The present invention is applicable to access networks across which virtual connections have been provisioned to meet traffic and QoS requirements. The present invention improves service integrity by controlling the right for a service instance to use the network resources that have been provisioned for its class of service. Whenever a subscriber requests a service that requires a pre-determined bandwidth with a pre-determined QoS, one checks whether the virtual connection over which the service will be delivered to the subscriber can convey the required bandwidth with the required QoS. According to the check outcome, the service is granted or denied to the subscriber. The present invention may further improve the usage of the network resources. This second object is achieved by adapting the configuration of the access network according to the real traffic demand.

The present invention relates to a method to guarantee for a service a bandwidth across an access network with a quality of service, and to an access network wherein the method is applied.
Such a method is already known in the art, e.g. from the document entitled 'Traffic Management Specification', published by the ATM forum technical committee on March 1999, version 4.1, reference AF-TM-0121.000. Therein, a method to achieve performance objectives in an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) network and to protect the network from traffic congestion is described.
An access network is that part of a data communications network that connects the subscribers to the core network. The access network may overlay upon an established network such as the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), typically upon the last few miles of the PSTN to serve thinly scattered residential subscribers. The trade-off is to get the highest traffic concentration ratios across the access network, i.e. less equipment and less leased lines, while guaranteeing the best network performances to the subscribers.
ATM is a candidate technology for the transport layer between the subscriber and the core network. ATM is a connection-oriented cell-based transport technique and is intended to support a wide variety of services and applications. At the subscriber premises, a Data Communication Equipment (DCE) chops the upstream traffic from a Data Terminal Equipment (DTE) into data blocks, encapsulates the data blocks into ATM cells and transmits the ATM cells over the User Network Interface (UNI). The ATM cells are transported over a virtual connection, which is set up across the access network between the DCE and an edge node of the access network coupled to the core network. The edge node extracts the upstream traffic from the ATM cells and transmits it over the core network. In the reverse direction, the edge node encapsulates the downstream traffic from the core network into ATM cells and transmits them over the appropriate virtual connection. The edge node could also stand for:                a network element of the access network that is coupled to the PSTN, such as a voice gateway,        a network element of the access network that houses a service provider or that is coupled via a Local Area Network (LAN) to a service provider,or any alternative as known to the skilled person.
ATM defines a two-level hierarchical connection scheme:                the Virtual Channel (VC) is a connection between two end systems for a specific service or application,        the Virtual Path (VP) is a connection between two network nodes that transports a large number of simultaneous VCs.
A connection can be initiated by any of the two end systems involved in the connection or can be provisioned by a third party, such as a network manager. In the latter case, the connection is referred to as Permanent Virtual Channel (PVC) or Permanent Virtual Path (PVP).
The connection-oriented mode of operation allows the network to check whether enough resources are available for a connection and then to commit some Quality of Service (QoS) for that connection. The bandwidth and the QoS required for a connection are negotiated at connection establishment time. The network can reserve therefrom the appropriate resources for this connection. The network guarantees that the congestion of the network resources will only occur with a very low pre-determined probability.
An object of the known method is to meet bandwidth and QoS requirements across an ATM network. Another object is to promote the efficient use of the network resources.
In a preliminary step of the known method, a set of parameters is defined for describing the bandwidth and the QoS requirements.
The bandwidth requirements are expressed by means of traffic descriptors featuring the way a source may transmit cells over the network. The Peak Cell Rate (PCR) defines the maximum cell rate a source may reach. In case of fluctuating cell rate (e.g., because of a video compression algorithm), additional descriptors might be specified to allow the network to allocate resources more efficiently.
The quality of service of a connection relates to the cell loss, the delay and the delay variation (also called jitter) incurred by the cells transferred over the connection.
Thereupon, appropriately differentiated service categories are defined. Whenever a connection is set up, the service category to which that connection relates and the traffic and QoS parameters relevant to that service category are specified.
The ATM service categories are:                Unspecified Bit Rate (UBR) service category,        Constant Bit Rate (CBR) service category,        real time—Variable Bit Rate (rt-VBR) service category,        non-real time—Variable Bit Rate (nrt-VBR) service category,        Available Bit Rate (ABR) service category,        Guaranteed Frame Rate (GFR) service category.
The UBR service category is intended for non-real time best effort applications, such as internet browsing, file transfer or e-mail.
The CBR service category is used by connections that request a static amount of bandwidth that is continuously available during the connection lifetime. This amount of bandwidth is characterized by the PCR value. The source may emit cells at or below the negotiated PCR (and may also even be silent) at any time and for any duration and the QoS commitments still pertain. CBR service is intended for real time applications requiring tightly constrained delay, delay variation and cell loss ratio, such as video streaming or Voice over IP (VoIP).
Refer to the above mentioned specification for further details about the remaining service categories and the set of parameters relevant to each category.
In a further step of the known method, mechanisms are specified for managing and controlling traffic and congestion in ATM networks. These mechanisms are:                Connection Admission Control (CAC), which is defined as the set of actions taken by the network during the connection set up phase to determine whether a connection request can be progressed or should be rejected according to the network resources that remain available for that connection,        Usage Parameter Control (UPC), which is defined as the set of actions taken by the network to monitor and, possibly, to enforce the traffic contract at the UNI,        Network Parameter Control (NPC), which is defined as the set of actions taken by the network to monitor and, possibly, to enforce the traffic contract at the Network Node Interface (NNI),        Feedback control, which is defined as the set of actions taken by the network and by the end-systems to adjust the traffic submitted on a ATM connection according to the state of the network elements along that connection,        Cell Loss Priority (CLP) control, which allows the network to discard some lower priority cells to protect, as far as possible, the QoS objectives of higher priority cells,        Traffic Shaping, used to achieve a desired modification to the traffic characteristics of a connection.
The main objective of the UPC and NPC policers is to protect the network resources from malicious, as well as unintentional misbehaviour, which can affect the QoS of other established connections. This protection is achieved by detecting violations of the negotiated traffic parameters and by taking appropriate actions, such as discarding cells.
Most of the ATM based access networks make use of PVCs to connect a subscriber's DCE to an edge node of the access network. As a matter of fact, the installed base of subscriber's DCEs are for the most part unable to set up an ATM connection on their own. They miss important ATM features (no signalling channel, etc) as well as the necessary pieces of information (no ATM addressing data, etc).
A subscriber is provisioned with as many PVCs as there are classes of service to support for that subscriber. Each PVC is assigned a suitable service category in accordance with the known method.
A shortcoming of the know method is the very loose integration between those PVCs overlaying upon the access network and adapted to transport an amount of traffic across the access network with a QoS, and the higher communication layers submitting traffic thereto. The traffic submitted over a virtual connection does not necessarily need to conform to the ATM traffic contract of that virtual connection. If the real traffic load goes beyond the provisioned bandwidth, a UPC or NPC policer will start discarding ATM cells irrespective of the service to which the ATM cells relate. Consequently, delivering a new service over a connection without any further check may alter the integrity of existing services delivered over that connection.

Resource admission control in an access network


A light sensor device along a sheet transport track, having light emitting and sensing means in one of the track's two spaced apart walls, for emitting light energy and sensing the light energy reflected back from a sheet interposed between the walls and in the path of the emitted light energy. The sensor device also includes light absorbing means in the other wall of the track for absorbing the light energy emitted from the light emitting and sensing means when the sheet is not interposed between the light emitting and sensing means. The light absorbing means includes a transparent cylindrical member having a polished end surface for receiving the emitted light energy, the cylinder's other end surface and the cylinder's cylindrical surface being light energy absorbent.

This invention relates to document transport apparatus, and more particularly an improved light sensor device for sensing sheets or documents along a track.
In certain document processing systems it is necessary to load documents into document transport apparatus such that the documents are aligned in precise manner to facilitate subsequent reading of information contained on the documents and/or printing of information onto the documents. Such document loading apparatus, for example, is useful with transports for processing bank checks and merchant drafts, and for processing payments remitted by purchasers of goods and services.
In remittance processing systems, in particular, the loader device should be capable of rapidly and conveniently loading documents of various sizes and thicknesses, and of controllably aligning and advancing such documents into a main transport for processing. A typical transaction involved in remittance processing includes at least one check in payment of a customer bill or invoice along with a remittance coupon which is normally a returned portion of the invoice. Each of these documents contain machine readable data encoded thereon; the remittance coupon will normally include the customer's account number and the invoice amount, while the check will normally include the maker's bank and checking account numbers. The various functions performed by a remittance processing system may include the reading and storing of the machine readable data from both documents and/or the recording of video images of the documents including the machine readable data. From such data and other information obtained from the documents, the checks may be further imprinted with coded data representing the dollar amount of the check, the documents may be sorted, and various compilations of data may be prepared for further utilization.
Remittance processing systems include loader devices which permit documents to be vertically fed or hand-dropped by an operator into the loader, and which permit documents to be laterally fed into the loader by an automatic feeder apparatus. In either mode, the loader aligns or registers the bottom edge of the document along a registration surface of a track and then advances the document along the track. Such loaders permit the aligned document to be temporarily retained, or gated, prior to entering the system's main transport, by means for controllably blocking the loader's exit with a physical gate. When documents are automatically fed, further controllable means is normally provided by physically gating the document prior to its laterally entering the loader.
As the transports of remittance processing systems and automatic feeder apparatus increase in document throughput speed, the ability of prior art loaders to reliably keep pace becomes more difficult. Further, prior art loaders cannot generally accommodate documents of various thicknesses without adjustment being made to the loader, or documents of unusually narrow widths.

Light sensor apparatus for sheet transport


A medical connector apparatus that includes: (1) a first mating connector having a first conductive portion, (2) a second mating connector having a second conductive portion for electrically coupling to the first conductive portion, and (3) a housing unit with an interior chamber housing the second mating connector. In one embodiment of the invention, two apertures extend between the interior chamber and the housing unit's exterior. In another embodiment of the invention, the first mating connector further has a wiping portion for cleaning a portion of the second mating connector adjacent to the second conductive portion.. In still another embodiment of the invention, the housing chamber further has a light source positioned near the aperture through which the first mating member enters to electrically couple the first and second conductive portions. In this embodiment, the first mating connector has a light covering portion for covering the light source when the first and second conductive portions couple. The embodiments of the medical connector apparatus described above can serve as electrode connectors for all types of defibrillators.

Today, approximately three hundred and fifty thousand Americans die each year due to cardiac arrest. Eighty percent of these fatalities are due heart arrhythmia caused by ventricular fibrillation. Typically, ventricular fibrillation is treated by using a defibrillator to apply an electric shock to a patient's heart.
Three kinds of defibrillators are used by emergency medical personnel for applying a defibrillating shock to a patient suffering from cardiac arrest. These are: (1) manual defibrillators which charge and deliver shocks to patients solely in response to the user's request; (2) automatic defibrillators which charge and deliver shocks to patients solely in response to ECG data collected from the patient and analyzed by the defibrillator; and (3) semiautomatic defibrillators which analyze a patient's ECG data to advise on the delivery of shocks, but await shock delivery requests from their users before delivering defibrillating shocks.
Prior art defibrillators are quite complex and cumbersome. Consequently, in the past, defibrillators have usually been used only by emergency medical personnel with considerable training. Moreover, prior art defibrillators typically produce very low survival rates, because often quite a bit of time elapses before a trained medical operator (needed for applying the defibrillating shock) reaches the victim of cardiac arrest to apply a defibrillating shock. This poor response time greatly reduces the utility of the defibrillating shock since the chances of surviving a cardiac arrest exponentially decrease with time elapsed after the arrest.
Thus, in order to increase the utility of defibrillators, and thereby increase the number of lives saved, the defibrillator deployment time needs to be reduced. The defibrillator deployment time can be reduced by designing a defibrillator that can be used by non-medical personnel (such as police officers, fire fighters, teachers, supervisors, or common lay people) who can quickly reach victims of cardiac arrests in order to apply defibrillating shocks.
Such a defibrillator, that can be used by non-medical personnel, has to be light-weight and portable, so that it can be quickly carried to a victim of cardiac arrest. Moreover, the operation of this type of defibrillator has to be simple so that an inexperienced operator could easily use it to apply a defibrillating shock, even if the operator uses the equipment infrequently. Several such simple and portable defibrillators are disclosed in: U.S. patent application entitled "Defibrillator With Self-Test Features," filed on May 10, 1994, and having the Ser. No. 08/240,272; and U.S. patent application entitled "Electrotherapy Method and Apparatus," filed on Apr. 4, 1994, and having the Ser. No. 08/227,553. The disclosures of these patent applications are incorporated herein by reference.
One manner of simplifying the operation of a defibrillator (so as to allow a non-medical operator to easily use it) is to simplify the act of connecting an electrode pad cable to the defibrillator. A typical defibrillator has (1) an energy source that provides the motive power source for delivering a defibrillating shock; (2) an electrode connector that is housed in the defibrillator and that mates to the electrode connector of the electrode pad cable; and (3) a controller for actuating the defibrillator to deliver a defibrillation shock from the defibrillation energy source to the patient via the mated electrode connectors and electrode pads.
Non-medical personnel, who do not frequently operate defibrillators, may experience difficulties in connecting prior art electrode pad cables to prior art defibrillators, because these defibrillators do not provide sufficient guidance for rapidly establishing such connections. Consequently, there is a need in the art for a defibrillator connector apparatus that provides guidance for connecting the defibrillator connectors.
Moreover, the design of this defibrillator connector apparatus should minimize the effect of environmental residue on the operation of this apparatus. Environmental residue is material (such as blood, vomit, dirt, water, etc.) that exists in the environment in which the defibrillator is operated. While in storage or in standby mode, the connector apparatus of a defibrillator might accumulate residue, which would threaten the electrical or mechanical integrity of the connection during an emergency.
Alternatively, during actual use, residue may be unavoidably introduced into the connector apparatus, which would thereby result in the loss of precious time as the connectors would have to be cleaned or replaced. Consequently, there is a need in the art for a connector apparatus that enables residue to be easily and quickly removed from it during emergency and routine maintenance operations of the defibrillator. Ideally, the connector apparatus should clean itself when the connectors mate. In sum, there is a need art for a defibrillator connector apparatus that can be easily operated by non-medical personnel under all environmental conditions.


A method for identification (ID) verification using a device with embedded radio-frequency identification (RFID) functionality is disclosed. The method comprises capturing, by a camera associated with a client device, an image of an ID document having an embedded RFID chip. The image is transmitted to a server for optical character recognition to extract and recognize printed data associated with the ID document. The client device can receive the printed data from the server and use the printed data to unlock the RFID chip by an RFID reader. Digital data associated with the ID document can be retrieved from the RFID chip and compared to the printed data. If the digital data and the printed data match, the ID document is verified. Otherwise, the ID document is rejected.

Use of RFID systems to transfer data has opened new possibilities in computing and business. One such possibility is the use of RFID chips in biometric documents. A biometric document is a combined paper and electronic document (for example, a biometric passport) that contains biometric information and can be used to authenticate the identity of its holder. The RFID chip can be embedded in the front or back cover or center page of the biometric document. RFID enabled systems can read information from documents with embedded RFID chips using contactless technology. The use of RFID enabled ID documents can prevent falsification of ID documents as well as tampering, fraud, and other crimes using false documents.

Identification verification using a device with embedded radio-frequency identification functionality


An industrial automation environment communication system comprises a component that receives a web-based request in an industrial automation environment, wherein the web-based request includes data relating to an automation device. An encapsulating component encapsulates the web-based request, wherein the encapsulation facilitates transmitting the data to the automation device via an industrial automation network protocol.

Industrial control systems have enabled modern factories to become partially or completely automated in many circumstances. These systems generally include a plurality of Input and Output (I/O) modules that interface at a device level to switches, contactors, relays and solenoids along with analog control to provide more complex functions such as Proportional, Integral and Derivative (PID) control. Communications have also been integrated within the systems, whereby many industrial controllers can communicate via network technologies such as Ethernet, ControlNet, DeviceNet or other network protocols and also communicate to higher level computing systems. Generally, industrial controllers utilize the aforementioned technologies along with other technology to control, cooperate and communicate across multiple and diverse applications.
Industrial controllers and associated control systems have increasingly become more sophisticated and complicated as control applications have been distributed across the plant floor and in many cases across geographical or physical boundaries. As an example, multiple controllers and/or other devices can communicate and cooperate to control one or more aspects of an overall manufacturing process via a network, whereas other devices can be remotely located, yet still contribute to the same process. In other words, control applications have become less centrally located on a singular control system having associated responsibilities for an entire operation. Thus, distribution of an overall control function and/or process frequently occurs across many control components, systems or devices.
Advances in networking technologies have further facilitated automating in manufacturing in an industrial environment. For example, utilization of the Internet has allowed indirect communication between high-level systems, such as Enterprise Resource Planning systems, and factory floor devices (e.g., programmable logic controllers) across substantial geographic boundaries. The communication is indirect because in conventional systems middleware is required to map data and data records that are employed by applications within the ERP system(s). Accordingly, if the middleware is compromised, an entire automation system can be subject to failure. Attempting to eliminate the middleware, however, is also problematic. For instance, if the middleware is removed, then controllers and other low-level devices require a greater amount of intelligence, and must be able to recognize and generate data structures that can be recognized and generated by the high-level system. Further, eliminating middleware can compromise control logic, data records, and data structures that are associated with automation controllers and other low-level devices.
These devices and data associated therewith can be compromised due to communication protocols that are employed in connection with conventional data exchange. In particular, conventional industrial automation systems employ server computers as middleware to receive requests over the Internet, and requests and data responding to such requests are communicated over the HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP). Web servers facilitate sending and receipt of such requests, and the requests are serviced by server computers. Particularly, the server computers (which act as middleware) pull data from the automation controllers and map such data to the higher-level systems, thus enabling the high level systems to recognize and manipulate the data. By employing HTTP as a communication protocol, the server computers are subject to attacks that are common to the Internet, but the automation controllers are insulated from such attacks by the server computers. Eliminating the server computers while retaining use of conventional communication methods would subject automation controllers to Internet-based attacks, thus compromising products being manufactured as well as safety of workers within an industrial environment. For instance, a malicious user skilled in computer programming may be able to obtain access directly to an automation controller if the server computers do not buffer such controller. Such access can be obtained because the conventional Internet data exchange protocol is HTTP.
Accordingly, there exists a need in the art for a system and/or methodology for protecting automation controllers and other low-level automation devices if middleware that maps data between the automation controllers/low-level automation devices and high-level systems is removed.

System that provides for removal of middleware in an industrial automation environment


In one embodiment, a system for lifting and supporting a vehicle is described. The system includes at least one vehicle hoist fitting configured to distribute the weight of the vehicle along a skin of the vehicle, at least one removable bearing cup assembly configured to attach to said vehicle hoist fitting, and at least one trunnion assembly configured for attachment to a support structure and further configured to engage said removable bearing cup assembly.

This invention relates generally to the transport and/or support of vehicles during manufacture or repair, and more specifically, to methods and systems for lifting and supporting a vehicle.
During the manufacture of a vehicle, or portions of a vehicle, it may be necessary to lift and transport the vehicle between stages of manufacture. The lifting may be necessary to allow access to areas of the vehicle that are being assembled. Also, during the repair or servicing of a vehicle, it may be necessary to lift and transport the vehicle to properly repair or service the vehicle.
Many vehicles, due to their shape or size, are a challenge to lift or support. These vehicles may incorporate added structural support or hardpoints designed into the vehicle structure so that the vehicle is not harmed during manufacture, repair, or while being transported. Added structural support typically results in an increase in vehicle weight or a protrusion extending from the vehicle structure. In certain vehicles, namely aircraft, keeping vehicle weight low is advantageous and may lead to higher performance and cost savings.

Methods and systems for lifting a vehicle


Improving distribution of traffic from clients to servers is provided. A device intermediary to a plurality of clients and a plurality of servers can receive a request from a client of the plurality of clients to access one of the plurality of servers. The device can determine a hash value based on at least a portion of the request received from the client. The device can identify an index of a plurality of indices listing the plurality of servers repeated a plurality of times in a deterministic shuffled order. The device can apply a cache array routing protocol (CARP) algorithm to a second plurality of servers listed in a subset of the plurality of indices around the index. The device can select a server from the second plurality of servers with a highest hash value based on the application of the CARP algorithm.

A client device can initiate a request to transmit data or obtain resources to or from one or more remote servers. To establish a communication channel or a path with at least one of the servers, a load balancer can receive the request from the client device and direct the request to an available server. The load balancer can direct other traffics to one or more servers for handling client requests. The server can receive the request from the client device and transmit a response to the client device including an acknowledgment or the requested resources.


The present invention relates to a method, device, instruction set, and signal for communicating the availability of additional information in access points relevant for determining in a mobile station which access point to connect to. An information tag is inserted into a beacon signal alerting of the additional information available; mobile stations not implemented with the present invention may operate as if the information tag was not present and thus ensuring compatibility between systems.

Currently in Wireless LAN (WLAN) setups mobile stations select the access point based on radio link parameters and the network identity broadcasted in special signalling messages, so called beacons. This information is, however, in some cases inadequate to base the selection on of which access point to connect to. The user of the mobile station may have other preferences, such as price, while the applications need to know the available QoS (Quality of Service) etc.
WLAN access points broadcast beacons on a regular basis, normally every 100 milliseconds. Extending the beacons with extra information increases their size and thus wastes the available bandwidth on the channel. Including all desired information into the beacons would therefore not be desirable.


A bone-meat separation device for a bone-in limb meat according to an embodiment is a bone-meat separation device for a bone-in limb meat for separating a meat part adhering to a trunk-side end bone head of a bone-in limb meat, the device including a plurality of clamp portions for conveying the bone-in limb meat along a conveying path, a guide portion disposed on the conveying path and forming a V-shaped guide space with an open end thereof being directed upstream in a conveying direction of the bone-in limb meat, a cutter disposed at a downstream end of the guide space in the conveying direction, and a holding portion holding the meat part below the guide portion and the cutter. The holding portion is configured to hold the meat part of the bone-in limb meat when the meat part is cut from the trunk-side end bone head with the cutter.

In a recent food factory, automation of a dismantling process and a bone-meat separation step for poultry such as chickens is increased, releasing a worker from manual hard work. In a process of deboning a bone-in limb meat such as a bone-in thigh meat, automation is becoming possible in almost all steps.
Patent Document 1 discloses a device which automates a step of finally separating a meat part adhering to a femoral head from a bone part in a step of deboning a bone-in thigh meat. The automation device guides a bone-in thigh meat held by a clamper to a Y-shaped guide space formed by a Y-shaped derivation guide and cuts a meat part from a femoral head with a cutter disposed at a downstream end of the guide space.

Bone-meat separation device for bone-in limb meat and bone-meat separation method for bone-in limb meat


Material spill remediation packages (16, 40) designed to counteract particular, different types of material releases or spills are provided having spill control assemblies (18, 41) within vacuumized casings (20) and including respective color-coordinated displays (22, 42) and detachable labels (26, 46) for particular spill or release materials. In use, possible locations of material spills are identified and the appropriate labels (26, 46) are applied at or near these locations, prior to the occurrence of any spill. In the event of a spill, the appropriate spill control assembly (18, 41) can be readily identified by matching the color of the label (26, 46) and the color-coded display (22, 42) associated with the appropriate package (16, 40). This allows rapid, error-free response to both hazardous and non-hazardous material releases or spills, even by relatively unskilled personnel.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is broadly concerned with an improved material spill control systems allowing rapid and error-free use of appropriate spill remediation materials for particular types of spills. More particularly, the invention is concerned with such systems, methods of identifying, controlling and counteracting spills, and material spill products, wherein respective, specially designed spill control packages are provided with color-coordinated displays and detachable labels for particular, different types of hazardous and non-hazardous materials. The labels may be detached from the packages and placed at or near a location of likely spill contamination; in the event of such an occurrence, the package containing the appropriate spill control assembly can be more easily and specifically identified by matching the label and display colors.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Spill control and containment products have long been a tool used in compliance with EPA spill prevention, control, and countermeasure (SPCC) regulations. One such product comprises an appropriately combined assortment of materials which are vacuum packaged in foil wrappers or enclosures. In the event of a spill, the nature of the released contaminating material is identified and the corresponding assortment of materials is removed from its packaging and applied to the spill. Spill control products of this type are illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. D326,222, incorporated by reference herein.
However, in actual practice, these types of spill control products have created problems, particularly with inexperienced and improperly trained personnel. Specifically, in the often disturbing and even chaotic conditions encountered during material spills, the wrong product not designed for the spill in question can be erroneously used. This not only fails to ameliorate the problem, but can even exacerbate the situation.
There is accordingly a need in the art for improved systems, methods, and products which overcome these difficulties and provide for ready and error-free use of spill remediation materials which are appropriate for different types of spills.

System for rapid identification and use of proper spill remediation materials


A system and method for providing a proximity alert information form a locomotive directly to a device usable by wayside personnel or vehicles thereby alerting the personnel of an approaching locomotive. The proximity alert is facilitated by current PTC and ITCM messaging infrastructure, or is retrofittable to non-PTC equipped locomotives.

Management of train rail networks and maintenance of rail plant, including track, crossings, rail side equipment of many kinds, typically involves dispatching personnel to geographic locations along the rail lines. Once personnel are dispatched to a particular geographic location proximate a train track, such as for maintenance or repair, then awareness by the dispatched personnel of train traffic into or through that particular geographic location is necessary to assure safety to the personnel and train operations.
Currently, this is often done generally using a dispatch system involving radio communications with the dispatched personnel and one or more trains to coordinate train traffic and the maintenance at a particular location.
However, the current systems and techniques do not provide a technique for the train to directly alert the personnel when it approaches the particular geographic location where the personnel are working. Improving the ability of a train to broadcast its location as it travels with adequate time for personnel to react in a suitable manner would increase safety overall.


A speech recognition method includes receiving a sentence generated through speech recognition, calculating a degree of suitability for each word in the sentence based on a relationship of each word with other words in the sentence, detecting a target word to be corrected among the words in the sentence based on the degree of suitability for each word, and replacing the target word with any one of candidate words corresponding to the target word.

1. Field
The following description relates to an apparatus and a method for speech recognition.
2. Description of Related Art
In general, a current speech recognition method applied to a speech recognition system is not technically perfect and inevitably exhibits a recognition error due to various factors including noise. Existing speech recognition apparatuses fail to provide a correct candidate answer due to such an error, or only provide a candidate answer having a high probability of being a correct answer in a decoding operation, and thus an accuracy of such apparatuses in speech recognition is low.

Method and apparatus for speech recognition


A semiconductor light-emitting diode includes an electrically conductive substrate transmissive to light-emitting wavelengths, and semiconductor layers including a light-emitting layer, on the substrate. A principal-surface electrode is located on the semiconductor layers and a rear-surface electrode having an opening is located on the rear surface of the substrate. The width of the opening is L, the distance between the rear-surface electrode and the light-emitting layer is t, L≦2 t, and the rear-surface electrode covers no more than 40% of the rear surface of the substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a nitride semiconductor light-emitting diode fabricated on a light transmissive and conductive substrate, such as a GaN substrate, and more specifically to a semiconductor light-emitting diode that can achieve a high light-emitting efficiency by uniformly supplying a current to a light-emitting layer and raising the light extraction efficiency.
2. Background Art
In recent years, the research and development of blue, white or ultraviolet semiconductor light-emitting diodes (LEDs) using a nitride-containing III-V group compound semiconductor, such as AlInGaN, have been carried out, and already in practical use (for example, refer to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-166840). The mainstream of present semiconductor light-emitting diodes is of a type wherein the crystals of a nitride semiconductor are grown on a sapphire substrate because of the low costs thereof.
However, since there is a large lattice mismatch between the sapphire substrate and the crystals of a nitride semiconductor grown on the substrate, when the nitride semiconductor is directly grown on the sapphire substrate, a very large number of threading dislocations having a density of 109 to 1010 cm−3 or higher are present in the light-emitting layer. Since these threading dislocations produce non-light-emitting recombination centers of carriers in the light-emitting layer, the light-emitting efficiency is lowered.
Therefore, a method for reducing threading dislocations by growing a buffer layer at a low temperature on a sapphire substrate has been used. However, even if this method is used, the density of threading dislocations is not so small, and is about 107 cm−3. On the other hand, the density of threading dislocations of presently marketed GaN substrate is about 105 cm−3, and the further reduction of the density of threading dislocations is expected in the future. Therefore, to improve light-emitting efficiency, the use of GaN substrates is highly effective.
As the methods to mounting a semiconductor light-emitting diode of the type wherein a p-type electrode and an n-type electrode are formed on the principal surface and the rear surface, respectively, the following two methods can be used. One is a method wherein die bonding is performed with the substrate side, i.e., the n-electrode side down and light is extracted from the principal-surface side. On the contrary, the other is a method wherein die bonding is performed with the principal-surface side, i.e., the p-electrode side down and light is extracted from the rear-surface side.
FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a conventional semiconductor light-emitting diode of the type wherein the rear surface of a substrate is die-bonded and light is extracted from the principal surface of the substrate. As FIG. 6 shows, on a substrate 1, as semiconductor layers, an n-type AlGaN clad layer 2 having a thickness of 1.0 μm and an Al composition ratio of 0.07; a light-emitting layer 3 composed of four InGaN barrier layers (not shown) each having a thickness of 7 nm and an In composition ratio of 0.02 and three InGaN well layers each having a thickness of 5 nm and an In composition ratio of 0.10; a p-type AlGaN clad layer 4 having a thickness of 100 nm and an Al composition ratio of 0.07; and a p-type GaN contact layer 5 having a thickness of 20 nm are laminated. On the rear surface of the substrate 1, an n-electrode 6 composed of Ti/Au is formed, and on the GaN contact layer 5, p-electrodes 7 composed of Pd/Au are formed. Openings are provided in the p-electrodes 7, and light is extracted mainly from this portion.
Here, if the distances L between the p-electrodes 7 are excessively longer than the distance t between the p-electrodes 7 and the light-emitting layer 3, the quantity of current supplied to the light-emitting layer 3 becomes uneven, and the regions where current is not supplied are produced to lower the light-emitting efficiency. In order to prevent this, the distances L between the p-electrodes 7 are reduced. Thereby, since there is only a high-resistance thin p-type semiconductor layer between the light-emitting layer 3 and the p-electrodes 7, the current spreading in the lateral direction produced when current flows from the p-electrodes 7 to the light-emitting layer 3 is minimized.
The distance t between the p-electrodes 7 and the light-emitting layer 3 in the conventional semiconductor light-emitting diode is 1 μm or shorter. Consequently, the current spreading in the lateral direction is at largest several micrometers. Therefore, to prevent uneven injection of current the opening width L of the p-electrodes 7 must be several micrometers or less.
However, when the opening width L of the electrodes 7 was reduced, as Fig.7 shows, there was a problem wherein a part of the light generated from the light-emitting layer was reflected or absorbed by the p-electrode 7 causing the lowering of the light emitting efficiency.
To solve this problem, as FIG. 8 shows, there is a method to reduce the reflection and absorption of light by using a light transmissive electrode 8 as the p-electrode. However, even in this case, the light is reflected and absorbed, and when the light emitting wavelength of a semiconductor light-emitting diode is short, a serious problem arises. Also when the electrode is thin, since the resistance of the electrode elevates, the quantity of current lowers to the location far from the wire for current supply, and the uniform current supply is difficult.
Furthermore, as FIG. 9 shows, there is a method to extract light from the rear surface by forming an n-electrode 6 on the portion from which a part of the semiconductor layer has been etched of f and mounting with the principal surface side facing down. However, since the n-electrode 6 becomes apart from the p-electrode 7, it is difficult to uniformly supplying the current. In addition, since a part of the light-emitting layer 3 is etched off, the area of the light emitting region is reduced. Furthermore, since the distance between the n-electrode 6 and the p-electrode 7 is shortened, there is a problem wherein it is difficult to die-bond with both electrodes insulated.


An optical module used in a projection device is provided. The optical module includes a base and a filter mirror. The base has an inclined leaning surface and a sidewall surface. The sidewall surface is located at a periphery of the base and forms a through hole along a direction. The inclined leaning surface is extended from the sidewall surface and an inclined angle is formed between the inclined leaning surface and the direction. The filter mirror is disposed on the inclined leaning surface.

1. Technical Field
The disclosure relates in general to an optical module, and more particularly to an optical module used in a projection device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Along with the advance in projection technology, a pico-projector is invented. The are mainly four kinds of the pico-projector technology, such as a micro electro mechanical system (MEMS) mirror technology using a laser light source, a color sequencial liquid crystal on silicon (CS LCoS) technology using a light emitting diode source, a CF LCoS technology and a digital light processing (DLP) technology.
Due to the advantage of small size, the pico-projector can be embedded in a portable product, such as a cell phone, a notebook computer, a tablet computer, a camera, a video recorder, a portable media player (PMP), a portable DVD or a game console, such that the portable product has a projection function.
However, due to the requirement on the resolution of the frame, a stable and accurate adjusting mechanism is needed to be equipped in the pico-projector having a limited space. The assembly error of the optical elements is needed to be reduced for effectively controlling the size of the laser spot and controlling varied color light beams, such as red, green, and blue light beams, to be coaxial.

Optical module used in projection device


A foam includes a cellular structure and having a density of at most 0.50 g/cm3, where the cellular structure is provided by a solid material that includes humins. Such a foam is prepared in a process, which includes: providing a starting material containing humins; and heating the starting material to a temperature in the range of 150 to 450° C. The foam can be used in articles for a variety of applications such as substrate for plant growth, as adsorbent for treating waste water or waste gases, as support for solid catalysts, as insulation material, or packaging material.

Humins constitute a known material. U.S. Pat. No. 3,293,200 describes thermosetting adhesive compositions that are useful in the manufacture of plywood and contain, as essential ingredients, a water-soluble phenol-aldehyde resin and a water-insoluble, finely-divided humins material obtained from the manufacture of levulinic acid by acid hydrolysis of lignocellulose, i.e. a combination of carbohydrates and lignin. Although various procedures are known for the manufacture of levulinic acid from lignocellulose, the reaction generally is carried out under severe acid hydrolysis conditions at a temperature in excess of 150° C., usually between 170° C. and 210° C. in the presence of a strong acid catalyst. During the reaction, the humins material is formed as a result of an acid breakdown of lignocellulose while substantially the entire carbohydrate portion of the lignocellulose is degraded and the hexosans converted to the desired levulinic acid.
Humins have been obtained in the dehydration of carbohydrates in the manufacture of levulinic acid, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural and/or 5-alkoxymethylfurfural and/or acyloxymethyl-furfural. An example of such a dehydration reaction is described in DE 3621517. Other examples of such a process are described in WO 2007/104514 describing the preparation of alkoxymethylfurfural, and WO 2007/104515, disclosing the preparation of acyloxymethyl-furfural. Although the latter processes have set out to reduce the yield of humins, the processes unavoidably yield amounts of humins for which a useful outlet is sought.
An application of humins has been described in DE 3612517, where it is stated that the humins, i.e. the by-product of the preparation of alkoxymethylfurfural and alkyl levulinates from cellulose, lignocellulose or starch with an alcohol, can only be used for the provision of heat by combusting it. In a journal article by Robert-Jan van Putten et al., Chem. Rev., 2013, 113(3), 1499-1597, the formation of humins from the dehydration of carbohydrates is discussed. The article mentions the forming of humins as unwanted by-product in addition to the formation of the desired products hydroxymethyl furfural, furfural and levulinic acid. It is mentioned that the most likely applications for humins are either as a fuel, particularly for generating heat for the various operations to accomplish the carbohydrate dehydration, or as compost.
It would therefore be very advantageous, if humins can be used in a more economic and value-added application. In WO2015088341 a composition is disclosed wherein furfuryl alcohol and humins are used as wood adhesive and impregnating agent for wood and other materials.


A process of washing an emulsion such as a silver halide emulsion which contains a hydrophilic colloid comprises deionizing the emulsion and coagulating the emulsion with an anionic polymer and separating the coagulum from the supernatant and resuspending the coagulum with hydrophilic colloid, water and a base.

Silver halide emulsions are generally made in solutions containing a low concentration of a colloid stabilizer. Generally, gelatin is found to be the most suitable stabilizer since it also serves as a film former in photographic coatings. The silver halide is a product of a double decomposition reaction of the respective halide of an alkali metal and silver nitrate. The resulting precipitation reaction results in a colloidal suspension of silver halide, which contains a considerable amount of water and high levels of salt (nitrates). In order to minimize drying loads during the coating operation, it is advantageous to remove water from the emulsion. Secondly, the high salt contents can impart deleterious properties to coating solutions and the coated products. Thus, some amount of deionization of the emulsion is required. Desalination and deionization of the emulsion can be achieved by several methods. Methods for deionization include dialysis, electrodialysis, ion exchange and washing of noodles. Methods for concentration include ultrafiltration and evaporation. A third method, coagulation, can achieve deionization and concentration simultaneously. Gelatin coagulants include derivatized gelatin, anionic polymers, inorganic salts, esters of phosphoric acid and dicarboxylic acids. Generally, these coagulants flocculate gelatin when the pH of the emulsion is decreased close to or below the isoelectric point of gelatin, which is 4.9 for lime processed ossein gelatin.
Anionic polymers as emulsion coagulants are the generally preferred type of coagulant. The coagulation procedure involves addition of polymer at levels from 2-50% with respect to the gelatin present. The pH is then lowered slightly below the coagulation point of the system. The separation of phases is effected by gravity or centrifugation. The supernatant containing water, salts and some gelatin is separated from the coagulate which contains the emulsion, gelatin and remaining salts. At this point, generally, not enough of the salt amount is removed from the emulsion. In order to remove the desired amounts of salts, the flocculated emulsion is washed with water in one or more subsequent steps. The deionized emulsion is then resuspended in water and gelatin by raising the pH above the isoelectric point of gelatin. As with all technologies, there are a few disadvantages with this method--1) the polymer coagulant remains with the emulsion and ends up in the coated product. This could result in potential problems, such as adversely affecting the sensitometric characteristics of the emulsion, viscosifying the coating melts etc. 2) Lowering and raising the pH to effect coagulation and resuspension, respectively, can have adverse effects. For example, the addition of base to an emulsion, frequently causes changes in the sensitometric characteristics, due to R-typing. Thus, the amount of base needed is inversely proportional to the pH of coagulation. A reduction in the amount of polymer required for coagulation and/or an increase in the pH of coagulation would be a desirable improvement on this technology. Another improvement would be to eliminate the need for multiple washing. Multiple washing requires a large amount of process time. Secondly, an emulsion that has been multiply washed and separated is found to be hard to resuspend. Specifically, small pieces of coagulum remain even after substantial mixing at the resuspension step.
The use of anionic polymers for concentrating emulsions is well known in the art. U.S. Pat. No. 2,772,165 discloses acid soluble polymers to coagulate emulsions. GB 884,840 discloses polystyrene sulfonate as a coagulating agent. Carboxylic acid containing polymers are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,565,418. Maleic acid copolymers with hydrophobic nonionic comonomers have been disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,087,282, GB 1,121,188 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,411,849. Copolymers containing sulfonic acid and carboxylic acid groups have been disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,486,451. All these polymers suffer from the above-mentioned problems, albeit to varying degrees. Anionic polymers containing amine groups, either on the same monomer as the anionic moiety or as a comonomer, are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,178,294; U.S. Pat. No. 3,455,694; U.S. Pat. No. 3,482,980; GB 889,760; and GB 911,886. These polymers are alleged to have a high pH of coagulation with gelatin. However, due to the interaction of both the anionic moiety and the amine group with gelatin, the dissolution of the coagulum is not easily achieved via pH control. Although, these polymers are able to raise the pH of coagulation, they still require relatively high amounts of polymer to achieve phase separation. U.S. Pat. No. 3,884,701 discloses the combination of an anionic polymer with phthalated gelatin as a coagulant for an emulsion prepared with regular gelatin, to reduce the amount of polymer that is needed. However, the process of derivatizing gelatin is relatively expensive and also the use of derivatized gelatin results in a large amount of variability to the coagulation process. None of the prior art disclosed above addresses the problem of having to carry out multiple washing steps.

Process for deionizing and concentrating emulsions


In the following, citalopram diol means 4-(4-(dimethylamino)-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-1-hydroxybutyl)-3-(hydroxymethyl)-benzonitrile, as free base and/or acid addition salt. The invention relates to a process for the preparation of racemic citalopram diol and/or R- or S-citalopram diol, comprising the separation of a non-racemic mixture of R- and S-citalopram diol with more than 50% of one of the enantiomers into a fraction being enriched with S- or R-citalopram diol and a fraction comprising RS-citalopram diol wherein the ratio of R-citalopram diol:S-citalopram diol is equal to 1:1 or closer to 1:1 than in the initial mixture. The method is characterized in that (i) RS-citalopram diol is precipitated from a solution of the initial non-racemic mixture, or R- or S-citalopram diol is dissolved into a solvent from the initial non-racemic mixture, leaving a residue of RS-citalopram diol, and in that (ii) the residue/precipitate formed is separated from the final solution phase, followed by optional steps of repetition, recrystallisation, purification, isolation and conversion between free base and salts. The invention also relates to a process for the preparation of RS-citalopram, S-citalopram or R-citalopram (all as free base and/or acid addition salt) comprising the method described above followed by ring closure.

Citalopram is a well-known antidepressant drug that has now been on the market for some years and has the following structure:

Citalopram may be prepared by ring closure of 4-[4-(dimethylamino)-1-(4′-fluorophenyl)-1-hydroxybutyl]-3-(hydroxymethyl)-benzonitrile (racemic citalopram diol) as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,650,884. The product citalopram is a racemic mixture of the R- and S-enantiomers.
Further, the S-enantiomer of citalopram (escitalopram) is a valuable antidepressant of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) type. Escitalopram may be prepared by ring closure of S-4-[4-(dimethylamino)-1-(4′-fluorophenyl)-1-hydroxybutyl]-3-(hydroxymethyl)-benzonitrile (S-diol) with retention of configuration as described in EP B1 347 066. The amount of R-citalopram compared to S-citalopram in the product escitalopram should be less than 3%.
Furthermore, a method for the preparation of a mixture of R- and S-citalopram with more than 50% of the S-enatiomer from a mixture of R- and S-diol with more than 50% of the R-diol is described in WO03000672.
It appears from the above, that products of racemic citalopram and escitalopram with the above-mentioned enantiomeric purity are required for the preparation of pharmaceutical compositions and that racemic citalopram and escitalopram products may be prepared by ring closure of the RS-diol and R-diol and/or S-diol. As a consequence, methods for the preparation of products of racemic diol and S-diol being correspondingly enantiomerically pure are required.
Processes for the preparation and purification of R- or S-diol products are available. Such processes involve for instance enantio-selective synthesis as described in EP 0347066, classical resolution and chromatographic separation as described in WO03006449. Depending on the specific process and the conditions used, the enantiomeric purity of the S-diol product may have to be improved before the S-diol product will meet the above requirements.
Surprisingly, it has now been found that by using the process of the invention an expensive, but apparently useless S-diol product being contaminated with R-diol, may easily be converted into the two valuable products, racemic diol and S-diol, which meet the above requirements as regards enantiomeric purity.
Furthermore, by using the process of the invention, an expensive, but apparently useless R-diol product being contaminated with S-diol, may easily be converted into the valuable products, racemic diol and R-diol, which meet the above requirements as regards enantiomeric purity.
More particularly, the present invention provides a process for the separation of an initial non-racemic mixture of R- and S-4-[4-(dimethylamino)-1-(4′-fluorophenyl)-1-hydroxybutyl]-3-(hydroxymethyl)-benzonitrile with more than 50% of one of the enantiomers into a fraction being enriched with S-diol or R-diol and a fraction comprising RS-diol, wherein the ratio of R-diol:S-diol is equal to 1:1 or closer to 1:1 than in the initial mixture of R- and S-diol.
The process of the invention is important and very useful, in particular because it provides a convenient, cheap and efficient way to transform a mixture of R- and S-diols which does not meet the above requirements as regards enantiomeric purity into two valuable products, RS-diol and S-diol (or R-diol), which meet the above requirements as regards enantiomeric purity.
In another aspect, the invention provides a convenient, cheap and efficient method for making an intermediate to be used in the manufacturing of citalopram and escitalopram.
With the present invention, the process for the production of racemic citalopram and escitalopram meeting the requirements of the respective marketing approvals has become more rational and more economical as regards the simplicity of the process and the utilisation of reagents and resources.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Process for the preparation of racemic citalopram diol and/or


A heat pump is provided with a discharge valve on a discharge line. The discharge valve can be positioned to modulate or pulse refrigerant flow from the discharge line heading toward an indoor heat exchanger, when in a heating mode. By providing this restriction, the pressure and the temperature of the refrigerant increases. This increased temperature provides additional heating capacity as well as increases the temperature of the delivered indoor air, minimizing “cold blow” and making the end user more comfortable. The use of discharge valve can also minimize or entirely eliminate the ON/OFF unit cycling, as the amount of heat delivered can be precisely controlled by pulsing or modulating the valve, thus reducing unit cycling losses, improving user comfort and enhancing reliability.

This invention relates to a heat pump that is operable in both a cooling and a heating mode, and wherein a discharge valve is controlled to increase and modulate the heating capacity of the heat pump.
Refrigerant systems are utilized to control the temperature and humidity of air in various indoor environments to be conditioned. In a typical refrigerant system operating in the cooling mode, a refrigerant is compressed in a compressor and delivered to a condenser (or an outdoor heat exchanger in this case). In the condenser, heat is exchanged between outside ambient air and the refrigerant. From the condenser, the refrigerant passes to an expansion device, at which the refrigerant is expanded to a lower pressure and temperature, and then to an evaporator (or an indoor heat exchanger). In the evaporator heat is exchanged between the refrigerant and the indoor air, to condition the indoor air. When the refrigerant system is operating, the evaporator cools the air that is being supplied to the indoor environment.
The above description is of a refrigerant system being utilized in the cooling mode of operation. In the heating mode, the refrigerant flow through the system is essentially reversed. The indoor heat exchanger becomes the condenser and releases heat into the environment to be conditioned (heated in this case) and the outdoor heat exchanger serves the purpose of the evaporator and exchangers heat with a relatively cold outdoor air. Heat pumps are known as the systems that can reverse the refrigerant flow through the refrigerant cycle, in order to operate in both heating and cooling modes. This is usually achieved by incorporating a four-way reversing valve (or an equivalent device) into the system design, with the valve located downstream of the compressor discharge port. The four-way reversing valve selectively directs the refrigerant flow through the indoor or outdoor heat exchanger when the system is in the heating or cooling mode of operation, respectively. Furthermore, if the expansion device cannot handle the reversed flow, than a pair of expansion devices, each along with a check valve, can be employed instead.
Heat pumps are intended to replace a furnace, such that a single unit can provide the function of both the air conditioner and the furnace. However, heat pumps have not been widely adopted in colder climates. The major reasons for this slow adoption is the concern that the heat pump cannot provide adequate heat in colder climates and/or the temperature of the heated air delivered to the conditioned environment is too cold (so called "cold blow") and uncomfortable to the end user. An additional drawback is that to compensate for the lack of heating capacity, the system needs to rely on separate heaters. Since a heater delivers a predetermined amount of heating capacity, the system must be cycled OFF when the desired indoor temperature is reached and cycled back ON when the temperature falls below the desired value. The unit cycling is inefficient, prone to reliability problems, magnifies temperature variations in the conditioned space and causes discomfort to the end user.

Discharge valve to increase heating capacity of heat pumps


A control system and method for controlling torque output of an engine include an air control module that receives an actual airflow and a desired airflow and outputs an adjusted actual airflow based on the actual airflow and the desired airflow. A fuel control module receives the adjusted actual airflow and controls fuel output based on the adjusted actual airflow, a ratio (λ) of an operating air-fuel mixture to an ideal air-fuel mixture, and an operating curve (λtraj).

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
The engine controls the air-fuel mixture to achieve an ideal air-fuel mixture ratio (stoichiometric ratio). At the optimum stoichiometric ratio, all of the fuel is burned using all of the oxygen in the air. For internal combustion engines, the stoichiometric ratio is about 14.7:1. In other words, for each pound of gasoline, 14.7 pounds of air is burned. The air-fuel mixture varies from the optimum stoichiometric ratio during driving. Sometimes the air-fuel mixture is lean (an air-to-fuel mixture higher than 14.7) and other times the air-fuel mixture is rich (an air-to-fuel mixture lower than 14.7).
Vehicle engines produce oxides of nitrogen (NOx) as a component of vehicle emissions. In particular, lean-burn gasoline and diesel engines tend to produce higher levels of NOx than conventional stoichiometric gasoline engines.
In an effort to reduce NOx levels in vehicle emissions, manufacturers employ emissions control systems with engine sensors and NOx storage catalysts, sometimes referred to as Lean NOx traps (LNTs). The NOx storage catalysts absorb and decompose the NOx with combustible gases such as carbon monoxide (CO) or hydrocarbon (HC). While reducing NOx levels, these systems tend to increase the level of hydrocarbons in vehicle emissions.
LNTs require periodic intervals of rich exhaust gas to regenerate the stored NOx and convert it into harmless byproducts. This control of the air-fuel ratio in a diesel engine can cause torque disturbance during rich operation.

System for controlling regeneration of lean NO


A system and method for providing aiding information to a satellite positioning system (“SPS”) receiver. A digital satellite radio system satellite receives aiding information communicated from a positioning system. The digital satellite radio system broadcasts the aiding information in the data signals it broadcasts to its subscribers. The subscribers receive the aiding information at satellite radio receivers and communicate the aiding information to the SPS receiver. The data signals may also be communicated to terrestrial repeaters for re-broadcast at a higher power. The terrestrial repeaters may input a transmitter identifier to permit the satellite radio receiver to determine a geographical location of the terrestrial repeater as its own.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to positioning systems, and more particularly to aiding positioning systems.
2. Description of Related Art
Satellite positioning systems, such as Global Navigation Satellite Systems ("GNSS") and Global Positioning Systems (GPS), have fostered the development of a wide variety of applications, ranging from navigation systems in mobile units (e.g. automobiles, mobile telephones, etc.), to the E911 emergency system, which requires the ability to locate callers on mobile telephones. The growth of applications that use positioning systems, both in terms of number and sophistication, has placed increasing demands on satellite positioning system ("SPS") performance.
One problem with satellite positioning systems that continues to draw attention is that positioning capabilities become increasingly limited as the lines of sight to satellites are reduced. In urban areas with large buildings, signals reflect off the buildings creating multiple signals taking different paths to SPS receivers. The SPS receivers may not be able to communicate with enough SPS satellites to determine a location, or at least to do so with enough precision. In large buildings, there may be no lines of sight to SPS satellites making it very difficult for positioning receivers to precisely determine their location.
Another problem relates to how a SPS receiver "finds" itself once the SPS receiver has been left unused and then moved to a different location. SPS receivers constantly update their location during operation. When a SPS receiver is not used, then moved to a different location, it must "wake up" and determine its new location. When the SPS receiver is restarted, it begins the process of determining its new location by searching for available SPS satellites.
Each SPS satellite generates and broadcasts its own 1023-bit Pseudo Random Noise (PRN) codes, these are pseudo random sequences that a SPS receiver knows about and tries to match by generating that same signal in order to identify a particular satellite. SPS receivers also encode the time a signal is being transmitted. The SPS receiver searches for this signal in terms of time (the signal is transmitted at 1023 Mbits/sec) and frequency (added Doppler effect from the satellite movement). Each satellite sends its PRC (Pseudo Random Code), position and the current time 50 times per second. After locking up a signal, the SPS receiver receives this data and calculates the time difference from when the signal was sent to the Time of Arrival (TOA). Included among the data received at this time are the almanac and ephemeris.
On a "cold start" (i.e. the SPS receiver lacks any ephemeris data) the SPS receiver knows where to search for a satellite in the sky based on the almanac data available and will try to obtain ephemeris data from each visible satellite. Satellites broadcast their ephemeris data every 30 seconds. If the SPS receiver is blocked while trying to obtain the data, it will have to start over in the next cycle. On a "warm start" some ephemeris is already available and the receiver can almost "guess" its position and in a "hot start" the receiver has almost all of it readily available. This whole process can translate in minutes or seconds of wait time depending in the kind and quality of data available for a SPS receiver to obtain a fix.
Mechanisms for assisting SPS receivers in lowering their time to first fix ("TTFF") have been implemented. For GPS systems, these mechanisms include "Assisted GPS" and "Aided GPS." Aided GPS is generally understood to involve ephemeris or almanac data aiding. Assisted GPS uses data from a wireless network infrastructure, sometimes down to location information itself based on the Cell ID from a mobile phone.
In one example of an aided GPS system, a gateway to a telecommunications system may be used to maintain continuously updated ephemeris and almanac data for nearby GPS satellites. In a cold start, a GPS receiver may request ephemeris data from the gateway via a request to the telecommunications system. Although such an aided GPS system may improve TTFFs in some implementations, the need to make a request still takes time that may add significantly to the TTFF.
There is a need for aided positioning systems that further reduce the time for GPS receivers to acquire ephemeris data.

System and method for providing aided GPS positioning via satellite digital radio system


A wiring module includes an insulating protector that holds a connection member for connecting adjacent electrode terminals, and a temperature detecting member for detecting the temperature of the connection member. The temperature detecting member includes a temperature detecting element, an electric wire connected to the temperature detecting element, an element accommodating section in which the temperature detecting element is accommodated and through which the electric wire is led, and a detection section that is contiguous to the element accommodating section and is arranged to be in contact with the connection member. The element accommodating section is arranged in parallel or perpendicular to the line connecting the shaft centers of two electrode terminals that are connected to each other by the connection member.

In power storage modules such as electric cars or hybrid cars, a large number of power storage elements are lined up laterally and connected to each other in order to increase an output. The power storage elements are configured to be connected in series or in parallel to each other by adjacent electrode terminals being connected by connection members such as busbars.
If such a power storage module is used in a high temperature condition, the lifetime thereof may be decreased, and a power storage module in which a plurality of lithium-ion batteries or the like are connected to each other may ignite due to an increase in its temperature when being charged. Accordingly, in order to prevent such a situation, power storage modules are provided with a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of power storage elements (see JP 2012-154901A, for example).


The present invention teaches a TFT array substrate and its manufacturing method including the following steps. A data line and a ring-shaped source electrode are formed on a substrate. A first insulation layer is formed on the substrate. A ring trough exposing the source electrode is formed on the first insulation layer. A semiconductor active layer is formed in the ring trough. A channel is formed on the first insulation layer in an area surrounded by the ring trough. A gate line, a gate electrode in the channel, and a drain electrode connected to the semiconductor active layer are formed on the first insulation layer. A second insulation layer is formed on the first insulation layer, and a pixel via is formed on the second insulation layer. A pixel electrode is formed on the second insulation layer, and is connected to the drain electrode through the pixel via.

Flat panel display devices are widely popular due to their thin thickness, power saving, and low radiation. Existing flat panel display devices mainly include liquid crystal display (LCD) and organic light emitting diode (OLED) display devices. Thin film transistor (TFT) array substrate is a key component to flat panel display device. A TFT array substrate may be formed on a glass substrate or a plastic substrate.
TFT array substrate includes TFTs arranged in an array on a substrate. Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 1, a TFT includes a gate electrode 2 on a glass substrate 1, a gate insulation layer 3 on and covering the gate electrode 2, an active layer 4 on the gate insulation layer 3, and a source electrode 5 and a drain electrode 6 on the active layer 5. The source electrode 5 and the drain electrode 6 are laterally separated with a gap in between. A part of the active layer 4 beneath the gap is a ditch region 4a. As shown in FIG. 1, the ditch region 4a of the active layer 4 may easily be affected by subsequent processes, especially when the active layer 4 is made of oxide semiconductor. For example, after the active layer 4 is formed and when a mask process for the source electrode 5 and the drain electrode 6 is under way, the surface of the ditch region 4a of the active layer 4 may be damaged by the etching solution, causing the electrical properties of the TFT (e.g., reliability and stability of threshold voltage) to deteriorate.

TFT array substrate and manufacturing method thereof

SHENZHEN CHINA STAR OPTOELECTRONICS SEMICONDUCTOR DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


A driver circuit includes unit slice circuits that generate an output data signal based on an input data signal. The driver circuit reduces a voltage swing of the output data signal without changing a termination resistance of the driver circuit in response to decreasing a number of the unit slice circuits that generate the output data signal based on the input data signal.

In a data transmission system, one or more data signals are transmitted from a transmitter to a receiver through external transmission links. At a high data rate in the data signal, the unit interval (UI) of each bit in the data signal is very small (e.g., 400 picoseconds at 2.5 gigabit/second). When the data signal flips to the opposite logic state after a sequence of bits in the data signal having the same logic state, capacitors in the transmission links may cause the voltage of the data signal to change too slowly. The effects of the capacitors in the transmission links may cause inter-symbol interference (ISI) in the data signal received by the receiver. ISI may have a negative impact on the performance of the data transmission system.
For example, if the transmitter transmits a sequence of five logical 1 bits (i.e., '11111'), the sequence of logical 1 bits charges the capacitors in the transmission links. If the transmitter then transmits a logical 0 bit and then another sequence of logical 1 bits, the capacitors in the transmission links may not discharge fast enough to a voltage that accurately represents the logical 0 in the sixth bit. ISI may cause the receiver to misread the sixth bit as a logical 1 instead of a logical 0.

Circuits and methods for adjusting the voltage swing of a signal


An achromatic lens for ultraviolet rays constituted by (A) high-purity silica glass having a purity of 99.9% or more, or fluorine-containing, high-purity silica glass having a purity of 99.9% or more; and (B) silica glass containing germanium dioxide or silica glass containing germanium dioxide and boron oxide.

The present invention relates to an optical achromatic lens, and more particularly to an optical achromatic lens which can be used for reduction projection aligners (steppers) in ultraviolet lithography, etc., for instance, excimer laser reduction projection aligners (steppers) of XeCl, KrF, etc.
Heretofore, steppers having ultrahigh-voltage mercury lamps as light sources have been used for photolithography in the production of semiconductors. However, since LSIs have become highly integrated recently, g-line (436 nm) and i-line (365 nm) of the ultrahigh-voltage mercury lamp used in conventional steppers have become insufficient in resolution.
To increase resolution, development has been made to provide steppers using as light source excimer lasers having shorter wavelengths such as those of XeCl, KrF, etc. However, to achieve the resolution desired in these steppers, chromatic aberration should be removed. Presently, to remove the chromatic aberration in excimer lasers, two methods were proposed.
One method is to narrow the half width of laser beams to reduce the chromatic aberration to the permitted range, and another method is to use an achromatic lens in an optical system to correct the chromatic aberration.
In the case of the first method in which the chromatic aberration is suppressed to the permitted range by narrowing the half width of laser beams, elements such as etalons and prisms and methods such as injection locking, etc. are used to reduce the half width of laser beams to 0.003-0.005 nm. However, the reduction of the half width of laser beams poses several problems. For instance, to compensate the decrease in laser output due to element losses, the power of the laser should be increased, and for this purpose, the laser beam-generating apparatus itself should be scaled up. In addition, speckle patterns become likely to appear, and it is difficult to provide a large projection area.
On the other hand, in the case of the second method in which the achromatic lens is used in an optical system to correct the chromatic aberration, there are only limited materials capable of transmitting excimer laser efficiently. The achromatic lens is constituted by two types of optical materials having different dispersion, and there has conventionally been proposed a combination of high-purity silica glass and a calcium fluoride single crystal (fluorite). There has also been proposed an achromatic lens constituted by a combination of a lens made of synthetic silica glass containing oxides of transition elements such as titanium, iron, etc., oxides of rare earth elements such as lanthanum, cerium, europium, etc., and a lens made of synthetic silica glass containing no additives, which utilizes the difference in dispersion power between them to remove the chromatic aberration (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-6512).
However, when fluorite is used as an optical material for lens, it has various problems as compared with glass. First, since the fluorite has low hardness, it is vulnerable to scratches. Also, since it is a single crystal, it has cleavage which makes it difficult to have a smooth lens surface. As a result, it is not easy to conduct optical lapping on the fluorite. In addition, since the fluorite is slightly soluble in water, it is poor in durability. Further, it has poor mechanical strength. Because of these problems, the fluorite cannot easily be formed into large lenses having diameters of 100 mm or more.
For these reasons, excimer laser steppers having optical systems constituted by achromatic lenses have presently not achieved the stage of practical use.
On the other hand, in the case of the lens made of synthetic silica glass containing oxides of transition elements and rare earth elements, these additives cause ultraviolet absorption, resulting in the reduction of transmittance and the generation of fluorescence. Accordingly, these additives are not suitable for achromatic lenses for ultraviolet rays, and rather should be removed.


An edge amount detector detects an edge amount from RGB signals, and a filter processor synthesizes an output for edge enhancement with an output for smoothing at a proportion based on the detected edge amount. Another edge amount detector detects an edge amount of a black component from CMY signals, and an ink generator/undercolor remover changes an ink generation rate according to the detected edge amount.

1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and method of obtaining a high quality reproduced image for a character edge portion. More particularly, this invention relates to an image processing apparatus and method of performing a plurality of adaptive processings based on an edge amount, and being a technique suited for copiers, printers, facsimiles, or the like.
2) Description of the Related Art
There has been a conventional art such that the edge amount of an edge portion in an image input through a scanner or the like is detected to control each image processing according to the edge amount. This is intended to provide an image in which a picture pattern portion is kept smooth by putting emphasis on gradation of this portion while a character edge portion is thin and clear by putting emphasis on sharpness of this portion. Accordingly, various processings related to the sharpness of character edge are considered as controlling of each character edge portion according to the edge amount. The processings of a color image processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 includes a filtering (edge enhancement and smoothing), an ink generation/undercolor removal processing, a gamma conversion processing, and a halftoning. If a monochrome image is to be processed, all processings but the ink generation/undercolor removal processing are performed. Further, an apparatus that controls a plurality of adaptive processings according to one edge amount or a corrected edge amount obtained by being corrected according to the control target processing has been proposed in recent years.
An apparatus described, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-206756 performs adaptive processings on an edge enhancement processing and an ink generation/undercolor removal processing. An edge region is detected from a signal not subjected to an edge enhancement processing, a detected edge amount (Laplacian quantity) is converted using look-up tables (LUT) and the resultant quantity is added to a source signal, thereby realizing edge enhancement. The ink generation/undercolor removal processing is performed after the edge enhancement. In the ink generation/undercolor removal processing, the edge region detected from the signal before being subjected to edge enhancement is enlarged and the densities of respective color components in the enlarged edge region are changed. Further, the adaptive processing for the ink generation/undercolor removal processing has functions of generating an edge amount so that the portions that are enlarged outwardly (those on a background) are canceled and only the portions enlarged inwardly (those on characters) are left, and of changing the densities based on this signal. If a high rate ink generation/high rate undercolor removal processing is conducted to the outer edge which corresponds to a color base background portion of a character on a color base similarly to the character portions, a color difference tends to occur between the outer edge and the color base background portion outside of the outer edge, which is not preferable.
In the image processings shown in FIG. 1, there are processings, other than the halftoning, which inevitably or slightly intentionally control the line width of character portions on image data. These are the filtering and the gamma conversion processing. In the edge enhancement processing in the filtering, line width tends to be larger if a spatial filter that emphasizes low frequency components is used, and tends to be smaller if a spatial filter that emphasizes high frequency components is used.
Generally, it is considered that a "thin yet clear" character edge portion is preferable. However, this does not apply to a low contrast character that is low in density. The emphasis on high frequency components is not necessarily good. It is most important for the low contrast character to be visible and to be readable. In other words, it may be preferable to make the low contrast character thick.
Similar line width control can be conducted by gamma conversion. An example of controlling line width by gamma conversion is shown in FIG. 2. Gamma conversion 1 is conducted in a direction in which the line width is increased, and, in contrast, gamma conversion 2 is conducted in a direction in which the line width is decreased.
As can be seen, although the line width may possibly be changed before and after the filtering or the gamma conversion, the apparatus described in the publication controls the ink generation/undercolor removal processing as a processing conducted to a signal after being subjected to the filtering, using the edge region signal obtained from the signal before being subjected to the filtering as explained above. To be precise, the edge positions do not sometime coincide with each other.
Likewise, an apparatus described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-173916 performs processings for controlling gamma conversion and halftoning in accordance with one edge amount. The edge amount is generated from a signal before being subjected to the gamma conversion and the filtering that is prior to the gamma conversion. Actually, the line width is increased or decreased by the filtering or the gamma conversion by as small as about one dot and the increase or decrease thereof is not so explicit. However, an apparatus that has a mechanism to cancel outer edges as the apparatus described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-206756, requires high positional accuracy, and the increase or decrease of the line width is greatly influential. The significance of the positional accuracy can be easily estimated from a color deviation of each of cyan, magenta, yellow, black (CMYK) plates when a result of image processing is output from any output device such as a printer.
Further, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H3-16758, there is another apparatus that explicitly controls line width through processing. If a certain adaptive processing based on an edge amount is carried out after line width is processed, by obtaining the edge amount from a signal before being subjected to the line width processing, an edge position may be displaced in the unit of several dots. In this case, adaptive processings in a downstream stage cannot exhibit effects as desired.


The earphone (1) is adapted to be arranged in an operating position at a first ear (5) of a user (4) and, in the operating position, provide a first acoustic output signal (SO) to the first ear (5). The earphone has a first input unit (31) adapted to receive a first audio input signal (SI); a first noise cancellation signal path (37) with a first microphone (26) and a first noise cancellation filter (32), wherein the first microphone (26) is arranged to receive ambient sound (SA) from ambient space (7) with the earphone in the operating position and is adapted to provide a corresponding first reference signal (SR), and wherein the first noise cancellation filter (32) is adapted to apply a first transfer function (H) to the first reference signal (SR) to provide a first noise cancellation signal (SC).

In the prior art, earphones and headsets with active noise cancellation (ANC)—sometimes called active noise reduction (ANR)—are known that provide acoustic output signals that counteract ambient sound, such that the level of ambient sound arriving at the ear of the user is reduced.
International Patent Application WO 2014070836 A2 discloses an ANR headphone that includes an ear cup configured to couple to a wearer's ear to define an acoustic volume including the volume of air within the wearer's ear canal and a volume within the ear cup, a feed-forward microphone acoustically coupled to an external environment and electrically coupled to a feed-forward active noise cancellation signal path, a feed-backward microphone acoustically coupled to the acoustic volume and electrically coupled to a feed-backward active noise cancellation signal path, an output transducer acoustically coupled to the acoustic volume via the volume within the ear cup and electrically coupled to both the feed-forward and feed-backward active noise cancellation signal paths, and a signal processor configured to apply filters and control gains of both the feed-forward and feed-backward active noise cancellation signal paths. The signal processor is configured to apply first feed-forward filters to the feed-forward signal path and apply first feed-backward filters to the feed-backward signal path during a first operating mode providing effective cancellation of ambient sound, and to apply second feed-forward filters to the feed-forward signal path during a second operating mode providing active hear-through of ambient sounds with ambient naturalness. The signal processor may be further configured to apply second feed-backward filters different from the first feed-backward filters to the feed-backward signal path during the second operating mode. The signal processor may be further configured to apply third feedforward filters to the feed-forward signal path during a third operating mode providing active hear-through of ambient sounds with a different total response than may be provided in the second operating mode. A user input may be provided, with the signal processor configured to select between the first, second, or third feed-forward filters based on the user input. The user input may include a volume control. The signal processor may be configured to select between the second and third feed-forward filters automatically. The signal processor may be configured to select between the second and third feed-forward filters based on a time-average measurement of the level of the ambient noise. The feed-backward system may be used to automatically turn on active hear-through when it detects that the user starts speaking to provide self-naturalness of the user's voice.
A problem often encountered with ANC earphone and headsets, is that the ANC system itself may produce noise that the users may perceive as annoying in quiet environments. The above-mentioned prior art document does not address this problem, which thus still needs to be solved.
Furthermore, some users may feel isolated from their environment in the absence of ambient sound. The above-mentioned prior art document suggests keeping active hear-through enabled while listening to music to overcome this problem. This still leaves room for other solutions.
International Patent Application WO 2010/129219 A1 discloses an ANR circuit using filters whose transfer function is dynamically and continuously modified by an algorithm for analyzing the signal in real time. An external microphone placed on the casing of the headset earphones collects the ambient noises, whose level is analyzed to adjust the transfer function of the feed-backward filter. A drawback of the disclosed solution lies in that the feed-backward ANC does not adapt to the noise really perceived by the user, but to the noise existing in the external environment of the headset, which eventually may cause an increase of the noise perceived by the user. The application further discloses that the ANR circuit may reduce the degree of feedforward-based ANR that it provides in response to receiving an indication of the operation of a manually-operable control. The reduction of degree of feedforward-based ANR may be effected by turning off or otherwise deactivating the provision of feedforward-based ANR, reducing a range of frequencies of environmental noise sounds attenuated by the feedforward-based ANR to provide less attenuation of sounds detected by a feedforward microphone that are in a range of frequencies deemed to be those of human speech, and/or creating a notch in the range of frequencies of environmental noise sounds attenuated by the feedforward-based ANR to provide less attenuation of sounds detected by the feedforward microphone that are in a range of frequencies deemed to be those of human speech. The application does not address the isolation problem, neither do the disclosed measures solve it.
Patent Application US 2015 296297 A1 discloses an ANC headset with a closed-loop feed-backward branch with a feed-backward ANC filter that is switchable among a plurality of preconfigured feed-backward ANC filters, based on analysis of a signal from an internal ANC microphone. While the solution disclosed may reduce noise produced by the ANC system itself, it is, however, also relatively complex and e.g. requires the provision of a switchable equalizer. The application does not address the isolation problem.


A plastic valve comprising a valve body, integral plastic valving duct means with rigid tubular plastic end portions for attachment to flow ducts carrying liquids to be valved, and a collapsible and distensible tubular plastic valving portion welded to the tubular end portions, the valving portion have sidewalls of plastic film laminae free of each other, but welded to each other at edges to form resilient side rib portions, squeezing linkages traversing flexible wall portions and applying squeezing pressure onto the flexible wall portions to close the flow passage therebetween, tiltable squeeze bars extending along the flexible wall adjacent the squeezing linkages and progressively deforming the flexible wall portions during application of squeezing pressure, camming impeller portions applying and relieving squeezing pressure against the squeezing linkages and squeeze bars and camming against the camming surfaces of the body portion as a driving head moves the impeller portions in the valve body portion.

In chemical industries, the controlling of the flow of highly corrosive chemicals, such as various acids including hydrofluoric acid, hydrochloric acid, and similar materials, as well as highly corrosive bases such as hydrogen peroxide and similar materials, continues to be a vexing problem because leakage of such liquids out of the flow systems at the valves continues to be a substantial problem. Various plastic poppet valves have been used and weir valves have been used, using diaphragms and other all plastic parts, but prevention of leakage has not been completely accomplished. Previously known clamp valves, closing a flexible tube, have not proven reliable in completely closing the flow passage.

Plastic valve with flexible tube and tube squeezing apparatus