Initial variation learning control is executed when learning condition is satisfied each time of its satisfaction, to absorb initial variations of manufacturing errors or variations of components of second clutch (CL2). When the number of times of total learning is counted and this becomes predetermined number (e.g. five times), initial variation learning control is judged to be converged. On the basis of condition of this convergence, so-called vertical sliding speed control returning belt (50) of variator (V) to LOWEST transmission ratio position is performed. With this, vertical sliding speed control is not performed in state in which excessively large torque acts on second clutch, and durability of belt and pulley is increased. It is therefore possible to prevent vertical sliding speed control from being performed in state in which input torque is predetermined value or greater, and possible to improve response of accelerator operation after performing vertical sliding speed control.

Patent Document 1 has disclosed a technique that, in a vehicle mounting thereon a belt type continuously variable transmission as a transmission, performs a vertical sliding speed control (or a longitudinal slip speed control) that forcibly returns a belt of the belt type continuously variable transmission to a LOWEST position (a LOWEST transmission ratio position) at a time of vehicle stop. Further, Patent Document 2 has disclosed a vehicle controller that performs a slip-control of a clutch as a frictional engagement element interposed between a rotation driving source as a power source and a driving wheel.
The vehicle mounting thereon the belt type continuously variable transmission as the transmission is generally transmission-controlled (speed-controlled) so that, when starting speed reduction, a transmission ratio having been at a relatively higher speed side is changed to a large transmission ratio of a lower speed side, and the belt is returned to the LOWEST transmission ratio position for a subsequent vehicle start by the time the vehicle stops. However, for instance, when the vehicle speed sharply decreases due to a hard braking, such transmission control (speed control) as described above cannot respond to this sharp decrease of the vehicle speed, then there could be a case where the belt is not returned to the LOWEST transmission ratio position at the time of the vehicle stop. Therefore, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, by applying a high hydraulic pressure to a secondary pulley side which is a component of the belt type continuously variable transmission and forcibly sliding or slipping the belt in a radial direction (in a vertical or longitudinal direction) with respect to an unrotated pulley, the belt is returned to the LOWEST transmission ratio position. This transmission control (speed control) is called the vertical sliding speed control (or the longitudinal slip speed control).
In the technique disclosed in Patent Document 2, when performing an engine-used slip mode (hereinafter called a WSC drive mode) in which the vehicle travels using both driving forces of an engine and a motor while slipping the clutch between the motor and the driving wheel, if a vehicle stop state is judged during the above drive mode, Patent Document 2 carries out a vehicle-stop-time transmission torque capacity correction process that sets a command hydraulic pressure of the clutch so that a transmission torque capacity of the clutch becomes almost zero, i.e. a size of the transmission torque capacity of the clutch gets closer and closer to zero, while performing a learning-control of the command hydraulic pressure of the clutch.
In a case where the belt type continuously variable transmission is employed as a transmission with the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 being a prerequisite and the vertical sliding speed control disclosed in Patent Document 1 is attempted to be performed, when such vertical sliding speed control as described above is performed in a state in which an input torque of a predetermined value or greater acts on the continuously variable transmission, since the belt is returned to the LOWEST transmission ratio position by forcibly sliding or slipping the belt in the radial direction with respect to the unrotated pulley, slip of the belt and the pulley in a circumferential direction (a rotation direction) also occurs. Durability of the pulley and the belt is therefore decreased. This situation must consequently be avoided.
However, since each component or parts of the continuously variable transmission and the clutch has manufacturing errors and assembling errors, it is difficult to perform the vertical sliding speed control in a state in which a magnitude of the input torque is the predetermined value or smaller. In practice, the vertical sliding speed control tends to be performed in a state in which the magnitude of the input torque is the predetermined value or greater. Because of this, there arises a problem of decreasing the durability of the pulley and the belt as mentioned above, and of lowering response of a subsequent accelerator operation which is caused by the fact that the clutch is disengaged too much.


Methods and apparatus for scaling soft values as part of an error correction decoding process are described. Accurate decoding depends on use of the appropriate scale factor. Selection and use of the scale factor to scale soft values is designed to improve and/or optimize decoder performance without the need for prior knowledge of the correct scale factor or the actual channel conditions at the time the signal from which the soft values were obtained was transmitted through a communications channel. The techniques of the present invention assume that the soft values to be processed were transmitted through a communications channel having a quality that can be accurately described by a channel quality value. A scale factor is determined from the distribution of soft values to be scaled and an assumption that the channel through which they were transmitted was of the quality corresponding to a preselected channel quality value.

Nearly all forms of electronic communication and storage systems use error-correcting codes. Error correcting codes compensate for the intrinsic unreliability of information transfer in these systems by introducing redundancy into the data stream. The mathematical foundations of error correcting were established by Shannon. Shannon developed the mathematical concept of the channel in which distortion of signals in communications systems is modeled as a random process. The most fundamental result of Shannon is the Noisy channel theorem, which defines for the channel a capacity, a quantity that specifies the maximum rate at which information can be reliably delivered through the channel. This capacity is known as Shannon capacity. Reliable transmission at rates approaching capacity requires the use of error correcting codes. Thus, error-correcting codes are designed to achieve sufficient reliability while approaching capacity as closely as possible. The complexity of implementing the error correcting code is an additional factor that comes into play in practical applications of error correcting codes.
Recent advances in error correcting coding systems resulting from the invention of turbo codes and the subsequent rediscovery and development of low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes offer coding systems of feasible complexity that can approach Shannon's capacity quite closely.
Many kinds of error correcting coding systems rely on soft information. Soft information usually represents a decision on a bit b, i.e., a 1 or a 0, and some measure of the reliability of that decision. For example, a canonical form often used for soft values is the log-likelihood ratio log
      p              (                        y          ❘          b                =        0            )            p              (                        y          ❘          b                =        1            )      where y is some observation of the bit b, e.g., after transmission through a communications channel. Soft input values to a decoder are often obtained from a signal transmitted through a communication channel which may subject the transmitted signal to noise. In such a case, the measure of the reliability of the decision which produced the soft value will reflect the effect of channel noise.
If one uses Binary Phase Shift Key (BPSK) modulation, x=2b−1, to transmit a bit through a Gaussian channel, modeled by y=x+n where n denotes a real Gaussian random variable with 0 mean and variance s2, then y is equal to the log-likelihood ratio of x up to a constant factor. More precisely, log
            p                    (                              y            ❘            x                    =          1                )                    p                    (                              y            ❘            x                    =                      -            1                          )              =            2              s        2                        y      .      For some types of error-correcting systems such as convolutional codes with Viterbi decoding, it is not necessary to know the scale factor
  2      s    2  since the decoding is invariant under scaling by positive constants. This is because, in effect, the Viterbi decoder finds the codeword (x1, . . . , xn) that maximizes x1y1+x2y2+ . . . +xnyn where y1, . . . , y2 denote observations corresponding to the transmitted bits x1, . . . , xn.
Recently, turbo codes and LDPC codes have been shown to offer significant gains over traditional coding systems such as convolutional codes. The best decoders for these codes, however, do depend on the scaling of the soft values. Inaccurate scaling of soft values can negatively impact decoding performance.
Often in practice it is very difficult to know or estimate the correct scaling factor. This is because unknown scaling of data, that is not easy to track, may occur in the system. Such data scaling which is difficult to track may be performed, e.g., by automatic gain control circuitry or other circuitry. This may be especially true, for example, in fading channels where the channel applies a, possibly unknown or only approximately known, multiplicative gain to x. Using a poor estimate of the correct scaling factor can lead to significant degradation of the coding system's performance. Thus, there is a need for a method that can provide a scale factor for a block of soft data, e.g., a set of soft input values, so that the decoding performance does not suffer a loss, or, minimizes the loss suffered, relative to the case where the correct scaling factor is known. From an implementation standpoint it would be highly desirable if a suitable scale factor could be determined from the soft values to be processed without the need to track scaling and/or various channel conditions that can affect the size of the scale factor which should be applied to soft values prior to decoding.

Soft information scaling for iterative decoding


A liquid crystal display (LCD) device includes first and second substrates facing each other and having a display area and a non-display area, a sealant on a boundary between the display area and the non-display area to bond the first and second substrates, a first alignment layer on the display area of the first substrate, and a first dam in the display area of the first substrate inside the sealant to prevent spread of an alignment material of the first alignment layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display (LCD) device, and more particularly, to an LCD device and a method for fabricating the same, capable of preventing contamination of sealant and deterioration of adhesive strength caused by the spread of alignment material.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Demands for various display devices have increased with development of information technology. Particularly, many efforts have been made to research and develop various flat display devices such as LCD, plasma display panel (PDP), electroluminescent display (ELD), and vacuum fluorescent display (VFD). Among those, the LCD device has been most widely used as a substitute for a cathode ray tube (CRT) because of thin profile, lightness in weight, and low power consumption. For example, the LCD device may be utilized as a display for a computer monitor, or a television to receive and display broadcasting signals. In order to use the LCD device in various fields as a general display, it is very important that the LCD device can display a high quality picture with high resolution and high luminance on a large-sized screen, while maintaining lightness in weight, thin profile, and low power consumption.
The LCD device includes an LCD panel displaying a picture, and a driving part supplying a driving signal to the LCD panel. The LCD panel consists of first and second substrates bonded to each other at a predetermined interval, and a liquid crystal layer formed between the first and second substrates.
The first substrate, which may be a thin film transistor (TFT) array substrate, includes a plurality of gate lines arranged along a first direction at fixed intervals, a plurality of data lines arranged along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction at fixed intervals, a plurality of pixel electrodes arranged in a matrix-type configuration within pixel regions P defined by crossing the gate and data lines, and a plurality of TFTs T enabled according to signals supplied to the gate lines for transmitting signals from the data lines to the pixel electrodes. Also, the second substrate, which may be a color filter array substrate, includes a black matrix layer that prevents light from portions of the first substrate except for the pixel regions P, an R/G/B color filter layer for displaying various colors, and a common electrode for producing the image on the color filter layer. Then, the first and second substrates are bonded to each other by sealant and maintained at a predetermined interval with spacers, and liquid crystal is injected therebetween. Meanwhile, alignment layers are formed on opposing surfaces of the first and second substrates, and rubbed to align liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer.
Next, an LCD device according to the related art will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a plane view illustrating an LCD device according to the related art. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along I–I′ of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a plane view illustrating a first substrate of the related art LCD device to illustrate the spread of alignment material. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along II–II′ of FIG. 3.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the related art LCD device includes first and second substrates 11a, 11b bonded to each other at a predetermined interval therebetween. The first substrate 11a is formed with a display area 21 to display a picture and a non-display area 22 of a pad region where no picture is displayed. The display area 21 is divided into an active region 21a and a liquid crystal margin region 21b. Further, the active region 21a includes a plurality of gate and data lines crossing each other, and a TFT at a crossing point of the gate and data lines. The liquid crystal margin region 21b is formed surrounding the active region 21a where the liquid crystal spreads. Even though not shown, the liquid crystal margin region 21b is hidden by a black matrix layer.
Also, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a liquid crystal layer 14 and a sealant 13 are formed between the first and second substrates 11a, 11b. The sealant 13 is arranged on the boundary between the non-display area 22 and the liquid crystal margin region 21b to bond the first and second substrates 11a, 11b.
Also, as shown in FIG. 2, first and second alignment layers 12a, 12b are formed on opposing surfaces of the first and second substrates 11a, 11b to align liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer 14 at one direction. The first and second alignment layers 12a, 12b may be formed of a polymer material such as polyamide, polyamide compound, PVA (Polyvinyl alcohol) and polyamic acid. Also, the first and second alignment layers 12a, 12b may be formed of a photosensitive material such as PVCH (PolyvinylCinnamate), PSCN (PolysiloxaneCinnamate) and CelCN (CelluloseCinnmate)-type compound. The first and second alignment layers 12a, 12b are formed before forming the sealant 13.
In order to coat the first and second alignment layers 12a, 12b on the first and second substrates 11a, 11b, an alignment layer coating device is required to uniformly coat an alignment material on the first and second substrates 11a, 11b. The alignment layer coating device may perform a coating in various methods, such as spin, spray, dip, printing, and inkjet methods. Herein, the alignment layer coating device uses the inkjet method and includes a pressure tank storing the alignment material and a raw material for the alignment layer, an alignment material provider receiving and storing an optimal amount of the alignment material from the pressure tank, and a plurality of heads discharging the alignment material to the substrate. Specifically, the alignment material is discharged to the first and second substrates 11a, 11b through the holes provided in the heads, and then the alignment material is formed into the first and second alignment layers 12a, 12b by rubbing.
Since the alignment material has viscosity low enough to pass through the holes, the alignment material spreads to all directions of the first and second substrates 11a, 11b before treatment of the alignment material discharged to the first and second substrates 11a, 11b. As show in FIGS. 3 and 4, when the alignment material (slant portion) spreads to a portion for the sealant 13 over the liquid crystal margin region 21b, the portion for the sealant 13 is contaminated by the alignment material. Also, it causes deterioration of adhesion of the sealant 13 formed on the boundary between the non-display area 22 and the liquid crystal margin region 21b to bond the first and second substrates 11a, 11b. In addition, when the first and second substrates 11a, 11b are bonded to each other, the sealant 13 is damaged due to the deterioration of the adhesion thereof.

Liquid crystal display device and method for fabricating the same


A verbena cultivar particularly distinguished by its rose-colored flowers, upright habit and mildew tolerance is disclosed.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of verbena, botanically known as Verbena hybrida×Verbena tenuisecta, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name 'Rap Horose'. The new cultivar originated from a hybridzation made in the year 2002 in Gilroy, Calif. The female parent was 'Oxena' (also known as 'Babylon Red') (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,126) while the male parent was '1352-1', a purple proprietary verbena line (unpatented).
The new cultivar was created in 2002 in Gilroy, Calif. and has been asexually reproduced repeatedly by vegetative cuttings and tissue culture in Gilroy, Calif. and Andijk, The Netherlands over a two-year period. The plant has also been trialed at Gilroy, Calif., Litchfield, Mich. and Andijk, The Netherlands. The present invention has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations.


The present invention discloses a management module for a storage device. The management module comprises a primary server and a secondary server. Each server comprises a network port configured to interface the server and a telecommunication network and a virtual bridge configured to selectively enable or disable data transfer to and from the network port. The virtual bridges of the primary and secondary servers are linked for enabling data transfer between said virtual bridges, the virtual bridge of the primary server is configured to disable data transfer while the virtual bridge of the secondary server is configured to enable data transfer and the virtual bridge of the primary server is further configured to maintain an IP address of the management module.

Data storage has become a key issue in the modern information technology. Current large scale storage techniques generally provide storage systems for storing data and allow user interaction through telecommunication networks.
For example, US Pre-Grant Patent Publication No. 2012/0265926 to Tal et al. discloses a storage system used for storing hosts data and for allowing the hosts to read and write data to and from the storage system using a telecommunication network. The storage system includes a storage system controller controlling certain aspects of the operation of various components. The storage system controller includes a host interface to facilitate communication with the hosts through the telecommunication network.


A system for protecting data in a CPU's internal register. To obtain write access to the protected register, a process must sequentially write first and second keywords to an access register, within a predetermined time window.

Microprocessor based systems operate in a normal mode by fetcning instructions, executing the instructions and routing data between various registers and/or system ports. This occurs within the constraints of various timing cycles called machine cycles, with the flow of data and instructions tracked through the use of various data and program pointers, etc. Since instructions are executed in a sequential format, it is necessary for the central processing unit or microprocessor to know the status of the instruction that is being executed, or the data or instructions that are being transferred, etc. Whenever the system loses track of the program, it is possible to enter an undesirable program loop that the system cannot get out of, which can result in a catastrophic system failure. This sometimes is referred to as deadlocking the system.
Various techniques have been utilized to enable a user of the system to get out of a deadlocked mode such as the use of interrupts, watchdog timer circuits, etc. However, one disadvantage to losing track of where the CPU is in the execution sequence is the possibility of damaging certain internal data stored in internal registers. For example, if an instruction is misinterpreted as loading the contents of the internal data bus into an internal register, this could destroy the contents of the register. The contents of this register may be important to the overall system operation which may require the system to be completely reinitialized.
Therefore, there exists a need for a system that protects internal registers from execution errors. These execution errors may be due to timing factors or the general failure of the system program to properly execute.

Timed access system for protecting data in a central processing unit


An image sensor in which each pixel includes a first sub-pixel including a first semiconductor layer, a second sub-pixel including a second semiconductor layer having a polarity different from a polarity of the first semiconductor layer, a third semiconductor layer having a polarity equal to the polarity of the first semiconductor layer, and a microlens, and which includes a plurality of pixels in which the first semiconductor is included in the second semiconductor layer, and the second semiconductor layer is included in the third semiconductor layer, wherein a center of gravity position of a light-receiving surface defining the first semiconductor layer is different from a center of gravity position of a light-receiving surface defining both the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,410,804 discloses an image capture apparatus that performs focus detection of the pupil division scheme using a two-dimensional sensor including a microlens formed in each pixel. In the image capture apparatus described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,410,804, one microlens and a plurality of divided photo-electric conversion units are formed in one pixel. The divided photo-electric conversion units receive light beams in different areas of the pupil of an imaging lens via one microlens, thereby performing pupil division. The amount of image shift is obtained from a signal received by each of the divided photo-electric conversion units, focus detection is performed, and the signals received by the divided photo-electric conversion units are summed up, thereby acquiring an image capture signal. In addition to focus detection, this patent literature discloses a technique of displaying parallax signals, which are received by photo-electric conversion units divided to the right and left in each pixel, separately for the right and left eyes, respectively, thereby making it possible to generate a stereoscopic image.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-156823 discloses an image capture apparatus in which a plurality of image capture pixels are not only arranged but also where focus detection pixels of the pupil division scheme are partly arranged. In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-156823, image capture signals are acquired by the image capture pixels arranged in most areas, and focus detection is performed using signals from the focus detection pixels arranged in some areas. The focus detection pixels receive light beams in predetermined areas of the pupil of an imaging lens via a light-shielding layer having an opening, thereby performing pupil division.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2008-15215 proposes an image capture apparatus which uses focus detection pixels each formed by partly forming a pair of divided photo-electric conversion units so as to surround the lower portion of a photo-electric conversion unit of an image capture pixel sideways in an L shape. Charges stored in the image capture pixel and the pair of focus detection pixels have an equal polarity, and are connected to the same floating diffusion portion. This patent literature also discloses that no color filter is formed in a portion in which a focus detection pixel is formed, so the upper, image capture pixels mainly receive short-wavelength components of incident light, and the lower, focus detection pixels mainly receive long-wavelength components of the incident light, thereby performing focus detection.
In the image capture apparatus disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,410,804, signals received by the plurality of divided photo-electric conversion units are summed up to obtain an image capture signal. However, the gaps between the divided photo-electric conversion units do not have light reception sensitivity, and therefore become low-sensitivity zones. Hence, the light reception efficiency considerably degrades for light which has a specific incident angle and is focused at the position between photo-electric conversion units by the microlens. As a result, unnatural dark patterns, for example, vertical, horizontal, or cross-shaped patterns are generated in a blurred image, thus deteriorating the quality of a captured image.
In the image capture apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-156823, signals received by the focus detection pixels arranged in some part cannot be used as image capture signals, so the focus detection pixels become pixels unavailable as image capture pixels. Although the quality of a captured image can be restored by unavailable pixel correction, interpolation processing which uses peripheral pixels must be performed, thus partially degrading the resolution of the captured image.
In the image capture apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2008-15215, photo-electric conversion units formed in the upper portion of an Si (silicon) layer receive short-wavelength components of incident light to obtain image capture signals, and photo-electric conversion units formed by division in its lower portion receive long-wavelength components of the incident light to obtain focus detection signals.
However, because the wavelength of incident light is divided using a difference in spectral absorbance that depends on the thickness of the Si layer, color separation cannot perfectly be done. FIG. 18 shows the spectral absorbance when the thickness of the Si layer is 400 nm using a broken line, that when the thickness of the Si layer is 1,500 nm using a solid line, and that when the thickness of the Si layer is 3,500 nm using an alternate long and short dashed line. When, for example, the depth of the photo-electric conversion units is about 400 nm, about 75 percent of light having wavelengths of 450 to 470 nm corresponding to B (Blue), about 35 percent of light having wavelengths of 520 to 540 nm corresponding to G (Green), and about 15 percent of light having wavelengths of 620 to 640 nm corresponding to R (Red) are received, as indicated by the broken line in FIG. 18. Thus, the blue, green, and red components mix with each other at a ratio of 6:3:1.
Similarly, when focus detection pixels are provided in the upper portion of the Si layer, and image capture pixels are provided in its lower portion, the color purity of image capture signals from the image capture pixels degrades. When, for example, the depth of the photo-electric conversion units is about 3,500 nm, about 20 percent of light having wavelengths of 520 to 540 nm corresponding to G (Green), and about 30 percent of light having wavelengths of 620 to 640 nm corresponding to R (Red) are received, as can be seen from the difference between the spectral absorbances indicated by the alternate long and short dashed line and solid line, respectively, in FIG. 18. Thus, the green and red components mix with each other at a ratio of 4:6.
Therefore, in the image capture apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2008-15215, the color purity of the image capture signals partially degrade, thus deteriorating the quality of a captured image.
Also, because color separation is done using a difference in spectral absorbance that depends on the thickness of the Si layer, the depth of the photo-electric conversion units cannot freely be adjusted. This narrows the dynamic range. Furthermore, to form a pair of photo-electric conversion units so as to surround another photo-electric conversion unit sideways in an L shape, the manufacturing process becomes complicated.
Therefore, in all of these prior art techniques, the quality of a captured image deteriorates upon adding a focus detection function of the phase difference scheme to an image sensor.

Image sensor and image capture apparatus


A serial protocol and interface for data transmission from a data transmitter 12 to a data receiver 14 where the propagation delay may be up to several clock cycles long and may be varying slowly. The data receiver provides a clock to the data transmitter. A synchronization signal provided by either the receiver or the transmitter initiates a frame of data transmission at a transfer rate controlled by the clock. The synchronization signal coordinates the transmission of a data header followed by a predetermined number of data bits, known as the frame length. The data receiver uses the header bits to determine the times to sample the subsequent data bits. The length of the frame is limited to provide sufficient likelihood the propagation delay line characteristics have not changed enough to cause a bit error. The system resynchronizes at the beginning of each frame.

In general, data transmitters (i.e., devices having digital data outputs) need to deliver digital data to other devices (i.e., data receivers), often at high rates and often over serial communication channels. Frequently, the clock rates (speeds) used for communication between devices is sufficiently high that propagation delay issues exist. Unknown, varying or excessive propagation delays pose a challenge with respect to synchronizing receivers and transmitters, maintaining synchronization, and with respect to reliably transmitting digital data. The serial communications protocol used in such environments, as well as the apparatus and methods for implementing such protocol, must incorporate a propagation delay-tolerant approach to synchronization between transmitter and receiver. Furthermore, the apparatus and method must be tolerant to signal dispersion and variations in signal generation.
Currently, the clock speed for communication between devices on separate chips is typically about 125 MHz, while a speed of about 375 MHz might be used when the devices are on the same chip. Faster speeds are likely in the future. At these speeds, the devices must accommodate a considerable amount of variability in signal propagation delays. Differences and changes in signaling delay may be caused, for example, by variations inherit to the fabrication process, time-varying environmental conditions, power supply variations, and other factors.
Because cost is an important consideration for commercial products, the need exists for a serial communications protocol and interface that is compatible not just with high-priced products, but also with lower cost products such as low-cost field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) which are often used to implement devices such as transmitters and receivers in digital systems.
A need also exists for an interface and interfacing method which permits serial data communications in which a transmitter can adjust its transmission rate to that a receiver can accept.

Serial digital data communication interface for transmitting data bits each having a width of multiple clock cycles


The present invention is related to a color-mixture display unit and an image display apparatus using the same, wherein the image display apparatus includes at least one color-mixture pixel which is pre-disposed at plates of a light box so that a pattern is formed. Each of the color-mixture pixels is equipped with a red filter, a green filter and a blue filter, or equipped with a black filter or equipped with a transparent filter. At least one color-mixture LED is disposed within the light box and provides a backlight for the color-mixture pixel. In this regard, the color-mixture LEDs are controlled by an image controller and provide various color light beams with the color-mixture pixels. In addition, arrangement of each color filter within the color-mixture pixel is utilized so that color-mixture effect of dynamic image is shown.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a color-mixture display unit and image display apparatus using the same, and in particular, to a color-mixture display unit that utilizes color-mixture LEDs and color filters to provide dynamic images.
2. Description of Related Art
Different types of shop signs exist in our everyday life. For example, advertising posters, advertising light boxes, projector shop signs, neon lights or wall paintings etc. They are used to promote merchandise, and big-sized shop signs such as neon light towers are regarded as symbol of development and prosperity.
However, neon light shop signs include neon light tubes, neon light transformers (inductive, electronic), circuit breaker boxes, mechanical parts of neon light and lightening conductor. Most of conventional neon light shop signs provide singular and monotonous images and cannot provide 3-dimensional or dynamic images. As shown in FIG. 1, it illustrates a perspective view of a light box shop sign 6 in the prior art.
Thus, there is a need for a color-mixture display unit and an image display apparatus using the same.

Color-mixture display unit and image display apparatus using the same


A copolymer of (i) an alkyl acrylate or alkyl methacrylate and (ii) a hydroxyalkyl acrylate or hydroxyalkyl methacrylate is used as a secondary protective colloid in the suspension polymerization of vinyl chloride monomer. The alkyl group of the alkyl acrylate or alkyl methacrylate is preferably a 2-ethylhexyl group. The hydroxyalkyl group of the hydroxyalkyl acrylate or hydroxyalkyl methacrylate is preferably a hydroxyethyl group.

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is one of the largest volume commodity thermoplastics manufactured industrially. More than 75% of PVC is made using suspension polymerisation technology. The final physical form or morphology of the polymer is determined by a combination of factors in the polymerisation process. Two characteristics of the product which are particularly important are the particle size and the porosity of the particles.
If the particle size is too low or too high, subsequent processing of the polymer to form molded or extruded articles is made more difficult. It is therefore particularly desirable for most applications to produce PVC particles with a mean grain size of the order of 100 to 200 μm, and a narrow particle size distribution such that no more than a small percentage of particles are smaller than 63 μm or larger than 250 μm.
High porosity is important, because it facilitates the removal of unreacted VCM from the PVC particles. VCM is a known carcinogen, and the industry is therefore continually attempting to reduce the level of monomer to well below 1 ppm in the final resin. In the case of PVC-based foils for medical applications, residual monomer levels less than 50 ppb are required. High porosity means that unreacted VCM can be removed efficiently from the particles at lower temperatures, thus avoiding problems of thermal degradation of the PVC at higher temperatures. High porosity also facilitates the subsequent introduction of processing additives (such as plasticisers) into the particles.
To a large extent, the final particle size and the amount of porosity in the polymer is determined by the polymerisation temperature, the prevailing agitation conditions in the polymerisation reactor, and by the use of certain additives which are variously referred to as "dispersants" or "protective colloids".
Protective colloids are categorised as either primary or secondary types. Primaries are largely responsible for the control of the size of the polymer particles and secondaries are largely responsible for controlling the porosity of the polymer particles. Primary protective colloids are typically water soluble polymers based on substituted cellulose ethers and/or high molecular weight partially hydrolysed polyvinyl acetates (PVA). Commercially used secondary protective colloids are predominantly based on lower molecular weight partially hydrolysed PVA, and to a lesser extent surfactant technology.
The PVC industry is continually seeking to improve the suspension polymerisation process with the aim of improving polymer quality and improving the economics of production. The present invention overcomes some of the limitations of the existing commercially available secondary protective colloid technology.
The partially hydrolysed PVAs which are used in the majority of industrial applications as secondary protective colloids are manufactured in a two stage process. In the first stage, vinyl acetate is polymerized to PVA. In the second stage, the PVA is partially hydrolysed to form a polyvinyl acetate—polyvinyl alcohol copolymer. The particular polymerization conditions used in the first stage have a profound effect on the properties of the final product, including higher order polymer characteristics such as the level of unsaturation, conjugated unsaturation, chain branching and the nature of end groups. The properties of the final product are also dependent on the hydrolysis method. For example, base hydrolysis leads to products having a "blocky" structure, i.e. polymers having sequences of hydroxyl groups interspersed among sequences of pendent acetate groups. Acid hydrolysis, on the other hand, leads to randomly hydrolysed polymers.
As a result of the different manufacturing methods used, commercially available PVA protective colloid products which are reported to have nominally the same physical and chemical properties (measured by typical standard quality control methods, such as the degree of hydrolysis, solution viscosity etc.), can actually behave very differently in the suspension polymerisation process. This, in turn, leads to undesired variability in the resulting PVC product. It is therefore an aim of the present invention to provide secondary protective colloids which can be manufactured by a simplified process, resulting in reduced variability in its properties.
According to EP-A-0446747, the preferred acetate distribution for improved PVC internal structural homogeneity is found using PVA based protective colloids with a block like structure. However these products have a relatively small share of the secondary protective colloids market as they tend to exert a very strong primary effect in the suspension polymerization process, resulting in unacceptably low particle size PVC. It is therefore a further aim of the present invention to provide the improved PVC internal structural homogeneity characteristic of blocky PVAs, while maintaining a sufficiently high average particle size to produce commercial quality PVC.
The efficiency with which a secondary protective colloid introduces porosity into the PVC is significantly affected by the temperature at which the polymerisation is carried out. In practice, the porosity of the polymer is inversely proportional to the polymerisation temperature when all other polymerisation variables are kept constant. Low K value polymers prepared at high polymerisation temperatures generally have low porosity. It is therefore a still further aim of the present invention to provide secondary protective colloids which can produce high porosity at high polymerisation temperatures.
A major concern for PVC manufacturers is the quality of the PVC's initial colour once it has been formulated into a melt state. A number of process variables are known to influence the initial colour, including the choice of additives used during the suspension polymerization process. Intense research efforts have been focused on understanding the factors which contribute to PVC thermal stability, with little regard to the inherent thermal stability of the protective colloid. In the industrial manufacture of PVA based protective colloids, great care must be taken to avoid burning the PVA particularly during the stripping stage to remove residual vinyl acetate monomer. Poor vinyl acetate stripping can result in dark or black contamination in the final protective colloid product. A further aim of this invention is therefore to provide secondary protective colloids with improved thermal stability compared to current technology.
Acrylic based polymers have been developed which act as primary protective colloids in the suspension polymerisation of vinyl chloride. U.S. Pat. No. 4,104,457 describes acrylic acid copolymers to control particle size in bulk vinyl chloride polymerisations. U.S. Pat. No. 4,603,151 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,684,668 describe the use of cross-linked acrylic acid primary protective colloids which act as thickening agents. WO97/08212 describes the use of high molecular weight (>100000) acrylic dispersants which have a cloud point above the polymerisation temperature. These polymers are stated to act as primary colloids when cross-linked, and as secondary protective colloids when not cross-linked. The use of high molecular weight acrylic acid copolymers generally requires the addition of a base to the suspension polymerisation process to neutralise the acrylic acid. It is therefore an aim of the present invention to provide protective colloids which do not require neutralisation in the suspension polymerisation process.
EP-A-0483051, U.S. Pat. No. 5,155,189 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,244,995 describe the use of relatively low molecular weight polymers in suspension polymerization processes. The claimed additives are based on homo or copolymers containing more than 50% by weight of α,β-unsaturated ester(s) of acrylic acid and/or methacrylic acid having no ionic side groups. It is stated that terminal functional groups can be added to improve performance. These materials can be shown to act as secondary protective colloids increasing the porosity of the final PVC when compared to PVC produced without a secondary protective colloid. However, as described in WO97/08212, the use of low molecular weight polyacrylate colloids requires the use of a primary colloid, PVA, having a comparatively low (e.g. 72.5%) degree of hydrolysis. It is known that primary colloids of this type tend to increase porosity when compared to higher molecular weight/higher hydrolysis primary colloids. The application of acrylic secondary protective colloids of the type described in EP-A-0483051 is therefore of limited industrial value, as it restricts the choice of primary colloid to low molecular weight primaries. Industrially it is desirable to have a free choice of primary colloid to include higher hydrolysis primaries, non PVA-based primaries and mixtures of primaries in order optimise the polymerisation process. It is therefore an additional aim of the present invention to provide secondary protective colloids which can be used with a wide range of primary colloid types.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,579,923 describes the use of a monomeric hydroxy alkyl acrylate/propylene oxide adduct added at the start of PVC polymerisation to provide steric stabilisation of primary particles, hence producing porosity. Industrially, VCM polymerisations are not allowed to proceed to 100% conversion as the thermal stability of the resulting PVC is adversely affected at very high conversion. Therefore some unreacted VCM is always recycled back into the suspension polymerisation process. If a second unreacted monomer is present in the recycled VCM, expensive equipment to purify the monomer may be necessary to ensure a consistent high quality PVC product. Moreover, it is known that the addition of even small amounts of free monomers into the suspension polymerisation process can significantly retard the rate of polymerisation and although this can be compensated by the use of more initiator, economically it is not favoured. It is therefore a still further aim of the present invention to provide secondary protective colloids which have little or no effect on the polymerisation kinetics, and which do not represent a contaminant in the recycled VCM.
Suspension PVC production is a batch process and major developments in the last few years have focussed on improving the productivity of the polymerisation reactors. The process of making PVC can be split into the actual time polymerising VCM, referred to as the reaction time, and the time taken to charge and discharge the reactor, referred to as the non-reaction time. One way in which the non-reaction time can be reduced is to charge the reactor with hot water to reduce the non-reaction time. It is therefore an additional aim of the present invention to provide secondary protective colloids which can be used in hot water charge processes.
It is now common practice for large PVC reactors to remove significant amounts of heat of polymerisation via a reflux condenser. This increases the efficiency of the reaction and therefore reduces reaction time. However, as US patent application US 2003/0162927 states, the time at which the condenser is effectively turned on can have a detrimental effect on the quality of the PVC, generally increasing the particle size distribution to an unacceptable level. It is therefore a still further aim of the present invention to provide secondary protective colloids which provide improved particle size stability early on in the polymerization, thus allowing higher rates of heat removal via a reflux condenser, even from the start of reaction.

Polymerisation of vinyl chloride monomer


A continuous manufacturing process for preparing cooked bacon includes the step of cooking slices of an uncured and unsmoked pork belly with cure ingredients applied on the slices to produce cooked bacon having the organoleptic properties of cooked conventionally cured and smoked bacon. An apparatus for continuously preparing cooked bacon includes a slicing device, a continuous cure ingredient application station and a continuous cooking station.

This invention relates to a method for preparing cooked or pre-cooked bacon, and more particularly to a method for preparing cooked or pre-cooked bacon in a continuous manufacturing process without a traditional curing and smokehouse process.
Traditional curing is accomplished by injecting salt, either alone on in combination with sodium or potassium nitrite, to the green (uncured and unsmoked) pork belly and allowing it to disperse throughout the meat and allowing the meat to mature in the presence of the curing ingredients. The curing ingredients are commonly incorporated into a brine solution (hereinafter referred to as the "pickle solution" or "cure solution") and pumped directly into the green pork belly under pressure to increase the weight of the meat by about 8% to 15% of its green weight. Pumping the pork belly with cure solution helps the curing ingredients disperse in the meat more rapidly. Alternatively, the cure ingredients can be added as a dry rub to the pork belly or immersing the pork belly in a cure solution.
The cure solution performs several different functions during the curing process and after to provide certain characteristics to the pork belly. Salt acts by dehydration and altering osmotic pressure to inhibit growth of spoilage bacteria. Nitrite retards development of rancidity and produces the characteristic cured meat flavor. It also reacts with the meat pigments to stabilize the color, and most importantly inhibits the growth of Clostridium botulinum and other spoilage microorganisms. The level of nitrite allowed in curing is limited by regulation since nitrite may react with the natural amines of the meat and produce carcinogenic N-nitrosamines. Polyphosphates are also used to buffer the acidity of the liquid cure solution and also to increase the water-binding capacity in cured meats. Sugar and spices are added for flavoring. Traditionally, curing is generally considered to be complete when the curing ingredients in the pickle solution have diffused throughout the meat, and the meat has matured, that is, the color of the cured meat is fixed to a dark pink color and a portion of the water is bound. This typically takes place during smoking.
Smoking of a whole pork belly is carried out for development of a smoky flavor, additional preservation, development of color, and protection from oxidation. The term "smoking" is defined herein as a process of applying smoke to a pork belly at low heat conditions for a long period of time. The time period must be sufficient to bring the weight below about 103% of the green weight and at a temperature that does not render fat of the pork belly. Although smoke has traditionally been generated by smoldering wood or sawdust, liquid smoke is now most commonly used. Liquid smoke is prepared by destructive distillation of wood. The particle phase is removed by washing with water, and leaving the vapor phase in solution. Liquid smoke is applied by spraying, dipping, or atomizing with heat. Liquid smoke is preferred because it can be applied more uniformly. In addition, the use of liquid smoke avoids the necessity of having to clean equipment, and also avoids the health hazards of environmental pollution from smoke vapor.
Smoke (vapor or liquid) contains chemicals, principally aldehydes, phenols, ketones, and acetic acid. These chemicals are instrumental in killing yeast, mold and bacteria, and in retarding future growth. The smoke is deposited on the surface of the meat where it then penetrates the food and distributes the preservative and flavoring elements. Alternatively, the smoke may be injected directly into the meat as an ingredient of the cure solution, thus accelerating the dispersion of the chemicals contained in the smoke.
Low heat conditions for relatively long periods of time are also considered to be essential for proper traditional smoking and curing of a pork belly. Typically, smoking and curing involves placing the injected pork bellies in heated, smoke-laden currents of air in a smokehouse. Where liquid smoke is used in the pickle solution, traditional smoking and curing still requires that the injected pork bellies be heated in a smokehouse at temperatures and for time periods equivalent to those in a smokehouse with smoke vapor. Proper smokehouse temperatures for bacon do not render fat, yet are sufficiently high that moisture is drawn off rapidly. Generally, the temperature of a smokehouse for bacon is less than about 160.degree. F. Typically, the internal temperature of the pork belly is between about 126.degree. F. and about 128.degree. F. The smoking step is complete when the moisture content has been stabilized at a level to provide a smoked, cured and chilled weight below about 103% of the green weight. This ordinarily requires minimum periods of time ranging from about 6 to about 8 hours, although smoking for much longer periods of time is not uncommon. The heat accelerates loss of moisture, thereby contributing to the curing of the meat. Curing decreases microbial growth, enzyme activity, and deteriorative reactions by removing available water in the product. Smoking and curing generally brings the water activity to less than that of a green belly, typically to between about 0.90 and about 0.95. A completely cured and smoked pork belly has a stable reddish color and is firm to the touch.
The resulting cured and smoked pork belly is then conventionally chilled and sold as slab bacon, or further processed and sold as sliced bacon. Chilling brings the temperature of the smoked pork belly down from about 128.degree. F. to between about 15-35.degree. F. Below 35.degree. F., the bacon not only keeps well, but is also firm enough that it can be sliced in a slicing machine and packaged.
Alternatively, slices of the cured and smoked bacon can be partially or fully cooked after the slicing step, and then marketed as pre-cooked or cooked bacon. Bacon is cooked by rapidly applying sufficient energy to render fat. Bacon is generally considered to be pre-cooked when the yield of the bacon is about 36% to 45%. Bacon is considered cooked, or fully cooked, when the yield is about 26% to 36% of the raw product.
As can be readily appreciated, the traditional curing and smoking steps described above are expensive. Not only do these steps require long periods of time, but they also require costly equipment and consume large amounts of energy to maintain the elevated temperatures. These steps also require large facilities to store the inventory of the pork bellies at specific environmental conditions during both the curing and smoking steps.
While some food scientists have recently invented ways around the traditional smoking and curing steps, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,957,756, the prior art has nevertheless considered the traditional step of dispersing the cure to be essential in the manufacture of bacon, especially pre-cooked bacon. The traditional smoking and curing process is even more time-consuming. Injecting pork bellies with cure solution and smoking in a smokehouse requires large storage facilities that require capital to maintain.

Continuous manufacturing process and apparatus for preparing pre-cooked bacon


Particular embodiments store multidimensional block data using a value-bit format. A block of data is determined that includes a first dimension and a second dimension. The occurrences of unique values in the block of data is then determined. If the number of unique values does not violate a threshold, a value-bit format may be used instead of storing the data in a fully-exploded array. In this case, the value for the unique values is stored with an indication of where the unique values occur in the block of data. When a request for a value at an index position in the array is received, the value-bit format is used to retrieve the value requested. A bit that indicates the value that is associated with the index position in the array is determined and that value is returned.

Particular embodiments generally relate to database systems.
Online analytical processing (OLAP) applications are used to provide answers to analytical queries that are multidimensional in nature. Complex analytical and ad hoc queries may be provided by users. Because multidimensional data may organize data in more than two dimensions, a multidimensional data model is used to store the data in a database. A cube has been developed as a model to store multidimensional objects where the cube is stored as multiple blocks of data. The blocks are stored in fully-exploded arrays for different two-dimensional combinations of the multidimensional data. With a large number of dimensions, not all combinations may include data. For example, if a first dimension is a certain product and a second dimension is geographical areas. The sales of a product in different geographical areas over a time period may be requested, but the company may not sell products in all geographical areas. Blocks for these geographical areas will not contain data and are considered sparse. However, for the areas in which a company has a large amount of sales, the blocks include a lot of data and are considered dense. Because the database reserves a fully-exploded array for each combination that is possible, this results in a lot of unused database memory.

Block compression using a value-bit format for storing block-cell values


A photoelectric coupling module includes a fiber module and a lens module. The fiber module defines a number of receiving holes and at least one positioning hole. The lens module includes a main body and at least one positioning pole. The main body includes a lens portion and a receiving portion. The lens portion includes a central portion and an edge portion surrounding the central portion, the central portion includes a plurality of lenses. The receiving portion is positioned on the edge portion. The at least one positioning pole is received in the receiving portion, and is positioned on the edge portion. One end of the fiber module is received in the receiving portion. The at least one positioning pole is received in the at least one positioning hole, and the lenses are aligned with the receiving holes.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to photoelectric technologies and, particularly, to a photoelectric coupling module.
2. Description of Related Art
Photoelectric coupling modules generally include a fiber module and a lens module coupled to the fiber module. The fiber module defines at least one positioning hole. The lens module includes a main body and at least one positioning pole extending outward from the main body. The positioning pole is received in the positioning hole to ensure a coupling accuracy of the fiber module and the lens module. However, as the positioning pole protrudes outward from the main body, and may be easily broke from the main body, which results in the stability of the photoelectric coupling module is decreased.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide a photoelectric coupling module, which can overcome the limitations described.

Photoelectric coupling module with fiber module connected to lens module by positioning pole


The present invention relates to a nitride semiconductor light emitting device using a hybrid buffer layer and a method for fabricating the same which can minimize the lattice mismatch between a buffer layer and a nitride semiconductor. The method for fabricating the nitride semiconductor light emitting device using the hybrid buffer layer includes a first step of forming an AlxGa1-xN(0≦x<1) layer on a substrate, a second step of forming a three-dimensional crystal seed layer made of a material included in a general formula of AlxGa1-xN(0≦x<1) and AlOyNz on the substrate by recrystallizing the substrate with the AlxGa1-xN(0≦x<1) layer thereon, and a third step of forming an AlN nanostructure by annealing the substrate subjected to the second step at NH3 gas atmosphere, thus forming a hybrid buffer layer composed of the three-dimensional crystal seed layer and the AlN nanostructure on the substrate.

A light emitting device using a III-V nitride semiconductor, which can realize a blue-purple color and a blue-green color, has been applied to various fields such as flat panel displays, optical communication, etc.
Generally, the light emitting device using the III-V nitride semiconductor has a structure in which a nitride semiconductor is formed on a substrate. In the case of the light emitting device using the III-V nitride semiconductor, since the substrate and the nitride semiconductor have different lattice constants, if the nitride semiconductor is formed directly on the substrate, a defect concentration of the corresponding nitride semiconductor increases.
In order to solve the foregoing problem, a method for forming a buffer layer on a substrate prior to the stacking of a nitride semiconductor has been used to minimize defect generation during the succeeding nitride semiconductor formation. The process of forming the buffer layer will be described.
FIG. 1 is a sectional view explaining a conventional method for forming a buffer layer, and FIG. 2 is a photograph showing a surface of a substrate after the recrystallization during the formation of the conventional buffer layer.
The conventional buffer layer is formed by a process of forming low-temperature AlxGa1-xN(0≦x<1) on the substrate and recrystallizing the low-temperature AlxGa1-xN at ammonia (NH3) gas atmosphere. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the buffer layer composed of three-dimensional AlxGa1-xN(0≦x<1) seeds 102 in which the low-temperature AlxGa1-xN has been recrystallized is formed on the substrate 101 via the above process.
Meanwhile, when the recrystallized three-dimensional AlxGa1-xN seeds 102 are formed on the substrate 101, the corresponding recrystallized three-dimensional AlxGa1-xN seeds 102 are not uniformly distributed over the entire substrate 101. Therefore, after the recrystallization, the buffer layer, i.e., the three-dimensional AlxGa1-xN(0≦x<1) seeds 102 are formed in some areas of the substrate 101. Referring to FIG. 2, the three-dimensional AlxGa1-xN(0≦x<1) seeds are not formed over the entire substrate, and the substrate is exposed as it is in the areas other than the areas in which the three-dimensional AlxGa1-xN(0≦x<1) seeds have been formed.
In addition, the recrystallization of the low-temperature AlxGa1-xN is performed at NH3 gas atmosphere. The substrate in the areas in which the recrystallized three-dimensional AlxGa1-xN seeds do not exist is reacted with NH3 gas during the recrystallization. Normally, a sapphire (Al2O3) substrate is employed as the substrate. In this situation, the surface of the sapphire substrate is reacted with NH3 gas, and thus AlOyNz 103 is formed in some areas of the sapphire substrate as shown in FIG. 1.
The AlOyNz 103 formed in some areas of the substrate during the recrystallization has the lattice mismatch with a nitride semiconductor 104 formed via the succeeding process. Such lattice mismatch degrades the crystallinity of the nitride semiconductor 104.

Nitride semiconductor LED using a hybrid buffer layer and a fabrication method therefor


The invention relates to a drive arrangement of a wiper device for windows of motor vehicles with at least two swivel-mounted wiper arms (18, 20) that are connected to one another via a crank mechanism, wherein one of the wiper arms (18) is directly coupled with a driven shaft (16) of an electromotive drive (10).

The invention relates to a drive arrangement of a wiper device for windows of motor vehicles.
Various designs of drive arrangements for windshield wiper devices of motor vehicles are known. A known arrangement is comprised of the transfer of rotary propulsion of an electric motor into a rotating movement of a wiper arm axis with two end positions. This transmission typically takes place by means of a crank mechanism.
Since most of the time a windshield wiper device is made up of two wiper arms that can be swiveled in a parallel direction, a second wiper arm is coupled with the first by means of a crank and rocker linkage or the like. The kinematics of this coupling can take the various paths of motion of the two wiper arms into consideration since, to increase the wiper field on the window, oftentimes one of the two wiper arms describes a greater slewing angle than the other.

Drive arrangement for a wiper device for windows of motor vehicles


Producing complicated effects based on image processing operations. The image processing operations are defined for a processor which may be different than the processor which is actually used. The processor that is actually used runs an interpreter that interprets the information into its own language, and then runs the image processing. The actual information is formed according to a plurality of layers which are combined in some way so that each layer can effect the layers below it. For example, the layers may add to, subtract from, or form transparency to the layer below it or make color filtering the layer below it. This enables many different effects computed and precompiled for a hypothetical processor, and a different processor can be used to combine and render those effects.

Stage lighting effects have become increasingly complex, and are increasingly handled using more and more computing power. During a show, commands for various lights are often produced by a console which controls the overall show. The console has a number of encoders and controls which may be used to control any number of lights.
Complex effects may be controlled by the console. Typically each effect is individual for each light that is controlled.


A pull handle (1) to unlock a lock of a vehicle door or lift-gate having a pull handle housing (1a) with a bearing part (2) for securing on a vehicle door or lift-gate and a handle part (3) connected to the bearing part (2) rotatable around a rotation axis (170). The handle part (3) is rotatable by pulling from a non-activated to an activated position. An activation mechanism (4) mounted in the pull handle housing (1a) unlocks the lock, and can be activated by pulling on the handle part (3) and having a coupling element (56, 146) mounted in the pull handle housing (1a) to couple with external elements to unlock the lock. A locking mechanism (5) is located completely in the pull handle housing (1a) and the activation mechanism (4) can be disabled so that a pulling on the handle part (3) does not unlock the lock.

A vehicle lock of the above referenced type is known for example from DE 10 2006 012 956 A1. The vehicle lock features as described therein two catches between which a locking bolt can be accommodated. In the locked position of the vehicle lock the catches so enclose the locking bolt that the vehicle door is held in its locked position. The two catches are thereby held in their position holding the locking bolt by two pawls. The pawls lock the catches. This locking can be undone by means of an activating lever. The activating lever engages into the lock box. A rotation of the activation lever causes the pawls to release the catches and these in turn release the locking bolt.
The unlocking of a vehicle lock, namely in the case of DE 10 2006 012 956 A1 the activation of the activating lever, can thereby occur, for example, by means of a pressure knob or a pull handle. The pressure knob or the pull handle then features an activation mechanism to release the lock which in the case of DE 10 2006 012 956 A1 is associated with the activation lever. The activation mechanism can thereby be locked and unlocked, for example, by means of a cylinder lock. If the activating mechanism is blocked, the lock can no longer be unlocked.
A vehicle pull handle is known for example from DE 103 43 355 B4. This pull handle features a bearing housing with a mounting base plate, an activation handle connected to the mounting base plate so as to rotate, as well as an activation mechanism to release the catch lock. The activation handle is mounted on a pin which is also mounted on the mounting base plate. A spring unit presses the activation handle into its non-activated, normal position. The activation mechanism of the pull handle features a connecting element which is permanently connected to the activation handle and thus turns with it during activation. The connecting element thereby penetrates through a recess in the bearing housing and the mounting base plate and stands in a direct functional connection with the rotary latch lock. The pull handle also features a locking mechanism with a cylinder lock by means of which the activation mechanism can be locked. A locking strip of the locking mechanism is brought into a position, by means of a rotation of the cylinder using a suitable key, in which it blocks the movement of the activating handle. An activation of the activating handle is then no longer possible. The locking strip is thereby positioned outside of the bearing housing.
The object of this invention is to make available a pull handle for a vehicle door or lift-gate, in particular a vehicle door or lift-gate of an agricultural vehicle, for example, a tractor or construction machine which is functionally secure and easily attachable to a lock.
The object is attained by a pull handle as described herein.


Methods and systems are described herein for a media guidance application that selects a control scheme based on a number of user input types that are distinguishable based on brain activity monitored by a user device. For example, if the media guidance application determines that only two different user input types may be based on brain activity, the media guidance application will select a control scheme that only requires two different functions to select any available media guidance application operations.

Users today have a plethora of options associated with accessing media content. For example, interactive television menus require users to navigate menus and sub-menus, select content, and/or authorize special functions (e.g., fast-forwards, pauses, etc.). To allow users to fully interact with such menus, remote controls typically feature numerous buttons, each associated with distinct user commands (e.g., volume control buttons, fast-forward, pause, rewind buttons, a set of arrow keys, etc.).
Recently, developments in detecting and monitoring brain activity have allowed specialized equipment to distinguish one type of brain activity from another. Despite these advances, controlling access to media (e.g., replacing a traditional remote control and its numerous buttons) with equipment used to detect brain activity faces a substantial hurdle—a distinguishing enough types of brain activity in order to have each user command formally associated with one of the numerous buttons on a remote control mapped to a distinctive type of brain activity.

Methods and systems for selecting customized control schemes based on brain activity


A text message generated at a sending device is converted into audio form by a message-conversion system for delivery to a target recipient. This conversion is effected in a manner enabling emotions, encoded by indicators embedded in the text message, to be expressed through multiple types of presentation feature in the audio form of the message. The mapping of emotions to feature values is pre-established for each feature type whilst the sender selection of one or more feature types to be used to express encoded emotions is specified by type indications inserted into the message at its time of generation.

Mobile telephony systems such as GSM systems generally provide a short message service (SMS) by which a mobile user can send and receive short alphanumeric ("text") messages of several tens of characters. Thus, for example, the GSM standard provides a "Mobile Terminating Short Message Service, Point to Point" (SMS-MT/PP) for the reception of short messages and a "Mobile Originating Short Message Service, Point to Point" (SMS-MO/PP) enabling a mobile user to send a short message to another party, such as another mobile user. Mobile-originating short messages are generally created using a keypad of the mobile device concerned whilst mobile terminating short messages will generally be presented to the recipient via a display of the receiving mobile device.
As regards the architecture of the mobile network needed to support short message services, due to the simplicity and brevity of the short messages concerned, the messages do not require the use of a traffic channel of the mobile network for their transfer, and are, instead, carried by control or management channels. Typically, the network will have an associated short message service centre (SM-SC) which interfaces with the network through specific mobile switching centres acting as SMS gateways. Thus, a mobile-originating messages is passed from a mobile device via a mobile switching centre to the SM-SC, whilst mobile-terminating short messages are passed from the SM-SC via a mobile switching centre to the target mobile device. The SM-SC itself can be provided with a wide range of service functionalities for storing and handling short messages; thus, for example, the SM-SC will generally store incoming mobile-terminating messages until the target mobile device is live to the network and able to receive messages, whilst for mobile-originating messages which are not intended or another mobile device, the SM-SC may provide for conversion of the messages into e-mail for sending on via an e-mail system.
Because of the fact that short messages do not use a traffic channel and generally take up little overhead, the operator charges for using SMS are relatively low. This has made SMS a popular service, particularly with younger persons. However, one problem experienced by the mobile user when using SMS is that the process of generating a short message is generally very tedious because of the restricted nature of the user input interface (a small keypad) provided on most mobile phones. Thus, since the number of keypad keys is less than the number of alphanumeric characters available, double, triple or even higher multiple keying is normally required for each character.
Because voice output is a very convenient way for a recipient to receive messages, particularly when the recipient is already visually occupied (such as when driving a vehicle) or where the recipient is visually impaired, systems are available for converting text messages into speech output. U.S. Pat. No. 5,475,738 describes one such system for converting e-mails to voice messages and U.S. Pat. No. 5,950,123 describes a system specifically adapted for converting SMS messages to speech output.
Of course, interpretation issues arise when effecting conversion of text to speech and, in particular, problems can arise with acronyms and other character combinations which have meanings to a restricted group. SMS messages in particular abound with all sorts of short-form character combinations (such as "cul8r" for "see you later") that are difficult for a text-to-speech converter to handle because such character combinations are non-standard and quick to emerge (and disappear). Another example are so-called "smilies" which are character combinations that supposedly form a graphical depiction of an emotion (thus, the character combination: :->represents a smiling face, often used to imply humour); how a smilie should be handled by a text-to-speech converter is far from clear.
Apart from the conversion of message text to speech, little else is done to enhance the audio presentation of text messages though in this context it may be noted that the use of melodies to announce message arrival is well known, the melodies being either downloaded to the receiving device or locally composed (see, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,739,759 and 6075,998). It is also well known to use an audio mark-up language to mark-up information pages, such as web pages, in order to specify certain characteristics of audio presentation of such pages. In the same context, the use of audio style sheets has also been proposed (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,899,975).
It is an object of the present invention to provide improved ways of presenting text messages in audio form.

Audio-form presentation of text messages

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A bassinet having compartments is provided. The bassinet can be hung on a baby play yard and comprises a peripheral main body and an inner partition, which is characterized in that the inner partition is adapted to divide the peripheral main body into a baby sleeping space and peripheral compartments for receiving articles.

Many kinds of bassinet structures are already well known (as shown in FIG. 1A) and most of them are in the form of a rectangular construction. A baby can lie on such kind of bassinet and be taken care by his parents or babysitter. However, among the existing bassinet structures, only one baby sleeping space is provided on the bassinet without forming any further compartments. Since there are plenty of articles necessary for a baby, such as feeding bottle, diapers, towels, clothes, toys or the like, there is a shortcoming in having insufficient space for accommodating these articles when using the above kind of bassinet. As a result, some other kinds of bassinets have been proposed, in which the necessaries for the baby can be disposed in a space formed between the bassinet and the baby play yard. However, if the necessaries for the baby are disposed under the bassinet, it is more or less inconvenient for a user to get these articles.
Further, as shown in FIG. 1B, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,539,563 and 6,192,535 each disclosed a bassinet structure for a baby play yard, in which the bassinet is mainly divided into left and right portions, i.e. a baby sleeping space M and a compartment N for receiving articles, respectively. However, such division of bassinet limits the length of a baby to be shorter than the width of the bassinet. That is to say, such bassinet is not suitable to a baby whose length is longer. In addition, such division of bassinet is more complicated in structure and thus results in a higher cost. Therefore, there is a need to provide a bassinet capable of receiving articles, easy to get articles and low in cost.

Abstract: With the above arrangement, a user can still dispose the necessaries for the baby in the peripheral compartments on the bassinet even when the baby lies thereon. Since the compartments and the baby sleeping space are in the same plane as the bottom of the bassinet, it is convenient for the user to take the articles without lifting the bassinet.


A dynamic bearing device is provided, which can prevent abrasion powder generated when a sealing member is pushed into an inner circumference of a housing from entering the housing. A sealing member is inserted into an inner circumference of an opening of a housing with an adhesive interposed therebetween The adhesive moving forward in a pushing direction of the sealing member is retained by a capillary action in a lower tapered space between an outer circumference of the sealing member and the inner circumference of the housing. Abrasion powder is captured by the adhesive in the tapered space so as to be confined in the adhesive as a result of the setting of the adhesive.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a dynamic bearing device for rotatably supporting a shaft member in a non-contact manner by a dynamic pressure effect of a lubricating oil, generated in a bearing gap. The bearing device is suitable for: a spindle motor for information equipment, for example, a magnetic disk device such as an HDD or an FDD, an optical disk device for a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a CD-RW a DVD-ROM, a DVD-RAM or the like, and a magneto-optical disk device for an MD, an MO or the like; a polygon scanner motor for a laser beam printer (LBP); and a small motor for electric equipment, for example, an axial fan and the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
The above-mentioned various motors are required to operate not only with high rotational accuracy but also at higher speed, lower cost, and lower noise. One of the components determining the required performance is a bearing for supporting a spindle of the motor. As this type of bearing, a dynamic pressure bearing having characteristics excellent in the above-mentioned required performance has been considered for use or has been put into practical use in recent years.
For example, in a dynamic bearing device incorporated into a spindle motor for a disk driving device such as an HDD, the following dynamic pressure bearing is used. The dynamic pressure bearing includes: a radial bearing portion for rotatably supporting a shaft member in a radial direction in a non-contact manner; and a thrust bearing portion for rotatably supporting the shaft member in a thrust direction in a non-contact manner. As the radial bearing portion of the dynamic pressure bearing, a groove for generating a dynamic pressure (a dynamic pressure generating groove) is provided in an inner circumferential face of a bearing sleeve or an outer circumferential face of the shaft member. As the thrust bearing portion, for example, a dynamic pressure bearing including dynamic pressure generating grooves formed in both end faces of a flange portion of the shaft member or surfaces opposed thereto (an end face of the bearing sleeve, an end face of a thrust member fixed to a housing and the like) is used (for example, Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-061641).
The bearing sleeve is normally fixed at a predetermined position on an inner circumference of the housing. In order to prevent a lubricating oil supplied to an internal space of the housing from being externally leaked, a sealing member is sometimes attached onto an inner circumference of an opening at one end of the housing.
The housing used in this type of dynamic bearing device normally includes: a cylindrical side; and a bottom provided at one end of the side. The bottom is not only integrally formed with the side but is also fixed to an inner circumference of one end of the side as a bottom member independent of the side in some cases.
Each of the components of these dynamic bearing devices is cleaned after fabrication so as to remove fine metal powder such as cut powder generated in processing.
In the above-described dynamic bearing devices, press-fitting is conceivable as general means of fixing the sealing member onto the inner circumference of the housing. In press-fitting, however, there is a possibility that abrasion powder such as fine metal power or resin powder (hereinafter, collectively referred to as "abrasion powder") is generated by a sliding friction between an outer circumference of the sealing member and an inner circumference of the housing along with the press-fitting so as to enter the housing. The abrasion powder entering the housing gets mixed with a lubricating fluid to enter the bearing portion, thereby adversely affecting the performance or the lifetime of the bearing.
Even in the case where the sealing member is fixed by a method other than the press-fitting, there is still a possibility that scoring occurs between the outer circumference of the sealing member and the inner circumference of the housing when the sealing member is pushed into the inner circumference of the housing to similarly generate the abrasion powder.
Although the press-fitting is also general as means of fixing the bottom member onto the inner circumference of one end of the housing, there is a possibility that the above-mentioned abrasion powder is similarly generated by a sliding friction between the outer circumference of the bottom member and the inner circumference of the housing to enter the housing.
An object of the present invention is to prevent the abrasion powder from entering the housing.


An apparatus has an image sensing device, and a signal processing device for performing a first image sensing operation for making the image sensing device perform an image sensing operation in an exposure state to obtain a sensed image signal, and a second image sensing operation for making the image sensing device perform an image sensing operation in a non-exposure state to obtain a sensed image signal, and processing the sensed image signal obtained by the first image sensing operation by the sensed image signal obtained by the second image sensing operation. The signal processing device determines in accordance with the image sensing time of the first image sensing operation whether or not the second image sensing operation is performed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image sensing apparatus for sensing a still image and/or moving image.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, image sensing apparatuses such as electronic cameras and the like, which record/play back still images and moving images sensed by a solid-state image sensing element such as a CCD or the like using memory cards having solid-state memory elements as recording media, have already been commercially available.
In an electronic camera using such solid-state image sensing element such as a CCD or the like, a dark noise correction process can be done by computations using dark image data which is read out after charge accumulation in the same manner as in actual image sensing while the image sensing element is not exposed, and actually sensed image data which is read out after charge accumulation while the image sensing element is exposed.
With this process, sensed image data can be corrected for image quality deterioration such as pixel omission or the like caused by dark current noise produced by the image sensing element and small scratches unique to the image sensing element, thus obtaining a high-quality sensed image.
Especially, since dark current noise increases with increasing charge accumulation time and temperature rise of the image sensing element, if exposure for a long period of time (seconds) or at high temperature is done, a great image quality improvement effect can be obtained, and the dark noise correction process is a function useful for the electronic camera users.
In this manner, since dark current noise increases with increasing charge accumulation time and temperature rise of the image sensing element, dark image data is re-captured using the charge accumulation time of the image sensing element in units of image sensing processes.
For this reason, when actual image sensing is done after dark image data is captured, the shutter release time lag becomes longer by the dark image sensing time, thus missing a shutter chance.
On the other hand, when dark image data is captured after actual image sensing, the image sensing interval between the first and second frames is prolonged by the dark image sensing time in the continuous shot mode. As a result, constant image sensing frame intervals cannot be set.
Furthermore, in either case, since the dark image capture process is repeated upon each image sensing, the consumption power increases accordingly.

Imaging system where a quick return mirror is returned to a down state and a stop is returned to a fully open state before the accumulation period ends


The invention relates to an electro-surgical treatment instrument with a der 16 connectable to a radio frequency generator with two electrodes 11, 12 being arranged at the proximal end of the holder which can be brought into contact with the tissue of a patient, which are mutually insulated relative to one another and which are fed with rf-voltage. A cutting electrode 13 is centrally provided.

The invention relates to an electro-surgical treatment instrument comprising a holder connectable to a high frequency generator with at least two electrodes provided at the proximal end of the holder which can be brought into contact with the tissue of a patient.
In a known treatment instrument of this kind, (DE 34 23 352 C2) the two electrodes are arranged alongside one another with respect to the axis of the treatment instrument and formed as the branches of a pair of tweezers. In this way, tissue regions of a patient which can be grasped in a tweezer-like manner with the electrodes can be subjected to bi-polar coagulation.
If, however, tissue regions are to be coagulated which cannot simply be grasped in a simple tweezer-like manner, then coagulation requires very much attention and skill on behalf of the operator. This is because he must then select the electrode spacing necessary for bi-polar coagulation by pressing the tweezer-like electrodes together and adapt it as necessary to the resulting coagulation.

Delma elektro-und medizinische Apparatebau Gesellschaft mbH


For a computer system having a central processing unit, an external storage unit which records data in a count-key-data (CKD) format, and a storage control unit with a cache memory for controlling data transfer between the external storage unit and the central processing unit, a computer system and data search method is provided which can prevent the performance of the central processing unit from being lowered and can eliminate signal transfer between the central processing unit and storage control unit during most of a data search operation period, by disconnecting the storage control unit from the central processing unit. During the data search operation, upon reception of a search command for the first record, a quasi completion report is issued to disconnect the storage control unit from the central processing unit. The storage control unit executes the search operation by using data loaded in the cache memory of the storage control unit. After data is searched, a search completion report is issued. Since the storage control unit is disconnected from the central processing unit during most of the data search operation period, the central processing unit is not occupied during this period by the storage control unit. Signal transfer is therefore unnecessary between the central processing unit and storage control unit during the data search operation period, making it possible to elongate a physical distance between the central processing unit and storage control unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of searching data sets (data of a collection of members constituted by a kind of sequential data set) stored in an external storage unit of a computer system, and more particularly to a method of searching data recorded in a count-key-data format.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a conventional computer system. This computer system includes a central processing unit 1 (hereinafter abbreviated as CPU 1), a storage control unit 2 (hereinafter abbreviated as DKC 2), and an external storage unit (hereinafter abbreviated as DKU 3). DKC 2 has a controller 4 for providing a function of issuing a quasi-completion report and a function of automatically and continuously performing a search operation. In some cases, the computer system has a cache memory 6 for temporarily storing data.
A count-key-data format is known as one of the data record formats of an external storage unit of such a computer system. With this format, a certain number of variable length records are stored in one track. One record is constituted by: a count field for storing an address of its record and the lengths of a key field and a data field respectively allocated after the count field; the key field for storing a key representative of an identification of the record; and the data field for storing data.
FIG. 2 shows a count-key-data format for searching data of a collection of members constituted by a kind of sequential data set. In FIG. 2, C represents a count field, K represents a key field, and D represents a data field. If a data format allows to discriminate data in a data field from other data fields by using data in its key field, as in the case of data constituted by members stored in a directory of partitioned organization data sets, a search operation is performed, for example, by reading the data stored in the key fields 23 to 25 without reading all the data stored in the records 20 to 22.
In a computer system having a central processing unit, a storage control unit, and an external storage unit with the count-key-data format, if the external storage unit has no cache memory, the central processing unit issues a search command for the count-key field of each record during the search operation. On the other hand, the storage control unit receives a search command, searches data, and sends a search completion report for each record. Data read from the external storage unit is temporarily stored in a data buffer of the storage control unit, for the search operation.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating conventional data search operation and control signal transfer when DKC 2 has no cache memory or when DKC 2 has a cache memory and there is a cache miss for search data.
At the connection state of DKC 2 and CPU 1, search data instructed by CPU 1 for each key field is compared with data in the key field read from DKU 3. If this comparison indicates that the data in the key field is equal to, or larger than, member data instructed by CPU 1, a search completion report for the data in the key field is supplied to CPU 1. In accordance with data read from the key fields (collection of members) and member data instructed by CPU 1, the record locations of data sets on DKU 3 are identified and these data sets are subjected to a further process.
Even if the comparison indicates that the data in the key field is smaller than the member data instructed by CPU 1, the search completion report for the data in the key field is supplied to CPU 1. In this case, a search operation for the key field of the next record is performed. If the comparison condition between member data and key field data is not satisfied even after the search process of the last record in the track, DKC 2 starts the search process for the next track (key field search, i.e., comparison) upon reception of an instruction from CPU 1. In this manner, DKC 2 supplies CPU 1 with completion reports (channel END, device END) of processes by DKC 2 inclusive of DKU 3, each time one key field is searched, irrespective of whether or not the comparison condition is satisfied.
In FIG. 3, DKC 2 reads records 30 to 32 from DKU 3 and compares the data in the key fields 33 to 35 of these records with member data instructed by CPU 1. The order of processing is the ascending order of record numbers (30.fwdarw.31.fwdarw.32). CPU 1 issues a key search command 36, and in response to this DKC 2 performs the search operation for the record 30 and issues a completion report 37 to CPU 1 irrespective whether or not the comparison condition is satisfied. If the comparison condition is satisfied, DKC 2 starts reading data in the data field D 38. If not satisfied, another key search command 39 is issued for the key field 34 of the next record 31 to repeat a search process for the key field 34 and a completion report 40. In this manner, until the comparison condition is satisfied, search processes for the key fields of succeeding records are sequentially executed, and DKC 2 receives a search command and returns a completion report for each record.
In IBM manual GG24-3886-00, IBM Storage Subsystem Enhancements, a search process is disclosed in which, if data is already stored in a cache memory of a storage control unit (if there is a cache hit), the search operation continues using this data under the operation of the storage control unit, while the central processing unit maintains connection to the storage control unit.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating conventional search operation and signal transfer when DKC 2 has a cache memory and there is a cache hit. Upon reception of a search instruction from CPU 1, DKC 2 returns a cache hit report 45. Thereafter, CPU 1 issues a key search command for the first record. After the search operation for the data in the cache memory is completed by the operation of DKC 2, a completion report 46 is issued to CPU 1. During this search operation 47 by DKC 2, although CPU 1 and DKC 2 maintain connection, there is no signal transfer therebetween for each key field (each record).
Even if the cache memory 6 does not store data (even if there is no cache hit), CPU 1 issues a search command for each record and DKC 2 reads data from DKU 3 and searches while using the cache memory 6, and thereafter issues the search completion report.
Therefore, CPU 1 is occupied by a particular DKC 2 during the data search operation, irrespective of whether DKC 2 uses a cache memory or whether there is a cache hit.
Apart from the above, DKC 2 with a cache memory can load data from DKU 3 into the cache memory by disconnecting DKC 2 from CPU 1 (generally called off-line load).

Data search method wherein the court-key-data (CKD) storage subsystem disconnects from the central processing unit when searching