A device, system and method of image processing and compression are preferably used with second generation infrared (IR) detector arrays where the pixel size is less than the optical blur of the system. Raw input pixels are compressed such that output pixels are more closely matched to the optical blur of the system. Further, the number of output pixels are compressed from a greater number of input pixels, based upon a selected input-to-output compression ratio. The ratio is not constrained to be of an integer value. The compression takes place using a plurality of neighborhood processors, each corresponding to a different output pixel type. Each neighborhood processor contains a plurality of different predetermined weighed fractions of input pixel data and are used to produce compressed output pixel data, based upon the selected input-to-output compression ratio and the output pixel type, for real-time processing.

The present invention relates to a system and method for pixel compression to reduce data rate and memory storage requirements in real-time processors. More particularly, it relates to non-integral pixel compression for second generation FLIR sensors.
Pixel compression is employed in present FLIR systems to reduce data rate and memory storage requirements of real-time processors used to analyze imagery. These systems typically consist of a vertical, staggered line array of 120 or 180 detector elements as illustrated in FIG. 2. The target, or image to be detected, is scanned across the detector perpendicular to the line array in the horizontal direction. Each detector element is sampled periodically as the scan proceeds, creating an array of pixels. The sampling frequency is such that each detector is sampled at least two times for each horizontal detector width. Higher sampling rates which yield two, four or even 10 samples per detector are not uncommon.
In most line array sensors, the situation is further complicated by the fact that the effective detector aspect is not square. The vertical dimension is typically 1.75 to 2 times greater than the horizontal dimension. Thus the raw pixels represent rectangular solid angle samples of the image. The rectangular nature of the sample is undesirable from the view point of machine processing of the image.
The operation of Pattern Recognizers and video trackers must be invariant to the aspect or viewing angle of the scene in order to achieve consistent performance. Thus if rectangular pixels are sampled, aspect angle changes would induce distortion in the scene. Pixel compressing is employed in the horizontal direction to produce square pixels for the machine processing functions. This is particularly true in multiple use sensors where the sampling rate is set by other requirements, most notably the one to produce an image pleasing to a human operator.
The usage of pixel compression in line array sensors is best understood by way of example. Consider a staggered line array detector consisting of two columns of 90 elements each. Each column is separated by an integer multiple of horizontal detector widths. The staggered nature is actually irrelevant to the sampling. The staggering can be removed electronically; but by separating the columns, a detector array, without gaps in the vertical coverage, can be manufactured. Effectively, 180 contiguous vertical samples are taken at each horizontal location.
Now in this example, the vertical dimension will be 1.75 times the horizontal dimension. Each element will be sampled 3 times as the scene is scanned across one horizontal detector width. FIG. 2 illustrates the coverage of a single detector element for several samples. The consecutive samples have been offset slightly in the vertical direction for clarity of presentation. If the scanning continues for a width equal to the total vertical dimension of the line array, then an array of 180.times.945=170,100 pixels results. If this is scanned in 12.5 msec., then the data rate is 13.6 Mhz. Note the comparative horizontal coverage of one, three and four pixels, as shown in FIG. 2.
Horizontal pixel compression can be applied to each channel individually. If three horizontal samples are combined (by averaging) into a single sample, then the effective size of a pixel is 1.75.times.1.667 angular units, yielding a 0.95 aspect ratio. The resulting array consists of 180.times.315=56,700 pixels and is generated with an equivalent data rate of 4.536 Mhz. If four samples are compressed into one, then the size is 1.75.times.2.0, yielding a 1.143 aspect ratio. The resulting array of pixels is 180.times.236=42480 and is generated at an effective data rate of 3.402 Mhz. The data rates and pixel totals resulting from pixel compression are more consistent with the capabilities of existing real-time programmable signal processors. Note that although the aspects are not square and thus do not yield an aspect ratio of 1.0, the aspect distortions are within acceptable limits. Thus pixel compression can be used to compensate for detector aspect distortion as well as reducing data rates and storage requirements. It is true that resolution will be lost in the horizontal direction, but to utilize the full resolution of a 180 by 945 array, processors beyond those which currently exist would have to be created.
A new generation of IR detector arrays comprise a detector configured as in FIG. 3. This is a 480.times.4 focal plane array With TDI (time delay integration). The latter is a feature which synchronizes the horizontal sampling of the four elements in the horizontal direction such that, as the scene is scanned, the signals of the 4 elements are added as each reaches the same angular position in the scene. When implemented properly, the 4 TDI elements are not germane to this discussion and the array can be considered an effective 480.times.1 array, with twice the signal to noise ratio afforded by an array of a single horizontal element. Other properties, however, are also very important. Unlike first generation devices, the aspects of detector elements are square. Also there is vertical interlace since the second column is offset by one-half an element in the vertical direction, from the first. Furthermore, there is comparatively (as compared to first generation devices) little dead space between detector elements. Each column, to a first approximation, can be thought of as providing contiguous coverage in the vertical direction.
The array elements are physically smaller than those typically encountered in first generation systems. They subtend a smaller solid angle, typically half that of conventional line arrays. This is important when considered in terms of total system resolution. The minimum resolvable angle of any FLIR system is determined primarily by the diameter of the objective lens. This establishes the blur circle of the sensor, which represents the angular spread of a point object at infinity induced by the sensor optics.
FIG. 4 illustrates the blur circle of a typical optical system as compared to the horizontal width of a first and second generation detector. The width of the blur circle is such that about 85% of the point energy is contained within the angle subtended by the first generation detector. On the other hand, only about 30 to 40% of the blur circle energy falls on each second generation detector. Thus the newer arrays are oversampled from a spatial point of view.
One possible way to fix this is to increase the aperture diameter. This decreases the blur circle width and by making the aperture large enough, the same relative percent of energy falling on the detector could be maintained. This is impractical, however, since the size of the objective lens is limited by system size, weight and cost constraints.
The oversampling could also be dealt with by simply increasing the number of samples. This too, however, is not desirable. It is useful to compare the sampling raster for a second generation array with the example of the first generation detector's sampling raster discussed earlier. For example, a 480.times.4 second generation array would generate a typical sampling raster of 480.times.960 elements. In the typical application, each dimension of the detector element of the second generation array is 0.8 of the horizontal angular subtense of the first generation array. This permits reduction of the electronic, horizontal sampling to two samples per horizontal detector width. Given the reduction in detector size, the 480.times.960 raster would cover 2/3 of the angular dimension, in each direction, of the first generation example. To cover the same angular area, (which would require more detector elements) the raster would have to be 720.times.1440 pixels. In either case, the number of pixels 460,800 (1,036,800) and the corresponding data rates 36,864 Mhz (82.944 Mhz.) are too high to be accommodated by existing array processors or those that will be available in the near future.
Despite the higher data and sampling rates required, the second generation detectors have advantages which can improve system performance. These include inherent vertical interlace and square pixels, as well as lower inherent noise. These are properties which are very desirable when the system is used to form an image for a human operator. Thus it would be desirable to find a way of reducing the number of samples used in a machine processor without affecting the image seen by an operator.

Non-integral pixel compression for second generation FLIR sensors


A support and gripping apparatus for supporting traffic control signs to a concrete roadway abutment. The support has a plate which rests on the top of the abutment and which is held in place by a flange and adjustable grips which engage the abutment side wall. C-clamps are positioned along the plate. An adaptor is detachably securable to the plate and has a spring and vertically extending tube which carries the sign. Handles may be provided on the base to assist in moving and positioning the support. The adaptor may extend horizontally in cantilever fashion past the abutment side wall and having a group supported leg for additional stability. A wedge may be used by the installer to lift a glare screen if one is mounted on the abutment.

Temporary concrete abutments are used to mark and delineate vehicle traffic lanes. Concrete abutments of this type are commonly used in road construction areas to define temporary roadway or vehicle lanes. Because of space restrictions in construction areas, use of conventional roadside traffic control signs is not often practical. Accordingly, a problem arises as to the placement of traffic control signs such as signs advising motorists of legal speed limits, narrowing lanes, lane restrictions, curves, no stopping areas and the like. Accordingly, it has become a common practice to position traffic control signs on the top of concrete abutments which align the roadway. Traffic control signs are customarily clamped to the top of abutments using conventional clamping devices. However, conventional clamps such as C-clamps and the like do not provide adequate retention and gripping force, particularly when signs are located in close proximity to traffic lanes where passing vehicles, particularly, large trucks exert considerable vacuum or draft forces against the surface of the sign which may cause it to become loosened or to become dislodged from the abutment. Obviously, dislodgement of a traffic control sign poses an immediate and hazardous condition to both traffic and personnel in the area.


A free space optics communication apparatus is provided which allows flexible setting in accordance with the number or distances of other apparatuses in single-to-multipoint communication.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a free space optics communication apparatus which uses a light signal propagating through the air to perform communication from a single point to a plurality of points at remote locations.
2. Description of the Related Art
Free space optics communication apparatuses for so-called point-to-multipoint communication have been proposed which use light signals propagating through the air to perform communication from a single point to a plurality of points at remote locations simultaneously. Some of the free space optics communication apparatuses are of a type which realizes the communication by providing a predetermined number of movable mirrors disposed in luminous flux emitted from a single light source and setting different directions of the movable mirrors.
FIG. 15 shows an example of the apparatus configured as described above. In FIG. 15, reference numeral 70 shows a free space optics communication apparatus installed on the one point side of the point-to-multipoint communication. Reference numerals 71a, 71b, and 71c show other spatial light apparatuses on the multipoint side installed at a plurality of points at remote locations, with which the apparatus 70 is to communicate.
A light signal emitted from a light source 701 is converted by an optical system 702 into a light beam 703 which has a substantially parallel shape with slight divergence. The light beam 703 is divided and reflected by three movable mirrors 704a, 704b, and 704c disposed in the luminous flux of the beam to travel toward the other apparatuses 71a, 71b, and 71c separately. In this manner, the signal is transmitted to the respective other apparatuses.
Each of the movable mirrors 704a, 704b, and 704c is configured to allow free setting of its direction. The directions of the movable mirrors 704a, 704b and 704c are set when the apparatus is installed such that reflected light beams can be transmitted toward the respective other apparatuses 71a, 71b, and 71c.
Such a configuration can realize the free space optics communication apparatus for point-to-multipoint communication which can communicate with a plurality of other apparatuses through the light beam emitted from the single light source 701.
It is rare that the plurality of other apparatuses is installed at equal distances from the free space optics communication apparatus. In most cases, the respective other apparatuses are installed at different distances.
Conventionally, however, the plurality of movable mirrors generally have the same sizes. This leads to a large difference in communication quality between a case where the apparatus communicates with a different apparatus installed at a long distance and a case where the apparatus communicates with the other apparatus installed at a short distance.
On the other hand, when different levels of communication quality are required by the plurality of other apparatuses, it is difficult for the conventional apparatus to flexibly set the communication quality to satisfy the requirements.
In the aforementioned related art, the number of the movable mirrors in the free space optics communication apparatus is determined in the manufacturing stage of the apparatus. However, in an environment in which the apparatus is actually used, the number of movable mirrors in the apparatus is not always consistent with the number of other apparatuses to be communicated with, and is rather inconsistent in many cases.
When the actual number of the other apparatuses is smaller than the number of the movable mirrors provided in the apparatus, a certain number of movable mirrors are not used corresponding to the difference between them. Light from the light source is always made incident on the movable mirrors which are not used, and such light incident on those movable mirrors unnecessary. For example, when an apparatus having four movable mirrors is used for communication with two other apparatuses installed at two locations, only half of the power of the light source is effectively used.
On the other hand, when the number of other apparatuses is larger than the number of the movable mirrors provided in the apparatus only by one, for example, an additional free space optics communication apparatus needs to be installed. In this manner, the conventional free space optics communication apparatus has poor flexibility for use in actual point-to-multipoint communication to result in the inability to effectively utilize the performance which the free space optics communication apparatus has originally.

Free space optics communication apparatus and free space optics communication system

Abstract: The free space optics communication apparatus has a movable mirror array which has a plurality of mirrors capable of reflecting a light signal from a light source and arranged in a matrix-like form, and a mirror control circuit for controlling the directions of the respective mirrors to form a plurality of mirror groups which reflect the light signal toward the other apparatuses in the movable mirror array. The number of the mirror groups formed in the movable mirror array through the control of the directions of the mirrors by the mirror control circuit is changeable.


A method for manufacturing powders of oxides in a nanometer level through a direct current plasma thermal reaction is disclosed. The energy required is provided by the plasma that is generated in the non-transferred DC plasma apparatus. Once the solid precursors are introduced into the plasma, the solid precursors are vaporized and oxidized in the plasma reaction region of the non-transferred DC plasma apparatus continuously. Then, the oxide powders in a nanometer scale can form homogeneously and continuously. By controlling the nozzle size, the speed of the plasma can be adjusted and the coarsening and agglomeration of the nanopowders can be effectively prevented. Finally, oxide nanopowders of high-purity and high-dispersity are obtained by cooling down the plasma gas containing the vaporized and oxidized precursor through a vortical cooling-gas.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing nanopowders and, more particularly, to a method for manufacturing oxide powders in a nanometer scale through direct current plasma thermal reactions.
2. Description of Related Art
It is known that nanopowders are referred to as ultra-fine solid particles of size less than 100 nanometers. Generally speaking, the structure of nanopowders mainly includes two parts. The first part comprises particles with a diameter ranging from several nanometers to less than a hundred nanometers. The other part comprises the surfaces of the particles illustrated above or the interfaces between these particles. Basically, the former part has an either short- or long- range ordered structure. In contrast, the second part has a random structure without a long- or short-ranged order. Owing to the high surface area and special structure illustrated above, nanopowders often show different magnetic properties, dielectric properties, superconductivity, optical properties, and thermodynamic properties.
Conventionally, nanoparticles can be prepared through a top-down method such as high-energy mechanical milling, or a bottom-up method such as gas phase condensation, liquid phase chemical precipitation, and sol-gel. In general, the cost for preparing nanoparticles through liquid phase is low. However, serious agglomeration and low purity are the major problems.
Recent research reports disclose gas-phase condensation methods for preparing nanopowders. For example, a method for preparing metal oxide nanopowders is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,460,701. The nanopowders are prepared by introducing an electrical current to a cathode and an anode of a metal rod first. Then a plasma arc is generated in the gap between the anode and the cathode. The metal rod is vaporized soon and the vapor is condensed into powders of metal oxides through the assistance of inert gas flow and/or oxygen flow. However, metal rods have to be supplied in time before the electrode is consumed in this method for preparing nanopowders continuously.
Another method for preparing nanopowders can be seen in WO 9705994, wherein the nanopowders are prepared by heating a precursor of a target metal close to supercritical temperature for vaporization. Then the vaporized precursors are sprayed out to form a reaction mixture vapor. Subsequently, nanopowders are formed by passing the reaction mixture vapor through plasma. However, only precursors in solution form can be applied. In addition, the precursors require heating to a high temperature close to the supercritical temperature in this method.
More methods for preparing nanopowders are described in several patent documents. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,876,688, zinc oxide nanopowders with a diameter less than 80 nm are prepared by injecting nebulized organic salts of zinc to a flame or plasma ranging from 250° C. to 2000° C. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,958,361, a nebulized ceramic precursor solution containing a volatile organic solvent and at least one glycolato polymetallooxanei is pyrolyzed in a flame to produce oxide nanopowders. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,099,696, nanocarbon materials are made by carrying carbon materials or carbon hydrogen compounds into plasma generated between a set of non-transferred electrodes through hydrogen gas.
Since pretreatment of the compounds of a target metal or supplying/replacing an electrode is required for preparing nanopowders, the recent methods illustrated above are not convenient enough for mass-producing nanopowders. Hence, a method for producing nanopowders with less pretreatment to mitigate and/or obviate the aforementioned problems is needed.

Method for manufacturing nanopowders of oxide through DC plasma thermal reaction

Industrial Technology Research Institute


A tire condition monitor device includes a circuit board mounted on a tire wheel for detecting a pneumatic pressure in an interior of a tire. The circuit board is covered with urethane resin. The urethane resin has finer resin meshes as compared with the conventional silicon resin serving as a board protecting resin. Since sulfur gas and water is hard to permeate through the urethane resin, gas barrier and dampproof properties can be improved. In a method of manufacturing the tire condition monitor device, a prebaking process is carried out before a board protecting process of covering the circuit board with the urethane resin. Since moisture contained in the circuit board is vaporized, the circuit board covered with the urethane resin can reliably be protected from moisture.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a tire condition monitor device mounted on a tire wheel of a vehicle such as automobiles and provided with a circuit board for detecting a pneumatic pressure in a tire and a method of manufacturing the tire condition monitor device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional tire condition monitor devices of the above-described type comprises a circuit board on which a pressure sensor is mounted, and a casing accommodating the circuit board. For example, JP-A-2005-119370 discloses one of such conventional tire condition monitor devices. As in general electric appliances, a coating process is applied to the circuit board and the casing is then filled with silicon resin for improvement of gas barrier properties (or gas permeability) and moisture-proof properties, whereby the circuit board is protected. For example, JP-A-S62-61392 discloses such circuit board.
However, the tire condition monitor devices are used under the specific environment of being subject to a high-pressure gas containing corrosion components (sulfur constituent, for example) in a tire. Thus, further improvements in the gas barrier and moisture-proof properties have been required of the tire condition monitor devices.

Tire condition monitor device and method of manufacturing the same


A separator including a vertical axis of rotation, a drum having solids discharge openings and a conical centrifugal space, and a disc stack located in the conical centrifugal space. Also included is a plurality of conical discs super-imposed on one another and having disc bores forming at least one rising channel in the disc stack. Further included is a drum, a distributor and a lower base section which expands radially, and on which lower base section are one or more distributor channels.

The present disclosure relates to a separator having a vertical axis of rotation and a drum with solids discharge openings in a single-cone or double-cone centrifugal space. The separator also includes a disk stack of super-imposed conical disks. The discs have bores forming at least one channel in the disk stack. The separator includes a distributor having a shaft concentrically surrounding a drum axis and a lower base section which expands radially. In the lower base section, one or more distributor channels are distributed in the form of bores.
It has been known for a long time to arrange disc stacks consisting of a plurality of discs situated axially above one another in the direction of the disc axis concentrically to the machine or drum axis in centrifugal drums of separators. This is known from the field of separators with drums with a vertical axis of rotation and solids discharge openings in a pulp space outside the disc stack.
In the case of separators with a vertical axis of rotation, a feeding of the product into the centrifugal drum takes place along the drum axis through a feeding pipe and radial distributor channels connected behind the feeding pipe. The product enters the centrifugal drum into the disc stack consisting of separating discs which are generally situated closely above one another but are nevertheless spaced relative to one another in the area of the essential disc surfaces and, as a rule, are conical. At the discs, heavier solids generally accumulate on the bottom side and move to the outer circumference of the disc stack, while the liquid flows toward the interior, in, for example, a two-phase liquid-solid separation.
For the implementation of a liquid-liquid-solid separation, that is, a three phase liquid-solid separation, it is also known to provide the disc stack with so-called rising channels, which are formed of bores in the discs of the disc stack situated directly or with a twist (see German Patent Document DE 100 55 398 A1) above one another.
From U.S. Patent Document US 993,791, a chamber centrifuge is known which has no solids discharge openings and in which the diameter of the bores changes within a disc stack. Or, the orientation of the openings is changed from one disc to the next in that a disc holding contour sloped toward the axis of rotation is arranged, for example, at the shaft.
The discharge of the liquids generally takes place in areas radially on the inside or radially on the outside with respect to the discs of the disc stack. It is also known to construct discharge channels for the liquid phase(s) by means of bores particularly close to the inner circumference as well as close to the outer circumference of the disc stack in the disc stack (see, for example, German Patent Document DE 284640).
It is also known to equip the discs with so-called spacers in the manner of webs and/or small tips or points which, on the one hand, provide a mutual spacing of the discs and, on the other hand, influence the flow conditions in the disc stack. Spacers can be placed between the discs which preferably are separate from the discs. The discs are generally held in grooves on a distributor shaft or in other disc holders.
The present disclosure relates to optimizing the flow conditions in the drum of a separator by simple constructive devices.
The present disclosure further relates to a separator having a vertical axis of rotation and a drum with solids discharge openings in a single-cone or double-cone centrifugal space. The separator also includes a disk stack of super-imposed conical disks. The discs have bores forming at least one channel in the disk stack. The separator includes a distributor having a shaft concentrically surrounding a drum axis and a lower base section which expands radially. In the lower base section, one or more distributor channels are distributed in the form of bores. A diameter of the at least one channel inside the disc stack, located above the disc which is the lowest in a flow direction, is not constant and/or is arranged to be sloped with respect to an axis of rotation of the drum. The bores of the at least one distributor channel are not radially oriented with respect to the drum axis in the drum.
Illustrative embodiments are described herein.
As noted above, a diameter of the at least one channel, within the disc stack above the lowermost disc in a flow direction, is not constant and/or the at least one channel is arranged in a sloped manner with respect to the axis of the drum. The bores of the at least one distributor channel do not have a radial orientation to the drum axis in the drum.
According to the present disclosure, it becomes possible, for example, in the case of a centrifuge with a pulp space outside the disc stack, with a piston valve arrangement or solids discharge nozzles to optimize the flow conditions in the drum. Further, according to the present disclosure, a combination of one or more of the above-noted features, that is distributor and channel geometry and/or channel orientation, may be utilized for optimizing the flow conditions in the centrifuge in a constructively simple manner and to optimally adapt them to the product to be processed.
It is noted that German Patent Document DE 38 80 19 shows a centrifuge of a different type with an inlet pipe which is not concentrically arranged.
A geometry of the bores of the discs of the at least one channel, which may be a rising channel, varies in the channel in such a manner that, during the operation, gaps between the discs are uniformly charged with liquid over the entire height of the disc stack. As a result of this advantageous measure, the flow conditions in the centrifuge are clearly optimized. Thus, not only a simple widening of the bores "from one disc to the next" is implemented but a flow-dependent optimization, in the case of which the bores can be designed to be constant over several discs and will then, for example, widen. In this manner, each disc separately can have an optimal design. On the production side, this can be easily implemented by laser cutting the bores in the metal sheet of the discs.
For example, the diameter of the channel can change in steps at a distance of several discs or continuously from one disc to the next and decrease in the flow direction. It is expedient for the diameter to decrease, for example, continuously, in the flow direction.
The bores may have an arbitrary shape. An optimal shape is determined by a person skilled in the art by tests as a function of the product. Thus, the bores may have a polygonal or round or curved shape in any alignment.
In an illustrative embodiment, each channel includes several bores which, in turn, advantageously may also form a perforated pattern for example, distributed on the circumference on a circle or an ellipse in the discs.
It is within the scope of the present disclosure that the at least one channel, which may be sloped, extends in a curved manner with respect to the drum axis in the disc stack.
In such an embodiment, the at least one channel may comprise a rising channel for feeding the product into the disc stack and/or, at least one discharge channel for discharging the liquid phase from the disc stack. The optimized design of rising and discharge channels also contributes to improving the flow conditions.
One of the discharge channels for discharging various liquid phases is constructed close to the inner circumference or close to the outer circumference of the disc stack and/or is constructed inside the disc stack. The flow direction extends in the direction of the liquid discharges of the drum, with the vertical orientation generally in the upward direction.
Based upon the present disclosure, it becomes possible to optimize the further development of the channels of a separator with a vertical axis of rotation as a function of the product and the machine in order to improve the parallel connection of the discs of the disc stack and to optimize the flow conditions. That is done in order to, for example, compensate separating zone displacements because of pressure differences in the disc stack, for example a radial position and to reduce instabilities in the disc stack, for example, in the circumferential direction.
The present disclosure also includes providing a distributor with at least one distributor channel constructed as a bore in a distributor base. Such a distributor channel is not oriented radially in the drum, which, in turn, optimizes the flow conditions in a simple manner as a function of the product.
According to the present disclosure, the distributor channels may be oriented in a sloped manner against the rotating direction of the drum or under certain circumstances in the rotating direction of the drum.
The distributor channels, which are formed by bores relative to the radial line through the drum axis in a radially interior bore section against the rotating direction of the drum, advantageously may be oriented to be sloped in a lagging manner.
As a result of that orientation, the flow conditions are further optimized in combination with the measure that the distributor channels lead in a further bore section into the drum, which bore section is oriented upwards in the drum and leads out directly below a rising channel of the disc stack into the drum. In addition, a more careful acceleration and an optimal entry of the centrifugal material into the rising channels is ensured.
The distributor channels may have an expanding round or a slot-type outlet which extends tangentially in or against the rotating direction of the drum and/or is directed upward in the drum.
Other aspects of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following descriptions when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Separator with a disc stack with rising channels and non-radial distributor channels


The present invention relates to a method in an RBS of a wireless network, for supporting HO of a UE in a served cell. The method comprises pre-allocating resources for HO of the UE to a target cell candidate. The pre-allocated resources comprise a dedicated preamble for the target cell candidate. The method also comprises receiving a measurement report from the UE triggering a HO and comprising a list of neighbor cells, determining if a cell in the list of neighbor cells corresponds to one of the at least one target cell candidates, and when they correspond transmitting a HO command to the UE comprising the dedicated preamble for the target. The present invention also relates to a corresponding method in the target RBS and to the serving and target RBS themselves.

3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) is the fourth-generation mobile communication technologies standard developed within the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) to improve the Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS) standard to cope with future requirements in terms of improved services such as higher data rates, improved efficiency, and lowered costs. The Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN) is the radio access network of a UMTS and Evolved UTRAN (E-UTRAN) is the radio access network of an LTE system. In an E-UTRAN, a wireless device such as a User Equipment (UE) is wirelessly connected to a Radio Base Station (RBS) commonly referred to as an evolved NodeB (eNodeB) in LTE. An RBS is a general term for a radio network node capable of transmitting radio signals to a UE and receiving signals transmitted by a UE. The eNodeB is a logical node in LTE and the RBS is a typical example of a physical implementation of an eNodeB.
FIG. 1 illustrates a radio access network in an LTE system. An eNodeB 101a serves a UE 103 located within the eNodeB's geographical area of service also called a cell 105a. The eNodeB 101a is directly connected to the core network. The eNodeB 101a is also connected via an X2 interface to a neighboring eNodeB 101b serving another cell 105b. Although the eNodeBs of this example network serves one cell each, an eNodeB may serve more than one cell.
Robust and fast HandOver (HO) is one of the key technologies in an LTE system. An LTE HO is basically a hard HO, which means that there will be a user plane interruption when the UE is handed over from one serving cell to another. A fast HO is therefore beneficial for the data delivery. FIG. 2 is a signaling diagram schematically illustrating a HO procedure in the LTE system. The LTE HO procedure is initiated by the measurement report message 210 sent from the UE 103 to the serving eNodeB 101a. The measurement report triggers the HO of the UE, and is based on periodical channel quality measurements of the neighboring cells performed by the UE. The channel quality measurements are either Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) measurements or Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ) measurements. When one of the measured neighboring cells has an RSRP or RSRQ which is higher than the RSRP or RSRQ of the cell serving the UE for a given time period, that neighboring cell is a candidate target cell for the HO of the UE, and the UE will report the cell and the corresponding measurements in the measurement report. The RSRP/RSRQ of the neighboring cell must exceed the RSRP/RSRQ of the serving cell with a certain amount of dB, corresponding to the hysteresis threshold, under the given time period, referred to as the time to trigger threshold. The measurement report may comprise measurements for more than one neighboring cell, sorted in the order of the channel quality.
The serving eNodeB 101a subsequently makes a HO decision 211 based on the measurement report. The eNodeB 101a selects one of the reported neighboring cells as the new serving cell also referred to as the target cell, and sends a HO request message 212, including the user context information to the target eNodeB 101b controlling the target cell over the X2 interface. If the target cell is not overloaded, the target eNodeB 101b will reserve resources in 213, and respond to the serving eNodeB 101a with a HO request acknowledgement (ACK) message 214 comprising a dedicated Random Access (RA) preamble to be used by the UE when accessing the target cell.
The time it takes from the sending of the X2 message referred to as the HO request 212, to the reception of the X2 message referred to as the HO request ACK 214, may be between 10 ms and 50 ms, depending on whether the HO is intra eNodeB or inter eNodeB. In some cases, if the first selected target cell is congested and the first target eNodeB thus replies to the HO request with a non-acknowledgement, the serving eNodeB 101a may have to resend the HO request 212 to another target eNodeB controlling another non-congested target cell. The total delay for the four X2 messages in this case may then be more than 100 ms.
Upon reception of the HO request ACK message 214, the serving eNodeB 101a will send a HO command 215 comprising the dedicated RA preamble to the UE 103. Thereafter, the UE 103 disconnects with the serving cell, and tries to access the target cell by sending a RA message 216 to the target eNodeB 101b using the RA preamble and by setting up the RRC connection.
The delay for the X2 HO signaling messages may thus take up to 100 ms when the selected target cell has no available resources for the new coming access. The reason for such long delay is that the serving eNodeB will have to try a second neighbor cell before it can secure resources for the UE. If also the second cell is congested, a third access may have to be performed. These extra delays will negatively impact the overall HO performance.
FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a possible effect of an X2 delay. Because of the X2 delay in the HO procedure, the HO command message 215 is inevitably delayed. The UE 103 may thus be moving a certain distance 301 during the delay between the transmission of the measurement report triggering the HO and the reception of the HO command. This means that the UE may be close to the serving cell border when it is time for the serving eNodeB 101a to transmit the HO command. At the cell border the channel quality may be bad and may not support a reliable transfer of the HO command. Hence, this will increase the possibility of a HO failure due to a low quality HO command transmission. In heterogeneous network scenarios, HO events may be triggered much more frequently, and the above described problem may become even more severe.
Furthermore, it has been observed that HO performance would be degraded significantly when a Discontinuous Reception (DRX) feature is applied. In such a case, the UE cannot continuously measure the downlink channel quality, and the HO delay is much higher than the typical values. It is therefore believed that the above described problem will be even more severe when using DRX.

Methods and nodes for fast handover using pre-allocation of resources in target nodes


Disclosed herein is a method of improving residue and thermal characteristics of a semiconductor device. The method comprises the steps of a) depositing nickel and cobalt layers sequentially on a silicone substrate having a transistor formed thereon, b) depositing a capping layer on the cobalt layer, c) forming a silicide layer from the cobalt and nickel layers deposited on the silicone substrate by heat treatment, and d) wet etching to remove a residue. As the silicide layer is formed by additionally deposing the capping layer of titanium nitride on triple layers of silicone, cobalt and nickel, thermal stability for a thermal process performed when forming the silicide is ensured, and as resistance caused by an etchant is eliminated by the subsequent etching process, the residue is completely removed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of improving residue and thermal characteristics of a semiconductor device, and more particularly to a method of improving residue and thermal characteristics of a semiconductor device, which forms a silicide by adding a capping layer of titanium nitride (TiN) on the existing triple layers of Si, Co and Ni, thereby solving a problem of residue remaining thereon and ensuring an enhanced thermal stability when manufacturing the semiconductor device.
2. Description of the Related Art
A continuing trend in current logic technology of 0.13 μm or less is to replace cobalt silicide with nickel silicide for enhancing a short channel effect. Nickel silicide applications are expanding to a nano-CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) due to its advantages in that nickel silicide can have a constant sheet resistance according to a line-width even in a fine line-width less than 0.10 μm as well as a low silicone consumption rate and a low specific resistance.
However, compared with cobalt silicide, since nickel silicide exhibits unstable thermal characteristics, such as phase transformation toward NiSi2 or easy occurrence of cohesion, during an interlayer dielectric film deposition process, a contact heat process and the like, which are subsequent processes carried out after forming the silicide, it is required to settle these problems without delay.
Thus, in order to solve the problems, a conventional method forms a silicide layer through a heat treatment process after depositing double layers of cobalt/nickel (Co/Ni) or nickel/cobalt (Ni/Co) on a silicone substrate having a transistor formed thereon.
However, in the conventional method for providing the thermal stability using the double layers of cobalt/nickel or nickel/cobalt, a compound consisting of Si, Co and Ni is formed by a reaction of these elements and the compound exhibits a strong resistance against an etching liquid, so that a residue remaining after formation of the silicide continues to remain on a side wall and a field after an etching process, causing a problem in that a bridge can be easily formed.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the problem caused by the residue remaining without being removed when the double layers of cobalt/nickel or nickel/cobalt are used in the conventional method without a capping layer.
That is, according to the conventional method, even though a wet etching process is applied in order to remove the residue remaining after forming the silicide, the residue still remains without being completely removed.

Method of improving residue and thermal characteristics of semiconductor device


An increase in angular acceleration α of a rotating shaft of a motor, which outputs a torque to a drive shaft linked to drive wheels, may cause a skid on the drive wheels. In response to detection of a skid, the control procedure of the invention sets a maximum torque Tmax according to a preset map representing a relation between the angular acceleration α and the maximum torque Tmax, and restricts an output torque level to the drive shaft. The map is set to decrease the maximum torque Tmax with an in crease in angular acceleration α. The restricted output torque level is restored at a zero cross timing of the angular acceleration α after a negative peak in the course of convergence of the skid. This arrangement makes the direction of the torque restored from the torque restriction identical with the direction of the angular acceleration, thus effectively reducing torsions of the drive shaft and thereby preventing potential torsional vibrations of the drive shaft.

One proposed motor control apparatus of controlling a motor mounted on a vehicle restricts an output torque level from the motor to a drive shaft, in response to detection of wheelspin of drive wheels caused by the torque output from the motor (see, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Gazette No. 2001-295676). This known motor control apparatus detects the occurrence of a skid in response to an increase in angular acceleration of the drive wheels (that is, a time variation of angular velocity) over a predetermined threshold value and lowers the output torque level from the motor. The restricted output torque level from the motor is restored, in response to detection of convergence of the skid.
In the prior art motor control apparatus, however, restoration of the restricted output torque level may cause vibrations of a rotating shaft of the motor (vibrations of a driving system). Reduction of a skid arising on the drive wheels is generally accompanied with a vibration of the angular acceleration. The vibration of the angular acceleration may be amplified by restoration of the restricted output torque level at an inadequate timing.

Motor control apparatus and motor control method


In an apparatus for recording and reproducing a broadcast program, a receiver receives program content data broadcasted. The program content data includes viewer response request information. A memory records the program content data received by the receiver. A decoder decodes the program content data in case of reproducing the program content data recorded in the memory, and extracts the response request information from decoded program contents data. A sending unit sends an item to be counted in response to the viewer's response to the response request information.

In CS digital broadcast or BS digital broadcast beginning in 2000, program information except for broadcast program can be transmitted. Accordingly, various services can be provided. For example, if the program information such as a program title, performers, or a genre is provided for each program by an electrical program guide (EPG), a viewer easily executes operation of recording reservation or registers his interesting genre and performer with the recorder. In this way, his desired program can be automatically retrieved from the broadcast program and recorded. Furthermore, in proportion to multi-channel in CS digital broadcast or BS digital broadcast, it often happens that multiple desired programs are telecasted at the same time. In consideration of the above-mentioned status, the viewer does not always watch the broadcast program in real time. After recording the broadcast program, the viewer often watches the broadcast program by reproducing the broadcast program. Hereafter, the latter case is predicted to increase.
On the other hand, recently, recording/reproducing apparatus such as VTR often include a function to skip CM (commercial program) while recording the broadcast program. Furthermore, recently, a set top box (STB) and a personal video recorder (PVR) storing disk storage such as HDD appeared on the market. In these equipments, the broadcast program is easily recorded by skipping CM or the recorded broadcast program is easily reproduced by random access function on the disk while CM in the broadcast program is skipped.
In this way, if program audience status to record/reproduce the broadcast program by skipping CM is widely spread, as for an advertiser (i.e., CM provider) of the broadcast program, chance for the viewer to watch CM of the advertiser's company reduces. Accordingly, a method to encourage the viewer watch the CM program is desired.
In this case, one example of the method to certainly have the viewer watch the CM program is disclosed in Japanese Patent disclosure (Kokai) PH 11-18113. In this reference, a message such as an inquiry is displayed during telecasting the CM program. If the viewer replies to the message, a point is counted for the viewer, and a program charge of a toll broadcast is discounted in proportion to the point. However, in this method, it is the assumption that the viewer watches the broadcast CM on real time. As for view situation that the broadcast CM program is reproducing after recording, the effect is not expected. Accordingly, even if the broadcast CM is recorded and reproduced after that, by giving point information to the viewer, the broadcast program recording/reproducing apparatus to promote for the user to watch CM without skipping is desired.

Apparatus and a method for recording and reproducing a broadcast program


An ophthalmoscope has illuminating optics (10) for projecting a beam of light into an eye under examination and imaging optics (14) for creating an image of said eye for viewing by a user. The imaging optics comprises an objective lens system (16) and an eye piece lens system (20). Two corneal reflex stops (138 and 148) are positioned one on either side of the corneal image formed by the objective lens system. The stops block reflections from the cornea of the eye under examination over a range of distances of the ophthalmoscope from the eye. The use of the two corneal reflex stops results in the precise positioning of the ophthalmoscope relative to the eye under examination not being critical to the blocking of the corneal reflex.

Ophthalmoscopes are instruments used to view the fundus of an eye, and generally comprise a light source and a series of optical elements for directing illuminating light from the source into an eye under examination and imaging optics through which the illuminated fundus is viewed. In an indirect ophthalmoscope, a practitioner (or other user) views a real image of the fundus rather than the fundus itself.
A significant amount of the illuminating light beam is reflected from the cornea of an eye under examination, and it is important that these reflections are not seen by the practitioner/user as they will obscure the view of the fundus under examination. U.S. Pat. No. 3,586,424 shows an ophthalmoscope in which corneal reflexes are blocked by a single stop between an objective and an eye piece lens system of the ophthalmoscope. WO 00/30527 shows an ophthalmoscope in which illuminating light is reflected by a reflector within the ophthalmoscope itself towards the ophthalmoscope's objective lens systems. The lens system focuses the illuminating light to an apex at the cornea of an eye under examination. The reflector and the apex are substantially conjugate with each other so that the reflector acts as a stop for the corneal reflex.
However, despite these stops, both types of ophthalmoscope allow some corneal glare to obscure the viewed image.


A maintenance system and method for maintaining an imaging member of an imaging device includes a pre-cleaning device to clean the imaging member; an applicator to apply release agent to the imaging member; a metering device to meter release agent on the imaging member; a reservoir to remotely store release agent; and a pump to supply the applicator with release agent from the reservoir. The saturation level of the applicator is monitored and maintained within a predetermined range. The applicator, pre-cleaning device and metering device may be independently actuated to engage the imaging member. Release agent collected by the pre-cleaning device and/or metering device may be recycled. Debris collected by the pre-cleaning device and/or metering device may be stored and/or removed.

The exemplary embodiments are directed to a maintenance system for an imaging device, and a system and a method of maintaining the imaging device.
In an imaging device, such as, for example, an inkjet printing system, intermediate transfer surfaces are used. The intermediate transfer surface is typically employed with a printhead. Nozzles in the printhead eject an ink image onto the intermediate transfer drum. A final receiving surface is brought into contact with the intermediate transfer drum after the image has been placed thereon by the nozzles in the printhead. The image is then transferred to the final receiving surface. A release agent medium is brought into contact with the intermediate transfer drum to prepare the surface of the drum prior to the next image being formed thereon.
A drum maintenance unit of the related art is used as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,805,191, which is incorporated herein by reference, to deliver a release agent onto an intermediate transfer surface of an inkjet printer. The release agent assists in providing an acceptable release of an ink image upon transfer of the image from the intermediate transfer surface to the final receiving surface. Each image transfer consumes a certain amount of release agent so that the drum maintenance unit has to be replaced periodically when the release agent is fully consumed. Further, pixels and debris may collect on the intermediate transfer surface, diminishing print quality and requiring maintenance or earlier replacement of the drum maintenance unit. Still further, the structure of the drum maintenance unit of the related art may result in limiting the speed in which a printer may operate.

Drum maintenance system for an imaging device and method and system for maintaining an imaging device


A printing apparatus that selects and prints images represented by candidate image data files to be output among a plurality of image data files includes an image data file acquisition unit that acquires a plurality of image data files, each having image data regarding an image and additional data regarding at least a photographing condition when the image was taken, and a candidate file selection unit that selects image data files, which have the additional data, not the image data, satisfying one of one or more predetermined selection conditions, among the plurality of image data files as the candidate image data files to be output, and a printing unit that performs printing of images represented by at least some of the candidate image data files.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a technology for selecting an image data file from a plurality of image data files.
2. Related Art
There are known technologies for automatically selecting an image data file to be printed among image data files of a plurality of images. For example, in the related art, an image that satisfies selection conditions, such as a degree of underexposure/overexposure, a degree of out-of-focus, and a degree of camera-shake, is selected. JP-A-2004-236120 is an example of this technology.
However, a user does not always perform photographing for the purpose of taking an image having a clear contour of a subject in a standard exposure state. For this reason, in the above-described technology, when the user intentionally takes the following images, the images are not selected as an object to be printed. For example, an image that the user intentionally wants to be overexposed or underexposed is not selected as an object to be printed. Further, when the user intentionally takes an image with a low shutter speed, an image having an unclear contour of the subject is not selected as an object to be printed.
The user usually wants to print an image that is taken under photographing conditions according to his/her own intention. Accordingly, in the related art, the selection result of the image data file to be printed does not sufficiently follow the user's desire. This problem occurs when image data to be processed among a plurality of image data is selected, as well as a case where image data to be printed is selected.

Printing apparatus, image data file processing apparatus, method of selecting image data file, method of assisting selection of image data file, and computer program


A coating composition for use in a hydrophilic treatment comprising (A) an organic-inorganic composite reaction product prepared by a process which comprises reacting 100 parts by weight, as the solid content, of (i) a water-dispersible silica with 0.1 to 10 parts by weight of (ii) a polymerizable vinylsilane monomer containing hydrolyzable alkoxysilane group to form an aqueous polymerizable vinyl group-containing silica dispersion and then reacting the aqueous polymerizable vinyl group-containing silica dispersion with (iii) a mixture of polymerizable unsaturated monomers other than the above (ii); (B) a curing agent and (C) a hydroxyl group-containing polyester resin, the ratio of the component (A) to the component (B) being in the range of 99 to 50:1 to 50 as the solid content weight ratio, and the amount of the component (C) being in the range of 5 to 60% by weight based on the solid content in the composition comprising the component (A), (B) and (C); a hydrophilic-treating method; and hydrophilically treated heat exchanger fins.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a coating composition for use in hydrophilic treatment, a hydrophilic-treating method and hydrophilically treated heat exchanger fins.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
The condensate developed during air-cooling by the air conditioning equipment forms water drops, which then form water bridges between the heat exchanger fins to narrow the pathway of the air to flow through between the heat exchanger fins, resulting in increasing a airing resistance to produce problems such as loss of electric power, generation of noises, scattering of water drops, and the like. As a means to prevent such phenomena, it has been practiced to impart hydrophilic properties on the surface of the aluminium heat exchanger fins (hereinafter may simply be referred to as fins) so as to prevent the water drops and water bridges from being formed.
The method of effecting the hydrophilic treatment on the surface of the heat exchanger fins may include the following two methods, that is, 1 the so-called after-coat method which comprises subjecting an aluminium plate to fabrication to form fins, followed by assembling the fins, and coating a surface treating agent onto the surface of the fins by the coating means such as dip coating, spray coating, shower coating and the like; and 2 the so-called pre-coat method which comprises coating a surface treating agent onto an aluminium plate by a roll coater or the like beforehand to form a surface treated film, followed by subjecting the surface treated aluminium plate to press molding and fabrication to form fins.
Examples of the method, which has practically been used according to the method of imparting hydrophilic properties on the surface of the fins, as in the above method 1, may include (1) a method of coating a water-glass represented by the general formula: mSiO.sub.2 /nNa.sub.2 O (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 13078/84); (2) a method of coating a solution containing, as a major component, an organic polymer resin such as water-soluble polyamide resin to form a resin film (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 250495/86); and the like. Although the above methods have practically been used, the above methods are not satisfactory, but still has problems to be improved in durability of hydrophilic properties such as contact angle of water drops and overall water wetting properties for the treated plate, corrosion resistance, smell, press molding properties, and in stability of the treating solution. For example, in case of the method of using the water-glass in the above method (1) showing such a good hydrophilic durability that the contact to the water drop is 20.degree. or less, the resulting fins thus treated as above have such problems that the surface of the treating film shows powdery appearance with time, that the resulting powdery material is scattered during passage of air to develop cement smell or chemical smell, and that the water-glass is hydrolyzed by the condensate developed during the operation of the heat exchanger and the surface of the fins is alkalized, resulting in that pitting corrosion is likely to take place and in that the white powder of aluminium hydroxide as the corrosion product is scattered to produce a problem from the standpoint of environmental conservation.
Advancements in miniaturization and weight-saving have recently been made for the air conditioning equipment, and the heat exchanger, too, is of a compact design, resulting in that the space between fins is reduced, that higher hydrophilic properties are demanded, and that it is essential for the contact angle to water to be 30.degree. or less.
Further, since the comfortable housing space has recently been demanded, development of smell from the air conditioning equipment is becoming a problem to be solved. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 10051/83 and 168675/86 propose the use of a treating agent containing fungiproofing agent and mildewproofing agent as a measure against a coated film smell at the beginning of using the air conditioning equipment, an unpleasant smell developed within the air conditioning equipment due to microorganisms at the start of the operation, etc. with such unsatisfactory results that further improvements are demanded.
As above mentioned, the methods being practically used at present can not satisfactorily meet the above demands, and developments of a coating composition for use in hydrophilic treatment, a method of hydrophilic treatment and hydrophilically treated heat exchanger fins which are capable of providing improved hydrophilic properties and corrosion resistance and do not produce the problem of developing smell so as to meet the above demands.

Coating composition for use in hydrophilic treatment comprising an organic-inorganic composite reaction product


A particle generating system includes an aerosol generator, an ejector diluter, and an aerosol diluter. The ejector diluter receives the generated aerosol and dilutes the aerosol to an expected raw concentration. The aerosol diluter further dilutes the aerosol to a concentration in the range of 0% to 100% of the expected raw concentration. The aerosol diluter includes a mini cyclone for diluting the aerosol. The particle generating system may be configured to provide variable concentrations of monodisperse or polydisperse aerosols for instrument calibration. The system may provide constant concentrations in the range of 0% to 100% of the raw concentration. The mini cyclone makes the system compact, and the system may be portable.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to particle generating systems and to calibrating particle instruments.
2. Background Art
Particle instruments have been widely applied to detect particulate matter level (mass and number) in ambient air, specific environments, and combustion engines, etc. To ensure that these instruments perform accurately, frequent calibrations with different constant concentration aerosols are extremely necessary.
Currently, aerosol generators, such as atomizer and propane burner, etc., have been widely used to generate particles. Many different types of diluters have been applied to dilute particles to different concentrations as well. However, the dilution ratio range is narrow, and does not provide concentration in the range of 0% to 100%.
By combining these two techniques, calibration aerosol is available to calibrate particle instruments. Since aerosol generators and diluters are in separate units, the units must be put together correctly to generate the expected concentration aerosol. The setup procedure is time-consuming, and not efficient. Many variations may be involved during the setup. As a result, greater uncertainties may be introduced into the calibrated instrument.

Wide range constant concentration particle generating system


In embodiments of the invention, a superconductor lead is configured to have less ohmic heating by its own current and less heat conduction from room temperature to cryogenic temperature, where a cryogenic apparatus is located. The superconducting lead with no ohmic resistance and low thermal conductivity disclosed herein maximizes current capacity by placing superconductors in parallel, each having equal current. Thus, the resistances are controlled to provide uniform current distribution through each superconductor of the high temperature superconducting (HTS) lead.

Very low temperatures are required to enable superconducting material to exhibit its properties. Power must be supplied to these superconducting devices operating at cryogenic temperatures, the power sources often at room temperature, or about 300 K. In order to drop the temperature of the power conductors or connections to the operating range of the low-temperature superconductor material (which is typically about 4K) and then maintain that temperature, supercooled gas is often used. This is because the large currents that the conductors carry generate heat due to their resistive properties. Superconductor leads must eliminate the heat generated by these large currents with thermal insulators, but instabilities and heat leaks from the material can still occur.
Since the current capacity of superconductors decreases with increasing temperature, the current capacity of the material is not enough at the high temperature end of the lead. The invention disclosed herein attempts to solve the situation, and increase current capacity, while delivering even current distribution and maximizing lead current capacity.
Uniform current distribution has been demonstrated as an important requirement in superconducting DC cables. The contact resistances where individual superconducting tapes are soldered to the copper terminals on each end create some variations as they are made or can be due to differential aging of the solder material. The variations are potential causes for non-uniform current distribution among the tapes in the cable, which adversely affects many operational parameters, such as increased AC loss, lower safety margins, and potential damage to the cable. This is the same issue as described above where the current capacity of the material is not enough at the high temperature end of the lead. Furthermore, the non-uniform current distribution is caused by the variation of contact resistance and no technical solutions have been proposed to solve this issue.
A need exists to increase current capacity of superconductors at the high temperature end of the lead. Advantageously, the configuration of superconductors will provide this increased current capacity, and maximize the total lead current capacity. Further, these developments will enable those skilled in the art to extend this methodology from magnetic resonance applications to overall HTS power cables.


Undue flexing and cracking of an internal exhaust shield of a turbine is eliminated by isolating thermally-induced movement in the shield from that of strut apparatus passing therethrough to a surrounding outer exhaust casing. Methods and apparatus are disclosed.

Typically, such turbines include an exhaust structure which comprises an outer exhaust casing in the form of an annulus, and an inner exhaust tunnel defined by an annular exhaust cylinder or shield with an annular dead air space defined between the outer casing and the inner shield. Simply stated, an outer casing or cylinder surrounds an inner shield or cylinder in the exhaust area of a turbine.
The turbine typically includes a cylindrical bearing housing disposed around a central axis of a turbine and located and centered there, preferably by two sets or arrays of radially-extending struts. The respective struts in each array, at about 120 degrees apart, are encased in strut housings, extending radially inwardly to the bearing housing from the outer exhaust casing and through the inner shield to the bearing housing. The strut housings are welded to the inner shield, where they pass outwardly therethrough to the outer casing and inwardly therethrough to the bearing housing. Typically the struts, strut housings and inner shield are made from high heat-resistant materials or alloys, including, for example, an alloy known in the industry as "hastalloy".
It is in the area of the welded joinery between the strut housings and the inner shield which suffer the principal consequences of differential thermal-caused material expansion and contraction.
As the turbine is operated, it can produce exhaust gases of high temperatures such as 1000 to 1300 degrees Fahrenheit or more. This heat, applied to the strut housing and to the inner shield causes them to expand or move in respective directions in response to this heating. Thus, the strut housing may expand longitudinally (in a radial direction from the bearing housing) while the inner shield moves or expands in other directions, or at least at different rates, all in response to the exhaust heat. Thus, there is a differential of material movement and destructive force at the welded joint between the strut housing and the inner shield. This differential causes the inner shield to flex, then crack or break apart at the intersection area at and around the welded joint to the strut housing. The dead air space between the inner shield and outer casing is thus opened to direct exhaust gas.
In the past, this material failure is cured only by shutting down the turbine, accessing the cracked area, removing the affected parts of the inner shield and welding replacement and reinforcing plates in the shield and to the strut housing. This work is expensive, requires periods of turbine shutdown, is difficult to access, is subject eventually to repeat of the continuing problem and is, for these and other reasons, very problematical.
Such turbines generally experience these adverse thermally-caused movement and force differentials on startup from inoperative conditions. Those cycles occur periodically on even a daily basis or multiple times per day. Thus, every time the turbine is started, the thermal expansion produces the described stress and flexes the inner shield eventually to failure.
Accordingly, it has been one objective of this invention to provide an improved exhaust structure for turbines which is not subject to the failure of materials due to differential thermal expansion and/or contraction.
A further objective of the invention has been to provide an improved exhaust structure for a turbine extending the life and maintenance requirements of such turbines in the exhaust components.
A further objective of the invention has been to provide an improved method for handling turbine exhaust.

Apparatus and methods for eliminating cracking in a turbine exhaust shield


The invention relates to a device for simulating a rod-shaped virtual surgical instrument, in particular for simulating an endoscopic instrument comprising a handle. Said device is provided with a virtual trocar and is equipped with force feedback apparatus. The force feedback apparatus has two connecting pieces, one connecting piece being connected to one half of the handle and the other connecting piece being connected to the other half of the handle. The two connecting pieces are interconnected in a detachable engagement in such a way, that said two connecting pieces can be displaced freely in relation to one another in a first control position and in a second control position and can only be displaced in relation to one another by means of the spring by applying a force to the handle.

1) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a device for the simulation of a rod-shaped virtual surgical instrument, in particular for the simulation of an endoscopic instrument, for the generation of a feedback signal, with a sleeve in which a push rod is located.
2) Description of the Related Art
A force feedback is almost always used in a device for use in the simulation of surgical procedures, in particular endoscopic surgeries, to provide a simulation for the operator of the resistance encountered by the instrument as it penetrates tissue or comes into contact with internal organs and other elements. When clamps or scissors are to be used, the operator thereby uses a corresponding scissors-shaped handle of a simulated instrument which simulates the actual handle. Generally, a spring is then located between the handle parts of the pair of scissors, as on the actual instrument, against the resistance of which the handles of the scissors can be compressed.
This device of the prior art has the disadvantage that when the surgeon is cutting through tissue, after the cut, it should be possible to close these scissors without encountering any significant additional resistance, which cannot be realized with the spring that is used in the devices of the prior art. Furthermore, when a virtual clamp of the type described in the prior art is used, during the actuation of the handle a resistance can be felt directly that does not increase as the simulated clamping action begins to increase, and in particular does not vary as a function of the tissue on the basis of the elasticity of the tissue to which the force is being applied. The prior art also discloses a variety of additional simulated surgical instruments that are used in endoscopic procedures. Most of these instruments have a handle in the form of a scissors-type handle, by means of which the user performing the simulation can clamp, grip or cut something. In these devices of the prior art, one half of the scissors can be moved against a spring tension, so that an increasing pressure is transmitted to the user as the halves of the scissors close.
The devices of the prior art have a number of disadvantages, in particular the fact that unrestricted movement is not suddenly restored when the scissors have cut all the way through a simulated object. Furthermore, there is no ability to simulate the impact of the simulated element against an inflexible or inelastic resistance.

Device for simulating a rod-shaped surgical instrument for generating a feedback signal


The invention relates to enzymes having xylanase, mannanase and/or glucanase activity, e.g., catalyzing hydrolysis of internal β-1,4-xylosidic linkages or endo-β-1,4-ghicanase linkages; and/or degrading a linear polysaccharide beta-1,4-xylan into xylose. Thus, the invention provides methods and processes for breaking down hemicellulose, which is a major component of the cell wall of plants, including methods and processes for hydrolyzing hemicelluloses in any plant or wood or wood product, wood waste, paper pulp, paper product or paper waste or byproduct. In addition, methods of designing new xylanases, mannanases and/or glucanases and methods of use thereof are also provided. The xylanases, mannanases and/or glucanases have increased activity and stability at increased pH and temperature.

Xylanases (e.g., endo-1,4-beta-xylanase, EC 126.96.36.199) hydrolyze internal β-1,4-xylosidic linkages in xylan to produce smaller molecular weight xylose and xylo-oligomers. Xylans are polysaccharides formed from 1,4-β-glycoside-linked D-xylopyranoses. Xylanases are of considerable commercial value, being used in the food industry, for baking and fruit and vegetable processing, breakdown of agricultural waste, in the manufacture of animal feed and in pulp and paper production. Xylanases are formed by fungi and bacteria.
Arabinoxylans are major non-starch polysaccharides of cereals representing 2.5-7.1% w/w depending on variety and growth conditions. The physicochemical properties of this polysaccharide are such that it gives rise to viscous solutions or even gels under oxidative conditions. In addition, arabinoxylans have high water-binding capacity and may have a role in protein foam stability. All of these characteristics present problems for several industries including brewing, baking, animal nutrition and paper manufacturing. In brewing applications, the presence of xylan results in wort filterability and haze formation issues. In baking applications (especially for cookies and crackers), these arabinoxylans create sticky doughs that are difficult to machine and reduce biscuit size. In addition, this carbohydrate is implicated in rapid rehydration of the baked product resulting in loss of crispiness and reduced shelf-life. For monogastric animal feed applications with cereal diets, arabinoxylan is a major contributing factor to viscosity of gut contents and thereby adversely affects the digestibility of the feed and animal growth rate. For ruminant animals, these polysaccharides represent substantial components of fiber intake and more complete digestion of arabinoxylans would facilitate higher feed conversion efficiencies.
Xylanases have been shown to be useful in biobleaching and treatment of chemical pulps (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,202,249), biobleaching and treatment of wood or paper pulps (see, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,179,021, 5,116,746, 5,407,827, 5,405,769, 5,395,765, 5,369,024, 5,457,045, 5,434,071, 5,498,534, 5,591,304, 5,645,686, 5,725,732, 5,759,840, 5,834,301, 5,871,730 and 6,057,438) in reducing lignin in wood and modifying wood (see, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,486,468 and 5,770,012) as flour, dough and bread improvers (see, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,108,765 and 5,306,633) as feed additives and/or supplements, as set forth above (see, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,432,074, 5,429,828, 5,612,055, 5,720,971, 5,981,233, 5,948,667, 6,099,844, 6,132,727 and 6,132,716), in manufacturing cellulose solutions (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,760,211). Detergent compositions having xylanase activity are used for fruit, vegetables and/or mud and clay compounds (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,786,316). Xylanases may also be used in hydrolysis of hemicellulose for which it is selective, particularly in the presence of cellulose. Additionally, the cellulase rich retentate is suitable for the hydrolysis of cellulose (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,725,544).
There remains a need in the art for xylanases to be used in the paper and pulp industry, for example, where the enzyme is active in the temperature range of 65° C. to 75° C. and at a pH of approximately 10. Additionally, an enzyme useful in the paper and pulp industry would decrease the need for bleaching chemicals, such as chlorine dioxide.

Xylanases, nucleic acids encoding them and methods for making and using them


A method of making a standard tool for calibrating polarimeters that analyze stress in photoelastic material, includes the steps of partially annealing a starting piece of tempered glass so that the starting piece has a retardance below 250 nm/cm, removing a peripheral portion of the starting piece (preferably, at least about 20% of its radial dimension) to leave a working piece, cutting a rectangular parallelepiped from the working piece, polishing two opposing faces of the rectangular parallelepiped where the two opposing faces are spaced apart by a measurement distance through which light passes during stress analysis in a polarimeter, and determining a birefringence of the rectangular parallelepiped across the measurement distance using a calibrated polarimeter. The standard tool is the rectangular parallelepiped having the determined birefringence for the measurement distance. The method can be used to make a set of the standard tools with different measurement distances.

The present invention is directed to a method of making a standard tool for calibrating polarimeters that analyze stress in photoelastic material, and to a set of these standard tools.
Polariscopes and polarimeters analyze stress in photoelastic materials, such as glass. Stress is viewed through a polariscope by placing a sample of the material to be analyzed in front of a polarized light source and viewing the sample though an analyzer and full wave plate. Stress in the sample appears as blue and yellow areas when the stress direction is +/−45° to the polarized light. The more intense the color, the higher the stress for samples of equal thickness.
The stress may be measured with a polarimeter by replacing the full wave plate of the polariscope with a quarter wave plate. With the analyzer set to zero degrees, stress areas appear white. The white area is viewed while rotating the analyzer and the rotation is stopped when the white area is extinguished (dark). Sample thickness affects the readings and thus the stress is recorded as the number of degrees of rotation per unit thickness.
The polarizing films in polariscopes and polarimeters degrade over time and parts of the optical systems of these devices can become misaligned, both of which compromise the accuracy of the stress analysis results. These instruments need to be checked routinely to ascertain their accuracy.
Devices exist for ascertaining the accuracy of polariscopes and polarimeters. For example, the Babinet Soleil Compensator has a variable retardation plate that cancels phase differences in birefringent materials and can be used to check the accuracy of these instruments. However, the device is expensive and delicate and the operator must be highly skilled.
Standard tools for ascertaining the accuracy of polariscopes and polarimeters that are less sophisticated than the Babinet Soleil Compensator are also known. For example, a tempered glass disk with known birefringence is available. However, retardance can vary across the surface of the disk and precise measurements of the distance from the edge of the disk are also required. Further, the disks have one stress or birefringence level and additional levels are achieved only by stacking plural disks, which can cause further errors given the tight tolerances for measurements of the distance from the disk edge.
Another problem with polariscopes and polarimeters is that training is needed to ensure accurate operation of these instruments. Samples with high birefringence exhibit chromatic aberration so that different wavelengths of light resolve at different rotations of the analyzer. An operator can see overlapping images that complicate the determination when the birefringence has been compensated by rotation of the analyzer. The operator must be taught what to see when the analyzer has been rotated the correct amount. A simple tool for facilitating this training would be particularly advantageous.
Accordingly, the prior art tools for calibrating stress analysis devices have operational and training disadvantages.

Method of making a standard tool for calibrating stress analysis measuring devices and a set of the standard tools


A method and apparatus that includes configuring the parameters of the sounding reference signal for the channel which is to be detected by a user device, in order to allocate the resource of the sounding reference signal for the user device; transmitting the information, which includes the sounding reference signal resource allocated to the user device, to the user device through a high layer signaling; and transmitting an activation signal to the user device through a low layer signaling to activate the user device to transmit the sounding reference signal. Therefore, an activation signal is transmitted to the user device by transmitting a low layer signaling with higher speed, thus the use efficiency of the resource of the sounding reference signal of the system can be improved, and more users can be supported by the system.

In the Fourth Generation (4G) mobile communication system, a Reference Signal (RS) is utilized to perform data demodulation and channel sounding in an uplink of Single Carrier Frequency Division Multiple Access (SC-FDMA) for Long Term Evolution (LTE), for example.
The functions of the uplink RS include channel estimation required for performing coherent demodulation, channel quality sounding for uplink scheduling, power control, timing estimation, arriving direction estimation for supporting downlink beam forming, and the like.
The uplink RS in the LTE is mostly based on the Zadoff-Chu (ZC) sequence. The ZC sequence is also called GCL (Generalized Chirp-Like) sequence. This sequence is a non-binary unit amplitude sequence, which meets CAZAC (Constant Amplitude Zero Autocorrelation) characteristic. The CAZAC sequence is a complex value signal in the form of ejαk. The ZC sequence with a length being a prime number of NZC may be represented as:
            a      q        =          exp                    [                              -            j                                                                        2                                                              π                                                              q                                                                                n                                                        (                                          n                      +                      1                                        )                                                  /                2                            +              ln                                      N              ZC                                      ]              ,where qε{1, . . . , NZC−1} is the root index of the ZC sequence, and n=0, 1, . . . , NZC−1, lεN. For simplicity, it is set that l=0 in the LTE.
The ZC sequence has characteristics as follows.
1. The ZC sequence has a constant amplitude, and still has a constant amplitude after DFT operation. The characteristic of constant amplitude limits the peak to average power ratio and the boundary and time flat interference on other users. Additionally, this characteristic simplifies the implementation when only the phase instead of the amplitude needs to be calculated and stored.
2. The ZC sequence with any length has ideal cyclic autocorrelation, which means that the cyclic shift correlation is a δ function.
Due to the ideal characteristics of the ZC sequence, the uplink RS has excellent characteristics as follows. (1) The amplitude is constant in the frequency field, which is for performing same activation on all of the allocated sub-carriers in the unbiased channel estimation. (2) The value of low Cubic Measurement (CM) is relatively low in the time field. (3) The autocorrelation characteristic is excellent, which facilitates accurate channel estimation. (4) The cross correlation characteristic is excellent, thereby reducing the interference of the RS transmitted over the same resource from other cells.
The uplink supports two kinds of RS. The first kind of RS is Demodulation RS (DMRS). This kind of RS mainly is used to perform channel estimation for uplink data transmission or signaling information transmission, and further to perform related detection. The second kind of RS is Sounding RS (SRS). This kind of RS mainly is used to perform channel quality measurement, thereby performing frequency selective scheduling for uplink.
In the LTE system, as shown in FIG. 1, a subframe is of 14 symbols numbered 0, 1, 2, . . . , 13, respectively. In the Rel.8/9 system, the SRS signal of the user can only be transmitted in the symbol No. 13. In the Rel.8/9 system, the DMRS signal of the user can only be transmitted in the symbols No. 3 and No. 10. The DMRS and SRS signals for uplink are time division multiplexed with data symbols. The DMRS for a specific User Equipment (UE) is of the same bandwidth as that of the Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) or Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUSCH) transmitted by the UE, e.g. the PUSCH bandwidth in the whole cell bandwidth. Therefore, when the various bandwidths of the system are allocated to the various users (for FDMA), the DMRS for respective users are orthogonal to one another.
The SRS bandwidth for the user may be different from the bandwidth for data transmission. The SRS signal for the user is always transmitted over the last SC-FDMA symbol in the subframe, and the parameters of the SRS signal are notified by a high layer signaling. In FIG. 1, the UE transmits the SRS periodically over the last symbol in the subframe. In FIG. 2, the SRS signal is multiplexed through Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM), Code Division Multiplexing (CDM), or Time Division Multiplexing (TDM). In the TDM, the eNodeB in the LTE requires s single SRS transmission from the UE or configures the UE to transmit the SRS periodically until the end. If a UE transmits the SRS periodically, the period may be 2, 5, 10, 20, 40, 80, 160, or 320 ms. In the FDM, the eNodeB may allocate the frequency resource with different bandwidth or the frequency resource with same bandwidth but with different location to the user for transmitting the SRS signal. The factors affecting the SRS bandwidth include the UE maximum power, the number of UEs supportable for detecting, and the detecting bandwidth required for benefit from uplink scheduling dependent on channel conditions. In the CDM, the eNodeB may also allocate the frequency resource with same bandwidth and with same location to different users. At this time, the different cyclic shift of the RS sequence may be used to implement the orthogonal sequence. That is, the correlation between a ZC sequence and any cyclic shift of the same sequence is zero. When the length of the channel impulse response is finite, different transmitters may use different cyclic time shifts of the same RS base sequence. As long as the cyclic shift is longer than the channel impulse response, the orthogonality may be maintained among the RSs.
Except for the TDM, FDM, and CDM above, there is no any other implementation for multiplexing of SRS resource in the current LET system.
In the LTE system, the transmission of the uplink signal of the user supports the mode of single antenna transmission or antenna selection transmission. Only a set of SRS resource is allocated to every user when the SRS resource is allocated.
In the LTE-Advanced system, in order to meet a higher uplink transmission rate index, it is required that the UE supports higher rank, e.g. rank1-rank4, of transmission on uplink. Thus, it is required that the UE is equipped with a higher number of antennas. For example, two antennas are equipped to support transmission of up to rank2, or four antennas are equipped to support transmission of up to rank4.
When the UE is equipped with a higher number of antennas to thereby perform higher rank of transmission, more SRS resources need to be allocated so as to perform detection and estimation on the channel of each of the antennas.
Therefore, additional methods should be adopted to further improve the capacity of the SRS.
The methods for improving the capacity of the SRS may be classified into two basic aspects. The first aspect is to improve the available resource of the SRS, and the other aspect is to improve the usage of the current SRS resource.
As described above, the parameters of the SRS signal are notified by a high layer signaling of the system, and then the SRS signal is activated and transmitted in a given period after the notification. This is a procedure for periodical transmission of the SRS signal. And, the deactivation of the SRS signal is notified by the high layer signaling of the system. Therefore, at present, the use of the SRS signal by the system, from the activation procedure to the deactivation procedure, has to be notified by the high layer signaling. The notification by the high layer signaling is a relatively slow procedure, and therefore the usage of the SRS resource of the system is relatively low.
The present invention is directed to employ the SRS resource with high efficiency, so that the system can support more users.

Method and apparatus for aperiodically transmitting sounding reference signal


A camper assembly (20) comprising: a first section (22); a second section (24) connected to the first section (22), the first and second sections (22, 24) being generally horizontally movable relative to each other between a compacted configuration of the camper assembly (20) at which the second section (24) is adjacent the first section (22) and an expanded configuration of the camper assembly (20) at which the second section (24) is spaced from the first section (20); and a wall assembly (88, 120, 130) extending between the first and second sections (22, 24) in the expanded configuration of the camper assembly (20); wherein the first section (22) includes an attachment assembly (86) which solely supports the camper assembly (20) on a tow hitch receiver (210) of a tow vehicle (200) in the compacted configuration of the camper assembly (20).

Caravans and camper trailers (campers) typically include a chassis supporting a camper body on one or more axles with sets of ground support wheels. The chassis has a link for attachment to the tow hitch of a tow vehicle, which is usually a large car such as a four wheel drive vehicle.
Tow hitches are provided in two configurations, being a receiver type and fixed-drawbar type. A receiver-type tow hitch includes a frame that mounts to the vehicle chassis. The frame includes a rearward extending hollow square tube, which has an opening that receives a removable tow ball mount. The tow ball mount includes a square tube for insertion to the hitch receiver tube, and a flange having a hole for attachment of a tow ball. Fixed-drawbar hitches have the tow hitch mount built integrally with the frame that attaches to the vehicle chassis, and includes the flange having a hole for the tow ball.
A disadvantage of prior art campers is that they are heavy and require towing, which adds significantly to the fuel consumption of the tow vehicle. Another disadvantage is that they are usually large and require substantial space to store and park. Most prior art campers are also unable to be towed over rough (off-road) terrain.


A video surveillance apparatus determines a field of view of a video surveillance camera (110) having a sensor (120) mounted thereon. A distance measuring means is configured to obtain a plurality of distance measurements based on data received from the sensor (120). A field of view determining means is configured to determine, based on the plurality of distance measurements, the field of view of the camera (110).

Video surveillance is typically used to observe a selected region of space or a selected object using at least one video camera. This often serves to protect valuable assets, with the video surveillance apparatus being arranged to observe property and people.
Checking whether the video surveillance apparatus is expected to observe the selected object or the selected region of space can be performed by drawing a map of the environment that is to include the video camera. The field of view of the camera is inferred from assumptions of the image that could be captured by the camera. Plotting the inferred field of view on a map, the best location for the camera can be chosen for the observation of the selected object or the selected region of space.
However, the process of drawing the map and the assumption of the field of view is time consuming and vulnerable to errors, particularly for the surveillance of objects or regions of space that are complicated. For example, if the selected object or selected region of space is particularly large or includes many obstacles, then it is difficult to accurately determine the field of view that would be observed. A more efficient technique is required for assessing the field of view of a video surveillance camera.
Also, the environment may be dynamic and include moveable obstacles such as vehicles or people, and therefore the field of view of each camera may change over time if objects move to block parts of the field of view of the camera.