of the common mode noise on the differential output signals. The capacitive network provides a feed forward path for the compensation.
In another aspect, a method of reducing the effect of the common mode noise includes receiving differential input signals at a plurality of input nodes of a differential amplifier. The method also includes generating differential output signals at a plurality of output nodes of the differential amplifier. The method further includes compensating a common mode noise affected on the differential output signals.

Differential amplifier common mode noise compensation


This information processing apparatus includes an instruction determining unit and a signal output unit. The instruction determining unit determines an instruction related to communication using a code image with an external apparatus. The signal output unit outputs, on the basis of the determined instruction related to the communication, a signal for controlling an operation related to communication of the external apparatus. Accordingly, high usability can be provided for communication with the external apparatus.

In recent years, services using various contactless integrated circuit (IC) cards or QR codes (registered trademark) have become widespread. For example, in an electronic wallet apparatus described in Patent Literature 1, an IC card used for communication with a reader/writer is automatically selected from a plurality of contactless IC cards on the basis of a plurality of card selection criteria. Accordingly, communication with the reader/writer using a desired IC card is realized (paragraphs [0023] and [0034], FIG. 4, and the like of Patent Literature 1).

Information processing apparatus and information processing method


A pipeline system of an inflatable SPA is provided. The pipeline system includes an air inlet pipeline; a water inlet pipeline, distributed along a circumferential direction of the inflatable SPA; and a plurality of jets for massage, where each of the plurality of jets includes a first water inlet, a first air inlet and an air-liquid mixing outlet, the first air inlet is connected with the air inlet pipeline, the first water inlet is connected with the water inlet pipeline, and air and water can be mixed in each of the plurality of jets and sprayed from the air-liquid mixing outlet. The water with bubbles can be sprayed into pool cavity surrounded by an inner pool wall of the inflatable SPA, which can play a massage effect on users.

Nowadays, the inflatable SPA has an inner pool wall and an outer pool wall, the inner pool wall is enclosed to form a pool cavity, and the inner pool wall and the outer pool wall are enclosed to form an inflatable cavity. After the inflatable cavity is filled with air, a certain amount of water is infused into the pool cavity, and then the inflatable SPA can be used mainly for entertainment of children and adults in the inflatable SPA, which brings much fun to people's life.
However, after infusion of a certain amount of water into the existing inflatable SPA, the water in the inflatable SPA cannot be inflated with air, and thus a massage function cannot be achieved.


A pelvic therapy support device and method of supporting a patient's legs therewith while performing pelvic support therapy are provided. The device includes a center support, a support member coupled to the center support, and a pair of leg supports carried by the support member. Each of the leg supports is disposed on an opposite side of the center support. The leg supports are moveable independently from one another toward and away from the center support.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates generally to therapy support devices, and more particularly to pelvic therapy support devices.
2. Related Art
Women's health, pelvic support therapy has increased drastically over the past 10 years. Physical therapy has been found to greatly increase the rate of recovery from many symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD), including problems with urinary urgency, frequency, or hesitancy, stopping and starting, painful urination, or incomplete emptying, constipation, straining pain with bowel movements, unexplained pain in the lower back, pelvic region, genital area, or rectum, and pain during or after intercourse, for example. The therapy is performed to stretch and massage the pelvic floor. The pelvic floor is a group of muscles that attaches to the front, back, and sides of the pelvis and to the tailbone and sacrum. These muscles support the pelvic organs, including the bladder, uterus or prostate, and rectum, and wrap around the urethra, vagina, and rectum. Coordinated contraction and relaxation of these muscles helps control bladder and bowel function. In patients who have PFD, these muscles may be tight or in spasm, have a combination of tightness and weakness, or have pain-trigger in spots or knots called "trigger points." Pain brought on from organs, such as the bladder, may set off these muscle problems, but the muscle problems themselves can also set off bladder symptoms. Pain can also result in other muscles, such as in the lower abdomen, lower back, buttocks, thighs, and perineal area, or the pain can be sent from these areas back to the internal organs, contributing to symptoms.
Physical therapy to treat the aforementioned problems can go a long way toward easing the symptoms resulting therefrom. Some well-known physical therapy techniques are performed via external massage and internal pelvic floor massage, which helps relax and lengthen tight pelvic floor muscles and release trigger points. The internal pelvic floor massage includes massaging within the vagina and/or rectum.
Although the various techniques of massage and stimulation, e.g. electrical stimulation, have been proven effective in treating PVD, the therapist and patient are often met with challenges while the therapy is being performed. From the standpoint of both the patient and physical therapist, comfort and fatigue can prove problematic. This results in in large part due to the lack of ability to support the patient in a comfortable position over the duration of the therapy. Further, problems arise for the therapist in that the arm of the therapist often becomes fatigued, also due to the inability to maintain the arm in a comfortable position over the duration of the therapy. Further complicating matters is the variety of patient shapes and sizes. With each patient, a slightly different configuration of support may be needed. Currently, it is common practice to use standard pillows to provide the support to both the patient's legs, while the physical therapist hold their arm in mid-air. Unfortunately, pillows come with several drawbacks, including, to name a few, an inability to reliably support the patient's legs in a comfortable position over the duration of the procedure, having to launder the pillows and/or pillow cases after each use, the tendency for the pillows to absorb contaminants and become stained, having the material within the pillows break-down over time, having to ensure sterility of the pillows prior to use, having the pillows fall from an examination table (plinth) during the procedure, having various, unpredictable firmness's of pillows contributing to unpredictable levels of comfort or discomfort, and having to replace pillows after they become insufficient for continued use.

Pelvic support therapy device and method of use thereof


One aspect of the invention provides a method of diagnosing a disease condition, comprising measuring presence or amount of a targeted protein or a degradation product of said protein in a collected biological sample as a marker for the disease condition. The targeted protein or degradation product is selected for measurement based on a prior identification of a measurable half-life at a predetermined time period, including the time at which said method is conducted, and correlating said measuring with the presence or absence of the disease condition. The targeted protein or degradation product may be identified by selecting a protein known or suspected to be a diagnostic marker for the disease condition, analyzing degradation of the protein in the collected biological sample, and selecting a protein or degradation product that exhibits a measurable half-life at a predetermined period of time. The analyzing may include identifying degradation product(s) of the protein as a function of time, and half-life of the protein and the degradation product(s).

Human blood serum and plasma contain a wealth of information relating to disease status and have received significant attention as a source of potential diagnostic markers, especially within the last decade (1, 2). Biomarkers include a broad spectrum of proteins (3-7) and peptides (8-10). One such peptide found in blood is fibrinogen peptide A (fibrinopeptide A or FPA), the level of which has been correlated to several diseases including urothelial cancer (11), ovarian cancer (12), gastric cancer (13), and hepatocellular carcinoma (14). The discovery of disease markers in blood fluid continues to accelerate as proteomics technology becomes both more powerful and more widely available (16-17).
Preanalytical variability is a particularly complex issue in protein biomarker discovery, especially with blood samples (24-26). A freshly drawn blood sample is a living tissue, filled with a wide range of naturally active and ex vivo activated biochemical pathways, which may alter or destroy protein and peptide content in the sample. Some of the blood enzymes (e.g., proteases) are known to be involved in biochemical processes, such as the protease cascade responsible for coagulation (27). The functions of other enzymes remain to be elucidated.
Currently, a simple, cost-effective, reproducible and accurate method of measuring the information in human serum and plasma is desired. Additionally, a method of using the discovery of markers in bodily fluids, especially blood fluid, to more accurately diagnose prognostic conditions and disease status is desired.

Method for diagnosing diseases using a protein or degradation product based on half-life