An archery bow sight mount that will allow desired bow sights to be attached to it and adjusted about the vertical axis. The bow sight mount is dovetailed so it can be slid into a mounting plate that is also dovetailed to allow it to be adjusted to desired length. On one end of the sight mount is a bow sight mounting plate that can be adjusted about the vertical axis by using adjustment screws.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to sights for archery bows for use in hunting and tournament shooting, and more particularly to archery bow sights and sight mounts that include leveling devices that notify the archer when his shooting system is level.
2. Description of Prior Art
Sighting devices that use a leveling system when aiming a bow or archery shooting system are known and available for use in the art of archery. The leveling device is usually of the liquid filled glass tube type that relies on an air bubble suspended in the liquid to show when the leveling device is level. The leveling device is usually attached to the sight aperture so the archer can see both the level and the sighting index.
The leveling device allows the archer to assume that his bow is always perfectly vertical with respect to the longitudinal axis when he shoots the projectile (arrow) from the bow. Without the leveling device, the archer could lean or cant the bow to the left or right then causing the projectile to fly off course to the left or right.
Most archery bow sights have provisions for the adjustment of the sight aperture, that includes the leveling device, on the lateral and/or longitudinal axes. None have the capability to adjust the sight aperture about the vertical axis. This limitation is satisfactory as long as the bow is not going to be held in the uphill or downhill aiming position. However in most field archery tournaments and in hunting, uphill and downhill shooting is mandatory.
FIG. 4 shows the relationship of the vertical, lateral and longitudinal axes with respect to the archery bow.
FIG. 1 through FIG. 3 are diagrams that show the problems that arise if the sight aperture that includes the leveling device is not perpendicular (90 degrees) to the bow sight mounting arm with respect to the vertical axis when the bow is held in the uphill or downhill aiming position.
FIG. 1 shows what happens when the sight aperture and level are less than 90 degrees to the bow sight mounting arm with respect to the vertical axis. The archer draws his bow in the level position, looks at the sight aperture and sees the level as shown in FIG. 1b. At this point the bow is perfectly vertical and the level is indicating level. The archer then rotates his bow on the lateral axis and aims uphill. FIG. 1a shows what the level indicates to the archer when the bow is perfectly vertical about the longitudinal axis. Because the archer is relying on the level to notify him when his bow is perfectly level, he assumes that the level is correct, and rotates the bow about the longitudinal axis until the air bubble shows level. He has made the level indicate a level position, but in order to do this, he had to rotate the bow about the longitudinal axis and now the bow is not perfectly vertical but slightly canted to the right. This will cause the projectile to shoot slightly to the right. If the archer aims the bow downhill, the level will indicate what is shown in FIG. 1c. The same errors will occur as stated above only in reverse order.
FIG. 2 shows what happens when the sight aperture and level are greater than 90 degrees to the bow sight mounting arm with respect to the vertical axis. The archer draws his bow in the level position, looks at the sight aperture and sees the level as shown in FIG. 2b. At this point the bow is perfectly vertical and the level is indicating level. The archer then rotates his bow on the lateral axis and aims uphill. FIG. 2a shows what the level indicates to the archer when the bow is perfectly vertical about the longitudinal axis. Because the archer is relying on the level to notify him when his bow is perfectly level, he assumes that the level is correct, and rotates the bow about the longitudinal axis until the air bubble shows level. He has made the level indicate a level position, but in order to do this, he had to rotate the bow about the longitudinal axis and now the bow is not perfectly vertical but slightly canted to the left. This will cause the projectile to shoot slightly to the left. If the archer aims the bow downhill, the level will indicate what is shown in FIG. 2c. The same errors will occur as stated above only in reverse order.
FIG. 3 shows when the sight aperture is exactly 90 degrees to the bow sight mounting arm with respect to the vertical axis. Whether the archer is aiming the bow uphill, FIG. 3a, level, FIG. 3b, or downhill, FIG. 3c, the bow always stays perfectly level about the longitudinal axis.
Because there is no bow sight or bow sight mount available to satisfy the problems addressed above, the archer at the present time has to bend the threads on the sight aperture with needle nose pliers or other suitable tools, forward and backwards, until the aperture is 90 degrees to the bow sight mounting arm with respect to the vertical axis. This practice has several disadvantages such as:
1. The metal threads become brittle from bending them back and forth and break. PA1 2. Other adjustments made to the sight become out of alignment because of the stresses placed on them during the bending process. PA1 3. It is very difficult to adjust the sight exactly. PA1 4. The metal in the threads tends to seek its original position. PA1 5. The archer could slip with the tools and cause damage to the sight.

Adjustable vertical axis archery bow sight mount


A component includes a substrate having an outer surface, an inner surface and a tip. The inner surface defines at least one hollow, interior space. The outer surface defines one or more grooves, where each groove extends at least partially along the outer surface of the substrate and has a base. The component further includes a coating disposed over at least a portion of the outer surface of the substrate. The coating includes at least a structural coating that extends over the groove(s), such that the groove(s) and the structural coating together define one or more channels for cooling the component. The tip comprises a tip cap enclosing the hollow, interior space(s), and a tip rim disposed at a radially outer end of the substrate. The tip rim at least partially defines at least one discharge channel in fluid communication with at least one cooling channel.

The invention relates generally to gas turbine engines, and, more specifically, to micro-channel cooling therein.
In a gas turbine engine, air is pressurized in a compressor and mixed with fuel in a combustor for generating hot combustion gases. Energy is extracted from the gases in a high pressure turbine (HPT), which powers the compressor, and in a low pressure turbine (LPT), which powers a fan in a turbofan aircraft engine application, or powers an external shaft for marine and industrial applications.
Engine efficiency increases with temperature of combustion gases. However, the combustion gases heat the various components along their flowpath, which in turn requires cooling thereof to achieve a long engine lifetime. Typically, the hot gas path components are cooled by bleeding air from the compressor. This cooling process reduces engine efficiency, as the bled air is not used in the combustion process.
Gas turbine engine cooling art is mature and includes numerous patents for various aspects of cooling circuits and features in the various hot gas path components. For example, the combustor includes radially outer and inner liners, which require cooling during operation. Turbine nozzles include hollow vanes supported between outer and inner bands, which also require cooling. Turbine rotor blades are hollow and typically include cooling circuits therein, with the blades being surrounded by turbine shrouds, which also require cooling. The hot combustion gases are discharged through an exhaust which may also be lined, and suitably cooled.
In all of these exemplary gas turbine engine components, thin walls of high strength superalloy metals are typically used to reduce component weight and minimize the need for cooling thereof. Various cooling circuits and features are tailored for these individual components in their corresponding environments in the engine. For example, a series of internal cooling passages, or serpentines, may be formed in a hot gas path component. A cooling fluid may be provided to the serpentines from a plenum, and the cooling fluid may flow through the passages, cooling the hot gas path component substrate and any associated coatings. However, this cooling strategy typically results in comparatively low heat transfer rates and non-uniform component temperature profiles.
In particular, turbine blade tip burnout is a prevalent problem in the gas turbine industry. It would therefore be desirable to provide improved tip cooling that would make blade tips durable enough to survive their high temperature operating environments, while still providing an aerodynamic sealing function and rub protection.


A method for determining the alteration of the shape of a three-dimensional object from at least one two-dimensional image of the object, wherein the original three-dimensional model shape of the object is known—or is ascertained from the at least one two-dimensional image of the object. The three-dimensional model shape is rotated such that at least one two-dimensional projection of the three-dimensional model shape matches or resembles at least one partial area or contour of the at least one two-dimensional image of the object, and the area or areas are ascertained in which the at least one two-dimensional image of the object deviates from the two-dimensional projection(s) of the three-dimensional model shape, wherein the deviating two-dimensional area or areas are identified as deformed areas and, after the deformed area or areas have been back-projected onto the three-dimensional model shape, the three-dimensional deformation of the three-dimensional object is ascertained.

The present invention relates to a method and device for determining the alteration of the shape or also the value of a three-dimensional object, in particular a motor vehicle, which has been partially deformed, for example due to an accident, and for example comprises a dent or a pressed-in frontal section.
If, starting from their original state or a state which is to be regarded as new, objects are deformed, for example by the action of an external force, such that for example a car door has a dent after a stone has hit it, or a boot lid is pinched by being pressed in, then these deformed areas are regarded as being damaged, which may result in an insurance payment having to be made. Since such deformations can occur to different extents on different areas, it is necessary to record and if possible quantify said deformation, in order for example to ascertain the loss in value caused by said deformation.
In order to assess the level of damage to a vehicle which has been damaged in an accident, there are damage calculation systems with the aid of which the expected repair costs can be determined. These systems are based on a motor vehicle expert visually identifying the damaged components, determining—depending on the severity of the damage—whether said components can be repaired or have to be replaced, and then transmitting this information to an electronic data processing system. The replacement part prices and the work respectively required in order to exchange said parts are stored in said electronic data processing system. These systems also have a repair logic for when it is not a matter of only one component but rather of several components which are connected to each other and have to be replaced. Said program then also identifies the amount of the repair costs, on the basis of the replacement parts to be replaced and/or repaired. Such methods have been provided in Germany for decades by the companies Audatex and DAT.
Storing an index table—in which a component name and an operation are designated—in a memory, in order to estimate repair costs for a vehicle, is known from JP 2001250009.
JP 2001338090 discloses a system comprising different display modes, in order to estimate the repair costs of a vehicle in accordance with a user's experience.
A system for estimating the costs of a repair to a motor vehicle is known from JP 2002329101, wherein a memory for replacement parts, together with corresponding replacement part prices, is provided.
A device for producing cost estimates for repairs to automobiles is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,435,769 and the corresponding document DE 31 10 788 A1, wherein a parts file for storing replacement part data is provided.
A method and device for determining characteristic properties of a motor vehicle is known from EP 1 603 054 A1, wherein a database is provided in which characteristic properties are stored for a plurality of groups of motor vehicles which are respectively identical in type. The characteristic properties of the motor vehicle are retrieved from the database with the aid of a motor vehicle identification key.

Method and apparatus for determining the alteration of the shape of a three dimensional object


A first electrical storage stack is connected in series with a second electrical storage stack. A current interrupter is configured to interrupt a current path by being removed from the current path. First and second detection line are respectively connected to first and second terminals of the first electrical storage stack. The second electrical storage stack is connected to the second terminal of the first electrical storage stack via the current interrupter. A third detection line is connected to a portion of the current path, located on the second electrical storage stack side of the current interrupter. A controller is configured to control charging and discharging operations of each of the first and second electrical storage stacks on the basis of the voltage of the first electrical storage stack, the voltage being detected via the first detection line and the third detection line.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an electrical storage system including a current interrupter between electrical storage stacks, and a control method for the electrical storage system.
2. Description of Related Art
In a battery system in which a plurality of battery stacks are serially connected, a current interrupter that interrupts a current path between the battery stacks may be provided so as to be insertable and removable. By removing the current interrupter, it is possible to improve safety of work for, for example, assembling or replacing the battery stacks.
However, when the battery system is started up in a state where the current interrupter is not inserted after, for example, assembling or replacing the battery stacks, an overvoltage may be applied to the battery stacks at an interrupted location in the current path due to removal of the current interrupter or an overcurrent (battery current) may flow into a device connected to the battery stacks. When an overvoltage is applied to the battery stacks or an overcurrent flows into the battery stacks, the performance of the device connected to the battery stacks may decrease.

Electrical storage system, and control method for electrical storage system


A phase locked loop circuit is disclosed. The phase locked loop circuit includes a ring oscillator. The phase locked loop circuit also includes a digital path including a digital phase detector. The phase locked loop circuit further includes an analog path including a linear phase detector. Additionally, the phase locked loop circuit includes a feedback path connecting an output of the ring oscillator to an input of the digital path and an input of the analog path. The digital path and the analog path are parallel paths. The digital path provides a digital tuning signal the ring oscillator that digitally controls a frequency of the ring oscillator. The analog path provides an analog tuning signal the ring oscillator that continuously controls the frequency of the ring oscillator.

A phase-locked loop (PLL) is an electronic circuit with an oscillator having an output that is constantly modified to match the frequency and phase of an input from another oscillator. In a phase-locked loop (PLL), a phase frequency detector compares the phase and frequency of a periodic signal (e.g., a clock) that is output by a variable frequency oscillator to the phase and frequency of a periodic input signal (i.e., a reference signal). Based on the comparison, the PLL adjusts the variable frequency oscillator to establish and maintain a constant phase relationship between the output signal and the input signal. Once the phase difference between the two signals becomes substantially constant, the PLL is said to be "in lock."

Digital phase locked loop for low jitter applications

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


The present invention provides circuitry for implementing a multiple data rate interface architectures for programmable logic devices. The programmable logic device of the invention includes a core and surrounding periphery. The core includes a plurality of logic elements arranged in an array. Some of the logic elements within the core include registers that are used as data registers for the multiple data rate interface.

This invention relates to input/output interfaces for integrated circuits. More particularly, this invention relates to a system and method for distributing clock signals in a programmable logic device (PLD) that employs a multiple data rate interface.
Various high speed interface mechanisms have been developed to increase the speed of data transfer and data throughput between integrated devices. One such mechanism is a multiple data rate interface scheme. In a multiple data rate interface scheme, two or more bits of data are transferred during each clock period.
One example of multiple data rate technology is the double data rate ("DDR") technology. In DDR, two data operations are performed in one clock cycle, thus achieving twice the data throughput. This technology has enhanced the bandwidth performance of integrated circuits used in a wide array of applications from computers to communication systems. The DDR technique is being employed in, for example, today's synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM) circuits.
FIG. 1 illustrates the timing relationship between the data and clock signals in a DDR interface. DDR implementation processes I/O data (also referred to as DQ signals) using both the rising edge and the falling edge of a clock signal (the DQS signal) that functions as a data strobe to control the timing of data transfer. DQS is normally edge-aligned with DQ for a DDR interface operating in the read mode and center aligned for a DDR interface operating in the write mode.
For optimum sampling of data, internal to the integrated circuit, DQS is delayed by one-quarter of the clock period to achieve a 90 degree phase shift between the edges of DQ and DQS. This ensures that the DQS edge occurs as close to the center of the DQ pulse as possible as shown in FIG. 1. It is desirable to implement this 90 degree phase shift as accurately and in as stable a manner as possible.
Generally, a programmable logic device having a multiple data rate interface includes a programmable logic core comprising an array of logic elements and a periphery that among other circuitry includes I/O circuitry. The I/O circuitry of a programmable logic device having a multiple data rate interface includes dedicated I/O registers for performing the functions associated with the multiple data rate interface. The DQS signal is applied to a phase locked loop (PLL) or a delay chain to generate the required phase shift and alignment. The DQ signals are applied directly to respective I/O registers whose clock inputs receive the phase-corrected DQS signal.
Where an application does not need a multiple data rate interface or where the application does not utilize all of the registers within the logic elements of the programmable logic core, the dedicated I/O registers take up valuable periphery space that may be used for other functions or that may be eliminated to reduce chip size. Thus, there is a need in the art for a multiple data rate interface that does not use dedicated I/O registers in the periphery of the device.

Interface for a programmable logic device


In a valve timing adjusting device, a support section of a planetary carrier supporting a planetary rotator to enable sun-and-planet motion is located on an inner peripheral side of a first center, which is a tooth contact center between a first gear section of the first rotator and a third gear section of the planetary rotator, and is separate from an inner peripheral side of a second center, which is a tooth contact center between a second gear section of the second rotator and a fourth gear section of the planetary rotator. First moment generated in the planetary rotator by a radial load applied to the third gear section by the first gear section is larger than second moment generated in the planetary rotator by a radial load applied to the fourth gear section by the second gear section.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a valve timing adjusting device for an internal combustion engine.
2. Description of Related Art
A known valve timing adjusting device adjusts valve timing by changing a relative phase between two rotators, which rotate in conjunction with a crankshaft and a camshaft, with the use of a planetary mechanism (for example, as described in German Patent Gazette No. 4110195C2). In this kind of valve timing adjusting device, gear sections provided on the rotators respectively interlocked with the crankshaft and the camshaft are geared individually with two gear sections provided on a planetary rotator. Thus, a large reduction gear ratio can be obtained by a compact design. Thus, a suitable valve timing adjusting device attached to the engine is provided.
In the valve timing adjusting device of the above-described kind, a planetary carrier supporting the planetary rotator receives a radial load, which is generated by the engagement between the gear sections and is applied to the planetary rotator. A mode of receiving the radial load differs depending on the numbers of teeth, diameters and the like of the gear sections. The inventor of the present invention discovered the problem that the planetary rotator is inclined from a proper axial direction depending on the mode of receiving the load.
In a mode shown in FIG. 11, a planetary carrier 1004 supports a planetary rotator 1000 on an inner peripheral side of a tooth contact center c1 as a longitudinal center of each of geared portions of a gear section 1001 of the planetary rotator 1000 and a gear section 1003 of an interlocked rotator 1002 of a camshaft. The planetary rotator 1000 is separate from and is not supported by the planetary carrier 1004 on an inner peripheral side of a tooth contact center c2 as a longitudinal center of each of geared portions of the other gear section 1005 of the planetary rotator 1000 and a gear section 1007 of an interlocked rotator 1006 of the crankshaft. In such the mode, if moment f1·a1 produced by the radial load f1 between the gear sections 1001, 1003 becomes smaller than moment f2·a2 produced by the radial load f2 between the gear sections 1005, 1007, the planetary rotator 1000 rotates in a moment direction d of the latter moment F2·a2 and inclines.
Such the inclination of the planetary rotator can generate a thrust load between the gear sections engaged with each other and cause a fall in durability. Therefore, such the inclination is not desirable.


A base band circuit of a receiver and a low cut-off frequency control means can quickly converge transition state due to gain fluctuation with setting a low cut-off frequency of a high-pass filter as low as possible. The base band circuit of a receiver has a variable amplifier variably amplifying a base band signal depending upon a gain control signal, a high-pass filter provided in a path of the base band signal, and a controller detecting variation magnitude of the gain control signal and controlling variation of a low cut-off frequency of the high-pass filter means depending upon the detected variation magnitude.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a base band circuit of a receiver and a low cut-off frequency control method. More particularly, the invention relates to a direct conversion type receiver having a high-pass filter for blocking transmission of a direct current offset in the base band circuit.
2. Description of the Related Art
A direct conversion type receiver is expected to widely spread toward the future for capability of simplification of a high frequency circuit portion to permit decreasing of number of parts, such as filter and so forth, and capability of execution of most functions, such as band restriction, AGC (automatic gain control) and so forth, within a base band range so that most of the functions can be realized by CMOS analog circuits for facilitating packaging into LSI, as compared with the conventional super-heterodyne type receiver.
FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a particular construction of the direct conversion type receiver of this kind. In FIG. 7, a high frequency signal received by an antenna 401 is subject to band restriction by a high frequency band-pass filter 402 for extracting a signal of reception band. A band restricted signal is amplified by a low noise amplifier (LNA) 403, and then input to an orthogonal demodulator 404 as it is. The orthogonal demodulator 404 is driven by a local signal generated by a local oscillator 425. The local signal is the same as a center frequency of the high frequency signal to be received. By the orthogonal demodulator 404, the base band signal is directly generated from the high frequency signal. In FIG. 7, the reference numeral 431 denotes a balanced amplifier, 432 and 433 are frequency mixers and 434 is a phase shifter.
The base band signal is two series signals of I and Q. After band restriction of the base band signal by base band filters 405 and 406, the base band signal is amplified by an AGC circuit 407 so that an average amplitude becomes constant. A circuit controlling a gain and algorithm therefor are not directly related to the present invention and detailed discussion for this circuit will be eliminated. A dynamic range of the AGC circuit 407 reaches several tens dB (in case of CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) system, the dynamic range is about 80 dB). Outputs of the AGC circuit 407 are output to later stages as respective signals 423 and 424. It should be noted that the reference numerals 408 to 411 and 412 to 415 are voltage controlled variable gain amplifiers which are controlled by a control circuit 416. The reference 422 is an external gain control signal.
In the direct conversion system, a channel filter for restricting an adjacent channel is not a SAW filter of an IF band but are realized by base band filters 405 and 406. Since these are realized by a circuit employing an active element, it is adapted for packaging into IC. On the other hand, since the high frequency is directly converted into the base band, a second local oscillator becomes unnecessary. Therefore, all reception circuit from the LNA 403 to a base band output can be integrated as a single chip IC package. This contributes to down-sizing of a cellular telephone and to reducing number of parts.
However, in the filters 405 and 406 and the AGC circuit 407, under presence of a direct current offset even a little, a gain of AGC reaches as large as 80 dB in some case to cause saturation where the output is retained at a power source level or ground level. For example, assuming that a direct current offset of 1 mV is present at the filter 405 and a gain of the AGC circuit 407 is 80 dB, namely ten-thousand times, 10V of direct current component appears on the output of the AGC circuit 407. Of course, in case of the cellular phone or the like, such voltage is far beyond a voltage of a battery, the cellular phone or the like causes failure in operation. Accordingly, in the base band circuit of the direct conversion type receiver, it is the most important task to remove the current offset as much as possible.
The simplest method for removing the direct current offset is C-cut (blocking of direct current by capacitors) as shown in FIG. 8. In the circuit of FIG. 8, high-pass filters 305 to 307 corresponding to C-cut are inserted between VGAs (Variable Gain Amplifiers) forming the AGC circuit or between outputs of VGAs. In FIG. 8, a filter 301 is a low-pass filter performing band restriction of the base band and a transfer function of the filter 301 is assumed as H(s). Since the low-pass filter per se is not directly related to the present invention, detailed discussion thereof is eliminated from the disclosure. In practice, the constructions shown in FIG. 8 are present in both of two series I and Q. Since both are identical circuits, discussion will be given hereinafter for only one series. By the circuit of the shown construction, transfer of the direct current offsets generated at various portions to be output side are prevented. Here,a transfer function of the band bass filter is assumed as B(s).
However, in the C-cut, it is required to insert a plurality of high-pass filters for certainly removing direct current offset component generated in respective portions, as shown in FIG. 8. In order to transfer the signal to later stage with high fidelity, it is desirable to set a cut-off frequency of the high-pass filter as low as possible. With the shown construction, static direct current offset can be prevented substantially completely.
However, the following problems are encountered in practice. For example, assuming that an input converted offset of the variable gain amplifier (hereinafter referred to as VGA) 304 (direct current offset as converted at point "a") is Vofs, and further assuming that a value of Vofs is not variable in time, a direct current voltage is constant as shown by "a" in FIG. 9. Here, it is assumed that the gain of the VGA 304 is initially one time (0 dB), is varied to be ten times (20 dB) at a time "t0". A waveform "b" in FIG. 9 shows a voltage at an output point "b" of the VGA. As shown by the waveform "b", the voltage at the point "b" should be suddenly varied from Vofs to 10×Vfos at the time t0.
A high-pass filter output (voltage at point "c") produced by C-cutting the waveform by a high-pass filter 307 becomes a waveform shown by a solid line "c" of FIG. 9. As can be clear from this waveform, a static direct current offset voltage can be removed by C-cut. By fluctuation of the input converted offset and gain of the VGA, transitional waveform appears at the output. This waveform also becomes interference in processing of the base band signal in the demodulation circuit in the later stage (which demodulation circuit is not explicitly disclosed in the present invention).
A peak value Vpeak in transition can be expressed by the input converted offset Vofs of the VGA and gains g0 and g1 before and after the VGA as follow:Vpeak=(g1−g0)×Vofs  (1)Namely, the peak value is greater at greater fluctuation of gain.
On the other hand, concerning a continuation period of the waveform "c", it is assumed that a convergence period of the voltage to 1% of the peak value Vpeak is τ, the high-pass filter 307 is a linear filter and a cut-off frequency is fc, the convergence period τ can be expressed byτ=−ln(0.01)/2 πfc  (2)For example, fc is 10 kHz, τ becomes about 73.3 μsec. This value corresponds to about 281 chips (assuming a chip rate is 3.84 Mcps) in W-CDMA. This period is considerably long. When variation of gain is significant, such long period of τ causes deterioration of a bit rate. In contrast to this, if fc is 1 MHz, τ becomes 0.733 μsec. Thus, convergence period of transition to less than or equal to about 1% of the peak value can be restricted within two to three chips.
However, in the normal state where variation of the gain is small, there is a demand to set the cut-off frequency as low as possible. Namely, control is required in such a manner that    (1) when variation of the gain is sufficiently small (e.g. ≦6 dB), the low cut-off frequency is set as low as possible (e.g. about 10 kHz).    (2) when variation of gain exceeds a predetermined value (e.g. >6 dB, the low cut-off frequency is set higher (e.g. about 1 MHz) for quickly converging the direct current offset in transition (e.g. as waveform shown by broken line d of FIG. 9).
On the other hand, while discussion has been given for a measure in transition due to gain fluctuation of the VGA 304, transition is equally caused in VGA 302 and VGA 303 if fluctuation of the gain is caused and is output via the high-pass filters 305 to 307. Accordingly, similar problem can be encountered to require similar measure.

Base band circuit of receiver and low cut-off frequency control method


A buffer monitor includes a first counter for counting bits of incoming data as they arrive at a data buffer that stores and then forwards the incoming data. Each bit of outgoing data resets the first counter's count. If its count reaches a first limit before being reset by an outgoing data bit, the first counter asserts an alarm. The buffer monitor also includes a second counter for counting bits of outgoing data as they depart the buffer. Each bit of incoming data resets the second counter's count. If its count reaches a second limit level before being reset by an incoming data bit, the second counter asserts an alarm. The first counter will sound an alarm when the buffer fails to forward output data after having received a substantial amount of input data. The second counter will assert an alarm when the buffer has forwarded a substantial amount of output data without having received any input data. Neither counter will assert an alarm when the buffer stops forwarding data simply because it hasn't received any data to forward.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to data buffers and in particular to a method and apparatus for monitoring a data buffer and producing an alarm signal when the data buffer fails to operate properly.
2. Description of Related Art
Data buffers are employed in a wide variety of applications to temporarily store data. For example, when computers are interconnected to form a network they send data to one other via network buses. But since the various buses forming a network can have varying data transfer rates or different data transfer protocols, they cannot be directly linked to one another. However a data buffer linking two buses can receive and store data arriving on one bus using one data transfer rate and protocol and then later forward the data outward on another bus using another data transfer rate and protocol.
A network routing switch at the junction of several network buses may employ a data buffer at each of its input ports and each of its output ports. In such a switch input and output port buffers may share a common buffer memory in order to maximize the efficiency of memory use. Buffer memory space is usually organized into a set of uniformly sized "buffer cells" and data arriving on any bus can be stored in any set of unoccupied buffer cells. In such a buffer system, the sequence of data passing through a buffer at any hub or switch port may not be stored in a sequential set of buffer cells. Thus a typical buffer memory manager uses a "linked list" to keep track of the set of buffer cells that store the data for each port. Each successive entry of the linked list includes a pointer to a buffer cell containing successively received data. Each list entry also includes a pointer referencing the next entry of the list. When the buffer manager writes incoming data into a buffer cell it adds an entry pointing to the cell to the end of the linked list. Each time the buffer manager forwards data out of a buffer memory cell it reads the next entry pointer in the entry pointing to that cell to locate the list entry for the next data to be forwarded. The linked list for each buffered port may also be stored in a dedicated area of the buffer memory and the buffer manager keeps track of the addresses of the first and last entries of each list.
Buffer faults arise when the buffer manager fails to properly maintain the linked list. A buffer can have a "broken chain" fault when the next entry pointer within an entry other than the last entry of the list fails to point to another entry. Once the buffer manager has forwarded data from a buffer cell referenced by the entry with the faulty next entry pointer, the buffer manager cannot forward any more data out of the buffer memory because it can't find the next list entry. A buffer can have an "endless loop" fault when the next entry pointer of one list entry erroneously points to an earlier entry on the list. In such case the buffer manager will forward the same set of data out of memory until the faulty entry is overwritten.
What is needed is a means for monitoring a network buffer to determine when it has had a failure and for signaling an alarm when a failure has occurred. The alarm signal can be used, for example, to notify a system manager or to reset the buffer. Although in resetting a buffer all of the data stored in the buffer memory will be lost, any linked list errors will be eliminated because the linked lists will be discarded.
Prior art network buffers have employed "watchdog timers" to monitor buffer activity and signal when faults occur. Once such watchdog timer is the Access I/O Products Inc. model WDG-CSM Watchdog and Computer System Monitor Card illustrated in on Internet page address http://www.access-usa.com/wdgcsm.html published by Access I/O Products on Oct. 31, 1997. Another Internet page address http:www.indim.com/-outsrc/index.html published Oct. 31, 1997 by OutSource Engineering & Manufacturing describes a similar watchdog timer.
FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art use of a watchdog timer 2 for monitoring a network buffer 8. Buffer 8 receives and stores data arriving on a input bus (DATA.sub.-- IN) and forwards that data on an output bus (DATA.sub.-- OUT). Watchdog timer 2 includes a resettable counter 4 and a clock signal generator 6. Counter 4 counts pulses of a CLOCK signal produced by clock signal generator 6. Counter 4 may either count up from 0 to a level indicated by input LIMIT or down from the LIMIT level to 0. At any time the count may be reset to its starting point by a pulse in a signal applied to a RESET input of counter 4. If its count reaches its endpoint before it is reset, counter 4 produces an output ALARM signal.
The output terminal of a network buffer 8 is connected to the RESET input of counter 4 through a data detector 9. Data detector 9 monitors the buffer's output bus and pulses the RESET input whenever data is forwarded outward from buffer 8 on that bus. Thus counter 4 is reset whenever buffer 8 forwards data. Accordingly counter 4 will assert the ALARM signal whenever buffer 8 fails to produce output data for a period of time equal to the product of the CLOCK signal period and a number of CLOCK signal cycles referenced by the LIMIT data. Watchdog timer 2 will detect a break in a linked list or any other error that prevents buffer 8 from forwarding any data for a given amount of time. However watchdog timer 2 will not detect an endless loop fault that causes buffer 8 to endlessly forward the same set of stored data. Also watchdog timer 2 will incorrectly assert the ALARM signal when the output data traffic of buffer 8 ceases simply because its input data traffic ceases.
What is needed is an apparatus for monitoring a buffer memory and signaling an alarm whenever the buffer fails and which avoids signaling an alarm when the buffer does has not failed.

Apparatus for detecting data buffer faults


The present invention sorts imperfect grains from perfect grains using a chute having a grain separating section, a cross section to orientate the grains, and a grain stabilizing section; a laser with a laser line transmitted through the grains; a photo detect or and processor to receive and analyze the light transmitted through the grains to determine which grains are imperfect; and a separator to separate the perfect and imperfect grains.

In the rice milling industry, whole grain yield is highly valued. A broken grain is worth half or less in the marketplace compared to a whole grain. Also, a small difference in the amount of broken grains level in the milled rice will significantly lower its quality grade. As such, broken grains are removed from milled rice and sold off at a lower price.
The milling industry consists of two general types of rice mills: white rice mills and parboiled rice mills. In a white rice mill the rough rice is dehulled and milled, along with numerous mechanical cleaning and defect separation operations. In a parboiled rice mill, the rough rice is steeped in hot water, steamed, dried, dehulled and milled, along with numerous mechanical cleaning and defect removal operations. Parboiling has several advantages for improving the rice's cooking quality and milling yield.
For a white rice miller, brokens in milled rice are in part caused by imperfect grain structure. These are immature grains, chalky grains and internally cracked grains in rough rice. Immature grains are underdeveloped, are generally thin and break easily. Chalky grains have milk-white or opaque centers and are sometimes called white bellies. Chalkiness is caused by the presence of air or due to less dense packing of starch in the endosperm. It is soft and also breaks easily. Cracked kernels are caused by either over drying prior to harvest, uncontrolled moisture adsorption or desorption, mechanical harvest damage, or by some other post harvest damage. Rapid or uncontrolled moisture change causes mechanical stress in the rice kernel. If the stress exceeds the tensile strength of the kernel, a crack or check is the result. For parboiled rice millers, neither chalk nor cracked grains cause breakage as they are almost completely healed during the hydro-thermic processing. Thus, parboiled rice millers have a whole kernel yield advantage over white rice millers. This disadvantage could be eliminated, if the white rice millers could obtain crack and chalk free rice for milling.
The following disclosures are related to the sorting process used in the present invention. Massen, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,524,746, discloses an apparatus for sorting bulk rice using an optical monitor to detect grains of different color or luminosity or grains of different size or shape that travel on a conveyor belt. When the optical monitor detects an imperfect rice grain, a jet of air from a nozzle removes the grain from the conveyor belt. Satake, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,245,188, discloses an apparatus for evaluating the grade of rice grains using grooved chutes in which the individual grains fall through past a light source. Detectors measure both the reflected and transmitted light from each grain and determine if the grain is complete, scratched or discolored. Inferior grains are sucked from the grooved chutes and removed through a different outlet. Satake, U.S. Pat. No. 4,806,764, discloses an apparatus for evaluating the quality of rice grains using an infrared spectrometer with a band-pass filter and detectors for measuring reflected light to measure the content percentages of pre-selected constituents, such as protein, amylose, amylopectin, and moisture. From the various content percentages, quality evaluation values are determined. Satake, U.S. Pat. No. 4,752,689, is related to the previous patent except that it prints or displays the actual percentage contents of constituents. Gillespie, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,666,045, discloses a pit detection apparatus and method for fruit sorting using a sweeping transmission scanning beam with sensors and a sizing beam with sensors. Pits are detected from analyzing the amount of light transmitted through the fruit at various points in the fruit. Fruit with pits are then removed by an ejector valve. Satake, U.S. Pat. No. 4,572,666, discloses an apparatus for detecting cracked rice grains in hulled or unhulled grains using a chute or conveyor belt, a light source, and two light detectors. Cracked grains are determined by comparing the amount of light transmitted through leading half part of an inspected grain to its trailing half part. Based on the grain's position, less light will be transmitted through one-half of a cracked grain in comparison to the other half. Pilesi, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,196,811, sorts buttons by measuring the amount of light transmitted through each button as it travels down a chute. Murata, U.S. Pat. No. 3,871,774, detects cracks in unhulled grains by irradiating the grain with a laser and measuring the light transmitted through the grain which is conveyed through the laser beam. The amount of light transmitted through the grain decreases when a crack is scanned. The patent does not disclose a method to sort the grains, a laser line, a means to separate grains for detection, a grain stabilizing means, or any features to make the invention commercially efficient. Fraenkel, U.S. Pat. No. 3,197,647, sorts white from red rice by measuring the light transmitted through each grain. Twamley, U.S. Pat. No. 1,031,669, tests the maturity of corn kernels by transmitting light through the kernels. Brizgis, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,713,781, analyzes damaged grain by illuminating a grain with long wave, ultraviolet radiation, causing the exposed starch of the damaged section to fluoresce. The amount of fluoresce determines the amount of damage to the grain.
With the conventional apparatus or methods disclosed above, it is not possible to sort internally cracked unhulled grains from internally whole unhulled grains in a commercially efficient manner for use by rice millers. For commercial purposes, the evaluation of unhulled grains must be done quickly with minimum error. In the previously disclosed art, a rice grain travelling at a high velocity may not be properly stabilized when it is analyzed because air resistance and other factors may oppose the natural grain orientation. If the grain is wobbling, a structural defect may not be detected. The prior art also does not disclose adequate methods for separating each grain prior to analysis. Additionally, the lasers used to analyze objects in the previously disclosed art are typically focused to the smallest spot size possible and do not illuminate some defects that are not precisely positioned. Also, the photo detection systems used do not provide a strong signal for better resolution of the signal. With a commercially efficient sorting invention, unhulled rice could be separated into two fractions: internally whole and internally defective unhulled grains. Then, white rice millers could process the internally whole unhulled grains for a higher yield and would pay a premium price for the internally whole unhulled grain. The internally defective unhulled grains--which would have resulted in broken rice for the white rice millers--can be used by parboilers for processing.


Systems and methods for increasing transaction entries in a hardware queue of the type having a fixed number of storage elements. One of a plurality of transaction entries in one of the storage elements is accessed through at least one pointer having one or more first bits that identify the one element and one or more second bits that identify the one transaction entry within the one element. Information that is part of the one transaction entry is modified when the one transaction entry is accessed from the one storage element.

A high speed server has multiple processors connected to a bus. These processors incorporate agents that interface with the bus to provide bus communications between the processors and, for example, input/output ("I/O") devices. One of the agents, a "central" agent, handles hardware configuration, initialization, special transactions, and error detection. Another agent, a "symmetric" agent, arbitrates for the bus using a symmetric round-robin arbitration.
Each processor may access common data on the bus using a virtual addressing technique; "common" data is data that is shared between more than one processor. In the processors, virtual addresses are translated into absolute addresses using a hardware structure called a Translation Lookaside Buffer ("TLB"). An entry in the TLB translates a virtual page number into a corresponding physical page number, where the physical page number addresses a processor's local random access memory ("RAM"); the RAM contains a copy of the data corresponding to the virtual address. The entry remains in the TLB until the data copy is no longer required for access or is purged by another processor. As each processor has a copy of the common data in local RAM, it is necessary to purge all TLB entries referencing the data when, for example, the data is changed by another processor. A processor changing the data may execute a purge global translation cache instruction to remove all TLB entries in all TLB queues.
By way of example, the execution of a purge global translation cache instruction in a Hewlett-Packard PA-RISC processor generates a "purge TC transaction," known in the art, on the bus. When the purge TC transaction is issued, all bus agents assert a TLB Purge Not Done signal ("TND#") until the purge is completed. The TND# signal remains asserted until all agents have de-asserted the TND# signal and the purge TC transaction completes. Only one outstanding purge TC transaction is issued at a time, though multiple purge TC transactions can be issued. To support multiple purge TC transactions, a purge-TLB queue is implemented internally to each agent to store purge TC transaction information.
In the prior art, the central agent supports a maximum of sixty-four concurrently outstanding purge TC transactions. Thus, for example, up to sixty-four PA-RISC processors can issue purge TC transactions concurrently. However, it is desirable to increase the number of concurrent purge TC transactions to, for example, one hundred and twenty-eight. One prior art solution increases the depth of the purge-TLB queue; however, this solution requires a hardware modification, which is costly.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A token specifying a payment account is issued to a party to which payments are to be made and the token is installed in a specially configured camera. Whenever a photograph is captured by the camera, a copy of the token, among other things, is embedded in the photograph's metadata. The metadata may also include photo-specific information and a selling price. When a buyer selects the photo for purchase, the token may be used to facilitate a payment to the party, such as the photographer. The buyer may initiate the transaction by simply dragging the selected photograph or photographs onto a purchase application which automatically extracts price and the token for initiating the purchase transaction. The seller can view the purchase details in the payment account.

The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.
Digital photographs may be readily shared via various electronic mechanisms. However, copyrighted photographs may sold or shared without the owner receiving appropriate payment.

Embedded payment tokens in digital media objects


A method for providing a health break while using computers, for those aspects of health that are impacted by use of computers for sustained periods of time. These health aspects are those which cause strain and fatigue of muscles in the neck, hand and back areas. Another, important health aspect is the strain on the ciliary muscles in the eye used for focussing. These muscles are strained by sustained visualization of the video screen. The method requires the operating system to pause the application, display a health related break message and an eye related health message at different rates for preset times. This message illustrates the purpose of break and what should be done during the break. The user has the features to delay or cancel the health related break message.

Various kinds of computers have become very common. Specifically, general purpose digital computers for home and office and special purpose game playing computers utilizing Television screens have become far more common in homes with children. Using a computer presents one draw back for humans that is not easily self evident. Human health is impacted by continuous and sustained use of computers. The areas in which human health is impacted are: posture strain caused by sitting in one position for a long time, wrist/finger strain caused by heavy use of keyboard and mouse, and eye and head strain caused by sustained visualization of the computer display in the form of a video screen.
Over the years, the public has become conscious of these factors and there have been developed various products to counter the adverse effect on human health. Examples of such products are: special furniture designs for computer use, wrist pads, ergonomic keyboards, tilt screens, and glare shield screens. While these products help, they may not be totally effective in all those human health areas that are impacted by the use of computers. For example, body postures sustained for long times still strain the body's muscles. Moreover, none of these products are intended to solve the eye fatigue problem caused by sustained close up visualization of the video screen. Sustained close up visualization of a video screen presents a unique problem of its own, which has not been widely understood by public using the computers.
The muscles in the eye that control the focussing of the eye lens, called ciliary muscles, are at rest when the eye is focussed at a far distance. These muscles contract to change the curvature of the eye lens to enable it to focus at close distances. For example, eyes looking at objects 20 feet or greater away do not use focussing muscles in the eye. Alternately, the eyes looking at distances shorter than 20 feet until the reading distance cause the eye muscles to be proportionately contracted until they are fully contracted the maximum amount to focus at the reading distance.
Normal operation of the human vision, before computers became prevalent, required looking at objects at all distances, so that the eye muscles for focussing at various distances were in continuous play. Even while doing close work such as sewing or reading a book, the focussing muscles were activated periodically. In contrast, when a computer screen is looked at, the focussing distance is fixed, and remains fixed. This requires the eye's focussing muscles to remain in the strained state for long periods of time. This is an artificial or an unnatural use of muscles of the eye brought on by the use of computers in this manner.
Like other muscles in the body, the ciliary muscles are fatigued by sustained focusing on a video screen. If the body remains in one posture for a long time, the muscles are strained. The eye muscles when looking at a screen are strained. This commonly is one of the leading causes of deterioration of eye's ability to focus at far objects or also called near sightedness. Research validates, that the cause of increase of near sightedness or myopia in the world has been the indoor working environments and the lack of opportunities to focus the eyes at far distance.
In Cornell Chronicle (Jun. 22, 1995), Roger Segelken writes "The visual experience of close work the reading, writing and arithmetic that young eyes never evolved to do--finally is being seen as one cause for the worldwide increase in myopia". He quotes Cornell University, vision researcher and professor of neurobiology, Howard C. Howland, "Ten years ago, most researchers believed that myopia was only genetically controlled, Howland said. Now, the effect of environmental and feedback loops on growth of the eye is known: When eyes are not focussed in the distance, they grow the wrong way".
This research establishes a connection between focussing muscles of the eye lens and near sightedness or myopia which is the lengthening of the eye ball. The connection is that if the eyes do close work for sustained periods of time, then the eye muscles that focus the eye lens, also exert forces on the shape of the eye ball, making it longer and thereby causing myopia.
Ubiquitousness and increase in various kinds of computer simulations and games for adults and children makes the problem worse. In these situations the users are not conscious of the sustained focussing at a computer screen and the harm being caused to their eyes. Use of computers plays a pivotal role in users having to focus at video screens for sustained periods of time.
The groups of people most vulnerable are those working in data processing and similar environments, requiring staying in front of a computer terminal for better part of the day and children engrossed in games that last for long periods of time; and those who might loose track of time, of how long they have been sitting in front of a computer terminal.
Therefore an object of the present invention is to find a method to minimize the fatigue of the eye muscles while working on a computer.
Another object of the present invention is to find a method to minimize the fatigue on aspects of the human body strained by sitting in one posture, while working on a computer.
Another object is to find a method that would minimize the increase in myopia brought on by heavy use of computers for educational as well as entertainment purposes.


The present invention relates to a mobile radio communications network device operative to transmit a non-access stratum (NAS) signal to a mobile radio communications device after a failed attempt by said mobile radio communications device to access a mobile radio communications network via said network device, said network device being arranged to include within said NAS signal information indicating to said mobile radio communications device which one of: (i) an existing NAS signalling connection; or (ii) a new NAS signalling connection, said radio mobile communications device should employ to attempt re-establishment of connection with said network device. The present invention also relates to a NAS signal to be employed by such a network device, a mobile radio communications device for exchanging signalling with the network device and related methods of such devices.

The functionality afforded mobile radio communication devices such as cell phone handsets has been increasingly defined by reference to the Third Generation Partnership Protocol (3GPP) proposals and standards and which has focused most recently upon ongoing improvements to the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) such as the Long Term Evolution (LTE) ongoing improvement thereto.
In order to access services in 3GPP networks, mobile radio communications device User Equipment (UE) need to be registered to the network. Once the UE has been registered with a network, session information for the UE of an active session is maintained in a context for the UE.
In some circumstances, the session information of the active session maintained in the context may be lost or become unrecoverable. This can occur, for example, due to inter-node mobility, or because the network has implicitly detached the UE due to there being no communication from the UE to the network for a period of time. In these instances, when the UE attempts to access the network, using, for example, a registration request such as a tracking area update (TAU) request in LTE systems, or a routing area update (RAU) request in UMTS systems, or a service request in LTE or UMTS systems, the network will reject the request from the UE indicating a specific cause for the rejection to the UE. Upon reception of a signal from the network indicating the specific cause for rejection, the UE may attempt to re-establish connection with the network (or "re-attach" to the network).
Examples of causes for rejection of a request in LTE systems are as follows:
Cause #9—UE identity cannot be derived by the network.                This Evolved Packet System Mobility Management (EMM) cause is sent to the UE when the network cannot derive the identity of the UE from the Globally Unique Temporary Identity (GUTI)—S-Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity (S-TMSI)—P-TMSI and RAI (Routing Area Identity), e.g. no matching identity/context in the network or failure to validate the identity of the UE due to integrity check failure of the received message.
Cause §10—Implicitly detached.                This EMM cause is sent to the UE either if the network has implicitly detached the UE, e.g. after the implicit detached time has expired, or if the EMM context data related to the subscription does not exist in the Mobility Management Entities (MME)T e.g. because of a MME restart.
In UE which can support LTE and Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), there may be instances where the UE is initially operating under UMTS but then transfers to LTE. In such instances, when the UE transfers from UMTS to LTE with no Packet Data Protocol (PDP) context established, the network will reject a tracking area update request from the UE in order to initiate an attempt by the UE to re-establish connection with the network ("new attach"). This new attach triggers the establishment of a default bearer which is necessary in LTE systems.
In this instance, an example of a cause for rejection of a request is as follows:
Cause #40—No EPS bearer context activated.                This EMM cause is sent to the UE, if during a tracking area updating procedure the MME detects that there is no active EPS bearer context in the network.
As noted above, when the UE receives a rejection to its request to access the network, the reason for the rejection (i.e. "cause") is indicated to the UE. The type of causes of rejection will depend upon the request sent by the UE to the network (e.g. causes #9 or #10 or #40 during TAU procedures in LTE systems, or causes #9 or #10 during service request procedures in LTE systems, or causes #9 or #10 during RAU procedures in GSM/UMTS systems, or causes #9 or #10 during service request procedures in UMTS systems). Upon receipt of the rejection and indication of the cause, the UE is operative to attempt a re-attach with the network.
The re-attach process may be undertaken using a non-access stratum (NAS) signalling connection. Some current network systems require UE to implement the re-attach process using an existing NAS signalling connection. However, other current network systems require UE to implement the re-attach process using a new NAS signalling connection once the existing NAS signalling connection has been released by the network. Also, some current UE re-use an existing NAS signalling connection as part of the re-attach process, whilst some other current UE await release of the existing NAS signalling connection before implementing the re-attach process using a new NAS signalling connection.
There may be delays in re-establishing connection between UE and the network in situations where network systems and UE implement one of the re-attach processes described above. Particular examples of situations in which delays can occur are illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, which are discussed briefly below, but are described in more detail later.
FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic process flow for a first situation in which a delay can occur in a re-attach process. In this first situation, a UE is operative to implement a re-attach process using an existing NAS signalling connection. Thus, after receiving from a network device a rejection in response to an attempt by the UE to access the network, the UE sends a request to the network device for re-establishment of connection. However, at around the same time, the network releases the NAS signalling connection. Thus, the request for re-establishment of connection, which is sent by the UE during the re-attach process, is not received by the network device because the NAS signalling connection was released by the network device before the request reached the network device. The UE, having not received any acknowledgement from the network device, will determine that the NAS signalling connection has been released by the network device. Upon such determination, the UE is operative to initiate a timer. The UE postpones the re-attach until a predetermined amount of time (e.g. 15 seconds), as measured by the timer, has elapsed. When the predetermined amount of time has elapsed, the UE initiates establishment of a new NAS signalling connection with the network device, and then is operative to attempt the re-attach process using the new NAS signalling connection. The time between an initial attempt at re-establishment of connection and a subsequent attempt introduces a delay into the re-attach process.
FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic process flow for a second situation in which a delay can occur in a re-attach process. In this second situation, a UE is operative to implement a re-attach process using a new NAS signalling connection. Thus, after receiving from a network device a rejection in response to an attempt by the UE to access the network, the UE waits for the network device to release the existing NAS signalling connection (because it is not operative to use the existing NAS signalling connection). However, the network device may not be configured to release the NAS signalling connection because it is operative to receive a request for re-establishment of connection via the same existing NAS signalling connection. The existing NAS signalling connection may eventually be released locally by the UE. For example, a guard timer in the UE may be started when the rejection from the network device is received by the UE. When the guard timer denotes that a predetermined amount of time has elapsed, the UE is operative to locally release the existing NAS signalling connection. Once the existing NAS signalling connection has been released, the UE is operative to establish a new NAS signalling connection with the network device. The UE can then attempt the re-attach process using the new NAS signalling connection. Again, the time between an initial attempt at re-establishment of connection and a subsequent attempt introduces a delay into the re-attach process.
The above-described examples illustrate the different implementations which exist with regards to the usage of an existing NAS signalling connection or otherwise during a re-attach process.


A multiply tissue product comprising at least two plies of a tissue interconnected to each other. The multiply tissue further comprises a layer including super absorbent fiber-like particles in at least one interface region in between two adjacent plies of the tissue webs, wherein the basis weight of the layer is between about 0.5% and about 50% of the overall basis weight of the two adjacent plies of tissue.

Tissue products are known and broadly used in making handkerchiefs, napkins and paper towels or so-called "kitchen rolls". These kinds of paper products often comprise two or more plies of tissue, the material for which is selected from conventional tissue or special kinds of tissues, such as so-called "through-air-dried tissue" or "differential-density-tissue". The latter is often made via a patterned paper making belt and through-air-drying technology.
Especially when used for kitchen rolls, the tissue webs representing the two or more plies of the kitchen towel are often each embossed, the embossments forming knob-like elevations in the tissue web. Prior art and kitchen rolls actually marketed use so-called "nested-embossing" or "knob-to-knob embossing". In either case, both the webs are interconnected with the knob elevations facing each other. In nested-embossing the respective knobs of both the webs are positioned offset to each other whereas in knob-to-knob embossing the respective knobs of both the webs are aligned and contacting each other in head-to-head relation.
For the interconnection of the two (or more) plies of the tissue web the most common technique is to laminate the tissue plies together by applying a thin coating of glue to the heads of the knobs of one of the two embossed tissue webs and by leading both the webs either in "knob-to-knob" fashion directly upon each other through the nip of the steel embossing rolls or through the nip of a so-called "marrying roll" and one of the steel embossing rolls ("nested-embossing").
An important feature of multiply tissue towels especially when used as kitchen roll is the absorbent capacity, which substantially is defined by the properties of the tissue. Further, consumers like to have a soft towel with a so-called "bulky grip", which is mainly achieved by the discussed embossing of the tissue webs.
Concerning the absorbency of hygienic products like diapers, sanitary napkins or panty liners, it has been known for decades to incorporate super absorbent particles into the absorbent core of these products. In this connection it is common practice to mix the cellulosic fibers forming the absorbent core by, e.g. air-laying, and super absorbent particles onto a belt. By the incorporation of super absorbent particles into the absorbent core, the absorbency capacity can be drastically increased.
As concerns the absorbent capacity of paper towels it is known, for example, to mix super absorbent materials into paper webs to create tissue products such as facial tissues, paper towels, bath tissues and other similar products. Typical for the products described in the prior art is the fact that the super absorbent materials are mixed with a liquid suspension of fibrous papermaking material and may either be applied in a dry state or a so-called "pre-swollen state". This swelling of the super absorbent material is reported to have a variety of beneficial effects on web formation leading e.g. to a tissue product having higher bulk, permeability and void volume.
The amount of super absorbent material utilized can vary depending on the desired characteristics of the resulting tissue product. Super absorbent material concentrations between about 0.1% by weight to about 10% by weight are disclosed in the prior art. By applying a super absorbent material present in an amount of about 1% by weight of the fibrous material of the prior art tissue webs an increase of the absorbency capacity of the tissue by about 15% can be achieved.
The prior art discloses a broad variety of materials, basis weights and kinds of incorporating the super absorber into the tissue web. However, the super absorbent materials are contained in the tissue material, i.e. the super absorbent particles are intermixed with the tissue fibers. Thus, according to the prior art, the basic papermaking process leading to a tissue web has to be adapted to the need of intermixing a super absorbent material. This means that additional constructive arrangements concerning the addition of the super absorbent material have to be supplied along the papermaking process line. Further the papermaking process conditions have to be adapted to the fact that a super absorber is additionally present in the tissue web, as e.g. the drying behavior of the super absorbers is very different from that of the tissue fibers.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide for a multiply tissue product which has the benefits of incorporated super absorbent materials, while avoiding the discussed disadvantages in connection with the incorporation of super absorbers into the tissue web itself.


A method for linking related data, such as metadata, from at least two data sources. The method includes formatting items of data of the data sources according to attributes. The method also executes a scoring algorithm for one or more of the attributes to generate a score for one or more sets of the formatted items of data, each of the sets includes an item of data from one data source and an item of data from another data source. Finally the method identifies related items of data of the separate data sources based upon the generated scores to facilitate linking related data of the two data sources. The method may also provide a link between data items of the data sources.

The present invention is directed to linking related data sources, in particular those data sources comprising metadata, although linking data sources of any type is contemplated as within the scope of the claimed invention. Generally, metadata is defined as data about data. Metadata commonly describes a tangible thing, such as a movie, or motion picture, an audio compact disc (CD), a digital video disc (DVD), a theatrical performance, or a concert, to name a few. Metadata sources often comprise multiple items of data. For example, a movie data source, such as a database, may include data describing multiple movies. The collection of information about a particular movie in the data source comprises a separate item of data. Moreover, each of these items of data representing a movie may then be divided into a common set of distinct attributes. Each of these attributes describes a particular feature of the data item, or movie. For a movie data source, of which there may be several, attributes might include movie title, release year, director, running time, and cast, among others. For a data source containing theaters showing movies, attributes might include theater name, address, city, state, and zip code, among others. These common attributes of any one data source typically apply to each of the data items contained in the source.
Conventional search algorithms use sophisticated searching techniques to find relevant metadata about a particular tangible thing, such as a movie. Although the searching methods are computationally sophisticated, such searching methods are prone to error because they often rely upon insufficient data, which may be mistakenly assumed to be correct. Moreover, such techniques require a great deal of processing capacity, which increases the cost of locating information and the time required to locate such information.
Such techniques are particularly prone to errors and subject to unreasonable processing costs and delay where metadata is located in several data sources. Accordingly, a solution that effectively uses simpler computational methods to match data items of multiple data sources by linking the information of the data sources together is desired.

Methods, computer readable mediums and systems for linking related data from at least two data sources based upon a scoring algorithm


A charge-coupled device including, a light-receiving part having a glass and receiving an image, a photo chromic layer formed on the glass and being progressively colored according to a level of brightness of the image, to control an amount of transmitted light such that the amount of light transmitted for bright parts and dark parts of an image are substantially equalized, and a frame located on sides of the light receiving part.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a charge-coupled device (CCD), and more particularly, to a charge-coupled device which improves the resolution of a device.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
In general, a CCD can be divided into a light-receiving part for receiving light, a transfer channel part for transferring charges, and a charge detector of observing the amount of signal charge and converting it into a voltage.
Recently, as systems utilizing the CCD attempt to achieve a light weight and a high resolution, the number of pixels has increased and the size of a CCD chip has decreased. Thus, the area occupied by the light-receiving part that can receive light has decreased, reducing the signal amount and deteriorating characteristics such as a dynamic range. In order to improve the resolution and to maintain the high sensitivity, the reduction of noise level is necessary. However, since the relation between the sensitivity and resolution is a trade-off, simultaneously improving both is difficult.
When imaging is carried out, the degradation of definition due to the difference of the partial brightness of the image is caused by the limited dynamic range, so that this aspect becomes an important cause of deteriorating device characteristics.
Recently, the Matushita Co. of Japan has suggested a method with the construction of one screen such that a long exposure signal (LE signal) and a short exposure signal (SE signal) appear alternately, thereby enlarging the dynamic range of the CCD.
However, with this method, a method of transferring the image charge should be changed. Further, the problem of deteriorating sensitivity of the device cannot be solved.
A conventional device will how be described with reference to the attached drawings.
FIG. 1 shows the construction of a conventional charge-coupled device. In general, the charge-coupled device comprises a plurality of photodiodes 1 arranged in a matrix for converting an optical image signal into an electrical signal, vertical charge transfer regions 2 transferring the image charge from the photodiode 1 region in a vertical direction, a horizontal charge transfer region 3 for transferring the image charge transferred in the vertical direction through vertical charge transfer region 2 in a horizontal direction, and a sensing amplifier 4 for sensing the image charge transferred in the horizontal direction and outputting a signal to a peripheral circuit.
In the CCD as constructed above, the image charges converted and generated in the photodiodes 1 are moved to vertical charge transfer region 2 by a pulse that is periodically applied to a transfer gate (not shown).
Then, the image charges moved to vertical charge transfer region 2 and horizontal charge transfer region 3 are transferred to an output terminal of the CCD, according to the variation of the potential well caused by a clock signal applied repeatedly.
When a CCD camera is constructed using the above CCD, by detecting an average illumination of an image imaged by the CCD through a lens, an iris should be adjusted so that the average illumination of the above image is fit for the dynamic range of the CCD.
If the signal level is a specific value or less, gain should be properly adjusted through an automatic gain controller.
However, in the conventional CCD, the following problems exist.
In general, the dynamic range of the CCD is not more than 1/10 of a brightness that exists. in nature. Accordingly, imaging one object with the above brightness on one screen by using the charge-coupled device is impossible, because even if the iris is adjusted, imaging is possible only if the imaging screen is clear or dark on the whole. Further, imaging the object in which the clear part and dark part exist partially together is impossible because the degradation of definition occurs in the dark part.

Charge-coupled device with photo chromic layer


A container for goods having an axial dimension is provided, comprising a first end support having four corners and being oriented in a first plane, a second end support having four corners and being oriented in a second plane spaced axially from the first plane, at least two connecting rails having first and second ends, the first ends being removably connected to the first end support and the second ends being removably connected to the second end support, each rail being connected to a different corner of the first end support and a corresponding corner of the second end support, wherein at least one good may be suspended between and supported by the first end support and second end support.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to containers for handling goods having an axial dimension, and more particularly to containers having components which may be easily assembled and disassembled.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Goods having an axial dimension, such as paper, metal, plastic and cloth wound on axial cores, are often shipped and handled in rolls. The rolls are often provided with core plugs that extend into opposite ends of cylindrical cores around which the rolls are wound. The rolls can have extended cores, or flush cores wherein the core is flush with the rolled goods in which case core plugs are normally used. If the rolls are provided with extended cores, a core plug may or may not be provided. In both cases, the core or core plug would engage supports, such as opposite ends of a shipping container, that suspend the rolls. The supports are incorporated in containers in which the rolls can be kept in inventory or shipped. The rolls may range in weight from less than 100 pounds to in excess of 1,000 pounds.
Various containers have been used to handle and ship such goods. One such container is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,899,226 to Voissem, assigned to the assignee herein. This patent discloses a reinforced box with roll suspension for handling one roll, or a plurality of rolls, supported by end supports. The end supports are connected by reinforcements having tabs or hooks at their ends to be received in respectively located openings in the end supports. The reinforcements extend substantially the full height of the end support and are inclined to form sides of the container. The inclination of the sides forms a triangulated container to enhance rigidity of the container. Other containers have been used to handle and ship single or multiple rolls of goods.
A first group of patents relates to vertical palletizing of rolls, and includes: U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,344,014; 5,450,961; 5,531,327 and 5,551,563.
A second group of patents relates to horizontal palletizing of rolls, and includes: U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,195,732; 4,832,196; 4,901,870 and 5,080,314.
A third group of patents relates to horizontal packaging of rolls, individually or in an array, and includes: U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,042,107; 4,058,216; 4,079,835; 4,151,914; and 6,805,239.
The first group of patents relate to containers which arrange the goods so that their axial dimensions are vertical, with the weight of the goods resting on their end which may cause damage to the end of the roll.
Many of the containers of these patents do not suspend rolls of the goods vertically to protect them from being dented or flatten at a radial location.
Many of the containers use a large amount of material, resulting in waste and excess weight in shipping.
Many of the containers use material which is assembled relatively permanently to form a container. To disassemble the container, the container typically needs to be destroyed, which also results in waste.
Many of the containers are difficult to assemble.
Many of the containers are inflexible in their size, and cannot be sized up or down due to demand or needs.
The containers of these prior patents generally suffer from one or more of the above disadvantages.


A system and method are disclosed which enable post-fabrication reduction of minimum feature size spacing of microcomponents. A method for producing an assembly of microcomponents is provided, in which at least two microcomponents are fabricated having a separation space therebetween. At least one of the microcomponents includes an extension part that is operable to reduce the separation space. Such an extension part may include an extension member that is movably extendable away from its associated microcomponent to reduce the separation space between its associated microcomponent and another microcomponent. The extension part may be latched at a desired position by a latching mechanism. The extension part may be implemented such that the extension member eliminates the separation space, thereby resulting in such extension member engaging another microcomponent. Such engagement may be achieved without requiring power to be applied to the microcomponents. Certain embodiments are insensitive to etching inaccuracy encountered during fabrication.

Extraordinary advances are being made in micromechanical devices and microelectronic devices. Further, advances are being made in MicroElectroMechanical ("MEMs") devices, which comprise integrated micromechanical and microelectronic devices. The terms "microcomponent" and "microdevice" will be used herein generically to encompass microelectronic components, micromechanical components, as well as MEMs components. Generally, microcomponent devices are devices having a size below one millimeter by one millimeter. Although, microcomponents as large as one centimeter by one centimeter have been provided in the prior art. Moreover, microcomponents may be smaller than one millimeter by one millimeter in size.
Various techniques for fabricating microcomponents are known in the prior art, and further fabrication techniques continue to be developed. Examples of fabrication techniques that may be utilized for fabricating microcomponents are further disclosed in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/569,330 entitled "METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SELF-REPLICATING MANUFACTURING STATIONS" filed May 11, 2000 and co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/616,500 entitled "SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONSTRAINING TOTALLY RELEASED MICROCOMPONENTS" filed Jul. 14, 2000, the disclosures of which have been incorporated herein by reference. Further examples of techniques for fabricating microcomponents are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,740,410 issued to Muller et al. entitled "MICROMECHANICAL ELEMENTS AND METHODS FOR THEIR FABRICATION," U.S. Pat. No. 5,660,680 issued to Chris Keller entitled "METHOD FOR FABRICATION OF HIGH VERTICAL ASPECT RATIO THIN FILM STRUCTURES," and U.S. Pat. No. 5,645,684 issued to Chris Keller entitled "MULTILAYER HIGH VERTICAL ASPECT RATIO THIN FILM STRUCTURES."
Such fabrication techniques generally have a "minimum feature size," which specifies the minimum amount of spacing that can be defined between separate components during fabrication. For instance, such minimum feature size may specify a minimum width of the smallest line (or gap) that may be included in a design when utilizing lithography (e.g., optical lithography or x-ray lithography). While fabrication techniques have evolved to generally reduce the required minimum feature size in accordance with Moore's law, and it is generally expected that the minimum feature size will continue to be reduced in the future in accordance with Moore's law. It is often desirable to further reduce the spacing between components beyond that available during the fabrication process (e.g., beyond the required minimum feature size of a fabrication process). For example, techniques for fabricating microcomponents are available that require a minimum feature size of approximately one micron (a micron, abbreviated μm, is one-millionth of a meter or 10−6 m). Accordingly, utilizing such fabrication process, microcomponents are generally separated from each other by at least approximately 1 μm. It is often desirable to reduce such separation distance after the microcomponents are fabricated.
Turning to FIG. 1A, an example of microcomponents being fabricated on a substrate (e.g., a wafer) 100 according to a fabrication process requiring a minimum feature size is shown. For instance, microcomponents 102 and 103 are fabricated, which are required to be separated by a distance equal to or greater than the minimum feature size (MFS) required by the particular fabrication process utilized. For instance, fabrication techniques are available in which such MFS is approximately 1 μm, in which case microcomponents 102 and 103 must be fabricated with a separation distance of at least 1 μm. Of course, it may be desirable to reduce such separation distance between microcomponents 102 and 103. For example, microcomponents 102 and 103 may be gears having teeth that are intended to interlock. For instance, it may be desirable for the teeth of microcomponent 102 to interlock with teeth of microcomponent 103, in the manner shown in FIG. 1B, so that motion from one microcomponent may be transferred to the other. Of course, such microcomponents 102 and 103, as fabricated, with a separation of at least the minimum feature size of the particular fabrication process utilized, does not result in the desired interlocking of the microcomponents' teeth. Therefore, a desire often exists for a post-fabrication method for reducing such spacing between microcomponents.

System and method for post-fabrication reduction of minimum feature size spacing of microcomponents


A method of detecting the condition of a liquid layer level in a case where a plurality of liquids are in a layer condition, such method of being capable of knowing each layer level condition even in a case where a system as a whole is high at temperature, pressure or dirt as well as emulsification are large in extent. In order to detect the layer condition, the measurement values of temperatures and so on in a system as a whole or the mathematically processed values of the measurement values are provided as inputs, the layer level condition at this time is outputted, processed by a neurocomputer so as to compose an input-output model. As the layer level condition at this time is adapted to be estimated with the use of the input-output model, the layer level condition may be properly detected even when a system as a whole is high at temperature, pressure or the dirt as well as the emulsification are larger in extent.

The present invention relates to a method of detecting the condition of a liquid layer level in a case where a plurality of liquids are in a layer condition.
In a fat-splitting tower, water is fed from its upper portion, oil such as fats and oils or the like which is smaller in specific gravity than the water is continuously fed from its lower portion, the oil and the water are brought into contact under a thermal source by steam so as to cause hydrolysis reaction for splitting the oil. By the difference in specific gravity, the oil exists in the upper portion, and the water exists in the lower portion, thus causing a interface where they are in contact with each other.
If the interface rises higher than a proper level, the residence time of the oil within the tower becomes shorter so as to deteriorate a reaction (oil splitting) factor. If the interface lowers, the oil is mixed into the exhaust water so as to lose the oil. Therefore, it is necessary to correctly, know the position of the interface. Thus, the layer level condition is periodically assured by an visual inspection of the liquid sampled from portions in the vertical direction of the tower.
But in the visual inspecting operation of the liquid sampling, it is difficult to determine the layer condition with a time series comparison, because the sampling marks are restricted. Although there is a method of detecting the interface from the measurement of specific gravity, electric conductivity, light transmission degree or the like which is caused by the oil and the water, it is difficult to detect the interface by these measurements when a system as a whole is high in temperature and pressure, and dirt as well as emulsification are large in extent.

Method of detecting a layer level condition


The present invention relates to a system (100) for controlling light output of a lighting system. The system (100) comprises a light mixing circuit (116) comprising a plurality of light sources configured to provide a mixed light output (102) and mounted on a heat-sink (202) together with a temperature sensing means and a controller (108) receiving a set-point (110) from a calibration matrix (104) and generating a driving signal (120, 122) for the light mixing circuit (116). The controller (108) comprises a rescale unit (118) configured to measure power of the driving signal (120, 122) and to rescale the driving signal (120, 122) when the power exceeds a predetermined power threshold, and the controller is configured to receive the heat-sink temperature signal (206) and to calculate a junction temperature from the heat-sink temperature signal, and the controller (108) generates the driving signal (120, 122) as a function of the junction temperature.

It is widely known that when the operational or, in particular, the junction temperature of an LED exceeds a certain threshold temperature the LED is permanently damaged, and consequently unable to generate light. Therefore when designing an SSL unit, the thermal design must generally prevent the LEDs of the SSL unit from exceeding this threshold under normal operating conditions.
International patent application no. WO 02/47438 discloses an LED luminary system comprising means for estimating junction temperature by employing a thermal model for the LED light sources and the current input to the LED light sources. The chromaticity coordinates of the LED light sources corresponding to a desired white light are estimated based on the junction temperature, because the characteristics of the LED light sources vary with the temperature. The output brightness of the LED light sources varies exponentially, and the peak wavelength varies linearly with the variation in the junction temperature. When the peak wavelength of the light emitted by the LED varies, the chromaticity coordinates of the LED light sources also vary. Thereby the chromaticity coordinates of the mixed light obtained form the LED luminary is different from the target light when the junction temperature of the LED changes. Hence the LED luminary system comprises a controller utilising the junction temperature estimation for maintaining the target light.
Further article published in SID 00 Digest under the title "Light output feedback solution for RGB LED backlight applications", which is considered the closest prior art, discloses a duty controller varying the duty factor (defined as the ratio between the ON-time pulse width and total pulse width period) of the driving current for an LED array, thereby ensuring that the output chromaticity is constant, and a sensitivity matrix defining the transfer function of the sensor output to LED duty factor drive current.
However neither of the documents cited above evaluate the importance of each of the controllable parameters, namely colour set-point, output brightness and junction temperature. That is, how is the overall quality of the output light of an SSL unit best maintained in the eyes of the receiver.

System for temperature prioritised colour controlling of a solid-state lighting unit


A fastening system including a plurality of fastening modules to mount a solar module having a first longitudinal direction on a roof structure or a façade having a second longitudinal direction. Each fastening module comprises one module carrier mountable on the roof structure or on the façade; a slide block guidable inside the module carrier; a module clamp; and a fastener to connect the module clamp to the slide block to clamp a respective solar module between the module clamp and the slide block. The module clamp is rotatable between two positions on the fastener so that an arrangement of the fastening modules permits the solar module to be mounted on the roof structure or the façade with the first longitudinal axis perpendicular or parallel to the second direction.

The invention relates to a fastening system for fastening solar modules.
Fastening systems of this type are used as mounting systems and support structures for solar modules, in particular photovoltaic modules, which are components of solar systems. The fastening systems in question are generally used for the fastening of solar modules on a roof structure, in particular a roof embodied as trapezoid metal roof. The roof structure can alternatively also be embodied as a corrugated metal roof. Furthermore conceivable are roof structures in the form of sandwich-type roofs and the like. Finally, the fastening systems according to the invention can also be used on facades.
Roof structures of this type, in particular trapezoid metal roofs, always have a specific pitch or inclination, so that accordingly the solar modules on a roof structure of this type are also positioned with an inclination. Corresponding to the different orientation of the solar modules with respect to this direction of inclination, the solar modules can be mounted with their longitudinal axis aligned with the angle of inclination or transverse to the angle of inclination on the roof structure, wherein a roof structure taking the form of a trapezoid metal roof itself consists of an alternating arrangement of high beads and low beads for which the longitudinal axes extend in the direction of pitch for the trapezoid metal roof.
Solar module fastening systems known from the prior art require the use of rail sections which are mounted on the high beads of the trapezoid metal roof. These systems have the disadvantage that the fastening systems installed with their length aligned with the pitch direction and those installed with their length aligned transverse to the pitch direction must be embodied differently. As opposed to the installation aligned with the pitch direction, the installation aligned transverse to the pitch direction requires additional support rails, profile designs, and the like, thus resulting in an undesirably high construction and cost expenditure for the fastening system.

Fastening system for fastening solar modules