An optical system includes a reflection-angle-selective mirror having a substrate, and a reflection-angle-selective coating structure deposited on the substrate. The reflection-angle-selective coating structure has a higher reflectance for light that is incident upon the reflection-angle-selective coating structure at a first incidence angle within an acceptance-angle deviation from a design incidence angle than for light that is incident upon the reflection-angle-selective coating structure at a second incidence angle greater than the acceptance-angle deviation from the design incidence angle. The optical system may also include a light source.

Many optical systems contain powered or unpowered mirrors. A mirror reflects a primary beam of incident light at an angle equal to the angle of incidence. In the ideal case where there is a single perfectly collimated incident primary beam, the reflected beam contains only light from that incident primary beam. However, in many cases there are stray light rays reflected from the mirror at other angles. The stray light rays may result from a lack of perfect collimation of the incident primary beam, reflections from surfaces within the optical system such as lens coatings or supports, or from other light sources. Where the primary beam is in the infrared, the stray light may result from the radiation of the internal structure of the optical system.
The stray light rays may have several adverse effects. When they reach a detector, the stray light rays reduce the signal-to-noise ratio of the optical system by increasing the background signal or noise. The signal resolution of the optical system may be compromised. There also may be damage to sensitive optical components that are not designed for compatibility with the stray light.
The usual approach to avoiding stray light effects is the use of mechanical masks such as apertures, stops, and/or light baffles. These mechanical devices are positioned along the incident or reflected primary light paths to block the stray light rays. The mechanical masks are effective, but they lead to an increase in the size of the optical system because they are spaced apart from the mirror. The mechanical masks are therefore one of the impediments in attempts to miniaturize optical systems. Additionally, the mechanical masks limit the size of the useful area of the mirror. The smaller the opening of the mechanical mask through which the incident beam or reflected beam passes, the less area of the mirror is available for use and the less is its light-handling capacity.
There is a need for an improved approach to avoiding stray-light effects in optical systems that employ mirrors. The present invention fulfills this need, and further provides related advantages.

Optical system with reflection-angle-selective mirror


A piezoelectric inkjet head includes a plurality of pressure chambers filled with ink that is to be ejected, a manifold to supply ink to the pressure chambers and extending in both sides of each of the pressure chambers parallel to a direction in which the pressure chambers are arranged, a restrictor to connect the manifold to each of the pressure chambers, and to be connected to both ends of each of the pressure chambers in a longitudinal direction, a plurality of piezoelectric actuators respectively corresponding to the pressure chambers, and at least one nozzle respectively connected to each of the pressure chambers, and to be symmetrically arranged with respect to the centerline in a longitudinal direction of each of the pressure chamber. The at least one nozzle includes a first nozzle and at least two second nozzles, the first nozzle is disposed to correspond to the centerline in the longitudinal direction of each of the pressure chambers, and the second nozzles are disposed in both sides of the first nozzle.

1. Field of the Invention
The present general inventive concept relates to a piezoelectric inkjet head, and more particularly, to a piezoelectric inkjet head including restrictors and nozzles that are symmetrically arranged with respect to a pressure chamber.
2. Description of the Related Art
An inkjet head is a device for printing a predetermined color image by ejecting minute droplets of ink on desired areas of a printing medium. Inkjet heads can be generally classified into various types according to their method of ejecting ink droplets. One type is a thermal inkjet head that ejects ink droplets using the expansion force of ink bubbles created using a heat source, and the other type is a piezoelectric inkjet head that ejects inkjet droplets using a pressure created by the deformation of a piezoelectric element.
Piezoelectric inkjet heads have been used in an industrial inkjet printer as well as an inkjet printer for office automation (OA), and have also been variously used in printing fields in which high precision is required when manufacturing a color filter for a liquid crystal display device (LCD), an organic light emitting diode (OLED) or metal jetting.
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a conventional piezoelectric inkjet head. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the conventional piezoelectric inkjet head taken along a line A-A′ of FIG. 1.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the conventional piezoelectric inkjet head includes a flow channel plate 20 in which an ink flow channel is formed, a nozzle plate 30, in which a plurality of nozzles 32 from which ink is ejected, is formed, and a plurality of piezoelectric actuators 40. Both of the flow channel plate 20 and the nozzle plate 30 are formed of silicon. A manifold 21, a plurality of restrictors 23 and a plurality of pressure chambers 22 are formed in the flow channel plate 20. The manifold 21 is a channel through which ink inflows from an ink storage (not shown). The pressure chambers 22 are places filled with ink that is to be ejected, and are arranged in one side or both sides of the manifold 21. The restrictors 23 are channels connecting the manifold 21 to the pressure chambers 22. Meanwhile, a plurality of dampers 24 and 31 connecting each of the nozzles 32 to each of the pressure chambers 22 is further formed between each of the nozzles 32 and each of the pressure chambers 22. In addition, the piezoelectric actuators 40 are disposed on the flow channel plate 20 to respectively correspond to the pressure chambers 22. The pressure chambers 22 have a stack structure of a lower electrode functioning as a common electrode, a piezoelectric film that changes according to a driving signal, and an upper electrode functioning as a driving electrode. The flow channel plate 20, disposed with the pressure chambers 22, functions as a vibration plate 26 that is transformed by driving the pressure chambers 22.
In the conventional piezoelectric inkjet head having such structure, when a driving signal is supplied to the pressure chambers 22, the vibration plate 26, which is disposed above each the pressure chambers 22, is transformed. In this case, the volumes of the pressure chambers 22 are reduced, and thus ink is ejected outside through the nozzles 32 due to the increase in the pressure inside the pressure chambers 22. Then, when the driving signal that is supplied to the pressure chambers 22 is removed, the volumes of the pressure chambers 22 increase, and thus ink is refilled into the pressure chambers 22 from the manifold 21 through the restrictors 23 due to the reduction in the pressure inside the pressure chambers 22.
However, in the conventional piezoelectric inkjet head, each of the restrictors 23 is connected to one end of each of the pressure chambers 22, and each of the nozzles 32 is connected to the other end of each of the pressure chambers 22. Thus, since the propagation path of a pressure wave P that is generated by driving the piezoelectric actuators 40 is increased as illustrated in FIG. 2, loss in the intensity of the pressure wave P, which is propagated to the nozzles 32, is incurred. A direction of the pressure wave P does not correspond to a longitudinal direction of each of the nozzles 32. Accordingly, the meniscus of the ink of the nozzles 32 is unstable, and the linearity of ink ejected from the nozzles 32 deteriorates. In addition, when a color filter is manufactured using a conventional piezoelectric inkjet head, ink droplets having a large volume are ejected to a local area of each pixel of the color filter, and thus ink may overflow outside a pixel.


A housing for hydraulic units includes a single cast unitary hollow housing having a continuous side wall extending between opposing forward and rearward walls to form an enclosed housing. Preferably, the continuous side wall includes opposing top and bottom walls, and opposing right and left side walls. A rotary axis is located between the forward and rearward walls, and is generally centered in an opening formed in the forward wall. Access openings are provided in the continuous side wall, transverse to the rotary axis, for installation of components within the housing during assembly.

Conventional axial piston variable displacement hydraulic units include a cylinder block rotatably supported in a main housing with a plurality of axial cylinders arranged in an annular pattern, a swash plate supported in the main housing controls for tilting the swash plate, an end cap on the housing which contains the high pressure porting, and a front cover on the housing with a mounting flange. In many cases, the main housing consists of forward and rearward halves which are joined along a central flange, so that the various components of the hydraulic unit may be easily installed during assembly. However multiple-component housings for such hydraulic units suffer several problems.
First, seals are required at the joints of the housing components for hydraulic passage between the components. Leakage at such seals is a common problem since large hydraulic loads are created axially along the input shaft, which act directly on the various joints between the housing components.
Second, to restrain the housing components against the separation forces caused by these hydraulic thrust loads, various fastening systems are required along all such joints. These fastening systems take up large amounts of space, and thereby require a housing which is larger than is specifically needed for the hydraulic apparatus. Larger hydraulic units require more materials and greater space in the vehicle or apparatus in which the unit is used.
Because of these space limitations, components such as valves and controls must be designed to fit within one of the separate housing components. This severely restricts the design and location of such components.
In addition, since prior art housings have joints in the path of the major hydraulic separating force, the locations of various access ports are generally limited to the end plate or front plate of the housing.
It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide an improved housing for hydraulic units.
A further object is to provide a unitary hydraulic housing unit which eliminates housing component joints along the path of major hydraulic separating forces.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a unitary hydraulic housing unit with access openings oriented transversely to the axially directed hydraulic forces within the housing unit.
These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.


A device is disclosed that makes packetized and encoded speech data audible to a listener, as is a method for operating the device. The device includes a unit for generating a synchronization request for reducing an amount of synchronization delay, and further includes a speech decoder that is responsive to the synchronization delay adjustment request for executing a time-warping operation for one of lengthening or shortening a duration of a speech frame. In one embodiment the speech decoder comprises a code excited linear prediction (CELP) speech decoder, and the CELP decoder time-warping operation is applied to a reconstructed excitation signal u(k) to derive a time-warped reconstructed signal uw(k). The time-warped reconstructed signal uw(k) is input to a Linear Predictor (LP) synthesis filter to derive a CELP decoder time-warped output signal y^w(k). In another embodiment the speech decoder comprises a parametric speech decoder, and where an adaptation of the frame length N in the parametric speech decoder results in the use of a modified frame length Nw.

It is well known in packet-based terminals and devices, such as wireless communications terminals (e.g., mobile and cellular telephones or personal communicators), PC-based terminals as well as IP telephony gateways, that an audio device requests data to be converted into audio at regular, fixed intervals. These intervals are not, however, synchronized to the reception of the data packets that contain the audio data. A given packet can contain one or more frames of data, where the length or duration of an audio signal contained within the frame is generally in the range of 20 ms to 30 ms (referred to herein generally as the "frame length", although a temporal measure is intended, not a spatial measure.) After reception, the audio data frame is typically stored into a jitter buffer to await its calculated playout time. The playout time is the time during which the frame of audio data is to be converted to an audio signal, such as by a digital-to-analog converter (DAC), then amplified and reproduced for a listener through a speaker or some other type of audio transducer. In the case of gateways and transcoders, the audio is typically sent to a sample-based circuit switched network. In that the audio device requests the frame data at random intervals, relative to the receipt of the audio packets, the data can be stored for a variable amount of time in the jitter buffer. The average storage time in the jitter buffer can be shown to be one half of the duration of the frame, in addition to the desired jitter buffer duration. For example, it can be demonstrated that if a packet resides in the jitter buffer first for a desired 10 ms, after which it is playable, the frame, however will be fetched at some time during the next 20 ms, resulting in the undesired average of 10 ms of additional storage time in the jitter buffer.
A problem arises because of the fact that in modem voice terminals and similar devices, such as IP telephony gateways, the audio device is synchronized to some local frequency source. The frequency source may be, for example, an oscillator or a telephone network clock signal. However, in packet-based terminals, the packets containing the voice data arrive at a rate that is independent of, and asynchronous to, the frequency source that drives the audio device. The difference between the rate of IP packet arrival and the rate at which the audio device requests frames of voice data can create an undesirable and variable end-to-end delay, also referred to as "synchronization delay", which can be as great as a packet length in duration. Voice-over-IP (VoIP) applications can be especially detrimentally affected by synchronization delay-induced problems.
Furthermore, due to slight differences in clock rates this difference between the rate of IP packet arrival and the rate at which the audio device requests frames of voice data can vary over time, thus constituting a continuous re-synchronization problem. Typically, transmitter and receiver clocks running at different frequencies repeatedly introduce an underflow or overflow situation in the jitter buffer of a VoIP receiver. Because even short gaps or discontinuities in the audio playback cannot be tolerated, the receiver needs to somehow react to this condition. In practice, the receiver needs to perform re-synchronization, either by artificially generating a short segment of extra signal in the case of underflow, or by discarding some of the received signal in the case of overflow. However, the synchronization process should be performed with great care in order to avoid generating audible discontinuities in the reconstructed speech signal.
In EP 0 921 666 A2 Ward et al. are said to reduce degradation in packetized voice communications that are received by a non-synchronized entity from a packet network by adjusting a depth of storage of a jitter buffer in the receiver. Units of voice sample data are stored in the jitter buffer as they are received. From time to time the rate of extraction of the stored units from the jitter buffer is accelerated by extracting two units, but delivering only one, or is retarded by not extracting a unit, while delivering a substitute unit in its place. This technique is said to control the depth of storage in response to packet reception events such that the delay is minimized, while providing a sufficient amount of delay to smooth the variances between packet reception events.
In WO 01/11832 A1 Nakabayashi describes the use of a receive buffer that stores packets received from a network interface, and a reproduction controller that refers to the state of the receive buffer to carry out a sound reproduction operation. A decoder receives the stored data, and the decoded data is provided to a DAC that is clocked by a reproduce clock. The process is said to prevent to the underflow and overflow of the receive buffer due to clock differences between the transmitter and the receiver, and to prevent packet jitter that results in sound dropouts.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,181,712 B1 Rosengren describes transmitting packets from an input stream to an output stream. When multiplexing transport streams, packet jitter may be introduced to the extent that decoder buffers can underflow or overflow. To avoid this, a time window is associated with a data packet and position information is provided in the packet concerning the position of the packet within the window.
The foregoing prior art techniques do not provide an adequate solution to the synchronization delay problem in VoIP and other applications.
Commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/946,066, filed Sep. 4, 2001, entitled "Method and Apparatus for Reducing Synchronization Delay in Packet-Based Voice Terminals", by Jari Selin, describes a system and method wherein synchronization is performed-at the start of a talk spurt, and not continuously.
Commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/189,068, filed Jul. 2, 2002, entitled "Method and Apparatus for Reducing Synchronization Delay in Packet-Based Voice Terminals by Resynchronizing During Talk Spurts", by Ari Lakaniemi, Jari Selin and Pasi Ojala, which is a continuation-in-part of the foregoing application, describes a method that operates, when a frame containing audio data is sent to a decoder, by measuring the synchronization delay, determining by how much the synchronization delay should be adjusted and adjusting the synchronization delay in a content-aware manner by adding or removing one or more audio samples in a selected current frame, or in a selected subsequent frame, so as not to significantly degrade the quality of the played back audio data. When the synchronization delay is adjusted by more than one audio sample, the adjustment can be made by all of the determined audio samples in one adjustment, or the adjustment can be made by less than all of the determined audio samples by using a plurality of adjustments. The adjusting operation selects, if possible, an unvoiced frame and discriminates against a transient frame. The determining operation can include measuring an average amount of time that a frame resides in the jitter buffer, and adjusting the synchronization delay so that the average duration approaches a desired jitter buffer residency duration.
While the two foregoing approaches provide a significant advance over the prior art, it would be desirable to even further enhance the ability of a packet-based terminal to overcome the problems related to synchronization delay in order to even further improve the quality of audio delivered to a user.

Method and apparatus for reducing synchronization delay in packet switched voice terminals using speech decoder modification


An afterburner positionable adjacent the discharge end of a combustion chamber of a fuel-burning heater utilizes a ring portion and a nose cone portion which are constructed as a unit out of a single piece of material. The ring portion accommodates the attachment of the afterburner adjacent the discharge end of the combustion chamber, and the nose cone portion has a skirt including peripheral edge portions which are spaced from and overlap the inner edge portions of the ring portion so that the direction of movement of the flow of products of combustion through the combustion chamber is altered before the combustion products exit the chamber. The afterburner is formed from a single piece of sheet steel in steps involving a first press operation, a lancing operation, and then a second press operation.

This invention relates generally to fuel-burning heaters having combustion chambers and relates, more particularly, to an afterburner for use at the discharge end of the combustion chamber of such a heater.
The type of heater with which this invention is concerned includes a combustion chamber within which the combustion of fuel, such as oil, takes place. The fuel is introduced into the combustion chamber where it is mixed with air and ignited at the inlet end of the chamber, and the resulting products of combustion flow toward and out of the opposite, or discharge, end of the chamber.
Incomplete combustion is not uncommon in heaters of this type due, for example, to the development of droplets of fuel within the combustion chamber which are not uniform in size or to an uneven mixing of the fuel with air prior to combustion. To reduce the likelihood that unburned fuel droplets (e.g., hydrocarbons) escape the heater with the products of combustion, the heater may be provided with an afterburner positioned within the discharge end of the combustion chamber.
The afterburner commonly includes a nose cone portion and a ring portion arranged substantially in the center of the discharge end of the combustion chamber. The nose cone portion is commonly joined to the ring portion with struts which maintain the nose cone portion and ring portion in spaced relationship to provide a passage through which combustion products must exit the heater. During operation of a heater within which an afterburner is positioned, the flow of the products of combustion from the combustion chamber is altered by the nose cone portion so that unburned fuel droplets are forced to contact the afterburner. Since the afterburner normally possesses a relatively high temperature during heater operation due to its exposure and proximity to the combustion reaction, the contact between the unburned fuel droplets and the surface of the afterburner and the exposure to air in the exhaust gases normally completes the combustion process.
Heretofore, afterburners have been constructed with a nose cone portion and a ring portion which are separate pieces. In particular, the ring portion is formed as one piece and the nose cone portion is formed as a second piece separate from that of the ring portion piece. The ring portion and nose cone portion are thereafter attached together with, for example, struts to provide the desired spaced relationship between the ring portion and the nose cone portion. It would be desirable to provide an afterburner which is constructed as a unit out of a single piece of material in order to circumvent costs (e.g., material and labor costs) ordinarily involved in constructing an afterburner of two-piece construction.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved afterburner for a heater of the aforedescribed class which is constructed as a unit out of a single piece of material and a method of constructing the afterburner.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such an afterburner whose construction reduces the likelihood of warpage or damage to the afterburner or other components of the heater due to thermal expansion and contraction due to heater operation.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide such an afterburner which limits the introduction of direct light into the combustion chamber through the discharge end thereof wherein such indirect light may otherwise result in a false reading by a photocell positioned rearward of the combustion chamber for monitoring the flame within the combustion chamber.
A further object of the present invention is to provide such an afterburner which is economical to construct and effective in operation.

Afterburner for a fuel-burning heater and method of construction


A method and software are provided for estimating a travel time for a vehicle including the steps of determining a route for which the travel time is to be estimated, dividing the route into route sections, wherein each route section has substantially constant road characteristics, selecting a vehicle configuration for the vehicle, retrieving, from a database, an estimated travel time for each route section based on each route section for the selected vehicle configuration, aggregating the estimated travel times for each route section from the database into a total travel time for the determined route. Furthermore a method for creating, and using, the database is provided.

The present invention relates to a vehicle travel time estimation method. The invention also relates to a computer program product.
Running a profitable work site, such as a gravel pit or construction site, requires a lot of logistic planning with many interrelated activities. For example, the loading process of a wheel loader or excavator, the travel time for transportation vehicles etc. must be estimated. Some activities, such as the loading process of a wheel loader or excavator are rather easy to estimate due to that the process consists of a number of well-defined operations. However, it is far more complicated to estimate the travel time of a transportation vehicle.
In order to equip the work site with appropriate vehicles professionals today simulate the transportation vehicles route, taking into account several vehicle parameters such as motor power, capacity, gear transmission, wheels, etc, and also taking into account the route's characteristics including e.g. length, road type, inclinations etc.
When comparing travel time for say five alternative vehicles, each with five alternative configurations traveling on five alternative routes, there are 125 simulates to be conducted and compared. Moreover, each simulation requires heavy computing capacity and quite some computational time. The comparisons are often performed together with the client in an on-site demonstration, where both computing capacity and time are strictly limited.
Therefore, there is a need for a travel time estimation method, where vehicle parameters and road conditions are considered, that does not require heavy computing capacity and significant time.
It is desirable to achieve a travel time estimation method and computer program product where vehicle parameters and road conditions are considered, that does not require heavy computing capacity and significant time.
The inventor has realized that by providing a method that divides a route into sections with substantially constant road characteristics and utilize a database with traveling data for vehicles on the route sections, a total travel time may be estimated with limited computing capacity in a few seconds or less. Moreover, the inventor has realized that if considering the incoming speed from a preceding section when estimating the travel time for each section, the total travel time estimation may be estimated with increased accuracy.
According to a first aspect of the inventive concept, a method is provided for estimating a travel time for a vehicle comprising the steps of: determining a route for which the travel time is to be estimated; dividing said route into route sections, wherein each route section has substantially constant road characteristics; selecting a vehicle configuration for said vehicle; retrieving, from a database, an estimated travel time for each route section based on each route section for said selected vehicle configuration; and aggregating the estimated travel times for each route section from the database into a total travel time for said determined route.
In the context of the application "substantially constant road characteristics", should be understood as a route section allowing for substantially the same vehicle performance. Thereby, a substantially constant road characteristic means that the characteristics may deviate within a predetermined range. Limitations may be set so that e.g. for a route section to be defined as a "leveled straight road section" the predetermined range may be that the inclination may not exceed ±2%, and the section may not comprise curves with smaller turning radius than 50 meter. Moreover, as another example, a steep uphill route section may be any uphill exceeding 15% inclination, a medium steep uphill route between 10%-15% etc. Depending on how accurate estimations desired, the limit values for when e.g. a straight leveled route section becomes a curve or an uphill/downhill may be altered.
By providing a method for estimating a travel time for a vehicle as described above, it is possible to perform on-site demonstrations where time is precious and computing capacity very limited. Thereby, a method requiring less time and less computing capacity when trying to find the best fleet of vehicles is provided. Further, the fact that less computing capacity is required means that the agility is increased for anyone that wants to estimate the travel time. Moreover, by saving time and allowing for agile and ubiquitous estimation of travel time, ultimately a better service may be provided for a potential owner of a vehicle fleet.
Moreover, since the computing capacity required to perform the method described is so limited, the method allows for comparing a plurality of different routes and vehicle configurations substantially simultaneously. Thus, hundreds of combinations of routes and configurations may be conducted without the operation requiring hours of data computing. Instead, the comparisons may be conducted in seconds, or even fractions of seconds.
In one embodiment, the database comprises traveling data corresponding to said vehicle accelerating up to a predetermined cruising speed. When the database comprises traveling data corresponding to said vehicle accelerating up to a predetermined cruising speed, the database may allow for estimating the vehicle's travel time for an accelerating portion of the route section. Thereby, a more accurate estimation may be provided for a vehicle traveling a route section.
In the context of the application a "cruising speed", should be understood as substantially the speed a vehicle would travel on a route section if the section was infinitely long, i.e. a speed corresponding to a state of speed equilibrium. Thereby, the cruising speed in an uphill route section would be lower than a cruising speed in a downhill section, if all other parameters are kept constant. Thus, the cruising speed is affected by the physical circumstances. Substantially constant road characteristics may therefore be essentially similar road characteristics.
In yet one embodiment, the database comprises traveling data corresponding to said vehicle traveling in a predetermined cruising speed. When the database comprises traveling data corresponding to said vehicle traveling in a predetermined cruising speed, the database may allow for estimating the vehicle's travel time for a cruising speed portion of the route section. Thereby, a more accurate estimation may be provided for a vehicle traveling a route section.
In one embodiment, the database comprises traveling data corresponding to said vehicle decelerating to a predetermined cruising speed. When the database comprises traveling data corresponding to said vehicle decelerating to a predetermined cruising speed, the database may allow for estimating the vehicle's travel time for a decelerating portion of the route section. Thereby, a more accurate estimation may be provided for a vehicle traveling a route section.
In yet one embodiment, the database comprises traveling data corresponding to braking said vehicle from a predetermined max speed to substantially standing still. When the database comprises traveling data corresponding to braking said vehicle from a predetermined max speed to substantially standing still, the database may allow for estimating the vehicle's travel time for a braking portion of the route section. Thereby, a more accurate estimation may be provided for a vehicle traveling a route section.
In one embodiment, the traveling data comprises distance, speed and time data. The traveling data may comprise what speed the vehicle would have at each time unit until a cruising speed is reached, or what speed the vehicle would have at each traveled distance until a cruising speed is reached. Thereby, the calculations of estimated travel time may be conducted with the simple rules of arithmetic.
In yet one embodiment, the traveling data comprises acceleration and any one of speed, distance or time data. The traveling data may comprise what acceleration the vehicle would have at each time unit or traveled distance, until a cruising speed is reached when the acceleration would be substantially zero. Thereby, the calculations of estimated travel time may be conducted with the simple rules of arithmetic.
In one embodiment, the traveling data further comprises fuel consumption. Thereby, not only the travel time may be estimated in the method, but also the fuel consumption of the travel may be estimated. This may be of great interest for a potential fleet vehicle owner, whom most likely would pay the fuel for the vehicles. By considering the cost of fuel for each evaluated vehicle and adding the aspect of estimated travel time, an even better basis for deciding on what vehicle to choose may be obtained. In fact, the fuel costs typically amount to about 50% of the total costs for running a gravel pit. Moreover, it would be possible to estimate when the vehicle need to refuel, and thus be idle for a moment.
In further embodiments, the traveling data may comprise energy consumption. Thereby, if the vehicle is an electric vehicle it is also possible to estimate when and how often the vehicle needs to charge the batteries. This is a great advantage, as charging a battery often require quite some time, making the vehicle idle during that time. Moreover, the cost for the used energy may be calculated.
In yet one embodiment, the estimated travel time for each route section is dependent on the traveling data of a previous route section, unless the route section is the first route section of the route. Thereby, the route section may be handled dynamically, and depended on each other, resulting in that the accuracy of the travel time estimation may be increased substantially.
In one embodiment, the estimated travel time for a route section is estimated by the partial steps: determining the vehicle's final speed at the end of the directly preceding route section, and assigning said final speed from the preceding route as an initial speed for the current route section. Since the vehicle's speed in any section is linearly related to the travel time, the speed of the vehicle in each section affects the estimated travel time. By considering the final speed in a first route section and relating it to the initial speed in a second route section, the accuracy of the estimated travel time may be increased. E.g. if comparing the travel time for a 40 meter long straight leveled route section, the travel time would be shorter if the vehicle is coming from a fairly long downhill route section with a relatively high speed, than if the vehicle would come from an uphill route section, with a substantially lower speed. Simply put, the average speed in the route section is affected by the incoming speed in the route section which is determined by the final speed obtained in the previous route section.
In yet one embodiment, the route sections are divided into vehicle speed curves, wherein each vehicle speed curve represent one of: said vehicle accelerating up to a predetermined cruising speed, said vehicle traveling in a predetermined cruising speed, said vehicle decelerating to a predetermined cruising speed, or braking said vehicle to substantially standing still.
In yet one embodiment, the estimated travel time for each route section is estimated by estimating each travel time for at least a portion of any relevant speed curve and subsequently aggregating the travel time for said portions of any relevant speed curves into a travel time for each route section. Thereby, each route section may be divided into speed curves, and relevant portions of each speed curve may be used to estimate the travel time of the route sections. For example, to estimate the travel time of a first section, a travel time for a speed curve starting with the vehicle standing still and running until the cruising speed may be estimated. Thereafter, the estimated travel time for the remaining portion of the section may be estimated by estimating the travel time of the vehicle traveling in a cruising speed in the remaining distance of the route section. This is further explained in the detailed description below. Thereby, the method's accuracy is increased with simple means.
In yet one embodiment, the selected vehicle configuration comprises at least one of motor power, weight, load, fuel consumption and gear transmission. Thereby, parameters affecting the vehicles performance which in turn affects the travel time may be considered. Thus, the accuracy of the travel time estimation may be increased.
In one embodiment, the road characteristics comprise at least one of distance, inclination, rolling resistance, and bend of a curve. Thereby, parameters of the route affecting the vehicles performance which in turn affects the travel time may be considered. Thus, the accuracy of the travel time estimation may be increased.
In yet one embodiment, the method further comprises the step of determining the driver characteristics of the driver of said vehicle, and wherein the database further comprises traveling data corresponding to driver characteristics. Since different driver characteristics would generate different traveling times, a more accurate travel time may be estimated by also considering the drivers characteristics. E.g. a driver looking to minimize fuel consumption, e.g. by applying of the concept of ECO-driving, would generate a different speed profile than a driver looking to merely minimizing travel time.
According to a second aspect of the inventive concept, above and other aspects of the inventive concept is achieved through a method for creating a database for use of estimating a travel time for vehicles, comprising: defining a plurality of vehicles, each vehicle with a plurality of configurations, for which the travel time is to be estimated, defining a plurality of route sections, wherein each route section has substantially constant road characteristics, generating a database comprising traveling data corresponding said defined vehicles traveling along said route sections.
Wherein the traveling data comprise vehicle speed curves representing: said vehicles accelerating to a predetermined cruising speed, said vehicle traveling in a predetermined cruising speed, said vehicle decelerating to a predetermined cruising speed, or braking said vehicle to substantially standing still.
Thereby, a database to be used for estimating a travel time for vehicles could be generated. By generating the database in advance, less time and computer capacity is required when travel time estimation of a vehicle is needed. Moreover, the advantages of the invention according this aspect are substantially analogous to the advantages as stated above.
According to a third aspect of the inventive concept, above and other aspects of the inventive concept is achieved through use of the database formed according to above for estimating a travel time for a vehicle according to any of the embodiments as described above. The advantages of the invention according this aspect are substantially analogous to the advantages as stated above.
According to a forth aspect of the inventive concept, above and other aspects of the inventive concept is achieved through a computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having stored thereon computer program means for estimating a travel time for a vehicle, wherein the computer program product comprises: code for determining a route for which the travel time is to be estimated, code for dividing said route into route sections, wherein each route section has substantially constant road characteristics, code for selecting a vehicle configuration for said vehicle, code for retrieving, from a database, an estimated travel time for each route section based on each route section for said selected vehicle configuration, and code for aggregating the estimated travel times for each route section from the database into a total travel time for said determined route. Thereby, a computer program product may enable the use of a database for estimating a travel time for vehicles. Thereby, less time and computer capacity is required when travel time estimation of a vehicle is needed. Moreover, the advantages of the invention according this aspect are substantially analogous to the advantages as stated above.
The computer readable medium may be one of a removable nonvolatile random access memory, a hard disk drive, a floppy disk, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, a USB memory, an SD memory card, or a similar computer readable medium known in the art. The present invention may be implemented using a combination of software and hardware elements.
Further features of, and advantages with, the present invention will become apparent when studying the appended claims and the following description. The skilled addressee realize that different features of the present invention may be combined to create embodiments other than those described in the following, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Method and computer program product for estimating a travel time for a vehicle


Devices and methods for refurbishing a used print cartridge for further use in a printing device are provided. An electronic patch is attached to a circuit on the used print cartridge. The electronic patch includes contact pads that are positioned to correspond to the location of contact pads on the circuit of the used print cartridge. The electronic patch also includes a control chip and an embedded memory array that replaces one or more functions of the memory on the used print cartridge, allowing the used print cartridge to be refilled with printing ink and reused in a printer.

Print cartridges used in printer devices such as printers typically have one or two dimensional internal memory arrays. The memory arrays are used to store critical printing parameters that are used throughout the life cycle of the print cartridge, and may be embedded in the silicon die of the print cartridge. For example, the silicon die may be underneath the orifice plate that includes the nozzles of the print head. The printing parameters help ensure quality and proper operation of the printer, such as by tracking ink levels, for example. Running a dry print cartridge can damage the printing device (e.g., printer) in which the print cartridge is installed. When a print cartridge or ink pen is installed in an inkjet printer, the printer reads the printing parameters from the memory arrays embedded in the print cartridge.
The printer also programs information to the internal or embedded memory of the print cartridge. The programming process may be implemented by programming, burning, or damaging a specific memory location that contains a simple electrical fuse or a FET by coding in a 0 or 1 bit at the specific memory location. During operation of the printer cartridge, memory locations are programmed, burned, or damaged throughout the life cycle of the print cartridge. For example, when the ink levels in a print cartridge are completely depleted, the memory locations that control the monitoring of the ink levels may be programmed (e.g., burned), thereby making the memory locations unable to be reset if it is a one-time programmable memory or fuse. Thus, the user may discard the print cartridge in the garbage and purchase a new print cartridge for use with the printer. This is both costly for the user and wasteful of resources as perfectly useable depleted print cartridges are disposed of in the landfill and additional raw materials and energy expenditures are required to manufacture the new print cartridges. Although the print cartridge still has a useful life for printing, and may be refilled with ink, unless proper information about the amount of ink in the refilled print cartridge is provided to the printer, the printer may not function properly.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Electronic patch for refurbishing a used print cartridge


A broadband liner design optimization includes utilizing in-duct attenuation predictions with a statistical fan source model to obtain optimum impedance spectra over a number of flow conditions for one or more liner locations in a bypass duct. The predicted optimum impedance information is then used with acoustic liner modeling tools to design liners having impedance spectra that most closely match the predicted optimum values. Design selection is based on an acceptance criterion that provides the ability to apply increasing weighting to specific frequencies and/or operating conditions. One or more broadband design approaches are utilized to produce a broadband liner that targets a full range of frequencies and operating conditions.

Accurate aircraft engine noise prediction is an important component of overall aircraft system noise assessment. The ability to predict fan noise within complex aircraft nacelle geometries vital in optimizing acoustic liner treatment. With the utilization of increased bypass ratio and advanced fan designs, the broadband component of fan noise has grown in relevance. Thus, while the attenuation of fan tones remains paramount, the ability to simultaneously reduce broadband fan noise levels has become more attractive. In conjunction with this trend, a number of fan noise prediction assessments have provided valuable insights into improved fan noise propagation/radiation prediction with limited fan source information. Advanced manufacturing techniques have also opened new possibilities for the implementation of broadband liner concepts. Therefore, the ability to perform broadband liner design using methods that integrate duct acoustic propagation/radiation and liner modeling tools would facilitate the development of novel liner concepts.

Statistically based approach to broadband liner design and assessment

The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration


There is disclosed a sound attenuation panel comprising, a rigid frame divided into a plurality of individual cells, a sheet of a flexible material, and a plurality of weights. Each weight is fixed to the sheet of flexible material such that each cell is provided with a respective weight and the frequency of the sound attenuated can be controlled by suitable selecting the mass of the weight.

In recent years, a new class of sonic materials has been discovered, based on the principle of structured local oscillators. Such materials can break the mass density law of sound attenuation, which states that in order to attenuate sound transmission to the same degree, the thickness, or mass per unit area, of the solid panel has to vary inversely with the sound frequency. Thus with the conventional sound attenuation materials low frequency sound attenuation can require very thick solid panels, or panels made with very high density material, such as lead.
The basic principles underlying this new class of materials, denoted as locally resonant sonic materials (LRSM) have been published in Science, vol. 289, p. 1641-1828 (2000), and such materials are also described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,576,333, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/964,529 on the various designs for the implementation of this type of LRSM. However, current designs still suffer from the fact that the breaking of the mass density law is only confined to a narrow frequency range. Thus in applications requiring sound attenuation over a broad frequency range the LRSM can still be fairly thick and heavy.


Systems and methods are provided for portable and compact nitric oxide (NO) generation that can be embedded into other therapeutic devices or used alone. In some embodiments, an ambulatory NO generation system can be comprised of a controller and disposable cartridge. The cartridge can contain filters and scavengers for preparing the gas used for NO generation and for scrubbing output gases prior to patient inhalation. The system can utilize an oxygen concentrator to increase nitric oxide production and compliment oxygen generator activity as an independent device. The system can also include a high voltage electrode assembly that is easily assembled and installed. Various nitric oxide delivery methods are provided, including the use of a nasal cannula.

Nitric oxide has found to be useful in a number of ways for treatment of disease, particularly cardiac and respiratory ailments. Previous systems for producing NO and delivering the NO gas to a patient have a number of disadvantages. For example, tank-based systems require large tanks of NO gas at a high concentration and are required to purge with NO when treatment is resumed. Synthesizing NO from NO2 or N2O4 requires the handling of toxic chemicals. Prior electric generation systems involve generating plasma in the main flow of air to be delivered to patients, and generate unsafe quantities of NO2 or O3.

Systems and methods for ambulatory generation of nitric oxide


A cartridge (11) used as a container for a compound that can be ejected by an ejection device, has two receptacles (12, 16) and a head part (21), each receptacle (12, 16) having a receptacle chamber (13, 17) for components of the compound with the head part (21) having a base plate (22) with an outlet opening (23) for the compound and, at a contact surface (24) of the base plate (22), two guide portions (25, 26) for joining to an end (14, 18) of the corresponding receptacle (12, 16), a guide element for the receptacle (16) arranged adjacent to the guide portion (26) at the contact surface (24) of the head part (21).

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a cartridge as a container for a compound that can be ejected by an ejection device and having at least one receptacle with a receiving chamber for the compound, and a head part having a base plate with an outlet opening for the compound and, at a contact surface of the base plate, at least one guide portion for coupling with an end of the receptacle.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A cartridge of this kind serves as a storage package of the compound to be ejected. The cartridge can be placed in an exchangeable manner in a receptacle of an ejection device such as a dispenser. The compound, for example, a mortar compound or sealing compound, is arranged either directly or packaged, e.g., in a foil bag, in the receptacle chamber of the receptacle. The compound located in the cartridge is applied to an application site with the ejection device.
DE 91 00 054 U1 discloses a cartridge of the generic type which has two hollow-cylindrical receptacles, each with a receptacle chamber for separately stored components of a compound to be ejected which are packaged in foil bags. The cartridge has a head part having a base plate with an outlet opening for the compound and, at a contact surface of the base plate, two hollow-cylindrical guide portions for joining to one end of the receptacle. In the joined state of the cartridge, the ends of the foil bags protrude into the guide portions, and the receptacles are slid over the guide portions so that the respective end of the receptacle contacts the contact surface of the head part.
In case of two-component or multi-component compounds, there are usually more parts by volume of a component A than there are of the at least one additional component B with respect to the total volume of the compound. The ratio of component A to component B varies, for example, in a range from 10:1 to 1:1. With one type of ejection device, cartridges or containers can be ejected with different ratios of component A to component B. Each receptacle of the ejection devices for the cartridges has a fixed length so that the receptacle chambers are adapted with respect to their cross-sectional opening for varying the components relative to one another.
In order to eject different amounts of single-component compounds with one type of ejection device, each receptacle has a length corresponding to the length of the receptacle, but has a corresponding size with respect to the cross-sectional opening corresponding to the volume to be received.
The known solution is disadvantageous in that a receptacle whose cross-section is bigger, for example, than that of the respective guide portion can nevertheless be joined with the latter. However, when parts of the cartridge are joined in this way, an open gap remains at the sides of the guide portion, and the compound can exit through this gap, for example, into the receptacle of the ejection device when the compound is being ejected. Further, in case of multi-component compounds, not only can the receptacle of the ejection device be contaminated, but the correct mixture ratio of the compound dispensed at the application site is no longer ensured.


A method of layout of a driving chip of an LCD, for reducing a size of the LCD, includes forming a first pin group including a plurality of pins utilized for outputting gate driving signals along a first direction, forming a second pin group including a plurality of pins utilized for outputting gate driving signals along the first direction, forming a first wire group including a plurality of wires each coupled between a pin of the first pin group and a panel of the LCD, and forming a second wire group including a plurality of wires each coupled between a pin of the second pin group and the panel, wherein each wire of the second wire group includes at least a bender formed inside the driving chip.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of layout of a driving chip of an liquid crystal display (LCD) and related LCD, and more particularly, to a layout method and related LCD capable of reducing the margin-area width of the bottom of the substrate of the LCD.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The advantages of a liquid crystal display (LCD) include light weight, less power consumption, and less radiation contamination. Thus, the LCD monitors have been widely applied to various portable electronic products, such as notebooks, PDAs, etc. Generally, the portable electronic products have to be designed as small as possible. Therefore, the prior art has already provided many layout methods for reducing layout sizes of the LCDs in the portable electronic products.
Please refer to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a prior art LCD 10 of a portable electronic device. The LCD 10 includes a substrate 100, a panel 1 02, and a driving chip 104. The panel 102 includes transistor switches controlled by the control signals of the driving chip 104. The driving chip 104, which is an integrated circuit (IC) integrated with a gate driver, a source driver, a power management chip, and a memory module, controls the panel 102 to display images. Both of the panel 102 and the driving chip 104 are formed on the substrate 100, and regions other than the panel 102 and the driving chip 104 in the substrate 100 are margin areas, which are usually utilized for wiring layout. Certainly, the smaller the margin areas occupy, the less the production cost is. Please refer to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of prior art layout of the driving chip 104. In FIG. 2, a minimum height of the driving chip 104 is h1, and pins PL_1˜PL_n and PR_1˜PR_n of the driving chip 104, utilized for outputting gate driving signals, are set on the substrate 100 along a horizontal direction. Each of the wires RL_1˜RL_n and RR_1˜RR_n, utilized for transmitting the gate driving signals outputted from the pins PL_1˜PL_n and PR_1˜PR_n to the panel 102, is electronically coupled between one of the pins PL_1˜PL_n and PR_1˜PR_n and the panel 102. As shown in FIG. 2, each of the wires RL_1˜RL_n and RR_1˜RR_n begins from a pin, heads to the edge of the panel 102, and connects to a horizontal line of the panel 102 after a bend. In other words, each wire includes a bend on the substrate 100. As those skilled in the art recognized, in order to transmit signals effectively, bending angles of the wires RL_1˜RL_n and RR_1˜RR_n are restricted to be larger than a specific angle A. In such case, the distance between the panel 102 and the driving chip 104 must be larger than a minimum distance d1. If the distance between the panel 102 and the driving chip 104 is smaller than d1, the bending angles of the wires closer to the center of the driving chip 104, such as the wires RL_n, RL_(n−1), RR_n, and RR_(n−1), are smaller than the angle A, so that signals of the corresponding pins cannot be transmitted to the panel 102 efficiently. Therefore, the distance between the panel 102 and the driving chip 104 has to be larger than d1, and a width of the margin area below the panel 102 must be larger than (d1+h1).
Furthermore, please refer to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of another prior art layout of the driving chip 104. In FIG. 3, the pins PL_1˜PL_m and PR_1 ˜PR_m of the driving chip 104 are set on the substrate 100 along a vertical direction, and the pins PL_(m+1)˜PL_n and PR_(m+1)˜PR_n are set on the substrate 100 along a horizontal direction. In comparison, layout of FIG. 3 moves a part of pins in FIG. 2 to the vertical direction of the driving chip 104. Hence, the number of pins along the horizontal direction of the driving chip 104 decreases, so that the minimum distance between the panel 102 and the driving chip 104 changes from d1 to d2. However, due to the pins PL_1˜PL_m and PR_1˜PR_m are set on the vertical direction of the driving chip 104, the height of the driving chip 104 changes from h1 to h2. In other words, reduction of width of the margin areas is limited. Thus, the layout shown in FIG. 3 is no great help for reducing the area of the substrate 100.
Therefore, no matter applying the layout of FIG. 2 or FIG. 3, the margin area of the bottom of the LCD 10 cannot be reduced effectively.

Layout method and structure for driving chip of an LCD having first and second pin groups only along a horizontal direction of the LCD and first and second wiring groups for the respective pin groups with wires of the second group having a bend inside the driving chip


An image processing apparatus includes an image input device that reads an original image and obtains image data from the original image by selecting one of plural types of image reading modes of the image input device, an image pre-processing mechanism that performs at least one pre-processing relative to the image data obtained by the image input device, an image pre-processing selecting mechanism that selects at least one pre-processing according to the image reading mode selected by the image input device and causes the image pre-processing mechanism to perform the selected at least one pre-processing, and an information extracting mechanism that extracts specific information included in the image data subjected to the at least one pre-processing performed by the image pre-processing mechanism.

The present invention relates to a method, computer program, and apparatus for copy protection, and more particularly to a method, computer program, and apparatus for detecting specific information representing prohibition of an output of image data included in image data of an original image. The present invention also relates to a computer readable storage medium storing the above-mentioned computer program for detecting specific information representing prohibition of an output of image data included in image data of an original image.
With recent improvements in image processing and image forming technologies, it has become possible that a high-tech digital color copying apparatus, for example, can reproduce a monetary document even with a high fidelity such that the reproduced image is hardly distinguished from the original image. Such monetary document is a paper currency, a security, and the like, for example, and will not normally be placed as an object of copying since an authorized currency creation is illegal. Therefore, the high-tech digital color copying apparatus is needed to be provided with a feature of prohibiting reproduction of an anti-copy document such as a monetary document, a confidential document, etc. With this feature, a copy-prohibited document may entirely be prohibited from being reproduced or can be reproduced into a nonreadable image, for example.
In offices, there are many confidential documents which are not necessarily monetary documents but are prohibited from being copied from a viewpoint of trade secrets. These confidential documents are also needed to be prohibited from being copied with the high-tech digital color copying apparatuses.
Under these circumstances, various inventions associated with the above-mentioned high-tech digital color copying apparatus have been conducted to attempt to restrict the capability of an image reproduction with a high fidelity.
Japanese Laid-Open Unexamined Patent Application Publication, No. 6-125459 describes a technique for recognizing a special document such as currency, a security, and so on by comparing input image data with a prestored specific mark by pattern matching and judging that the input image data is a special document when the input image data is recognized as matching the prestored specific mark. Japanese Laid-Open Unexamined Patent Application Publication, No. 2001-086330 also describes a similar technique. If an input original is judged as a special document easily in this way, reproduction of this document can readily be prohibited.
This technique accordingly requires a storage of reference pattern data to be applied to the copy protection for a specific document. However, it would be difficult to apply this reference pattern data which is the fixed data to the copy protection for an indefinite number of general confidential documents.
As another example, Japanese Laid-Open Unexamined Patent Application Publication, No. 7-036317 describes a technique for recognizing a confidential document dealt as a copy-prohibited document by detecting a specific mark such as "CONFIDENTIAL," for example, printed on this confidential document indicative of its confidentiality. A print of such a specific mark indicating the document confidentiality in a confidential document is a common practice and the above-mentioned publication uses it. When an input original is judged as a special document easily in this way, reproduction of this document can readily be prohibited. Japanese Laid-Open Unexamined Patent Application Publication, No. 7-087309 also describes a similar method.
However, when a confidential document has a print of a specific confidential mark such as "CONFIDENTIAL," for example, a copy of this confidential document can easily be made by avoiding a print of the specific confidential mark by hiding it with a piece of paper, for example. Thus, the copy protection fails to protect the confidential document from copying.
Japanese Laid-Open Unexamined Patent Application Publication, No. 9-164739 also describes a similar technique for restricting a copying of a document by embedding a watermark in an original image which is desired to be protected from copying. This technique uses a paper sheet having a specific background image to which an original image is attached. The specific background image includes a background dot pattern having a base area and a message area. From its nature, the background dot pattern is inconspicuous in comparison with the original image and therefore it does not cause a problem when reading the original image. This technique, however, causes the background dot pattern to appear when the original image having this background dot pattern is copied. The background dot pattern of this technique is provided with a word of warning such as a "NO COPYING", for example, so that a copy of this original document is recognized easily at a glance as a confidential document which is desired to be protected from copying. Therefore, this technique has a psychological effect of restricting against the copying of a document.
However, this technique produces the above-mentioned psychological effect only after the copy is made. Therefore, for the persons who do not care about the rise of the background dot pattern, the copy protection does not work at all.
Generally, a scanner is used to read an original image and obtain image data from the original image. For example, there are two types of image reading modes: (1) an original sheet conveying mode in which an optical scanning unit is held at a home position and scans and reads an original image of an original sheet which is conveyed by an automatic document feeder; and (2) an original sheet fixing mode in which a moving optical scanning unit scans and reads an original image of an original sheet disposed on a contact glass. When detecting a background dot pattern representing an anti-copy document from image data of an original image scanned by a scanner, there may be a difference in accuracy of pattern detection depending on image reading modes.
Further, a digital image processing apparatus such as a digital color copying machine has been often used, which has a function of reading original images on dual sides of an original sheet during one operation of conveying the original sheet. In this digital image processing apparatus, a background dot pattern representing an anti-copy document needs to be detected from each image data of original images on front and rear sides of an original sheet with accuracy.
Therefore, as discovered by the present inventors, it is desirable to provide an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, a computer program, and a computer readable storage medium storing the computer program that securely prohibit reproduction of an anti-copy document.
Further, as discovered by the present inventors, it is desirable to provide an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, a computer program, and a computer readable storage medium storing the computer program that can detect information representing the reproduction prohibition of image data from image data of an image of an anti-copy document with accuracy.

Method, computer program, and apparatus for detecting specific information included in image data of original image with accuracy, and computer readable storing medium storing the program


A plasma display apparatus is disclosed. The plasma display apparatus includes a plasma display panel, on which an image is displayed, and a filter positioned in front of the plasma display panel. A discharge gas filled in the plasma display panel contains xenon (Xe) equal to or more than 10% based on total weight of the discharge gas. The filter includes a base portion, and a pattern portion formed on the base portion, having a color darker than a color of the base portion.

1. Field
This document relates to a plasma display apparatus.
2. Description of the Background Art
A plasma display apparatus includes a plasma display panel including a plurality of electrodes, and a driver supplying a predetermined driving signal to the electrodes of the plasma display panel.
The plasma display panel includes a phosphor layer inside a discharge cell partitioned by barrier ribs. The driver supplies the predetermined driving signal to the discharge cell through the electrodes.
When the driving signal generates the discharge inside the discharge cells, a discharge gas filled in the discharge cells generates vacuum ultraviolet rays, which thereby cause phosphors formed inside the discharge cells to emit light, thus displaying an image on the screen of the plasma display panel.


A liquid crystal device is disclosed. The liquid crystal device includes a TFT array substrate, a CF substrate, and a liquid crystal layer. The TFT array substrate includes a first electrode layer and a first alignment layer covering the first electrode layer. A color CF layer is formed between a glass substrate and a passivation layer of the TFT array substrate. The TFT array substrate further includes a black matrix and a photo spacer arranged thereon. The CF substrate includes a second electrode layer and a second alignment layer covering the second electrode layer. The liquid crystal layer is arranged between the first alignment layer and the second alignment layer. In addition, a manufacturing method of the liquid crystal device is disclosed. In this way, the liquid crystal devices have good alignment effects, and the color shift issues at wide viewing angle and the aperture rate are enhanced.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) manufacturing technology, and more particularly to a liquid crystal device and the manufacturing method thereof.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a one typical pixel electrode of Polymer Stabilization Vertical-Alignment (PSVA) LCD. For the typical PSVA LCD, the pixel electrode is designed to have a shape similar to a Chinese character "", including a vertical branch 80, a horizontal branch 81, and a plurality of branches 82 forming an angle equaling to ±45 or ±135 degrees with x axis. The vertical branch 80 and the horizontal branch 81 divided the dimension of the pixel into four areas, and each of the area is spread with the branches forming the angle equaling to 45 degrees with the x axis.
FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the upside-down liquid crystal of the pixel electrode of FIG. 1 after being applied the voltage. FIG. 2 shows that the liquid crystal molecules 90 incline from an outside to inside of the pixel electrode after being applied the voltage equaling to 4V. The inclining angle is along the direction of the notch, that is, the direction of the branch 82 as indicated by the arrow. The inclining angle of the liquid crystal for the four areas are respectively ±45 or ±135 degrees, and the inclining angle directs at a central area. As shown in FIG. 2, the included angle formed by the liquid crystal and the x axis are respectively −135 degrees for the first dimension, −45 degrees for the second dimension, 45 degrees for the third dimension, and 135 degrees for the fourth dimension. Currently, the PSVA manufacturing process usually designs the pixel electrode to have the shape similar to the Chinese character "" to control the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules so as to enhance the color shift issue at wide viewing angle.
However, this solution strongly depends on the design of pixel electrode, which may result in light and dark strips. As such, the transmission rate of light beams is reduced, and the display performance and brightness may be affected.

Liquid crystal device and the manufacturing method thereof

Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd


Various embodiments disclosed help to implement integrity verification of sensors and signaling lines of the sensors. According to various embodiments, this is achieved by performing an analysis of a noise signal on the signaling line and transmitting check data indicative of a result of the analysis.

Sensors are used to measure various physical observables, e.g., temperature, pressure, flow, voltage, current, power, phase, energy, etc. An associated measurement value can be transmitted to a control unit using a sensor signal. The sensor signal is indicative of one or more measurement values. The sensor signal can be analog or digital. To transmit the sensor signal, a signaling line can be used. The signaling line can be wired or wireless.
There is a risk of damage, data loss, etc. if the sensor signal is manipulated. For example, in connection with automated fabrication, there is a need to avoid such attack vectors relying on manipulation of sensor signals. Hence, for implementing reliable operation of a system based on the sensor signal, there is a need for protecting the sensor signal against manipulation. For example, reference techniques are known in which digitally encoded sensor signals are protected by cryptographic techniques. Such techniques are not easily applicable to analog sensor signals.
"Sensor-Authentisierung anhand eines Rauschsignals" Journal Technik Up2date 2012 #19, Pages 13-14, ISBN: 978-3-942905-45-9; Volume No.: 99, 17 Sep. 2012 discloses checking a sensor signal based on a noise signal.
US 2005/0213755 A1 discloses observing an analog signal associated with communications from a digital device and providing a security feature based on characterizing the digital device at least partially based on the analog system. The security feature can be an intrusion detection security feature.
Formby, David, et al. "Who's in Control of Your Control System? Device Fingerprinting for Cyber-Physical Systems." NDSS 2016 discloses checking a device fingerprint for power networks and industry devices. The physical impact of an actuator onto the power network is detected and analyzed.
Gerdes, Ryan M., et al. "Device Identification via Analog Signal Fingerprinting: A Matched Filter Approach." NDSS. 2006 discloses identifying a network device for digital communication based on its analog signal properties.
Such reference techniques face certain restrictions and drawbacks. For example, according to such reference implementations, hardware may be required at the control unit and/or the sensors to implement the verification functionality. This may complicate the system and may limit the ability to retrofit verification functionality. Further, the flexibility of employing the verification functionality in various use cases may be limited.


A memory interface circuit is connectable to a DDR-SDRAM which outputs read data in synchronization with a data strobe signal together with the data strobe signal. A clock generator generates internal clock signals and memory clock signals supplied to the DDR-SDRAM. The memory interface circuit determines a delay of arrival of the data strobe signal relative to the corresponding internal clock signal by using a data strobe signal inputted in a read cycle with respect to the DDR-SDRAM, samples the arrived read data, based on a signal obtained by shifting the phase of the arrived data strobe signal, and synchronizes the sampled read data to the corresponding internal clock signal on the basis of the result of determination of the arrival delay.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor integrated circuit such as a data processor having a memory interface controller coupled to a double data rate (DDR) type synchronous memory, e.g., a DDR-SDRAM (Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory), and particularly to a technology for synchronizing read data sent from a synchronous memory to an internal clock on the memory interface controller side. A microcomputer to which a memory interface controller enabling a DDR-SDRAM to be directly connected thereto is on-chipped, has been described in a patent document 1 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-14213). This is one in which the memory interface controller for controlling the DDR-SDRAM is provided inside a processor to control the DDR-SDRAM through the use of an operation clock frequency of the microcomputer. Synchronizing a clock signal for the DDR-SDRAM to an internal clock on the memory interface controller side has not yet discussed in detail.


Overclocking parameters in a graphics system are automatically set. In one embodiment, in response to a user request, overclocking parameters for different sets of overclocking parameters are tested using a graphical stress test to select optimum overclocking parameters.

A graphics system may be "overclocked", i.e., one or more of its components operated at a clock rate above a default clock rate, in order to boost performance. For example, a component of a graphics system, such as a graphics processing unit (GPU), may be overclocked to increase the frame rate of a high performance graphics application. Similarly, a graphics memory may be overclocked in order to increase its memory bandwidth, which in some cases may also increase the frame rate of the graphics system.
In the context of graphics systems, some personal computer products permit an overclocking mode to be manually selected. For example, some graphics systems permit developers and enthusiasts to select clock rates and other overclocking parameters. A benchmark software program may then be run to evaluate performance in terms of frames per second (frame rate) and picture quality. An optimum selection of overclocking parameters may then be selected by the user by testing a matrix of overclocking parameters and running the benchmark program for each entry of the matrix to find optimum overclocking parameters. This permits, for example, game enthusiasts a technique to increase the performance of three-dimensional games.
However, a drawback of overclocking a graphics system is that it is more difficult than desired to implement. Improper selection of overclocking parameters can generate graphical aberrations and excessively shorten the lifetime of a graphical system. Additionally, when a consumer tries to manually determine maximum overclocking parameters they commonly increase overclocking parameters in increments until the graphics chip doesn't work properly, what is often known as "hanging" the chip. Hanging the chip necessitates the consumer rebooting the system and selecting reduced overclocking parameters, which increases the difficulty of setting safe optimum overclocking parameters. Moreover, overclocking is difficult for ordinary consumers to implement, since they may lack the skills and patience to perform the time consuming set of procedures required to select optimum safe overclocking parameters.
Therefore, what is desired is an improved apparatus, system, method, and user interface for overclocking an integrated circuit.

Method, apparatus, system, and graphical user interface for selecting overclocking parameters of a graphics system


A system and methods for automatically setting light intensity for covert operations are presented. Infra-red light is transmitted from at least one infra-red light source, and external ambient light is sensed substantially continually from at least one ambient light sensor coupled to a vehicle exterior to provide sensed ambient light. A sensed intensity of the sensed ambient light is compared to a sensitivity of a night vision goggles to provide a power adjustment value. An intensity level of the at least one infra-red light is controlled based on the power adjustment value such that the external ambient light is provided at a substantially optimal light level for the night vision goggles.

Some aircraft comprise infrared (IR) landing lights suitable for detection of a runway during short approach, but may be too bright when the aircraft is taxiing. Excessive IR brightness can cause a night vision goggles (NVGs) to activate automatic gain control, which may lead to loss of pilot situational awareness.

Automatic intensity control for light setting system for covert operation


A copyright protection system includes a digital information processing apparatus for processing digital information of a work and a copyright managing server for managing the copyright of the digital information. The digital information processing apparatus includes an encrypted information receiving device for receiving the digital information encrypted using the first encrypting function; an encrypting device for encrypting the digital information using the second encrypting function; and a decrypting information transmitting device for transmitting decrypting information to the digital information processing apparatus. The copyright managing server includes decrypting a function transmitting device for transmitting a decrypting function to decrypt the encrypted information encrypted by the first encrypting function and the second encrypting function in response to the information transmitted by the decrypting information transmitting device.

The present invention relates to a copyright protection system, a digital information processing apparatus, and a copyright protection method. More specifically, the present invention relates to a copyright protection system, a digital information processing apparatus, and a copyright protection method, wherein when digital AV information of a work is read from or written to a recording medium, the corresponding copyright is protected.
In conventional computer-readable recording media, it is required to precisely copy digital information. Regardless of how many times the digital information is repeatedly copied or whether the digital information is copied to different recording media, the identical digital information is recorded or reproduced. However, for the digital information concerning works such as digital AV (Audio-Visual) information, copying such digital AV information infringes the copyright of the information. To prevent such infringement of the copyright, scrambling codes are embedded in recording media such as DVDs. Accordingly, the information can not be copied without removing the code, thereby protecting the copyright.
However, it is still possible to disable the protection function using a readily available program or the like created by a hacker. Accordingly, the copyrights are not completely protected. Thus, it is required to provide a digital recording system incorporating a copyright protection system different from the current recording system used in computers so far.
Further, in digital broadcasting or the like, all receivers receive the same electric waves, thereby making it difficult to carry out different types of encryption for the respective receivers. Normally, a single type of encryption is carried out for all the receivers. Consequently, once digital AV information is decrypted, it is easy to copy and use the information illegally.
Furthermore, a conventional encrypting technique is intended to protect personal information against others. However, for protecting the copyright, the copyright information is required to be protected only against those who attempt to copy the digital AV information illegally.
The present invention is provided in view of these problems. An object of the present invention is to provide a copyright protection system, a digital information processing apparatus, and a copyright protection method for creating an environment where it is possible to copy required information legitimately while preventing illegal copying, so that the digital information can be freely and safely used while protecting the corresponding copyright.
Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the invention.

Copyright protection system, digital information processing apparatus and copyright protection method

Fuji Electric Device Technology Co., Ltd.


A floor drain extension for, and method of, elevating a drain plate of an existing floor drain after a refinishing layer such as tile has been applied onto the floor structure through which the floor drain is installed. The extension is generally annular shaped and structured to fit between the drain plate and the upper surface of the floor drain fixture so as to upwardly reposition the drain plate into a flush arrangement with the new refinishing layer surface. By proper preselection of the thickness and mounting hole pattern, the extension will easily be reinstalled after the refinishing layer is applied. Further, by temporarily bolting the extension atop the existing floor drain prior to application of the refinishing layer, a precise edge to edge abutting fit between the refinishing layer and the extension will be achieved.

1. Scope of Invention
This invention is directed to adjustable and unadjustable floor drains with drain plates, and more particularly to a floor drain extension for elevating the positioning of a drain plate after applying a refinishing layer atop a floor surface.
2. Prior Art
Typically floor drains in shower stalls, utility rooms and the like are permanently installed into the floor, the lower end of the floor drain extending into a drainage conduit for removal of water from the floor surface. In most, if not all, instances, the floor drain fixture, whether fabricated of metal or molded plastic material, is typically either cast in place within the floor structure or bonded into place with a sealant so as to render the floor drain fixture essentially non-removable after installation. The apertured drain plate is then held onto the open upper end of the floor drain by a plurality of threaded fasteners, the drain plate intended to be positioned generally in flush alignment with the adjacent floor structure.
One such typical floor drain arrangement is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,562,602 invented by Cuschera which discloses a wide floor drain adapted to fit a narrow waste pipe. Another conventional non-adjustable drain fitting is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,730,854 also invented by Cuschera directed to a unique sealable arrangement between the floor drain and the waste pipe.
A plastic floor drain having a self-attaching plastic strainer plate has been invented by Izzi as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,910,811. Again, this invention is non-adjustable with respect to the upper floor surface. Two other non-adjustable drain fitting arrangements are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,745,594 invented by Cosper and U.S. Pat. No. 3,742,525 invented by Oropallo.
With age and use (or abuse), these shower floor surfaces become worn and unsightly and it has become a common restoration procedure to apply a refinishing layer such as ceramic tile or a cast in place coating atop these existing shower surfaces. In the process of applying such a refinishing layer of any thickness whatsoever, the drain plate must also be elevated to a new height flush with the new refinishing layer surface. Otherwise, the drain plate will be recessed in the range of e.g. 1/4" to 1/2" below the new refinishing layer surface presenting both an unsightly and a toe stubbing condition.
In such circumstances, the only alternative is to either live with this depression or remove the entire floor drain fixture and install a new one, a difficult and expensive procedure as an added cost for any such floor resurfacing project.
Many floor drains include components which appear to render the upper portion of the floor drain adjustable so as to accommodate just such an eventuality. These devices are disclosed in the following U.S. Patents:
______________________________________ Harbeke 4,964,180 Oropallo 4,092,745 Oropallo 4,123,810 Izzi 4,146,939 Izzi 4,067,072 ______________________________________
However, because these above seemingly adjustable drain fittings either include additional specific structure for other purposes and/or typically because after installation, the adjustability feature is lost due to the permanent adhesion of the components within the floor, adjustment upwardly of the drain plate mounting surface after initial installation is virtually impossible.
The present invention provides a floor drain spacer or extension of a preselected thickness, diameter and drain plate bolt mounting hole spacing which will fit between the existing floor drain upper exposed surface and the new elevated position of the drain plate after the floor refinishing is completed, thus easily repositioning the drain plate into a flush arrangement with a newly refinished shower or utility room floor surface.


Embodiments of a User Equipment (UE) to support inter-frequency handover are disclosed herein. The UE may receive, from an Evolved Node-B (eNB), a measurement report configuration message that includes multiple measurement events to be determined at the UE. The UE may transmit a measurement report when a combined measurement event occurs. The combined measurement event may include a combination of the multiple measurement events according to a “logical AND” operator such that the combined measurement event occurs when the multiple measurement events occur. The measurement events may be related to signal measurements performed on one or more signals received at the UE from one or more cells configured for operation in the network.

A mobile device may operate in a cellular network configured with a macro-cell overlay of base stations along with additional micro-cells that may offer increased capacity or throughput in small areas. Various performance measurements, such as received signal quality or level, may be performed at the mobile device or at the base stations in order to assist in handover decisions. In some scenarios, interference may affect such measurements in an unexpected manner, which may result in handovers that are unfavorable for the mobile device and/or the network. As an example, when clusters of micro-cells are deployed, interference may skew signal quality measurements. Accordingly, there are general needs for systems and methods of performance measurement that enable handovers in these and other scenarios.

User equipment and methods for handover using measurement reporting based on multiple events


A radial rotary transfer assembly including at least one rotor (4) and at least one stationary part (1) The rotor (4) has at least two sealing surfaces (16, 18). Two sliding rings (2, 3) having at least two sealing surfaces (15, 17) are arranged between the stationary part and the rotor. The sealing surfaces (15, 17) of the sliding rings (2, 3) co-operate with the rotor sealing surfaces (16, 18), and with at least one radial through-flow duct (10) between the pairs (15, 16; 17, 18) of co-operating sealing surfaces. In order to structurally design a radial rotary transfer assembly in such a way that the installation thereof in matching centers and retro-fitment thereof on existing apparatuses is simplified and does not fail because of the small space available it is proposed in accordance with the invention that the normals (n16, n18) to the sealing surfaces of the rotor (4) face axially away from each other, wherein the normals (n15, n17) to the sealing surfaces of the sliding rings (2, 3) are directed axially towards each other.

The rotary transfer assemblies known from the state of the art are either axial transfer assemblies in which the fluid is passed along the axis of rotation or parallel thereto into the rotating machine part, or radial rotary transfer assemblies. Japanese patent specification JP 09196265 A which the present application takes as its basic starting point discloses such a radial rotary transfer assembly in which the fluid is passed from the stationary machine part into the rotating part in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the rotating part. In that respect, provided on the rotating part, also referred to hereinafter as the rotor, are two annular projections having axial sealing surfaces whose surface normals point in the direction of the axis of rotation and which extend in an annular configuration around the axis of rotation of the rotor. In that arrangement the sealing surfaces of the two annular projections face towards each other. The sealing surfaces of two sliding rings bear against the sealing surfaces of the rotor. The sliding rings are secured to the stationary part to prevent them from rotating with the rotor and their sealing surfaces are pressed against the sealing surfaces of the rotor by means of springs which are supported against a portion of the stationary part. The fluid is fed through a duct between the two sliding rings in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the rotor. The fluid is thus prevented from escaping by means of the sealing surfaces, which bear flat against each other, of the rotor and the two sealing rings, and by seals between the stationary part and the sliding rings.
The rotary transfer assembly known from JP 09196165 A is of a very complex and bulky structure. The part which carries the sliding sealing surfaces and which is connected to the shaft comprises two axially spaced rotor rings, with each of which is associated a respective sliding ring. The rotor rings have to be fixed on the shaft in sealed relationship. Associated with each rotor ring is its own sliding ring which admittedly does not rotate therewith but which is arranged on the shaft in an axially floating and resiliently biased condition in order always to ensure sealing contact in respect of its sliding sealing surfaces, irrespective of any component and assembly tolerances. For mounting and supporting the sliding rings the stationary part has a radially inwardly projecting flange which is arranged between the sliding rings and which presses the sliding rings against the rotor ring by way of springs. That structure takes up a relatively large amount of space both in the axial and also the radial direction.
Radial (and also axial) rotary transfer assemblies are used inter alia for the internal coolant feed in machine tools. It will be noted that a disadvantage of those rotary transfer assemblies is that they are relatively bulky and correspondingly take up space on a tool spindle. That is a nuisance in particular in modern machining centers which in any case require space for tool magazines and turret heads. Retro-fitting a coolant feed by replacing a spindle without devices for the coolant feed by a spindle with corresponding devices is often not viable because of the space additionally required for the rotary transfer assembly.
In comparison with that state of the art, the object of the present invention is to structurally design a radial rotary transfer assembly in such a way that the installation thereof in machining centers and retro-fitment thereof on existing apparatuses is simplified and does not fail because of the small space available.

GAT Gesellschaft fur Antriebstechnik mbH


A thermosensitive recording medium having a support, a thermosensitive layer provided on the support, and a protecting layer provided on the thermosensitive layer and containing montan wax particles having an average particle diameter AD of not greater than 1.5 .mu.m and such a particle size distribution that at least 99% of the montan wax particles have a particle diameter of not greater than (AD+0.5 .mu.m). The protecting layer is obtained by drying a layer of an aqueous dispersion containing an aqueous emulsion of the montan wax particles.

This invention relates to a thermosensitive recording medium having a support and a thermosensitive color-developing layer formed on the support and containing a leuco dye and a color developer capable of reacting with the leuco dye at an elevated temperature to develop a color.
Thermosensitive recording media capable of thermally recording an image through coloring reaction of a colorless or light-color leuco dye with a developer such as a phenol compound are now increasingly utilized in various fields such as recording papers for printers of computers, medical measuring instruments and facsimile machines, automatic ticket vending machines, thermosensitive copying machines and POS (point of sales) labels.
One problem of the known thermosensitive recording media is that the images and background are apt to be discolored when the thermosensitive layer thereof is brought into contact with a plastic film containing a plasticizer. To cope with this problem, a protecting layer is generally provided to cover the thermosensitive layer. The protecting layer is also desired to have lubricity or slippage in order to ensure smooth sliding between the recording medium and a thermal head, i.e. smooth feeding. When the thermosensitive recording medium is not smoothly fed, the recorded images are shrunk in the feeding direction. Thus, there is a proposal to incorporate a wax such as zinc stearate or montan wax into the protecting layer. While zinc stearate shows good lubricity, the resistance to plasticizers is not satisfactory. Montan wax, on the other hand, has good resistance to plasticizers but is not fully satisfactory with respect to lubricity.