The present invention provides manufacturing of and the use of novel diethylene tricarbamide and its condensation reaction products formed by reacting with formaldehyde as wood composite binder resins and in other applications. These resins have thermosetting capabilities and therefore usefulness as binders for wood and other materials with superior resin properties of low cost, colorlessness, exceptionally good binding, and fast curing characteristics, as well as very low formaldehyde emissions. The synthesized novel starting material for the thermosetting resins of the present invention is diethylene tricarbamide.

Urea-formaldehyde (UF) resin adhesives are commonly used to produce wood composite products such as particleboard, medium-density fiberboard, and hardwood plywood panels. These UF resins are considered good binders in these applications due to high physical strength properties, fast curing times, and high cost-efficiency. Two major drawbacks to UF resin-based systems, however, are the limited strength durability of the resulting composite products as well as the emission of formaldehyde. Formaldehyde emissions are of particular concern when using UF resin-bonded boards for interior purposes such as sub-flooring, shelving, cabinets, and furniture. Air concentrations of formaldehyde above 0.1 parts per million (ppm) are associated with acute health effects, including watery eyes, burning sensations in the eyes, nose and throat, nausea, coughing, chest tightness, wheezing, skin rashes, headaches, fatigue, asthma, and other irritating effects. Formaldehyde has been shown to be cancer-causing in laboratory animals, although there is limited evidence of cancer-causing effects in humans. Nevertheless, it is classified as a "probable human carcinogen" by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
Both the formaldehyde emission problem and the durability issues of UF resin-bonded wood products are linked to the underlying chemistry of the UF resin system. During synthesis of resin, hydroxymethyl groups are formed from the reaction of formaldehyde (F) and urea (U) as functional groups needed for the subsequent polymerization and curing processes. However, the reverse reaction of hydroxymethyl group formation also occurs during synthesis and subsequent curing processes to generate back some free formaldehyde, which is later emitted into the environment. The extent of the reverse reaction is generally proportional to the F/U mole ratio used in resin synthesis and is relatively small in comparison to the forward reaction, but still persists to the current low F/U molar ratio for resins of about 1.15 (Myers, G. E. Holzforschung 44:117-126 (1990); Forest Products Journal 34:35-41 (1984). This is the underlying mechanism for the formaldehyde emission phenomena of UF resin-bonded wood composite boards. This low F/U mole ratio of resin needed for lower emission, on the other hand, translates into a functionality value of about 2.3 formaldehyde molecules per urea molecule in current UF resins. Polymer molecular theory on the formaldehyde-based thermosetting resins indicates that the base monomer (for example, urea) needs to have a functionality of at least 3.0 or higher to make the resin polymers grow to a three-dimensional, fully cross-linked state (Flory, P. J. Polymer Chemistry, Cornell University Press, Ithaca, N.Y. (1953) p. 79.). Since the urea functionality in current UF resins is significantly lower than the theoretical value, a full cross-linking does not occur and the cured resin binders will result in limited strength durability of boards. The formaldehyde emission problem still persists at the current F/U mole ratio values of resin. Currently, UF resin formulation (mostly lowering of F/U mole ratio) and scavenger parameters have been pushed to limits for reduction of formaldehyde emission from boards, but significant further formaldehyde emission reductions are desired. From the above theoretical consideration, such a reduction in formaldehyde emission level for UF resin-bonded boards seems to require a significant redesigning of the starting molecule toward materials having higher functionality than urea. There accordingly remains a need in the art for interior-grade wood composite binder resins for improved starting materials as well as their formaldehyde condensation products that give superior resin properties of low cost, colorlessness, exceptionally good binding, and fast curing characteristics, as well as very low formaldehyde emissions. The present invention provides such advantages.

Diethylene tricarbamide and diethylene tricarbamide-formaldehyde condensation resins

Mississippi State University Research and Technology Corporation


A road path searching apparatus applicable to a car navigation system is disclosed. Road map data with different level of detail for defining a predetermined area is stored previously in a memory device. First, nodes Nai and Nbj adjacent to each of the search nodes Pa and PB are detected based on map data having a high level of detail. When nodes Nai and Nbj exist on a map of a lower level of detail, a map of one lower level of detail is selected as a map to be used in the searching process. Accordingly, as following searching process is performed based on the map data of lower level of detail, required processing time is reduced.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an apparatus for road path searching, and particularly to an apparatus which can search for a road path in a short time. This invention has particular applicability to a car navigation system.
2. Description of the Background Art
Recently, a navigation system to be carried on a car has been developed and is commercially available. Road path searching apparatuses are provided in some such navigation systems. Upon designation of a destination, the road path searching apparatus detects a road or a path most suitable for getting to the destination from the present location, and displays the path on a CRT display. An example of a conventional road path searching apparatus is described in Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 62-86500. By employing a road path searching apparatus, a driver can take the displayed most suitable road and arrive at the destination in the shortest time.
A conventional road path searching apparatus, however, requires a long time to detect a road or a path to be taken by a driver. Generally, a plurality of road maps with different detailedness (level of detail) or amount of data for showing one area are previously provided for in a navigation system. When path searching is performed by a road path searching apparatus, a location of the present time and a destination are designated or set in the first place. Generally, as the present location and the destination often face relatively narrow roads, designation or setting thereof is performed based on detailed or high detailed road map data. Thus, when a road path searching apparatus searches for a preferable road path, the search is performed based on the detailed road map data. Generally, there are a great number of roads to be taken on the way from the present location to the destination on a detailed road map. A great amount of processing is required to select the suitable one out of the enormous number of road combinations. As a result, it takes a long time to search for a preferable road path. In addition, even if the road path is detected taking a long time, the detected path often includes narrow roads. In practice, as a driver generally does not like to drive on narrow roads on the way, the detected road or path is not useful for the driver in some cases.
A further example of a conventional road path searching apparatus is described in Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 61-213718. Also in the disclosed road path searching apparatus, road map data of different detailedness for one area are provided for in advance. In the retrieving operation, after road searching based on a less detailed road map, or road map data of low detailedness, road searching based on road data of high detailedness is performed. That is to say, the detailedness of the road data used in searching operation gradually advances from low level to high level. More specifically, first, main intersections to be passed are detected based on a simple road map, and next, intersections between the detected main intersections are detected based on a road map more detailed by one level. In other words, each portion between one intersection and the other intersection detected on a less detailed road map is interpolated by intersections detected on a map containing an additional level of detail. By repeating the interpolation process from low level to high level of detail, intersections to be passed are determined. As a result, time required for road searching is reduced compared to the above described example of the prior art.

Apparatus for road path searching applicable to car navigation system and operation method thereof


A near-eye display device has a multi-color light source, a micro display, an optical system and a light guide. The optical system collimates and redirects light from the micro display to an optical axis of the device. The light guide comprises multiple color-specific layers, an in-coupling diffraction grating through which light from the source enters the light guide, and an out-coupling diffraction grating through which light from the light guide exits towards the micro display. Two distinct embodiments are detailed: each different color-specific layer of the light guide is defined by a different refractive index; or by a different color-specific filter. In one example there is one in-coupling diffraction grating through which all light from the source enters the light guide; in another there are at least first and second in-coupling diffraction gratings on opposed light guide surfaces through which different colors enter the light guide.

This section is intended to provide a background or context to the invention that is recited in the claims. The description herein may include concepts that could be pursued, but are not necessarily ones that have been previously conceived, implemented or described. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated herein, what is described in this section is not prior art to the description and claims in this application and is not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.
Recently there has been an increasing amount of research into the field of near-eye displays. Generally these includes some micro display such as a liquid crystal panel onto which data is displayed, and a separate illumination source for adding brightness and preferably color to the information on the micro display. The overall near-eye device then has various arrangements of lenses, mirrors, and the like to optically impose the brightened image from the micro display into a user's optical field of view. Such liquid crystal micro displays can be transmissive or reflective. Being near-eye display devices, weight, power consumption and spatial compactness are some driving design considerations. Of these, spatial compactness has generally been the more difficult engineering obstacle to overcome without adversely impacting quality of the image seen by the user, because it is quite difficult to maintain optical quality through the optical engine which is subject to such severe mechanical/size constraints.
One technical near-eye display solution is detailed at U.S. Pat. No. 6,490,104 entitled "Illumination System for Micro-Display" by Philip Landon Gleckman. As detailed at FIG. 1 of that patent, three light emitting diodes 13 mounted at a lower end of the overall device provide illumination to the micro display 11 after reflection by a polarizing beam splitter 23. The illuminated data is then reflected back from the micro display 11 on a single axis through the beam splitter 23 and an imaging lens 25 toward a viewer 31.
Other relevant teachings in the field of near-eye display devices include US Patent Publication No. 2003/0210467 by Young-Ran Song entitled "Wearable Color Display System"; and US Patent Publication No. 2004/0085649 by Piermario Repetto et al. entitled "Light Guide for display Devices of the Head-Mounted or Head-Up Type". Other relevant teachings include US Patent Publication No. 2010/0008070 by Wai Hon Lee entitled "Back Light Module with Diffractive Couplers".


The device is for connecting the shell or face piece of an oral nasal breathing mask of a fighter pilot to a helmet. It comprises two fasteners each placed on one side of a median vertical plane of the helmet and one at least of which is provided with a quick fastening and unfastening attachment device. Each fastener is formed as a link rigid in the vertical direction and non-extensible, arranged to allow rotational movement of the mask with respect to the helmet about a direction perpendicular to the direction of the link and substantially parallel to said median vertical plane.

1. Technical Field
The invention relates to devices for connecting the shell or face piece of an oral-nasal breathing mask to a helmet of the type comprising two fasteners, each placed on one side of the median vertical plane of the helmet and one at least of which is provided with a quick fastening and unfastening attachment device.
2. Prior Art
Devices of the above defined kind are very widely used in military aeronautics, for connecting the breathing mask required for high altitude flights to the helmet worn by the crew members. In known devices, such as those described in the documents US-A-3 035 573 and GB-A-894 747, the fasteners comprise a continuous strap passing over the shell of the face cover of the mask at a relatively high level. The shell of the mask is arranged for fitting over the chin and a second strap for connection to the helmet passes under the mask so as to retain it, particularly in the case of bailing out.
This arrangement has been very likely adopted, almost universaly in present day fighter aircraft, because it was thought necessary for fitting the mask sufficiently sealingly against the face of the wearer. But it has therefore drawbacks, the seriousness of which seems not to have been appreciated up to now. Due to the deformable nature of the straps, there is a danger of leaks appearing between the face and the shell when the mask is fed at a high overpressure with respect to the ambient atmosphere. When the pilot is subjected to high accelerations, there is a danger of the mask slipping downwards. The strap, which is placed very high, impairs the downward vision field of the wearer. Furthermore, it is known that one of the problems impeding use of a helmet aiming unit is the danger of the helmet moving during movements of the head, the presence of the mask being unable to prevent such sliding due to the flexibility of the straps.

Device for connecting a breathing mask to a helmet


A method of manufacturing a sealing fluidic component based on a capillary enclosing a fluid conduit and having an exterior surface being at least partially coated with a coating of a meltable material, wherein the method comprises melting the meltable material of the coating at least at an end portion of the capillary, and resolidifying the melted material to thereby form, at the end portion, a sealing integral with the coating and constituted at least partially by the meltable material.

The present teachings relate to sealing of fluidic components, in particular in a high performance liquid chromatography application.
In high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), a liquid has to be provided usually at a very controlled flow rate (e.g. in the range of microliters to milliliters per minute or less) and at high pressure (typically 20-100 MPa, 200-1000 bar, and beyond up to currently 200 MPa, 2000 bar) at which compressibility of the liquid becomes noticeable. For liquid separation in an HPLC system, a mobile phase comprising a sample fluid with compounds to be separated is driven through a stationary phase (such as a chromatographic column), thus separating different compounds of the sample fluid which may then be identified.
The mobile phase, for example a solvent, is pumped under high pressure typically through a column of packing medium (also referred to as packing material), and the sample (e.g. a chemical or biological mixture) to be analyzed is injected into the column. As the sample passes through the column with the liquid, the different compounds, each one having a different affinity for the packing medium, move through the column at different speeds. Those compounds having greater affinity for the packing medium move more slowly through the column than those having less affinity, and this speed differential results in the compounds being separated from one another as they pass through the column.
The mobile phase with the separated compounds exits the column and passes through a detector, which identifies the molecules, for example by spectrophotometric absorbance measurements. A two-dimensional plot of the detector measurements against elution time or volume, known as a chromatogram, may be made, and from the chromatogram the compounds may be identified. For each compound, the chromatogram displays a separate curve or "peak". Effective separation of the compounds by the column is advantageous because it provides for measurements yielding well defined peaks having sharp maxima inflection points and narrow base widths, allowing excellent resolution and reliable identification of the mixture constituents. Broad peaks, caused by poor column performance, so called "Internal Band Broadening" or poor system performance, so called "External Band Broadening" are undesirable as they may allow minor components of the mixture to be masked by major components and go unidentified.
During operation, a flow of the mobile phase traverses the column filled with the stationary phase, and due to the physical interaction between the mobile and the stationary phase a separation of different compounds or components may be achieved. In case the mobile phase contains the sample fluid, the separation characteristics is usually configured in order to separate compounds of such sample fluid. The term compound, as used herein, shall cover compounds which might comprise one or more different components. The stationary phase is subject to a mechanical force generated in particular by a hydraulic pump that pumps the mobile phase usually from an upstream connection of the column to a downstream connection of the column. As a result of flow, depending on the physical properties of the stationary phase and the mobile phase, a relatively high pressure occurs across the column.
The flow path of the mobile phase typically comprises plural individual components coupled together, which, in turn, might also be comprised of individual sub-components. Due to the high pressure applied in most HPLC application, pressure sealing of the components in and along the flow path is required. Further, in case of requirement of biocompatibility, it has to be ensured that all surfaces of components (including conduits) along the flow path, which may come in contact with the mobile phase and the sample fluid, are comprised of materials generally considered as being biocompatible, i.e. not to release ions (e.g. from metal parts) which may contaminate the sample and/or a column packaging material, and/or adversely affect the analysis itself. Accordingly, proper sealing is required to ensure such biocompatibility. Sealings should also provide for a small dead volume, low carryover.
However, the requirements regarding sealing performance and mechanical stability of a fluidic component of fluidic measurement devices increases with further increasing operation pressure values.

Coated capillary with remelted coating for front sided sealing


It is intended to provide a novel azabicyclo compound which exhibits both HSP90 inhibitory activity and cell proliferation inhibitory effect. Specifically disclosed is a compound represented by the following general formula (I) or a salt thereof: wherein X1 represents CH or N; any one of X2, X3 and X4 represents N, and the others represent CH; any one or two of Y1, Y2, Y3 and Y4 represent C—R4, and the others are the same or different and represent CH or N; R1 represents an optionally substituted monocyclic or bicyclic unsaturated heterocyclic group having 1 to 4 heteroatoms selected from N, S and O; R2 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or the like; and R3 and R4 represent —CO—R5 or the like.

A group of proteins called molecular chaperons is a multifunctional protein, which promotes the formation of the functional structures of other proteins or maintains these structures, promotes correct association, inhibits unnecessary aggregation, protects other proteins from degradation, and promotes secretion (Non-Patent Document 1). HSP90 is a molecular chaperon as abundant as approximately 1 to 2% of all intracellular soluble proteins and is however unnecessary for the biosynthesis of the majority of polypeptides, unlike other chaperon proteins (Non-Patent Document 1). Signaling-related factors (e.g., ERBB1/EGFR, ERBB2/HER2, MET, IGF1R, KDR/VEGFR, FLT3, ZAP70, KIT, CHUK/IKK, BRAF, RAF1, SRC and AKT), cell cycle regulators (e.g., CDK4, CDK6, Cyclin D, PLK1 and BIRC5), and transcriptional regulators (e.g., HIF-1α, p53, androgen receptor, estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor) are known as the main client proteins whose structure formation or stability is regulated by HSP90 through the interaction therebetween (Non-Patent Documents 2 and 3). HSP90 is deeply involved in cell proliferation or survival by maintaining the normal functions of these proteins. Furthermore, HSP90 is required for the normal functions of mutated or chimeric factors (e.g., BCR-ABL and NPM-ALK) which cause carcinogenesis or exacerbation of cancer. This indicates the importance of HSP90 particularly for processes such as carcinogenesis, cancer survival, growth, exacerbation and metastasis (Non-Patent Document 2).
The inhibition of the chaperon functions of HSP90 by specific inhibitors such as geldanamycin causes the inactivation, destabilization and degradation of the client proteins, resulting in induction of a halt in cell proliferation or apoptosis (Non-Patent Document 4). In terms of the physiological functions of HSP90, HSP90 inhibitors are characterized in that they can simultaneously inhibit a plurality of signaling pathways involved in cancer survival/growth. Thus, the HSP90 inhibitors can serve as drugs having extensive and effective anticancer activity. Moreover, from the findings that cancer cell-derived HSP90 has higher activity and higher affinity for ATP or inhibitors than those of normal cell-derived HSP90, it has been expected that the HSP90 inhibitors would serve as drugs having high cancer selectivity (Non-Patent Document 5). Currently, the clinical development of a plurality of HSP90 inhibitors as anticancer agents is ongoing. The most advancing geldanamycin derivative 17-allylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin (17-AAG) is under development as single agents as well as under test on the combined use with various anticancer agents (Non-Patent Documents 3 and 4). However, the problems of 17-AAG, such as poor solubility, instability in solutions, low oral absorption and liver toxicity, have also been pointed out (Non-Patent Documents 4 and 5). Thus, a new type of HSP90 inhibitor has been desired. It has also been reported that HSP90 inhibitors not only have anticancer activity but also can serve as therapeutic agents for autoimmune disease, inflammatory disease, central nervous system disease (e.g., Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and Huntington's disease), viral infections, cardiovascular disease, etc. (Non-Patent Documents 2 and 6).


A differential signature detection system is provided. The system comprises: a target sensor, wherein the target sensor is configured to measure acoustical signals within a first narrow band around a target frequency; an offset sensor, wherein the offset sensor is configured to measure acoustical signals within a second narrow band around an offset frequency; and a controller coupled to the target sensor and the offset sensor, wherein the controller is configured to: compare a signal output of the target sensor with an output of the signal output of the offset sensor to calculate a differential measurement that comprises a difference in signal peak intensity; compare the differential measurement to a reference signal, wherein the reference signal comprises a threshold indicative of a presence of a characteristic signature peak associated with a target object; and produce an output based on the comparison between the differential measurement and the reference signal.

The use of passive acoustical sensors is becoming increasingly present in the fields of object detection and perimeter monitoring. Such sensors can provide integral data on the specific properties of an object of interest useful for a variety of applications, including but not limited to: military threat detection, highway traffic monitoring, environmental monitoring, and critical infrastructure protection. Conventional sensors gather environmental data by receiving input signals and continuously performing wideband Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) analysis to determine if the wideband spectrum contains a set of frequencies unique to the monitored object. While FFT analysis can be temporally convenient, it is often energy inefficient due to the large excess of continuous calculations performed from analyzing unnecessary background noise. This leads to higher maintenance costs by frequently inspecting or replacing sensors every few months or fewer. Furthermore, most acoustic sensors are tuned to detect objects only for a particularized distance and must be recalibrated each time the sensor is moved, making unattended sensors of limited use.
For the reasons stated above and for other reasons stated below, it will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the specification, there is a need for distance independent differential signature detection.

Systems and methods for distance independent differential signature detection


A method for fabricating a thin package that encapsulates a capped MEMS device electrically coupled with one or more encapsulated semiconductor devices is provided. A wafer-level packaging methodology is used in which the capped MEMS device is electrically coupled to a package interconnect, which then allows for electrical coupling to the one or more encapsulated semiconductor devices, as well as external connections.

1. Field
This disclosure relates generally to semiconductor packaging, and more specifically, to incorporating a capped semiconductor device in a package having interconnected components.
2. Related Art
In an ever-increasing number of devices, including consumer devices and medical devices, it is becoming desirable to incorporate a greater variety of micro-electromechanical sensor (MEMS) devices for added usability and functionality. MEMS devices are small integrated devices that combine electrical and mechanical components, ranging in size from a sub micron level to millimeter level. Examples of MEMS devices include accelerometers, inertial sensors, micro actuators, pressure and flow sensors. Semiconductor MEMS devices are typically formed on a substrate and then protected with a cap, which makes a MEMS device relatively thick as compared to other semiconductor devices.
MEMS devices can be protected in a package for incorporating the MEMS device into a system. Traditionally, a MEMS device is encapsulated separately into a QFN or other type of package, and then coupled to a processor or ASIC via a printed circuit board. A drawback of this method of combining a MEMS device with a processor externally is that such a configuration can be physically larger than is ideal or allowable for some applications. Another typical method for incorporating a MEMS device into a system is to stack the MEMS device with a processor or ASIC and then encapsulate the stack as a package. A drawback of this method of combining a MEMS device with a processor is the thickness of the encapsulated stack may be physically larger than some applications may allow.
It is therefore desirable to provide a thin package combining a MEMS device with a processor or ASIC for space-constrained system-in-package applications. One issue to overcome in providing such a package is that electrical contacts for a MEMS device are typically located on a top surface of the substrate in a region of the substrate not protected by the cap. In certain packaging technologies (e.g., redistributed chip packaging and fan out-wafer level packaging), this removes the MEMS device contacts from a region typically used for interconnect purposes. Therefore, a way must be found to electrically couple the MEMS device contacts with contacts for the incorporated processor or ASIC.
The use of the same reference symbols in different drawings indicates identical items unless otherwise noted. The figures are not necessarily drawn to scale.

Method for packaging an electronic device assembly having a capped device interconnect


A USB-to-SDIO bridge (UTSB) to efficiently transmit SD/SDIO commands in USB packets. The UTSB may allow the majority of the device drivers for a given SD/SDIO device to remain intact, requiring changes only in the lowest hardware adaptation layer to put a USB wrapper around native SD commands. These commands may be sent over USB-to-SD card reader devices that may include various embodiments of a UTSB, where they may be unwrapped and transmitted to the SD port as if the port were native to the host controller. Additionally, the SD/SDIO commands may be packaged into groups of commands, or transactions, to optimize performance. The host driver may instruct the UTSB bridge device to repeatedly read data from the SDIO device until a communications FIFO on the device is empty (corresponding to a termination condition), and return the collected data to the host.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to Universal Serial Bus (USB) interfaces and Secure Digital (SD) device interfaces, and more particularly to the design of a USB-to-SD bridge.
2. Description of the Related Art
The Universal Serial Bus (USB) was developed to offer PC users an enhanced and easy-to-use interface for connecting an incredibly diverse range of peripherals to their computers. The development of the USB was initially driven by considerations for laptop computers, which greatly benefit from a small profile peripheral connector. Among the many benefits of the USB is a reduction in the proliferation of cables that can affect even the smallest computer installations. In general, USB has become the interface of choice for PCs because it offers users simple connectivity. USB eliminates the need to have different connectors for printers, keyboards, mice, and other peripherals, and supports a wide variety of data types, from slow mouse inputs to digitized audio and compressed video. In addition, USB devices are hot pluggable, i.e. they can be connected to or disconnected from a PC without requiring the PC to be powered off.
The USB specification has seen various revisions, with the USB 2.0 standard challenging the IEEE 1394 interface ("Firewire") as the interface of choice for high-speed digital video, among others. With the proliferating design of increasingly smarter, faster, and smaller peripherals, the On-The-Go (OTG) Supplement to the USB 2.0 Specification was developed to address the growing popularity of the portable electronic devices market. Some of the advantages of the USB and OTG include the built-in support in more than 1.4 billion USB enabled PCs and peripherals shipped worldwide, smooth and trouble-free experience for the user through a compliance and logo program operated by the USB-IF, a wide variety of USB solutions such as intellectual property (IP) blocks, system-on-chip (SOC) parts, discrete chips, software drivers and systems offered by a large group of industry vendors, and design flexibility based on system needs.
OTG devices typically do not require a PC host, and can communicate directly with each other. For example, a PDA may act as a USB host with the capability to print directly to a USB printer, while also acting as a USB peripheral to communicate with a PC. In general, designers are facing increasing pressure to design smaller and faster products in less time and at lower cost. Concurrently, the introduction of smaller deep sub-micron processes present new challenges, such as integrating the physical layer (PHY-transceiver) analog circuitry required by technologies such as USB and OTG, leading to increased man-hours, fiscal and time investment, and silicon revisions. One way to increase time-to-market while keeping costs low is to provide the PHY in a separate chip. In such a case the designer can typically integrate most of the USB digital logic into the application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) in a small amount of time, and connect to a proven external PHY already available on the market.
Following the release of the USB 2.0 specification, Intel released the USB 2.0 Transceiver Macrocell Interface (UTMI) specification. UTMI defined an interface between two IP blocks, the USB Transceiver Macrocell (IP) and the USB Link layer (SIE). For example, the UTMI can be used to interface between a USB Link and a USB PHY. The signals for a UTMI interface with an 8-bit bi-directional data bus. Typically a minimum of 22 signals is required between the Link and the PHY for a device.
Subsequently, an extension of the original UTMI specification the UTMI+ specification was developed to meet the emerging need of building embedded host and OTG capabilities into USB devices. While the original UTMI specified an interface not meant to couple discrete ICs, the UTMI+ in essence introduced host and On-The-Go capabilities to USB systems. Using UTMI as a starting point, UTMI+ incrementally adds new functionality and interface signals to the Link and PHY. The additional signals total 33 for a full OTG UTMI+ interface. Designers can reuse all blocks from their original UTMI IP, and need only add the new circuits required for host or OTG support. This approach works well for UTMI+, as USB peripherals need only a subset of host and OTG functionality. UTMI+ introduced four levels of functionality, each higher level increasing the complexity required in both hardware and software while remaining completely backward compatible with lower levels.
A Low Pin Interface (LPI) UTMI+ specification, referred to as ULPI, was developed by USB industry leaders in order to provide low-cost USB and OTG PHYs by way of a low-pin, low-cost, small form-factor transceiver interface that may be used by any USB application. Pre-existing specifications, including UTMI and UTMI+ were developed primarily for Macrocell development, and were thus not optimized for use as an external PHY. Building upon the existing UTMI+ specification, the ULPI reduces the number of interface signals to 12 pins, with an optional implementation of 8 pins. As a result, the package size of PHY and Link IC's has generally been reduced, not only lowering the cost of Link and PHY IC's, but also reducing the required size of the associated printed circuit boards (PCBs). Central to the ULPI specification is the LPI, which is in effect a generic bus that defines a clock, three control signals, a bi-directional data bus, and bus arbitration. Typically, a ULPI link will configure the ULPI PHY using register writes on a bi-directional shared data bus. The ULPI PHY is the arbitrator of the 8-bit data bus between the link and the PHY.
Secure Digital (SD) is a non-volatile memory card format widely used in many portable devices such as digital cameras, digital camcorders, handheld computers, laptop computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), various media players and mobile phones, as well as video game consoles and GPS receivers. The format has gained widespread popularity. Although most SD-cards have the same physical shape and form factor, the respective interfaces of more recent high-capacity (SDHC) cards and extended capacity (SDXC) cards have been modified with respect to the interface of the established format, making some older devices designed for standard SD cards unable to accept and use SDHC and SDXC cards. There are currently three versions of the SD specification: 1.0, 1.1 and 2.0. A simplified version of the host controller interface specification for SD cards (different from the physical specification, which covers the actual cards and their protocol) was released in 2006, and at least Linux drivers for SD cards are now widely available.
In most desktop systems, SD cards are generally read via USB-based card readers. These card readers present a standard USB mass storage interface to memory cards, thereby separating the operating system from the details of the underlying SD interface. However, embedded systems (e.g. portable media players and some cellular phones) typically have direct access to SD cards, which generally requires complete programming information. Desktop card readers can themselves be considered examples of embedded systems for which complete access to the SD specifications may be necessary. Many notebook computers now include SD card readers not based on USB device drivers, essentially accessing the SD card directly in a manner similar to SD card access in embedded systems.
SD supports at least three transfer modes. A 1-bit SD mode using separate command and data channels and a proprietary transfer format, a 4-bit SD mode using extra pins and some reassigned pins, and a serial mode using a Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) Bus that features a simpler subset of the SD protocol for use with microcontrollers. All cards must support all three modes, except for microSD, for which the serial mode is optional. The cards must also support clock frequencies of up to 25 MHz for regular cards, and 50 MHz for high-speed cards. In addition, a combination of SD card and I/O device, referred to as Secure Digital Input Output (SDIO) device, has found increased use in portable electronics devices, such as PDAs, laptops or mobile phones. SDIO cards are fully compatible with the SD Memory Card host controller (including mechanical, electrical, power, signaling and software). SDIO requires support of an SPI bus topology and supports most standard SD commands.
At the present time, many microcontrollers do not support an SD interface, while they may have built-in USB ports. Systems using SDIO typically have custom device drivers that send SD/SDIO commands directly to an SD standard host controller. Various USB-based solutions typically employ custom device drivers not modeled around industry standards, and as a result, require significant rework to existing SDIO drivers to allow a particular SDIO device to be used. There are no known generic USB-to-SDIO implementations that seek to transport generic SD/SDIO commands and data over USB. Additionally, there are no known implementations that attempt to optimize the SD/SDIO command flow for performance. Another group of solutions (referred to as "Direct Connect with SPI") feature a direct connection from SDIO devices to the microcontroller using SD/SDIO in 1-bit mode, employing an SPI host controller to transport data. These implementations typically require custom, and oftentimes single-device-specific driver stacks. Finally, some solutions (referred to as "Direct Connect with Bit-banging") connect SDIO devices directly to the microcontroller using SD/SDIO in 1-bit mode while manipulating GPIO (General Purpose I/O) pins directly with firmware, also requiring custom, and oftentimes single-device-specific driver stacks.
The above solutions suffer from performance limitations, however. For example, both direct connect methods (Direct Connect with SPI and Direct Connect with Banging) suffer serious performance issues due to the SD bus operating in 1-bit mode, and the relatively low speed of the bus when bit-banged. USB-based solutions potentially suffer from performance issues due to host side latency and lack of command/data flow optimization of multiple small transactions. There may also be host-side driver complexity issues. The implementations mentioned above all suffer from lack of standardization, which typically results in significant driver development for each SDIO device on every platform where the bridge/connection mechanism is to be used.
Other corresponding issues related to the prior art will become apparent to one skilled in the art after comparing such prior art with the present invention as described herein.


A method, system and computer program product is disclosed for using a constrained pressure residual (CPR) preconditioner to solve adjoint models. A linear system of fluid flow equations comprising a plurality of variables that represent fluid flow properties in a geological formation of a subterranean reservoir is provided. Matrix (Ã)T, which comprises a transpose of a Jacobian matrix associated with the linear system of fluid flow equations, is constructed. A constrained pressure residual preconditioner MCPRA−1 is constructed responsive to the matrix (Ã)T. Matrix equation (Ã)Ty=d is then solved using the constrained pressure residual preconditioner MCPRA−1.

Production optimization problems often involve large, highly complex reservoir models, thousands of unknowns and many nonlinear constraints, which makes the numerical calculation of gradients for the optimization process impractical. Adjoint models can be used for the calculation of gradients very efficiently. However, direct coding of the adjoint model is typically complex and time consuming, and the code is dependent on the forward model in the sense that it must be updated whenever the forward model is modified.
A recently developed adjoint construction procedure makes it relatively easy to construct the adjoint equation and has the additional advantage of making the adjoint simulation code independent of the forward simulation code. For a fully implicit forward model and specific forms of the cost function and nonlinear constraints, all information necessary for the adjoint run is calculated and stored during the forward simulation itself. The adjoint run then requires only the appropriate assembling of this information to calculate gradients of the cost function with respect to control variables at each control step. During the assembling procedure, the adjoint equation at each timestep is solved for Lagrange multipliers using information obtained from forward simulation such as Jacobians.
As used herein, the adjoint equation is a linear equation formed with the transpose of the Jacobian matrix that is evaluated at convergence for each timestep, such as from a fully implicit reservoir simulator. Conventional preconditioners (e.g., Constrained Pressure Residual (CPR) preconditioner, nested factorization method) typically cannot be directly applied to the adjoint equation, especially when dealing with large and/or complex reservoir models. In particular, conventional preconditioners exploit properties of the Jacobian matrix in order to accelerate convergence during reservoir simulation and therefore, often prove impractical and ineffective for solving the adjoint equation.

Constrained pressure residual preconditioner for efficient solution of the adjoint equation


A technology that enables accurate position specification on an image displayed on a screen to perform processing and correction of the image data is provided. When the image is printed on a sheet on which a dot pattern is printed, a reference point of the image on the display device is set and the reference point is printed in a visible mark together with the image. This mark is imaged with an imaging means, and calibration is performed in which position coordinates of the marks on the sheet and the reference points of the image are matched, thereby preventing variation in coordinates between designation made on the sheet with the imaging means and processing on the image.

As a technology to process and correct an image that is projected on a display screen or on a projector screen, it has been common to correct colors and diagrammatic drawings of image data stored in an information processing device such as a personal computer, by using a coordinate-input supporting device such as a mouse and a graphic tablet.


In accordance with embodiments of the invention, local metadata is embedded into, and extracted from, an embedded interaction code document. A plurality of local-metadata values are assigned, in accordance with a set of local-metadata conflict-resolution rules, via a plurality of respective partial-share channels, to a plurality of respective local-metadata fields. The local metadata is decoded by decoding the partial-share channels and by resolving potentially conflicting decoded local-metadata values according to the set of local-metadata conflict-resolution rules. A local metadata value of a region to the left may be smaller than a local metadata value of a potentially conflicting region to the right, and the values may be non-continuous. A local metadata value of an upper region may be smaller than a local metadata value of a potentially conflicting lower region, and the values may be continuous.

Computer users are accustomed to using a mouse and keyboard as a way of interacting with a personal computer. While personal computers provide a number of advantages over written documents, most users continue to perform certain functions using printed paper. Some of these functions include reading and annotating written documents. In the case of annotations, the printed document assumes a greater significance because of the annotations placed on it by the user. One of the difficulties, however, with having a printed document with annotations is the later need to have the annotations entered back into the electronic form of the document. This requires the original user or another user to wade through the annotations and enter them into a personal computer. In some cases, a user will scan in the annotations and the original text, thereby creating a new document. These multiple steps make the interaction between the printed document and the electronic version of the document difficult to handle on a repeated basis. Further, scanned-in images are frequently non-modifiable. There may be no way to separate the annotations from the original text. This makes using the annotations difficult. Accordingly, an improved way of handling annotations is needed.
Users are accustomed to writing on both blank paper and paper with preexisting content. For annotations from each of these surfaces to be represented electronically, one needs to determine the location of the pen for these different environments.
Digital pens that use cameras to determine their location typically capture a block of integrated information to retrieve the position of the pen relative to a positionally encoded medium or any other information embedded in the positionally encoded medium. Here, camera-captured images may or may not contain an image of the pen tip.
Therefore, when local metadata, which is associated with a particular region of the positionally encoded medium, is introduced, the problem becomes more difficult to address. FIG. 11 shows a local metadata region and enlarged region. As FIG. 11 shows, when assigning local metadata to a region, in some cases, the region is enlarged and local metadata is embedded into it, so that one can retrieve the local metadata when writing in the original region and holding a digital pen in any pose (i.e., independent of pen rotation and angle). A typical margin size is 7 mm.
FIG. 12 shows a form with some conterminous fields. FIG. 12 shows an example of a potential conflict associated with a conventional local-metadata-embedding method. The overlapped area shows conflicts caused by two local metadata values being embedded in the same area.
Some solutions for trying to resolve the conflicts associated with conterminous local-metadata regions, as FIG. 13 shows, are based on avoiding conterminous fields, which means all fields with local metadata should be separated. Therefore, the available design layout options are limited when creating forms and large amounts of space get wasted. This kind of solution is not efficient.
FIG. 13 shows fields that are separated to avoid local metadata conflict.


The invention provides a tactile information transmission system or an information perception apparatus that transmits information by means of various motions of a presenter in two directions, as well as a small driving force generation apparatus that drives a presenter suitably. Thin plate-like magnets are provided on a base, and generate magnetic fields perpendicularly. A perception unit is supported above the magnets movably in the horizontal direction. Plural coils are fixed on the perception unit, some coils are provided so as to cross in X direction and the residual coils are provided so as to cross in Y direction. By controlling supplied current or applied voltage, the perception unit is driven arbitrarily in an XY plane. A user places a finger on the perception unit, recognizes the motion of the perception unit, and obtains information. The motion signal for driving the perception unit can be supplied from another information processing apparatus, and the perception unit is moved in correlation with the image information displayed on a display.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a tactile information transmission system for transmission of various information through tactile sensation of human fingers and a tactile information perception apparatus, and more particularly relates to a system for information transmission by means of perception of the motion of a part on which a human hand finger touches and a driving power generation apparatus suitably used for such system or apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
In many cases, the tactile sensation is the decisive sensation for recognizing or judging an object among perception information perceived by sense organs such as eyes, ears, nose, hands, and fingers. It is likely that a person understands and is convinced of the feeling such as surface smoothness and roughness or weight of an object by touching it with hands and fingers and makes various decisions after such perception.
On the other hand, the information of commodities or exhibitions, which cannot be obtained by touching with hands and fingers, displayed on a screen of a television set or a personal computer, or the information of commodities introduced on documents such as journals, pamphlets, or catalogues, cannot be perceived through atmosphere and perception though the object can be recognized in word or visually. A person fills the lack of information by estimation and stores the estimation in the brain and is convinced of it.
Therefore, the depth of understanding based on the visual single information is apt to be shallower than that based on the information with tactile sensation, as the result the erroneous judgment is caused due to the vague memory.
However, the development and spread of information communication apparatus have been addressed mainly on visual information so far such as Internet, and the information transmission based on visual sensation and auditory sensation, which has been popular so far, has made great progress. Therefore, after full development and spread of visual information transmission apparatuses, it is expected that the demand for tactile information transmission will grow.
As the information transmission tool based on the tactile sensation, Braille has been known for long years for use by visually handicapped persons. Semi-three dimensional resin documents made by press-molding originated from a mold as tools for transmission or recognition of diagrammatic configurational information such as maps have been known.
Furthermore, the transmission of such character information or configurational information by means of an electronic information apparatus has been tried, and some examples are disclosed in Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. Sho 59-168483, Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. Hei 2-5081, Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. Hei 5-333765, Japanese Published Unexamined Utility Model Application No. Hei 5-96863, U.S. Pat. No. 5,625,576, etc.
Apparatuses disclosed in Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. Sho 59-198483, Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. Hei 2-5081, and Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. Hei 5-333765 are the ones for displaying Braille, plural pins are activated and controlled so that some pins are projected and some pins are recessed to thereby generate the Braille cord.
The apparatus disclosed in Japanese Published Unexamined Utility Model Application No. Hei 5-96863 functions as a three-dimensional display, plural pins arranged in a matrix format are driven individually in the vertical direction by a driving source, and the position in the height direction is controlled. Therefore, characters or diagrams are displayed three-dimensionally by means of a set of plural pins.
The apparatus disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,625,576 has the structure for presenting tactile information to a fingertip, is provided with a robot manipulator having a link mechanism, and is provided with a fingerstall at the tip of the manipulator into which a finger is to be inserted. An operator inserts a finger into the fingerstall, and moves the finger with viewing a pointer that appears on a computer screen to thereby perceive the configuration and soft-hard feeling of an object on the screen.
On the other hand, an input apparatus by which a user can perceive an object by means of correlation between a displayed image and vibration that is perceived by a hand and fingers has been known (product of Sony Co., brand name is DUALSHOCK). The apparatus generates various sensation by selecting the vibration frequency and interval.
An apparatus that drives a mouse by providing the electromagnetic force from a mouse pad instead of a mouse for selecting an image by use of pointer displayed on a display (the technique name is FEELitMOUSE, product of Immersion Co.). The mass feeling of a displayed image at the portion where a pointer is overlapped with moving of a mouse, and vibration corresponding to the roughness of the imaginary object such as a button or window are transmitted to a user through tactile sensation. Though the detailed structure of this apparatus has not been disclosed, it is estimated that a dedicated mouse is placed on a dedicated mouse pad having a built-in processor for performing arithmetic operation corresponding to tactile sensation, and the mouse is moved by means of an electromagnetic mechanism.
Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. Hei 7-191798 discloses an apparatus that feeds back tactile information to an input user by rotational control of a sphere provided in an input apparatus.
The apparatus gives tactile sensation as if a finger is sliding on an object of a certain configuration or as if a certain object is moving by a method in which a ball is in contact with fingers or a hand of a user and the ball is driven rotationally.
However, these conventional apparatus described hereinabove are disadvantageous as described hereunder.
The apparatus disclosed in Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. Sho 59-198483, Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. Hei 2-5081, and Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. Hei 5-333465 must express the information in the form of Braille code information because the apparatus only has binary expression capability namely projected pins and recessed pins. Therefore all the information is transmitted through language, and configuration such as analogue contour lines or movement captured sensuously cannot be expressed.
The apparatus disclosed in Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. Hei 5-96863 has the structure for controlling many pin positions and is capable of expressing three-dimensional configuration, but is not capable of dynamic expression because the apparatus is structured on the premise that the apparatus is used in static state.
Many pins are moved independently in the apparatus, and it is required to control pins individually, such a mechanism requires complex structure and complex control.
The apparatus disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,625,576 gives the touching force sensation information on one fingertip and is capable of giving sensation of configuration and hard/soft feeling. An operator moves his wrist or arm by himself and perceives a reaction force on the extension of the movement. In other words, the hand searches around the information in a virtual space, and the operator cannot acquire the information unless the operator moves actively.
The apparatus has the structure that converts the rotational motion of electromagnetic motors provided in many directions to obtain the driving force in the plural directions to the swing rotation of plural swing arms, and such structure requires a large volume for containing the driving mechanism for motion in plural directions. The distance from the motor, which is the driving source, to the arm tip where an operator perceives is too long in the structure and the force is transmitted by way of many connection members, as the result it is difficult to transmit weak vibration or slight displacement. Though the apparatus can express rough configurational contours or hard/soft feeling, it is difficult to perceive slight motion of frequency.
On the other hand, to provides the information that is perceivable through tactile sensation as described hereinabove, it is required to operate presenters based on the electronic information in many cases. A well-known driving source such as solenoid may be used as the driving source that drives a presenter, but to miniaturize the apparatus and to render the apparatus capable of providing the information freely and dynamically, the apparatus that is miniaturized and easily controllable is desirable. In the case of the conventional driving apparatus in which the presenters are operated in two direction as in the case of the present invention, driving apparatuses are provided in the two directions and the presenter is moved in a plane by means of motion of these apparatuses.
In the case of the apparatus that reproduces the tactile sensation by means of changing frequency and amplitude of vibration, the reproduction of slight tactile sensation is difficult because the vibration wave is non-directional simple vibration, and only the same stimulation as that perceivable by hand, arm, or whole body is obtained.
In the case of the apparatus that moves a mouse by means of electromagnetic force, though the apparatus is suitable to express the tactile sensation that is perceivable on the whole hand and whole palm, a palm cannot discriminate slight tactile sensation and it is required to move a mouse significantly to obtain only slight tactile sensation. The pointing device including the mouse is advantageous in that a pointer moves a long distance on a display correspondingly to a small motion of a mouse, the pointing device is an excellent device for efficient input work. However, in the case of the mouse used in the abovementioned system, it is required to move a whole mouse in order to provide the tactile sensation and the small input motion is sacrificed. It is required that a mouse is used on a dedicated mouse pad, and the limitation on the use is problematic.
Furthermore, in the case of the apparatus in which a sphere is rotated and tactile sensation is fed back to a user, the finger face portion that is being in contact with the sphere slides off during rotation of the sphere. As the result, the tactile sensation on which the roundish configurational sensation of the sphere is overlapped is transmitted to the user, and the reproducibility of tactile sensation becomes poor.
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances and provides an information perception apparatus that is capable of providing sufficient tactile sensation to a user with a small-sized apparatus and, when the apparatus is used as a pointing device, that is capable of providing the additional tactile sensation information without loosing the advantage as the pointing device. Furthermore, the present invention provides an information transmission system that uses the device, a memory medium that stores a program for driving the device, and a driving force generation apparatus that is suitable for driving the abovementioned information perception apparatus.
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances and provides an information perception apparatus including a perception unit on which a fingertip is to be placed supported movably in approximately parallel to the contact plane of the fingertip, a signal input unit that receives a motion signal including the information which indicates the displacement direction of the perception unit, and a driving unit that moves the perception unit corresponding to the motion signal supplied to the signal input unit.
In this information perception apparatus, because the perception unit on which a finger is placed is moved in the parallel direction to the contact surface of the finger based on the motion signal, the fingertip that is very sensitive to (tactile sensation is conducted to the perception unit and the contact force perception is given. Therefore, the high tactile sensitivity of the fingertip is utilized effectively, and strong contact sensation and force perception are given even though the motion of the perception unit is small.
At that time, because the fingertip is conducted by means of friction force between the fingertip and the perception unit, when the user does not want to perceive the tactile sensation, the user can be released from conduction easily, the user can discontinue the motion of the finger as desired, and the user is safe even when an erroneous motion is caused.
A position information input part that acquires a position information correspondingly to the operation of a user may be provided. In this case, this information perception apparatus is used as a pointing device that provides the position information to a unit to which the information perception apparatus is connected. As the system that enters the position information corresponding to the operation of a user, a known system used as pointing device such as a system that detects the relative movement magnitude by moving the pointing device as in the case of a mouse (ball+rotary encoder), a system in which the change with time of the contact position of a finger on a pad is detected to detect the motion direction and the change is correlated to the coordinate (detection of pressed position on a pressure sensor pad), or a system that calculates the position based on the inclination direction/inclination time of a stick (detection of bending direction of the stick by means of pressure sensor) may be used. The position information is not limited to the case in which the coordinate is indicated directly, but the information that provides the position information by processing the information may be used.
The connection may be wire connection or wireless connection, and the signal input unit or signal output unit is provided with an interface corresponding to the connection type. In the case where a built-in position input unit is provided as in the case of a note-type personal computer, an interface may be provided inside for connection.
In the case of input/output of information by way of the wire connection, an electric signal is transmitted through a conductive wire or an optical signal may be transmitted through an optical cable.
In the case of wireless connection, information transmission by means of electromagnetic wave or transmission by means of light, ultrasonic wave may be used.
The information perception apparatus may have the structure in which a displacement detection part that detects the displacement of the perception unit based on the operation of a user or displacement of the portion linked to the displacement of the perception unit is provided and the detection information detected by the displacement detection part is sent out by way of the signal output part, as the result the user can operate the perception unit to be displaced with the fingertip that is perceiving tactile sensation to transmit the detection information to the unit connected to the device.
By use of this apparatus, perception of the information through tactile sensation and output of the motion signal by means of operation of the fingertip are possible.
In detail, the perception unit is driven by a driving force to thereby detect the tactile information from the perception unit, and a user moves the fingertip to thereby move the perception unit, as the result the information, for example, the operation of the fingertip, is generated as a signal. In detail, it is possible that the control in which a restoring force proportional to the displacement is exerted, for example, when the perception unit is displaced forcedly by an external force, is applied. Furthermore in detail, a mouse having a click button on which the perception unit of the information perception apparatus is provided may be used. A scroll roller provided between buttons of a two-button mouse is used as the perception unit, and the roller is driven rotationally and a mechanism that is moved in the rotation axis direction based on the motion signal may be provided. By structuring the information perception apparatus as described hereinabove, a user can perceive the tactile information and respond immediately. Furthermore a user can set the displacement magnitude suitable for the user by comparing the detected displacement of the perception unit with the estimated movement magnitude of the perception unit, or can store the detected displacement of the perception unit as personal information and use it to specify the next user.
The perception unit may be structured so as to be displaced in the pressing down direction by a finger placed on the perception unit and in the shaking direction of a finger, as the result the finger of a user is conducted to press down and shake, these motions have a high degree of freedom. At that time, if the displacement is too large, the finger cannot follow the displacement of the perception unit, and the user cannot start the next operation quickly. The displacement is limited to 3 cm or smaller to thereby transmit the delicate tactile sensation consistently.
The perception unit may have the structure in which the driving unit is provided with a magnetic field generation part that generates magnetic flux in X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis directions orthogonal to each other, a first coil group including one or more coils disposed so that a part of winding crosses the magnetic flux generated by the magnetic field generation part in X-axis direction, and a second coil group including one or more coils disposed so that a part of winding crosses the magnetic flux generated by the magnetic filed generation part in Y-axis direction, wherein the driving current corresponding to the motion signal is supplied to the first coil group and the second coil group, and the perception unit is connected to the first coil group and the second coil group so as to displace based on the displacement of the first coil group and the second coil group caused by the supply of the driving current.
In the information perception apparatus described hereinabove, a driving force is exerted to the first coil group in Y-axis direction by supplying a current to the first coil group. On the other hand, a driving force is exerted to the second coil group in X-axis direction by supplying a current to the second coil group. Therefore, the first coil group and the second coil group are connected to the perception unit and the current is supplied to the first coil group and the second coil group controllably, and a driving force is thereby exerted to the perception unit in the arbitrary direction in an XY plane. The coil that is structured by winding wire flat in the XY plane to limit the size in Z-axis direction is used, and the coil is thereby driven stably. It is possible to overlap the first coil group and the second coil group one on the other to obtain a large driving force with a small sized structure.
It is desirable to use a magnet as a magnetic field generation part, but coils or coil groups other than the first and second coil groups may be used to generate a magnetic field.
At least any one of the first coil group and the second coil group may include two or more coils, the coil center of at least two coils among coils of the first coil group is disposed at different positions distant in X-axis direction, or the coil center of at least two coils among coils of the second coil group is disposed at different positions distant in Y-axis direction, and different currents are supplied to two or more coils included in the first coil group or the second coil group.
In this case, for example, different magnitude of current is supplied to two or more coils included in the first coil group, the driving force exerted to coils in Y-axis direction is thereby differentiated. The driving force in Y-axis direction may be reversed. Two or more coils to which the differentiated driving force is exerted are disposed at respective positions deviated from each other in X-axis direction to generate a torque and to provide a rotational driving force round Z-axis to the coil holder.
The current magnitude supplied to two or more coils included in the second coil group is controlled to differentiate the driving force in X-axis direction, and a torque is thereby generated similarly. In the case where both the first coil group and the second coil group include two or more coils, a rotational driving force may be generated in both coil groups.
A coil included in the first coil group and a coil included in the second coil group may disposed so as to cross the magnetic flux generated by a common magnetic field generation part.
In this case, because the magnetic flux crossing direction of the coil included in the first coil group and that of the coil included in the second coil group are different and orthogonal to each other, driving forces in X-axis direction and Y-axis direction are generated by means of only the common magnetic flux namely a magnetic flux in one direction. Accordingly, it is possible to structure a simple and small-sized apparatus and to obtain a large driving force.
The magnetic field generation part may include plural magnetic field generation members arranged in X-axis direction or Y-axis direction, which magnetic field generation members located adjacent to each other generate the magnetic flux in the opposite direction of Z-axis, and the coil is disposed so that portions facing each other with interposition of the winding center cross the flux in the opposite direction respectively.
In such a driving force generation apparatus, currents in the opposite directions are generated on the portions facing each other with interposition of the winding center of a coil, the direction of the magnetic flux that these portions cross is also opposite, as the result the driving force in the same direction is exerted to the facing portions of the coil. Therefore, one coil generates a large driving force, and a small-sized apparatus that is capable of generating a large driving force is obtained.
The information perception apparatus as described hereinabove that is used together with the information processing apparatus from which the motion signal is supplied by way of the signal input unit of the information perception apparatus is used as a tactile information transmission system.
In such an information transmission system, the motion signal is supplied from the information processing apparatus by way of the signal input unit of the information perception apparatus, and the driving force is exerted to displace the perception unit based on the signal and the information perception apparatus is operated. Thereby, the perception unit can perform various operations with linking to the information processing apparatus. A user who is placing a part of the body on the perception unit can perceive the motion of the perception unit, and can obtain various information by means of the motion pattern, timing, and displacement. The signal is transmitted between the signal input unit and the information processing apparatus through wire connection or wireless connection.
The perception unit may be provided with a contact detection sensor that detects a fingertip of a user when the fingertip is brought into contact on the perception unit and transmits a contact detection signal to the information processing apparatus.
This apparatus detects whether a part of a human body is in contact with the apparatus or not by means of the contact detection sensor, and follows the load change concomitant with contact/separation of a fingertip based on the contact detection signal generated from the contact detection sensor. In detail, when a part of a human body separates from the apparatus and the load is reduced steeply, it is possible to control the apparatus to reduce the driving force or stop the driving correspondingly to the load.
The information perception apparatus of the present invention is structured so that a position information input part is provided, input position information is supplied to the information processing apparatus, and a motion signal corresponding to the position information is sent out from the information processing apparatus to the information perception apparatus.
By using the motion signal corresponding to the position information supplied from the position information input part as described hereinabove, the virtual space that is set based on the information stored in the information processing apparatus is correlated to the tactile sensation. Therefore, a user can perceive the structure of the virtual space through tactile sensation. At that time, in the case where the information transmission system includes a display apparatus, the visual information displayed on the display apparatus is acquired, and simultaneously the tactile information is obtained from the information perception apparatus. Therefore, it is possible that a user recognizes and understands an object through the visual information and also through the tactile information, and the user can acquire the information that is different from the information acquired only through any one of visual sensation and tactile sensation. In the case where a display apparatus is not used, it is possible that the user recognizes a virtual space through tactile sensation, and the tactile information equivalent to the visual information is presented to a fingertip. It is possible that a visually disable person who can recognize the character only by means of Braille conventionally can recognize the ordinary word and characters by means of continuous operation. Furthermore it is possible that a user performs operation while the user is obtaining the tactile information in the status where it is difficult for the user to perform predetermined operation on the information process apparatus while the user is seeing the visual information.
In the case of the information perception apparatus having a display apparatus, the function to display a pointer in a screen displayed on the display apparatus is provided, the perception unit is driven based on the motion signal corresponding to the position of the pointer in the image.
In the tactile information transmission system as described hereinabove, the tactile sensation corresponding to the position of the pointer in the image displayed on the image display apparatus can be acquired from the perception unit. It is possible to acquire the tactile sensation corresponding to the position of the pointer when the pointer is moved in the image, and it is possible to recognize based on the displayed image and plural tactic sensations.
In the case of the information transmission system, a user moves the pointer in the image while the user is acquiring the tactile information by mean of the information perception apparatus, and perceives the tactile sensation corresponding to the position of the pointer. Therefore, it is possible to obtain from the perception unit of the information perception apparatus the tactile sensation corresponding to the configuration that is changing continuously on the image displayed on the display apparatus.
Furthermore, in the case of the information transmission system as described hereinabove, it is possible that the information perception apparatus is operated based on the information transmitted from a remote place through the network and the tactile information can be transmitted between users who are located far distant from each other.
The information transmission may be real time, or otherwise the information is stored temporarily and then the tactile information may be perceived later. The information transmitted through the network may be only the motion signal of the tactile sensation, or otherwise only the display information is transmitted and the motion signal is correlated to the obtained display image on the information processing apparatus side that has received the display information.
In the information transmission system as described hereinabove, the motion signal for driving the information perception apparatus arbitrarily controls the motion of the perception unit such as stop, movement magnitude, moving speed, and acceleration, and changes these magnitudes over time. For example, the motion signal includes the space coordinate data that indicates the position or area where the perception unit is moved, includes the function having the coordinate as the parameter, or includes the time data that determines the speed or acceleration of the motion. The perception unit is driven based on such motion signal, as the result the predetermined motion is transmitted from the perception unit to a finger and a user can perceive the information based on the motion of the finger while the user is placing the finger on the perception unit.
When the pointer is very near going out from the range of the presentation position or presentation area of the tactile force sensation in the virtual space that is set to the information processing apparatus, the perception unit may be moved so as to give the sensation that the perception unit is coming close to the boundary of the presentation position or presentation area. Thereby, a user can recognize whether the finger of the user is located in the area where the information is presented without viewing the screen, and it is possible that the user recognizes the information without protrusion of the pointer from the predetermined information presentation area. The recognition part without using the visual sensation is effective as the information acquisition method in the working circumstances, in which a worker cannot look away from the target, such as speech to audiences or on camera, machine work, and video camera working while viewing through a finder.
The perception unit may be moved when a pointer overlaps on the place where the text information or the image information such as a diagram or photograph displayed on a display is linked to the tactile information, or otherwise the perception unit may be displaced depending on the distance between the pointer and the linked portion. Thereby, it is possible that a user can detect the important point in a document, or the text or diagram area that link to other text information and image information such as Hyper Text in the Internet homepage by means of the tactile stimulation when the cursor overlaps on these areas.
The displacement magnitude, speed, or acceleration of the perception unit are visualized and are displayed on a display apparatus to obtain the tactile stimulation corresponding to the position of the pointer in the image displayed on the display unit, and the visual information corresponding to the tactile stimulation is obtained from the image. By perceiving the visual information and tactile sensation simultaneously as described hereinabove, it is possible to recognize these sensations with close correlation. By displaying the output status of the tactile sensation visually, it is possible to recognize the relation between the pointer and the object, namely the pseudo contact between the set objects in the virtual space and the finger.

Information perception apparatus, information transmission system, and memory medium in which program for controlling information perception apparatus is stored


A pointing device in a computer system is automatically calibrated by distinguishing between “in presence” and “out of presence” conditions. Calibration correction accommodates differing geometry of users' hands and fingers. Thus, the “natural” “home” position may be different for left-handers or right-handers, or if the device is operated with a thumb versus a forefinger. A system monitors user activity and from that activity automatically selects X-Y values for auto-calibration. “First touch” and “click” activities are used to select proper X-Y values for auto-calibration. “Click from out of presence” is used to determine user selection events for proper calibration. The invention provides “hardware help” for detecting and calibrating a “first touch.”

This invention relates in general to computer user input devices and more specifically to a method and apparatus for achieving a more accurate relative pointing device in a computer user interface.
Today's graphical computer user interfaces typically use some form of "relative pointing device" (RPD) for moving a pointer, cursor, or the like around on a display screen. Examples of RPDs include a mouse, joystick, touchpad, trackball, etc. One approach at implementing these devices uses a material that exhibits varying electrical properties as a function of applied pressure, or position, of a control object, or surface, manipulated by a user. The use of such materials introduces problems in that the measurement of the resistance, conductance, capacitance or other property of the material is not always constant, or consistent, enough to use the pointing device for precise, stable, and consistently accurate positioning in a computer user interface.
For example, where resistive rubber is used as the sensing material the undesirable property of "drift" presents itself. Drift results from miscalibration of a "zero" position, or other reference position, for the pointing device. "Drift" is perceived by a user of the device as spurious or inaccurate movement of a pointer, or other image or object, that is controlled by the device. Differences in material, composition, components, temperature, geometry of finger placement, etc., all contribute to whether the device is properly centered, or whether there is drift. A properly calibrated device allows the user to easily make fine position motions. An improperly calibrated device will exhibit drift and be difficult to control.
A common user manipulation is to position a pointer by using the RPD and then depress a button, or other control, to indicate selection of an item selected by the pointer. Before, during or after the user's act of depressing the control it is usually important that the pointer does not change position. When such an unwanted change in position takes place as a result of miscalibration it is referred to as "drift". There are other consequences of "drift". If the user is trying to make a fine cursor movement while drift is present then the user is forced to compensate by applying pressure against the drift. This feels rather like trying to walk on very slippery ice in a strong windstorm. Another consequence of miscalibration is reduced dynamic range in the direction "against the drift". Some or all of the movement range of the device can be absorbed in an attempt to counter the drift, leaving less range available for intended manipulation.
Thus, it is desirable to reduce or eliminate the problem of miscalibration and drift in a pointing device.

Auto-calibration of pointing devices used in a computer user interface


A configurable universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter (UART) facilitates efforts to upgrade UART functionality in the field and replace older UART devices. In one example embodiment, an integrated circuit includes a universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter configured and arranged to operate in one of a plurality of modes, with each mode being selectable in response to mode-selecting data. The integrated circuit device includes an interface circuit electrically connected to the universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter and adapted to present the mode-selecting data to the universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter. The integrated circuit device also includes a selection circuit adapted to enable the mode-selecting data to pass from the interface circuit to the universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter.

The present device relates generally to data communications circuits and, in particular, to a universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter (UART), which is operable in alternate modes for use with a various CPUs and peripherals.
Personal computers have a serial port, which is used for bringing data into and out of the computer. The serial port is used for data movement on a channel that requires that one bit be sent or received after another, thus enabling serial communication. The universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter (UART) is a device usually located on an integrated circuit that performs parallel-to-serial conversion of digital data. A UART communicates between parallel and serial forms by converting received data between parallel I/O devices, such as local CPU, and serial I/O devices, such as POTS modems or other transmission lines. Most all traditional UART devices can be programmed to operate at a selected baud rate, and the newer generation UARTs handle the communication more efficiently largely due to larger FIFO depths and improved flow control (fewer retries required and waits for the internal FIFO to fill or empty).
For many applications, upgrading the functionality of a UART device can be problematic. UART devices are typically mounted on the circuit board at the factory and are not easily replaced in the field when a more powerful UART is available. With the development of new, more powerful UART devices, vendors have to manage more product catalog numbers and increased inventory levels until older generation UARTs are discontinued. Moreover, when systems upgrade to a newer, more powerful UART, the system boards must be modified to accommodate the new UART footprint.
Various aspects of the present invention are directed to facilitating efforts to upgrade UART functionality in the field, and to approaches for replacing older UART devices. Additional advantages include permitting UART vendors to reduce significantly UART part numbers and product inventory by providing a UART configurable to operate in various modes. The present invention is exemplified in a number of implementations and applications, some of which are summarized below.
According to an example embodiment of the present invention, an integrated circuit device includes a universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter configured and arranged to operate in one of a plurality of modes, with each mode being selectable in response to mode-selecting data. The integrated circuit device includes an interface circuit electrically connected to the universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter and adapted to present the mode-selecting data to the universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter. The integrated circuit device also includes a selection circuit adapted to enable the mode-selecting data to pass from the interface circuit to the universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter.
More particular implementations of the present invention include providing specific modes selectable by the selection circuit including, as examples, an extended FIFO mode in which a deeper FIFO is activated for use and flow-control information such as the status of data (or lack thereof) in the FIFO.
The above summary is not intended to describe each illustrated embodiment or every implementation of the present invention. The figures and detailed description that follow more particularly exemplify these embodiments.

Automatic upgradeable UART circuit arrangement


A golf tool includes a main body, a pair of tines disposed on a first end of the main body fixed with respect to the main body and a series of bristles forming a brush fixed on a second end of the main body opposite the first end. In addition, a ball marker may be removably mounted on the main body. The golf tool is compact and lightweight and is convenient to use during play.

Golf is a game that is enjoyed by millions of people around the world. Since each course must accommodate a large number of people, common courtesy and proper golf etiquette dictate that each golfer take steps to maintain the course in proper playing condition. For example, ball marks left when a ball strikes a green should be repaired so that the ball mark does not interfere with subsequent play.
In addition to the foregoing, a ball on a green that is in the lie of another player's ball should be marked and removed from the green so that a clear approach to the hole is provided.
Further, since golf is an outdoor game, mud and debris tend to accumulate on the golfer's shoes and clubs, thereby potentially adversely affecting the golfer's game.
Various tools and equipment have been designed to assist the golfer during play. For example, Hedu U.S. Design Pat. No. 215,668 discloses a golfer combination tool including a forked end for repairing ball marks and a head end into which a V-shaped notch is cut. Projections are formed at ends of the notch and are adapted to engage opposing holes in a collar of a golf shoe cleat. The tool may thus also be used to replace such cleats.
Doble U.S. Pat. No. 3,120,388 discloses a golfing device comprising a main body having a forked end for repairing ball marks and a magnet which retains a ball marker on the body.
Patents similar to Doble disclosing means for mounting a ball marker on a forked ball mark repair tool include Hatch U.S. Pat. No. 3,620,426, Hatch U.S. Pat. No. 3,622,157, Stainer U.S. Pat. No. 3,866,749, Doubt U.S. Pat. No. 4,007,928, Hammond U.S. Pat. No. 4,114,878, Buckman U.S. Pat. No. 4,315,624, Buckman U.S. Pat. No. 4,386,774 and Dikoff U.S. Pat. No. 4,535,987.
Voss U.S. Pat. No. 3,763,515 discloses a combination pocket golf tool including a plurality of cleaning elements carried by a body wherein the distance between adjacent cleaning elements is substantially equal to the distance between adjacent grooves on an associated golf club face. The tool further includes a fork disposed on the end of a flat body that carries the cleaning elements. As noted in column 3, lines 7-11, the fork could be utilized to clean the cleats of golf shoes.
Chamberlain U.S. Pat. No. 191,498 discloses a combined scraper and brush for golf accessories including an elongate body having a tapered scraper at one end thereof and a series of bristles adjacent the scraper.
Schwartz U.S. Pat. No. 2,857,608 discloses a cleaning device for a golf club including a shank on which a blade is carried and a brush intermediate ends of the shank.
Burns et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,856,132 discloses a utility golf tool including a case, a ball mark repair tool in the form of a blade having a forked end and a series of brush bristles mounted on a spine wherein the spine and the blade are pivotally mounted within the case similar to a pocket knife.
While the golf tools disclosed in the foregoing patents may be effective to assist a golfer during play, it has been found that their usefulness is somewhat limited due to the failure to provide much-needed features in a compact device which can easily be carried by a golfer during play.
In addition to the foregoing patents disclosing golf tools, Battaglia U.S. Design Pat. No. 290,065 discloses a hair grooming device wherein a hair brush is disposed on a first end of a body and a series of picks are disposed on a second end of the body.


The present disclosure provides a method, a browser client, and a server for reading web page information by speech. The browser client is installed with a text to speech (TTS) engine. The method includes: sending, by a browser client, a page access request to a server, where the page access request includes a page address and TTS identity information; receiving, by the browser client, response data returned by the server, where the response data includes a TTS standard version number determined by the server according to the TTS identity information, and TTS page data corresponding to the page address; and reading, by the browser client, the TTS page data by speech according to the TTS standard version number by using a TTS engine. In the present disclosure, page information is read by speech by using the TTS engine installed on the browser client. When it is inconvenient for a user to browse a page with eyes, and for users whose eyes have physical problems, the read page information can be listened by using a sense of hearing. Therefore, a convenient hearing-based manner is provided to users to browse a page.

Currently, terminals are installed with browsers, and users often browse web pages by browsers. Web pages generally include information such as text, pictures, or videos, and the information is all based on visual senses of users. When a user browses a web page by a browser, a terminal displays the web page on a screen of the terminal, and the user needs to view the web page with eyes to browse the web page.
However, there are some scenarios in daily life in which it is inconvenient to browse a web page with eyes. For example, when a user is driving a car, or a user is taking a congested public transportation tool, or a user is walking or running, it is inconvenient for the user to browse a web page with eyes, and the eyes of the user are even damaged. In addition, users whose eyes have physical defects such as a blind person or an amblyopia person cannot browse a web page with eyes at all. Meanwhile, in daily life, when browsing a long-text web page (for example, browsing a fiction web page) with eyes for a long time, even users with eyes having no physical problems usually feel fatigue of eyes, and even suffer from vision deterioration.
We finds that, in the foregoing cases in which it is inconvenient to browse a web page with eyes or fatigue of eyes caused by browsing a web page for a long time, the related art has not provided a manner of conveniently providing web page information to users, affecting user experience of a browser.

Method for reading webpage information by speech, browser client, and server

Guangzhou UCWeb Computer Technology Co., Ltd.


An image identification apparatus for comparing an image frame with a predetermined image is disclosed. The image identification apparatus includes a transformation module, a first comparing module, a second comparing module and a determination module. The transformation module is used for transforming the predetermined image to a predetermined image data and transforming the image frame to a first image data. The first comparing module and the second comparing module are used for comparing the predetermined image data with the first image information and generating a first comparing result and a second comparing result. The determination module is used for determining the comparing result of the image frame and the predetermined image according to the first comparing result and the second comparing result.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an image identification apparatus, and more particularly, to an image identification apparatus that is capable of efficiently improving the speed of image comparison.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the development of science and technology, techniques for image processing have matured. Many monitoring apparatuses that have a human face identification system are capable of comparing an image frame acquired by a sensor with a predetermined image. The monitoring apparatuses identify whether the acquired image frame is the desired human face image for security purposes or human face identification.
Conventionally, for performing an image comparison, a predetermined image is first stored in the image identification system in advance, and a sensor is utilized to acquire an image frame. The processor of the image identification system divides each image frame into a plurality of small image blocks, transforms each image block to a corresponding image data and then compares the image data with the pre-stored predetermined image to determine whether the image frame comprises an image which is the same as the pre-stored predetermined image. However, for the aforementioned method, the processor must perform a multitude of operations, as each image data contained in the image frame must be compared with the predetermined image. Additionally, due to the multitude of operations required to be performed by the processor, the time for image comparison is relatively long. As a result, the lengthy time performance limits expanded use for conventional image identification systems.
Therefore, it is important to provide an image identification apparatus capable of conducting image data comparison with reduced data amount, thus improving the speed of the image identification apparatus.

Image identification apparatus and method for comparing an image frame with a predetermined image