In an optical device wafer processing method, a light emitting layer on the front side of a wafer is removed by applying a pulsed laser beam to the wafer along division lines from the back side of a substrate with the focal point of the beam set near the light emitting layer, thereby partially removing the light emitting layer along the division lines. A shield tunnel is formed by applying the beam to the wafer along the division lines from the back of the substrate with the focal point of the beam set near the front of the substrate. This forms a plurality of shield tunnels arranged along each division line, each shield tunnel extending from the front side of the substrate to the back side thereof. Each shield tunnel has a fine hole and an amorphous region formed around the fine hole for shielding the fine hole.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical device wafer processing method for dividing an optical device wafer into individual optical devices such as light emitting diodes and laser diodes along a plurality of crossing division lines, the optical device wafer being composed of a single crystal substrate such as a sapphire (Al2O3) substrate and a silicon carbide (SiC) substrate and a light emitting layer formed on the front side of the single crystal substrate, the optical device wafer being partitioned by the division lines to define a plurality of separate regions where the optical devices are respectively formed.
Description of the Related Art
In an optical device fabrication process, a light emitting layer composed of an n-type nitride semiconductor layer and a p-type nitride semiconductor layer is formed on the front side of a single crystal substrate such as a sapphire (Al2O3) substrate and a silicon carbide (SiC) substrate. The optical device wafer is partitioned by a plurality of crossing division lines to define a plurality of separate regions where a plurality of optical devices such as light emitting diodes and laser diodes are respectively formed, thus constituting an optical device wafer. The optical device wafer is cut along the division lines to thereby divide the plural separate regions where the optical devices are formed from each other, thus obtaining the individual optical devices as chips.
As a method of dividing an optical device wafer along the division lines, there has been tried a laser processing method of applying a pulsed laser beam having a transmission wavelength to the wafer along the division lines in the condition where the focal point of the pulsed laser beam is set inside the wafer in a subject area to be divided. More specifically, this wafer dividing method using laser processing includes the steps of applying a pulsed laser beam having a transmission wavelength to the wafer from one side of the wafer along the division lines in the condition where the focal point of the pulsed laser beam is set inside the wafer to thereby continuously form a modified layer inside the wafer along each division line and next applying an external force to the wafer along each division line where the modified layer is formed to be reduced in strength, thereby dividing the wafer into the individual optical devices (see Japanese Patent No. 3408805, for example).
As another method of dividing an optical device wafer along the division lines, there has been put into practical use a technique including the steps of applying a pulsed laser beam having an absorption wavelength to the wafer along the division lines to thereby form a laser processed groove along each division line by ablation and next applying an external force to the wafer along each division line where the laser processed groove is formed as a break start point, thereby breaking the wafer along each division line (see Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Hei 10-305420, for example).


A multi-bit counter is provided. The multi-bit counter includes a plurality of asynchronous base counter cells coupled in series, the asynchronous base counter cells having a plurality of input terminals. The multi-bit counter also includes at least one logic gate coupled to at least one of the input terminals of at least one of the plurality of asynchronous base counter cells, a reload signal being input into the asynchronous base counter cells, a clock signal being input into the asynchronous base counter cells, and an input voltage being input into the asynchronous base counter cells, wherein the multi-bit counter is synchronous with the clock signal.

1. Technical Field
The present invention is related to a counter circuit and, in particular, to a high-speed hybrid structure counter having synchronous timing and asynchronous counter cells.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Multi-bit counter circuits are needed in many circuit applications, for example in phase-locked loop frequency dividers, and spread spectrum control dividers. In typical applications, counter circuits are at least 16-bits in size, and work at a frequency up to about 800 MHz. Counter circuits used in these typical applications may be either asynchronous or synchronous in their operation. In a synchronous counter circuit, there is a common source of clock pulses driving all of the components of the circuit. In an asynchronous counter circuit, components of the circuit are not driven by a common clock signal, and each component may be driven by a separate clock signal.
An asynchronous frequency divider has a relatively simple structure, and therefore occupies the least area, allowing for increased integration. Asynchronous frequency dividers, however, are delay dependent and are difficult to operate at high frequencies. A synchronous frequency divider, on the other hand, is more stable at nominal and high frequencies, but it has a relatively complicated circuit design, resulting in a larger footprint and increased power consumption, which makes synchronous designs more difficult to integrate. Moreover, synchronous frequency dividers often have a complex control logic, and a long delay path, which impedes the divider from operating. Typically, a delay cell or delay circuit is incorporated into synchronous frequency dividers to compensate for variable delay paths to improve operation at higher frequencies. However, because delay cells can have a large variance, and are often temperature and voltage sensitive, the use of these delay cells often have a negative impact on circuit performance.
Therefore, there is a need for more robust counter circuits capable of operating at higher frequencies while having simpler circuit design and smaller footprints.

High speed hybrid structure counter having synchronous timing and asynchronous counter cells


The technology includes an example method for parsing data to determine corollary objects and adapt attributes of the corollary objects using the data. In some implementations, the method may include receiving one or more images, performing text recognition to determine recognized text in the one or more images, and determining data cells containing information associated with a first item. The method may then classify one or more of the determined data cells, and may identify key cells in the determined data cells based on the classification of the one or more determined data cells. Correlations between information contained in the key cells and a second item, the second item including an interchangeable item to the first item may be determined, and the method may adjust attributes associated with the second item based on defined parameters and the recognized text.

The present specification generally relates to a cross referencing and automatically adjusting one or more attributes of items.
Companies may purchase many items of varying types from one or more vendors, but there is currently no way for an administrator at the company to know whether those items have the best value for their company without painstakingly searching for items line-by-line in a database to evaluate the prices, quantities, and types of items offered to the company. This is time consuming and impractical, particularly for large sets of items.
Accordingly, there is a need for more efficient and improved technology for determining and cross-referencing items.

Automatic correlation of items and adaptation of item attributes using object recognition


A method for testing a set of circuitry in an integrated circuit (IC) is described. The IC includes multiple configurable circuits for configurably performing multiple operations. The method configures the IC to operate in a user mode with a set of test paths that satisfies a set of evaluation criteria. Each test path includes a controllable storage element for controllably storing a signal that the storage element receives. The method operates the IC in user mode. The method reads the values stored in the storage elements to determine whether the set of circuitry is operating within specified performance limits.

Configurable integrated circuits ("ICs") can be used to implement circuit functionality designed by a user ("user design") on an IC without having to fabricate a new IC for each design. One example of a configurable IC is a field programmable gate array ("FPGA"). A configurable IC has several circuits for performing different operations. Configurable circuits can be configured by configuration data to perform a variety of different operations. These circuits can range from logic circuits (e.g., configurable look-up tables, or "LUTs") to interconnect circuits (e.g., configurable multiplexers). The circuits of a configurable IC are often made up of a multitude of transistors, metal and/or polysilicon wires, and/or other elements (e.g., capacitors, resistors, etc.).
During the manufacture of a configurable IC it is possible for flaws to affect the operation of the IC. In addition to flaws, configurable ICs that use minimum width (or near-minimum width) transistors for a particular manufacturing technology are subject to large transistor to transistor variation. These variations can cause individual transistors to operate more slowly than required. In some cases the flaws and/or variations are manifested as malfunctioning circuit elements (e.g., stuck outputs). In other cases, the flaws and/or variations are manifested as substandard performance (e.g., excessive propagation delay). Any slow or non-functioning circuit element may potentially render the configurable IC unusable. Thus, all transistors and wires must be tested on every configurable IC to guarantee that the IC is properly functioning.
Traditional test techniques aggregate the performance of a large number of transistors and wires together into a single measurement. Thus, when some transistors and/or wires are faster than the specified performance limit while a single transistor is slower it is possible for a path that includes the slow transistor to pass the test criteria. This phenomenon is of particular concern in programmable logic because the performance path may be extremely variable (due to the wide variability in end-user designs) and is typically not the same path that is used to test the IC.
Existing IC test methods (e.g., "scan" testing that uses automatic test pattern generation or "ATPG") measure performance by propagating a single edge through the circuit under test. In contrast, when operating in user mode, a configurable IC will have multiple operational paths and/or circuits, typically operating at a high switching rate (measured in MHz or GHz). When running at a high switching rate, the power supply to the transistors in the IC will be stressed, the temperature of the circuit will be elevated, and the on-chip decoupling capacitors will be charging and discharging. The effect of these stresses on the performance of the IC is not fully measured using traditional IC test methods.

Micro-granular delay testing of configurable ICs


An idle speed control system for a direct injection spark ignition engine controlled to operate in either homogeneous air/fuel modes or stratified air/fuel modes. When operating in a stratified air/fuel mode, engine idle speed is controlled by controlling the engine air/fuel during unthrottled operation. When operating stratified and also throttled, engine idle speed is controlled by both controlling air/fuel and controlling the throttle. When operating in the homogeneous modes, engine idle speed is controlled by controlling both the throttle and ignition timing.

The field of the invention relates to idle speed control systems for internal combustion engines. In particular, the field relates to idle speed control systems for direct injection spark ignition engines.
In conventional port injected engines, which induct a mixture of air and atomized fuel into the combustion chambers, idle speed control systems are known which adjust idle speed by controlling the air throttle. It is also known to control idle speed by advancing or retarding ignition timing. An example of such a system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,203,300.
The inventor's herein have recognized numerous problems when applying known idle speed control systems to direct injection spark ignition engines in which the combustion chambers contain stratified layers of different air/fuel mixtures. The strata closest to the spark plug contains a stoichiometric mixture or a mixture slightly rich of stoichiometry, and subsequent strata contain progressively leaner mixtures. Use of conventional idle speed control systems for this type of engine is recognized by the inventors herein to be inadequate because stratified operation is unthrottled so the throttle is not a viable control variable. And ignition timing is not a viable control variable because the timing must be slaved to the time a rich air/fuel strata is formed near the spark plug. These problems are further exasperated in direct injection spark ignition engines which have two modes of operation--the stratified mode discussed above and a homogeneous mode in which a homogeneous air/fuel mixture is formed at the time of spark ignition.

Idle speed control system for direct injection spark ignition engines


An electromagnetic drive device is proposed comprising an electromagnet (21) having a magnetizable core (22) with a plurality of limbs (23 and 24) and an energizable winding arrangement (35) surrounding at least one limb (23 and 24) of the core (22). Furthermore there is a magnetizable magnet armature (15) able to be moved in relation to the core ((22) by varying the winding arrangement current. The (22) core has at least one U arrangement and is formed essentially by a plurality of sheet metal elements (30) resting against each other and extending athwart the direction of the parallel limbs (23 and 24), the parallel limbs being respectively surrounded by one winding (33 and 34) of the winding arrangement (35).

The invention relates to an electromagnetic drive device, more especially for a valve, comprising an electromagnet having a magnetizable core with a plurality of limbs and an energizable winding arrangement surrounding at least one limb of the core, said device further comprising a magnetizable magnet armature able to be moved in relation to the core by varying the winding arrangement current.
Such an electromagnetic drive device is for example disclosed in the British patent publication 2,289,572 A, the core and the magnet armature constituting a so-called EI arrangement and the winding arrangement being constituted by a winding surrounding the middle limb of the E shaped core.
Starting with such a device one object of the invention is to provide an electromagnetic drive device, which renders possible more rapid switching while having a simple structure.
In accordance with the invention this object is to be fulfilled by the core having at least one U arrangement and preferably being formed as a U core or even as an E core and essentially by a plurality of sheet metal elements resting against each other and extending athwart the direction of the parallel limbs, the parallel limbs being respectively surrounded by one winding of the winding arrangement.
Owing to this particular arrangement high energy densities are produced in the magnetic field of the electromagnet. Owing to such high energy density there is the possibility of achieving rapid switching movements of the magnet armature, that is to say short switching times. Owing to low losses the drive device of the invention achieves a high efficiency.
Advantageous further developments of the invention will appear from the dependent claims.
Since the windings of the winding arrangement can be connected in series or in parallel to one another, it is possible for the overall resistance of the winding arrangement to be varied.
It is an advantage for the sheet metal elements constituting the core to possess a U or an E configuration. This renders possible simple manufacture of the core by superjacent stacking of the individual sheet metal elements.
It is furthermore convenient for the cross section of the core and/or of the magnet armature to have a polygonal and more particularly rectangular outline. For manufacture of a laminated core identical sheet metal elements are employed so that the core may be produced at a low cost.
As an alternative to this the cross section of the core and/or of the magnet armature may be oval or circular. More particularly, a circular cross section of the core may allow an adaptation of the form to the frequently circularly cylindrically wound windings.
It is also an advantage for the core and/or the magnet armature to consist of low retentivity magnetic material. Owing to this feature an low coercive field strength is ensured.
In the case of such low retentivity magnetic material it may be a question of ferrimagnetic or, respectively, ferromagnetic material. A ferrimagnetic material has a high resistivity. As a ferrimagnetic material iron may for example come into question.
Moreover it is expedient for the windings respectively to possess a non-magnetizable winding carrier, on which the winding is mounted. It is in this manner that a gap filled with the winding carrier is produced between the windings and the respectively associated limb of the core.
In the case of this design the winding carrier may consist of plastic so that extremely economic manufacture is possible.
The electromagnetic drive device in accordance with the invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.


A device for confining leaks of one or more gases contained in a gas cylinder, which comprises a shroud made of a flexible and nonflammable material which is inert with respect to the gas or gases contained in the cylinder and designed to partially envelope said cylinder, wherein said shroud has an opening provided with means for sealing said shroud to the surface of the cylinder and wherein the shroud is provided with an outlet coupling connected to a line for removing one or more of the gases to a means for neutralizing said one or more gases.

(i) Field of the Invention
The subject of the present invention is a device for confining gas leaks from a gas cylinder.
(ii) Description of the Related Art
When a gas cylinder containing compressed or liquefied toxic gases under pressure has a leak which is impossible to stop (leaks at the collar, for example), there are two solutions. Either the leak is significant and cannot be brought under control, in which case the area where the leaking cylinder is located is evacuated and a safety perimeter is marked out, or the leak is not very great and a pressure-resistant confinement system is then used. The objective is to seek to completely contain the leak in an outer container. The leaking gas cylinder is put in a pressure-resistant confinement chamber.
Various types of construction have thus been developed and marketed. One embodiment consists of a confinement container in which an entire leaking cylinder can be placed.
This device relies on the idea of containing the toxic gases escaping from the cylinder. This is a heavy pressure-resistant system which is difficult to use. This confinement system is expensive, which limits its mass production. The time required to fetch it from the place where it is stored to the site of the incident may furthermore be quite long, the time to set up the confinement system proper requiring some ten minutes.
It should furthermore be noted that this device cannot be used with unstable gases such as acetylene. Likewise, its use with spontaneously inflammable gases (SiH.sub.4, B.sub.2 H.sub.6, etc.) is not recommended.
It is known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,086,804 to produce a smaller container which screws onto the top of the leaking cylinder.
The container according to this second known embodiment has the drawback that it may be geometrically incompatible (thread diameter, screw pitch, etc.).
It is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,955,404 to screw a bonnet onto the cylinder, which bonnet is then filled with a fusible substance (metal alloy) which, by solidifying, stops the leak. Various systems have also been proposed which aim to contain the leak by applying a counterpressure to the adapter or body of the cylinder, the stop device proper being held in position by a number of metal chains. The aforementioned embodiment, of confinement of the leak by applying a counterpressure to the adapter, has the drawback that the chains are not easy to manipulate.
However, not one of these safety systems can be used to take action in a very short space of time, a few minutes, on a leak which cannot be stopped but which is not out of control.

Device for confining gas leaks from a gas cylinder

L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude


The invention relates to an absorbent article, such as a diaper, an incontinence guard, a sanitary napkin or the like, including a liquid-permeable upper surface and an absorbent structure exhibiting a planar extension. The absorbent structure includes an acquisition layer and at least one storage layer. The acquisition layer has a plurality of fragments of a liquid-absorbing, open-celled, polyacrylate-based foam material, and each fragment exhibits a planar extension having a transversal direction, a longitudinal direction, and a thickness direction extending perpendicularly to the planar extension. The width in the transversal direction of each fragment in a dry condition does not exceed 10 millimeters, and the total area of the fragments in the planar extension is lower than the area of the absorbent structure in the planar extension.

Absorbent articles such as diapers, incontinence guards, sanitary napkins, intended for one single use, usually comprise an absorbent structure having the capability to acquire large amounts of liquid under a short period of time, and further having the ability to distribute the liquid and to store the liquid. This means that the absorbent structure usually comprises several different layers having different properties with respect to each other. Frequently, the absorbent structure at least comprises a liquid acquisition layer and a liquid storage layer. The liquid storage layer often comprises a cellulosic fluff pulp layer mixed with a superabsorbent material, which are polymers having the ability to absorb many times their own weight of water or bodily fluids. The liquid acquisition layer often comprises a porous fibrous layer of synthetic fibers.
Upon usage of such absorbent articles, it is desirable that they are thin and discreet to wear, and that they at the same time rapidly can acquire a large amount of liquid discharged during a short period of time and then store this liquid in the article.
However, it has been shown that it is difficult to obtain sufficient liquid-acquiring capacity, liquid distribution capacity and liquid storage capacity for products, which at the same time are thin and discreet to wear.
In order to obtain a thin product, it is previously known to use a relatively high percentage of a superabsorbent material in the absorbent structure. For example, as shown in EP 0 532 002 and EP 0 615 736, it is known to use an absorbent structure for use in a diaper containing at least 30 percent by weight or more of a superabsorbent material. It is further known from EP 0 443 627 to use an absorbent structure containing 60 percent by weight of a superabsorbent material.
However, it has been shown to be difficult to obtain a thin absorbent article exhibiting an optimal combination of sufficiently high liquid-acquiring capacity, sufficient local and total absorption capacity and sufficient liquid transport ability. It is further important, mainly for diapers and incontinence guards, that the article upon repeated wettings is able to receive and absorb relatively large amounts of liquid discharged during a short period of time.

Absorbent article comprising an absorbent structure


A method for driving a flat panel display to improve an image quality and a lifetime of the flat panel display is disclosed. The method for driving the flat panel display includes the steps of: a) storing electric-charges contained in a parasitic capacitor of a data line and a pixel-storage capacitor (Cst) in each pixel via a pixel transistor connected to the data line, which enters a floating state during a predetermined time other than a light-emitting time caused by a data-current writing operation, until a current voltage reaches a threshold voltage of the pixel transistor; and b) performing the writing of a data current corresponding to a pixel to be driven by the data line via the pixel transistor, such that the flat panel display emits light.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for driving a flat panel display, and more particularly to a method for driving an organic electro-luminescent (EL) panel display such that it improves an image quality and an effective lifetime of the organic EL panel display.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Generally, the organic EL display electrically excites a fluorescent organic compound, such that it emits light. The organic EL display drives N×M organic EL cells using a voltage or current signal, such that it displays a desired image.
A conventional organic EL display will hereinafter be described with reference to FIG. 1.
FIG. 1 is a structural diagram illustrating a conventional organic EL display.
Referring to FIG. 1, the conventional organic EL display cell includes an anode composed of an ITO, an organic thin film, and a cathode layer composed of a metal.
The organic thin film is configured in the form of a multi-layered structure, which includes an Emitting Layer (EML), an Electron Transport Layer (ETL), and a Hole Transport Layer (HTL), such that it improves light-emitting efficiency due to the balancing of electrons and holes. Also, the organic thin film further includes an Electron Injecting Layer (EIL) and a Hole Injecting Layer (HIL).
The above-mentioned organic EL cell is classified into a Passive Matrix (PM)—based organic EL cell and an Active Matrix (AM)—based organic EL cell. The PM-based organic EL cell forms an anode and a cathode orthogonal to each other according to an addressing scheme, and selects a desired line, such that it is driven. The AM-based organic EL cell connects a Thin Film Transistor (TFT) and a capacitor to each ITO pixel electrode, and maintains a voltage by capacitance, such that it is driven.
The PM-based organic EL cell or the AM-based organic EL cell is classified into a voltage-write scheme and a current-write scheme according to the type (i.e., voltage or current) of a signal received from a drive circuit.
FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram illustrating a pixel structure of a conventional AM-OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) panel. FIG. 2 is a conventional AM voltage-write pixel circuit for driving an OLED using the TFT, and shows a representative example of N×M pixels.
Referring to FIG. 2, a current-drive-type transistor (Mb) is connected to the OLED, such that a current signal for emitting the light is written in the OLED.
In this case, the current capacity of the current-drive-type transistor (Mb) is controlled by a data voltage received via a switching transistor (Ma). In order to maintain the data voltage during a predetermined period of time, the capacitor is connected between a source and a gate of the current-drive-type transistor (Mb).
The N-th selection signal line (Select[n]) is connected to the gate of the switching transistor (Ma), and a data line (Data[m]) is connected to the source of the switching transistor (Ma).
Operations of the pixel having the above-mentioned structure will hereinafter be described with reference to FIG. 2.
If the switching transistor (Ma) is switched on by the selection signal (Select[n]) applied to the gate of the switching transistor (Ma), a data voltage (V DATA) is applied to a gate (Node A) of the drive-type transistor (Mb) via the data line.
In response to the data voltage (V DATA) applied to the Node A, the current signal is written in the OLED via the drive-type transistor (Mb), resulting in the implementation of the light-emitting operation.
The conventional method for driving the OLED having the above-mentioned structure may unexpectedly change the brightness between pixels due to a threshold-voltage deviation and a mobility deviation of the drive-type transistor, such that it may unavoidably deteriorate uniformity of a display screen.
Also, due to the power (P=I*V) consumed by the pixel and the heat generated by the power, the drive-type transistor and the OLED are deteriorated, and their lifetimes are reduced, such that it is difficult for the conventional OLED to be made commercially available.


The present disclosure relates to an automatic speech recognition system and a method thereof. The system includes a conformer encoder and a pair of ping-pong buffers. The encoder includes a plurality of encoder layers sequentially executed by one or more graphic processing units. At least one encoder layer includes a first feed forward module, a multi-head self-attention module, a convolution module, and a second feed forward module. The convolution module and the multi-head self-attention module are sandwiched between the first feedforward module and the second feed forward module. The four modules respectively include a plurality of encoder sublayers fused into one or more encoder kernels. The one or more encoder kernels respectively read from one of the pair of ping-pong buffers and write into the other of the pair of ping-pong buffers.

Automatic speech recognition (ASR) which allows the derivation of the transcription (word sequence) of an utterance given the speech waveform, has found its importance in many service applications, such as voice transcription, audio search, content review, and live streaming. One of important ASR approaches is to use an attention-mechanism based transformer model, namely speech transformer, which predicts word sequence by capturing long-term dependencies and wide-range context information. It can outperform the previously de facto ASR choice, i.e., recurrent neural networks that can model the temporal dependencies in the audio sequence effectively. It also outperforms convolutional neural network (CNN) based models.
Previous transformer work, mainly speech transformer, has achieved excellent word/character error rate performance for both English and Chinese ASR. While transformers are good at modeling long-range global context, they are less capable to extract fine-grained local feature patterns. CNN models, on the other hand, exploit local information and are used as the de-facto computational block in vision. They learn shared position-based kernels over a local window, thus maintaining translation equivariance and being able to capture features like edges and shapes, and having limited capability in capturing dynamic global context.
Conformer models build on the combination of convolution and self-attention, such that it can learn both pointwise local features and use content-based global interaction. As a recently proposed model, it shows state-of-the-art performance in English ASR, and could potentially outperform speech transformer in Chinese ASR. However, it requires significant amount of power and computation resources to process every audio corpus. How to efficiently accelerate ASR conformer model on hardware devices, for example graphic processing units (GPUs), represents a major technical challenge for real deployments.

Systems and methods for automatic speech recognition based on graphics processing units


A locking apparatus for an upper mold and a lower mold of a press apparatus includes a ball screw, a screw nut, a force producing spanner structure and at least one engagement structure. The screw nut is responsive to a first power source for driving the ball screw in an axial direction to perform a lower-pressure higher-speed stroke. The spanner is responsive to a second power source for producing a force in circumferential direction. The engagement structure is arranged around an external rim of the screw nut. Responsive to the force in the circumferential direction, the engagement structure closely engages with the external rim of the screw nut such that a corresponding friction force is applied to the screw nut. The screw nut, responsive to the friction force, drives the ball screw in the axial direction to perform a higher-pressure stroke to lock the upper mold and lower mold.

The invention relates to a locking apparatus for upper and lower molds of a press.
The press is a widely used machine for making various industrial products. For instance, during package stage of semiconductor die, the press has been used together with transfer molds to effect the package of the semiconductor die.
It is well known in the arts that a top platen and bottom platen are provided in the press. The top platen accommodates the upper mold, e.g. transfer mold, and the bottom platen accommodates the lower mold. At the last stage of production of the product, the upper and the lower molds are moved toward each other relatively by operation of press such that they closely match against each other, i.e. a press-match condition. In general, the top platen together with the upper mold is arranged to be stationary and the lower platen together with the lower mold is pushed upward by mechanism of the press to reach the final match-press condition.
The upward movement (stroke) of the lower mold is divided into two different stages which includes a higher-speed lower-pressure long stroke (first stroke) and a lower-speed higher-pressure short stroke (second stroke). At the end of first stroke of operation, the lower mold is only in contact with the upper mold without exerting a strong pressing force to the upper mold. It is the second stroke of the operation which only drives the lower mold by a very short distance and exerts an extreme large force to closely press the molds together. The operation of second stroke of the lower mold is also referred as locking of the upper and lower molds of a press.
In the conventional press machine, the mechanisms performing the locking operation includes well known hydraulic direct-drive type, mechanical crankshaft-drive type, or complex combination of hydraulics and crankshaft drive. However, those well known arts, more or less, experience some drawbacks, i.e. oil leakage, un-expected fluctuation of pressing force, non-uniformity of friction detriment of the crankshaft part after a period of operation, releasing of the pressing force.
To overcome the drawbacks of the conventional approach, the invention provides a locking apparatus which easily applies a desired pressing force and the pressing force may be released also easily by a simple mechanism.
Another object of the invention is to provide a locking apparatus which has smaller size, simple and effective mechanism.

Locking apparatus for upper and lower molds of a press


A connector assembly for a planar vertical printed circuit board includes a housing having a pair of parallel space planar vertical side walls defining an open-topped vertical chamber in which the printed circuit board is mounted. First electrical connectors mounted on the vertical end edges of the printed circuit board include body portions that extend outward beyond the vertical edges of the side walls, which extending body portions contain access openings affording communication with first connector contacts in electrical engagement with the printed circuit board. Protective side cover members are fastened to the housing side walls to partially enclose the extending connector body portions, which cover members contain openings opposite the connector body access openings. The cover members contain ventilation openings for cooling the printed circuit board, and the housing includes a mounting foot arrangement for mounting the printed circuit board assembly on a support rail.

1. Field of the Invention
A connector assembly for a planar vertical printed circuit board includes a housing having a pair of parallel space planar vertical side walls defining an open-topped vertical chamber in which the printed circuit board is mounted. First electrical connectors mounted on the vertical end edges of the printed circuit board include body portions that extend outwardly beyond the vertical edges of the side walls, which extending body portions contain access openings affording communication with first connector contacts in electrical engagement with the printed circuit board. Protective side cover members are fastened to the housing side walls to partially enclose the extending connector body portions, which cover members contain openings opposite the connector body access openings.
2. Description of Related Art
This invention relates to an electronic housing that permits the mounting of a plurality of printed circuit boards in series on a mounting rail. Such electronic housings are known as such but require further design improvement, in particular, regarding assembly and adaptability to differing connection techniques and unit sizes.
The present invention was developed to solve this problem by mounting a plurality of connectors vertically on the vertical end edges of the printed circuit board arranged in a housing chamber, which connectors are of the multi-contact type. To protect the portions of the connectors that protrude beyond the vertical edges of the side walls, protective side cover members are fastened to the housing side walls to partially enclose and to protect the protruding portions of the connectors.
In this way it is possible to adapt the electronic housing in a simple manner to different connection techniques. In each particular case, it is not necessary to design the complete housing anew; it is merely necessary to create differing side parts. It is furthermore possible in a simple manner, by varying the protective side cover members, to arrange two or more mutually parallel printed circuit boards in the housing, or to insert them with preassembled side parts simply as a unit into a housing chamber. Furthermore, for example, by changing the side cover parts or by the use of different side covers, one can provide electronic housings with more or less intensive ventilation function or cooling function.
Preferably, on the at least one cover member or on the printed circuit board, there are arranged multi-contact plugs, and the side cover parts can be fastened upon the plugs. In this way, one can clearly simplify assembly, because the multi-contact plugs and the side cover parts are preassembled on the printed circuit board and this sensitive component is well protected during assembly in the housing chamber. In this way, at least one printed circuit board, together with the multi-contact plugs and the side covers, form a preassembled unit which can be inserted into the housing chamber.
In a preferred manner, the multi-contact plugs are made as pin contact strips or as socket boards. Other models are conceivable, for example, as RJ45-plug or socket.


A sheet processing apparatus includes a binding unit configured to perform binding processing by pressing a sheet bundle, a motor configured to drive the binding unit to press the sheet bundle, and a motor control unit configured to set a driving current of the motor and an upper limit value of the driving current, the motor control unit being configured to set the driving current when starting activating the motor in a state where the binding unit is not pressing the sheet bundle to a first value, and set the upper limit value of the driving current in a period in which the binding unit is pressing the sheet bundle to a second value less than or equal to the first value.

Field
Aspects of the present invention generally relate to a sheet processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus having a binding processing function.
Description of the Related Art
A stapling device has conventionally been used widely as a device for binding sheets on which images are formed by an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine and a printer. The stapling device performs binding processing to bind a sheet bundle including a plurality of sheets by using a binding member such as metal staples. However, when using each sheet of the sheet bundle stapled by the stapling device as a document to be read, the staples binding the sheet bundle need to be removed. When recycling the sheet bundle bound by staples, the staples binding the sheet bundle also need to be removed to separately collect the sheets and the staples from the viewpoint of environmental protection. Since the staples used for the binding processing are discarded after being used, there has been a problem in terms of reuse of resources.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-155537 discusses a sheet binding device that uses no binding member such as a staple to reduce time and effort when reusing the sheets as a document or at the time of recycling. Using no staples, such a sheet binding device discards no staples. The sheet binding device is configured to, after a plurality of sheets conveyed from an image forming apparatus is bundled and aligned into a sheet bundle, press against sheets a tooth die having protrusions and recesses for forming recesses and protrusions in part of the sheet bundle. The sheet binding device performs binding processing by thus pressing the sheet bundle to entangle fibers of the sheet bundle with each other.
In a case where the conventional stapleless binding method described above is applied to an image forming apparatus, it is conceivable that an actuator is used as a driving source for pressing the tooth die having protrusions and recesses against the sheet bundle to automate the pressing operation. In the stapleless binding processing, steady application of constant pressing force to the sheet bundle is important in maintaining the quality of the sheet bundle after undergoing the binding processing so that the retention force of the binding portion lasts and the bound portion will not get broken. In order for the actuator to provide constant pressing force, the output torque of the actuator can be controlled by controlling the driving current value received by the actuator to be a predetermined value. The predetermined value is selected to be smaller than a value of the driving current corresponding to maximum output torque that the actuator can output. The reason is that the pressing force needed for the binding processing has a predetermined range that differs depending on the number and a type of sheets of the sheet bundle.
If the pressing force needed to be applied to the sheet bundle is low, the actuator is controlled by a driving current value lower than usual throughout the binding processing operation. In such a case, the output torque that the actuator can produce at start-up is also limited to a low value similar to the binding processing operation. This increases the time needed for the start-up of the actuator and increases the time of the entire binding processing operation. Accordingly, since the time needed for the stapleless binding operation increases, there is a problem that the mounted sheet processing apparatus and/or the overall productivity of image forming apparatus decreases.
The thickness of the sheet bundle and the density of sheets vary according to the number of sheets and paper type of the sheet bundle. As a result, the timing at which constant pressing force is applied to the sheet bundle varies. If the period of application of the constant pressing force to the sheet bundle is not properly adjusted, a phenomenon in which the sheet bundle exfoliates easily (hereinafter, referred to as poor binding) can occur. Application of excessive pressure to the sheet bundle can break the sheets.

Sheet processing apparatus and image forming apparatus having binding processing function


A light emitting device is configured to include a substrate and a luminous layer provided overlying the substrate, which includes a semiconductor nanocrystal to which a carbazole derivative is coordination-bonded or attached, the carbazole derivative having aromatic rings of a compound represented by the chemical structure 1, which is substituted by one to three substitution groups:

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a light emitting device and a display unit.
2. Description of the Background
The behavior of nanomaterials is intermediate between those of an atom or a molecular and those of a macroscopic solid (bulk form). Nanomaterials having charge carriers and excitation confined in all three dimensional directions are referred to as quantum dots. Since a quantum dot has increased effective band gaps as its size decreases, a spectrum having its absorption wavelength and emission wavelength shifted to the short wavelength side can be obtained. In addition, by controlling both the composition of a quantum dot in addition to its size, a spectrum having a wide range of from infrared to ultraviolet can be obtained. Moreover, by controlling the size distribution, a spectrum having excellent color purity with a narrow half value width can be obtained.
For these reasons, it is expected that the quantum dot can find applications in labeling and imaging of biological molecules and light emitting devices such as a photoluminescent devices and electroluminescent device. However, insufficient luminance efficiency is a problem.
Therefore, Japanese patent application publication no. 2009-99545 (JP-2009-99545-A) describes an electroluminescence device having a pair of electrodes and an electroluminescent layer containing a luminous layer arranged between the pair of electrodes. The luminous layer has a structure in which quantum dots having a surface protected by a protective material are dispersed in a matrix material containing an organic compound. In addition, a first protective material is contained as the protective material that satisfies the following relationships (A), (B), and (C):Ip(h)<Ip(m)+0.1 eV  Relationship (A)Ea(h)>Ea(m)−0.1 eV  Relationship (B)Eg(q)<Eg(h)<Eg(m)  Relationship (C)
In the relationships, Ip(h) represents the absolute value of the ionization potential of the first protective material, Ip(m) represents the absolute value of the ionization potential of the organic compound contained in the matrix material, Ea(h) represents the absolute value of the electronic affinity of the first protective material, Ea(m) represents the absolute value of the electronic affinity of the organic compound, Eg(h) represents the bandgap of the first protective material, Eg(m) represents the bandgap of the organic compound, and Eg(q) represents the bandgap of the quantum dot.
Furthermore, when the first protective material has at least one remaining hydrophilic group and a hydrophobic group in one molecule, specific examples of the combination of the hydrophobic group of the protective material/organic compound/quantum dot include:
(1) remaining group of 3-(2-benzo thiazoleyl)-7-(diethylamino) coumalin/4,4′-bis(carbazole-9-yl)biphenyl/CdSe/ZnS (luminous wavelength: 620 nm);
(2) remaining group of 5,6,11,12-tetraphenyl naphthacene/4,4′-bis(carbazole-9-yl)biphenyl/CdSe/Zns (luminous wavelength: 620 nm); and
(3) remaining group of 2,5,8,11-tetra-tert-butyl perylene/4,4′-bis(carbazole-9-yl-biphenyl/CdSe/ZnS (luminous wavelength: 520 nm).
However, even with these structures the luminance efficiency remains insufficient.

Abstract: The one to three substitution groups are represented by the chemical structure 2:-X-Y-Z  Chemical Structure 2.X represents a methylene group, a carbonyloxy group, an oxycarbonyl group, a carbonyl group, an oxygen atom, and a sulfur atom, Y represents a substituted or non-substituted alkylene group, and Z represents a carboxyl group, a hydroxyl group, and a thiol group.


An air cooled ventilated shoe (200) is provided for ventilating an area of the shoe (200) around a foot. The air-cooled shoe contains an outer sole (204). An intake tube (228) is disposed near the front of the outer sole (204). The intake tube (228) is connected to pump cell (210). An exhaust tube (234) is also connected to pump cell (210). An intake valve (242) is disposed along the intake tube (228) and an exhaust valve (244) is disposed along the exhaust tube (234). The intake valve (242) only allows air to flow through to the pump (210). The exhaust valve (244) only allows air to flow out of the pump cell (210). The pump cell (210) is filled with an open-celled foam (212) so that when no pressure is being applied to the pump cell (210), it draws air in through the intake tube (228). When pressure is applied to the pump cell (210), the open-celled foam (212) is compressed and the air is expelled through the exhaust tube (234). An alternative pump cell (352) may also be provided within a single flow port (358) which is connected to both an intake (368) within the shoe (200) and the exhaust from the shoe (200), with two one-way valves disposed in a singular valve pod (362) connected between the flow port (358) of the valve pod (352), and the intake (368) and the exhaust.

Presently known ventilated shoes comprise elastomeric and resilient pads which are made of soft materials, such as sponge or rubber, and contain a plurality of holes in the sole and in the heel of the shoe in order to increase foot comfort. In these types of insoles, it is very difficult to remove moisture and the odor produced as a result of moisture which collects in the shoe due to foot sweating caused by poor shoe ventilation. Since most people use their shoes for long periods of time, it is essential to properly maintain and ventilate the shoes in order to avoid foot diseases, such as, for example, water-eczema.
According to a report of the American Podiatry Association, 75 percent of the males and females stand or walk for 4 hours a day. Such foot stress leads to foot problems, particularly in males, where athlete's foot fungi and the odor associated therewith are a common problem.

Air-cooled shoe having an air exhaust pump


Methods and devices are provided for sensing cardiac events from electrodes located proximate to one or more atrial or ventricular sites, over a period of time that includes a detection period followed by an observation period. One or more processors declare a ventricular arrhythmia episode and a corresponding VT/VF therapy based on the cardiac events during at least the detection period. The processors delay delivery of the VT/VF therapy for a self-termination period within the observation period. The self-termination period represents a time period during which the ventricular arrhythmia episode may self-terminate. The processors analyze a stability characteristic of interest (COI) from the cardiac events sensed over at least a portion the observation period and determine an end point for the self-termination period, within the observation period, based on the stability COI. The VT/VF therapy is delivered when the VT/VF arrhythmia episode continues past the end point.

Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to methods and devices for treating ventricular (VT/VF) arrhythmias and more particularly to methods and devices that manage self-termination periods before delivering VT/VF therapy.
Ventricular tachycardia may be controlled through electrical therapy delivered by an implanted medical device, such as a pacemaker portion of an ICD, implantable cardioverter defibrillator and the like. The device applies an electric stimulation to the heart muscle to interrupt or disrupt the fast rhythm. The electric stimulation may be in the form of timed pacemaker pulses or by high voltage shock. Anti-tachycardia pacing (ATP) has been used to convert a ventricular tachycardia into a normal sinus rhythm. Tachycardia/fibrillation is often the result of electrical feedback within the heart and/or irregular fast beats, wherein a natural beat results in the feedback of an electrical stimulus which prematurely triggers another beat. By interposing a stimulated heartbeat (i.e., a pacing pulse), the stability of the feedback loop is disrupted. For example, patients with monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (MVT) may be successfully paced out of the tachycardia using a rapid burst of high rate pacing. The burst includes a selected number of pulses that are delivered at the same rate, at an accelerating rate, or an alternating accelerating/decelerating rate.
Ventricular tachy therapies, either anti-tachycardia pacing or high voltage shocking, or combination thereof, are delivered after the tachycardia episode is detected and classified. Recently, it has been suggested that ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation episodes may self-terminate if the device allows time for the episode to self-terminate. There is increasing awareness that unnecessary, even appropriate, therapies may have undesired clinical effects.
Further, a prevalent concern remains that extending the detection interval will increase syncopal events due to delay in therapy for hemodynamically compromising ventricular arrhythmias. Therefore, there are conflicts between the goals to terminate dangerous ventricular arrhythmia early, versus delaying therapy to see if the ventricular arrhythmia can self-terminate without therapeutic treatment.
Heretofore, it has been proposed to prolong the detection interval by a predefined amount (e.g., increase the number detection intervals before making a treatment decision). However, simply extending the detection interval may not optimally address the clinical needs. By increasing the detection interval by a set number of cardiac cycles, the IMD extends the detection time period before a therapy is delivered. During the extended detection time period, the IMD allows for self-termination to occur. However, during the extended time period, in the event that the arrhythmia exhibits a behavior that would be normally considered dangerous, the IMD will not provide treatment. Instead, treatment is delayed for the set number of cardiac cycles regardless of the nature of the arrhythmia.

Method and device for managing a self-termination period for ventricular arrhythmias


A pole handle (10) provided with a hand retaining device (11) in the form of a toggle strap or a glove which can become detachably engaged with the pole handle (10) by means of a connecting element (64) disposed on the hand retaining device (11). A second connecting element (46) which cooperates with the first connecting element (64) is provided in a recess (26) of the pole handle and can be moved by means of an actuating member (41), which is accessible in the handle head region. In order to ensure a simpler and more ergonomic detachable fixing of the hand retaining device, access to the pole handle recess (26) is provided by means of a longitudinal slit (31) which extends from above to below the area of movement of the second connecting element (46), and parallel or inclined in relation to the longitudinal pole handle axis (17).

The present invention concerns a pole handle, in particular for cross-country ski poles, nordic walking and alpine poles, comprising a hand retaining device, in accordance with the independent claim, and a ski pole comprising such a pole handle.
In the pole handle disclosed in DE 299 04 591 U1, the pole handle recess extends between an access for the first connecting element of a toggle strap and an opposite outlet opening for the actuating member in an acute-angle arrangement with respect to the longitudinal axis of the pole handle or ski pole. This means that the connecting element fixed on the toggle strap is locked from an inclined direction from below the upper pole handle end and exits in an opposite inclined downward direction. The actuating member and the second connecting member are formed in one piece and are designed as a one-armed lever. Since the pivot axis is disposed at the end of the second connecting member, locking requires great force and is difficult since the locking region is very close to the pivot axis. Moreover, the direction of locking of the first connecting element on the toggle strap to move behind the second connecting element on the one-armed actuating lever requires a movement which is not ergonomic and is extremely difficult to carry out using one hand only.
It is the object of the present invention to design a pole handle of the above-mentioned type which can be detachably mounted to the hand retaining device in a simpler and, in particular with regard to locking, more ergonomic manner.


A computer system implemented method and process for forecasting the consequences of healthcare utilization choices whereby health data associated with a user is obtained and analyzed to determine disease risk factors. Any determined disease risk factors present in the healthcare data are then used to generate a healthcare utilization consequences report based on various user actions/inactions. The healthcare utilization consequences report can include healthcare recommendations, economic information, actuarial information and comparisons between implementing/not implementing the healthcare recommendations.

Typically, healthcare insurance provides coverage for both current maladies as well as preventative healthcare to mitigate future healthcare issues for which individuals may be predisposed. Predisposition to disease may be due to a variety of risk factors such as genetics, lifestyles, behaviors and/or environmental influences. Unfortunately, healthcare insurance is expensive and not everyone can afford to obtain coverage. However, for many individuals obtaining healthcare insurance is a matter of choice and some of these individuals are not inclined to incur the expense for what they may consider an intangible benefit.
For example, there is a strong temptation to forgo healthcare insurance among young adults who typically do not suffer from any serious maladies in order to maximize current disposable income. As a result, these individuals will also be more likely to defer or forego obtaining necessary preventative healthcare, as the entire expense of obtaining the preventative healthcare is perceived as an "optional" expense rather than an investment in their future health and wellbeing.
Unfortunately, the decision by these individuals to forego obtaining healthcare insurance, and thus often also foregoing recommended preventative healthcare, is typically made without full awareness and/or careful consideration of the future economic, personal, and/or family consequences resulting from the lack of receiving the recommended preventive healthcare.
As noted above, one reason for this "impromptu" decision-making is that the perceived benefit seems remote, in terms of both time and probability. In addition, the difficulty in obtaining, interpreting and comparing each individual's personal health history with statistical measures associated with those of the general population further complicates the situation. Consequently, there currently is no simple mechanism to consolidate, analyze and output the results in an easily understandable format so that these individuals can see the projected tangible results of their choices so they can make an informed decision regarding their healthcare insurance and/or utilization of preventative healthcare.
As a result of the above situation, many individuals defer obtaining, or otherwise fail to obtain, recommended preventative healthcare early on in life because they are never given the tools to properly analyze the situation. Consequently, many of these individuals will experience higher overall healthcare costs, reduced quality of life/disability, and/or reduced longevity.

Forecasting consequences of healthcare utilization choices


A process is provided for reducing the inhibiting effect of gas coning on liquid hydrocarbon production at a production wellbore penetrating a subterranean reservoir having a gas cap overlying a liquid hydrocarbon producing zone in fluid communication with the gas cap across vertical flowpaths of gas-permeable matrix. A foamed gel containing a crosslinkable polymer, a crosslinking agent, an aqueous solvent, a surfactant, and a gas is injected through the production wellbore into gas-permeable matrix between the gas cap and wellbore, thereby effectively blocking or reducing the downward flow of gas from the gas cap to the production wellbore and enabling the more desirable liquid hydrocarbons to enter the wellbore for production to the surface.

1. TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a process for recovering liquid hydrocarbons from a production wellbore in fluid communication with a reservoir having a gas cap overlying a liquid hydrocarbon producing zone, and more particularly to such a process wherein a foamed gel is injected into the reservoir to reduce gas coning into the production wellbore.
2. DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
A specific problem frequently encountered during the recovery of liquid hydrocarbons from a producing zone of a subterranean reservoir having an overlying gas cap is a phenomenon termed "gas coning". This phenomenon occurs when there is fluid communication between the producing zone and the gas cap across vertical flowpaths. Under sufficient drawdown pressure, the high mobility gas cap gas is drawn down from the gas cap through the vertical flowpaths into the producing zone where it commingles with the lower mobility liquid hydrocarbons residing therein.
Once in the producing zone, the gas cap gas tends to inhibit the flow of liquid hydrocarbons into the wellbore by preferentially flowing through the producing zone and entering the wellbore to the exclusion of the liquid hydrocarbons. Accordingly, gas coning is characterized by a significant increase in the gas/oil ratio of the produced fluids and an attendant significant decrease in the liquid hydrocarbon recovery rate from the production wellbore.
Gas coning treatments generally rely on placement of a gas blocking agent between the gas cap gas and the liquid hydrocarbon production wellbore to substantially block the vertical flowpaths for gas flow into the production wellbore. Such flowpaths are often either vertical fractures or gas-permeable reservoir matrix. U.S. Pat. No. 5,105,884 to Sydansk discloses a gas coning treatment employing a foamed gel as a gas blocking agent in vertical fractures extending between the gas cap and the liquid hydrocarbon producing zone. The foamed gel is made up of a crosslinked polymer gel, surfactant, and foaming gas. As a result of its high degree of structure, strength, and stability, the foamed gel effectively eliminates the gas permeability of the fractures. Foamed gels, however, are generally believed by the prior art to have no practical utility as gas blocking agents in vertical flowpaths of reservoir matrix. The placement of foamed gels in reservoir matrix is considered too difficult because of the relatively low permeability of the matrix and the relatively high degree of structure exhibited by foamed gels upon formulation.
As an alternative to foamed gels, the prior art teaches the use of conventional oilfield foams, which are gel-free foams consisting of only a surfactant solution and a foaming gas, for treating gas coning in matrix environments because such foams have a relatively low degree of structure enabling comparative ease of placement in the reservoir matrix. Unfortunately, the performance of conventional foams in the treatment of gas coning has been found inadequate. Whereas, conventional oilfield foams generally perform satisfactorily as dynamic mobility control fluids in hydrocarbon displacement floods, different performance demands are required of foams in the role of static gas blocking agents. When applied to gas blocking applications, conventional oilfield foams often do not have sufficient structural strength or stability to achieve long-term performance demands when continuously subjected to the gas flow pressure gradient existing during gas coning. Furthermore, conventional oilfield foams often do not have sufficient stability to maintain their structural integrity when subjected to downhole formation conditions typically encountered, particularly in the presence of liquid hydrocarbons.
As is apparent from the above, an effective gas coning treatment process is needed for blocking matrix flowpaths between a gas cap overlying a liquid hydrocarbon producing zone and a production wellbore in fluid communication therewith. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a gas blocking agent that can be readily placed in matrix flowpaths, yet has sufficient structure, strength, and stability to satisfy long-term performance demands of the gas coning treatment process.

Foamed gels to reduce gas coning in matrix environments


A reference signal is recorded in different locations on a record medium with a controllable recording current level that is changed when the reference signal is recorded in such different locations. Location signals representing those different locations at which the reference signal is recorded also are generated and they too are recorded. Thereafter, the reference and location signals are reproduced from the different locations and stored. The stored reference signal whose signal level is the largest is detected and the location signal representing the particular record medium location at which that reference signal was recorded is identified. The recording current level which was used to record the reference signal at that particular location is determined. This determined recording current level may be used subsequently to record a signal, such as a video signal, with optimum characteristics.

This invention relates to the recording of signals on a recording medium, such as video signals on a magnetic tape, and more particularly, to such technique which identifies an optimum recording current level such that video signals may be recorded with high signal-to-noise ratios, thereby permitting a wider band of high frequencies to be used while producing video pictures with good quality.
The quality of an information signal that is recorded on a record medium, such as the signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio, often is a function of the current level with which the signal is recorded. This factor is particularly pronounced in the recording of signals on a magnetic record medium, and especially the recording of video signals in slant tracks on a video tape recorder (VTR). Often, the recording current level that may be set by, for example, the recording amplifier, results in different recording characteristics because the properties of the recording transducer, or magnetic head, vary from one device to another. Thus, the setting of a particular current level by a recording amplifier may result in a record signal of optimum parameters when that signal is recorded by one head, but less than optimum parameters when that same signal is recorded by another. To account for such disparities from head to head, it is conventional to rely upon skilled technicians to set the final adjustment in the recording current level, as by setting the gain of the recording amplifier, as the final step in manufacturing a VTR. This labor-intensive procedure is carried out by recording signals with different current levels, or amplifier gain, observing those signals, reproducing those signals, and then measuring the level of the reproduced signals. The recording current level, or gain, of the recording amplifier then is set to the recording current level or gain that had been used to record the signal which the technician observes as having the highest playback level.
This procedure often is inaccurate, is subject to a wide variety of subjectivity by the technician and adds significantly to the overall expense of the VTR. Moreover, the signal level of a signal that is reproduced from a magnetic medium is not dependent solely upon the recording current level that was used during recording. The type and quality of the magnetic medium influences the reproduced signal level so that even if an optimum recording current level is set in the aforementioned manner, that level may not produce optimum results when the VTR is used with a magnetic medium that differs from the medium which was used by the technician.
Although it is possible for the end user of the VTR to carry out the aforementioned procedure of optimizing the recording current level before the VTR is used, it is desirable not to place such a burden, on the user, particularly if the VTR is intended for consumer use. Furthermore, since the VTR may be used with magnetic media of different qualities and types from one recording session to another, thus requiring the optimizing step to be carried out for each magnetic tape that is used, the prospect of having the optimizing step carried out by the VTR user clearly is unattractive.

Method and apparatus for recording signals with different recording current levels to determine optimum recording characteristics


A companding technique takes advantage of spatial masking in order to avoid problems from noise and/or distortion introduced when storing or transmitting video signals. A forward companding or encoding part of the technique divides a video frame into separate portions. A local average is calculated for each portion. For each pixel or picture element within a portion, the average of that portion is subtracted and the result is subjected to a non-linear forward process which emphasizes those video signals which are close to the local average and which de-emphasizes those video signal portions which are relatively different from the local average. An encoded output is applied to a medium and, upon recovery from the medium, the recovered signal is subjected to a decode process including a non-linear reconstruction process which is the inverse of the non-linear process applied at the encode stage. The compand process may be used in combination with known video data compression techniques such as transform and quantization techniques, predictive coding, and vector quantization. It may also be used with known image motion compensation techniques.

The present invention relates to the non-linear compression and expanding of video signals to better facilitate application of video information to a medium, which medium may be a storage medium or a transmission medium. The invention also relates to compression and expanding of video signals to minimize distortion effects introduced by bandwidth compression devices designed to minimize data to be transmitted or stored in memory.
When video signals or other signals are applied to a transmission or storage system, the transmission or storage system has the undesirable effect of introducing noise into the signal. In a transmission system or medium, the signal which is received is a combination of the transmitted signal and noise introduced by the process. In somewhat similar fashion, the signal which is recovered from a storage system is a combination of the signal which was applied to the storage system and noise introduced by the process. Various techniques for minimizing the effects of such noise have been used for the storage and/or transmission of different types of signals. Generally, such techniques try to maintain the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) at a sufficiently high level that noise will not be noticeable.
One common technique to minimize noise problems from transmission or storage is frequency domain signal pre-emphasis applied to a signal prior to its transmission or storage. This technique, which is relatively common for audio signals and has also been used for video signals, takes advantage of the fact that the troublesome noise is usually at high frequencies. The pre-emphasis is an entirely linear method which may be accomplished purely with linear filter operations. The technique relies on the fact that the video signal contains lower amplitude high frequency components than the amplitude of the lower frequency components. The signal is first passed through a filter whose transmission generally increases with an increase in frequency and the output of the filter is then subjected to the transmission or storage. Thus, the higher frequencies of the signal (audio, video, or other) are transmitted or stored at a higher amplitude than would be without the pre-emphasis. After recovery of the signal from transmission or storage, the recovered signal is passed through a de-emphasis linear filter which has the opposite amplitude and phase characteristic from the pre-emphasis linear filter. That is, the result of both filters in tandem is an amplitude response uniform in amplitude and a linear phase-with-frequency characteristic meaning that all frequency components have equal time delay. The de-emphasis filter has the effect of reducing the high frequency noise which was added by the transmission or storage process since the high frequencies of both signal and noise are attenuated to return the signal to its former frequency-amplitude characteristic.
The frequency domain pre-emphasis technique is widely used in audio and video systems, but has several limitations. The amount of pre-emphasis which can be used is usually limited by the increase in signal amplitude which can be tolerated by the transmission or storage system without clipping the signal at its furthest positive and negative signal values. In other words, extreme pre-emphasis would boost the high frequency signal components to such a magnitude that the transmission or storage system could not properly handle them. When the pre-emphasis technique is used for satellite video transmission systems, the amount of pre-emphasis is also limited by the amount of interference introduced into neighboring satellite communication systems.
Another analog technique which has been used is a method called coring. Unlike the frequency pre-emphasis technique, the coring technique does not pre-condition the signal prior to transmission or storage. Moreover, coring is not a linear technique. Coring is based on the principle that the noise added by a transmission or storage system is predominantly high frequency noise of low amplitude relative to the signal itself. Various types of coring techniques may be used, but the general principles will be described. Linear filtering to isolate the high and low frequency signal portions is applied to a signal which is recovered from storage or transmission. Next, a non-linear operation is applied to the separated high frequency signal. This non-linear operation highly attenuates the signal when the signal amplitude is very close to the average value of the high frequency signal, while passing the signal with a linear amplitude characteristic when the high frequency signal departs more than a pre-determined amount from its average value. The resulting modified high frequency signal is then recombined with the low frequency component of the video signal to result in a signal with low amplitude, high frequency components removed. Unfortunately, this coring technique removes high frequency low amplitude signal components in addition to the noise components.
A technique of audio companding (from compress and expand) has been widely used in digital telephony. Audio signals have certain characteristics, some of which characteristics are not shared by video signals, facilitating the use of audio companding. An audio signal always has an average value which is 0. It is also a one dimensional signal whose instantaneous value is a function of time. Further, frequencies below 15 to 20 Hz. are quite rare in most audio signals of interest and frequency content above a few KHz. is of much lower value than the content in the range of about 300 to 3,000 Hz.
The usefulness of audio companding is based on human acoustic perception embodied in Weber's Law, which law is also applicable to visual perception. Weber's Law states that the just noticeable difference in amplitude of two similar signals is directly dependent on the amplitude of the signal. Mathematically, J/I is a constant over a wide range of amplitudes where J is the just noticeable difference in signal amplitude and I is the signal amplitude. In other words, as applied to human acoustic perception, a person would be able to hear a difference in sound between a sound of signal amplitude I and a sound of signal amplitude I+J. At least over a particular range of values for I, a person can hear smaller absolute differences in signal or sound volume for low volume sounds than the person can notice in high volume sounds. A person might hear a difference J.sub.1 corresponding to the sound difference of two different sized pins being dropped. However, the person might not be able to perceive the difference in sound volume of two different bells being rung even though the absolute difference in volume between the two bells may be substantially greater than J.sub.1.
Audio companding takes advantage of Weber's Law by first subjecting an audio signal to a near-logarithmic operation where both negative and positive portions are conditioned symmetrically. Commonly, the initial audio signal x(t) is processed to provide a signal y(t) for transmission as follows: ##EQU1## where Xmax is a positive maximum value which x(t) may reach, sign simply takes the sign or polarity of an instantaneous value, and .mu. is a constant selected for a particular application. For digital telephony, the value of .mu. may be 255.
In a digital system wherein the audio signal x(t) might be expressed in a time series of 12 bit samples (16 to 20 bits for very high dynamic range and high quality systems), a companded signal y(t) might be expressible by only 8 bits per sample and allow recovery of a signal audibly nearly identical to the original. This would therefore provide significant audio data compression as a benefit.
After transmission or storage, the companded audio samples are individually subjected to a non-linear operation complimentary to the operation described by equation one above. The recovered signal after performing the complimentary operation has an amplitude that is virtually linearly related to the input signal prior to companding. The output signal does have output samples with values which are different from the input signal, but only by an amount best expressed as a certain percentage of the input signal. Thus, higher amplitude signals will have absolute errors which are much larger than lower amplitude signals. However, recalling that Weber's Law indicates that the just noticeable difference of sounds heard by the human ear is proportional to the signal amplitude itself, the audio companding system may be designed such that errors introduced are kept below this just noticeable difference. This example exploits Weber's Law for the purpose of data compression without the amplitude compression associated with the companding adding unacceptable noise levels.
Instead of using audio companding simply to realize data compression, such companding may also be used to minimize the perceived noise added to an audio signal by a noisy transmission channel or storage medium. In such a case, the non-linear operation of equation one can be performed prior to transmission, but without any further quantization than was introduced by the Analog-to-Digital Converter operating on the linear input audio signal. The signal can then be passed through a digital-to-analog converter to obtain an analog signal to apply to the transmission or storage medium. After reconstruction at a receiver, the added noise is less apparent in the lower amplitude signals. Although the noise has actually increased in the higher amplitude signals, the signal to noise ratio is still high enough so that the signals are not perceived as noisy. As mentioned above, Weber's Law applies to human visual perception such that the just noticeable difference in luminance between two signals is proportional to the amplitude of the luminance signal. For example, when viewing a video screen one may be able to perceive noise in a darker portion of the screen, whereas noise of greater amplitude may go undetected in a brighter portion of the particular video image. Video systems have exploited this aspect of Weber's Law for many years. Specifically, many electronic cameras already have a "taking" amplitude characteristic which is non-linear and approximated by either a logarithmic curve or a power-law curve wherein the power is a fraction less than unity such that the curve defined by the camera has a curvature roughly similar to the usable part of the logarithmic curve. The slope of this characteristic on a logarithmic scale is called the gamma of the transfer characteristic. In the early days of black and white television, this phenomena was quite useful for two reasons. First, the picture tube has a transfer characteristic between control voltage input to luminance output which is a power-law of about 2.2, and thus roughly complimentary to the taking characteristic of some cameras. The second useful aspect is that transmission noise added to the television luminance signal between camera and receiver display is modified by the picture tube transfer characteristic, due to the non-linear power-law characteristic, such that it is attenuated in the darker image portions and expanded in the brighter image portions. This causes the noise to be more equally perceived by human viewing due to the Weber's Law which says that the just noticeable difference is a higher amplitude in brighter image areas and a lower amplitude in darker image areas. In other words, the non-linear characteristics tend to minimize the degree to which a human will perceive noise introduced in the video signal by its transmission.
A further characteristic of human sensory perception of images is of interest. This characteristic may be roughly termed spatial masking and a description of it may be found in the book Two-Dimensional Signal and Image Processing by Jae S. Lim, published by Prentice-Hall, a division of Simon and Schuster, Englewood Cliffs, N.J. 07632. Reference is made to section 7.3 which, in addition to a discussion of Weber's Law relative to visual human perception, includes a section 7.3.4 which relates to spatial masking. Spatial masking is much more pronounced (i.e., has greater effects) than Weber's Law. Stated simply and generally, spatial masking is the characteristic of human visual perception whereby noise which is noticeable in a local spatial area must be of higher amplitude if the local scene contrast is high, and noticeable noise can be of much lower amplitude for a local scene or image portion where the local contrast is lower. Another way to describe spatial masking is that the signal-to-noise ratio in any local area must exceed some constant value for the noise not to be visible in that area of the image.
An example may be useful in describing spatial masking. If a video image contains a piece of paper having text typed in fine print across its top and being blank at its bottom half, noise is more likely to be noticeable in that part of the image corresponding to the bottom half of the piece of paper. The contrast associated with the text on the top half of the piece of paper tends to mask noise on that part of the image, whereas noise having a magnitude not noticeable on the top half of the piece of paper may be readily noticeable on the part of the image corresponding to the bottom half of the piece of paper.
In the Lim book, it is stated that spatial masking might be used to reduce background noise. In particular, it refers to attempting to reduce background noise by spatial filtering which may involve some level of image blurring. The book further indicates that in high contrast regions, where the effect of blurring due to spatial filtering is more likely to be pronounced, the noise is not as visible, so little spatial filtering may be needed. The book does not go into details, but apparently the spatial filtering would simply involve application of the spatial filtering to signals which are recovered from a transmission or storage medium. Under those circumstances then, the blurring would be caused by effectively discarding signal information in the lower contrast regions along with noise.
In the storage or transmission of signals, the ability to recover a signal very close to the original signal with minimal effects of noise is important. However, there are also other characteristics which are important in various situations such as the ability to transmit a relatively large amount of information within a relatively small bandwidth. In other words, it is advantageous if one can transmit or store information without requiring an especially high capacity transmission channel or high capacity storage medium. A further characteristic desirable for transmission and storage of signals is the ability of the transmission or storage system to handle signals over a relatively wide dynamic range.
Whereas the previous discussion has focused on the impairments to analog signals undergoing either transmission or storage wherein the undesired noise is contributed by the process or medium of transmission or storage, a second mechanism causing noise and distortion is that of digital data compression wherein the compression process itself is lossy and creates the unwanted noise. In this case the impairment is produced by the source in the attempt to reduce the data by factors over a range of five to a few hundred. The subsequent digital transmission or storage in this case is presumed to be without error.
In order to realize the goal of allowing transmission and storage without requiring especially large capacity (bandwidth or other measure of capacity) transmission channels or storage media, while still providing an acceptable dynamic range, various predictive coding, transformation coding, and quantization techniques have been used. Such transformation techniques generally are used to try to minimize the sending or storage of redundant information. Such quantization techniques limit the values which are transmitted or stored. Although such transform (the discrete cosine transform is a common one) and quantization techniques are generally useful by reducing capacity requirements in transmission and storage of signals, such techniques introduce noise and distortion into the transmission and storage processes.


A holder includes a body, the body having a first and second receiver and a first and second cylindrical holder. The holder further includes a tie that is an elongated piece of shape-retaining deformable material and a cover covering the shape-retaining deformable material along the length of the elongated piece. The covering and the shape-retaining deformable material are bonded along their length. A first portion of the tie passes through the first cylindrical holder. A second portion of the tie passes through the second cylindrical holder, such that a loop is formed between the body and the tie, stretching from the first cylindrical holder to the second cylindrical holder.

Twist ties are well known in the art and typically are not suitable for supporting weight or bundling large objects. Twist ties often are found on packaging such as bread wrappers. These twist ties are usually a plastic or paper coating that covers a wire within the twist tie. The plastic or paper coating is not bonded to the wire and may be removed easily. Also, the coating provides little grip to the object on which the twist tie is wrapped. The coating does not grip itself well either.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,113,170 shows a wrap for bundling objects that includes a wire covered by a flexible tube, but there is no bonding between the wire and the tube. The invention of that patent also lacks a surface which enhances the grip of the wrap when it is wrapped around itself or other objects.


A method for stabilizing at least one frame part of a forest work unit involves determining a moment applied by a payload of the forest work unit to a frame part to be supported and determining a magnitude and direction of at least one support moment needed at least for stabilizing the frame part on the basis of the moment applied by the payload to the frame part to be supported. An arrangement for stabilizing at least one frame part of a forest work unit comprises means for carrying out said determinations.

The invention relates to stabilizing of a forest work unit and, in particular, to a method and arrangement for stabilizing at least one frame part of the forest work unit.
Various moving vehicles and machines frequently have to work on terrains which are uneven in different ways, as well as on inclined surfaces, whereby it is important to enable, one way or another, sufficient contact of the elements a vehicle or a machine moves on, such as its wheels and/or tracks, with the ground. It is usually desirable to maintain as good a contact with the ground or other working surface as possible for various reasons, such as the propulsion and tractive power of the vehicle, good roadholding between the surface and the vehicle, as low a surface pressure on the ground as possible, or good stability. Such properties are typically particularly emphasized in cross-country vehicles or machines, such as military vehicles or different forestry machines used for mechanical harvesting. These properties may be improved, e.g. by allowing shafts, axles or, particularly in cases of frame-steered machines, separate frames to rotate relative to one another. Different prior art arrangements relating to the rotation of frames of this type are, in fact, known for allowing the rotation and, on the other hand, for preventing or controlling it, when desired, by means of a hydraulically controlled tooth plate connector, friction brake or lock valves and hydraulic cylinders. One such solution is disclosed in publication WO 03055735.
It is thus known to arrange two separate frames of a forestry machine or another moving working machine together by both what is called a frame steering joint enabling steering of the working machine and a rotator joint enabling rotation of the frames relative to one another substantially in relation to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. One such solution is known from publication EP1261515, for example.
A typical problem with prior art arrangements is that the rotation of frames relative to one another is prevented and allowed on the basis of status data obtained from the traction transmission. Hence, a typical mode of use is to prevent the rotation of the frames relative to one another when the machine is not being driven and, when the machine is being driven, the rotation of the frames is allowed. However, this restricts significantly an eventual use of a crane and its range of operation during drive, as the frame part comprising the crane is not supported in any way. On the other hand, the underlying assumption is that the boom assembly of the machine is only used when the machine is stationary, which significantly reduces productivity in harvester and forwarder operations, for example. Another typical problem with prior art solutions relates to bringing the vehicle to movement when frame rotation has been prevented using a high support moment. When the locking of the frame rotation is released, the frames seek a new position of balance and, when doing so, the frame or frames may swing even very sharply and strongly. Prior art solutions are also typically based on predetermined lockings or attenuation or prevention of rotation between frame parts, and hence they are not capable of reacting to changing circumstances.
A further problem associated with prior art shape-locked toothings and similar non-stepless frame lock implementations is that the lock often becomes locked to a position slightly different from that actually required by the terrain and the position of the machine's frame, which causes instability manifested by a hovering, for example, of the machine on the base. An attempt has been made to solve this problem by stepless locking solutions, such as brake solutions implemented by hydraulic cylinders and based on friction, to allow the locking to be made to a precisely desired rotation of the frames relative to one another. However, even these solutions are not able to take into account variation in the bearing capacity of the terrain under the machine, for example. In addition, strains caused to the ground surface during the works may lead to the surface pressure not being distributed evenly but the machine remains in an instable position, especially when it is stationary for a longer period of time during continued loading or work.


The present invention relates to the field of logistics. Disclosed are delivery method and system of recyclable logistics apparatus. Each recyclable logistics apparatus is provided with a wireless tag, the wireless tag is configured to broadcast a wireless signal which contains an apparatus identification; a first wireless sensing network and a second wireless sensing network are pre-set in a first delivery region and a second delivery region, and are configured to receive wireless signals broadcasted by all wireless tags in a coverage area of the wireless sensing networks. The delivery method comprises the steps: identifying, according to detection results of the first wireless sensing network at two successive moments, identification(s) of logistics apparatus(es) leaving the first delivery region as a first candidate delivery set; similarly, identifying, according to detection results of the second wireless sensing network, identification(s) of logistics apparatus(es) entering the second delivery region as a second candidate delivery set; and taking an intersection of the first candidate delivery set and the second candidate delivery set as a delivery result. The present invention can automatically determine which logistics apparatus(es) is delivered from the first delivery region to the second delivery region, which is especially convenient and efficient when there are a lot of apparatuses, and greatly reduces the workload and time on statistics and check.

The application of recyclable logistics apparatuses in the current market, is basically confined to the traditional transaction and transport mode between two independent parties, and there is no set of management of a perfect transportation packing system. If the whole process involves the transaction and transportation among multiple parties, it will waste a lot of time and manpower on check and delivery, and the utilization rate of transport containers is also very low.

Delivery method and system of recyclable logistics apparatus

SHANGHAI HONGYAN RETURNABLE TRANSIT PACKAGINGS CO., LTD.