The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a battery electrode. This method comprises the steps of applying a binder solution 50 that contains a binder 54 and is adjusted so that the contact angle of the binder solution 50 with the surface of a current collector 10 is 73° or less, to form a binder solution layer 56; applying a mixed material paste 40 containing an active material 22 on top of the binder solution layer 56, to deposit both the binder solution layer 56 and a mixed material paste layer 46 on the current collector 10; and obtaining an electrode 30 in which a mixed material layer 20 is formed on the current collector 10, by drying the deposited binder solution layer 56 and mixed material paste layer 46 together.

Lithium-ion batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, and other secondary batteries have become more important recently as a vehicle-mounted electrical power source, as well as a power source for personal computers and portable devices. In particular, it is expected that lithium secondary batteries, which offer both light weight and high energy density, can be preferably used as a high output electrical power source for vehicles. One typical configuration for such a secondary battery provides an electrode with a configuration in which a material capable of reversibly absorbing and desorbing lithium ions (electrode active material) is retained on a conductive material (electrode current collector). A typical example of an electrode active material used in a negative electrode (negative electrode active material) is a carbon material such as graphite carbon or amorphous carbon. Moreover, a typical example of an electrode current collector used in a negative electrode (negative current collector) is a sheet-shaped or foil-shaped material containing mainly copper or a copper alloy.
When manufacturing a negative electrode having such a configuration, a typical method for retaining the negative electrode active material on the negative current collector involves dispersing a powder of the negative electrode active material and a binder in a suitable dispersant to prepare a mixed material paste, forming a layer containing the negative electrode active material (negative electrode mixed material layer) by applying the paste to the negative current collector (copper foil, etc.), and then drying the same by passing it through a hot air dryer. In this case, the binder in the negative electrode mixed material layer performs the role of binding the particles of negative electrode active material together and binding the negative electrode mixed material layer to the negative current collector. Furthermore, the binder in the negative electrode mixed material layer acts to bind the negative electrode mixed material layer to the negative current collector. Patent Documents 1 to 5 can be noted as technical documents relating to the manufacture of this type of electrode.

Method for manufacturing battery electrode including depositing a liquid phase bilayer


A network can be organized for providing virtual private LAN segment (VPLS) services to customers into a network core and an associated number of logical provider edges. Each logical provider edge is partitioned into a plurality of Edge-PEs and a Core-PE. Customers connect to the Edge-PE. The Edge-PE maintains a context (a virtual bridge) for each customer VPLS it serves, VPLS service is realized by a full mesh of so called virtual circuit (VC) tunnels between virtual bridge ports. Each VC tunnel is identified by 3 VC labels in each direction, the first label is used in the encapsulation of customer traffic from the ingress Edge-PE to the ingress Core-PE, the second from ingress Core-PE to egress Core-PE and the third from egress Core-PE to Egress Edge-PE. The mechanisms for the allocation of the label values to and how the label values are used provide a realization of VPLS service that is scalable and easy to administer.

Ethernet has emerged as the standard of choice for local area networks (LAN). With speeds of 10 Mbps, 100 Mbps, 1 Gbps and soon 10 Gbps, Ethernet capacity has grown to meet the need for increased network capacities. Consequently, there is considerable interest by operators of metropolitan and backbone networks in offering Ethernet based virtual private network services to enterprises to extend their local area Ethernets over the wide area.
A Virtual Private LAN Segment (VPLS) is a type of virtual private network in which the packets steered to a destination between VPN sites are Ethernet packets. VPLS service is also known as transparent LAN service (TLS).
At the same time operators of public data networks can gain capital and operating benefits by consolidating all of the services they offer onto one type of network core. Increasingly that core network is planned to be an MPLS network. To offer a VPLS service to multiple customers involves transporting the customers' Ethernet packets over an MPLS core network.
Despite the inherent elegance of this conceptual network, actual implementation of such networks must devise physical and/or logical arrangements to insure optimal performance, scalability, and operability. One approach to the scaling challenges is to distribute the VPLS service mechanisms over two sorts of platform such as is proposed in the Logical Provider Edge. Herein these two platforms are called the Edge-PE and the Core-PE.
One such distributed functionality approach is Kompella's DTLS solution proposed in an Internet draft. However this solution requires a network wide numbering of VPN sites. This proposal therefore has an administrative burden of having to insure a unique VPN site ID for each instance of each VPN. This may require network administrators to put a limit on the number of sites that can participate in the VPN.
Scaling is another issue associated with Kompella's proposal. In DTLS only one MPLS label space can be used for identifying the tunnels between all Edge-PE of each VPLS.
Another distributed functionality approach for VPLS service realization is a proposal known as Hierarchical VPLS. It has the shortcoming of a requirement for the Core-PE to learn all of the customer MAC addresses of all of the VPN that its subtending Edge-PE server. In large-scale deployments, this may prove to be too many MAC addresses for a Core-PE to learn.

Label control method and apparatus for virtual private LAN segment networks


A method for writing to multiple recording devices where at least two of the multiple recording devices are configured to respond dissimilarly to a command associated with the writing is provided. The method initiates with establishing a plurality of independent write threads configured to read data from a circular buffer composed of an initial amount of buffer elements. Then, each one of the plurality of independent write threads are associated with one of the multiple recording devices. Next, detection of when a write thread associated with a fastest one of the multiple recording devices is reading a last available buffer element occurs. In response to this detection the method includes adding at least one additional buffer element to the circular buffer. A computer readable medium and a system configured to write to multiple recording devices simultaneously are also provided.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to methods and apparatus for recording data. More particularly, the invention relates to a method and apparatus for enabling the simultaneous writing of data to multiple devices through corresponding write threads, where the write threads are independent of each other in order to accommodate the varying characteristics of the multiple devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
Traditionally, users have been limited in the ability to write data stored on a local drive of a computing device to another recording device. For example, if a user wants to burn multiple compact discs (CDs), then the user must burn one disc at a time in the recording device. As one can imagine, this process discourages users from even attempting to create a large number of CDs. A further complicating factor is that when multiple recording devices are installed, the recording devices may have different characteristics, e.g., be different brands, or even use different interface technologies, such as, integrated drive electronics (IDE), small computer system interface (SCSI), universal serial bus (USB), etc. It should be appreciated that it is not a viable alternative to have all of the same types of recording devices due to the reason that over time certain device types are discontinued or replaced. For example, where a user wants to add a device to a pre-existing computer having an integrated recorder, the user will typically base their purchase decision on the cost and availability rather than the brand. Thus, the different characteristics, as well as the different interface technologies have thus far been an insurmountable obstacle in establishing the widespread acceptance of the recording of multiple CD's simultaneously.
Yet another shortcoming when copying data to an optical storage medium occurs when the software is not able to provide data as fast as the recording device can write the data. This situation may cause a buffer under-run and result in the laser of the recording device to shut off. In some cases, a drive may accommodate the turning on and off of the laser, however, the disc produced by this process may be non-standard due to the stopping and starting of the laser during the recording process.
As a result, there is a need to solve the problems of the prior art to provide for a method for recording multiple CD's simultaneously, irrespective of the type of recording device or interface and to perform the recording in a manner that substantially eliminates buffer under-run conditions.

Dynamic memory allocation for multiple targets


A new and distinct cultivar of Phlox plant named ‘USPHL304’, characterized by its upright and outwardly spreading plant habit; vigorous growth habit; attractive lavender-colored flowers with a white and purple-colored star pattern at the center; freely and continuous flowering habit; and good garden performance.

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phlox plant, botanically known as Phlox hybrida, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name USPHL304.
The new Phlox is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Hikone Shiga, Japan. The objective of the breeding program was to create new pot-type Phlox cultivars with numerous attractive flowers.
The new Phlox originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor on Mar. 29, 2001 in Hikone Shiga, Japan of two unidentified selections of Phlox hybrida, not patented. The new Phlox was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Bonsall, Calif., on May 24, 2002.
Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings at Bonsall, Calif. since May 24, 2002, has shown that the unique features of this new Phlox are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.


Techniques are described herein that are capable of using security event correlation to describe an authentication process. Multiple events may describe a common (i.e., same) attempt to authenticate the user. For instance, a first event may include a first description of the attempt, a second event may include a second description of the attempt, and a third event may include a third description of the attempt. The first, second, and third events may be correlated based at least in part on the first, second, and third descriptions. The first, second, and third events may be aggregated to provide an aggregated event that includes an aggregation of the first, second, and third descriptions. An authentication report may be generated to include the aggregation of the first, second, and third descriptions to describe the authentication process.

Cloud-based security solutions often are used by organizations to identify, detect, and investigate advanced threats, compromised identities, and malicious insider actions directed at the organizations. Examples of a cloud-based security solution include but are not limited to Azure® Active Directory® (AD) and Azure® Advanced Threat Protection™ (ATP), which are developed and distributed by Microsoft Corporation, and Preempt Platform™ and Preempt Lite™, which are developed and distributed by Preempt, Inc. One type of operation that may be performed by a cloud-based security solution is authentication of users. For instance, when a user attempts to access a resource in a cloud-based system, the cloud-based solution may attempt to authenticate the user. For example, the cloud-based system may compare credentials that are received from the user to stored credentials to determine whether the received credentials match the stored credentials. If the received credentials match the stored credentials, the authentication of the user is said to have succeeded. If the received credentials do not match the stored credentials, the authentication of the user is said to have failed. If the authentication succeeded, the user may be given access to the resource, so long as the user is authorized to access the resource. If the authentication failed, the user may not be given access to the resource, even if the user is authorized to do so.

Using security event correlation to describe an authentication process


A twin sheet thermoformed pallet upper deck has a reinforcing metal substrate and downwardly protruding detents which engage with a hoisting cable or strap. Notches are formed on the sides of the top deck and restrict the escape of the cable when the pallet is elevated. A twin sheet thermoformed, metal substrate reinforced, lower deck is bolted to the upper deck through injection molded plastic legs which have upper and lower protrusions which fit within semi-circular pockets located on the upper and lower decks. Fasteners extend through metal gusset plates welded to the upper and lower deck substrates to form a rigid and strong pallet.

Pallets are movable support structures which are commonly used when it is desired to transport or store raw materials or manufactured products in an assembly which is compact and conveniently accessible by transportation equipment such as lift trucks, hand trucks, and cranes. Palletized loads may make their way from the original manufacturer or shipper to the end user with a minimum of shifting of the shipped objects required.
Loads which are shipped by cargo freighter or container ship are conventionally brought into the ship's hold by a crane utilizing two or more flexible lifting cables. Pallets for use with a lifting cable crane must provide access for the cables beneath the pallet support surface as well as providing entry for the tines of a forklift in ground transportation.
Conventional wooden pallets may provide sufficient strength for such applications, but are subject to splintering, rusting of fasteners and, especially in humid environments, rot. Furthermore, wooden pallets have a limited life span and are difficult to recycle.
What is needed is a durable, convenient, and long-lived pallet for use in connection with a lifting cable crane which may be employed in humid and saltwater environments.


A switch comprises a housing which receives a temperature-dependent switching mechanism and has a lower part on whose inner base a first countercontact for the switching mechanism is arranged. Also provided is a cover part, closing off the lower part, on whose inner side a second countercontact for the switching mechanism is provided. The switching mechanism creates, as a function of its temperature, an electrically conductive connection between the two countercontacts, to which contact can be made from outside. The lower part is made of insulating material, and contact can be made from outside with the first countercontact through a wall of the lower part. The cover part is made of electrically conductive material and simultaneously acts as the second countercontact, the cover part being held on an upper rim of the lower part.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a switch having a housing which receives a temperature-dependent switching mechanism and has a lower part on whose inner base a first countercontact for the switching mechanism is arranged, as well as a cover part, closing off the lower part, on whose inner side a second countercontact for the switching mechanism is provided, the switching mechanism creating, as a function of its temperature, an electrically conductive connection between the two counter-contacts, to which contact can be made from outside.
2. Related Prior Art
A switch of this kind is known from DE 37 10 672 A1.
In the case of the known switch, the housing has a lower part made of electrically conductive material as well as a cover part, closing off the lower part, that is made of insulating material. The switching mechanism, which comprises a spring disk that carries a movable contact element, is arranged in this housing. The spring disk operates against a bimetallic snap disk that is slipped over the movable contact element. Below the switching temperature the spring disk, which is braced against the base of the lower part, presses the movable contact element against a countercontact that is provided on the inside of the cover and extends outward, in the manner of a rivet, through the cover. The base of the lower part serves as further countercontact for the switching mechanism.
Since the spring disk itself is made of electrically conductive material, below the response temperature of the switching mechanism it provides a low-resistance electrically conductive connection between the countercontact on the cover part and the countercontact on the lower part, contact being made from outside to the lower part. If the temperature of the switching mechanism is then increased, the bimetallic snap disk suddenly snaps over and pushes the movable contact element, against the force of the spring disk, away from the countercontact on the cover, so that the electrical connection is broken.
Switches of this kind are commonly used for temperature monitoring of electrical devices. As long as the temperature of the electrical device does not exceed a predetermined response temperature, the switch, which for this purpose is connected in series with the load being protected, remains closed. If the temperature of the load then increases excessively, the bimetallic snap disk snaps over and thus interrupts the flow of current to the load.
It is a disadvantage of the known switch that it is relatively complex to produce. This is due principally to the fact that after production of the cover part, the countercontact must then be fastened onto the cover part; at the same time, an electrically conductive connection out through the wall of the cover part must be provided. This is done in the manner of a rivet that transitions, outside the cover, into a head to which conductors, crimp terminals, etc. can be soldered. This assembly of the countercontact to the cover is generally performed manually, and is thus very cost-intensive.
A further switch, in whose housing a temperature-dependent switching mechanism as described above is also arranged, is known from DE 21 21 802 A. In this switch the cover part and lower part are both cup-shaped, and are made of electrically conductive material. One-piece crimp terminals are shaped onto both the upper part and the lower part, the crimp terminal of the lower part extending outward through a corresponding cutout in the wall of the upper part. An insulating film is arranged between the upper part and the lower part in order to insulate the two housing parts electrically from one another.
The temperature-dependent switching mechanism thus makes contact on the one hand with the lower part via the spring disk, and on the other hand with the cover part via the movable contact element, so that an electrically conductive connection between the two crimp terminals exists as long as the temperature of the switching mechanism is below the response threshold. If the temperature of the switching mechanism rises, this electrical connection is broken in the manner described above.
Final assembly of this switch is also very complex due to the insulating film that must be introduced, and therefore can only be accomplished manually. This manual final assembly is not only wage-intensive, but also leads to assembly errors and thus to a higher reject rate.
A further disadvantage of both switches described so far is the fact that for certain applications they must be additionally insulated externally, since current flow occurs via the electrically conductive lower housing part.
A further temperature-dependent switch which has a lower housing part made of insulating material and a cover, made of metal, that rests on a shoulder of the lower part and is held by a rim of the lower part, is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,490,704. The temperature-dependent switching mechanism comprises a bimetallic spring, clamped at one end, that at its free end holds a movable contact that is in contact, below the response temperature of the switching mechanism, with a fixed countercontact that is arranged on the inside of the cover.
At its other end, the bimetallic spring is firmly clamped and connected to a resistor that extends on the base of the lower part. A through hole, into which a knob-like connector element is inserted from below, is provided in the base. This connector element is soldered to the resistor at its head projecting into the interior of the switch. The knob-like head continues into a bracket that extends laterally under the wall of the lower part and continues, alongside the lower part, into a connector lug.
This document therefore describes a temperature-dependent switching mechanism completely different from the two documents cited above; because of the bimetallic spring clamped at one end, the demands in terms of insulation of the switching mechanism are less stringent in the various switching states.
Because of the knob-shaped connector element, making contact with the clamped-in end of the bimetallic spring is very laborious: not only are parts of complex shape required, but because the knob-like head is soldered to the resistor in the interior of the lower part, assembly is very laborious. A further disadvantage of this switch is that it is uninsulated at both the top and the bottom, so that particular precautionary measures are required when installing it on the device to be protected.

Switch having a temperature-dependent switching mechanism


The present subject matter discloses systems and methods for synchronizing a plurality of video files. In one implementation, the method comprises detecting a one shot boundary in each of a first video file and a second video file, determining a first reference point in the first video and a second reference point in second video based on the shot boundary detection and extracting a plurality of features associated with the reference points. The method further comprises comparing each of the plurality of corresponding features extracted from the reference points in a log-polar domain based in part on normalized cross correlation, computing a matching index, indicative of the extent of match between the extracted features, and generating a notification indicating the synchronization of the first video file and the second video file if the matching index is determined to be greater than a pre-defined matching threshold.

The use of digital video has grown dramatically in recent times. Digital video applications include video-conferencing, video-on-demand, digital television, digital cinema, distance learning, entertainment, surveillance, advertising and many more. One of the popular applications of digital video is watching movie clips recorded on a digital video disc (DVD), a blu-ray disc or downloaded over the Internet. The proliferation of digital video into more applications is encouraged by improving compression technology, better authoring and editing tools, cost effective capture and display devices, and economically available bandwidth in digital communication networks.
Digitalization of video offers many advantages for processing and distributing video and other types of information. For example, an unlimited number of copies can be produced from a single digital video signal. While the aforementioned advantage offer immense opportunities for the creators of the video to reach out to their target audiences and consumers, the ability to make copies and the ease by which those copies can be distributed also facilitate misuse, illegal copying and distribution, usually referred to as piracy, plagiarism, and misappropriation.
The processing of digital video has given rise to various techniques, such as shot detection, also referred to as shot boundary detection; feature extraction, and video synchronization. In video processing, a shot refers to a continuous strip of motion picture film, comprising a series of frames that may run for a definite time period. The shots are generally filmed with a single camera and can be of any duration. Shot detection is the automated detection of transitions between shots in the digital video, generally for the purpose of temporal segmentation of videos. Thus shot detection techniques are used to break up a video file into temporal units, i.e. the shots. Shot detection techniques are generally used for automated indexing, content-based video retrieval, and in summarization applications which provide an efficient access to large video files. The techniques of shot detection are generally based on the transition effects between the shots. Conventionally used transition effects include hard cuts, wherein there is an instantaneous transition from one shot to the next; fades, wherein there is A fade is a gradual transition between a shot and a constant image (fade-out) or between a constant image and a shot (fade-in); dissolve, wherein there is a gradual transition from one shot to another, in which the first shot fades out and the second scene shot fades in; and wipe, in a line moves across the screen, with the new shot appearing behind the line.
Another frequently used technique in video processing is feature extraction. In feature extraction, algorithms are used to detect and isolate various desired portions or shapes or contours or histograms, collectively referred to as features, of a digital video. The feature extraction techniques usually involve various image processing techniques, such as edge detection, corner detection, blob detection, ridge detection, and scale-invariant feature transform.


A method, wireless device and network node for CSI feed-back with multiple interference hypotheses are disclosed. According to one aspect, a method implemented in a wireless device (WD) includes receiving a configuration for Channel State Information (CSI) measurement including a first Non-Zero Power Channel State Information-Reference Signal (NZP CSI-RS) resource set for channel measurement and a second NZP CSI-RS resource set for interference measurement, the first NZP CSI-RS resource set having only one NZP CSI-RS resource. The method also includes measuring CSI based on the first and the second NZP CSI-RS resource sets.

The next generation of mobile wireless communication system (5G) or New Radio (NR) may support a diverse set of use cases and a diverse set of deployment scenarios. The later may include deployment at both low frequencies (e.g., 100s of MHz), similar to existing Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology, and very high frequencies (e.g., mm waves in the tens of GHz).
Similar to LTE, wireless communication networks, such as, for example, NR may use Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) in the downlink (DL), i.e., from a network node, e.g., gNB, eNB, and/or a base station, to a user equipment (UE) and/or a wireless device (WD). In the Uplink (UL), i.e., from UE and/or WD to a network node and/or base station (e.g., gNB), both OFDM and Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT)-spread OFDM (DFT-S-OFDM), also known as Single Carrier Frequency Division Multiple Access (SC-FDMA) in LTE, may be supported. The basic NR physical resource can thus be seen as a time-frequency grid as illustrated in, for example, FIG. 1, where a resource block (RB) in a 14-symbol slot is shown. A resource block may correspond to 12 contiguous subcarriers in the frequency domain. Resource blocks can be numbered in the frequency domain, starting with 0 from one end of the system bandwidth. Each resource element (RE) may correspond to one OFDM subcarrier during one OFDM symbol interval.
For convenience, the term WD will be used; however, it should be understood that the terms WD and/or UE may be used interchangeably herein.
Different subcarrier spacing values may be supported in NR. The supported subcarrier spacing values (also referred to as different numerologies) may be given by Δf=(15×2α) kHz where α is a non-negative integer and Δf=15 kHz may be considered the basic (or reference) subcarrier spacing that is also used in LTE.
In the time domain, downlink and uplink transmissions in NR may be organized into equally-sized subframes of 1 ms each, similar to LTE. A subframe may be further divided into multiple slots of equal duration. The slot length at different subcarrier spacings is shown, for example, in Table 1. There may be only one slot per subframe at Δf=15 kHz and a slot may have 14 OFDM symbols.
TABLE 1Slot length at different numerologies.NumerologySlot lengthRB BW15 kHz1ms180kHz30 kHz0.5ms360kHz60 kHz0.25ms720kHz120 kHz 125μs1.44MHz240 kHz 62.5μs2.88MHz
It is understood that, data scheduling in NR can be performed on a slot basis. An example is shown in FIG. 2 with a 14-symbol slot, where the first two symbols include control channel (e.g., Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH)) and the rest of the symbols include data channel (e.g., Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH)).
Downlink transmissions may be dynamically scheduled, i.e., in each slot the network node (e.g., gNB) may transmit Downlink Control Information (DCI) about which WD data is to be transmitted to and which resource blocks in the current downlink slot the data is transmitted on. This control signaling is typically transmitted in the first one or two OFDM symbols in each slot in NR. The control information may be carried on PDCCH and data may be carried on PDSCH. A WD may first detect and decode PDCCH and if a PDCCH is decoded successfully, it may also decode the corresponding PDSCH based on the decoded control information in the PDCCH.
Uplink data transmission may also be dynamically scheduled using PDCCH. Similar to downlink, a WD may first decode uplink grants in PDCCH and then may transmit data over the Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) based the decoded control information in the uplink grant such as, for example, a modulation order, coding rate, uplink resource allocation, etc.
Spatial Multiplexing
Multi-antenna techniques can significantly increase the data rates and reliability of a wireless communication system. The performance can in particular be improved if both the transmitter and the receiver are equipped with multiple antennas, which results in a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication channel. Such systems and/or related techniques are commonly referred to as MIMO.
A component in LTE and NR is the support of MIMO antenna deployments and MIMO related techniques. Spatial multiplexing is one of the MIMO techniques used to achieve high data rates in favorable channel conditions. An illustration of spatial multiplexing operation is provided in FIG. 3.
As seen, for example in FIG. 3, the information carrying symbol vector s=[s1, s2, . . . , sr]T is multiplied by an NT×r precoder matrix W, which may serve to distribute the transmit energy in a subspace of the NT (corresponding to NT antenna ports) dimensional vector space. The precoder matrix is typically selected from a codebook of possible precoder matrices, and typically indicated by means of a precoder matrix indicator (PMI), which specifies a unique precoder matrix in the codebook for a given number of symbol streams. The r symbols in s may each correspond to a layer and r may be referred to as the transmission rank. In this way, spatial multiplexing may be achieved because multiple symbols can be transmitted simultaneously over the same time/frequency resource element (RE). The number of symbols r is typically adapted to suit the current channel properties.
The received signal at a WD with NR receive antennas at a certain RE n may be given byyn=HnWs+en,where yn is a NR×1 received signal vector, Hn a NR×NT channel matrix at the RE, en is a NR×1 noise and interference vector received at the RE by the WD. The precoder W can be a wideband precoder, which may be considered a constant over frequency, or frequency selective, i.e. different over frequency.
The precoder matrix is often chosen to match the characteristics of the NR×NT MIMO channel matrix Hn, resulting in so-called channel dependent precoding. This may also commonly be referred to as closed-loop precoding and essentially strives to focus the transmit energy into a subspace which may be considered strong, in the sense of conveying much of the transmitted energy to the WD. In addition, the precoder matrix may also be selected to strive for orthogonalizing the channel, meaning that after proper linear equalization at the WD, the inter-layer interference may be reduced.
The transmission rank, and thus the number of spatially multiplexed layers, may be reflected in the number of columns of the precoder. The transmission rank may also be dependent on the signal to noise plus interference ratio (SINR) observed at the WD. Typically, a higher SINR is required for transmissions with higher ranks. For efficient performance, it is worth mentioning that a transmission rank that matches the channel properties as well as the interference may be selected. The precoding matrix, the transmission rank, and the channel quality are part of Channel State Information (CSI), which is typically measured by a WD and fed back to a network node (e.g., gNB).
CSI Feedback
For CSI feedback, as in LTE, NR has adopted an implicit CSI mechanism where a WD's feedback of the downlink channel state information may be in terms of a transmission rank indicator (RI), a precoder matrix indicator (PMI), and one or two channel quality indicator(s) (CQI). The CQI/RI/PMI report can be either wideband or subband based on configuration.
The RI may correspond to a recommended number of layers that are to be spatially multiplexed and thus transmitted in parallel over the effective channel. The PMI may be considered to identify a recommended precoder. The CQI may be considered to represent a recommended modulation level (e.g., QPSK, 16QAM, etc.) and coding rate for each transport block. NR supports transmission of one or two transport blocks to a WD in a slot. There can thus be a relation between a CQI and an SINR of the spatial layers over which the transport block or blocks are transmitted.

Channel state information (CSI) feedback with multiple hypotheses


A method for estimating the temperature (TB, est) of a wheel bearing of a wheelset of a rail vehicle by means of a calculation model (Tbearingestimator). The calculation model (Tbearing,estimator) estimates the temperature of the axle bearing, according to the speed (vtrain) and the ambient temperature (Tamb) of the rail vehicle as input variables of the calculation model (Tbearing estimator), and the temperature of a component of the wheelset, different from the axle bearing but directly or indirectly connected to the axle bearing in a heat-conducting manner, is measured as the measuring temperature (Tmeas) during operation. The temperature of the component different from the axle bearing is estimated by means of the calculation model (Tbearingestimator) as the estimated temperature (Tmeas,est). In order to improve the accuracy of the calculation model (Tbearingestimator) in terms of the estimation of the temperature (TB,est) of the axle bearing, the calculation model (Tbearingestimator) has a corrective element (Kb) that is used to continuously, temporarily or cyclically calibrate or adjust it on the basis of a comparison of the measuring temperature (Tmeas) with the estimated temperature (Tmeas,est).

In rail vehicle traffic, use is being increasingly made of diagnostic and monitoring systems with which changes in the state of components and assemblies of the rail vehicle are sensed to detect defects in these components and assemblies. In particular, in the case of a wheel set of a rail vehicle, the detection of damage is of particular interest with respect to hot running.
Modern high speed trains travel across borders and, therefore, have to comply with corresponding criteria for ensuring interoperability, for example guideline 96/48/EG. The guideline requires, inter alia, onboard monitoring of the wheel set bearings of the wheel sets of the rail vehicle. To disclose critical operating states such as, for example, hot running of a wheel set bearing, it is necessary, in particular, to monitor the temperature of the wheel set bearings.
EP 1 365 163 A1 discloses a device for monitoring the temperature of a wheel set bearing of a wheel set of a rail vehicle in which a sensor element is arranged directly on a sealing element of the wheel set bearing, i.e. as close as possible to the load zone of the wheel set bearing. However, mounting a temperature sensor directly on the load zone of a wheel set bearing on which the highest temperatures have been empirically found to occur, i.e. in the circumferential direction of the outer bearing ring viewed above, gives rise to a certain amount of expenditure in terms of mechanical connection of the temperature sensor and the cabling thereof and is often structurally difficult to implement for reasons of space, in particular if a plurality of load zones have to be taken into account within a bearing unit, for example in the case of double bearings.

Method and device for estimating the temperature of an axle bearing of a wheelset of a rail vehicle

KNORR-BREMSE SYSTEME FUR SCHIENENFAHRZEUGE GMBH


A method for determining an emission coefficient of a device under test (DUT) using a test circuit comprises coupling a parameter measurement circuit associated with the test circuit to an input pin associated with the DUT, wherein the input pin is coupled to a diode element within the DUT and performing voltage and current measurements associated with the input pin using the parameter measurement circuit. In some embodiments, the method further comprises determining a plurality of contact resistance values respectively based on the voltage and current measurements and an emission coefficient estimate using a contact resistance estimation circuit; and determining an emission coefficient associated with the DUT based on the determined plurality of contact resistance values using an emission coefficient determination circuit.

To ensure the function and evaluate the performance of semiconductor devices, testing is an important step for the semiconductor devices. The tests need to obtain a high level of accuracy while finishing in a short amount of time to keep the production test costs low. In order to perform accurate testing on a device, accurate knowledge of various parameters associated with the device, for example, an emission coefficient of a diode associated therewith, is required. Further, during testing, some unknown variables may be introduced by the test equipment, for example, contact resistance which greatly affects the accuracy of testing. Therefore, in order to get accurate results in testing and validation of devices, it is important to have an accurate knowledge of the emission coefficient of the device (or a diode associated therewith) and/or the contact resistance, before the testing is performed on the device.

High accurate contact resistance measurement method using one or more diodes


The present invention provides for a conveyance device to bypass regions within a wellbore that may disrupt the desired distribution of gravel in a gravel pack.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention pertains to conveyance devices, and particularly to conveyance devices to bypass a section of a wellbore.
2. Related Art
Gravel packing is often performed in wells having loose or poorly consolidated formations. The gravel placed in the wellbore serves as a filter to prevent the production of sand or fines from the formations. However, for various reasons the gravel packing operation may leave voids in the gravel pack, leading to the undesired sand production.

Conveyance device and method of use in gravel pack operation


A method and apparatus for starting a gas turbine engine using a brushless sensorless machine, the machine having a rotor and a stator with windings, the method including positioning the rotor at a desired position with respect to the stator and then energizing the windings of the stator.

Starting a gas turbine aircraft engine on the ground with a sensorless brushless starter-generator typically involves sending a predetermined sequence of current signals to the windings of the stator to cause the rotor magnets to begin to rotate in accordance with the predetermined sequence of current signals provided to the corresponding windings of the stator. Since the rotor position is not known, a trial and error approach is typically used, wherein a rotor position is assumed and current provided to the stator based on the assumed position and, if starting is not successful, a different rotor position is assumed, and the process is repeated, until starting occurs.
As difficult as this is, in applications such as a turbofan or turboprop where the rotor of the starter-generator may already be rotating as a result of ground airflow through the engine, trial and error starting becomes even more difficult. Therefore, there is a need for improvement.

Starting a gas turbine engine using a sensorless, brushless motor


A semiconductor device includes: a substrate; a semiconductor element arranged on the substrate; a plate-like member electrically connected to the semiconductor element; a first electrode formed on the semiconductor element and joined to the plate-like member with solder; a second electrode formed on the semiconductor element and spaced from the first electrode, and including a metal capable of forming an alloy with the solder; and a metal film formed on the semiconductor element and spaced from the second electrode in a region on the first electrode side as seen from the second electrode, in a two-dimensional view of the semiconductor element as seen from the plate-like member, and including a metal capable of forming an alloy with the solder.

As a replacement for a structure in which an electrode of a semiconductor element and an external conductor are interconnected by wire bonding using a metal wire such as aluminum, there is known a structure of a semiconductor device in which a plate-like wiring member of metal is soldered to an electrode of a semiconductor element. Such a plate-like wiring structure can allow for passage of large current and increase current density, thereby achieving miniaturization of the semiconductor device (for example, see PTL 1).
As a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device using a plate-like wiring member, there is known a manufacturing method in which solder scattered during a reflow of joining of a lower surface of a semiconductor element to a base plate with solder is prevented from reaching and adhering to an upper surface of the semiconductor element (for example, see PTL 2).

Semiconductor device with metal film, power conversion device with the semiconductor device, and method of manufacturing the semiconductor device


This invention provides a new, time-based method for controlling the storage and retrieval of multi-media information by the successive selection of the values of their attributes. In accordance with the invention, a user may contact a remote multi-media information storage medium via a communications medium and, using special signals, control the sequence of attribute selection messages that are transmitted. One, several, or all of the values of a particular attribute can be selected, which in turn, determine the related values of the attributes to be subsequently transmitted. In this manner, the progressive selection of attribute values narrows down the number of items of multi-media information available for retrieval, or in the case of storage, the appropriate final storage location. The user may order the transmission of the attributes to optimize the search process. The concepts of attribute-value completeness and accuracy can be employed to enable a best-fit search to be made of the stored multi-media information. In a further refinement, when no item information match occurs, the user may request the system store the series of attribute values of his inquiry. The system can then make periodic searches of the database. The user is contacted when a match occurs. A method for alphanumeric input using a multi-key sequence on a generic key pad is also disclosed.

Modern telecommunications make it possible for individuals to receive, in multi-media form, information that has been stored at a remote location. Conversely, information may also be transmitted to a remote storage medium for later retrieval by other parties. Typically, the information must be stored in the form of a series of messages that are categorized in some manner to aid in the process of selecting or storing a particular piece of information.
Multi-media information is defined as one or more of the following forms of information: images, ASCII or EBCDIC text, binary numeric data, audio text, video, and encoded control signals for sensory stimulations derived from sensory actions.
The concept of the invention may be understood by considering the storage and retrieval of audio messages via the telephone. In this case, the telephone is used as an input/output device to store/retrieve audio information in digital form on a computer. Such systems have been given the generic name audiotext services.
Various methods have been devised to enable the user a) to store a message in the proper place, and b) to quickly select a particular message from all those that are available. Thus, some form of search mechanism must be implemented, usually at the computer information store or storage medium, that will perform the storage and/or retrieval in a fast, fail-safe manner.
In the case of audiotext, the most common method of implementing such a mechanism is to present the caller with an audio menu, which, for example, prompts the caller as follows: "If you wish to hear your account balance, press 4" and "Please enter your social security number now". When the user presses a key, or set of keys, the next level of the menu is presented. Thus, the caller can be lead through a static menu tree until the identity of a particular stored item can be determined and played back to the caller. In a similar manner, the information system can prompt the user to respond to questions so that the correct storage location for the user's data input can be determined.
There are, however, several problems with this method of human-computer interaction with audiotext information. The general problem is that the number of menu levels and the number of menu items in each level must be limited, or otherwise the user gets lost. It has been found that most people, when confronted with a numbered list from which to choose, can only remember up to five or six items. Moreover, a deep or long menu list also becomes confusing to the caller, unless extra navigational aids are provided to help the user visualize the menu structure. To date, therefore, this type of interface can only be used with relatively simple applications that require a very limited menu, such as an application that provides a customer's bank balance.
Another method of presentation and control of audiotext services has been proposed in which the problems of a static menu structure are avoided by presenting a series of short excerpts of available items. This is analogous to modern car radios, where each radio station is automatically scanned, and played briefly, so that the listener can make a selection of the station he or she wishes to hear. In the case of an audiotext service, the user can press a particular key, say the "0" key, to stop the presentation of these excerpts and hear the entire message. The method presupposes that the messages are so dissimilar as to be immediately discernible by hearing an excerpt. Pressing say the "#" key will continue the excerpt presentation, and pressing that key twice in rapid succession will speed up the scan by jumping to every, say, fifth excerpt in the linear stream available. The approach works well when there are a limited number of messages to which to listen. Clearly, it will not be acceptable when there are, say, many thousands of messages from which to choose. Skipping messages does speed up the process, but a skipped message may be the one of particular interest.
A much more general problem is that of selecting particular types of stored messages based upon the values of their attributes that are unique to the message content. Suppose, for example, that data on thousands of used automobiles is stored as audiotext messages. The attributes associated with each automobile description might include: make, model, age, mileage, price, and color. If the caller were interested in finding those automobiles that had low mileage and low price, the current audiotext selection techniques would be unacceptable. The scanning technique would require that the caller listen to almost the entire set of messages to obtain the information, and the limited menu technique would require that the caller re-enter the menu for every make, model and age before reaching the mileage and price levels. If there were only three makes, three models, and three age ranges, the caller would have to enter the menu twenty seven times to hear all the available information on low mileage, low priced automobiles.
It is the purpose of the present invention to provide human-computer interaction with an audiotext service so that data items with multiple attributes can be stored and/or retrieved in a single pass of the menu in a fast, fail-safe manner. Furthermore, the invention provides comprehensive navigational aids to the caller that are indispensable when performing transactions with an extremely large multi-attribute database. A method of entering alphanumeric information into the system in an unambiguous manner is also described. Currently, alphanumeric information can be entered by pressing a single key on the telephone keypad, which transmits a dual-tone to a remote system. However, this dual-tone may represent up to three different characters on the keypad. For example, pressing "2" on the telephone keypad may represent the character "A", "B", or "C". The system has to determine the correct character by the context of the character within the sequence of transmitted characters. The ambiguous nature of this type of encoding may not be resolvable.
The invention is further extended to all audio/video/multi-media types of information and all mechanisms of audio, visual, tactile, or other sensor interfaces and transmission media.

Time-based method of human-computer interaction for controlling storage and retrieval of multimedia information


Methods and systems are provided for adjusting a vehicle cabin heating system, based on particulate filter (PF) regeneration prediction. In one example, a method includes predicting an amount of exhaust heat that may be recovered via an exhaust heat exchanger during an upcoming PF regeneration event, and prior to the PF regeneration event, adjusting an amount of electric power supplied to an electric heater of the cabin heating system. The amount of adjustment may be based on the predicted amount of exhaust heat that may be recovered.

Residual heat generated during combustion may be effectively used for providing heat to a vehicle cabin. Engine coolant circulating through the engine and through an exhaust heat exchanger may extract thermal energy from the engine and exhaust gas which may be transferred to a heater core of an on-board heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. The extracted energy may be utilized for providing heat to the engine and also to warm the vehicle cabin, thereby improving engine, and fuel efficiency. However, as the operating efficiency of the engine increases, residual heat extracted by the coolant may be insufficient for cabin heating.
Certain HVAC systems may be configured with an electric heater to provide supplemental heating during conditions when the heat extracted by the coolant system may be insufficient to meet cabin heating demands. However, operation of the electric heater via an on-board battery causes parasitic loss of engine power.
In a different approach, in U.S. Patent Application No. 2013-778,683, Quix et al. discloses a method for providing supplemental heat for vehicle cabin heating purposes during regeneration of an exhaust particulate filter (PF). During the regeneration, the engine is operated at reduced efficiency to generate exhaust heat which may be used to burn the soot accumulated on the PF. A portion of the heat generated during the PF regeneration may be transferred to the vehicle heater core to be used for providing cabin heat.
The inventors herein have identified systems and methods by which issues with the above approaches are resolved. One example method comprises, predicting an amount of exhaust heat recovered from an upcoming regeneration of a particulate filter (PF) coupled to an exhaust passage of an engine propelling a vehicle, and adjusting an amount of electrical power supplied to an electric heater coupled to a cabin heating system for a cabin of the vehicle, the amount of adjustment based on the predicted amount of recovered exhaust heat. In this way, by predicting an upcoming PF regeneration event, operation of the electric heater may be adjusted prior to the regeneration event, such that the supplemental heat may be effectively utilized for vehicle cabin heating. By replacing a portion or all of the heat provided by the electric heater with exhaust heat, parasitic losses are reduced. Further, by predicting regeneration of the P′F, and beginning the reduction in electric heat early, delays in reducing the electric heat are mitigated further reducing parasitic losses.
In another example, a particulate filter may be coupled to the engine exhaust passage to capture particulate matter (soot) present in the exhaust gas. Once soot accumulation has reached a predetermined level, regeneration of the filter may be initiated by increasing the temperature of exhaust gas flowing through the PF. An engine system may be configured with an exhaust heat exchanger for recovering exhaust heat. Thermal energy from the exhaust gas may be recovered by coolant flowing through the heat exchanger and the recovered thermal energy may then be utilized for providing heat to the vehicle cabin. For higher efficiency engines which have lower thermal output, based on cabin heating demands, an electric heater, powered via a battery, may be coupled to the heater core to supply heat to the vehicle cabin. The controller may predict an upcoming PF regeneration event based on a soot load on the PF and a rate of accumulation of soot on the PF. An amount of exhaust heat available to the exhaust heat exchanger during the upcoming PF regeneration event may be predicted as a function of temperature of exhaust gas flowing through the heat exchanger, a volume of exhaust gas flowing through the heat exchanger, and a temperature of coolant flowing through the heat exchanger, during the upcoming regeneration. In anticipation of availability of exhaust heat during the PF regeneration event, prior to the commencement of the PF regeneration, the power supplied to the electric heater may be reduced. Also, prior to initiation of the PF regeneration event, a speed of a blower of the HVAC system and a position of a blend door of the HVAC system may be adjusted based on each of the predicted amount of exhaust heat recovered during the upcoming regeneration and cabin heating demand.
In this way, by preemptively adjusting a power supplied to the electric heater even before the PF regeneration is initiated, delays in response of the electric heater during the ramp down phase may be reduced. By ramping down the electric heater prior to the availability of the excess exhaust heat, the thermal energy from the exhaust gas may be completely utilized and parasitic loss of engine power may be reduced. The technical effect of predicting PF regeneration is that HVAC system components including blend door and blower may be adjusted based on an anticipated availability of exhaust heat during the PF regeneration event. In this way, by opportunistically utilizing residual exhaust heat during PF regeneration events, vehicle cabin heating may be improved while reducing power usage.
It should be understood that the summary above is provided to introduce in simplified form a selection of concepts that are further described in the detailed description. It is not meant to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, the scope of which is defined uniquely by the claims that follow the detailed description. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any disadvantages noted above or in any part of this disclosure.

Method and device for vehicle cabin heating


A separator for the clarification or separation of liquids includes a double-cone drum having a metal conical drum top part and a metal conical drum bottom part. The drum top part and the drum bottom part are made as metal plates and the double-cone drum has a largest inside diameter greater than 1000 mm. A disk stack including a stack of conical separating disks is arranged in the double-cone drum. The drum bottom part has at least two drum shell sections with different outer angles of taper with respect to an axis of rotation of the double-cone drum.

The present disclosure relates to a separator for the clarification and/or separation of liquids and a method for clarification of multi-phase separation of a product.
Nozzle-type separators of known construction are shown, for example, by Japanese Patent Document JP 62-117649 A of the above-mentioned type, and Technical Specification Sheet: CH-30 GOF Separator-Nozzle-Centrifugator, Alfa Laval AB, Printing PD 4149 en/0110. The exterior parts of such separator drums are produced, for example, by using forging methods.
Furthermore, U.S. Patent Document U.S. Pat. No. 2,286,354 shows a separator with mutually screwed-together massive drum bottom parts and drum top parts.
U.S. Patent Document U.S. Pat. No. 2,017,734 illustrates a separator without a solids discharge in a construction as a separator.
German Patent Document DE 27 60 069 C2 shows a pendulous flat-bottom centrifuge.
German Patent Document DE 89 05 985 U1 shows a basket centrifuge.
German Patent Document DE 699 929 shows a centrifugal drum with a rotating ring integrated in the drum construction.
German Patent Document DE 169 365 C shows a centrifugal device for the production of starch.
In addition, it is known from German Patent Document DE 74 35 598 U to create a centrifugal drum for a continuously operating sugar centrifuge, in which case the centrifugal drum has a drum shell which consists of one piece and is created in a rolling operation from a thin circular special-steel plate blank which has a wall thickness of 3.5 mm. The drum has a maximal diameter of 1,100 mm.
In the case of centrifuges of known construction, there is the demand for new constructive methods for improving the clarification and separation results by separators, particularly with respect to the processing of products whose particle size is to a large degree caused by mechanical stress or by agglomeration effects caused over time.
The present disclosure addresses the above-noted demand.
The present disclosure relates to a separator for the clarification and/or separation of liquids. The separator includes a double-cone drum, which has a conical drum top part made of metal and a conical drum bottom part made of metal. Also included is a disk stack including a stack of conical separating disks being arranged in the drum. The drum top part and the drum bottom part are made of metal plates and the largest inside diameter of the drum is greater than 1,000 mm. At least the drum bottom part, relative at least to an exterior surface of a drum shell and in an axial direction, has at least two drum shell sections with respective, different angles of taper α1, α2 with respect to an axis of rotation of the drum.
Construction of the separator is simple and cost-effective. As a result of two different angles of taper, on the outer circumference and on the inner circumference of the drum bottom par, a stable construction is created which, in contrast to the state of the art, may also be constructed as a deep-drawn part.
As a result of two cones in the drum bottom part, a stiff formation is created whose natural frequency may be above the rotational operating speed. To this extent, the separator, according to the present disclosure, is operated at a rotational speed which is more than 30% below the natural frequency. Even an overhung bearing of the drum can be implemented.
A stressing of the particles of the product to be processed in the "large" drum is very low, so that also sensitive products can be optimally processed.
The diameter of the drum amounts to 1,000 mm or more. Constructions with a drum diameter of 1,500 mm or more are also conceivable.
Preferably the ratio between the largest inside diameter D1 of the drum and the thickness or strength of the metal plates of the drum top part and of the drum bottom part is less than 1/50, particularly less than 1/100.
The energy demand can as a rule be lowered in comparison to existing constructions.
The noise emissions are also considerably reduced.
The drum top part and/or the drum bottom part are manufactured from metal plates by forming, in a non-tensioning manner, for example, by deep-drawing or pressing or roller tooling or the like.
By largely using metal plates of standard quality, that is, of a quality suitable for deep drawing or for bending or pressing operations for the production, the manufacturing costs are clearly reduced because the use of expensive forged pieces made of special materials is not required.
The volume of the drum, at a diameter of 1,000 mm or more amounts to at least 300 liters and, at a diameter of 2,000 or more, to at least 2,000 liters.
Since the radius is linearly entered into the formula for computing the centrifugal acceleration, it becomes clear that the rotational speed of the drum with such a large diameter or volume only needs to be relatively low in order to obtain a clarifying or separating effect which corresponds to that of a small separator at high rotational speeds.
The distributor body tapers in the upward direction, bounding distributor ducts in the downward direction. The distributor ducts are bounded upwardly by a conical covering and, in the circumferential direction, are bounded by ribs between the covering and the distributor body.
The present disclosure also relates to a method for the clarification or two- or three-phase separation of a particle-sensitive product, such as a product which has a sensitive reaction to acceleration effects, such as shear and pressure. In such a case, the separating operation takes place by a separator, according to the present disclosure, at a circumferential speed at the largest inside diameter between 10 and 50 m/sec. In this manner, the product can be subjected without any problem to the desired clarifying or separating operation. The resulting dwell time of the product in the drum has a positive influence on the clarification and separation effect.
Other aspects of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following descriptions when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Separator having a double-cone drum made of metal


A substrate transfer system is used in fabricating a liquid crystal display (LCD) device. The system includes a cassette having a bar code, a cassette stocker to store the cassette; an auto guided vehicle that is able to transfer the cassette; a moving path unit to determine a moving path of the auto guided vehicle, a plurality of process stages at which processes are conducted on a substrate during fabrication of the LCD device, and a host to control the cassette stocker, the auto guided vehicle and the process stages. At least one of the auto guided vehicle and the cassette stocker having a bar code reader.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a substrate transfer system for a liquid crystal display (LCD) device, and more particularly, to a system having an auto guided vehicle provided with a bar code reader and for transferring a cassette in which a substrate is loaded.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, an LCD device comprises a TFT array substrate and a color filter substrate bonded together by a sealant with liquid crystal filled therebetween. A liquid crystal display panel is usually formed of a glass substrate. Nowadays, a liquid crystal display panel of large size can be produced. However, it is difficult to transfer the liquid crystal display panel of large size, and therefore, there has arisen a need for a substrate transfer system to transfer a large sized substrate.
In the related art, a substrate is transferred by a cassette in which one or more substrates are loaded. The cassette is transferred to a stage of a corresponding step by an auto guided vehicle. The transfer system comprises a cassette stocker where a substrate cassette is stored; a robot arm for taking out the substrate cassette from the cassette stocker; an auto guided vehicle for transferring the substrate cassette; a rail on which the auto guided vehicle moves; a plurality of stages; and a main computer such as a host for controlling the auto guided system.
The substrate cassette transfer system in accordance with the related art will be explained with reference to FIG. 1.
First of all, substrates go through various processes, and substrates that have undergone the same processes are loaded in the same cassette and stored in the cassette stocker. That is, for example, substrates which have undergone a process for forming a gate line among processes for fabricating a thin film transistor as a switching device are loaded in the same cassette to be held or stored until next processes.
To perform predetermined processes using the substrates loaded in the cassette stoker, the substrate cassette is loaded on the auto guided vehicle from the cassette stoker. The process is performed by giving an order to the cassette stocker by the host. Therefore, the cassette stocker is provided with a receiver for receiving data from the host. The substrate cassette loaded on the auto guided vehicle is transferred to a process stage where a corresponding process will be performed. The auto guided vehicle moves along a predetermined path and, thus, arrives at a corresponding stage. The corresponding stage may be a fabricating apparatus for an LCD device including a chamber where various processes, for example, the cassette cleaning, sputtering, photo resist formation, etc. are performed.
Each stage includes a shelf for holding the transferred substrate cassette until use. The auto guided vehicle arrives at the corresponding stage and unloads the cassette where the substrate is loaded on the shelf of the corresponding stage using the robot arm of the auto guided vehicle. Also, a bar code reader formed at an arbitrary point of the shelf which is at one side of the stage reads a bar code attached to one side of the cassette to recognize the cassette, and then transmits data to the host. Accordingly, the host determines processes of a corresponding cassette.
If the bar code reader transmits the read information to the host, the host determines which process will be performed for the corresponding cassette and orders the process to progress or stop at the corresponding stage. The substrate which has undergone a specific process on the corresponding stage is reloaded into the substrate cassette. Then, the host calls an empty auto guided vehicle to load the cassette where the processed substrate is loaded and to transfer to the cassette stocker for storage.
However, in the substrate transfer system, the bar code reader has to be respectively provided on each stage, thereby increasing cost. That is, the bar code reader is an expensive device causing increased cost.


A semiconductor manufacturing device includes a prober whose needles are at once engaged for contacting pads of two chip forming regions within a wafer. In one chip forming region, trimming is performed, while in the other chip forming region, inspecting posterior to trimming is performed.

A conventional semiconductor manufacturing device shown in FIG. 8 includes a trimmer 100 of an IC wafer and a wafer inspecting device 200. The trimmer 100 includes a prober 110, a laser device 120, and a tester 130. Here, as shown in FIG. 9A, a thin film 151 of a trimming object as well as pads 152 is formed in each chip forming region under a wafer state. Here, as shown in FIG. 9B, laser trimming for the thin film 151 is performed (a groove 153 is formed) with probe needles 111 contacting the pads 152 by the prober 110 of the trimmer 100 shown in FIG. 8 so that a given property can be obtained for the thin film 151. The resultant thin film 151 becomes as shown in FIG. 9C.
Further, the wafer inspecting device 200 includes a prober 220 and a tester 210, as shown in FIG. 8. Each chip forming region shown in FIG. 10A is inspected in its property under the wafer state before dicing, using the prober 220, with probe needles 221 contacting the pads 160, as shown in FIG. 10A. When a given property is obtained, the resultant state becomes as shown in FIG. 10C. When the given property is not obtained, the resultant state becomes as shown in FIG. 10D. That is, a bad mark is attached.
Thus, both of the trimmer 100 and the wafer inspecting device 200 perform probing with respect to each of the chips to perform a thin-film trimming and a wafer inspecting, respectively.
As shown in FIG. 8, the thin-film trimmer 100 and the wafer inspecting device 200 are mutually discrete and separated devices. Here, the trimmer 100 includes a dedicated prober 110, a laser device 120, and a tester 130, while the wafer inspecting device 200 includes a tester 210 and a prober 220. Therefore, a common prober that probes each chip of ICs formed in the wafer is required for each of the trimmer 100 and the wafer inspecting device 200. This involves waste in equipment investment and floor areas.

Semiconductor manufacturing device and semiconductor manufacturing method


A method extracts an alpha matte from a video acquired of a scene. A set of pinhole or narrow aperture images IP is acquired of the scene with a camera aperture set to a relatively large depth-of-field. The scene includes a background B and a foreground F. A corresponding set of wide aperture images IF is acquired of the scene with the camera aperture set to a relatively small depth-of-field. The respective pinhole and wide aperture images are combined to extract an alpha matte according toα=1+(IF−IP)/(B−BF).

Matting and compositing are frequently used in image and video editing, 3D photography, and film production. Matting separates a foreground region from an input image by estimating a color F and an opacity a for each pixel in the image. Compositing uses the matte to blend the extracted foreground with a novel background to produce an output image representing a novel scene. The opacity α measures a 'coverage' of the foreground region, due to either partial spatial coverage or partial temporal coverage, i.e., motion blur. The set of all opacity values α is called the alpha matte, the alpha channel, or simply a matte.
The matting problem can be formulated as follows. An image of a foreground against an opaque black background in a scene is αF. An image of the background without the foreground is B. An alpha image, where each pixel represents a partial coverage of that pixel by the foreground, is α. The image α is essentially an image of the foreground object 'painted' white, evenly lit, and held against the opaque background. The scale and resolution of the foreground and background images can differ due to perspective foreshortening.
The notions of an alpha matte, pre-multiplied alpha, and the algebra of composition have been formalized by Porter et al., "Compositing digital images," in Proceedings of the 11th Annual Conference on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques, ACM Press, pp. 253-259, 1984. They showed that for a pinhole (narrow aperture) camera, the image αF in front of the background image B can be expressed 501 (see FIG. 5) by a linear interpolation:IP=αF+(1−α)B   (1)where IP is a pinhole (narrow aperture) image, αF is the pre-multiplied image of the foreground against an opaque background, and B is the image of the opaque background in the absence of the foreground.
Matting is the inverse problem of solving for the unknown values of the variables (α, Fr, Fg, Fb, Br, Bg, Bb), given the composite image pixel values (IPr, IPg, IPb), where r, g, and b are color channels. The 'P' subscript denotes that Equation (1) holds for a pinhole camera, i.e., where the entire scene is in focus. One can approximate a pinhole camera with a very narrow aperture. Blue screen matting is easier to solve because the background color B is known.
Matting is described generally by Smith et al., "Blue screen matting," Proceedings of the 23rd Annual Conference on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques, ACM Press, pp. 259-268; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,100,569, "Comprehensive electronic compositing system," issued to Vlahos on Jul. 11, 1978.
Conventional matting requires a background with known, constant color, which is referred to as blue screen matting. If a digital camera is used, then a green matte is preferred. Blue screen matting is the predominant technique in the film and broadcast industry. For example, broadcast studios use blue matting for presenting weather reports. The background is a blue screen, and the foreground region includes the weatherman standing in front of the blue screen. The foreground is extracted, and then superimposed onto a weather map so that it appears that the weatherman is actually standing in front of the map. However, blue screen matting is costly and not readily available to casual users. Even production studios would prefer a lower-cost and less intrusive alternative.
Ideally, one would like to extract a high-quality matte from an image or video with an arbitrary, i.e., unknown, background. This process is known as natural image matting. Recently, there has been substantial progress in this area, Ruzon et al., "Alpha estimation in natural images," CVPR, vol. 1, pp. 18-25, 2000; Hillman et al., "Alpha channel estimation in high resolution images and image sequences," Proceedings of IEEE CVPR 2001, IEEE Computer Society, vol. 1, pp. 1063-1068, 2001; Chuang et al., "A Bayesian approach to digital matting," Proceedings of IEEE CVPR 2001, IEEE Computer Society, vol. 2, pp. 264-271, 2001; Chuang et al., "Video matting of complex scenes," ACM Trans. on Graphics 21, 3, pp. 243-248, July, 2002; and Sun et al., "Poisson matting," ACM Trans. on Graphics, August 2004. Unfortunately, all of those methods require substantial manual intervention, which becomes prohibitive for long image sequences and for non-professional users. The difficulty arises because matting from a single image is fundamentally under-constrained.
It desired to perform matting using non-intrusive techniques. That is, the scene does not need to be modified. It is also desired to perform the matting automatically. Furthermore, it is desired to provide matting for 'rich' natural images, i.e., images with a lot of fine, detailed structure.
Most natural image matting methods require manually defined trimaps to determine the distribution of color in the foreground and background regions. A trimap segments an image into background, foreground and unknown pixels. Using the trimaps, those methods estimate likely values of the foreground and background colors of unknown pixels, and use the colors to solve the matting Equation (1).
Bayesian matting, and its extension to image sequences, produces the best results in many applications. However, those methods require manually defined trimaps for key frames. This is tedious for a long image sequences. It is desired to provide a method that does not require user intervention, and that can operate in real-time as an image sequence is acquired.
The prior art estimation of the color distributions works only when the foreground and background are sufficiently different in a neighborhood of an unknown pixel. Therefore, it is desired to provide a method that can extract a matte where the foreground and background pixels have substantially similar color distributions.
The Poisson matting of Sun et al. solves a Poisson equation for the matte by assuming that the foreground and background are slowly varying. Their method interacts closely with the user by beginning from a manually constructed trimap. They also provide 'painting' tools to correct errors in the matte.
An unassisted, natural video matting system is described by Zitnick et al., "High-quality video view interpolation using a layered representation," ACM Trans. on Graphics 23, 3, pp. 600-608, 2004. They acquire videos with a horizontal row of eight cameras spaced over about two meters. They measure depth discrepancies from stereo disparity using sophisticated region processing, and then construct a trimap from the depth discrepancies. The actual matting is determined by the Bayesian matting of Chuang et al. However, that method has the view dependent problems that are unavoidable with stereo cameras, e.g., reflections, specular highlights, and occlusions. It is desired to avoid view dependent problems.
Difference matting, also known as background subtraction, solves for α and the alpha-multiplied foreground αF, given background and trimap images, Qian et al., "Video background replacement without a blue screen," Proceedings of ICIP, vol. 4, 143-146, 1999. However, difference matting has limited discrimination at the borders of the foreground.
Another method uses back lighting to determine the matte. Back lighting is a common segmentation method used in many computer vision systems. Back lighting has also been used in image-based rendering systems, Debevec et al., "A lighting reproduction approach to live action compositing," ACM Transactions on Graphics 21, 3, pp. 547-556, 2002. That method has two drawbacks. First, active illumination is required, and second, incorrect results may be produced near object boundaries because some objects become highly reflective near grazing angles of the light.
Scene reconstruction is described by Favaro et al., "Seeing beyond occlusions (and other marvels of a finite lens aperture)," Proc. of the IEEE Intl. Conf. on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition, p. 579, 2003. That method uses defocused images and gradient descent minimization of a sum-squared error. The method solves for coarse depth and a binary alpha.
Another method uses a depth-from-focus system to recover overlapping objects with fractional alphas, Schechner et al, "Separation of transparent layers using focus," International Journal of Computer Vision, pp. 25-39, 2000. They position a motorized CCD axially behind a lens to acquire images with slightly varying points of focus. Depth is recovered by selecting the image plane location that has the best focused image. That method is limited to static scenes.
Another method uses three video streams acquired by three cameras with different depth-of-field and focus and that share the same center of projection to extract mattes for scenes with unconstrained, dynamic backgrounds, McGuire et al., "Defocus Video Matting," ACM Transactions on Graphics 24, 3, 2003; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/092,376, filed by McGuire et al. on Mar. 29, 2005, "System and Method for Image Matting."

System and method for defocus difference matting

Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.


A liquid crystal display device of a simplified structure and a widened viewing angle are provided. The liquid crystal display device having a stacked structure with its component plates and layers laid one over another in the following top-down order, comprises a first polarizing plate of α in optic-axial angle, a first λ/2 retardation plate of β in the optic-axial angle, a first λ/4 retardation plate of γ in the optic-axial angle, a liquid crystal layer located as an interlayer between two of substrates and having its opposite major surfaces oriented in vertical directions, a second λ/4 retardation plate disposed in phase or in parallel with the first λ/4 retardation plate (i.e., the optic-axial angle of γ), a second λ/2 retardation plate of (2γ−β) in the optic-axial angle, and a second polarizing plate of (π/2−α+2γ) in the optic-axial angle.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device, and more particularly, it relates to a liquid crystal display device with a wide viewing angle.
2. Related Art
The liquid crystal display device adjusts liquid crystal orientations to control a transmission of light beam, and this disturbs the device from providing a sufficient range of a viewing angle to obtain a satisfactory display.
For example, Patent Document 1 listed below discloses a mode suitable to obtain a sufficient viewing angle. In this mode, called "Vertical Alignment (VA)" mode, molecules of liquid crystal align themselves to make vertical chains without applying voltage, and they align in horizontal chains when voltage is applied. The cited document teaches that a varied direction of observing alters a retardation (optical length) to equally vary a resultantly displayed image depending upon a visual direction of the viewer. When dependency of the retardation upon the viewing angle increases, allowable viewing angle concomitant with a deteriorated visibility of a display panel is accordingly degraded.
In order to overcome the aforementioned issue of interest on the allowable viewing angle, Patent Document 1 proposes a stacked structure. In the stacked structure, some optical components such as polarizing plates and wavelength plates underlie and overlie a liquid crystal layer. Specifically, in the cited document, a transmissive liquid crystal display device is described in conjunction with a schematic sectional view of FIG. 6. FIG. 6 depicts an exemplary stacked arrangement with a polarizing plate (on the observer side) 1, a λ/2 retardation plate 2, a λ/4 retardation plate 3, a liquid crystal layer 4, a λ/4 retardation plate 5, a λ/2 retardation plate 6, and a polarizing plate (on the backlight side) 7. The liquid crystal layer 4 has orientating layers 4a and 4b on its opposed major surfaces. The polarizing plate 7 is laid one over another in the top-down order. In such an arrangement, two of the λ/2 retardation plates, being vertically symmetrical about the liquid crystal layer, have respective retardation axes which are shifted 90 degrees from each other and out of phase. Another pair of the λ/4 retardation plates are disposed similarly.


In one or more embodiments, a system generates a navigable interface for traversing sets of content based on system-determined relationships between the sets of content. The system uses a trained machine learning model to determine characteristics, such as layout, for sets of content. The characteristics are mapped to a content type. The system organizes the sets of content, based on respective content type, into a set of pages of a multipage navigable interface. Furthermore, the system selects navigational relationships between the sets of content based on respective content type. The navigational relationships are implemented via interface elements that allow for navigation between the pages of the navigable interface including corresponding sets of content.

When building an interface, many different factors are typically taken into consideration by a designer, such as what type of content appears on the various different pages of the interface, how the interface can be navigated, who will have access to the interface, etc. All of these various factors are taken into consideration when ultimately designing the interface so that a user can intuitively navigate through all of the information contained in the interface.
The approaches described in this section are approaches that could be pursued, but not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated, it should not be assumed that any of the approaches described in this section qualify as prior art merely by virtue of their inclusion in this section.

Generating a navigable interface based on system-determined relationships between sets of content


An energy absorbing span lock system for drawbridges, such as a double-leaf bascule leaf span. A retractable and extendible connector mounted on one leaf of the span engages a receiver on the other leaf. Resilient energy absorbing shoes in the receiver accept the connector and allow relative deflection between the leaf ends caused by vehicular traffic.

The present invention relates generally to span locks for drawbridges, and more particularly to a novel and improved energy absorbing span lock system suitable for use in drawbridges.
Span locks on drawbridges serve as shear connectors for securing the outer ends of movable leaves from vertical deflection such as occurs during passage of vehicular traffic, and for preventing the bridge from accidentally opening. As applied to a double-leaf bascule bridge, the locks couple the outer ends of the leaves in vertical alignment where they meet and transfer the shear loads from one leaf to the other.
Several types of locks for these purposes are well-known. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 685,768 to C. L. Keller and 689,856 to E. D. Cummings provide interlocking members for vertically aligning the outer ends of bascule bridge leaves where they meet, and for transmitting shear stresses from one leaf to the other. The bascule bridge in U.S. Pat. No. 2,610,341 to H. H. Gilbert utilizes a bar lock consisting of self-aligning members on one leaf registering with retractable shear pins on the other leaf. In German Patent No. 929,130 to K. Seegers, the drawbridge has a span lock in which spring-loaded locking levers on one leaf snap into place on either side projection on the other leaf as the span closes.
Bar-type and jaw-type span locks have been particularly favored because of their reliability. The bar-type lock utilizes forged steel, machine-finished bars slid within guides and sockets on the outer or meeting ends of the drawbridge. The bar lock is especially susceptible to wear requiring frequent interruptions of bridge service for time-consuming repair or replacement of parts. Some bar locks have shims in the guides and sockets for adjusting the positions of the openings and for controlling clearance with the bar. Even so, service interruptions are still necessary for adjustments and shim replacement. Where shims or other means for adjustment are not provided, complete disassembly and removal of span lock components are usually required.
The jaw-type span lock provides extendable jaws on one bridge leaf which rotate on eccentric pins in a vertical plane into a socket on the other bridge leaf. The vertical clearance between the jaws and the socket is usually adjusted by rotating the eccentric pins. Generally, pins are difficult to move after long use and exposure to the environment, and are not in readily accessible locations.
Vertical clearance in each of these span lock systems is critical. Vertical clearance in the range of 0.020 inches is preferred yet, after a short service time, it is not uncommon for the clearance to become excessive. In some instances, vertical movement of one end of a meeting bridge end relative to the other increases as much as 1.5 inches or more. In addition to the risk of vehicular accidents and personal injury, excessive vertical clearance is insidious and will continue to increase and manifest damage or failure as well to structural members or operating machinery due to greater shock loading.
Ideally, the vertical opening in either system should be equal to the height of the bar, or distance between the jaws, so that substantially no clearance exists upon contact, and that shear loads are smoothly transmitted from one member to the other. However, minimizing the vertical clearance is not easily achieved. In one bar-type system the guides and sockets are equipped with upper and lower shoes urged against the bar by tapered wedges. As wear occurs, the vertical clearance between the bar and the shoes can be reduced by adjusting the wedges. The wedges, however, are not a significant improvement over guides and sockets fitted with shims. Both designs require frequent adjustment to insure proper alignment.
Another known bar-type span lock design is self-adjusting. It utilizes a tapered bar slidable in a guide and a socket in respective leaves of the bridge. As the bar or socket wears, the bar is urged further into the socket to take up the wear. The position of the bar in the socket is controlled by limit switches. This design accommodates wear in the socket of one leaf, but does not correct for wear in the bar guide.
While the above-described designs have unique advantages over prior concepts, they do not address the problem of repetitive shock loads experienced by span locks in drawbridges due to heavy traffic.

Energy-absorbing span lock system for drawbridges


A shoulder protector comprising a generally “U” shaped device of a resilient material that fits over the shoulder comprising: a base; and a pair of flanges extending orthogonally from the base that define a channel for reception of the scapula area of the body. According to various preferred embodiments, the shoulder protector of the present invention includes; 1) a hygienic layer on the side of the device that addresses the body; 2) an adherent layer that engages an overworn jersey on that surface of the device that lies away from the body of the user; enlarged shoulder pad areas that extend over and below the shoulder of a user; and removable rigid or semi-rigid shoulder pads that can be removably attached to the shoulder protector of the present invention.

Participants in such sports as bicycling, motorcycling, roller blading, running, ice skating, horse back riding etc. are relatively prone to falling under certain adverse conditions. The normal reaction in such a falling conditions is to extend the hand or arm to break the fall. Such action almost inevitably results in breakage of the extended appendage as it strikes the ground. More experienced participants in such activities have learned to "tuck", i.e. retract the hand and arm, and to rely upon the shoulder to absorb the shock of the body striking the ground. While such a "tucking" action reduces the possibility of damage to the hand and arm, it exposes the shoulder and shoulder area including the scapula to damage in the form of dislocation of the shoulder joint or breakage of the scapula. Thus, the availability of a device that would protect the shoulder and scapula under such falling conditions would be highly valuable.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


The self-ventilated motor (10) comprises a casing (12) having an air inlet opening (18) and an air outlet opening (20) and delimiting an air passage between the air inlet opening (18) and the air outlet opening (20), drive means (13) comprising a shaft (22) housed in the casing (12), a ventilation propeller (24) connected to the shaft (22) upon rotation and housed in the air passage, and a noise reduction device (26). The noise reduction device (26) comprises a first noise reduction member (28), attached to the casing (12) at the air inlet opening (18), a second noise reduction member (30) arranged on the ventilation propeller (24), and a third noise reduction member (32) fixed to the casing (12) at the air outlet opening (20).

A self-ventilated motor conventionally comprises a rotor and a stator, wherein the rotor is provided with an output shaft. The self-ventilated motor further comprises a ventilation propeller, mounted on the output shaft.
As the propeller is connected to the output shaft upon rotation, it is automatically activated when the output shaft rotates, resulting in the circulation of an air flow inside the motor to cool the motor.
Such a self-ventilated motor, however, has the disadvantage of being particularly noisy. In fact, the air flow generated by the ventilation propeller is a source of significant noise.
More particularly, the noise is generated by the air flow induced by the propeller, and its propagation on the front and side surfaces of the motor, as well as towards the rear of the motor.

Noiseless self-ventilated motor, in particular for a railway vehicle


An encoder system for encoding a signal according to any number of FEC and/or channel codes comprises a shift register, an array of MOD/XOR stages, and a generator matrix stage for controlling the connections between the shift register and the MOD/XOR stages and altering these connections according to a coding format selected by an encoder selection stage. There is also disclosed a decoder system for decoding a signal encoded according to a number of FEC and/or channel codes comprising a decoding stage, and a generator matrix stage for configuring the decoding stage to a decoding code format to be applied an incoming encoded signal. A decoder selection stage is coupled to the generator matrix stage and selects the decoding code format to be used in the decoding process. The decoder selection stage instructs the generator matrix stage to configure the decoding stage according to the selected decoding code format. There is also disclosed a method for encoding and decoding.

In wireless communications systems, obtaining reliable high-speed communications poses a number of problems for the wireless channel. The signal transmitted over the wireless channel is subject to multi-path distortion which may significantly affect the amplitude and phase of the transmitted signal. Forward error control (FEC)/channel codes are widely used to reduce transmission errors in a radio channel subject to fading. There are many types of conventional FEC/channel codes having error correction capabilities, for example, convolutional codes, block codes, Hamming codes and turbo codes.
The choice of FEC/channel codes will depend on the required quality of service determined by, for example, the data rate, delay rates and error rates, and the radio channel. Typically, different FEC/channel codes will be employed in different standards as different standards will have different target applications and therefore different quality of service (QOS) requirements. However, it may be desired to support, within the same standard, a set of FEC/channel codes providing different coding gains for different services.
To support multiple FEC/channel codes, one commonly used conventional method is to employ multiple encoders in the transmitter and multiple decoders in the receiver. However, this has the disadvantage of requiring the communication equipment to be extremely complex.
Thus, there is a need to provide a coding/decoding (CODEC) system and process for use with multiple FEC/channel codes which is less complex and more economical than conventional systems and methods.

Encoder system, a decoder system, a coding/decoding apparatus, an encoding method and a decoding method