Amino alcohol derivatives with a primary amino group or a substituted amino group influence the synthesis of glycolipids and have antiviral, antitumor, metastasis inhibiting and neural cell growth enhancing functions. The amino alcohol derivatives are useful in preparing 2-acylamino alcohol derivatives.

A 2-acylamino alcohol derivative, 2-decanoylamino-3-morpholino-1-phenyl-1-propanol (hereinafter referred to as "PDMP"), represented by the following formula: ##STR1## has an activity to control biosynthesis of glycolipids, but the activity is greatly different among its four stereoisomers. Therefore, separation of its optically active isomers is carried out by a method in which decanoylaminoacetophenone is condensed with morpholine by Mannich reaction and then reduced with sodium borohydride to obtain PDMP as a mixture of four stereoisomers, resolution of the diastereomers is effected by a crystallization method and then optical resolution of the racemic compounds is effected by a crystallization method (J. Lipid. Res., 28:565-571 (1987), and Advances in Lipid Research, 26:183-213 (1993)).

Amino alcohol derivative and method for preparing the same


Methods and apparatus are provided for estimating a location of a plurality of wireless terminals. Signal strength measurements are obtained for at least one packet transmitted by each of the wireless terminals; and a Bayesian algorithm is applied to the signal strength measurements to estimate the location of each wireless terminal. In an infrastructure-based deployment, signal strength measurements are obtained from one or more signal monitors. In a client-based model, signal strength measurements are obtained from a client associated with a respective wireless terminal.

The growth of wireless networking has generated commercial and research interest in statistical methods to track people and things. Inside stores, hospitals, warehouses, and factories, where Global Positioning System devices generally do not work, Indoor Positioning Systems (IPS) aim to provide location estimates for wireless devices such as laptop computers, handheld devices, and electronic badges. The proliferation of "Wi-Fi" (IEEE 802.11b) wireless internet access in cafes, college campuses, airports, hotels, and homes has generated particular interest in indoor positioning systems that utilize physical attributes of Wi-Fi signals. Typical applications include tracking equipment and personnel in hospitals, providing location-specific information in supermarkets, museums, and libraries, and location-based access control.
In a standard Wi-Fi implementation, one or more access points serve end-users. Wi-Fi location estimation can employ one or more of several physical attributes of the medium, such as received signal strength (RSS) from the access points, the angle of arrival of the signal, and the time difference of arrival. A number of techniques have been proposed or suggested that use RSS for location estimation in wireless networks. See, for example, P. Bahl et al., "RADAR: An In-Building RF-Based User Location and Tracking System," Proc. of IEEE Infocom 2000, Tel Aviv, Israel (March, 2000); or T. Roos et al., "A Statistical Modeling Approach to Location Estimation," IEEE Transactions on Mobile Computing, 1, 59-69 (2002).
In a laboratory setting, RSS decays linearly with log distance and a simple triangulation using RSS from three access points can uniquely identify a location in a two-dimensional space. In practice, however, physical characteristics of a building, such as walls, elevators, and furniture, as well as human activity, add significant noise to RSS measurements. Consequently, statistical approaches to location estimation prevail.
Supervised learning techniques are typically employed in statistical approaches to location estimation. The training data comprise vectors of signal strengths, one for each of a collection of known locations. The dimension of each vector equals the number of access points. The corresponding location could be one-dimensional (e.g., location on a long airport corridor), two-dimensional (e.g., location on one floor of a museum), or three-dimensional (e.g., location within a multi-story office building).
Two types of location estimation systems exist. In a client-based deployment, the client measures the signal strengths as seen by it from various access points. The client uses this information to locate itself. The cost to an enterprise for such deployments is the cost of profiling the site, building the model, and maintaining the model. In an infrastructure-based deployment, the administrator deploys so-called sniffing devices that monitor the signal strength from clients. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/776,058, filed Feb. 11, 2004 and entitled "Estimating the Location of Inexpensive Wireless Terminals by Using Signal Strength Measurements," incorporated by reference herein, discloses a system for estimating the location of wireless terminals using such sniffing devices. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/776,588, filed Feb. 11, 2004 and entitled "Estimating the Location of Wireless Terminals In A Multistory Environment," incorporated by reference herein, discloses a system for estimating the location of wireless terminals on multiple floors.
The cost to enterprises in such deployments is the typically modest cost of deploying the necessary hardware and software, and the time and effort to build and maintain the model (if it is not completely automated). Collecting the location data is labor intensive, requiring physical distance measurements with respect to a reference object, such as a wall. Furthermore, even in normal office environments, changing environmental, building, and occupancy conditions can affect signal propagation and require repeated data gathering to maintain predictive accuracy. The model building phase then learns a predictive model that maps signal strength vectors to locations. A number of supervised learning methods have been applied to this problem, including nearest neighbor methods, support vector machines, and assorted probabilistic techniques.
A need therefore exists for improved location estimation techniques that can provide accurate location estimates without location information in the training data. A further need therefore exists for location estimation techniques that do not require profiling.

Method and apparatus for positioning a set of terminals in an indoor wireless environment


A utility meter configured for connection to an AC power line includes a meter housing with a plurality of electronic components arranged within the meter housing and configured to provide consumption data. A power supply is also arranged within the meter housing. The power supply is configured to receive an AC voltage from the AC power line and supply a DC voltage to the electronic components. An AC line voltage booster is positioned connected to the power supply. The AC line voltage booster is configured to increase the voltage from the AC power line received by the power supply.

Utilities, including electrical, water, and gas utilities monitor customer consumption through meters. In particular, electrical utilities monitor electrical energy consumption, water utilities monitor water consumption, and gas utilities monitor gas consumption. Utilities use the consumption information primarily for billing, but also for resource allocation planning and other purposes.
Modern utility meters, including electricity meters, typically include numerous solid state electronics components and associated electronic devices including sensor devices, data processors, microcontrollers, memory devices, clocks, and communications devices. These electronic devices are used for various purposes within the meter, including consumption calculation, data storage, and communications. In association with these electronic devices, the utility meters also include a power supply configured to provide DC power to the electronic devices.
A typical onboard power supply utilized in electricity meters is a wide range switching power supply. A single wide range switching power supply may supply the power for the solid state electronics components including data acquisition hardware and communications hardware. Switching power supplies also store DC energy used to sustain operation of the meter for some limited amount of time in the event of a power-down event.
Most utility meters are configured for use with AC power line voltages of 96 Vrms or more (e.g., 96 Vrms to 552 Vrms on the supply line). However, in some instances a utility meter may be connected to a supply line that provides significantly less than 96 Vrms. A low voltage line providing less than 96 Vrms (e.g., a line providing 40 Vrms) may occur when there is a problem with electricity production from the utility provider, with transmission equipment in the power distribution grid, or in substation metering applications outside the U.S. market.


A CMOS image sensor for improving light sensitivity and peripheral brightness ratio, and a method for fabricating the same. The CMOS image sensor includes a substrate on which a light sensor and device isolating insulation films are formed, in which the top of the substrate is coated with a plurality of metal layers and oxide films; a plurality of reflective layers formed inside the metal layers, each being spaced apart; a color filter embedded in a groove formed by etching the oxide films inside the reflective layers by a predetermined thickness; a plurality of protrusions formed on both sides of the top of the color filter, each arranged at a predetermined distance from one another; a flat layer formed on the top of the protrusions and the oxide films; and a micro-lens formed on the top of the flat layer. The reflective layer disposed at the top of the photodiode is made of a material having a high reflectance and low absorptivity. Therefore, light incident on the virtual focus plane on the top portion of the reflective layer converges on the photodiode, and thus, the light sensitivity of the sensor is greatly improved.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to a high sensitivity complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor and a method for fabricating the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to a CMOS image sensor having excellent photosensitivity and picture quality by gathering a greater amount of light incident outside the sensor to thereby improve its peripheral brightness ratio.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, an image sensor is a semiconductor device which converts an optical image to an electric signal. There are two types of image sensors: charge coupled devices (CCDs) and complementary metal-oxide semiconductors (CMOS) image sensors.
Particularly, a CCD is a device having closely arranged metal-oxide-silicon (hereinafter referred to as 'MOS') capacitors in which charge carriers are stored respective MOS capacitors and transferred. A CMOS image sensor utilizes CMOS technology employing a control circuit and a signal processing circuit as peripheral circuits for forming as many MOS transistors as the sum of existing pixel numbers in the peripheral circuit. In using these MOS transistors, the CMOS image sensor adopts a switching mode which sequentially senses outputs.
So far, the CCD has been the image sensor receiving the most attention, and it is still used broadly in many applications including digital cameras and camera phones. However, with recent rapid popularization of camera phones, there is a need for low-power consumption. To keep abreast of this trend, investigators have now turned their attention to the CMOS image sensor. This is because the CMOS image sensor can be easily produced using a general CMOS process for fabricating silicon semiconductors, has a small in size and is cost effective, and has low power consumption. Even though it is apparent that the CMOS image sensor is excellent as a portable sensor because of its high degree of integration and low power consumption, the CMOS image sensor has very low photosensitivity compared to a related art CCD. There have been a number of studies which seek to overcome this problem. Meanwhile, another recent tendency is to reduce size of mobile equipment including camera phones. Accordingly, an image optical system housed in a camera phone needs to have a compact size and high picture quality. For example, as the total number of pixels of the CMOS used in a camera phone increases to 300,000, 1 million, 1.3 million, 2 million, 3 million and so forth, the pixel size of a sensor must gradually decrease. Also, the diagonal length of the image sensor must be short if the image module is to have a compact size. Along with these trends, the back focal length is also being made shorter. Because of this, the incident angle of light passing through an edge of the CMOS is getting larger. In other words, the brightness ratio of light incident on the central part to the edge of the CMOS (hereinafter, referred to as a "peripheral brightness ratio") is reduced in proportion to the back focal length of a lens. This phenomenon is observed not only in the CMOS but also in the CCD. In effect, it is one of the largest concerns related to sensors that needs to be resolved.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an image sensor having an improved photosensitivity disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,667,092. Referring to FIG. 1, to improve the photosensitivity in a related art CCD image sensor, micro lenses ML are deposited on the upper portion of photodiodes PD. In general, the photodiode PD occupies only a certain part of the pixel area of the image sensor. Therefore, the fill factor occupied by the photodiode in the pixel area is less than 1, and accordingly, part of the incident light is inevitably lost. Micro lenses ML are disposed on the upper portion of the photodiodes PD to condense the lost incident light and thus, to increase the quantity of light focused on the photodiodes PD.
FIG. 2 comparatively illustrates a light source that is incident perpendicularly to the sensor of FIG. 1 (FIG. 2A), and an incident light source forming an inclined angle with the sensor of FIG. 1 (FIG. 2B). When the focus position of the micro-lens ML is formed on the photodiode PD, the light incident perpendicularly to the micro-lens ML fully converges on the photodiode PD. However, if the incident light is tilted so that it strikes the micro-lens ML at an angle, a certain deviation length occurs. This phenomenon is observed in light beams incident upon the center and peripheral sides of the sensor, and is a main cause of deterioration of the peripheral brightness ratio of the image sensor. The best-known answer so far to solve the peripheral brightness ratio problem is to reduce the size of the micro-lens.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an image sensor disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,601,390. Particularly, FIG. 3A illustrates a state in which the optical axes of the micro lenses ML and the optical axes of the photodiodes PD are not coincident, wherein a mask for use in fabricating the micro-lens ML is reduced by a certain ratio. FIG. 3B illustrates a state in which light is incident at a certain angle because of the non-coincident optical axes of the micro-lens ML and the photodiode PD, where the incident light converges on a photodiode PD. In the case of the image sensor illustrated in FIG. 3, the optical axes of the micro-lens ML and the photodiode PD become more distant from each other at the periphery of the sensor than at its center. In this manner, more light can be gathered that is incident at the periphery of the sensor, and the peripheral brightness ratio can be improved. However, there is a fatal flaw in this method. Since the angle of incidence of light entering the center of the sensor is different from the angle of incidence of light entering the periphery of the sensor, if the lenses have the same physical properties, e.g., focal length and lens' diameter, a sufficient quantity of light cannot converge on the photodiode. To solve this problem, in other words, to improve uniformity of light converging on the photodiode (or the peripheral brightness ratio), the micro lenses disposed at the center and the peripheral part of the sensor are designed to have different physical properties. Unfortunately though, a related art fabrication method for the micro-lens, wherein a photoresist (PR) is patterned in rectangular or cylindrical shape and heated to form a micro-lens, cannot meet this requirement.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an image sensor employing an inner layer lens. As shown in FIG. 4, a light beam that is once converged by a micro-lens ML is converged again by an inner layer lens disposed in the vicinity of a photodiode PD. In this manner, the light gathering efficiency is increased. Particularly, the use of the inner layer lens is very effective for improving the peripheral brightness ratio in that it converges not only a light beam that is incident perpendicularly to the sensor, but also a light beam that is incident at an angle. Because of this merit, an inner layer lens is already employed in many CCD image sensors. Unlike the CCD, however, due to its structure, it is difficult to accommodate an inner layer lens in the CMOS. Even if successful, two or three additional masking steps are required, which increases the cost of manufacturing the CMOS.
FIG. 5 diagrammatically illustrates how the distance between a micro-lens and a photodiode affects the quantity of light incident on the micro-lens at an angle that is gathered by the image sensor. Particularly, FIG. 5A illustrates a case in which the distance H1 between the micro-lens ML and the photodiode PD is relatively long; and FIG. 5B illustrates a case in which the distance H2 between the micro-lens ML and the photodiode PD is relatively short. According to the nature of a lens, if the focal length is long, the focal deviation W1 is increased, while if the focal length is short, the focal deviation W2 is decreased. Because of these characteristics, if the focus of the micro-lens is on a photodiode, the distance between the micro-lens and the photodiode should not be too long because the quantity of light converging on the photodiode is inversely proportional to the distance. Referring to FIG. 5C showing the distance H between the micro-lens ML and the photodiode PD, light beams incident perpendicularly to the micro-lens all converge on the photodiode. On the other hand, light beams incident on the micro-lens at an angle are reflected by a peripheral structure of the photodiode. This phenomenon occurs more often when the distance between the micro-lens and the photodiode is increased, resulting in an increase in focal deviation. Therefore, to improve the peripheral brightness ratio, it is important to minimize the distance between the micro-lens and the photodiode. However, unlike the CCD, structural problems in the CMOS interfere in reducing the distance between the micro-lens and the photodiode.

CMOS image sensor for photosensitivity and brightness ratio


Example embodiments provide a nitrogen-containing heteroaromatic ligand-transition metal complex, a buffer layer including the complex, which may improve the injection and transport of electrical charges, an organic thin film transistor and an electronic device including the buffer layer, in which the injection of electrons or holes and the transport of charges between layers are accelerated, thereby improving the efficiency thereof, and methods of manufacturing the same.

1. Field
Example embodiments relate to a nitrogen-containing heteroaromatic ligand-transition metal complex, a buffer layer comprising the complex, an organic thin film transistor and an electronic device comprising the buffer layer and methods of manufacturing the same. Other example embodiments relate to a heteroaromatic ligand-transition metal complex containing nitrogen, a buffer layer comprising the complex, which may improve the injection and transport of electrical charges, an organic thin film transistor and an electronic device comprising the buffer layer and methods of manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Organic material-based device technologies may complement the field of silicon-based electronic devices in the field of large area flexible displays. Organic Thin Film Transistor (OTFT) technologies, which are being researched, may be sufficiently competitive by not requiring integration and providing improved performance, compared to silicon-based Thin Film Transistors (TFTs).
The infrastructure cost of OTFTs may be only about ⅓ of that of amorphous silicon TFTs, and OTFTs may be more easily operated than an inorganic substrate and may be continuously processed. Therefore, the cost of processing OTFTs may be reduced compared to conventional TFTs. In order to apply the OTFTs to the backplane of a display, the characteristics of OTFTs may be improved through the design and synthesis of organic semiconductors, the design of devices and the development of process technologies.
The characteristics of TFTs may be determined by the injection and transport of electrons and holes. Electrons and holes may be injected into a channel layer without causing contact resistance between electrodes and a semiconductor layer, and then the electrons and holes may be more rapidly transported from the channel layer. Unlike silicon TFTs, in which ohmic contact more easily occurs, the characteristics of OTFTs may be mainly deteriorated by contact resistance. When metals come into contact with a semiconductor layer or an electrical charge transfer layer having a relatively low concentration of impurities, a potential barrier may be formed at the contact surface therebetween, thereby increasing resistance. The height of the potential barrier may depend on the difference between energy levels of electrodes and a semiconductor layer or an electrical charge transfer layer, and the state of the connection therebetween.
Conventional methods of surface-treating electrodes, which are used to reduce contact resistance between electrodes and a semiconductor layer or an electrical charge transfer layer, may include methods of using a Self-Assembled Monolayer (SAM) and/or methods of using a buffer layer. Among the methods, the method of using a buffer layer may dispose a layer containing a material for reducing contact resistance between electrodes and a semiconductor layer or an electrical charge transfer layer, and may be mainly applied to a process of producing an organic thin film transistor (OTFT) and/or an organic light emitting diode (OELD).
Low-molecular-weight semiconductors, which may form a film in a vacuum process, e.g., triphenyl amine derivatives and/or acid-doped conductive polymers, which may form a film in a solution process, e.g., poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) and/or poly(styrenesulfonate), have been used as the buffer layer materials.
Buffer layer materials, which may form a film in a solution process, may be required in order to reduce costs. However, when acid-doped conductive polymers are used as the buffer layer materials, an acid dopant may be diffused to a channel layer, thereby decreasing the stability of devices.

Nitrogen-containing heteroaromatic ligand-transition metal complexes, buffer layer comprising the complexes and organic thin film transistor comprising the buffer layer


A pointer for a display snaps into a hub device. The hub device has a body including a cap, a light shield and a pointer stem molded together as one part. A passage within the body receives an insertion section of the pointer. A latch arm extending into the passage from the body snaps into a slot within the insertion section of the pointer. An area of the insertion section of the pointer is exposed to directed light through a cavity in an underside of the body. The area transmits the light to an indicating section of the pointer. The light shield is arranged on the body to prevent the directed light from reflecting off the hub device onto the display. The pointer stem receives a drive shaft that rotates the hub device and positions the indicating section of the pointer on the display according to measured parameters.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates in general to pointers for dials or displays and more particularly to a snap-together pointer assembly with a one-piece hub device for securing the pointer to the display and preventing light leakage onto the display.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Prior art FIG. 1 illustrates a typical, three-part pointer and hub assembly, enlarged for clarity. A light shield 12, usually made of an opaque plastic, is formed with a hollow pointer stem 14 for fitting around a drive shaft of a stepper motor used to rotate the pointer and hub assembly. The light shield 12 has two spaced apart apertures 16 and a wider, semi-rectangular opening 18. A separate pointer blade 20, often made of a clear or transparent plastic, has a mounting section 22. The mounting section 22 has a light pick-up area or projection 24 extending from an underside 26 of the mounting section. A periphery of the light pick-up area 24 has the general shape of the opening 18 in the light shield 12. The mounting section 22 has two through-holes 28 about the same size as, and spaced apart the same distance as, the apertures 16 in the light shield 12. A detached, opaque cover or cap 30 is also made from plastic. The cap has a slot 32 similar in width and depth to the shape of the pointer blade 20 where the pointer blade 20 joins the mounting section 22.
As shown in FIG. 2 by a view of the bottom of the completed assembly, the interior of the cap 30 has two spaced apart posts 34 positioned to extend through the apertures 16 in the light shield 12 and the through-holes 28 in the mounting section 22 of the pointer blade 20. The light pick-up area 24 on the underside 26 of the mounting section 22 fits into and extends through the opening 18 in the light shield 12. Protruding ends of the posts 34 are crushed or melted in a heat staking process against an underside of the light shield 12 to hold the three parts together. The pointer stem 14 of the completed assembly then receives a stepper motor drive shaft in an interference or press fit so the pointer blade 20 can be moved about a dial or display to indicate appropriate measured values or parameters. The light pick-up area 24 transmits light from a light source (not shown) directly to the pointer blade 20 while the light shield 12 prevents light from being reflected back onto the display.
The prior art assembly requires three separate parts and a heat staking or similar process to secure the parts together. Reducing the number of parts and replacing the attachment process with a less expensive method would significantly decrease the cost and assembly time in a large volume production.


A magnetic scale is disclosed wherein a magnetic member is protected with certainty to effectively enhance the durability. The magnetic scale includes a magnetic member provided between outside and inside pipe members and has magnetic graduations magnetized alternately with the N and S poles along the extending direction thereof. When the magnetic member and the inside pipe member are assembled in the outside pipe member, the inside pipe member contacts partly with an inner face of the outside pipe member and partly with a back face of the magnetic member in such a manner as to cover the overall back face. The outer face of the inside pipe member presses the back face of the magnetic member over the overall length so that the close contact face of the magnetic member is closely contacted with the inner face of the outside pipe member.

This invention relates to a magnetic scale for use for position detection.
A position detection apparatus for detecting the position of a print head of a printer is known and disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Sho 62-226007 (hereinafter referred to as Patent Document 1).
The position detection apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a magnetic scale which in turn includes a guide shaft for guiding a print head. The guide shaft has magnetic graduations provided on an outer peripheral face along a longitudinal direction thereof. The position detection apparatus further includes a magnetic sensor provided integrally on the print head for detecting a variation of the magnetic field of the magnetic graduations and outputting a detection signal.
In the position detection apparatus, the position of the print head in the longitudinal direction of the guide shaft is obtained based on the detection signal.
Such a position detection apparatus which uses a magnetic scale as described above is applied widely to various machine tools, printers and automatic machines in which position detection is required.


This disclosure describes systems and methods for a multipoint cable cam (MPCC) of an aerial vehicle. A method includes operations of receiving user input associated with a predetermined path and correlating the received user input with stored global positioning satellite (GPS) data to generate one or more virtual waypoints along the predetermined path. The method includes processing the one or more virtual waypoints to generate a spline-based flight path. The method may include storing the spline-based flight path and transmitting the spline-based flight path to the aerial vehicle.

For aerial photography, a user may know the path to be taken in advance. Knowing the path in advance, the user can plan an autonomous flight path that will control the UAV location, speed, yaw angle, gimbal tilt, and pause location. Typical UAV cable cam systems are limited to a maximum of ten waypoints. In addition, typical UAV cable cam features do not provide smooth, continuous, cinematic footage and merely perform sequential waypoint-to-waypoint missions with discontinuous linear tweening between keyframes resulting in undesirable footage. Five-axis flight and camera trajectories are not possible using the typical UAV cable cam systems as these types of cinematic shots are complex to execute and typically require two or more human operators with remote controls. These typical UAV cable cam features do not dynamically adjust traversal speed, resulting in poor and unsafe trajectory tracking and/or an over-constrained maximum speed for the entire trajectory.


The purpose of the present invention is to provide a display device in which light emitted from a phosphor is used with enhanced efficiency. A display device is provided with a light source unit for emitting light, a plurality of phosphors for emitting light upon incidence thereon of light from the light source unit, a transparent substrate disposed on the phosphors, a color conversion substrate formed between the phosphors and the transparent substrate and including a reflective member and a low refractive index layer having a refractive index lower than that of the phosphors, and an air layer between the phosphors and the light source unit.

Various image display devices provided with a phosphor substrate have been proposed up to now. The display devices disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2000-131683 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-5182, for example, are provided with a liquid crystal display component, a light source that illuminates the liquid crystal display component from the rear side, and a wavelength converting section. The wavelength converting section includes at least one type of phosphor for converting wavelength that converts light from the light source into red or green, and this wavelength converting section is provided for each pixel on the light emitting side of the liquid crystal display component.
Furthermore, the display device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2010-66437 is provided with a front plate, a light shutter, and a light source. The front plate has a plurality of light scattering members that generate diffused light and a planarizing film formed so as to cover the light scattering members.
The light scattering members include a red phosphor that converts blue light to red light, a green phosphor that converts blue light to green light, and a blue light scattering member that scatters blue collimated light.
The light shutter is a liquid crystal display component. A polarizing plate is provided on the uppermost layer of the liquid crystal display component. A polarizing plate of the light shutter and a planarizing film of the front plate are bonded by an adhesive.


The present invention provides a ballast water treatment system, comprising a centrifugal separator, an ultrasonic sterilizer, and an ultraviolet sterilizer, wherein, the centrifugal separator is designed to separate large-particle of foreign matters from the ballast water by centrifugal separation by means of density difference; the ultrasonic sterilizer is arranged at the back of the centrifugal separator, and is designed to accomplish ultrasonic sterilization for the ballast water passing through the centrifugal separator; the ultrasonic sterilizer comprises a pipe that is used for sterilization of the ballast water and ultrasonic irradiation unit that perform ultrasonic irradiation for the ballast water passing through the pipe; the ultraviolet sterilizer accomplishes sterilization by means of ultraviolet irradiation for the ballast water passing through the ultrasonic sterilizer. The ballast water treatment system provided in the present invention can effectively accomplish sterilization for the ballast water that flows into the ballast tank of ship, and thereby prevent all kinds of pollution to seawater related with ballast water discharge, and greatly improve reliability of application.

For large ships, in order to keep its balance during sailing, appropriate volume of seawater needs to be stored in the ballast tank at the bottom of the ship. The seawater or fresh water stored in the ballast tank for keeping balance of ship is known as ballast water.
Usually, ballast water is stored in the ballast tank near the port of departure, and after a voyage discharged from the ballast tank in the offshore area near the port of destination.
However, the ballast water charged into the ballast tank of the ship in the offshore area near the port of departure contains a variety of microbes that live in the offshore area or silt, and therefore the ballast water will pollute the offshore environment near the port of destination when it is discharged.
To solve the problem, a treaty for regulation and management of ship ballast water and sediments (hereinafter referred as "Treaty for Ballast Water") is adopted, and it specifies the discharge standard of ballast water. Ballast water is prohibited to discharge if the discharge standard is not met.
To meet the ballast water discharge standard, a variety of proposals for installation of ballast water treatment system in ship are put forth. The Korean Patent Application No. 10-0743946, titled as "Apparatus for Purifying Ballast Water and Ship Mounted the Same", describes a method, wherein the ballast water stored in the tank is treated with a filtering apparatus during storage, and the ballast water is sterilized with a sterilizing apparatus before it is discharged, which is to say, large-particle materials are filtered off with the filtering apparatus, and then a variety of planktonic organisms or microbes are sterilized under UV irradiation with the sterilizing equipment.
The present ballast water treatment systems mounted inside ships are not highly reliable, and their sterilization and purification effects are not ideal. Therefore, the ballast water still brings pollution to the offshore environment of the port of destination.


A data structure (e.g., a table) stores a listing of prefetches. Each entry in the data structure includes a respective virtual address and a respective prefetch stride for a corresponding prefetch. If the virtual address of a memory request (e.g., a request to load or fetch data) matches an entry in the data structure, then the value of a counter associated with that entry is incremented. If the value of the counter satisfies a threshold, then the lookahead amount associated with the memory request is increased.

A primary factor in the utility of a computer system is the speed at which the computer system can execute an application. It is important to have data available when it is needed, to prevent the computer system from idling or stalling while it waits for data to be accessed from memory.
A widely used solution to reduce memory access latency and prevent stalling in a processor is to implement a hierarchy of caches in the computer system. In essence, one or more caches are situated between the main memory and the processor. The cache closest to the processor is usually referred to as the level one (L1) or lowest level cache, the next cache is usually referred to as the level two (L2) or higher level cache, and so on, with the cache that is closest to the main memory referred to as the highest level cache. The caches store recently used data based on the assumption that data might be needed again. By storing data in a hierarchical manner, the caches can reduce latency and prevent stalling by providing the data more rapidly than if the data had to be retrieved from, for example, the main memory.
Latency can be further reduced by prefetching information into the caches from higher level memory. In essence, prefetching involves making a prediction of the data that may be needed by an application, and then fetching that data from, for example, the main memory into any one of the caches, or from a higher level cache into a lower level cache (e.g., from the L2 cache to the L1 cache). The predicting, fetching, and storing described above are performed opportunistically, e.g., before the data is actually requested by the application.
A conventional prefetcher monitors a stream of requests for data and looks for a pattern in the addresses associated with those requests. If a pattern can be found, then that pattern can be used to anticipate subsequent requests for data, so that data can be prefetched. For example, if the prefetcher determines that every other cache line in the L2 cache is being requested in response to a cache miss in the L1 cache, then the prefetcher can predict which cache line in the L2 cache will be requested next and can fetch that cache line before the request is made.
A prefetch stride may be associated with a prefetch request. The prefetch stride refers to the distance between addresses in the pattern. If, for example, a first memory request includes address A1, and a second memory request includes address A2 (and if those addresses are part of a pattern), then the prefetch stride is the difference between the addresses A1 and A2.
A prefetch distance or lookahead amount may also be associated with a prefetch request. For example, instead of prefetching a single cache line in a pattern, the prefetcher may prefetch the next two cache lines in the pattern. The prefetch distance or lookahead amount refers to the number of cache lines that are prefetched per prefetch request.
However, some software (instruction) loops execute fast enough that prefetching only one or two cache lines is not sufficient to account for the access latency from higher level memory. Thus, in some instances, a larger lookahead amount would be beneficial to hide memory latency. On the other hand, smaller loops may not need a larger lookahead amount and/or a larger lookahead amount might result in the prefetching of data that are not needed, thereby reducing computer system performance by, for example, consuming bandwidth and processor cycles retrieving data that will not be used. Also, the space available in a cache is limited, and so including unneeded data in a cache may mean that there is not enough space in the cache for data that are needed.

Increasing the lookahead amount for prefetching


A system allowing reuse of one same frequency on all the cells of a network. It includes means storing data characteristic of the network and a computing module provided with means to associate carriers of a transmitter with service areas to distribute the traffic to be handled in the sector over N shares of traffic in N complementary areas determined in relation to their radio attenuation, and a determined frequency with each service area, the different carriers used being respectively associated with a single service area of a sector.

A method is known from document WO 2005/011154 which sets out to prevent a reduction in data transmission rate towards users in a 1xEvDO system. However this method solely concerns connection problems in a base station and proposes the management of user-associated connections to avoid overloading some of these connections.
In known cellular mobile telephony systems of CDMA type using several carriers, there is no method for optimising the capacity of the network, in particular by limiting accumulated transmission powers towards user mobile terminals so as to adapt operationally to the traffic to be handled. Existing solutions are limited to power planning within each cell, which is unsatisfactory from an operational viewpoint since load disparities exist within one same cell.
One major disadvantage of known methods is that some areas within a cell do not provide radio access of quality on account of a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) that is too low. In these areas, data transmission rate is therefore very low (for a determined bandwidth) or else the use of a very broad channel is required to ensure a sufficient bit rate.
By way of illustration, the power ratio C/I between the carrier signal and the interferer signal may vary from 0 to more than 15 dB depending on whether the client using the mobile terminal is on the edge of a cell or nearer the transmitter. To improve network capacity, current solutions consist of adding new carriers on additional frequencies, the channelling of technologies of CDMA type being fixed (channel width of 1.25 MHz for CDMA 2000, 5 MHz for UMTS.
There is therefore a need to find a method more adapted to actual site conditions with which it is possible to efficiently configure the network so as to optimise the global capacity of the network and the data rate for users located in those cell areas that are least well served.

Method and system for planning the power of carriers in a cellular telecommunications network

Abstract: With the system it is possible to adjust the transmission power of each carrier in relation to the determination made by the computing module to share the power of transmitter between the carriers of one same sector.


The present invention comprises a content delivery system for delivering content to clients. The content delivery system comprises at least one mobile object adapted to be executed on the content delivery system and on other content delivery systems or multimedia devices adapted for mobile objects. Each mobile object comprises a media file and is further adapted to determine the capabilities of the other content delivery systems or multimedia devices and to monitor data related to the clients' access of the media file. The content delivery system also comprises a transcoder unit for transcoding the media file to another media file prior sending it to the other content delivery system or multimedia device. The invention solves problems that can arise when sending large media files to content delivery systems or multimedia devices having limited capabilities.

A content delivery network or content distribution network (CDN) is a system of computers (such as content servers) networked together across the Internet and that delivers content (especially media content) to clients. Content delivery networks are difficult to control and manage as requests for content come from different locations sometimes following certain viewing patterns. In order to optimize performance, locations of the content servers and media content close to the client may be chosen. Many parameters have to be taken into account to optimize the media delivery in content delivery networks, for example:                Number of content servers        Locations of the clients and the content servers        Location of an asset (media content)        Popularity of an asset        Available bandwidth in the network        Cost for moving a content        Processing capabilities
The number of parameters and unpredictability when it comes to user behavior makes this problem very complex if one wants to control a global CDN using a central management system.
Existing solutions try to solve this problem in a centralized approach. Taking all the parameters into account the different solutions try to best place content in the network. However, the dynamicity of such an environment makes the algorithms highly complex and global decisions take a long time to be made and effectuated.
Another technical area relevant to the current invention is mobile objects (also called mobile agents). Mobile objects are programs (software) and associated data that can migrate from host to host in a network at times and to places of their own choosing. In the new host they can then continue to run, possibly interacting with the local execution environment. Mobile objects have for example been discussed in the paper 'Mobile Agents and the Future of the Internet' by Kotz et al published in 'ACM Operating Systems Review, August 1999 pp 7-13. An example of using mobile agents is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,254,608. This patent discloses a system and a method for using mobile agents for managing distribution of content in peer-to-peer networks. In the patent the mobile agent may visit the peer nodes on an itinerary to search for and collect information on distributor content stored on the visited peer.

Method for content delivery involving a policy database


A two-dimensional structure medium comprising a conductor pattern as unit cells formed on the upper surface of a substrate and a conductor pattern formed on the lower surface of the substrate and exhibiting a left-handed characteristic achieved without using a via by utilizing the interaction between an inductance component formed by connecting a part of a floating island pattern out of the conductor pattern on the lower surface of the substrate with a pattern as the ground portion and a capacitance component of parallel-plate mode formed by the conductor pattern on the upper surface of the substrate and the conductor pattern on the lower surface of the substrate.

A medium having properties which do not exist in nature can be artificially structured by arraying small pieces of a metal, a dielectric substance, a magnetic material and a superconductive material at sufficiently shorter spacings than a wavelength (about one-tenth or less of wavelength). This medium is referred to as a metamaterial in the sense of being beyond media in nature. The properties of the metamaterial vary depending on shape, material property and arrangement of unit particles. In particular, a metamaterial having an equivalent dielectric constant ∈ and a magnetic permeability μ simultaneously showing a negative value has been called a "left-handed medium (Left-Handed Materials)", because its electric field, magnetic field and wave vector form a left-handed system. In contrast to this, a normal medium having an equivalent dielectric constant ∈ and a magnetic permeability μ simultaneously showing a positive value is referred to as a "right-handed medium (Right-Handed Materials)". In particular, the "left-handed medium" was predicted by a Russian physicist, Veselago in 1967 to have peculiar properties such as so-called a backward-wave which is a wave having a group velocity (propagation velocity of energy) having an opposite sign to a phase velocity (progression velocity of phase) and an amplification of an evanescent wave which exponentially decays in a nonpropagation region. A relational region of the dielectric constant ∈, the magnetic permeability μ and the medium can be classified into the media of the first to fourth quadrants, according to positive and negative values of the dielectric constant ∈ and positive and negative values of the magnetic permeability μ, as shown in FIG. 1.
Some left-handed media have been conventionally invented, and representative media will now be exemplified below. For instance, a document according to D. R. Smith, W. J. Padilla, D. C. Vier, S. C. Nemat-Nasser, and S. Schultz, "Composite medium with simultaneously negative permeability and permittivity" Phys. Rev. Lett., vol. 84, no. 18, pp. 4184-4187, May 2000 (Document 1) describes a left-handed artificial medium which is composed of unit cells each consisting of a split-ring resonator and a wire resonator, and shows that the medium shows left-handed characteristics experimentally. The medium is referred to as a resonant type left-handed medium, because the structure uses the resonator. The medium shows an extremely large loss due to the resonance and an extremely narrow operational band, because the medium can work only in the vicinity of the resonance frequency of the split-ring resonator and the wire resonator.
Among one-dimensional nonresonant type left-handed media achieving left-handed characteristics without using a resonator, a medium using a microstrip line is described in a document according to C. Caloz and T. Itoh, "Application of the transmission line theory of left-handed (LH) materials to the realization of a microstrip LH Line", IEEE-APS Int'l Symp. Digest, vol. 2, pp. 412-415, June 2002 (Document 2), or a medium having a one-dimensional structure based on a coplanar waveguide (Coplanar Waveguide: CPW) is described in a document according to A. Grbic and G. V. Eleftheriades, "Experimental verification of backward-wave radiation from a negative refractive Index metamaterial", Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 92, No. 10, pp. 5930-5935, November 2002 (Document 3).
The medium based on the microstrip line achieves the left-handed characteristics from series capacitance between adjacent metallic patterns of unit cells and parallel inductance generated from vias which connect the metallic patterns with a ground plane. However, the medium has had a difficulty in reducing the size of unit cells and integrating the unit cells because the density of the vias which penetrate a substrate is restricted from a production viewpoint. The medium also has had a problem of requiring a high manufacturing cost, because of needing not only to process a substrate surface solely, but also to prepare a metal which penetrates the substrate. On the other hand, the one-dimensional left-handed medium using the coplanar waveguide can obtain the parallel inductance even without using the via which penetrates the substrate because a ground conductor is arranged in the same plane as a signal metal, but it has been difficult to form a two-dimensional medium.
In addition, as for two-dimensional nonresonant type left-handed media, a medium composed of series capacitance and parallel inductance produced by using an LC lumped-parameter element is described in a document according to V. Eleftheriades, A. K. Iyer and P. C. Kremer, "Planar Negative Refractive Index Media Using Periodically L-C Loaded Transmission Lines", IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, Vol. 50, No. 12, pp. 2702-2712, December 2002 (Document 4), and a distributed-constant-type medium composed of only a metallic pattern is described in a document according to Atsushi Sanada, Christophe Caloz and Tatsuo Itoh, "Planar Distributed Structures with Negative Refractive Index", IEEE Trans. on Microwave Theory and Techniques, Vol. 52, No. 4, pp. 1252-1263, April 2004 (Document 5). Any of the media uses an inductor chip or a via (through hole) which penetrate a substrate for forming the parallel inductance with respect to a ground plane, and accordingly has the above described problems.
A medium has been known which uses a one-dimensional line devised so as to possess a left-handed characteristic without using a via. The medium has a structure of connecting parallel inductance with a large-area metallic patch having a large ground capacitance, instead of directly connecting with a ground plane of a rear surface of a substrate through the via, and has been well known as described in a document, for instance, according to Atsushi Sanada, Koichi Murakami, Shuji Aso, Hiroshi Kubo, and Ikuo Awai, "A via-free microstrip left-handed transmission line", IEEE International Microwave Symposium Digest, pp. 301-304, Fort Worth, June 2004 (Document 6). However, the structure is not suitable for integration because of requiring a large-area metallic patch. In addition, the structure has not been extended to a two-dimensional medium.
As described above, a conventional medium needs to prepare a via (through hole) which penetrates a substrate and connects the upper surface of a substrate with a ground plane to form an inductance, and accordingly has had a difficulty in integrating unit cells because an upper limit of the density of the via is limited. The conventional medium also has had a problem of requiring a high manufacturing cost, because of needing not only to process a substrate surface solely, but also to prepare a metal which penetrates the substrate.

National University Corporation Yamaguchi University


An output enable signal transformation device for a gate driver in an LCD device includes a reception terminal coupled to a timing generator of the LCD device for receiving an enable synchronization signal, an enable clock signal and a plurality of enable control signals generated by the timing generator, a shift register module coupled to the reception terminal for shifting the enable synchronization signal according to the enable clock signal, a multiplexer module coupled to the shift register module and the timing generator for generating a plurality of output enable signals according to the enable synchronization signal and the plurality of enable control signals, and an output terminal coupled to the multiplexer module and a logic circuit of the gate driver for outputting the plurality of output enable signals to the logic circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a driving device and related output enable signal transformation device in a liquid crystal display (LCD) device, and more particularly, to a driving device and related output enable signal transformation device for enhancing the brightness of the LCD device.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The advantages of a liquid crystal display (LCD) include lighter weight, less electrical consumption, and less radiation contamination. LCD monitors have been widely applied to various portable information products, such as notebooks, mobile phones, PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants), etc. In an LCD monitor, incident light produces different polarization or refraction effects when the alignment of liquid crystal molecules is altered. The transmission of the incident light is affected by the liquid crystal molecules, and thus magnitude of the light emitted from the liquid crystal molecules varies. The LCD monitor utilizes the characteristics of the liquid crystal molecules to control the corresponding light transmittance and produces gorgeous images according to different magnitudes of red, blue, and green light.
Please refer to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an LCD device 10 according to the prior art. The LCD device 10 includes a panel 100, a timing generator 102, a data-line-signal output circuit 104 and a scan-line-signal output circuit 106. The data-line-signal output circuit 104 includes source drivers 140 in series. The scan-line-signal output circuit 106 includes gate drivers 160 in series. FIG. 1 illustrates 3 gate drivers 160 named G0, G1 and G2 as an example, but is not limited to this number.
The operation of the LCD device 10 is described as follows. The timing generator 102 generates a data signal DATA, a horizontal synchronization signal STH and a horizontal clock signal CLK and related control signals and outputs these signals to the data-line-signal output circuit 104. On the other hand, the timing generator 102 generates a vertical synchronization signal STV, a vertical clock signal CPV and an output enable signal OE and outputs these signals to the scan-line-signal output circuit 106. The source drivers 140 in series in the data-line-signal output circuit 104 sequentially transmit the horizontal synchronization signal STH and the gate drivers 160 in series in the scan-line-signal output circuit 106 sequentially transmit the vertical synchronization signal STV. As shown in FIG. 1, the data signal DATA is transformed to the voltage signals via the data-line-signal output circuit 104 and the scan-line-signal output circuit 106 for controlling the voltage difference on the equivalent capacitor of each pixel on the panel 100 for displaying, and the data signal DATA is displayed in the following sequence: pn(x,y), pn(x+1,y), pn(x+2,y) . . . pn(x,y+1), pn(x+1,y+1), pn(x+2,y+1) . . . and so on. In addition, the output enable signal OE is utilized for performing logic operations for generating the channel output signals of the gate drivers 160, so as to adjust the efficiency of the LCD device 10. Note that, only one channel is allowed to output in a gate driver 160 at the same time.
Please refer to FIG. 2, which illustrates a block diagram of a gate driver 160 in the LCD device 10. The gate driver 160 comprises a first level shifter 200, a shift register module 202, a logic circuit 204, a second level shifter 206, a buffer 208, and a third level shifter 210. The first level shifter 200 is coupled to the timing generator 102 and is utilized for level-shifting the vertical synchronization signal STV, the vertical clock signal CPV and the output enable signal OE and outputs these signals to the shift register module 202. The shift register module 202 is coupled to the first level shifter 200 and is utilized for outputting a plurality of scan signals XO to the logic circuit 204. As shown in FIG. 2, the gate driver 160 includes k channels so that the plurality of scan signals XO are named XO(0)-XO(k−1). The logic circuit 204 is coupled to the shift register module 202 and is utilized for performing logic operations on the scan signals XO(0)-XO(k−1) and output enable signal OE for generating channel output signals. The second level shifter 206 is utilized for level-shifting the channel output signals, and the buffer 208 is utilized for buffering and outputting the channel output signals. In addition, the third level shifter 210 is utilized for level-shifting the vertical synchronization signal STV and outputting the vertical synchronization signal STV to a next gate driver 160.
Please refer to FIG. 3, which illustrates a timing diagram of a frame period of a channel output signal in the LCD device 10. As shown in FIG. 3, the LCD device 10 includes total of m channels controlled by 3 gate drivers 160, G0, G1 and G2. The shift register module 202 outputs the scan signals XO sequentially. Note that, only one channel of a gate driver 160 is allowed to output (XO is in a HIGH state) and at the same time, other channels of the same gate driver 160 are not allowed to output (XO is in a LOW state.) In addition, please refer to FIG. 4, which illustrates a timing diagram of the output enable signal OE in the LCD device 10. OE0, OE1 and OE2 respectively represent the output enable signals corresponding to the gate drivers G0, G1 and G2. The void section shown in FIG. 4 represents a data valid period of the output enable signal OE corresponding to a frame. TV—TOTAL represents a frame period, TV—ACTIVE represents a data valid period and TV—BLANK represents a blanking period. As shown in FIG. 4, because the LCD device 10 has only an output enable signal OE, the timing of OE0, OE1 and OE2 are the same. From the above, the LCD device 10 cannot drive any two channels that are not adjacent.
Generally, a motion blur frequently occurs when the LCD device displays motion pictures. In the prior art, different kinds of impulse driving methods are used to improve the blur problem. For example, a time-division driving method for a gate driver which saves a lot of frame buffers and is easily operated with the black insertion, can improve the blur problem and enhance the brightness of the LCD device. The time-division driving method means that the LCD device has to be able to drive any two channels that are not adjacent. However, the time-division driving method cannot be implemented in the LCD device 10 which has only one output enable signal OE and cannot drive any two channels that are not adjacent.
Please refer to FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an LCD device 50 according to the prior art. FIG. 5 illustrates 3 gate drivers 560 named G0, G1 and G2 as an example. The LCD device 50 is similar to the LCD device 10 and the difference is that the gate drivers G0, G1 and G2 in the LCD device 50 are respectively controlled by different output enable signals OE0, OE2 and OE2. Compared with the LCD device 10, each gate driver 560 is controlled by a dedicated output enable signal that is different from each other, so that the time-division driving method can be implemented in the LCD device 50.
Please refer to FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a timing diagram of a vertical synchronization signal STV and three different output enable signals OE0, OE2 and OE2 in the LCD device 50. Note that, one (or more) additional impulse signal STV2, which is used for inserting a black frame between two normal frames, is inserted between two sequential vertical synchronization signals STV. In addition, the void section OED shown in FIG. 6 represents a data valid period of the output enable signal OE0/OE1/OE2 corresponding to a normal frame, and the dotted section OEB shown in FIG. 6 represents a period of the output enable signal OE0/OE1/OE2 corresponding to a black frame. TV—TOTAL represents a frame period and TK—LINE represents a period for k scan lines. From the above, the vertical synchronization signal STV is located at the coverage of OED and the impulse signal STV2 is located at the coverage of OEB. As mentioned previously, only one channel of a gate driver is allowed to output and other channels of the same gate driver are not allowed to output, so that there is an available region for the impulse signal STV2. For example, if a gate driver 560 in the LCD device 50 includes k channels, the impulse signal STV2 cannot be located in the period for k scan lines, TK—LINE. As a result, the impulse signal STV2 available region is limited by a boundary shown as the dash line in FIG. 6. The available region limits the flexibility of the impulse signal STV2. That is, the flexibility of black insertion is limited.
As shown in FIG. 6, in the LCD device 50, the smallest ratio of impulse signal available region to a frame period is TK—LINE/TV—TOTAL and the largest ratio of impulse signal available region to a frame period is (TV—TOTAL−TK—LINE)/TV—TOTAL. When the integration of the gate driver 560 is getting higher, the gate driver 560 can control more channels so that the number of gate drivers in the LCD device 50 is reduced and the number of output enable signals is reduced, so that the flexibility of time-division driving method is limited. Correspondingly, the flexibility of black insertion is limited and the brightness of the LCD device 50 is decreased.
In a word, in the prior art time-division driving method, a plurality of output enable signals are used to control gate drivers for enhancing the flexibility of black insertion for improving the blur problem when displaying motion pictures. On the other hand, with the advancement of semiconductor manufacture, the number of gate drivers required in the LCD device is reduced and correspondingly, the number of output enable signals is reduced and the impulse signal available region is limited. As a result, the flexibility of time-division driving method is limited and the brightness of the LCD device is decreased.

Driving device and related output enable signal transformation device in an LCD device


An adjustable stock assembly for a firearm includes a buffer tube extending rearwardly from a receiver, and provided with a series of recesses formed in a bottom portion thereof. A stock has a front end mounted for longitudinal axial sliding movement along the buffer tube, and a rear end provided with a butt plate. A lever arrangement is mounted on the stock for slidable movement therewith along the buffer tube to selectively engage and disengage with any one of the recesses formed in the buffer tube. The lever arrangement is positioned between the buffer tube and the stock, and is configured to prevent any movement of the stock relative to the buffer tube other than the longitudinal axial sliding movement of the stock along the buffer tube.

The present disclosure relates generally to firearms, and more particularly, pertains to a variably configurable stock assembly for a firearm.
There has been a long-standing recognition as to the desirability of firearms in which the stock can be moved between various positions which provide the shooter with the desired length of pull for comfort and accurate shooting. The adjustable positioning of the stocks is useful during transport, storage and use of firearms, and is particularly advantageous in certain tactical situations. Sliding stocks are known to have a stock assembly in which a butt stock is slidably adjustable along a fixed support member, such as buffer tube, between one or more collapsed and extended shoulder-engaging positions.
Attempts have been made to advance the functionality of the adjustable stock assembly to include different adjustable configurations, but generally have been found not to be reliable and durable over repeated operation. Previous variably configurable stock assemblies have been unsatisfactory due to, among other things, numerous pieces or parts which can undesirably increase the weight of the assembly, problematic assembly and operation, expensive product costs and a susceptibility to dirt and grit encountered in the field which can negatively affect use. One particular problem which occurs in the use of prior art adjustable sliding stock assemblies is an undesirable side to side (or horizontal) and vertical movement of the stock relative to the buffer tube which prevents a smooth and quiet stock adjustment
Accordingly, their remains a need to provide a firearm stock assembly which incorporates an enhanced adjustable shoulder stock assembly which overcomes the shortcomings of the previous designs.

Multi-position stock assembly for stabilizing a stock during adjustment along a buffer tube


A massager has a base, a motor assembly mounted on the base and having a worm shaft extending out of the motor, a transmission assembly including a transmission axle, a linking gear to mate with the worm gear, two secondary gears to drive two horizontal gears of a rubbing assembly and two pairs of kneading assemblies being respectively provided on opposite sides of the central seat to wabble when the transmission axle is rotated. Therefore, rotation of the rubbing assembly and wobbling movement of the kneading assembly are able to provide two different massaging effects to the user.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a limb massager, and more particularly to a multiple-function limb massager having two pairs of kneading plates respectively and eccentrically mounted on a transmission axle and two pairs of rubbing disks driven by the transmission axle and located between one pair of kneading plates such that the user is able to extend any one of the limbs into an area enclosed by a pair of kneading plates and a pair of rubbing disks to enjoy both kneading and rubbing effects of the massager of the present invention.
2. Description of Related Art
A conventional massager comprises a motor, a pair of linkages and a pair of massage balls. The linkages are eccentrically connected to opposite ends of the motor shaft. Each of the massage balls is securely engaged with a corresponding one of the linkages. Because the linkages are eccentrically engaged with the motor shaft, the motor will thus drive and move the linkages. That is, the rotational movement of the motor shaft will be transformed into reciprocating movement of the linkage. Accordingly, the massage balls securely mounted on the linkages will move up and down. When the massager is put against the user's skin, the up and down movement of the balls generates a massage effect to the user.
However, the massaging effect generated by the monotonous up and down movement of the balls can only be applied to a single limited area. When the user wants to apply the massager to a nearby area, the user will have to move the massager of this kind to the designated nearby area. Therefore, not only is the massage effect not as good as expected, but also using this massager is troublesome.
To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention tends to provide an improved multiple-function massager to mitigate and obviate the aforementioned problems.


A DC/DC converter includes: a transformer; a main MOS transistor connected in series between a primary side inductance of the transformer and a ground potential; a synchronous rectification MOS transistor connected in series between a secondary side inductance of the transformer and the ground potential; a refluxing MOS transistor connected between a secondary side output of the transformer and the ground potential; and a controller. If an operation is stopped, the controller stops the main MOS transistor and stops the synchronous rectification MOS transistor and the refluxing MOS transistor after a lapse of a predetermined period of time.

A DC/DC converter is used as a power supply for supplying power. The DC/DC converter may be any one of a diode rectification type or a synchronous rectification type. The DC/DC converter of the synchronous rectification type may include a self-driving system. In addition, for the DC/DC converter of the synchronous rectification type, there has been also proposed a driving control system in which a primary controller for controlling a primary switching element controls a secondary switching element for synchronous rectification.

DC/DC converter capable of preventing overvoltage and overcurrent, operation method thereof and electronic apparatus


A heating assembly used for providing heat to the hands of a person using equipment with handlebars. The heating assembly is installed internal to the handlebars and provides heat to the handlebar grips normally installed on equipment of this type. This system works with existing grips, i.e. special heated grip systems are not required. The current invention is thus usable with a wider variety of handlebar grip devices currently used on motorcycles, snowmobiles, snow blowers and other outdoor devices utilizing handlebars.

This invention relates to the heating of handlebar grips and the method of manufacturing such heaters. Most heated grips have the heaters incorporated into the grip or the heating element is adhered to the handlebar under the grip. Because of the numerous manufacturers of vehicles with handlebars and the numerous types and styles of grips used on these handlebars it is very difficult to supply heated grips that can be installed and utilized on this wide variety of machines. Because of this wide variety, the heated grips and heaters that are supplied for the grips have various advantages and disadvantages from ease of installation, reliability, heating capacity, esthetics, safety, or cost.
In the operation of vehicles or equipment with handlebars where the operators are exposed to lower temperatures and wind chill, because of the moving cold air, the operator's hands typically get cold first. The cold handlebars and grips also transfer heat away from the hands and combined with the cold air can make it very uncomfortable and even create a hazardous condition. Many heated grips have been utilized to address the problems related to keeping the hands warm and this heated grip technology is well known. However, improvements are required to make them easier to install, easier to replace, more universal, easier to manufacture, more economical and add safety for the operators.
There are many patents related to this prior art in the heated grip area. These patents cover many aspects of heated grips from the position for mounting the heaters, the assembly of the heaters into the grips, the method of manufacturing the heated grips, the electronic controls that are used with the heated grips, and even methods of locking the heated grips to the handlebars. There is only one patent, U.S. Pat. No. 3,667,315, that references placing the grip heater on the inside of the handlebar and that design utilizes a cartridge style of heater. This design is simple but not desirable because the rigid cartridge diameter has to be smaller than the inside diameter of the handlebar and when inserted only allows for a line of contact to transfer the heat to the handlebar. This results in one side of the handlebar being hot and the other side quite cold along with areas of the hands.
There are heated grip patents that are written specifically for vehicles such as motorcycles like U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,613,407, 5,735,037, and 6,984,807. These heated grip designs do define the use with motorcycles but one can readily recognize the utility with other vehicles. A number of patents reference special electronic controls for the heated grips like U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,844,524 and 6,927,367, however this technology is well known and can be utilized with most heater controls other than these for the handlebar grips.


A quick drain drain plug to replace the usual solid drain plug of a crankcase of an internal combustion engine includes a first circular member having an axis and a first opening therethrough. A threaded member is secured to and extends perpendicular from one circular surface of the first circular member having a channel therethrough coaxial of the axis in alignment with the first opening, the threaded member being threaded into the threaded oil drain of the crankcase. A valve closure member disposed on the other circular surface of the first circular member has a second opening therethrough coaxial of the axis in alignment with the first opening and the channel. A second circular member having a valve seat therein cooperates with the valve closure member to control draining oil from the crankcase. A first arrangement coupled to the first and second circular members hinges the second circular member to the first circular member to enable the valve seat to engage with and disengage from the valve closure member. A second arrangement releasably connects the second circular member to the first circular member to enable the valve seat to engage the valve closure member to hold oil in the crankcase and to disengage the valve seat from the valve closure member to enable draining oil from the crankcase without using tools.

The present invention relates to manually operable drain valves for liquid containers and in particular to a drain valve assembly for attachment to the threaded drain opening of an internal combustion engine crankcase.
According to conventional practice, oil is drained from an internal combustion crankcase by removing a drain plug and allowing the oil to discharge by gravity flow into a drain pan. This procedure is best carried out with the automobile carrying the internal combustion engine supported overhead on a hydraulic lift, or with the front wheels being disposed on ramps. The drain plug is a male threaded plug having an integral tightening head portion, with the diameter of the tightening head being larger than the plug portion and usually formed in a hexagon configuration for engagement by a wrench. Considerable torque must be applied to tighten or remove the usual drain plug. Anyone who has changed oil in an internal combustion engine will confirm that the drain plug removal procedure usually results in a large amount of oil being splashed onto the wrench, onto the operator's hands and sometimes onto the floor or ground. This situation can be extemely dangerous, especially if the oil is hot.
Moreover, the drain plug will be at the same temperature as the oil, and is thus difficult to handle by hand. The drain plug is small, and if dropped onto a hard surface, its threads can be damaged. It is likewise easy to drop the drain plug into the drain pan or onto the floor where it may roll away and become lost.
An additional problem in handling a conventional drain plug is the risk of cross-threading the plug or over-torquing the plug and stripping the drain hole threads as the plug is reinserted into the crankcase.
It is particularly difficult to remove the drain plug from the crankcase without the use of a hydraulic lift, or some other raising arrangement, since the clearance between the crankcase and the ground level is very small particularly on modern day automobiles. Moreover, in some engine arrangements, the drain plug is in a relatively inaccessible location, which limits the stroke range of back-and-forth manipulations of the wrench required for tightening or loosening the drain plug. It should be appreciated that the job of removing and reinserting the drain plug is complicated in such situations by the fact that the drain plug cannot be seen by the operator unless he is directly underneath it, and in some cases only with the aid of a light which will increase the danger of hot oil splashing upon the operator and burning him.
Known prior art relating to the subject matter of the instant application is shown in the following U.S. Pat. Nos.; 903,606 issued to J. C. Pollock; 3,477,459 issued to G. W. Schossow; 4,361,310 issued to J. W. Cummins and 4,907,672 issued to H. A. Shirdavani. These prior art patents are directed toward the similar problem, but are much more complicated than the quick drain drain plug of the instant application. Certain of these patents are directed to remotely controlled drain plugs; a drain plug that does not appear to have an arrangement to lock the plug in place other than through the compression between a valve seat and a cork closure member. While another patent is concerned with a very complicated arrangement having a double fastening arrangement to prevent the vibration of the automobile from opening up the drain plug. In each of these prior art arrangements, the valve seat is contained in the plug or part inserted into the crankcase with the valve closure member being provided by the moveable member which is caused to engage the valve seat in the member threaded into the crankcase.


A stacker-reclaimer apparatus for handling bulk material at a storage site includes a central tower having a vertical axis, a stacker boom rotatably mounted to the central tower about the vertical axis thereof, a reclaimer boom rotatably mounted to the central tower about the vertical axis thereof independently of the stacker boom, a conveyor mounted on the reclaimer boom, the conveyor including a conveyor screw, a hoist for hoisting the reclaimer boom from a lower position to an upper position, and a control unit for hoisting the reclaimer boom from the lower position to the upper position simultaneously with rotating the reclaimer boom about the vertical axis of the central tower.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to stacker-reclaimer apparatus for handling bulk material at a storage site.
The present invention further relates to a method for handling bulk material at a storage site.
2. Description of the Related Art
Stacker-reclaimer apparatus are utilized for stacking and reclaiming bulk material, such as wood chips. Typically, such stacker-reclaimer devices employ a central tower to which a stacker boom and a reclaimer boom are mounted. The stacker boom deposits bulk material on the pile. The reclaimer boom is equipped with a conveyor for conveying the reclaimed material towards the central tower. From there, the material is discharged into a discharge or reclaim conveyor. The stacker boom and the reclaimer boom may be rotated about the vertical axis of the central tower.
One example for a known stacker reclaimer device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,177,053. In this prior art, the reclaimer assembly has a stationary axis of rotation during reclaiming of material. For this purpose, the outer end of the reclaimer assembly is supported on a rail guide. A harrow extends upwardly and angularly away from the reclaimer assembly in contact with the face of the pile of bulk material, thereby enabling pushing or raking of material into a transfer chute in a pit below the central tower. The reclaimed material is then passed to an enclosed tubular air cushion conveyor outfeed.
It is a disadvantage of this device that a rail guide is required to support the reclaimer assembly during rotation about the vertical axis. Furthermore, supporting the central tower is intricate in this construction.
Another prior art stacker-reclaimer apparatus is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 7,226,011 B2. In this prior art, the reclaimer apparatus is made of a pivotal reclaim conveyor assembly mounted to a main platform. The pivotal reclaim conveyor assembly is made of at least one continuous chain loop around a head sprocket and around a tail sprocket, both sprockets mounted rotatably in bearings at opposite ends of the pivotal reclaim conveyor assembly. The pivotal reclaim conveyor assembly functions by transporting bulk material from the pile in a plurality of rakes, when the plurality of rakes is on the bottom of the continuous loop. The plurality of rakes along the bottom of the pivotal reclaim conveyor assembly will move bulk material during operation if the pivotal reclaim conveyor assembly is lowered an appropriate distance by means of a hoist, hoist cable parts and a boom yoke down into the pile of bulk material and will continue to move bulk material if the pivotal reclaim conveyor assembly is rotated or slewed in the horizontal plane by means of slewing drive and slewing drive chain.
A drawback of this construction is that the rakes on the pivotal reclaim conveyor are subject to significant wear and tear. Accordingly, maintenance costs are high. Furthermore, the pivotal reclaim conveyor carrying the rakes requires a massive body portion for mounting on the central tower. This puts a limit to the area of the storage site available for storing bulk material. Also, the known construction does not enable the reclaiming of bulk material according to the "first-in-first-out" principle. Another drawback of this prior art solution is that a shaping of the pile of bulk material is required during operation.
It is an object of the invention to alleviate at least some of the problems associated with the prior art stacker-reclaimer apparatus.


A system for reducing far-field noise produced by well operations includes a passive sound barrier shielding an area, in which the well operations are performed, in an open-air environment. The system further includes a sound sensor to receive near-field noise from the well operations. The system further includes an analysis module, coupled to the sound sensor, to generate an anti-noise signal. The system further includes active anti-noise generators, coupled to the analysis module, to generate anti-noise, based on the anti-noise signal, that destructively interferes with noise from the well operations outside of the passive sound barrier at a predetermined distance from the passive sound barrier. The analysis module generates the anti-noise signal based on the near-field noise, the predetermined distance, and adjustable positions and orientations of the active anti-noise generators.

In the oil and gas industry, far-field noise produced by well operations may cause numerous and wide-ranging negative effects. For example, the noise may hinder the activities of the surrounding wildlife. Additionally, the noise may hinder the residential or business activities of populated areas. Considering noise regulations of cities, rural areas, and protected wildlife areas, those that cannot control noise produced by well operations are disadvantaged compared to those that can. Specifically, those that cannot control noise do not have the potential to operate in or near the noise-regulated zones without conflicting with regulations.
For example, the migratory paths of certain birds and mammals are protected by regulations that set a maximum threshold of noise that is allowed to enter those paths. Because noise generally attenuates with distance, there is a de facto radial area around any point on the paths in which well operations may not be performed, all other things being equal. Those that cannot control noise produced by well operations cannot remain competitive, compared with those who can, because they cannot shrink such radial area and still comply with such regulations.
It should be understood, however, that the specific embodiments given in the drawings and detailed description thereto do not limit the disclosure. On the contrary, they provide the foundation for one of ordinary skill to discern the alternative forms, equivalents, and modifications that are encompassed together with one or more of the given embodiments in the scope of the appended claims.

Reducing far-field noise produced by well operations


A godet for heating an advancing synthetic filament yarn is provided, the godet comprising a plurality of stationary primary windings and, with respect thereto, a magnetically conductive, rotatably supported godet jacket. The godet jacket is coupled with the primary windings via a defined radial clearance extending between same and the side walls of the primary winding carrier for generating induced currents. The carriers are constructed such that their transformer sheets radially overlie each other in the region of their channel bottom, thereby shielding the magnetic flux outward, in particular toward the coil support.

The invention relates to a godet for heating an advancing filament yarn.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,508,024 describes a godet for heating an advancing yarn wherein the godet has more than two axially adjacent stationary primary windings and a magnetically conductive godet jacket. The jacket is supported for rotation in concentric relationship with the primary windings, and is inductively connected with the primary windings via a narrow radial clearance for generating secondary currents. The carrier of the primary windings is built up from several laminated transformer sheets, which are arranged perpendicular to the axis of a coil support. A trigger circuit operates each of the primary windings with an alternating current of adjustable frequency, the primary windings being included in an oscillation circuit, which is adapted to the adjusted frequency. Via corresponding power switches in cooperation with associated temperature controllers, the oscillation circuit can be connected or disconnected as a function of the temperature measured on the godet jacket.
A similar godet is described in GB 989,349, wherein a primary winding is mounted on a circular carrier arranged in concentric relationship with a hollow cylindrical godet jacket. In the same manner as in U.S. Pat. No. 3,508,024, all flat transformer sheets of the carrier accommodating the primary windings are laminated on a coil support in axial direction. With respect to the inner surface of the godet jacket, the laminated iron sheets are arranged such as to form annular air gaps radially concentric with the axis of rotation of the godet.
In general with such heated godets, the problem arises that the loss of the magnetic flux toward the outside, in particular toward the coil support is relatively great, since all flat transformer sheets of the carrier of the primary windings are laminated on the coil support in the axial direction. Likewise, the magnetic flux in the thus-constructed carrier is not optimal, since axially adjacent transformer sheets form boundary layers. To overcome these boundary layers, a certain energy is required, which causes a loss of power. In particular, in a high-frequency application at, for example, 2 kHz and higher, the power loss increases significantly because of thicker boundary layers.
It is therefore the object of the invention to provide a heatable godet of the above-outlined kind, which permits an optimal magnetic flux in the godet by preventing a leakage field within the godet jacket, in particular in the region of the channel bottoms of the carrier, and by reducing the power loss caused by the boundary layers.

Godet for heating a running synthetic thread


Patch antennas for signals of global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) are described. A compact antenna system reduces directional diagram level in the rear hemisphere primarily for cross-polarized (left hand circularly-polarized) component. It can be used for reducing multipath reception. The antenna receives GNSS signals and includes a patch circularly-polarized radiator consisting of a radiating patch, a ground plane under it and a loop radiator coaxially located around the patch radiator. The loop radiator is excited by a separate power circuit or by a passive method where LHCP waves of MP and loop radiators in the rear hemisphere would be anti-phase added. A dual-band antenna system includes an active HF radiator, under which there is an active LF radiator under which there is a passive LF radiator, a loop HF radiator being coaxially located around the active HF radiator.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to antennas, in particular, to patch antennas used in global navigation satellite systems (GNSS).
2. Description of the Related Art
Patch antenna systems are used in different radio electronic devices. They are widely applicable in ground satellite navigation systems (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo etc.), with the help of which a position of an object can be quickly and accurately determined at any point of the world. One of the main reasons for reduced GNSS positioning accuracy of land objects is related to receiving not only the line-of-sight satellite signal but also signals reflected from surrounding objects, and especially from the Earth's surface. The strength of such signals depends directly on the antenna's directional diagram (DD) in the rear hemisphere.
A right-hand circularly polarized signal (RHCP) is used as a working signal in navigation systems. Signals reflected from the Earth's surface, when there are no major surface features, are mostly left-hand circularly polarized signals (LHCP). This also holds true for signals of satellites that are at an angle over the horizon that is higher than Brewster's angle, that is, for typical soils, about 10-15 degrees over the horizon plane. Considering this, a GNSS antenna systems need to have a lower DD level in the rear hemisphere, and primarily, a lower component of the LHCP (cross-polarized) signal. A reduction in antenna weight and dimensional characteristics is also required.
The simplest method of reducing DD level in the rear hemisphere is mounting the antenna directly on a metal or impedance ground plane. However, this results in increasing antenna dimensions. Another method is the use of an additional antenna, the field of which is anti-phase-added to the main antenna field. This provides a reduction in the radiation level of the rear hemisphere. U.S. Pat. No. 6,836,247 B2 shows a design of a circularly-polarized antenna in the form of two patch (MP) radiators axial-symmetrically disposed one under another (see FIG. 1a). A ground plane of the top radiator is under a radiating patch, and a ground plane of the bottom radiator is over the radiating patch. In an isolated cavity of the ground planes, there is a low-noise amplifier (LNA). The top radiator is actively excited by pins; the bottom radiator is passively excited. Such a design provides a noticeable reduction in LHCP field only in the vicinity of anti-normal direction, while the antenna's vertical dimension still remains very large.
Modern high-precision positioning receivers employ signals of different frequencies. Operating GPS frequencies are 1575 MHz (L1-band), 1227 MHz (L2-band) and a frequency of 1175 MHz (L5-band) was recently added. GLONASS and GALILEO satellite systems also broadcast some operating frequencies. In total, the operating frequencies of GNSS systems lie in two frequency ranges: low-frequency (LF 1165-1300 MHz) and high-frequency (HF 1525-1605 MHz). Antennas of high-precision navigation devices need to operate in the both frequency bands. In most cases, antenna designs include two radiators operating at their own frequencies. U.S. Pat. No. 6,836,247 B2 describes a dual-band stacked antenna (FIG. 1b). Such a combined antenna includes two active MP radiators disposed one over the other, and two passive ones. The radiating patch of the low-frequency radiator serves as a ground plane of the high-frequency radiator. Bandwidth expansion of each radiator is normally attained by increasing the distance between the radiating patch and ground plane, i.e., increasing the thickness of MP radiator. Note that an increase in LF radiator thickness results in increasing the distance between active and passive HF radiators. This, in turn, causes reduction in their coupling and excitation level of the passive radiator, and, hence in the antenna's less efficient operation.
The proposed technical solution is intended at solving cross-polarized (LHCP) field suppression problems in a wide angle sector of the rear hemisphere, enhancing the operation of the passive HF radiator in the dual-band antenna, and reducing antenna dimensions.

Compact circular polarization antenna system with reduced cross-polarization component


A system and method for synchronized video logging and playback of auction activity is disclosed. A particular embodiment includes: establishing, by use of a data processor and a data network, a data connection with at least one auction site; gathering auction data and video streams from the auction site; synchronizing the video streams with corresponding auction data; presenting a user interface to a user, the user interface enabling the user to select a desired portion of the auction data; and rendering the selected portion of the auction data along with a corresponding synchronized video clip from a video stream from the auction site.

Online auctions are popular in the industry. Because of their ease of use, online auctions attract millions of sellers and buyers every day for the sole purpose of auctioning off and buying goods. Clearly, live auctions of such a scale are not realistic where bidders must be physically present. Traditionally, live auctions utilize a format whereby items put up for bid are placed on an auction sale list. Thereafter, the listed items are auctioned consecutively at a pre-established date and time. When the live auction begins, one listed item at a time is auctioned off until no items remain. The auction on individual items ends when no further bids are submitted. In contrast, typical online auctions allow for multiple items to be auctioned simultaneously. The start and finish time for the online auction items is independent from the other items being auctioned. Typically, online auctions end at a pre-established time rather than when no further bids are submitted.
Because of the high degree of simultaneous activity that occurs in online auctions, it can be difficult to create, maintain, and use a record of the activity that occurs for each auctioned item in each online auction.

System and method for synchronized video logging and playback of auction activity


Provided is a combination of clothing articles packaged for sale. The combination comprises a shirt having a shirt collar and a necktie disposed about the shirt collar. The necktie comprises a length of fabric having first and second ends and at least one fold intermediate the first and second ends. An elastic band passes transversely to the length of fabric within the fold and is sized to be stretchably received about the shirt collar. A clip is engaged with the fabric proximate to the fold. The clip pinches the fabric so as to emulate the appearance of a tie knot. Also provided are methods for packaging a necktie and shirt combination.

Retailers are discovering that shirt and tie combinations packaged together better meet the needs of a certain class of shoppers. When displaying and selling dress shirts in combination with ties, retailers assist their clients with a fashion choice that can be time consuming. Furthermore, when suitably coordinated, a shirt and a tie combination can make a more attractive display item for sale than if displayed individually.
Unfortunately, some consumers tend to remove and replace ties from their previously associated shirt, and thus create additional costs and difficulties to the retailer. Among other problems created, the individual components are not separately priced. Thus, retailers would benefit from a way to package shirt and tie combinations so that the consumer is discouraged from removing ties from these combinations.
An existing solution to this problem is to wrap the entire shirt and tie combination in a clear plastic bag. However, this solution proves unsatisfactory for consumers who wish to inspect the material of the shirt or tie by touching it. The present invention provides needed improvements in this field.

Tie and shirt combination secured with an elastic band