Provided are: at least one or more series variable resistors implemented by field effect transistors connected to a signal line A; and at least one or more shunt variable resistors implemented by field effect transistors connected between a signal outputting section A and a reference potential section GND. Further provided are: at least one or more series variable resistors implemented by field effect transistors connected to a signal line B arranged in parallel to the signal line A; and at least one or more shunt variable resistors implemented by field effect transistors connected between a signal outputting section B and a reference potential section GND.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a dual band (mode) portable telephone terminal apparatus and, in particular, to the configuration of an attenuator in a high frequency section inside a radio section of the apparatus. The attenuator according to the invention permits high quality speech through the portable telephone terminal apparatus, and hence is useful as an attenuator in a high frequency section inside a radio section of a dual band (mode) portable telephone terminal apparatus.
2. Related Art of the Invention
In a digital system (such as PDC), the intensity of radio waves delivered from a portable telephone terminal apparatus to abase station needs to be maintained at constant independently of the distance between the portable telephone terminal apparatus and the base station. For this purpose, gain control is performed in a transmitting section in the portable telephone terminal apparatus.
FIG. 9 schematically shows the positional relation between a base station and a portable telephone terminal apparatus. In FIG. 9, the cell region CL of a base station BS has a radius of approximately a few tens km (for example, approximately 30 km). Within the cell region CL of the base station BS, a large number of portable telephone terminal apparatuses TH1 and TH2 are present that have different distance from the base station BS or different communication conditions such as geography. Then, with varying the distance from the base station BS or the communication conditions moment by moment, a large number of these portable telephone terminal apparatuses TH1 and TH2 are simultaneously performing communication with the base station BS.
In such a case, in order that the intensity of the radio waves delivered from a portable telephone terminal apparatus to the base station is maintained to be the same for the nearest location and the farthest location relative to the base station BS within the cell region CL of the base station BS, the transmitting section of the portable telephone terminal apparatus requires a gain control range of approximately 50 dB or wider for the cell region CL of the above-mentioned size. This issue is called the far-near problem.
In case that the gain control is not satisfactorily performed in the transmitting section of the portable telephone terminal apparatus, when the distance of the portable telephone terminal apparatus from the base station decreases, the intensity of the radio waves delivered to the base station increases, and hence causes an increase in the leakage power to adjacent channels. This causes an increase in the code error rate, and hence degrades the speech quality. In FIG. 10, solid lines A1–A6 indicate the intensity of the radio waves of respective channels received at the base station, while a broken line B4 indicates the intermodulation distortion characteristics of the channel A4. FIG. 10 shows the situation that the intensity of the received radio waves of the channels A3 and A5 is buried in the distorted component of the channel A4 indicated by the broken line B4, so that the data is not correctly restored from the channels A3 and A5 adjacent to the channel A4.
In order to maintain a high ratio (C/N) of the carrier signal level to the noise level, the gain control in the transmitting section of the portable telephone terminal apparatus is preferred to be carried out in the high frequency section where the carrier signal is at a high level. This is because in the high frequency section, the carrier signal is at a considerably higher level than the background noise, and hence even when the gain is reduced in the high frequency section, the level difference of the carrier signal from the noise is still maintained to be large. In contrast, when the gain is reduced in the intermediate frequency section where the carrier signal is at a low level, the level difference of the carrier signal from the background noise becomes very small, and this small level difference of the carrier signal from the noise in the intermediate frequency section appears directly in the high frequency section.
For the purpose of achieving such gain control in the range of 50 dB or wider in the transmitting section of the radio section of the portable telephone terminal apparatus, the gain is adjusted by continuous control in the high frequency section and by stepwise control in the intermediate frequency section. Such simultaneous use of the amount of gain control in the high frequency section and the amount of gain control in the intermediate frequency section permits the gain control in the range of 50 dB or wider.
In this situation, the gain control in the portable telephone terminal apparatus is performed as follows. That is, in the portable telephone terminal apparatus, a target value for the transmission power necessary for maintaining the intensity of the received signal at the base station to be constant is set on the basis of the intensity of the received signal at the portable telephone terminal apparatus. Then, a feedback loop is constructed that compares this target value with the actual transmission power so as to cause the transmission power to follow the target value. As such, the gain control is performed such that the transmission power agrees with the target value.
In a dual band (mode) portable telephone terminal apparatus, band (mode) switching is performed when the portable telephone terminal apparatus moves from the cell region CL(A) of a base station BS(A) using a band A (mode A) to the cell region CL(B) of a base station BS(B) using a band B (mode B) as shown in FIG. 11. Here, the bands A and B denote two distinct frequency bands used in the respective cell regions. The modes A and B indicate two distinct systems used there. In this situation, a portable telephone terminal apparatus is first located within the cell region CL(A), and gain control is performed such that the intensity of the radio waves delivered from the portable telephone terminal apparatus to the base station BS(A) is maintained at constant. Then, the portable telephone terminal apparatus moves from the cell region CL(A) into the cell region CL(B). At this instance, band (mode) switching is performed in the portable telephone terminal apparatus, and then gain control is performed such that the intensity of the radio waves delivered to the base station BS(B) is maintained at constant. Symbol TH0 indicates the portable telephone terminal apparatus positioned at the boundary between the cell region CL(A) and the cell region CL(B). Symbols TH1 and TH2 indicate the portable telephone terminal apparatus positioned within the cell region CL(A). Here, the portable telephone terminal apparatus TH1 is at a position near the base station BS(A), while the portable telephone terminal apparatus TH2 is at a position far from the base station BS(A). Symbols TH3 and TH4 indicate the portable telephone terminal apparatus positioned within the cell region CL(B). Here, the portable telephone terminal apparatus TH4 is at a position near the base station BS(B), while the portable telephone terminal apparatus TH3 is at a position far from the base station BS(B).
The configuration and the operation of such a prior art portable telephone terminal apparatus is described below with reference to FIG. 12. As shown in FIG. 12, the portable telephone terminal apparatus is constructed from a microcomputer logic section or the like, and comprises; a baseband section 100 for processing a voice signal; and a radio section 200 for receiving the voice signal processed in the baseband section 100 and then performing communication with a base station.
The radio section 200 comprises: a transmitting section 210 for generating a transmission signal to be transmitted to the base station; and a receiving section 220 for receiving a transmission signal transmitted from the base station.
The transmitting section 210 comprises: an intermediate frequency section 230 for performing the modulation of the voice signal provided from the baseband section 100 and the mixing of the signals for the purpose of frequency conversion; and a high frequency section 240 for band A and a high frequency section 250 for band B, each for amplifying a high frequency signal outputted from the intermediate frequency section 230 and then providing the signal through a switch 310 to an antenna 300.
The intermediate frequency section 230 comprises: a modulator 231; a variable gain intermediate frequency amplifier 232 for amplifying at a variable gain the output signal of the modulator 231; and a mixer 233 for converting the output signal of the variable gain intermediate frequency amplifier 232 into a high frequency signal. The variable gain intermediate frequency amplifier 232 is constructed from a bipolar transistor in many cases. The gain of the variable gain intermediate frequency amplifier 232 can be adjusted discretely in several steps of 5–6 dB intervals. This gain is controlled stepwise in the range of 20 dB or the like by a discrete gain control voltage.
The high frequency section 240 comprises: a variable gain high frequency amplifier 241 for amplifying at a variable gain the high frequency signal of the band A outputted from the intermediate frequency section 230; and a power amplifier 242 for power-amplifying the output of the variable gain high frequency amplifier 241. The gain of the variable gain high frequency amplifier 241 can be adjusted in the range of 40 dB or the like. This gain is controlled continuously in the range of 30 dB or the like by a continuously varying gain control voltage.
The variable gain high frequency amplifier 241 comprises: a preamplifier (medium power amplifier) 244; and an attenuator 243 cascaded to the preamplifier 244 and thereby adjusting the gain for the high frequency signal of the band A to be inputted to the power amplifier (high power amplifier) 242. The attenuator 243 has the function of changing the amount of attenuation in the range of 40 dB or the like.
The high frequency section 250 comprises: a variable gain high frequency amplifier 251 for amplifying at a variable gain the high frequency signal of the band B outputted from the intermediate frequency section 230; and a power amplifier 252 for power-amplifying the output of the variable gain high frequency amplifier 251. The gain of the variable gain high frequency amplifier 251 can be adjusted in the range of 40 dB or the like. This gain is controlled continuously in the range of 30 dB or the like by a continuously varying gain control voltage.
The variable gain high frequency amplifier 251 comprises: a preamplifier (medium power amplifier) 254; and an attenuator 253 cascaded to the preamplifier 254 and thereby adjusting the gain for the high frequency signal of the band B to be inputted to the power amplifier (high power amplifier) 252. The attenuator 253 has the function of changing the amount of attenuation in the range of 40 dB or the like.
The baseband section 100 comprises a controlling section 110. On the basis of the received signal in the receiving section 220, the controlling section 110 determines the band to be used for the high frequency signal to be transmitted, and then applies a drain voltage VDD(A) and a drain voltage VDD(B) to the attenuator 243 and the attenuator 253 respectively, so as to perform band selection for the high frequency signal to be transmitted.
In the communication using the frequency band A, the controlling section 110 detects the signal intensity of the received signal of the receiving section 220, and detects the output level of the power amplifier 242. Then, depending on the signal intensity of the received signal, the controlling section 110 sets a target value for the output level of the power amplifier 242, and then compares the output level of the power amplifier 242 with the target value for the output level of the power amplifier 242, so as to apply again control voltage Vc(RF) corresponding to the comparison result onto the attenuator 243 and apply a gain control voltage Vc(IF) corresponding to the comparison result onto the variable gain intermediate frequency amplifier 232. As such, the amount of the attenuator 243 (the gain of the variable gain high frequency amplifier 241) and the gain of the variable gain intermediate frequency amplifier 232 are controlled and adjusted such that the output level of the power amplifier 242 follows and agrees with the target value for the output level of the power amplifier 242.
Further, in the communication using the frequency band B, the controlling section 110 detects the signal intensity of the received signal of the receiving section 220, and detects the output level of the power amplifier 252. Then, depending on the signal intensity of the received signal, the controlling section 110 sets a target value for the output level of the power amplifier 252, and then compares the output level of the power amplifier 252 with the target value for the output level of the power amplifier 252, so as to apply a gain control voltage Vc(RF) corresponding to the comparison result onto the attenuator 253 and apply a gain control voltage Vc(IF) corresponding to the comparison result onto the variable gain intermediate frequency amplifier 232. As such, the amount of the attenuator 253 (the gain of the variable gain high frequency amplifier 251) and the gain of the variable gain intermediate frequency amplifier 232 are controlled and adjusted such that the output level of the power amplifier 252 follows and agrees with the target value for the output level of the power amplifier 252.
In the portable telephone terminal apparatus described above, simultaneous use of the gain control of the variable gain high frequency amplifier 241 or the variable gain high frequency amplifier 251 and the gain control of the variable gain intermediate frequency amplifier 232 realizes the gain control in the range of 50 dB or wider. In the PDC standard, the input stage of the mixer 233 operates in a 200-MHz band, while the output stage of the mixer 233 operates in a 940-MHz band or a 1441-MHz band. Signal levels in various sections at the maximum output power of the portable telephone terminal are as follows. The output of the power amplifier 242 or the power amplifier 252 has a signal level of +30 dBm (where 0 dBm=1 mW). The output of the variable gain high frequency amplifier 241 or the variable gain high frequency amplifier 251 has a signal level of +8 dBm. The output of the attenuator 243 or the attenuator 253 has a signal level of −16 dBm. The output of the mixer 233 has a signal level of −15 dBm. The output of the variable gain intermediate frequency amplifier 232 has a signal level of −20 dBm.
In this situation, when the variable gain high frequency amplifier 241 performs gain control in the range of 30 dB, and when the variable gain intermediate frequency amplifier 232 performs gain control in the range of 20 dB, the signal level in the output of the variable gain intermediate frequency amplifier 232 varies in the range from −20 dBm to −40 dBm. The signal level in the output of the mixer 233 varies in the range from −15 dBm to −35 dBm. The signal level in the output of the attenuator 243 or the attenuator 253 varies in the range from −16 dBm to −46 dBm. The signal level in the output of the variable gain high frequency amplifier 241 or the variable gain high frequency amplifier 251 varies in the range from +8 dBm to −22 dBm. The signal level in the output of the power amplifier 242 or the power amplifier 252 varies in the range from +30 dBm to −20 dBm.
Examples of such a prior art attenuator include one described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,890,077 and the attenuator 243 (or the attenuator 253) shown in FIG. 13. The attenuator shown in FIG. 13 is different, in detail, from the prior art attenuator described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,890,077. However, in principle, the configuration and the operation of the former are similar to those of the latter.
Specific configuration of the attenuator 243 (or the attenuator 253) and its operation during band selection are described below with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14A–14C.
FIG. 13 is a circuit diagram showing the configuration of the attenuator 243. The attenuator 243 having such configuration performs the gain control. As shown in FIG. 13, the attenuator comprises: a field effect transistor 1 serving as a shunt variable resistor on the input side; a field effect transistor 9 serving as a shunt variable resistor on the output side; capacitors 2, 3, 10, and 11; resistors 5, 7, and 13; and a field effect transistor 6 serving as a series variable resistor.
The attenuator further comprises: a gain control voltage applying terminal 4 for applying the gain control voltage Vc(RF) therethrough; a source voltage applying terminal 8 for applying a supply voltage VDD therethrough; a gate voltage applying terminal 12 for applying a GND terminal voltage (reference potential) therethrough; an input terminal 14 serving as an inputting section for the high frequency signal; and an output terminal 15 serving as an outputting section for the high frequency signal. The input terminal 14 is connected to the output of the mixer 233 of FIG. 12, while the output terminal 15 is connected to the input of the preamplifier 244. The capacitors 2, 3, 10, and 11 block the application of a DC voltage, while the resistors 5, 7, and 13 block the entrance of the high frequency signal.
The attenuator 253 has a circuit configuration (not shown) similar to that of the attenuator 243. It should be noted that the attenuator 243 and the attenuator 253 are formed separately, and hence the field effect transistors incorporated in the attenuators 243 and 253 have certain variation in their characteristics such as the threshold voltage, in some cases.
FIGS. 14A, 14B, and 14C are voltage control characteristics diagrams shown as a function of the location of the attenuator 243 and the attenuator 253. FIG. 14A shows the characteristics of the attenuators 243 and 253 in an overlay manner. FIG. 14B shows the characteristics of the attenuator 243, while FIG. 14C shows the characteristics of the attenuator 253.
The threshold voltage of the series field effect transistor 6 used in the attenuator 243 for the cell region CL(A) is denoted by Vth_T_A, while the threshold voltage of the shunt field effect transistors 1 and 9 is denoted by Vth_S_A. Then, the following relation holds.Vth—T—A=Vth—S—A=−1.8 VWhen the supply voltage applied to the attenuator 243 is denoted by VDD_A, the following relation holds.VDD—A=2.9 V
The gain control voltage that causes the series field effect transistor 6 to go completely off (pinch off) is defined as VcOFF_T_A, while the gain control voltage that causes the shunt field effect transistors 1 and 9 to go completely off (pinch off) is defined as VcOFF_S_A. Then, the following relation holds.Vth—T—A=VcOFF—T—A−VDD—AThus, the following relation is obtained.VcOFF—T—A=Vth—T—A+VDD—A=1.1 VSimilarly, the following relation holds.Vth—S—A=0 V−VcOFF—S—AThus, the following relation is obtained (See FIG. 14B).VcOFF—S—A=−Vth—S—A=1.8 V
Similarly, the threshold voltage of the series field effect transistor used in the attenuator 253 for the cell region CL(B) is denoted by Vth_T_B, while the threshold voltage of the shunt field effect transistors is denoted by Vth_S_B. Then, the following relation holds.Vth—T—B=Vth—S—B=−1.6 VWhen the supply voltage applied to the attenuator 253 is denoted by VDD_B, the following relation holds.VDD—B=2.9 V
The gain control voltage that causes the series field effect transistor to go completely off (pinch off) is defined as VcOFF_T_B, while the gain control voltage that causes the shunt field effect transistors to go completely off (pinch off) is defined as VcOFF_S_B. Then, the following relation holds.Vth—T—B=VcOFF—T—B−VDD—BThus, the following relation is obtained.VcOFF—T—B=Vth—T—B+VDD—B=1.3 VSimilarly, the following relation holds.Vth—S—B=0 V−VcOFF—S—BThus, the following relation is obtained (See FIG. 14C).VcOFF—S—B=−Vth—S—B=1.6 V
FIG. 14A shows an overlay of the characteristics of FIG. 14B and the characteristics of FIG. 14C. In the figure, these attenuation characteristics (threshold values) do not agree with each other. Thus, when the band is switched at the time of move, for example, from the cell region CL(A) into the cell region CL(B), the gain control voltage Vc provided to the attenuator 253 needs to be simultaneously adjusted in order for the output of the attenuator 253 to be set at the same level as the output of the attenuator 243.
The slope of the change in the amount of attenuation is different in FIGS. 14B and 14C. This difference is caused mainly by a difference in the threshold value in the field effect transistors. The difference in the characteristics can be caused also by a variation in the on-resistance in the field effect transistors and by a variation in their parasitic capacitance.
The operation of the attenuator having such configuration is described below. Here, the portable telephone terminal apparatus is driven by a lithium battery or the like at a voltage up to 3.0 V or the like. The threshold voltage of the field effect transistor indicates a bias voltage that causes the variable resistor to begin gain control operation. A ground voltage (reference voltage) is applied to the gate voltage applying terminals 12 of the field effect transistors 1 and 9.
Within the cell region CL(A) where the band A is used, a voltage of 2.9 V is applied to the drain voltage applying terminal 8 of the attenuator 243 in order to select the band A, while a voltage of 0 V is applied to the drain voltage applying terminal 8 of the attenuator 253 in order not to select the band B. When the portable telephone terminal apparatus is located at the position TH1, the distance is the shortest between the portable telephone terminal apparatus and the base station BS(A) within the cell region CL(A). Thus, in order to maximize the amount of attenuation in the attenuator 243, a gain control voltage Vc(RF) of the minimum value (1.1 V) is applied to the gain control voltage applying terminal 4.
Then, with the move of the portable telephone terminal apparatus from the position TH1 to the position TH0, in order to adjust the amount of attenuation of the attenuator 243 from the maximum value to the minimum value, the gain control voltage Vc(RF) applied to the gain control voltage applying terminal 4 is adjusted gradually from the minimum value (1.1 V) to the maximum value (1.8 V).
At the same time when the portable telephone terminal apparatus reaches the position TH0, within the cell region CL(B) where the band B is used, a voltage of 2.9 V is applied to the drain voltage applying terminal 8 of the attenuator 253 in order to select the band B, while a voltage of 0 V is applied to the drain voltage applying terminal 8 of the attenuator 243 in order not to select the band A. At that time, the distance of the portable telephone terminal apparatus (TH0) is the farthest from the base station BS(B) within the cell region CL(B). Thus, in order to minimize the amount of attenuation in the attenuator 253, a gain control voltage Vc(RF) of the maximum value (1.6 V) is applied to the gain control voltage applying terminal 4.
Further, with the move of the portable telephone terminal apparatus from the position TH0 to the position TH4, in order to adjust the amount of attenuation of the attenuator 253 from the minimum value to the maximum value, the gain control voltage Vc(RF) applied to the gain control voltage applying terminal 4 is adjusted gradually from the maximum value (1.6 V) to the minimum value (1.3 V).
On the other hand, in the variable gain intermediate frequency amplifier 232, the output level is adjusted stepwise by changing the gain control voltage Vc(IF) regardless of the selection of the band A or B.
Nevertheless, when the switching from the band A to the band B is performed by the combination of the attenuator 243 and the attenuator 253 fabricated separately, the difference between the threshold voltage (−1.8 V) of the field effect transistors 1, 9, and 6 incorporated in the attenuator 243 and the threshold voltage (−1.6 V) of the field effect transistors 1, 9, and 6 incorporated in the attenuator 253 causes a difference between the gain control characteristics (of the attenuator 243) within the cell region CL(A) and the gain control characteristics (of the attenuator 253) within the cell region CL(B) as shown in FIGS. 14A, 14B, and 14C. In particular, at the time of band selection (at the position TH0), the difference between the gain control voltage (1.8 V) for minimizing the amount of attenuation of the attenuator 243 and the gain control voltage (1.6V) for minimizing the amount of attenuation of the attenuator 253 causes the necessity of a certain time (a few tens μsec or more) for adjusting the gain control voltage into the desired value. In addition, a few tens μsec or the like is necessary from the application of the drain voltage VDD(B) to the achievement of stability in the attenuator 253. Thus, the gain control voltage Vc(RF) applied to the gain control voltage applying terminal 4 of the attenuator 253 delays for this transient response time of the attenuator 253. As a result, a variation in the characteristics of the attenuator 253 and the variable gain intermediate frequency amplifier 232 can cause a difference in the desired gain of the portable telephone terminal apparatus immediately after the band selection.
In such a case, when the portable telephone terminal apparatus is performing communication with moving away from the base station at a constant velocity under ideal conditions, the output Pout of the portable telephone terminal apparatus normally decrease linearly within the cell region CL(B) by virtue of the gain control function, as shown in FIG. 15. Nevertheless, at the time of band selection, the output Pout of the portable telephone terminal apparatus temporarily deviates from the line at the time of band selection because of the delay in the follow operation caused by the time delay in the feedback control and because of the discontinuity in the output level at the band selection. At that time, the intensity of the received signal in the base station deviates from a normal value, so that a level difference occurs relative to the adjacent channel. This has caused the problem of voice disturbance and hence of degradation in the voice quality. This problem has been described for the case that the portable telephone terminal apparatus moves under ideal conditions. Nevertheless, actual conditions during the move are more adverse. For example, the portable telephone terminal apparatus can enter behind a building, so that the intensity of the received signal can decrease suddenly. Thus, the above-mentioned problem should occur frequently that the intensity of the received signal in the base station deviates from a normal value so that the voice quality degrades.
Further, the controlling section 110 of the baseband section 100 needs two kinds of voltage setting corresponding to the two values for the drain voltage VDD(A) and the drain voltage VDD(B) used for the control of the selection and the non-selection of the variable gain high frequency amplifier 241 and the variable gain high frequency amplifier 251. This causes complexity in the control in the controlling section 110.
Furthermore, the high frequency transmitting section 210 needs both the variable gain high frequency amplifier 241 comprising the attenuator 243 and the variable gain high frequency amplifier 251 comprising the attenuator 253. This causes complexity in the circuit configuration, as well as an increase in space requirement. This has caused the problem of an increase in the overall size of the portable telephone terminal apparatus.

Attenuator and portable telephone terminal apparatus using the same

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A control device including: an input unit which accepts input of a reproduction mode; a content reproduction device determination unit which determines whether content is to be reproduced by a content reproduction device or by the control device, in accordance with the reproduction mode; and a display unit which displays reproduced content, wherein the content reproduction device determination unit transmits a content reproduction instruction to the content reproduction device if the content reproduction device determination unit determines that the content is to be reproduced by the content reproduction device, and the content reproduction device determination unit causes the display unit to display the content acquired from a server if the content reproduction device determination unit determines that the content is to be reproduced by the control device.

An industrial association known as the digital living network alliance (DLNA) is promoting standardization activities for interconnecting electrical household appliances and personal computers from different manufacturers. According to a DLNA guideline defined by the DLNA, a function is provided in which a digital media player (DMP) acquires content data from a digital media server (DMS) connected thereto via a network, and allows for remote viewing of the content data. Further in the DLNA guideline, in accordance with instructions from a digital media controller (DMC), a digital media renderer (DMR) can also acquire content data from the digital media server (DMS) and allow for remote viewing of the content data. In the following description, the digital media renderer (DMR), the digital media server (DMS), and the digital media controller (DMC) are simply referred to as a content reproduction device, a server, and a control device, respectively.

Control device, control system, and control method

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.


Systems and methods for determining the composition of a drilling fluid using electro-rheology.

During the drilling of a wellbore into a subterranean formation, a drilling fluid, also referred to as a drilling mud, may be continuously circulated from the well surface down to the bottom of the wellbore being drilled and back to the well surface again. The drilling fluid may include a mixture of water, oil, additives (e.g., viscosifiers, weighting materials, emulsifying surfactants, and the like), and combinations thereof, to impart certain properties to the drilling fluid to satisfy different drilling requirements.
The drilling fluid can serve several functions, one of them being to transport wellbore cuttings up to the surface where they are separated from the drilling fluid. Another function of the drilling fluid can include providing hydrostatic pressure against the wall of the drilled wellbore, thereby preventing wellbore collapse and the resulting influx of gas or liquid from the formations being penetrated. The density of the drilling fluid may be maintained, for example, to control the hydrostatic pressure that the drilling exerts at the bottom of the wellbore. It may be desired to monitor properties of the drilling fluid, for example, to determine whether the drilling fluid satisfies various drilling requirements. Such properties may include, but are not limited to, density, viscosity, gel strength, and solids content, among others. One property that may be monitored is the average specific gravity of solids in the drilling fluids. The average specific gravity is a property that may be used, for example, to evaluate shale shaker efficiency and to ensure fluid performance. However, ascertaining the average gravity solids typically requires drive measurement by on-site personnel, which can be time consuming and potentially susceptible to human error.

Analyzing average specific gravity of solids in drilling fluids


A liquid crystal display includes: a substrate; a thin film transistor on the substrate; a pixel electrode connected with a terminal of the thin film transistor; a microcavity on the pixel electrode, and including a plurality of regions corresponding a pixel area; a liquid crystal layer in the microcavity; a liquid crystal injection hole exposing the microcavity; a common electrode on the microcavity; a supporting member on the common electrode; and a capping layer on the supporting member and covering the liquid crystal injection hole. The pixel electrode is connected with the terminal of the thin film transistor through a contact hole, and the contact hole is within the pixel area.

(a) Field
The invention relates to a liquid crystal display and a manufacturing method thereof.
(b) Description of the Related Art
A liquid crystal display, which is one of a number of widely used flat panel displays, includes two sheets of display panels in which field generating electrodes, such as a pixel electrode, a common electrode, and the like, are disposed, and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the display panels.
Voltage is applied to the field generating electrodes to generate an electric field in the liquid crystal layer, which determines orientation of liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer and controls polarization of incident light to display an image.
A nano crystal display ("NCD") liquid crystal display is an apparatus that is manufactured by forming a sacrificial layer of organic materials, and the like, forming a supporting member thereon and then removing the sacrificial layer, and filling a liquid crystal in an empty space formed by removing the sacrificial layer.

Liquid crystal display and manufacturing method thereof


An integrated circuit radio frequency (RF) transmitter includes a phase locked loop having a multi-mode loop filter that is operable to provide wide band response with a fast settle time in a startup mode of operation and a relatively more narrow response with a longer settle time but with improved filtering in a steady state mode of operation according to one embodiment of the invention. The multi-mode loop filter includes, in one embodiment, selectable resistance circuitry for selecting between a plurality of resistance values based upon a two-state multi-mode control signal to provide the selected resistance values and selectable capacitance circuitry for selecting between a plurality of capacitance values based upon the two-state multi-mode control signal and for operatively coupling selected capacitors to selected resistors to provide the selected capacitance values. As a further aspect of the embodiment of the present invention, the multi-mode loop filter includes buffers for charging non-selected capacitors while not operationally coupled to the multi-mode loop filter to avoid additional settle time for the circuitry.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to wireless communications and, more particularly, radio front end circuitry for up-converting and down-converting transmission signals.
2. Related Art
Communication systems are known to support wireless and wire lined communications between wireless and/or wire lined communication devices. Such communication systems range from national and/or international cellular telephone systems to the Internet to point-to-point in-home wireless networks. Each type of communication system is constructed, and hence operates, in accordance with one or more communication standards. For instance, wireless communication systems may operate in accordance with one or more standards, including, but not limited to, IEEE 802.11, Bluetooth, advanced mobile phone services (AMPS), digital AMPS, global system for mobile communications (GSM), code division multiple access (CDMA), local multi-point distribution systems (LMDS), multi-channel-multi-point distribution systems (MMDS), and/or variations thereof.
Depending on the type of wireless communication system, a wireless communication device, such as a cellular telephone, two-way radio, personal digital assistant (PDA), personal computer (PC), laptop computer, home entertainment equipment, etc., communicates directly or indirectly with other wireless communication devices. For direct communications (also known as point-to-point communications), the participating wireless communication devices tune their receivers and transmitters to the same channel or channels (e.g., one of a plurality of radio frequency (RF) carriers of the wireless communication system) and communicate over that channel(s). For indirect wireless communications, each wireless communication device communicates directly with an associated base station (e.g., for cellular services) and/or an associated access point (e.g., for an in-home or in-building wireless network) via an assigned channel. To complete a communication connection between the wireless communication devices, the associated base stations and/or associated access points communicate with each other directly, via a system controller, via a public switch telephone network (PSTN), via the Internet, and/or via some other wide area network.
Each wireless communication device includes a built-in radio transceiver (i.e., receiver and transmitter) or is coupled to an associated radio transceiver (e.g., a station for in-home and/or in-building wireless communication networks, RF modem, etc.). As is known, the transmitter includes a data modulation stage, one or more intermediate frequency stages, and a power amplifier stage. The data modulation stage converts raw data into baseband signals in accordance with the particular wireless communication standard. The one or more intermediate frequency stages mix the baseband signals with one or more local oscillations to produce RF signals. The power amplifier stage amplifies the RF signals prior to transmission via an antenna.
Typically, the data modulation stage is implemented on a baseband processor chip, while the intermediate frequency (IF) stages and power amplifier stage are implemented on a separate radio processor chip. Historically, radio integrated circuits have been designed using bi-polar circuitry, allowing for large signal swings and linear transmitter component behavior. Therefore, many legacy baseband processors employ analog interfaces that communicate analog signals to and from the radio processor.
The demand for high performance universal frequency synthesizers is growing with the increasing performance and integration requirements of wireless communications systems such as cellular telephones and personal digital assistants (PDAs). The driving forces are lower cost, smaller form factors, and lower power consumption for consumer end products. Fractional-N phase locked loop (PLL) frequency synthesis is a popular indirect frequency synthesis method for high performance applications such as cellular telephony due to its agility and the ability of synthesizing frequencies over wide bandwidths with narrow channel spacing. For example, in GSM cellular telephony, one pair of RF bands, i.e., transmit (TX) and receive (RX) bands, consists of the frequencies 880.2 MHz-914.8 MHz and 925.3 Mhz-959.9 MHz, respectively. The four RF bands of GSM are also referred to as the GSM850, GSM900, DCS, and PCS bands, respectively. Typical architectures for such radios include a single oscillator that is divided to produce the specified output frequency that is required for an outgoing radio frequency transmission. The dividend, however, often is not a whole number and thus the term "Fractional-N" refers to a non-integer dividend that is used in a PLL to produce the desired output frequency. While Fractional-N PLLs are known, there is an ever increasing need for Fractional-N PLLs that are more efficient or are optimized for a particular application.

Loop filter with gear shift for improved fractional-N PLL settling time


A toy configured to operate in two modes of operation wherein projectiles are launched from different portions of the toy depending upon which mode of operation the toy is in, the toy having: a housing with a forward pistol grip portion and a rearward pistol grip portion, the rearward pistol grip portion being movably mounted to the housing for movement between a first position to a second position; a mode selector switch movably mounted to the housing for movement from a first position to a second position; wherein movement of the rearward pistol grip portion between the first position and the second position launches a projectile from one portion of the toy when the mode selector switch is in the first position; and wherein movement of the rearward pistol grip portion between the first position and the second position launches a projectile from another portion of the toy when the mode selector switch is in the second position.

Various embodiments of the present invention relate to a toy projectile launcher or dart launching mechanism and a method of operating the same.
Darts or toy projectiles have been used in toys to provide an enhanced play factor to the toys.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a toy projectile launcher that has various modes of operation.

Projectile launcher and method of operating the same


An apparatus and method for inspecting a structure are provided which include receiving probes and area transducers disposed proximate opposite surfaces of a structure under inspection. An area transducer uniformly emits ultrasonic signals over an area which may be scanned by a receiving probe without corresponding movement of the area transducer. An area transducer may be moved over the surface of the structure or repositioned to provide additional inspection area for the receiving probe to scan, including to provide for continuous inspection. Multiple area transducers may be used in sequence to provide for continuous inspection. Multiple receiving probes may be used, independently or collectively as an array, to increase inspection of a structure, taking advantage of the large area of ultrasonic signals emitted by one or more area transducers.

Non-destructive inspection (NDI) of structures involves thoroughly examining a structure without harming the structure or requiring significant disassembly of the structure. Non-destructive inspection is typically preferred to avoid the schedule, labor, and costs associated with removal of a part for inspection, as well as avoidance of the potential for damaging the structure. Non-destructive inspection is advantageous for many applications in which a thorough inspection of the exterior and/or interior of a structure is required. For example, non-destructive inspection is commonly used in the aircraft industry to inspect aircraft structures for any type of internal or external damage to or flaws in the structure. Inspection may be performed during manufacturing of a structure and/or once a structure is in-service. For example, inspection may be required to validate the integrity and fitness of a structure for continued use in manufacturing and future ongoing use in-service. However, access to interior surfaces is often more difficult or impossible without disassembly, such as removing a part for inspection from an aircraft.
Among the structures that are routinely non-destructively tested are composite structures, such as composite sandwich structures and other adhesive bonded panels and assemblies. In this regard, composite structures are commonly used throughout the aircraft industry because of the engineering qualities, design flexibility and low weight of composite structures, such as the stiffness-to-weight ratio of a composite sandwich structure. As such, it is frequently desirable to inspect composite structures to identify any flaws, such as cracks, voids or porosity, which could adversely affect the performance of the composite structure. For example, typical flaws in composite sandwich structures, generally made of one or more layers of lightweight honeycomb or foam core material with composite or metal skins bonded to each side of the core, include disbonds which occur at the interfaces between the core and the skin or between the core and a septum intermediate skin.
Various types of sensors may be used to perform non-destructive inspection. One or more sensors may move over the portion of the structure to be examined, and receive data regarding the structure. For example, a pulse-echo (PE), through- or thru-transmission (TT), or shear wave sensor may be used to obtain ultrasonic data, such as for thickness gauging, detection of laminar defects and porosity, and/or crack detection in the structure. Resonance, pulse echo or mechanical impedance sensors may be used to provide indications of voids or porosity, such as in adhesive bondlines of the structure. High resolution inspection of aircraft structure are commonly performed using semi-automated ultrasonic testing (UT) to provide a plan view image of the part or structure under inspection. While solid laminates may be inspected using one-sided pulse echo ultrasonic (PEU) testing, composite sandwich structures typically require through-transmission ultrasonic (TTU) testing for high resolution inspection. In through-transmission ultrasonic inspection, ultrasonic sensors such as transducers, or a transducer and a receiver sensor, are positioned facing the other but contacting opposite sides of the structure to be inspected such as opposite surfaces of a composite material. An ultrasonic signal is transmitted by at least one of the transducers, propagated through the structure, and received by the other transducer. Data acquired by sensors, such as TTU transducers, is typically processed by a processing element, and the processed data may be presented to a user via a display.
The non-destructive inspection may be performed manually by technicians who typically move an appropriate sensor over the structure. Manual scanning generally consists of a trained technician holding a sensor and moving the sensor along the structure to ensure the sensor is capable of testing all desired portions of the structure. In many situations, the technician must repeatedly move the sensor side-to-side in one direction while simultaneously indexing the sensor in another direction. For a technician standing beside a structure, the technician may repeatedly move the sensor right and left, and back again, while indexing the sensor between each pass. In addition, because the sensors typically do not associate location information with the acquired data, the same technician who is manually scanning the structure must also watch the sensor display while scanning the structure to determine where the defects, if any, are located in the structure. The quality of the inspection, therefore, depends in large part upon the technician's performance, not only regarding the motion of the sensor, but also the attentiveness of the technician in interpreting the displayed data. Thus, manual scanning of structures is time-consuming, labor-intensive, and prone to human error.
Semi-automated inspection systems have been developed to overcome some of the shortcomings with manual inspection techniques. For example, the Mobile Automated Scanner (MAUS®) system is a mobile scanning system that generally employs a fixed frame and one or more automated scanning heads typically adapted for ultrasonic inspection. A MAUS system, such as a MAUS-V system, may be used with pulse-echo, shear wave, and through-transmission sensors. The fixed frame may be attached to a surface of a structure to be inspected by vacuum suction cups, magnets, or like affixation methods. Smaller MAUS systems may be portable units manually moved over the surface of a structure by a technician. However, for through-transmission ultrasonic inspection, a semi-automated inspection system requires access to both sides or surfaces of a structure which, at least in some circumstances, will be problematic, if not impossible, particularly for semi-automated systems that use a fixed frame for control of automated scan heads.
Automated inspection systems have also been developed to overcome the myriad of shortcomings with manual inspection techniques. For example, the Automated Ultrasonic Scanning System (AUSS®) system is a complex mechanical scanning system that employs through-transmission ultrasonic inspection. The AUSS system can also perform pulse echo inspections, and simultaneous dual frequency inspections. The AUSS system has robotically controlled probe arms that must be positioned proximate the opposed surfaces of the structure undergoing inspection with one probe arm moving an ultrasonic transmitter along one surface of the structure, and the other probe arm correspondingly moving an ultrasonic receiver along the opposed surface of the structure. Conventional automated scanning systems, such as the AUSS-X system, therefore require access to both sides or surfaces of a structure which, at least in some circumstances, will be problematic, if not impossible, particularly for very large or small structures. In order to maintain the ultrasonic transmitter and receiver in proper alignment and spacing with one another and with the structure undergoing inspection, the AUSS-X system has a complex positioning system that provides motion control in ten axes. This requirement that the orientation and spacing of the ultrasonic transmitter and receiver be invariant with respect to one another and with respect to the structure undergoing inspection is especially difficult in conjunction with the inspection of curved structures.
Furthermore, manual, semi-automated, and automated scanning systems typically are limited in the size of a structure that can be inspected, generally limited to areas just a few meters square and typically limited to much smaller areas, although some larger, more complicated systems are available. Stiffness and weight limitations often restrict the distance a manual, semi-automated, or automated system may be able to extend inspection devices over a structure for inspection. Thus, large sandwich structures may not be capable of complete inspection.
In order to increase the rate or speed at which the inspection of a structure is conducted, the scanning system may include ultrasonic probes that have arrays of ultrasonic transmitters and receivers or may include arrays of ultrasonic probes each with one or more ultrasonic transmitter. As such, the inspection of the structure can proceed more rapidly and efficiently, thereby reducing the costs associated with the inspection. Unfortunately, the use of arrays of ultrasonic transmitters and receivers may be generally impractical during the scanning of structures which provide only limited access for inspection. Furthermore, coupling ultrasonic probes of an array may be complicated where the structure under inspection provides only limited access for inspection or may not be suited to being wetted, such as using water jets to provide water between the surface of the structure undergoing inspection and the ultrasonic transmitter or receiver in order to effectively couple ultrasonic signals into and out of the structure.
Accordingly, a need exists for an improved non-destructive inspection device and method to inspect a structure.

Apparatus and method for area limited-access through transmission ultrasonic inspection


A hanger assembly for attachment to heavy loads in material handling systems such as overhead conveyors where the hanger must be angularly aligned with the conveying element such as an attached cable. The hanger includes a base, a threaded stud for load attachment, and a hanger such as the eye in an eyebolt assembly, an example of a hanger assembly. A washer positioned around the threaded stud between the base and the load is hardened substantially less than the hanger itself enabling the hanger to be rotated up to 180 degrees after initial tightening without over torquing the threaded stud. The washer has a plurality of radial slots in one face that maintain the structural integrity of the washer under high rotational and compression loading.

Eyebolt assemblies and swivel shackle assemblies have been used for many years in conjunction with cables and a hoist to lift and move heavy objects about the workplace, such as dies, molds, heavy castings, etc. The swivel shackle assemblies typically include a "U" shaped shackle member that is pivotal on a swivel body that in turn is rotatable about an axis on a base that is perpendicular to the swivel axis of the shackle on the base. This enables the shackle to accommodate two axes pivotal movement which is necessary for the geometry of the hoist arrangement.
In a typical hoist arrangement, an overhead crane has a depending single cable that is tied to four (more or less) outwardly extending cables connected to the eyebolts or shackle assemblies. Each eyebolt or shackle assembly typically has a threaded fastener extending centrally there-through that bolts the shackle directly to the top surface of the die or mold.
The following patents are representative of the prior art relating to dual axis hoist fastener assemblies.
The Andrewe, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,297,293, issued Jan. 10, 1967; the Tsui, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,705,422, issued Nov. 10, 1987; and the Chandler, U.S. Pat. No. 5,352,056, issued Oct. 4, 1994, all show swivel shackle assemblies having a "U" shaped member or shackle that is pinned to a rotary swivel member by transverse pins that are separate from the "U" member itself. In this design, it is necessary to fix these shackle pins in the swivel body.
A second group of patents represented by the Wong, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,570,987, issued Feb. 18, 1996; the Tsui, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,641,986, issued Feb. 10, 1987; and the Tsui, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,405,210, issued Apr. 11, 1995, show hoist swivel shackle assemblies in which the ends of the "U" shaped shackle extend radially inwardly and form the pivotal bosses for the shackle on the swivel body member.
The Mueller, U.S. Pat. No. 3,492,033, discloses a clevis assembly with a locking ring 48 for locking the stud to the load.
The Brawand, U.S. Pat. No. 3,163,901, shows a cargo hook and chain device in which a line holder 14 is detachable from member 10 and adapted to hold one or more load cables 16. The line holder 14 has an arcuate slot that permits its removal from a swivel-type draft line terminal member 10.
The Blatt, U.S. Pat. No. 3,628,820, shows a side pull type swivel-type hoist ring assembly in which the hoist ring is generally perpendicular to the axis of the shoulder screw 28.
The Bateman, U.S. Pat. No. 1,321,356, shows an anchor shank and shackle in which the shackle itself is removable from the anchor shank 9.
The Jergens Manufacturing Co. makes a line of side pull style hoist rings identified as part numbers 47311 to 47319 that have extra-large diameter rings and generally U-shaped swivel members.
In addition to swivel shackle assemblies, eyebolt assemblies have been utilized in similar material handling applications. The eyebolt includes a threaded stud that is threaded into the load and the conveyor cable system usually includes a hook-type element that is connected to the eye of the eyebolt for lifting and conveying the load. Eyebolts have a significant advantage over swivel shackles because they are substantially lower in cost.
Because the eyebolt assemblies have no rotational movement as do swivel shackles, it is necessary that they be rotated so that the eye of the eyebolt assembly is in the same plane as the cable hook and cable. However, this has been found difficult to achieve because once the eyebolt is tightened to the maximum torque, further rotation, in an effort to place the plane of the eye in the same plane as the cable, causes over-torquing frequently resulting in failure of the threaded stud, which of course goes into tension as the eyebolt is torqued, usually done with a steel pipe through the eye. The other alternative to achieve angular orientation of the eye of the eyebolt is to torque the eyebolt to its maximum torque and then back off until the eye is rotated to the desired plane, but this results in the eyebolt becoming loose, which shortens eyebolt life span when utilized with a heavy load and overhead conveyor system and creates a hazard to workers and operators, so the present invention also reduces operator anxiety.
A further problem is that over-torquing to achieve the desired eyebolt angular orientation causes galling and deformation of the washer between the eyebolt and the face of the load.
It is a primary object of the present invention to ameliorate the problems noted above in load carrying hanger assemblies.

Olympic Sunsu Kijachon APT., 310 Dong 509 HO


A cylindrical member having a center bore is disposed in a vacuum vessel provided with a gas inlet port and a gas outlet port, and an auxiliary electrode is inserted into the center bore of the cylindrical member along the central axis thereof so as to extend to substantially an entire length of the center bore, thereby permitting the auxiliary electrode to be grounded or having a positive DC voltage applied to the auxiliary electrode. A gas containing carbon is supplied into the vacuum vessel through the gas inlet port after the vacuum vessel is evacuated and a voltage is applied to the cylindrical member to produce a plasma in the vacuum vessel including an inside of the center bore of the cylindrical member, thereby forming a hard carbon film over the inner surface of the cylindrical member by a plasma CVD process.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of forming a film over the inner surface of a cylindrical member having a center bore and, more particularly, to a method of forming a hard carbon film for enhancing the abrasion resistance of the inner surface of a cylindrical member (part), such as a bushing, a piston cylinder and a linear bearing.
2. Description of the Related Art
A hard carbon film is black and has properties similar to those of diamond. That is, the hard carbon film has advantageous properties including a high mechanical hardness, a small friction coefficient when contacting other materials, a high electrical insulation property, a large thermal conductivity and a high corrosion resistance. Accordingly, there have been proposals for coating various devices, including various ornaments, medical instruments, magnetic heads, tools and such with a hard carbon film.
A hard carbon film is a hydrogenated amorphous carbon film having properties very similar to those of diamond and hence a hard carbon film is often called a diamond like carbon film (DLC film) or an i-carbon film.
It is possible to remarkably enhance the abrasion resistance of the inner surface which is in slidable contact with other members by forming the hard carbon film over the inner surface of a cylindrical member having a center bore like various bushes such as a guide bush which is mounted on an automatic lathe to support a rod-shaped work-piece sidably and rotatably, a piston cylinder and a linear bearing.
Accordingly, the following steps are taken for forming the hard carbon film over the inner surface of the cylindrical member set forth above using a conventional chemical vapor deposition process.
That is, as shown in FIG. 14, a cylindrical member 11 having a center bore 11a is placed in a vacuum vessel 13 provided with a gas inlet port 15 and a gas outlet port 17.
The vacuum vessel 13 is evacuated through the gas outlet port 17 by an evacuating means, not shown. Then, a gas which contains carbon is supplied into the vacuum vessel 13 through the gas inlet port 15 and the pressure in the vacuum vessel 13 is adjusted to a set pressure.
Thereafter, a positive DC voltage is applied to an anode 31 placed within the vacuum vessel 13 from an anode power source 27, and an AC voltage is applied to a filament 33 by a filament power supply 29. Further, a negative DC voltage is applied to the cylindrical member 11 by a DC power source 25. Thus, a plasma is produced in the vacuum vessel 13 to deposit a hard carbon film on the entire surface including the inner surface 11b of the cylindrical member 11.
The hard carbon film forming process shown in FIG. 14 uses the plasma produced by the DC voltage applied to the cylindrical member 11 and the plasma produced by the filament 33 energized by the AC voltage and the anode 31 energized by the DC voltage. Either the plasma produced around the cylindrical member 11 or the plasma produced around the filament 33 and the anode 31 contributes mainly to hard carbon film formation depending on the pressure in the vacuum vessel 13 during hard carbon film formation.
For example, when the pressure in the vacuum vessel 13 is 3.times.10.sup.-3 torr or above, the plasma produced around the cylindrical member 11 mainly contributes to the decomposition of the gas containing carbon to form the hard carbon film.
Although a hard carbon film can be formed uniformly over the outer surface of the cylindrical member 11, a hard carbon film formed over the inner surface 11b defining the center bore 11a is poor in adhesion, and inferior in qualities such as hardness. This is because a set voltage is applied to the whole of the cylindrical member 11, and the center bore 11a defines a space in which electrodes of the same potential are disposed opposite to each other, and thus the plasma prevailing in the center bore 11a causes an abnormal discharge called hollow discharge. A hard carbon film formed by hollow discharge is a polymer like film inferior in adhesion and apt to come off the inner surface 11b of the cylindrical member 11, and it has a relatively low hardness.
On the other hand, when the pressure in the vacuum vessel 13 is below 3.times.10.sup.-3 torr, the plasma produced in the neighborhood of the filament 33 and the anode 31 rather than the plasma produced around the cylindrical member 11 contributes mainly to hard carbon film formation.
Although a hard carbon film can be uniformly formed over the outer surface of the cylindrical member 11, the hard carbon film cannot be formed in a uniform thickness with respect to a direction along the axis of the cylindrical member 11 over the inner surface lib defining the center bore 11a.
Carbon ions produced by the plasma produced around the filament 33 and the anode 31 are attracted to the surface of the cylindrical member 11 by the negative DC potential of the cylindrical member 11 to deposit the hard carbon film over the surface of the cylindrical member 11.
The hard carbon film is formed by a chemical vapor deposition process when the pressure in the vacuum vessel 13 is above 3.times.10.sup.-3 torr, and the hard carbon film is formed by a physical vapor deposition process when the pressure in the vacuum vessel 13 is below 3.times.10.sup.-3 torr. Therefore, the thickness of the hard carbon film formed over the inner surface 11b of the cylindrical member 11 decreases from the open end of the center bore 11a downwards to the depth thereof, which occurs when forming a film by a physical vapor-phase epitaxial growth process, such as a vacuum deposition process, when the plasma produced around the filament 33 and the anode 31 contributes mainly to hard carbon film formation. Consequently, the hard carbon film cannot be formed with a uniform thickness over the entire inner surface 11b of the cylindrical member 11.
A thickness distribution in a hard carbon film formed over the inner surface of a cylindrical member will be explained with reference to FIG. 15. In the graph of FIG. 15, distance from the open end of the cylindrical member is measured on the horizontal axis and thickness of film formed over the inner surface of the cylindrical member is measured on the vertical axes. In the graph of FIG. 15, curve a indicates the variation of the thickness of the hard carbon film formed over the inner surface of the cylindrical member by the method described with reference to FIG. 14.
As is obvious from curve a in FIG. 15, the thickness of a hard carbon film formed by the conventional method (in case of formation of an intermediate layer) decreases sharply from 1.0 .mu.m at the open end of the bore to 0.2 .mu.m at a position 30 mm inward from the open end.
Since the hard carbon film has such a sharply changing thickness, even if the hard carbon film is formed over the inner surface of a cylindrical member, it cannot fully exercise its advantageous characteristics including high abrasion resistance and high corrosion resistance.

Method of forming hard carbon film over inner surface of cylindrical member


An AWP boom is coupled to a platform rotator through a novel load sensing linkage system which provides both structural support and load sensing capabilities of an attached platform support structure. The load sensing linkage system includes an upper flex plate and a lower flex plate and a single load cell for load sensing capabilities. The flex plates provide for stiffness in all directions except where necessary for load sensing.

The present invention relates generally to aerial work platforms (AWPs) and more particularly to AWPs and methods of constructing and utilizing the same.
More particularly, the present invention relates to systems and methods for accurately determining the weight of loads in a bucket or basket of an AWP. Many prior art AWP often failed to fully meet some of the industry needs. Often, baskets of AWPs require substantial rigidity to provide optimal utility and safety. However, prior art AWP (including U.S. Pat. No. 6,439,341) often used a four-bar linkage mechanism to support the load, with a diagonal member between two of the pivots acting as the force measuring point.
One disadvantage of the four-bar linkage is that the pivot bearings introduce non-linear slop as well as stiction effects that create hysteresis in the load measurement.
Consequently, there is a need for improved AWPs which provide useful rigidity and the ability to provide for load weight determinations over a wide range of weights with a high degree of precision.

Flexible plate scale for platform load weighing


A scanner 1 reads image information at read resolution set by a resolution control section 3 and stores the image information in memory 2. An image separation section 11 separates the image information into a first image plane (picture part), a second image plane (text part color information), and a selection image plane (text part forms) for selecting either the first or second image plane. The resolution control section 3 sets optimum resolutions in first to third resolution conversion sections 12-14 in response to image quality, the original type, the system environment, the image plane characteristics, etc. The three image planes are converted into the resolutions set in the first to third resolution conversion sections 12-14. The image planes after undergoing the resolution conversion are compressed in first to third compression sections 15-17 and wrapped in one data format by an image format section 18.

This invention relates to an image transmitting system and an image transmitting method for transmitting image data with high quality over a network line such as a public line or a LAN (local area network) line and an image processing system and an image processing method suitably used for transmitting image data in such a manner and storing high-quality image data. Further, the present invention also relates to color facsimile machines, or to transmission/reception of images of the Internet.
Hitherto, image data has been transmitted and stored increasingly. For example, monochrome binary image data is MR, MMR coded, etc., then transmitted or stored with a machine typified by normal G3, G4 facsimile. Various means such as an orthogonal transformation coding transmission technique typified in the Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Publication No. Sho 63-308474, etc., for example, are also proposed for color images. In either case, basically, an input image is handled as one plane and is compressed, then transmitted or stored.
Processing responsive to the image structure of each part of an image, such as text or picture, is also performed. For example, to transmit binary data (monochrome facsimile image), simple binarization processing is performed for a text part and dither. binarization processing is performed for a picture part, then the resultant binary output is MR or MMR coded, then transmitted.
On the other hand, for color multivalued images typified by photos, the orthogonal transformation coding transmission technique is often used to compress image data. First, an input image is divided into blocks each of a predetermined size, then orthogonal transformation is performed for each block. Quantization processing is performed for the resultant orthogonal transformation output and the result is coded and compressed. However, the following problem is pointed out for the technique: If the technique is applied to text or a line drawing, degradation of mosquito noise, etc., is produced although the technique is effective for picture portions such as photos.
For example, the Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Publication No. Hei 4-354263 discloses a technique, assuming that a text or line drawing part is represented in binary form, for recognizing a binary part (text or line drawing part) and a multivalued part (picture or photo part) contained in an image and MMR coding the binary part and orthogonal transformation coding the multivalued part, then transmitting the result. The receiving party decodes and decompresses the coded and compressed data separately and recombines the decoded and decompressed data. The basic idea is similar to a technique for separating an image into a binary image plane of text and a multivalued image plane of picture or photo according to attribute and handling the planes; a compression technique fitted to text is used for the text image plane and a compression technique fitted to a picture or photo is used for the picture or photo image plane, whereby the compression rate is improved and image degradation is made inconspicuous.
However, with recent image data, text and line drawings have also been represented in multivalued form or color rather than in binary form increasingly. If an image with a mixture of text, a line drawing, and a picture represented in multivalued form or color is attempted to be transmitted using the conventional technique as described above, binary image coding, such as MMR, cannot be applied to text or line drawings, thus text and line drawings cannot be handled as binary parts. As one method to solve the problem, text and line drawings represented in multivalued form are binarized, whereby the conventional technique can be used. However, the quality of text and line drawings is degraded or discoloration occurs.
By the way, text and line drawings tend to become higher image quality as they are of higher resolution. Therefore, it is desirable to transmit or store text or a line drawing at high resolution as much as possible. However, if the resolution is raised haphazardly, the data amount increases and the transmission load also grows. Since text or a line drawing represented in multivalued form or color also has gradation information, the data amount grows more than that of binary data. If a large-capacity line carrying a load is used, no problem arises. However, if a small-capacity line such as a public line is used to transmit a multivalued or color image, it takes too long to transmit the image.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an image processing system and an image processing method capable of transmitting or storing image data in the optimum data amount with high image quality and an image transmitting system and an image transmitting method for transmitting image data in such a manner.
In the invention, input image information is converted into the multilayer data format consisting of a first piece of image data, a second piece of image data, and selection data for selecting either the first piece of image data or the second piece of image data. For example, a picture part such as a photo in the input image information can be made the first piece of image data, color information in a text or line drawing part can be made the second piece of image data, and form information in the text or line drawing part can be made the selection data. The selection data, which is used only for selecting either the first piece of image data or the second piece of image data can be handled as binary data and can be compressed at a high compression rate with image quality maintained at high resolution.
To reduce the transmitted or stored data amount, a method of converting high-resolution image data into low-resolution image data and furthermore compressing the data is possible in addition to changing of the compression method in response to the attribute as described above. Particularly, the second piece of image data need not be high resolution and can be converted into low resolution and compressed because the text or line drawing form information is separated.
Thus, in the invention, the input image information is separated into the first piece of image data, the second piece of image data, and the selection data and resolution conversion processing and data compression can be executed in response to the first piece of image data, the second piece of image data, and the selection data, whereby high-quality image data can be transmitted or stored in a small data amount.
To thus execute resolution conversion, it is necessary to balance the data amount and image quality. If it is not considered, transmission time is taken too much or the storage area is occupied unnecessarily because the transmission data amount is too large. In contrast, the transmission time is short and no storage area is required, but satisfactory image quality is not provided in some cases. Thus, in the invention, the resolutions of the first piece of image data, the second piece of image data, and the selection data are preset properly in response to the image characteristics, system characteristics, system limitation, transmission amount limitation, etc., whereby the image data can be transmitted or stored with the optimum image quality in the appropriate data amount.
Setup-resolution image data is provided by scanning an original image through the input means in accordance with the setup resolution of the selection data, for example, when image information is input, or can also be provided by performing resolution conversion processing. For example, resolution can be set in response to user""s specification of the image quality or the image type. For example, if high picture quality is specified or the image type is specified as text, the selection data having text form information is set to high resolution, whereby text or a line drawing can be transmitted or stored with high image quality. If the user specifies the image type as picture such as photo, the first piece of image data having picture information is set to high resolution, whereby a picture can be transmitted or stored with high image quality.
Resolution can also be set considering the reception capability of a receiving system for receiving image information in the multilayer data format. For example, resolution can be determined based on the highest resolution at which the receiving system can receive image information; waste of the transmission time by transmitting image information at high resolution that cannot be handled at the receiving party can be avoided. The resolution of the selection data can be set to 1/ns the highest resolution at which the receiving system can receive image information where ns is a natural number, and the resolutions of the first piece of image data and the second piece of image data can be set to 1/n1 and 1/n2 the resolution of the selection data where n1 and n2 are each a natural number, whereby resolution conversion processing can be simplified and reconstructing the image in the receiving system is facilitated.
Further, resolution can also be set in response to the data amount. For example, if the compressed data amounts of the first piece of image data and the second piece of image data compressed are greater than predetermined amounts or the sum of the compressed data amounts is greater than a predetermined amount, the data is converted into lower resolution, the data amount is reduced, and the data can be again compressed, whereby the image information can be transmitted or stored in any desired data amount range.

Image processing system, image processing method, image transmitting system, and image transmitting method


Release coating compositions comprising:. a) a starch ester release agent having an ester component of 2 to 8 carbon atoms and a degree of substitution (DS) of from 1.0 to 2.2; PA1 b) a hydrophobic plasticizer; and PA1 c) water.

This invention relates to release coatings made from selected modified starch esters and more particularly starch esters having an ester component of 2 to 8 carbon atoms and an intermediate DS of from 1.0 to 2.2.
Release coatings generally comprise compositions and/or agents that control or eliminate the adhesion between two surfaces. These coatings typically have good release characteristics, which is the capacity of permitting an adhesive material sticking to a surface to peel off easily (i.e., it must provide low interfacial tension with the adhesive mass to which it is in contact). However, good release properties are not the only characteristic desired in such materials. Other characteristics needed in release coatings include good cohesive strength, good adhesion with the backing member substrate and no contamination or component migration into the adhesive layer.
Silicone materials such as organosiloxanes are well known for their use as release agents and coatings. U.S. Pat. No. 4,983,701 issued Jan. 8, 1991, U.S. Pat. No. 5,356,706 issued Oct. 18, 1994 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,376,420 issued Dec. 27, 1994 all disclose the use of silicone materials as release agents in different applications. Other types of release agents which have been used include synthetic polymers such as polyolefins and fluorocarbons, long chain alkyl derivatives such as fatty ester synthetic waxes and fatty acids and waxes such as petroleum, vegetable and animal waxes.
While the materials exemplified above and particularly the silicone materials have been shown to have suitable release characteristics for various applications, they are not useful when repulpable, recyclable paper products are desired.

National Starch and Chemical Investment Holding Corporation


A multiplexing apparatus comprising at least one band pass filter, a receiver filter, and a transmitter filter is disclosed. The receiver filter, the transmitter filter and each band pass filter are communicatively coupled to a cable so that the receiver filter is configured to pass signals in a first spectral region from the cable to a first-band base transceiver station, the transmitter filter is configured to pass signals in the first spectral region from the first-band base transceiver station to the cable, and each band pass filter is configured to filter and bi-directionally pass signals in a second spectral region between the cable and at least one other base transceiver station.

It is desirable for telecom carriers to minimize the number of radio frequency cables used to communicatively couple base stations to the antennae located atop a cell tower. The radio frequency cables, which typically extend from the bottom to the top of the cell tower, are expensive, costly to install, and increase wind-loading on a tower. As the number of radio frequency cables in a cell tower increases, the cost of installing and maintaining cell tower increases.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a prior art embodiment of a multiplexer 29. As shown in FIG. 2, the current technology to reduce the number of radio frequency cables to one cable 155 used to communicatively couple base stations 28(1-N) to the antennae (not shown) located atop a cell tower (not shown) comprises band pass filters 111(1-N).

Multiplexing apparatus in a transceiver system


A multi-beam photoelectric sensor is disclosed which can be fabricated by selecting the length of a light projection/light-receiving columnar member and the number and pitches of optical axes in accordance with the width of a hazardous area of an object or the diameter of the minimum object to be detected. A projector string or a photo-detector string includes an optical module string having an alignment of a plurality of optical modules with an optical system for one optical axis, a light projection circuit for one optical axis and a plurality of flip-flops corresponding to one stage of a shift register, integrated with each other, and a flat cable. The flip-flops in the adjacent optical modules are connected in cascade by the adjacent module conduction wires thereby to make up a shift register. The optical modules making the optical module string are sequentially activated by the data sequentially sent by the shift register.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a multi-beam photoelectric sensor used for monitoring a person intruding into a hazardous area, or in particular to a multi-beam photoelectric sensor in which the length of the light projection and receiving columnar members, the number and the pitches of the optical axes can be changed in versatile fashion in accordance with the width of the hazardous area to be monitored or the minimum diameter of an object detected.
2. Description of the Related Art
The multi-beam photoelectric sensor of this type, as well known, comprises at least a light projection columnar member having a columnar case for accommodating a light projection string and at least a light-receiving columnar member having a columnar case for accommodating a photo-detector string, wherein the light projection and light-receiving columnar members are arranged with the light projection and light-receiving surfaces thereof in appropriately spaced and opposed relation to each other thereby to form an object-detecting light curtain between the light projection and light-receiving columnar members.
In the prior art, the light projector string and the photo-detector string accommodated in the columnar case is generally configured of a combination of the multi-beam optical modules having a unit number of optical axes (say, 4, 8 or 16 optical axes). In this multi-beam optical module, as many optical elements as the unit number of the optical axes (the light-emitting elements and the light projection lenses for the light projector, and the light-receiving elements and the light-receiving lenses for the photo-detector) are held integrally by a resin holder having a fixed pitch of optical axes.
In this conventional multi-beam photoelectric sensor, however, the length of the light projection and light-receiving columnar members and the number and the pitches of the optical axes are determined by a combination of the multi-beam optical modules having the fixed number and the fixed pitches of optical axes. It is therefore not easy to change the length of the light projection/light-receiving columnar member or the number and the pitches of optical axes in versatile way in accordance with the width of the hazardous area or the minimum diameter of the object to be detected.
In view of this, the present applicant has earlier proposed a novel multi-beam photoelectric sensor in which the light projector string and the photo-detector string accommodated in the columnar case are configured of a mass of single-beam optical modules (see Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-124170).
This novel multi-beam photoelectric sensor, in which the light projector string and the photo-detector string accommodated in the columnar case are configured of a mass of single-beam optical modules, can be fabricated by selecting the length of the light projection/light-receiving columnar member for each unit of optical axis. Thus, a light curtain most suitable for the width of a hazardous area to be monitored can be advantageously generated.
In the aforementioned multi-beam photoelectric sensor proposed earlier by the present applicant, the optical parts making up the projection optical system or the light-receiving optical system are accommodated in each module, and as compared with the other conventional light curtains, a light curtain having the number of optical axes most suitable for the width of the hazardous area to be monitored can be easily generated. With regard to the electrical parts such as the light projection circuit and the light-receiving circuit corresponding to each module, however, the circuit boards corresponding to a plurality of different optical modules are prepared and combined to meet the requirement of an arbitrary number of optical modules. Thus, it is necessary to hold a plurality of types of circuit boards in stock. As far as the circuit boards are concerned, therefore, the number of the parts of the circuit board in stock cannot be reduced to less than a predetermined amount.

Area monitoring multi-beam photoelectric sensor


An expanding gate valve assembly includes a segment and a gate Inner faces of the segment and gate are configured for slidable contact and angled faces of the segment and gate are configured for slidable contact to form a first gate assembly interface. The first gate assembly interface can further include a tab on the gate configured to contact a base surface of the segment to form a second gate assembly interface. A spring can be coupled between the gate and the segment to maintain at least the first gate assembly interface. The tab can be disposed below the segment to provide a lifting engagement with the base surface of the segment. The first gate assembly interface can be ledge-free.

Hydrocarbon production and refining includes many high temperature and high pressure pipeline fluids that are conveyed in assorted conduits. The direction and flow of these fluids is at least partially controlled by valves and valve assemblies. These assemblies require periodic maintenance or replacement of certain components during operation of a conduit. Maintenance and replacement inherently includes a risk of personnel exposure to pipeline fluids. Valves having a stem, such as slab valves and expanding valves, may leak, spray, or otherwise expose service personnel to the pipeline fluids. Additionally, material suspended in pipeline fluids or the fluids themselves may interfere with the operation of a valve and the maintenance thereof.


An apparatus and method wherein conductive patterns are written in amorphous silicon or polysilicon deposited on an integrated circuit and used for interconnecting circuit elements contained therein. The substantially pure amorphous silicon or polysilicon is deposited onto an integrated circuit face at low temperature. A Focused Ion Beam deposition system deposits dopant atoms into the deposited pure silicon in a desired pattern. The dopant atoms are then activated by heat from a focused laser beam which adiabatically anneals the specifically doped areas of the deposited silicon. The resulting annealed doped areas of the silicon have low resistance suitable for circuit conductors. The surrounding undoped silicon remains a high resistance and a good insulator.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to digital integrated circuit fabrication, and in particular, to an apparatus and method wherein conductive patterns are written in amorphous silicon or polysilicon and used for interconnecting circuit elements of the integrated circuit.
2. Description of the Related Technology
Integrated circuits have revolutionized the field of electronics by making possible a level of technological sophistication unknown in the days of vacuum tubes and even discrete transistors. An integrated circuit may comprise, on a small silicon chip, many thousand or even a million or more transistors, including associated diodes, resistors and capacitors, interconnected together to form complex electronic functions. These interconnections may be made by metal deposited in patterns during one or more manufacturing process steps during the fabrication of the integrated circuit chip.
The metal patterns normally are fabricated using masks that determine the shape and size of the metal pattern. When these masks are defective, the resulting metal pattern may also be defective. Sometimes, however, it is possible to interrupt the normal manufacturing process to add or delete conductive paths when the metal pattern is found to be missing or deposited improperly. A defective integrated circuit chip may be reworked by removing protective layers to expose the defective metal areas. Removal of unwanted metal may be done by etching or other means well known in the art. New metal patterns may then be deposited to replace missing metal interconnections.
Thin metal lines may be deposited utilizing an integrated circuit fabrication technology called Focused Ion Beam or FIB deposition. The FIB deposition system may be used to deposit thin metal lines to form a metal pattern in the exposed rework area of the integrated circuit chip needing repair. The FIB deposition system, however, may take tens of hours to deposit a single small metal line because the deposition time is determined by the FIB column fluence. The FIB fluence is the number of atoms of metal that can flow down the ion beam column during a given time. Therefore, repair of defective integrated circuit chip metal connection patterns is extremely time consuming and expensive. What is needed is a way of repairing or replacing defective conductive metal patterns on an integrated circuit chip in a rapid and cost effective manner.

Circuit device interconnection by direct writing of patterns therein


The invention relates to a device for detecting an amount while receiving and/or discharging a fluid having a gas portion comprising a measurement line for conducting the fluid, a flow measuring unit for the fluid, which is in fluid connection with the measurement line, a degree of filling measuring unit for the fluid, which is in fluid connection with the measurement line and which comprises an electrode arrangement for determining electrical properties of the fluid present in the measurement line, and an evaluation unit for determining the fluid amount conveyed which is in a signal connection with the degree of filling measuring unit and the flow measuring unit. According to the invention it is provided that the electrode arrangement of the degree of filling measuring unit has a plurality of electrode plates which form a plate stack in the region of the measurement line.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a device for detecting a quantity while receiving and/or discharging a fluid having a gas portion, in particular milk or fuel, having a measurement line for conducting the fluid, a flow measuring unit for the fluid, which is in fluid connection with the measurement line, a degree of filling measuring unit for the fluid, which is in fluid connection with the measurement line and which comprises an electrode arrangement for determining electrical properties of the fluid present in the measurement line, and an evaluation unit for determining the fluid amount conveyed through the measurement line and which is in a signal connection with the degree of filling measuring unit and the flow measuring unit. Such a device is designed with a measurement line for conducting through the fluid, a flow measuring unit for the fluid, which is in fluid connection with the measurement line, a degree of filling measuring unit for the fluid, which is in fluid connection with the measurement line and comprises an electrode arrangement for determining electrical properties of the fluid present in the measurement line, and an evaluation unit for determining the amount of fluid conveyed through the measurement line, which evaluation unit is in a signal connection with the degree of filling measuring unit and the flow measuring unit.
The invention further relates to a method for detecting the quantity of a fluid with a gas portion, for example milk or fuel, flowing in a measurement line, in which a degree of filling measurement is carried out in the measurement line by means of a degree of filling measuring unit, a flow measurement is carried out in the measurement line by means of a flow measuring unit, and the amount of fluid conveyed is calculated from the results of the flow measurement and those of the degree of filling measurement. It is provided in the method that a degree of filling measurement is carried out in the measurement line by means of a degree of filling measuring unit, a flow measurement is carried out in the measurement line by means of a flow measuring unit and the amount of fluid conveyed is calculated from the results of the flow measurement and those of the degree of filling measurement.
2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR §§1.97 and 1.98
A generic device and a generic method are known for example from DE 10 2005 005 295 A1. This printed publication teaches the implementation of a flow measurement on the measurement and conveying line through which the fluid is conducted in order to detect the amount conveyed. In order to be able to provide exact measurement results even if there are gas pockets in the fluid, a degree of filling measurement is additionally carried out on the measurement line, that is to say the fluid content is determined in the line cross-section, whereby this content results from the overall cross-section less the gas content. The resulting measurement results are used to compensate the results of the flow measurement. A capacitance measurement or a conductibility measurement can be provided according to DE 10 2005 005 295 A1 in order to measure the degree of filling.
DE 101 56 450 A1 discloses a method and a device for determining a mass flow of milk flowing during a milking process. It is described in this printed publication that a capacitance or a characteristic value proportional thereto is determined in the measurement volume, the capacitance is compared with previously known capacitances, the speed of the milk flow is determined and a milk flow is determined from the aforementioned data.
DE 195 40 884 C2 and EP 0 855 576 A1 disclose methods and installations for measuring the volume of flowing fluids, thereby avoiding measurement errors caused by inadmissibly high gas portions. In accordance with the teaching of these printed publications, a degassing container is provided in the line system upstream of a volume meter, in which degassing container gas portions are to be separated, so that they do not influence the volume measurement. Furthermore an optical gas bubble sensor is provided. If the value measured by the gas bubble sensor exceeds an admissible value, from which a reliable gas separation may no longer be possible, a corresponding control is carried out, for example by adjusting valves, in order to modify the fluid flow until the admissible value is reached again or the actual value falls short of this admissible value. Particularly by reason of the required gas separator, however, such installations can be comparatively expensive and have a comparatively high weight and a high space requirement.
A further measuring unit for a fluid flow is known from DE 691 21 181 T2. It is provided herein that the homogeneity of the liquid is measured and for the purpose of degassing a valve is closed in the flow system if the inhomogeneity caused by the gas content exceeds a threshold value.
A further measurement method for fluids is known from DE 197 33 715 C1, in which the discharged amount is measured by means of a volume meter and the discharge is interrupted if the gas portion exceeds a certain value.
Insofar as, as known in particular from DE 10 2005 005 295 A1, gas portions are not separated and are instead tolerated in the flow measurement, detected in the measurement and used to determine the amount conveyed, undesirable interruptions in the product flow in case of gas loads can generally be avoided and a gas separator is not necessary. In comparison with measuring units with gas separators, a considerable simplification in the construction and a dramatic weight reduction are hereby achieved. Furthermore, a particularly rapid discharge is possible and also the removal of the remains from the installation is considerably simplified, as no high volume gas separator needs to be emptied. However, in particular the calibration regulations place high requirements upon the precision of the degree of filling measurement, as the results of this measurement are incorporated directly into the measurement result for the amount conveyed.

Device and method for detecting a volume while receiving and/or discharging a fluid having a gas portion