The objective is the provision of intrusion detection sensor panels, which when used to enclose a closed space as a closed space apparatus, protect against the unlawful intrusion into that closed space, as well as the removal or secretion of articles into that closed space. To achieve that objective, the present invention provides a closed space apparatus comprised of intrusion detection sensor panels that detect intrusions over their entire surface. The intrusion detection sensor panels are not merely ones which incorporate a plurality of wire or point sensors over their surface, but they are characterized by being panels in which the overall panel functions to detect intrusions across its entire surface without gaps or lapses. Specifically, these surface detection function panels can be structured so that the panel interior or the side facing the closed space has an embedded optical fiber or fine electric wire at a specific density, so that if a part of the panel is broken or there is an intrusion from the outside, the severance of the optical fiber or fine wire is detected, to thereby guard the closed space against unlawful intrusion.

A number of methods are employed in the prior art for the security administration of closed spaces such as stores after closing, warehouses, safes, etc. Specifically, combinations of the below listed methods have been used.
(1) Prohibiting intrusion
(2) Sealing doors
(3) Detecting the disappearance of articles
(4) Detecting the carrying out of articles
(5) Detecting intruders
(6) Detecting tools or the physical action of tools used for intrusion
(7) Detecting actions following the intrusion
(8) Detecting articles carried in.
With the increasing diversification of threats in recent years, we now face threats of the type that have not been experienced in the past. To wit, in the past, criminals with a profit motive would commit theft or other crimes, and almost all such threats could be dealt with by preventing the theft of articles or information. Now, however, new types of threats are on the rise. There are more and more instances of terrorists acts and the like which cannot be prevented by conventional security systems. As a result, there have been criminal acts which cannot be dealt with by the aforementioned conventional methods. Examples of such acts include:
(1) Secreting an explosive device into cargo,
(2) Planting a bomb on a truck or container while it is being transported,
(3) Creating disruptions of economic activity by reporting the planting of a bomb when none has actually been planted.
(4) Spreading bacteria or other hazardous material onto goods being transported.
In the past, the shipper confirmed the goods being transported and would make the proper notifications of whether or not those goods were hazardous. Now, however, there have been a number of crimes in which viruses or bacteria have been spread over the cargo, and even if the shipper has confirmed that the goods, their packaging, the means of transport, and the transporters are all safe, it is impossible to guaranty the safety of the goods once they arrive. Or, explosive devices can be secreted into trucks, ships or containers during transport, breaching the security measures that were deemed adequate, to thereby create the threat of a remotely controlled explosion once the goods have arrived at their destination.
To analyze the problems points surrounding the use of shipping containers, for example, the following types of problems are clearly inherent in the security methods of the prior art.
(1) The safe status of transport containers are only guaranteed for a very short period of time when they are in a secure state just prior to and just after being transported.
(2) When transport containers are being transported by truck, train, ship or aircraft, they are in an insecure state during a great deal of the time while they are being restacked or rerouted, or while under transport.
(3) Since theft is not always the objective, almost all containers need to be closely monitored, even those containing goods of little value.
(4) Using security personnel to keep watch over containers during their transport is unrealistic from a cost perspective.
(5) Strengthening container doors and locks to prevent theft does not deal with the new threats described above which can be carried out by intrusion through container walls, etc.
(6) In cases of dangerous actions wherein the actions following the intrusions or the physical properties or shape of articles secreted into the container cannot be predicted, vulnerabilities remain when the secreted article is not subjected to a proper detection method.
(7) When all of the goods that were loaded into the containers are all accounted for after their arrival with no items missing, security methods aimed at detecting theft are not adequate in providing comprehensive security.
(8) Possibilities to create social and economic disruption occur when false notifications are made that dangerous articles have been planted, causing a large quantity of transported goods to be stripped down and closely inspected.
In order to prevent damage from these types of crimes, it is necessary to guarantee that each and every container be maintained and kept in a safe and secure manner. However, within the current economic and commerce systems, there are a vast number of goods being transported, and accordingly, it is nearly impossible to maintain a secure state over each and every article being transported.
Also, in an era when there are ever-changing threats, it is very difficult to detect every article or action that could pose a threat before that threat materializes. Accordingly, the prior art, focused as it was on the detection and prevention of theft, is clearly inadequate to deal with these new contingencies.
Further, in the case of containers used for transport, it would be difficult to equip them with the same type of secure walls used in safes, and since they are easily accessed during their transport, they pose the highest risk of being subjected to unlawful actions.

Container device provided with surveillance panels, surveillance method using the same device, and structure of the same device


A pulse width modulation circuit of the present invention changes a voltage of a charging circuit based on an input signal voltage and in synchronization with a first switching signal; changes, during a predetermined second period following a first period during which the voltage of the charging unit is changed, the voltage of the charging unit in an opposite direction to a direction in which the voltage is changed during the first period, based on a constant bias current; detects time starting from when the second period starts to when the voltage of the charging unit reaches a predetermined reference voltage; and generates, based on the detected time which is repeatedly output each time the first switching signal is output, a pulse signal having a pulse width of the time.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pulse width modulation circuit for performing, for example, pulse width modulation (PWM) on an audio signal to output the modulated signal, and a switching amplifier using the same (e.g., an audio amplifier).
2. Description of the Related Art
For example, a type of a conventional switching amplifier proposed in the art uses a pulse width modulation circuit for performing pulse width modulation on an audio signal as the input signal to output the modulated signal (see, for example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2004-320097). With the switching amplifier, a predetermined power source voltage is switched ON and OFF based on the modulated signal output from the pulse width modulation circuit, and the output signal switched ON and OFF is output to a load (e.g., a speaker) through a low-pass filter, for example.
FIG. 7 shows a configuration of an example of a conventional switching amplifier. The switching amplifier includes a pulse width modulation circuit 51 connected to an audio signal generation source AU, a switching circuit 52, and a low-pass filter 53. With the switching amplifier, an audio signal eS output from the audio signal generation source AU is input to the pulse width modulation circuit 51, where a pulse width modulation is performed on the amplitude of the audio signal eS. As a result, a modulated signal OUT1 and a modulated signal OUT2 in opposite phase to the modulated signal OUT1 are output to the switching circuit 52.
In the switching circuit 52, the positive and negative power source voltages +VD and −VD are alternately switched ON and OFF by switches SW-a and SW-b, respectively, based on the modulated signals OUT1 and OUT2. The output being switched ON and OFF passes through the low-pass filter 53, where a high-frequency component thereof is removed, and is supplied to a load (not shown) as an output signal V0.
FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram showing a schematic configuration of the pulse width modulation circuit 51 shown in FIG. 7.
The pulse width modulation circuit 51 is an integration-type pulse width modulation circuit using an astable multivibrator, for example, for performing a pulse width modulation on the audio signal eS as the input signal to produce and output the modulated signal OUT1, for example.
As shown in FIG. 8, the pulse width modulation circuit 51 includes a bias current source 54, a modulation circuit 55 connected to the bias current source 54, and a pulse generation circuit 56 connected to the modulation circuit 55. The bias current source 54 is for supplying a bias current to the modulation circuit 55.
The modulation circuit 55 is implemented by a so-called differential amplifier circuit, and includes resistors R51 and R52 the first ends of which are connected to each other, and transistors Q51 and Q52 connected to the second ends of the resistors R51 and R52, respectively. The modulation circuit 55 varies the current distribution ratio between first and second currents I1 and I2, which flow through the transistors Q51 and Q52, respectively, according to the audio signal eS.
The pulse generation circuit 56 is a circuit for producing a pulse signal which is to be modulated, i.e., a carrier of a PWM signal, and includes first and second charge capacitors C51 and C52, first and second inverters INV51 and INV52, first and second diodes D51 and D52, and a power source voltage 57. The pulse generation circuit 56 charges the first and second charge capacitors C51 and C52 based on the first and second currents I1 and I2 supplied from the modulation circuit 55. The pulse generation circuit 56 outputs the modulated signal OUT1 whose pulse width corresponds to the charging time of the first charge capacitor C51. Note that the predetermined power source voltage 57 is connected to the cathode side of each of the first and second diodes D51 and D52.
With the conventional pulse width modulation circuit 51, the frequency f of the carrier of a PWM signal (hereinafter referred to as the "carrier frequency") is dependent on the bias current of the bias current source 54, the capacitances of the first and second capacitors C51 and C52, the threshold voltages Vth of the first and second inverters INV51 and INV52, etc. Therefore, where the pulse width modulation circuit 51 is used in a multi-channel switching amplifier having a plurality of channels, the carrier frequency f will vary slightly among different channels if there are variations in the capacitances of the first and second capacitors C51 and C52, etc.
As described above, with the conventional pulse width modulation circuit 51, circuits for different channels separately generate the carrier frequency f. Therefore, the carrier frequency f will vary among different channels. Where the carrier frequency f varies slightly among different channels, a beat component between signals to be modulated (carriers) is mixed in the audio frequency component, and a beat sound may be output as noise. Therefore, a sound whose sound quality is slightly altered is output from the load (speaker) as noise within the audible range.
The present invention has been made in view of the above, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a pulse modulation circuit with which the carrier frequency is made substantially constant, thus allowing for an appropriate pulse width modulation, and a switching amplifier using the same.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Pulse width modulation circuit and switching amplifier using the same


A novel organic compound is provided. Alternatively, an organic compound that can be used as an electron-transport material of a light-emitting element is provided. An organic compound in which heteroaromatic groups each including two pyridine rings are bonded to the 2- and 8-positions of dibenzofuran is provided. The organic compound is an organic compound that can be used as an electron-transport material of a light-emitting element.

1. Field of the Invention
One embodiment of the present invention relates to an organic compound, and a light-emitting element, a display module, a lighting module, a display device, a light-emitting device, an electronic device, and a lighting device each including the organic compound.
Note that one embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the above technical field. The technical field of one embodiment of the invention disclosed in this specification and the like relates to an object, a method, or a manufacturing method. In addition, one embodiment of the present invention relates to a process, a machine, manufacture, or a composition of matter. Specifically, examples of the technical field of one embodiment of the present invention disclosed in this specification include a semiconductor device, a display device, a light-emitting device, a power storage device, a storage device, a method for driving any of them, and a method for manufacturing any of them.
2. Description of the Related Art
Light-emitting elements (organic EL elements) including organic compounds and utilizing electroluminescence (EL) have been put to more practical use. In the basic structure of such light-emitting elements, an organic compound layer containing a light-emitting substance (an EL layer) is interposed between a pair of electrodes. By voltage application to an element, light emission from the light-emitting substance can be obtained.
Since such light-emitting elements are of self-light-emitting type, light-emitting elements have advantages over liquid crystal displays when used as pixels of a display in that visibility of pixels is high and backlight is not required. Thus, light-emitting elements are suitable as flat panel display elements. In addition, it is also a great advantage that a display including such light-emitting elements can be manufactured as a thin and lightweight display. Furthermore, extremely high response speed is also a feature thereof.
Since light-emitting layers of such a light-emitting element can be successively formed two-dimensionally, planar light emission can be achieved. This feature is difficult to realize with point light sources typified by incandescent lamps and LEDs or linear light sources typified by fluorescent lamps. Thus, light-emitting elements also have great potential as planar light sources applied to lighting devices and the like.
Despite their suitability for a variety of electronic devices, displays or lighting devices including light-emitting elements as described above have plenty of room to improve their performance and cost competitiveness. In order to achieve this, materials that have better characteristics and are easier to handle are required.

Organic compound, light-emitting element, display module, lighting module, light-emitting device, display device, electronic device, and lighting device

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


[Summary]

An electric power system which can supply electric power to a load using a secondary battery and charge the secondary battery, if needed, even when the load is in operation, is widely known (for instance, a hybrid car, an electric vehicle, etc.). In this kind of electric power system, in order to suppress the performance degradation of the above-mentioned secondary battery or to increase the efficiency of operation of the electric power system, various devices which estimate the charge status (SOC [%]: SOC is the abbreviation for State of Charge) of the above-mentioned secondary battery have been proposed conventionally.
For example, SOC can be estimated by integrating detection values of a current under charge and discharge of the above-mentioned secondary battery. However, by this technique, estimate of SOC may deviate from a true value since errors of current detection values are accumulated in the estimate of SOC.
Then, techniques for accurately estimating SOC by correcting SOC estimate obtained by integrating current detection values using SOC estimate otherwise computed based on an open circuit voltage, or carrying out weighted combination of both of them, have been proposed conventionally (for example, refer to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (kokai) No. H11-223665, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (kokai) No. 2000-150003, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (kokai) No. 2005-201743, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (kokai) No. 2007-192726 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (kokai) No. 2008-243373, etc.).

Abstract: [Summary]

Abstract: [Objective] Estimation accuracy in a battery status estimating device which estimates a charge status of a secondary battery should be improved further more.

Abstract: [Means for Solution] In an SOC estimation by integration of a charge-and-discharge current, influence of a sensor error cannot be disregarded, and the influence of such an error is accumulated as time passes. On the other hand, in an SOC estimation based on measured values of a battery voltage and a battery temperature, estimation accuracy largely depends on a load-generation pattern. Then, in accordance with the present invention, by mixing both, while one of them is reset based on a reliability in accordance with an operation situation and/or an input current value which will be the premise for an SOC estimate calculation in a battery model is set up based on the reliability, it becomes possible to compute an SOC estimate in high accuracy as much as possible in accordance with the operation situation.


A liquid ejection head comprises a semiconductor substrate having an energy generating element arranged thereon to generate energy to be utilized to eject liquid and a laminate including a plurality of insulating layers laid sequentially in the depth direction of the semiconductor substrate. Wiring is formed in the laminate and electrically connected to the energy generating element. The wiring includes a via formed in the insulating layers in the thickness direction of the insulating layers. The energy generating element is arranged between the semiconductor substrate and the laminate in the laminating direction of the insulating layers.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid ejection head for ejecting liquid by thermal energy.
Description of the Related Art
Known liquid ejection heads for ejecting liquid such as ink from the ejection ports thereof include a type of liquid ejection head designed to eject liquid by means of thermal energy. Liquid ejection heads of this type comprise energy generating elements that generate thermal energy according to the electric signals applied to them. They produce air bubbles in the liquid contained therein by means of the generated thermal energy and eject liquid by utilizing the air bubbles.
For liquid ejection heads of this type to stably perform liquid ejecting operations, the energy generating elements they have are required to sufficiently generate heat. On the other hand, they are required to suppress the electric current (the power consumption rate) for driving the energy generating elements for the purpose of energy saving. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-144571 describes an arrangement for improving the energy efficiency of an energy generating element to suppress its power consumption rate by increasing the current capacity of the wiring connected to the energy generating element. FIG. 6 of the accompanying drawings is a schematic cross-sectional view of a liquid ejection head having such an arrangement.
Referring to FIG. 6, an n-type impurity region 102 is formed in a semiconductor substrate 101, which is made of silicon, and a transistor 120 is formed on the n-type impurity region 102. A first heat accumulation layer 104 and a second heat accumulation layer 105 are sequentially formed in the above-mentioned order on a region of the semiconductor substrate 101 other than the region where the transistor 120 is formed. Additionally, first, second and third layer insulating films 106, 107a and 107b are sequentially formed in the above-mentioned order on the second heat accumulation layer 105 and a heater layer 109, which is to be used to operate as energy generating element 150, is formed thereon. A protection layer 115 is formed on the third layer insulating film 107b so as to cover the energy generating element 150. A dry film 114 and an orifice plate 113 are sequentially formed on the protection layer 115 in the above-mentioned order. A bubbling chamber 160 and a flow path (not illustrated) are formed in the dry film 114 at a position that corresponds to the energy generating element 150, while an ejection port 112 is formed in the orifice plate 113 so as to communicate with the bubbling chamber 160.
A first wiring layer 108a, a first via 110a, a second wiring layer 108b, a second via 110b, a third wiring layer 108c and a third via 110c are formed in the layer insulating films 106, 107a and 107b and electrically connected to each other. The energy generating element 150 is electrically connected to the transistor 120, which operates as a drive element, by way of these wiring layers 108a through 108c and vias 110a through 110c. More specifically, the energy generating element 150 is connected to the third via 110c while the first wiring layer 108a is connected to the p-type impurity region 103, which is the source/drain region of the transistor 120, by way of a fourth via 110d that is formed in the second heat accumulation layer 105. Additionally, an electrode 130 is also electrically connected to the transistor 120 by way of the wiring layers 108a and 108b and the vias 110a and 110b.
Thus, in the liquid ejection head 140 illustrated in FIG. 6, the wiring that is connected to the energy generating element 150 includes the vias 110a through 110c that are respectively formed in the layer insulating films 106, 107a and 107b. With this arrangement, a large current capacity is secured for the wiring that is connected to the energy generating element 150 and the energy generating element 150 represents improved energy efficiency.


A method and a system for supporting multiple display adapters in the WDDM architecture are provided. A driver wrapper serves as the interface between the OS and the display drivers. The driver wrapper hides the display drivers from the knowledge of the OS and provides the standard display driver interface (DDI) to the OS. In the view of the OS, the driver wrapper is the single common driver which receives requests from the OS. The driver wrapper dispatches the requests from the OS to the display drivers and relays responses from the display drivers to the OS. The driver wrapper of the present invention is compatible with multiple distinct display drivers.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to multiple-adapter multiple-monitor (MAMM) support based on Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM). More particularly, the present invention relates to supporting multiple display adapters from different manufacturers in the WDDM architecture.
2. Description of the Related Art
As the performance of personal computers (PCs) and the demands from users increase, there are usually a lot of applications running on a single PC at the same time. Sometimes the desktop area of the operating system gets crowded. For this issue, there is a trend to connect multiple display monitors to a single PC simultaneously in order to widen the desktop area.
Recent versions of the Microsoft Windows operating system support multiple-adapter multiple monitor (MAMM) to solve above addressed issue. For example, XP Display Driver Model (XDDM) of the Microsoft Windows XP operating system supports MAMM; Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM) of the Microsoft Windows Vista operating system also supports MAMM. However, in WDDM the multiple display adapters have to be driven by a single common display driver. This is relatively easy for display adapters from the same manufacturer, since the manufacturer can fix its own display driver to drive multiple display adapters of the same manufacturer identification. On the other hand, using several display adapters from different manufacturers in Windows Vista is not so easy, since it is impractical to expect the manufacturers to cooperate to provide a common driver. In Windows Vista, the only solution is using multiple XDDM display drivers to drive multiple display adapters from different manufacturers because XDDM does not impose the single-driver requirement. However, XDDM display drivers do not support the latest WDDM architecture and do not support some latest software, such as DirectX 10.

Method and system for supporting multiple display devices


A power generation system for a nuclear reactor includes an externally-heated turbine engine, a reactor heat exchanger, and a heat recuperating system. The externally-heated turbine engine produces compressed air that is heated by the reactor heat exchanger. The heat recuperating system includes a heat exchanger thermally connected to the externally-heated turbine engine to transfer heat to the compressed air to supplement the reactor heat exchanger.

Externally-heated gas turbine engines may be used to power aircraft, watercraft, and power generators. Externally-heated gas turbine engines typically include a compressor and a turbine, but utilize an external heat exchanger and heat source to raise the temperature of the working fluid within the engine. In this arrangement, it is possible for no combustion products to travel through the turbine. This allows externally-heated gas turbine engines to burn fuels that would ordinarily damage the internal components of the engine.
The compressor compresses air drawn into the engine and produces high pressure air for the external heat source. Heat is transferred to the high pressure air from the external heat source and the heated high pressure air is directed into the turbine where work is extracted to drive the compressor and, sometimes, a generator connected to an output shaft. Combustion products from the external heat source can be exhausted in an alternative region of the externally-heated turbine engine.

System for startup support of externally heated turbine engine

Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.


Embodiments include methods for managing the processing of data and performing computing tasks of a wireless device using computing resources of a remote network computing device. A wireless device and a network computing device may dynamically track factors affecting a round-trip latency of a computing task. The wireless device and the network computing device may generate and send metadata including the factors and a latency budget for the computing task. The wireless device and the network computing device may adjust a processing time for processing data related to the computing task based the received metadata and the latency budget.

Some computing tasks place high demands on the relatively limited processing capabilities of modern wireless devices. In some situations, a wireless device may avail itself of high-speed wireless communications and network computing resources to offload processor-intensive computing tasks to a computing device deeper in the network, such as a server device. However, offloading computing tasks to a network computing device incurs latency due to both the time required to perform remote processing and information travel time over communication links. This introduced latency may prove unacceptable for the performance of certain applications and services, especially those affecting health and safety.

Processing data using remote network computing resources


A method of real-time optimization for a Combined Cooling, Heating and Power system, including determining a first operation sequence of a plurality of chillers and at least one thermal energy storage tank in the system over a time period (410) and determining a second operation sequence of the plurality of chillers and at least one thermal energy storage tank in the system over the time period by using the first operation sequence as input to a greedy algorithm (420).

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to Combined Cooling, Heating and Power (CCHP) systems, and more particularly, to the optimization of a CCHP system for energy and cost savings.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
CCHP systems integrate cooling, heating and power generation capabilities on one site. A key feature of this technology is that waste heat is recovered and utilized to satisfy thermal demands such as space heating, cooling and hot water needs in a facility. A CCHP system can improve overall energy efficiency so that facility operation cost can be reduced. A CCHP system can potentially reduce emissions (e.g., since less fuel is burned to meet the same demand) and enhance energy reliability (e.g., by way of distributed, on-site generation). These features have made CCHP systems a popular energy efficient solution to meet thermal and electricity demands.
To realize the full potential of cost reduction for CCHP systems, carefully designed control systems are needed. CCHP systems are comprised of various components. The dynamics of these components can be very different, and may have different time scales. A Real-Time-Optimization (RTO)/supervisory control framework is usually employed to control such systems. Decision making in RTO involves two layers: on the higher level, set-points for all components are determined by solving an optimization problem that aims to minimize some economic cost function; on the lower level, the control problems are handled apart from the optimization, on a faster scale: feedback controllers ensure that all components track their set-points.
Due to the size and complexity of CCHP systems, the optimization problem can be very large and highly nonlinear. It is challenging to solve such problems in real-time. Integer variables add more difficulty to the already complex problem. In a CCHP system, the integer variables could come from the on/off states of components, charging/discharging status for thermal energy storage (TES), or any component that operates in a discrete manner. For such a large mixed integer nonlinear program (MINLP) a straightforward approach is used to solve the optimization directly using commercial solvers. However, this is not efficient as it fails to address the structure of the particular problem. It can be time-consuming for the solution to converge to a desired accuracy, thus making it difficult to meet the real-time requirement.

Online heurisitc algorithm for combined cooling heating and power plant optimization


An ink set is provided which includes a first ink containing a first pigment, water, and a glycol ether having an HLB value, measured by Davies method, in the range of 4.2 to 8.0, and a second ink substantially not containing the glycol ether. The second ink contains a second pigment and water.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an ink set, and to an ink jet recording apparatus and a recorded article that use the ink set.
2. Related Art
An ink jet recording method is a technique for printing, and in which printing is performed by ejecting ink droplets so as to be deposited on a recording medium, such as a paper sheet. The ink jet recording method is being innovatively developed and increasingly applied to the application of high-resolution image recording (printing) which has been performed by photo printing and offset printing. Accordingly, it is desired that high-quality images be recorded not only on general plain paper and ink jet recording paper (matte paper, glossy paper), but also on other recording media, such as book printing paper, synthetic paper, and films.
Dyes and pigments are used as coloring agents, and, in particular, water-soluble dyes are often used in color inks because of their chromaticness, transparency, solubility in water and other properties. However, water-soluble dyes are generally inferior in light fastness and gas fastness. In addition, their water fastness is not good because water-soluble dyes are soluble in water. Accordingly, recorded articles produced with an ink containing a water-soluble dye are inferior in storage. In contrast, coloring agents insoluble in water are advantageous in terms of water fastness. Among coloring agents insoluble in water are pigments. Pigments are superior in light fastness, gas fastness, and water fastness. Accordingly, pigment inks exhibiting such properties of the pigment are being developed.
On the other hand, aqueous pigment inks for ink jet recording are simultaneously required to have high color developability and glossiness, to exhibit a small degree of bleeding and such an ejection stability as ejection from head nozzles does not veer, and to be stored stably.
However, if the pigment content in an ink is increased to enhance the color developability, the viscosity of the ink is increased, and the anti-clogging properties, ejection stability, and storage stability of the ink are degraded. In addition, if the penetration of the ink is enhanced in order to prevent bleeding or increase printing speed, the ink undesirably penetrates into the recording medium and is thus unlikely to remain on the surface of the recording medium. This causes the degradation of the uniformity and color developability of images filled with a solid color.
Accordingly, in order to enhance printing quality (color developability, anti-bleeding properties, uniformity of solid color area) and reliability (storage stability, printing stability), JP-A-2009-235155 proposes that a glycol ether having a hydrophile-lipophile balance (HLB) value, measured by Davies method, of 4.2 to 8.0 and an 1,2-alkanediol be added to an ink.
This technique, however, degrades the storage stability of some of the known inks, depending on the combination of the coloring material (type of pigment) and glycol ether used in the ink. Also, the quality of images printed on non-absorbent recording media, such as films, has not been studied.

Ink set, ink jet recording apparatus, and recorded article


An adjustable-fit flat-top hat having two separate rearwardly positioned spaced-apart reverse foldable rim portions each with intermittently detachable and securable mating mechanism inclusive of a common intermediate anchoring element as a part of the entire mating and securing mechanism, with the common anchoring element being mounted on an rearwardly positioned intermediate hat rim portion positioned within a gap between rearwardly positioned opposite ends of the discontinuous hat band, and spaced-apart parallel stitching securing together circumscribing edges of the hat's flat crown top and crown rim upper edge, typically utilizing opposing male hook and female loops elements as a part of the securable mating mechanism.

Prior to the present invention, formally-appearing dressy-type flat-top hats or caps to which the present invention is exclusively directed, have had solely an adjustable fitting of one sort or another, which have heretofore include unsightly open through-space holes extending between an overlapping portion and an overlapped portion of the heretofore discontinuous rim portion of the hat. As a result thereof, such prior art caps/hats have had a resulting non-fitting wrinkling and gapping-apart of these disconnected parts and have had considerable puckering in an unsightly manner; as a result thereof, the "fit" was not reliably adjustable nor snug. The prior type of adjusted flat-top hat also was not properly aligned with a resulting discomfort as well as unsightly in appearance. Such short comings heretofore reduced and often virtually destroyed any realistic utility and advantages purportedly achieved by the prior art adjustable hat or cap, the worn adjustable hat/cap having failed to holding its flat top and associated supporting rim in secure nor comfortable positions and manners, devoid of properly fitting thereof. Also, for flat-top dressy-type hats or caps having a reasonable degree of quality in the sense of having a turned-under band providing support to and as contrasted to the prior art hats having flimsy rims, there heretofore has not been a neat nor good-fitting relationship for adjustable-fit flat-top hats or caps having a turned-under supporting band because the turned-under band portion was heretofore unstable, such prior art adjustable-fit flat-top being not sewn-together and/or otherwise properly anchored, insofaras the turned-under support band that would overlap the inside of the other spaced-apart end of the discontinuous support band. The aforestated heretofore disadvantages reduced the value of the prior art adjustable flat-top dress-type hats because of their failure to properly operate or fit, as well as the resulting unacceptable unsightly appearance above-noted.
Additionally, as to the present inventors recent prior invention of the afore-mentioned parent application, while that invention constitutes a marked significant advance in the art as to quality caps and proper fitting thereof in alternative fitting for such adjustable-fit flat-top hat or cap for different head sizes, there never the less remained with that invention a twisting stress and unequal fitting on opposite sides of joined portions of the band and rim thereof as joined during adjustment to fit various head sizes. As well, the downwardly-extending seam at the normally rearwardly-positioned overlapped rim portions was slanted--i.e. normally not a vertical arrangement, and was not centered in the rear of the hat support rim, together with the resulting above-noted stress being greater in pull on one side of the cap as contrasted to an opposite other side of a flat-top hat or cap. These stresses also evidenced themselves in a wrinkling of the flat-top of the crown of the flat-top hat. In arriving at the present invention, other problems were encountered particularly with regard to distortion of the flat-top of the crown and/or its supporting rim, tending to prevent the flat-top from being a smooth even surface and tending to prevent the obtaining of equally stressed circumscribing portions of the top and of the supporting rim on which the flat-top is mounted.

c/o Virginia Garment Co., Inc., P.O. Box 2029


A videotex terminal which includes a buffer memory for receiving videotex picture data, a data memory for storing units of picture data output from the buffer memory, a table memory for storing a starting address and the data size of each unit of picture data stored in the data memory in connection with a corresponding unit number of each unit, a display for displaying a picture corresponding to the picture data, and a keyboard operated memory control circuit for locating both a memory area in the data memory where new picture data can be stored and a unit number which is unused in the table memory, writing the new picture data in the located memory area of the data memory using the located unit number and changing the contents of the table memory to correspond to the contents of the data memory to indicate the newly written picture data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a videotex terminal unit which receives data from a videotex center, stores the data in the terminal's data memory, reads out data selectively and displays it on the terminal's display screen.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Among conventional videotex terminal units, some products are capable of storing data from a videotex center into a terminal data memory, reading out data selectively and displaying it on a CRT screen. However, such conventional videotex terminal units have their data memory area and capacity fixed, and therefore either a large amount of data in excess of the capacity of the data area cannot be stored completely or otherwise many parts of the memory's data area left unused, resulting in the inefficient use of the data memory.

Videotex terminal with a memory for storing plural picture frames


An image sensor is disclosed. The image sensor includes: a pixel coupled to a floating diffusion region; a reset select transistor coupled between the floating diffusion region and a first supply voltage; an n-type source follower transistor coupled between the first supply voltage and a second supply voltage, the n-type source follower being operable to receive electrical signal from the floating diffusion region; an n-type row select transistor coupled between the first supply voltage and the n-type source follower transistor; a first sample-and-hold capacitor coupled between a third supply voltage and the second supply voltage; a first switch coupled between the n-type row select transistor and the first sample-and-hold capacitor; and a second switch coupled between the third supply voltage and the first sample-and-hold capacitor.

CMOS image sensor with adjustable sensitivity is wildly adopted to control pixel conversion gain (CG) with respect to light intensity. High light intensity requires low conversion gain to avoid saturation. Low light intensity requires high conversion gain so signal can be read out with shorter charge transfer time. However, conventional CMOS image sensor with adjustable sensitivity consumes extra hardware for adjusting capacitance of the charge storage node. The extra hardware causes the fill factor to be reduced and a dilemma arises.

Image sensor with dynamic charge-domain sampling


A cube corner reflector is oriented so that incident and reflected beams either entirely miss the edges at the intersections of reflective surfaces or so that the beams have only peripheral portions incident on the edges. A symmetry plane of the cube corner reflector is midway between the incident and reflected beams of the cube corner reflector and contains the central axis of the cube corner reflector and one of the edges between the reflective surfaces. For a minimum size reflector that permits the tight beam spacing, trimmed surfaces perpendicular to the symmetry plane are at different distances from the central axis. The edges, variations in the orthogonality of the reflective surfaces, and beam walk off cause less wavefront distortion that could affect measurements in systems such as interferometers.

Cube corner reflectors are well-known optical elements that are used in a variety of optical systems. A cube corner reflector 100 as illustrated in FIG. 1 has three planar reflective surfaces 110, 120, and 130 that intersect at right angles in the same manner as the intersection of faces at the corner of a cube. Reflective surfaces 110, 120, and 130 can be formed on three sides of a tetrahedral glass block that also has a transparent face 140 for input of an incident beam and output of a reflected beam. The tetrahedral glass block in cube corner reflector 100 is symmetric so that the perimeter of transparent face 140 forms an equilateral triangle and the perimeters of reflective surfaces 110, 120, and 130 are congruent isosceles right triangles.
Cube-corner reflector 100 is a retroreflector, and therefore a reflected beam from cube-corner reflector 100 is parallel to but offset from an incident beam regardless of the direction of the incident beam. FIG. 1 illustrates an example of an incident beam 180 that enters cube corner reflector 100 through transparent face 140 and reflects from one or more of reflective faces 110, 120, and 130 before exiting as a reflected beam 190. Reflected beam 190 is parallel to incident beam 180 and offset from incident beam 180 by twice the perpendicular separation between incident beam 180 and a vertex 150 of cube corner reflector 100.
The tetrahedral shape of cube corner reflector 100 includes more glass than is generally required for the optical function of cube corner reflector 100, particularly in optical systems where the location and direction of the incident beam is well controlled. Cube corner reflector 100 can thus be trimmed to remove glass that is not required for the optical function of cube corner reflector 100. One conventional way to trim cube corner reflector 100 is to take a cylindrical core of cube corner reflector 100, which results in transparent face 140 having a circular perimeter. Another known trimming scheme gives transparent face 140 a rectangular boundary 145.
FIG. 2 shows a cube corner reflector 200 resulting from trimming cube corner 100 at boundary 145. Cube corner reflector 200 is small for a retroreflector capable of reflecting an incident beam 280 to provide an offset reflected beam 290. The minimum required size of cube corner reflector 200 to perform this optical function depends on the desired offset between incident and reflected beams 280 and 290, the diameters or areas of beams 180 and 290, and the path of the beams inside cube corner reflector 200. To minimize the area of the face of cube corner reflector 200, incident beam 280 (or alternatively reflected beam 290) is centered at a point on an edge 235 of cube corner reflector 200.
Analysis of the beam paths in cube corner reflector 200 shows the if incident beam 280 is parallel to a central axis of cube corner reflector 200 then the beam paths will remain within a band having boundaries at the upper and lower edges of beams 280 and 290 in FIG. 2. For example, a ray 282 at a top edge of incident beam 280 reflects from a reflective face 210 toward a reflective face 230 and then reflects from a point on reflective face 230 that is at the same height as the bottom edge of incident beam 280. From there, the ray travels horizontally to reflective surface 220 and exits as a reflected ray 292 at the bottom of reflected beam 290. Similarly, a ray 284 at the bottom of incident beam 280 reflects from reflective surface 230 to a point on reflective surface 210 at the same height as the top of incident beam 280, travels horizontally to the top of reflected beam 290, and exits as reflected ray 294. The height of cube corner reflector 200 can thus be as small as the diameter of beams 280 and 290 plus an added margin for beam variations or misalignments.
FIG. 3 illustrates a known multi-axis plane mirror interferometer 300 employing four cube corner reflectors 200. U.S. Pat. No. 09/876,531, entitled xe2x80x9cMulti-Axis Interferometer With Integrated Optical Structure And Method For Manufacturing Rhomboid Assembliesxe2x80x9d further describes some examples of multi-axis interferometers containing retroreflectors that can be implemented using cube corner reflectors.
Interferometer 300 has four input beams IN1 to IN4 that are direction into a polarizing beam splitter 310. Polarizing beam splitter 310 splits input beams IN1 to IN4 into components according to polarization. Components of one polarization from input beams IN1 to IN4 become respective measurement beams M1 to M4, and components of an orthogonal polarization in input beams IN1 to IN4 become reference beams (not shown). Measurement beams M1 to M4 travel from polarizing beam splitter 310 to a planar measurement reflector (not shown) that is mounted on an object being measured. The measurement reflector returns measurement beams M1 to M4 along the same paths.
Polarization changing elements (e.g., quarter-wave plates) 320 are in the paths of outgoing and returning measurement beams M1 to M4 and change the polarization of measurement beams M1 to M4 so that polarization beam splitter 310 directs the returning measurement beams M1 to M4 to respective cube corner reflectors 200.
Cube corner reflectors 200 reflect returning measurement beams M1 to M4 so that offset measurement beam M1xe2x80x2 to M4xe2x80x2 can traverse polarizing beam splitter 310 and elements 320, reflect from the measurement reflector, and return through elements 320 and polarizing beam splitter 310 to form parts of respective output beams OUT1 to OUT4. Each measurement axis of interferometer 300 corresponds to a pair of beams M1 to M1xe2x80x2, M2 and M2xe2x80x2, M3 and M3xe2x80x2, or M4 and M4xe2x80x2 and to a measured point that is halfway between the centers of the incident areas of the corresponding pair on the measurement mirror. Accordingly, cube corner reflectors 200 must be small enough to fit within the spacing of measurement beams M1 to M4 and M1xe2x80x2 to M4xe2x80x2 that is required for the desired measurement axes.
The reference beams have paths that include first reflections from a reference reflector (not shown), reflections from respective cube corner reflectors 200, and second reflections from the reference reflector before the reference beams rejoin respective measurement beams M1xe2x80x2 to M4xe2x80x2 in output beams OUT1 to OUT4. The two reflections of each measurement beam from the measurement reflector, the two reflections of each reference beam from the reference reflector, and the intervening reflections from the associated cube corner reflector 200 are well known to eliminate an angular separation that misalignment of the measurement or reference mirror might otherwise cause between the reference and measurement beams in the combined output beam.
A measurement along a measurement axis of interferometer 300 requires measuring and analyzing the phases of the measurement and reference beams that are within the output beam associated with the measurement axis. These measurements are most accurate if the wavefronts of measurement and reference beams are uniform because the measured phase information is generally an integral or average of the phase information over a cross-section of the output beam. Further, the integrated/analyzed portion of the measurement beam typically changes because of beam xe2x80x9cwalk-offxe2x80x9d. Beam walk-off occurs when the object being measured changes angular orientation. The walk-off changes the matched portions of the measurement and reference beams, causing an erroneous phase shift when the beam wavefront is nonuniform. Wavefront distortion can thus cause errors and lower signal-to-noise ratios in phase information measurements and correspondingly in the measurements along the measurement axes of interferometer 300.
Returning to FIG. 2, edge 235 of cube corner reflector 200 passes through the center of incident beam 280. The reflection of a beam from edge 235 is generally nonuniform and distorts the wavefront of the reflected beam. Such non-uniformity may arise from a chamber formed to improve the safety or durability of an otherwise sharp edge and from roll off that commonly arises at the edges of polished optical surfaces. This wavefront distortion can be significant for an interferometer measurement particularly because wavefront distortion from the edge crosses through the center of the beam where light intensity is high.
Another source of wavefront distortion in cube corner reflector 200 arises from reflective surfaces 210, 220, and 230 not being perfectly orthogonal. When incident beam 280 is incident on edge 235, the angular errors in the orientations of reflective surfaces 210, 220, and 230 cause the wavefront (i.e., the surface of uniform phase) of output beam 290 to be V-shaped. This V-shape produces measurement errors when measuring a phase for a planar cross-section of the beam. Correcting for this type of wavefront distortion is difficult because expected beam movement relative to edge 235 typically changes which side of the V-shaped wavefront corresponds to the larger portion of beam intensity.
In view of the limitations of current cube corner reflectors, methods and structures that reduce the wavefront distortion caused in reflections from cube corner reflectors could improve measurement signal strength and the accuracy of interferometer measurements.
In accordance with an aspect of the invention, a cube corner reflector is oriented so that incident and reflected beams either entirely miss the edges at the intersections of reflective surfaces or so that the beams have only peripheral portions incident on the edges. The edges thus cause less wavefront distortion that could affect measurements in systems such as interferometers. With one such orientation, a symmetry plane that is midway between the incident and reflected beams of the cube corner reflector contains one of the edges of the reflective surfaces and a central axis that passes through the vertex of the cube corner reflector. A cube corner reflector having trimmed surfaces perpendicular to its symmetry plane can be closely spaced with other cube corner reflectors to provide a tight beam pattern in a multi-beam device. For minimum size, the trimmed surfaces that are perpendicular to the symmetry plane are at different distances from the central axis.
One specific embodiment of the invention is an optical element such as a cube corner reflector. The optical element has three orthogonal reflective surfaces with three edges at the intersections of the reflective surfaces. A first edge is at an intersection of the first reflective surface and the second reflective surface and is symmetrically located between an incident beam and a reflected beam of the optical element. A second edge is at an intersection of the second reflective surface and the third reflective surface, and a third edge is at an intersection of the third reflective surface and the first reflective surface. A first trimmed surface is parallel to a central plane that contains central rays of the incident and reflected beam.
The optical element may further have a second trimmed surface that is parallel to the first trimmed surface, but the parallel trimmed surfaces are asymmetrically located relative to the central axis through the vertex of the optical element. A perpendicular distance between the first trimmed surface and the central plane differs from a perpendicular distance between the second trimmed surface and the central plane. More specifically, a perpendicular distance between one trimmed surface and the central plane may be required to extend beyond a radius of the incident and reflected beam by at least a distance corresponding to a non-zero deflection of incident beam toward the trimmed surface in the optical element. The beam is deflected away from the other trimmed surface in the optical element so that the distance between that trimmed surface and the central plane can be about equal to the radius of the beams.
Another specific embodiment of the invention is a cube corner reflector. The cube corner reflector includes first, second, and third reflective surfaces, an input/output face, and at least one trimmed surface. The input/output face is perpendicular to a central axis through the vertex of the cube corner reflector and includes a first transparent aperture for an incident beam and a second transparent aperture for a reflected beam. One trimmed face intersects a first edge that is between the first and second reflective surfaces, with the first edge being in a plane that also includes the central axis of the cube corner reflector and passes midway between the first and second apertures.
A second trimmed surface is parallel to the first trimmed surface and is such that a second edge that is between the second and third reflective surfaces makes an angle with the second trimmed surface that is equal to the angle made with the second trimmed surface by a third edge that is between the third and first reflective surfaces. A perpendicular distance between the first trimmed surface and the central axis of the cube corner reflector can be less than a perpendicular distance between the second trimmed surface and the central axis of the cube corner reflector.

Cube-corner reflector permitting tight beam spacing and minimal wavefront distortion in a multi-axis interferometer


A system and methods for automatic scalping in an electronic trading environment are presented. According to one embodiment, a trading application may display an indicator associated with a price level based on which a tradable object can be automatically traded. When a scalping application detects a fill associated with a first order, the scalping application may automatically enter a second order to offset a position created with the first order. According to one embodiment, the second order is automatically placed on the market when the inside market moves to a predetermined price level in relation to the displayed indicator.

Trading methods have evolved from a manually intensive process to a technology enabled, electronic platform. With the advent of electronic trading, a user or trader can be in virtually direct contact with the market, from practically anywhere in the world, performing near real-time transactions, and without the need to make personal contact with a broker.
Electronic trading is generally based on a host exchange, one or more computer networks, and client devices. In general, the host exchange includes one or more centralized computers to form the electronic heart. Its operations typically include order matching, maintaining order books and positions, price information, and managing and updating a database that records such information. The host exchange is also equipped with an external interface that maintains uninterrupted contact to the client devices and possibly other trading-related systems.
Using client devices, market participants or traders link to the host exchange through one or more networks. A network is a group of two or more computers or devices linked together. There are many types of wired and wireless networks such as local area networks and wide area networks. Networks can also be characterized by topology, protocol, and architecture. For example, some market participants may link to the host through a direct connection such as a T1 or ISDN. Some participants may link to the host exchange through direct connections and through other common network components such as high-speed servers, routers, and gateways. The Internet, a well-known collection of networks and gateways, can be used to establish a connection between the client device and the host exchange. There are many different types of networks and combinations of network types known in the art that can link traders to the host exchange.
Regardless of the way in which a connection is established, software running on the client devices allows market participants to log onto one or more exchanges and participate in at least one market. A client device is a computer such as a personal computer, laptop computer, hand-held computer, and so forth that has network access. In general, client devices run software that creates specialized interactive trading screens. Trading screens enable market participants to obtain market quotes, monitor positions, and submit orders to the host.
Generally, when an order is submitted to a host exchange, the host checks the limits of the order, for example price and quantity, and prioritizes the order with other orders of the same price. When buy and sell order prices cross in the market, a trade occurs, and the information related to the trade is then relayed in some fashion to the client devices. In fact, the host exchange publishes a data feed to the client devices so that the traders can have access to the most current market information.
Market information commonly includes information regarding the inside market and market depth. The inside market is the lowest sell price in the market and the highest buy price in the market at a particular point in time. Market depth refers to quantity available at the inside market and can refer to quantity available at other prices away from the inside market. The quantity available at a given price level is usually provided by the host exchange in aggregate sums. In other words, a host exchange usually provides the total buy or the total sell quantity available in the market at a particular price level in its data feed. The extent of the market depth available to a trader usually depends on the host exchange. For instance, some host exchanges provide market depth for an infinite number of price levels, while some provide only quantities associated with the inside market, and others may provide no market depth at all. Additionally, host exchanges can offer other types of market information such as the last traded price (LTP), the last traded quantity (LTQ), and/or order fill information.
To profit in electronic markets, market participants must be able to assimilate large amounts of data provided by an exchange, and to react more quickly than other competing market participants. Some traders, commonly known as scalpers, trade for small, short-term profits during the course of the trading session. Such traders establish and liquidate their positions quickly, usually within the same hour, or a few minutes, thus making small profits or incurring small losses. However, because market information provided to a trader in an electronic trading environment may change so much faster than in the traditional pit environment, the trader may not be able to respond to the changing market as fast as he/she would wish to. It is therefore desirable to offer tools that can assist a trader in trading a tradable object in an electronic marketplace and help the participant to make desirable trades.

System and method for automatic scalping a tradeable object in an electronic trading environment

Trading Technologies International, Inc.


A door handle assembly includes a hollow knob shell, a lock core having a front end formed to include a keyway opening, and a unitary core retainer sleeve situated inside an interior cavity of the knob shell. The unitary core retainer sleeve is formed to include means for supporting the lock core inside the interior cavity so that the front end of the lock core is positioned to lie in a front opening of the knob shell to permit a user to insert a key into the keyway opening.

The present invention relates to a door handle assembly and, in particular, a key-actuated interchangeable lock core supported in a hollow doorknob or the like. More particularly, the present invention relates to a door handle assembly having a unitary core retainer sleeve for supporting an interchangeable lock core in a hollow doorknob.
Machined doorknobs made by machining solid brass stock are known. Machined brass doorknobs provide a great measure of security and accept interchangeable lock cores and other lock-actuating linkages as shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,437,695; 4,435,967; 4,428,570; 4,428,212; 4,394,821; 4,342,478; and 4,312,201. The outer end opening in a machined knob is generally closed by a separate face plate carrying an inwardly extending boss which forms a seat for an interchangeable lock core as shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,342,478 to Foshee.
Stamped doorknobs can provide satisfactory security in many applications and are less costly to produce than machined knobs. However, a shortcoming of conventional stamped doorknobs is that they do not include easily assembled means for holding a lock core in the hollow region of the stamped doorknob.
An object of the present invention is to provide a unitary core retainer sleeve for supporting an interchangeable lock core in its proper place inside a stamped hollow doorknob.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a core retainer sleeve which is configured to support an interchangeable lock core and mount directly on conventional lock chassis so that the door handle assembly of the present invention can be retrofitted onto an existing lock chassis to serve as a replacement for a conventional door handle unit.
According to the present invention, a door handle assembly includes a hollow knob shell having a front face and an interior cavity having a front opening in the front face, a lock core, and a unitary core retainer sleeve situated inside the interior cavity and coupled to the knob shell. The lock core has a front end formed to include a keyway opening. The unitary core retainer sleeve is formed to include means for supporting the lock core inside the interior cavity so that the front end of the lock core is positioned to lie in the front opening of the knob shell to permit a user to insert a key into the keyway passage opening.
In preferred embodiments, the core retainer sleeve includes a forwardly presented edge facing toward the front opening formed in the front face of the knob shell. The forwardly presented edge defines a lock core-receiving opening in the core retainer sleeve which communicates with the front opening in the knob shell. The front end of the lock core includes a rearwardly presented edge engaging the forwardly presented edge of the core retainer sleeve to limit movement of the lock core into the interior cavity provided in the knob shell. Once the edge on the lock core engages the edge on the core retainer sleeve, the lock core is fully supported in a cradle formed in the sleeve and situated in a proper location relative to the knob shell and its front opening.
The unitary core retainer sleeve also includes a rearwardly presented surface for anchoring the lock core in its proper position in the knob shell. The lock core is a key-actuated interchangeable core of the type including a core body and a control lug movable relative to the core body to control the release of the lock core from its place in the core retainer sleeve. The control lug normally occupies a core-blocking position engaging the rearwardly presented surface of the sleeve to block removal of the lock core from the core retainer sleeve through the lock core-receiving opening. The control lug is movable from its normal position to a core-releasing position disengaging the rearwardly presented surface to permit removal of the lock core from the retainer sleeve through the lock core-receiving opening. The control lug is moved relative to the core body using a control key inserted into the keyway provided in the interchangeable lock core. A separate operating key is usable to control locking and unlocking the door handle assembly itself.
Additional objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived.

Door handle assembly with hollow knob and interchangeable lock core


A coupling for releasably mounting a boot with boot binding to a turntable which is adjustably secured to a snowboard. The boot binding includes a plurality of extending lock pins each with a shoe releasably locking into arcuate slots in the turntable. The boot binding is quickly directed to the coupling with a set of guide pins protruding from the boot binding, which pods also serve as improved traction devices when the boot binding is disengaged from the turntable. Also extending from the boot binding plate is a latch pin held under spring bias which when aligned in a hold position, fits into one of several latch pin holes in the turntable. To release the plates from hold position, the latch pin is pulled from the latch pin hole by a flexible hand extension release device hand operated from a standing position and the plates are rotated to disengage the shoes from the arcuate slots.

It has become well-known in recent years to use snowboards on ski slopes as another form of winter recreation similar to skiing- Snowboards are commercially available, for example, from Burton Snowboards of Manchester, Center, Vt.
A snowboard rider uses a boot designed especially to the requirements of snowboarding. As with skiing, it is required to secure the boot to the snowboard with a binding. However, snowboarding differs from skiing in that both user boots attach to a single snowboard, and the user does not employ poles. Also unlike skiing, the boot bindings are mounted to the snowboard with screws into a pattern of screw holes, possible threaded inserts in the snowboard. This pattern of screw holes or inserts typically allows adjustment in stance relative to the longitudinal center line of the snowboard and stance width. The stance angle is varied with user preference and the style of snowboarding intended. Stance width is selected by the user on the basis of personal comfort and leg length. Typically, changing the stance angle means releasing the boot from its binding and loosening the mounting screws so that the binding may be rotated, and then retightening the screws. Changing the stance width means removing the screws entirely and selecting another pattern of screw holes or inserts in the snowboard.
Before the present invention, it was not known in the art to have a readily available adjustment to the stance angle without removing the boot from the binding so that the user could change his orientation relative to the board.
When using commercial ski area chair lifts, a snowboard user is required to disengage at least one boot from a boot binding to maneuver onto the chair because he is generally immobile with both legs attached to a single board, no ski poles, and no downward sloping terrain in his intended direction of travel. With one leg disengaged, he pushes himself forward with his free leg. This maneuvering with one leg attached to the snowboard and the other free is referred to as "skate boarding."
Having mounted the chair with only one boot attached to the board, the user is again challenged to dismount from the chair in full motion with a single boot engaged, usually down a slight incline. A toughened surface is usually provided on the snowboard for temporary control during dismounting; the user places the unbound boot on the roughened surface which then allows limited control until he stops to rebind the boot to the boot binding. Thus, the snowboarder often finds himself stopped soon after dismounting from the ski lift chair to remount his free boot, often endangering himself and others, or he may have fallen for lack of adequate control.
Before this invention, a quick release of the boot binding from the snowboard from the user standing position was not known in the art, nor was it known to have a device on the bottom of the disengaged boot binding to improve traction. Generally, one boot had to be unstrapped from a board, an inconvenient and cumbersome task, as best. Then, with one boot disengaged, the user attempted to approach the ski chair lift. Although routine for traditional skiers, this normally simple task became a challenge without poles to assist, using only the disengaged boot pushing against the snow and ice with limited traction.
One solution to rebinding problem is to attempt to rebind the boot while sitting on the chair. This is usually very difficult and perhaps dangerous. Another solution is to have a couplng for one boot binding easily released upon maneuvering toward the ski lift chair that quickly rejoins the boot and boot binding to the board. Kincheloe, U. S. Pat. No. 5,035,443, describes a binding designed to disengage easily. Briefly, the coupling comprises a channelled groove into which a plate slides to a securing position. In practice, it is found that the coupling does not operate quickly enough to reengage upon dismount from the lift chair during the dismount action. It is also found that when ice gathers in the binding, the boot may not mount at all until ice is cleared. Thus, the problem remains to have a binding that is not only easily released but that reliably and quickly reengages the boot onto the board, even in the presence of ice and snow.


Advantageous analog and/or digital logic cells and methods of powering circuit blocks using the same are provided. A digital logic cell can include a charge storage device, a logic block, and connections to a power supply. The charge storage device may be a capacitor. The capacitor or other charge storage device can be disconnected from the logic block and a power supply to discharge the capacitor, and then connected to the power supply, via the power supply connections, to charge the capacitor. The capacitor can be disconnected from a ground connection of the power supply while the capacitor is discharged. After being charged via the power supply, the capacitor can also be disconnected from the power supply (including ground) and connected to the logic block to power the logic block.

There are many secure applications in which it can be important to protect electronically stored and/or processed data. Secure applications are implemented today in many areas, including ATM cards, identification cards, stored value cards, credit cards, cellular telephones (e.g., SIM cards), computer access control, pay TV, and storage of medical information. Security for these cards and applications often rely on cryptographic computations based on secret keys embedded in the memories of the cards (or other circuitry). Attackers attempt to extract these keys from the card in order to modify the card's contents, create a duplicate card, or generate an unauthorized transaction. Active attacks leave clearly visible signs of tampering while passive attacks often do not.
In a passive attack, information is collected from the card during its normal interaction with a reader. A passive attack may be in the form of a side channel attack. A side channel attack includes deciphering the keys based on the physical implementation of the use of the card or circuitry by focusing on timing information, power consumption, electromagnetic fields, and even sound. For example, current changes (and resulting power signatures) during switching of the logic gates that form a smart card may be monitored via the power supply lines and used to decode the secret keys. This type of attack, also referred to as differential power analysis (DPA), has many negative implications for the owner of the smart card (e.g., an ATM card can be hacked and used to withdraw cash, unauthorized by the card owner, from the card owner's account). Keeping data secure and protected from side channel attacks, including DPA attacks, continues to be an important design consideration.

Charge distribution control for secure systems


When a separation layer is formed using a stamper between a substrate and the stamper on a thick substrate, on the surface of which a rewritable recording multilayer film provided with signal guide grooves or pits and the signal guide grooves or pits are transferred from the stamper to the surface, variations in the thickness of the separation layer are produced due to unevenness of the distance between the stamper and the substrate.

As a high density optical information recording medium, there is a proposal of a multilayer optical information recording medium having a plurality of signal recording layers in the thickness direction such as a DVD provided with two layers for reproduction on one side. A DVD provided with two layers for reproduction on one side, for example, has a structure with two substrates, one having an information recording surface on which a translucent reflecting layer of gold or silicon, etc., is formed and the other having an information recording surface on which a conventional reflecting layer made of aluminum, etc., is formed and the two substrates are pasted together in such a way that these information recording surfaces come inside facing each other. To further improve surface recording density per one layer, there is a proposal of a high density optical information recording medium having a violet laser light source (with a wavelength of approximately 400 nm), a lens of high NA and a 0.1 mm thick low-profile transparent cover layer on the recording/reproducing side. This high density optical information recording medium has a structure with signal guide grooves or pits formed on the surface of a thick signal substrate, a rewritable recording multilayer film formed thereon and a transparent cover layer further formed thereon.
For this low-profile transparent cover layer type high density optical information recording medium, there can also be one with two signal recording surfaces. One example of the method of manufacturing it will be shown below.
(1) On a thick substrate on which a rewritable recording multilayer film with signal guide grooves or pits formed on the surface is formed, a separation layer is further formed using UV cure resin and a second layer with signal guide grooves or pits is formed on the surface of the separation layer.
(2) A rewritable translucent recording multilayer film is formed on the second layer with signal guide grooves or pits.
(3) A low-profile recording/reproducing side transparent cover layer of 0.1 mm in thickness is formed.
An example of specific methods of manufacturing this is the one described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-260307. The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-260307 is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. That is, according to the method of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-260307, using a plastic stamper for the step in (1) above, UV cure resin is applied to signal guide grooves or pits on the stamper, which are thereby cured, then this is pasted to the substrate on which the first recording multilayer film is formed using other UV cure resin having a different nature and the stamper is peeled off after the cure. Using such a method makes it possible to create a multilayer optical information recording medium using a rigid thick substrate as the base and placing one or a plurality of signal recording layers on top of the base through a separation layer.
However, the separation layer lying between the signal recording layers of the multilayer optical information recording medium must be uniform. When the separation layer is uniform, influences of reflected light from the other layer during recording or reproduction become constant in the signal recording layers before and after the separation layer. When the reflected light from the other signal recording layer fluctuates, this becomes a disturbance component of the reproduced signal and deteriorates S/N. On the contrary, when the separation layer is uniform, disturbance from the other signal recording layer is constant, which stabilizes recording or reproduction and improves the quality of the reproduced signal. In practice, however, variations in the thickness of the separation layer are produced when on a thick substrate on which a rewritable recording multilayer film with a surface provided with guide grooves or pits is formed, a stamper is used to transfer the separation layer between the substrate and stamper and the signal guide grooves or pits from the stamper onto the surface.

Method of manufacturing multilayer optical information recording medium

Abstract: The surface of the kth signal recording layer of the kth signal substrate is shaped parallel to the surface with the guide grooves and pits of the (k−1)th signal recording layer on the (k−1)th stamper, a (k−1)th separation layer is formed between the two and then the (k−1)th stamper is peeled off. The distance between the surface with the guide grooves and pits of the (k−1)th signal recording layer and the kth signal recording layer becomes uniform, and therefore the thickness of the (k−1)th separation layer can be kept uniform.


An apparatus for driving a fluorescent lamp. The apparatus includes a dynamic driving voltage generator and an inverter. The dynamic driving voltage generator outputs a dynamic driving voltage. The inverter is coupled to the dynamic driving voltage generator and the fluorescent lamp for outputting a lamp-driving voltage according to the dynamic driving voltage. Wherein, the lamp-driving voltage is used to drive the fluorescent lamp, the lamp-driving voltage is fed back to the dynamic driving voltage generator, and the dynamic driving voltage generator outputs the dynamic driving voltage according to the lamp-driving voltage.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates in general to an apparatus for driving a fluorescent lamp, and more particularly to an apparatus for driving a fluorescent lamp by dynamically adjusting the driving voltage.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the improvement and innovation of science and technology, the development of display technology changes rapidly and makes progress at a tremendous pace. The traditional CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) display has gradually dropped out of the display market due to its large volume and serious radiation and is gradually replaced by LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) monitors. An LCD monitor includes fluorescent lamps for backlighting. Cold-cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFL) are commonly used as back-light due to the durability and high efficiency.
A sufficiently high startup AC voltage is required to start up a cold-cathode fluorescent lamp, and then an operation voltage which is much lower than the startup voltage is needed to make the lamp be lighted. For example, the startup AC voltage for a 15xe2x80x3 LCD monitor is 1200V, and the operation voltage is only 600V. In practice, the voltage source of the LCD monitor is usually a DC voltage of 12V, and the startup voltage and the operation voltage are generated thereby.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a traditional apparatus for driving a fluorescent lamp. A DC-AC inverter is needed to transform the DC 12V into AC 1200V because the startup voltage needed by the fluorescent lamp to start up is 1200V, and the power voltage is only DC 12V. A Royer type inverter is commonly used. An AC 1200V is generated by the inverter 120 according to the DC voltage source of 12V. It is well known that the instance that, as the capacitor C1 is charged by a voltage source, the impedance of the capacitor C1 changes. According to this transient state, the voltage of AC 1200V generated by the inverter 120 is applied to the fluorescent lamp 130 at start up. Then the capacitor C1 reaches a stable state and the voltage across the fluorescent lamp 130 is designed to decreased to 600V, which is the operating or operation voltage.
FIG. 2 is a diagram of time vs. the voltage of the fluorescent lamp. At first, a startup voltage of 1200V is applied to the fluorescent lamp 130 because the impedance of the capacitor C1 is zero at the transient state. Then, an operation voltage of 600V is applied because the capacitor C1 reaches the stable state.
However, the driving voltage outputted by the inverter 120 is 1200V regardless of the voltage demand of the fluorescent lamp. While the operation voltage is only 600V, the inverter still outputs 1200V. There are some disadvantages. For example, the power efficiency is bad, heat is generated more, and bodily harm may be caused. In addition, the power consumption for a notebook is more critical. The traditional apparatus for driving the fluorescent lamp causes much power waste and needs to be further improved.
Moreover, the fluorescent lamp degrades with time, and needs a higher startup voltage. For example, a new fluorescent lamp needs a startup voltage of 1200V, and but after a few years it may need the a startup voltage of 1800V. The traditional approach to solve this problem is to set the startup voltage to a voltage higher than needed, such as 1800V, to ensure that a few years later the fluorescent lamp is still workable. This approach causes much more power waste.
The disadvantages of the traditional apparatus for driving the fluorescent lamp are as follows:
1. Bodily harm may be caused because the output voltage of the inverter remains at a very high level.
2. Power is wasted due to the high output voltage of the inverter.
3. The insulation material should be good enough, which costs more.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an improved apparatus for driving the fluorescent lamp by dynamically changing the driving voltage to save power and reduce the insulation requirement.
The invention achieves the above-identified objects by providing a new apparatus for driving a fluorescent lamp. The apparatus includes a dynamic driving voltage generator and an inverter. The dynamic driving voltage generator is coupled to a DC voltage source for outputting a dynamic driving voltage. The inverter is coupled to the dynamic driving voltage generator and the fluorescent lamp for outputting a lamp-driving voltage according to the dynamic driving voltage. Wherein, the lamp-driving voltage is used to drive the fluorescent lamp, the lamp-driving voltage is fed back to the dynamic driving voltage generator, and the dynamic driving voltage generator outputs the driving voltage according to the lamp-driving voltage.
Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred but non-limiting embodiments. The following description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Apparatus for driving a fluorescent lamp


One embodiment includes an apparatus comprising a closed loop feedback controller and a power output stage to couple to the closed loop feedback controller. The closed loop feedback controller and the power output stage are combined to form a single element.

An internal combustion engine may use an electronic throttle control system to perform throttle control operations. For example, the electronic throttle control system may control the angular position of a throttle valve in a throttle valve assembly. Implementations of electronic throttle control systems, however, may use a relatively large number of separate components, thereby potentially increasing the complexity and cost of the system. Consequently, there may be a need for an improved electronic throttle control system to solve these and other problems.

Electronic throttle control system with integrated controller and power stage


An integrated semiconductor laser array apparatus which is simple in structure and yet capable of stabilizing the light output from each individual semiconductor laser element. The integrated semiconductor laser array apparatus includes a semiconductor laser array provided by integrating a plurality of semiconductor laser elements. The semiconductor laser array includes a master semiconductor laser element selected from the plurality of semiconductor laser elements and slave semiconductor laser elements constituted of the remaining semiconductor laser elements. A laser beam output from the master semiconductor laser element is sensed by a photodiode and thereby a photocurrent corresponding to the received light ,intensity is generated and the bias current for the master semiconductor laser element is controlled by a first bias current control circuit such that the generated photocurrent is kept constant. The bias current for each of the slave semiconductor laser elements is controlled by a second bias current control circuit depending on the output from the First bias current control circuit such that the ratio between the bias current for the master semiconductor laser element, and the bias current for each of the plurality of slave semiconductor laser elements is kept constant.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an integrated semiconductor laser array apparatus provided with an integrated semiconductor laser array and a circuit for driving the array.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the progress in the optical communications technologies, studies are being made on applications of optical transmission technologies to high-speed data transmission between communications facilities not only in trunk line systems but also of transmission terminals and exchanges, as well as between computers or units in the computer. In such optical transmission technologies, the optical parallel transmission whereby a number of signals are transmitted in parallel is an effective method. As compared with the electric parallel transmission system, the optical parallel transmission system has excellent features in terms of transmission speed, transmission distance, electromagnetic induction noise, etc., and therefore researches on the development of the system are being advanced in various fields.
With the increase in the capacity of the optical transmission system, the need for the optical parallel transmission system capable of processing a number of channels, as seen in the optical cross connect system, has become great. As the light source on the transmitter side in the optical parallel transmission system, an integrated array of light emitting elements, which is constructed of a plurality of light emitting elements formed integral, is used for converting a number of electric signals en bloc into optical signals. While there are light emitting diodes (LED) and semiconductor lasers, or laser diodes, as practical light emitting elements, it is preferable to use the semiconductor lasers in view of their high transmission speed, adaptability to wavelength multiplexing, etc.
With the semiconductor laser in general, such characteristics as the threshold current for oscillation and light emitting efficiency (differential quantum efficiency) greatly change depending on the temperature more than with the light emitting diode, and therefore a stabilized operation of the semiconductor laser is desired under varying temperature conditions. As a technique to stabilize the output of a single semiconductor laser, there is a method hitherto known in which a portion of the optical output of the semiconductor laser is sensed by a photodiode and the bias current for the semiconductor laser is controlled by an automatic power control circuit (APC) such that the level of the sensed light is kept constant.
However, if it is attempted to apply the above described technique to an integrated semiconductor laser array to thereby control the output of each individual semiconductor laser element, a problem arises that the circuit necessary for the control becomes large in scale depending on the number of the elements and, hence, the structure of the apparatus becomes complex.

Integrated semiconductor laser array apparatus


An amplifier that accurately amplifies signals over a wide bandwidth, including DC, has a voltage-to-current converter, a feed-forward resistive element, a buffer, an input resistive element, a feedback resistive element, and an operational amplifier. A first end of the feed-forward resistive element is coupled to an output of the voltage-to-current converter and to an input of the buffer. A first end of the input resistive element is coupled to an input to the voltage-to-current converter. A first end of the feedback resistive element is coupled to an output of the buffer. An inverting input of the operational amplifier is coupled to a second end of the input resistive element and to a second end of the feedback resistive element. A noninverting input of the operational amplifier is coupled to ground, and an output of the operational amplifier is coupled to a second end of the feed-forward resistive element.

1. Technical Field (Field of the Invention)
The present invention relates to electronic amplifiers. More particularly, the invention concerns an electronic amplifier that has fast DC settling for providing accurate amplification at low frequencies.
2. Description of Related Art
Power amplifiers are widely used electronic devices. Power amplifiers can be used, for example, as audio, servo (motor control), or instrumentation amplifiers. Ideally, a power amplifier produces an output signal at a load that is identical to an input signal, except that the power of the output signal is greater than the power of the input signal. (Pout=Vout*Iout) greater than (Pin=Vin*Iin). In many applications it is desirable to have a power amplifier that has a frequency response which is substantially flat down to DC, for amplifying signals that include very low frequencies (for example, frequencies below 20 Hz), or DC.
Amplifiers commonly utilize feedback to reduce errors caused, for example, by inaccurate components, component mismatches, and power supply issues. A prior art:design for an amplifier circuit 100 that utilizes feedback is illustrated in FIG. 1. The amplifier circuit 100 has an input 101 and an output 102, and includes an amplifier 103, a resistor 104, an operational amplifier 106, a capacitor 108, and an adder 109. The amplifier 103 has an input 110 and an output 111. The operational amplifier 106 has an inverting input 112, a noninverting input 113, and an output 114. The adder 109 has an inverting input 116, a noninverting input 118, and an output 120. The prior art amplifier circuit 100 utilizes feedback implemented with a DC servo loop that includes the resistor 104, the operational amplifier 106, and the capacitor 108. To prevent degradation of the low frequency response of the amplifier circuit 100, the frequency response of the servo loop must be considerably lower than the minimum frequency that is to be amplified by the amplifier circuit 100. In many applications, for example audio amplifiers and servo amplifiers, this characteristic of DC servo loop feedback amplifiers and the general inability of DC servo loop feedback amplifiers to be used to amplify DC signals, is a serious disadvantage. The amplifier circuit 100 has the further disadvantage of producing a DC offset at the output 102, in response to an AC input signal that has a DC component at the input 101.
Feed-forward error correction is another technique that can be utilized in amplifier circuits to reduce output errors. However, a feed-forward amplifier circuit typically includes one or more filters to improve the AC characteristics of the amplifier. Filters are typically implemented with a capacitor or with another frequency dependent circuit element. A disadvantage of including a filter in an amplifier circuit is that the filter generally will degrade the low frequency response of the amplifier.
For circuits that can be implemented in integrated circuits, accurate component matching can be utilized to reduce errors caused by component mismatches. However this technique is not available for power amplifiers, due to voltage and current limitations of integrated circuits, which prevent implementing power amplifiers on integrated circuits.
In summary, existing designs are inadequate for implementing a power amplifier that can accurately amplify low frequency signals.
An illustrative embodiment of the present invention concerns an amplifier circuit that provides accurate amplification over a range of frequencies including very low frequencies, and DC. The amplifier circuit includes an input and an output, a voltage-to-current converter, a feed-forward resistive element, a buffer, an input resistive element, a feedback resistive element, and an operational amplifier. The voltage-to-current converter has an output, and an input that is coupled to the input of the amplifier circuit. The feed-forward resistive element has a first end and a second end. The first end of the feed-forward resistive element is coupled to the output of the voltage-to-current converter. The buffer has an output that is coupled to the output of the amplifier circuit, and an input that is coupled to the first end of the feed-forward resistive element. The input resistive element has a first end and a second end. The first end of the input resistive element is coupled to the input of the amplifier circuit. The feedback resistive element has a first end and a second end, and the first end of the feedback resistive element is coupled to the output of the amplifier circuit. The operational amplifier has an inverting input, a noninverting input, and an output. The inverting input is coupled to the second end of the input resistive element and to the second end of the feedback resistive element. The noninverting input is coupled to ground, an,d the output of the operational amplifier is coupled to the second end of the feed-forward resistive element.
Another aspect of the invention is a method for amplifying a voltage. Illustrative examples of various aspects of the invention are described in the sections below.
The invention provides a number of advantages, including the ability to accurately-amplify electronic signals that include very low frequency and DC components. The invention also provides a number of other advantages and benefits, which should be apparent from the following description.