A method for performing video motion estimation in video encoding, in which a video signal consists of frames comprising blocks. In the method a combined comparison value is calculated between a current video block of a frame to be encoded and at least one other video block of another frame. The current video block of the frame to be encoded comprises a set of first data values, and the at least one other video block of another frame comprises a set of second data values. Data value pairs are formed of data values from the set of first data values and equal number of corresponding data values from the set of second data values. The combined comparison value is formed by defining comparison values, each of which is defined by using data values of one data value pair of the data value pairs. Further, at least one threshold value is defined, and it is determined whether the process for defining the combined comparison value can be terminated.

Video encoding systems are known in which an image to be encoded comprises video blocks. These blocks are then encoded and transmitted to a decoding device or stored into a storage medium. For reducing the amount of information to be transmitted, different compression methods have been developed, such as MPEG-2 (Motion Picture Experts Group). In the transmission of video images, image compression can be performed either as interframe compression, intraframe compression, or a combination of these. In interframe compression, the aim is to eliminate redundant information in successive image frames. Typically, images contain a large amount of such non-varying information, for example a motionless background, or slowly changing information, for example when the object moves slowly. In interframe compression, it is also possible to utilise motion compensation, wherein the aim is to detect such larger elements in the image which are moving, wherein the motion vector and some kind of difference information of this entity is transmitted instead of transmitting the pixels representing the whole entity. Thus, the direction of the motion and the speed of the subject in question is defined, to establish this motion vector. For compression, the transmitting and the receiving video terminals are required to have such a high processing rate that it is possible to perform compression and decompression in real time. Typically, image blocks are grouped together to form blocks. The block usually contains 16 rows by 16 pixels of luminance samples, mode information, and possible motion vectors. The block is divided into four 8×8 luminance blocks and to two 8×8 chrominance blocks. Scanning (and encoding/decoding) proceeds block by block, conventionally from the top-left to the bottom-right corner of the frame. Inside one block the scanning (and encoding/decoding) order is from the top-left to the bottom-right corner of the block.
In MPEG-2 compression, an image is Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT)-coded in blocks so that the block size is 8×8 pixels. The luminance level to be transformed is in full resolution. Both chrominance signals are subsampled, for example a field of 16×16 pixels is subsampled into a field of 8×8 pixels. The differences in the block sizes are primarily due to the fact that the eye does not discern changes in chrominance equally well as changes in luminance, wherein a field of 2×2 pixels is encoded with the same chrominance value.
The MPEG-2 defines three frame types: an I-frame (Intra), a P-frame (Predicted), and a B-frame (Bi-directional). The I-frame is generated solely on the basis of information contained in the image itself, wherein at the receiving end, this I-frame can be used to form the entire image. The P-frame is formed on the basis of a preceding I-frame or P-frame, wherein at the receiving stage the preceding I-frame or P-frame is correspondingly used together with the received P-frame. In the composition of P-frames, for instance motion compensation is used to compress the quantity of information. B-frames are formed on the basis of the preceding I-frame and the following P- or I-frame. Correspondingly, at the receiving stage it is not possible to compose the B-frame until the corresponding I-frame and P- or I-frame have been received. Furthermore, at the transmission stage, the order of these P- and B-frames is usually changed, wherein the P-frame following the B-frame is received first, which accelerates the reconstruction of the image in the receiver.
Of these three image types, the highest efficiency is achieved in the compression of B-frames. It should be mentioned that the number of I-frames, P-frames and B-frames can be varied in the application used at a given time. It must, however, be noticed here that at least one I-frame must be received at the receiving end, before it is possible to reconstruct a proper image in the display device of the receiver.
The aim of the motion estimation is to find such a block (a reference block) within a search area of some reference frame in a video sequence that is most similar to a given block within the current frame (block under examination). Among the variety of motion estimation algorithms, the most popular are those based on block matching where a sum of absolute differences (SAD) is used as the similarity criterion between frame blocks. Given two ordered sets of data X={x1, . . . , xK} and Y={y1, . . . , yK}, the value of the SAD is defined as:
                                          S                                                                          A                                                                                D                                            (                                  X                  ,                  Y                                )                                              =                                    ∑                              i                =                1                            K                                                  |                                                x                  i                                -                                  y                  i                                            |                                      ,                            (        1        )
In some publications SAD is defined as the sum SAD(X,Y) divided by the number K of its addends. In that case it may also be called mean absolute error (MAE). Since in the most of the cases K is a power of two, these two definitions are substantially equivalent from the implementation point of view because the later one may simply be obtained by shifting the value of the former one by certain number of bits.
In a video encoding context, the SAD is computed between every (16×16) block X(c) of every current interframe (in practice almost every frame of a video sequence) and a plurality of (16×16) blocks Y(c,r), Y(c,r′) within a search area S(c) of one or more reference frame(s) (see FIG. 5). The blocks Y(c,R) that corresponds to the minimum SAD value among SADs between X(c) and blocks Y(c,r), Y(c,r′) within the search area S(c) is then used to form a motion information. Thus, SAD is applied many times and even a smallest improvement in the execution time of one SAD operation leads to significant savings in total video processing time. Naturally, on the other hand, the hardware utilized for computation of SAD should not be too large or power consuming especially in portable/wireless video processing applications.
There are many different motion estimation algorithms utilizing different search strategies in order to reduce the number and/or the size of SAD operations with possibly less degradation in the quality of the encoded video. They can roughly be grouped into two categories: data independent search where the choice of the next pair of X and Y blocks does not depend on the SAD value obtained at the previous step, and data dependent search. Normally, the data dependent search strategies require less SAD operations to be implemented. However, most of hardware implementations are based on data independent motion estimation algorithms due to simplicity of organizing regular data movements typical to such algorithms. Common to data dependent strategies is that there are several options to choose the next pair of X and Y blocks and which pair will be chosen depends on the current SAD value.
According to recent investigations different motion estimation algorithms consume approximately 40%–80% of the total video encoding time when implemented in a General-Purpose Processor (GPP). The basic operation in the block matching motion estimation algorithms is the SAD, which is applied many times during the video encoding process. In typical fast motion estimation algorithms, SAD computation is repeated approximately 30 times for almost every block (usually, of the size (16×16)) within the video sequence. Even for a 15 frames per second QCIF resolution (Quarter Common Intermediate Format) video sequences this would mean at least 44550 256-point (16×16) SAD computations per second. In a purely software implementation on, e.g., ARM9E microprocessor, which is a typical microprocessor in embedded systems, computing one 256-point SAD takes several thousands of clock cycles. This means that even hundreds of millions of cycles per second are spent only for motion estimation in a software implementation of video encoding.
Due to the importance of the problem, many motion estimation devices have been reported in the literature recently. One class of the architectures for SAD computation involved in such devices are cascade-connected architectures. An example of such architecture is disclosed in the patent U.S. Pat. No. 6,154,492.
Another type of architectures are those which may, in general, be described according to the FIG. 6 and may be referred to as "parallel/iterative accumulation SAD architectures". Examples of such architectures are found in e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 5,864,372 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,652,625 and in the paper "The sum-absolute-difference motion estimation accelerator" by S Vassiliadis, E. A. Hakkennes, J. S. S. M. Wong. And G. G. Pechanek published in Proceedings of Euromicro Conference, vol. 2, in 1998 (pages 559–566). In these architectures, some comparison values which are representatives of the absolute difference between every pair of data values (one from a current block and another from a reference block) are calculated at every step within a block of computational unit(s). These values are then one-by-one or portion-by-portion (iteratively), or all at once (in parallel) accumulated within a summation block which may have an internal feedback. After accumulating comparison values of all the pairs for given two blocks the SAD between these two blocks are obtained. SADs obtained between a given block X(c) and a plurality of blocks Y(c,r) within a search area S(c) are then analysed within the minimum evaluator block and the block producing the smallest SAD is selected to produce the motion estimation information.
In the practical use for motion compensation in video encoding, if the SAD value is too large it is not in an interest. Thus accumulation means within SAD architectures may be implemented with a lower precision (bit-width) than that for the correct SAD value in the worst case. While larger SAD values would then incorrectly be computed, normally this does not affect to the motion estimation result.
Some interrupt mechanisms have been introduced e.g. in U.S. Pat. No. 6,154,492 to be used in connection with SAD calculation means. The patent publication discloses a motion vector detection apparatus, which comprises cascade-connected processor elements. The processor elements calculate the absolute value of the difference between each of a plurality of pixels which compose a picture and a corresponding one of the same number of pixels included in a block, and also performs cumulative addition of the difference absolute values in the block. These operations are performed for each of the blocks within the predetermined search area. A comparative device repeatedly compares the cumulative addition values of two blocks obtained sequentially in the processor element at the final stage, and selects the smaller one of the cumulative addition values. A subtracter compares the smaller cumulative addition value with a setting value. When the smaller cumulative addition value is smaller than the setting value, a control circuit halts the supply of clock signals to the processor elements and the comparison device, so as to halt the entire operations of the apparatus. Since only smaller SAD values are important for determining the motion vectors, the larger SAD values may be incorrectly computed. This means that the precision of the functional units within the apparatus may have smaller precision than what is necessary for correct SAD computation in the worst case. This clearly leads to additional savings in silicon area and in power consumption. However, in this solution only a part of the architecture is halted thus partially saving the power but not the execution time. In fact, the architecture of U.S. Pat. No. 6,154,492 is constructed from K=256 processing elements each consisting of three adders. Such architecture does not appear feasible at the current state of technology or at least it appears to be too large for incorporating into mobile video encoding systems. In addition, this architecture supports only regular, data independent search strategies for motion estimation since it is heavily pipelined (256 pipeline stages) and the full interruption of the architecture would mean full pipeline reload.
There are several situations in the SAD computation for motion estimation where the calculation of a SAD between two given blocks X(c) and Y(c,r) may be terminated before completing the calculations and a new calculation of the sum of absolute differences between X(c) and another block Y(c,r′) from the search area S(c) may be started substantially immediately after the early termination. Examples of such situations are the cases where in the middle of calculations for the SAD between X(c) and Y(c,r) a temporary SAD value is obtained which already exceeds a predetermined threshold value or an earlier obtained value of the SAD between X(c) and some block Y(c,r″) within the search area S(c). In some other situations the search for a reference block within a given search area S(c) may be terminated and motion compensation information for X(c) may be formed before completing the process in the normal way. An example of such situation is the case where an SAD value between two blocks X(c) and Y(c,R) (not shown) is smaller than another predetermined threshold value. Therefore integrating some interrupt mechanisms into devices for motion estimation allowing pre-termination of the SAD computation and/or the reference block search would be rather advantageous.

Method for performing motion estimation in video encoding, a video encoding system and a video encoding device


A hairbrush includes a body and a panel having bristle mounts and support legs. Each of the bristle mounts is secured to at least three of the support legs in a network arrangement that defines openings for passage of an airstream through the panel. The hairbrush includes bristles located at a first set of bristle mounts. The hairbrush may also support clusters of bristles in recesses defined in hubs located at a second set of bristle mounts. The hairbrush may include a head portion defining a central opening across which the panel extends. Alternatively, the panel may be secured to the body in a substantially cylindrical configuration.

Hairbrushes known as vent brushes include openings in a bristled head portion to provide for passage of an airstream through the vent brush. Vent brushes are commonly used with hand-held hair dryers for controlled hair drying or styling by directing a heated airstream directed through the bristled head portion.
It is known, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,500,939 to Gueret, to provide a vent brush having a separate bristle support received within an aperture defined by a brush head portion. Gueret shows a bristle support (1; FIG. 1) that includes concentric oval shaped elements (3, 5; FIG. 1) intersected by ribs (6, 7, 8, 9, 10). Bristles (11) are secured to the ribs equidistantly between the intersections with the oval elements. Gueret also shows a bristle support (18; FIG. 8) including ribs (19) intersecting each other at right angles. Bristles (20) are secured to the ribs between the intersections.

Vent brush having flexible bristle support


A method of detecting and sequencing post translationally modified peptides is disclosed wherein a negative ion precursor scan is performed. A negative ion high resolution MS scan is then performed and then MRM channels in positive ion mode are determined and monitored. A positive ion MS/MS scan is then performed.

The present invention relates to the field of mass spectrometry and in particular to the detection and identification of post translationally modified peptides using a mass spectrometer.
Peptides consist of 20 commonly occurring amino acids that are linked together via amide bonds during the process of translating the mRNA message into protein sequence. The post translational modification of these polypeptides is ubiquitous and it is now widely understood and accepted that these modifications often infer biological function. There are a considerable number of modifications that occur, with common modifications including phosphorylation, glycosylation, myristylation, acetylation, methylation and ubiquinylation.
Tandem quadrupole mass spectrometers are widely used in a variety of industries. A known tandem quadrupole mass spectrometer comprises a first resolving quadrupole mass filter (MS1) followed by a gas filled collision cell arranged downstream of the first quadrupole mass filter. A second resolving quadrupole (MS2) is arranged downstream of the collision cell. Historically, the collision cell has often comprised a non-resolving quadrupole rod set leading to these instruments being known as "triple quadrupoles".
A common mode of operation of a tandem quadrupole mass spectrometer is known as Multiple Reaction Monitoring ("MRM"), wherein the first quadrupole mass filter MS1 is set to transmit only a pre-determined precursor or parent ion which is then fragmented in the collision cell. The resultant fragment ions are then transmitted to the second quadrupole mass analyser MS2 which is operated as a mass filter and is set so that only a single predetermined fragment ion is transmitted onwards to the ion detector. The resultant signal that is detected is therefore highly specific and highly sensitive.
Another common mode of operation of the known tandem quadrupole instrument is known as "precursor or parent ion scanning" wherein the first quadrupole mass filter MS1 is scanned across a chosen mass range with the transmitted ions being fragmented in the collision cell. The second quadrupole mass filter MS2 is set to transmit a fixed fragment mass. The resultant mass spectrum contains only those precursor or parent ions that fragmented to give the chosen fragment ion. Again, this is a highly specific and sensitive mode of operation.
A further mode of operation is known as "daughter or product ion scanning" or MS/MS wherein the first quadrupole MS1 is set to transmit a chosen precursor or parent ion which is subsequently fragmented in the collision cell. The second quadrupole mass filter MS2 is then scanned across a chosen mass range to allow a mass spectrum of the daughter or product ions to be acquired.
A MS scan is where either MS1 is set to resolve and is scanned with MS2 not resolving or vice versa. A MS scan generates a spectrum of all of the parent or precursor ions.
Several MS based approaches to the detection and sequencing of PTM peptides are known. These incorporate both infusion based and liquid chromatography based separation strategies, in combination with a variety of MS instrument geometries, such a tandem quadrupole systems and hybrid quadrupole-Time of Flight mass analyser systems. It is known, for example, to use precursor ion scanning looking for a common structural motif on a tandem quadrupole based system. However, there are several problems with the known approaches. Increasingly, the approaches have to be compatible with nanoscale liquid chromatography separations having narrow peak widths (of between 4-10 seconds). This demands that a complete analytical cycle of the experiment take no longer than one second to ensure adequate points across the chromatographic peak. This is not true of most known approaches. Secondly, brute force approaches have been used to try and sequence all peptides and sort the modified peptides from the non-modified peptides. This is highly time consuming and involves acquiring a considerable amount of redundant MS/MS information.
A specific, rapid technique with high sensitivity is desirable to detect and characterise post translationally modified peptides.
It is therefore desired to provide an improved mass spectrometer and method of mass spectrometry.

Method to detect and sequence post translationally modified peptides


A circuit and method for controlling the speed of a universal motor driven by an AC source is disclosed. The method includes the steps of measuring a value of a temporal property of a current through the motor and determining a speed of rotation of the universal motor using the temporal property. The method for controlling the speed of the universal motor further includes comparing the determined speed of rotation with a desired speed of rotation and adjusting the current through the motor so that the speed of the motor approaches the desired speed of rotation.

It is commonly required to control or regulate the speed of electric motors in equipment such as electric drills, washing machines or vacuum cleaners. The speed should be kept approximately constant, regardless of the mechanical loading of the motor. In such domestic applications, highly accurate motor speed measurement and control is unnecessary.
Known motor speed control circuits fall into two categories. Firstly, they may use open loop control, in that they control the power input to a motor, but have no feedback to determine actual motor speed, and thus are very ineffective, especially when the mechanical load on a motor may change during use. Secondly, they may use a mechanical feedback sensor, such as an optical disk or a magnet, in communication with an optical or magnetic sensor, to measure the speed of rotation of an electric motor. These sensors are expensive, and require a complex installation. The physical alignment of sensors must be accurate, and may require adjustment during installation, which makes the use of speed controlled universal motors costly and complex.
Universal motors powered by an AC voltage may be phase controlled by supplying timed gate pulses to a triac, connected in series with the universal motor. One triac gate pulse per half cycle is supplied, at a certain point in the half cycle. This turns the triac on and supplies current to the universal motor for a portion of each AC half cycle. In response to the measured speed of rotation, the certain point may be adjusted to supply current to the universal motor for a longer or shorter portion of the AC half cycle.
Universal motors may be used indifferently with DC or AC voltages. They have the following electrical characteristics. The instantaneous current i through the universal motor is related to the voltage u across it by the equation: EQU i=u/(Rf+Kv.V) I
where Rf is the resistance of the field winding, V is the speed of rotation of the universal motor, and Kv is a constant depending on the windings and the geometry of the particular universal motor. A universal motor therefore has a resistive characteristic, the equivalent resistance depending on the speed of rotation V of the universal motor. When used with an AC supply voltage, the current flowing in the universal motor becomes out of phase with the applied AC voltage, due to the inductance of the windings of the universal motor.

Sensorless universal motor speed controller


A slide assembly for a drawer to be received in a frame includes a channel formed to include a detent, a slide member having a tab, and a carriage disposed within the channel for longitudinal movement therein. The carriage includes a flexible finger and a stop configured to contact the detent to limit travel of the carriage relative to the channel. The slide member is configured to be longitudinally moveably received within the carriage and the flexible finger limits the outward travel of the slide member by contacting the tab when the slide member is received within the carriage.

This invention relates generally to drawer slides. More particularly, this invention relates to drawer slides having a component for attachment to a drawer and a component for attachment to a frame whereby when the drawer is received in the frame a stop is actuated to permit removal of the drawer from the frame.
Drawer slides are known having components for attachment to a drawer and components for attachment to a frame within which the drawer is to be received. Often such drawer slides include retention and release mechanisms that retain the drawer component within the frame component or vice versa until the release mechanism is actuated. Often the retention and release means are difficult to operate or of complicated manufacture.
The drawer slide assembly disclosed herein is easily operable and of simple manufacture.
A drawer slide assembly in accordance with the present invention includes a channel, a slide member or rail, and a carriage. The channel has an outward first end and an inward second end and is formed to include a detent. The slide member has an outward first end, an inward second end, and a tab. The carriage is disposed within the first channel for longitudinal movement therein. The carriage includes a flexible finger and a stop. The stop is configured to contact the detent whereby the travel of the carriage is limited relative to the channel. The slide member is configured to be longitudinally moveably received within the carriage. When the slide member is received within the carriage, the flexible finger limits the outward travel of the slide member by contacting the tab.
Additional features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of illustrated embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived.


A frozen product of minced fish meat frozen into granules includes: 90 wt % or more of meat granules having a substantially columnar shape with a 3 mm to 7 mm diameter; and 10 wt % or less of meat granules with a short diameter of 2 mm or less. A method of producing the minced fish meat frozen into granules includes: raising the temperature of fish meat which has been frozen at −20° C. or less to a temperature of from −10° C. to −5° C.; mincing the fish meat while maintaining the temperature of the fish meat at −10° C. to −5° C. by using a meat mincer having a feed screw, a plate, and a plate knife at a rotation speed of 200 rpm or less; lowering the temperature of minced fish meat to −20° C. or less; and crushing the minced fish meat frozen at −20° C. or less into granules.

As one of the reasons that the consumption of fish meat does not grow as compared to livestock meat, there is given the reason that it takes time and effort and is cumbersome to cook fish meat due to presence of bones and internal organs. There has hitherto been a desire that fish meat be provided in a shape that can be used easily even in a small amount as in minced livestock meat. However, fish meat and livestock meat are different from each other in composition and physical properties. Fish meat is physically brittle. The fibers of fish meat are fine. The content of oils and fats in fish meat is small, however, an oxidative stability of fish oil is low. Thus, for various reasons, fish meat having a shape that can be used easily even in a small amount has not been put to practical use.
In JP-A-58-101641, there is disclosed a method of producing minced food frozen into granules, including: mincing a material that has tackiness at normal temperature when minced while keeping an article temperature of from 0° C. to −10° C.; and stirring and freezing the minced material while keeping a temperature of −10° C. or less. In Example, there is disclosed that beef meat is minced, and the minced meat is frozen into granules with snowy dry ice.
In JP-A-07-250614, there is disclosed a method of freezing food, including: mincing food while keeping an article temperature of from 0° C. to −10° C.; and stirring and freezing the minced food into granules while keeping a temperature of −10° C. or less. In the disclosed method, at a time of conveying minced food with a conveyor and supplying the minced food to an inside of a rotary drum through an inlet, dry ice snow is supplied to the minced food or to both the minced food and the inside of the rotary drum, and a mixture of the food and the dry ice snow is stirred in the rotary drum, to thereby obtain a product frozen into granules.
An objective of the invention is to produce a frozen product of minced fish meat which is frozen into granules like minced livestock meat with good quality by a simple method.

Frozen minced fish meat and method for manufacturing the same


A multi-processor computer system includes a memory bridge configured in a processor socket on a motherboard. The memory bridge module electrically connects a processor bus and a memory bus that connect to the processor socket. Thus, an adjacent processor is capable of accessing an unused memory by way of the processor bus, the memory bridge and the memory bus.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a computer system for data processing, and more particularly, to a computer system having a memory bridge configured in a processor socket to electrically connect a processor bus and a memory bus.
2. Related Art
The most significant component in a computer system is the CPU (Central Processing Unit), which is undoubtedly as important as a heart to a human. To precisely process data that becomes larger and more complex at a higher speed, several CPUs are configured on a mother board and/or an expansive CPU card to build up a multi-processor computer system. However, the mechanism of accessing memory still creates a bottleneck in high performance computing.
In a conventional system with south/north bridge architecture, memory accessing is controlled by a north bridge chip. As Shown in FIG. 1A, two processors 71 and 72 of a dual-processor system share a system memory 74, wherein the north bridge is utilized as a memory controller hub (MCH) 73. When only one of processor 71 and 72 is operating, almost all the system memory 74 is available. However, the accessing speed will be limited due to the control process of the MCH 73. And such situation becomes more obvious while the processor 71 and 72 are both operating and sharing the bandwidth of a memory bus between the MCH 73 and the system memory 74.
To solve the problem, cache memory is used to save common commands and data for CPU to access. No matter imbedded in the CPU or configured externally, the cache memory avoids the CPU from accessing system memory frequently and from slowing down the whole system. But for the system memory that managed by the MCH or north bridge, this sharing architecture is still a limitation itself.
Please refer to FIGS. 1B and 1C. In the illustrated four-processor system, each of the processor P0, P1, P2 and P3 has dedicated memory M0, M1, M2 and M3 respectively. The processor P0, P1, P2 and P3 connect each other by processor buses PB, and connect to an I/O controller IOC such as a south bridge or a PCI bridge by an I/O bus IOB. In each of the processor P0, P1, P2 and P3, a crossbar switch XBAR is configured to connect a Bus Port BP0, BP1 and BP2, and a memory controller MCT and a system request queue SRQ. The system request queue SRQ manages data processing requests for the processing core C while each memory controller MCT controls the accessing processes of the memory M0, M1, M2 and M3 through each memory bus MB. Under certain conditions, the memory accessing architecture shown in FIG. 1B provides higher accessing speed than the one shown in FIG. 1A, thereby allowing the processor P0, P1, P2 and P3 achieve the best performance. Furthermore, the processor P0, P1, P2 and P3 are capable of sharing memory M0, M1, M2 and M3 by way of processor buses PB and crossbar switch XBAR to reach optimum efficiency of memory utilization.
However, when one CPU fails in this multi-processor system, or one or more CPUs are removed by the user due to special reasons, those memories connected to the failed/removed will become unused. That is truly a waste.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Computer system and memory bridge for processor socket thereof


A system and method for assigning backhaul resources is provided. A method for wireless relay network communications includes determining performance information regarding a plurality of relay nodes, allocating resource blocks in a subframe to relay nodes based on the information, and notifying relay nodes of the allocated RBs using a signaling message.

During the standardization process of the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) release 10, also known as, Long Term Evolution Advanced (LTE-A), relay nodes (RN) were given consideration. In the 3GPP TR 36.814 V0.4.1, "3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network; Further Advancements for E-UTRA Physical Layer Aspects (Release 9)," February 2009, it is stated that "relaying is considered for LTE-Advanced as a tool to improve, e.g., the coverage of high data rates, group mobility, temporary network deployment, the cell-edge throughput and/or to provide coverage in new areas." A wide variety of relay nodes may currently be under discussion, including smart repeaters, different types of layer 2 (L2) relay nodes such as decode-and-forward, and layer 3 (L3) relay nodes.
Common to all the relay node types is that a relay node is wirelessly connected to a radio-access network (RAN) through a donor cell (or a donor enhanced NodeB (eNB)). A wireless connection between the relay node and the donor cell is crucial especially for relay nodes operating in higher layers since the capacity of the wireless connection may be a bottleneck to the uplink (UL) and downlink (DL) capacity of all user equipments (UEs), or mobile stations, terminals, users, and so forth, served by the relay node.
As used in this discussion, the term layers refer to the lower layers in the Open System Interconnection (OSI) Reference Model, such as physical layer (i.e., layer 1), data link layer (i.e., layer 2), network layer (i.e., layer 3), and so on.
At the RAN1 #56 meeting, it was agreed that at least "type I" relay nodes are to be a part of LTE-A, where "type I RN shall have its own Physical Cell ID (defined in LTE Release 8) and transmit its own synchronization channels, reference symbols." See R1-091098, "WF on Relaying Operation for LTE-A," February 2009. At the RAN1 #56bis meeting, it was proposed that a "type II" relay node may be defined for LTE-A. A key characteristic of the type II RN is that "type II RN should not have a separate cell ID and thus would not create any new cell(s)," (R1-091632). Common to the different types of relay nodes is the wireless backhaul link between the relay nodes and the donor cell/donor eNB.
For inband relaying, the eNB-to-relay node link operates in the same frequency spectrum as the relay node-to-UE link. In order to avoid interference between transmissions occurring on the eNB-to-relay node link and the relay node-to-UE link, time-division multiplexing (TDM) has been proposed to multiplex the two links. That is, the relay node does not transmit to UEs when it is supposed to receive transmissions from the donor eNB, and vice versa. Transmissions between the donor eNB and the relay node may occur during backhaul subframes, which are configured as multi-media broadcast over a single frequency network (MBSFN) subframes between the relay node and its UEs.
It is expected that multiple relay nodes may be planted in a coverage area of the same donor eNB to cover its cell edge. In this scenario, multiple relay nodes are wirelessly connected to the same donor eNB. It is not clear how the available resources should be shared between the multiple nodes.

System and method for assigning backhaul resources


A multiplying circuit in which a pair of common-base transistors each having a small emitter area are inserted between the common emitter terminals of first and second differential amplifiers, which amplify a signal input to an input terminal pair and are connected in such a way as to cancel out their outputs which correspond to the input signal, and the output terminal pairs of multiple third differential amplifiers, which amplify a signal input to another input terminal pair and have a predetermined DC offset characteristic.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multiplying circuit which comprises differential amplifiers and are adapted for use in a frequency converter, a synchronous detector, a quadrature modulator, a demodulator, a variable gain amplifier, etc.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional multiplying circuits have two pairs of input terminals respectively supplied with two input signals to be multiplied. The input signal input to one input terminal pair is amplified by a first differential amplifier and a second differential amplifier. The output terminal pairs of the first and second differential amplifiers are connected together in such a way that the outputs of those differential amplifiers with respect to the first input signal will cancel out each other. A second input signal input to the other input terminal pair is amplified by a third differential amplifier to be converted into a change in the collector current of transistors constituting this differential amplifier.
Since the first and second differential amplifiers have their common emitter terminal connected to the collector of the collectors of the transistors of the third differential amplifier, the gains of the first and second differential amplifiers are proportional to the collector current of the transistors of the third differential amplifier. Therefore, a voltage proportional to the product of voltages of the first and second input signals or a multiplied output is yielded between the common output terminal of the first and second differential amplifiers.
Such a multiplying circuit will have a deformed output signal waveform because of the non-linearity of the differential amplifiers as the voltage amplitudes of the input signals get large. As a solution to this shortcoming there has been proposed an art of constituting the third differential amplifier with a combination of two differential amplifiers and providing the proper DC offset to these differential amplifiers to widen the linearity range as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,965,528. The DC offset of the differential amplifier is determined by the emitter area of a pair of emitter coupled transistors constituting this differential amplifier.
Another multiplying circuit has also been proposed which combines three or more differential amplifiers to constitute the third differential amplifier in order to ensure a wider linearity range. How to set a given DC off to the differential amplifiers and weight a current to each differential amplifier in this case is disclosed in Electronic Circuit Study Report No. ECT-90-20 of Electric Committee and "Realization of a 1-V Active Filter Using a Linearization Technique Employing Plurality of Emitter-Coupled Pair", IEEE JOURNAL OF SOLID-STATE CIRCUITS, pages 937-944, VOL. 26, NO. 7, JULY 1991.
In this method, however, as the number of third differential amplifiers increases, their transistors should have a larger emitter area, increasing the parasitic capacitance of the transistors so that the use of the multiplying circuit at a high frequency becomes difficult. For instance, given that the emitter area ratio of one pair of emitter coupled transistors constituting the third differential amplifier is 1:4, the sum of the parasitic capacitances present between the collectors of the emitter coupled transistors and the ground becomes about five times greater than that of the previously described conventional multiplying circuit. As the frequency of the first input signal increases, therefore, the CMRR (Common Mode Rejection Ratio) of the first and second differential amplifiers falls. In addition, the frequency rise will increase signals that leak to the second input terminal pair from the first input terminal pair through the collector-base parasitic capacitance.
The drop of the CMRR causes a local oscillator signal to the transmission output side to increase in the where the multiplying circuit is used as a frequency converter or a modulator in a transmitter, for example, with a local oscillator signal and a transmission signal respectively given as the first and second input signals to the frequency converter or the modulator. With the multiplying circuit used as a frequency converter in a receiver, for example, when the number of signals leaking to the second input terminal pair from the first input terminal pair increases, the local oscillator signal input to the first input terminal pair will increase the undesirable radiation from an antenna via the second input terminal pair, a high frequency amplifier and the like.
The conventional ways of broadening the linearity range can apply only to the third differential amplifier side to which the second input signal is to be input, and cannot widen the linearity ranges of the first and second differential amplifiers. This undesirably causes the first input signal component to be easily deformed.
If the frequencies of the first and second input signals are relatively different from that of the desired output signal as in a frequency converter or a demodulator, a multiplying circuit comprising half of the circuit components of the first described conventional multiplying circuit is often used. That is, this multiplying circuit comprises a first differential amplifier connected to a first input terminal pair, and a common-emitter transistor connected to the common emitter of the transistors of the first differential amplifier The first and second input terminal pairs of this multiplying circuit are supplied with two input signals to be multiplied, the second input terminal pair connected to the base of the common-emitter transistor. The first input signal input to the first input terminal pair is amplified by the differential amplifier, while the second input signal input to the second input terminal pair is amplified by the common-emitter transistor. A multiplied output of the first and second input signals is acquired from an output terminal provided in a load circuit of the differential amplifier.
This multiplying circuit if used as a frequency converter or a demodulator in a receiver has a disadvantage of having an insufficient noise factor. The noise generated in the multiplying circuit is mainly thermal nose from the parasitic resistor of the base of the common-emitter transistor. The thermal noise can be reduced by setting the emitter area of the common-emitter transistor larger or increasing the base area.
Increasing the emitter area of the common-emitter transistor however would result in a decrease in the CMRR of the differential amplifier and an increase in the signals leaking from the first input terminal pair to the second input terminal pair, as in the first described conventional multiplying circuit which comprises three differential amplifiers to improve the linearity. In a direct conversion type receiver, particularly, the reception frequency is nearly equal to the local oscillator frequency, so that when a local oscillator signal is input to the first input terminal pair and a reception signal to the second input terminal pair, the local oscillator signal will leak through the second input terminal pair. This gives rise to a significant problem.
In short, the first described multiplying circuit designed to improve the linearity range has the following two disadvantages:
1) The CMRR of the differential amplifier decreases in a high frequency range (radio frequency band) due to an increase in the parasitic capacitance of transistors in use and the degree of one input signal leaking from one input terminal pair to the other input terminal pair increases.
2) Widening of the linearity range is accomplished for only one of two input signals, resulting in insufficient suppression of the deformation of the other input signal.
Further, the use of a common-emitter transistor having a large emitter area to improve the nose factor in the second described conventional multiplying circuit would also result in undesirable reduction of the CMRR of the differential amplifier in a high frequency range and increase in the degree of one input signal leaking from one input terminal pair to the other input terminal pair.

Multiplying circuit with improved linearity and reduced leakage


A data input device for inputting numeric data by voice includes a range prediction part, a history holding part, a speech recognition part, a recognition result holding part, a comparison part, a presentation part, and a result storing part. The range prediction part estimates a range of a value expected to be input on the basis of meter-reading history data held in the history holding part. The speech recognition part recognizes speech representing a meter reading and stores the recognition result in the recognition result holding part. The comparison part determines whether or not the meter reading for this month represented by the data stored in the recognition result holding part is within the prediction range. If the meter reading for this month is within the prediction range, the presentation part presents the recognition result to a user, and the speech recognition result is stored in the result storing part.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a data input device and data input method for inputting numeric data by voice.
2. Description of the Related Art
Portable terminals (handy terminals) are becoming more commonly used for services, such as reading gas and electricity meters, inventory of products, and the like. The use of portable terminals allows information obtained on site to be input and processed in real time, thus increasing the efficiency and speed of such services. The size of portable terminals is being reduced because of the attention focused on the portability thereof, and data is generally input using soft keyboards or pens. In contrast, nowadays, speech recognition systems are attracting attention as alternative means for data input. Speech recognition is useful for situations where both hands of a user are occupied, and portable terminals with a speech recognition function have already been on the market.
In speech recognition, receivable words and recognition grammar are usually defined in advance. For example, in order to recognize three-digit numbers, procedures, such as registering each number from 0 to 999 as a word, preparing recognition grammar for receiving numbers from 0 to 9 for each digit, or the like, can be used. The number of receivable words and the complexity of the recognition grammar affect recognition performance. In other words, a reduction in the number of receivable words allows high accuracy of recognition results. With such a background, inventions have been made that are characterized in that the number of receivable words or recognition grammar can be reduced by setting words to be received (in this case, scaled numbers or the like) in advance by users.
For example, if a price range of products is from 100 yen to 1,000 yen and their prices are set in increments of 100 yen, the number of values to be received is 10, such as 100, 200, 300, etc. When known speech recognition grammar for receiving integers from 0 to 1,000 is used, even if only ten words are needed to be recognized, the recognition grammar can receive a thousand words. Thus, the possibility of misrecognition is increased. However, according to the above inventions (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-5484), the minimum value, the maximum value, the step width, and the like of a price range set by a user allow generation of recognition grammar by which the number of receivable words is reduced, thus suppressing a reduction in the recognition rate.
However, in such inventions, users need to set the minimum value, the maximum value, the step width, and the like for all items, such as a price and an amount, in advance.


The present invention discloses a power strip including a plurality of power sockets and at least one USB port. The power strip includes a high-voltage side circuit and a low-voltage side circuit. The high-voltage side circuit includes a power input terminal, a plurality of AC output terminals, and a first power circuit. The low-voltage side circuit includes a DC output terminal, a second power circuit, and a control unit. Each AC output terminal is coupled with the power input terminal and one of the power sockets and at least one AC output terminal powers the corresponding power socket according to a control signal. The second power circuit senses the first DC power before generating and transmitting a corresponding second DC power to the USB port through the DC output terminal. The control unit powered by the second DC power is configured to generate the control signal.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a power strip, and in particular, to a power strip which can provide both AC and DC outputs.
2. Description of Related Art
With the advancement of the technology, various kinds of electrical devices weed out the old and bring forth the new constantly, providing a much more convenient and comfortable life to people. However, as the result of the increasing variety of the electronic devices, the number of the original wall plug is no longer sufficient. It's necessary to couple the power strip with the city power, so as to power the increasing number of the electronic devices. Conventionally, the power strip is able to provide not only the AC power sockets for powering the electronic devices, but the DC Universal Serial Bus (hereinafter referred to as USB) port for the electronic devices.
On the other hand, the power strip nowadays can act as the medium to transfer the power, and furthermore, it can be having other multiple functions incorporated. For example, in a master-slave power strip, which is capable of causing different sets of power sockets of that particular power strip to be powered, a control chip is usually incorporated into the power strip. And in order for the control chip to properly operate an extra AC/DC converter is required.
The design and the incorporation of the above-mentioned AC/DC converter might increase additional manufacturing costs.


A manufacturing method of a supporting structure for vehicle has steps of preparing a casting mold having: a first and a second casting mold, which are matched to each other at casting, and has forming faces which form at least sides of first and second fixing portions and the connecting portion and a third casting mold having a forming face which forms a fixing face of the second fixing portion and a protruding body which forms a recess hole penetrating to an interior of the connecting portion from the fixing face of the second fixing portion; matching the third casting mold together with the first and the second casting mold so as to form a cavity for integrally forming the first fixing portion, the second fixing portion and the connecting portion in the casting mold; and pouring molten metal into the cavity so as to mold the supporting structure.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a manufacturing method of a supporting structure for vehicle. More particularly, the present invention relates to a manufacturing method of a supporting structure for vehicle characterized in that the supporting structure itself is plastically deformed when a load not less than a setting load is given to the supporting structure so that an impact force impressed upon the supporting structure can be relaxed.
2. Description of Related Art
In a supporting structure for supporting and fixing an engine, transmission, differential gear and so forth, a mechanism is provided which absorbs and relaxes impact energy by the plastic deformation of the supporting structure itself when a load not less than a predetermined value is given by a collision to an object to be supported such as an engine attached to the supporting structure.
For example, Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication JP-A-2002-2310 discloses a bracket used for supporting a power plant which includes a flange portion, on the side of which a notch groove having a V-shaped cross section is formed, and when a load not less than a predetermined value is given, the flange portion is broken from a starting point of the notch groove so that an impact force given to the bracket can be relaxed.
Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication JP-A-2002-127762 discloses an engine mount having a notch portion which becomes a starting point of the plastic deformation or destruction when a load not less than a predetermined value is given to the engine supporting structure.
A supporting structure, which absorbs and relaxes impact energy by the plastic deformation of the supporting structure when a load not less than a predetermined value is given to an object to be supported such as an engine, transmission and differential gear, is formed into various shapes according to a type of the object to be supported and an attaching position. Further, the proof stress, at which the plastic deformation of the supporting structure is made, is variously changed. Concerning the method of forming such various supporting structures and portions which allow the supporting structures to be plastically deformed, when machining such as cutting is employed, the machining work becomes complicated and the manufacturing cost is raised.

Manufacturing method of supporting structure for vehicle


A cover for a mattress includes a lateral panel for extending across the lateral surface of the mattress and a top panel for covering the top surface of the mattress. The top panel includes a breathable inner liner made of a non-woven material, a breathable outer shell covering the inner liner, and a silk floss fill retained between the inner liner and the outer shell. A mattress also includes the inner liner, outer shell and silk floss fill. A cover having an adjustment feature which includes a channel, an elongate elastic strip extending therein, a first connector and plurality of complementary second connectors disposed along the strip.

Covers for mattresses and the like are well known in the art.
Indeed, a conventional cover typically consists of a removable fabric envelope shaped and sized so as to fit around a mattress. Such simple fabric covers typically comprise a single fabric sheet which can be folded around a mattress. Alternatively, the fabric sheet is sewn or otherwise joined so as to form corners and conform to the shape of the mattress without needing to be folded.
When installed on a mattress, such covers, whether formed from a single sheet or multiple joined portions, typically comprise a top panel for covering the top surface of the mattress and a lateral panel for covering the lateral surface of the mattress. Mattresses are typically rectangular in shape and that lateral surface comprises four sides, although it will be understood that other arrangements are possible.
It is not typically necessary to provide a sheet extending below the mattress since this side is not used or seen. It is however common for the lateral panel to extend downward beyond the lateral sides of the mattress so that they may be tucked underneath the mattress.
It is further known to provide an elastic material around the periphery of the mattress cover so as to facilitate retention of the cover on the mattress. In use, the elastic is stretched so as to allow installation of the cover on the mattress. Once installed, the elastic then pulls the periphery of the mattress cover inwards, underneath the mattress, thereby pulling the lateral sides and upper rectangular sheet taut.
Mattress covers are typically provided to fit the various conventional mattress sizes—twin, queen, king, and the like. However, these standard sizes reflect only the size of the top sheet, i.e. the bed's footprint. These sizes do not reflect the thickness of the mattress, that is to say the distance between the mattress's top and bottom surfaces.
It would be advantageous to provide a cover for a mattress which could accommodate a range of mattress thicknesses.
It is also known to provide a more substantial cover for a mattress comprised not just of fabric sheets but also of on or more layers of lining, padding, stuffing, wadding or the like. Such covers can provide an extra washable layer between the user and the mattress itself in order to absorb body excretions, such as sweat, or other potentially staining fluids and which could otherwise stain the mattress. As such, these covers are often called protectors. It is known to go so far as to provide mattress protectors with a polyester lining, or some other non-breathable, waterproof lining.
It is known that allergens and irritants such as dust mites, bed bugs, mold and dead skin may build up on and/or within a mattress. Dead skin and pet dander, which may be deposited on a mattress or mattress cover, may penetrate the mattress, thereby providing food for dust mites. Individuals who are susceptible to certain types of allergies, especially dust mites, may develop allergic reactions, asthma, and skin irritation such as eczema.
Previous attempts to prevent transmission of allergens and irritants include providing a polyurethane lining and chemically-treating an outer layer. It will be appreciated that these techniques have several known drawbacks.
In particular, German patent application no. DE 20 2004 006 745 (Friedrich) describes a material composition for bedding, pillows and mattresses comprising layers of silk, layers of horsehair or mixed layers of both silk and horsehair. Friedrich also describes layers of woven cotton fleece disposed between these layers.
Also known are the following patents and published patent applications: GB 454,452, U.S. Pat. No. 4,656,681, US 2007/0245493, JP 10-155623, WO 2003/030669, WO 2006/009974 and EP 1 576 908.
In light of the afore-mentioned, there remains a need for an improved cover for a mattress which, by virtue of its design and components, satisfies some of the needs which are known in the art and is thus an improvement over other related known covers.


In order to improve operability when operating a target key, an input device has a plurality of keys arranged in a column direction. Each of the plurality of keys comprises a key indication mark (211) formed on an operation surface and an electrode plate (221) of a capacitive touch sensor disposed behind the operation surface, and the electrode plates (221a, 221b and so on) has a shape in which the top edge and the bottom edge are V-shaped and bend downwards so that the center of gravity of the electrode plate is positioned downwards in the column direction from a center of a minimum rectangle region enclosing the corresponding key indication marks (221a, 221b and so on).

Conventionally, the input device provided with capacitive touch sensors are well known (see, for example, Patent Literature 1 below).
The conventional input device has a plurality of capacitive touch sensors arranged in a matrix on the surface thereof. Each capacitive touch sensor includes a rectangular detection electrode and an indication mark printed on a sensor surface at a location directly above the rectangular detection electrode. The capacitive touch sensor detects a finger of a user being very close to or in contact with the indication mark, based on the change in capacitance.

Input device having electrodes shaped to enhance capacitive sensitivity at a given position


A fault protection circuit for an alternator is provided for preventing faults such as a prolonged full-field condition in the alternator. The fault protection circuit includes a safety switch that is opened when the alternator output voltage becomes too high, as may occur during a full-field condition caused by an electrical short, or when some other fault is detected within the alternator. The opening of this safety switch disconnects a supply voltage feeding an excitation current control switch. The excitation current control switch normally adjusts an excitation current provided to a rotor in the alternator, in order to regulate a voltage output from the alternator. By providing a safety switch that disconnects the supply voltage for the rotor excitation in the alternator, the alternator output voltage may be prevented from reaching excessive levels that may damage devices in an electrical system and a battery coupled to the alternator.

Automotive electrical systems are required to supply electrical power to a variety of devices within a vehicle. These devices typically include an electric starter motor, the engine ignition system, an electronic control unit (computer), headlights, and a variety of accessories. Electrical power is supplied to these devices (loads) by a battery, wherein the most common type is a 12V lead-acid battery. The battery is typically the primary or only source of electrical power when the vehicle's engine is not running, whereas the battery and an alternator typically both supply electrical power when the engine is running.
The alternator converts mechanical power generated by the engine into electrical power that is used both for meeting the demands of the various electrical devices and for charging the battery. In order to maintain an adequate charge state in the battery and to avoid damaging the battery (e.g., overcharging) or the various electrical devices, the alternator must generate an output voltage in a fairly narrow range. To support a typical 12V battery and an associated electrical system, the alternator should supply an output in the range of 14.0 to 14.6 V, with an ideal voltage of about 14.2V. The voltage output from the alternator is controlled using some type of voltage regulation.
The output voltage for most modern alternators is regulated by controlling the amount of current flowing through the windings in the rotor of the alternator. This current, in conjunction with the rotation speed of the rotor, determines the induced current flowing through the windings of the stator which, after rectification, produces the alternator's output voltage. Voltage regulation is accomplished by sensing the output voltage from the alternator, and using the sensed voltage to determine an appropriate excitation current to provide to the rotor.
Control of the excitation current provided to the rotor is accomplished via appropriately switching a supply voltage (e.g., the battery voltage) that provides current to the rotor. This switching is typically performed by a power transistor, which is controlled by an excitation control signal. The excitation control signal may be generated by a controller within the alternator, in conjunction with voltage regulation performed by the controller and/or by an electronic control unit (ECU) located outside of the alternator.
A potential safety issue arises if a fault causes a "full field" condition in the alternator. This occurs when the supply voltage becomes connected directly to the rotor such that the rotor's excitation current is no longer limited by the controller within the alternator and the associated voltage regulation. Such a fault leads to an uncontrolled alternator voltage output, which is likely to reach excessive levels that may damage the battery (by overcharging it) or other devices connected to the electrical system.
One solution to the above problem is to, upon detection of a "full-field" condition, disconnect the alternator output from the battery and the other components of the electrical system. However, the alternator outputs relatively high current, e.g., in the range of 50-200 amperes, which makes the switching of this output unfeasible and/or prohibitively expensive.
Another proposed solution implements a safety function that is implemented by interrupting the control signal, e.g., from the controller of the alternator to the switch controlling the rotor excitation current. Such a solution addresses faults in the controller itself, faults caused by inputs to the controller (e.g., an incorrect sense voltage), or a fault in the signal controlling the excitation current control switch.
However, the above remedy fails to address the situation in which the full-field condition is caused by a short occurring around the excitation control switch, i.e., the situation wherein the supply voltage is electrically shorted directly to the rotor input. A fault protection circuit and method for addressing a full-field condition caused by such a fault is desirable.

Safety circuit and brush holder for preventing fault conditions in an alternator


The claimed invention comprises a personal warning system including a mobile transmitting device and a mobile receiving device including a receiver which receives signals transmitted by the transmitting device, a proximity device for providing a signal indicative of the proximity of the transmitting device and an alarm, communicating with the proximity device, for providing warning of the proximity of the transmitting device.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an apparatus that warns a person of the proximity of another person and provides a means for contacting police or emergency services in the event that the proximity of the person is detected.
2. Statement of the Problem
More than ever in today's society there is an increasing need to provide secure perimeters around objects or persons that either require protection or pose a threat to others. Hazardous materials, such as toxic chemicals or radioactive materials, must be kept at a safe distance from people to prevent direct or indirect contact that causes injury or death. Weapons caches, classified projects and secure areas must also remain free from authorized access to maintain the integrity of national security or industrial secrets. Secure perimeters are necessary to provide sterile environments required by laboratories, the medical industry and electronics assembly plants. Similarly, the extremely high level of security in facilities that store large amounts of cash, jewels, or precious metals require boundaries that provide absolute protection for restricted areas.
In addition to keeping objects and materials safe, there is often a requirement to prevent contact between human beings. Dramatic increases in the number of domestic violence cases have resulted in record numbers of restraining orders issued by courts, enforced only by the threat of incarceration. Overcrowded jails and prisons have left local governments no practical alternative other than house arrest for all but the most dangerous offenders. Likewise, mental institutions constantly grapple with security issues, expending enormous amounts of resources to confine patients and search for and apprehend those who inevitably escape.
Current attempts to solve these problems have been costly, inefficient, time consuming, and have required enormous manpower. The number of prison guards employed by the average prison constitutes a small army, as do the security forces for most mental institutions. Defense plants spend millions of dollars annually for elaborate surveillance systems, using closed-circuit tv cameras, motion detectors, palm scans, and retina scans to monitor their employees. Costly background checks of employees, regardless of their involvement in secret projects, are conducted simply because an employee's work area might be within the same building or complex as a secret project. Similar resources are expended to protect the nation's mints and gold reserve, where employees must be monitored as carefully as outsiders.
The problem is more complex when the object or person around which a secure perimeter must be maintained is mobile. Transporting hazardous materials and precious cargos makes safety extremely difficult, as secure facilities that warehouse such items cannot be moved. The secure perimeter simply cannot be maintained when the only route available to transport the cargo is through a densely populated area. Transporting prisoners and mental patients between detention facilities provides an increased chance of escape, and complying with a restraining order is difficult when both parties are free to move around the same small town or neighborhood. The inherent mobility of human beings has made it impossible to develop a reliable method to monitor the location of the escaped prisoner or mental patient, or to warn the person protected by restraining order when the subject of the restraining order is near. While the ankle bracelet used to monitor people under house arrest verifies a prisoner's presence within a bounded area, this device fails to verify the location of the prisoner once he or she has left the boundaries of the restricted area.
There is a dire need for a portable device that will provide warning to a potential victim of a threatening person's proximity. In addition to such warning, a means for immediately summoning help is required to prevent harm.


An ignition coil for an internal combustion engine and a method of making the same in which layers of the secondary winding are separated by a non-filtering/non-segregating material embedded in an electrically insulated ignition coil housing. The preferred non-filtering secondary winding separator is a solid filament, non-absorbing/non-adsorbing mesh, such as a nylon mesh. Using the non-filtering/non-segregating secondary winding separator prevents filler damming when an ignition coil housing is manufactured using a vacuum encapsulation and curing process in which an encapsulation compound (e.g. a thermal setting epoxy) has solid additives (e.g. sand fillers). Non-absorbing/non-adsorbing separators are also advantageous because the separators do not alter the chemistry of the encapsulation compound.

The invention arose during continuing development efforts relating to ignition systems for marine engines in which ignition energy is discharged across a spark plug to provide enough spark to ignite a combustible mixture in a cylinder. The invention arose particularly in connection with efforts to improve production quality and operating life of paper wound ignition coils encapsulated in an electrically insulated housing made from a thermal setting polymer compound.
Paper wound ignition coils typically have a primary winding and a secondary winding impregnated in an electrically insulated (dielectric) housing made from an encapsulation compound which usually have solid additives such as sand fillers. Historically, strips of electrical grade paper such as kraft paper have been used to separate layers of wire windings in the primary and secondary windings. Investigation has found that the paper separators in the secondary winding tend to filter the sand fillers or other solid additives during the manufacturing process, thus creating filler dams in the housing and producing variations in encapsulating polymer composition. The variations in polymer composition result in dielectric constant discontinuities throughout the housing. Perhaps more importantly, these composition discontinuities result in a non-uniform shrink rate when curing the housing material during the manufacturing process and in non-uniform thermal expansion characteristics of the manufactured housing. These discrepancies in shrink rate and in the coefficient of thermal expansion cause the housing to crack or otherwise deteriorate, both during manufacturing and thereafter, thereby potentially reducing coil voltage output or, in the worst case, causing coil failure. Test observations also indicate that the absorption and/or adsorption characteristics of the paper wire separators alter the chemistry of the encapsulation compound within the winding, resulting in additional dielectric discontinuities.
The invention provides an ignition coil and a method of making the same which uses non-filtering/non-segregating secondary winding wire separators in lieu of paper separators. The preferred secondary winding separators are strips of nylon (solid filament) mesh having a mesh size of roughly 0.050 inches. Other types of non-filtering/non-segregating separators such as closed cell, non-segregating polyester cloth are also considered to be within the scope of the invention. Using a non-filtering secondary winding separator alleviates the problem of filler damming and renders the composition of the housing essentially homogeneous throughout the housing. Because the composition of the housing is essentially homogeneous, the dielectric, shrink rate and thermal expansion characteristics are generally the same throughout the housing, and many of the above-described problems are alleviated.
Another advantage of nylon, or other materials made of solid filaments, is that the nylon separator does not alter the chemistry of the encapsulation compound by absorption and/or adsorption.

Ignition coil with non-filtering/non-segregating secondary winding separators


To solve degradation with time of a light emitting element by a new method. When the potential of an electrode of a monitor pixel is sampled and fed back to a light emitting pixel, degradation with time of a light emitting element can be corrected. In addition, when a writing period is divided into a plurality of periods during which a plurality of rows are selected, a gray scale can be expressed by a weighted light emitting period. That is to say, a light emitting device of the invention has a plurality of monitoring light emitting elements, a monitor line for monitoring changes in the potentials of electrodes of the plurality of light emitting elements, and a means for preventing, when any one of the plurality of monitoring light emitting elements is short-circuited, a current from flowing to the short-circuited monitoring light emitting element through the monitor line.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a light emitting device having a self-light emitting element, and a driving method thereof. The invention also relates to an electronic apparatus having a light emitting device including a self-light emitting element.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, a light emitting device having a light emitting element typified by an EL (Electro Luminescence) element has been developed, and it is expected to be widely used by taking advantages of the self-light emitting type, such as high image quality, wide viewing angle, thin thickness, and lightweight.
In such a light emitting element, degradation with time or an initial defect may occur. In order to prevent degradation with time and an initial defect, suggested is a method where the surface of an anode is swabbed by a PVA (polyvinyl alcohol)-based porous body or the like so as to be planarized and remove dusts when a light emitting element is manufactured (see Patent Document 1).
As a driving method of the light emitting device, suggested is a digital time gray scale method where one frame is divided into a plurality of subframes and a gray scale is expressed depending on a light emitting period that is obtained by combining the subframes each weighted to have different lengths of light emission (see Patent Document 2, Patent Document 3, Patent Document 4, Patent Document 5, and Patent Document 6)    [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-318546    [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-4501    [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-108264    [Patent Document 4] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-324958    [Patent Document 5] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-215092    [Patent Document 6] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-297094

Light emitting device and electronic apparatus for displaying images

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


An engine mount includes an inner member and an outer cylinder having a circumferential position around a central axis of the engine mount, the circumferential position being changeable relative to the inner member. A bracket fixed to the inner member supports an engine on the engine mount, the bracket having a circumferential position around the central axis of the engine mount which is changeable relative to the outer cylinder. A stopper of an elastic material is provided on one of the outer cylinder and the inner member, the stopper contacting the other of the outer cylinder and the inner member when a change in length of one of the outer cylinder and the inner member relative to the other exceeds a reference level. An interconnecting member of an elastic material exerts a pressing force on the outer cylinder and the inner member such that the other of the outer cylinder and the inner member is contacted by the stopper to prevent the change in length of one of the outer cylinder and the inner member from further increasing from the reference level. A reference position indicating unit indicates whether the circumferential positions of the outer cylinder and the bracket relative to each other around the central axis of the engine mount are reference positions.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an engine mount, and more particularly to an engine mount for supporting an engine on a frame of an engine compartment of an automotive vehicle.
(2) Description of the Related Art
An engine mount for supporting an engine on an automotive vehicle, which includes a central axis, an outer cylinder and an inner member, is known. The inner member is provided within the outer cylinder along the central axis of the engine mount. For example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 4-321833 discloses such an engine mount.
The engine mount of the above publication includes an outer cylinder fixed to a frame of an automotive vehicle by using a bracket, and an inner member to which an engine is fixed by using a mounting bolt. The outer cylinder and the inner member are interconnected by an elastic member such that relative positions of the outer cylinder and the inner member in both an axial direction and a radial direction of the engine mount are changeable.
In the engine mount of the above publication, when the vehicle is running, vibrations from the engine are transferred to the engine mount via the bracket. Such vibrations are mostly absorbed by changes in length of the elastic member interconnecting the outer cylinder and the inner member. There are few vibrations transferred from the engine to the vehicle via the engine mount.
The engine mount of the above publication includes a stopper of an elastic material which is provided on both the outer cylinder and the inner member. The stopper is in contact with the outer cylinder and the inner member so as to prevent a change in length of one of the outer cylinder and the inner member relative to the other from increasing beyond a reference level. Therefore, when the vehicle is running, it is possible for the engine mount of the above publication to maintain the engine in the vehicle in a stable, suitable condition.
Generally, the engine mount is fixed to the frame of the engine compartment of the vehicle after related parts, such as brackets and stays, are attached to the engine mount. After the engine mount is fixed to the frame of the engine compartment, the engine is mounted in the vehicle through the engine mount. As described above, the engine is fixed to the inner member by using the mounting bolt, and the bracket is fixed to the frame of the engine compartment. In order to suitably carry out the mounting of the engine in the vehicle, it is desirable that the circumferential position of the bracket around the central axis of the inner member in the engine mount is a correct reference position after the engine mount is fixed to the frame of the engine compartment and before the engine is mounted on the vehicle.
The engine mount of the above publication includes the stopper which always exerts a pressing force on the outer cylinder and the inner member to prevent the change in length of one of the outer cylinder and the inner member relative to the other from increasing beyond the reference level. Since the outer cylinder is pressed by the stopper due to an elastic force of the stopper, a frictional force between the stopper and the outer cylinder is produced. If the circumferential positions of the outer cylinder and the bracket relative to each other around the central axis of the engine mount are correctly the reference positions, the frictional force serves to prevent the circumferential positions of the bracket and the outer cylinder from changing with respect to each other.
During the fixing of the engine mount to the frame of the engine compartment, a relatively great torque may be exerted on the outer cylinder or the bracket. In the case of the engine mount of the above publication, if such torque is exerted on the outer cylinder or the bracket, the circumferential positions of the outer cylinder and the bracket around the central axis of the engine mount may deviate from the reference positions.
Since the deviated positions of the outer cylinder and the bracket are maintained by the frictional force between the stopper and the outer cylinder in the engine mount of the above publication, it is difficult to correct the deviated positions of the outer cylinder and the bracket, after the engine mount is fixed to the frame of the engine compartment, without using a special jig or performing a complicated operation.
Further, if the deviated positions of the outer cylinder and the bracket are maintained, it is impossible to suitably carry out the mounting of the engine in the vehicle through the engine mount. In the assembly line, it cannot be determined whether the circumferential positions of the outer cylinder and the bracket around the central axis of the engine mount are correctly aligned at the reference positions unless it is found that the engine is suitably fixed to the engine mount.
Therefore, in the case of the engine mount of the above publication, when it is found that the engine is not suitably fixed to the engine mount, it is necessary to stop the mounting of the engine in the vehicle through the engine mount, and the deviated positions of the outer cylinder and the bracket must be corrected to the reference positions by using a special jig or performing a complicated operation.

Engine mount having a reference position indicating unit


The present invention provides a headphone with cord winder devices that are capable of winding up a bridging cord between one (left) headphone assembly and the other (right) headphone assembly. The headphone comprises one (left) headphone assembly accommodating, in one (left) headphone housing corresponding to one of the left and right ear, a speaker and a cord winder device for winding up an input cord for connecting to audio-video equipment; and the other (right) headphone assembly accommodating, in the other (right) headphone housing corresponding to the other of the left and right ear, a speaker and a cord winder device for winding up a bridging cord for bridging the left headphone housing and the right headphone housing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a headphone with a cord winder device comprising a right-and-left pair of headphone assemblies accommodating in a respective right-and-left pair of headphone housings a respective right-and-left pair of small speakers for converting stereo audio signals from audio-video equipment into sound and a respective right-and-left pair of cord winder devices, one for winding up an input cord for connecting to the apparatus and the other for winding up a bridging cord for bridging a right-and-left pair of headphone housings.
2. Description of the Related Art
Typically, a headphone is composed of a pair of headphone assemblies configured in a way that stereo audio signals are inputted from audio video equipment such as an MD (Mini Disc) player, a portable CD (Compact Disc) player, and a portable LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) display device to one of a right-and-left pair of headphone housings through an input cord and to the other of the headphone housings through a bridging cord, thereby converting the stereo signals into stereo sound to convey to user's ears by small-sized speakers accommodated in a right-and-left pair of headphone housings. Many of such headphones widely available are of a clip-on type without a headband.
As an example of such a clip-on type headphone, there has been developed a headphone with a cord winder device, as seen in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication 2002-10385, wherein the input cord for connecting to audio-video equipment can be wound up into the cord winder device accommodated in a headphone housing and an input plug attached at the distal end of the input cord can be housed into the same headphone housing.
A headphone 100 with a cord winder device of the related art illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3 is the headphone disclosed in the above patent publication, the headphone being explained briefly below in reference to the publication.
Firstly, the headphone 100 with a cord winder device comprises a right-and-left pair of headphone assemblies 101L, 101R that are configured substantially into a right-and-left symmetry in accordance with a user's right-and-left ears as shown in FIG. 1.
Specifically, the right-and-left pair of headphone assemblies 101L, 101R are configured by accommodating a pair of small speakers (not shown) symmetrically in a right-and-left pair of headphone housings 102L, 102R, which form the exterior of the headphone assemblies; accommodating a winder device (not shown) in only the left headphone housing 102L; and mounting a right-and-left pair of ear hooks 103L, 103R respectively on the outer surface of the right-and-left pair of headphone housings 102L, 102R.
When the headphone 100 with a cord winder device of the related art is put into use, the right-and-left headphone assemblies 101L, 101R are worn on the user's right and left ears with the right-and-left pair of ear hooks 103L, 103R, respectively.
The headphone assembly 101L is provided with an input cord 105 having at the distal end thereof an input plug 104 for electrically connecting to audio-video equipment. The input cord 105 can be wound up into the winder device (not shown) accommodated in the left headphone housing 102L. By plugging the input plug 104 into the audio-video equipment, stereo audio signals outputted from the equipment are inputted into the left headphone assembly 101L through the input cord 105. Then, audio signals for the left channel of the stereo signals inputted into the left headphone assembly 101L are converted to sound and conveyed toward the user's left ear by the small speaker (not shown) accommodated in the left headphone assembly 101L.
On the other hand, a bridging cord 106 is connected from the left headphone assembly 101L to the right headphone 101R. It is through the bridging cord 106 that audio signals for the right channel are transmitted to the right headphone 101R and then converted to sound and conveyed toward the user's right ear by the small speaker (not shown) accommodated in the right headphone housing 102R. The bridging cord 106 is provided slidably with a slider 107 for adjusting a loose length of the bridging cord 105 by bundling the cord 106 into a U-shape.
As stated above, when the headphone 100 with a cord winder device is in use, the input cord 105 provided in the left headphone assembly 101L is pulled out from the left headphone housing 102L and the input plug 104 attached at the distal end of the input cord 105 is plugged in the audio-video equipment, as shown in FIG. 2.
When the headphone 100 with a cord winder device is not in use, the input cord 105 provided in the left headphone assembly 101L is wound up into the left headphone housing 102L and the end of input plug 104 attached at the distal end of the input cord 105 is inserted into an accommodating hole of a projection portion 102La that is formed protrusively and integrally on the left headphone housing 102L, as shown in FIG. 3.
On the other hand, the bridging cord 106 is unwound and bundled in a U shape with the slider 107.
As explained, in the headphone 100 with a cord winder device, while the left headphone housing 102L accommodates a small speaker (not shown) for conveying left sound and the cord winder device (not shown) for winding up the input cord 105 for connecting to audio-video equipment, the right headphone housing 102R accommodates only a small speaker (not shown) for conveying right sound.
With this configuration, when the headphone 100 with a cord winder device is not in use, while the input cord 105 is wound up into the left headphone housing 102L, the bridging cord 106 remains unwound between the left and right headphone housings 102L, 102R as shown in FIG. 3. So, it is annoying for a user to handle the unwound bridging cord 106. Also, the unwound bridging cord 100 deteriorates the appearance of the headphone 100.
Furthermore, with the above configuration, since the right headphone housing 102R has a hollow space therein due to the absence of a cord winder device, whereas the left headphone housing 102L accommodates the device, the right headphone housing 102R exhibits different sound properties from those in the left headphone housing 102L. This is because part of the sound produced by the right speaker in the right headphone housing 102R reverberates differently from the sound produced by the left speaker in the left headphone housing 102L when the headphone 100 with a cord winder device is in use. So, such a configuration causes a problem in that the stereo audio signals cannot be converted into sound with balanced quality.
Therefore, there has been expected a headphone with cord winder devices in which an input cord for connecting to audio-video equipment can be wound up into one headphone assembly and a bridging cord between the headphone assemblies can be wound up into the other, thereby providing the balanced sound properties by accommodating both the small speaker and the cord winder device in each headphone assembly and thereby producing stereo sound with balanced quality.


A commodity recognition apparatus detects an appearance feature amount of a commodity included in an image captured by an image capturing unit, extracts a candidate of the commodity included in the captured image by comparing the data of the appearance feature amount with the feature amount data in a recognition dictionary file, recognizes a character string included in the image captured by the image capturing unit, and determines a commodity of a recognition target according to the recognized character string and the extracted candidate of the commodity.

There is a technology in which the category of an object is recognized according to the similarity degree calculated such that the feature amount of the object is detected from the image data of the object photographed by an image capturing section and the feature amount detected is compared with the feature amount data registered in the recognition dictionary file to calculate the similarity degree of the object. Such a technology for recognizing the object included in an image is called as a generic object recognition. As to the technologies of the generic object recognition, various recognition technologies are disclosed in the following document.
Keiji Yanai "The Current State and Future Directions on Generic Object Recognition", Journal of Information Processing Society, Vol. 48, No. SIG16 [Search on Heisei 22 August 10], Internet <URL: http://mm.cs.uec.ac.jp/IPSJ-TCVIM-Yanai.pdf>
In addition, the technology carrying out the generic object recognition by area division of the image for each object is described in the following document.
Jamie Shotton etc, "Semantic Texton Forests for Image Categorization and Segmentation", [Search on Heisei 22 August 10], Internet <URL:http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.145.3036&rep=repl&type-pdf>
In recent years, for example, the generic object recognition technology is proposed to be applied to a recognition apparatus for recognizing a commodity, especially a commodity on which a barcode is not applied, such as vegetables, fruits and the like purchased by a customer in a checkout system (POS system) of a retail store. In this technology, the feature amount data for representing the surface information, such as, appearance shape, color (tint), pattern, and concave-convex (surface roughness) of a recognition target commodity in the form of parameters is stored in the recognition dictionary file. The commodity recognition apparatus detects the feature amount of appearance of a commodity from the image of the commodity captured by the image capturing section and compares the detected feature amount with the feature amount data of each commodity registered in the recognition dictionary file. And then the commodity recognition apparatus outputs a commodity similar in a feature amount to the recognized commodity as a candidate of recognized commodity.
In addition, in the same checkout system, a technology in which a specific character string is recognized from the image data of the object photographed by the image capturing section is also known.

Commodity recognition apparatus and commodity recognition method


A handle assembly for providing dual flush functionality to a flush valve. The handle assembly comprising a handle and a plunger engagable with each other. The plunger axially slidable in a bush disposed between the handle and the flush valve. The bushing having a passage for receiving the plunger. The plunger having a first and a second axis along which the plunger may travel through the passage. Movement of the handle moves the plunger from first axis to the second axis wherein actuation of the flush valve by the plunger along the first axis results in a different flush volume than actuation along the second axis.

The present invention relates generally to the field of flush valves in general. More particularly, the present invention relates to dual flush volume flush valves.
Flush valves are used to selectively control the flushing of a urinal or toilet with a certain volume of water. Typically, flush valves include a flexible diaphragm with forms a seal between the inlet and outlet, whereby a disruption of the diaphragm will result in a flow of water into the urinal or toilet. This disruption controls the volume of the flush, and is generally fixed.
Commercial toilets and urinals have traditionally utilized a single flush volume in their operations. This flush volume is designed to provide the maximum amount of water needed that may be needed to clear solid waste products. However, solid waste and liquid waste require different volumes of water. In a single flush system, the higher volume of water necessary to flush solid waste is also used to flush liquid waste, with the result that more water than is necessary is often used. There is a need for a dual flush volume toilet which allows for the use of a lower volume of water when a full volume is not needed to clear waste.
Some prior art flush valves provide for a dual flush. However, such prior art dual flush mechanisms typically rely on modifying the action of the flush handle. This presents a user with a non-standard flushing experience and lessens the likelihood of proper usage.
Due to the ubiquitous nature of urinals and toilets, their operation has become an afterthought for most users. Therefore, there is a need for a dual flush toilet which allows for easy of operation and provides operation and design similar to current commercially used systems.