Backwater cycle of and process for circulating water in a paper machine having a wet zone. The backwater cycle includes at least one application device arranged to apply a composition containing at least one of pigment and filler onto a fiber web in the wet zone, a first backwater cycle that supplies a stock inlet with backwater removed from the production process upstream, relative to a web travel direction, of the at least one application device, and a second backwater cycle that accepts a remainder of the backwater. The process includes extracting backwater from the fiber web, and feeding backwater, which is not charged with the at least one of pigments and fillers, to a stock inlet.

The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. xc2xa7119 of German Patent Application No. 199 22 391.2, filed on May 14, 1999, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a backwater cycle of a paper machine that has at least one application device for applying a composition containing pigment and/or filler onto a fiber web that has not yet been completely dewatered in the wet zone. The backwater cycle includes a first backwater cycle that supplies a stock inlet with backwater, and a second backwater cycle that forms the remainder of the backwater cycle. The present invention further relates to a process for circulating water of a paper machine having a wet zone in which a composition containing pigment and/or filler is applied onto at least one surface of a fiber web being formed, and backwater is extracted from the fiber web being formed.
2. Discussion of Background Information
It is known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,152,872 to apply a pigment or filler onto a paper web that has not yet been completely dewatered, in order to produce thereby a multilayer paper whose outer layers have a pigment content considerably higher than that of the inner layer.
When such a pigment application or filler application technique is used in a conventional paper machine on a paper web that has not yet been completely dewatered, a problem arises that, after the paper machine has been running for a certain time, the wire cycle in which the stock inlet is included becomes enriched with filler or pigment. The result of such an enrichment is that the inner paper layer, which is initially low-filler, becomes likewise enriched with filler or pigments as the production process continues. This result runs counter to the desired distribution of the filler in the paper. In fact, an advantageous filler distribution in the paper is considered to be a state in which the filler or the pigments are essentially situated in the outer layers of the paper, while the inner layer is chiefly loaded with fiber components in order to achieve a high breaking strength. The chief advantage of such a steep filler distribution in the paper is the leveling of the surface structure that is decisive for the printing process, and homogenization thereof.
The present invention provides a backwater cycle of a paper machine and a process for circulating water of a paper machine that prevents the inner layer of the produced paper from being enriched with filler and/or pigment, even when the paper machine has been operated for a lengthy period.
During the paper production process, the amounts of water removed in a wire section of the paper machine are separated into two fractions, backwater I and backwater II. In modern paper machines, backwater I refers to the part of the backwater that accumulates on a forming roll, an upper wire suction box, a forming shoe, and/or other suction elements, in which the possibility of an upstream application of filler and/or pigment is not being taken into consideration. Backwater I is conducted in a short cycle without treatment and is utilized for thinning the slush of a machine vat immediately upstream of the stock inlet.
The water that accumulates at the wet suction elements, flat suction elements, and suction wire rolls are typically collected as backwater II. The clear water is then used for spray pipes and the like.
However, when filler and/or pigment is applied in the wire section of a paper machine, a portion of the applied filler and/or pigment can be removed by a subsequent vacuum suction element. Thus, re-using such water without intermediate treatment causes the thin pulp, which is initially distributed in a crosswise manner by the stock inlet and dewatered via a forming roll and wire suction box, to be enriched with filler and/or pigment. It is not possible to adjust a very steep filler distribution in the Z direction of the paper.
Therefore, in order to solve the above-described problem, the backwater cycle of a paper machine and the process for water circulation of the paper machine can be designed so that the water cycle in which the stock inlet of the paper machine is included is loaded from dewatering units that dewater the fiber web at a stage at which no composition containing pigment and/or filler has been applied onto the fiber web that is being formed. Each dewatering element that extracts moisture from the web subsequent to the application of filler and/or pigments can be consequently enriched with high pigment or filler components, so that this water would lead to a constant increase in the filler and/or pigment content of the layer formed by the stock inlet. Other units which would be undesirable to use for delivering backwater to the stock inlet include devices for catching cleaning liquid for wires which have come into contact with the pigment and/or filler application. This is because these wires are likewise charged with an increased filler and/or pigment content.
Thus, the present invention develops a backwater cycle of a paper machine that has at least one application device for applying a composition containing pigment and/or filler onto a fiber web that has not yet been completely dewatered in the wet zone. The backwater cycle includes a first backwater cycle that supplies a stock inlet with backwater and a second backwater cycle that accepts the remainder of the backwater. In this manner, the first backwater cycle is fed exclusively by dewatering elements that are arranged in the production process upstream, relative to a wire travel direction, of the application of a composition containing pigment and/or filler.
In this manner, the first backwater, which is returned to the stock inlet, is charged with lower or substantially lower filler concentrations or pigment concentrations than the pulp suspension that is fed to the stock inlet. This avoids the problem of the first backwater cycle, in which the stock inlet is included, being increasingly enriched with filler and/or pigment. Finally, in this way, a high portion of pigment and/or filler can be present in the outer layers of the produced paper web, while the fiber component maintains a constantly high value in the inner layer, and while the filler and/or pigment portion remains low.
The advantageous design of the backwater cycle of the present invention includes that the backwater of the second backwater cycle serves to feed the application of the composition containing pigment and/or filler. Since the second backwater cycle of the invention is fed at least chiefly by units that deliver water with a high pigment and/or filler content, this cycle is particularly well-suited to serve the water cycle for the applicator or applicators of the pigment and/or filler-containing composition.
It may furthermore be advantageous for the remaining backwater of the second backwater cycle, which is not being used to feed the application of the composition containing pigment and/or filler, to be processed with a depulping device, e.g., a microflotation device, to produce a clear filtrate. The clear filtrate formed from the second backwater cycle can be used later at any desired point in the production process of the paper web.
The presence of a depulping device, e.g., a microflotation device, is particularly advantageous when the backwater of the second backwater cycle is provided with a binder, e.g., starch, since this binder can then be carried out from the backwater by the depulping device and thereby avoid an enrichment of binder in the middle fiber layer of the finished paper.
Moreover, it is advantageous to introduce a disk decker upstream of a microflotation device, since a considerable portion of the remaining substances is removed from the backwater and the necessary filter area of the microflotation device can be reduced at the same water flow-through amount, thereby reducing costs.
It is also advantageous when a microflotation device and, optionally, a disk decker are present if the part of the backwater that is fed to the application of the composition containing pigment and/or filler is removed from the flotate of the microflotation device and/or from the overflow of the disk decker. This ensures that the portion of the pigment and/or filler-containing backwater that is provided with a higher pigment and/or filler content is fed to the application and, thus, leads to the maximum possible return of pigment and/or filler.
Moreover, according to the process of the instant invention for water circulation of a paper machine having a wet zone in which a composition containing pigment and/or filler is applied onto at least one surface of a fiber web being formed. Backwater is extracted from the fiber web being formed, so that the backwater that is not charged with pigments and/or fillers from the pigment and/or filler application is fed to the stock inlet.
Another result is that the inner fiber web of the finished paper is not enriched with filler and/or pigments and, in this manner, the breaking strength of the finished paper gains a constantly high value, even after lengthy production times.
An advantageous embodiment of the process provides that backwater charged with pigments and/or fillers from the pigment and/or filler application is fed to the application of the composition containing pigment and/or filler.
Moreover, it is advantageous to process the remaining backwater, which is not being used to feed the application of the composition containing pigment and/or filler and which is not fed to the stock inlet, with a depulping device, e.g., a microflotation device, to produce a clear filtrate and, optionally, to return it into the production process. The clear filtrate can be returned to the paper machine at any desired point.
If binder is present in the backwater of the second backwater cycle, the above explanations apply.
It is likewise advantageous to design the process so that a pre-cleaning by a disk decker takes place upstream of a microflotation device. This causes a reduction in the filter area needed in the microflotation device and, thus, a reduction in the cost of the process.
A further advantageous design of the process provides for the backwater fed to the application of the composition containing pigment and/or filler to be removed from the overflow of the microflotation device and/or the optionally present disk decker. The effect of this process design is that exclusively the high-content portion of the backwater is fed into the return to the application, and, thus, the amount of new pigment and/or filler needed can be reduced. Of course, the features of the invention described above and to be explained below can be used not only in the combinations provided, but also in other combinations or alone, without leaving the framework of the invention.
The present invention is directed to a backwater cycle of a paper machine having a wet zone. The backwater cycle includes at least one application device arranged to apply a composition containing at least one of pigment and filler onto a fiber web in the wet zone, a first backwater cycle that supplies a stock inlet with backwater removed from the production process upstream, relative to a web travel direction, of the at least one application device, and a second backwater cycle that accepts a remainder of the backwater.
In accordance with a feature of the invention, the at least one application device can be arranged to apply the composition to the fiber web while it is not completely dewatered. Dewatering devices can be provided so that the first backwater cycle can include first backwater removed exclusively by dewatering devices located upstream of the at least one application device.
According to another feature of the present invention, a first portion of the remainder backwater may be supplied to the at least one application device. Further, a depulper can be provided, so that a second portion of the remainder backwater can be produced in the depulper as a clear filtrate. The depulper can include a microflotation device. Still further, a disk decker can be arranged upstream of the depulping device. The depulper can be a microflotation device, and the first portion of the remainder backwater can include at least one of an overflow from the disk decker and flotate of the microflotation device.
In accordance with still another feature of the invention, upstream dewatering elements may be located upstream of the at least one application device. The first backwater cycle can include first backwater removed by the upstream dewatering elements. The first backwater can be removed exclusively by the upstream dewatering elements. Further, downstream dewatering elements may be located downstream of the at least one application device, such that the remaining backwater can include second backwater removed by the downstream dewatering elements. The second backwater can be removed exclusively by the downstream dewatering elements. Moreover, the paper machine may include at least one forming wire, and the backwater cycle can further include a cleaning liquid collector arranged to collect cleaning liquid applied to the at least one forming wire. The remaining backwater can include the collected cleaning liquid.
The invention is directed to a process for circulating water in a paper machine having a wet zone and at least one application device for applying a composition containing at least one of pigment and filler onto at least one surface of a fiber web being formed. The process includes extracting backwater from the fiber web, and feeding backwater, which is not charged with the at least one of pigments and fillers, to a stock inlet.
According to a feature of the invention, the process can also include exclusively feeding backwater, which is not charged with the at least one of pigments and fillers, to a stock inlet.
The process can also include feeding backwater, which is charged with the at least one of pigments and fillers, to the at least one application device. Further, the process can include exclusively feeding backwater, which is charged with the at least one of pigments and fillers, to the at least one application device. The backwater fed to the at least one application device can include cleaning liquid used for cleaning forming wires of the paper machine.
Moreover, the process may include processing a portion of the backwater, which is charged with at least one of pigments and fillers, in a depulping device to produce a clear filtrate. The depulping device can be a microflotation device. The process can also include preliminarily cleaning the portion of backwater in a disk decker located upstream, relative to a web travel direction of the microflotation device. Further, the process can include feeding backwater from at least one of the overflow of the disk decker and the flotate of the microflotation device to the at least one application device.
The present invention is also directed to an apparatus for forming a fiber web that includes at least one application device arranged to apply a composition containing at least one of pigment and filler onto a fiber web in the wet zone, at least one upstream dewatering device, located upstream, relative to a web travel direction, of the at least one application device, adapted to remove a first backwater from the fiber web, and a stock inlet coupled to the at least one upstream dewatering device, and adapted to receive the first backwater. At least one downstream dewatering device, located downstream of the at least one application device, is adapted to remove a second backwater charged with the at least one of pigment and filler, and at least a first portion of the second backwater is coupled to the at least one application device.
According to a feature of the invention, the apparatus can include a depulper, such that a second portion of the second backwater can be produced in the depulper produce as a clear filtrate. The depulper can be a microflotation device. Further, a disk decker can be arranged upstream of the depulping device. Still further, the first portion of the remainder backwater can include at least one of an overflow from the disk decker and flotate of the microflotation device.
The present invention is directed to a process for circulating water in a paper machine having a wet zone and at least one application device for applying a composition containing at least one of pigment and filler onto at least one surface of a fiber web being formed. The process can include extracting a first backwater which is not charged with the at least one of pigments and fillers, and feeding the extracted first backwater to a stock inlet.
According to yet another feature of the invention, the process can include extracting a second backwater which is charged with the at least one of pigments and fillers, and feeding a portion the extracted second backwater to the at least one application device. A remaining portion of the extracted second backwater can be a clear filtrate. The first backwater and the second backwater can be exclusive of each other.

Backwater cycle and process for the water circulation of a paper machine


A vehicle external mirror assembly (10) comprising a bracket mountable to a vehicle door (8), a mirror head (20) pivotally mounted to the bracket (15), a main rear view mirror (22) mounted to the head (20), and an auxiliary mirror (30) mounted to the head (20). The auxiliary mirror (30) provides the vehicle driver with vision alongside and behind the vehicle when the mirror head (20) is in a folded position.

External rear view mirrors (wing mirrors) fitted to modern cars (automobiles) often form the widest part of the vehicle. The heads of these mirrors are usually designed to rotate about a vertical pivot axis both forwards and backwards. Generally a detent mechanism is provided to hold the mirror head in its operable position. The ability to fold or park a mirror head is provided for a number of reasons including to allow effective reduction in the width of the vehicle and to reduce the risk of impact on pedestrians or other vehicles. Furthermore, when vehicles are transported on trucks or trains, it is useful to be able to fold or park mirror heads.
When a mirror head is in a parked or folded position, the mirror is positioned substantially parallel to the vehicle's side or at least is not at an angle suitable for providing the vehicle driver with vision along side and behind the vehicle. This can present a problem particularly when it is necessary for a driver to reverse a vehicle when the mirror is in this condition. For instance, it may be necessary for a driver to reverse a vehicle having a parked mirror head into a car wash, into a parking area, into a narrow garage or onto a loading truck.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle external mirror assembly that overcomes or at least ameliorates the above problem.

Foldable vehicle external mirror having auxiliary mirror

Schefenacker Vision Systems Australia Pty Lts


The invention provides a steering column assembly for a vehicle. The steering column assembly includes a steering column operable to adjustably support a steering wheel in the vehicle. The steering column is moveable along a path for collapsing movement relative to a vehicle in response to an impact situation. The steering column assembly also includes an energy absorber for dissipating energy associated with the collapsing movement of the steering column along the path. The energy absorber includes an anvil fixedly disposed relative to one of the steering column and the path. The energy absorber also includes a strap drawable over the anvil and substantially fixedly disposed relative to the other of the steering column and the path. The steering column assembly also includes a second strap fixedly disposed relative to one of the steering column and the path for dissipating energy associated with the collapsing movement of the steering column along the path. The steering column assembly also includes at least one quick release bolt engaged with the strap to selectively release the strap relative to the other of the steering column and the path. The at least one quick release bolt engages both of the strap and the second strap.

Steering column assemblies for vehicles often include kinetic energy absorption devices that act to control the collapse of the column in the event of a crash to reduce the likelihood of injury to the driver. One form of an energy absorbing device comprises a metal strap that is bent and drawn over an anvil to absorb kinetic energy of a collapsing column. Examples of energy absorbing devices include U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,605,352; 5,720,496; 6,170,874; 6,189,929; 6,322,103; 6,450,532; 6,652,002; 6,659,504; 6,749,222; 6,761,376; 6,802,536; and 6,877,775.
However, there still exists a need for new and improved energy absorbing devices for vehicle steering column assemblies.

Adaptive energy absorber for steering column


A method for identifying a body motion includes receiving a series of images including a visual presentation of a human face from the image capture device. The series of images may form an image sequence. Each of the series of images may have a previous image or a next image in the image sequence. The method also includes, for each of the series of images, determining a plurality of characteristic points on the human face, determining positions of the plurality of characteristic points on the human face, and determining an asymmetry value based on the positions of the plurality of characteristic points. The method further includes identifying a head-shaking movement of the human face based on the asymmetry values of the series of images.

In recent years, face authentication, for example, by a camera, is widely used in multiple fields (e.g., system login, security, finance) for preventing fraud. Examples of face authentication including identifying movement of a human body part, such as eye blinking and nodding, may require a user to be very close to the camera. If the user stays relatively far away from the camera, the accuracy of identifying such motion may deteriorate sharply. Accordingly, it may be desirable to provide systems and methods for improving the accuracy of identifying a body motion of a user when he or she stays a certain distance away from the camera.

Systems and methods for identifying a body motion

BEIJING DIDI INFINITY TECHNOLOGY AND DEVELOPMENT CO., LTD.


A cover for a rimmed animal or fish tank is provided with a frame having a plurality of fixed depending tabs and at least one removable tab. The removable tabs are provided with an inwardly directed shaped flange at its lower end adapted to engage the wall of the tank below the rim to cause the fixed tabs to be biased in resilient engagement with the tank wall to secure the cover on the tank.

The present invention is directed to a cover for a tank. More particularly, the invention is directed to a cover for an animal tank, fish tank, or the like which may be easily installed over the tank and easily removed therefrom and which in its installed position is secured to the tank so that it may not be inadvertently dislodged or removed.
Animal tanks and fish tanks and the like require covers not only for the protection of the animal or fish, but for the protection of children and the like. Generally such tanks are provided with covers which, while permitting normal communication with the atmosphere, must enclose the tanks so that animals or fish therein cannot lift or displace the same or that foreign matter cannot inadvertently be thrown or dropped into the tank. Still further, the tank cover must be securely fastened to the tank so that the cover is not accidentally dislodged by a child or the user. On the other hand, the cover must be easily removable so that access to the tank for feeding and cleaning purposes can be accomplished.
In my U.S. Pat. No. 4,576,115 of March 18, 1986, such a tank cover is provided. While the tank cover of that patent accomplishes the above mentioned end purposes in an admirable fashion, there still exists a need for tank covers for animal and fish tanks which is of simpler and less complex construction. The present invention fulfills such need.


There is provided a fusing system. The fusing system includes a fuser roller, a pressure roller arranged parallel to the fuser roller for providing pressure to a medium passing between the fuser roller and the pressure roller, and a heater external to the fuser roller and applying heat to the fuser roller when the heater is operated to apply heat. The fusing system also includes a control mechanism that the controls the heater to reduce heat provided by the heater when the temperature of the heater is determined to be above a predetermined maximum heater temperature.

Reproduction apparatus, such as electrostatographic copier/duplicators, printers or the like often employ a fuser apparatus for forming an image on an image medium. One type of fuser apparatus includes a heated fuser roller and pressure roller system for fusing a developed image on a medium passing between the fuser and pressure roller. Typically, the heated fuser roller is heated using a heater internal to the roller. The pressure roller may or may not be heated.
Fusing systems using an external heater roller for heating a fuser roller are also known. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,016,410, 6,289,185 and 6,304,740 all disclose a fuser roller, pressure roller and a heating roller external to and in contact with the fuser roller to apply heat to the fuser roller.

Power control system for fusing system with external heater

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatus for outputting information. The method may include: obtaining a sentence to be identified; Performing word segmentation on the to be identified sentence to obtain a word sequence; Inputting a word sequence into a pre-trained multi-task element recognition model based on sequence labeling and entity word prediction, and outputting the identified entity words, entity categories and entity word positions, where the multi-task element recognition model includes a sequence labeling network for performing sequence labeling tasks and an entity word predicting network for performing entity word predicting task, and the sequence labeling network is fused with the entity word predicting network through a fusion module.

Field element recognition technology is a natural language processing technology that solves the recognition and labeling of elements (important entities) or key attributes contained in a natural language text in a professional field (medical treatment, law, finance, etc.). For example, in the medical scene of medical record text processing, it is desirable to extract elements such as disease, symptom, surgery, and examination that are concerned by a doctor: a patient suffers from a coronary heart disease [disease], and after coronary artery bypass grafting [operation], it should be considered that there may be an atypical myocardial infarction [disease], except that the diagnosis should be performed by electrocardiogram [examination] and myocardial injury marker [examination].
Field element recognition techniques may be used for natural language understanding and structuring in various professional fields, providing the most basic support for all subsequent decisions, such as: 1. Medical field: domain element recognition technology, as a core module of CDSS (Clinical Decision Support System), is used to extract key entities in medical records, providing an important capability of text understanding for subsequent disease reasoning; 2. Financial field: field element recognition techniques may be used to analyze listed company finances, and key entities in these texts (such as company name, time to market, financing history) may ultimately be used in financial aid decision-making products such as smart investment research.
There are two mainstream practices in the industry at present. One practice is using a pure rule to label domain elements; and the other practice is labeling using a rule+model.
Existing domain element recognition systems based on the rule and rule+model have the following disadvantages.
1) The field element recognition system using a pure rule is weak in generalization and can only identify elements covered by existing rules.
2) The establishment of the rule system requires a lot of energy of the engineers. A perfect domain rule system requires many years of deep tillage fields for the engineers and analyzes and solves the problems of the system.
3) The existing model-based domain element recognition system requires a large amount of manual labeling data. Labeling in the professional field is generally done by professionals in the professional field, and labeling costs are very high, and labeling costs are about 5 to 10 times higher than those of ordinary labeling.

Method and apparatus for outputting information

Beijing Baidu Netcom Science and Technology Co., Ltd.


A global localization apparatus, medium, and method, with the global localization method including selecting one from a plurality of samples and shifting the selected sample according to a movement of a robot, generating a new sample within a predetermined range of the shifted sample, determining either the shifted sample or the new sample as a next sample at a next time step according to a predetermined condition for the shifted sample and the next sample, repeating for all the samples, and estimating a next position of the robot according to positions of the next samples when the number of next samples is equal to or larger than the maximum number of samples.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention relate to global localization methods, media, and apparatuses, and more particularly, to global localization methods, media, and apparatuses for a robot using a sequence of sonar operations.
2. Description of the Related Art
Global position estimation and local position tracking are two problems to be solved in a moving robot. Global position estimation determines the position of a robot using data collected by sensors and correlates the collected data with a priori map or a known map. If the priori map is not available, a timing map may be used, with the timing map including recorded time information of the robot moving about within a region. Once the position of the robot is determined on a map, a local position tracking problem is raised regarding a tracking of the robot along a trajectory to the determined position. Once a global location is known, the robot can navigate a complex environment reliably using the map.
In general, the position of a robot is estimated through a probabilistic approach such as a Kalman filter or Monte-Carlo Localization (MCL).
The MCL is a recursive Baysian filter that recursively estimates a belief distribution of the position of the robot, i.e., a posterior distribution thereof, using sensor data, with an assumed uniform initial belief distribution. However, the MCL is disadvantageous in that it is difficult to perform real-time position determination since the initial processing requires a large amount of computation of a large number of initial samples or particles. Also, when the size of a set of samples is small, it may be difficult to generate samples at a true pose. Accordingly, there are no samples at the true pose. Additionally, the samples may not be represented by a belief distribution for all positions in a plane where a robot can move.

Method, medium, and apparatus for global localization


An method and apparatus for estimating a time delay of a GPS receiver in a hybrid navigation system is disclosed. In the hybrid navigation system including the GPS receiver and a DR system, a time difference between a time, at which a velocity measured by the DR system exceeds a reference velocity, and a time, at which a velocity measured by the GPS receiver exceeds the reference velocity, is measured to calculate the time delay of the GPS receiver, so that a GPS/DR system having a loosely-coupled structure which considers the time delay can be realized. Further, in the system, when a vehicle moves from a GPS reception area to a non-reception area and a GPS/DR system mode changes into a DR system mode, an initial velocity value can be estimated while a time delay is considered for a DR system. Furthermore, since a velocity measurement apparatus for vehicles designed in accordance with the apparatus and the method has a performance superior to a velocity measurement apparatus for vehicles in the prior art, it can ultimately contribute to the position estimation accuracy of a position measurement apparatus for vehicles.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vehicle navigation system, and more particularly relates to a method and an apparatus for estimating a time delay of a GPS receiver in a hybrid navigation system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Navigation systems, which determine positions of movable bodies, and search for paths to a destination so as to provide an optimal path, are typically mounted on movable bodies such as ships, airplanes, or vehicles. Further, in order to determine the position of the movable body and provide the optimal path to the destination, a navigation system must be able to determine an accurate position of the movable body.
Accordingly, navigation systems typically have a positioning apparatus for determining their own position. The positioning apparatus is classified into an apparatus of determining a position with exterior help and an apparatus of determining a position by means of an interior sensor. A representative example of the former is a global positioning system (hereinafter, referred to as a GPS) and a representative example of the latter is a dead reckoning system (hereinafter, referred to as a DR) using an inertial sensor.
A DR system (so-called "inertial navigation system") including the inertial sensor is a navigation system which had been initially developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the USA in the early 1950's and had been put to practical use in the 1960's. The DR system obtains a velocity by means of a speedometer or an accelerometer, and obtains a movement direction by means of a gyroscope for detecting a rotation motion of a vehicle and a magnetic compass for measuring an azimuth angle by using the Earth's magnetic field. That is, the DR system integrates an output of the gyroscope by measuring a rotation angular velocity to obtain a travel direction angle of the vehicle, and compensates for an acceleration of gravity from an output of the accelerometer and integrates the compensated signal, thereby autonomously calculating the current velocity and position of the vehicle.
The DR system can provide accurate and continuous navigation data for a short period. However, the DR system has a disadvantage in that due to the integration process, an error is accumulated over the passage of time.
Meanwhile, the GPS is far behind the DR system in terms of momentary accuracy, but an error is not accumulated over the passage of time.
Accordingly, in order to secure higher accuracy and long-term stability, most DR systems are not used alone, but are used together with a non-inertial auxiliary sensor such as a magnetic compass or a GPS. This type of navigation system, using an inertial sensor and a non-inertial sensor, is called a hybrid navigation system. From among hybrid navigation systems, a GPS/DR system is designed to have advantages of the DR system and the GPS by combining the DR system and a GPS receiver into one system.
The GPS/DR system may have a loosely-coupled structure or a tightly-coupled structure according to the desired design. In the loosely-coupled structure, the GPS receiver and the DR system are maintained as respective independent systems and their respective outputs are combined. In contrast, in the tightly-coupled structure, a measured value, such as a pseudo-range provided from a GPS satellite to the GPS receiver, and measured values of an angular velocity and an acceleration, which are obtained from the inertial sensor, are internally combined. In order to maximize the coupling of the GPS and the DR system, the tightly-coupled structure is adequate. However, the loosely-coupled structure has a design that is simple and therefore realization is easy. In addition, since sufficient performance may be obtained with the loosely-coupled structure, the loosely-coupled structure is generally used in the navigation system.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing a conventional hybrid navigation system. Referring to FIG. 1, the hybrid navigation system 10 includes a DR system 12, a GPS receiver 14, and a combination filter 16. Since the hybrid navigation system 10 includes the DR system 12 and the GPS receiver 14, it is also called a GPS/DR system. Each of the DR system 12 and the GPS receiver 14 calculates position/velocity/direction angle information, and sends this calculated information to the combination filter 16. The combination filter 16 combines the information to obtain a navigation solution of the hybrid navigation system. The DR system 12 uses an output fedback from the combination filter 16.
One of items which must be considered in the GPS/DR system is a time delay of information provided by the GPS. That is, the GPS receiver delays by a predetermined time information at a specific time to provide the delayed information, and therefore the GPS/DR system must consider the time delay when calculating the velocity of the vehicle.
FIG. 2 is a view showing a time delay of a GPS receiver in a conventional hybrid navigation system. Referring to FIG. 2, a velocity VG provided by the GPS receiver starts later than a velocity VA obtained from an accelerometer. That is, the velocity VG provided by the GPS receiver is delayed by a predetermined time.
Generally, the GPS receiver has a time delay of about 1 sec. However, when a tracking loop or a filter is used in the GPS receiver in order to improve the accuracy of the GPS receiver position solution, the GPS receiver has a time delay of more than 1 sec.
In the tightly-coupled structure, since the GPS receiver is not independently maintained, it is possible to design the GPS receiver so that a large time delay does not occur. In contrast, in the loosely-coupled structure, the time delay of the GPS receiver may greatly deteriorate the performance of the GPS/DR system. Further, when a vehicle moves from a GPS reception area to a non-reception area, a GPS/DR system mode is switched into a DR system mode. Here, since the accuracy of an initial velocity value is very important, the influence due to the time delay may be quite significant.
In order to reduce an error due to the time delay of the GPS receiver in the GPS/DR system having the loosely-coupled structure, the time delay must be minimized in the design of the system, or the system must be designed after the magnitude of the time delay is estimated. Accordingly, a method, which minimizes the time delay after estimating the magnitude of the time delay, is required.
The prior art usually employs a method of comparing velocity data of the DR system with velocity data provided by the GPS receiver, so as to obtain the time delay of the GPS receiver. In this way, in order to accurately measure the time delay of the GPS receiver, the velocity data of the DR system must be accurate. However, the DR system, which measures the velocity by means of the accelerometer, cannot accurately measure velocity because of the characteristics of the accelerometer. That is, since a value measured by the accelerometer contains a gravity component, it is difficult to obtain a pure acceleration component. Further, an error of the velocity obtained from the accelerometer is accumulated over time. Accordingly, because of the characteristics of the accelerometer, the DR system cannot accurately measure velocity.
Therefore, when the time delay of the GPS receiver is estimated by means of the conventional method, the measured result may be inaccurate. Further, even when the system is designed to compensate for the time delay, the performance of the entire hybrid navigation system may deteriorate.

Method and apparatus for estimating time delay of GPS receiver in hybrid navigation system


A high-speed output transconductance amplifier (OTA) capable of operating at different voltage levels. The high-speed output transconductance amplifier configures a cross-coupled circuit with programmable switches to offer a high-speed receiver capable of operating at lower voltage and normal voltage, for example, a receiver can be operated in both for SSTL-3 (3.3V system) and SSTL-2 (2.5V system).

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a high-speed output transconductance amplifier (OTA), which configures a cross-coupled circuit with programmable switches to offer a high-speed receiver capable of operating at different voltage levels.
2. Description of Related Art
An application example of a typical output transconductance amplifier (OTA) in an existing high speed receiver is given as follows.
FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of a typical OTA 10. In FIG. 1, the OTA 10 is formed by an NMOS current mirror circuit M1-M2, two PMOS current mirror circuits M3-M4, M5-M6 and a differential operational amplifier M7-M9. As shown in FIG. 1, the NMOS current mirror circuit includes NMOS transistors M1-M2 with common gates and common grounding sources, wherein a drain of transistors M1 is connected to the common gate providing a current mirror function. The NMOS transistor M9 acts as a current source providing a reference current IABC controlled by a differential voltage pair REF, IN respectively connected to gates of transistors M8, M7. Thus, DC power dissipation from output-to-input thermal feedback (because in the layout, transistors M7 and M8 are placed next to transistors M2 and M3) is decreased by adjusting the reference current through input voltages of REF, IN. Additionally, the symmetric diode configuration of transistors M4 and M5 in parallel respectively with transistors M3 and M6 is a voltage to current converter and sends the current through transistors M3 and M6. In this diode configuration, it can keep transistors M7 and M8 saturated and provide a high resistance region in the middle for transistors M3 and M6 so the output switches faster to minimize delay. The OTA is a current steering circuit with an output current Io. The output current Io can be represented by the differential input voltages IN, REF:
Io=gm(INxe2x88x92REF)
where, gm is the transconductance gain equal to IABC/2VT, and VT is the threshold voltage of an MOS device.
However, although this OTA 10 can provide suitable current to ensure function correctly (e.g. using a 3.3V device in an SSTL-3, 3.3V system), but for a lower voltage system (e.g. using a 3.3V device in an SSTL-2, 2.5V system), it will not operate to function correctly. This is because the differential pair M7 and M8 may limit the output signal range and increase the susceptibility to device mismatching due to square-law behavior of a device in saturation. Further, a current mirror ratio B has to decrease in order to reach the requested gain gm (see MARC G. R. DEGRAUWE and WILLY M. C. SANSEN, xe2x80x9cThe Current Efficiency of MOS Transconductance Amplifiers,xe2x80x9d IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits, Vol. SC-19, No. 3, June 1984.)
Accordingly, an object of the invention is providing a high-speed output transconductance amplifier capable of operating at different voltage levels by means of switching on or off the extra cross-coupled circuit.
The invention provides a high-speed output transconductance amplifier capable of operating at different voltage levels, including an NMOS current mirror circuit consisting of a first NMOS transistor with a drain, a gate and a diode-configured NMOS with a drain and a gate connected to the gate of the first NMOS and the drain of the diode-configured NMOS transistor; two PMOS current mirror circuits consisting of a first PMOS transistor with a gate and a drain connected to the drain of the first NMOS transistor to form a connection point as an output terminal, a second PMOS transistor with a gate and a drain connected to the drain of the diode-configured NMOS transistor, a first diode-configured PMOS transistor with a drain and a gate connecting the drain of the first diode-configured PMOS transistor and the gate of the first PMOS transistor, and a second diode-configured PMOS transistor with a drain and a gate connected to the drain of the second diode-configured PMOS transistor and the gate of the second PMOS transistor; a cross-coupled circuit consisting of a first cross-coupled unit having a first programmable switch and a third PMOS transistor connected in parallel to the first diode-configured PMOS transistor, with a gate connected to the first switch, and a second cross-coupled unit having a second programmable switch and a fourth PMOS transistor connected in parallel to the second diode-configured PMOS transistor, with a gate connected to the second switch; and a differential operational amplifier consisting of a second NMOS transistor with a drain connected to the first switch and the drain of the second diode-configured PMOS transistor, a gate connected to a first voltage, and a source, a third NMOS transistor with a drain connected the second switch and the drain of the first diode-configured PMOS transistor, a gate connected to a second voltage, and a source, and a fourth NMOS transistor with a drain connected to the sources of the second and third NMOS transistors and a gate connected to a third voltage, wherein the fourth NMOS transistor, the third NMOS transistor, and the first diode-configured NMOS transistor respectively are grounded, and all PMOS transistors respectively have a source connected to an external voltage.

High-speed output transconductance amplifier capable of operating at different voltage levels

1F1, No. 24, Lane 168, Dahushanjuang St.


An embodiment provides an inverter transformer comprising: a first bobbin around which a first coil is wound, the first bobbin comprising a first through hole; a second bobbin around which a second coil is wound, the second bobbin comprising a second through hole; a spacer between the first and the second bobbins; and a core inserted into the first and the second through holes.

Liquid crystal display devices are widely applied to computers and various display devices. Such a liquid crystal display device comprises a liquid crystal panel, a backlight unit having a high-voltage driven lamp, and an inverter for driving the lamp. The inverter for driving the lamp comprises a transformer for isolation and step-up. This transformer is referred to as an inverter transformer that steps up applied voltage for supplying the voltage to the lamp.
Due to a recent trend of large-sized display devices, the capacitance of an inverter transformer provided to an inverter becomes larger to generate a large amount of heat. In the case where heat is not efficiently dissipated, the transform efficiency of the inverter transformer is degraded.
Thus, there is an increasing demand for methods of effectively dissipating heat generated from the inverter transformer.


The invention relates to a method for increasing the precision during the determination of system parameters dependent on the propagation delay, e.g. for a positional determination, in a mobile communications system with emission diversity, according to which a subscriber data signal and a reference signal are assigned to a subscriber. The subscriber data signal is emitted by at least two antenna devices on the emission side, whereas the reference signal is emitted exclusively by one antenna device on the emission side. The reference signal is used to precisely determine signal propagation delays, upon which the system parameters depend.

The invention relates to a method for data transmission in a wireless communication system in which a subscriber data signal is emitted on the transmit side by way of at least two antenna devices.
With regard to wireless communication systems, in order to improve the quality of a data transmission so-called "diversity methods", referred to for example as "space diversity methods" or as "polarization diversity methods", are used.
With regard to a space diversity method used on the transmit side, a carrier frequency subscriber data signal to be emitted is delivered as a user data signal to at least two antenna devices which exhibit a difference of several wavelengths between one another and which have the same polarization.
With regard to a polarization diversity method used on the transmit side, the subscriber data signal to be emitted is similarly delivered to at least two antenna devices which however exhibit different polarizations. Typically, two antenna devices are located in a common antenna housing.
Diversity methods can be used both on the transmit side and also on the receive side and serve to enhance the transmission quality by enhancing an observed receive situation.
With regard to wireless communication systems, such as for example in the case of the GSM mobile radio system or in the case of the GERAN mobile radio system, a transmit-side subscriber data signal for example is divided into two partial signals which are then delivered by way of two "carrier units" to two spatially separated antenna devices having the same polarization for emission. Since as a result of their design the carrier units exhibit tolerances in the respective signal paths of the partial signals, the two partial signals are subject to different signal propagation delays in respect of emission. In addition, specific propagation paths having different signal propagation delays and signal attenuations are produced for each individual partial signal in the radio field as a result of multipath propagation.
On the receive side, a superimposition of the individual partial signals takes place with respect to the subscriber signal, whereby a so-called "diversity gain" is achieved in systems engineering terms. On the other hand, a radio cell enlargement or a range extension can be achieved between sender and receiver by way of the diversity gain.
With regard to the receiver on the other hand, the different propagation paths should be taken into consideration in an appropriate manner, which implies an increased complexity on the part of the receiver.
With regard to mobile radio systems, such as for example in the case of the GSM mobile radio system, a positional determination (location service) is carried out for the subscriber during a data transmission between a mobile subscriber and a base station, using the so-called "Timing Advance Mechanism, TA" for example. In this situation, signal propagation delays for a reference signal are determined during the data transmission between subscriber and base station and these are used to ascertain the position of the subscriber.
Inaccuracies in the positional determination can be attributed directly to inaccuracies occurring whilst determining the signal propagation delay of the reference signal.
With regard to the GSM mobile radio system, by using the TA mechanism it is possible to realize positional determinations having an accuracy of about 200 meters, whereby in addition to the TA mechanism further standardized methods such as Assisted GPS (A-GPS), Enhanced Observed Time Difference (E-OTD) and Cell ID Timing Advance (CITA) are known for positional determination.
A positional determination can be carried out with a required level of accuracy in respect of a diversity method executed on the transmit side only with a high resource requirement, or cannot be carried out at all, as a result of the multipath propagation and the different signal propagation delays in the respective carrier units.
Corresponding problems occur for runtime dependent or runtime critical system parameters or system properties in respect of the data transmission, for example in the case of a "synchronized handover" or a "pseudo-synchronized handover".
A so-called hybrid transmit diversity method for transmission of adjacent, successive time slots is known from WO 02/11315 A2. In this situation, information is transmitted from a base station to a mobile terminal X during a first time slot with the aid of a so-called "Delay Diversity" method, while information is transmitted to a further mobile terminal Y with the aid of a so-called "Space Time Diversity" method.
A base station having a plurality of transmit antennas is known from US 2002/0022502 A1. In this situation, a unidirectional channel is transmitted either by a first antenna or by a second antenna. The switchover between the two antennas takes place with the aid of a predetermined random selection.
Different transmit diversity methods for a CDMA-TDD wireless communication system are known from "Transmit Diversity Applied on the CDMA/TDD Cellular Systems", Hiramatsu et al, VTC 2000-Spring. 2000 IEEE 51st Vehicular Technology Conference Proceedings, Tokyo, Japan, May 15–18, 2000, Vol. 2 OF3, pp. 1170-1174, XP000968054. In this situation, for example the physical synchronization channel PSCH is transmitted by a "Time Switched Transmit Diversity" method in which the PSCH is emitted in alternate succession by way of two antennas. The Primary Common Control Channel P-CCPCH is transmitted by a "Block Space Time Transmit Diversity" method in which the P-CCPCH is fed simultaneously to two antenna branches, whereby a separate coding occurs in each antenna branch and the signals differing in their coding are emitted simultaneously by way of two antennas. The Dedicated Physical Channel DPCH is transmitted by a "Selective Transmit Diversity and Transmit Adaptive Antennas" method in which the DPCH is emitted simultaneously with differing weighting by way of two antennas.
A positional determination method for a subscriber device in a wireless communication system is known from DE 100 31 178 A1. With regard to this method, a distinction is made between time critical data on the one hand and time non-critical data on the other hand, whereby the time critical data is transmitted during a time critical window and the time non-critical data is sent during a time non-critical window. Measurement signals required for positional determination are sent during the time non-critical windows in order not to adversely affect the transmission of time critical information. The time critical information is divided into time slots and transmitted in periodically recurring frames. Reference signal transmission is performed for example only in the case of every n-th frame. Transmission resources are saved as a result.
While it is true that in the case of n=I where a reference signal transmission to an observed subscriber occurs in each frame a positional determination for example would be extremely precise, a reliable wireless delivery to the subscriber would however become uncertain as a result of the constant loss of the diversity gain.

Positional determination of a user in a mobile communications system with emission diversity


The present invention is directed towards a channel power monitor for monitoring channel power levels for each of N signal channels. The value of each channel power level is designated as p(xcexi), where xcexi is a channel parameter that characterizes each channel. An embodiment of the invention includes a variable channel attenuator having M attenuation profiles where Mxe2x89xa7N, and where a k-th attenuation profile is characterized as a function of the channel parameter xcexi by Ak(xcexi). This embodiment also includes a detector for measuring a k-th integrated attenuated power level, the value of which is represented by Pk. An analysis unit receives all of the values Pk of the integrated attenuated power levels and thereupon derives the values p(xcexi) of the channel power levels by solving a set of linear equations.

The present invention relates generally to monitoring the channel power levels of communication signals. More specifically, the invention relates to the monitoring of optical signals in optical fiber telecommunication systems and networks, particularly to the case in which the monitoring is accomplished with a channel power monitor based on a variable optical channel attenuator.
In modern fiber optic telecommunication systems and networks, the signals are transmitted along optical fibers. Each optical fiber can carry an independent signal in each of multiple signal channels. The signal in an optical fiber typically requires periodic amplification to maintain appropriate signal strength. To properly amplify the signal, smart amplifiers routinely require information regarding the channel power level in each of the channels transmitted by the fiber. In optical systems, each channel is characterized by a wavelength that is representative of the wavelengths in the channel. A diffraction-grating spectrum analyzer or a Fabry-Perot spectrometer could be used to determine the channel power levels, but these devices tend to be costly. What is desired is a channel power monitor that can easily be made low-cost, small and compact.
The current invention provides an apparatus and method for the monitoring channel power levels in a number of signal channels. Although the invention was motivated by the need to monitor the channel power levels in optical fiber systems, the invention is not restricted to the optical range of the electromagnetic spectrum, or even to electromagnetic signals, but can be applied generally to any system with multiple channels that require monitoring.
Various embodiments of the invention involve methods for monitoring channel power levels of input signals. Each of N signal channels is characterized by a channel parameter xcexi, where i is an index in the range 1xe2x89xa6ixe2x89xa6N. The value of each channel power level is designated as p(xcexi).
In one embodiment a set of M attenuation profiles is provided, where Mxe2x89xa7N. Each attenuation profile is characterized as a function of the channel parameter xcexi by a k-th attenuation profile Ak(xcexi), and k is a profile index. The profile index k is initialized to a value of 1. An input signal is attenuated according the k-th attenuation profile Ak(xcexi), thereby producing an attenuated power level in each signal channel. A k-th integrated attenuated power level is measured. The k-th integrated attenuated power level is the attenuated power level integrated over the N signal channels after application of the k-th attenuation profile. The value of the k-th integrated attenuated power level is represented by Pk. The index k is then incremented by 1 and the attenuating, measuring, and incrementing steps are then repeated until k greater than M. M values of Pk are then available. Because the Mxe2x89xa7N and all the Ak(xcexi) are known, the following set of linear equations are solved for p(xcexi):       P    k    =            ∑              i        =        1            N                  xe2x80x83                                    A          k                                  (                      λ            i                    )                                  p                          (                      λ            i                    )
for 1xe2x89xa6kxe2x89xa6M.
In another embodiment the input signal is split into M substantially identical scaled input signals represented by r(xcexi), where r(xcexi)=xcex1(xcexi) p(xcexi) and xcex1(xcexi) is a known scaling function. Each scaled input signal is attenuated according to a different attenuation profile Ak(xcexi), thereby producing M attenuated power levels for each signal channel. M integrated attenuated power levels are measured, the value of the k-th integrated attenuated power level being represented by Pk. The following set of linear equations are solved for r(xcexi)       P    k    =            ∑              i        =        1            N                  xe2x80x83                                    A          k                                  (                      λ            i                    )                                  r                          (                      λ            i                    )
for 1xe2x89xa6kxe2x89xa6M. The channel power level p(xcexi) is determined from p(xcexi)=r(xcexi)/xcex1(xcexi).
An apparatus for monitoring channel power levels includes a variable channel attenuator that has multiple attenuation profiles. The apparatus further includes a detector for measuring integrated attenuated power levels, and an analysis unit that receives all of the values of the integrated attenuated power levels. The analysis unit solves a set of linear equations to obtain the values of the channel power levels.
An alternative apparatus includes a splitter for splitting the input signal into M scaled input signals. The scaled input signals are then attenuated by any appropriate means, whether that be a variable channel attenuator, multiple individual attenuators, or some other means. Multiple detectors are preferably used to measure the integrated attenuated power levels. The analysis unit solves modified equations to determine the values of the channel power levels.
Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description that follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Various embodiments of the invention do not necessarily include all of the stated features or achieve all of the stated advantages.


A simulation system includes electromagnetic field analyzing units that execute electromagnetic field analysis with respect to electromagnetic field analysis areas obtained by division of an area to be analyzed into the electromagnetic field analysis areas; one or more circuit analyzing units that execute circuit analysis with respect to a circuit unit in the area to be analyzed; and an aggregating unit that aggregates, from the electromagnetic field analyzing units, data for the circuit analysis by the one or more circuit analyzing units and transmits the data to the circuit analyzing units. The simulation system links plural processing units that mutually exchange data.

A finite difference time domain (FDTD) method is one method of analyzing transitional behavior of an electromagnetic field by a numerical simulation using a computer. Further, there is a method of analyzing transitional behavior of a circuit by a numerical simulation through the execution of a circuit analysis program, such as simulation program with integrated circuit emphasis (SPICE), by a computer.
There are numerical simulation methods that integrate electromagnetic field analysis and circuit analysis (hereinafter, "integrated simulation method"). An integrated simulation method can collectively analyze the characteristics of circuit elements and surrounding electromagnetic field phenomena and therefore, is very useful for analyzing high-frequency signals propagated in the circuit.
Herein, the applicant presents a proposal concerning a simulating apparatus that executes an integrated simulation method such as that disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. H11-153634. In the proposal, the link between electromagnetic field analysis and circuit analysis is facilitated by respectively correlating an electric field and a magnetic field of a cell that is allocated with external terminals of a circuit for the FDTD method (hereinafter, "circuit cell") with a voltage and a current of an equivalent circuit connected to the circuit terminals. According to the proposal, a stable solution can be obtained with a small amount of calculation.
However, when a conventional integrated simulation method is executed using one computer having a single central processing unit (CPU), the area to be analyzed is restricted by calculation resources such as the capacities of the hard disk and memory. The time necessary for the calculation is substantially determined by operating speeds of the CPU and the memory.
Therefore, to analyze a larger area at a high speed, parallel processing by multiple CPUs is desirable. Thus, with respect a large area for which analysis is difficult by one computer, a system that efficiently executes analysis in a short time by parallel processing using multiple computers and without a decrease in the precision of the analysis by a conventional integrated simulation method has been proposed (see, for example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2004-54642).
A computer or a CPU of such a system is referred to as "processing apparatus" hereinafter. To avoid confusion in the description hereinafter, physically different components having the same name will be distinguished from each other by a single letter or consecutive letters (such as "A" or "Aa") appended to the name.
FIG. 11 is a diagram of a configuration of an area that is to be analyzed and is divided according to a conventional integrated simulation method employing parallel processing. As depicted in FIG. 11, a printed circuit board 1 is divided, by a dividing border 2, into electromagnetic field analysis areas H3 and J4. Circuit units F5 and G6 are respectively disposed in closed spaces of the electromagnetic field analysis areas H3 and J4. The circuit units F5 and G6 each include circuit elements such as an LSI.
FIG. 12 is a diagram of a configuration of a conventional simulation system that executes an integrated simulation method employing parallel processing. In the analysis of an area having a configuration as depicted in FIG. 11, as depicted in FIG. 12, processing apparatuses A11, B12, D13 and E14 respectively are responsible for electromagnetic field analysis executed with respect to the electromagnetic field analysis areas H3 and J4, and for circuit analysis executed with respect to circuit units F5 and G6.
Magnetic field data (H) and electric field data (E) are transmitted and received between the processing apparatus A11 and B12. Capacity data (C), current data (I), and voltage data (V) are transmitted and received between the processing apparatuses A11 and D13 and also between the processing apparatuses B12 and E14. On the other hand, no data is transmitted or received between the processing apparatuses D13 and E14. This is because, as depicted in FIG. 11, the circuit units F5 and G6 are respectively disposed in closed spaces of the electromagnetic field analysis areas H3 and J4.
FIG. 13 is a diagram of a configuration of an equivalent circuit of a circuit unit employing a current source method. As depicted in FIG. 13, an equivalent circuit 21 is represented by a current source 23 connected between both terminals of a circuit model unit 22, and a capacitor 24 connected in parallel to the current source 23. Based on the equivalent circuit 21, circuit analyzing units Da15 and Ea16 respectively of the processing apparatuses D13 and E14 each execute, for example, circuit analysis by the SPICE and obtain a voltage V applied between both terminals of the circuit model unit 22.
However, in the above conventional integrated simulation method employing parallel processing, if the circuit unit spans multiple electromagnetic field analysis areas due to the division of the space, when circuit analysis of the circuit unit is executed for a portion included in one electromagnetic field analysis area, data on the current and the voltage of another portion included in another electromagnetic field analysis area is insufficient. Therefore, no circuit analysis can be executed.
Thus, as a preventative measure, as depicted in FIG. 11, the printed circuit board is divided such that each circuit unit is disposed in a closed electromagnetic field analysis area. However, on an actual printed circuit board, many circuit parts are disposed complicatedly entangled with each other. Therefore, to divide a printed circuit board in such a manner is quite difficult. That is, when many LSIs are mounted on a printed circuit board as is recently the case, a problem arises in that simulation cannot be executed.

Simulation system using electromagnetic field analysis and circuit analysis and recording medium storing simulation program


An electrical wiring structure is provided which can be formed simultaneously when non-linear elements containing corrosion resistant metal wires and non-corrosion resistant metal wires are formed. In addition, a manufacturing method of the electrical wiring structure, an electro-optical device substrate provided with the electrical wiring structure, an electro-optical device, and a manufacturing method thereof are also provided. In particular, an oxide layer and the non-corrosion resistant metal wire are sequentially formed on a surface of the corrosion resistant metal wire. An exposed portion of the corrosion resistant metal wire is formed by removing part of the oxide layer. An electrical connection auxiliary member, such as a through-hole formed at the exposed portion or a conductive inorganic oxide film formed on the corrosion resistant metal wire and the exposed portion, is formed to electrically connect the corrosion resistant metal wire and the non-corrosion resistant metal wire.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electrical wiring structures for electrically connecting between a corrosion resistant metal wire and a non-corrosion resistant metal wire, manufacturing methods of electrical wiring structures, electro-optical device substrates having electrical wiring structures, electro-optical devices, and manufacturing methods of electro-optical devices.
In particular, the present invention relates to an electrical wiring structure that can be formed simultaneously when non-linear elements or the like containing corrosion resistant metal wires and non-corrosion resistant metal wires are formed, a manufacturing method of the electrical wiring structure, an electro-optical device substrate having the electrical wiring structure, an electro-optical device using the electro-optical device substrate, and a manufacturing method of the electro-optical device.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Heretofore, liquid crystal display devices have been composed of a pair of electro-optical device substrates, i.e., a first electro-optical device substrate and a second electro-optical device substrate facing thereto, and a liquid crystal material provided therebetween.
As the liquid crystal display device described above, an active matrix liquid crystal display device has thin film diodes as a non-linear element (switching element) as shown in FIG. 24. More particularly, counter electrodes are provided on a first electro-optical device substrate, a plurality of pixel electrodes arranged in a matrix is provided on a second electro-optical substrate, and thin film diodes are electrically connected to respective pixel electrodes. In addition, in this liquid crystal display device described above, there are provided exterior wires used as a terminal portion on which a drive IC disposed outside a seal material is to be mounted, interior wires disposed inside the seal material, and bypass portions electrically connecting between the exterior wires and the interior wires, and the bypass portions are formed of a corrosion resistant material such as tantalum (Ta) or indium tin oxide (ITO).
However, in the case of the liquid crystal display device described above, when the bypass portions made of a corrosion resistant material are formed, and the exterior wires and the interior wires are simply connected to each other, the connection resistance, variation in connection resistance, electrical power consumption, or image display irregularities may be disadvantageously increased in some cases.
Accordingly, the present invention was made to solve the problems described above, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electrical wiring structure which is obtained by using a process for forming non-linear elements or the like containing corrosion resistant metal wires and non-corrosion metal wires and which has low electrical resistance and superior corrosion resistance even when exterior wires and interior wires are electrically connected to each other.
In addition, another object of the present invention is to provide a manufacturing method of the electrical wiring structure described above, an electro-optical device substrate provided with the electrical wiring structure, an electro-optical device using the electro-optical device substrate, and a manufacturing method of the electro-optical device.

Electrical wiring structure, manufacturing method thereof, electro-optical device substrate having electrical wiring structure, electro-optical device, and manufacturing method thereof


Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to application installation and provide a method, system and computer program product for autonomic application installation. In one embodiment of the invention, an autonomic application installation method can be provided. The method can include initiating an installation of an application onto a target computing system, remotely retrieving a configuration for the target computing system previously established for other computing systems installing the application, applying the remotely retrieved configuration to the target computing system prior to installing the application onto the target computing system, and installing the application onto the target computing system.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of application installation and more particularly to application installation and configuration for different computing environments.
Description of the Related Art
Though often overlooked, application installation is a prerequisite to interacting with a software application. Specifically, in most circumstances, an application can be properly executed only subsequent to the completion of a successful installation process. At the minimum, a typical software application installation requires a transfer of files to the file structure of a computing system, and the configuration of the computing system to particularly interact with the software application. Ordinarily, the configuration of the computing system includes the addition or modification of registry settings, the addition or modification of entries to one or more initialization files, or both.
Typically, software programs include as a component installer logic having program code enabled to substantially automate the installation process. In addition, computer operating systems occasionally incorporate installer logic for use in installing drivers or other software. Likewise, many commercial software offerings are provided with companion updater logic supporting self-updating operations. Generally, the updater logic can be included as a component of the software program itself, or the updater logic can be provided externally as a third-party tool.
Software programs used to install new software, to install updates to software, and to uninstall (remove) software are referred to herein as "installer applications". The term "installer applications" is intended to encompass both stand-alone software programs that can be used to install a variety of software applications (for example, such as installers that may be provided with an operating system), as well as software programs that are adapted to install only a single software application (and may be integrated with the installation file package for that software application). Installer applications, when run, implement a software installation process.
First time installations of enterprise software often can be complicated by the need to custom-tailor the installation to accommodate the minute details of the end user environment. Known solutions to this problem either rely heavily upon the installing user having technical knowledge of the target environment, or rely heavily upon assumptions based upon what limited environment information can be gleaned from the current system. The high likelihood of human or computer error in both circumstances can lead to incomplete or improper installations.

International Business Machines Corporation


A photoimageable composition contains from 0.5 to 5 wt. percent of a compound of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R=alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, and substituted forms thereof. X=OR', SR', NR'.sub.2, R' PA1 R'=H, R, CO--R, PA1 G=nothing or C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alipathic hydrocarbon, and PA1 Y=COOH, PO.sub.3 H, SO.sub.3 H, SO.sub.2 H and SOH. X'=R'. to promote adhesion of the photoimageable composition to metal.

Photoimageable compositions are used for various purposes in the manufacture of printed circuit boards or the like. Photoimageable compositions in the form of a primary imaging photoresist are used in the formation of the printed circuitry itself. In a typical procedure, a panel for forming a printed circuit board comprises a thin layer of metal, e.g., copper, covering a non-conductive substrate. A layer of photoresist is applied over the metal layer. The photoresist is exposed to patterned actinic radiation, e.g., by passing illumination through artwork having an opaque/transparent pattern. The exposed photoresist is then developed by exposure to a solution or solvent which, depending upon the type of photoresist, washes away either the exposed or unexposed portion of the photoresist, leaving a patterned layer of either unexposed or exposed photoresist. The panel can then be etched with a solution which removes the metal layer from those portions of the plate from which photoresist has been removed. Subsequent to etching, the remaining photoresist layer is generally stripped away. Alternatively the panel can be pattern plated, whereby the areas devoid of photoresist are electrolessly or electro-chemically plated with copper or the like, the resist is stripped, as above-mentioned, and the newly exposed areas are then removed by etching, leaving behind the pattern plated areas.
Other photoimageable compositions are used for forming solder masks in a similar manner. Such a composition is used to form a hard, permanent layer which overlies printed circuitry except in those portions of the printed circuitry to which solder is to be applied.
Photoimageable compositions may be applied to a panel in liquid form and then either allowed to dry or to partially cure so as to form a semi-stable layer.
Alternatively, the photoimageable composition may be used to form a dry film comprising a layer of photoimageable composition on a cover sheet of support material. The layer of photoimageable material is subsequently transferred from the support sheet to a surface of the panel board.
Dry films comprise the layer of photoimageable material and the cover sheet of support material. The support material is somewhat flexible but has sufficient rigidity to provide structure to the layer of photoimageable material. Typically the cover sheet is formed of a polyester, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), such as that sold as MELINEX.sup.R. As the photoimageable layer is to be transferred from the cover sheet, a release agent may be applied to the surface of the cover sheet which carries the photoresist layer. It is typical to also provide a protective sheet, e.g., a sheet of polyethylene, on the surface of the photoimageable layer opposite the cover sheet The protective sheet, in addition to protecting the photoimageable layer, better enables the dry film to be rolled into a reel. The protective sheet is removed from the photoresist layer prior to application of the dry film to the circuit board. U.S. Pat. No. 4,530,896 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/210,194 filed Jun. 20, 1988 the teachings of each being incorporated herein by reference, describe dry films in which a top coat is interposed between the cover sheet and photoimageable layer, which top coat is selectively adherent to the photoimageable layer (relative to its adherence to the cover sheet). The top coat serves to protect the photoimageable layer from mechanical damage and from oxygen after removal of the cover sheet prior to exposure to patterned actinic radiation. Other examples of dry films can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,887,450, 4,539,286 and 4,610,951, the teachings of each being incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention is generally directed to photoimageable compositions and dry films formed therefrom which are used in the manufacture of printed circuit boards, including those in which the photoimageable composition is a primary imaging photoresist and those in which the photoimageable composition is a solder mask-forming composition. The invention is applicable to dry films in which the photoimageable layer is in direct contact with the cover sheet (in which case the photoimageable layer is generally exposed through the cover sheet) and those in which a top coat is interposed between the photoimageable layer and the cover sheet (in which case the cover sheet is generally removed prior to exposure of the photoimageable layer).
A most important property of any photoimageable composition to be applied to a metallic surface (generally copper of a board is the degree of adhesion that the photoimageable composition has to the metal. Many defects in printed circuit board manufacture can be attributed to inadequate adhesion of the photoimageable composition to the metal. It is known to add agents to photoimageable compositions for the specific purpose of enhancing adhesion of the photoimageable composition to metal surfaces. Prior art adhesion promoters include diacetone acrylamide (DAA) and isobutoxy methyl acrylamid (IBMA).
There exists a need for improved adhesion promoters, and the present invention is directed to photoimageable compositions having agents which promote their adhesion to metal surfaces.

Photoimageable composition having improved adhesion promoter


A residue buffer, for temporary storage of portions of transmissions from a CPU to a graphics processor. Graphics commands are transmitted, in transmission units of uniform size, from a processor unit to an address generator, which processes the commands. The portion of the transmission unit not immediately usable by the graphics processor is stored in the residue buffer. The disclosure further describes a computer graphics system, having a graphics processor capable of reading from or writing to main memory, including virtual memory, without any action by the CPU; having a duplicate cache tag store accessible by the graphics system without generating traffic on the system bus; having a FIFO command buffer in main memory for temporary storage of graphics commands; having a "short circuit" feature for routing graphics commands to the command processor in the minimum number of steps; having a cursor control system capable of storing cursor pattern information in, and retrieving cursor pattern information from, main memory; having a cursor bus that is reconfigurable to carry information other than cursor information; and having a frame buffer module that contains no timing or cursor control circuitry.

Computer graphics systems are special purpose computers that are used to create complex images on a display and to allow the computer user to modify and store the images.
Showing images on a display and moving the images on the display screen is a complex computer task, and there is a need in the industry for methods for more efficiently performing this complex task. In addition, as computer graphics applications become more popular, there is a need in the industry for computer graphics systems that are less expensive than current systems.
Many of the elements of a typical computer graphics system are shown in FIG. 4 of U.S. Pat. No. 4,745,407, entitled "Memory Organization Apparatus and Method", issued May 17, 1988 to Costello. A graphics accelerator is a special purpose processor unit which receives graphics commands from the CPU and executes them, typically by changing information stored in the frame buffer. A frame buffer is a special purpose type of memory in which the memory locations correspond to a location, or pixel, on a color monitor, or other type of display. Devices not shown in FIG. 4 of Costello sequentially read the memory locations in the frame buffer, and cause the pixel to be lit with the appropriate intensity or color, thereby causing the image to be shown on the display.
One method for providing a more efficient, less expensive computer graphics system is to provide more efficient means for transmitting and processing the graphics commands.
In a system such as the one taught by Costello, commands are transmitted from the CPU to the graphics accelerator over the VME bus. Unfortunately, general purpose buses such as the VME bus frequently carry a lot of traffic. This is particularly true in a system such as Costello, in which traffic between main memory and the frame buffer must travel over the same bus as traffic between the CPU and the graphics processor.
Thus it is important to maximize the efficiency of transmissions over the bus. One way of doing this is to force transmissions to be of a uniform size, typically a number of words or bytes, and to optimize the bus for transmissions of that size. However, for certain types of transmissions, it may be desirable for the information to be in sizes other than the uniform size. For example, the information being transferred may be a stream of graphics commands. If the graphics commands are all the same length, and the length is the same as the uniform transmission size, then the graphics commands may be transmitted to and from main memory efficiently. However, restricting the length of the graphics commands to the uniform transmission size may be inconvenient for the designer of the graphics command set. If the designer of the graphics command set wishes to create graphics commands of varying length, it may be very difficult for the system designer to select an optimal uniform transmission size.

Method and apparatus for transmitting graphics command in a computer graphics system


A product package is described for enclosing an item in a non-thermoformed blister-like compartment. Also described are approaches for making the package. According to various aspects of the described package and manufacturing techniques, a blank is cut out of a sheet of see-through plastic material, the blank having a plurality of panels and flange sections such that the blank can be formed, without thermoforming, into a blister-like compartment having a plurality of panels defining an enclosure with a mouth at its base and a flange at the mouth""s perimeter. The blank may include printing, cutouts, perforations, or other features. The blank is then folded into a blister-like compartment and loaded with the item to be packaged. A backing is positioned to enclose the loaded blister-like compartment and affixed to the flange.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to improvements in product packaging, and particularly to advantageous aspects of product packaging having a non-thermoformed blister-like compartment and methods for making same.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the product packaging industry, there is continuing interest in creating packaging that, on the one hand, is useful and visually appealing but that, on the other hand, does not unduly add to the manufacturing costs of the product being sold. One popular type of packaging that is commonly used to package lower-end products is the blister package. In a blister package, a sheet of plastic is thermoformed (i.e., heated and stretched) into a xe2x80x9cblisterxe2x80x9d that is shaped to receive a retail item. The blister typically includes a flange at the outer perimeter of its base that is used to adhere the blister to the front surface of a xe2x80x9ccard,xe2x80x9d which is a flat sheet of cardboard or plastic that serves as a backing for the package.
Blisters are typically manufactured automatically in bulk using a thermoforming machine that is fed by a bulk roll of plastic. After the blisters have been manufactured, they are then transferred into a loading and sealing machine, in which each blister is loaded with a retail product and then heat-sealed to a card. Blisters are commonly manufactured at a facility that is different from the manufacturing facility used to load and seal the finished package. Where this is the case, the thermoformed blisters must be transported to the loading and sealing facility and stored for future use.
Blister packaging is selected to package a particular item for a number of reasons. First, blister packaging is relatively inexpensive. A basic blister package requires only two pieces of material, the thermoformed blister and a card. In addition, a blister package can be loaded and sealed in a high-speed automatic or semi-automatic manufacturing process that minimizes labor costs. Also, because a blister is typically fabricated from a transparent plastic, the retail item inside the package is plainly visible to retailers and their customers. Further, blister packaging provides a security function. Because blister packaging is heat-sealed, a retail customer typically may not remove the retail item from the packaging without visibly damaging the packaging.
However, there are a number of disadvantages associated with blister packaging. One disadvantage is that blister packaging tends to have an unattractive appearance that can be associated in the buying public""s mind with a lower-end product. Thus, blister packaging may be undesirable where a manufacturer desires a more upscale image for a particular product. A second disadvantage of blister packaging is that once a blister has been thermoformed, it becomes relatively bulky. The added bulk increases the amount of space required for transportation and storage of thermoformed blisters prior to the time that they are assembled into finished packages.
Further, once the blister has been formed, care must be taken to insure that the blisters do not xe2x80x9cnest,xe2x80x9d i.e., stick together as they are being fed into the loading and sealing machine. One solution to the nesting problem is to thermoform de-nesting lugs into the blister, which serve to create a gap between adjacent blisters in a stack. However, the de-nesting lugs may detract from the esthetic appearance of the blister. Further, the de-nesting lugs significantly further increase the bulk of a stack of blisters, thus resulting in a further increased need for space in transporting and storing the thermoformed blisters.
Another disadvantage of thermoformed blisters is that they do not lend themselves well to decoration. Although many printing, coating and other types of techniques have been developed over the years for applying a design or text to the surface of a plastic, these techniques are limited in application to a thermoformed blister for a number of reasons. First, thermoforming machines run at their highest efficiency using roll-fed stock. As a practical matter, this eliminates high quality sheet-fed lithographic printing techniques, in which single sheets of plastic are used rather than a bulk roll. Attempts have been made to use roll-fed lithographic and flexographic printing techniques to apply designs to rolls of plastic stock prior to thermoforming, but these have proven to be generally unsatisfactory because of the inability to consistently control the amount of plastic distortion during thermoforming and because of the limited flexibility of the inks used.
Thus, the decoration of blisters has typically been limited to processes that are performed after the blister has been thermoformed, utilizing such techniques as tampo printing, silkscreen, or hot stamping technology. However, because the blister is now a three-dimensional object rather than a two-dimensional sheet, these techniques have proven to be expensive, slow, and limited in their ability to produce high quality multicolor images. Thus, these techniques are usually performed as a one up part in conjunction with thermoforming. Where attempts have been made to print directly onto a thermoformed blister, the printing is typically limited to a blister having a flat front panel, and the printing may only be applied to that panel. No practical techniques have yet been developed for printing directly onto the side panels of a thermoformed blister.
A common technique that is used to decorate a blister package is to use a printed label that is affixed to the blister, or a printed insert that is visible through the blister. The results obtained using labels and inserts are typically not particularly esthetic. Labels have a xe2x80x9cstick-onxe2x80x9d appearance, and inserts generally xe2x80x9cfloatxe2x80x9d behind a blister panel. In addition, labels and inserts entail additional manufacturing costs for materials and printing, and require the manufacturer to acquire and maintain inventory and application equipment over and above that needed for functionality.
A further drawback of blister packages is that they do not lend themselves particularly well to automated die cutting in those situations in which it is desired to provide openings or cutout sections in the finished blister. Because of the unpredictable distortions caused by the thermoforming process, it is not practical to make the cuts prior to thermoforming. However, die cutting an internal opening in a thermoformed blister is typically an awkward and troublesome process that requires specialized off-line tooling and equipment because of the blister""s three-dimensional shape. Internal die cutting and stripping are usually done with an expensive two-level die cutting machine or a punch and die set. Using a cutting machine to make a cutout or opening in a side panel of a thermoformed blister has proven to be especially difficult. In addition, in order to indicate the area to be die cut, a thermoformed blister often contains a guide rail, which tends to complicate and distort the face panel, detracting from the esthetic appearance of the finished package.
These and other issues raised by the prior art are addressed by the present invention, aspects of which provide a package in which an item is enclosed in a non-thermoformed blister-like compartment and methods for making the package. A blank is cut out of the sheet of plastic, the blank having a plurality of panels and flange sections such that the blank can be folded into a blister-like compartment having a flange at its base. The sheet of plastic from which the blank is cut may be printed on, coated, and/or decorated. The blank may also have cutout sections or perforations. The blank is then folded, without thermoforming, into a blister-like compartment and loaded with the item to be packaged. One way to seal the package is to affix a backing to the flange at the base of the blister-like compartment.

Product packaging having a non-thermoformed blister-like compartment and methods for making same


A tri-fold convertible top is disclosed that is stowed in a storage compartment with a five bow oriented at an angle of between 30° and 60° relative to the vehicle belt line. The top may be tensioned by a power cylinder and linkage that raises both a one bow and the five bow when the top is initially retracted. A main power cylinder is connected to the top stack and a main pivot bracket that lifts a rear rail above the belt line during the extension and retraction cycle.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a tri-fold convertible top that is mounted on a linkage that stores the convertible top in a storage compartment having an angled floor and that is mounted on a four bar link that rotates the rear rail and front end of the five bow below the main pivot bracket.
2. Background Art
Convertible tops for vehicles must have robust linkages that are used to compactly store the convertible top in the storage compartment. Most storage compartments for convertible tops have a generally horizontally oriented floor on which the bows and other linkage parts are stored in a generally horizontal orientation. Convertible top linkages, when in their extended position, generally provide for an over-center locking of the top which is secured to the windshield header by latch mechanisms to hold the top in place.
Flat bottom convertible storage top compartments require substantial space and protrude into the rear area of the trunk. The most important portion of the trunk storage space to preserve is the storage space that is closest to the rear of the vehicle because it is easier to reach from the rear of the vehicle. There is a need for a convertible top that may be compactly stored at an angle in a storage compartment having a floor that is raised toward the rear and lower on its front edge. There is also a need for a convertible top that is lowered on a four bar link and placed in the storage compartment and lifted on the four bar link in the course of the top extension and retraction cycle to clear the front edge of the storage compartment. These and other problems are addressed by Applicants' invention as summarized below.

Compactly stored tri-fold convertible top