A workpiece authentication system uses shape recovery techniques to extract explicit three dimensional (“3-D”) features of the surface geometry of the designated portion of a workpiece from images produced using different lighting conditions. The system then bases authentication on the 3-D surface features. The system recovers surface normals, or equivalently gradients, for selected locations within a designated portion of the workpiece from multiple enrollment images produced under different illumination conditions. The system then encodes the surface normal information into authentication indicia that is placed on the workpiece and/or stores the surface normals or related information. Thereafter, the system determines that a given workpiece is authentic if the surface normals recovered from various verification images correspond to the stored surface normal information or the surface normal information encoded into the indicia. Alternatively, the system may use the surface normals to predict what an image should contain when the workpiece is subjected to a particular lighting condition. The system then determines that the workpiece is authentic if the predicted image and the image produced using the workpiece correspond. The system may instead encode brightness patterns associated with one or more enrollment images into the indicia. The system then recovers surface normals from images produced during verification operations, predicts what the brightness image should contain and compares the enrollment image to the prediction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to workpiece authentication techniques, and more specifically, to such techniques which involve imaging one or more portions of the workpiece to generate abstractions (e.g., numeric or alphanumeric strings) which represent random physical characteristics of the surface geometry of the workpiece and/or an optically active medium included on or embedded in the workpiece, and using the abstractions to determine whether the workpiece is authentic.
2. Brief Description of Related Prior Art
A value indicium is a symbol or token that indicates payment for a service. One example of a commonly-used value indicium is the "franking" or postal meter mark, which is placed on a postal mailpiece to indicate that a specified amount of money has been paid to post the mailpiece. Other examples of value indicia include paper currency, money orders, and tickets for cultural events and transportation.
Authentication indicia are symbols or tokens placed on or in a workpiece for use in determining the validity of the workpiece (e.g., whether the workpiece is authentic, as opposed to being a forgery). For example, legal documents, such as passports and driver's licenses often have authentication indicia in the form of validation stamps/seals from a certifying authority (CA), such as the government, placed on them that vouch for the authenticity of the legal documents.
In the past, if a postal franking mark on a postal mailpiece appeared to the ordinary observer (e.g., a postal clerk) to have been made by an authorized postal franking device, the mailpiece would be considered valid and would be posted without further inquiry into whether the mark was genuine. Unfortunately, improvements in photo-copying, computer-based imaging and duplication technologies have rendered this prior art authentication technique unreliable, as they have permitted the unscrupulous to produce high quality forgeries of such franking marks that often appear genuine to the ordinary observer. This has driven interest in creating a postal franking mark whose authenticity can be determined without reference to its appearance, but instead can be determined using different criteria.
In one such conventional validation technique, the franking mark comprises an indicium that contains certain identifying information, such as the postage purchase date, meter identification number, franking sequence number, source and destination addresses of the mailpiece, and a cryptographic signature of the identifying information. According to this technique, mailpiece forgeries are detected based upon whether differences exist between the identifying information and the cryptographic signature in the indicium, and the actual identifying information of the mailpiece and the actual cryptographic signature of such actual identifying information.
Unfortunately, this latter validation technique is unable to thwart certain types of postal franking fraud. For example, if the identifying information and signature of a valid indicium of a first mailpiece are also valid for a second mailpiece, then the indicium of the first mailpiece may be fraudulently copied onto the second mail piece, and the fraudulent copying cannot be detected using this technique. Hereinafter, this type of fraud will be termed "double spending fraud."
Additionally, advances in networking technology have also permitted wide access to the data underlying such franking marks. For example, one could download such data using the Internet from a computer node storing such data (e.g., via email or a World Wide Web posting), and depending upon the manner in which this conventional technique is implemented, a large number of seemingly valid franking marks could be generated based upon such data. This further exacerbates the possibility and opportunity for such fraud.
In one prior art technique that is used to try to thwart double spending fraud, a database tracks use of value indicia and the respective identifying information therein. If two mailpieces have identical indicia, the database indicates this as a possible occurrence of double spending fraud.
Unfortunately, in practical implementation, this conventional double spending fraud detection technique requires use of a large database to track the indicia's identifying information. Disadvantageously, the burden and expense of maintaining and querying such a large database is undesirable. Also disadvantageously, this conventional fraud detection technique does not permit off-line verification of the indicia (i.e., not based upon information obtained via a network), and no mechanism is provided in this technique to determine which indicium among indicia determined to be identical is authentic.
Another prior art fraud problem arises when unauthorized use is made of data or digital tokens (e.g., stored in a computerized postal franking system's internal memory) that when supplied to the system cause it to produce otherwise valid authentication indicia.
One solution to the problems discussed above is to produce an authentication indicium that corresponds to a string that is based upon, at least in part, intrinsic physical characteristics of a designated portion of the workpiece. The physical characteristics include one or more images of surface topographical appearance produced by illuminating the designated portion of the workpiece. A system and method for producing such authentication indicia is discussed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/719,430 filed Dec. 12, 2000 entitled WORKPIECE AUTHENTICATION BASED UPON ONE OR MORE WORKPIECE IMAGES, which is incorporated herein by reference. Basically, a reader illuminates the designated portion of the workpiece, to produce one or more images that consist of patterns that are the result of light that is reflected by features of the surface geometry of the designated portion of the workpiece. The images are sometimes referred to herein as "enrollment images." The reader then produces a signal that corresponds to the enrollment images, and incorporates the signal into the string on which the authentication indicium is based. The signal may correspond to the appearance of the surface features, i.e., a two dimensional representation, or when different lighting conditions are used for the various enrollment images, to implicitly defined three dimensional surface features.
To verify the authenticity of the workpiece, the system thereafter illuminates the designated portion and produces one or more new images, which are sometimes referred to herein as "verification images." The system may then generate a corresponding string and/or indicium and compare the result with the string and/or indicium that is associated with the workpiece. Alternatively, the system may compare the verification images with the enrollment images, which may be reproduced from the information contained in the indicium.
When the enrollment images are produced the workpiece is in a particular position with respect to the illumination sources and the camera that are included in the reader. The arrangement of the workpiece, illumination sources and camera is referred to hereinafter as the "enrollment geometry," and the images necessarily depend on the particular enrollment geometry.
The workpiece includes registration information, such as an arrangement or constellation of dots in predetermined locations on the workpiece. Using the registration information, the system determines that the workpiece is in the desired position with respect to the components of the reader during the enrollment operations.
During verification operations, the system must also ensure that the verification images are produced using a "verification geometry" that is essentially the same as the enrollment geometry. The system may thus use the registration information included on the workpiece to mechanically reposition the workpiece such that the verification geometry is physically the same as the enrollment geometry. Alternatively, the system may use the registration information to determine coordinate axes in the images and/or which pixels to sample and thus computationally match the verification geometry to the enrollment geometry essentially, as long as the workpiece is in a relatively similar position and/or orientation.
The two authentication systems discussed above work well to correctly identify as genuine or counterfeit a workpiece that is in a position that is sufficiently close to reproduce the enrollment geometry. The relatively strict registration requirement may, however, limit the types of readers that can be used and/or present an obstacle to an inexperienced user. For example, if a stationary reader, similar to a bar code reader, is used, the user must not only place the workpiece in the proper orientation and position, the user must also ensure that surface of the designated portion of the workpiece is parallel to the reader. As discussed above, the workpiece may be the paper on which a document, a postal franking mark or currency is printed, a label that is secured to an object after the indicia is printed thereon, or an object, and thus, the re-positioning of the workpiece to match the enrollment geometry relative to, for example, a handheld reader or even a stationary stand-alone reader may be time consuming and/or frustrating. Thus, a system that relaxes the verification registration requirement is desired.

System and method for authentication of a workpiece using three dimensional shape recovery


Provided are a magneto resistive effect element with a stable magnetization direction perpendicular to a film plane and with a controlled magnetoresistance ratio, and a magnetic memory using the magneto resistive effect element. Ferromagnetic layers 106 and 107 of the magneto resistive effect element are formed from a ferromagnetic material containing at least one type of 3d transition metal such that the magnetoresistance ratio is controlled, and the film thickness of the ferromagnetic layers is controlled on an atomic layer level such that the magnetization direction is changed from a direction in the film plane to a direction perpendicular to the film plane.

As shown in FIG. 1, a memory cell 100 of a magnetic random access memory (MRAM) has a structure such that a magneto resistive effect element 101 and a select transistor 102 are electrically connected in series. Source, drain, and gate electrodes of the select transistor 102 are electrically connected to a source line 103, a bit line 104 via the magneto resistive effect element 101, and a word line 105, respectively. The magneto resistive effect element 101 has a three-layer structure as a basic structure in which a non-magnetic layer 108 is sandwiched between two ferromagnetic layers, i.e., a first ferromagnetic layer 106 and a second ferromagnetic layer 107. In the illustrated example, the first ferromagnetic layer 106 has a fixed magnetization direction and provides a pinned layer. The second ferromagnetic layer 107 has a variable magnetization direction and provides a recording layer. The magneto resistive effect element 101 has a low resistance when the magnetization direction of the first ferromagnetic layer 106 and the magnetization direction of the second ferromagnetic layer 107 are parallel to each other (P state), or a high resistance when the directions are anti-parallel to each other (AP state). In the MRAM, the changes in resistance are associated with bit information of "0" and "1". The bit information is written by spin-torque-induced magnetization reversal due to a current that flows through the magneto resistive effect element 101. When the current flows from the pinned layer to the recording layer, the magnetization of the recording layer is anti-parallel to the magnetization of the pinned layer, and the bit information is "1". When the current flows from the recording layer to the pinned layer, the magnetization of the recording layer is parallel to the magnetization of the pinned layer, and the bit information is "0". Because the speed of magnetization reversal by the current is on the order of one nanosecond, the MRAM is capable of writing at very high speed. Further, because the recording of bit information is based on the direction of magnetization of the recording layer, the MRAM is non-volatile and can reduce power consumption during standby. Thus, the MRAM is gaining attention as a next-generation memory.
While FIG. 1 shows the case in which, in the magneto resistive effect element 101, the first ferromagnetic layer 106 is the pinned layer and the second ferromagnetic layer 107 is the recording layer, a similar MRAM operation can be performed when the first ferromagnetic layer 106 is configured as the recording layer with a variable magnetization direction and the second ferromagnetic layer 107 is configured as the pinned layer with a fixed magnetization direction. In this case, too, the magnetization of the recording layer is anti-parallel to the magnetization of the pinned layer when a current flows from the pinned layer to the recording layer, such that the bit information is "1". When the current flows from the recording layer to the pinned layer, the magnetization of the recording layer is parallel to the magnetization of the pinned layer, and the bit information is "0".

Magnetoresistance effect element and magnetic memory


A button has a button body (1) including an attachment to a fabric (6) and an extending portion (4) extending from the button body (1) in a predetermined direction. The button body (1) is turnably fixed to the fabric (6) by the attachment. The extending portion (4) has an insert portion (54) adapted to be inserted into a buttonhole, a guide (55) extending arcuately from the insert portion (54) toward the button body (1), the guide (55) guiding the button body (1) to the buttonhole when the button body (1) is turned.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a button used for jeans, etc. More specifically, a button being attached to a first fabric and capable of being fastened into or unfastened from a buttonhole formed on a second fabric.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally, a metal button has been used for jeans. When a denim etc. is used for the jeans, it is difficult to fasten and unfasten the button through a buttonhole due to its stiff texture.
To solve the disadvantage, a button swingable to a member attached to a fabric, i.e. a swing button has been developed. However, when the fabric is thick at an attachment position of the button and a turnback portion around the buttonhole, difficulty in fastening and unfastening the button cannot be completely solved.
With such background, some patent applications have been conventionally suggested relating to a buttoning tool facilitating fastening and unfastening operations through a buttonhole for a button attached to a stiff fabric like jeans (Reference 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open publication No. 2001-161539 and Reference 2: Japanese Patent Laid-Open publication No. 2003-180407), and a button with an efficient shape to facilitate fastening and unfastening operations (Reference 3: Japanese Patent Laid-Open publication No. 2002-330802).
The former applications employ a buttoning tool having a grip portion and a button holding portion integrally molded therewith with a configuration in which the button holding portion of the buttoning tool is inserted into the buttonhole to hold the button at the button holding portion, and then the grip portion is pulled out so that the button held at the button holding portion is pulled out together and fastened into the buttonhole.
The latter application employs a configuration in which the back side of a button is formed to have a substantially V-shape bending toward the front side by sandwiching a thread fixing portion, and a tip end away from the thread fixing part is formed to be thinner than a base end close to the thread fixing part. In order to fasten the button, the thin tip end is first inserted into the buttonhole, and by pushing the tip end projected from the buttonhole from the front side toward the back side, the base end (the end close to the thread fixing part) pops up, so that the button is fastened into the buttonhole. In order to unfasten the button, by pushing the base end of the button to pass the base end through the buttonhole, the button is unfastened from the buttonhole.
In the applications disclosed in the References 1 and 2, since the buttoning tool is inserted into the buttonhole to hook the button for fastening the button, the operation is bothersome. Moreover, a user needs to carry the buttoning tool all the time in order to use it whenever necessary, thus it is not practical.
In the application disclosed in the Reference 3, since the tip end of the button is inserted into the buttonhole and the projected tip end portion is pushed to fasten the button into the buttonhole, the button is unexpectedly unfastened from the buttonhole easily due to misalignment of the fabric or the like. In order to unfasten the button, since the base end side of the button is passed through the buttonhole while keeping the base end side pushed, unfastening operation can be difficult depending on a width (size) of the base end.


In embodiments of a folded imaging path camera, a device includes a camera lens module that focuses an image, which is received as reflected light. An image sensor captures the image from the reflected light that is directed at the image sensor. The device also includes one or more optics that fold the reflected light of the image along an imaging path directed through the camera lens module and directed at the image sensor. The imaging path directed through the camera lens module can be approximately perpendicular to an axis along which the reflected light of the image is received via an aperture in the device. Alternatively, the imaging path directed through the camera lens module is approximately parallel to the axis along which the reflected light of the image is received via the aperture in the device.

Mobile consumer devices, such as cell phones, media players, and tablet computers, typically incorporate a camera module so that a device may also be used as a camera. These types of devices are increasingly designed to be thinner and incorporate smaller and/or thinner components. Current camera modules are simple axial optical systems and the optical axis through the camera lens is perpendicular to the face of a device, such as when a device is integrated with a camera in a front or back of the device. The camera lens is stacked on top of an image sensor that captures an image which is focused through the camera lens. This thickness or depth of a camera module that includes a camera lens, an image sensor, and circuit board is commonly referred to as the z-height (e.g., in the z-axis) of the camera module. The z-height of conventional camera modules may exceed the thickness of the devices that are increasingly designed to be thinner and incorporate the smaller and/or thinner components.
Further, consumers typically prefer cameras that are designed with more megapixels for sharper images. However, the size of a camera lens in a camera module is based on the size of the image sensor, and as image sensors increase in pixel count, they also increase in size to accommodate more megapixels. Consumer preferences for thinner devices with better cameras are adverse design limitations. Cameras that have more megapixels also incorporate a larger camera lens, which increases the z-height of a camera module. Further, to implement a zoom lens, the camera lens in a camera module moves away from the image sensor to effectuate magnification of an image. If the camera lens does not protrude out from the device when zooming, then the zoom mechanism integrated into a device will increase the thickness of the device.


An imaging apparatus includes an imaging device, a first luminance signal generating unit and a correcting unit. The imaging device includes at least three types of color detecting photoelectric converting elements and a luminance detecting photoelectric converting element. The first luminance signal generating unit generates a first luminance signal corresponding to the color detecting photoelectric converting element from a color signal obtained from each of the at least three types of color detecting photoelectric converting elements. The correcting unit corrects, based on the color signal, at least a second luminance signal corresponding to the luminance detecting photoelectric converting element which is obtained from the luminance detecting photoelectric converting element so as to generate a luminance signal which constitutes image data corresponding to each of the photoelectric converting elements.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus including an imaging device having (i) at least three types of color detecting photoelectric converting elements that detects color components of a light which are different from each other and (ii) a luminance detecting photoelectric converting element that detects a luminance component of a light.
2. Related Art
Patent Document 1 (JP-A-11-355790) has disclosed an imaging device in which (i) a first photosensitive element group having photosensitive elements that respectively detect luminance components of a light arranged in like a square grid and (ii) a second photosensitive element group having photosensitive elements that respectively detect hue components of a light arranged in like a square grid are disposed with a shift into adjacent positions to each other over a silicon substrate and a so-called honeycomb-shaped array pattern is thus formed.
In order to generate image data through the imaging device disclosed in the Patent Document 1, it is necessary to generate a luminance signal corresponding to each of the photosensitive elements. In this case, for a luminance signal corresponding to the photosensitive element of the first photosensitive element group, it is possible to use a signal (a signal A) itself obtained from the photosensitive element. On the other hand, for a luminance signal corresponding to the photosensitive element of the second photosensitive element group, it is necessary to use a signal (a signal B) generated from a signal obtained by the photosensitive element and a signal obtained from the photosensitive element of the second photosensitive element group which is provided therearound.
However, the photosensitive element of the first photosensitive element group and that of the second photosensitive element group have different spectral characteristics from each other. For this reason, a mutual correlation is deteriorated by an object color or a light source. As a result, a level difference is made on the signals A and B and acts as a luminance noise.
In consideration of the circumstances, it is an object of the invention to provide an imaging apparatus capable of reducing a luminance noise.

Imaging apparatus for correcting a luminance signal


A timepiece having an external case, a sound source disposed inside the external case, an internal filter that is gas permeable and waterproof and is disposed opposite with a gap to the external case and the sound source, and a communication opening that communicates the space between the external case and the internal filter with the outside. The internal filter is a porous thin film that has a large number of small holes and assures waterproofness preventing water from passing the small holes for at least ten minutes when in contact with water at normal pressure.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a timepiece, and relates more particularly to a sound emission structure for a timepiece that has an internal sound source and a communication opening rendered at the outside case member for emitting the sound produced by the sound source.
2. Description of Related Art
A structure having a gas-permeable waterproof film disposed between an audio device and a channel that communicates with the outside as the waterproof structure of a timepiece that has an audio device such as a speaker or microphone is known from the literature (see, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Appl. Pub. JP-A-H11-133157).
Wristwatches that use a piezoelectric vibrator as a sound source, attach the back cover with a waterproof film between the back cover and the case member, enable hearing the sound produced by the piezoelectric vibrator either through the back cover or a sound emission opening disposed between the back cover and the case member, and maintain the required waterproofness by means of the waterproof film, are also known from the literature (see, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Appl. Pubs. JP-A-H08-334574 and JP-A-H09-318774).
Various other structures for maintaining the required waterproofness while enabling sound to be output from a speaker, for example, in electronic devices other than timepieces are also known from the literature (see, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Appl. Pub. JP-A-2001-345907 and JP-A-H10-126713).
A problem with the sound emission structures of the timepiece and electronic devices described above is that while these structures can sufficiently externally transmit sounds with a high sound pressure such as from a speaker, they cannot efficiently guide sounds with a low sound pressure, such as reverberation (echoes) from a bell, to the outside, and the audible sound pressure range and sound quality are therefore limited.


A bill deposit/withdrawal machine including a deposit/withdrawal port for delivering the bills deposited by users and discharging bills to users. The deposit/withdrawal port includes a bill hopper for accepting bills deposited by users and discharging bills to users, a delivering mechanism for delivering bills deposited by users, and a push plate operation mechanism for moving a push plate which forms an accepting unit and which supports bills. The bill hopper is movable by rotation operations with a bill delivering side as a fulcrum, and the delivering mechanism includes at least a gate controller which does not rotate in a delivering direction.

The conventional bill deposit/withdrawal machine mounted on an automated teller machine used in, for example, a banking organ or the like includes a deposit/withdrawal port for accepting bills (or paper money) inputted by a user, delivering the bills inputted by the user, and accepting bills to be discharged to a user, a bill discriminating unit for discriminating bills, and a bill transport path for transporting bills while passing them through the bill discriminating unit. The construction of the conventional bill deposit/withdrawal machine further includes the combination of units including a temporary storage box for temporarily accepting deposited bills, a deposit box for accepting deposited bills, a withdrawal box for delivering bills for withdrawal, a recycle box for accepting and delivering bills for both deposit and withdrawal, a reject box for accepting deposited bills which are not accepted in the deposit box or the recycle box and bills which are delivered from the withdrawal box, but not withdrawn, and a load/recovery for delivering bills to be supplemented for the recycle box and, accepting bills recovered from the recycle box, and so forth. Various constructions have been proposed for the construction and arrangement of those units and the route of the bill transport path for connecting those units.
For example, in an example described in JP-A-7-267513, two ring-like transport paths passing through a bill discriminating unit in one direction are configured in a character "8" form. In one of the ring-like transport paths, a deposit port, a withdrawal port, and a temporary reserve unit are arranged. In the other of the ring-like transport paths, a recycle box and a recovery box are arranged.
In an example described in JP-A-10-188074, a bidirectional transport path passing through a bill inspection unit in both directions is provided. A deposit/withdrawal port, a temporary storage box (a temporary reserve accepting unit), and a recycle box (a 10,000-yen bill and 1,000-yen bill accepting unit) are connected to the bi-directional transport path.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Bill deposit/withdrawal machine for depositing/withdrawing bills


An integrated circuit (10) contains a central processing unit (CPU) (12) and a plurality of memory blocks (26-34) configured into one or more banks of memory. A plurality of power control switches (38-42) are used to dynamically select which of a plurality of external voltage supply signals are provided to power each of the memory blocks (26-34). The power control switches (38-42) may be configured from software via writing the data to a register (24) or can be enabled by test control circuitry (22) or can be automatically enabled in response to VDD power voltage failure. In addition, an intelligent controller can dynamically control the switches in response to execution flow of data accesses and instruction fetches from the memory banks so that only currently accessed memory banks or recently accessed memory banks are activated at a high power level while all other memory banks are in a low power stand-by mode.

In modern integrated circuits, such as microcontrollers, microprocessors, and randomly accessed memories (RAM), the integrated circuits (ICs) are typically provided with more than one power signal (e.g. a standby power signal and a normal operation power signal, etc.). A first power supply signal is used for normal functional mode IC operation (e.g. VDD), while a second power supply signal is used as a backup power supply for standby mode IC operation (e.g. VSTBY). In modern designs, the entire memory array within the integrated circuit (IC) is either backed up by the backup power supply or it is not backed up by the backup power supply. Therefore, if the first power supply signal fails and the memory array is backed up by the second power supply signal, then data that was stored in the memory array prior to the power failure is retained in the memory array. However, if the first power supply signal fails and the memory array is not backed up by the second power supply signal, then data that was stored in the memory array prior to the power failure is lost. When using this inflexible system, a user of the integrated circuit (IC) is always in the situation where all the data stored in memory array is either lost or retained when the first power signal fails. There is no flexibility in this system such that certain portions of the memory are backed up by the second power supply signal while another portion of the memory is not backed up by the second power supply signal. Thus, memory backup cannot be performed on a piece-meal programmable basis. Therefore, this lack of flexibility impacts the power consumed by the part and the ability for wide applicability and flexibility of the integrated circuit (IC).
Therefore, the need exists for a method that allows a standby power signal (or low power signal) to be selectively coupled to a bank or block of memory in a memory array comprising a plurality of banks or blocks of memory. This added functionality is desirable to allow for enhanced IC power management, selective data retention management, and more flexible power loss response.

Integrated circuit having standby control for memory and method thereof


A method and system for compiling neighbor lists in a mobile communication network is described. A test signal is transmitted from one base station (BTS) to a set of location measurement units (LMU), one LMU preferably being associated with the transmitting BTS. The received signal is time stamped at each LMU and the transmission times calculated from the time stamps. The transmission times are compared and the list is compiled from those LMUs with close or the same transmission times.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of compiling a list of usable neighbour base stations measurable by a location measurement unit (LMU), to a serving measurement location centre for implementing the method and to a computer program.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a mobile communication network comprising a plurality of base stations, it is known to determine the location of a mobile station in the network in the following way. A mobile station MS receives signals transmitted via base stations and can determine the time difference between receptions. These are called observed time differences (OTD). The synchronisation difference between transmissions from the base stations is called the real time difference (RTD). If both RTD and OTD are known, a so-called geometrical time difference (GTD) can be determined from the equation:GTD=OTD−RTD  Equation 1
To determine the position of a mobile, take the example of three base stations, a location measurement unit and a mobile station. A serving mobile location centre (SMLC) in the network implements the location measurement technique in conjunction with the LMUs associated with the base stations. The LMU determines (or more precisely SMLC determines based on the measurements from the LMU) a first RTD and the mobile station identifies a first OTD between a first pair of base stations. Then, a second RTD is determined by the SMLC using the LMU measurements from a second pair of base stations, and the mobile station determines a second OTD between the second pair of base stations. A positional algorithm implemented at the SMLC takes the first set of RTD and OTD measurements and determines the first GTD using equation 1. This GTD, when taken with the geographical coordinates of the base stations of the first pair can be used to define a hyperbolic line on which the mobile resides. Similarly, the second set of RTD and OTD measurements is taken to determine a second GTD which, when taken with the geographic coordinates of the base stations of the second pair defines a second hyperbolic line. The location of the mobile can the be approximated by considering where the two hyperbolic lines intersect.
A first way of determining the RTD is for the LMU to measure the OTDs and then to calculate the RTD from equation 1 because the coordinates of the LMUs and the base stations are known (i.e. the GTD is known).
Another approach is for the LMUs to have a common accurate clock (such as GPS) to allow the arrival time of signals to be timestamped. This is sometimes called OAT (observed absolute time). When the distance between an LMU and an associated BTS is reduced from OAT, an estimate for the time when the signal was transmitted is obtained. This timestamp is called AT (absolute time). The RTD value for any pair of base stations can be simply calculated as the difference between the corresponding two absolute time (AT) values.
This calculation can be carried out either in the network itself, that is in the serving mobile location centre, or at the mobile. In the latter case, the RTD and the geographical coordinates of the base stations are transmitted to the mobile station.
Such a location measurement technique is managed by SMLC in conjunction with the location measurement units associated with the base stations. It will be appreciated that it is not necessary to have an LMU associated with each base station. Each LMU can measure any base station within its range over the air interface. Also, it has a physical or air interface connection to one base station to allow it to communicate with the SMLC. To achieve reliable measurements of geographic locations of mobile stations, it is important to know which base stations can usefully be used to provide the necessary measurement. In current networks supporting location based service, so-called neighbour (nbor) lists are held. These neighbour lists define for each target LMU a group of adjacent base stations that can be used to make measurements for determining the geographic location of a mobile station. Currently, such neighbour lists are manually created by experienced field engineers and depending on the network configuration can take several weeks. An experienced field engineer must basically determine which adjacent base stations to a target LMU can obtain accurate timing measurement. In order to determine this, a field engineer must determine if received signals from adjacent base stations suffer from multipath and/or interference. Firstly, an initial neighbour list can be created by a field engineer by analysing the network layout, for example from looking at the distance of the adjacent base stations to the target base station, antenna directions or width, linear side, topography and frequency plans.
Next, the neighbour list can be verified by analysing measured signals from adjacent LMUs to the target base station. Verification of this list can be carried out by analysing signal measurements collected by adjacent LMUs, by looking at signal strength, bit error rate and optimisation measurements, for example.
Not only is such a technique time consuming and labour intensive, but it also needs to be carried out each time there is a change in the network, for example frequency re-allocation or deployment of new equipment.
It is an object of the invention to enable a list of usable location measurement units to be compiled without reliance on manual activities and personal expertise.


An apparatus for painting an edge of a workpiece that is moving in a travel direction generally parallel to the edge past a painting station has a support movable horizontally transversely of the direction in the station and an actuator connected to the support for displacing the support transversely of the direction. A generally tubular casing mounted on the support has a rear end and a front end and a front plate engaged over the front end of the casing is formed with a narrow nose in turn formed with a notch having a shape complementary to the workpiece edge. The front plate is releasably secured over the front end of the casing. A vacuum tank adjacent the station has a large-diameter flexible vacuum hose connected to the rear end of the casing for drawing in air through the nose at the notch. The vacuum hose and casing are of generally the same flow cross section, and a paint supply adjacent the station has a pair of flexible paint-supply hoses connected to the front plate adjacent the notch for supplying coating liquid to the plate at the notch.

It is known to coat the edge of a workpiece as it is moving along in a direction generally parallel to its edge by flushing or spraying the edge with a liquid and then sucking the excess liquid off the edge. In this manner the liquid, which is hereinafter referred to as paint but which could also be primer, lacquer, preservative, or any other desired treatment liquid, is not left in drops or puddles on the edge so that a very smooth and uniform coating is achieved.
According to German patent document 4,021,174 filed 3 Jul. 1990 by J. Schiele the liquid is applied to the workpiece edge from a paint-filled chamber that opens via a vertical slit at the vertical edge and vacuum is applied to this chamber to remove the excess paint. This system is an improvement on the arrangement described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,078,080 (citing German patent document 3,740,201) in that it allows the equipment to be somewhat centralized.
The major problem remains that the edge-coating system is a fairly complex installation that must be set up for each particular workpiece type. When workpiece edge profile, height, thickness, width, or shape changes it is necessary to shut down the entire machine, change various parts, and then make numerous adjustments to accommodate the new workpieces.

Edge-coating apparatus for panel workpieces


A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for securing data. Security rules are defined for fields and/or field values. The security rules specify one or more users to which the rules apply. A query is examined for content and a determination is made as to whether security action is required based on the content (e.g., a field and/or a value of the field) and user-specific data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to data processing and more particularly to accessing data independent of the particular manner in which the data is physically represented.
2. Description of the Related Art
Databases are computerized information storage and retrieval systems. A relational database management system is a computer database management system (DBMS) that uses relational techniques for storing and retrieving data. The most prevalent type of database is the relational database, a tabular database in which data is defined so that it can be reorganized and accessed in a number of different ways.
Regardless of the particular architecture, in a DBMS, a requesting entity (e.g., an application or the operating system) demands access to a specified database by issuing a database access request. Such requests may include, for instance, simple catalog lookup requests or transactions and combinations of transactions that operate to read, change and add specified records in the database. These requests are made using high-level query languages such as the Structured Query Language (SQL). Illustratively, SQL is used to make interactive queries for getting information from and updating a database such as International Business Machines' (IBM) DB2, Microsoft's SQL Server, and database products from Oracle, Sybase, and Computer Associates. The term "query" denominates a set of commands for retrieving data from a stored database. Queries take the form of a command language that lets programmers and programs select, insert, update, find out the location of data, and so forth.
One significant issue in the context of databases is security. Databases often contain confidential or otherwise sensitive material which require a degree of security to be protected from access. For example, medical records are considered highly personal and confidential. As such, access to medical records is typically restricted to selected users. To this end, conventional database management systems may implement user profiles which specify a level of authority. Whether a user may access some particular data will depend upon the user's level of authority specified in their respective profile.
However, the foregoing approach is highly inflexible and static. Data, on the other hand, is highly dynamic (i.e. changes over time). As a result, the security imposed upon a user of conventional databases may, or may not, be appropriate with respect to the data the user is attempting to access. For example, consider a user attempting to access HIV test results. It may be desirable to prevent the user from accessing the HIV test results only if the user's own medical record reflects that the user has had an HIV test, regardless of the value (i.e., positive or negative). If, during a first attempted access, the user's medical record does not reflect an HIV test, the user is allowed to query medical records for HIV test results. If the same user subsequently has an HIV test, which is then reflected in the user's medical record, subsequent attempts to access HIV test results would be disallowed. Alternatively, it may be desirable to prevent the user from accessing HIV test results only if the user's own medical record reflects a positive HIV test result. In either case, conventional database management systems do not allow for this level of flexibility.
Therefore, there is a need for improved security mechanisms for databases.

Intelligent use of user data to pre-emptively prevent execution of a query violating access controls

International Business Machines Corporation


A container is provided which includes a top portion having an opening and a side wall extending from the top portion to an end portion of the side wall. A bottom portion is connected with the end portion of the side wall such that the top portion, the side wall and the bottom portion define an interior space of the container. At least one groove is formed in the side wall. The at least one groove includes a central arc portion and end arc portions. The central arc portion is substantially concave relative to a longitudinal axis of the container. The end arc portions are substantially convex relative to the longitudinal axis of the container. The end arc portions are formed adjacent ends of the central arc portion and communicate with an outer surface of the side wall. Desirably, the at least one groove includes a plurality of grooves. The plurality of grooves may be disposed within the rows in an interrupted configuration such that at least a portion of the outer surface is disposed between the plurality of grooves. The central arc portion and the end arc portion may be cooperatively formed to create a load stress path communicating with the outer surface of the side wall for a load applied to the container. In an alternative embodiment, the at least one groove defines a cross-sectional configuration having groove walls extending inward from the outer surface to a groove floor. The groove walls are oriented at a wall angle measured from the outer surface.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates generally to the field of plastic containers, and more particularly, to panel stiffening features associated with the side walls of plastic containers.
2. Background of the Related Art
Containers such as those described in the present disclosure are used for storing foodstuffs, medicine, liquids, and many other materials. Certain containers must withstand radial side wall forces and axial top loading forces. For example, certain containers must be rigid enough to resist side wall collapse due to internal vacuums that may develop from storing materials therein. Other containers are required to withstand radial forces during label application operations or axial forces during capping operations.
Plastic containers, specifically blow molded plastic containers, are manufactured in various shapes to achieve structural advantages and aesthetic function. Specifically, it is known to provide container side walls with troughs, extensions and decorative shapes to accommodate internal vacuum forces. Inward flexing of the side walls and panels may also be used. The internal vacuum forces occur, for example, when a container is filled with hot material which cools after the container is sealed. Inward flexing of the side walls accommodate volumetric shrinking but create undesirable corner deformations which reduce structural capability to withstand top loads.
One type of container that provides additional top load strength includes ribbing or reinforcement webs. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,016,932 to Gaydosh et al. disclose a blow molded bottle having a reduced diameter portion that divides the bottle side panel into first and second portions. The reduced diameter portion is intersected by longitudinal ribs which support top loading, such as installation of push-up caps, by directing stress between the first and second portions. Containers including ribs require additional material that adds to manufacturing cost. Furthermore, they do not prevent side wall deflection or improve overall rigidity.
Certain types of containers must endure external side loads, for example, during labeling operations, storage and transportation. Other containers must overcome the external side load of a handler""s grip. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,598,941 to Semersky et al., disclosing a blow molded container including a pair of depressed areas having reinforcing ribs to form a hand grip.
Some containers require annular stiffness to withstand radial forces that occur due to internal vacuum pressure resulting from hot fill material, changes in altitude and absorption of oxygen within the bottle, e.g., by vitamins or other materials which contain oxygen scavenging materials. Concentric annular grooves are commonly used to provide radial stiffness in container structures, such as in lightweight water bottles, made from PET (polyethylene terephthalate). The annular grooves of these lightweight containers reduce the containers"" resistance to top loading, making the containers susceptible to top load crushing.
To overcome this drawback, manufacturers may fabricate the containers with increased wall thickness to provide side load and top load rigidity. Such increased wall thickness, however, requires increased material and mold cycle times, thereby increasing manufacturing cost. Container manufacturers have also attempted to solve strength considerations by including container wall designs to add structural strength. Such designs include decorative shapes and embossed lettering, typically requiring increased material which adds to cost. However, these designs may only provide marginal or incidental increases in structural stiffness.
Therefore, it would be highly desirable to have a simple and economical manner of adding axial and/or side wall deflection rigidity to containers for specific container requirements, shapes and sizes without adding to part complexity or costs of the manufacturing process.
Accordingly, it is therefore an object of the present disclosure to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art by increasing axial and side wall strength and rigidity of plastic containers.
It is a further object of the present disclosure to provide load compensation and increased rigidity of plastic containers in response to externally applied loads.
It is yet another object of the present disclosure, to provide a plastic container that is efficiently and inexpensively manufactured.
Objects and advantages of the present disclosure, set forth in part herein and in part will be obvious therefrom, achieve the intended purposes, objects, and advantages through a new, useful and non-obvious configuration of component elements, at a reasonable cost to manufacture, and by employing readily available materials. The various embodiments contemplated are gleaned from the present disclosure and realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.
The present disclosure is directed to a container structure having increased strength and rigidity due, at least in part, to at least one groove formed in the container. The container, due to the disclosed configuration, facilitates load compensation and stress relief in response to externally applied loads. The container provides increased structural strength to a container while being easily and efficiently manufactured. The container advantageously forms longitudinal stress paths to facilitate load compensation that increases axial stiffness and top-load strength. The structural improvements of the present disclosure are achieved without substantial increases in material costs, mold cycle time or tooling complexity.
In one particular embodiment, in accordance with the present disclosure, a container is provided which includes a top portion having an opening and a side wall extending from the top portion to an end portion of the side wall. The top portion may include a neck portion. A bottom portion is connected with the end portion of the side wall such that the top portion, the side wall and the bottom portion define an interior space of the container. At least one groove is formed in the side wall. At least one groove includes a central arc portion and end arc portions. The central arc portion is substantially concave relative to a longitudinal axis of the container. The end arc portions are substantially convex relative to the longitudinal axis of the container. The end arc portions are formed adjacent ends of the central arc portion and communicate with an outer surface of the side wall. The central arc portion and the end arc portions may be formed having a substantially undulating cross-sectional configuration.
Desirably, the at least one groove includes a plurality of grooves. The plurality of grooves can form rows along the outer surface of the side wall. The rows lie in planes transverse to the longitudinal axis of the container. In an alternate embodiment, the plurality of grooves are disposed within the rows in an interrupted configuration such that at least a portion of the outer surface is disposed between the plurality of grooves. The rows can lie in parallel transverse planes relative to the longitudinal axis of the container. The plurality of grooves may be disposed in the rows in a relative staggered configuration.
In another embodiment, the central arc portion forms a circle having a first radius and the end arc portions form circles having a second radius and a third radius, respectively. The first radius can be greater than the second radius and the third radius. Alternatively, the second radius and third radius may be substantially equal. In another embodiment, the first radius is measured from an axis offset from the longitudinal axis of the container. The at least one groove may be substantially linear or, alternatively, may have a substantially undulating configuration.
The central arc portion and the end arc portions may cooperatively form a load stress path communicating with the outer surface of the side wall for a load applied to the container. The central arc portion can communicate a load stress against a load stress communicated from the end portions along the load stress path. The at least one groove may define a cross-sectional configuration having groove walls extending inward from the outer surface to a groove floor. The groove walls are oriented at a wall angle measured from the outer surface. The wall angle, desirably, measures 90 degrees. The at least one groove can define a cross-sectional configuration having groove walls extending inward from the outer surface to a convergence position such that the at least one groove has a substantially V-shaped cross-sectional configuration.

Panel stiffeners for blow-molded plastic containers


A cooling system and method for cooling a battery in a vehicle is provided. The method includes determining whether the cooling system is operating to cool a passenger compartment in the vehicle, operating the cooling system to cool the battery when it is determined that the cooling system is operating to cool the passenger compartment, and it is determined that at least one predetermined condition is met. The method also includes determining whether an engine in the vehicle is operating, and then operating the cooling system to cool the battery when it is determined that the engine is operating and a battery temperature is greater than a predetermined battery temperature.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cooling system and method for cooling a battery in a vehicle.
2. Background Art
When a battery is used to provide power to an electric motor to drive a vehicle, the temperature of the battery can increase significantly when the motor is operating for extended periods of time. The increase in battery temperature may be compounded when the battery is confined to relatively small, enclosed spaces. Increases in battery temperature can reduce battery charge efficiency and impede battery performance. If the battery is not cooled, battery life and fuel economy may suffer. Reducing battery usage may partially alleviate this condition, but this can affect vehicle performance and fuel economy.
Typically, vehicles have a passenger air conditioning system to cool the passenger compartment. The passenger air conditioning system includes a compressor, a refrigerant line and a heat exchanger. One way to address high battery temperatures is to use at least a portion of the passenger compartment air conditioning system to cool the battery. Because the air conditioning system is used to cool the passenger compartment, the same compressor can be used to cool the battery, but with a different refrigerant line and heat exchanger. Inefficient use of the passenger compartment air conditioning system to cool the battery, however, can adversely affect the fuel economy of the vehicle.
Thus, a need exists for a cooling system and a method of cooling a battery in a vehicle that can efficiently cool both the passenger compartment and the battery.

Cooling system and method for cooling a battery in a vehicle


A multi-purpose camera system includes an image capture block and an image signal processing block. The image capture block is arranged for generating an image signal, wherein the image capture block has an image sensor, an optical system, and a control circuit. The image signal processing block is arranged for processing the image signal. When the multi-purpose camera system is operated in a first operation mode, the multi-purpose camera system acts as a camera for generating a captured image output; when the multi-purpose camera system is operated in a second operation mode, the multi-purpose camera system acts as part of a user input apparatus for receiving a user input; and an overall configuration of the control circuit and the image signal processing block in the first operation mode is different from an overall configuration of the control circuit and the image signal processing block in the second operation mode.

The disclosed embodiments of the present invention relate to a camera system, and more particularly, to a multi-purpose camera system which supports normal camera functionality and additional user input functionality.
A traditional feature phone is equipped with standard directional buttons or a directional pad. In general, the standard directional button/directional pad is made by a mechanical structure. Hence, to enter the user input, the user has to press the directional button/directional pad with larger force. In addition, as the standard directional button/directional pad is implemented using the mechanical structure, it may have degraded sensitivity after being used for a long time.
Thus, there is a need for an improved user interface which can take place of the standard directional button/directional pad for cost reduction and allow the user to easily and accurately enter the user input.

Multi-purpose camera system supporting normal camera functionality and additional user input functionality


An irrigation system includes a network hub and a plurality of remote terminal units configured for wireless communication with the network hub. The remote terminal units are connected to a device for irrigation control or sensing, such as a valve for a sprinkler. The network hub is configured to transmit a wireless broadcast to the remote terminal units, in which the wireless broadcast includes a plurality of individual packets transmitted in succession, each of the plurality of individual packets including a network identifier associated with the network hub, a time remaining in a broadcast period of time, and an assignment map indicative of an assigned state for each of the plurality of remote terminal units.

The control of an irrigation system is an increasingly important task. At a basic level, it is valuable to be able to apply a desired amount of water to the right regions in an agricultural area at the right times. More crucially, with water as a valuable resource, it is important to optimize the timing and the amount of the applied irrigation without waste, and further to facilitate precisely controlled amounts of water to be applied to crops. In larger irrigation systems, a great number of controllers may be spread over wide areas, each of which must be addressed from a centralized system to ensure the opening and closing of valves or the like in order to operate the system in a controlled manner. Where electronic controllers are used, battery or power efficiency is important as well, to ensure that every controller remains active and able to continue to control its associated irrigation device without interruption. Current systems are ineffective to handle these tasks in one way or another.


An ultrasonic probe includes ultrasonic oscillating elements arranged in a two-dimensional array shape, connection leads connected to the ultrasonic oscillating elements, and at least one board to connect the ultrasonic oscillating elements and integrated circuits. The board includes a first part having through-holes which are electrically connected to the connection leads when the connection leads are inserted, and second parts having bendable portions configured to connect the first part and the integrated circuits.

1. Field of the Invention
Exemplary aspects of the present invention relate to an ultrasonic probe used in an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.
2. Description of the Background
Related art ultrasonic probes used in an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus have a cable assembly that exchanges electric signals between ultrasonic oscillating elements, which transmit and receive ultrasonic waves, and a main body of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.
An ultrasonic probe that performs three-dimensional scanning using ultrasonic waves by deflecting and focusing ultrasonic beams omni-directionally has been developed.
Such ultrasonic probes include a two-dimensional array ultrasonic probe in which a large number of ultrasonic oscillating elements, which constitute an ultrasonic transducer, are arranged in a matrix shape.
Related art techniques to lead signals from the ultrasonic oscillating elements arranged two-dimensionally out to an integrated circuit in the ultrasonic probe and the main body of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus are described below.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,267,221 proposes a structure in which a hole is drilled in a backing material to lead signals out from the hole. JP-A-62-2799 describes a structure in which boards, corresponding to arrays of ultrasonic oscillating elements, are stacked to lead out signals.
The structure of two-dimensional array ultrasonic probes disclosed in these patent documents makes it possible to keep an acoustic characteristic of one element satisfactory.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,311,095 describes a structure in which a stacked board for extracting signals is arranged immediately below ultrasonic oscillating elements.
However, as a basic structure of the ultrasonic probe, the ultrasonic oscillating elements and the main body of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus are coupled by the cable assembly. In the two-dimensional array ultrasonic probe having a large number of very small ultrasonic oscillating elements, reception signals from the ultrasonic oscillating elements are also relatively small. Therefore, when the reception signals are passed directly through the cable assembly connected to the main body of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, the reception signals are significantly attenuated because of an electrostatic capacity of the cable assembly. Thus, integrated circuits or the like, including a preamplifier or the like, to extract the reception signals from the ultrasonic oscillating elements satisfactorily, are required near the ultrasonic transducer.
Moreover, two-dimensional array ultrasonic probes require a large number of ultrasonic oscillating elements compared with that in a one-dimensional array. Therefore, when attempting to independently transmit signals from the each of the ultrasonic oscillating elements to the main body of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, the number of cable cores of the cable assembly becomes large. This means that a cable connecting the ultrasonic probe and the main body of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus becomes thick and heavy. Such a structure does not support a method of using an ordinary ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in which the ultrasonic probe has to be operated freely.
Therefore, the two-dimensional array ultrasonic probe adopts a construction to reduce the number of signals transmitted to the main body of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus by, for example, connecting ultrasonic signals from the ultrasonic oscillating elements commonly to one data line. Therefore, integrated circuits or the like, to reduce the number of signals by commonly connecting data lines, is required in the ultrasonic probe.
In the two-dimensional array ultrasonic probe, integrated circuits or the like, which control a large number of electric signals with low intensity, which are led from the group of ultrasonic oscillating elements by data lines, as described above, are mounted near the ultrasonic transducer. In addition, from the viewpoint of operability of the ultrasonic probe, it is necessary to keep a size of the ultrasonic probe equal to or smaller than a fixed size. Thus, the integrated circuits or the like are built at a high density.
As an example of a technique meeting the demand, as disclosed in JP-A-2001-292496, a construction to electrically and mechanically couple two kinds of boards substantially orthogonally using connection leads is proposed.


A digitally implemented, look-up table-based, predistortion and feed-forward correction signal processing mechanism compensates for distortion generated in the RF power amplifier. The input signal to the RF amplifier is stored for comparison with the measured the RF output. In each of predistortion and feed-forward signal processing paths, the magnitude of the complex waveform of the input signal is extracted to derive a read-out address to a dual-port RAM which stores weights to be multiplied by the input signal. In the predistortion signal processing path, the product is coupled to the RF power amplifier. In the feed-forward correction loop, the product is amplified by an auxiliary feed-forward RF amplifier and coupled into the amplified output signal path of the RF power amplifier.

Communication services providers are subject to very strict bandwidth usage spectrum constraints, such as technically mandated specifications and regulations imposed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which currently requires that sideband spillage, namely the amount of energy spillover outside a licensed band of interest, be sharply attenuated (e.g., on the order of 50 dB). While such limitations are adequate for traditional forms of modulation such as FM, they are difficult to achieve using more contemporary, digitally based modulation formats, such as M-ary modulation. To keep the side-bands attenuated sufficiently so as to meet industry or regulatory-based requirements using such modulation techniques dictates the use of very linear signal processing systems and components. Although linear components can be implemented at a reasonable cost at relatively low bandwidths (baseband) used in telephone networks, linearizing such components, in particular power amplifiers, at RF frequencies becomes a very costly exercise.
RF power amplifiers are inherently non-linear devices, and generate unwanted intermodulation products, which manifest themselves as spurious signals in the amplified output signal, separate and distinct from the input signal. A further source of RF amplifier distortion is the presence of spectral regrowth or spreading of a compact spectrum into spectral regions that do not appear in the input signal. The distortion introduced by an RF amplifier causes the phase and amplitude of its amplified output signal to depart from the respective phase and amplitude of the input signal, and may be considered as an incidental (and undesired) amplifier-sourced modulation of the input signal.
One brute force technique for linearizing an RF power amplifier is to build the amplifier as large, high power device and then operate the amplifier at a low power level that is only a small percentage of its rated output power, where the RF amplifier's transfer function is relatively linear. The obvious drawback to this approach is the overkill penalty--high cost and large size.
Other prior art attempts to account for RF amplifier degradation have included the installation of a `post-processing`, feed-forward correction loop that is coupled with the amplifier's output signal, and a `pre-processing`, or `predistortion` correction loop coupled in the path of the amplifier's input signal. The purpose of a post-processing, feed-forward correction loop is to extract the amount of error (distortion) present in the RF amplifier's output signal, amplify that extracted distortion signal to the proper level, and then reinject (the complement of) the amplified error signal back into the output path of the amplifier, such that (ideally) the amplifier distortion is effectively canceled.
A predistortion mechanism, on the other hand, serves to inject a `predistortion` signal into the RF amplifier's input signal path. The predistortion signal has a characteristic that has been predetermined to be ideally equal and opposite to the distortion expected at the output of the high power RF amplifier, so that when subjected to the transfer function of the RF amplifier, it will effectively cancel its anticipated distortion behavior. The predistortion mechanism may be made adaptive by extracting the error signal component in the output of the RF amplifier and adjusting the predistortion signal in accordance with the such extracted error behavior of the RF amplifier during real time operation, so as to effectively continuously minimize distortion in the amplifier's output.
In the past, such correction mechanisms have been implemented using discrete analog components, which are not capable of precisely tracking and compensating the highly non-linear behavior of the RF amplifier, so that they provide only a limited degree of linearization. This less than ideal performance of such components limits the linearity requirements that can be imposed upon cellular and PCS communications bands and thereby reduces bandwidth availability.

Adaptive digital predistortion linearization and feed-forward correction of RF power amplifier


An inexpensive method of coating silicon shot with boron atoms comprises (1) immersing silicon shot in an aqueous solution comprising a boric acid and polyvinyl alcohol, and (2) heating the solution so as to evaporate water and form a polymerized polyvinyl alcohol coating containing boron on the shot. A precise amount of this coated shot may then be mixed with a measured quantity of intrinsic silicon pellets and the resulting mixture may then be melted to provide a boron-doped silicon melt for use in growing p-type silicon bodies that can be converted to substrates for photovoltaic solar cells.

The EFG process is well known, as evidenced by the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,230,674; 4,661,324; 4,647,437; 4,968,380; 5,037,622; 5,098,229; 5,106,763; 5,156,978; and 5,558,712. In the EFG process, crystalline bodies having a predetermined cross-sectional shape, e.g., tubes of octagonal cross-sectional shape, are grown on a seed from the liquid film of a selected material which is transported by capillary action from a melt contained in a crucible to the top end surface of an EFG die. In order to grow relatively large tubes, e.g., tubes of octagonal cross-sectional shape measuring 4–6 inches on each flat side and 15–20 feet in length, it is necessary to replenish the melt during the growth process, with the replenishment being conducted so as to keep the level of the molten silicon substantially constant in the crucible containing the melt. The silicon feedstock used in growing silicon tubes is typically in the form of substantially spherical pellets ("shot") having a diameter in the order of 2 mm. The common practice is to deliver additional feedstock to the crucible on an intermittent basis according to the rate of consumption of the melt, so as to maintain the level of the melt in the crucible within predetermined limits.
The EFG process has been used extensively to grow silicon tubes, e.g., tubes of octagonal and nonagonal shape, and those tubes are subdivided by cutting out square or rectangular wafers from their flat sides. Those wafers are then used as substrates to form individual photovoltaic cells. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,751,191, 5,106,763, 5,270,248 and 5,320,684 illustrate methods used to manufacture silicon solar cells from wafers cut out of EFG-grown tubes.
The EFG wafers used for making solar cells are p-type silicon having a bulk resistivity in the range of 2 to 4 ohm-cm, with the p-type conductivity and desired resistivity being due to the presence of boron dopant in the melt. The ratio of silicon to dopant atoms required for producing a bulk resistivity of 2 to 4 ohm-cm is very large, approximately eight orders of magnitude. This requires careful control of the quantity and method of introduction of dopant into the silicon melt. For years doping the melt was achieved by adding a small, carefully measured, amount of silicon pellets (also referred to as "shot") highly doped with boron to a predetermined quantity of intrinsic (pure) silicon feedstock (also in the form of pellets), with the amount of highly doped silicon pellets being set to achieve the doping level required to grow tubes of desired resistivity. The mixture of doped silicon shot and pure silicon feedstock was intermixed and dissolved to form a melt, with the boron in the doped silicon shot being dissolved uniformly throughout the melt.
However, highly doped silicon shot is expensive and difficult to obtain. For these reasons, it was deemed necessary to find an alternative and less expensive method of providing boron-doped silicon shot suitable for doping a silicon melt. One such method is described in my copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/142,312, filed 9 May 2002 (Publication No. U.S. 2003/0209188 A1, published 13 Nov. 2003). That method comprises (1) immersing intrinsic silicon shot in a spin-on dopant solution that consists essentially of a borosilicate in a volatile organic solvent, plus a polymer precursor, and (2) removing the solvent so as to leave a polymeric coating or film containing boron on the shot. The boron-coated shot is then intermixed and melted with a measured quantity of intrinsic silicon pellets to provide a boron-doped silicon melt for use in growing silicon tubes of suitable resistivity.
A significant limitation of the foregoing method is that its use of a volatile organic solvent presents an environmental and safety problem.

Coating silicon pellets with dopant for addition of dopant in crystal growth


A method is used for setting a R-P link for data transmission/reception in a mobile communication system and for setting a R-P link between packet control function (PCF) and packet data serving node (PDSN) in a mobile communication system that connects a radio network with a packet network. The method first transmits a response request message from the PCF to identify the status of two or more PDSNs in the system, then measures the RTDs of those PDSNs responded to the response request message. The method subsequently prepares a list of PDSNs that satisfy a reference value among the measured RTDs and determines whether the subscriber's PDSN exists in the list of PDSNs. Finally, the method performs a R-P link setup using the prepared list of PDSN in accordance with a determined result.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for setting a R-P link for data transmission and reception in a mobile communication system, and more particularly, to a method for setting a R-P link in which a base station controller and packet control function (BSC/PCF) manages the status of a packet data serving node (PDSN). The packet data serving node (PDSN) will transmit packet data if a mobile terminal (mobile station) requests packet data service and selects the PDSN to perform the service.
2. Background of the Related Art
FIG. 1 illustrates mobile communication network elements and their structures for packet data service according to the related art. As shown in FIG. 1, the mobile communication network elements include a mobile station (MS) 101 for a user and a base transceiver station (BTS) 102.
The MS 101 is connected with the BTS 102 with radio frequency. The BTS 102 is also connected to a base station controller (BSC)/Packet control function (PCF) 103. The BSC/PCF 103 is then connected to a mobile switching center (MSC)/visitor location register (VLR) 104. The MSC/VLR 104 is subsequently connected to a home location register (HLR) 105. Thus, the mobile communication network can communicate with other communication networks 106 such as PSTN, PCS, public land mobile network (PLMN). The BSC/PCF 103 can be connected with intranet 108, and further connected to Internet through PDSN 107.
In the mobile communication as shown in FIG. 1, if a terminal that provides code division multiple access (CDMA) 2000 packet data service requests packet data service, PDSN (107) determines whether to transmit packet data based on the BSC/PCF 103. In this case, a radio traffic channel and a radio link protocol (RLC) are set between the mobile station 101 and the BSC 103 in a radio frequency. An A8 traffic link that transmits point to point protocol (PPP) link data between the mobile terminal 101 and the PDSN 107 is set between the BSC 103 and the PCF 103. An A10 R-P link that transmits PPP link data between the mobile terminal 101 and the PDSN 107 is set between the PCF 103 and the PDSN 107.
In the above structure, the A8 interface carries a user traffic between the base station 101 and the PCF 103. The A10 interface carries a user traffic between the PCF 103 and the PDSN 107. At this time, examples of the packet data service connection state of the mobile terminal 101 is divided into packet data service active state and packet data service inactive state. The packet data service inactive state means that the mobile terminal 101 cannot obtain packet data service. Once packet data service is activated by packet data call originated from a user of the terminal or other method, the packet data service inactive state is then changed into the packet data service active state. In the packet data service active state, the PPP link is set between the MS 101 and the PDSN 107 and the R-P link is also set between the PCF 103 and the PDSN 107.
The packet data service active state includes a packet active state and a packet dormant state. The packet active state means that the MS 101 occupies a radio traffic channel and sets an R-P link in order to maintain A8 link and transmit and receive packet data. On the other hand, the packet dormant state means that the BSC 103 is out of the control of the MS 101 and a radio traffic channel by releasing a radio channel and A8 link.
FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating a related art for setting a R-P link. In a related art IS-2001 standard, PDSN selection algorithm for setting a R-P link manages the whole PDSN list, divides International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) number (for example, subscriber's phone number) by the number of all the PDSNs, and selects PDSN with the remainder (modulo calculation), thereby trying to set the R-P link. An A11 (interface that carries signaling information between PCF and PDSN) registration request is tried by the selected PDSN.
Referring to FIG. 2, whether a subscriber pertains to any PDSN by performing modulo calculation of all the PDSNs is first determined in step 21. Then the R-P setup for the PDSN to which the subscriber pertains from the list of all the PDSNs is tried in step 22. Thereafter, whether there is a response from the first tried PDSN is determined in step 23. If there is a response from the first tried PDSN, the R-P is set as shown in step 25. If there is no response from the first tried PDSN, the R-P setup for the next PDSN from the list of all the PDSNs is repeatedly tried as shown in step 24.
In more detail, a mobile IMSI number (subscriber's phone number) is divided by the number of all the PDSNs, so as to confirm whether the subscriber pertains to any PDSN, as follows.
PSDN No.=(Mobile IMSI Number) Modulo N
PDSN NumberPDSN IP address0abcd1klmn2opqur......N-1wxyz
If the PDSN number of the subscriber is 0 by the above modulo calculation, the PCF tries to set R-P at PDSN of 0 when a new call originates. As a result, if there is no A11 registration response, i.e., if R-P setup is failed, R-P setup for the next PDSN number of 1 is tried (PDSN No.=(PDSN No.+1) modulo N). However, the aforementioned related art method for setting R-P has several problems. Since the R-P setup is sequentially tried for the PDSNs without managing the status of the PDSNs, the R-P setup time may be delayed if R-P setup for an abnormal PDSN is tried. Furthermore, even in case that the above R-P setup is repeated until the R-P setup for a normal PDSN next to the abnormal PDSN is tried, data transmission may be delayed if the selected PDSN has a great round trip delay (RTD).
The above references are incorporated by reference herein where appropriate for appropriate teachings of additional or alternative details, features and/or technical background.

Method for setting a R-P link in mobile communication system


An acetabular component for an implantable hip joint prosthesis. An acetabular shell has an apex and a rim, and has a convex proximal surface for being received within a hemispherically reamed acetabulum in a press-fit relationship. The convex proximal surface is shaped as a surface of revolution defined by a curve segment rotated about an axis, where the curve segment and the axis lie in a common plane. The defining curve segment includes a first arc-segment and a second arc-segment. The first arc-segment has a center located on the axis, and the second arc-segment has a center offset from the axis. The convex proximal surface includes a first region defined by the first arc-segment in proximity to the apex and a second region defined by the second arc-segment in proximity to the rim. The convex proximal surface is diametrically oversized in the second region relative to the hemispherically reamed acetabulum. At least one bone-penetrating protrusion extends generally proximally from the convex proximal surface, but is limited in proximal extent to remain unengaged with the hemispherically reamed acetabulum at initial contact of the oversized second region with the hemispherically reamed acetabulum during implantation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to implantable prostheses for replacing human skeletal joints, and relates more particularly to an acetabular cup component of a total hip prosthesis.
2. Background Information
An implantable total hip prosthesis includes a femoral component and an acetabular cup component. The femoral component, typically made of a bio-compatible metal such as titanium, titanium alloy or cobalt chrome alloy, has a distal stem and a proximal spherical head. As used herein, the words proximal and distal are terms of reference that indicate a particular portion of a prosthesis component according to the relative disposition of the portion when the component is implanted. "Proximal" indicates that portion of a component nearest to the torso, whereas "distal" indicates that portion of the component farthest from the torso. The distal stem is configured to be received and fixed within the medullary canal of a femur. The femur is prepared to receive the distal stem by resecting the natural head and neck, and reaming the exposed proximal medullary canal. The proximal end of the femoral component has a neck and attached spherical head that, supported by the distal stem anchored in the medullary canal, extend from the resected proximal end of the femur to replace the natural neck and head of the proximal femur. The proximal spherical head may be integral with the neck and stem of the femoral component, or may be removably attachable to the neck by way of a locking taper connection, sometimes known as a Morse taper. The acetabular cup component is configured to be received and fixed within the acetabulum of a pelvis. The pelvis is prepared to receive the acetabular cup by reaming a concavity in the acetabular bone. The acetabular cup component typically has an outer surface conforming to the concavity reamed in the acetabular bone of the pelvis, and an inner bearing cavity for receiving the head of the femoral component. The head articulates in the bearing cavity as a ball and socket to restore motion to a defective hip joint.
One known type of acetabular cup involves an acetabular shell made of a bio-compatible metal such as titanium or a titanium alloy, and a bearing insert made of a bio-compatible polymer such as ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene. The acetabular shell is shaped generally as a hemispherical cup having a dome, or apex, at a proximal end and an annular rim at a distal end. Between the dome and rim, the acetabular shell comprises a shell wall defined by a generally convex proximal surface and a generally concave distal surface spaced from the proximal surface. The concave distal surface defines a shell cavity having an opening at the rim of the cup for receiving the bearing insert. The bearing insert has a generally convex proximal surface configured to be received and fixed within the acetabular shell in generally congruent engagement with the concave distal surface of the shell wall. The bearing insert also has a bearing cavity that opens distally for receiving the head of the femoral component. The bearing cavity is defined by a generally spherical concave bearing surface having a radius similar to that of the femoral head component. The concave bearing surface articulates against the surface of the spherical femoral head component.
Acetabular shells of the type described can be affixed to the acetabular bone by means of bone screws, bone cement, bone ingrowth or ongrowth, mechanical interference, or by a combination of two or more of these means. To promote bone ingrowth or ongrowth, the convex proximal surface of an acetabular shell, i.e., the bone-engaging surface, can be provided with a porous coating applied as sintered metal particles, spheres, or wire mesh, or as plasma sprayed metal, for example. In lieu of porous coating, the bone-engaging surface can be roughened by grit blasting. As an option, the porous or grit blasted surface can be coated with hydroxylapatite, applied by plasma spraying, to further enhance the osseoinductive characteristics of the acetabular shell. Fixation by mechanical interference can be accomplished by carefully reaming the acetabulum to a contour that, in combination with the contour of the proximal bone-engaging surface of the acetabular shell, results in a press-fit relationship between the acetabular shell and the acetabular bone. Also, gross mechanical interference between shell and bone can be accomplished by means of sharp protrusions on the bone-engaging surface of the acetabular shell, such as threads, grooves, fins, spikes, or other macro-textured surface features that penetrate into the acetabular bone as the shell is implanted.
Some acetabular shells that employ a press-fit relationship between the acetabular shell and the acetabular bone rely upon the acetabular shell being somewhat oversized in diameter relative to the diameter of the reamed acetabulum. Some such designs extend the oversized area well away from the rim of the cup, which can result in compressive forces being generated in the acetabular bone that have a significant axial component. This can lead to a risk of the acetabular cup being expelled from the acetabulum, incomplete seating and or fracture of the acetabulum. It would be desirable to provide an acetabular shell, designed to optimize a press-fit relationship to acetabular bone, that attempts to alleviate the forementioned risks. The present invention provides this and other desirable advantages.
Many acetabular shells that exploit gross mechanical interference with the bone to achieve fixation or stabilization can be somewhat difficult to orient accurately during implantation. This is because the protrusions that effect fixation must necessarily engage the bone before the main body of the acetabular shell engages the bone, resulting in the protrusions being committed to a particular path of penetration into the bone before the cup body has been assuredly positioned within the reamed acetabulum. It would be desirable to provide an acetabular shell, designed to employ mechanical fixation to bone, that can be oriented accurately in the reamed acetabulum before being driven into its fully seated position. The present invention provides this and other desirable advantages.

Acetabular shell having flared rim and fixation spikes


A multiple video stream capture and encoding apparatus produces compressed data that represents multiple video streams capturing a common scene. Images from multiple video streams are analyzed to identify image color segments that are encoded into a composite graph data structure. Corresponding image segments across the multiple video streams are also identified and represented by one node in the composite graph data structure. The composite graph data structure also includes links between pairs of nodes that describe the relationship between the image segments associated with those nodes. The composite graph data structure is updated to represent changes to the image segments in the multiple video streams over time. The composite graph data structure is used to create compressed encoded data for storage and/or transmission.

Video compression is a sub-field of general data compression, and it is built on top of image compression. Video compression can be further classified into two types: Single Video Stream Compression (SVSC) and Multiple Video Streams Compression (MVSC). Multiple video streams are used to create three dimensional or selectable perspective video presentations and are used in areas such as entertainment (e.g., virtual reality games and 3D movies), education, training, multimedia presentations, communication, surveillance, televiewing with exploration, and so forth.
Raw video contains an immense amount of data. For example, a two dimensional, single HDTV raw video stream signal of 1920×1080 pixels/frame and progressive scanning at 30 frames/s contains:
      (                            1920          ×          1080                                                              pixels                frame            ·                        30                                                              frames                sec            ·                        3                                                              colors                pixel            ·                        8                                                              bits                color              )    ≈      1.5                          Gb              /            s
However, an HDTV channel's bandwidth is only 20 Mb/s, requiring compression by a factor of approximately 75 or, equivalently, to a data rate of 0.32 bits/pixel. To achieve even lower data rate video communications, very high compression ratios are used in applications such as videophones, mobile multimedia communications, and remote sensing. Naturally, the transmission and storage of multiple raw video streams require a correspondingly increased amount of resources. Since communication and storage resources are limited and expensive, transmitting and storing raw multiple video streams is usually impractical and/or too expensive for most applications.
Therefore a need exists to overcome the problems with the prior art as discussed above.

Spatio-temporal graph-segmentation encoding for multiple video streams


A surface mounting device-type light emitting diode (SMD-type LED) comprises a lead frame composed of a pair of lead terminals; a package housing a portion of the lead frame therein, the package having an emission window which is opened so that light is emitted through the emission window; an LED chip mounted on the lead frame inside the package; a wire for electrically connecting the LED chip and the lead frame; and a molding material filled in the package, the molding material having surface irregularities with a predetermined shape formed on the surface thereof which is exposed through the emission window of the package.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a surface mounting device-type light emitting diode (hereinafter, referred to as an SMD-type LED) which can enhance extraction efficiency of light to be emitted into the surface of a molding material which is exposed through an emission window of a package.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a light emitting diode (hereinafter, referred to as 'LED') has a light source provided by varying compound semiconductor materials such as GaAs, AlGaAs, GaN, InGaInP and the like, thereby implementing various colors of light.
Recently, as the semiconductor technology rapidly develops, the production of LEDs with high luminance and high quality has become possible. Further, as the implementing of blue and white diodes with an excellent characteristic is realized, the use of LED is expanded into a display device, a next-generation lighting source, or the like. For example, SMD-type LEDs are productized.
Now, a conventional SMD-type LED will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.
FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating the structure of a conventional SMD-type LED. The SMD-type LED 100 has a package 120 formed of molding epoxy resin or the like. The package 120 has an emission window formed on a predetermined surface thereof. The emission window is opened so that light is easily emitted through the emission window. On other surfaces of the package 120, a pair of lead terminals 130 is formed to project, the lead terminals 130 composing a lead frame to be mounted on a printed circuit board 110. Further, inside the package 120 constructed in such a manner, an LED chip (not shown) is disposed so that the light emission surface thereof is directed toward the emission window. The pair of lead terminals 130 and the LED chip are electrically connected through a wire (not shown).
FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along II-II′ line of FIG. 1, showing the structure of the conventional SMD-type LED in detail.
As shown in FIG. 2, the conventional SMD-type LED 100 includes the pair of lead terminals 130, the package 120 formed to house a portion of the lead terminal 130 therein, the LED chip 140 mounted on a lead electrode inside the package 120, the wire 150 for electrically connecting the LED chip 140 and the lead electrode, and a molding material 160 filled in the package 120 so as to protect the LED chip 140 and the wire 150.
The molding material 160 for protecting the LED chip 140 is composed of transmissive resin including a transparent material or phosphor, depending on the color of an LED chip 140 to be implemented.
General standards for determining characteristics of LED chips include color, luminance, an intensity range of luminance and the like. Such characteristics are primarily determined by materials of compound semiconductors to be used in LED chips, but are incidentally influenced by the structure of a package for mounting an LED chip and a molding material filled in the package. Particularly, the molding material filled in the package has a large effect on the distribution of luminance.
In the conventional SMD-type LED, some of light is internally totally-reflected on the surface of the molding material, because of a large difference in refractive index between the molding material and the air, that is, at the interface with the vacuum, as shown in FIG. 3. In this case, the intensity of light to be emitted from the LED chip decreases, compared with that of light to be emitted from the LED chip without the molding material. Therefore, light efficiency decreases.
FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram for explaining the reduction in luminance of an LED which is caused by the internal total reflection at the interface between the molding material and the vacuum.
Therefore, a new technique is being required, which minimizes internal total reflection of light caused by a molding material so as to increase the luminous intensity of an LED chip.
In the related art, a hemispheric lens 180 is attached to the surface of the molding material 160, which is exposed through the emission window of the package 120, by using a bonding layer 170, as shown in FIG. 4. Therefore, light to be emitted from the LED chip 140 is prevented from being internally totally-reflected on the surface of the molding material 160. Simultaneously, a light path is adjusted so that light extraction efficiency can be enhanced.
In the above-described SMD-type LED, however, the overall height thereof increases because of the lens 180. Therefore, the SMD-type LED cannot be used in a product having a limit in height. Further, water, ultraviolet (UV) or the like permeates through the bonding layer 170, thereby degrading reliability and characteristic.
Further, in order to attach the lens 180 to the surface of the molding material 160, additional separate processes are required, such as a lens manufacturing process, a position aligning process, a bonding process and the like. Such processes increase a manufacturing cost of an LED and increase a time required for the overall manufacturing process, thereby reducing a production yield of an SMD-type LED.

Surface mounting device-type light emitting diode