The scalable planar DMOS transistor structure of the present invention comprises a scalable source region surrounded by a planar gate region. The scalable source region comprises a p-base diffusion region being formed in a n− epitaxial semiconductor layer through a ring-shaped implantation window, a n+ source diffusion ring being formed in a surface portion of the p-base diffusion region through the ring-shaped implantation window, a p+ contact diffusion region being formed in a middle semiconductor surface portion through a self-aligned implantation window being surrounded by the ring-shaped implantation window, and a self-aligned source contact window being formed on the p+ contact diffusion region and the n+ source diffusion ring surrounded by a sidewall dielectric spacer. The planar gate region comprises a patterned heavily-doped polycrystalline-silicon gate layer being formed on a gate dielectric layer and capped locally with or without metal silicide layers.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a planar DMOS power transistor and its manufacturing method and, more particularly, to a scalable planar DMOS transistor structure being fabricated without using critical masking photoresist steps.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A conventional planar DMOS (double-diffused MOS) power transistor comprises a plurality of source regions being formed in a lightly-doped epitaxial semiconductor layer, wherein each of the plurality of source regions is formed to be surrounded by a planar gate region. A typical example can refer to FIG. 1, wherein the planar gate region comprises a doped polycrystalline-silicon layer 103a being formed on a gate-oxide layer 102a by using a first masking photoresist (PR1) step, as shown in FIG. 2A; the source region (SR) comprises a moderately-doped p-base diffusion region 104a being formed in the lightly-doped N− epitaxial silicon layer 101 through a first implantation window as shown in FIG. 2B; a heavily-doped n+ source diffusion ring 105a is formed in a surface portion of the moderately-doped p-base diffusion region 104a through a second implantation window between a patterned photoresist layer (PR2) and the patterned doped polycrystalline-silicon layer 103a by using a second masking photoresist (PR2) step as shown in FIG. 2C; a heavily-doped p+ diffusion region 107c being formed in a middle surface portion of the moderately-doped p-base diffusion region 104a through a contact window surrounded by a patterned interlayer oxide layer 106b by using a third masking photoresist (PR3) step as shown in FIG. 2E; and a source metal layer 108 is formed over the contact window and the patterned interlayer oxide layer 106b.
From the process steps and their schematic cross-sectional views shown in FIG. 2A through FIG. 2E, it is clearly seen that the second and third masking photoresist steps are critical masking photoresist steps and misalignments are inevitable, especially as source area is scaled down. Moreover, the patterned doped polycrystalline-silicon layer 103a is acted as a gate-interconnection conductive layer; higher gate-interconnection parasitic resistance may reduce switching speed of a planar DMOS power transistor.
It is, therefore, a major objective of the present invention to offer a scalable planar DMOS transistor structure being fabricated without critical masking photoresist steps to eliminate all deterioration effects due to misalignments of critical masking photoresist steps.
It is another objective of the present invention to offer a scalable planar DMOS transistor structure with a scalable source area to minimize cell size of a planar DMOS transistor cell.
It is a further objective of the present invention to offer a scalable planar DMOS transistor structure with a patterned heavily-doped polycrystalline-silicon gate layer being locally silicided with metal silicide layers to reduce gate-interconnection parasitic resistance.

Scalable planar DMOS transistor structure and its fabricating methods


The present disclosure describes a semiconductor structure that includes a substrate from an undoped semiconductor material and a fin disposed on the substrate. The fin includes a non-polar top surface and two opposing first and second polar sidewall surfaces. The semiconductor structure further includes a polarization layer on the first polar sidewall surface, a doped semiconductor layer on the polarization layer, a dielectric layer on the doped semiconductor layer and on the second polar sidewall surface, and a gate electrode layer on the dielectric layer and the first polarized sidewall surface.

Metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) scaling has been a preferred design choice to increase the performance of silicon complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technology. As device scaling has resulted in smaller transistors, the resulting larger device density has resulted in power densities on the order of 100 W/cm2. Further scaling would further increase power density and lead to transistor damage.


A laboratory flask holder, comprising a holder portion configured to receive a laboratory flask, a frame connected to the holder portion, wherein the holder portion is configured to pivot about the frame such that a liquid may be dispensed from the laboratory flask without moving the frame, a temperature sensor arranged on the holder portion configured to determine a temperature of a liquid in the laboratory flask, and a display for providing an indication of the temperature of the liquid is provided. Methods of using the flask holder and a dispensing system are also provided.

Laboratories across the world sterilize culture media by placing flasks containing the media in an autoclave which brings the flask to a temperature exceeding 120° C. After sterilization, researchers generally do not know the temperature of the media prior to pouring it into petri dishes for cell culture purposes. When using agar-containing media, the media begins to solidify when the temperature reaches room temperature. To avoid this issue, researchers often place flasks containing media in a water bath to maintain a higher temperature. However, this method may lead to evaporation and contamination in some poured dishes. Further, carrying hot flasks and testing the temperature by touching the flask leads to pain in the hands. Other issues with prior cell culture methods include the risk of dropping flasks when pouring media, e.g. in a laminar flow cabinet, due to some imbalance. This leads to wasted time for cleaning and lost media. In addition, most researchers rely on the eye only to determine the amount of the media in each plate thus leading to disproportionate amounts of poured media.
New flask stabilization and dispensing systems are needed to address the aforementioned problems.

Laboratory flask holder and dispensing system


Embodiments of the disclosed technology relate to a bipolar electrosurgical device for a laparoscopic environment, as well as methods for the use of such a device. Embodiments of the device may include a set of opposing jaws comprising at least one bipolar electrode pair disposed thereon, the set of jaws configured to deliver radiofrequency energy to a target tissue. Embodiments of the set of jaws, when closed, may have a diameter no greater than about 5 mm. The device may further include a shaft with a diameter that may be no greater than about 5 mm. Each of the jaws has a tissue-facing surface of each jaw that may include a complementary self-aligning configuration with respect to the longitudinal axis of the other jaw. Embodiments of the device may further include a pinless rotation assembly formed from rotatably cooperative features of the first jaw and the second jaw that connect the jaws together and enable the jaw set to pivot between an open position and a closed position.

Biopolar electrosurgical instruments apply radiofrequency (RF) energy to a surgical site to cut, ablate, or coagulate tissue. A particular application of these electrosurgical effects is to seal blood vessels or tissue sheets. A typical instrument takes the form of a set of forceps or pair of jaws, with one or more electrodes on each jaw tip. In an electrosurgical procedure, the electrodes are placed in close proximity to each other as the jaws are closed on a target site such that the path of alternating current between the two electrodes passes through tissue within the target site. The mechanical force exerted by the jaws and the electrical current combine to create the desired surgical effect. By controlling the level of mechanical and electrical parameters, such as the pressure applied by the jaws, the gap distance between electrodes, and the voltage, current, frequency, and duration of the electrosurgical energy applied to the tissue, the surgeon can coagulate, cauterize, or seal tissue toward a therapeutic end.
Electrosurgical procedures can be performed in an open environment, through conventional incisions, or they may be performed laparoscopically, through small incisions, typically 0.5 cm-1.5 cm in length. A laparoscopic procedure may include the use of a telescopic rod lens system that is connected to a video camera and to a fiber optic cable system that conveys light to illuminate the operative field. A laparoscope is typically inserted into a port in the body through a 5 mm or 10 mm cannula or trocar to view the operative field. Surgery is performed during a laparoscopic procedure with any of various tools that are typically arranged at the distal end of a shaft and are operable by manipulation of a handle or an actuator positioned at the proximal end of the shaft, and are dimensioned such that they can pass through a port provided by the 5 mm or 10 mm cannula.
As electrosurgical tools are applied in laparoscopic procedures, challenges to the devices arise regarding dimensional constraints imposed by the operating environment, including the smallness of a typical port of entry, which includes the use of conventional trocars with a 5 mm inner diameter. The technology provided herein addresses the need for improvements in device technology, that permit downsizing of the device while maintaining appropriate levels of mechanical strength and electrosurgical capability. For example, it is generally desirable to extend the length of conventional forceps in order to allow the sealing of greater lengths of tissue. As forceps length increases, it becomes a challenge to exert an appropriate level of force, particularly from the distal end of the forceps. The present disclosure provides technologies that represent progress in addressing these challenges.

Laparoscopic radiofrequency surgical device


Paste food dispensation devices and tillable, sealable sachets or pouches for food use are known in the art. The present invention provides a food dispensing system that enables food to be mashed within a hopper, and then to be dispensed into a pouch by way of a plunger formed from a masher with a cover on the head of the masher.

The present invention relates generally to a food dispensing system and method, and finds particular, although not exclusive, utility in food paste dispensing.
Liquid food dispensation devices comprising a plunger are known in the art. For example, US2011132200 to Pollack discloses a liquid dispenser which also infuses the liquid with the flavour of a garnish. The device comprises a hopper with a tap comprising a valve and spout to regulate the delivery of the infused liquid. The screw on cap, which secures the liquid within the dispenser, will be attached to a plunger and permeable catch tray. The catch tray will hold the garnish without letting the garnish interfere with the tap.
Paste food dispensation devices are known in the art. For example, GB2304825 to Bransby discloses a dispenser for soft butter etc. comprising an outer moulding which is internally screw-threaded and of which a bottom end portion is seated in a base cup. An inner moulding forms a sleeve within the outer moulding, a bottom end of the sleeve being secured to a floor of the base cup. A plunger is accommodated within the sleeve, to act as a piston for dispensing butter from a collapsible container within the sleeve, the butter being discharged through an orifice in a top piece. Four lugs of the plunger project radially through axially-extending slots in the sleeve into engagement with the screw-threaded outer moulding. By rotating the outer moulding relative to the base cup, the plunger can be driven through the sleeve, rotation of the plunger relative to the base cup being prevented by the engagement of the plunger lugs in the slots of the sleeve.
Finable, sealable sachets or pouches for food use are known in the art. For example, GB2426234 to Harrison discloses a dispensing system comprising: a partially or completely collapsed container such as a flexible pouch, for containing an individual portion of a liquid food or beverage, wherein the container comprises an inlet and a seal that substantially seals the inlet; and a liquid dispensing mechanism adapted to release the seal on the inlet and to inject a liquid into the container through the inlet to produce said individual portion of a liquid food or beverage inside the container. GB2426234 also discloses a method of making a container holding an individual portion of a liquid food or beverage product, comprising the steps of: providing a partially or completely collapsed container having a substantially rigid, sealed inlet; clamping the container in a liquid dispensing mechanism; and injecting a liquid into the container through the inlet by means of the liquid dispensing mechanism. The container may have an X-cut septum beneath the seal to reseal the inlet after the injector tube of the liquid dispensing mechanism is removed. The dispensing mechanism preferably comprises at least a clamp adapted to grip the containers, an injector tube for insertion into the inlet of the container, and a mechanism to insert the injector tube into the inlet of the container when it is held in the clamp. Optionally the dispensing mechanism further comprises a pump and control therefore for injecting the said predetermined amount of liquid into the containers.


An RFIC tag includes an IC chip and a thin metal plate. The IC chip is mounted approximately in the center of a slit part on the thin metal plate. The thin metal plate has connecting parts at both longitudinal-direction ends fixed on a metal member by soldering, and the undersurface of the slit part, which has an L-shaped slit thereon, is lifted a predetermined height from the surface of the metal member. The total length (L2+L1+L2) is ¼ or shorter than the communication wavelength λ.

The present invention relates to an RFIC tag attached to a metal object and a method of using the RFIC tag.
Recently, an RFIC (Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit) system is widely used where data is communicated via a radio wave between an RFIC tag, which contains an IC chip activated by a radio wave, and a reader, a writer, or a reader/writer (hereinafter generically called a reader/writer). Because this RFIC system uses an antenna, provided both on an RFIC tag and a reader/writer, for data communication to allow data to be communicated even if the RFIC tag is away from the reader/writer and because an RFIC tag is resistant to stain, the system finds various applications in production management in a factory, physical distribution management, room entry/exit management, and so on.
An RFIC tag having a dipole antenna and operating in the UHF band or SHF band does not work when it is placed near to a metal, for example, when it is placed directly on a metal object. Therefore, when an RFIC tag is attached to a metal object, a spacer made of plastic or rubber is provided between an RFIC tag and a metal object to keep spacing between the metal object and the antenna for suppressing the effect of the metal.
However, the problem is that, if a thinner spacer is used to narrow the spacing between the surface of the metal object and the antenna, the RFIC does not work. On the other hand, if a thick spacer is used to increase the spacing between the metal object and the antenna, the communication distance is extended but the RFIC tag protrudes from the surface of the metal object and, in this case, there is a possibility that the metal object, when used, strikes against a surrounding object or against another metal object with the result that the RFIC tag is damaged.
To solve the problem, JP-A-2005-309811 (see FIG. 2, FIG. 4, FIG. 6, and FIG. 7) discloses an RFIC tag in which a soft magnetic material is provided on the mounting face of the metal object on which the dipole antenna is attached, or a soft magnetic material and a spacer are provided from the metal object side on the mounting face of the metal object on which the dipole antenna is attached, or a spacer, a soft magnetic material, and a spacer are provided from the metal object side on the mounting face of the metal object on which the dipole antenna is attached.

Radio frequency integrated circuit tag and method of using the RFIC tag


Disclosed is an image processing system which relies upon quantization and dithering techniques to enable an output device, which has a given number of output levels, to accurately reproduce a image which is generated by an input device, which has a greater or equal number of input levels. Generally, neither the number of input nor output levels need to be a power of two. The present invention is implemented in a number of different embodiments. These embodiments generally rely upon an image processor which, depending on the particular implementation, includes memory devices and an adder, a comparator, or a bit shifter. Additional embodiments use an image adjustment system to refine the raw input levels of the input device, in order to create an improved output image. Also, the particular embodiments of the image processors can be used in connection with imaging systems having hi-tonal, monochromatic, or color input and output devices.

As is known in the art, an image processing system is often used to translate and feed input signals representative of an image in an input device to output signals representative of that same image in an output image. For example, a video camera may register a given input image, which is subsequently transferred to an output device, such as a video screen, or a printer. Often the input device may have a greater capacity to represent the different colors or gray scale shades of the input image than the output device. If the input device can represent more colors than the output device, an image processing system may be employed for converting the greater number of input colors to a lesser number of output colors, to make the output image appear as visually similar to the input image as possible. Four such methods of converting input images to output images are 1) histogram based methods, 2) chrominance subsampling, 3) hardware color mixing, and 4) dithering.
With a histogram based technique, a processor is used to collect histogram statistics on the input image data, and the statistical information is used to compensate the image data. Thus, the histogram technique requires two passes of the entire input image data; the first to acquire the histogram statistics and the second to compensate the data. This results in a system which has the drawback of being too slow for those applications in which speed is important. In addition, in cases where the colors change gradually over a wide area, considerable contouring of the image can occur, resulting in a less desirable output image.
Chrominance subsampling, on the other hand, typically requires specialized hardware, such as unconventional frame buffers and very fast and expensive upscaling and color space conversion hardware. Due to the unique hardware requirements of the chrominance subsampling technique, it is not practical to implement in a general computing environment. In addition, the image quality suffers in areas of high chrominance detail.
The third technique, hardware color mixing, requires that the image data must be preprocessed off line with a multiple pass algorithm. Thus, like the histogram based technique, this approach is also slow. Additionally, the resulting image file is device dependent, resulting in the requirement of unique hardware, a drawback similar to that of the chrominance subsampling technique.
The fourth technique for converting the greater number of input colors to a lesser number of output colors, dithering, is based on using the available set of output colors in a judicious arrangement so that the illusion of a greater number of output colors is provided. Additionally, the arrangement of the output colors through the dithering technique is designed to assure that a pleasing output image is produced.
One such dithering technique is reported in Ulichney, R. "Digital Halftoning". The MIT Press (1987), hereinafter referred to as "Ulichney". In Ulichney, equation 9.5 provides the following: EQU I.sub.k <x,y>=<1/(2.sup.k -1)><int}<(2.sup.k -1) J<x,y>>+D<x,y>}>
where:
I.sub.k <x,y> is the output value of the image at position x,y of the output image;
K is the number of bits used to represent the output value I<x,y>;
J<x,y> is the input value of the image at position x,y of the input image, normalized to a range between 0 and 1;
D<x,y> is the dither matrix value at position x,y of the dither matrix, normalized to a range between 0 and 1;
int{x} is a truncate function in which after any mathematical operations within the brackets are performed and a final value is determined, any amount remaining after the decimal point is truncated so that the remaining value is an integer. For example, int{5.3}=5, and int{27,999}=27;
One drawback to this dithering approach is that the equation only permits dithering to powers of 2, rather than any number. Also, the equation requires that the input must be scaled to a range between 0 and 1, but does not give any indication of how that scaling is to be done, or how the values of the dither matrix are to be spaced to achieve symmetric dithering.

Imaging system with multilevel dithering using bit shifter


An article of manufacture comprising packaging material and a pharmaceutical composition is disclosed, the article of manufacture being identified in print in or on the packaging material for treatment of an immunity-related disease in a subject in need thereof. The pharmaceutical composition comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and, as an active ingredient, a compound being capable of modulating an interaction between a heparin-binding domain of a thrombospondin and a receptor of the heparin-binding domain.

The present invention relates to methods of treating immunity-related diseases via modulation of differentiation of immunostimulatory/mature antigen-presenting cells, and further relates to articles of manufacture for practicing such treatment methods. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods of treating diseases characterized by pathological or insufficient immune responses, via modulation of thrombospondin-mediated endocytosis of apoptotic cells by antigen-presenting cells, and further particularly relates to the use of agonists or inhibitors of interactions between thrombospondin and thrombospondin receptors for practicing such disease treatment methods, respectively.
Immunity-related diseases comprise a large number of diseases characterized by significant mortality and morbidity, and for which no satisfactory/optimal treatments are presently available. Such diseases include those characterized by pathological immune responses, such as autoimmune, transplantation-related, inflammatory and alloimmune pregnancy diseases; and those characterized by insufficient immune responses, such as infectious and/or tumoral diseases.
Antigen-presenting cells, such as dendritic cells, play pivotal roles in modulation of immune responses. Under non-inflammatory conditions, immature dendritic cells in peripheral tissues continuously capture innocuous and cell-associated self-antigens and migrate to draining lymph nodes, where they can induce tolerance to such antigens (Steinman, R. M. et al., 2003. Tolerogenic dendritic cells. Annu. Rev. Immunol. 21:685-711). In contrast, under pathological conditions, such as in the presence of pathogens and necrotic cells, dendritic cells undergo a process of maturation involving up-regulation of costimulatory molecules, secretion of proinflammatory cytokines, and acquisition of the capacity stimulate the differentiation of naive T-cells into effector cells. The process of endocytosis of apoptotic cells by antigen-presenting cells, such as dendritic cells and macrophages, has been suggested to play an important role in maintenance of immune homeostasis, via resolution of inflammation, and via induction of peripheral immune tolerance (Savill, 2001; Vandivier et al., 2002; Verbovetski et al., 2002). It has been suggested that apoptotic cells facilitate their endocytosis by generating pro-endocytotic signals to professional phagocytes, and antigen-presenting cells, and that such endocytosis occurs in the absence of inflammatory or autoimmune responses (Voll et al., 1997; Fadok et al., 1998; Huynh et al., 2002; Verbovetski et al., 2002; Savill et al., 2002). Direct pro-endocytotic signals generated by apoptotic cells include alterations in cell surface phospholipid composition (Fadok et al., 1992), changes in cell surface glycoprotein expression, or distinct alterations in cell surface charge (Henson et al., 2001). As well, certain serum proteins can opsonize an apoptotic cell surface and signal phagocytes to endocytose the opsonized apoptotic cells (Mevorach et al., 1998; Mevorach, 1999; Verbovetski et al., 2002), and apoptotic cells can secrete molecules, such as lysophosphatidylcholine, so as to attract phagocytes (Lauber et al., 2003). In contrast to apoptotic cells, viable cells provide signals actively preventing their endocytosis, for example via restriction of phosphatidylserine to the inner leaflet of their membrane, and by surface display of CD31, which is down-regulated upon apoptosis (Brown et al., 2002). The range of mechanisms involved in mediating and regulating identification and clearance of apoptotic cells indicate that such processes are essential for proper maintenance of immune homeostasis.
Thrombospondins are a family of extracellular glycoproteins consisting of five members in vertebrates: thrombospondin (TSP)-1 (TSP-1), thrombospondin-2, thrombospondin-3, thrombospondin-4, and thrombospondin-5/cartilage oligomeric matrix protein. Thrombospondin-1, which is secreted by macrophages and dendritic cells (Savill et al., 1992, Doyen et al., 2003), fibroblasts (Moodley et al., 2003) and other cell types (Adams, 2001), has been implicated in mediating endocytosis of apoptotic cells by antigen-presenting cells (Savill et al., 1992; Moodley et al., 2003; Stern et al., 1996). This molecule is a homotrimeric glycoprotein composed of subunits each having a molecular weight of approximately 145 kilodalton, which was first described as a platelet alpha-granule protein that is released upon activation (Baenziger et al., 1971), and which has been found to mediate numerous cell-matrix and cell-cell activities through a variety of receptors (reviewed by Adams, 2001). Thrombospondin-1 has an N-terminal, heparin-binding domain (HBD) which is cleaved and released upon platelet aggregation (reviewed in Elzie et al., 2004), and which is capable of specifically binding CD29/beta1 integrin, as evidenced by its capacity to specifically bind at least three different beta1 integrins, including alpha3beta1, alpha6beta1, and alpha4beta1 integrins, (Krutzsch, H. C. et al., 1999. J. Biol. Chem. 274:24080-24086; Chandrasekaran, L. et al., 2000. Mol. Biol. Cell 11, 2885-2900; Calzada, M. J. et al., 2003. J. Biol. Chem. 278:40679-40687). The heparin-binding domain has been suggested to mediate thrombospondin-1-induced angiogenesis (Chandrasekaran, L. et al., 2000. Mol. Biol. Cell 11, 2885-2900), cell adhesion, and cellular chemotaxis (Krutzsch, H. C. et al., 1999. J. Biol. Chem. 274:24080-24086; Calzada, M. J. et al., 2003. J. Biol. Chem. 278:40679-40687), but has not been implicated in regulation of immunostimulatory differentiation/maturation of antigen-presenting cells.
In view of the role of thrombospondin-1 in mediating endocytosis of apoptotic cells by antigen-presenting cells, and in view of the role of such endocytosis in inhibition of differentiation of immunostimulatory/mature antigen-presenting cells a potentially advantageous strategy for treating immunity-related diseases may be to suitably modulate thrombospondin-1-induction of such differentiation.
Various approaches have been proposed in the art for modulating thrombospondin-1-mediated inhibition of differentiation of immunostimulatory/mature antigen-presenting cells.
One approach which has been suggested for stimulating such differentiation involves using thrombospondin-1 at agonistic concentrations of 0.4 to 10 micrograms per milliliter, in an attempt to increase endocytosis of apoptotic neutrophils by macrophages (Savill et al., 1992).
Several prior art approaches have been suggested, as follows, for decreasing/eliminating thrombospondin-1-mediated inhibition of differentiation of immunostimulatory/mature antigen-presenting cells.
One approach involves using soluble thrombospondin-1 at inhibitory/blocking concentrations. This approach has been attempted using thrombospondin-1 at blocking concentrations of 100 micrograms per milliliter, in an attempt to inhibit endocytosis of apoptotic neutrophils by macrophages (Savill et al., 1992).
Another approach involves using anti-thrombospondin-1 antibodies for blocking interactions of thrombospondin-1 with receptors thereof. This approach has been attempted using a monoclonal antibody (A6.1) specific for the EGF repeat motif of thrombospondin-1, in an attempt to inhibit endocytosis of apoptotic neutrophils by macrophages (Savill et al., 1992); a monoclonal antibody (A2.5) specific for the N-terminal domain of thrombospondin-1, in an attempt to inhibit endocytosis of apoptotic neutrophils by macrophages (Savill et al., 1992); or anti-thrombospondin-1 antibody, in an attempt to inhibit endocytosis of apoptotic eosinophils by antigen-presenting cells (Stern et al., 1996).
Yet another approach involves disrupting interactions between thrombospondin-1 and the thrombospondin-1 receptor CD36, a ligand of the internal/non-N-terminal type 1 repeats of thrombospondin-1. This approach has been attempted using blocking antibodies specific for CD36, in an attempt to inhibit endocytosis of apoptotic neutrophils (Savill et al., 1992), eosinophils (Stern et al., 1996) or fibroblasts (Moodley et al., 2003) by macrophages; administering antibodies specific for CD36, in an attempt to inhibit LPS-induced dendritic cell maturation, as determined via inhibition of T-cell activation and pro-inflammatory cytokine production (Urban B C. et al., 2001. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 98:8750-8755); or by administering a monoclonal antibody (A4.1) specific for the CD36-binding central stalk-like region of thrombospondin-1 (type 1 repeats), in an attempt to inhibit endocytosis of apoptotic fibroblasts by macrophages (Moodley et al., 2003).
Still another approach involves disrupting the interaction between thrombospondin-1 and CD47, a thrombospondin-1 receptor binding the C-terminal portion of thrombospondin-1. This approach has been tried using blocking antibodies specific for CD47, in an attempt to inhibit bacteria-induced dendritic cell maturation, as determined via inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokine production (Demeure C E. et al., 2000. J Immunol. 164:2193; Doyen et al., 2003); or using a monoclonal antibody (C6.7) specific for the extreme C-terminus of thrombospondin-1, in an attempt to inhibit endocytosis of apoptotic neutrophils by macrophages (Savill et al., 1992), or immunosuppressive cytokine production by dendritic cells (Doyen et al., 2003).
A further approach involves disrupting specific interactions between C-terminal RGD repeats of thrombospondin-1 and alphaVbeta3 integrin. This approach has been attempted using blocking antibodies specific for CD51/alphaV integrin, in an attempt to inhibit LPS-induced dendritic cell maturation, as determined via inhibition of T-cell activation and pro-inflammatory cytokine production (Urban B C. et al., 2001. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 98:8750-8755); by administering a monoclonal antibody specific for integrin alphaVbeta3, a potential thrombospondin-1 receptor, in an attempt to inhibit endocytosis of apoptotic eosinophils (Stern et al., 1996) or apoptotic fibroblasts (Moodley et al., 2003) by macrophages; or by inducing down-regulation of surface-display of alphaVbeta3 integrin in macrophages, in an attempt to inhibit endocytosis of apoptotic neutrophils (Savill et al., 1992).
An additional approach involves exposing antigen-presenting cells to compounds, such as RGDS peptide or heparin, capable of binding the heparin-binding domain (Beppu R. et al., 2001. Immunol Invest. 30:143-56).
However, the prior art approaches for modulating thrombospondin-1-mediated inhibition of differentiation of immunostimulatory/mature dendritic cells suffer from various critical drawbacks, including: not having been tested in-vivo; not having been investigated using dendritic cells, the antigen-presenting cell type having the most potent immunomodulatory capacity; resulting in induction of both immunostimulatory and immunosuppressive differentiation; being ineffective or suboptimally effective; and/or, having failed to demonstrate any capacity to modulate differentiation of immunostimulatory/mature antigen-presenting cells, such as with respect to surface expression of costimulatory molecules.
Critically, no prior art approach has demonstrated any therapeutic capacity.
Thus, all prior art approaches have failed to provide an adequate solution for treating immunity-related diseases by suitably modulating thrombospondin-1-mediated inhibition of differentiation of immunostimulatory/mature antigen-presenting cells.
There is thus a widely recognized need for, and it would be highly advantageous to have, novel and effective methods ands medicaments for treating immunity-related diseases devoid of the above limitation.

Immune disease medicament comprising a modulator of the binding between a heparin binding domain of thrombospondin-1 and a beta1 integrin

Hadasit Medical Research Services and Development Ltd.

Yissum Research Development Company of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem


A touch panel is provided. The touch panel comprises a first substrate and a second substrate facing the first substrate. A black matrix is formed on the first substrate defining a plurality of sub-pixel areas, a plurality of color filters on the sub-pixel areas. A photosensitive sensitive element is formed on the second substrate. The color filters comprise a red color filter, a green color filter, a blue color filter and a white color filter over the photosensitive element.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a touch panel, and in particular to light sensitive touch panel having improved photosensitivity.
2. Description of the Related Art
Touch panels generally include a liquid crystal panel (LCD) with an additional sensitive film thereon. The additional sensitive film may increase cost and reduce the transmittance of the LCD about by 20%. Light sensitive touch panels include a photosensitive thin film transistor with photosensitive amorphous channel and a display element of LCD integrated and manufactured thus lowering cost and improving optical properties.
FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of a conventional light sensitive touch panel. The light sensitive touch panel 10 comprises a first substrate (not shown) and a second substrate (not shown). A black matrix on the first substrate defining a plurality of sub-pixel areas (not shown); a plurality of color filter patterns on the sub-pixel areas (not shown). A plurality of horizontal scan lines 16 and a plurality of perpendicular data lines 18 are disposed on the second substrate. Each sub-pixel includes a pixel thin film transistor 20 having a gate electrically connected to one of the scan lines 16, a source electrically connected to one of the data lines 18 and a drain electrically connected to a pixel electrode (not shown). FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the sub-pixels of the conventional light sensitive touch panel. A red color filter 24, a green color filter 26 and a blue color filter 28 corresponding to the respective pixel electrodes 22 are formed on the upper substrate 12 to respectively display red light, green light and blue light. The pixel electrodes 22 are formed on the lower substrate 14. Additionally, a black matrix 30 is formed among the red color filter 24, the green color filter 26 and the blue color filter 28 to shield the pixel thin film transistor (not shown) and prevent light leakage from adjacent sub-pixels, thereby obtaining high contrast.
The Human eye has relatively low sensitivity to blue light, thus a photosensitive element comprising a photosensitive thin film transistor and a readout thin film transistor must be located under the blue color filter. As shown in FIG. 1, a photosensitive thin film transistor 32 comprises a gate electrode and a source electrode both electrically connected to a horizontal common line 34 and a drain electrode electrically connected to the readout thin film transistor 36. The readout thin film transistor 36 comprises a gate electrode electrically connected to one of the scan lines 16, a source electrically connected to a perpendicular readout line 38 and a drain electrically connected to the photosensitive thin film transistor 32. Under the blue color filter, the gates of the pixel thin film transistor 20 and the readout thin film transistor 36 are respectively connected to the adjacent scan lines 16 surrounding the blue sub-pixel. When the photosensitive thin film transistor 32 is radiated by an ambient light, a photo current is produced. On the other hand, when the photosensitive thin film transistor 32 is shielded by a touch object, the photo current is not produced. The readout thin film transistor 36 reads out and periodically transfers the photo current to a processor (not shown) by a readout line 38. The touched position can be detected by the processor according to photo current change when light sensitive touch panel 10 is touched by a touch object. Thus, the touch control function of the touch panel can be performed.
The photosensitive element is arranged under the blue color filter of the conventional light sensitive touch panel, the photosensitive thin film transistor is therefore radiated by the ambient light after passing through the blue color filter. The ambient light is partially absorbed by the blue color filter thus reducing the photosensitivity of the photosensitive element.


An improved method and system for reading and analyzing fingerprints is disclosed. According to the present invention, fingerprints are scanned and then analyzed to determine a value in dependence upon a predetermined acquisition parameter, such as for instance one of a moisture content of the fingertip and an applied fingertip pressure. The scanned fingerprint is subsequently processed to remove “false minutiae” in dependence upon the determined value, whilst retaining authentic minutiae for user authentication. Processing the fingertip to determine a condition thereof prior to image processing results in a more selective removal of minutiae, thus resulting in a larger set of minutiae being retained for comparison to a stored biometric template.

Various optical devices are known which employ prisms upon which a finger whose print is to be identified is placed. The prism has a first surface upon which a finger is placed, a second surface disposed at an acute angle to the first surface through which the fingerprint is viewed and a third illumination surface through which light is directed into the prism. In some cases, the illumination surface is at an acute angle to the first surface, as seen for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,187,482 and 5,187,748. In other cases, the illumination surface is parallel to the first surface, as seen for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,109,427 and 5,233,404. Fingerprint identification devices of this nature are generally used to control the building-access or information-access of individuals to buildings, rooms, and devices such as computer terminals.
One of the problems associated with fingerprint sensors concerns the reliable and accurate transformation of the ridge-and-valley pattern of the fingertip into electrical or optical signals to be stored in a digital format. Optical systems as described above, for example using a prism, require sophisticated equipment and tend to be bulky and costly.
In an attempt to overcome some of the limitations and disadvantages of using optical systems based on illumination of the finger tip, U.S. Pat. No. 4,353,056 in the name of Tsikos issued Oct. 5, 1982, discloses an alternative kind of fingerprint sensor that uses a capacitive sensing approach. The described sensor has a two dimensional, row and column, array of capacitors, each comprising a pair of spaced electrodes, carried in a sensing member and covered by an insulating film. The sensors rely upon deformation to the sensing member caused by a finger being placed thereon so as to vary locally the spacing between capacitor electrodes, according to the ridge-and-valley pattern of the fingerprint, and hence, the capacitance of the capacitors. In one arrangement, the capacitors of each column are connected in series with the columns of capacitors connected in parallel and a voltage is applied across the columns. In another arrangement, a voltage is applied to each individual capacitor in the array. Sensing in the respective two arrangements is accomplished by detecting the change of voltage distribution in the series connected capacitors or by measuring the voltage values of the individual capacitances resulting from local deformation. To achieve this, an individual connection is required from the detection circuit to each capacitor.
While the described sensor may not suffer from the problems associated with the kind of sensor employing an optical sensing technique, it suffers from its own problems. For example, applying a voltage to the array of capacitors requires circuitry to each capacitor for charging. Such charging also requires further states in the imaging process consuming more resources and providing added areas for unreliability. Moreover, the need to provide a respective connection to each individual capacitor in the array means that a very large number of connecting lines is necessary. This creates difficulties, both in the fabrication of the sensing member and its interconnection with the detection circuit.
In yet another attempt to improve upon deficiencies and limitations of the aforementioned and other prior art, a further contact imaging device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,325,442 in the name of Knapp, issued Jun. 28, 1994. Those parts of the disclosure of this patent not included in this specification are incorporated herein by reference.
Knapp describes making a capacitance measuring imaging device in the form of a single large active matrix array involving deposition and definition by photolithographic processes of a number of layers on a single large insulating substrate. Electrodes and sets of address conductors formed of metal and field effect transistors are formed as amorphous silicon or polycrystalline silicon thin film transistors (TFTs) using an appropriate substrate of, for example, glass or quartz.
A fingerprint sensing device and recognition system that includes an array of closely spaced apart sensing elements each comprising a sensing electrode and an amplifier circuit is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,778,089 in the name of Borza, issued Jul. 7, 1998. The device is used to sense electrical charge on a fingertip and obviates the need to pre-charge the sensing electrode. The device may be constructed with a single die or with multiple dies. Those parts of the disclosure of this patent not included in this specification are incorporated herein by reference.
Fingerprint analysis is perhaps the most widely used and studied biometric technique. The analysis of fingerprints is discussed in the following references which are hereby incorporated by reference:                Xiao Qinghan and Bian Zhaoqi,: An approach to Fingerprint Identification By Using the Attributes of Feature Lines of Fingerprint," IEEE Pattern Recognition, pp 663, 1986;        C. B. Shelman, "Fingerprint Classification—Theory and Application," Proc. 76 Carnahan Conference on Electronic Crime Countermeasures, 1976;        Feri Pernus, Stanko Kovacic, and Ludvik Gyergyek, "Minutiae Based Fingerprint Registration," IEEE Pattern Recognition, pp 1380, 1980;        J. A. Ratkovic, F. W. Blackwell, and H. H. Bailey, "Concepts for a Next Generation Automated Fingerprint System," Proc. 78 Carnahan Conference on Electronic Crime Countermeasures, 1978;        K. Millard, "An approach to the Automatic Retrieval of Latent Fingerprints," Proc. 75 Carnahan Conference on Electronic Crime Countermeasures, 1975;        Wegstein, An Automated Fingerprint Identification System, NBS special publication, U.S. Department of Commerce/National Bureau of Standards, ISSN 0083-1883; no. 500-89, 1982; and        Moenssens, Andre A., Fingerprint Techniques, Chilton Book Co., 1971; and,        Wegstein and J. F. Rafferty, The LX39 Latent Fingerprint Matcher, NBS special publication, U.S. Department of Commerce/National Bureau of Standards; no. 500-36, 1978.
Typically in electronic fingerprint matching, a live fingerprint is scanned and electronically digitized. The digitized data generally contains information pertaining to characteristic features of the fingerprint, such as ridge endings, points of ridge bifurcation, and the core of a whorl i.e., fingerprint minutiae. The digitized data is then compared with stored data relating to fingerprints that have been obtained previously from corresponding authorized persons i.e., fingerprint templates. When a match is detected, within a predetermined level of security in the form of a predetermined false acceptance rate, the individual is identified and a corresponding action is performed.
In general, there are two types of errors associated with fingerprint identification. The first is false reject (Type I) error and the second is false accept (Type II) error. False accept errors occur when there are enough similarities between fingerprints of two individuals, that one is mistaken for the other. A false reject error occurs for a variety of reasons, and refers to when an individual is not identified even though the individual is an authorized user registered with the system.
A moisture dependent variation of the ridge-and-valley pattern of a same fingertip often leads to an increased incidence of Type I errors, which causes undue inconvenience to users of a fingerprint identification system. For instance, seasonal weather patterns, high levels of physical exertion, the user wearing gloves to warm his hands, etc. can cause a fingertip to be excessively dry or excessively moist relative to a template fingerprint that was provided during an initial enrollment operation. A warm, moist fingertip tends to be swollen slightly, such that adjacent ridges are pushed more closely together and may connect (a ridge inter-connect). Further, the fingerprint identification system may mistakenly register sweat or moisture that is trapped within a valley as a fingertip ridge. In contrast, a cool, dry fingertip tends to be constricted slightly, such that portions thereof fail to make proper contact with the imaging surface, causing the fingerprint identification system to register gaps or discontinuities where there is in fact a continuous ridge. Of course, when a sample image from one of a moist and a dry fingertip is compared to a reference image obtained previously under ideal conditions, there is an increased likelihood that the user will be falsely rejected.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,241,288, issued Jun. 5, 2001 to Bergenek et al., teaches a fingerprint identification/verification method using stored bitmap images of a reference fingerprint to correlate with a bitmap image of an input fingerprint. The method includes a user enrollment step, during which step an imaging device captures a binarized reference image of a fingerprint presented by the user. The binarized reference image is checked for 'dryness' or 'wetness' as part of a quality control portion of the enrollment step. If the image is 'too dry', the pressure applied to the sensor was too light or the sensor failed to detect parts of ridges because of fingertip dryness. If the image is 'too wet', moisture on the fingertip 'flooded' the fingerprint valleys. Wetness or dryness is detected by analyzing the image for too few dark pixels (dryness) or, too many dark pixels and continuous dark areas (wetness). If the reference image is rejected, the person is asked to correct the problem and another reference image is taken. Optionally, the input fingerprint is subjected to a similar quality control process during a recognition step of the method, for instance when the user wishes to be authenticated. Unfortunately, the onus is on the user to correct the problem, causing the user to suffer inconvenience unnecessarily.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,131,464, issued Oct. 17, 2000 to Pare, Jr. et al., discloses a pressure sensitive biometric input apparatus and a method of operating same. An image of a fingertip under investigation is captured at an imaging area of the apparatus. If the image is too dark, the pressure at which the image was scanned is examined. If the pressure is at the higher end of a predetermined pressure range, a preferred embodiment of the invention instructs the user to use less pressure, postulating that the user might have well-defined ridges and a decrease in pressure might well lighten the image to an acceptable level. Otherwise, an embodiment of the invention concludes that the most likely cause of the problem is too much moisture, and instructs the user to dry his or her finger and retry the scan. Unfortunately, the user must attempt multiple fingerprint scans before an acceptable match is obtained. Further unfortunately, the onus is on the user to correct the problem, causing the user to suffer inconvenience unnecessarily.
It would be advantageous to provide a method and a system to process data indicative of a fingerprint image and to determine a value in dependence upon a moisture level thereof, prior to attempting user authentication. The determined value for selecting a particular reference fingerprint of a plurality of reference fingerprints, each of the plurality of reference fingerprints obtained at a known fingertip moisture state.

Method and system for fingerprint authentication


An electro-optical device substrate includes a first transparent substrate; a second transparent substrate that faces the first transparent substrate, the second transparent substrate including recesses in non-aperture regions of a surface of the second transparent substrate that faces the first transparent substrate, the recesses causing light that is incident to the non-aperture regions to refract toward aperture regions; and an adhesive that bonds the first and second transparent substrates together.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an electro-optical device substrate used for an electro-optical device, such as a liquid crystal device, to an electro-optical device including the electro-optical device substrate, and an electronic apparatus, such as a liquid crystal projector, including the electro-optical device.
2. Related Art
An electro-optical device, such as a liquid crystal device, includes a thin-film transistor (TFT) array substrate in which various lines, such as data lines, scanning lines, and capacitor lines, and various electronic elements, such as TFT transistors, are provided in an image display area of the electro-optical device and a counter substrate. The TFT array substrate and the counter substrate are disposed so as to face each other with an electro-optical material layer, such as a liquid crystal layer, therebetween. With this configuration, when parallel light is incident to the electro-optical device, only the amounts of light corresponding to the aperture ratios of pixels among the total amount of light can be used.
Thus, in the related art, a microlens array including microlenses corresponding to pixels is provided in a counter substrate or a microlens-array plate is attached to the counter substrate. By using such microlenses, light that travels toward non-aperture regions, which are regions other than aperture regions of the pixels, is condensed for individual pixels and is guided to the aperture regions of the pixels when penetrating through an electro-optical material layer. Thus, such an electro-optical device is capable of providing a bright display.
Such a microlens-array plate is manufactured by gluing, using an adhesive made of photocurable resin, a cover glass to one side of a transparent plate member including a recessed portion and a protruding portion that define a curved surface of each of the microlenses. For example, a technology for maintaining a predetermined thickness of an adhesive used for a microlens-array plate is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-133261.
In the case of using the microlens array described above, however, it is practically difficult to accurately control the configurations of microlenses, such as the sizes and curvatures of the microlenses. There is a technical problem in that it is difficult to form microlenses having desired configurations. Thus, a desired light-condensing ability may not be achieved, resulting in a deterioration in display quality. As a result, the manufacturing yield may be reduced, resulting in a reduction in the reliability of the apparatus.

Electro-optical device substrate, electro-optical device, and electronic apparatus


(1) Various gear states are selected by movement of a shift lever 2 in a longitudinal shift path 13 and the gear stage is automatically shifted from starting to the maximum gear stage in an automatic speed change position D, so that an operator can run a vehicle with increased safety and easy operation without operation of the shift lever 2. (2) When a push button switch 3 provided in the shift lever 1 is pressed during the automatic speed change running, the gear stage during the running is fixed, so that inadvertent automatic shift is prevented and an optimum speed stage is maintained when the work load on the vehicle's engine changes, for example when the vehicle encounters a slope or a change in load during in operation. (3) When the gear stage is fixed in the automatic speed change position D and the shift lever 2 is transversely moved in the transverse shift path 14, the operator can vary the stages while varying one stage a time with the operator's will. That is, the manual speed change or transmission can be selected regardless of the automatic speed change state. The operator can switch the transmission state to the automatic transmission state or the manual transmission state in accordance with various running states and operation states to thereby improve the operation efficiency of the operation vehicle.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electronically controlled automatic transmission for vehicles such as, for example, vehicles having a multi-stage automatic transmission, dump cars, trailer tractors motor graders, automobiles and the like.
Further, the present invention relates to an electronically controlled automatic transmission for vehicles in which an electronic control unit controls supply and discharge of pressurized oil on the basis of signals from a shift lever and running state detecting means to attain a desired speed change or transmission stage.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
An example of a conventional transmission for vehicles is schematically illustrated in FIG. 23. The transmission includes a multi-stage multi-plate clutch and gear. Thus, an operator moves a shift lever to a speed-stage in accordance with a speed manually to switch a hydraulic valve through a rod, wire or the like and selects a speed change or transmission stage to make operation running.
Another example of a conventional automatic transmission for vehicles is schematically illustrated in FIG. 24. In the transmission, an operator moves a shift lever into a unidirectional shift path to attain automatic speed change operation or transmission operation.
The conventional automatic transmission for vehicles illustrated in FIG. 24 has problems as follows:
(1) The conventional automatic transmission of FIG. 24 includes the shift lever moved in only one direction. In this shift lever, when a transmission having a number of speed change stages or transmission stages is automatically changed, for example when automatic speed change operation or transmission operation for eight stages is attained, it is necessary to provide many positions such as P (parking), N (neutral), D (automatic speed change OF automatic transmission), 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1 in order to be able to select all speed stages manually by the operator and automatically. Accordingly, there is a problem that large space is occupied practically. In addition, operation is difficult and operation error tends to occur.
(2) In an automobile having an automatic transmission, normally, manual speed change operation or manual transmission operation is impossible at a high stage, and the automobile is used with high engine rotation during high-speed operation at D (automatic transmission) position in order to produce drive force. Accordingly, when a running speed is increased due to variation of a running resistance or slope, a shift-up operation is made unintentionally and lack of drive force occurs disadvantageously. Accordingly, manual transmission at a high-speed stage is desirable.
(3) When a multi-stage transmission operation, for example 8-stage transmission operation is attained in a vehicle having only manual transmission, 8 or more transmission positions are required. Accordingly, there is a problem that shift error by the operator occurs and transmission operation is troublesome.
A transmission mounted in a construction and civil engineering machinery such as a motor grader, a self-running scraper (motor scraper), a bulldozer and a wheel-type tractor shovel (wheel loader) or an industrial vehicle such as a forklift truck and a straddle carrier is required to cover a speed change area or transmission area from a very low speed area for original work to a normal running speed for running on a general road. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 23, 6 to 8 transmission stages for both of forward and backward running are provided in general.
As described above, the transmission mounted in the construction and civil engineering machinery and the industrial vehicle includes very many transmission stages. Accordingly, in order to make small its structure and facilitate its transmission operation, the transmission adopts a direct power shift transmission (hereinafter referred to as a DSP) disclosed in Japanese Provisional Publication (Kokai) No. 62-255621 (1987). The DSP includes friction engagement elements such as clutch and brake assembled to rotating elements constituting a plurality of planetary gears in which an input axial end of the rotating elements is directly coupled with an output axis of an engine without a fluid coupling such as a torque converter. Thus, the DSP electrically controls selective supply and discharge of pressurized oil with respect to the friction engagement elements to thereby couple any rotating element of the planetary gears to the input axis of the transmission or fix the rotating element to a casing of the transmission, so that a transmission ratio is switched in accordance with a position of the transmission stage of the shift lever selected on the basis of operation of a driver.
The construction and civil engineering machinery and the industrial vehicle are to make special work and accordingly very many operation levers and switches are disposed around a driver's seat in addition to a steering handle and a shift lever. For example, a motor grader includes about ten operation levers disposed in a steering console provided with a steering handle to operate a blade and a scarifier. Further, a shift lever, many switches for lighting, various meters are disposed adjacent to the driver's seat.
Accordingly, operation of the operation levers, switches and the shift lever are very troublesome. Smooth operation of the construction and civil engineering machinery and the industrial vehicle requires very high skill.
(4) However, when various circumstances such as a great age of skilled operators and reduction of the absolute number of skilled operators are considered, it is desirable that the operability is made as simple as possible and the construction and civil engineering machinery and the industrial vehicle (hereinafter referred as vehicles) can be operated relatively easily by even other person than the skilled operator.

Electronically controlled automatic transmission for vehicles


In various embodiments, photovoltaic modules are hermetically sealed by providing a first glass sheet, a photovoltaic device disposed on the first glass sheet, and a second glass sheet, a gap being defined between the first and second glass sheets, disposing a glass powder within the gap, and heating the powder to seal the glass sheets.

Current state-of-the-art photovoltaic (PV) modules based on silicon (Si) wafer technology employ a front glass/encapsulant/wafer/encapsulant/backsheet structure. Polyvinyl fluoride (e.g., Tedlar® from DuPont) is the most commonly used backsheet in wafer-based Si PV modules. This material is inherently transparent for water vapor and gases—i.e., it does not enable or maintain a hermetic seal. Thin-film PV modules based on amorphous Si (a-Si), CdTe, or copper indium gallium selenide (CuInxGa1-xSe2 or CIGS) most often utilize a glass-glass architecture with one of the glass sheets either serving as the substrate (CIGS) or superstrate (a-Si, CdTe) onto which the active PV material is deposited directly. The function of the second glass sheet is to serve as either the protective top (CIGS) or back cover (a-Si, CdTe). Both sheets of glass are held together with a single encapsulant layer. For practical purposes the 1.8-4 mm-thick sheets of glass are impermeable to water and gases. However, moisture and gas ingress can occur along the edges of the glass/encapsulant/glass sandwich. Exposure to such moisture can result in issues such as corrosion, decreased minority carrier lifetime, and increased series resistance, deleteriously impacting the performance and lifetime of the PV module. To slow down moisture ingress and gas permeation, butyl-based edge seals are typically applied, as butyl rubber has water vapor transmission rates (WVTR) on the order of 10−6 g/m2-day, orders of magnitude below the WVTR for typical encapsulant materials.
While the WVTR value for butyl is considered to be adequate for long-term protection, the overall vulnerability of a device to moisture usually derives less from the bulk diffusivity of the butyl than from the durability of the interface between the butyl and the glass. Adhesion promoters to establish coupling of the polymer to the glass are typically added to the butyl, but the resulting bonds tend to be weak and easily damaged by ultraviolet radiation, prolonged exposure to elevated temperatures, and humidity—i.e., conditions in which PV modules are commonly deployed. Stresses present between the two sheets of glass can further strain the glass/butyl interfaces. Hence, even for such edge-sealed glass-glass structures, moisture penetration is a common field failure mode. Thus, there is a need for hermetically sealed modules and techniques that enable environmental protection of thin-film PV devices and which are superior to current butyl-rubber-based solutions.

Methods of hermetically sealing photovoltaic modules


A gloss determination device includes: an image acquiring unit that acquires a parallelly polarized image obtained by photographing an object illuminated by first polarized light through a polarizing filter which passes a polarized component polarized in a same direction as a polarization direction of the first polarized light, and a perpendicularly polarized image obtained by photographing the object illuminated by second polarized light through a polarizing filter which passes a polarized component polarized in a perpendicular direction to the polarization direction of the second polarized light; a differential image producing unit that produces a differential image indicating differences in brightness between the parallelly polarized image and the perpendicularly polarized image; and a gloss determining unit that determines a gloss condition of the object based on the differential image.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a gloss determination device and a gloss determination method for determining a gloss condition of a human face or the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
Gloss sometimes appears on a surface of a substance due to balance between the state of the surface and the illumination condition. Strong gloss on a human face is called "shine".
In a case, for example, of determining a skin condition such as presence of wrinkles from a photographed image of a human face, the determination accuracy sometimes reduces unless influences of the gloss are considered. On the other hand, it is possible to determine a skin condition such as a sebum level from gloss appearing on the skin. Accordingly, it is beneficial for performing the skin condition determination or the like to determine conditions of gloss such as strength of gloss or distribution of gloss (hereinafter referred to as "gloss conditions").
Therefore, some techniques for determining the gloss conditions of an object are disclosed in PTL 1 to PTL 3 of the Patent Literatures.
In the technique disclosed in PTL 1, brightness of each pixel is calculated in a photographed image of a substance which is an object to be determined as to its gloss condition (hereinafter referred to as an "object"). In this technique disclosed in PTL 1, a region which has a much higher brightness than major components around the region is determined as a region which has a high gloss level (hereinafter referred to as a "gloss region").
In the technique disclosed in PTL 2, it is determined that a photographed image of an object contains a gloss region if pixels each having a brightness value equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold value are contained in the image.
In the technique disclosed in PTL 3, a total reflectivity and a quarter value diffuse reflectivity on a surface of an object are measured, where the total reflectivity is a reflectivity of light when natural light enters the surface of the object, and the quarter value diffuse reflectivity is a reflectivity of S polarized component of light when P polarized light enters the surface of the object. Then, in the technique disclosed in PTL 3, strength of gloss is determined based on a value obtained by subtracting a value which is four times as large as the quarter diffuse reflectivity from the total reflectivity.

Gloss determination device and gloss determination method

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.


An aging detection circuit, an aging compensation circuit, a display panel, and an aging compensation method are provided. The aging detection circuit includes: a first current mirror circuit, a second current mirror circuit, a voltage converter and an analog-digital converter. An input terminal of the first current mirror circuit is electrically coupled to an initial reference voltage terminal and an anode of a to-be-detected light-emitting diode respectively, and an output terminal of the first current mirror circuit is electrically coupled to an input terminal of the second current mirror circuit. An output terminal of the second current mirror circuit is electrically coupled to an input terminal of the voltage converter.

An organic light-emitting diode display panel may display images by controlling organic light-emitting diodes in pixel circuits to emit light. However, the organic light-emitting diode may age as time passes, thereby resulting in an increased voltage across a cathode and an anode of the organic light-emitting diode.
The voltage V across the cathode and anode of the organic light-emitting diode increases with the aging of the organic light-emitting diode, and a capacitance value of a parasitic capacitor Coled formed between the cathode and anode of the organic light-emitting diode remains unchanged, which results in an increased amount Q of charges stored in the parasitic capacitor Coled according to the formula Coled·V=Q, and in turn results in that the parasitic capacitor is charged first when the organic light-emitting diode is driven for display, and therefore the luminous brightness of the organic light-emitting diode may decrease.

Aging detection circuit, aging compensation circuit, display panel and aging compensation method

HEFEI XINSHENG OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


An apparatus and method for charcoal production and activation, wherein a multipurpose furnace system is utilized to manufacture high grade charcoal from hardwood starting materials, which, in turn, promotes the manufacture of activated charcoal, while providing a viable and significant cost saving alternative to ongoing, intensive worldwide, efforts to increase yield and quality of charcoal product.

Going back over many hundreds of years, the technology for the carbonization of hardwoods for production of crude charcoal has remained unchanged.
Specifically, in the past century, various improvements, in traditional charcoal producing processes, have been introduced, resulting in a charcoal product containing less impurities and volatiles.
Additionally, utilizing Rotary Kilns, Multiple Hearth Furnaces, Fluidized Bed Reactors, Vertical Retorts, Gasifiers, or the like, improved charcoal has been converted into activated charcoal via high temperatures in a non-oxidizing or partially-oxidizing environment.
Unfortunately, many such systems and processes are typically costly, and require much energy. Moreover, many such systems and processes are still unable to yield desired quantities of quality charcoal.
Therefore, it is readily apparent that there is a need for a an apparatus and method for charcoal activation, wherein a multipurpose furnace system is utilized to manufacture high grade charcoal from hardwood starting materials, which, in turn, promotes the manufacture of activated charcoal, while providing a viable and significant cost saving alternative to ongoing, intensive worldwide, efforts to increase yield and quality of charcoal product.

Apparatus and method for producing activated carbon


A hydraulic machine with an orbiting displacement element connected unrotatably with an output shaft via an intermediary shaft, the intermediary shaft having at least at one end an external toothing, which engages an internal toothing, which permits a swivel motion of the intermediary shaft. The external toothing has teeth with concavely shaped tooth sides having a smaller curvature at the axial ends than in the area of the axial center.

The invention concerns a hydraulic machine with an orbiting displacement element connected unrotatably with an output shaft via an intermediary shaft, the intermediary shaft having at least at one end an external toothing, which engages an internal toothing, which engagement permits a swivel motion of the intermediary shaft.
Such a machine is known from, for instance, U.S. Pat. No. 3,973,880.
Machines of this kind can, for example, be used as motors, pumps or steering units. The function of the output shaft depends on the desired application purpose. When the machine is used as a motor, the motor delivers its mechanical output via the output shaft. When the machine is used as a pump, it is driven by the output shaft. In the case of a steering unit, a steering handwheel can be connected with the output shaft.
In many cases the displacement element is made as a gear, which mates with a second displacement element made as a ring gear. During operation the displacement element does not only perform a pure rotational movement, it also orbits around the axis of the output shaft. An intermediary shaft, also called "dog-bone", is provided to enable the transmission of this rotational movement to the output shaft. This intermediary shaft must permit the required swivel motion.


Provided are exhaust systems and components suitable for use in conjunction with gasoline engines to treat gaseous emissions such as hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, and carbon monoxides. Layered three-way conversion (TWC) catalysts comprise an outer layer whose rhodium is supported by an oxygen storage component, such as a ceria-zirconia composite, and the outer layer is substantially free from alumina as a support. The rhodium-containing layer can be free of all other precious metals, such as platinum and palladium. A lower palladium layer is provided where the palladium is supported by a refractory metal oxide. The lower palladium layer can be free of rhodium and platinum and can contain an oxygen storage component that is the same or different from that in the rhodium-containing layer. Methods of making and using these catalysts are also provided.

Emission standards for unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide contaminants continue to become more stringent. In order to meet such standards, catalytic converters containing a three-way conversion (TWC) catalyst are located in the exhaust gas line of internal combustion engines. Such catalysts promote the oxidation by oxygen in the exhaust gas stream of unburned hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide as well as the reduction of nitrogen oxides to nitrogen.
Layered catalysts can offer conversion functionality upon careful design of the materials of each layer. Ensuring that the materials are physically available (for example, not sintered or agglomerated) and active to convert exhaust gas throughout the life of the catalyst is an on-going goal.
There is a continuing need to provide a TWC catalyst that provides sufficient conversion so that stringent HC, NOx, and CO emission limits can be achieved cost-effectively.

Three way conversion catalyst with alumina-free rhodium layer


An improved system, method and article of manufacture for observing and evaluating current and past computer platform performance information. A monitored system""s information is received by a master monitoring system central processing unit in communication with the monitored system. Monitored system performance information, typically but not limited to the form of a screen image intended for display upon a monitored system output device, is replicated using a computer program resident and executing from within the master monitoring system central processing unit. All updates to the system performance information issued by and transmitted from the monitored system central processing unit are trapped and stored within the master monitoring system central processing unit using the aforestated resident and executing program. Multiple remote users can access the stored system performance information (a.k.a screen images) simultaneously without interference with one another and browse individual and discrete sections of the individual screen history and current performance activities of a monitored system. When browsing the remote user or users is presented with a searchable history of screen images in reversed order with the most recent history transmitted to the remote user or users first. Such individual and distinct viewing of historical and current information is presented to one or more remote users in a forward and backward browseable context.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed toward computer performance observation and diagnostic tools. In particular, the present invention is directed to a system, method and article of manufacture to transmit, receive,store, modify, observe and evaluate system information and updates to such information, transmitted from a monitored first system to a master monitoring second system which, in turn, may be remotely accessed by one or more monitoring subsystems.
2. Prior Art
In many industries and businesses, large numbers of transactions are processed by computer on an around-the-clock basis. As an example, certain airline reservation facilities may process 1,000 transactions per second. Because of this demand, multiple central processing units, often but not necessarily, main frame central processing units are utilized with a computer complex. Typically, each such frame computer will be connected to at least one console, including a keyboard and display terminal for operations personnel to monitor and control the operation of the system.
Operations staff personnel interface with the computer via a computer console often referred to as the system""s console. This console is used to display status messages about the computer system and allows the operations staff to monitor and control the operations of the computer. For example, a batch job running on the computer might require data from a tape. The job would then issue a message to the operator via the console requesting that the required tape be mounted. The operator would then mount the required tape and inform the computer system, and the job, that it is available by making an entry at the console. Other types of messages displayed may related to errors or critical situations occurring within the computer system. The operations staff must be aware of each message displayed by the console, the intent of each such message and the appropriate response required.
Adding to the complex work load of operations staff has been the advent of multiple operating systems. Originally, an operations staff would be required to watch over one or two computers that performed principally similar functions. In today""s environment, operations staff are often responsible for monitoring the operational efficiency of multiple and diverse computer complexes executing multiple computer operating systems and multiple application programs operating under the dispatching control of such computer operating systems. As used herein such complexes, operating systems, attendant hardware components and application programs, including without limitation realtime and batch applications, are referred to synonymously as xe2x80x9ccomputer platforms, or platformsxe2x80x9d. In extremely large data processing complexes, such as those run by airlines, multiple and various application programs and operating systems are executed concurrently. For example, an airline will require computers to handle flight planning, load balancing, and reservations, as well as having development and test systems. It is the responsibility of the operations staff to insure that all of these systems run efficiently and without performance degradation or system outages. Consequently, the operations staff must be aware of what messages may be issued from which archives within a given complex of machines and how to react to them in the most effective and efficient manner.
Computers in large scale computer complexes typically utilize a main operations console, that is responsible for monitoring and running the system. Operations personnel who use these consoles are responsible for insuring that other users of the computer will have access to the computer""s resources and functions. It is from these consoles that each computer in a complex has its performance monitored and controlled. As indicated, in many cases there are multiple computers running in a complex executing multiple and diverse operating systems. For instance, there might be several computers dedicated to testing and developing new software, other computers dedicated to maintaining accounting and inventory systems, and yet others that are connected to outside users for information access. Each of these operations and task environments could require multiple computers with each task environment requiring a different operating system. Each of these distinct computers provides for at least one, and likely multiple system consoles, and interfaces with its console in a manner unique to its operating system.
There have been many attempts to simplify the complexity of the above noted situation. mostly through software on the monitored system computers themselves. Such efforts have not met with great success because of disparate operating systems functionality. Interconnectivity between console systems from within different operating systems is a difficult task involving software to communicate between each system and yet additional software to interpret messages from the other operating systems. These systems become very cumbersome and difficult to maintain as if one operating system is modified it would likely require major modification to other interfacing operating systems. Modifying an operating system is a task that most computer avoid as modifications error may cause adverse executional effects and proliferate throughout the computer system.
Another direction of console software is for operations automation. Many operating systems have been made xe2x80x9csmarterxe2x80x9d to handle conditions from within the system that were formerly addressed by operation staff. These software modifications, however, cannot keep xe2x80x9cwatchxe2x80x9d over entire complexes of computers due to lack of multiple systems connectivity. They also lack the ability to xe2x80x9cunderstandxe2x80x9d different operating systems.
The aforestated clearly speaks to ever growing complexity of the operational environment. Such increased complexity combined with an emphasis for system reliability and availability, demands advanced methods for computer performance monitoring, awareness and operational control. Computer users are requiring that their systems be available world-wide, 24 hours a day, and down time for major computer users is measured in the tens of thousands of dollars per minute. A cost which is rising expressly as xe2x80x98onlinexe2x80x99 dependency increases.
There is a need, therefore, to allow multiple monitored and operated computer consoles to be operated from a single work station.
Accordingly it is desirable to provide a system master monitoring system central processing unit which is capable of replicating present and past console information intended for display on each monitored system.
In the past, in an attempt to access mainframe based data or systems from a personal computer operating system, a group of xe2x80x9cscreen scrapersxe2x80x9d have been employed. These allow a personal computer client system access to mainframe based data or systems. However, screen scrapers required custom client applications to be written that access mainframe system screens directly by mapping client access variables directly to screen row and column positions. The xe2x80x98screen scraping approachxe2x80x99 does not provide for the storing of screen display historical information in a memory for subsequent transmittal in reverse order.
Many times problems are presented on the mainframe or mini computer operating the system that go beyond the operator""s ability or training to deal therewith. In such instances, it is necessary to involve technical support staff in resolving the issue or problem. In order to resolve the problem, it may be desirable to determine the events just prior to the time the problem arose.
This remote users support including remotely located field engineers who connect from a laptop personal computer or other remote device. It is, therefore, desirable to allow remote access and connection to the master monitoring system.
In addition to presenting monitored system screen information for the master monitoring system""s operator""s use, it is also desirable to make current screen and a history of captured screen updates available to both the master operator and to remote users, such as system engineers. It is desirable to view exactly what the operator entered prior to an error occurring in the monitored system. With this sequential information, it is possible to diagnose problems.
The present invention provides a system, method and article of manufacture to replicate system performance information typically but without limitation represented as screen images intended for display upon a monitored system output device. Such output devices often include video display capabilities, such as dumb terminals having a screen display and keyboard input. A standard cable extends from a main frame central processing unit (hereinafter referred to synonymously as xe2x80x9cmonitored system central processing unitxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cmonitored systemxe2x80x9d) and is connected to an adapter card. The adapter card is in turn connected to a master monitoring system central processing unit having both a display monitor and keyboard input. System performance information and indicators (hereinafter referred to synonymously as xe2x80x9cmonitored system screen image, or system performance informationxe2x80x9d) from the monitored system central processing unit is thereby received at the master monitoring system. The system performance information and updates to such performance information are stored within a computer readable memory accessible to the master monitoring system central processing unit. Initially the system performance information transmitted from the monitored system pertain to a full screen image and the screen image is compressed and stored in a memory. Thereafter, a plurality of sequential updates to said performance indicator information are received at the master monitoring system central processing unit and each update is stored sequentially. In the present embodiment, a plurality of updates are stored following the initial receipt, compression and storage of a full screen image. After a plurality of updates are received and stored, the process again repeats itself. Thus, the system performance information as represented in a full screen image transmitted from the monitored system central processing unit is again compressed and stored in memory.
The present invention replicates system performance information intended for limited viewing on a dumb terminal.
An operator at the master system central processing unit has the option of viewing both a history of screen image presentations as well as simultaneous viewing of current monitored system screen activity.
A remote user, such as but not limited to a field engineer, connected via a communications line between the monitored system central processing unit and the master monitoring system central processing unit may connect to the master monitoring system central processing unit. One such example of such a connection would be a laptop computer utilized in conjunction with a dial-up line.
Multiple remote users can access the stored system performance information (a.k.a screen images) simultaneously without interference with one another and browse individual and discrete sections of the individual screen history and current performance activities of a monitored system. When browsing the remote user or users is presented with a searchable history of screen images in reversed order with the most recent history transmitted to the remote user or users first. Such individual and distinct viewing of historical and current information is presented to one or more remote users in a forward and backward browseable context.

System, method and article of manufacture for observing and evaluating current and past computer platform performance information


A display card including a pair of panels hingedly interconnected at their edges, one of the panels including a relective surface, an indicia secured to the surface of the other panel, the indicia being in a face-to-face relationship with the reflective surface when the panels are in a closed position, and gusset means holding said panels in an angular relationship wherein the virtual image of the indicia will appear in the reflective surface of the one panel.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to display-type literature such as cards, brochures, advertisements, books, etc., and particularly to the display of single or multiple reflective images in three-dimensional form.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Display-type literature is generally presented in two-dimensional patterns on the inside surfaces of hingedly connected panels. When the panels are open, the pattern appears the same whether the panels are laid out flat or opened at an angle less than 180.degree.. There has been some effort to create three-dimensional forms by providing foldout-type patterns which are connected to the panels. The three-dimensional form may be of a figure, plant or any other such configuration.


A miter saw has a base assembly, a table assembly rotatably disposed on the base assembly, a support housing connected to the table assembly, and a saw assembly pivotably attached to the support housing. The saw assembly is pivotable downwardly for cutting a workpiece disposed on the table assembly. The saw has a miter lock assembly including a shoe assembly connected to the table housing and movable between a first position not contacting the base assembly and a second position contacting the base assembly. The shoe assembly has a movable shoe for adjusting the angular position of the table assembly relative to the base assembly.

Referring to FIG. 1, a miter saw typically has a base assembly 10, a table assembly 20 rotatably attached to the base assembly 10, a support housing 30 connected to the table assembly 20, and a saw assembly 40 pivotally connected to the support housing 30. The saw assembly 40 may include an arm 41 pivotally connected to support housing 30, an upper blade guard 42 connected to arm 41, a motor (not shown) supported by arm 41 and/or upper blade guard 42, a blade 43 driven by the motor, and a lower blade guard 44 pivotally attached to the upper blade guard.
A fence assembly 15 is typically attached to base assembly 10. With such construction, a user can place a work piece against fence assembly 15 and table assembly 20 for cutting. The user can make a miter cut by rotating table assembly 20 relative to base assembly 10.
If support housing 30 is pivotally attached to table assembly 20, the user can rotate support housing 30 relative to table assembly 20 and/or base assembly 10, tilting the blade 43 relative to the table assembly 20, thus changing the blade's bevel angle. A cut made with the blade 43 tilted at an angle (and perpendicular to the fence assembly 15) is known as a "bevel cut." A cut made with the blade 43 set to both an angle relative to the fence assembly 15 (miter angle) and an angle relative to the base assembly 10 (bevel angle) is known as a "compound cut."
Miter saws typically include a detent system 12 that allows the table assembly 20 and the blade 43 to be preset to specific angles relative to the fence assembly 15. A detent system 12 provides an accurate means to preset and reset the saw to make the most popular cuts. Such detent system 12 may include a detent plate 13 with detent recesses formed thereon. Alternatively, the detent recesses may be formed on base assembly 10. Such recesses can receive a spring-biased detent, fixing the position of table assembly 20 relative to the fence assembly 15. Persons skilled in the art are directed to US Published Application No. 2005/0284276, which is hereby fully incorporated by reference, for further information on such detent systems, operation thereof, and miter lock mechanisms.
If a user wants to preset the miter saw for an angle cut not provided by the detent system, the user would allow the spring-loaded detent to rest against the detent plate 13 and/or the base assembly 10 outside of the detent recesses and engage the miter lock mechanism. Due to the interaction between the spring-loaded detent and the detent recesses, however, the prior art arrangements do not allow for a fine adjustment that is near one of the predetermined detent positions.
Some solutions have been proposed to solve this problem. US Published Application No. 2004/0154448, for example, discloses a mechanism for adjusting the position of the detent engaging the recesses. However, such mechanism is difficult to adjust and to reset to the original position.
Similarly, US Published Application Nos. 2005/0284276, 2005/0262984 and 2006/0016310 disclose rack-and-pinion and/or worm drive mechanisms for adjusting the position of the table assembly relative to the base assembly. However such mechanisms are difficult to reset to the original position.

Fine adjustment mechanism for precision miter cuts


An encoder includes a precoder for encoding an input information object according to a preset encoding scheme and storing the encoded information object in a precoder buffer, a sample number/address generation unit for generating a sample number of each sample and an address, which corresponds to each bit of each sample and the address of the precoder buffer, a multiplexer for selecting a bit of the precoder buffer corresponding to the address generated by the sample number/address generation module, a sampling buffer for storing a bit of each sample output from the multiplexer, a control packet generation module for generating a control packet including information on the sample number generated by the sample number/address generation module, a packet assembling unit for assembling the sample stored in the sampling buffer with the control packet generated by the control data generation module, and a modulation module for modulating the packet output from the packet assembling unit into a sound signal according to a preset scheme.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to encoding and decoding schemes and data transmission and reception devices for wireless communication systems, and more particularly to facilitating the systems of short-range communication between stationary or mobile devices and mobile (including portable) devices, using an acoustic communication channel for data transfer over short distances.
2. Description of the Related Art
Encoding and data transfer apparatuses, used for different types of communication channels are widely known, and include a disassembler for disassembling an information object into data packets, wherein each packet is conveyed in a certain sequence to the error-correcting coding unit, the interleaver, the unit of control data addition.
The encoded packets are conveyed to the modulator, synchronization sequence addition unit and further to the encoder output for transmission through the communication channel. High noise immunity of data transfer is usually achieved by means of encoding with a high level of redundancy, enabling transmission of the objects with an increased probability of error-free reception in the communication channel with considerable interference, but causing a significant decrease in the object transmission speed on the other hand.
There are systems of information objects transfer by means of audible tones, including transceiver T (including a transmission apparatus) both in the receiving and transmitting section. Nonetheless, during the transmission, transceiver T1 includes a disassembler for disassembling an information object into data packets, each of which is conveyed to the encoder and the interleaver in a certain consequence. Furthermore, the transceiver T1 includes a modulator, where the converted packets are modulated by the audio signals and conveyed to transceiver 2 through the digital-to-analog converter and the loudspeaker. While reception at the analog-to-digital converter of transceiver 2, the audio signal received through the microphone is digitized, then is transferred successively to the synchronization unit, demodulator, deinterleaver, decoder, data restorer. At the same time, each incoming data packet is restored, the transmitted object is gradually received and its quality/integrity is determined. In case of losses transceiver T2 transmits a corresponding signal to transceiver T1, after conveying of the said signal, the new parameters of transmission through the acoustic communication channel are established (for example, power of the acoustic tone is increased) and the object is repeatedly transferred to transceiver T2. A drawback of such systems is the complexity of apparatuses in receiving and transmitting section, since a feedback mechanism is obligatory between the apparatuses in the receiving and transmitting sections (each of them must contain transceiver); slow response to the changing noise situation and, as a consequence, low rate of information objects transmission.
There also exist acoustic transmission systems, where the information object transmission speed is constant, does not take into account interference (acoustic) or environment (degree of noisiness of acoustic channel). Also, there is a feedback communication channel used for adjusting modulation type or speed of the error-correcting code.
The most relevant is a system of the acoustic data transmission without feedback, in which the transmission apparatus encodes the information object en bloc and cyclically repeats its transmission. The receiving apparatus in the receiving mode makes attempts to receive the encoded object until its error-free reception is achieved.
The drawback of the system is its inefficiency. In the case of at least one error during reception, repeated transmission is expected and the transmitted code and the audible tone parameters remain unchanged. Thus, during objects transmission, especially of a large amount of data, the possibility of erroneous reception increases drastically, and the transmission speed decreases and can not be optimal for the arbitrary signal to noise ratio in the communication channel. Therefore, an information object transmission either with high noise immunity (a lot of redundant (checking) data during object encoding) is necessary so that the error-free reception can be provided by means of one-two repetitions, which affects the speed, or increased transmission speed, in which case, noise increase in the communication channel adversely affects the noise immunity and the object may not be received at all.

Encoder, decoder, encoding method, and decoding method