A method (100) of connecting a first object to a second object is disclosed The first and second objects each comprise at least one associated interface defining a communication protocol for each of the objects. The method (100) examines the communications protocols associated with each of the interfaces of the first and second objects. The method (100) associates a first mapping pointing to the second object with the first object and associates a second mapping pointing to the first object with the second object, if the first and second objects use a compatible communications protocol and the interfaces associated with each of the first and second objects define different sides of the compatible communications protocol.

Before proceeding with a description of the background art, a brief review of terminology to be used throughout the following description is appropriate.
In an object oriented programming environment, such as Visual C++, the term "object" is used to refer to a computer software component comprising data structures, and procedures (often referred to as methods) for manipulating the data structures. Objects can communicate with one another by sending messages using some form of communications protocol. The procedures of a particular object can be activated by a message sent from another object, where the interior structure of each object is entirely hidden from any other object (a property referred to as encapsulation). Each object can have one or more associated interfaces which specify the communication between two objects. For example, each object can have its own private variables and if a procedure contained within a specific object does not refer to non-local variables then the interface of the object is defined by a parameter list contained within the object. Variables of an object store information but do not define how that information is processed.
Objects are derived from a template or type of object, and the collection of objects that are derived from a particular template are said to form a class. Each object in a class is referred to as an 'instance' of that class. A class definition defines the attributes (i.e. properties) of the objects within a particular class. Generally, the objects within a class are ordered in a hierarchical manner such that an object has a parent object (i.e. super-class) at the next higher level in the hierarchy and one or more child objects (i.e. sub-class) at the next lower level. An object is generally mapped to a parent object or a child object by means of a mapping table, often referred to as a sibling table, which is associated with the object.
As described above, each object can have various attributes associated with the object. Attributes can be local to that object, or can be inherited from the parent object. Inheritance is the term given to the manner in which characteristics of objects can be replicated and instantiated in other objects. Attributes of an object can also be inherited from a child object often without limit on the number of inheritances. The object from which all of the objects within the class are derived is referred to as the base class object.
Inheritance is both static by abstract data type and dynamic by instantiation and value. Inheritance rules define that which can be inherited and inheritance links define the parent and child of inheritance attributes.
Generally, an object has a permanent connection with a parent application program. However, some objects (e.g. embedded objects) have no permanent connection with a parent application. In this case, when the object is activated the parent application is generally launched. For example, a button object on a graphical user interface system, when activated, might cause a certain application program to execute in order to perform some function.
Many conventional computer graphical user interface systems, such as the Windows™ graphical user interface system, utilise objects to process asynchronous events such as a mouse click or a key-board press. These asynchronous events are most often generated by a peripheral device and as such, asynchronous events are generally referred to as external events. External events are generally processed by a graphical user interface system using one or more objects which are called by an application program. Some external events may require several different actions (e.g. activating a procedure, calculating a data value, determining the meaning of a key-board press, or the like) to be performed by an application program and as such, many application programs use a certain class of object called an event handler object to process external events. Each external event can be handled by a different event handler object which itself often generates internal events within an application program, and thus event handler objects are generally configured to communicate with one another. However, a certain type of external event (e.g. a mouse click) is generally handled by a certain instance of event handler object (e.g. a mouse event handler object).
Event handler objects communicate with one another by sending messages, as described above, using some form of communications protocol. It is advantageous if such a protocol is "flexible" in that compatibility between event handler objects is not restricted to objects of a certain class. Further, it is advantageous if the protocol is safe in that two or more event handler objects are able to communicate with each other.
Conventional communications protocols for facilitating communications between event handler objects have tended to be to restrictive in that compatibility between different event handler objects has been constrained to objects based upon their class. For example, one conventional graphical user interface system determines compatibility between event handler objects at the time that an application program is compiled by determining the class of each event handler object of the application program. This graphical user interface system requires that an object be a member of a predefined class and an object of one class cannot be connected to an object of a different class.
In addition, conventional protocols which have been pre-configured for flexibility have generally tended to be unsafe. For example, one known graphical user interface system allows objects of any class to be connected to each other. However, this operating system cannot guarantee that these connected objects will be compatible.
Finite state machines are commonly used to model graphical objects. Modelling graphical objects using finite state machines enables the separation of a graphical user interface associated with an object from the implementation of that object. Finite state machines provide a simple automation method where an input data string is read once from left to right looking at each symbol in turn. At any one time the finite state machine is in one of many internal states and the state changes after each symbol is read with the new state depending on the symbol just read and on the source state.
A finite state machine is determined by a state transition function ƒ as follows:ƒ:I×Q→Q where I is the set of possible input symbols, Q is the set of states, and I×Q is the Cartesian product of I and Q. The function ƒ is generally represented either by a state transition table or by a state transition diagram.
Finite state machines can be used to model discrete controls which are commonly used on graphical user interfaces and which a user interacts with to drive a particular graphical user interface Interacting with a control often results in a change to the visual appearance of any graphical objects associated with the control. For example, a button represented on a graphical user interface using one or more graphical objects can be configured to glow when a mouse cursor moves over the button as well as to provide feedback when the button is selected by using a mouse in a conventional manner. More complicated controls such as list boxes can have a larger number of possible visual appearances.
Most conventional graphical user interface controls exhibit instantaneous changes to visual appearance. That is, as soon as a user interaction occurs (e.g. a mouse click), the control is immediately re-rendered to show a changed visual appearance. Unfortunately, the differences between the visual appearance before and after the user interaction is often significant. Thus, even when modelled using a finite state machine, the instantaneous change of visual appearance in a control often appears abrupt and unattractive.


The invention relates to a piston pump for delivering hydraulic fluid, including a cylinder element, a piston that is able to move back and forth in the cylinder element, a piston chamber in which the piston is able to exert pressure on the hydraulic fluid, an outlet valve, and a slot-controlled inlet valve; the inlet valve has at least one slot that is oriented in the movement direction (X-X) of the piston.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a piston pump for delivering hydraulic fluid, particularly for use in vehicle brake systems.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are numerous designs of piston pumps for delivering hydraulic fluid known from the prior art. In vehicle brake systems, radial piston pumps are frequently used, which have a number of pump elements driven by means of a cam element. The known pump elements have an inlet valve and an outlet valve. The inlet valve has a spring-loaded ball that is pressed against a valve seat. Thanks to the spring loading, the inlet valve remains closed during the pressure-generating pumping action of the piston. The outlet valve also has a spring-loaded ball that is lifted away from its valve seat as soon as the pressure in a piston chamber is greater than the force of the outlet valve spring. During the intake phase, however, a vacuum is generated in the piston chamber so that the spring force closes the outlet valve, the inlet valve is lifted away from its valve seat, and hydraulic fluid is drawn into the piston chamber from an intake line. As soon as the piston has passed bottom dead center again, the compression phase begins again, in which the inlet valve is closed and pressure is built up in the piston chamber. This control by means of the spring-loaded valves results in imprecisions, particularly in the intake phase, which have a negative impact on efficiency.
In addition, the known piston pumps have an intake path extending through the piston, i.e. the piston contains a longitudinal bore and a lateral bore through which the intake of the hydraulic fluid occurs. The inlet valve is situated in a valve cage at one end of the piston. For this reason, the piston pumps according to the prior art are relatively complex and expensive to manufacture, particularly with regard to the piston bores and assembly.

Piston pump with slot-controlled inlet valve


An analog-to-digital converter (100) has a first path (110) with a first sigma-delta modulator (114) which transforms an analog input signal X.sub.0 (111') from an input terminal (101) to a digital output signal Y.sub.0 at an output terminal (102). In a second path (120), a digital dither signal D (121') is combined with a digital intermediate signal Z.sub.0 (115') from the first modulator (114) and digitally processed by a second sigma-delta modulator (124) to an intermediate signal Y.sub.1 (125') Y.sub.1 is fed to the first modulator (114) and to the output terminal (102) with opposite sign ("+" and "-", respectively). Thereby, multipliers (133 and 127) attenuate Y.sub.1. The dither signal D (121') is used substantially only within the converter (100), and is substantially canceled before the output terminal (102). This features preserve a high SNR of the converter (100) and low spectral tones in output signal Y.sub.0.

By modern electronics, useful information (for example voice, measurement data, music, control commands, etc.) is transmitted, processed or otherwise manipulated by signals in analog (A) form or digital (D) form. Signal conversion between analog (A) and digital (D) signals in both directions is thereby often required. The quality of analog-to-digital (A/D) converters and digital-to-analog (D/A) converters and other electronic circuits can be expressed by, for example, a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) indicating how useful signals are separated from unwanted signals.
Sigma-delta modulators serving as analog-to digital converters are well known in the art and had been described in a variety of publications. For the application of sigma-delta modulators and for prior art designs, the following references are useful:
1! Franca, J. E., Tsividis, Y. (editors): "Design of Analog-Digital VLSI Circuits for Telecommunications and Signal Processing", Second Edition, Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, 1994, ISBN 0-13-203639-8, chapter 10 "Delta-Sigma Data Converters" by Temes, G. C., on pages 317-339; PA0 2! Norsworthy, S. R., Schreier, R., Temes, G. C.: "Delta-Sigma Data Converters", IEEE Press, New York, 1997, ISBN 0-7803-1045-4; and PA0 3! Proakis, J. G., Manolakis, D. G.: "Digital Signal Processing", Third Edition, Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, 1996, ISBN 0-13-373-762-4, chapter 9.2. "Analog-to-Digital Conversion", on pages 748-762, and chapter 3.1. "Z-Transform", on pages 151-160.
FIG. 1 illustrates a simplified block diagram of sigma-delta modulator 20 (hereinafter modulator 20) as known in the prior art. Modulator 20 comprises adder 22 ("+"), integrator 24 ("INT"), comparator 26 ("CP"), and digital-to-analog (D/A) converter 28. Optionally, modulator 20 also comprises dither generator 30 (U-shaped dashed frame) having, for example, digital dither generator 32 ("DITHER", producing signal d'), digital-to-analog (D/A) converter 34 (producing signal d), adder 36 ("+") and subtractor 38 ("-").
Elements within dashed frame 20' are considered first with signal d assumed to be initially set to zero, i.e. signal d=0. Adder 22 receives analog input signal x and feedback signal -z and provides (x-z) to integrator 24. Integrator 24 integrates (x-z) and provides .intg.(x-z) to comparator 26. Comparator 26 compares .intg.(x-z) to a reference signal r and provides output signal y as a series of binary values such as, e.g., "+1" and "-1". The sequence of the "+1"and the "-1" values in y represents the analog input signal x. D/A converter 28 uses output signal y to provide the feedback signal -z to adder 22.
The digital output signal y of modulator 20' (within frame 20') can show unwanted signals, such as for example, periodical fluctuations. This happens, for example, when analog input signal x is constant over a certain time period, or when the input signal x is small in comparison to its signal range. Adding dither signals d, for example, to input signal x is used in the art to improve the performance of the modulator. In dither generator 30, digital dither generator 32 provides a digital random signal d' and D/A converter 34 transforms d' to an analog dither signal d. Adder 36 adds dither signal d to analog input signal x and subtractor 38 subtracts d' from digital output signal y.
However, such conventional dithering suffers the following main disadvantages: (a) Dither signal d goes through modulator 20 and increases the overall noise within output signal y: (b) Dithering further limits the dynamic range of x (e.g., ratio between .vertline.x.sub.max .vertline. and .vertline.x.sub.min .vertline.) because elements which receive x (e.g., adder 22), must not only accommodate, e.g., .vertline.x.sub.max .vertline., but also must accommodate, e.g., .vertline.x.sub.max .vertline.+.vertline.d.sub.max .vertline..
FIG. 2 illustrates a simplified amplitude-frequency diagram 10 of output signal y of sigma-delta modulator 20. Diagram 10 gives an amplitude .vertline.y.vertline.(.vertline. .vertline. for absolute values) of signal y on the vertical axis versus increasing frequency f on a horizontal axis. Such a presentation is well known by the term "spectrum". A person of skill in the art is able to measure such spectra without the need for further explanation. Trace 11 shows the spectrum of signal y' of modulator 20 having no dither generator 30 (dashed frame 20' in FIG. 1). Signal y' also has spectral lines 13 for certain frequencies f.sub.1, f.sub.2, etc., also called "spectral tones". The tones are not wanted. For example, they can be amplified by circuits coupled to the output of modulator 20 or they can cause incorrect operation in these circuits. Trace 12 shows the spectrum of signal y of modulator 20 employing dither generator 30. Dither signal d is preferably, "noise-shaped " with, for example, amplitudes .vertline.d.vertline. related to the frequency f proportionally or by a square function: EQU .vertline.d.vertline..about.f (1) EQU .vertline.d.vertline..about.f.sup.2 ( 2)
Spectral tones in y' are substantially reduced in signal y. However, dithering introduces noise and the amplitude of y is higher than the amplitude of y'. In other words, the SNR of modulator 20 (with dither) is lower than of modulator 20' (without dither).
There is an ongoing need to provide an improved analog-to-digital converter which mitigates these and other disadvantages and limitations of the prior art.

Analog-to-digital converter using dither and method for converting analog signals to digital signals


An apparatus, system and method for electronic motion detection are disclosed. Passive infrared sensor clusters are mounted in spaced, forward facing positions within a housing and include a left binocular plurality of passive infrared sensors and a right binocular plurality of passive infrared sensors. These passive infrared sensor clusters define respective left and right overlapping fields of view having the same horizontal elevation with a horizontal spacing being adjustable therebetween. Detection circuitry processes respective detection signals relative to an intruder received from the left and right binocular plurality of passive infrared sensors to eliminate false positive signals and classify the intruder as one of moving left to right, right to left, and stationary.

Without limiting the scope of the present invention, its background will be described with reference to outdoor activities. Recreational activities, such as camping and hunting, afford a person an opportunity to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and enjoy nature. Being alerted to the intrusion of a two legged or four-legged visitor is essential, whether to avoid surprise during camping or being alerted to the approach of wild game when hunting. Early warning of the arrival or approach of the two legged or four-legged visitor may provide sufficient time for the outdoors man or woman to take appropriate action. Further improvements are warranted in this field.

Apparatus, system and method for electronic motion detection


An improved mechanics creeper which consists of a fore creeper and a rear creeper, wherein a lower junction edge is provided on a front end of the rear creeper, a plurality of holes are provided on the lower junction edge and a dovetail mortise is provided on each of two sides of the lower junction edge; an upper junction edge is provided on a rear end of the fore creeper to correspond to the lower junction edge, a plurality of pillars are provided on an inner side of the upper junction edge to be inserted in the holes on the lower junction edge, and a dovetail tenon is provided on each of two inner sides of the upper junction edge to be inserted in the dovetail mortise; through assembly of the lower junction edge of the rear creeper with the upper junction edge of the fore creeper, an integral mechanics creeper is formed and can be disassembled and then assembled anew at a junction of both the fore and rear creepers.

The present inventor's prior new design "mechanics creeper" with the application Ser. No. 07/462,150 has been patented in the United States for its beauty and practicability, but it is rather long and inconvenient for portability, use, packing and shipment. In view of such a drawback, the present inventor has further improved it and invented the present improved mechanics creeper.


An optical display system is disclosed having a preferred application in a helmet mounted heads-up display. The display system includes an image source (42-46) for generating an image which includes a plurality o fields sequentially displayed by the image source to form the image with a two-dimensional array of pixels forming each field and the fields having a spatially modulated light intensity. An image display (50) is coupled to the image source for displaying the fields. The image display produces for each field a two-dimensional display having a fixed number of light emitting points (65) which are disposed along each dimension of the two-dimensional array with each light emitting point being spaced apart from adjacent light emitting points by a fixed distance. An actuator (52) is provided for moving the light emitting points in unison in a repeated pattern relative to a field of view of the displayed image with motion of each of the light emitting points along two axes during the repeated pattern delineating an area which is a fraction of an area of the displayed image produced by the image display. Movement of the light emitting points through successive positions of the repeated pattern is synchronized with the successive display of individual fields by the image source.

Helmet mounted displays have been developed for diverse applications, such as simulation systems used for training, and for use in vehicular or aircraft operation as displays for sensor data and/or instrument readings, or as an aid to the operator of the vehicle or aircraft performing other tasks. For example, a helmet mounted display has been used to present data concerning weapon status to pilots of fighter aircraft. This data is often presented in alpha-numeric form and appears to reside or originate far in front of the aircraft but is actually generated by a display, often by a cathode ray tube (CRT), located in the users helmet. Special optics which are attached to the helmet bend and focus the display light to create the effect of a remote origin for the information. Locating the apparent origin of the display image in a position far in front of the aircraft, where the pilot's eyes are normally focused during aircraft operation, eliminates the need to look down and refocus onto the aircraft instrument panel. Thus, the pilot may retain a constant head-up attitude.
Other information, such as fuel level or engine temperature may be displayed in the same manner.
Images such as those discussed here which have an apparent position where no real image source exists are known as "virtual images". Images generated in this manner can range in complexity from simple cursors or cross hairs, to complete scenery with trees and mountains. The types of images which may be used for simulation or vehicle operation in helmet mounted head-up displays are diverse in nature.
In a helmet mounted head-up display the image source is generally located in or near a helmet worn by the user. Special optics, also located in or near the helmet, bend and focus light from the image source to create a virtual image of the display. Helmet mounting has the advantage of allowing the image source to move with the user. Also, a head-mounted display generally serves to present a larger image field, in part because the display and optics are closer to the user's eye.
FIG. 1 illustrates a helmet mounted head-up display 10 which may be equipped with a stereo image source and controller 12. The controller and image source 12 supplies imagery to one or both eyes through a fiber optic bundle (FOB) 14 which contains an array of individual fibers which transmit light to produce the display to the wearer 16 of the helmet 18 as viewed from the eyes of the wearer 20 of the helmet. A relay lens 22 couples the image from the FOB 14 to the eyes. In applications using virtual imagery, computer generated images are transmitted by the FOB 14 from the controller and image source 12. The virtual image is spatially overlayed onto normal real world scenery outside the helmet 18. Furthermore, it is possible to block out the real world scenery and allow the wearer of the helmet mounted head-up display to only view the virtual scenery generated by the computer.
Certain systems utilizing a helmet mounted head-up display detect the position or angle of the helmet. This information is used by the controller and image source to adjust the virtual scenery presented to the user with the goal being to shift the scenery in a realistic manner as the helmet moves.
Applications of helmet mounted head-up displays are only effective if the virtual imagery presented to the wearer of the helmet is realistic. Realism depends strongly on two factors which are the resolution or detail of the virtual image and the apparent size of the imagery. Resolution is normally measured by the size of the smallest point (usually called a "pel" or "pixel") which can be displayed. Higher resolution imagery features smaller pixels and appears more precise and contains more detail. The image size is a measure of the vertical and horizontal size of the virtual image as it appears to the viewer, and can be measured in angular degrees or radians. A larger image reduces tunnel vision and more closely duplicates normal viewing. In most instances, the resolution and size of a helmet mounted head-up display are limited by the resolution of the device used as the image source. Standard image sources are usually capable of presenting a fixed, limited number of image pixels. These pixels can be used to create a small, highly resolved image, or can be spread out to make a larger, but less detailed image. In either case, the number of pixels is generally fixed. It is usually the task of the designer of a helmet mounted head-up display to adjust the resolution and size so as to create the most favorable image for a particular application.
The limit on the number of pixels which may be used is due to basic limitations in the present display technology. For the presently favored CRT image source, the number of pixels which can be presented by the display is roughly calculated by dividing the area of the display by the area of the smallest pixel which can be presented. This calculation yields the number of pixels which can be packed into the display area. This number can be increased either by increasing the display area or by reducing the size of the pixels. Both of these practices have reached practical limits in present technology. The display area cannot be increased because the display size and weight become cumbersome for the head of the user of a helmet mounted head-up display to support. Basic CRT electron gun and phosphor technology limits further significant decreases in the size of the display pixels.
As a practical example, a typical CRT used in helmet mounted head-up displays may be one inch in diameter, 4.5 inches long and weigh about 6 ounces. The pixel size is typically about 0.001 inch and a complete display image may contain approximately 650,000 pixels. The pixels are nominally arranged as adjacent lines on the CRT faceplate. Image resolution is traditionally identified as the number of lines and the number of pixels-per-line which the display can support. Thus, a display resolution might be described as 875 lines by 875 pixels-per-line. State of the art helmet mounted displays can produce images of 1,500 lines at 1,500 pixels-per-line for a total of more than 2,000,000 pixels. As mentioned above, display performance can also be rated according to the maximum number of pixels which can be displayed. This number is often referred to as the "space-bandwidth product", and is the product of the number of display lines times the number of pixels-per-line.
Thus, the objective of greater image realism is effectively limited by the inability of the head to support larger, heavier displays. In response, designers of helmet mounted head-up displays have removed the CRT image source from the helmet area and used a coherent FOB as illustrated in FIG. 1 to convey remotely generated images to the helmet region. A coherent FOB preserves a fixed address between input and output pixels such that a first pixel of an image source coupled to a first fiber is coupled by the fiber to a first pixel at a corresponding position in an image display. The spatial order of the image pixels is thus maintained during transmission. When the CRT is remotely located off the helmet, the CRT size can be increased to produce more highly resolved and sometimes brighter images which serve to increase the realism of the image.
The fiber optic bundle is constructed as an array of glass or plastic fibers which can each convey one unit of image information from the image source (CRT) to the helmet for display to the wearer of the helmet. To work effectively, the FOB must include a number of fibers equal to or exceeding the number of CRT pixels. Thus, in high resolution applications, the number of fibers in the bundle may exceed 2,000,000 (1,500 lines.times.1,500 pixels/line image source). In this case, if each individual fiber is 50 microns in diameter, the fiber bundle will be almost two inches in diameter. Due to the large number of individual fibers, such a bundle is almost impossible to manufacture without defects, is expensive, and generally represents a greater head weight than the head-mounted CRT it replaces. Weight considerations are particularly important in applications where high accelerations can radically increase the effective weight of the bundle and helmet. Such applications include helmet-mounted displays used in high performance aircraft. For these reasons, the approach of remotely locating the image source by using a fiber optic bundle has limited utility in high resolution applications.
Thus, current state of the art helmet mounted head-up displays demonstrate limited realism due to a limited image source space bandwidth product. Although designers realize the benefits of a higher resolution and larger imagery in helmet mounted head-up displays, no present technology is available to meet this need when considered from the perspective of the expense of manufacturing, reliability and weight of the necessary fiber optic bundle connecting a remote image source to the helmet of the helmet mounted head-up display especially for applications where high acceleration induced forces are expected, such as in high performance aircraft, or where mobility is required.
U.S. Pat. 4,897,715 discloses a helmet display in which a 1.times.n array of fiber optic fibers is deflected across the width of the viewing field to produce a stereoscopic image within the field of view (FOV) of the wearer of the helmet. The system of the '715 patent relies upon each fiber in the 1.times.n array scanning a plurality of lines within a predetermined area of the display as viewed from the FOV with the stated example being 125 lines. This system suffers from the disadvantage of requiring the deflection of the fiber optic ribbon across the total width of the display FOV, which presents substantial problems in the control of the motion sweeping the image produced by the 1.times.n array of fibers across the width of the image FOV and further adds to the expense of the system. For example, the '715 patent discloses that the resultant image has dimensions by 11.2 mm in the vertical direction and 15.4 mm in the horizontal direction. As a result, the deflection system for sweeping the 1.times.n array through the width of the display must cause a physical displacement of the light outputted by the array of fibers through a physical dimension which produces the width of 15.4 mm at the FOV. This large amplitude of motion presents difficult control problems which add expense to the display.
Image pick-up systems are known using image pickup devices such as charge coupled devices (CCDs) which either physically move the CCD array or optically move the optical image coupled to the CCD array to increase the resolution of the sensed pixels. These systems permit the production of a higher resolution video image beyond the resolution of individual CCD fabrication technology by moving the array and/or light coupled to the array. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,543,601, 4,595,954, 4,612,581 and 4,652,928 disclose image sensing devices in which image sensing elements are physically moved relative to the object being scanned to provide a higher resolution sensing of pixels in the image than the physical resolution of the image sensing elements in the array which is used. Furthermore, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,633,317, 6,755,876, 4,910,413 and 4,920,418 disclose image sensing devices in which the optical image is moved relative to the image sensing array to provide higher resolution of the sensed image than the resolution of the individual sensing elements within the array.
None of these patents discloses maintaining synchronism between the image sensing device and an image display with the image display producing a high resolution output by synchronizing the generation of successive fields of the image with the production of relative motion between an array of light emitting points by an image display as viewed from a FOV through successive positions which are synchronized with the generation of successive fields by the image sensing device.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,311,999 and 4,831,370 disclose displays in which a linear array of optical fibers is physically scanned across the width of scanning lines. These systems are analogous to the scanning produced by U.S. Pat. No. 4,897,715 described above.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,934,773 discloses a display in which a linear array of light emitting diodes (LEDs) is optically scanned across the entire width of the display.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,992,099 discloses a display device in which a disk containing a plurality of lenses is rotated by a motor to scan light from three light sources to produce a composite display.


A system and a method for producing an adjustable light pattern are provided herein. The system may include: a transmitter configured to illuminate a scene with a patterned light being adjusted based on predefined criteria; a receiver configured to receive reflections of the adjusted patterned light; and a computer processor configured to control the adjustment of the patterned light and further analyze the received reflections, to yield a depth map of objects within the scene, wherein the transmitter may include: a light source configured to produce a light beam; a first reflector tiltable approximately along a line on an x-y plane in a Cartesian x-y-z coordinate system; and a second reflector tiltable along a z-axis in said coordinate system, wherein the reflectors are tilted along their respective axes back and forth so as to divert the light beam for creating the adjusted patterned light.

Prior to setting forth the background of the invention, it may be helpful to set forth definitions of certain terms that will be used hereinafter.
The term "structured light" as used herein is defined as the process of projecting a known pattern of pixels (e.g. grids or horizontal bars) on to a scene. The projected patterned light is deformed when striking surfaces and analyzing the deformation allows vision systems to calculate the depth and surface information of the objects in the scene. For providing further details of how structured light can be implemented, by way of illustration only, WIPO publication number WO2013088442 is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The term "spatial coding" as used herein is defined as a fixed pattern that is projected onto the scene and is imaged by the sensor's camera. The fixed pattern is designed in such a way that along epipolar lines each region of the pattern can be uniquely identify by considering the local neighborhood pattern. This method is efficient in terms of projected pattern power use and acquisition time, but requires dedication of several pixels to each label and hence results in lower spatial resolution. The main disadvantage is that a fixed pattern lacks the flexibility to respond to different scene conditions by using a different pattern. FIG. 1A illustrates a fixed light pattern 100A exhibiting broken lines according to the prior art. The fixed pattern may be implemented using a mask of phase shifters configured to result in combination of constructive and destructive interferences.
The term "temporal coding" as used herein is defined as illuminating the scene by a series of patterns. The patterns series are designed in such a way that each pattern position in a particular epipolar line is coded by a unique time series. The method can be accurate and has flexibility, but is not power efficient and requires a long acquisition time. FIG. 1B illustrates a temporal light pattern 100B according to the prior art, exhibiting a unique vertical line 111, 112, 113, and 114 for each of time stamps t1, t2, t3, and t4 respectively.
While the ability to dynamically change the pattern is highly desired, the power inefficiency it ensued makes it very unattractive in many applications. In order to allow a dynamic pattern, typically an image source is used. Such an image source either scans the scene progressively or illuminates it simultaneously, with the image forming light source modulated to produce the light and dark areas of the pattern. Considering the maximal output of the light source, its modulation reduces the "on" time and hence reduces the total output power.
Taking, as an example, a constant wave (CW) laser diode as the light source projected using a scanning mirror system. Such a laser diode may emit a certain amount of maximal optical power. When the light is modulated in order to produce the desired pattern, the average intensity is reduced by the modulation and hence a loss of brightness results. This tradeoff is true for any standard use of image projection method.

Method and system for adjusting light pattern for structured light imaging


A buck-boost converter and a control circuit thereof are disclosed. When an input voltage is close to an output voltage (i.e., the buck-boost converter operates in a buck-boost mode), the control circuit of the buck-boost converter generates specific switching signals. Four switches of a switching regulator are switched by the switching signals, so that the four switches are not turned-on or turned-off frequently because of the input voltage closing to the output voltage. Accordingly, the buck-boost converter and the control circuit thereof of the disclosure can reduce switch noise of the four switches and switching loss of the whole circuit, to improve conversion efficiency of the buck-boost converter.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a buck-boost converter and a control circuit thereof, in particular, to a buck-boost converter and a control circuit thereof which can reduce switching loss.
2. Description of Related Art
In a traditional buck-boost converter, a switching regulator is configured to operate among a boost mode, a buck mode, and a buck-boost mode in turn so as to convert an input voltage into a required output voltage. The switching regulator includes four power switches. When the switching regulator operates in the boost mode, only two of the four power switches are turned on alternatively. When the switching regulator operates in the buck mode, the other two power switches are turned on alternatively.
When the input voltage approximates to the output voltage, the traditional switching regulator operates in the buck-boost mode. In the buck-boost mode, when the input voltage is higher than the output voltage, the buck-boost converter operates in the buck mode; and when the input voltage is lower than the output voltage, the buck-boost converter operates in the boost mode. Due the input voltage being close to the output voltage, the four power switches are turned on or turned off alternatively and frequently, thereby increasing switching loss of the whole circuit and reducing the conversion efficiency of the buck-boost converter.
Therefore, reducing the switching loss of the whole circuit would improve the conversion efficiency of the buck-boost converter.

Buck-boost converter and control circuit thereof


In a method of transmitting control signals for uplink transmission of packet data in a communication network, control signal data related to scheduling a user for uplink transmission of packet data is transmitted over a single control channel. The single control channel may be configured based on the transmission mode the user is in for scheduling an uplink transmission from the user to the network, so that only one control channel is used, regardless of the transmission mode the user is in for scheduling the user for the uplink transmission. The control channel may be embodied as a sub-frame adapted to carry control information that is dependent based on the transmission mode the user is in for scheduling an uplink transmission from the user to the network.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to control signaling in the uplink and a control channel for carrying control signal data in the uplink of a communication system.
2. Description of Related Art
Expanded efforts are underway to support the evolution of the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) standard, which describes a network infrastructure implementing a next generation Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA) air interface technology. A UMTS typically includes a radio access network, referred to as a UMTS terrestrial radio access network (UTRAN). The UTRAN may interface with a variety of separate core networks (CN). The core networks in turn may communicate with other external networks (ISDN/PSDN, etc.) to pass information to and from a plurality of wireless users, or user equipments (UEs), that are served by radio network controllers (RNCs) and base transceiver stations (BTSs, also referred to as Node Bs), within the UTRAN, for example.
Standardizing bodies such as the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP and 3GPP2), a body which drafts technical specifications for the UMTS standard and other cellular technologies, have introduced several advanced technologies in an effort to ensure that any associated control information is carried in an efficient manner. Certain advanced or enabling technologies may include fast scheduling, Adaptive Modulation and Coding (AMC) and Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) technologies. These technologies have been introduced in an effort to improve overall system capacity. In general, a scheduler or scheduling function at a Node B (base station) selects a UE (mobile station) for transmission at a given time, and adaptive modulation and coding allows selection of the appropriate transport format (modulation and coding) for the current channel conditions seen by the UE.
AMC technologies enable a selection of a data rate and a transmission format (i.e., modulation level and channel coding rate) that best "suits" the scheduled user's prevailing channel conditions. Delays and measurement errors result in degraded performance from AMC.
HARQ allows combining of the original transmission with the new transmission, rather than to discard the original transmission. This may greatly improve the probability of correct decoding of the packet. The word "hybrid" in HARQ indicates that Forward Error Correction (FEC) techniques have been used in addition to ARQ techniques. Accordingly, HARQ helps to ensure that transmissions resulting in unsuccessful decoding, by themselves, are not wasted.
While much of the standardization to date has focused on the downlink (forward link from Node B/base station to UE/mobile station), similar enhancements are now being considered for the uplink (reverse link). Further evolution of 3G standards include enhanced uplink (EU) features to support high-speed reverse link packet access (uplink from mobile station to base station). Many of the techniques used in the forward link (i.e., fast scheduling, AMC, HARQ, etc.) may also be usable on the reverse link, so as to improve data rates and system capacity, for example.
In voice-based or circuit-based communication systems, control signaling or scheduling is typically not employed. Once the communication link is established between network and user, the user may transmit continuously, essentially at will, at a fixed data rate. Rate change occurs rarely, if ever, during the duration of the call/connection. The rate change is done by using higher layer signaling between the RNC and the UE. The signaling is carried over the existing communication link and the change is extremely slow and infrequent.
However, packet data-based communication systems require coordination between network and user at a much faster pace, as the packet data is typically transmitted in bursts. Thus, data rates and transmit times may typically be subject to some type of scheduling, since rate, duration and time of user transmission in the uplink may be limited or constrained by the network. Conventionally, this 'fast coordination' has been done only in the downlink, i.e., a Node B transmitting signaling and/or control information over a physical channel known as a high-speed shared control channel (HS-SCCH) in the downlink to users the Node B is serving. However, in order to support some of the above enhancements, and to facilitate the above-noted coordination with the network, control signaling may need to be evaluated for the uplink, for purposes of scheduling a user for uplink transmission and coordination with the network.

Method and control channel for uplink signaling in a communication system


An orthogonal pulse accelerator for a Time-of-Flight mass analyzer includes an electrically-conductive first plate extending in a first plane, and a second plate spaced from the first plate. The second plate includes a grid that defines a plurality of apertures each having a first dimension extending in a first direction and a second dimension orthogonal to the first dimension, the first and second dimensions lying in the second plane and the second dimension begin larger than the first dimension. The first and second plates are positioned in the Time-of-Flight mass analyzer to receive, during operation of the mass analyzer, an ion beam propagating in the first direction in a region between the first and second plates, and the orthogonal pulse accelerator directs ions in the ion beam through the apertures.

In a time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometer with an orthogonal acceleration ('OA-TOF') configuration, a collimated primary ion beam is directed into a 'pulsing region' of the TOF orthogonal accelerator optics while the pulsing region is field-free (ideally). Typically, the pulsing region is configured as the region between two parallel, planar electrodes, with surfaces that are parallel to the primary beam axis and perpendicular to the time-of-flight direction in the TOF flight tube. The electrode farthest from the TOF flight tube is typically a solid flat plate, while the electrode between the primary beam and the TOF flight tube includes a grid with high transparency to ions. Additional gridded and/or non-gridded electrodes are additionally configured between the pulsing region gridded electrode and the TOF flight tube entrance, depending on the particular optical design employed. These electrodes form one or more constant acceleration fields in order to optimize mass resolution and transmission of ions. One or more pulsed voltages can be applied to one or more of these electrodes to generate a pulsed acceleration field in the pulsing region, directed perpendicular to the primary beam axis, which, together with any subsequent electric fields, results in the acceleration of a segment of the primary ion beam through the first pulsing region grid electrode and ultimately into the TOF flight tube.
A common orthogonal acceleration arrangement can include two stages of constant, but different, acceleration fields separated by a gridded electrode. The first acceleration stage includes the pulsing region, which is ideally field-free during the time period when the primary beam ions enter this region, but which then must abruptly provide the first acceleration stage by abruptly applying pulsed voltages to the pulsing region electrode(s). The second acceleration stage can end downstream with the TOF entrance grid electrode at a relatively large flight tube potential. The flight tube voltage is generally greater than would be practical to pulse, and so the flight tube voltage is typically applied to the TOF entrance grid continuously. Consequently, a strong electric field is present constantly in this second acceleration stage.
A gridded electrode that separates two regions of differing electric fields cannot completely isolate one electric field region from the other, at least not throughout the region bordered by the grid. In particular, a single grid cannot completely prevent the strong electric field of the second acceleration stage from generating a small electric field in the pulsing region, and thereby deflect the incoming primary ion beam and degrade TOF performance.
Various approaches can be used to mitigate this 'field penetration' effect in an orthogonal-acceleration arrangement. For example, a constant voltage differential is often applied between the pulse region electrodes to counteract the field penetration. However, a grid electrode in the pulsing region usually includes a solid portion to physically support the grid, between which the primary beam must pass. The constant voltage differential creates electric fields along this solid portion, which interferes with the collimation of the primary beam and, therefore, TOF performance.
Consequently, a second gridded electrode is often incorporated between the first gridded electrode that borders the pulsing region, and the second acceleration stage. This second gridded electrode further reduces field penetration from the second acceleration stage into the pulsing region. Further, a constant voltage bias can be applied to this second gridded electrode to counteract field penetration into the pulsing region without generating electric fields in the pulsing region along the solid portion of the first gridded electrode. In this configuration, the first acceleration stage is developed during the pulse acceleration period between the solid plate electrode bordering the pulsing region, and the second gridded electrode. The voltages applied to the solid plate electrode, the first gridded electrode, and the second gridded electrode are selected such that the electric field of this first acceleration stage is constant during the pulse acceleration period. The solid plate electrode is often called the 'pusher' electrode, since ions are accelerated away from this electrode when the acceleration pulse occurs. Similarly, the gridded electrode that separates the first and second acceleration stages is often called the 'puller' electrode, since ions are initially accelerated towards this electrode. Finally, the gridded electrode between the pusher and puller electrodes, which borders the primary ion beam region, can be called the 'intermediate' pulsing region electrode.
Limitations to TOF performance arise from the deflections of ions by electric field distortions in the vicinity of the grid openings, or apertures, in a grid that separates regions of different electric field strengths. Such deflections, sometimes called 'grid scattering', are especially significant at the grid that separates the first and second stages of acceleration of a two-stage orthogonal acceleration TOF analyzer, due primarily to the oblique incident angle with which pulse-accelerated ions pass through this grid, combined with their relatively low kinetic energy at this point. Such an effect can be mitigated by placing grids having parallel wires oriented along the primary beam direction. However, such grids are challenging to form into a precisely flat plane due to a lack of supporting structures orthogonal to the grid wires. An acceptable compromise was found to be grids formed by two sets of orthogonally-oriented grid wires, but in which the spacing between grid wires oriented orthogonal to the plane of ion incidence was substantially greater than the wire spacing between wires oriented parallel to the plane of ion incidence (that is, parallel to the primary beam axis). Hence, such grids comprise rectangular shaped openings, or apertures, and are now frequently deployed in OA-TOF pulse acceleration optics where the long dimension of the openings are oriented parallel to the primary beam direction, resulting in improved transmission and resolving power, compared to grids with square apertures.
One approach to optimizing TOF performance is to minimize the components of the primary ions' velocity components in the TOF direction, that is, by ensuring that the primary beam is well-collimated. It is not possible to achieve perfect beam collimation, and imperfections in apparatus such as electrostatic lens aberration errors, mechanical misalignments, ion beam space charge broadening, local electric fields due to surface charges, all contribute to cause a small flux of ions to 'stray' from the ideal collimated beam path within the OA-TOF pulsing region. At least some of these 'stray' ions have trajectories that impinge on the intermediate pulsing region electrode. Such stray ions can cause increased baseline noise and/or artifact peaks in TOF mass spectra, impacting TOF performance.

Orthogonal acceleration system for time-of-flight mass spectrometer


A Real-Time Protocol (RTP) source node of a network operates to send a first data packet of a first size to a destination node over a path of the network that includes a plurality of intermediate nodes, at least one of the intermediate nodes having a maximum transmission unit (MTU) size smaller than the first size such that fragmentation of the first data packet occurs. The destination node sends back to the source node a RTCP report that includes a number of fragments received and a largest minimum data packet size. In response, the source node sends subsequent data packets having a second size less than or equal to the largest data packet size of the fragments. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

In the past few decades, advances in the related fields of video compression and video transmission systems have lead to the widespread availability of digital video programs transmitted over a variety of communication systems and networks. Most recently, new technologies have been developed that have allowed audio and video programs to be transmitted as multicast digital bitstreams of multiplexed video and audio signals delivered to users or client subscribers over packet switched Internet Protocol (IP).networks.
IP multicasting is defined as the transmission of an IP datagram (i.e., a data packet formatted according to the Internet Protocol) to a "host group", which is a set of hosts identified by a single IP destination address. A multicast datagram is asymmetrically delivered to all members of its destination host group. The Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP), which is defined in RFC792, is used between IP hosts and their immediate neighbor multicast agents to support the creation of transient groups, the addition and deletion of members of a group, and the periodic confirmation of group membership. Multicast data streams are typically sent using the User Datagram Protocol (UDP), which is implemented in the transport layer and provides a connectionless datagram service for the delivery of packets.
By way of further background, U.S. Pat. No. 6,771,644 teaches a system and method for supporting audio/video program insertion in real-time IP multicasts. Scheduling and control traffic occurs through a new protocol wherein smooth transitions occur by manipulation of the Real-Time Protocol (RTP) header in the packets and the associated RTP Control Protocol (RTCP) stream. RTP is a known protocol for transmitting real-time data such as audio or video streams. While it does not guarantee real-time delivery of data, RTP does provide mechanisms for sending and receiving applications to support data streaming. RTCP, on the other hand, relies on the periodic transmission of control packets from the endpoints to the originator of the data (media) stream using the same distribution mechanism—but not necessarily the same path—as the data packets. A method and system for providing media services in voice over IP (VoIP) telephony in which audio is transmitted in packet streams such as RTP/RTCP packets is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,947,417. U.S. Pat. No. 6,044,081 teaches a communications system and multimedia system that allows private network signaling to be routed over a packet network.
In video streaming applications, MPEG video streams comprise different types of frames that do not include all of the data to be displayed at any given time. For instance, Inter-frames, or I-frames, are the only type of frame that is not coded with reference to any other frame; P-frames are coded predicatively from a previous I-frame or P-frame; B-frames are coded predicatively from I-frames and P-frames. In order to be properly decoded, a B-frame associated with a group of pictures ("GOPs") may need to reference the I-frame of a next GOP. Due to their comprehensive nature, I-frames are generally much larger (e.g., 5 Kbytes or more) than either P-frames or B-frames. (It should be understood that a GOP is an optional structure of an elementary stream. Also, in the context of the present application, the term "I-frame" is intended to broadly refer to an Inter-frame and its equivalents, e.g., an IDR frame in the case of H.264.)
For audio/video solutions, RTP streams are typically created between the media server and the endpoints. In the case of video, the RTP packet sizes that include I-frames are often larger than the maximum transmission unit (MTU) size that the intermediate nodes in the network can process. When the RTP packet size exceeds the MTU of a node, the packets usually are fragmented into smaller sized packets. Fragmentation of packets, however, adds latency that slows down video data transmissions and other time-sensitive applications. Therefore, fragmentation of RTP packets should be avoided as much as possible.
In the case where the packet header has the "Don't Fragment" (DF) bit marked, the packet is simply dropped. In accordance with RFC1191, an ICMP notification that the packet has been dropped may be sent back to the source node. Although another attempt may be made to re-send the dropped packet, the RFC1191 mechanism provides no assurance that the resent packet will successfully traverse the network without being fragmented. For instance a large video packet containing an I-frame may be repeatedly re-sent by the source with the DF bit set, but never arrive at the destination. Obviously, this is a serious problem for video streaming traffic which usually must be delivered without delay or interruption. Furthermore, marking video packets with the DF bit will result in loss of packets for certain specifications, such as the H.26x codec standard, which lack a resend mechanism.
In many cases, fragmentation occurs when data packets are passed from one networking layer to another. By way of example, FIG. 1 shows the well-known Open System Interconnection (OSI) model for implementing protocols in seven layers. As can be seen, the OSI model includes an application layer that supports application and end-user processes; a presentation layer that works to transform data into the form that the application can accept; a session layer that establishes, manages and terminates connections between applications; a transport layer that provides transparent transfer of data between end systems; a network layer that creates logical paths called-virtual circuits for transmitting data from node to node; a data link layer responsible for encoding and decoding data packets into bits; and the physical layer that conveys the bit stream through the network at the electrical and mechanical level. Control is passed from one layer to the next, starting at the top (application) layer at the sending computer or node, and proceeding to the bottom (physical) layer, over the channel to the receiving computer or node, and back up the layer hierarchy.
What is needed then is for a solution to the problem of fragmentation of large, time-sensitive data packets, such as audio and video data packets.

Maximum transmission unit tuning mechanism for a real-time transport protocol stream


A solar cell structure is disclosed. The solar cell structure comprises a carrier having a front side and a P-N junction, a solar cell electrically coupled to the front side of the carrier, and an adhesive layer. The adhesive layer bonds the front side of the carrier to the solar cell. The adhesive layer includes conductive particles that electrically couple the carrier to the solar cell.

The voltage and current output of a solar cell may be limited. Therefore, multiple solar cells are typically electrically interconnected, such as in series, to form a circuit that produces higher voltages than are possible with a single solar cell. A typical solar panel is formed by electrically connecting several circuits, in parallel or in series, in order to produce higher currents or higher voltages. If one of the solar cells of a circuit is shaded while the remaining solar cells are fully illuminated, the shaded solar cell may be subjected to a reverse-bias condition by the continuing voltage and current output produced by the remaining illuminated solar cells. Thus, by-pass diodes may be provided for each solar cell to protect against the reverse-bias condition. Specifically, a by-pass diode may be used to block current if the solar cell is not reverse biased, but passes current when the solar cell is reverse biased. It is to be appreciated that while there are various techniques currently available for incorporating by-pass diodes into solar cells, there is a continuing need in the art for new approaches to include a by-pass diode within a solar cell structure.
In one particular approach, a solar cell may be constructed of Group III-V materials such as indium phosphide (InP) and gallium arsenide (GaAs). The solar cell may be connected to a carrier using a metal-to-metal bond. Specifically, the carrier may be constructed of a silicon material, such as a single crystal or a polycrystalline material. While the use of silicon material for the carrier may be beneficial for various reasons, it should also be appreciated that the metal-to-metal layers used to connect the carrier to the solar cell include a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) that is significantly higher than the CTE of GaAs or silicon. Specifically, silicon has a CTE of about 2.5, GaAs has a CTE of about 5.5, and the metal-to-metal layer has a CTE that ranges between 10 to 20. As a result, the metal-to-metal layers are typically limited in use to relatively small devices such as light emitting diodes (LEDs), which are only a few millimeters in dimension. However, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that solar cells are typically significantly larger in size than a device such as an LED. Thus, there is a continuing need in the art for an improved connecting bond that manages the differences in the CTE between the materials used for the carrier and the solar cell more effectively than existing solutions.

Semiconductor device including an electrically conductive adhesive layer and a bypass diode in a carrier


The present invention provides apparatus and methods for handling fluids returning from a well. The fluids are introduced into a separator and a separated gas stream is recovered or recycled. The gas stream may comprise more than one phase. The separated gas stream is urged through a multiphase pump before it is recovered. Alternatively, the return fluids may pass through a multiphase pump before it is introduced into the separator.

1. Field of the Invention
Aspects of the present invention generally relate to apparatus and methods for handling wellbore fluids from a well. Specifically, the aspects of the present invention relate to apparatus and methods of recycling wellbore fluids during underbalanced drilling. The aspects of the present invention further relates to apparatus and methods of handling wellbore fluids during well testing.
2. Description of the Related Art
In conventional drilling of wellbores for the production of hydrocarbons, drilling mud is generally used as the circulating medium. The drilling mud is typically made up of a fluid mixture of water and a suitable additive. The drilling mud is injected under pressure through a tubing to the bottom of the wellbore. During operation, the drilling mud at the bottom is continuously circulated to the surface. One of the functions of the drilling fluid is to carry and remove any rock cuttings resulting from the drilling operation to the surface. Another function is to exert a hydrostatic pressure at the bottom of the wellbore to prevent hydrocarbons in the formation from entering the wellbore.
Because the hydrostatic pressure in the wellbore is greater than the formation pressure, the drilling mud will most likely penetrate into or invade the formations surrounding the wellbore. Drilling mud that has penetrated into the formation reduces the permeability of the wellbore, thereby impeding the flow of hydrocarbons into the wellbore. As a result, the productivity of the well can be adversely affected. This type of wellbore damage is generally known as "skin damage" and may extend from a few centimeters to several meters from the wellbore.
More recently, underbalanced drilling was developed to overcome this problem. Underbalanced drilling involves maintaining the equivalent circulating or hydrostatic pressure of the fluid in the wellbore below the formation pressure. This underbalanced condition may be achieved by using a "lightened" drilling fluid as the circulating medium. Examples of lightened drilling fluid include fluids mixed with a gas, such as air, nitrogen, or natural gas. The gas may be introduced at the surface into the drill string for delivery at the bottom of the wellbore. The lightened drilling fluid exerts a hydrostatic pressure at the bottom of the wellbore that is below the formation pressure. In this manner, the underbalanced condition may be maintained.
Drilling fluid returning to the surface typically contains the cuttings from the drilling. Because the underbalanced state may allow a net flow of gas or oil into the wellbore, the return fluid may also contain liquid and gaseous hydrocarbons mixed with the circulating mud when the well penetrates a formation containing hydrocarbons. Therefore, the return fluid reaching the surface may be made up of four phases: solids (cuttings), water, oil, and gas.
The return fluids are typically conveyed into a closed pressure vessel separator. In the separator, the return fluids are separated and delivered into separate streams. In most cases, the separated gas stream is delivered to a flare line or a vent line. When the separated gas stream contains nitrogen or hydrocarbons, valuable resources are unnecessarily wasted or destroyed. Moreover, the separated gas stream is typically disposed in an environmentally unfriendly manner such as flaring.
Therefore, there is a need for a method of recycling the separated gas stream to avoid unnecessary waste. There is also a need for an apparatus for handling multiphase return fluids and recycling the gas stream. There is a further need for an apparatus for handling multiphase return fluids with reduced flaring of the gas stream.

Closed loop multiphase underbalanced drilling process


An omni-directional wind turbine electric generation system including a wind rotor carrying wind responsive vanes which on one surface exert an aerodynamic lifting force and on the other a blocking force both of which exert a torque in the same rotational sense, and an electric generator directly connected to said wind rotor and coaxial therewith, without transmission means between them.

Generation of electricity derived from structural response to the wind stream is a well-written story. The most familiar example is the windmill—a wind-driven propeller pointed into the wind by a trailing vane. This is the best-known representative of a class of rotary airfoils rotating around a horizontal axis. Among its many disadvantages are the need to keep it pointed into the wind, to provide for gearing, braking, and feathering controls to transfer the torque to an off-axis generator, and to keep the rotational speeds within acceptable limits.
Attempts have been made to provide for omni-directional response to the wind, that is, the ability to be driven without directional adjustment no matter what the direction of the wind is. With such a device, it is unnecessary to-point it into the wind because its axis of rotation is vertical.
The major problem with vertical axis rotors is that the wind blows on both sides of the axis of rotation, so that something must be done on a net basis to the baffles or airfoils on one side to resist the wind, and on the other side to pass the wind. Otherwise the rotor does not rotate because the force reaction is the same or nearly the same on both sides of the axis. Classical devices for this purpose include feathering of the foils or vanes on one side and supporting them on the other side.
This requires mechanism for the purpose, and generates considerable noise. Also the structure is not balanced, because it supports a much larger lateral load on one side than on the other.
The above problems were solved in an abandoned project a number of years ago. A number of wind turbines which included many of the features of this invention showed considerable promise, but were abandoned to the elements when the economic and environmental disadvantages of the systems were learned. For many years the advantages of this wind turbine would have been attainable if the rotor utilized in it and in this invention could successfully have been incorporated into in an acceptable total electrical generation system. The potentials of this wind turbine were neither appreciated, nor were the problems solved, so its potential benefits have remained unaccomplished.
Just as with a horizontal axis windmill, a conventional vertical axis wind turbine has heretofore required a gear box to transfer torque from the wind turbine's rotor turbine to the rotor of an electrical generator. While this appears to be a commonplace thing, these gear boxes are expensive, noisy, need maintenance, have speed limitations, and constitute a slow-speed drag which raises the lowest wind speed to which the system can respond and thereby forfeits the energy content of slow wind speed.
In addition to these disadvantages, gear boxes constitute a restraint on maximum speeds. An overspeed can lead to swift destruction of the mechanical system. To prevent this, either the wind responsive rotor has been at least partially disabled, or a braking system has been provided to limit its speed. A braking system conventionally feeds some of the generated power into a braking force. This seriously reduces the range of wind speeds from which energy can be extracted, and forfeits much energy that should be obtainable from high wind speeds.
It is an object of this invention to provide an elegantly simple wind turbine having an upright central axis, which turbine drives an electrical generator directly without intervening gearing or other transmission, and without the need to divert any of the wind-driven energy into velocity control over the turbine rotor itself. Then the wind turbine rotor can extract energy from a wind stream at any wind speed.
Further, it is an object of this invention to provide a rotationally stable and quiet system, without the vibration and noise which make windmill type systems poor neighbors. In fact, this system is so quiet that it can be installed in one's yard, where even a small system can readily generate useful amounts of electricity and at very slow wind speeds.
Yet another disadvantage of known tower-supported systems is their tendency to be toppled by high velocity winds. Very heavy supports are conventionally used to resist this tendency. This invention, by its use of a properly proportioned wind rotor utilizes the spatial rigidity of a rotating object to resist toppling movement, and enables an importantly stable installation. This stability is further enhanced by a lower profile dictated both by reduction of the height of a confronting aspect ratio, and by proportions that provide optimum spatial rigidity.

Omni-directional wind turbine electric generation system


A seat belt device includes a seat belt for restraining and protecting an occupant sitting on a vehicle seat; a lap anchor fixed to an end of the seat; seat weight sensor installed below the vehicle seat for measuring a seat load; and a hitch member including two ends and a slide bar therebetween. The seat weight sensor and the vehicle seat are fixed to a vehicle body floor. One end of the hitch member is attached to one of the vehicle body, the vehicle seat fixed to the vehicle body, or the seat weight sensor fixed to the vehicle body. A second end of the hitch member is fixed to the vehicle body. The lap anchor is slidably attached to the slide bar.

The present invention pertains to a technical field of a seat belt device of which a seat belt for restraining and protecting an occupant sitting on a vehicle seat is connected to a vehicle body on a side of the vehicle seat and, particularly, to a technical field of a seat belt device for a vehicle seat which is provided at its lower portion with a seat weight sensor for measuring a seat load applied to the vehicle seat.
Conventionally, a seat belt device installed in a vehicle such as an automobile prevents an occupant from jumping out of a vehicle seat by restraining the occupant with a seat belt thereof, thereby protecting the occupant in the event of emergency.
As such seat belt device, three-point-type seat belt devices which are conventionally well known are generally employed. In a three-point-type seat belt device, one end of a seat belt is connected to a vehicle body or a vehicle seat fixed to the vehicle body on a side of the vehicle seat via a lap anchor fixed to the seat belt, while the other end of the seat belt is connected to a seat belt retractor. In this case, a middle portion of the seat belt is guided by a deflective fitting attached to an upper portion of a side of the vehicle body.
When the seat belt is not worn, the seat belt is wound by the seat belt retractor and is positioned to extend along the side of the vehicle body. By latching a tongue slidably supported by the seat belt with a buckle fixed to the vehicle body on the opposite side of the lap anchor side about the vehicle seat, an occupant sitting in the vehicle seat puts on the seat belt. In this state, a portion of the seat belt between the tongue and the deflective fitting (seat belt retractor side) functions as a shoulder belt for restraining and protecting an upper body of the occupant from his or her shoulder to his or her chest, while a portion of the seat belt between the tongue and the lap anchor functions as a lap belt for restraining and protecting a lower body of the occupant such as his or her abdomen.
On the other hand, in recent years, it has been developed to control the action of the seat belt device depending on the weight (body weight) of the occupant. In such seat belt device, a seat weight sensor for measuring the seat load, applied to the vehicle seat by the weight of the occupant and the like, is installed below the vehicle seat and between the vehicle seat and a vehicle body floor. By controlling the action of the seat belt device depending on the weight of the occupant based on the seat load measured by the seat weight sensor, the occupant can be effectively restrained by the seat belt, as described in Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. H11-304579, and Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. H11-351952 (both incorporated by reference).
In the seat belt device for the vehicle seat which is provided at its lower portion with the seat weight sensor, the lap anchor for connecting one end of the seat belt to a vehicle body is positioned on a side of the seat weight sensor. However, since convex structural components of the vehicle body such as a pillar and a side sill depending on the vehicle structure exist on the side of the seat weight sensor, the space on the side of the seat weight sensor must be significantly narrow. Therefore, it is a bother and thus difficult to connect the lap anchor fixed to the end of the seat belt to the vehicle body floor or the vehicle seat or the seat weight sensor fixed to the vehicle body so that the work for this must require a lot of labor and time.


A recording medium includes a substrate and a first ink-receiving layer. The first ink-receiving layer contains an amorphous silica having an average particle size of 1.0 μm or more and an inorganic particle having an average particle size of 50 nm or less. The content of the amorphous silica in the first ink-receiving layer is 30 mass % or more and 95 mass % or less based on a total content of all inorganic particles.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a recording medium.
Description of the Related Art
Among recording media used in an ink jet image recording method, recording media (matte paper) whose surface has low gloss, that is, whose surface has a good "matte appearance" have been demanded. On the other hand, if particles having a large particle size are simply added to an ink-receiving layer to achieve a good matte appearance, the binding property of the ink-receiving layer may degrade, that is, a dusting phenomenon may occur. Therefore, a method for achieving a good matte appearance and suppressing a dusting phenomenon has been demanded. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-223306 discloses that a matte appearance is achieved by forming a layer mainly composed of a wet silica having an average secondary particle size of 1.5 to 2.5 μm on a layer mainly composed of inorganic particles having an average secondary particle size of 500 nm or less. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2012-213924 discloses, as an example, a recording medium in which an ink-receiving layer containing colloidal silica, fumed silica, and wet silica is disposed on a paper substrate.


Advantage is taken of adaptive allocation techniques by intentionally creating multi-user diversity in an otherwise flat fading environment in order to improve system capacity. In one embodiment, multi-path distortion can be resolved to determine subscriber station (SS) diversity gain. Overall network capacity can be increased by allocating channel assignments to SSs within the network based on determined SS diversity gains. In one embodiment, intentional multi-path distortion is produced by transmitting a signal and a time-delayed version of the signal from a base station (BS).

In wireless communication systems having selectively fading channels, different users experience peaks in their channel quality at different times or at different frequencies. This effect is called multi-user diversity. Multi-user diversity can be exploited in a selectively fading environment by designating users to transmit during times or at frequencies providing favorable channel conditions. For example, in a multi-carrier communication systems, significant performance improvements can be achieved by adaptively allocating to each subscriber multiple subcarriers based on, for example, load traffic information on each subcarrier, signal quality at the subscriber station, whether frequency bands are overused, and level of requests queued at the base station.
Adaptive allocation techniques are generally ineffective in flat fading environments. For example, adaptive allocation may not be practicable in a multi-carrier system with substantially similar subcarrier gains at the subscriber station.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Systems and methods for wireless communication system channel allocation using intentional delay distortion


An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image bearing members configured to bear respective images, an optical writing unit configured to write the respective images on the plurality of image bearing members by deflecting a laser beam on a polygon mirror, a transfer unit configured to transfer the respective images onto an image receiving member, and a controlling unit configured to perform an adjustment of a difference in phase of respective rotation speeds between the plurality of image bearing members at a timing of one of non-image forming operations during a series of image forming operations performed by the plurality of image bearing members, the optical writing unit, and the transfer unit.

A color image forming apparatus having a plurality of image bearing members has advantages in producing copies faster than that having a single image bearing member and disadvantages that causes color shifts in an image. When respective toner images formed on the plurality of image bearing members are transferred onto a transferring member that is, for example, an intermediate transfer member to directly receive the toner images thereon or a recording medium conveyed by a sheet transferring member, it is difficult to overlay the respective toner images on accurate positions thereof, and a misalignment of the toner images may produce color shift on the overlaid toner image.
The color shift in image may be caused by various factors, and one of which is an image shift due to misalignment of components.
The image shift due to misalignment of components is a deviation of color formed at constant intervals on an image in the sub-scanning direction toward which a surface of an image bearing member rotates. The deviation of color is caused by a misalignment of components of an optical writing unit writing an electrostatic latent image on the surface of an image bearing member by emitting a laser beam toward the surface of the image bearing member. The deviation of color is also caused by a misalignment of a plurality of image bearing members. The image shift due to misalignment of components can be adjusted by controlling the timing of writing an electrostatic latent image by a laser beam. In the controlling method, a reference pattern toner image is formed on each image bearing member and transferred onto a transferring member. The reference pattern toner image transferred onto the transferring member is detected by a sensor or an image reading unit. Based on an output signal of the sensor, the amount of color shift in image is calculated and the timing of writing the electrostatic latent image is adjusted. However, when an optical writing unit in which a plurality of laser beams are emitted toward a polygon mirror is used, the image shift having the amount smaller than that a pitch in the sub-scanning direction of consecutive main scanning lines of a laser beam deflected by one mirror cannot be adjusted because of the structure of the optical writing unit itself.
In this connection, Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2004-198630 discloses a technique in which a plurality of image bearing members have respective drive motors serving as driving sources so that respective rotation speeds or linear velocities of the plurality of image bearing members can be separately controlled to adjust the image shift, according to the detection result of the reference pattern toner images formed on an intermediate transfer belt serving as a transferring member. The adjusting method used in the above-described image forming apparatus can reduce the image shift having the amount smaller than that of a pitch in the sub-scanning direction of the consecutive main scanning lines of the laser beam by changing the rotation speed of each image bearing member to make the deviation from respective predetermined positions of the reference pattern toner images formed on the intermediate transfer belt become small.
Another factor which may cause the color shift in image is rotation speed variations. The color shift in image, that is, the image shift due to rotation speed variations is a deviation of linear velocity in one rotation period of an image bearing member.
Regarding the image shift due to rotation speed variations, Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2000-298385 discloses a technique in which an adjustment of the phase of deviation in linear velocity in one rotation period of each image bearing member. The adjustment of the phase may be performed when respective rotations of a plurality of image bearing members are controlled to stop after the image forming operations are completed.
The method of adjusting the phase employs markings for aligning the phase on a predetermined position of a drive gear mounted on a shaft of each image bearing member according to the measurement result of deviation in linear velocity in each image bearing member previously measured. When the plurality of image bearing members are controlled to stop rotating, a sensor detects the above-described markings. According to the detection results by the sensor, the rotation of each image bearing member is controlled to stop so that the stop position of the rotation of each image bearing member may fall on predetermined positions between the image bearing members.
To reduce the image shift due to misalignment of components and the image shift due to rotation speed variations simultaneously, the above-described disclosed techniques were attempted to use in combination, which resulted in finding the following problem.
When an adjustment of the image shift due to misalignment of components is performed for a target image bearing member while the target image bearing member and the other image bearing members are driven to rotate at a speed identical to each other, the target image bearing member is fine adjusted, which creates a slight difference in rotation speed between the target image bearing member and the other image bearing members. When the target image bearing member and the other image bearing members are continuously rotated with the difference in rotation speed to perform a series of image forming operations, a difference in phase of linear velocities of the target image bearing member and the other image bearing members gradually become greater. For this reason, even through an adjustment of the image shift due to rotation speed variations is performed, the phase difference in linear velocity between these image bearing members may become clear enough to fine a visible color shift during the series of image forming operations, which may deteriorate the image shift due to rotation speed variation.

Method and apparatus for image forming capable of effectively adjusting image shifts


An integrated semiconductor memory has memory cells, with at least one pair of bit lines which comprises a first bit line and a second bit line, and with at least one sense amplifier which has the first bit line and the second bit line connected to it. The bit lines respectively have a first conductor track structure and a second conductor track structure, where the memory cells are respectively connected to the second conductor track structure, and where the first conductor track structure is respectively interposed between the sense amplifier and the second conductor track structure of the respective bit line and is arranged at a greater distance from the substrate area than the respective second conductor track structure.

Integrated semiconductor memories, particularly DRAMs (Dynamic Random Access Memory) have a multiplicity of memory cells that are arranged in a memory cell array and which are connected to word lines and bit lines. In the case of a DRAM, the memory cells respectively have a storage capacitor and a selection transistor. Other types of memory cells are also usually provided with a selection transistor. The selection transistors are usually in the form of MOSFETs (Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor) in which the gate electrodes are respectively sections of word lines. The selection transistors also comprise two source/drain regions, one of which is connected to the storage capacitor and the other source/drain region of which is electrically conductively connected to the bit line to which the memory cell is connected. The gate electrode is usually isolated by means of a gate oxide layer from a channel region which is arranged between the two source/drain regions in the substrate and in which an inversion channel flows at suitable electrode voltages.
To read a memory cell, the selection transistor is turned on and thereby makes the electrical connection between the trench capacitor and the bit line, as a result of which the potential of the bit line is altered according to the bias voltage on the transistor's capacitor electrode. Sense amplifiers compare the electrical potentials on two bit lines and spread the bit line potentials when reading and refreshing volatile memory cells. The sense amplifiers are therefore also called signal amplifiers or differential amplifiers, since they amplify the difference between electrical potentials.
Normally, each sense amplifier has two bit lines connected to it whose potentials are compared with one another by the sense amplifier. The two bit lines are called "True" and "Complement", where "True" denotes that bit line to which the respective memory cell which is to be read is connected. The respective other (complementary) bit line is called "Complement", since it is used only to provide a comparison potential, with respect to which the potential on the "True" bit line is altered after the charge previously stored in the memory cell which is to be read has been distributed over the entire "True" bit line. The sense amplifier identifies a resultant potential difference and then biases the bit lines with potentials whose potential difference is considerably greater than the initially identified potential difference and in any case has the same arithmetic sign. This allows data values which have been read to be written back or forwarded.
Depending on whether the two bit lines whose potential difference is measured and amplified by the sense amplifier are arranged on the same side or on opposite sides of the sense amplifier, reference is made to the "Folded bit line" concept or the "Open bit line" concept. In the case of the open bit line concept, the mutually complementary bit lines are routed away from the sense amplifier in opposite directions and on one and the other side of the sense amplifier, respectively, connect a plurality of memory rows to the sense amplifier. Running in a direction perpendicular to the two bit lines are word lines which can respectively be used to open a memory cell. A drawback of the open bit line concept is that when opening a particular memory cell the word line biased for it with the activation potential only runs past one of the two mutually complementary bit lines. In this case, the word line crosses the respective bit line in a conductor track plane below this bit line. Since the distance between the word line plane and the bit line plane is usually very short, capacitive couplings arise between the word line and the bit line, as a result of which the altered word line potential additionally influences the potential on the bit line to which the opened memory cell is connected. This capacitive coupling overlies the influence of the charges in the memory cell which has been read and thus has a noise effect which occurs only on one bit line in the bit line pair. In the worst case, this parasitic capacitive coupling can corrupt the reading result. This means that signals at a sufficient level are required which need to be ensured through significantly increased capacitance of the storage capacitor, for example.
By contrast, the folded bit line concept has the advantage that both mutually complementary bit lines are arranged on the same side of the sense amplifier and therefore each word line which is activated for the purpose of reading an arbitrary memory cell connected to one of the two bit lines is crossed by both lines together. This means that capacitive couplings always arise on both bit lines. Since the capacitive couplings from a word line activated for opening are of equal magnitude on both bit lines, the potential difference to be amplified between the two bit lines is not corrupted by capacitive noise influences in this case.
The folded bit line concept is also advantageous over the open bit line concept because the latter requires a second metallization plane in order to set up conductor track bridges for connecting the complementary bit lines routed to the sense amplifier on both sides to the switching elements of the sense amplifier. However, a drawback of the folded bit line concept is that each word line is crossed by both mutually complementary bit lines together which means that besides each crossing point, at which a memory cell is arranged, there is a further crossing point on the respective other bit line, at which no memory cells are present. Hence, along the course of the conductor track of both bit lines, a memory cell is provided only at the location of every second crossing. With sufficiently large memory cells having a substrate area of 8 F2 or larger (where F corresponds to the smallest lithographically produced feature size in the respective semiconductor circuit), it is admittedly possible to fill the entire substrate base area within the memory cell array with the memory cells and their reciprocal insulation without any unused substrate area remaining. However, as soon as memory cells are used which have a base area of less than 8 F2, for example 4 F2, unused substrate area with the size of the base area of a further memory cell or smaller remains at every second crossing, where no memory cell is provided. It is not possible to fit any additional memory cells at that point for reasons of circuitry, however, since each word line is permitted to short only one of the two mutually complementary bit lines with a capacitor from a memory cell connected thereto. This means that the folded bit line concept is disadvantageous in terms of the maximum packing density of memory cells per substrate base area as soon as memory cells with base areas of smaller than 8 F2 are provided.


The bone-fixing devices which are designed to allow for a freer assembly of the parts which are mounted to maintain plurality of bones in a specified position relationship, and also call for only one or two parts to be tightened to assemble all parts into the whole system. A pedicle 10 to be implanted into a bone is connected by using a connector 20 with a shaft 30 that serves as a reference to position the bones. In order to ensure that the pedicle 10 is connected with the fixture 20, a shaft 12 is supported in a fork 21 formed at the end of the fixture 20, said short shaft 12 is fitted into a concave 11 formed at the head of the pedicle 10, and said short shaft 12 is fixed at the head of the pedicle with a retaining screw 13 so that the fixture 20 is mounted rotatably about the short shaft with reference to the pedicle 10.

The present invention relates to bone-fixing devices which may be utilized to maintain plurality of bones in a specified positional relationship by installing a pedicle in each of the bones and employing a fixture to fix said pedicle to a reference shaft to position the bones.
A bone-fixing device of this type has various uses, such as disposing a reference shaft substantially in parallel with the spine and employing a fixture to fix a pedicle implanted in the vertebra thereof to said shaft. Although great care is exercised in implanting the pedicle in each vertebra, it is impossible to locate all the pedicles in the same direction,and in order to absorb the differences created, there is provided some range of adjustment at the junctions between the pedicle and the fixture, as well as between the fixture and the rod shaft.
An example of a bone-fixing device is disclosed by Japanese Patent Application laid-open No. 255739/95, in which a flange to be assembled in a pedicle and a member known as a lock pin are employed to achieve a construction in which some parts can be moved in two directions which perpendicularly intersect with each other. The distance between the pedicle and the shaft can be adjusted in the necessary range of adjustment by constructing a connecting means that can move to a suitable position along the bar of said connecting means. In the prior art device, according to that invention, it is necessary to carry out certain steps such as inserting the flange into the head of a screw to be threaded into the bone, inserting the lock pin into said head to fix the flange, putting the assembly into a connecting means and then inserting the connecting means into the bar to tighten it with a screw.
It is very troublesome, however, to require the foregoing complicated steps to assemble the above-mentioned parts into such a device and to adjust the position relationship between them. It is also difficult to reassemble these parts as necessary once they have temporarily been assembled. In addition, the device is designed so that the retaining screw is threaded into the bar in order to tighten the head of the bone screw which comes directly below said retaining screw, thus requiring the upper part of the bone screw to be open. This means that a wider incision range will be necessary to set the device, resulting in a prolonged operation time and curing period.