The disclosure relates to methods of making foams comprising aromatic polyester polyether polyol materials derived from the transesterification of polyethylene terephthalate with either glycerin or trimethylolpropane, wherein each of these triols, independently, has a degree of ethoxylation of from 1 to 9. Uses of the foams are further disclosed. The disclosure further relates to selection of blowing agents suitable to generate a selected end use case. Yet further, the disclosure relates to selection of end uses, properties, and environmental profiles of the foams generated according to the methods herein, and selecting formulation variables suitable to obtain the foams.

It is mandated by the Montreal Protocol that blowing agents have no Ozone Depletion Potential ("ODP"). However, some blowing agents in use today are recognized as emitting volatile organic compounds ("VOCs"), which is a leading contributor to smog and, more significantly, Global Warming. The US Environmental Protection Agency sought to curtail the use of these materials and to promote the use of more environmentally benign materials by adoption of certain regulations known as Significant New Alternatives Policy ("SNAP"). While those regulations are not currently being enforced in relation to materials having Global Warming Potential ("GWP") such as VOCs, they are still in effect in relation to ODP. The US and almost every country in the world have adopted the Montreal Protocol, and the US remains in this treaty, including the recent Kiligali Amendment that specifically addresses the decreased use of VOC-containing chemicals throughout the world. Such global recognition that VOCs are a contributing cause to Global Warming means that there is no doubt that manufacturers are motivated to seek alternatives to problematic blowing agents in the future. At the very least, hydrofluorocarbons ("HFCs") with high-VOC emission levels will need to be replaced by HFCs with lower GWP ratings.
One blowing agent alternative to HFCs is hydrofluoroolefin ("HFO"), which is a blowing agent with no GWP. This blowing agent is currently being introduced into the market by various manufacturers that have specific proprietary versions. However, these HFO products do not provide a "drop in" solution. When formulated with existing polyols as the "B side" component to be mixed with the "A side" isocyanate to form a polyurethane foam, these HFO blowing agents have been shown to exhibit solubility and stability issues. The foams prepared using these materials also are often not comparable to prior art polyurethane foams, if only because these new blowing agents are being used with existing polyol materials that were created for use with the prior generation blowing agents. In this regard, polyurethane foams are known to be highly formulation dependent, with even minor changes to the raw materials often resulting in major changes to the behavior of raw material compositions, application parameters, and the performance of the generated foam. Thus, it is possible that many of the previously satisfactory polyol materials will be found to be incompatible with these new blowing agents, some of which provided properties and performance needed for a particular use case.
Other available blowing agents are environmentally friendly, such as methyl formate, hydrocarbons, water, and CO2. While these materials have been around for some time, they have experienced limited use as blowing agents for polyurethane foams, at least because foams generated from these materials often do not meet the expected performance requirements for certain widely used end products. While these foam products could find utility for in use cases where lower performance is acceptable, such as packaging, the costs of the polyurethane containing materials, in particular the polyols, is too high for such lower value applications. Moreover, these blowing agents need to be specifically optimized for each class/type of polyol materials.
There remains a need for polyols that can be used to generate foams that can provide the necessary performance criteria for a particular use case. Yet further, there is a need for polyols that can be used to generate well-performing polyurethane foams using environmentally appropriate blowing agents. Still further, there is a need for polyol materials that are generated from recycled and/or sustainable materials to provide further improvements in the environmental profiles of these products. The present disclosure provides these and other benefits.

Methods of making foams exhibiting desired properties from aromatic polyester polyether polyols derived from polyethylene terephthalates and foams made therefrom


A high resolution fast imaging spectrograph is disclosed which provides 400 spatial channels and 100 spectral channels of information. A collimating mirror (10) and a focusing mirror (12) face a plane diffraction grating (14), which is positioned at an acute angle to the perpendicular to the optic axis. An elongated slot (16) is cut through approximately the center of the grating allowing the light source (18) to pass through the slot and onto the collimating mirror. A turning mirror (20), which is placed at the focus of the focusing mirror and adjacent to the slot, directs radiation to a camera mirror (22), which focuses a final image outside the instrument enclosure onto a detector (24). The light source to the instrument is provided by an optical fiber ribbon. The detector will commonly be a CCD or CID 2-D detector, permitting the simultaneous measurement of spectral distribution of a spatial profile. The instrument requires no power input, has no moving parts, and is completely passive with no operating controls or adjustments. Also disclosed is a commercially significant means to utilize the high spatial resolution imaging spectrograph in earth science remote imaging applications through the utilization of a reflecting telescope connected to the spectrograph by means of an optical fiber ribbon.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multi-channel spectrograph, and, more particularly, to a spectrograph optimized to provide the largest possible number of independent spatial channels in the vertical plane and more modest spectral resolution in the horizontal plane.
2. Description of the Related Art
Spectrographs, and more recently scanning monochromators, have been in use for some time in an increasingly large number of applications. However, until quite recently, these instruments were limited to gathering and processing information through one channel. Light entered the instrument from a single source, and the instrument physically separated the light according to its wavelengths and presented as the output a single spectrum, most often dispersed in the horizontal plane.
In theory, nothing would have prevented the designers of early instruments, built around a prism as a dispersive element, to fashion a multichannel instrument, since they had good imaging properties due to their dioptric input and output optical systems working on axis. For each wavelength, the same point of the entrance slit was imaged as a different point in the image field. This presented the opportunity of using several spatially distinct sources of light at the input to obtain several distinguishable spectra in the image plane of a single instrument. However, in practice the modest sensitivity of early detectors as well as the small apertures (f/16 or less) of these early instruments forced designers to improve throughput at the cost of spatial resolution by introducing the concept of the entrance slit placed perpendicular to the axis of dispersion.
Later, when reflection gratings were introduced, allowing for easy extension into the UV and IR parts of the optical spectrum, dioptric optics were replaced by mirrors, which are easy to produce with broad band reflectivity. While dioptric optics work naturally on axis, mirrors are easier to use at an angle leading to very large astigmatic deformation of the image, an effect that becomes very important with fast instruments which require wide open beams and closely packaged elements.
An elegant approach to solve the astigmatic deformation of the image has been to ignore it by using the plane of the tangential focus as the image plane. In this configuration, a point of the object plane is transformed into a vertical line and a vertical slit into a slightly longer vertical image, which preserves spectral resolution. As a result, the instrument keeps a good spectral resolution at the cost of spatial resolution. This is of no consequence in applications where the only concern is measuring the spectral properties of a single sample. However, there are an ever growing listing of applications which would benefit from both spectral and spatial information.
The advent of two dimensional arrays of high quantum efficiency detectors, such as modern charge-coupled-device (CCD) and charge-induced-device (CID) 2-D detectors, and optical fibers to transport light has suggested the desirability of using spectrographs as multichannel dispersive systems capable of generating independent spectra of different sources. However, multispectra systems require a spectrograph capable of spectrally dispersing light along one axis while maintaining the spatial integrity of the input image vertically. In other words, the spectrum produced at one height at the focal plane of the spectrograph should be from one point at the corresponding height at the entrance slit.
The construction of such a spectrograph poses a challenge to designers. Conventional designs suffer from vignetting, astigmatism, coma, and other sources of crosstalk that destroy spatial purity of the resulting image at the focal plane. In recent years manufacturers have begun the introduction of high performance spectrographs allowing for some astigmatism correction and opening the field of multichannel spectroscopy. In 1989, CHROMEX Inc., of Albuquerque, New Mexico, introduced the FF-250/FF-500 family of fast (f/4) spectrographs, which use toroidal mirrors, instead of spherical mirrors, to correct astigmatism of the instrument. This advance allows the instruments to become multichannel instruments, particularly useful for multichannel applications while remaining capable of performing spectral measurements with the same resolution as their more conventional counterparts.
These improved instruments remain spectrographs primarily optimized for high spectral resolution in the horizontal direction. The astigmatic correction provided by toroidal mirrors allows for a limited number of independent spatial channels, probably more than enough for most applications, but cannot provide for high spatial resolution compatible with good imaging. This is the case because today fast instruments have by nature a high degree of astigmatism that can be corrected only in a narrow range of angles. Furthermore, the image field of these instruments has by design a high degree of curvature further limiting spatial resolution.
For an increasing number of new survey applications, where high spectral resolution is not usually needed, it is desirable to have a multichannel spectrograph which is optimized for the highest possible spatial resolution in the vertical plane and a more modest spectral resolution. Particularly important uses for such an instrument are in high resolution, remote sensing of earth resources, in infrared imaging, and in microscopy.

High spatial resolution imaging spectrograph


Disclosed is a process to increase adhesion between two adjacent layers. The process comprises roughening the surface of one layer followed by chlorination of the roughened surface and joining of the layers, or treating the surface of one layer with a silicone-based adhesion promoter and joining the layers. In one preferred embodiment the process comprises roughening the surface of one layer, followed by chlorination of the roughened surface, joining of the layers and post-treatment of the molded layers at an elevated temperature for a predetermined time.

Golf balls traditionally have been categorized in different groups, namely as one-piece, two-piece and three-piece balls. One-piece balls comprise a solid molded mass of the same material and do not have a core. Two-piece golf balls comprise a solid resilient core and an outer cover comprised of a different type of material molded thereon. Three-piece golf balls traditionally include a liquid or solid core, an elastomeric winding around the core and an outer cover molded thereon.
The outer cover of either two or three-piece golf balls may comprise single or multiple layers of molded material. The cover material may be balata (transpolyisoprene, natural or synthetic rubbers), although synthetic covers comprising non-ionomeric materials, for example polyurethane, or ionomeric polymers (polymers containing interchain ionic bonding) have become increasingly prevalent.
Additionally, despite their two and three-piece names, golf balls of either type may also comprise additional layers intermediate the cover and core or windings. The intermediate layers may be comprised of a wide range of materials, including polymers such as polyurethane, non-ionomeric and ionomeric materials.
Typically, the layers of multilayer golf balls are formed by applying them around the golf ball core or a preceding intermediate layer. Conventional techniques for applying such layers include injection molding, compression molding and casting the layer material around the underlying structure. A crucial aspect of the manufacture of multilayer balls is obtaining good adhesion strength between the various layers. If the adhesion strength between the layers does not meet desired levels, the performance of the golf ball will be adversely affected. For example, poor adhesion can cause air pockets between the layers, which can result in separation of the layers when the golf ball is struck with a club.
Further, as can be seen from the above, the possible combinations of core layers and materials, intermediate layers and materials and cover layers and materials are very large. As would be expected, the materials of one layer are often dissimilar in physical and chemical properties from those of an adjacent layer. This can make achieving a desired adhesion strength between the dissimilar layers difficult. In any configuration however, the material of each of the golf ball layers must be securely joined to the adjacent underlying and overlying layers to provide acceptable adhesion strength, performance and durability.


A method for manufacturing a semiconductor structure comprises the following steps: providing an SOI substrate and forming a gate structure on the SOI substrate; implanting ions to induce stress in the semiconductor structure by using the gate structure as mask to form a stress-inducing region, which is located under the BOX layer on the SOI substrate on both sides of the gate structure. A semiconductor structure manufactured according to the above method is also disclosed. The semiconductor structure and the method for manufacturing the same disclosed in the present application form on the ground layer a stress-inducing region, which provides favorable stress to the semiconductor device channel and contributes to the improvement of the semiconductor device performance.

With the development of semiconductor device manufacturing technology, integrated circuit with higher performance and more functionality requires higher device density and further decrease in the size and space of or between the components and units. Therefore, process control is highly required in semiconductor device manufacturing process.
The operation speed of semiconductor devices can be promoted by scaling down and the channel length of the MOS transistor is also continuously scaled down. However, as the channel length of the MOS transistor becomes very short, the so-called short channel effect (SCE) and the drain-induced barrier lowering (DIBL) set a serious obstacle to the miniaturization of semiconductor devices.
Because device performance may decrease due to SCE and may not work properly, it is an important objective in semiconductor device manufacturing research to reduce the SCE. The internal mechanical stress in semiconductor device is widely used in adjusting device performance and the SCE can be effectively reduced by applying stress to the channel.
The commonly used method for increasing stress is to operate in the S/D region to form tensile or compressive stress in the channel. For example, in common silicon technology, the transistor channel is aligned along the silicon {110} orientation. In this arrangement, when compressive stress along the channel direction and/or tensile stress perpendicular to the channel direction is applied to the channel, the hole mobility will be increased; and when tensile stress along the channel direction and/or compressive stress perpendicular to the channel direction is applied to the channel, the electron mobility will be increased. Therefore, the device performance can be improved by applying stress to the channel region of the semiconductor devices.
Using silicon on insulator (SOI) substrate in replace of the silicon substrate can also achieve the effect of reducing SCE and improving device performance. The SOI technology is to introduce a buried oxygen layer between the top bulk silicon layer and the substrate the bulk silicon layer. By forming a semiconductor thin film on the insulator, the SOI material possesses the following incomparable advantages over bulk silicon: the dielectric isolation of the integrated circuit components can be realized and the parasitic latch effect in the bulk silicon CMOS circuit can be completely eliminated. The integrated circuit using the SOI material possesses advantages such as small parasitic capacitance, high integration density, fast speed, simple processability, small SCE and especially suitable for low-voltage low-power circuit. Therefore, SOI might become the mainstream technology in the deep sub-micron low-voltage, low-power integrated circuits in the future.
Meanwhile, the SOI heterostructure induces opportunities for making ultrathin silicon bulk devices. The ultrathin SOI provides an optional method for controlling the SCE by establishing a natural electrostatic barrier in the silicon dielectric interface.
In currently used technologies, a ground layer is formed under the ultrathin BOX layer in the ultrathin-SOI MOSFET to reduce the SCE and control the power consumption. However, it is very difficult to apply strong stress in the semiconductor device with this structure, and performance improvement in this device is limited.

Semiconductor structure and method for manufacturing the same

INSTITUTE OF MICROELECTRONICS, CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES


A color separation prism system for use in a TV camera which can separate R, G and B colors. The color separation prism system of the invention includes one or more air gaps each of which is formed between the prisms in a wedge shape that is open on the converging side of a luminous flux passing through the air gap. The use of the wedge-shaped air gap can reduce the possibility of generation of an astigmatism to thereby prevent deterioration of the performance of an optical system formed of the above-mentioned color separation prisms.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a luminous flux separating optical system and, in particular, to a color separation prism which can be used in a TV camera and the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
An image luminous flux formed by a lens is often separated and image processed for various purposes. It is conventionally known that, as means for separating such luminous flux, there has been used a luminous flux separating optical system which is composed of a plurality of prisms. For example, in a color TV camera, the image luminous flux is image-processed by separating the luminous flux into a RED component, a GREEN component and a BLUE component. For such color separation, as shown in FIG. 1, a prism 101 is covered on the luminous flux leaving surface 12, with a dichroic coating which can reflect only the BLUE component, and the reflected light of the BLUE component is totally reflected by a surface 11 and is then image-formed on a BLUE image pick-up element 15. The remaining luminous components are allowed to pass through an air gap 18 and, after then, only the RED component is reflected by a dichroic coating which is coated on a surface 14 and is able to reflect the RED component. The reflected RED component is totally reflected due to a difference between the indices of refraction of the air gap and a prism glass and is then image-formed on a RED image pick-up element 16. The remaining luminous flux component is the GREEN component, which is image-formed on a GREEN image pick-up element 17. This is a typical conventional method of separating a luminous flux. There are other known luminous flux optical systems according to the prior art. These systems are different from the above-mentioned typical system in the characteristics of dichroic coatings and the number of separation, but they are similar to the typical conventional method in that, in order for the separated luminous flux components to be reflected totally, prisms are provided in the optical system with the mutually facing surfaces thereof disposed in parallel to each other and at a certain distance from each other, and there is formed a parallel-shaped air gap having an angle of inclination, which is not a right angle with respect to the optical axis of the system.
In general, it is known that an optical discontinuous surface not perpendicular to the optical axis acts to produce an astigmatism with respect to an image luminous flux which passes through the optical discontinuous surface. For this reason, the above-mentioned parallel air gap, which is an optical discontinuous surface in the luminous flux separating optical system, produces the astigmatism which can deteriorate the performance of the separating optical system. This can be recognized quantitatively as follows:
For the purpose of simplification of the problem, let us consider an optical system having one parallel air gap as shown in FIG. 2. If a dichroic coating and the like used for color separation are omitted, then the above-mentioned prisms can be considered as two simple prisms which have an air gap 28 between them, as shown in FIG. 2. By ray tracing a paraxial astigmatism in the optical system, it is possible to calculate easily an astigmatism .DELTA..sub.0 which is caused by the parallel-shaped air gap 28. That is: ##EQU1## where .DELTA..sub.0 : difference (t-s) between T image surface image forming position and S image surface forming position, that is, astigmatism
d: thickness of air gap 28 PA1 n: index of refractive index refraction of prism glass PA1 1/4: angle between air gap and surface perpendicular to optical axis.
Such astigmatism .DELTA..sub.0 deteriorates the performance of the optical system.


Disclosed therein are system and method for controlling a virtual network with a security function which can manage security states of virtual machines in a cloud datacenter, analyze security states of malicious virtual machines, and isolate and treat the malicious virtual machines in order to cope with intrusion of a virtual network under a cloud computing environment. The virtual network controlling system and method reduce the number of packets to which the IPS carries out a signature matching inspection through a DPI test by diffusing blocking against the previously detected intruder by the network level, so as to enhance performance of the virtualized network IPS.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a virtual network controlling system, and more particularly, to a virtual network controlling system including security function.
2. Background Art
Recently, an SDDC (Software-Defined DataCenter) attracts attention in the cloud computing environment, and enhances management efficiency and utilization rate of a cloud datacenter through virtualization of the whole resources including servers and networks. Particularly, in order to reduce the bottleneck of the cloud datacenter and efficiently construct and utilize the networks, a network virtualization through application of SDN (Software-Defined Network) is in progress.
The cloud environment can minimize IT resource expenses by increasing the utilization rate and easiness in management of IT resources through application of the virtualization. The server virtualization in the cloud environment was previously in a stable stage, but the network virtualization is not yet steady. Recently, in order to improve the network virtualization, efforts to reduce the bottleneck in the cloud infrastructure by applying the SDN technology to the network virtualization are actively underway.
In general, virtualization refers to the act of creating and running a plurality of operating systems in one system by dividing a single physical hardware into a plurality of virtual hardware devices. Such software capable of virtualization is a hypervisor. The hypervisor is to provide how to access different operating systems from one physical computer resource, such as a processor or a memory existing in one host, namely, is a piece of computer software that makes one computer run a number of operating systems.
Recently, with the appearance of high-performance CPUs, multi core CPUs, and high-capacity memories, it became possible to construct various virtual machines in one host and install and run a plurality of operating systems in each of the virtual machines in an allowable range of a memory.
A conventional physical server, for instance, a host, generally leases one host to just one subscriber, but when the virtualization technology is applied, one virtualized system can run various subscriber services, for instance, file servers, mail servers, web servers, and so on, so as to lease one physical server, for instance, one host, to several subscribers.
However, such a physical server to which the virtualization technology is applied has several problems, such as attack and hacking into each of the virtual machines of the subscribers and information spill from the virtual machine, because many operating systems to the number of logical servers to be installed must be installed in one host. Additionally, the virtualized system in the cloud environment which is composed of hundreds of or thousands of virtual machines is difficult to establish and apply security policies to every virtual machine. In the cloud environment, when one virtual machine is infected, other virtual machines in the system are also infected, and finally, the entire cloud systems are infected.
Conventionally, a hardware-based network security system, for instance, an IPS (Intrusion Prevention System), is an independent device which is physically installed on the outside and is very expensive.
Moreover, if the conventional hardware-based network security system, for instance, the IPS, is installed in the virtualized system of the cloud environment which softwarely distributes and allocates resources through virtualization of the entire resources including servers and networks, it is difficult to construct a security system which ideally comes into contact with the system structure, and cannot be effectively connected with the virtualized system of the cloud environment which has to frequently carry out variable distribution and allocation of resources in order to diffuse a system load.

System and method for controlling virtual network including security function


A traffic congestion monitoring system comprises infra-red monitoring units bolted to the sides of bridges over a motorway network and emitting information as to traffic congestion at their locations, a control center which receives and transmits the information, and paging units in respective vehicles and receiving the information and visually displaying the same upon diagrams of the network or zones thereof.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a traffic congestion monitoring system.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is conventional to advise police or highway officials of traffic congestion upon main roads by monitoring such congestion visually or by closed-circuit television for example. It is also conventional to advise drivers of congestion locations by broadcasting details of such congestion locations on ordinary or special radio channels to which conventional vehicle radios can be tuned. A drawback of such conventional systems for the drivers is the time delay between the build-up of congestion at a location and the communication of that information to the driver, often with the result that he is unable to avoid that location. The time delay may be worsened by the facts that the broadcasting announcer naturally has to give information about the congestion locations in turn, which also means that the driver has to carry the information in his mind in order to be able to work out a route avoiding all of the congested locations. Moreover, only serious congestion locations may be identified in the announcement, to reduce the interruption of ordinary broadcasting. The transient and aural nature of the presentation of the information to the driver mean that if the driver is not listening to the broadcast or cannot hear the broadcast (for example because the vehicle is in a tunnel or because a passenger is talking to him) when the information is given, he has to await the next bulletin.
Another drawback is that the monitoring involves employing personnel continuously to watch the locations.


A telephone exchange system comprises out-of-town exchanges and local exchanges, the local exchange keeping a communication channel established between a telephone and an out-of-town exchange without breaking the communication channel until satisfying a predetermined condition even if the telephone is on the hook when the connection has been established between the out-of-town exchange and the telephone having made a call, the out-of-town exchange keeping a communication channel established between a local exchange or an out-of-town exchange and the other out-of-town exchange or itself without breaking the communication channel until satisfying a predetermined condition even if the telephone is on the hook when the connection has been established between the local exchange or the out-of-town exchange that is a calling source and the out-of-town exchange or the local exchange that is a calling destination.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a telephone exchange system and A switching connection method for performing a switching connection among telephones and various kinds of exchanges in a telephone line, and more particularly to a telephone exchange system and its switching connection method capable of performing an efficient switching connection when successively making calls on a plurality of telephones having an identical out-of-town telephone exchange.
2. Description of the Related Art
The description will be made in the case where a predetermined subscriber successively phones a plurality of subscribers of an out-of-town exchange other than the sending party's out-of-town exchange, by use of the conventional exchange system, on a telephone line. As illustrated in FIG. 7, assume that a subscriber (A) having a telephone 71 successively makes a call to a subscriber (B) having a telephone 72, a subscriber (C) having a telephone 73, and a subscriber (D) having a telephone 74.
With reference to FIG. 7, the telephone 71 is accommodated in a local exchange (LS-A) 75 and the local exchange 75 is connected to an out-of-town exchange (TS-A) 76. The telephone 72 is accommodated in a local exchange (LS-B)77, the telephone 73 is accommodated in a local exchange (LS-C)78, and the telephone 74 is accommodated in a local-exchange (LS-D) 79, respectively. The local exchanges 77, 78 and 79 are respectively connected to an out-of-town exchange (TS-B) 80. Further the out-of-town exchange 76 is connected to the out-of-town exchange 80.
In order to phone the subscriber (B), the subscriber (A) dials the telephone number of the telephone 72 from the own telephone 71, that is out-of-town exchange number+local exchange number+subscriber phone number (hereinafter, this combination is referred to as a national number). This establishes a call connection through the path 1, enabling communication between the telephones 71 and 72. After completion of the communication, the subscriber (A) dials the national number of the telephone 73 from the telephone 71 in order to call the subscriber (C). This establishes a call connection through the path 2, enabling communication between the telephones 71 and 73. Further, after completion of this communication, the subscriber (A) dials the national number of the telephone 74 from the telephone 71 in order to call the subscriber (D). This establishes a call connection through the path 3, enabling communication between the telephones 71 and 74.
The control operation of each exchange when performing each call connection as mentioned above will be described with reference to FIG. 8. If the telephone 71 is off the hook by the subscriber (A), the local exchange 75 detects the off-hook and transmits a dial tone (DT) to the telephone 71. The subscriber (A), upon confirmation of the dial tone, dials the corresponding national number of the telephone 72 by use of the dial button of the telephone 71. The local exchange 75, upon receipt of the dial signal from the telephone 71, transfers the dial signal to the out-of-town exchange 76, in order to transfer the dial signal to the out-of-town exchange 80 specified in the dial signal. The out-of-town exchange 76 transfers the dial signal to the out-of-town exchange 80 that is a corresponding exchange specified by the dial signal received from the local exchange 75. The out-of-town exchange 80 transfers the dial signal to the local exchange 77 corresponding to the local exchange number specified by the received dial signal. The local exchange 77 sends a call signal (RINGING) to the telephone 72 that is of the corresponding subscriber number specified by the received dial signal and sends a call tone (RGT) to the telephone 71.
Upon detection of the off-hook of the telephone 72, the local exchange 77 performs a call (communication channel) connection. This enables communication between the telephones 71 and 72. If the telephone 71 is on the hook, the local exchange 75 detects the on-hook of the telephone 71, a ring-off signal is transferred to the out-of-town exchange 76, the out-of-town exchange 80, and the local exchange 77 one after another, and the call is broken.
Each exchange performs the switching operation in the same procedure as the above, also in case of dialing from the telephone 71 to the telephone 73. The local exchange 78 performs the switching operation instead of the local exchange 77 in this case. Further, it is similar in case of dialing from the telephone 71 to the telephone 74. In this case, the local exchange 79 performs the switching operation instead of the local exchange 77.
As mentioned above, in the conventional telephone exchange system, it is necessary to dial each national number for every party when a telephone call is successively made to a plurality of subscribers existing in the identical area. Therefore, the connection is troublesome and time consuming.
In order to decrease the subscriber's trouble in dialing in every time of communication, it may be considered to use a dial shortening function and a redial function provided in a telephone. However, use of the dial shortening function is restricted to the case of calling the party having been registered beforehand, and the redial function is a function of dialing the same number of the party having been called last time. Therefore, it is not available in the above-mentioned case of calling each different party one after another. Though these functions can save the labor of a subscriber, they cannot shorten the time itself required for the switching connection, but they are only to dial the number instead of a subscriber.
The Japanese Patent Publication Laid-Open (Kokai) No. Heisei 1-168147 "Dialing Method by Exchange Difference in General Telephones" discloses a technique for shortening a dial operation by storing either an out-of-town exchange or a local exchange of the calling party when dialing a calling party, and when calling the same party later, automatically sending the stored out-of-town exchange or local exchange by a specified key operation. However, this technique cannot shorten the time required for a switching connection even if it can save the labor of a user.

Telephone exchange system and switching connection method improved in efficiency for long-distance calling


Disclosed are a portable communication device and a cradle apparatus for the same. The portable communication device includes a first housing; a second housing with a first display device, the second housing being cradled at a known angle after being swung from the first housing; and a third housing with a second display device, the third housing being stacked with the second housing before the second housing is swung from the first housing, and being extended from a lower edge of the second housing and tilted at a same known angle as the second housing when the second and third housings are extended from the first housing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates to the field of portable communication devices, and more particularly to a cradle apparatus which includes a first display device, and a second display device cradled at the same angle with the first display device.
2. Description of the Related Art
As expressed herein and as generally known in the art, the term "a portable communication device" refers to a device that allows a user to execute wireless communication with a counterpart while the user carries it. Such a portable communication device may be represented as a HHP (hand-held phone), a CT-2 cellular (cordless) phone, a digital phone (voice over IP), a PCS phone (portable communication system), and a PDA (personal digital assistant), or other similar communication types devices. Typically, a portable communication device is classified into various types according to its external appearance. For example, a portable communication device (or wireless terminal) may be classified into a bar-type terminal, a flip-type terminal or a slide-type terminal according to its external appearance. The above-mentioned portable communication devices essentially include an antenna device, a data input/output device, and a data reception/transmission device. Of course, keypads that allow data input through pushing action by a user's fingers are widely employed as the data input device.
The slide-type wireless terminal includes a main body having a keypad, a sliding body having a display unit, and a sliding module for allowing the sliding body to be slid from the main body.
However, the conventional slide-type wireless terminals have a number of problems that cause inconvenience to the user. For example, a separate cradle is employed in order for a user to conveniently see information displayed on a display device. The cost of the separate cradle represents an additional financial burden to a user. In fact, it is well-known that a user can more conveniently see information items displayed on a display device if the user sees the information items when the display unit is in a tilted position. However, in the past, unless a separate cradle was provided, the user had to grasp main body of a display device and tilt it so as to see information items displayed on the display device in a more convenient manner. Consequently, it is inconvenient for a user to see a picture displayed on a display device on a table or the like unless a cradle is separately provided.
Korean Patent No. 0678215 discloses in detail some configurations of a portable terminal and a sliding cradle apparatus thereof in order to solve the above-mentioned problems.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, which are duplicated from the above-mentioned Korean patent, a sliding cradle apparatus 10 of a portable terminal is shown that includes: a first housing 20 with a plurality of keys 21, and a second housing 30 with a display device 31, which is slid on the first housing 20 in such a manner that the second housing 30 is tiltedly cradled on the first housing 20 after being slid open, wherein the cradle apparatus 10 includes: a first member 50 provided in the first housing 20, a second member 60 anchored to the second housing 30; a sliding guide unit 70 provided between the first and second members 50 and 60 so as to guide the sliding movement of the second housing 30; and a hinge means 80 provided between the first member 50 and the sliding guide unit 70 in such a manner that the second member 60 and the sliding guide unit 70 can be rotated about a hinge axis A1 away from a position where they are arranged opposite to the first member 50.
However, the conventional sliding apparatus of the portable terminal has disadvantages in that since it employs a configuration that requires the second housing be tiltedly cradled after it is slid open to expose the keys on the first housing, the space for installing the keys is restricted. Further, since the display device should be provided only on the second housing, it is impossible to use a large display device.
In addition, since the conventional hinge means includes a hinge arm, a rod, a cam and a coil spring, as shown in FIG. 1 of the aforementioned Korean patent application, a space for installing these components is required, and since the number of components is increased, manufacturing costs and assembling steps are also increased.
Therefore, what is needed is an apparatus that can provide a large display device, and a wide keypad, and which can reduce the number of components so that a resultant product can be miniaturized and manufacturing costs and assembling steps can be reduced.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Portable communication device and cradle apparatus thereof


Methods and associated apparatus for using a dual-boot capable programmable device and for updating programmed information in such a dual-boot capable programmable device. The apparatus of the present invention includes a primary boot memory device, a secondary boot memory device, and means for selecting between the two memory devices for purposes of "booting" the dual-boot mode device. In particular, a reset switch of the apparatus of the present invention resets devices in the dual-boot capable programmable device and is coupled to a selection device. The selection device multiplexes signals from the two boot memory devices onto the corresponding bus signals of the dual-boot capable programmable device. When a "long" reset switch activation is sensed, the selection device selects a first of the two boot memory devices for coupling to the programmable device. A "short" activation of the reset switch selects the other boot memory device. The present invention also includes methods for updating the contents of the two boot memory devices so as to avoid an inoperable state encountered due to failure of the update process in a single boot memory device. In particular, both boot memory devices are updated in sequence. The second memory update is prevented if the first memory update is determined to have failed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to program updates in programmable devices and in particular to a method and associated apparatus for performing program updates in a dual-boot programmable device and for using such a dual-boot capable device.
2. Discussion of Related Art
It is generally known in the art to provide updatable boot instruction sequences for initial loading in a programmable device. As used herein, "programmable device" includes processors, field programmable logic devices, and other programmable electronic devices. Processors are computing devices which execute programmed instructions stored in an associated memory (or internally within a cache memory associated with the processor). A processor fetches and executes boot instruction sequences from a memory device to initialize it's operation for a desired application. Field programmable logic devices (FPLDs) are electronic circuits are devices which contain arrays of boolean logic electronic circuits (typically within a single integrated circuit). The interconnections among the various logic circuits are defined by a programmed sequence loaded into the FPLD from an associated memory device (e.g., boot instructions sequences). Further, as used herein, "boot instruction sequences" is intended to broadly include any programmed information which is a loaded or fetched by a programmable device associated with the boot instruction sequences.
Typically, such boot instruction sequences are stored in a memory associated with the programmable device. For example, in a typical personal computing system, a memory device (e.g., a ROM BIOS chip) stores the initial instructions to be executed by the central processing unit (CPU) of the personal computer. When such a personal computer is reset or initially powered on, the central processing unit fetches boot instructions directly from the ROM memory device. Or, for example, an FPLD in a particular application may initially load its configuration from an associated memory device. The initial configuration defines the Boolean logic functions to be performed by the FPLD in its intended application.
The memory device containing the boot instruction sequence is often updatable in the sense that the instructions (the logic functions) contained therein may be re-programmed with updated instructions. For example in a typical personal computer, the boot instructions are often stored in a flash memory device which may be electronically erased in re programmed by instructions operating in the central processing unit. Or for example, a field programmable logic device may be initially programmed upon reset by information stored in a such a flash or programmable memory device associated with the field programmable logic device or updated by instructions operating in an associated processor.
The memory device containing such boot information (program instructions, programmed logic, etc.) are typically updated by first erasing the contents of the memory device then programming the memory device with the updated boot information. A problem can therefore arise if the update sequence fails in some manner. The memory device in case of such a failure may be left in a state wherein it is unusable. For example, the erasure of the memory device may have completed but the re-programming may have failed or the re-programming may have partially failed. If the boot memory device is left in such an unusable state, the entire application may be shut down (e.g., the computer may fail to run or the circuit in which an FPLD is embedded may fail to operate).
In view of the above discussion, is clear that a need exists for improved methods and associated apparatus for using and updating boot memory devices associated with programmable electronic devices.

Methods and apparatus for dual-boot memory selection, update, and recovery in a programmable device


(a) A surface shape of an object 1 is measured from different positions and/or different directions and plural partial measurement data 2 including common part 1a is obtained. (b) A parametric surface showing the surface shape of each measurement range is formed from the data. (c) A plurality of sampling points are set at a predetermined pitch in the common part and the Gaussian curvature K and/or an average curvature H are calculated from the principal curvatures (.kappa..sub.1, .kappa..sub.2) in the points. (d) Three or more characteristic points are selected in accordance with the order from larger absolute values of K or H in the common part and a normal vector of a plane constructed by three points among the points is calculated. (e) The common parts are made coincide with each other by moving the parametric surfaces so as to coincide the three characteristic points with each other and to coincide the directions of the normal vectors with each other. Consequently, the synthesis data can be formed from the partial measurement data obtained from the free-form surface.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of synthesizing shape data by patching partial surface shape data of a free-form surface.
2. Description of the Related Art
When the surface shape of a wide object which cannot be measured by one operation or a complicated solid three-dimensional object which can be measured only from different directions such as a case where shape data of the surface of a mock-up of a vehicle is measured, it is necessary to measure the surface parts of the object from different positions or directions by using a three coordinate measuring machine (digitizer) and to synthesize (patch) partial measurement data obtained.
As methods of synthesizing the partial measurement data, the following methods are conventionally known.
(1) Plural partial measurement data is displayed on a CRT and the operator moves the data while seeing the image so as to coincide overlapped parts with each other (manual method). PA1 (2) Rotation and translation distances of a measuring machine are preliminarily measured and the measurement values are inversely transformed (mechanical measurement method). PA1 (3) Markers such as white or light spots are made by ink or the like and positioning is performed (marker method). PA1 (4) In case of a simple shape such as Z=f(x, y), undetermined multipliers of its analytic surface are fit by an optimization method such as least-squares method (analytic fitting method).
These conventional methods of synthesizing the partial measurement data have, however, the following problems.
According to the manual method (1), the skill of the operator is required and only synthesis with low accuracy can be performed. According to the mechanical measurement method (2), since it is necessary to mechanically rotate or translate the measuring machine, the size of the measuring machine is increased and the machine is complicated. Since an influence of a backlash or the like of the machine is incurred, the method is limited by the mechanical accuracy. According to the marker method (3), since markers are indispensable, the method cannot be applied to an object to which markers cannot be made. An error can also occur by making the markers. The analytic fitting method (4)has the feature that the accuracy which is higher than the mechanical accuracy and is almost equal to the measurement data can be obtained. An object is, however, limited to a simple shape (analytic shape Z=f(x, y)).

Method of synthesizing measurement data of free-form surface

The Institute of Physical and Chemical Research


A phase detector includes a first selection circuit configured to select a first clock from a first group of clocks supplied to the first selection circuit and to transmit the first clock, and at least one phase comparator configured to detect a difference in phases between the first clock and a second clock supplied to the phase comparator and to transmit the difference as a scan signal.

1. Field of the Invention
This present invention relates to a phase detector, clock distribution circuit, and Large Scale Integration to adjust a clock skew.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is important to reduce a clock skew in a synchronous circuit because a large clock skew causes a set-up time/hold time violation. Accordingly, a Large Scale Integration (LSI) operating at high frequency especially at gigahertz clock speed is designed to reduce the skew as required. Therefore, a balanced tree of clock buffers shown in FIG. 1 is used. The balanced tree is technique to distribute the clock with reduced skew to a large number of flip-flops (F/Fs) in the LSI. The F/Fs layed out in a plurality of domains in the LSI are clustered, and the F/Fs in the same cluster are connected to the domain clock buffer with the same propagation delay. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the F/Fs are connected to each of domain clock buffers 1a to 1h. Then, the domain clock buffers are clustered and connected to another buffer with the same propagation delay. For example, the cluster of domain clock buffers 1a, 1b, 1e, 1f in domains A, B, E, F is connected to a buffer 2a and the cluster of domain clock buffers 1c, 1d, 1g, 1h in domains C, D, G, H is connected to a buffer 2d. Buffers are connected to a clock source with the same propagation delay. In such a way, the balanced tree is designed from bottom-up.
However, even for a balanced tree so designed, the skew still remains in the manufactured LSI because of difficulty of wiring all of the buffers with the same propagation delay or wire capacitance. Therefore, there is a method whereby a phase detector (PD) located in the boundary of the domain detects the skew between two domain clock buffers in two domains that face across the tile boundary and reduces the skew in the manufactured LSI by adjusting the propagation delay of the buffers.
However, as shown in FIG. 2, the phase detectors PD1 to PD24 placed at the boundary of domain A to P in the LSI 5 detect the skew between only two domain clock buffers. For example, the phase detector PD 3 detects the skew between clock CK-B transmitted from the domain clock buffer 1b in the domain B and clock CK-F transmitted from the domain clock buffer 1f in the domain F. Because phase detectors are mounted at the every boundary of the two domains facing across each of the boundaries, the number of phase detectors is large and a large number of the phase detectors creates difficulties in the layout and wire planning of the LSI and increases the LSI area.
In particular, an LSI operating at high clock speed above 1 gigahertz requires minimal skew. The more the LSI area is broken into domains for minimizing the skew, the larger the number of phase detectors. The larger the integration of the LSI, and the larger the number of domains of the LSI and phase detectors.

Phase detector, clock distribution circuit, and LSI


LDP label switching may be discontinued gracefully on one or more selected ones of multiple links interconnecting a pair of label switched routers (LSRs) while leaving label switching in operation on the remaining LDP-enabled links. Mechanisms for graceful shutdown of LDP on a selected link are added by way of modification to one or more of: e.g., LDP discovery Hello messages, LDP Label Withdraw/Label Release messages, LDP Notification messages.

The present invention relates to data networking and more particularly, in certain implementations, to systems and methods for gracefully disabling LDP label switching on selected link(s) between two routers that are connected by multiple parallel links.
MPLS (Multi-Protocol Label Switching) represent an evolution in the routing architecture of IP networks. Benefits include, e.g., better price/performance in routers, scalability, better integration with circuit switched technologies such as Frame Relay and ATM, the ability to implement layer 2 and layer 3 virtual private networks, and improved control of traffic characteristics.
In one simple MPLS scenario, at the ingress of the network, labels are assigned to each incoming IP packet based on its forwarding equivalence class before forwarding the packet to the next hop node. At each intermediate node, a forwarding selection and a new substitute label are determined by using the label found in the incoming packet as a reference to a label forwarding table. At the network egress (or one hop prior), a forwarding decision is made based on the incoming label but no label is included when the IP packet is sent on to the next hop. In other scenarios, the incoming packet that is carried in this way is itself another MPLS packet such that MPLS traffic is carried over another MPLS cloud.
The paths taken by packets that traverse the network in this manner are pre-configured and referred to as label switched paths (LSPs). To assure that traffic is forwarded correctly, each LSR creates "bindings" between IP forwarding equivalence classes and the labels to be used as the index to the forwarding table at that LSR. The previous LSR in line on the LSP must then be informed of these label bindings so that it will correctly encapsulate packets it forwards to the next hop.
Several mechanisms have been developed for the distribution of labels. One is the Label Distribution Protocol (LDP) as described in Andersson, et al., "LDP Specification," RFC 3036, Internet Engineering Task Force, January 2001. LDP provides mechanisms for LSR peers to discover one another and establish communications. LDP also includes mechanisms to tear down sessions, to advertise label bindings, to withdraw previously advertised bindings, and to provide various other types of notification. LDP messages are generally specified as sets of TLV (type, length, value) encoded objects.
LDP can be used to establish and operate LSPs that traverse a pair of routers only when there is an LDP session between the routers. When label switching is to be discontinued, it is desirable that the discontinuation be graceful. Once an LSR discontinues label switching with a peer, MPLS traffic from that peer will be dropped. Thus it is important that both LSRs participating in a session coordinate the discontinuation of label switching so that no traffic is lost. The current LDP specification includes certain provisions which can be used to implement graceful mechanisms to discontinue LDP-based label switching between two LSRs without loss of MPLS traffic.
A complication arises, however, where multiple parallel links are available between two LSRs. LDP will typically operate all of the parallel links under a single LDP session. In certain situations multiple LDP sessions will operate between the two LSRs by using different label spaces. MPLS traffic of a given session can be divided over the multiple links for load-balancing purposes. In certain situations, it will be desirable to discontinue LDP label switching on one or more of the multiple links while continuing label switching on the remaining LDP-enabled links. LDP-related MPLS traffic will then continue flowing on the remaining LDP-enabled links supporting the active session and able to perform label switching. LDP makes no provision for a graceful shutdown of label switching on only selected ones of multiple links. Such a capability is desired.
One technique for providing this capability involves adjustment of underlying routing metrics. If LDP path selection is based on paths learned via an IGP (Interior Gateway Protocol), one can increase the "cost" of links over which a traffic halt is desired. This technique carries several drawbacks. Both MPLS and IP traffic are shifted off these links, causing unnecessary rerouting of traffic. When the IGP costs are modified they must be advertised throughout the network, requiring a large volume of unnecessary routing messages. Also, LDP may learn its paths from static routing rather than IGP, rendering the technique completely useless.

Graceful shutdown of LDP on specific interfaces between label switched routers


A swing training device is provided. The swing training device embodies a mask adapted to place an aperture at a predefined focal length in front of the eyes of the athlete. The mask is adapted to attach to various headgear. The mask provides guides for selectively retaining diaphragms with their own diaphragmatic apertures over the aperture.

The present invention relates to athletic training devices and, more particularly, to a swing training device embodying a headgear attachment to reduce the field of view of the wearer, whereby the wearer self-teaches themselves to prevent head movement throughout an entire swing.
In the game of baseball or softball, restricting or eliminating head movement throughout the entire swing is essential for good fundamentals. Athletes of all ages struggle keeping their head still due to improper fundamentals and poor balance throughout the swinging phase, among other things.
Currently, baseball swing training devices focused on the batter's vision include eyewear too close to the user's pupils, often causing blurred or unclear vision (frustrating the overall purpose of improving one's baseball swing for the purpose of striking the ball).
As can be seen, there is a need for a swing training device embodying a headgear attachment to restrict the wearer's field of view which in turn coaches them to stop moving their head throughout an entire swing.
The attachment is a mask dimensioned and adapted to attach to headgear of the wearer, in certain embodiment engaging the bill of the headgear. The mask provides an aperture which limits the wearer's peripheral vision. Depending on the headgear, the distance (or focal length) between the front portion of the mask and the pupils of the wearer is approximately 3½ to 4 inches, allowing the wearer's eyes to adjust to the 3½ to 4 inch offset of the viewing aperture as opposed to eyewear offset only ½ inch away from the eyes of the wearer.
Looking through the aperture of the present invention not only allows the eyes to adjust but the athletes retains clear vision of the ball prior to contact at the swing because of the focal length between the pupils and the aperture. The present invention teaches the athletes to not move their head, else lose sight of the ball through the aperture. The aperture also blocks out peripheral vision, further forcing the athlete to focus on the ball looking through a small aperture in the mask attached to the headgear.

Swing training device, system and method


Embodiments are provided for content item classification. In some embodiments, an image for classification is received, a compact representation for the image having values indicative of pixel values within the received image is generated, a plurality of angle measurements for possible edges of at least one potential document within the received image are determined, and the image is classified using said compact representation and said plurality of angle measurements.

Technological advancement with digital cameras in recent years has both reduced the size and the cost of digital cameras. Digital cameras are largely mass produced in a large number of electronic devices, such as pocket-sized cameras, mobile phones, computers, tablets, and other devices. Users often have a camera at their disposal and may snap a photograph of a document rather than write down the contents of the document. As a result, users may over time accumulate a large number of images that contain documents.
With the decrease in costs for storage, users often store a large number of their captured images both on their cameras and in remote storage. Instead of reviewing and organizing images before uploading, users simply upload the entire set to content management systems to store, manage, and review their captured images. With images that contain documents mixed with other images, it can be difficult to find a particular image with a document. Accordingly, there is a need for improved image classification and organization of images.


A mobile cellular telephone (100) is disclosed comprising a communications transmitter (103) and receiver (102) arranged for two-way communication with a base station (BS), and a GPS receiver (105, 106) arranged to power up in response to direct interaction between a user and the mobile phone (100) after the telephone has been switched on.

This invention relates to a mobile cellular telephone comprising a GPS receiver.
It is known to provide a mobile cellular telephone with a GPS receiver for the purpose of enabling operators of cellular telephone networks to determine the location from which a call is made. Conventionally, this occurs by a network operator making a location request to the telephone via a telephone network base station; and in response to the request, the telephone powering up its GPS receiver to determine its location and transmitting information corresponding to its location back to the base station.
In such a telephone, the power consumption of the GPS receiver during GPS signal acquisition and tracking, and navigation processing can be high. Therefore, as a mobile cellular telephone typically has a finite battery capacity, it is preferable that the GPS receiver is powered up only when required. The battery capacity problem is further compounded by the fashion for the miniaturisation of mobile telephones (and their battery packs) for both aesthetic and ergonomic reasons.
For an emergency call to the emergency services, it is of course desirable for the call location to be available as soon as possible. However, from a xe2x80x9ccold startxe2x80x9d where the GPS receiver does not have access to up to date ephemeris data or even worse from a xe2x80x9cfactory cold startxe2x80x9d where the GPS receiver does not have an up to date almanac, the time to first fix (TTFF) can be anywhere between 30 seconds and 5 minutes.
In order to reduce the TTFF, a GPS receiver may be provided with base station assistance in order to acquire GPS signals more quickly. Such assistance may include the provision by the base station to the receiver of a precision carrier frequency reference signal for calibrating the local oscillator used in the GPS receiver; the data message for up to date satellite almanac and ephemeris data from which Doppler shift for satellites in view can be determined; and the current PRN code phase. With such assistance, it is possible to sweep only a narrowed range of frequencies and code phases in which the target PRN code is known to occupy, thereby reducing the number of code instances that need to be checked and thus reducing the time for code acquisition, in fact to as little as a few seconds. Base station assistance is further described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,841,396 and 5,874,914 which are incorporated herein by reference.
Not withstanding the above improvement, it is desirable to further reduce the TTFF. It is also an object of the present invention to do so.
According to the present invention, a mobile cellular telephone is provided comprising a communications transmitter and receiver arranged for two-way communication with a base station, and a GPS receiver characterised in that the GPS receiver is arranged to power up in response to direct interaction between a user and the mobile phone after the telephone has been switched on.
Such a GPS receiver is able to immediately commence processing GPS signals in order to retrieve the pseudorange information and determining its current position, without waiting for call connection or a location request transmitted from a base station. This is beneficial in that GPS processing prior to call connection reduces the risk of signal interference and drowning of the GPS signal caused by the mobile unit""s transmitter transmitting encoded voice or other data to a base station and perhaps also caused by the mobile unit""s receiver receiving base station replies.
Furthermore, as powered up only when required, the overall power consumption of the GPS receiver (and therefore the telephone) remains relatively low.
In particular, but not exclusively, the GPS receiver may be arranged to power up in response to the user making a particular call, for example, to the emergency services.
In such an arrangement, recognition by the telephone of a particular call being made may occur when the user enters the call telephone number, for example, by typing on a keypad or using speech recognition.
Alternatively, recognition may occur when the user enters one or more, but not all of the digits of the call telephone number. In such an event, the GPS receiver may be arranged to power down should that the number being entered by the user deviate from the call telephone number, thus saving power.
As an alternative to call recognition, the GPS receiver may be arranged to power up in response to a change in the strength of the signals received from a base station of a cellular radio transmission system, e.g. indicative of the mobile telephone being removed from a pocket or briefcase; to detected movement of the mobile telephone, e.g. when detected by an accelerometer located in the mobile telephone; a change in temperature of the telephone or pressure applied to the telephone, indicative of handling by the user; or to the retracting of a cover on the mobile telephone, e.g. in the case of a mobile telephone with a sliding cover protecting the key pad, by retracting the cover, or in the case of a xe2x80x9cflip topxe2x80x9d mobile telephone, by flipping the cover. The GPS receiver may be arranged to power up in response to a combination of these features, possible determined by fuzzy logic.
For an Internet enabled mobile telephone with a GPS receiver, the GPS receiver may be arranged to power up in response to the user selecting a particular web site, for example, a website associated with a location based service whereby the call location is determined in anticipation of a request from that website.

Mobile cellular telephone comprising a GPS receiver

Abstract: In particular, the GPS receiver (105, 106) may be arranged to power up in response to the user making a call to the emergency services. Recognition by the telephone of an emergency call being made may occur when the user enters the emergency call telephone number, or one or more, but not all of the digits of the emergency call telephone number.


Methods and apparatuses for locating an embedded color chart in an image are described. In one exemplary method, an image that includes an embedded color chart is located without the intervention of the user. The embedded color chart is verified and used to create a color profile of the image. Furthermore, the orientation angle of the color chart is determined and the image orientation is fixed based on this angle.

A color calibration chart ("color chart") is an array of several blocks of known color values that is used to calibrate and evaluate the color in cameras and other systems capable of color reproduction. Each of the squares represent different colors that are typically used in color images, such as white, black, different levels of gray, as well as colors representing human skin, foliage, and blue sky. Color charts are typically used photography, graphic arts, electronic publishing, and video production to check cameras (still and video), printers, scanners, monitors, or any other equipment used in the color reproductions system.
A photographer will typically take a picture of a scene that includes the color chart. The photographer can do this for every picture, or for a representative picture in a sequence of pictures. In the post-processing of the image, in one embodiment, a user would manually check the color of the some or all of the color squares in the reproduced color chart and adjust the reproduced color until the color of the square matched or closely approximated the known color. In an alternate embodiment, the user would select the color chart in the image and a computer would detect the selected color chart and use this chart to calibrate the image.
However, this process requires the user to manually select the color chart, or manually check each of the squares to calibrate the image. In addition, these methods known in the art require the color chart be horizontal with the image, which means that the color chart cannot be oriented at an angle other than zero to the image.

Automatic detection of calibration charts in images


In a subscriber line accommodation apparatus, subscriber line termination units individually terminate a plurality of subscriber lines. An address information acquisition unit successively acquires, as address information, a dynamic address dynamically assigned to each of the communication terminals connected to the subscriber lines terminated by the subscriber line termination unit. A packet information reading unit reads out, from a packet to be sent to one of the communication terminals, packet information containing a dynamic address indicating the destination of the packet. An address information coincidence presence/absence determination unit determines whether the readout dynamic address coincides with one of the pieces of address information acquired by the address information acquisition unit. A packet sending control unit permits sending of only a packet determined to be coincident. A packet filtering method is also disclosed.

The present invention relates to a subscriber line accommodation apparatus which is used to send a packet to a communication terminal connected to a subscriber line terminated by a subscriber line termination unit and a packet filtering method used in sending a packet.
There is widely employed a service form in which DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) is used by each user terminal to connect to a communication network such as the Internet through a transmission line such as a telephone line or an optical cable. The DHCP indicates a protocol to dynamically assign a reusable IP (Internet Protocol) address.
In a communication network using DHCP, however, a third party can interfere with communication of another person or impose as another person by assuming a false IP address or MAC (Media Access Control) address.
For example, when the bridge forwarder of a subscriber line termination unit included in a communication network using DHCP has received packets to be subjected to flooding, the packets are transmitted to all nodes present on the same network. For this reason, unnecessary packets are transmitted to even a user terminal which is no communication target, and the traffic increases.
Additionally, in the communication network using DHCP, an IP address is dynamically assigned to each user terminal. Hence, it is impossible to exclude unnecessary packets by registering a static filter in advance.
A subscriber line accommodation apparatus has been proposed in which all MAC addresses of user terminals connected to accommodated lines are registered. When a communication terminal different from these MAC addresses is going to access the network, the access is rejected, thereby increasing the security level (e.g., reference 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-204246)).
In the first proposal, a third party can interfere with communication of another person or impose as another person by assuming a false IP address.
To solve this problem, a subscriber line accommodation apparatus capable of rejecting an access request from a third party for a communication network by using an IP packet has been proposed (see, for example, reference 2 (Cisco-Cable Source-Verify and IP Address Security (http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/109/source_verify.html))).
In the second proposal, when an IP packet arrives at a DHCP server to request acquisition of an IP address, an IP address is issued in response to the request. In addition, a set of the issued IP address, the identification number of the subscriber line for which IP address acquisition is requested, and the MAC address of the communication terminal which has issued the request is registered in a filter condition registration means. When a packet has arrived, a set of the IP address, identification number, MAC address of the packet transmission source and the set of the IP address, identification number, MAC address registered in the filter condition registration means are compared. Only when the two sets coincide, packet communication is permitted. Communication is not permitted for a packet in which address information such as the IP address of the transmission source coincides but the identification number of the subscriber line does not coincide. Hence, illicit access can effectively be prevented.
However, the second proposal only regulates packet input by using an input filter and cannot regulate output of unnecessary data. Hence, packets sent to a communication terminal connected to a subscriber line cannot be filtered efficiently.

Subscriber line accommodation apparatus and packet filtering method


An image processing apparatus reads an image on an original and generates lines of data by causing a carriage to perform scanning, then by referring to the data, detects chromatic color pixels that exist between two achromatic color pixels, being first and second achromatic color pixels, from among pixels in the image that has been read in the scanning direction of the carriage, and determines one of the detected chromatic color pixels as a pixel of interest and corrects the pixel of interest to an achromatic color pixel while shifting the position of the pixel of interest pixel-by-pixel N times from a pixel position adjacent to the first achromatic color pixel in a direction toward the second achromatic color pixel.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and method for performing color-shift correction processing of image data.
Description of the Related Art
A color scanner is known as an image reading apparatus that reads an image by switching different emission wavelengths of light. Such a color scanner includes a carriage that is movable in a predetermined direction and equipped with a lighting device and an image sensor, which are line-shaped. The light source of the lighting device is LEDs that are capable of illuminating at emission wavelengths corresponding to Red (R), Green (G), and Blue (B) light. An original is read by the line-shaped image sensor receiving reflected light from the original while the carriage is moved in a direction (hereinafter referred to as a sub-scanning direction) crossing the longitudinal direction of the line-shaped lighting device. A moving reading method is used as a method for reading an original.
The moving reading method as referred to herein is a reading method in which light-source LEDs are switched while a CIS (Contact Image Sensor) unit is transported in the sub-scanning direction. Specifically, a red LED is lighted to obtain the R component of a color image, then a green LED is lighted to obtain the G component, and finally a blue LED is lighted to obtain the B component. A single line of image data is obtained in a single cycle of lighting those red, green, and blue LEDs. Accordingly, a single page of image data is obtained by repeating the lighting cycle while transporting the CIS unit in the sub-scanning direction.
However, color shifts occur with such moving reading where the RGB LEDs are lighted sequentially. Color shifts are described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 7 illustrates how color shifts occur. A description is given of a case where an original whose color changes in the order of white, black, and white is read in the sub-scanning direction. Assume that the RGB light sources are lighted at times as shown in FIG. 7 when reading the original while transporting the CIS unit in the sub-scanning direction. When reading a region 1, the RGB read value is white (255, 255, 255) because the RGB light sources illuminate a white area of the original and the reflected light enters the sensor. Similarly, when reading a region 3, the RGB read value is black (0, 0, 0). When reading a region 2 that includes an edge where the color changes from white to black, the G light source illuminates both white and black areas of the original. In this case, the read value for G is an intermediate value of the values of white and black and accordingly the RGB read value is orange (255, 128, 0). Meanwhile, when reading a region 4 that includes an edge where the color changes from black to white, the RGB read value is blue (0, 128, 255).
As described above, in the method for sequentially activating the light sources in the order of R, G, and B, a color-shifted pixel with a warm chromatic color is generated on the upstream side, in the sub-scanning direction, of an edge where the color changes from white to black, whereas a color-shifted pixel with a cool chromatic color is generated on the downstream side of the edge. As a method for reducing such color shifts, a method is known in which a pattern is used to recognize an edge portion of white and black, and when the pattern is matched, a color-shifted pixel is replaced by black or white (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-280575). A method is also known in which a color shift is detected at an edge portion and a color-shifted pixel is corrected to an achromatic color pixel (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-96625). Still another method is known in which a portion where luminance increases or decreases monotonously is determined to be a color-shifted pixel and the saturation of the color-shifted pixel is corrected (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-42267).
Here, there is a phenomenon that higher reading resolution increases the number of chromatic color pixels generated due to color shifts. This is described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 6 illustrates an edge where the color changes from white to black, as viewed through a lens. The Y axis indicates luminance value, and the X axis indicates position. As viewed through the lens, blurring occurs at an edge portion of white and black where the color gradually changes from white to black. It is well-known that such blurring is caused by aberration.
As shown in FIG. 6, a description is given of a case where a single pixel is blurred at 300 dpi. If an image is read at 300 dpi through a lens causing such blurring, a single pixel is blurred. At 600 dpi, which is double the resolution of 300 dpi, two pixels are blurred. Similarly, at 1200 dpi, which is double the resolution of 600 dpi, four pixels are blurred. In this way, higher reading resolution increases the number of blurred pixels to be generated. Additionally, as described above, chromatic color pixels are generated at edge portions due to the phenomenon caused by color shifts. In other words, it can be seen that higher resolution widens the range of chromatic color pixels occupying an edge portion.
Similarly to the example of resolution, the range occupied by chromatic color pixels due to color shifts can also be widened depending on the type of originals. For example, printed matter printed by an inkjet printer lacks sharpness of edges. There are various causes of this, and with reference to FIG. 5, the influence of the circular shape of main droplets 501 and the influence of satellites 502 (separate ink droplets) as sub-droplets and splashes 503 (ink splashing) are known, for example. That is, blurring occurs during reading because an original edge portion is not in the form of a straight line due to the main droplets 501. Additionally, the satellites 502 and the splashes 503 form small dots away from an edge, which widens the range of blurring to be read.
As described above, originals printed by an inkjet system have a tendency to have more blurred edges than those printed by offset printing or silver halide-based photography. Such an expanded range of edge blurring also results in the expansion of the range of chromatic color pixels due to color shifts.
If the range of chromatic color pixels expands at an edge portion, color shift correction of a single pixel is not enough for correction. Also, in the case of color shift correction based on pattern recognition, enormous amounts of memory are consumed because of the expansion of the range of memory that needs to be registered as patterns.

Image processing apparatus and image processing method


A layer for protecting an underlying functional coating stack for example a single silver layer or double silver layer Low-E coating stack includes silicon oxynitride or silicon aluminum oxynitride layer. The protective film may have a uniform composition throughout its thickness i.e. homogeneous protective layer, a constantly increasing or decreasing index of infraction throughout its thickness i.e. a graded protective layer, or a combination of all or some of the foregoing i.e. a non-homogeneous protective layer. The graded and non-homogeneous layers may have an outer surface of silicon nitride, silicon aluminum nitride, silicon dioxide, silicon oxynitride or silicon aluminum oxynitride. The protective layer of the invention may be the last layer deposited on the functional coating stack or may have a film deposited thereon.

This invention relates to a layer or film to protect underlying functional coating layer(s) or film(s) and, in particular, to a sputter coated silicon oxynitride protective layer to protect underlying low emissivity coating film(s).
Vacuum deposited low emissivity (xe2x80x9cLow-Exe2x80x9d) coating stacks usually consist of the following general layer sequence: S/(D1/M/P/D2)R where:
S is a substrate usually a transparent substrate such as glass;
D1 is a first transparent dielectric layer usually a metal oxide and may include one or more transparent dielectric films;
M is an infrared reflective layer usually silver or other noble metal;
P is a primer layer to protect the underlying infrared reflective layer in a reactive plasma;
D2 is a second transparent dielectric film similar to D1; and R is an integer equal to or greater than one and is the number of repetitions of the above layers.
The dielectric layers, D1 and D2, adjust the optical properties of the coating stack. These layers also provide some physical and chemical protection to the fragile infrared reflective layer(s) which are usually silver layer(s). Unfortunately, many process-friendly and cost-effective dielectric materials are often susceptible to abrasion and corrosion as well. For example, zinc oxide e.g., as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,296,302, which usually forms a crystalline film, is susceptible to attack by acids and bases; bismuth oxide, which usually forms an amorphous film, is soluble in certain acids; tin oxide, which usually forms an amorphous film, is susceptible to attack in certain basic environments.
To reduce corrosion, some Low-E coating stacks have an overlaying protective overcoat of a chemically resistant dielectric layer. This layer preferably has desirable optical properties, manageable sputter deposition characteristics, and is compatible with other materials of the coating stack. The titanium dioxide films disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,716,086 and 4,786,563 are protective films having the above qualities. There are other chemically resistant materials that have limitations, e.g., are more challenging to sputter. Silicon oxide disclosed in Canadian Patent No. 2,156,571, aluminum oxide and silicon nitride disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,425,861; 5,344,718; 5,376,455; 5,584,902 and 5,532,180 and in PCT International Publication No. WO 95/29883 are examples of such materials. New sputtering deposition techniques in recent years, e.g., cylindrical magnetrons and dual planar magnetrons, have made the deposition of nitrides and oxides of silicon more practical. As a result of such new sputtering techniques, Low-E coating stacks with silicon nitride as one, or all, of the dielectric layers (D), and without additional protective overcoats, have been disclosed e.g. in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,563,734 and 5,514,476.
In the instance where a protective layer or dielectric layer includes silicon, the cathode used in the sputtering process usually includes an alloy element to facilitate sputtering the silicon cathode. An alloying element used is aluminum, while other elements, e.g., boron and some transition metals, have also been used. U.S. Pat. No. 5,417,827 discloses a silicon nickel alloy. Although silicon nitride is chemically durable, the nitrides of the alloying element which may be present in the coating layer may not show the same level of durability e.g., aluminum nitride decomposes in hot water to form a hydroxide of aluminum.
As can now be appreciated, the above patents/patent applications disclose various protective layers or films to protect underlying coating layers and/or films; however, as was discussed, the presently available protective layers or films have limitations and/or drawbacks. It would be advantageous, therefore, to provide additional protective layers or films to protect underlying coating layers and/or films that minimize if not eliminate the limitations and/or drawbacks of the presently available protective layers.
This invention relates to an improved coated article having a functional coating on a substrate and a protective layer over the functional coating. The improvement is a protective layer of silicon oxynitride or silicon aluminum oxynitride. The protective layer of the instant invention may be homogeneous, graded or non-homogeneous, each term is defined herein. The protective layer of the instant invention may be the last layer or film deposited on a coating stack or a film under the last layer or film deposited.
The invention further relates to the method of depositing the protective layer.


A hand-held device such as a mouse is provided for inputting into a computer relative positional information during movement of the device over a generally planar surface and for inputting an optical image of an object located thereunder. The device includes a housing adapted to be grasped by a user and moved along the surface. A positional transducer is mounted in the housing for generating first signals representative of the amount of movement of the device over the surface. An area imager is located within the housing for recording an image of an object and for generating second signals representative of the image.

Current personal computers typically include a mouse, which is a device that is manually rolled across a surface to position a cursor on the computer screen. A mouse pointing device typically incorporates a track ball or other surface engaging mechanism which rotate disk encoders to generate positional data. Mouse devices also include push-buttons which may be actuated by the operator's fingers to facilitate such actions as menu selection and the dragging of images across the screen.
Mouse devices are known that incorporate an optical scanner so that images may be captured from a document and transferred to the computer by manually sliding the scanner across the document. U.S. Pat. No. 5,355,146, for example, discloses a mouse device that incorporates a linear image sensor such as a CCD. When used as a scanner, the device is dragged across a document and the image data captured in this manner is fed to software stored in the computer. The device may be freely dragged back and forth across the document several times and the software, responding to the continuously-monitored position of the device, continuously writes the scanned image data into the appropriate place within a random access memory. One limitation of this device is that it requires complex software to properly correlate the image data with the positional data.


In a bottom plate for closing a crankcase of an internal combustion engine wherein the bottom plate includes openings and channels for collecting and conducting fluids, the bottom plate consists of a number of individual plates which are joined together after the channels and openings have been cut into the individual plates by laser beam cutting or water beam cutting.

The invention relates to a bottom plate for a crankcase of an internal combustion engine with passages for lubricant and coolant integrally formed into the bottom plate and to a method of making such a bottom plate.
DE 198 55 562 C1 discloses a crankcase with chambers which serve as lubricant storage spaces.
DE 100 33 416 C1 discloses a bottom plate for closing a crankcase. The bottom plate extends over the whole base area of the crankcase. On the bottom plate, the pumps, heat exchangers and filters are arranged. Channels for conducting media such as the lubricant and the coolant are integrated into the bottom plate. At each end, the power output end and the opposite end, the bottom plate is provided with a recess for collecting lubricant. In the description, such a recess will be called suction location. The lubricant dripping down from the crankshaft area is directed toward these suction locations by fluid guide structures. The lubricant is then pumped by a suction pump from the suction locations via passages in the bottom plate to the various chambers of the crank case.
In practice, the bottom plate is an aluminum casting. The packaging density and the free channel length of the bottom plate is determined largely by the smallest possible core height and the required minimum wall thickness. Additional functions such as preheating can therefore be integrated into the bottom plate and by a new design with a correspondingly larger volume.
It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a bottom plate which offers a greater variety of choices.


Glass flakes of the present invention include glass flake substrates and a coating covering at least a portion of the surface of each of the glass flake substrates and composed of a binder. The binder includes a lubricant other than silicone, or a lubricant and an aminosilane. The proportion of the lubricant in the binder is 30 mass % or less.

Glass flakes are typically and widely used in applications such as reinforcing materials for thermosetting resins and thermoplastic resins and fillers for anticorrosive lining.
For example, JP S62(1987)-109855 A describes a technique for incorporating glass flakes to a thermoplastic resin to improve its strength and dimensional stability. WO 2007/111221 A1, WO 2012/026127 A1, and WO 2013/121756 A1 describe incorporating granular glass flakes granulated using a binder or surface treatment agent to a thermoplastic resin.
Glass flakes, which are scale-shaped thin pieces and thus easily scattered, have a problem in that the workability is poor before incorporation to a thermoplastic resin. To incorporate glass flakes to a thermoplastic resin, an extruder is commonly used. Since glass flakes are bulky and have poor flowability, glass flakes have problems such as clogging a feed section and being poorly blended with a thermoplastic resin. In order to solve these problems, a technique for granulating glass flakes using a binder or surface treatment agent and then incorporating the granular glass flakes to a thermoplastic resin has been invented.


A backlight module (200) typically used in a liquid crystal display (LCD) (20) includes at least one light emitting unit (250), and a frame (260) receiving the at least one light emitting unit therein. The frame includes a main body (261), and at least one elastic member provided at an outer side surface of the main body. The LCD employing the backlight module can be prevented from being damaged if the LCD falls to the ground or is bumped.

Liquid crystal of an LCD does no itself emit light. Therefore it is common for a backlight module to be installed in an LCD device together with the LCD. The backlight module provides a uniform flat light source to enable the LCD to display images.
Referring to FIG. 8, this is an exploded, isometric view of a typical liquid crystal display. The liquid crystal display 10 includes a liquid crystal panel 190, and a backlight module 100 adjacent to an underside of the liquid crystal panel 190.
The backlight module 100 includes a first brightness enhancement film 110, a second brightness enhancement film 120, a diffusion film 130, a light guide plate (LGP) 140, a plurality of light emitting units 150, a reflector 170, and a frame 160. The first and second brightness enhancement films 110, 120, and the diffusion film 130 are arranged from top to bottom in that order. The frame 160 receives the three films 110, 120, 130, the LGP 140, the light emitting units 150, and the reflector 170. The frame 160 may be made of metal, plastic, or another suitable material. The light emitting units 150 are typically light emitting diodes (LEDs).
The LGP 140 includes a light incident surface 141, a light emission surface 142 substantially perpendicular to the light incident surface 141, and a bottom surface 143 opposite to the light emission surface 142. The light emitting units 150 are arranged adjacent to the light incident surface 141 of the LGP 140. The reflector 170 is located adjacent to the bottom surface 143 of the LGP 140. The diffusion film 130 is disposed adjacent to the light emission surface 142 of the LGP 140.
The liquid crystal display 10 is assembled by the following steps: firstly, the LGP 140 and the reflector 170 are received in the frame 160; subsequently, the light emitting units 150 are arranged in the frame 160 adjacent to the light incident surface 141 of the LGP 140; finally, the diffusion film 130, the second and first brightness enhancement films 120, 110, and the liquid crystal panel 190 are disposed in that order from bottom to top on the light emission surface 142 of the LGP 140.
The frame 160 is made of metal, plastic or another suitable material, and includes four enlarged corner portions for added strength (see FIG. 9). However, the liquid crystal display 10 may sustain great shock when it falls to the ground or is bumped. As a result, components of the liquid crystal display 10 are liable to be damaged. In particular, the liquid crystal panel 190 and the LGP 140 are liable to sustain damage.
What is needed, therefore, is a backlight module and a liquid crystal display employing the backlight module that can overcome the above-described deficiencies.

Backlight module with shock-protection elastic member and liquid crystal display using same