A method for manufacturing an inkjet head includes providing a piezoelectric substrate having a porous structure, a diaphragm on the porous structure, and a piezoelectric substance layer on the diaphragm, and forming a cavity by etching out the porous structure from the piezoelectric substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an inkjet head that sprays drops of ink on a recording medium, such as paper, to form an ink image, and also relates to a method for manufacturing the inkjet head.
2. Description of the Related Art
The following are examples of conventional technologies of the inkjet head.
(1) Japanese Patent Publication No. 2976479
Conventionally, a pressure-generating means that sprays drops of ink from a cavity in the inkjet head has been provided to each cavity, for example, by an adhesion process. However, according to Japanese Patent Publication No. 2976479, the pressure-generating means is provided on a silicon substrate by a process other than an adhesion process.
(2) Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 07-276636
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 07-276636 defines the orientation of a crystal plane on a cavity wall in a method for forming the cavity by etching a silicon substrate.
Problem 1: In such conventional technologies, the shape of the cavity depends on the anisotropic etching of the single-crystal silicon. Since the etching, in turn, depends on the crystal structure of the single-crystal silicon, the shape of the cavity is limited by the crystal structure of the single-crystal silicon. In general, the cavity has a (111) face of the single-crystal silicon. The etching rate is low on the (111) face. Thus, the etching based on the orientation of the crystal plane produces a cavity wall that is not perpendicular to the silicon substrate, resulting in a lower cavity density.
The cavity wall is required to have an affinity for ink to prevent the deposition of air bubbles.
Problem 2: Conventionally, the etching of the silicon substrate has been performed by selective etching based on the difference in the concentration of doped p-type impurities. However, the selection ratio of the selective etching is several tens at the highest. Thus, when both a thin film portion of the substrate and the cavity portion are made of silicon, the thickness of the thin film portion may be poorly controlled and may vary. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-234156 discloses a method using a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate, in which a buried silicon oxide layer serves as an etch stop material. In alkaline etching, the etching rate of silicon oxide is less than one-thousandth of that of silicon and accordingly the selectivity is excellent.
However, in alkaline etching, heat treatment during the formation of a diaphragm or the subsequent formation of pressure-generating means or peripheral circuitry may cause precipitation of oxygen in the substrate. The precipitated oxide acts as a mask during the etching because of its low etching rate for an alkaline solution, and thus may cause nonuniform etching. Furthermore, such an oxide deposited on the diaphragm may cause nonuniform mechanical properties in the diaphragm, leading to fracture or crack of the diaphragm.
Problem 3: An SOI wafer is about 4 to 10 times as expensive as a single-crystal silicon wafer. In addition, when an SOI wafer having a thick thin-film layer is manufactured by lamination and polishing, variations in the thickness of the SOI layer, which are about ±0.5 μm, cause variations in the thickness of the thin film portion.


A power semiconductor module 3 for mounting on a cooling element 4 has at least one substrate 2, on which one or more components 5, 6, 7 are mounted and a module housing 40. The module housing 40 surrounds at least partially the at least one substrate 2. The module housing 40 has opposite sides with a first side facing the cooling element 4, and a second side 42 having one or more openings and a surface turned away from the power semiconductor module 3. Each of the one or more openings has a border, which is sealed by an internal contact 16, 17, 18, 27, 28, which is electrically connected to the one or more components 5, 6, 7. The internal contact protrudes the module housing 40, such that the internal contact not extends beyond said surface of the second side 42 of the module housing 40.

Power semiconductor modules comprise a semiconductor package and at least two semiconductor chips mounted on one or more substrates in the package. The power semiconductor chips usually comprise power electronic circuits such as rectifier bridges, DC-links, Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT) inverters, drivers, control units, sensing units, half bridge inverters, AC-DC converter, DC-AC converters, DC-DC converters, bidirectional high bridge switches, and more.
Modern power semiconductor modules commonly use leadframes for external contact. The leadframe is electrically contacted to the substrate whereon each of the internal contacts of the semiconductor chips are connected to the leads of the leadframe. For an extended circuit area on the substrate the lead contacts are electrically connected exclusively to the sides of the substrate. A technique for the enclosure of semiconductor modules is the Insert-Mold-Technique (IMT) wherein the semiconductor chips mounted on one or more substrates are molded in a housing of a synthetic material. In case of the manufacture of an IMT-module housing, the leads of the leadframe extending away from the substrate are connected by a circumferential leadframe bar acting as a sealing interface between an upper and lower die during the IMT-manufacturing process.
For electrical isolation and mechanical protection, the power semiconductor modules are encapsulated. After completion of the module housing, the power semiconductor module is mounted on a cooling element for dissipating excess heat of the semiconductor chips generated during operation. An effective thermal contact is achieved by closely mounting a large area of the power semiconductor module, e.g. the bottom side of the module, onto a surface of the cooling element acting as a heat sink.
To reduce the costs of the synthetic module housing material the body of the power semiconductor module usually has a flat shape. This shape leads to small heights of the power semiconductor modules resulting in small distances between the top side of the power semiconductor module and the cooling element where the module is mounted on.
The afore mentioned leadframe contacts protrude the module housing on the sides of the power semiconductor module body. Due to the flat shape of the power semiconductor module, the small distance of the electrical contacts to the cooling element, often just a few millimeters, result in small creepage distances and air gaps between the electrical contacts of the power semiconductor module and the cooling element. The use of conventional power semiconductor modules is thus limited to reverse voltages of approximately 600 V. For operation at higher reverse voltages, particularly in the widely used reverse voltage class of 1200 V, additional measures and efforts are required for a reliable operation of these power semiconductor modules. There is a general need to provide power semiconductor modules for operation at reverse voltages beyond 600 V without the need of subsequent time and effort consuming treatments of the modules.

Power semiconductor module and method for its manufacture


A manual windowing with auto-segmentation assistance method and system are disclosed that include defining manual tags to be assigned to one or more windows via a tag selection module, assigning the defined manual tags to the one or more windows via a manual tag assignment module and auto-segmenting the one or more windows within the display medium by producing auto-segmentation tags via the auto-segmentation module. Furthermore the method and system according to this invention provide for mapping tags to the auto-segmentation tags via a tag mapping module and merging the manual tags and the auto-segmentation tags via a merging module.

1. Field of Invention
This invention is related to scanning systems in general, and in particular to combined manual windowing and auto-segmentation.
2. Description of Related Art
Manual windowing generally enables the assignment of user-defined tags to one or more windows or bounded regions within a scanned page. These user-defined tags control the processing of the windows to which they are assigned, and thus provide custom rendering adjustment of each scanned page. In order to obtain good image quality in digital reproduction of documents, regions in the scanned original document with different characteristics, such as, for instance, continuous tone pictures, halftones of different frequencies, error diffused images, text, and the like, may need different treatment. Auto-segmentation classifies each pixel in the input image into one of several classes in a way that optimal processing and rendering can be performed. Examples of patents using auto-segmentation can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,178,260 and 6,181,829, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein.

Manual windowing with auto-segmentation assistance in a scanning system


A turbocharger lubricating oil pressure regulator (10) having a lubricating oil inlet port (12) adapted to receive turbocharger lubricating oil and an outlet port (13) in fluid communication with the lubricating oil inlet port (12). The regulator (10) has a lubricating oil bypass port (14) in fluid communication with the oil inlet port (12) at one end and in fluid communication with a lubricating oil sump (3) at another. A valve (17) is biased in a closed configuration to block oil flow between the lubricating oil inlet port (12) and the bypass port (14) and movable toward an open configuration in response to a predetermined lubricating oil pressure at the inlet port (12) allowing lubricating oil to flow through the bypass port (14) to the oil sump (3).

In an internal combustion engine, a turbocharger is a very well-known device for utilising the energy of the engine exhaust gases to compress engine intake air to more efficiently combust fuel, whether petrol or diesel internal combustion engines.
Typically, turbochargers have a pair of impeller blades mounted at opposing ends of a common shaft. Each impeller rotates within its own domain in a housing of the turbocharger. The drive impeller of the turbocharger functions as a generator where the exhaust gas enters the housing and the energy from the exhaust is converted to rotational energy of the shaft. This correspondingly rotates the air intake impeller on the common shaft resulting in air being drawn in and compressed to a higher energy state, providing a higher volumetric efficiency for the engine.
It is typical for turbocharger devices to include an oil feed line linking on to an inlet of the centre housing rotating assembly (CHRA), thereby feeding the bearings or otherwise lubricating the common shaft. Typically, the lubricating oil is supplied to the oil inlet at the turbocharger from an existing oil port on the internal combustion engine oil pump. The oil pump is designed to maintain predetermined pressure to properly support the internal combustion engine operations safely, such as maintaining crankshaft concentricity.
It is well known to cool the engine lubricating oil generally in an oil radiator which is a similar heat exchanger to a conventional vehicle air-cooled radiator. This can be important to prevent negative consequences that arise from overheating the lubricating oil such as coking. Also, the air compressed by the turbocharger is often cooled by an intercooler or the like prior to injection into the engine. This is because turbochargers operate at relatively high temperatures and cooling additionally provides a higher intake air density.
As the turbocharger lubricating oil is pressurised it is generally restricted before the turbocharger lubricating oil inlet by placing a small restrictor device (known as restrictor pills) into the lubricating oil feedline so as to limit the oil pressure acting within the CHRA. However, if excess pressure is built up in the turbocharger CHRA there is the possibility for lubricating oil ingress into the turbine or compressor stages of the turbocharger disadvantageously causing oil contamination of the gasses. This not only detracts from the turbocharger performance but may have other deleterious effects on the engine.
Genesis of the Invention
The genesis of the present invention is a desire to provide a turbocharger lubricating oil pressure regulator that overcomes the disadvantage of the prior art, or to provide a useful alternative.


A power assisted bicycle (10) which modifies an existing manually powered bicycle (12) by replacing the left pedal crank arm with a motor-driven sprocket and left pedal assembly (32). An electric motor (34) is attached to the bicycle's frame (20) and has attached a motor drive sprocket (35) and a one-way clutch (36). A motor roller chain ring (38) is connected in concert to the motor drive sprocket (35) and motor driven sprocket (32), such that the electric motor (34), provides a power assist to the manually powered bicycle, with the one-way clutch (36) permitting unassisted pedaling without resistance of the motor when de-energized. An electrical power source (40) interfaces with an electrical control system (42) for supplying electrical energy to operate and control the electric motor.

Prior art patents include methods to permit a motor to transmit power to a bicycle wheel without intermediately driving the bicycle's pedal cranks, or to control a bicycle motor's output semi-automatically. These designs frequently entail mounting a motor in a location where it is likely to upset handling or limit ground clearance. The motor can also interfere with the rider's legs, the pedals as normally spaced, the front wheel, or the normal routing of the bicycle's control cables.
The prior art listed below did not disclose patents that possess any of the novelty of the instant invention, however the following U.S. patents are considered related:
U.S. Pat. No.InventorIssue Date4,280,581Rudwick28 Jul. 19814,393,954Soucy et al.19 Jul. 19835,272,938Hsu et al.28 Dec. 19935,341,892Hirose et al.30 Aug. 19946,092,820Evans25 Jul. 20006,152,251Nagai et al.28 Nov. 20006,672,418Makino6 Jan. 2004
Patent Application Publication2003/0141126Hays et al.31 Jul. 20032003/0159869Terice28 Aug. 2003
Rudwick in U.S. Pat. No. 4,280,581 teaches an electrically assisted bicycle utilizing an elongated frame such that a storage battery and motor may be mounted at a low level between the bicycle's pedals and rear wheel. The motor and pedals are efficiently coupled so that either or both simultaneously power the drive wheel.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,393,954 of Soucy et al. is for a bicycle having a motor with a sprocket and a chain attached to another sprocket engaging a pedal crank shaft. The motor rotation engages the pedal crank shaft to impart its movement to the shaft. The shaft is disengaged when power is transmitted from a power output member to a power input member.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,272,938 issued to Hsu et al. is for a flat rim motor drive mechanism for driving a bicycle. A DC motor includes a rotor made of a multi-layer mylar film rotor coil fastened inside a housing that is coupled to the spokes of a bicycle wheel
Hirose et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,341,892 discloses a motor and pedal driven bicycle. The battery powered motor driving unit is divided into two sections: the motor and a speed reducer, and has a fixed portion secured to a hub spindle.
Evans in U.S. Pat. No. 6,092,820 teaches a cargo support device that increases the carrying capacity of standard bicycles. The device includes a base extension frame mounted to a bottom bracket with the bicycle's original chain extended.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,152,251 issued to Nagai et al. teaches a bicycle power unit. The battery unit is arranged so as to be operatively connected to the power unit at a lowest position on a V-shaped leg space that extends the bicycle in a horizontal direction.
Makino in U.S. Pat. No. 6,672,418 discloses a torque sensor for a motor-assisted, manually operated vehicle. The torque sensor is operated by a differential transmission that transmits no driving force for the vehicle, therefore it may be made of a light weight, low cost material. A variety of differential transmissions are also disclosed utilizing either one of two coupled planetary transmissions.
Patent Application Publication No. 2003/0141126 of Hays et al. teaches a bicycle with an electric motor. Outer sprockets are independently turned by either the motor or the bicycle's pedals, with an inner sprocket driving the bicycle's rear wheel. Either the motor, pedals or both propel the bicycle.
Patent Application Publication No. 2003/0159869 applied for by Terice is for the motorization of a conventional bicycle with the addition of a driven gear to the bicycle's chain gear in a bottom bracket area. A motor with a one way clutch is strapped to the bicycle's frame and powers the chain gears.


In a fluid valving system, binary fluid control lines are connected in parallel between a common fluid inlet and a common fluid outlet. Each line has a binary valve and a metering orifice for passing a predetermined rate of fluid flow. The rates are in a geometric progression in factors of two. An analog fluid control line is connected in parallel with the binary lines, and has a continuously adjustable flow rate regulator for passing any selected rate of fluid flow up to a maximum at least equal to the largest increment of rate change in the binary lines. The regulator is formed of a miniature solid state device. A controller sets each binary valve open or closed, and sets the regulator for a selected flow rate, such that cooperative settings provide for a smoothly variable rate of total fluid flow.

There are many requirements as well as metering devices for maintaining and changing fluid flow rates. For example, in certain applications it is necessary to turn on or shut off a preset fluid flow over a short period of time. Another type of application is where a flow rate must be selected with precision, for example, for carrier gas in atomic absorption spectrometric instruments, or in gas or liquid chromatography. In such instruments with electronic and computerized controls, the older conventional methods such as motors connected to conventional flow meters for setting and changing flows have become cumbersome and not readily adaptable, particularly where precision is required.
Most conventional flow meters are adjustable continuously over the operational range of flow rates and may not have the required precision. Another class of flow controllers utilizes an arrangement of binary flow control devices. These place a plurality of fluid lines in parallel, each having an on-off valve in series with a fixed flow control such as a precision orifice. The orifice is a different size in each line, or in at least some of the lines, so that combinations selected with the valves select fluid flow rate in increments. In one type of system, each fixed flow line passes fluid at a rate that is a factor of two greater than a preceding line in a sequence of the lines, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,999,482, 3,726,296, 3,746,041 and 4,768,544. Other relative orifice sizes may be combined, for example as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,030,523 to attain steps in increments of 10% of the maximum flow, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,628,961 which discloses a stepper valve with equal flows.
A more recent class of devices for controlling fluid flow rates are formed in miniature solid state semiconductor chips and other materials using techniques similar to those of forming integrated electronic circuits. Such devices and techniques are described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 4,821,997. A specific device is a Fluistor.TM. as described in an article "The Fluistor Microstructure is Poised for Commercialization" (no author), Sensor Business Digest, 1, No. 5, 9-11 (February 1992).

Hybrid valving system for varying fluid flow rate


A reversible front or rear mounted vehicle warning light system employing an accelerometer circuit to control the initiation of warning lights to indicate if a vehicle is accelerating or de-accelerating or losing traction in turns, or providing advertising messages on demand.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to vehicles, bicycles, and truck and trailer pus scooters, snowmobiles, and boat warning lights. In particular, it relates to an interchangeable reversible front or rear mountable vehicle warning light indicating if a vehicle, bicycle, truck, or trailer is accelerating or de-accelerating.
2. Description of Related Art
Various front and rear mounted vehicle warning lights are known. O'Sullivan, U.S. Pat. No. 5,373,426 is a front mounted vehicle brake light for alerting pedestrians or other vehicle drives positioned in front of a vehicle that it is de-accelerating. Rudd, U.S. Pat. No. 3,908,144 discloses a sealed beam headlight with an additional brake light connected to the brake pedal of an automobile to not only provide forward illumination, but also signals operation of the braking system of the vehicle to those who can see the front of the vehicle. Both are difficult to be seen from the side, and do not indicate if the vehicle is accelerating. Dankert, U.S. Pat. No. 3,364,384, discloses a speed controlled signal system with a plurality of panels mounted to the front, back and side of a vehicle via a complex circuit to indicate whether a vehicle is accelerating or de-accelerating. Voano et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,258,740 discloses front mounted cornering lamps selectively indicating brake and acceleration of a vehicle, which is visible from the front of a vehicle and one side. Gianfocaro, U.S. Pat. No. 4,837,554 discloses another speed controlled signal system with a plurality of panels mounted to the front, back and side of a vehicle via a complex circuit employing a motion switch using red and green lights to indicate whether a vehicle is accelerating or de-accelerating. Walton, U.S. Pat. No. 5,966,073 discloses front side and/or front mounted brake and running turn signal lights. Kao, U.S. Pat. No. 5,798,691 discloses an accessory LED brake light system secured to the front most central position of the automobile to provide warning signals when the automobile is braking to those positioned in front of the vehicle. Pitcher, U.S. Pat. No. 5,680,101 discloses a dash mounted forward facing brake light mounted within the passenger compartment. Anderson, U.S. Pat. No. 3,491,336 discloses a braking signal light mounted in the front of automotive vehicles with side windows. Annas, U.S. Pat. No. 3,665,392 discloses a brake light mounted to the front windshield of a motor vehicle. Hull et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,537,091 discloses method of using existing wiring circuits of a vehicle to provide a pedestrian signal system for vehicles. Jandron, U.S. Pat. No. 5,758,944 discloses vehicle wrap around side/front brake lights. Schamblin, U.S. Pat. No. 4,713,732 discloses a vehicle light warning system employing a front mounted reflective sheet that flutters and moves in response to vehicle vibrations and/or wind during vehicle travel to be visible from oblique angles.
Mori et al., Pub. No. US 2002/0138181A1 is cited for general interest and discloses a vehicle expression operation control system for expressing an occupant's intention.
The present invention described below provides an interchangeable reversible front or rear mounted vehicle acceleration/de-acceleration warning light system employing a reversible accelerometer circuit, which is set to activate the warning light system depending upon whether it is mounted on the front or rear of a vehicle, bicycle, truck and/or trailer. It may also include black box components to track the vehicle speed, gravitational turn forces, as well as advertising light transmission components.

Reversibly mountable acceleration/de-acceleration warning light


Embodiments of the present application disclose a method and an apparatus for sharing and acquiring information. A specific implementation of the method for sharing information includes: receiving access information of a wireless access point shared by a first terminal device, where the access information of the wireless access point is included in a connection record generated by the first terminal device; and storing the access information of the wireless access point, and synchronizing the access information of the wireless access point with other nodes of the blockchain. In this implementation, the blockchain stores the access information of the wireless access point, and all nodes of the blockchain store the access information of the wireless access point, thereby improving stability of the stored access information of the wireless access point, and better providing a wireless access service for users.

With the continuous development of wireless communications technologies, Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) has become an important manner for a user to access a network daily, and also brings great convenience to the user.
Currently, for an encrypted wireless access point, when the user connects to the wireless access point through a wireless access point connection application, a password of the wireless access point inputted by the user may be actively shared to a backend server of the wireless access point connection application for storage while the user successfully connects to the wireless the wireless access point. Then, if other users connect to the wireless access point through the wireless access point connection application, the backend server may send the previously stored password of the wireless access point to other users, so that other users use the received password to connect to the wireless access point.

Method and apparatus for sharing and acquiring information

SHANGHAI LIANSHANG NETWORK TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


A hydraulic brake system including: (a) a first hydraulic-pressure generating device including a manual hydraulic pressure source; (b) a second hydraulic-pressure generating device including a power hydraulic pressure source; (c) a manual-operation-associated brake line including a communicating device that is to be brought into communication with the manual hydraulic pressure source and brake cylinder or cylinders of the plurality of hydraulic brakes; (d) an output hydraulic-pressure control device and a flow restraining device disposed in parallel with each other between the manual-operation-associated brake line and the second hydraulic-pressure generating device; and (e) a power hydraulic pressure source control device for activating the power hydraulic pressure source such that the hydraulic pressure is supplied to the manual-operation-associated brake line via the flow restraining device, when the output hydraulic-pressure control device cannot control the hydraulic pressure outputted by the second hydraulic-pressure generating device.

Patent Document 1 discloses a hydraulic brake system including (a) a master cylinder, (b) a power hydraulic-pressure generating device including a pump device and an accumulator, (c) a plurality of brake cylinders and (d) a common passage to which these elements are connected, wherein an output hydraulic-pressure control valve is disposed between the power hydraulic-pressure generating device and the common passage. When the hydraulic brake system is in a normal state, hydraulic pressure outputted from the power hydraulic-pressure generating device is controlled by control of the output hydraulic-pressure control valve such that the controlled hydraulic pressure is supplied to a plurality of brake cylinders via a common passage. When an electric line of the hydraulic brake system is in a failure state, the power hydraulic-pressure generating device is isolated from the common passage, and the hydraulic pressure in the master cylinder is supplied to the plurality of brake cylinders via the common passage.
Patent Document 2 discloses a hydraulic brake system in which a power hydraulic-pressure generating device is connected, via a valve mechanism 13 and shuttle valves 17, 18, to fluid passages connecting a master cylinder and brake cylinders. The shuttle valves 17, 18 are configured to select a higher one of the hydraulic pressure in the valve mechanism 13 and the hydraulic pressure in the master cylinder, and the selected one is supplied to the brake cylinders.
Patent Document 3 discloses a hydraulic brake system in which each of individual control valves is disposed in midway of a corresponding one of fluid passages connecting a power hydraulic-pressure generating device and brake cylinders. A master cylinder is connected to portions of the respective fluid passages each of which is located on a downstream side of the corresponding individual control valve. When the hydraulic brake system is in a normal state, the hydraulic pressures in the brake cylinders are controlled by utilizing the hydraulic pressure in the power hydraulic-pressure generating device with controls of the respective individual control valves while the brake cylinders are being isolated from the master cylinder. When an electric line of the hydraulic brake system is in a failure state, the hydraulic pressure in the master cylinder is supplied to the brake cylinders.
Patent Document 4 discloses a hydraulic brake system in which, after a vacuum booster has reached its boosting limit, the hydraulic pressure outputted from a pump device is controlled, and the controlled hydraulic pressure is supplied to a pressure chamber that is located on a rear side of a pressurizing piston of a master cylinder. Owing to this arrangement, the hydraulic pressures in the respective brake cylinders can be increased after the vacuum booster has reached its boosting limit, such that a ratio of the hydraulic pressure in the brake cylinder to a brake operating force is not changed between before and after the vacuum booster reaches its boosting limit. In this hydraulic brake system, a relief valve is disposed between the pump device and a main passage connecting the master cylinder and the brake cylinders, such that a pressure discharged from the pump device is supplied to the main passage via the relief valve when the pressure discharged from the pump device becomes excessively high.


In a method of detecting defects during a write operation for an optical disk recording device, during a period of time immediately after writing begins, a sub-beam added (SBAD) signal is compared with a reference signal having a second threshold frequency. A defect is identified when a difference between the SBAD signal and the reference signal exceeds either a second upper limit or a second lower limit. Then, after the short period of time has elapsed, a SBAD signal is compared with and a reference signal having a first threshold frequency that is less than the second threshold frequency. A defect is identified when a difference between the SBAD signal and the reference signal exceeds either a first upper limit that is less than the second upper limit, or a first lower limit that is greater than the second lower limit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of defect detecting in an optical recording device, and in particular, to a method for preventing erroneous defect detection when the optical recording device switches from read to write.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The Mount Rainier disk recording format was developed by Compaq, Microsoft, Philips, Sony, and other companies, for defect management. For optical recording devices that utilize the defect management function, the general method of detecting defects is to take advantage of the fact that the sub-beam added (SBAD) signal generated by the optical head will be maintained at a certain level when the optical recording device performs writing to a disk. When a defect is encountered, the SBAD signal will vary due to the abnormal amount of the light reflected from the disk. In this way, the optical recording device is able to determine whether the disk contains a defect based on a function of level variations in the SBAD signal.
As shown in FIG. 1, in order to measure the level variations in the SBAD signal more accurately, one can first pass the SBAD signal through a low-pass filter to obtain a stable and slowly changing signal, which is called SBAD_Ipf signal. This SBAD_Ipf signal is used as the reference signal. During the writing process, the SBAD signal is compared with the reference signal (SBAD_Ipf signal). When the difference between two signals exceeds a preset upper limit (i.e., the SBAD signal is higher than the reference signal) or a lower limit (i.e., the SBAD signal is lower than the reference signal), a defect signal will be activated. The period of the activated defect signal corresponding to an area on the disk is determined as a defect area. The optical recording device will label the defect area according to the length and location of the defect, and then the data is written to a substitute location on the disk, pursuant to the Mount Rainier disk specification.
As shown in FIG. 2, if the threshold frequency of the low-pass filter for the reference signal (SBAD_Ipf signal) shown in FIG. 1 is set higher, the reference signal (SBAD_Ipf signal) will approach the SBAD signal more quickly and then cause the shorter period of the activated defect signal. This means that the defect area may not be detected completely. Therefore, when detecting whether a disk has defects, it is necessary to select an appropriate threshold frequency of the low-pass filter for the reference signal (SBAD_Ipf signal) to make the reference signal vary slowly so that the entire defect area can be detected.
Generally speaking, the SBAD signal will drop or rise suddenly at the instant that writing is started. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, when writing is started, the SBAD signal will suddenly drop to a level that is below the reference signal (SBAD_Ipf ), so the defect signal will be activated because a lower limit is detected. The period of the activated defect signal identifies the existence of a defect area. At that time period, however, the detected defect area is an erroneous defect detection. In fact, the power change of the laser from read to write also causes the SBAD signal to suddenly drop or rise even though there may be no defect area in the starting location of writing.
Consequently, when level variation of the SBAD signal is used to determine whether there are defect areas on a disk, it is very likely that the SBAD signal generated by the optical head will rise or drop suddenly due to the variation in the laser power of the optical head (as shown in FIG. 4) during the process when the optical head switches from read to write at the instant that the optical recording device initiates a write operation. In order to prevent erroneous defect detection, the gain of the SBAD signal can be adjusted to reduce the difference between the SBAD signal and the SBAD_Ipf signal before the time and at the time writing is started. However, this method cannot completely eliminate the aforementioned problem, because there still may be a difference that occurs that exceeds the upper limit or lower limit. As a result, the starting location for a writing operation may be misidentified or the actual defect may go undetected.
If there is a defect area on the disk and the optical recording device is unable to detect it during writing, the data stored at that location will be unreadable. If there is no defect at a particular location on the disk and the optical recording device erroneously identifies the existence of a defect, not only will storage space on the disk be wasted, but it will also take more time for the optical recording device to perform its read and write operations.
As shown in FIG. 5, in order to avoid defect detection failures that occur when the SBAD signal rises or drops suddenly at the beginning of writing, another conventional method of solving the problem is to reset the reference signal to have the same value with the SBAD at the instant that writing is started. However, the optical recording device might immediately encounter a defect just when writing starts (i.e., during the time that the optical head switches from reading to writing). In this case, the reference signal (SBAD—1pf) might quickly drop to the level of the SBAD signal at the starting point of writing. As a result, an erroneous defect detection occurs because of the slowly changing reference signal causing an appearance of an upper limit.
Thus, the above-described prior art methods for determining whether there are defective locations on a disk based on level variations of the SBAD signal and the reference signal still carry inconveniences and problems that need to be solved in practical application, since detection failures still tend to occur during the time that the optical head switches from reading to writing.

Method for preventing an optical recording device from erroneous defect detecting during writing


An integrated motor device with driver circuitry and method of setting and reading configuration parameters of the driver circuitry uses configuration data embedded in driver control signals to set at least one configuration parameter of the driver circuitry.

Some conventional stepper motors and digital servo motors are integrated with motor driver circuitry, which provides driving signals to the connected motor. The driver circuitry of these conventional integrated motors is controlled using digital control signals from an external controller. Thus, conventional integrated motors include input/output (I/O) pins to receive digital control signals from the controller. As an example, the digital control signals may include an enable signal, a direction signal and a pulse signal.
The driver circuitry of these conventional integrated motors is usually designed such that configuration parameters or values of the driver circuitry can be set or changed with respect to, for example, maximum current, microstep, gains and directional polarity. These configuration parameters of the driver circuitry are typically set using one of two methods. The first method involves the use of mechanical control devices, such as dip switches, jumpers, mechanical switches and potentiometers, which are electrically connected to the driver circuitry. The second method involves the use of a computer, which is connected to the driver circuitry via a serial communication connection, such as RS-232, Universal Serial Bus (USB), Ethernet or Serial Peripheral Interface Bus (SPI).
A concern with the first method for setting the configuration parameters of the driver circuitry is that access to the mechanical control devices to set the configuration parameters may be difficult. The mechanical control devices and the driver circuitry are usually situated in the housing of an integrated motor. Thus, one or more sections of the motor housing may have to be removed to access the mechanical control devices.
A concern with the second method for setting the configuration parameters of the driver circuitry is that this method requires a serial communication port and related communication components to receive and transmit data with a computer, which can increase the manufacturing cost of the integrated motor.
Therefore, there is a need for an integrated motor device with driver circuitry and method of setting configuration parameters of the driver circuitry, which can alleviate the above-described concerns.

Integrated motor device and method of setting and reading driver configuration parameters using driver configuration data embedded in driver control signals


Disclosed are a novel oxazolidinone derivative exhibiting inhibitory activity against CETP, a preparation method thereof, and a pharmaceutical composition comprising the same. Exhibiting excellent inhibitory activity against CETP, the oxazolidinone derivative can be effectively applied to the prevention or treatment of various CETP enzyme activity- or HDL cholesterol level-related diseases such as dyslipidemia, atherosclerosis, and coronary heart disease.

Coronary heart disease (CHD), also known as atherosclerotic heart disease, is caused by plaque being deposited and building up along the inner walls of the arteries of the heart. The risk of arteries narrowing increases with smoking, insufficient exercise, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and dyslipidemia. CHD is the leading cause of death irrespective of sex and accounts for approximately 500,000 deaths in the United States every year out of 15.8 million CHD patients.
According to the guidelines of NCEP (National Cholesterol Education Program) ATP-III (Adult Treatment Panel III), management of blood cholesterol levels is very important for the prevention or improvement of CHD. NCEP classified persons with CHD history or CHD-equivalent risk factors into three groups according to the 10-year risk of CHD onset (<10%, 10-20%, >20%), and proposed criteria/goals of living behavior improvement and drug treatment for reducing LDL-cholesterol levels in each group (JAMA 2001; 285: 2486-2497, AAOHN J 2002; 50: 360-364, Vascular Medicine 2002; 7: 187-194). 3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors, such as statins, are reported to lower blood cholesterol levels by inhibiting the synthesis of cholesterol and increasing the expression of LDL receptors, and make a contribution to the treatment or prevention of cardiovascular diseases irrespective of sex and age by reducing the incidence of cardiac diseases by as high as approximately 30% (Lancet 1994; 344: 1383-1389, Lancet 2002; 360: 7-22, Lancet 2004; 364: 7-22, JAMA 1999; 282: 2340-2346). However, these statin-lineage drugs are not sufficiently efficacious for the treatment or prevention of atherosclerosis-caused CHD.
Since the report that the incidence risk of CHD increases with a decrease in HDL cholesterol level (N. Engl. J. Med. 1976; 294: 293-298, Lancet. 1977; 1: 965-968, Am. J. Med. 1977; 62: 707-714), HDL cholesterol-increasing drugs such as fibrate or niacin have been developed (Vasc Med 2002; 7: 187-194, JAMA 2001; 285: 2486-2497). Particularly, as HDL was revealed to have various functions including the inhibition of LDL oxidation (Free Radic. Biol. Med. 41: 1031-1040), anti-thrombotic/anti-inflammatory activity (Circ. Res. 98: 1352-1364, Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol. 15: 1987-1994), and the prevention and improvement of arteriosclerosis (Circulation. 100: 1816-1822) as well as reverse cholesterol transport, the use of HLD cholesterol-increasing drugs alone or in combination with statins has been expected as a novel therapy for CHD. However, this therapy is reported to produce a safety problem such as drug resistance, and its efficacy is, in fact, not as high as expected. Therefore, there is a need for more potent HDL cholesterol-increasing drugs.
In response to this need, CETP (cholesterylester transfer protein) inhibitors have been developed as HDL cholesterol-increasing agents with a novel mechanism. CETP is a hydrophobic glycoprotein which circulates mostly in association with HDL in blood (Tall A R et al., J Lipid Res. 1993; 34: 1255-1274). This plasma protein performs a homoexchange by collecting triglycerides from very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and LDL, and exchanges them for cholesteryl esters from HLD, thus contributing to the re-distribution of cholesterols and the remodeling of lipoproteins. Consistent with this in vivo activity of CETP, it is reported that blood HDL cholesterol levels decrease with an increase in blood CETP activity (Curr Opin. Lipidol. 11; 4: 389-396). Also, decreased CETP activity brings about an increase in HDL cholesterol levels which, in turn, facilitate reverse cholesterol transport, resulting in a preventive arteriosclerosis effect (Philip J et al., Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2003; 23: 160-167). The suggestion of the improvement of HDL cholesterol through CETP inhibition has incited pharmaceutical companies to develop drugs for preventing or treating CHD, including anacetrapib of Merck, torcetrapib of Pfizer, and dalcetrapib of Roche. During clinical trials, torcetrapib was first to be dropped due to safety problems, followed by dalcetrapib due to its weak inhibitory activity against CETP and insufficient clinical efficacy.
Therefore, there is an urgent need for a CETP inhibitor that is safes and more potent, allowing for the development of a drug for preventing or treating CHD with excellent efficacy.

Oxazolidinone derivative as CETP inhibitor, its preparation method, and pharmaceutical composition comprising the same


A method of dispensing a food product composed of a plurality of ingredients which are mixed to form the food product, includes the steps of providing a rotary surface having a rotary axis and a periphery, mixing together first and second fluid ingredients to form a liquid product mix, depositing the liquid product mix onto the surface while rotating the surface so that the liquid product mix spreads out on the surface in a layer, cooling the surface to a temperature low enough to at least partially freeze said layer to form a frozen product body, removing the product body from the surface as product body scrapings, and collecting and compacting the scrapings to form the food product. Apparatus for carrying out the method is also disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for producing and dispensing aerated and/or blended food products. While the invention may be used to produce a variety of products, it has particular application to the production and dispensing of frozen confections such as ice cream and frozen yogurt. Consequently, we will describe the invention in that context. It should be understood, however, that various aspects of the invention to be described also have application to the making and dispensing of various other food products.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Aerated frozen food products generally require the mixing of selected liquid ingredients with a prescribed volume of air and freezing of the resultant mixture and dispensing of the finished product. The desirability of the finished product is often related directly to the manner and to the degree in which the air is metered and blended with the liquid ingredients of the mixture, referred to as overrun, and the manner in which the blended mix is frozen and then dispensed. The prior art is replete with examples of apparatus for dispensing ice cream and other semi-frozen dairy products such as soft ice cream and frozen yogurt.
Conventionally, such machines are usually dedicated to dispensing one or two flavors of product and, in some cases, a combination of the two. For example, in an ice cream shop, there may be one machine with two separate freezing chambers for making and dispensing chocolate and vanilla ice cream, a second two-chamber machine for making and dispensing strawberry and banana ice cream, a third machine dedicated to making and dispensing coffee and frozen pudding flavors, and so on. The reason for this is that each chamber typically contains a volume of ice cream greater than is required for a single serving. In order to dispense a different flavor ice cream, that chamber must be emptied and cleaned before the new flavor can be made in that chamber and appear at the outlet of the dispenser. Additionally, the vat of preflavored mix from which the frozen product is made must also be very clean. While high volume ice cream shops and confectionery stores may have sales to justify the presence of several dispensing machines dispensing many different products and flavors, smaller sales outlets can usually only afford one or two such machines and are thus restricted in the number of flavors that they can offer to customers.
Further, because the product is typically formed in a quantity that is greater than that to be dispensed at any one serving, the excess product remains in the chamber after formation and until additional servings draw it down. The excess is thus subjected to further freezing which promotes crystallization. Because of the relatively large quantity of the premixed flavors, and the continuous freezing of several quarts of the product, the freshness and palatability of the product may be adversely affected in outlets with relatively slow sales of the product.
Another disadvantage of the prior dispensers is that they have many interior surfaces and moving parts that are difficult and time consuming to clean and maintain at the end of each day or at intervals prescribed by local Health Department regulations. Each dispenser must be purged of any remaining product, and it's chamber walls, pumps and other internal parts cleaned thoroughly to prevent growth of bacteria that could contaminate the product being delivered by the dispenser. Not only is the cleaning operation expensive in terms of down time, it is also costly in terms of product waste and is an unpleasant and difficult job to get employees to do properly.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,433,967 discloses a method and apparatus for producing and dispensing an aerated product which includes a mixing chamber having a first inlet for receiving a liquid, a second inlet for receiving a gas, and an outlet leading to a continuous tube which has a relatively small cross section. The tube has one end positioned to receive the fluid effluent from the mixing chamber outlet and its other end is spaced from that outlet so that the effluent is subjected to confined turbulent mixing in the tube until the fluid product is discharged from the other end of the tube. If that product is to be cooled, the tube leads to a cooling zone or surface which cools and at least partially freezes the liquid product issuing from that tube. The apparatus disclosed there is especially suitable for making and dispensing frozen yogurt and ice cream and allows for the service of individualized fresh product portions in a variety of flavors.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,727,713 discloses a dispenser product supply unit which includes a pressurizable container for containing a product liquid or base and having an opening leading into one end of a conduit. Formed integrally in the conduit is a mixing chamber at which a gas may be added to the liquid, followed by an elongated tube for causing turbulent flow of the mixed fluids. Side branches from the conduit may also be present for introducing one or more flavors into the fluid flowing through the conduit. The opposite or outlet end of the conduit may be coupled to a distribution manifold that can distribute the aerated liquid issuing from the turbulence tube onto a freezing surface as a relatively thin layer. The container, conduit and side branches constitute a one-piece disposable structure which is especially suitable for producing and dispensing flavored dairy products from an associated dispensing apparatus in an efficient and sanitary manner.
While the apparatus described in the above patents, the contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference, have existed separately in the prior art, until now no way has been found to combine them into a single machine capable of efficiently and economically making and dispensing different frozen food confections in a wide variety of flavors and in different formats, e.g. as a cup or cone.

Method and apparatus for producing and dispensing an aerated and/or blended food product


A system including a primary coil assembly is provided. The primary coil assembly is configured to operate at a first resonant frequency having a first bandwidth; wherein a difference between the first resonant frequency and a system frequency is at least two times the first bandwidth, where the first resonant frequency is selected such that upon energizing the primary coil assembly at the system frequency, a primary current is induced in the primary coil assembly, which is at least ten times lesser than a system current.

Embodiments of the invention generally relate to power transfer systems and, more particularly, to contactless power transfer systems.
Power transfer systems are employed for transmitting power from one object to another. Based on a method of transmitting power, the power transfer systems can be classified into power transfer systems using physical connections between a transmitter and a receiver for transmitting power and contactless power transfer systems in which there is no physical connection between the transmitter and the receiver. The contactless power transfer systems employ various methods for transmitting power wirelessly. One such approach includes a resonator based contactless power transfer system.
The resonator based contactless power transfer systems are used in various applications such as electric vehicle charging and wireless mobile charging. However, the configuration and operation of the resonator based contactless power transfer systems may differ based on the application in which the resonator based contactless power transfer systems are employed. One such application may include a resonator based contactless power transfer system to provide power to household electrical devices such as mobile phones, tablets, and laptops.
In such a configuration, the resonator based contactless power transfer system includes a source coil that receives power from a power source and transmits the power to load coils provided in the household electrical devices. Such a configuration of the resonator based contactless power transfer systems may be operated in two ways. In a first instance, the source coil may be switched to an operating state manually every time prior to initiating charging of the household electrical device or in a second instance, the source coil may be maintained in the operating state continuously with or without the requirement of charging of the household electrical device. However, operating the source coil in the first instance requires additional manual effort and operating the source coil in the second instance leads to undesirable electromagnetic interferences in nearby areas which may lead to safety and health issues.
Hence, there is a need for an improved system to address the aforementioned issues.

System and method for contactless power transfer


The pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein Bax initiates apoptosis in almost all apoptotic paradigms. Agents facilitating disruptive Bax insertion into mitochondrial membranes have potential as cancer therapeutics. Small molecule compounds associating with the hydrophobic groove of the pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein Bax have been identified and found to promote Bax-dependent, but not Bak-dependent, apoptosis. The compounds alter Bax protein stability in vitro and promote Bax insertion into mitochondria, leading to Bax-dependent mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization and apoptosis. The compounds activating the pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein Bax inhibit the growth of tumors by inducing apoptosis. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds that activate Bax and induce Bax-dependent apoptosis are useful as anti-cancer therapeutic agents alone or with other anti-cancer agents. Methods for inducing apoptosis and for treating cancer involve administering the compounds to a patient in need thereof.

Resistance toward apoptosis, or programmed cell death, is a hallmark of most, perhaps all, types of human cancer. Bcl-2 proteins are the major regulators of apoptotic signaling pathways, and each Bcl-2 protein member has at least one Bcl-2 homology (BH) domain. Bcl-2 proteins can be classified into anti-apoptotic and pro-apoptotic groups. There are also two classes of pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins: multiple-BH domain and BH3-only. Anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins are believed to protect against disintegration of the mitochondrial outer membrane (MOM) during apoptosis, whereas pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 members promote MOM permeabilization. The expression of individual Bcl-2 protein in different types of cancer has been used as an independent prognostic marker with limited success. Recently profiling mitochondrial sensitivity to a panel of BH3 domains derived from BH3-only Bcl-2 proteins has been shown to more effectively determine the potential of different cancer cells committing apoptosis.
Neoplastic cells often show an increased ratio of anti-apoptotic to pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins, which enables them to survive under adverse conditions. Thus, restoring the aberrant apoptotic pathways in tumor cells might render them more susceptible to stress conditions and subsequent apoptosis. An emerging approach for cancer therapy is to activate the apoptotic pathway directly by reducing the activity of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins or enhancing the function of pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins. One strategy is to antagonize the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins. The knowledge about the structures of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins and their complexes with BH3 peptides have guided the development of small molecules and stapled peptides that indirectly activate the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway by targeting the hydrophobic groove of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins.
Another less explored approach is to identify small molecules that activate pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins. The activities of the multiple-BH3 Bcl-2 proteins Bax and Bak are redundant, and it is believed that activation of either of them could induce apoptosis in almost all apoptosis paradigms examined. In the majority of cancer cells, Bax protein is functional, but its activities are largely neutralized by often overexpressed anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins. Thus, activation of Bax in tumor cells could be an effective therapeutic strategy. Structural studies have demonstrated that Bax normally resides in the cytosol of healthy cells in an inactive state. The carboxyl-terminal α-helix of Bax is the membrane anchoring region, which is normally sequestered in an inhibitory hydrophobic groove of Bax, preventing its insertion into the MOM. Upon exposure to various death stimuli, through still unknown mechanisms, Bax conformation is changed, and its membrane anchoring domain is exposed and inserted in the MOM. Once translocated into mitochondria, Bax proteins are believed to oligomerize, leading to permeabilization of the MOM and subsequent release of cytochrome c from mitochondria.
In support of this model, in vitro studies using purified mitochondria or reconstituted liposomal systems with BH3 peptides or BH3-only proteins suggest that certain BH3-only proteins, particularly Bid and Bim, can bind to Bax and induce its activation. In addition, biochemical studies also demonstrate that activator BH3-only proteins can bind to the Bax canonical hydrophobic groove to induce Bax oligomerization and activation. Furthermore, crosslinking studies suggest that homo-oligomerization of Bax through an interaction between the BH3 domain and the hydrophobic binding groove (mainly α3-α5) forms "BH3-in-groove." A recent structural study reveals new detailed information about how certain BH3-only proteins can directly activate Bax, in which BH3 peptides derived from pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins insert into the Bax hydrophobic groove, releasing the core domain (α1-α5) from the latch domain (α6-α8), dislodging the Bax BH3 domain, and subsequently inducing MOM permeabilization.
Citation of any document herein is not intended as an admission that such document is pertinent prior art, or considered material to the patentability of any claim of the present application. Any statement as to content or a date of any document is based on the information available to applicant at the time of filing and does not constitute an admission as to the correctness of such a statement.

THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE RESEARCH FOUNDATION INC.


The present disclosure relates to a sound source file structure, to output lyrics as audible sounds right before melodies corresponding to the lyrics start, to help a user to remind the lyrics based on accompaniment for a song after the accompaniment starts to be provided, and to help the user to sing based on correct lyrics corresponding to the melodies. The sound source file structure may include one or more backing sound source layers in which backing sounds based on beats and rhythms are placed, a melody sound source layer in which melody notes corresponding to lyrics based on beats and rhythms and a rest section corresponding to a rest are placed, and a lyric voice source layer in which a lyric voice is placed at a position corresponding to a rest section.

A song accompaniment device displays lyrics of a song being played on a display, combines a vocal sound input through a microphone with accompaniment for the song and outputs the combination of the vocal sound and the accompaniment through a speaker. A user selects a desired song through the song accompaniment device, and sings the song based on accompaniment for the song.
The user sings the song based on melodies while seeing lyrics of the song on the display. In this case, the user can sing the song using the song accompaniment device with no need to remember the lyrics. The song accompaniment device can be used in various environments. For example, a set-top box used in homes performs a song accompaniment function. Accordingly, lyrics are displayed on the TV connected with the set-top box, and accompaniment (melody) audio signals are output through a provided speaker. The song accompaniment device, as described above, displays lyrics on the display and helps the user to sing using the lyrics synchronized with the accompaniment.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an entire configuration of a song accompaniment system of the related art.
Referring to FIG. 1, the song accompaniment system of the related art includes one or more song accompaniment devices 10 and further includes a server 20 connected to a broadband network.
The song accompaniment device 10 receives an audio file of a selected song from the server 20, plays the received audio file, outputs audio signals including melodies through a speaker within a period where a series of parts to be played are played. The song accompaniment device 10 outputs audio signals including a lyric voice corresponding to lyrics of following parts to be played through the speaker during a rest period without melodies in the period where a series of parts to be played are currently being played. That is, the song accompaniment device 10 outputs following lyrics as audio signals at a time when the following lyrics do not overlap melodies, helps the user to easily recognizes the lyrics without memory of the lyrics, and to easily sing a song without disturbing the melody (the melody playing).
The server 20 is provided with (stores) a plurality of audio files, receives a request for transmission of a selected song from the song accompaniment device 10, and transmits an audio file corresponding to the song (e.g., a song corresponding to a song number) subject to the received request for transmission to the song accompaniment device 10 that makes the request for transmission.
In a situation where the song accompaniment system is not provided with a display or a display cannot be used, the user may be unable to sing a song in response to melodies or may sing a song based on incorrect lyrics because the user does not know or remember the lyrics.
For example, when a user sings based on accompaniment for a song under the circumstances where the user cannot see lyrics on the display, e.g., while the user is driving a vehicle, the user may not remember the lyrics.
Further, although a song accompaniment device 10 is installed in a vehicle, there are times when the song accompaniment device 10 cannot access a server 20 while the vehicle is moving. In this case, the song accompaniment device 10 cannot receive an audio file from the server 20 and the song accompaniment device 10 cannot be used.
Against this backdrop, there is a growing need for a technology enabling a song accompaniment device 10 to be used even when a display cannot be used or is not provided, enabling the song accompaniment device 10 to be used without a connection to a server 20, and enabling a user to recognize lyrics of a song easily and intuitively.

Sound source file structure, recording medium recording the same, and method of producing sound source file


A system and method for converting a non-cognitive radio into a cognitive radio is presented. A cognitive radio system includes, a non-cognitive radio; an electronic device, a spectrum sensing logic and configuration and management logic. The electronic device is connected to the non-cognitive radio so that it receives and/or transmits messages to/from a wireless network. The configuration and management logic is connected between the non-cognitive radio and the spectrum sensing logic. The spectrum sensing logic and the configuration and management logic are removable from the non-cognitive radio allowing the cognitive radio to operate in a non-cognitive mode. The spectrum sensing logic senses a wireless environment to determine available frequencies and available channels. The configuration and management logic transmits available frequencies, available channels or other spectrum data to a remote spectrum manager that is managing access to the wireless network.

1. Field of Invention
The current invention relates generally to apparatus, systems and methods for wireless communication. More particularly, the apparatus, systems and methods relate to protecting wireless communication networks from dynamic interference. Specifically, the apparatus, systems and methods provide for protecting wireless networks with cognitive radios that dynamically analyzing a spectrum of communication frequencies.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventional military and commercial wireless communications networks are vulnerable to dynamic interference environment. Interference may come from adversaries or other friendly systems. Today's wireless networks also need to protect the incumbent systems which may already be operating on the given frequency bands. Hence they need to detect the presence of these legitimate incumbent systems and vacate the spectrum if required. Previous wireless networks often do not have the intelligence to autonomously move to other un-occupied frequency bands or alter their bandwidth. Large amount of resources have already been invested by the military and many commercial operators in building these radio systems which are currently not dynamic spectrum access (DSA) enabled. In order to make the current military radios cognitive, it will require more investment from the Department of Defense (DoD) and commercial carriers.
In more detail, it is generally believed that there is ample radio frequency (RF) spectrum available to meet the global demand for voice, video and data. For instance, based on measurements of the average spectrum usage in multiple different markets, it has been found that more than 80% of the available spectrum is under-utilized. Most of the current spectrum has been allocated using a command and control licensing structure where a few selected entities are in charge of large swaths of spectrum, many of which are underutilized. The most relevant example is that of broadcast television (TV) spectrum where signals are normally transmitted over the air at VHF and UHF frequencies. In rural markets TV channels often go unused due to limited demand. In urban markets, the majority of people have started receiving their TV transmission either using cable or optical fiber. Many countries are making transition towards Digital TV (DTV) where signals occupy much smaller bandwidths as compared to their analog counterparts. These factors lead to large and increasing amounts of spectrum that are allocated to broadcast services, but are locally unused. This vacant spectrum may be opportunistically accessed to transmit broadband data in case it can be established that such a use causes no harmful interference to the allocated (incumbent) broadcast services.
Technology already exists to allow opportunistic usage of RF spectrum. Such opportunistic use of spectrum is often called dynamic spectrum access (DSA). Programs such as the neXt Generation (XG) Communications have proven that DSA techniques can allow access to channels allocated to incumbent users without harmful interference to the incumbent. The concept of cognitive radio also seems to be feasible. Cognitive radios are defined as radios that are capable of sensing their surrounding environment and altering their transmission parameters to more optimally utilize the existing resources, such as RF spectrum, to meet current user needs. Some have even proposed combining DSA techniques with machine learning techniques to make better usage of the system resources while avoiding interference. Other cognitive radio concepts are discussed in: U.S. Patent Publication No. 2008/0293353 (Mody et al.), U.S. Patent Publication No. 2009/0102981 (Mody), U.S. Patent Publication No. 2009/0124207 (Mody et al.), and Apurva N. Mody, Stephen R. Blatt, Ned B. Thammakhoune, Thomas P. McElwain, Joshua D. Niedzwiecki, Diane G. Mills, Matthew J. Sherman and Cory S. Myers, "Machine Learning Based Cognitive Communications In White As Well As The Gray Space," Military Communications Conference, 2007. MILCOM 2007. IEEE, pp. 1-7.
The future points to multitudes of such DSA enabled cognitive radio devices using a variety of different waveforms and protocols, co-existing, in cognitive networks to make the best possible use of the available spectrum. The word co-existence here is of importance since competing technologies will result in different types of waveforms and protocols being employed for various types of services. These diverse waveforms and protocols will need to share spectral resources without harming each other, hence the need for co-existence. Some of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) standards working groups such as IEEE 802.15.2 have defined the term co-existence as the "ability of one system to perform a task in a given shared environment where other systems have an ability to perform their tasks and may or may not be using the same set of rules."
The IEEE 802.22 standard is directed to wireless regional area networks (WRANs) that use white spaces (unused bandwidth) in the television broadcasting bands without interfering with other users. The standard is largely based on concepts underpinning the cognitive radio, which include spectrum sensing and management as well as spectrum mobility and sharing. Spectrum sensing and management generally involve the detection of the best spectrum to meet user quality of service (QoS) requirements and using it without harmful interference to other users. Spectrum mobility and sharing allow for maintaining seamless communications when transitioning from one spectrum to another (e.g., dynamic frequency selection, frequency hopping, etc), and strive for fairness in spectrum allocation (e.g., equal access).
To this end, cognitive radios and networks sharing common bandwidth have to effectively self-coexist with one another by accessing different parts of the available spectrum in an evenly or otherwise fairly distributed manner. Executing such self-coexistence is not trivial, and there are currently no available methods for resource allocation during situations requiring co-existence in cognitive radios. Moreover, conventional co-existence techniques require changes in the concept of communication system operation, thereby resulting in legacy systems not being inter-operable with systems requiring co-existence.

Method and system to make current wireless radios cognitive using an external sensor and application level messaging

BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.


Composite material, devices incorporating the composite material and methods of forming the composite material are provided. The composite material includes interstitial material that has at least one of a select relative permittivity property value and a select relative permeability property value. The composite material further includes inclusion material within the interstitial material. The inclusion material has at least one of a select relative permeability property value and a select relative permittivity property value. The select relative permeability and permittivity property values of the interstitial and the inclusion materials are selected so that the effective intrinsic impedance of the interstitial material and the inclusion material match the intrinsic impedance of air. Devices made from the composite include metamaterial and/or metamaterial-inspired (e.g., near-field LC-type parasitic) substrates and/or lenses, front-end protection, stealth absorbers, filters and mixers. Beyond the intrinsic, applications include miniature antennas and antenna arrays, directed energy weapons, EMI filters, RF and optical circuit components, among others.

Electromagnetic waves, such as radio waves, incident on a boundary between two materials reflect or pass into each material based on the difference in intrinsic impedance between the materials. For boundaries between air and high permittivity materials, a mismatch occurs that results in a loss of efficiency. This mismatch results in a reflection of some of the incident energy. One application that implements high permittivity materials is an antenna system. The use of high permittivity materials in antenna systems provides benefits. In particular, with the use of high permittivity antenna systems, the size of the antenna can be reduced compared to typical antenna systems which leads to greater applications and reduced overall sizes.
For the reasons stated above and for other reasons stated below, which will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the present specification, there is a need in the art for materials and devices containing materials that provide relatively high efficiency for electromagnetic waves at material boundaries.

Composites for antennas and other applications


Adders (103, 104) add errors to multi-level image data whose number of bits is reduced by quantization units (101, 102), respectively. Weighted averaging units (120, 121) obtain the weighted average values of binary data of peripheral pixels which have already been divided, respectively. Comparators (107, 108) binarize, on the basis of the weighted average values, the image data output from the adders (103, 104) to obtain binary data corresponding to two pixels obtained upon dividing one pixel of the multi-level data into two pixels. Subtracters (105, 106) obtain the differences between the image data output from the adders (103, 104) and the weighted average values, respectively. Error arithmetic units (109, 110) obtain, on the basis of the differences, errors to be added by the adders (103, 104), respectively. Therefore, when one pixel of multi-level data is divided into two pixels of binary data, a binary image having a high resolution and high gradation can be generated at a low cost.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and method and, more particularly, to an image processing apparatus and method in which one pixel of input multi-level data is converted into a plurality of pixels of binary data and output.
2. Description of Related Art
In an image processing apparatus such as a dot printer for outputting binary data, jaggies appear in a character or an oblique line. To minimize the jaggies, an input pixel is converted (divided) into a plurality of pixels and output.
Of the plurality of converted pixels, pixels to be output as black pixels (significant pixels) are determined in accordance with a pattern which is recognized by pattern matching with a predetermined pattern including peripheral pixels and held in advance.
However, the above technique has the following problems. When the input image is a multi-level image, the number of predetermined patterns necessary for pattern matching is very large. Therefore, when one pixel of the input multi-level image is to be converted into a plurality of binary pixels, the processing time increases as compared to a case wherein a binary image is input. In addition, since the capacity of a memory for holding the large number of predetermined patterns increases, the cost increases accordingly.


An agricultural machine includes a crop row sensor which has a movable paddle which interacts with plants in the crop row, and which periodically generates a sensor signal representing a position of the paddle. A signal processing system includes a memory which stores a plurality of sensor signals. The system determines a minimum magnitude of the stored sensor signals, and generates a drop rate signal representing a change in the sensor signal in a period of time. A gap detection unit generates the gap signal if the minimum signal is less than a threshold and if the drop rate is greater than a drop rate threshold. Thus, the system generates a gap signal when the paddle encounters a gap in the crop row.

Automatic steering systems have been designed for agricultural vehicles. Such systems utilize crop row sensors that feel the crop stalks and determine appropriate steering actions for the vehicle based on the feedback from these row sensors. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,716,905, issued to Wilcox et al. in 2010, and assigned to the assignee of the present application, describes a sensing assembly for detecting plants or plant stalks in a crop row. This assembly includes a movable arm which interacts with plants standing in a field and a sensor which generates a signal depending on the position of the movable arm.
Another known crop row sensor includes a long rubber bar or paddle. A magnet is attached to the paddle. When the paddle touches a crop stalk, it bends as the stalk pushes the tip of the paddle backwards. The amount that the paddle bends backwards is measured with a Hall-Effect sensor which senses a magnetic field produced by the magnet. The sensor voltage increases as the paddle is bent further back, so that the sensor voltage represents the position of the crop row relative to the vehicle. When the paddle is straight (not bent back), the sensor voltage is very low and this is interpreted as missing or absent crop.
Occasionally, there are gaps or absences of stalks in a crop row. In some cases these gaps can be fairly long (10-20 ft). During these gaps, the steering system must determine what action is appropriate as soon as possible in order to keep the vehicle properly aligned with the crop row.
When the paddle has been pushed back and then reaches a space where there is a gap in the row (no plants), the rubber paddle will "bounce" forward and oscillate for a few seconds until it settles completely in the relaxed straight position. This bouncing of the rubber paddle produces an oscillating sensor voltage. This oscillating voltage is interpreted as indicating that there is a gap in the crop row. Previously, it could be determined that a crop gap existed only ½ to 3 seconds after the start of a bouncing event. During this time, the machine does not steer effectively to remain on the row. This is because at typical corn harvesting speeds of 4 to 6 miles per hour, 5 to 9 feet of distance is covered per second. It is desired to detect a bouncing event more quickly so that the vehicle can be steered more accurately while it is motion.

Crop sensing system and method with immediate gap detection


A device for the optical measurement of a printed sheet includes a measurement table with a displaceable measurement head. The measurement head is cleaned in a fully automatic or at least semi-automatic manner through the use of a cleaning device of the measurement table. A method for operating the device is also provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device for the optical measurement of a printed sheet and a method for operating the device. The device includes a measurement table with a movable measurement head.
Printed sheets are placed on a measurement table and scanned by a measurement head of the measurement table, for the purpose of monitoring print quality during an ongoing printing operation. Over the course of time, the optical system of the measurement head may become soiled, thus necessitating regular cleaning. The cleaning of the measurement head is a manual process that has many disadvantages.
On one hand, the avoidance of damage to the measurement head during the cleaning process is dependent on the operator's care. For example, there is a danger of the optical system being scratched, which might easily occur if it is cleaned inexpertly.
On the other hand, the operator is distracted from the running print job when he or she carries out the cleaning operation. However, it is desirable for the print job to be monitored continuously by the operator, in order for the operator to be able to intervene immediately in the event of a malfunction to limit the amount of waste.
European Patent EP 0 064 024 B1, corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 4,505,589, for example, discloses a measurement table with the difficulties described above.
Such measurement tables require the removal of sample sheets from the delivery of the printing press in order to place them on the measurement table to carry out the measurement. Consequently, the measurement carried out with the aid of the measurement table positioned adjacent the press is performed offline.
There are also measurement devices that monitor print quality in-line in the printing press. German Published, Non-Prosecuted Patent Application DE 10 2004 021 600 A1, corresponding to U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2007/0113748, for example, describes an in-line measurement device including a measurement bar along which the measurement head is movable. The measurement bar may be open at the bottom or may be provided with a transparent cover at its underside.
If the measurement bar is open at the bottom, air is blown into the measurement bar. The air forms an air flow that emerges from the open underside and prevents dirt from entering the measurement bar. However, the air stream does not provide thorough cleaning.
If there is a transparent cover, it is cleaned manually through the use of a cleaning tool having a shape which matches the shape of the cover at least to reduce the risk of scratching the cover. The cleaning tool is not ideal, however, because there remains a risk of damage and because the operator's attention is no longer focused on the running print job.

Device for the optical measurement of a printed sheet and method for operating the device


Embodiments of a Generation Node-B (gNB), User Equipment (UE) and methods for communication are generally described herein. The gNB may allocate a resource pool of physical resource blocks (PRBs) and sub-frames for vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) sidelink transmissions. The gNB may receive, from a UE, an uplink control message that indicates that the UE requests a V2V sidelink transmission of a prioritized message. The gNB may select, for the V2V sidelink transmission of the prioritized message, one or more PRBs and one or more sub-frames. The gNB may transmit, to the UE and to other UEs, a downlink control message that indicates: the selected PRBs, the selected sub-frames, and that the other UEs are to mute sidelink transmissions in the selected PRBs in the selected sub-frames to enable the V2V sidelink transmission of the prioritized message.

Mobile devices may exchange data in accordance with sidelink radio-protocols for communication, which may be challenging in some aspects. For instance, high reliability of reception may be challenging, especially in systems with distributed access to resources. In some cases, such as when mobile devices are out of network coverage, the mobile devices may perform sidelink communication autonomously with limited or no assistance from a base station. In other cases, a base station may provide assistance to the mobile devices for various tasks, such as allocation of resources, signaling of control messages and/or others. Various use cases for sidelink communication are possible. In an example scenario, sidelink communication in accordance with a low latency and high reliability may be used. In another example scenario, high priority messages may be exchanged between mobile devices using sidelink communication. There is a general need for methods and systems to enable sidelink communication and to target high reliability of reception in these and other scenarios.

Prioritized messaging and resource selection in vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) sidelink communication


A delay composition for a detonator or delay device. The composition comprising a mixture of silicon and barium sulfate, and an amount of red lead in the range of about 3 to 15%, and preferably 6 to 12%, by weight of the mixture. The invention also relates to a delay element comprising a rigid metal tube containing the delay composition, and a delay device incorporating the delay element.

I. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to delay compositions used in detonators for explosives (sometimes referred to as blasting caps) and other devices (e.g. inline detonation delay devices), and to detonation delay elements and devices containing such compositions. More particularly, the invention relates to delay compositions having slow-burning (long delay) times for use with both non-electric and electric detonators, inline delay devices, and the like.
II. Background Art
Delay compositions are materials that burn away rapidly, but not instantly, when ignited, thus create a timing delay, in the nature of a fuse, when shaped and compacted in the form of an elongated body or column and ignited at one end. Such compositions may therefore be used to create a delay between the instant at which a detonator or similar device receives a firing signal (which commences ignition of the column of delay composition), and the instant at which an associated explosive charge is set off (by heat when the combustion reaches the remote end of the burning column), or a further firing signal is generated.
Delay detonators and similar delay devices, both non-electric and electric, are widely employed in mining, quarrying and other blasting operations in order to permit sequential initiation of explosive charges distributed in a predetermined pattern of bore holes or shot holes. The provision of a delay between sequential initiation of adjacent bore or shot holes is effective in controlling the fragmentation and throw of the rock being blasted and, in addition, provides a reduction in ground vibration and in air blast noise.
Modern commercial delay detonators, whether non-electric or electric, normally comprise a metallic shell, closed at one end, which contains in sequence from the closed end: a base charge of a detonating high explosive, such as for example pentaerythritoltetranitrate (PETN), and an adjacent primer charge of a heat-sensitive detonable material, such as for example lead azide. Adjacent to the heat-sensitive material is a consolidated, e.g. compressed, column of delay composition of sufficient length and quantity to provide a desired delay time as described above. The column of the delay composition is normally confined within a hollow tubular confinement element made of metal. The confinement element and delay composition contained therein, together with sealers and primer charges, if any, form a delay element that is normally fabricated separately and assembled into a detonator or the like as a single item. Next to the delay element is an ignition (starter) charge adapted to be ignited by an electrically heated bridge wire or, alternatively, by the heat and flame of a low energy detonating cord or shock wave conductor retained in the open end of the metallic shell. Such a delay detonator may serve as an in-line delay as when coupled at both ends to a detonating cord or shock wave conductor. However, a delay device need not also be capable of serving as a detonator in order, for example, to initiate a shock wave conductor. An ignition charge in close proximity to the end of the shock wave conductor, instead of a base charge of detonating high explosive, will suffice.
The containment of the delay composition within a confinement element facilitates the handling of the composition and its introduction into a detonator or the like. The metal also protects other components (e.g. the outer shell of a detonator) from the heat and by-products of combustion as the delay composition is consumed and, for reasons of economy, minimizes the amount of the delay composition that is required. In the past, lead has often been used as the metal for the confinement elements. Lead is soft and malleable and can be loaded with a burning core, drawn to a desired diameter and cut to required lengths (different lengths produce different delay times). Lead also has a low thermal conductivity and heat capacity, and therefore diverts only a minimum amount of heat from the composition as it burns, thus reducing the risk that the combustion may be quenched or extinguished prior to complete consumption of the delay composition.
A trend has recently developed of replacing confinement elements made of lead with elements made of rigid metals, such as zinc, aluminum, steel or brass. Zinc is currently the preferred metal of choice for this purpose. The term "rigid metal" refers to those metals that, when used to form confinement elements, are not easily drawn to a desired diameter or shaped using the equipment currently available for lead. With such metals, the confinement elements are first cast to the desired diameter and length, and then the delay composition is loaded into the interior of the element and compressed. This change to rigid metal confinement elements has come about in part because the use of lead is receiving criticism from some quarters for being environmentally hazardous, even though the quantity of lead is small. Moreover, the use of rigid metal confinement elements can facilitate fabrication of delay units and their integration into detonators and delay devices, etc. However, zinc and other suitable rigid metals have higher thermal conductivities and heat capacities than lead, and thus extract more heat from the delay composition as it burns. This can increase the failure rate of detonators and delay devices because there may be insufficient heat remaining in the delay composition to maintain the combustion temperature until complete consumption of the composition has taken place, especially when such devices are used in low temperature environments. Particularly at risk of failure are delay units intended to provide long delays, e.g. more than one second, often used in underground applications.
A large number of delay compositions are known in the art. These generally comprise mixtures of fuels and oxidizers of various kinds. Many are substantially gasless compositions, which are generally preferred; that is, they burn without evolving large amounts of gaseous by-products which could interfere with the functioning of a delay detonator or other device. In addition to an essential gasless requirement, delay compositions are also required to be safe to handle, from both an explosive and health viewpoint, they must be resistant to moisture and not deteriorate over long periods of storage and hence change in burning characteristics, they must operate reliably over a wide range of temperatures, and they must be adaptable of use in a wide range of delay units within the limitations of space available inside a standard detonator shell or similar device. The numerous delay composition of the prior art have met with varying degrees of success in use and application.
One such prior class of delay compositions intended for use in confinement elements made of lead is that described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,419,154 to Davitt et al. (assigned to CXA Ltd/CXA LTEE) which issued on Dec. 6, 1983. This patent discloses a composition comprising silicon and barium sulfate and optionally including a proportion of particulate red lead (lead tetroxide, Pb3O4) in the amount of 25 to 75% by weight of the composition. The compositions of Davitt which include red lead can be used in confinement elements made of lead to produce intermediate to long timing delays. However, in order to achieve the long timing delays with red read, which is recognized as a strong oxidant, the Davitt compositions have to be prepared with coarse silicon. Such slow burning compositions are difficult to ignite due to the use of such coarse silicon that goes against traditional pyrotechnic principles as taught by Professor Conkling, who stated, in Chemistry of Pyrotechnics, John A. Conkling, Marcel Dekker Inc., 1985, pp 88-89:                "Homogeneity, and pyrotechnic performance, will increase as the particle size of the various components is decreased. The finer the particle size, the more reactive a particular composition should be, with all other factors held constant."
Furthermore the slow burning compositions of Davitt et al. with red lead were prepared with a very small ratio of the fuel component (i.e. silicon) which was significantly below the stoichiometric ratio, with the consequence of reducing the energy output of the combustion process. Such formulations would not be robust in various conditions, such as when used in rigid elements as herein described where the thermal conductivity of such confinement materials is significantly higher than lead. Furthermore, when Davitt et al. attempted to use finer silicon with red lead, which would have had the consequence of improving the pyrotechnic performance, significantly faster timing results were obtained (Column 8 of the patent). The only slow burning compositions of Davitt et al. that can be prepared with fine silicon are those without red lead. Thus, according to Davitt et al., compositions with red lead are not ideal for producing long timing delays. For long delay periods, there is therefore a need to find alternative delay compositions.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,147,476 to Beck et al. (assigned to Imperial Chemical Industries PLC), which issued on Sep. 15, 1992, addresses the problem of increasing the robustness of combustion of delay compositions intended for use in rigid metal confining elements to reduce the likelihood of quenching of the combustion. The concept of Beck et al. was to facilitate the combustion of a mixture of silicon and barium sulfate (or other oxidant) by adding small amounts of dispersed metal compounds to serve as reaction-facilitating fluxes (i.e. materials that lower the fusion temperature of the composition, but are otherwise inert). The illustrated metal compounds are salts of alkali metals, oxides of antimony and oxides of vanadium. Beck et al. found that for reliable burning of such a composition, the heat sink effect of the confinement metal element should not be such as to risk quenching of the exothermic reaction (i.e. burning) of the delay composition. However, the delay compositions of the kind disclosed by Beck et al. do not work as well as might be desired, particularly when used for producing long delays. Moreover, the oxides used in these compositions as fluxes are expensive. Beck et al. suggested that additions of red lead oxide or other reactive ingredients that cause a faster rate of burning may be incorporated into the composition, but noted that large loadings of such reactive ingredients may obviate the facilitating role of the flux. Beck et al. therefore recommended that the compositions omit such additional reactive ingredients.
There is therefore a continuing need for a delay composition that can be used reliably when confined in rigid metal confinement elements and yet may be used to produce long delays without unacceptably increasing the lengths of delay units.

Delay compositions and detonation delay device utilizing same