Systems, methods and computer program products for alerting a flight crew during landing that the tailwind exceeds acceptable limits. The system determines a base tailwind threshold speed for a candidate runway based on a performance constant associated with an aircraft and candidate runway information and determines present tailwind speed. If the tailwind speed is greater than the base tailwind threshold speed, a tailwind alert is generated. Also, the system determines if the aircraft is in a tailwind alerting mode based on configuration of the aircraft and activates tailwind alerting, if it is determined that the aircraft is in the tailwind alerting mode.

Landing an aircraft is the most demanding task in flying. During the landing process, the aircraft must transition from operating in three dimensions of motion to operating in only two dimensions and must be brought to a safe and complete stop. To perform the landing properly, the aircraft must approach the runway within certain attitude, track, speed and rate of descent limits. An approach outside of these limits can result in the aircraft making a "hard" landing, overrunning the runway end, or otherwise contacting the runway surface in an uncontrolled manner. Any one of these events has the potential to cause severe damage to the aircraft and may additionally result in passenger injuries or fatalities.
Factors which contribute to unstable approaches include: wind conditions that alter the speed and path of the aircraft, excessive speed and/or variations in the speed flown during the approach; failure to maintain a glide path that intersects the runway at the touchdown point; failure to track the center line of the runway; and equipment malfunctions. Pilots are trained to monitor these conditions during the approach and to initiate a go-around maneuver if the approach is unstabilized and a safe landing is not assured. The effectiveness of pilot training as a preventive measure ultimately depends, however, on the skill and judgment of the pilot in recognizing the unstabilized approach condition and executing the appropriate response as taught. Pilots with varying levels of skill are likely to respond differently to the same scenario.
In addition, unstabilized approaches are not the sole cause of runway overruns. A contaminated runway surface can reduce the braking effectiveness of the aircraft and increase the aircraft stopping distance. Thus, even with a stabilized approach, the aircraft may still be in danger of overrunning the runway end in some circumstances. The most common runway contaminates are rainwater and snow.
Automatic landing systems that guide the aircraft to touchdown do not completely solve the problems identified above. The control laws that govern operation of such systems may not always be able to reject disturbances such as those due to wind gusts, or certain equipment malfunctions. In such circumstances, the aircraft may still wind up on a destabilized approach and/or the automatic landing system must be disengaged. The pilot must still monitor and anticipate the need for a go-around even when such systems are in use. Landing systems also work best when precision approach guidance is available to the intended runway. Precision approaches provide both horizontal and vertical guidance on approach. Not all runways have precision approaches.
Therefore, there exists a need for providing pilots with information regarding an unstable approach to landing.

Tailwind alerting system to prevent runway overruns


Disclosed in some examples is a method of wireless resource block assignment in a long term evolution wireless network including creating a downlink control information message for a user equipment, the downlink control information message comprising: a resource block assignment field which indicates up to N physical resource blocks scheduled to the user equipment by specifying an index into a plurality of all possible physical resource block allocations of between 1 and N resource blocks, wherein the resource block assignment field comprises at most a number of bits necessary to address all of the possible physical resource block allocations for assignments of 1 to N physical resource blocks, and wherein N is less than a total number of physical resource blocks; and sending the downlink control information over a physical downlink control channel using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing.

Fourth generation wireless technologies based on the Long Term Evolution (LTE) family of wireless standards promulgated by the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) are largely designed for data services. While data services are gaining in importance to users of wireless technologies, voice services are still important. However, because LTE and other fourth generation wireless technologies are geared primarily towards fast data transmissions, the transmission of voice presents many challenges.

LTE enhancements for small packet transmissions


A pneumatic control valve and power reserve in the form of pressurized gas in a pressurization chamber, for elastically deforming a diaphragm without closing off two admission (2) and respectively discharge (3) orifices of said valve and able to place the opening of the valve by depressurization of said pressurization chamber 5 is disclosed. The valve may be used for total and rapid deflation of a therapeutic mattress having a plurality of compartments that are inflated with air, including at different pressures.

The present disclosure relates to support devices, such as mattresses, having pneumatic control devices, such as air supply/discharge valves that are used to supply air or empty compartments inflated with air, and having a plurality of compartments to be inflated with fluid such as compressed air.
In some prior art mattresses, these compartments are in the form of cylinders, each cylinder extending transversally relative to the longitudinal direction of the mattress and the different cylinders being placed side by side in the longitudinal direction of the mattress. Each compartment of some prior art mattresses has a fluid supply orifice and a fluid discharge orifice.
To fill/inflate a compartment, a first valve, typically an electrovalve controlling the supply via said supply orifice, is opened, then air is injected under pressure, then this first electrovalve is closed when the necessary pressure is reached while a second electrovalve controlling the discharge of fluid from said discharge orifice is kept closed. And, inversely, for emptying or deflating a compartment, for adjusting the pressure inside the compartment, said first electrovalve controlling the supply orifice is kept closed and the second electrovalve controlling the discharge from the discharge orifice is opened.
Mattresses of this type are used in medical environments as they ensure better distribution of the fluid inside the mattress. And, as a function of the number of electrovalves employed, they individually control the pressure and therefore the filling of the compartments in different zones of the mattress.

Pneumatic control valve and power reserve for a mattress


The present invention provides methods and systems for integrating a procedural computational model with a declarative computational model. For example, in one aspect, the present invention provides a method for integrating a plurality of procedural instructions in a procedural computational system with a plurality of declarative rules in a declarative computational system. In such a method, for each of the procedural instructions operating on one or more variables, a hash table indexed by variable names is utilized to determine whether any of these variables participate in at least one of the declarative rules. Upon execution of a procedural instruction that changes a variable participating in a declarative rule, other variables associated with the rule are updated so as to maintain a relationship imposed by the rule among the variables. The updating of the other variables is performed prior to execution of other procedural instructions.

The invention pertains generally to digital data processing and, more particularly, to methods and apparatus for implementation of declarative rule-based systems, and their integration into mainstream computing environments. The invention has application, by way of non-limiting example, in the design and implementation of workflow applications. Such systems typically have object-oriented architectures, and the invention takes advantage of aspects of such architectures, but it is not limited to these.
The vast majority of data processing systems use a procedural-based programming paradigm. This is exemplified by programming languages like C or Java, where execution is controlled by "procedures" consisting of sequences of statements (assignments, loops, if, etc.). The programmer of such a system is responsible for specifying, in great detail, what this sequence is, and making sure that it is correct. The sequential nature of such systems, and the resulting exponentially large number of execution paths that a system of even moderate size can take, is the fundamental basis for their complexity. It is also the source of most of the very large number of bugs that typically plague such systems.
Declarative rule-based programming is a fundamentally different programming paradigm. It is characterized by the lack of any sequential statements, and any notion of state of which the programmer has to be aware. Instead, processing is specified in the form of logical rules, where each rule relates one or more output variables to a set of input variables. Such rules can be "chained" together so that the output of one rule becomes an input to other rules.
An important characteristic of such a system is that the rules always hold. In other words, the values of the variables are always such that they are consistent with the rules. For example, if a rule states a relation between variables like z=x+y, then the values of x, y, and z are constrained to be such that this relation is never violated. This implies that changes to input variables (x or y in this example) must be propagated "instantly" so that the corresponding output variables are updated according to the relation. For example, if x=1, y=2, and z=3, and then x is changed to 2, then z must be updated to 4. In this case, "instantly" means that the update happens before any user, or any processing element outside the declarative programming system, notices an inconsistency.
The primary advantage of a declarative rule-based system is that it allows the programmer to focus on the required behavior of the application by specifying (declaring) invariant logical and arithmetic relations between variables. The complexity related to sequencing and state is hidden from the programmer.
In many applications, declarative rules can be used for solving significant portions of a problem. However, they are usually not appropriate for every aspect of a typical workflow problem. Some things (a sequence of steps to be executed for a work item, for example) are best expressed procedurally.
In view of the foregoing, an object of this invention is to provide improved methods and apparatus for digital data processing and, more particularly, for integrating declarative and procedural programming systems.
Another object of the invention is to provide such integrated computational systems that are relevant to a wide variety of applications, including, for example, modeling and processing workflows.
A related object of the invention is to provide methods and apparatus for improved integration of declarative and procedural programming systems that are suited for integration with systems having object-oriented data architectures.
A further object is to provide such methods and apparatus as can be implemented in a variety of programming languages and/or on a variety of platforms.

Integration of declarative rule-based processing with procedural programming


According to a data compression apparatus for compressing data such as image data, there is determined a difference between adjacent numerical values on the continuity of numerical values constituting data to be compressed. Of the numerical values appearing in the difference data, only the numerical value “YY” is encoded. There is performed such a coding that a continued number Z of the numerical value “YY” is expressed with different bit numbers in accordance with Z<128 or z≧128. In the coding, when data to be compressed is concerned with the binary data represented by only two sorts of numerical values, there is created new data to be compressed, which consists of continued numerical values represented by a unit bit number, in such a manner that the two sorts of numerical values are discriminated in one bit and the continuity of the one bit is expressed for unit bit number on a batch basis, and the created new data is transferred to the first data compression section.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a data compression apparatus for compressing data such as image data, and a data compression program storage medium storing a data compression program, which causes an information processing apparatus such as a computer to operate as the data compression apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Hitherto, in order to reduce storage capacity or traffic, there is widely adopted a technology of compressing data such as image data.
For example, Japanese Patent Laid Open Gazette TokuKai Hei. 5-328142 discloses a technology as set forth below.
When a CLUT (color lookup table) is constructed through selection of a representative color from an original image, color numbers are allotted so that a series of color numbers has a closed value of color data, and then a bit map associated with the CLUT is created to determine a difference of color numbers between adjacent pixels. In the event that the difference takes a large value, the color number of the bit map is altered in such an extent that no deterioration of image quality occurs, so that the difference is biased to a small value, and a run length coding is applied to difference data.
Japanese Patent Laid Open Gazette TokuKai Hei. 10-164620 discloses a technology as set forth below.
Image data consisting of a plurality of data allotted to the associated colors is encoded on a non-reversible compression basis. One of the data is allotted to a transparent color, which is reversible. The image data comprises an immediate value (a first value in differential coding) and a plurality of differential values (a previous value in differential coding) subsequent to the immediate value. When those values are encoded on a non-reversible compression basis, the immediate value and the differential values representative of the transparent color are provided on a reversible basis. And the immediate value representative of the transparent color is expressed by an intermediate value of the data values for respective colors, or the differential values representative of the transparent color is expressed by "0".
Japanese Translation of PCT International Application No. 2001-520822 discloses a technology in which encoding is carried out by a difference between the predicted number (s′ (j)) and the actual number (s (j)).
Japanese Patent Laid Open Gazette TokuKai Hei. 9-200540 discloses an image compression apparatus in which for Nth line of pixel data train, the state of distributions of the same pixel data in the sub-scanning direction is recognized, and the state of distributions of the same pixel data in the main scanning direction is recognized, so that it is decided in accordance with the results of those recognition whether the same pixel data continued in the sub-scanning direction are to be subjected to a compression processing, or the same pixel data continued in the main scanning direction are to be subjected to a compression processing.
Here, there will be explained a system to which a data compression technology is applied.
FIG. 1 is a view useful for understanding an example of a print system to which a data compression technology is applied. FIG. 2 is a view useful for understanding a data processing in the print system.
As shown in FIG. 1, the print system comprises a host controller 100, an interface equipment 200, and a printer 300. The host controller 100 is connected to the interface equipment 200 via an all-purpose interface cable 150 such as SCSI. And the interface equipment 200 is connected to the printer 300 via a dedicated interface cable 250.
In the host controller 100, as shown in FIG. 2, data 11 of images and characters described in various languages and formats, such as PDF, PS, TIFF, are divided into image (CT; Continuous Tone) data and characters and lines (LW; Line Work) data, and RIP (Raster Image Processing) is applied to such two types of data, so that bit map data 12A and 13A are created. Further, data compression processing is applied to such two types of data, so that non-reversible compression data 14 is created on the CT and reversible compression data 15 is created on the LW. Those types of compression data 14 and 15 are transmitted from the host controller 100 via the all-purpose interface cable 150 shown in FIG. 1 to the interface equipment 200. The interface equipment 200 applies a data expansion processing to the transmitted compression data 14 and 15 to creates bit map data 12B and 13B associated with the bit map data 12A and 13A, respectively, which are in the state before an application of the data compression processing by the host controller 100. With respect to the CT data, when the host controller 100 performs the data compression, the non-reversible compression processing is carried out. Accordingly, it is difficult to completely return the CI data after the data expansion, or the bit map data 12B to the CI data before the data compression, or the bit map data 12A. However, it is possible to reproduce the substantially same bit map data. With respect to the LW data, when the host controller 100 performs the data compression, the reversible compression processing is carried out. Accordingly, it is possible to restore the LW data after the data expansion, or the bit map data 13B to the LW data before the data compression, or the bit map data 13A.
The interface equipment 200 synthesizes the CI data after the data expansion or the bit map data 12B with the LW data after the data expansion or the bit map data 13B, and transmits the synthesized data to the printer 300 together with halftone dot information and the like in form of a tag. The printer 300 prints out an image in accordance with the bit map data received from the interface equipment 200 and the attached tag information.
In the event that there is a need that the host controller 100 and the interface equipment 200 are individually constructed in form of a separated apparatus, for example, in a case where the host controller 100 and the interface equipment 200 are mutually isolated, and in case of a system in which the interface equipment 200 receives image data from a plurality of host controllers, as shown in FIG. 2, there is provided such an arrangement that data is transferred to the interface equipment 200 through data compression by the host controller 100, so that the interface equipment 200 performs data expansion. This arrangement makes it possible to reduce a transfer time of the data from the host controller 100 to the interface equipment 200, and thereby improving the productivity of the print.
Generally, with respect to the CT data, there is adopted compression system such as JPEG, which is high in compressibility, while it is non-reversible. On the other hand, with respect to the LW data, there is adopted reversible compression system such as PackBits.
Hereinafter, for a comparison with the embodiments of the present invention, there will be described an encoding system by PackBits.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory view for a PackBits coding system.
It is assumed that "01, 02, 02, 02, 03, 03, 03, 03, 04, 05", which appear at the upper stage, denote the original data. Where there is adopted a hexadecimal notation. Of the original data, the first numerical value is "01", and the second numerical value is "02", and the third numerical value is also "02". The numerical value "02" is continued in the same numerical value. Thus, only the numerical value "01" is not continued.
Thus, there is established a numerical value "00" (the first numerical value "00" appearing at the lower stage in FIG. 3) wherein a number 1 is subtracted from the discontinuous numerical value (here "1"). Subsequently, there is established the discontinuous numerical value (here "01"), that is, the second numerical value "01" appearing at the lower stage in FIG. 3). In other words, the original data "01" is replaced by "00 01" in accordance with PackBits coding.
Next, since "02" of the original data continues by three pieces, there is established "FE" wherein a number (here 2), which is obtained through a subtraction of one from the continued number (here 3), is expressed in minus, and the negative number (here −2) is expressed by the hexadecimal notation (the third numerical value "FE" appearing at the lower stage in FIG. 3), and thereafter the continuous numerical number (here "02") itself is established (the fourth numerical value "02" appearing at the lower stage in FIG. 3). In other words, "02 02 02" of the original data is replaced by "FE 02" in accordance with PackBits coding.
Next, since "03" of the original data continues by four pieces, in a similar fashion as mentioned above, there is established "FD" wherein a number (here 3), which is obtained through a subtraction of one from the continued number (here 4), is expressed in minus, and the negative number (here −3) is expressed by the hexadecimal notation, and thereafter the continuous numerical number (here "03") itself is established. In other words, "03 03 03 03" of the original data is replaced by "FD 03" in accordance with PackBits coding.
Further, thereafter, "04 05" of the original data continue. However, those numerical numbers "04" and "05" do not continue in the same number. Thus, there is established a numerical value "01", which is obtained through a subtraction of one from a number (here 2) of the discontinued numerical values ("04", "05"), and then the discontinued numerical values itself "04 05" are established. In other words, "04 05" of the original data is replaced by "01 04 05" in accordance with PackBits coding.
In PackBits, the coding is performed in accordance with the above-mentioned rule.
In case of the PackBits coding, the number, which is capable of being established as the continuous number of the same numerical value, is −1 to −127. That is, the number, which is capable of being expressed in form of the continuous number, is up to 128. This number is expressed by 2 bytes (8 bits×2), and thus the maximum bulk compressibility is 2/128= 1/64 on a principle basis.
However, for example, in case of the LW data, it often happens that the same numerical values are continued, for instance, the continued blank, and this brings about a problem that the maximum bulk compressibility 1/64 is inefficient.
As seen from FIG. 3, the original data "01" is encoded into "00 01", and the original data "04 05" is encoded into "01 04 05". In those cases, the encoded data is more redundant than the original data.
While the explanation of FIG. 3 is concerned with multiple-valued data, such as "01", "02", "03", "04", "05", . . . , the LW data is often concerned with binary data, for example, in case of the LW data representative of an image consisting of only characters each having the same density on a white background for instance.

Data compression apparatus, and data compression program storage medium


The invention provides a lubricant useful in magnetic recording media and optical recording media comprising a functionalized perfluoropolyether comprising multiple acrylate endgroups. More specifically, the lubricant of the invention is a functionalized perfluoropolyether comprising at least about two acrylate groups. In one embodiment, the lubricant of the invention is a functionalized perfluoropolyether comprising a perfluoropolyether tetraacrylate. A magnetic recording medium is also provided comprising a thin metal magnetic recording layer, said layer having a coating of the functionalized perfluoropolyether lubricant comprising at least about three acrylate end groups. An optical recording medium including the functionalized perfluoropolyether lubricant includes at least one magneto-optical layer disposed between two protective layers further disposed between two substrate layers having interior and exterior surfaces, the exterior surface of at least one substrate layer bearing thereon a functionalized perfluoropolyether lubricant comprising a perfluoropolyether tetraacrylate.

Magnetic recording media are widely used in audio tapes, video tapes, computer tapes, disks and the like. Magnetic media may use thin metal layers as the recording layers, or may comprise coatings containing magnetic particles as the recording layer. The former type of recording media employs metals such as cobalt, cobalt chrome, cobalt nickel, cobalt chrome platinum, and other cobalt alloys. The latter type of recording media employs particulate materials such as ferromagnetic iron oxides, chromium oxides, ferromagnetic alloy powders and the like dispersed in binders and coated on a substrate. In general terms, magnetic recording media generally comprise a magnetic layer coated onto at least one side of a non-magnetic substrate.
In media based on a thin metallic magnetic recording layer, such as a magnetic cobalt alloy, the overall media construction will generally include several thin films coated in sequence which form a "thin film stack." The first thin film stack layers coated generally function to provide a combination of adhesion, topographical texture, and crystalline texture. These layers are then followed by one or more magnetic thin films which do the actual information storage. The magnetic thin films are followed by one or more coatings which provide environmental stability, hardness, and compatibility with the subsequently coated lube. The lube layer constitutes the final layer of the thin film media.
Optical recording media, such as magneto-optical disks, store information on a thin film of magneto-optical material disposed between two protective layers. The basic principal of operation is to use a laser to locally raise the temperature of the magneto-optical layer to near the Curie point and switch the direction of the local magnetization to the direction of a recording magnetic field applied to the disk. The two protective layers enclose the magneto-optical material to protect it from corrosion, and are formed from materials such as silicon nitride, silicon oxide, or aluminum nitride dielectrics. The read/write head of a recording mechanism glides above the disk surface. Lubricants are disposed on the surface to protect both the disk head and the disk surface from damage. The lubricants reduce friction between the disk head and surface and they enhance the wear resistance of the disk.
Lubricants useful for both types of recording media have been organic lubricants such as fatty acid esters, silicones, and perfluoropolyesters such as polytetrafluoro-ethylene (PTFE). However, conventional lubricants may degrade when exposed to high temperatures forming sludge on the surface, and migration of the lubricants due to centrifugal force depletes the lubricant from the surface of the disk. Optical media make particularly high demands on lubricants due to the high local temperatures caused by the laser beam. Such temperatures can reach as high as 350° C. Many conventional lubricants begin to degrade or vaporize at temperatures of from 165° C. to 300° C., depending on the functional end group and the molecular weight, reducing the amount available.
It would be useful to have a lubricant which would remain stable at temperatures exceeding 350° C., and which would bond to the surface of the recording medium, reducing migration and transfer to the recording head. It has now been discovered that a functionalized perfluoropolyether comprising multiple acrylate endgroups increases thermal stability and percentage of bonded lubricant percentage.

Thermally stable perfluoropolyether lubricant for recording media


An apparatus, system, and method is provided for reducing idle power in a power supply. The apparatus includes a connection module to determine whether a load is connected to the output terminal of the power supply. Also included is an idle module that turns off the power supply for an idle interval when the connection module determines that a load is not connected to the output. A monitor module turns on the power supply for a monitor interval when the idle interval ends. During the monitor interval, the connection module determines whether the load has been connected to the output terminal of the power supply. An activation module turns on the power supply if the connection module determines, during the monitor interval, that the load has been connected to the power supply. If the load has not been connected, another idle interval is initiated.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of power supplies, and particularly to reducing the idle power consumption in power supplies for adapters and mobile products.
2. Description of the Related Art
Individuals and corporations are becoming increasingly aware of their energy consumption and are actively seeking to reduce it. Whether the primary motivation is to reduce the size of a carbon footprint or save on energy costs, consumers are demanding more energy efficient and eco-friendly products from manufacturers.
In our age of ubiquitous electronic devices, consumers and regulators are becoming increasingly aware of the energy costs of electronics. A common culprit of energy inefficiency is the so-called energy vampire. Common electrical devices, such as computers, televisions, and appliances require standby power and consume electricity even when the device is off. Standby power accounts for the power necessary to allow the device to maintain information even when it is off, respond to remote controls, or provide other functions. It also accounts for parasitic losses in the device. The power consumed in standby mode is comparable to the power consumed in active mode for many devices.
Many devices, such as the laptop computer 110, personal data assistant ("PDA") 112, and cellular phone 114 shown in FIG. 1, plug into a charger such as the charger 100. Many consumers leave the chargers 100 plugged in after they disconnect the device that they were charging. These disconnected chargers 100 continue to consume energy even when they are no longer providing any valuable function. Arguably, these losses in adapters are even worse than those due to standby power consumption since the power is entirely wasted and provides no functional value to the owner.
The EPA estimates that the power consumed by devices that are off or by chargers 100 left plugged in amounts to approximately 45 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity per year and costs upwards of 3.5 billion dollars annually. Given these significant costs, industry is focusing on ways to reduce the power consumed by the electronic devices they manufacture. What is needed is a process, apparatus, and system for reducing the amount of power consumed in a power supply when it is idle; that is, when it is not actively providing power to an electronic load.

Apparatus, system, and method for reducing idle power in a power supply

International Business Machines Corporation


A wheel centering device for use in a motor vehicle test platform employs mechanically synchronized centering rolls to position the driven wheel of a vehicle to be tested at the top center of the dynamometer roll. The centering rolls may be pivotally supported on a pair of lift brackets which are provided with toothed gear sections at their pivot ends for mechanical synchronization. Alternatively, the centering rolls may be supported on carriages disposed on opposite sides of the vertical centerline and movable on carriage tracks extending in upwardly sloping inclined planes disposed on opposite sides of the vertical centerline of the dynamometer roll. Movement of the carriages may be synchronized by means of a drive shaft consisting of two oppositely threaded ball screw sections and ball nuts, each attached to one of the carriages. Rotation of the shaft in one direction causes the carriages and the centering rolls to approach the vehicle wheel while maintaining an equal distance between each of the centering rolls and the vertical centerline of the dynamometer. Furthermore, movement of the carriages may be synchronized by means of an interconnected chain and sprocket system in which a driven chain is connected to one of the carriages and engages a two-chain sprocket and another chain is connected to the other carriage and the same two-chain sprocket.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a wheel centering device and more particularly to such a device in a motor vehicle test system.
2. Prior Art
Motor vehicle test systems have long been used to test performance of various vehicle subsystems in a controlled environment simulating actual road conditions. One known motor vehicle test system comprises a test platform for supporting the drive wheels of a vehicle under test in contact with what is known as a dynamometer roll. The dynamometer roll may be used to sense the power output of the drive wheels or to apply a variable load condition to the wheels to simulate a variety of driving conditions. Engine emission testing is commonly performed on such a test platform. The tests are made under a number of different conditions, such as cold engine, hot engine, light load, heavy load, etc. In order to obtain accurate measurements in the same tests performed on a number of different vehicles or on the same vehicle under different operating conditions, it is essential that the test platform conditions do not change from test to test. It has been found, for example, that test results are influenced by a change in the position of the wheels of the vehicle relative to the dynamometer roll.
A number of different arrangements for positioning the wheel of the vehicle on a dynamometer roll are known from the prior art. Some prior art systems employ a dynamometer roll and an idler roll spaced apart from the dynamometer roll, with the wheel of the vehicle supported on both rolls. In another arrangement, a pair of idler rollers are used, in front and behind the wheel, to position the wheel such that a top portion of the dynamometer roll makes contact with a bottom portion of the wheel. A problem of these and other prior art arrangements is a lack of control over the precise positioning of the vehicle wheel with respect to the dynamometer roll. Since even a slight variation in the relative position of the dynamometer roll and the wheel can significantly affect test results, a device for accurately controlling the positioning of the wheel is needed.


The present invention provides a method of driving liquid flow at or near a free surface using self-assembled structures composed of magnetic particles subjected to an external AC magnetic field. A plurality of magnetic particles are supported at or near a free surface of liquid by surface tension or buoyancy force. An AC magnetic field traverses the free surface and dipole-dipole interaction between particles produces in self-assembled snake structures which oscillate at the frequency of the traverse AC magnetic field. The snake structures independently move across the free surface and may merge with other snake structures or break up and coalesce into additional snake structures experiencing independent movement across the liquid surface. During this process, the snake structures produce asymmetric flow vortices across substantially the entirety of the free surface, effectuating liquid flow across the free surface.

Magnetic particles are known for use in laboratory and industrial procedures in which such particles are transported by applied magnetic fields. Typically, these procedures disperse particles in a liquid and impose a magnetic field on the liquid to magnetize the particles. The magnetized particles are then moved through the liquid by altering the specific orientation of the magnetic field lines with respect to the liquid, and utilizing the natural tendency of the magnetic particles to align and experience magnetic attractions. The ease with which these magnetic particles may be moved within the liquid and subsequently collected using a means of magnetic attraction has led to wide use of this technique to create forced liquid circulations to mix heterogeneous components, facilitate chemical and biological reactions, reduce transfer resistances at or near the free surface of the liquid, and conduct other processes aided by liquid agitation.
Existing methods have largely relied on the tendency of a magnetic particle subjected to an external magnetic field to align itself with the external magnetic field lines in such a way that the magnetic particle stabilizes into the configuration with the lowest energy. The magnetic particle tends to align in opposed polarity to the external magnetic field, and experiences a torque causing rotation of the magnetic particle's magnetic dipole moment by one of two ways: (i) the magnetic dipole moment itself can rotate inside the particle against the internal magnetic anisotropy field, or (ii) the entire magnetic particle can physically rotate, thus keeping the magnetic dipole moment aligned with the internal anisotropy field and the external magnetic field lines. In addition to this rotation, the magnetic particle may also experience movement driven by a magnetic drag force governed by the dipolar fields of any neighboring magnetic particles and the external magnetic field. The existing methods for driving liquid flow using magnetic particles stimulate these effects simultaneously on a multiplicity of magnetic particles, thereby agitating the liquid.
In the existing methods, the external magnetic field source can be one or more permanent magnets, electromagnets or a combination thereof. The magnetic particle may be a permanent magnet or a material which is magnetized by the external magnetic field. The external magnetic field source is established such the external magnetic field lines penetrate through the medium to some degree, and the magnetic particles correspondingly experience rotation and movement as outlined above to establish magnetic dipole moment alignment. The relative spatial orientation between the external magnetic field lines and the medium is then altered by physically relocating the magnetic field source or the medium, or, in the case of an electromagnet, through control of input power. As a result of this altered relative spatial orientation, the magnetic dipole moments of individual particles realign in accordance with the now altered orientation of the external magnetic field lines, resulting in particle movement through the medium. This movement acts to disturb the medium in which the particles are dispersed. Continuous alteration of magnetic field line spatial orientation in this manner produces essentially constant movement of the particles through the medium. (See, U.S. Pat. No. 6,228,268 B1 issued to Siddiqi, issued on May 8, 2001; U.S. Pat. No. 4,936,687 issued to Lilja, et al, issued Jun. 26, 1990; U.S. Pat. No. 6,033,574 issued to Siddiqi, issued on Mar. 7, 2000; U.S. Pat. No. 6,776,174 B2 issued to Nisson, et al, issued on Aug. 17, 2004; U.S. Pat. No. 4,310,253 issued to Sada, et al, issued on Jan. 12, 1982; U.S. Pat. No. 6,616,730 issued to Bienvenu, issued on Sep. 9, 2003). A drawback to these methods is the requirement for essentially continuous alternation of the relative spatial orientation between the external magnetic field lines and the medium, which requires either complex physical apparatus in order to physically relocate the magnetic field source or the medium, or, in the case of an electromagnet, intricate timing mechanisms to vary input power in a predetermined manner. Additionally, since the liquid agitation rate in these systems depends directly on the rate at which the relative spatial orientation can be altered, any complex physical apparatus relied on to physically relocate the AC magnetic field source or the medium fades severe limitation as the rate is increased.
Other methods for liquid agitation using magnetic particles utilize self-assembled solid-state structures to aid the agitation. These methods establish a magnetic particle density and an external magnetic field strength such that, as magnetic particles in the liquid approach each other and experience dipole-to-dipole attraction, the magnetic particles self-assemble into solid-state-structures. These solid-state structures possess a characteristic magnetic moment, and as the external magnetic field orientation is altered, the structures realign with the altered magnetic field lines and thereby move through the medium. Typically, as the structures move through the medium, they periodically break apart into component magnetized particles, which then experience additional dipole-to-dipole attractions sufficient to result in the self-assembly of new structures with characteristic magnetic moments. In these methods, the self-assembly of magnetic particles is deliberately provoked in order to increase the agitation of the medium as self-assembled structures rather than individual magnetic particles move through the medium (See U.S. Pat. No. 5,222,808, issued to Sugarman, et al, issued on Apr. 10, 1992; U.S. Patent Application No. 2007/0207272 A1, submitted by Pun, et al, published Sep. 6, 2007; U.S. Patent Application 2007/0036026 A1, submitted by Laibinis, et al, published Feb. 15, 2007). These methods offer advantage in some situations, however they still rely on magnetic dipole alignment with external magnetic field lines, and still require essentially continuous alternation of the relative spatial orientation between the external magnetic field lines and the medium. As a result, they retain the drawback of requiring either complex physical apparatus in order to physically relocate the magnetic field source or the medium, or, in the case of an electromagnet, intricate timing mechanisms to vary input power in a predetermined manner.
Snezhko, et al., has reported the formation of self-assembled structures which oscillate around stationary positions on the liquid surface and produce highly stable, localized, stationary vortex flows, with essentially dead flow areas existing outside the stable vortices. These self-assembled structures are produced by suspending magnetic particles on a free surface, and subjecting these particles to a traverse AC magnetic field. See "Surface Wave Assisted Self-assembly of Multidomain Magnetic Structures," Physical Review Letters, vol 96, Issue 7, (February 2006), and, "Dynamic self-assembly of magnetic particles on the fluid interface: Surface-wave-mediated effective magnetic exchange," Physical Review E, vol 73, 041306 (April 2006), "which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. However, Snezhko, et al., limits his discussion to low frequency regimes where self-assembled structures oscillate around essentially stationary points on the free surface, producing stable liquid vortices with dead flow areas outside the vortices where mixing is severely compromised.
What is presented here is a novel method of driving liquid flow at or near the free surface of a liquid by utilizing non-stationary, self-assembled structures which independently move across the free surface. During the course of this movement, the oscillations of the self-assembled structures produce a series of unstable temporary vortices at or near the free surface. In this manner, vortices are transitorily created across essentially the entirety of the free surface and dead areas are essentially eliminated. This method utilizes a traverse AC magnetic field with a fixed orientation between the AC magnetic field source and the liquid, avoiding the need for complex physical apparatus or intricate timing mechanisms, and allows precise, repeatable control of liquid flow velocities through selection of magnetic field frequencies. The method has use for various purposes, including but not limited to mixing heterogeneous components, facilitating chemical and biological reactions, reducing transfer resistances at or near the free surface of the liquid, or other process aided by liquid agitation

Method of driving liquid flow at or near the free surface using magnetic microparticles

The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy


In a "hi-fi" color printing system, wherein colorants of hi-fi colors beyond the regular CMYK primary colorants are available, a main gamut obtainable with the CMYK colorants only is mutually exclusive with at least one extended gamut in which a hi-fi colorant is used and a complementary one of the CMY colorants is excluded. Because the main and extended gamuts are mutually exclusive, no more than four colorants are used in any part of the image, and no more than four halftone screens need be used to obtain any desired color.

FIG. 1 represents a representative "slice" of color space in the visible spectrum, showing the additive and subtractive primary colors. (As is known in the art of color science, the slice illustrated in FIG. 1 is a section of a three-dimensional color space, with a white-to-black neutral axis emerging from the center of the diagram out of the page.) Around the perimeter of the section of color space are shown locations representing a full saturation of the subtractive primary colors yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C). These subtractive colors, as is well known, are used in the printing of images, because combinations of these colors can theoretically simulate all other colors in the visible spectrum.
Located between the various pairs of subtractive primary colors in the color space are what are here called the "hi-fi colors," blue (B), red (R), and green (G). As can be seen in the Figure, each hi-fi color can theoretically be simulated by combining, such as on a printed surface, colorants (such as toner or ink) of the two adjacent primary colors, so that magenta plus cyan together on a printed sheet would yield blue, while cyan and yellow would produce green, and so forth. However, particularly in the field of xerography, where images are typically formed with dry powders which are fused onto a paper sheet, this theoretical mixing of primary colors to yield other colors may result in a limited printer gamut. The inevitable chemical shortcomings of typical toner compositions will often cause combinations of primary color toner to yield a sub-optimal rendering of the desired combination color.
Within the shape shown in the Figure, wherein colors of any kind will be more vivid (i.e., have higher chroma) as one approaches the perimeter, the shaded area bounded by solid curved lines represents a typical practical gamut of colors obtainable with the printing apparatus. If it is attempted to print one of the primary colors, such as yellow, yellow toner is simply applied to the sheet, unalloyed with any other color; in such a case, pure yellow toner will yield the theoretical maximum chrominance of the desired color. This optimal use of uncombined primary color is represented by the fact that the solid curved line within the shape meets the perimeter of the shape only at the point of pure color, when yellow toner is not combined with any magenta or cyan toner.
However, if it is desired, for example, to print a green area, there must be a supplied onto the paper a visually-effective combination (either dots next to dots, or one toner layer on another) of yellow with cyan. As long as one primary color dominates, almost optimal chrominance can be achieved, as is shown by the fact that the curved solid line is reasonably close to the shape when yellow or cyan dominates. When colors toward a pure green are desired, which would require close to a half-and-half split of the two types of toner, the lack of chrominance becomes noticeable, as shown in the Figure by the fact that, near the area marked G, the solid curved line is quite far from the corner of the shape which represents a perfect green. In practical terms, the fact that the solid curved line is far from the perimeter of the shape results in a distinct dull or grayish appearance when the combination color is attempted. A similar lack of chrominance will appear when other hi-fi hues, such as red or blue, are attempted to be printed with close-to-equal proportions of subtractive colors.
It has been proposed, particularly in the art of xerographic printing, to overcome the problem of obtaining the hi-fi hues by providing printing apparatus which lays down not only the CMY primary colors, but also one or more apparatus (such as development units) which lay down one or more types of toner to print hi-fi hues, such as RGB. Instead of trying to obtain, for example, pure blue by mixing magenta and cyan toners, such a system would simply lay down a dedicated blue toner. With the addition of a black (K) development unit such as for printing of text, such "hi-fi" color printing systems would typically include five or more development units.

System for printing color images with extra colorants in addition to primary colorants


An optical device includes a light guide plate; a first diffraction element that is a transmission type diffraction element provided on a first face of the light guide plate and that diffracts and ejects at least a portion of light which is guided along inside the light guide plate; a second diffraction element that is a transmission type diffraction element provided on the first face of the light guide plate and that diffracts at least a portion of light proceeding to the light guide plate; and a third diffraction element that is a reflection type diffraction element provided on a face which is an opposite face of the light guide plate from the first face, and that diffracts at least a portion of light which enters an inside of the light guide plate via the second diffraction element.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an optical device, an image projecting apparatus, and an electronic device.
2. Related Art
Recently, there have been commercialized image projecting apparatuses which guide image light emitted by an image display apparatus to the eyes of an observer by using an optical device including a light guide plate, and thereby enable the observer to observe an image (virtual image). For example, for a head-mounted display, a kind of such image projecting apparatus, developments targeted for downsizing, broadening viewing angle, and improving efficiency have been promoted. For such an optical device, heretofore, there has been proposed a method of employing an optical diffraction element as a component for causing light to enter a light guide plate and/or a component for causing light guided along inside the light guide plate to be emitted.
Meanwhile, with respect to a diffraction property of such an optical diffraction element, there is a large wavelength dependency. For this reason, in an image projecting apparatus incorporating an optical device employing such an optical diffraction element, color unevenness of an observed virtual image sometimes increases.
Thus, there has been proposed an optical device including a plurality of optical diffraction elements each associated with a corresponding one of a plurality of color light components (for example, red, green, and blue light components). In an image projecting apparatus employing such an optical device, through a method of causing each of a plurality of color light components which constitute light guided by a light guide plate to be diffracted by a corresponding one of the optical diffraction elements, it is possible to display a virtual image resulting from a reduction of a difference which exists in diffraction efficiency between any two of the color light components and which is caused by the wavelength dependency of the diffraction efficiency (for example, JP-A-2009-186794).
In a configuration disclosed in JP-A-2009-186794, for each of two kinds of components, one for causing light to enter the inside of a wave guide plate, the other one for causing light to be emitted from the inside of the light guide plate, a plurality of optical diffraction elements each associated with a corresponding one of a plurality of color light components which constitute light guided along inside the wave guide plate are layer-stacked. Thus, as the structure of the optical device disclosed in JP-A-2009-186794 has become complex, the manufacturing cost of the image projecting apparatus is likely to increase.
Further, in the case where a plurality of optical diffraction elements each associated with a corresponding one of mutually different color light components are provided in the form of stacked layers, there arises a phenomenon in which light having been diffracted by an optical diffraction element associated with a certain color light component enters an optical diffraction element associated with a different color light component, and consequently the light is subjected to further diffraction. Thus, it becomes difficult to control diffraction angles, and as a result, there have been cases where this difficulty of control has caused a problem, such as degradation of image quality of a displayed virtual image.

Optical device including diffraction elements for diffracting light inside of a light guide, image projecting apparatus, and electronic device


Object: To provide a test reagent for the analyte in a test sample, utilizing the level of agglutination of a particle suspension which suspend insoluble carrier particles carrying a substance for capturing the analyte as an indicator, which reagent does not undergo self-agglutination during storage, and which non-specific agglutination rarely occurs during measurement, as well as to provide a method for the analyte to be measured in a test sample. Means for Solution: The test reagent for the analyte comprises at least a Solution A which is a buffer solution having an electric conductivity of not less than 30 ms/cm; and a Solution B having an electric conductivity of not more than 6.5 ms/cm, the Solution B being a particle suspension which suspends particles which are insoluble carrier particles carrying a substance for capturing the analyte.

The method of measuring a substance to be measured (antigen or antibody) in a test sample, using a test reagent with particle suspension which suspends insoluble carrier particles carrying an antibody or antigen, utilizing the level of agglutination by the particles after reacting with the test sample as an indicator, is known as immunoagglutination and is widely used.
It has been reported that insoluble carrier carrying an antibody can be dispersed in a liquid phase with a low ionic strength having an NaCl concentration not higher than a prescribed concentration, or conversely, in a liquid phase with a high ionic strength having an NaCl concentration not lower than a prescribed concentration.
The insoluble carrier carrying a protein suspended in a solvent with a low ionic strength having a NaCl concentration not higher than a prescribed concentration, that is, suspended in a solvent having a low electric conductivity, is outstanding in effectively attaining good dispensability and sensitivity. However, non-specific agglutination may occur due to contamination of ions by impurities from biological samples.
It is known that interferences that influence the immunological reaction of the target substance exist in biological samples. To avoid the influence by the interferences of the immunological reaction, methods employing reagents with various additives have been widely used. For example, a method is known for using the reaction solution for detecting a target substance and the buffer solution, which is a second reagent containing an additive, for avoiding the influence from interferences. In many cases, the buffer solution has an electric conductivity (about 15 to 20 ms/cm) close to that of the saline. In measuring systems using an antibody suspended insoluble carrier under a condition of a low electric conductivity, non-specific agglutination may occur when the reaction solution is mixed with the buffer solution during the measurement.
In immunoagglutination or the like, various additives (for example, polyethylene glycol or guanidine) may be used in order to increase the sensitivity of the reagent. However, if an additive is used, the electric conductivity will increase, therefore non-specific agglutination may occur when the reaction solution is mixed with the buffer solution during the measurement.
On the other hand, in cases where an insoluble carrier carrying a protein suspended in a solvent having a high electric conductivity is used, self-agglutination does not occur in a short time, not within a several hours. However, self-agglutination takes place during long-term storage for several days or several months or more, so that the storage may not be attained.

Test reagent, and method for measuring analyte in test sample using same


The present invention relates to a module 50 for generating integrated decoding circuits for use, in particular, in turbo devices, to the method for defining the characteristics of and generating convolutional decoding circuits, and to the circuit that can be obtained with said module 50. The module 50 is parametric and, thanks to this feature, makes it possible to generate decoding circuits having different performance characteristics which are such that they can be used in turbo devices employing different decoding modes and different architectures. In addition, the module 50 makes it possible to generate decoding circuits whose distinguishing feature is that they can manage a plurality of generator polynomials selectively and can thus also be used in asymmetrical turbo devices.

Integrated circuits can be designed using high-level description languages such as VHDL (Very High Speed Integrated Circuit Hardware Description Language).
By means of this design technique and the use of appropriate silicon compilers, it is possible to obtain an integrated component having the characteristics specified using the high-level language, for example, the VDHL description.
It is known that the VHDL descriptions of predetermined functions such as those relating to a decoding circuit can constitute libraries of modules referred to as IP or Intellectual Property libraries whereby highly complex electronic devices such as SOC (System On Chip) systems can be constructed.
A distinguishing feature of the modules belonging to an IP library (IP modules or modules) is that they can be used in the design of multiple electronic devices, thanks to the fact that their interface parameters with other modules or electronic circuits can be "specialized" before silicon compilation, assigning specific values to variables or parameters determined at the design stage.
In accordance with the object of the present invention, reference is made to the IP module for telecommunications and the corresponding decoding circuits that can be used in devices for decoding concatenated convolutional codes (turbo decoding).
With reference to the transmission of digital information (data), it is known that the errors introduced when transmitting data on a channel make it necessary to code said data by adding redundancy bits prior to transmission, and to decode them after they are received by removing the redundancy bits. Essentially, thanks to the presence of the redundancy bits, encoding and decoding make it possible to reconstruct the initial data with a level of certainty or probability which allows for the errors introduced by the transmission channel involved.
A variety of well-known techniques can be used to encode and decode data.
For the purposes of the present invention, the convolutional encoding and decoding technique is taken into consideration, and the concatenated type, turbo encoding and decoding, in particular.
As is known, a convolutional encoding device is capable of using predetermined algorithms to take the information which precedes encoding, i.e., a priori information, into account when encoding data. As is also known, the extent to which encoding is reliable, or in other words the extent to which it guarantees that data will be correctly reconstructed, is directly proportional to the amount of a priori information that the encoding algorithm takes into account. Naturally, the complexity of the algorithm used in encoding and decoding will increase along with the amount of a priori information it considers.
To improve the results that can be attained with decoding and to reduce the complexity of the encoding and decoding circuits and devices required for any given level of performance, the so-called turbo encoding and decoding devices have been introduced.
Whether used for encoding or decoding, turbo devices comprise a plurality of convolutional circuits interconnected in concatenated fashion by means of one or more circuits (known as interleaver circuits) capable of delaying or changing the order of the bits.
In general, the architecture of turbo encoding devices (turbo encoders) thus involves using a plurality of convolutional encoding circuits interconnected using serial or parallel layouts in such a way that encoding is performed in parallel or serially.
For example, a convolutional encoding circuit (encoding circuit) 10 (FIG. 1) for turbo encoders includes a data input (u) and two outputs, one for input data (u), in which case the circuit is referred to as systematic, and one for encoding information (code) (c).
In addition, the circuit includes a shift register 12 having a length in number of bits (ν−1) which in the example is three bits, i.e., bit 21, bit 22 and bit 23 respectively. This shift register is capable of receiving data (u) at input and of outputting the code (c) in accordance with the type of internal connections used in encoding circuit 10.
The main parameters that characterize encoding circuit 10 are as follows:    k denotes the number of bits introduced in sequence per unit of time. In the example and in general, encoding with k=1 is used.    k*(ν−1) denotes the size of the shift register 12 to be used for encoding.    n denotes the number of bits output by the encoder.
In general, an encoder receives k bits at a time, which are introduced in the shift register 12 featuring k*(ν−1) positions; at the encoder output, there will be n output bits for every k input bits (n≧k). Each output bit is calculated via a binary or modulo-2 sum of a certain number of bits in shift register 12; naturally, this sum depends on the encoder's internal connection logic and establishes the so-called generator polynomials, which will be discussed in detail later. In the example, the value u of the input bit is added to the value of a bit obtained via a feedback connection (path). The value thus obtained is then added to the value of the first bit 21 of shift register 12 and the result is added to the value of the third bit 23 of shift register 12; in the feedback path, moreover, the third bit 23 and the second bit 22 of shift register 12 are added to the input bit.
As known, encoding circuits 10 are referred to as recursive in cases where feedback connections are present.
In this way, each coded bit (c) depends not only on the k bits received at any given instant, but also on the k* bits (ν−1) received previously.
In accordance with the prior art, the term "codeword" is used to designate the set of n bits supplied at the encoder output. In the example there are two codewords, viz., the data provided at input (u) and the associated code (c). The value k/n is called the "code rate".
In general, encoding circuits' performance characteristics are defined on the basis of the parameters indicated above. In particular, these characteristics include:                ν Constraint length of the decoding circuit or code, which naturally depends on the length of the shift register,        Nst Number of states corresponding to the value 2k(ν−1) and which corresponds to the number of possible binary combinations in the shift register,        gc Generator polynomial for c, which defines the interconnections for generating code c, and        gf Generator polynomial for fm which defines the interconnections for generating feedback information f.
As is known, the generator polynomial is uniquely identified by a binary word consisting of ν bits. Each bit of the binary word corresponds to a position of the input data or of the shift register and, by convention, if the bit is at value 1 in the generator polynomial, the input data or that stored in the shift register in the corresponding position participates in computing the feedback or output code. If the bit is at value 0, it does not participate.
In the example shown in FIG. 1, ν is equal to 4 bits, the polynomial gc is, as will be readily apparent to specialists in the field, 1101 (13 DEC), while polynomial gf is 1011 (11 DEC).
Encoding is generally described with a so-called trellis diagram.
For the encoding circuit in FIG. 1, for example, FIG. 2 shows the corresponding trellis diagram 20 where all possible changes in the encoding circuit over time for the various input values u and circuit state are expressed graphically using connecting lines called edges. Trellis diagram 20 also shows output data. i.e., u and c respectively, on the edges.
The foregoing considerations regarding the performance characteristics of encoding circuits for turbo devices also apply to the characteristics of decoding circuits for turbo devices (turbo decoders) given that, as will be readily apparent to a specialist in the field, decoding circuits must have characteristics which are equivalent to those of encoding circuits if they are to be able to decode coded information correctly.
Naturally, input information for decoding circuits consists of bits for systematic information estimation (u) and of bits for redundancy information estimation (c) obtained in accordance with the prior art at the output of the transmission channel following a demodulation operation.
The type of encoding used by the turbo device, e.g., parallel or serial, is another of the parameters to be considered in implementing both turbo decoders and the decoding circuits they contain.
A technical disadvantage of prior art systems for designing turbo decoders is that there are no available IP modules of decoding circuits which can be used regardless of variations in characteristics.
In particular, known IP modules for generating convolutional code decoding circuits are constrained to performance characteristics, and there is thus a one-to-one correspondence between IP modules and the decoding circuits having a given set of performance characteristics.
A further disadvantage of prior art systems is that there are no available IP modules of decoding circuits that can be used regardless of variations in encoding mode.
Naturally, thus means that the IP modules of decoding circuits that can be used in turbo decoders differ according to the turbo encoding mode involved.
In addition, known IP modules of decoding circuits are constrained to the use of specific methods and technologies.
Essentially, known IP modules of decoding circuits are not parametric as regards the performance characteristics of the architecture and the decoder and, because of this limitation, make it necessary to make design choices very early in the process. If, conversely, these modules were parametric and flexible, these choices could be made at later stages. This would provide clear advantages, particularly in cases where it becomes necessary to change the characteristics of the algorithms to be used or the architecture.
Yet another technical disadvantage which specifically affects decoder circuits implemented on silicon or using programmable logic is that once implemented, these circuits can use only one generator polynomial, or in other words only one type of decoding function for reconstructing initial data.
This is an extremely significant limitation of prior art systems, particularly in the case of turbo devices which use serial decoding.
In serial mode decoding, as is known, a second decoding circuit or stage is occupied in decoding at different times than the first circuit or stage, given that information from the first stage must be used for decoding. It is thus possible in principle to use a single decoding circuit in turbo decoders which employ serial decoding approaches.
With prior art systems, however, using a single decoding circuit is possible only if the turbo decoder's decoding stages use a single pair of generator polynomials.
In cases where two or more decoding stages use different generator polynomials, this constraint means that serial turbo decoders must include a corresponding number of decoding circuits, which clearly increases the device's complexity and the associated development costs, given that each individual decoding circuit generally contains a large number of equivalent gates, e.g., around 150,000.
Naturally, this constraint would be overcome if decoder circuits for turbo devices existed which could manage a plurality of generator polynomials.

Module for generating circuits for decoding convolutional codes, related method and circuit


The present invention relates to a plasma display panel, and more particularly, to a method of driving a plasma display panel. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method of driving a plasma display panel in which one frame comprises a plurality of sub-fields and which represent a gray level by making the sub-fields emitting light according to brightness weights allocated to the sub-fields, includes a step of implementing a specific gray level using a previous or next luminous pattern of the specific gray level in representing the specific gray level where none of the sub-fields of a one-step lower gray level are luminous. The method of driving a plasma display panel according to the present invention enables to prevent electric discharge failure and to stably display images on the PDP of high-density Xe.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a plasma display panel, and more particularly, to a method of driving a plasma display panel.
2. Description of the Background Art
Generally, a plasma display panel (hereinafter abbreviated PDP) displays an image including characters and graphics in a manner of exciting a fluorescent substance by a 147 nm UV-ray emitted from a mixed gas discharge of (He+Xe), (Ne+Xe), or (He+Ne+Xe). PDP provides an excellent quality of image due to the recent development of technology as well as can be provided with a slim size and wide-screen. Specifically, a 3-electrodes AC surface discharge type PDP lowers its voltage necessary for an electric discharge using wall charges accumulated on a surface and protects its electrodes from sputtering occurring on the electric discharge, thereby being advantageous in enabling a low voltage drive and long endurance.
FIG. 1 is a perspective diagram of a discharge cell of a 3-electrodes AC surface discharge type PDP according to a related art. Referring to FIG. 1, a discharge cell of a 3-electrodes AC surface discharge type PDP consists of a scan electrode 30Y and sustain electrode 30Z formed on an upper substrate 10 and an address electrode 20X formed on a lower substrate 18.
Each of the scan and sustain electrodes 30Y and 30Z has a line width smaller than that of a transparent electrode 12Y or 12Z and includes a metal bus electrode 13Y or 13Z. The transparent electrodes 12Y and 12Z are generally formed of indium tin oxide (ITO) on the upper substrate 10. The metal bus electrodes 13Y and 13Z are generally formed of metal such as Cr or the like on the transparent electrodes 12Y and 12Z to reduce the voltage drops caused by the transparent electrodes 12Y and 12Z of high resistance, respectively. An upper dielectric layer 14 and protecting layer 16 are stacked over the upper substrate 10 including the scan and sustain electrodes 30Y and 30Z. Wall charges generated from plasma discharge are accumulated on the upper dielectric layer 14. The protecting layer 16 protects the upper dielectric layer 14 against sputtering caused by plasma discharge and increases discharge efficiency of secondary electrons. And, the protecting layer 16 is generally formed of MgO.
The address electrode 20X is formed in a direction crossing with that of the scan or sustain electrode 30Y or 30Z. A lower dielectric layer 22 and barrier rib 24 are formed on the lower substrate 8, having the address electrode 20X formed thereon. A fluorescent layer 26 is formed on surfaces of the lower dielectric layer 22 and the barrier rib 24. The barrier rib 24 is formed parallel to the address electrode 20Z to physically partition each discharge cell and prevents UV and visible rays generated from electric discharge from leaking to neighbor discharge cells. The fluorescent layer 26 is excited by the UV-ray generated from plasma discharge to emit light including one of red, green, and blue visible rays. A mixed inert gas such as He+Xe, Ne+Xe, He+Xe+Ne, and the like for electric discharge is injected in a discharge space of the discharge cell provided between the barrier ribs 24 and the upper and lower substrates 10 and 18.
In the above-configured 3-electrodes AC surface discharge type PDP, one frame is divided into several sub-fields differing in luminous times to implement gray levels. And, each of the sub-fields is divided again into a reset period for arousing electric discharge evenly, an address period for selecting a discharge cell, and a sustain period for implementing gray levels according to a discharging number.
For instance, in case of displaying an image at 256 gray levels, a frame period (16.67ms) corresponding to 1/60 second is divided into eight sub-fields SF1 To SF8. And, each of the eight sub-fields SF1 to SF8 is divided into a reset period, an address period, and a sustain period. The reset and address periods of the respective sub-fields are equal to each other, whereas the sustain periods and their discharge numbers of the respective sub-fields increase at a ratio of 2n (n=0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7), respectively. As the sustain period varies according to the corresponding sub-field, the image gray levels can be implemented.
Substantially, the sub-fields of the frame are selected to implement the gray levels in a manner of Table 1.
TABLE 1SF1SF2SF3SF4SF5SF6SF7SF8Y1Y2Y3Y8Y16Y32Y64Y1280XXXXXXXX1◯XXXXXXX2X◯XXXXXX15◯◯◯◯XXXX16XXXX◯XXX17◯XXX◯XXX31◯◯◯◯◯XXX32XXXXX◯XX33◯XXXX◯XX63◯◯◯◯◯◯XX64XXXXXX◯X127◯◯◯◯◯◯◯X128XXXXXXX◯255◯◯◯◯◯◯◯◯
In Table 1, 'SFx' means an xth sub-field, 'Yz' indicates a brightness weight set to a decimal number for the corresponding sub-field, 'O ' indicates a turned-on state of the corresponding sub-field, and 'x' indicates a turned-off state of the corresponding sub-field.
The sub-fields, as shown in Table 1, bring about sustain discharges to correspond to the brightness weights allocated to them, respectively, thereby representing gray levels corresponding to the brightness weights, respectively. Yet, in the related art sub-field driving method, a discharge error may occur in the gray levels 15-16, 31-32, 63-64, and 127-128 where luminous patterns are varied more considerably than those of the previous gray levels, respectively. Moreover, in the gray levels 15-16, 31-32, 63-64, and 127-128 where luminous patterns are greatly varied, it is difficult to control wall charges.
Specifically, in order to represent the gray level of '31', the sustain discharge occurs in the first to fifth sub-fields SF1 to SF5. In doing so, since a plurality of the sub-fields are selected from one frame to represent the gray level of '31', the address discharge can occur stably in the selected sub-fields. In other words, the address discharge occurring in the fifth sub-field SF5 can take place stably due to the priming discharged particles produced from the previous sub-fields.
In order to represent the gray level of '32', the sustain discharge takes place in the sixth sub-field SF6. In doing so, one sub-field is selected from one frame to represent the gray level of '32'. In other words, the address discharge occurring in the sixth sub-field SF6 should take place without the aid of charged particles produced from the previous sub-field. For such a reason, it is highly probable that the address discharge may fail in the sixth sub-field SF6.
Meanwhile, in another related art, 10% Ne—Xe at 46 kPa is set as the discharge gas sealed within the PDP to increase density of the Xe component. Thus, even if a drive voltage of the high-density Xe panel becomes higher than that of the related art low-density Xe panel, brightness can be enhanced. Hence, the high-density Xe panel enables to display an image of high brightness by raising the Xe component of the discharge gas. Yet, since the drive voltage of the high-density Xe panel is set higher than that of the low-density Xe panel, it becomes more probable that the discharge failure of the high-density Xe panel may occur in the gray levels of 15-16, 31-32, 63-64, and 127-128 of which luminous patterns are varied more considerably than those of the previous gray levels, respectively.

Method of driving a plasma display panel


A fisheye-corrected lens system includes a plurality of axially aligned lenses. At least one of the lenses includes an aspheric surface and an image distortion of the lens system is less than about five percent at a maximum field angle. A furthest point of the aspheric surface is positioned within a distance less than about fifty percent of a diagonal dimension of an associated imager.

Today, motor vehicle manufacturers are increasingly installing safety devices in vehicles to enable drivers to drive in a safer more efficient manner. For example, some manufacturers have included forward looking systems (FLSs), rear detection systems (RDSs) and side detection systems (SDSs) within certain vehicle models. An adaptive cruise control (ACC) system is one example of an FLS. The ACC system uses a radar sensor mounted at the front of the vehicle to detect objects in a forward path of the vehicle. If the lane ahead is clear, the ACC system maintains a set vehicle speed. However, when a slower vehicle is detected, the ACC system maintains a driver-selected distance using throttle control and limited braking between the vehicles. A typical ACC system uses mechanically scanned radar sensors, which normally improves the ability of the system to detect targets, e.g., vehicles in heavy traffic. A typical commercially available ACC system has a range of 150 meters and azimuth of 15 degrees and updates at a 10 hertz rate. An ACC system generally determines a range of a detected object, as well as the relative speed of the detected object.
SDSs detect objects that are at the side of a vehicle, e.g., in a driver's blind spot. A typical SDS includes a radar sensor that is mounted in each rear quarter panel of the vehicle. Each radar sensor is designed to detect objects in an adjacent lane. In this manner, the SDS can provide a visual indication to the driver to warn of objects in the driver's blind spot.
An example of an RDS is a back-up aid (BUA) or a reverse sensing system. BUAs are typically used as short range parking aids and include visual and audible alarms to warn a driver of an impending collision. A typical BUA system includes a radar sensor that provides a rear detection range of up to 6 meters. Some BUAs also include ultrasonic sensors that provide bumper coverage. A typical BUA is activated when a vehicle is: put into reverse gear and is useful for parking, parallel parking, backing in and out of parking spaces and backing at higher speeds.
Video systems are also increasingly being installed in motor vehicles. For example, one proposed BUA incorporates a camera in conjunction with ultrasonic sensors mounted in a bumper of a motor vehicle. In this system, a video display is positioned within the motor vehicle to allow monitoring of an area at a rear of the motor vehicle by a driver. That is, a rear facing camera is mounted at a back of a motor vehicle such that when the vehicle is placed in a reverse gear, a video display is activated to allow the driver to see obstacles which might not otherwise be visible. Such video systems have typically required a lens system that provides a relatively wide viewing angle in order to adequately cover an area at a rear of a motor vehicle. Unfortunately, wide-angle lens systems that provide low-distortion have tended to be relatively expensive and inexpensive wide-angle lens systems have tended to have a relatively high-distortion at a maximum field angle, e.g., forty percent distortion at a maximum field angle of fifty degrees.
What is needed is a wide-angle lens system that is relatively inexpensive and provides relatively low-distortion at a maximum field angle.

Lens system for a motor vehicle vision system


A connector for a flexible board includes a housing integrally formed with a bottom board, side wall portions and a top board, and formed with a board insertion portion that has a laterally extending opening shape disposed between the bottom board and the top board, and a plurality of contacts each integrally formed with a mounting piece portion and a resilient contact piece portion projecting into the board insertion portion and contacting with the flexible board, the flexible board is contacted with a connected board through the contacts, the top board is formed from a metallic board receiving plate, when the flexible board is inserted into the board insertion portion, the flexible board is held between the board receiving plate and the resilient contact piece portions.

The present invention relates to a connector for connecting a flexible board such as FPC to a connected board such as a printed circuit board.
Generally, the connector is used for connecting the flexible board such as FPC to a mounted board that is built into an electronic device in such a manner that the flexible board is inserted into the connector and is electrically connected to the mounted board of the electronic device.
For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the connector 1 for the flexible board 2 includes a housing 4 having a board insertion portion 3 into which a terminal portion of the flexible board 2 is inserted and a plurality of contacts 5 held in the housing 4. Resilient contact piece portions 5a of the contacts 5 project into the board insertion portion 3 and contact with the terminal portion of the flexible board 2, which is inserted into the board insertion portion 3, so that the flexible board 2 is electrically connected to a connected board 6 through the contacts 5.
The housing 4 made of synthetic resin material is integrally formed with a bottom board 4a, wall portions 4b that are disposed at a periphery of the bottom board 4a and a top board 4c that is opposed to the bottom board 4a through the wall portions 4b. The housing 4 is formed with the board insertion portion 3 that opens to a side surface of the housing 4 in a laterally extending manner, and is disposed between the bottom board 4a and the top board 4c. Patent Document 1:JP-A-2002-359024
However, in the related art described above, stress caused from elastic deformation of the contact (the resilient contact piece portions) affects the top board and the bottom board of the housing through the flexible board and the contact reaction force receiving portion or the like, so that the top board and the bottom board, made of synthetic resin material, are deformed and a suitable contact state thereof may not be maintained. Both of the top board and the bottom board have to be designed to have a certain thickness in order to prevent such deformation, thereby hindering miniaturization (reducing the thickness).


Extraction, especially of firm fruit such as cranberries, with improved yields of high quality, low tannin juices by using an improved countercurrent extractor employing longitudinal members positioned between adjacent flights and reinfusion of decharacterized, extracted fruit pieces with infusion syrups, such as juices from fruits other than that extracted, to produce a fruit food product of various flavors having a desired level of inherent soluble fruit component, without the need to bleed off spent syrup as a byproduct.

Countercurrent extractors are used in the fruit processing industry for extraction of juices from solid fruit matter. The extractor includes a screw conveyor which urges fruit solids in a first direction, while extraction fluid flows in the opposite direction, extracting juice from the solids by osmosis. Other juice extraction methods used in the processing of cranberries include processes which utilize presses in conjunction with pressing aids (e.g., rice hulls) to produce a high quality single strength juice. Higher yield processes often utilize enzymatic treatment at elevated temperature to break down pectin in raw fruit prior to extraction and may result in a juice of substantially lower quality.


A backlight system controls a viewing angle in a switchable privacy display system that achieves a strong private mode and enhanced brightness in the private and public modes as compared to conventional configurations. The backlight system includes a first backlight unit that emits light from a non-viewing side of the backlight system toward a viewing side of the backlight system; a second backlight unit located on a viewing side of the first backlight unit that emits light toward the viewing side of the backlight system; and a privacy optic that includes a liquid crystal material and is located on a non-viewing side of the second backlight unit and between the first backlight unit and the second backlight unit, wherein the privacy optic operates to transmit light from the first backlight unit in a limited viewing angle range.

Displays in automotive vehicles are becoming more and more prominent. There is a push for larger displays to become a common feature in cars including entertainment displays for the passenger. The main obstacle preventing this from becoming a reality is privacy: by law in many jurisdictions and otherwise for general safety concerns, a driver must not be able to view moving image content on a display while driving. Accordingly, if a passenger is watching video content on the dashboard display, no light (or no variation of light level) is to be visible from the driver's position. Such result necessitates a strong privacy display, by which image content is visible only from within a specific and limited viewing angle range, and otherwise generally is not visible to a viewer outside of such viewing angle range.
Accordingly, attempts have been made to provide display systems with a strong privacy mode. FIG. 1A is a schematic drawing depicting a liquid crystal device (LCD) configuration 10 as is conventional in the art. FIG. 1B is a schematic drawing depicting an LCD configuration 20 that is representative of an improved privacy display designed by Applicant, as described in Applicant's application Ser. No. 15/981,022 filed on May 16, 2018 (the '022 Application), the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. In the conventional configuration 10, a backlight 12 emits light 14 to a view angle control film 16, and the light subsequently illuminates a liquid crystal display (LCD) image panel 18. The view angle control film may be a Louvre film as are known in the art. As illustrated by the arrows schematically illustrating the light beams 14, although there is some attenuation of off-axis light by the view angle control film 16, the screening of the off-axis light often is insufficient to provide a full private mode, as some residual off-axis light is still transmitted to the image panel 18 and thus to the viewing side (as indicated by the smaller arrows pointing in the off-axis direction). Accordingly, a strong private mode is not achieved as an image corresponding to the residual off-axis light still may be perceived by an off-axis viewer. Accordingly, the conventional configuration of FIG. 1A results in a privacy mode that in particular does not meet the stringent requirements for automotive applications.
In the LCD device 20 of FIG. 1B that is described in the '022 Application, an additional switchable view angle control LCD 22 is incorporated into the device. The switchable view angle control LCD 22 may be a switchable scattering LCD that can be electrically switched between a first mode (Mode 1 in FIG. 1B) and a second mode (Mode 2 in FIG. 1B). In the first mode (Mode 1), the switchable view angle control LCD 22 performs a view angle restriction function without scattering light to provide a narrow angle viewing or private mode. Comparing Mode 1 to the conventional configuration, the off-axis light that might not be screened out by the view angle control film 16 is now blocked by the switchable view angle control LCD 22. In this manner, an enhanced privacy mode is achieved as compared to conventional configurations. In the second mode (Mode 2), the switchable view angle control LCD 22 operates to perform a light scattering function to achieve a wide angle viewing or public mode.
Accordingly, the configuration of the '022 Application of FIG. 1B addresses the automotive industry need for a display system that can switch between a strong private mode and a public mode. As described in the '022 Application, one way of achieving switchable privacy is to have a switchable scatterer positioned above a privacy optic such as the above-mentioned Louvre film. For example, the '022 Application describes a Hydrodynamic hybrid-aligned nematic (HHAN) cell that, in a first mode, enhances the privacy of the display device, and in a second mode, scatters the previously collimated light off-axis to provide the public mode. One drawback of this system, however, is that the light efficiency is low and the public mode can appear dim because a Louvre film generally has a low light efficiency, transmitting only about 35% of the light from a backlight. When the HHAN cell is placed in the scattering mode, the already low level of collimated light is scattered out to wider angles, which can result in a dim public mode.
An alternative method of achieving a switchable privacy display system is to use a switchable backlight system with dual backlight units, such as taught by U.S. Pat. No. 9,881,531 (Klippstein et al., issued Jan. 30, 2018). FIG. 2 is a drawing depicting such a conventional display system 10a using a switchable dual backlight system, and illustrating such a system operating in both a private mode and a public mode. Such system includes the image panel 18 on a viewing side of a first privacy backlight unit 12a having a narrow viewing angle range, and a second public backlight unit 12b having a wide viewing angle range. The privacy backlight unit 12a is positioned on the non-viewing side of the public backlight unit 12b. In the private mode, the privacy backlight unit 12a is turned on and the public backlight unit 12b is turned off, and the system operates comparably as in FIG. 1A. In the public mode, the public backlight unit 12b is turned on and the privacy backlight unit 12a is turned off for a brighter wide angle viewing mode. Comparably as with other conventional configurations, the switchable dual backlight system 10a of FIG. 2 does not have a sufficiently strong privacy mode to be used in automotive applications.
FIGS. 3 and 4 are schematic drawings depicting alternative LCD configurations 20a and 20b based on embodiments described in the '022 Application. In such examples, an additional privacy LCD 22a that may be a HAN cell (FIG. 3), or that may be a switchable scattering privacy LCD 22b such as an HHAN cell (FIG. 4), is combined with the dual backlight unit configuration, with the switchable privacy LCD being positioned on the viewing side of the public backlight unit. The switchable scattering privacy LCD 22b may be a HHAN cell as referenced above. One downside to the switchable dual backlight system with an additional privacy optic solution such as the privacy LCD 22a/22b is that the privacy optic also acts on the light emitted from the public mode backlight unit 12b, which reduces the brightness and performance of the public mode.

Enhanced privacy switchable backlight system


A security display case including an enclosure having a security portion and a display portion, a platform moveable from the security portion to the display portion, a security member that secures the security portion, a gas spring that moves the platform from the security portion to the display portion, and a stabilizing assembly that stabilizes the moving platform. Optionally, the gas spring is paired with another gas spring so that the lateral forces of the springs are substantially cancelled, and the vertical forces are combined to move the platform. The stabilizing assembly can be a rack and pinion gear including at least two pinion gears engaged by a common member which synchronizes rotation of the gears to prevent binding of the platform as it is moved. The security member can include doors that fold over the security portion and which are engaged at their edges by a common locking member.

The present invention relates to display cases, and more particularly, to display cases having a platform on which valuables are supported, the platform being moveable between a display position and a secure position.
A variety of display cases are used in the retail industry to exhibit valuable items such as jewelry, electronic devices, coins and antiques. Conventional display cases include a display section encased with one or more glass windows to enable viewing of the items displayed therein. As expected, these glass windows only offer a low level of security because a criminal can easily break the windows and steal the valuable items stored in the case. Accordingly, many stores remove the valuable items from the display case after store hours and secure those items in a safer device, such as a locked safe. Of course, this relocation requires additional time and labor, and thus increases cost. In addition, with the routine movement of the valuable items, stores frequently experience inventory loss and internal (employee) theft.
There have been several attempts to address the above problems. One such attempt is provided in U.S. Pat. No. 6,851,770 to Canedy et al, in which a display case is provided with a platform that supports valuable items. The platform is moved vertically between a display section of the case and a secured, lower section of the display case by a highly specific linear actuator. This linear actuator is secured to the platform, produces force to move the platform, and has a range of motion—from a retracted position to an extended position—that is limited to a single, unchanging straight line axis in either of two directions (up or down). Canedy explains that its linear actuator is a powered jack, a screw type actuator, a powered rack and pinion actuator, or a chain and sprocket actuator, but excludes any type of actuator that moves or extends in any manner off the straight line axis, for example, a scissor lift mechanism, or any device that moves through space under the platform both vertically and laterally. Canedy also excludes any actuator that is connected at pivot points to the platform, or that exerts lateral forces on the platform during operation, claiming that this causes "binding" of the platform with the sides of the display case.
Although previous display case constructions provide a way to move a platform from a display section to a secured section of a display case, they suffer a number of shortcomings. First, conventional actuators require notable power—either manual or electrical—to move the platform. This can increase power usage within a store, or needlessly consume labor time while employees move the platform. Second, previous constructions, such as that in Canedy, can bind against the side walls of the case where the platform is tightly fitted within the case and/or where the platform is unevenly loaded. This can needlessly result in the platform becoming lodged in one position, the powered actuator overheating and failing, or increased wear on the actuator. Further, where the platform is unevenly loaded, it can be prone to teetering or movement even when in the display position simply by someone bumping the display case. This can cause unintended movement of items on the platform, which can require an employee to re-orient those items.