A probe-based surface characterization or metrology instrument such as a scanning probe microscope (SPM) or a profilometer is controlled to account for errors in the vertical positioning of its probe and errors in detecting the vertical position of its probe while scanning over relatively large lateral distances. Accounting for these errors significantly improves the measurement of vertical dimensions. These errors are accounted for by subtracting reference scan data acquired from the scanned sample from measurement scan data. The measurement scan data is obtained from an area that includes the feature of interest as well as a portion of a reference area which is preferably located near to the feature of interest and which is preferably featureless. The reference scan data is obtained from an area that includes the reference area and that preferably excludes the features of interest. Subtracting the reference such data from the measurement scan data obtains corrected measurement scan data that accounts for scanning errors and for errors in detecting the probe idiosyncrasies. In order to facilitate process automation, the features of interest can be identified automatically or semi-automatically by operating the instrument in a feature-locating mode to identify distinguishing characteristics of the features of interest such as differences in magnetic or electrical properties between the features of interest and the adjacent features. This procedure is particularly wellsuited for measuring pole tip recession in a magnetic head.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to probe-based surface characterization and metrology instruments such as scanning probe microscopes (SPMs), and more particularly to an apparatus and method for improving metrology measurements of vertical dimensions by accounting for errors inherent in the scanning action of such instruments. The invention is particularly well suited for measuring pole tip recession on magnetic reading and/or writing heads.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
The present invention is relevant to measurements of the heights of features relative to a plane or surface whose area may be large with respect to the features or which may be a relatively large distance away from the features. These measurements, which will be referred to as "vertical metrology" measurements, must be performed with high accuracy for the successful development and manufacture of many modern devices such as data storage devices and semiconductor devices which must be manufactured to exacting tolerances to meet goals for data capacity with minimum expense. Precise vertical metrology measurements are required if the manufacturer is to be assured that these exacting tolerances are being maintained.
An important example of a vertical metrology measurement is the measurement of the recession of the pole tips of a recording head of a hard disk drive. The pole tips are the portions of the sensing or read/write element of the recording head which interface magnetically with the recording medium. During operation, it is desirable to minimize the spacing between the pole tips and the magnetic layer of the hard disk, thereby maximizing the signal-to-noise ratio obtained from the read element and the areal density of the data that can be written to the disk.
This spacing is in part determined by the "flying height" of the recording head, defined as the distance between the "slider", or body, of the recording head and the hard disk during operation. The nominal flying height H.sub.NOM of the recording head is determined by the "air bearing surface" (ABS) of the slider on which the read/write element is mounted. The modern trend in hard drive design is to reduce the flying height as much as possible, thereby bringing the pole tips closer to the medium and improving performance. Flying heights have decreased over the years from 100 nm or more to a current value of about 25 nm, and are expected to drop into the sub-nanometer range in future generations.
Another factor contributing to the spacing between the pole tips and the recording medium is the "pole tip recession" (PTR). On most recording head sliders, the pole tips are positioned laterally several microns behind the ABS, toward the trailing edge of the slider. Pole tip recession (PTR) is defined as the height difference between the ABS and the exposed surface of the pole tips. The pole tips usually are recessed with respect to the ABS, which positions them further from the hard disk during operation. This leads to an effective flying height H.sub.EFF which is greater than the nominal flying height H.sub.NOM. Manufacturers are 1) seeking to minimize pole tip recession so as to keep the pole tips as close as possible to the disk, thereby optimizing performance, while 2) seeking to assure that the pole tips are in fact slightly recessed so as to prevent damage to the pole tips in the event of slider contact with the disk. Pole tip recession historically has been smaller than the nominal flying height, but is becoming more significant as flying heights shrink.
Pole tip recession occurs because the ABS and the pole tips of the read/write element wear differently during polishing and other manufacturing processes due to differences in hardness between the slider and the pole tips. The ABS typically consists of a relatively hard ceramic material (such as Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 --TiC), whereas the pole tips are made of a much softer permalloy (such as Ni--Fe) surrounded by a sputtered alumina. The soft pole tips therefore wear more than the hard ABS during polishing and other manufacturing operations, resulting in pole tip recession.
While recession of the pole tips occurs naturally during these processes, maintaining the necessary tight tolerances for PTR and other characteristics requires stringent process control. This in turn relies on obtaining precise and accurate measurements of PTR. Today's data density goals require measurements of PTR to an accuracy and repeatability of about 1 nm for development and process control. It may also be desirable to measure other characteristics of the pole tips, an example being surface roughness.
Previously, pole tip recession has been measured with optical instruments such as optical profilers or interference microscopes (interferometers). One such instrument is a 3D surface profiler manufactured by Zygo Corporation under the name "MAXIM GP." This instrument combines phase measuring interferometry and optical microscopy to generate 3D surface profiles. Incoming light is split inside the interferometer of the instrument so that one beam goes to an internal reference surface and the other to the sample. The reflected beams recombine inside the interferometer, undergo constructive and destructive interference, and produce the light and dark fringe pattern common to interferometers.
Optical instruments such as interferometers provide repeatable measurements of the heights of pole tips and other features as discussed, for example, in 1) Nadimpalli, "Pole Tip Recession: Investigation of Factors Affecting its Measurement and its Variation with Contact Start-Stop and Constant Speed Drag Testing", Transactions of the ASME, Vol. 117, October 1995 and 2) Smallen "Pole Tip Recession Measurements on Thin Film Heads Using Optical Profilometry with Phase Correction and Atomic Force Microscopy", Transactions of the ASME; Vol. 115, July 1993. However, their images suffer offsets due the differences of materials within the sample. For example, the Ni--Fe alloy of the pole tips of a typical recording head will introduce a phase shift in the optical wavefront that is different from that produced by the surrounding sputtered alumina substrate material. This phase shift difference results in a spurious offset of up to several nanometers in the apparent height of the pole tips. Similar offsets are introduced by thin coatings of substances such as synthetic diamond which are often applied to the recording head to improve wear characteristics. These offsets can be corrected mathematically or empirically to an extent, but not with the precision (on the order of 1 nanometer) demanded by manufacturers of modern recording heads. Obtaining vertical metrology measurements with the accuracy required for recording heads and other modern devices therefore is difficult using optical instruments such as interferometers.
Another disadvantage of interference microscopes and other optical instruments is that their lateral resolution is limited by the diffraction of light (typically about 500 nanometers). This resolution is not sufficient for accurate measurement of the smallest features in the latest and future generations of recording devices. For example, pole tips on recording heads are expected to reach sub-micron lateral dimensions in the near future. In addition, magneto resistive sensors used on some recording heads are so narrow (on the order of 100 nanometers wide or less) that they typically cannot be detected by interference microscopes.
SPMs recently have been used for metrology measurements on data storage devices; semiconductors, and other devices. An SPM includes a probe that is scanned in a raster pattern over a surface and that measures an interaction between the probe and the surface. This interaction is monitored to produce an image of a characteristic of the sample such as its surface topography.
An important class of SPM is the atomic force microscope (AFM) which is a type of SPM in which the probe is mounted on a flexible cantilever. Interactions between the probe and the sample influence the motion of the cantilever, and one or more parameters of this influence are measured to generate data representative of the sample's surface topography. AFMs can be operated in different modes including contact mode, TappingMode, and non-contact mode. In contact mode, the cantilever is not oscillated, and cantilever deflection is monitored as the probe tip is dragged over the sample surface. In TappingMode (Tapping and TappingMode are trademarks of Digital Instruments, Inc.), the cantilever is oscillated mechanically at or near its resonant frequency so that the probe tip repeatedly taps the sample surface, thus dissipating energy and reducing the probe tip's oscillation amplitude. The oscillation amplitude indicates proximity to the surface and may be used as a signal for feedback. U.S. patents relating to Tapping and TappingMode include 5,226,801, 5,412,980 and 5,519,212, by Elings et al., all of which hereby are incorporated by reference. In the non-contact mode, attractive interactions between the probe tip and the sample (commonly thought to be due to Van der Waals's forces) shift the cantilever resonance frequency when the probe tip is brought within a few nanometers of the sample surface. These shifts can be detected as changes in cantilever oscillation resonant frequency, phase, or amplitude, and used as a feedback signal for AFM control.
Whether in contact mode, TappingMode, or non-contact mode, feedback is typically used during AFM scanning to adjust the vertical position of the probe relative to the sample so as to keep the probe tip-sample interaction constant. A measurement of surface topography may then be obtained by monitoring a signal such as the voltage used to control the vertical position of the scanner. Alternatively, independent sensors may monitor the position of the tip during scanning to obtain a map of surface topography. Measurements can also be made without feedback by monitoring variations in the cantilever deflection as the probe moves over the surface. In this case, recording the cantilever motion while scanning results in an image of the surface topography in which the height data is quantitative.
AFMs are capable of ultra-high resolution mapping of surface topography with vertical resolutions less than an Angstrom and with lateral resolutions on the nanometer scale. The vertical resolution meets or surpasses optical techniques, while the lateral resolution far surpasses them. AFMs are used successfully in numerous applications for measuring surface micro-roughness and local feature sizes. At first blush, AFMs may appear to be well suited for pole tip recession measurements and other vertical metrology measurements. However, AFMs have difficulties obtaining vertical metrology measurements with high accuracy because of problems inherent in their operation.
One problem encountered when attempting to take vertical metrology measurements using an AFM arises from imperfections in the scanning motion or in the detection of the probe's motion during scanning. For example, AFM scanners typically use a piezoelectric material formed into a tube geometry with patterned electrodes to provide lateral (XY) scanning motion as well as vertical (Z) motion. As the probe tip is moved to effect a scanning operation, the scanner approximates a "pendulum" motion so that the probe tip is lifted slightly from the sample surface as it moves away from the point of scan origin. The AFM attempts to compensate for this tip lift by controlling voltages to the actuator to extend the probe towards the sample so that the tip tracks the surface. As a result of this pendulum motion and resultant feedback compensation, images of flat surfaces appear curved or "bowed." A typical magnitude of this "bowing" effect is on the order of ten nanometers vertical excursion for a fifty-micron lateral scanning motion. A similar effect may also be caused by coupling of X and Y with some Z motion due to imperfections in the piezo or other actuators. This curvature precludes the precise determination of a useful reference plane or surface, and accurate metrology measurements of very small vertical dimensions such as pole tip recession are therefore very difficult.
Other problems may be encountered when attempting vertical metrology measurements using an AFM. For instance, the piezoelectric material commonly used as the actuator for the AFM scanner typically exhibits hysteresis in its motion. The hysteresis produces a difference in the scan data between probe tip movement in one direction (e.g., left to right) in the raster scan vs. the opposite direction (right to left). Imprecision in the detection of the cantilever motion may also lead to errors in scanning. Scanners can also "age", i.e., their characteristics, including bow and hysteretic effects, can change significantly with time. These factors can also preclude accurate vertical metrology measurements. Furthermore, the repeatability of the measurements may be compromised because hysteresis and aging cause them to change with time, sample tilt, and other factors, making pre-calibration difficult at the level of accuracy needed.
Conventional techniques used to remove instrumental error typically are not successful in removing the AFM scanner errors and detection idiosyncrasies like those described above. One such conventional technique involves modeling the instrumental error as a simple mathematical function. For example, one can compute the best fit of the scan data to a theoretical surface defined by a polynomial or other simple function. Subtracting this theoretical surface from the scanning data then removes part of the scanning error. In the case of an AFM, however, the bow, hysteresis, and detection errors often are not accurately described by simple mathematical functions. Furthermore, the fitting step can be compromised by features that deviate from a smooth surface, perhaps the very features requiring measurement. Fitting and subtraction therefore do not lead to improvements in accuracy sufficient for many applications (such as measuring pole tip recession) which require an accuracy on the order of 1 mn.
Another type of attempt to correct for instrumental error uses reference subtraction. In this technique, a reference scan is made of a standard sample. A likely reference sample candidate would be one having a flat surface such as that of a cleaved or polished silicon wafer. This scan then is subtracted from all data scans of subsequent samples. See U.S. Pat. No. 5,283,630 by Yoshizumi. This technique is commonly also used with interferometers to correct for optical imperfections. In the case of the AFM, however, hysteresis leads to scanner idiosyncrasies that depend on overall sample tilt which may vary significantly from sample to sample. These errors therefore will vary from a reference sample to a new sample and from scan-to-scan. Hence, a "standard sample" does not exist, and it is not possible to remove scanning errors using standard reference subtraction.
These issues can also apply to probe-based instruments other than SPMs, which are used for surface characterization, or other forms of metrology. For example, stylus profilometers have been used to measure characteristics of recording heads and other devices. Profilometers measure surface features by scanning a stylus over a sample surface. However, profilometers typically do not use feedback for scanning, and the profilometer stylus is not as sharp as an AFM probe. As a result, profilometers typically have a resolution inferior to SPMs, a greater noise floor, and a greater force of tip-sample interaction. Profilometers have nonetheless found many uses in the manufacture of devices such as recording heads.
Profilometer data can suffer many of the same idiosyncrasies as those of SPMs discussed above. In particular, profilometer data of a flat surface can appear curved, and vertical metrology measurements such as that of PTR can be compromised. As with SPM, conventional correction techniques can fail to correct adequately for these idiosyncrasies. For this reason, the Objects, Embodiments, and Claims of this patent should be understood to apply to profilometers, and other relevant probe-based surface characterization and metrology instruments, as well as to SPMs.
Assuming an instrument such as an SPM can be made to produce adequate data for PTR or other vertical metrology measurements, an additional need of manufacturers is the automation of these measurements. Automation increases measurement throughput and minimizes operator intervention, both important considerations for high-volume production.
A number of factors must be considered for automation of SPM measurements of pole tip recession or similar vertical metrology measurements. For example, the SPM must be engaged in a precise location relative to features of interest such as pole tips. Furthermore, once the SPM data is acquired, the actual measurement results must be determined. For example, the pole tip recession can be measured from the SPM data by 1) placing cursors or masks on the image so as to encompass the pole tips, and then 2) determining the average height or other mathematical characteristics of those areas from the image data. This process requires that the pole tips be identified and that their positions relative to the scan boundaries be determined precisely, thus allowing them to be measured without operator intervention.
SPMs have evolved to include automation functions that address these automation issues. A notable example is pattern recognition, an image analysis capability that allows features of interest to be automatically located within an optical image of a sample surface or within SPM data. Pattern recognition often uses a correlation analysis to "find" features by comparing them to a previously taught model. Success typically requires unambiguous feature shapes as well as clear contrast.
Pattern recognition can be used to automate the acquisition of SPM data. Many SPMs include an optical microscope integrated with the SPM, which can thereby produce an image of the sample, and this image can be digitized. Because the material comprising the pole tips of a recording head is highly reflective, the pole tips are distinct in such an optical image. Pattern recognition can be used in conjunction with the optical image to help position the sample relative to the tip so that subsequent SPM data scan encompass features of interest. For example, prior to engaging the SPM, pattern recognition can be used in conjunction with the optical image to determine the position of the pole tips. This position can vary from sample to sample due to variations in recording head dimensions or errors in positioning the sample on the SPM stage. In response to the pattern recognition output, the stage can adjust the position of the recording head so that the SPM engages in a precise location relative to the pole tips. The scan data will then encompass the pole tips and other regions of the recording head as needed.
Another way pattern recognition can be used to automate vertical metrology is in the measurements taken on the scan data once it is acquired. In the case of PTR, pattern recognition could, in principle, locate features of interest such as pole tips within the AFM image data. Due to slight errors in sample positioning before scanning, the positions of the pole tips within the data image can shift slightly from scan to scan. Small errors of this kind can occur even when fine positioning of the sample is performed prior to scanning as discussed above. Pattern recognition could account for these shifts, and allow cursors or masks to be placed on the pole tip regions and so allow the measurement to be taken automatically. Knowledge of location of features within a data scan can also be used is to adjust the sample position so that subsequent SPM data scans are positioned accurately on the sample.
In practice, however, using pattern recognition to locate the position of the pole tips within AFM scan data is difficult. This is because the pole tip recession may be very small, resulting in weak image contrast which prevents the pole tips from appearing distinctly within the AFM image. Surface roughness, polishing scratches, and lapping debris on the recording head can further obscure the pole tips. As a result, pattern recognition has difficulty identifying and locating the pole tips within the AFM scan, and fully automated PTR measurements are difficult using AFM data alone.

Method and apparatus for obtaining improved vertical metrology measurements


The present invention relates to methods for interacting with virtual objects comprising placing an flat image of an augmented reality object in the field of view of the video camera of the device for creating and viewing virtual objects of augmented reality, determining colors and recognizing patterns on the images received from the video camera device to create and view objects of augmented reality. Coloring the augmented reality object in accordance with the colors defined on the painted image obtained from camera devices. A correspondence is established between the patterns and colors of the painted image and actions of the augmented reality objects, depending on the color, color combination, pattern or colored pattern in the images obtained from the video camera of the device for creating and viewing the augmented reality objects.

Currently, an increasing number of people use various electronic devices and interacting with virtual objects. This happens not only in games but also in the learning process, as well as, for example, when a remote trade of goods, a buyer decides to purchase using a virtual model of the goods. In this case, the most promising direction of development is the creation of augmented reality—that is, the combination of a virtual or augmented reality virtual objects along with a real image obtained in real time from the video camera of the device shown on the display of computer device or a smartphone.
In addition to simply observing the objects of augmented reality, there is a need to interact with them, that is, using various means to send control signals, which lead to the object of the augmented reality reacting to the effect.
There is a known method of influencing the virtual augmented reality objects, wherein the object of augmented reality is painted in colors corresponding to the colors of a painted plane image corresponding to said object of augmented reality. For example, a student takes a sheet of paper with an image of an animal, paints it in color. And then watching colored drawing through a smartphone or augmented reality glasses, while he sees a three-dimensional image of the same animal, painted in exactly the colors that he used to paint the image.
There is a There is known method of influencing virtual objects of augmented reality, wherein:                An unpainted image of an object of augmented reality is located in the field of view of a video camera of device for creating and viewing virtual objects of augmented reality,        the unpainted flat image of the object of augmented reality is painted,        colors used to color the flat image of the object of augmented reality are determined by means of the device for creating and viewing objects of augmented reality from images taken from video camera of the device for creating and viewing objects of augmented reality,        the object of augmented reality is colored in the colors corresponding to the colors determined from the painted image received from the camera of the device means for creating and viewing objects of augmented reality.
This state of the art disclosed in the publication of Oct. 3, 2015 in the article "Augmented reality for the conversion of colorings in a three-dimensional experience," is available at:                https://i-look.net/programs/augmented-reality-for-making-coloring-3d-experience.html
This method is the closest in technical essence and attainable technical result and selected as a prototype of the invention.
The disadvantage of this prototype is that it is impossible to control the actions or movements of the object of augmented reality, depending on the color, color combination and/or patterns in which the corresponding flat image of this object is painted. Indeed, for any variant of painting an object of augmented reality identical and differ only in their color, action or movement of such an object does not change.

Method for influencing virtual objects of augmented reality


The assembly applies an apex filler to the outer circumferential surface of an annular bead ring. The apex filler applying assembly incorporates an apex filler applicator that is preferably operable in conjunction with a plurality of server mechanisms. One server mechanism is a conveyor that receives a bead ring. A locator operates in conjunction with the conveyor to position the annular bead ring precisely on the conveyor so that it may be engaged by a transfer mechanism. The transfer mechanism removes the bead ring from the conveyor and mounts it on a chuck turret assembly. A chuck head in the chuck turret assembly engages the bead ring and accurately positions the bead ring relative to applying rollers in the apex filler applicator, in which position the apex filler--which has been directed from an extruder through an orienting mechanism, into an in-feed mechanism and severed to length by an in-flight guillotine cutter--is applied to the annular bead ring. After the apex filler has been applied to the bead ring the transfer mechanism removes the finished tire bead sub-assembly from the chuck head and deposits the tire bead sub-assembly on the conveyor for removal from the assembly.

The unique apex filler applying apparatus to which the present invention is directed is an improvement over the apparatus disclosed in prior U.S. Pat. No. 5,100,497 which is owned, of record, by the Assignee of the present invention. The apparatus disclosed and claimed in said prior art patent operates quite effectively to apply apex fillers of limited aspect ratios--i.e.: for applying apex fillers having a radial dimension of up to approximately three-quarters (3/4) of an inch with a base width on the order of about one quarter (1/4) of an inch to constitute an aspect ratio on the order of approximately 3:1. The prior art apparatus, however, is incapable of applying apex fillers of any significantly greater aspect ratio than the aforementioned 3:1 ratio without causing the undesirable scalloping, curling or cupping of the apex filler in the completed tire bead sub-assembly.
As will become apparent, the aspect ratio desired for current apex fillers adapted for use in low profile tires will likely fall within the range of from about eight to one (8:1) to as much as sixteen to one (16:1). The prior art mechanisms for creating combined bead ring and apex filler assemblies--as exemplified by the apparatus disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,100,497--simply can not create such assemblies with an apex filler having aspect ratios of such increased magnitude. To better understand the configuration of apex fillers having aspect ratios of relatively higher magnitude, a typical apex filler having about a three and one-third (31/3) inch radial dimension and a base width of on the order of one quarter (1/4) inch constitutes an aspect ratio of on the order of approximately thirteen to one (3:1). With the width of the apex filler falling in the range of from a little less than to a little more than approximately one quarter (1/4) inch and with the radial dimensions of the apex filler falling within the range of from about three (3) inches to as much as about five (5) inches, the aspect ratios are considerably more significant than are encountered with prior art configurations.
In order more clearly to comprehend the historic, and current, function of apex fillers it should be understood that a tire has two, laterally spaced bead portions which define the innermost diameter thereof. Each bead portion incorporates an annular, metallic, bead ring assembly which provides hoop strength and structural integrity to the bead--i.e.: the rim-engaging structure of the tire. Normally, each tire bead sub-assembly also includes an apex filler in addition to the metallic bead ring, because the combination assures a smooth transitional juncture between each bead portion and the adjacent sidewall portion of the tire.
While low profile tires are deemed to enhance the aesthetic appearance of the vehicle on which they are mounted, operation of a vehicle having low profile tires at high speeds may reduce the lateral stability of the vehicle. Specifically, if the design of the low profile tire incorporates a reduction in the rubberized material forming the sidewall of the tire, cornering the vehicle at high speeds is adversely affected by the minimization of the rubberized material in the sidewall. The application of additional plies within at least the side wall will enhance the lateral stability of the tire, not only at excessive cost but also by providing an unnecessary addition to the thickness of the tire beneath the tread portion.
The lateral stability of the tire sidewall has been found to have been satisfactorily increased to permit operation at high speeds merely by extending the apex filler further into, and in some situations to about the shoulder of, the tire sidewall. However, current vehicular tire design utilizes the apex filler to do more than provide for a smooth transitional juncture between each bead portion and the adjacent sidewall of the tire. In addition, apex fillers are currently employed as performance-tuning members. That is, they serve to increase cornering stability and to dampen harmonics inherent in the vehicular undercarriage on which the tires are mounted. Although this is a relatively easy fix for the tire designer, current apparatus for applying an apex filler of the desired size to the bead ring simply won't produce an acceptable combination of bead ring and apex filler--i.e.: a tire bead sub-assembly.
To facilitate the manufacture of the tire, the annular bead ring and the apex filler are generally provided as a composite tire bead sub-assembly about which the plies of the tire may be wrapped. The aforesaid U.S. Pat. No. 5,100,497 significantly advanced the technology of applying an apex filler to an annular bead ring.
The advancement achieved by U.S. Pat. No. 5,100,497 is best understood by recognizing the two primary manufacturing techniques that antedated that patent. One such historic prior art method of fabricating the tire bead sub-assembly applied a flat strip of elastomeric material along the inner circumference of a rubber-coated, annular, bead ring and then encapsulated the bead ring by wrapping the strip radially outwardly about the bead ring. That portion of the strip which extended radially outwardly from the bead ring constituted the apex filler. This method was fraught with difficulties, particularly in splicing the abutting ends of the wrapped strip. When the elastomeric strip was so wrapped to encapsulate the bead ring, the outer circumference of the material had to be stretched to accommodate the difference between the circumferential dimension of the bead ring and the circumferential dimension at the radially outer periphery of the elastomeric strip. This stretching induced stresses which produced warpage in the form of dishing, cupping or scalloping along the radially outer portion of the resulting apex filler. This warpage was not constant from filler to filler, and it therefore increased the difficulty of maintaining quality control between successive tires employing bead assemblies made by this method.
Another historic method of manufacturing a tire bead sub-assembly applied an apex filler strip to a rotating bead ring until the starting point of the apex filler strip was adjacent the point at which the apex filler strip was first applied to the bead ring--approximately one revolution--at which time the apex filler strip was severed. The partially combined bead ring and apex filler assembly was then moved to a second processing station where a gripping and stretching apparatus engaged the apex filler to close the ends and complete the tire bead sub-assembly. This also resulted in stretching the radially outer circumference of the apex filler strip more than that portion of the filler strip which had been joined with the bead ring. This stretching causes the same distortion problems inherent to, and as described in conjunction with, the previously discussed prior art methods.

Method for applying an apex filler to a bead ring


A method for manufacturing an optical waveguide of the present invention is one in which a mask is provided on the surface of a core layer followed by performing dry etching, and the dry etching step includes etching and ashing steps. With this, the irregularities formed on the periphery of a core pattern during manufacture of an optical waveguide can be eliminated, and an optical waveguide with a low optical transmission loss is proved.

As quartz glass based material is used in the core layer of conventional optical waveguides, physical properties of the core layer such as the refractive index and coefficient of thermal expansion are roughly determined by the physical properties of quartz glass. In recent years, there is sometimes a request for changing the physical properties of the core layer. For this reason, proposals have been made to form optical waveguides by using multi-component glass containing such elements as alkaline elements, alkaline earth elements, or rare earth elements. When forming a core layer of an optical waveguide with multi-component glass, physical properties of the glass such as refractive index, thermal expansion coefficient, or glass transition temperature can be freely designed over a wider range by properly changing the glass composition. As a practical method, a core layer is formed on a first clad layer by using glass containing alkaline elements, then the core layer is processed by dry-etching, followed by formation of a second clad.
A problem encountered with the core layer formed with the above-mentioned multi-component glass is that the optical transmission loss of the optical waveguide tends to be large. To be more specific, when making a core pattern from a core layer formed with a conventional multi-component glass, dry etching is performed with a mask or a resist pattern provided over the core layer. During this process, large irregularities are formed on the periphery of the core pattern that has been formed, and the irregularities cause an increase in the optical transmission loss of the optical waveguide.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A method, non-transitory computer readable medium and data management computing apparatus comprising searching across a plurality of different heterogeneous data indexes based on portions of one or more search keywords in response to a received request. A result set for each of the plurality of different heterogeneous data indexes is obtained based on the searching. Further, one or more facets to each of the obtained results sets are added. Furthermore, a plurality of visualization techniques are automatically identified for each of the obtained results sets based on the facets in each of the obtained result sets and a model entity type associated with each of the plurality of different heterogeneous data indexes. Finally, each of the obtained results sets with the added facets and the identified one of the plurality of visualization techniques is provided.

The connected world, also referred to as the internet of things, is growing quickly. Analysts have estimated that along with the continued growth of humans using the Internet, the number of connected devices and systems will rise from five billion to one trillion in the next ten years. However, the traditional ways to manage and communicate with these systems has not changed. In other words, all the information from these systems is not accessible or is not able to be correlated in a way that helps people or businesses do their jobs better and more efficiently, find information they are looking for in the proper context, or make this data consumable in a meaningful way. In addition, user expectations for interacting with systems have changed and more consistent ways to share dynamic information in this environment have not been found.
Existing technologies handle the rising amount of data using enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, portals and related technologies, traditional business intelligence systems and manufacturing intelligence systems. However, these existing technologies do not provide the required data in real time and also restrict the type and amounts of data that can be accessed by the users. Additionally, existing technologies fail to provide an interactive system to solve a problem or to search information relating to a specific domain. Further, the existing technologies do not provide any analytical solution of the data available across different servers within an organization and are not compatible with third party database servers.

Methods for integrating semantic search, query, and analysis across heterogeneous data types and devices thereof


A method includes preferentially placing fill regions adjacent to transistors of a particular conductivity type, such as p-channel transistors, for a plurality of standard cell instances of a device design. The method also includes evaluating all transistors of the first conductivity type prior to evaluating any transistors of a second conductivity type. The second conductivity type is opposite the first conductivity type. For each transistor being evaluated, it is determined whether a criterion is me. A fill region is placed within a field isolation region adjacent to the transistor if the criterion is met.

Modern integrated circuit devices can include large numbers of transistors. Consequently, design engineers typically make use of design automation tools and associated techniques to increase their design productivity. For example, an integrated circuit data processing device can be implemented using logic components known as standard cells that the designer selects from a predefined standard cell library. Automated standard cell placement and signal routing tools can be used to assemble a device design that can include a virtual representation of the physical integrated circuit data processing device by instantiating and interconnecting symbolic representations of the standard cell circuitry at a computer-aided design (CAD) system. The CAD system can include automated processes to verify and improve performance and manufacturability of the integrated circuit data processing device. The virtual representation of the device can be designed and evaluated using the CAD system, and can then be used to manufacture the integrated circuit data processing device.

Integrated circuit device with reduced leakage and method therefor


In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method of analyzing an extensible markup language (XML) file, generating structural information for the XML file, and incorporating the structural information into the XML file. The structural information may correspond to a hierarchy of the file and may further include size information corresponding to elements of the file. In such manner, the structural information may be transmitted with the XML file and used to aid a receiver of the file in parsing. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

The present invention relates to communication of data between devices, and more particularly to communication of such data via a network.
Extensible Markup Language (XML) has become the de facto standard for flexible information exchange (storage and communication) over the Internet. For instance, XML is commonly used as a message format in distributed systems. Typically, in order to process an XML message, it is converted to an intermediate representation such as a document object model (DOM) tree. For further manipulation of this data, this tree is modified using standard tree traversal algorithms. Once the modifications are complete, the tree is converted (streamed) back into XML and propagated to another system over a network as an XML message. Such communications, which are prevalent in electronic commerce (e-commerce) applications, provide the ability for various entities to manipulate data within an XML document and provide the manipulated document back to its source.
For example, a consumer may access an on-line catalog to select one or more items for purchase. To complete an order, the consumer provides his or her address information, credit card information and the like, by inserting data into a browser screen. This data may accordingly modify the underlying XML document. This modified version of the document, which contains the customer's information, is then provided to the e-commerce retailer (e-tailer).
The e-tailer may then parse the modified document to obtain and utilize the data, including the address information, credit card information, ordering information, and the like. However, the parsing process can be quite computationally intensive. Accordingly, a need exists to improve handling of XML documents.

Incorporating structural information into an extensible markup language document


A nuclear detection device, especially a gamma-camera type device which features deconvolution filters. In a gamma-camera variant, the device includes digital filters for deconvoluting electric measuring signals. A transfer function of these filters is opposite that of a circuit having formed the electric signals. It is then possible to separate any pulses which would overlap. Such a system finds particular application in nuclear physics and in particular in the medical field.

Although the invention is not merely limited to gamma-cameras, this latter type of device shall be described as an example for disclosing the state of the prior art and its drawbacks. The American patent U.S. Pat. No. 3,011,057 issued to H. O. ANGER describes the general structure and functioning of this type of device.
A gamma-camera generally includes a collimator for limiting the angle of incidence of the gamma photons emitted by the organ, a scintillator crystal for transforming the gamma photons into luminous photons, a set of photomultiplier tubes for transforming the luminous photons into electric pulses, and electronic means to transform these electric pulses into signals with the coordinates X and Y.
A gamma-camera also includes a display unit, generally with a cathodic oscilloscope, controlled by the signals with the coordinates X and Y. Thus unit displays the impact point of the gamma photon on the crystal. It may possibly comprise a photographic device so as to form an image of the organ observed by integrating a large number of luminous points. In addition, it may include a device for digitally processing the images. In particular, the image digital processing device may be used to reconstruct images of sections of the organ examined so as to produce tomographies of these organs. In this latter case, image reconstruction algorithms identical to those used in tomodensitometry are used.
By way of example, the accompanying FIG. 1 shows a gamma-camera, such as the one described in the document FR-A-2 615 961.
The gamma photons (.gamma.) to be detected and localized are emitted by an organ 1. The actual camera includes:
a collimator 2 exposed to gamma radiation, PA1 a film 3 of a scintillator material able to receive the collimated gamma radiation and, by scintillation, produce a luminous radiation 1, PA1 a set of photomultiplier tubes 6 disposed opposed the scintillator, each tube delivering a pulse-shaped electric signal in response to the luminous radiation it has received, PA1 integrators 10 of the pulse signals, these integrators delivering the weighted signals X+, X-, Y+ and Y-, PA1 a good counting percentage response, that is a capacity to process a large number of events per unit of time, PA1 an image quality independent of the energy of the gamma radiation emitted by the isotrope in question.
sets of weighting resistors 7 receiving the electric signals delivered by the photomultiplier tubes 6 and delivering four similar electric signals x+, x-, y+ and y- known as "weighted pulses", the two signals x+ and x- expressing the position of scintillation with respect to a first axis X, and the two signals y+ and y- expressing this position with respect to a second axis y,
circuits 8 for transmitting the similar signals x+, x-, y+ and y- and including, for example, a variable gain amplifier, a delay line and a basic potential restoration signal,
calculation means 20 able to calculate from the weighted signals the coordinates X and Y of a display point corresponding to the scintillation point (s) on the scintillator material; for example, in accordance with the document U.S. Pat. No. 4,672,542, the means 20 calculate the quatities ##EQU1##
a displayer 22 including, for example, a cathodic ray oscilloscope and its horizontal and vertical deviation plates.
The gamma camera shown also includes a circuit 19 connected to the set of weighting resistors and which delivers a signal e reflecting the total energy of the luminous radiation pulse (and no longer the position of this radiation). After passage in an integrator 27, a signal E is obtained reflecting the integrated energy. A threshold comparator 28 delivers a validation signal V used to control the calculation means 20.
it is also possible to extract from the circuit 19 an integration authorization signal I applied to the integrators 10 when the detected energy falls into a required band.
Apart from other factors, a gamma camera shall have:
good spatial resolution, that is a capacity to distinguish small nearby sources,
The spatial resolution depends on the calculation accuracy of the coordinates X and Y. This accuracy in turn depends essentially on physical laws governing the functioning of the various means of the gamma camera. Thus, the interaction of a gamma photon with the scintillator crystal gives rise to a scintillation whose intensity exponentially decreases in accordance with the time involved. The time constant of this decrease is characteristic of the crystal used. For a sodium iodide crystal activated with thallium (NaI, Tl), it is about 300 nanoseconds. This scintillation is simultaneously viewed by several photomultiplier tubes. At a given energy of the incident gamma photon, the number of luminous photons comprising the scintillation obeys the POISSON statistical low. The luminous photons pull up photoelectrons from the photocathodes of the photomultiplier tubes. Also, for a given scintillation, the number of photoelectrons pulled up obeys the POISSON statistical law. The electric contribution of a photomultiplier tube thus follows a POISSON statistical distribution. The mean value of this amplitude depends on the energy of the incident luminous photons.
The determination of the location of the scintillation (representative of the emission site of the gamma photon in the organ observed) is obtained by calculating the center of gravity of the electric contributions delivered by the set of photomultiplier tubes.
For a given scintillation, the most difficult problem to resolve consists of determining as precisely as possible the integral of the center of cavity of the electric contributions over a period of about three times the scintillation decrease time constant. The period of integration depends on the time constant of the crystal. The accuracy of the measurement is tainted with errors due to POISSON statistical fluctuation. In fact, according to the POISSON statistics, the standard deviation of fluctuation of the amplitude of the contributions is inversely proportional to the square root of the number of pulled up photoelectrons. Thus, the longer integration is, that is up to three times the scintillation decrease time constant, the larger is the number of photoelectrons taken into account, the lower is the standard deviation and thus more accurate is any evaluation of the mean value of this contribution.
It shall be observed that the period of integration is directly linked to the quality of the spatial resolution of the gamma camera and that this quality is obtained to the detriment of the counting percentage, that is to the detriment of the number of events taken into account per second.
In many gamma cameras, the integration of signals is embodied similarly, as shown on FIG. 1. When several gamma photons are received during the integration period, they are "stacked", in other words the electric pulses corresponding to them are superimposed, which adversely affects the spatial resolution of the camera. Thus, it is necessary to reject the stacked or superimposed pulses.
A certain number of solutions have been put forward to reject these stacked pulses.
The document U.S. Pat. No. 4,629,895 describes a device comprising, in addition to circuits used to localize scintillations, validation circuits for taking into account scintillations whose amplitude is situated within a predetermined range and which are not followed during the integration period by another scintillation, possibly produced at another location of the crystal, and whose intervention would risk falsifying the localization calculation.
The document U.S. Pat. No. 4,882,680 describes a device for rejecting stacked pulses when the integral of the energy exceeds a certain threshold indicating that a stacking has occured during the integration period.
Other devices use various artifices to subtract any extrapolated or simulated pulse "drags", as described in the documents U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,618,775 and 4,612,443, for example.
It is also possible to use a device for sectioning signals, as described in the document U.S. Pat. No. 4,455,616.
Finally, certain devices use dead time correction circuits, as described in the documents U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,198,986, 4,369,495 and 4,549,866, for example.
However, none of these solutions are satisfactory as they either reject signals and thus degrade the counting percentage performance or subtract any theoretical or extrapolated "drags" or truncate the pulses and then result in degrading spatial resolution.

Nuclear detection device especially a gamma-camera type device, with deconvolution filters having an inverse transfer function


The present application provides data transmitting and receiving methods in a narrow-band communication system, a two-way radio and a storage medium. The general idea of the present application is as follows: the two-way radio at the transmitting end firstly transmits a pilot signal, which activates the two-way radio at the receiving end into an operating state; the two-way radio at the transmitting end, after transmitting the pilot signal, transmits data to be transmitted to the two-way radio at the receiving end; the two-way radio at the receiving end, according to the pilot signal, switches the two-way radio at the receiving end into the operating state, and in its operating state receives data transmitted by the two-way radio at the transmitting end. This ensures that the two-way radio at the receiving end may receive data from the two-way radio at the transmitting end in real time, thereby improving the accuracy of data transmitted by the two-way radio at the transmitting end.

Data communication between two-way radios is realized by modulating two different frequency signals representing 1 and 0 in an analog channel for the two-way radio. Data transmission for a two-way radio over an analog channel has some advantages, for example, it is easier to implement, it has better anti-noise and anti-attenuation performances, and it is also widely applicable to medium-speed and low-speed data transmission.
Currently, two-way radios, when transmitting data over analog channels, shall conform to the requirements as stipulated FCC (Federal Communications Commission) standard. For low-power civil two-way radios, such as GMRS and FRS types, FCC Part 95 stipulates that a data transmission duration may not be greater than 1 s, i.e. a data transmission duration each time is up to 1 s. However, in practical applications, two-way radios usually employ a power-saving mechanism to save power. The mechanism is realized as follows: when a two-way radio is in a standby state (i.e. the two-way radio is not operated by a user, and in the meantime the channel does not receive a valid signal), it operates for a period of time and sleeps for a period of time, for example, 100 ms for operation and 600 ms for sleeping. Assuming that a two-way radio at a transmitting end transmits data for 1 s, at the moment data is transferred to a two-way radio at a receiving end, the two-way radio at the receiving end is most probably in a sleeping state. Under the circumstances, it will lead to data reception failure for the two-way radio at the receiving end or partial data lost. As a result, it may not guarantee the accuracy of data received by the two-way radio at the receiving end, and in the meantime may affect data volume transmitted.

Data transmitting and receiving methods in a narrow-band communication system, two-way radio and storage medium


An apparatus in one example comprises a plurality of levers that convert a lesser input force to a greater output force for support of a heatsink component coupled with an electronic component.

Electrical components in one design of an electronic device generate heat during operation. Heatsinks of the electronic device serve to draw the heat away from the electronic components for dissipation into the environment. Coupling devices connect the heatsink to the electronic components to allow for movement and vibration of the electronic device without separation of the heatsink from the electronic components. For example, the coupling devices comprise screws, wireform clips, and/or simple springs.

Levers for support of heatsink component

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


Methods and apparatus are described for estimating a path-loss difference between uplink and downlink communications at a first node communicating with a second node in a communication system. A quantity of access request preambles transmitted by the first node to the second node before an acknowledgement from the second node of successful receipt of a preamble is received at the first node is determined. A difference between an uplink path-loss attributed to communications from the first node to the second node and a downlink path-loss attributed to communications to the first node from the second node is estimated based on the transmitted preamble quantity determination. Once the path-loss difference is estimated, the estimate can be used for many purposes, such as to determine a transmission power of the first node.

The invention relates to communication systems. More particularly, the invention relates to estimating a path-loss in a communication system.
Digital communication systems include time-division multiple access (TDMA) systems, such as cellular radio telephone systems that comply with the GSM telecommunication standard and its enhancements like GSM/EDGE, and code-division multiple access (CDMA) systems, such as cellular radio telephone systems that comply with the IS-95, cdma2000, and WCDMA telecommunication standards. Digital communication systems also include "blended" TDMA and CDMA systems, such as cellular radio telephone systems that comply with the universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) standard, which specifies a third generation (3G) mobile system being developed by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) within the International Telecommunication Union's (ITU's) IMT-2000 framework. The Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) promulgates the UMTS standard. This application focuses on WCDMA systems for simplicity, but it will be understood that the principles described in this application can be implemented in other digital communication systems.
WCDMA is based on direct-sequence spread-spectrum techniques. Two different codes are used for separating base stations and physical channels in the downlink (base-to-terminal) direction. Scrambling codes are pseudo-noise (pn) sequences that are mainly used for separating the base stations or cells from each other. Channelization codes are orthogonal sequences that are used for separating different physical channels (terminals or users) in each cell or under each scrambling code. Since all users share the same radio resource in CDMA systems, it is important that each physical channel does not use more power than necessary. This is achieved by a transmit power control mechanism in which the terminal estimates the signal-to-interference ratio (SIR) for its dedicated physical channel (DPCH), compares the estimated SIR against a reference value, and informs the base station to adjust the base station's transmitted DPCH power to an appropriate level. WCDMA terminology is used here, but it will be appreciated that other systems have corresponding terminology.
FIG. 1 depicts a communication system, such as a WCDMA system, that includes a base station (BS) 100 handling connections with four UEs 1, 2, 3, 4 that each uses downlink (i.e., base-to-UE or forward) and uplink (i.e., UE-to-base or reverse) channels. In the downlink, BS 100 transmits to each UE at a respective power level, and the signals transmitted by BS 100 are spread using orthogonal code words. In the uplink, UE 1-UE 4 transmit to BS 100 at respective power levels. Although not shown, BS 100 also communicates with a radio network controller (RNC), which in turn communicates with a public switched telephone network (PSTN).
The signals transmitted in the exemplary WCDMA system depicted in FIG. 1 can be formed as follows. An information data stream to be transmitted is first multiplied with a channelization code and then the result is multiplied with a scrambling code. The multiplications are usually carried out by exclusive-OR operations, and the information data stream and the scrambling code can have the same or different bit rates. Each information data stream or channel is allocated a unique channelization code, and multiple coded information signals simultaneously modulate a radio-frequency carrier signal. At a UE (or other receiver), the modulated carrier signal is processed to produce an estimate of the original information data stream intended for the receiver. This process is known as demodulation.
Good transmit power control methods are important for WCDMA (and other) communication systems having many transmitters that transmit simultaneously to minimize the mutual interference of such transmitters while assuring high system capacity. Depending upon the system characteristics, power control in such systems can be important for transmission in the uplink, the downlink, or both. To achieve reliable reception of a signal at each UE, the SIR of the received signal should exceed a prescribed threshold for each UE. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, consider the case in which the UEs receive, respectively, four signals on a common WCDMA communication channel. Each of the signals has a corresponding energy level associated with it, namely energy levels E1, E2, E3, and E4, respectively. Also present on the communication channel is a certain level of noise (N). For a given UE 1 to properly receive its intended signal, the ratio between E1 and the aggregate levels of E2, E3, E4, and N must be above the given UE's prescribed threshold SIR.
To improve the SIR of a received signal, the power of the transmitted signal may be increased, depending on the SIR measured at the receiver. Power, however, is an important resource in a WCDMA system. Since different channels are transmitting simultaneously at the same frequency, it is important to keep transmit power levels as low as possible while still maintaining an acceptable error rate to reduce the mutual interference between transmitters.
A UE accesses a base station using the random access procedure using a random access channel (RACH). A RACH is an uplink transport channel characterized by a collision risk and by being transmitted using open loop power control. The RACH procedure and channel is described in the 3rd Generation Partnership project (3GPP) technical specifications 25.211 and 25.214. RACHs are always mapped one-to-one onto physical channels (PRACHs), i.e. there is no physical layer multiplexing of RACHs, and there can only be one RACH Transport Channel (TrCH) and no other TrCH in a RACH Composite Coded Transport Channel (CCTrCH). Service multiplexing is handled by the MAC layer.
Random access transmission is based on a slotted-ALOHA approach with fast acquisition indication combined with power ramping. The RACH transmission consists of two parts, namely preamble transmission and message part transmission. The preamble part is 4096 chips (roughly 1 ms) long (256 repetitions of a signature of length 16 chips) and fits into one access slot. The message part is 10 or 20 ms long and is used either for uplink signaling or for transfer of short user packets in the uplink direction. The RACH message part radio frame is split into 15 slots, each of length 2560 chips. Each slot consists of two parts, a data part to which the RACH transport channel is mapped and a control part that carries Layer 1 control information. The data and control parts are transmitted in parallel. A 10 ms message part includes one message part radio frame, while a 20 ms message part includes two consecutive 10 ms message part radio frames.
A UE accesses a base station using an available RACH by transmitting a series of access request preambles with increasing power levels, until the base station detects the access request. That is, the UE attempts to access the base station receiver by using a "power ramping" process that increases the power level of each successive transmitted preamble symbol, as shown in FIG. 2. Referring to FIG. 2, the UE transmits (and re-transmits) the access request preambles with increasing power levels until the base station acknowledges (ACK) that it has received the preamble or a denial of service reply (NACK) is received ("no reply" denotes no message transmitted). As soon as an access request preamble is detected, the base station activates a closed loop power control circuit, which functions to control the UE's transmitted power level in order to keep the received signal power from the UE at a desired level. The UE then transmits its specific access request data. In response, the base station starts the process of controlling the UE's transmitted power via a downlink channel. Once the initial "handshaking" between the UE and base station has been completed, the UE transmits a random access message.
A UE has to determine how much random access transmission power to use initially. Ideally, a UE should select a transmission power level so that an access request preamble is received at the base station with precisely the power needed for correct decoding of the random access message. However, for numerous reasons, it is virtually impossible to ensure that this will be the case. For example, the power of the received signal as required at the base station is not constant but can vary (e.g., due to variations in the radio channel characteristics and the speed of the UE). As such, these variations are to some extent unpredictable and thus unknown to the UE. Also, there can be significant errors due to the uplink path-loss. Path-loss is the signal attenuation occurring over the medium between transmission (TX) and reception (RX) due to several factors, such as distance, fading, interference, canceling multi-path reflections off buildings or other obstructions, and other factors.
Consequently, for the above-described reasons, there is a significant risk that a random access transmission will be received at the base station with too much power. This condition causes excessive interference for other users and thus reduces the capacity of the system. For the same reasons, there is also a risk that a random access transmission will be transmitted with too little power. This condition makes it impossible for the base station to detect and decode the transmission.
The setting of the initial power level is important for a number of reasons, including those discussed above and to avoid the time delay incurred due to the UE re-transmitting the preamble until the base station's acknowledgment message is received, as well as the amount of interference caused by the random access transmission. Currently, the calculation of initial power for sending preambles is based partly on broadcast information and partly on a UE measurement of received signal code power (RSCP). The uplink path-loss is not calculated independently. More particularly, the 3GPP random access procedure is based on the implicit assumption that downlink and uplink path-loss are equal, or their difference is negligible.
The problem with the conventional approach, however, is that there is a significant difference in uplink and downlink path-loss for UEs under a variety of circumstances, and this can be particularly devastating when a UE not moving or is moving very slowly. A need therefore exists for a method and apparatus for determining a difference in uplink and downlink path-loss for setting power levels in UEs, as well as for any other purpose.

Method and system for determining uplink/downlink path-loss difference


A method for generating human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) or precursors thereof, compounds obtainable by the method, and uses and compositions involving such compounds. The method comprising the steps of a) providing at least one donor selected from the group of compounds of any of formulae 5 to 10, b) providing at least one acceptor from a group of lactose, LNT, LNnT and derivatives thereof, c) providing at least one enzyme comprising a transglycosidase activity and/or a glycosynthase activity, d) preparing a mixture of the at least one donor, at least one acceptor and at least one enzyme provided in steps a), b) and c); and e) incubating the mixture prepared according to step d).

Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) have attracted much interest in the past few years. In particular, commercialization efforts for the synthesis of these complex carbohydrates including secreted oligosaccharides have increased significantly due to their roles in numerous biological processes occurring in the human organism. One prominent natural human source of such complex oligosaccharides is mammalian milk. Mammalian milk contains up to 10% carbohydrate, of which the disaccharide, lactose (Gal(β1-4)Glc), is usually a prominent component. Milk and colostrum also contain lesser amounts of other saccharides, referred to as milk oligosaccharides, nearly all of which have a lactose unit at their reducing end to which GlcNAc, Gal, Fuc and/or Neu5Ac or Neu5Gc residues can be attached (Messer and Urashima, 2002, Trends Glycosci. Glycotech, 14, 153-176; and Urashima et al., Advanced Dairy Chemistry, Volume 3: Lactose, Water, Salts and Minor Constituents, 2009, pp. 295-349).
To date, the structures of at least 115 oligosaccharides of human milk have been determined, while mass spectra (MS) data have suggested the presence of almost 130 oligosaccharides in human milk or colostrums (Newburg and Neubauer, 1995, Carbohydrates in milks: Analysis, quantities and significance. In: Handbook of Milk Composition (R. G. Jensen, ed.), pp. 273-249, Academic Press, San Diego, USA). Moreover, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS) analyses suggest that polysaccharides, consisting of more than 50 monosaccharide residues as indicated by size exclusion chromatography, are also present in human milk. Therefore, considerably more than 130 different saccharides are probably present in human milk (see also Urashima et al., Advanced Dairy Chemistry, Volume 3: Lactose, Water, Salts and Minor Constituents, 2009, pp. 295-349; and TADASU URASHIMA et al, MILK OLIGOSACCHARIDES, Nova Biomedical Books, New York, 2011, ISBN: 978-1-61122-831-1).
The 115 human milk oligosaccharides of which the structures have been determined to date, can be grouped into 13 series based on their core structures. Such 13 core structures are exemplarily shown in Table 1 below:
TABLE 113 different core structures of humanmilk oligosaccharides (HMOs)NoCore nameCore structure1lactose (Lac)Galβ1-4Glc2lacto-N-tetraoseGalβ1-3GlcNAcβ1-3Galβ1-4Glc(LNT)3lacto-N-neotetraoseGalβ1-4GlcNAcβ1-3Galβ1-4Glc(LNnT)4lacto-N-hexaoseGalβ1-3GlcNAcβ1-3(Galβ1-(LNH)4GlcNAcβ1-6)Galβ1-4Glc5lacto-N-neohexaoseGalβ1-4GlcNAcβ1-3(Galβ1-(LNnH)4GlcNAcβ1-6)Galβ1-4Glc6para-lacto-N-Galβ1-3GlcNAcβ1-3Galβ1-hexaose (para-4GlcNAcβ1-3Galβ1-4GlcLNH)7para-lacto-N-Galβ1-4GlcNAcβ1-3Galβ1-neohexaose (para-4GlcNAcβ1-3Galβ1-4GlcLNnH)8lacto-N-octaoseGalβ1-3GlcNAcβ1-3(Galβ1-(LNO)4GlcNAcβ1-3Galβ1-4GlcNAcβ1-6)Galβ1-4Glc9lacto-N-neooctaoseGalβ1-4GlcNAcβ1-3(Galβ1-(LNnO)3GlcNAcβ1-3Galβ1-4GlcNAcβ1-6)Galβ1-4Glc10Iso-lacto-N-octaoseGalβ1-3GlcNAcβ1-3(Galβ1-(iso-LNO)3GlcNAcβ1-3Galβ1-4GlcNAcβ1-6)Galβ1-4Glc11para-lacto-N-Galβ1-3GlcNAcβ1-3Galβ1-octaose (para-LNO)4GlcNAcβ1-3Galβ1-4GlcNAcβ1-3Galβ1-4Glc12lacto-N-neodecaoseGalβ1-3GlcNAcβ1-3[Galβ1-(LNnD)4GlcNAcβ1-3(Galβ1-4GlcNAcβ1-6)Galβ1-4GlcNAcβ1-6]Galβ1-4Glc13lacto-N-decaoseGalβ1-3GlcNAcβ1-3[Galβ1-(LND)3GlcNAcβ1-3(Galβ1-4GlcNAcβ1-6)Galβ1-4GlcNAcβ1-6]Galβ1-4Glc
As found by Urashima et al. (see also Urashima et al., Advanced Dairy Chemistry, Volume 3: Lactose, Water, Salts and Minor Constituents, 2009, pp. 295-349; and TADASU URASHIMA et al, MILK OLIGOSACCHARIDES, Nova Biomedical Books, New York, 2011, ISBN: 978-1-61122-831-1) the many variations of the oligosaccharides are constructed by the addition of a Neu5Acβ2-3/2-6 residue to Gal or GlcNAc, and of Fucα1-2/1-3/1-4 to Gal, GlcNAc or a reducing Glc of the core units. The main structural features of human milk oligosaccharides are the presence of oligosaccharides containing the type I unit (Gal(β1-3)GlcNAc), as well as those containing the type II unit (Gal(β1-4)GlcNAc), and oligosaccharides containing the type I predominate over those containing the type II unit. The milk oligosaccharides of other species investigated to date mostly exhibit the type II but not the type I unit.
The large variety of oligosaccharides in human milk and colostrum and the difference to other species, however, makes it difficult to prepare suitable replacements in foods, particularly in infant food formulae, which display at least part of the entire spectrum of human milk oligosaccharides. Furthermore, their recognized importance in the maturation of the immune system and their prognostic use as immunomodulators underlines their importance as a possible immunomodulator.
Accordingly, there is an urgent need in the art for the preparation of complex oligosaccharides and mixtures thereof, which resemble as much as possible or even reproduce the variety of complex oligosaccharides in human milk.
Many attempts have been carried out in this respect to produce individual HMOs via organo-chemical synthesis and, due to its stereoselectivity, via enzymatic means. Enzymatic means have been increasingly explored in the last two decades.
Notably, in biological systems, Leloir-type glycosyltransferases (GTs, EC 2.4.1.-) and glycosidases (also called glycoside hydrolases: GHs, EC 3.2.1.-) constitute the two major classes of carbohydrate-processing enzymes, which may be utilized in the production of HMOs. Both classes of enzymes act to transfer a glycosyl group from a donor to an acceptor resulting in oligosaccharide production. The use of glycosyltransferases for synthesis in industrial processes, however, is limited both by the availability of the desired enzymes due to problems with expression and solubility and the high costs of the activated donor sugars. These nucleotide donors may be typically generated in situ, but the process requires additional enzymes (see Hanson, S., et al., Trends Biochem Sci, 2004. 29(12): p. 656-63). In contrast to glycosyltransferases, glycosidases have a wide range of donor substrates employing usually monosaccharides, oligosaccharides or/and engineered substrates (i.e. substrates carrying various functional groups). They often display activity towards a large variety of carbohydrate and non-carbohydrats acceptors. Another advantage of the use of glycosidases compared to glycosyltransferases is their robustness and accessibility.
In vivo, glycosidases usually catalyze the hydrolysis of glycosidic linkages with either retention or inversion of stereochemical configuration in the product. In vitro, they can catalyse the formation of a new glycosidic bond either by transglycosylation or by reverse hydrolysis (ie condensation). Under kinetically controlled reactions these enzymes (typically, retaining glycosidases) can be used to form glycosidic linkages using a glycosyl donor activated by a good anomeric leaving group (e.g. nitrophenyl glycoside). In contrast, the thermodynamically controlled reverse hydrolysis uses high concentrations of free sugars. However, even though the appropriate application of glycosidases in the synthetic direction is of considerable interest, it remains challenging as optimal conditions and suitable substrates have to be found to drive the reaction in the desired direction and to avoid hydrolysis of the products.
Another approach to overcome this bottleneck and to make glycosidases more suitable for oligosaccharide synthesis has been recently developed by providing modified enzymes (variants). Thus, during these two past decades, protein engineering based on rational or combinatorial techniques has proven to be extremely powerful to generate biocatalysts with improved transglycosylation activity and efficiency.
The synthesis of Fucα1-3Galβ1-4Glc using p-nitrophenyl fucoside, lactose and α-fucosidase from Alcaligenes sp. has been reported by Murata et al. Carbohydr. Res. 320, 192 (1999). Synthesis of 2′-fucosyllactose using fucosyl fluoride, lactose and 1,2-α-L-fucosynthase has been disclosed in Wada et al. FEBS Lett. 582, 3739 (2008). Sialylation of lactose with p-nitrophenyl sialoside employing recombinant transsialidase from T. cruzi has been described by Neubacher et al. Org. Biomol. Chem. 3, 1551 (2005). Transsialylation of benzyl glycosides of galactosyl oligosaccharides has been claimed in WO 2012/007588. Direct conversion of lactose into LNT with p-nitrophenyl lacto-N-bioside using a lacto-N-biosidase from Aureobacterium sp. L-101 has been reported in Murata et al. Glycoconj. J. 16, 189 (1999). However, even though many organo-chemical syntheses or enzyme based syntheses for basic human milk oligosaccharide structures or their precursors have been published meanwhile, such synthesis methods still do not allow the preparation of complex mixtures of naturally occurring oligosaccharides or derivatives thereof. Preparing such mixtures on the basis of individually designed syntheses of single HMOs is furthermore costly and may not resemble the large variety of naturally occurring HMOs.
Accordingly, it is an object underlying the present invention to provide a method, which allows the provision of a larger variety of human milk oligosaccharides than is obtained by prior art methods, preferably in a cost efficient manner, and preferably on an industrial scale.

Method for generating human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) or precursors thereof


Controllable polarization transformer comprising a passive mode converter (4), a controllable phase shifter (5) and a controllable Mach-Zehnder interferometer (7). The mode converter (4) converts the first signal component of one polarization (TE or TM) of a light signal entering via an input (1) into a signal component of the other polarization without affecting the second signal component of the other polarization (TM or TE), the conversion taking place to another order of the guided mode. Phase control by means of the phase shifter (5) controls the intensity distribution of the light signal over the two branches (8, 9) of the interferometer (7). Optical wavelength control in the interferometer (7) controls the phase with which the signals through the branches come together in the output (2). Advantages: very good integration capability, preferably on semiconductor material, with a waveguide structure which can be achieved in a single etching step and without critical manufacturing parameters; can be used reciprocally, even as a polarization modulator.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is in the field of optical transmission systems and, more particularly but not exclusively, of those systems in which coherent detection is used. The invention relates to an optical device for controllably transforming the polarization of an optical signal.
2. Prior Art
In a coherent optical receiver, a received signal and the signal originating from a local oscillator can be ideally combined only if the polarization states of the signal are identical. The received signal normally enters via a non-polarization-maintaining light path, with the result that the polarization state of said signal is undefined on reception. One of the solutions to this problem is achieved by polarization control, in which case the polarization state of one of the two signals is altered in such a way that it corresponds to that of the other signal. Such a solution in which the polarization state of the local oscillator signal is altered is disclosed in reference [1]. The polarization control disclosed therein is carried out using a controllable polarization transformer which is driven via a feedback loop. In addition to some controllable polarization transformers constructed using discrete components, this reference describes an integrated optical version which is based on lithium niobate and which is disclosed in more detail in reference [2]. This known transformer comprises a controllable polarization mode converter sandwiched between two separately controllable phase shifters. Both the phase shifters and the polarization mode converter are based on electrooptical modification of the propagation of the TE component and the TM component in a monomodal channel-type waveguide. The actual conversion of a fraction of one polarization component into the other polarization component (TE .rarw.-.fwdarw.TM) takes place in the polarization mode converter. In an integrated optical version of a coherent optical receiver, not only optical, but opto-electronic and electrical signal processing has to take place on one chip. Since it is at present usual to chose a wavelength in the near infrared for the light signal, with the present prior art an integrated optical receiver provided with such a polarization transformer can only be produced using of semiconductor material such as indium phosphide (InP). A polarization mode converter which is based on InP and which makes use of the linear electrooptical effect in said material is disclosed in reference [3]. To produce a controllable polarization transformer based on the principle disclosed in reference [2], at least one phase shifter must be added thereto. The total length of the converter and the phase shifter is, however, fairly large, approximately 10 mm, compared with the available space on InP substrates which are usual at the present time. There is therefore a need to base a controllable polarization transformer on a modified principle which permits a shorter length for such a component when integrated on the basis of semiconductor materials such as InP.


To provide an orthogonal frequency division multiplex modem circuit which can multiplex signals, whose bit rates and QoS are different from one another, and can transmit the signals via one OFDM line. A serial/parallel converter converts input signals into a complex parallel signal respectively, and a sub carrier and a modulation system are assigned every communication channel. A randomizer changes the alignment sequence of the signal, a discrete inverse Fourier transformer processes the signal, a parallel/serial converter converts the signal into a serial signal, and a transmitter performs the orthogonal modulation of the signal to output the signal from an antenna. A receiver performs orthogonal demodulation of the signal received with an antenna, a serial/parallel converter converts the signal into a parallel signal, and a discrete Fourier transformer processes the parallel signal. In addition, a de-randomizer restores the alignment sequence of the subcarriers into the original condition, and a parallel/serial converter decodes and outputs the signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an orthogonal frequency division multiplex modem circuit, and in particular, to an OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex) modem circuit which transmits a plurality of different channels.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, the digitization of broadcasting has been promoted and an OFDM system will be adopted as its modulation system. Moreover, also in a 5-GHz-band wireless LAN (Local Area Network), the OFDM system is adopted as a modulation system.
The OFDM system is a system that divides a transmission signal into pieces, and modulates and transmits a plenty of subcarriers respectively, and has characteristics that the OFDM system has high frequency utilization efficiency and is strong on multi-path fading.
FIG. 10 shows an example of the structure of a conventional orthogonal frequency division multiplex modem circuit A principle of the above-described OFDM system will be explained with using FIG. 10. First, a transmission signal X is a signal for, for example, digital high-definition television broadcasting, and consists of a 20-Mbps data signal and a 10.72-Mbps overhead (signal for error correction and synchronization control). That is, the transmission signal X is 30.72 Mbps in total.
A 4×512-bit parallel data is generated by passing this signal through a serial/parallel converter (S/P) 101, and the data is divided every 4 bits. Owing to this, a 16-value QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation) baseband signal A is generated.
The 16-value QAM baseband signal A is complex data having a real part (Re) and an imaginary part (Im). Correspondence between each signal point on a complex plane and a 4-bit input signal is shown in FIG. 11.
Owing to this, 512 complex 16-value QAM signals A, each of whose symbol rates is 30.72/4/512 Msps=15 ksps, are outputted. When these 512 complex numbers are inputted into an inverse Fourier transformer (IFFT) 105, 512 sets of transformation results B are obtained. These results B are converted into a serial signal C with a parallel/serial converter (P/S) 106.
With making real parts before transformation be an I signal and making imaginary parts be a Q signal these signals are outputted to a transmitter (TX) 107 at a sample rate of 15 ksps×512=7.68 Msps. The transmitter 107 performs the orthogonal modulation of the I and Q baseband signals, and outputs them from an antenna 115.
The allocation of the subcarriers in a transmitter signal is shown in FIG. 12. As shown in FIG. 12, each interval between subcarriers is equal to the symbol rate of 15 kHz and the number of subcarriers is 512. Therefore, bandwidth is 15 kHz×512=7.68 HMz.
Next, the structure of a receiving side will be described. In the receiving side, a high frequency signal transmitted from the transmitting side is received with an antenna 116, a receiver (RX) 108 performs an orthogonal demodulation to generate a baseband signal (I, Q) D. A serial parallel converter (S/P) 109 samples this signal at the rate of 7.68 Msps respectively, and generates a parallel signal E consisting of 512 sets of I (real part) and Q (imaginary part) signals. When this signal is inputted into a discrete Fourier transformer (FFT) 110, 512 complex numbers are obtained.
This data F expresses a signal point of each corresponding sub carrier on a complex plane. A corresponding 4-bit data (in the case of a 16-value QAM) is reproduced from this signal point, and is decoded into the original signal Y and outputted with a parallel/serial converter (P/S) 112.
As described above, the bit rate transmitted in the OFDM system is very high-speed, for example, 30.72 Mbps. This is divided into many subcarriers and transmitted. When the number of subcarriers is 512 and a modulation system is the 16-value QAM, a symbol rate per sub carrier becomes only 15 ksps. The duration per one symbol is about 67 μsec, and this is a sufficiently large value (this is equivalent to 20 km) in comparison with the path difference of a usual multi-path. Therefore, the OFDM system has powerful resistance to multi-path transmission.
The OFDM system is now planned with premising the utilization of each single unit such as digital television broadcast and high-speed wireless LAN equipment However, since the OFDM system has a feature of being essentially strong on the multi-path transmission, this feature is attractive also in other mobile communications.
Therefore, as a natural conclusion, it can be thought that demands for using the OFDM system also for mobile communications come out However, since the OFDM system realizes vast transmission capacity as a whole by using hundreds of subcarriers, it is not allowed to use this monopolistically by one kind of mobile communication.
Therefore, it is possible to transmit various communications, such as digital TV, wireless LAN, the Internet, and cellular phones, via one OFDM line. The plural kinds of communication signals have different bit rates respectively, and their necessary transmission quality (QoS: Quality of Service) are different according to informational types.
That is, there are various transmission rates (for example, 28.8 kbps, 1.44 Mbps, and 10 Mbps) in data communication, and, an error rate not higher than 10E−6 is required. On the other hand, in speech communication such as a telephone, a transmission rate is 13 kbps or the like, and the error rate of 10E−3 is regarded as sufficient quality.

Orthogonal frequency division multiplex modem circuit


An electronic device with data stored therein is integrated into a tire. The data is stored in a memory of the electronic device. The memory includes a data storage zone with a field reserved for a serial number of the tire, which is stored in bit form. When the data stored in the field reserved for the serial number of the tire is read, at least a part of the read data is decoded into at least one letter so as to determine the serial number of the tire.

A tyre is known in the prior art which has data of various kinds inscribed on sidewalls of the tyre, by moulding for example. These data include, notably, an identifier of the tyre manufacturer; geometrical characteristics of the tyre, for example a flange width; a load capacity index; or a speed code. These data also comprise a serial number of the tyre. This serial number comprises a sequence of alphanumeric characters made up of digits and/or numbers and letters.
These inscriptions, notably the serial number, are subject to damage caused by natural phenomena such as sunlight and rain. They are also subject to the normal wear on the tyre, or accelerated wear, caused for example by repeated friction of the sidewall of the tyre against pavements. Finally, these inscriptions may be altered fraudulently by moulding a new layer of rubber over the existing marks.
The disappearance or alteration of inscriptions, notably the serial number, creates a problem in that it prevents the identification of the tyre, for the purpose of routine inspection of the tyre, for example. This problem arises, notably, in circumstances where large numbers of tyres have to be managed, for example in the case of vehicle fleets.

Method for reading data stored in an electronic device for a tyre

COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN


To improve the illumination efficiency of hand-held illumination devices, this invention proposes a new illumination device having the “rolling” function, which is capable of illuminating the target area on which a user is currently focusing and rolling the illuminated area as the user is reading forward or backward. The illumination device comprises two pluralities of lighting elements, an illuminating body and a controller. The controller can control one plurality of lighting elements to emit light to illuminate a part of the illuminating body, which can further deflect the light to a part of the surface of the target.

In WO2008087593, an illumination device for illuminating a surface, comprising a lighting element and an illuminating body is described. The illuminating body can receive artificial light from the lighting element and deflect the received light onto the surface. The device may be placed with the illuminating body over a book or other surfaces for illuminated viewing through the transparent illuminating body. The advantage of the illumination device is that it can not only illuminate a flat surface, but also a curved surface, and that it minimizes the distortion of the images/texts on the curved surface.
However, after being powered on, the whole illuminating body, which normally is as large as a book or a magazine, is illuminated, while the user only focuses on a limited number of lines at any one moment. This decreases the illumination efficiency and reduces the time the illumination device can be operated without recharging or replacing the energy source(s). Therefore there is a need to improve the efficiency with which light is used in this kind of illumination devices.


A system, method, and computer program product are provided for performing fast, non-rigid registration for at least two images of a high-dynamic range image stack. The method includes the steps of generating a warped image based on a set of corresponding pixels, analyzing the warped image to detect unreliable pixels in the warped image, and generating a corrected pixel value for each unreliable pixel in the warped image. The set of corresponding pixels includes a plurality of pixels in a source image, each pixel in the plurality of pixels associated with a potential feature in the source image and paired with a corresponding pixel in a reference image that substantially matches the pixel in the source image.

Dynamic range in photography represents the ratio between light intensity captured in the brightest part of the image and the darkest part of the image. Film or an image sensor is exposed to light for a set time, known as the exposure time, and the film or image sensor reacts to the amount of light that strikes the surface of the film or image sensor during that time. Typically, the recording medium (i.e., film or pixel sites in the image sensor) has a limit to the range of intensities that can be recorded. For example, if the exposure time is short, the recording medium may not capture enough light in darker parts of the image to record details about the object in the scene. In other words, part of the image is underexposed. Similarly, if the exposure time is long, the recording medium may capture too much light in brighter parts of the image such that details about the object are washed out. In other words, part of the image is overexposed.
High-dynamic range imaging uses multiple images of nearly the same scene captured using different exposure settings to create an image that has a higher dynamic range than a single image captured using a single exposure setting with the recording medium. For example, a series of three or more images may be captured using a digital camera in short succession changing the exposure time and/or aperture size for each image. These images are then blended to increase the dynamic range of the composite image, enabling details to be shown in both darker areas and lighter areas of the same image.
Because the images in the high-dynamic range (HDR) image stack are captured at different times, objects in the image may have shifted. In other words, both the camera could have shifted (e.g., if the camera is hand-held) or objects could be moving within the frame. Blending the images without adjusting for this motion causes ghosting where objects that move appear translucent and are seen in two places at once. Existing techniques can be used to find a match for each pixel in a reference image to a corresponding pixel in a second image. However, conventional techniques are either robust but slow (i.e., the techniques can't be performed at interactive frame rates and may take minutes to register a single set of HDR images) or fast but inaccurate (i.e., the blending still leaves visible image artifacts that are disturbing to a viewer). Some applications require HDR registration and blending to be performed at interactive frame rates (such as when viewing HDR video in real-time) while not sacrificing the quality of the product. Thus, there is a need for addressing these issues and/or other issues associated with the prior art.

System, method, and computer program product for performing fast, non-rigid registration for high dynamic range image stacks