Channel response and impairment correlation estimates are iteratively determined. According to one embodiment of performing channel estimation for use in received signal processing, a channel response estimate is calculated based on an initial impairment correlations estimate and a measured channel response derived from a received signal. A revised impairment correlations estimate is calculated using a parametric approach based on the channel response estimate and the channel response estimate is recalculated based on the revised impairment correlations estimate. According to one embodiment of a wireless communication device, the device comprises a parameter estimation unit configured to iteratively calculate a medium channel response estimate based on a parametric impairment correlations estimate and a measured net channel response derived from a received signal. The wireless communication device also comprises circuitry configured to control how many times the parameter estimation unit calculates the medium channel response estimate.

The present invention generally relates to wireless communication devices, and particularly relates to iteratively calculating a channel response estimate for use in received signal processing.
Signals transmitted in a wireless communication system such as a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) or Wideband CDMA (WCDMA) system are subjected to multiple sources of interference and noise as they propagate via radio channels. The interference and noise components that affect signal transmission and reception in a wireless communication system are broadly referred to as impairments. Certain types of impairments may be correlated. That is, two seemingly independent signal impairments may in fact be related, and thus are said to be correlated. Some conventional receiver types such as a Generalized-RAKE (G-RAKE) receiver and its Chip Equalizer (CEQ) counterpart use knowledge of impairment correlations to improve received signal processing. G-RAKE receivers and CEQs also use an estimate of a multipath fading channel response in their received signal processing.
For example, a G-RAKE receiver includes various signal "fingers" where each finger has an assigned path delay for receiving a particular image of a multipath signal and a correlator for de-spreading the received image. In combination, the signal fingers de-spread multiple signal images of a received multipath signal, thus utilizing the multipath channel dispersion phenomenon. Additional "probing fingers" may be placed off path delays for capturing impairment correlations information. The finger outputs are weighted and coherently combined to improve received signal demodulation and/or received signal quality reception estimation, e.g., signal-to-interference (plus noise) (SIR) estimation. The processing weights assigned to the finger outputs are conventionally a function of the channel response and impairment correlations. As such, knowledge of signal impairments may be used to improve received signal processing. In a similar manner, CEQs utilize impairment correlations information for improving received signal processing where the selection of equalization filter taps in a CEQ is comparable to the placement of fingers in a G-RAKE receiver and the generation of equalization filter coefficients is comparable to the generation of G-RAKE combining weights.
Parametric G-RAKE receivers estimate impairment correlations using a modeling approach. The model employs parameters, sometimes referred to as fitting parameters, that can be estimated in a number of ways such as least-squares fitting. The parametric impairment correlations modeling process depends on corresponding model fitting parameters and on estimates of the channel response. However, signal impairments affect the channel response estimation process, particularly when the impairments are severe. As such, impairment correlation estimation and channel response estimation may be interdependent, particularly when interference is severe.

Method and apparatus for iteratively calculating channel response estimates


An eye/gaze tracker with first and second light sources each configured to illuminate an eye of a subject and controlled to selectively emit light towards the eye in such a manner that within an operation sequence the eye is illuminated by the first light source during at least one first interval and by the second light source during at least one second interval. An image sensor has a plurality of photodiodes each of which is associated with first and second charge storages configured to store electric charges based on an amount of light reaching the photodiode. At least one switch of the image sensor is controlled such that the electric charges are stored in the first charge storage as a result of the illumination during the at least one first interval and in the second charge storage as a result of the illumination during the at least one second interval.

High-performance eye tracking systems often use active illumination of a subject's eyes. This typically means that one or more light sources emit near-infrared light and one or more cameras capture images of the illuminated eyes. In the captured images, various features are extracted, such as the specular reflections of the illumination light source on the cornea (so-called glints) and/or the position of the pupil relative to the position of the eye.
There are two principal illumination strategies, which differ in how the pupil appears in the captured images. If the light source is located close to the camera, in the resulting image the pupil will typically be represented by image elements associated with a relatively bright signal level compared to the surrounding iris. If, instead, the light source is located further away from the camera, the pupil will normally appear comparatively dark in the captured images. This is referred to as bright pupil (BP) imaging and dark pupil (DP) imaging respectively.
For some people, the contrast between iris and pupil, and hence the stability of the eye tracking algorithms, may be optimal in BP mode and for other people, that lack a distinct bright-pupil effect, DP images will have the best contrast. Since an automatic eye/gaze tracker cannot know beforehand whether a particular subject belongs to the former or latter category, it is an advantage if the system is capable of capturing both BD and DP images. This, in turn, however, requires either two cameras or the capture of two images which are separated in time. The former alternative is associated with costs and technical complexity, whereas the latter suffers from motion-related errors.
Further, in some implementations, it may be advantageous to use more than one light source being physically separated from one another to obtain two or more glint signals on the image of the eye. Namely, this, in combination with the known geometry of how the camera and light sources are arranged in the eye/gaze tracker components, can be used to calculate both the radius of the cornea and the distance to the eye. However, simultaneous illumination from two or more light sources is problematic because it may result in a hybrid DP/BP effect in the registered images. This causes a poor pupil/iris contrast. Moreover, if the glints are located too close to one another with respect to the available resolution (due to limited optical performance, the size of the pixels or a combination thereof), the glints will blend into each other. This causes inaccuracy when determining the center-of-glint-positions. Additionally, such intermixed glints may obscure the pupil edge, which must be visible for accurate eye tracking algorithms.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,959,102 describes a method for increasing the signal-to-noise ratio in infrared-based eye gaze trackers used in the presence of ambient light, such as sunlight. Here, an infrared illuminator is modulated in synchronicity with a camera, such that for example, a first frame contains both the illuminator signal and the ambient radiation information, and a second frame contains only the ambient radiation information. Thus, given that the variation in the ambient radiation is slow, it is possible to subtract the ambient radiation information from the image data of the first frame, and thereby the eye/gaze tracking can be improved.
EP 2 519 001 discloses another solution for determining the ambient radiation contribution to a scene. Here, a stream of light pulses periodically illuminates the scene. Light reflected from the scene is registered in such a manner that during a light pulse electric charges originating from the incoming light are stored in a first storage element of a pixel in an image sensor; and between the light pulses, electric charges originating from the incoming light are stored in a second storage element of the same pixel.
Consequently, there are solutions for reducing the influence from ambient light, e.g. the sun, which may generate patterns and/or reflections disturbing the eye tracking algorithms and deteriorating the eye tracker performance. However, as discussed above, several additional problems must also be addressed to improve the tracking robustness of the eye/gaze tracker.

Eye/gaze tracker and method of tracking the position of an eye and/or a gaze point of a subject


Methods and apparatuses for reducing the sensitivity of an optical signal to polarization. The method generally includes (i) reflecting the optical signal from a first mirror at a first angle relative to the optical signal to a second mirror at a second angle, and (ii) further reflecting the reflected optical signal from the second mirror to a receiver. The apparatus generally comprises (i) a first mirror at a first angle relative to an incident optical signal and configured to reflect the incident optical signal, (ii) a second mirror at a second angle configured to further reflect the reflected optical signal to a first receiver, and (iii) a lens configured to focus and/or collimate the optical signal or the reflected optical signal. The first angle is configured to reduce polarization of the reflected optical signal, thereby maximizing the intensity or power of the optical signal.

A light wave is plane-polarized or linearly polarized when all of the electric field vectors in the light wave perpendicular to the direction of wave travel lie in a given plane. The orientation of the given plane is the direction of polarization. For example, a horizontally polarized light wave has a vertical amplitude of zero, and a vertically polarized light wave has a horizontal amplitude of zero. An unpolarized light wave is one that propagates in more than one plane. Polarization of a light wave (e.g., an optical signal) can occur when a light wave is reflected off a non-metallic medium (e.g., a beam splitter), forming a reflected light wave and a refracted light wave. When polarization occurs via reflection (e.g., from a mirror), the extent to which the polarization occurs is dependent on the angle at which the light approaches the medium.
In many devices configured to receive and/or transmit an optical signal (e.g., a data, voice and/or video signal in an optical or optoelectronic network), polarization can play an important role in the effective transmission of an optical signal. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, a conventional optical receiver 100 comprises an optical fiber (not shown), a lens 110 (optional), a mirror 120, a filter 130, and a receiver 140. As shown, lens 110 receives a light signal IN (e.g., from the optical fiber) and provides a focused light signal 150 to mirror 120. Mirror 120 then reflects the light signal 150 to receiver 140 in the form of a reflected light signal 155 for further processing. The reflected light signal 155 may pass through filter 130 before being received in the receiver 140. Reflected light signal 155 is at least partially polarized (e.g., having electric field vectors in planes at certain angles with reduced amplitudes).
As shown, mirror 120 is positioned at a 45° angle (i.e., the angle of incidence) with respect to optical signal 150. When optical signal 150 travels from a first material (e.g., the air between lens 110 and mirror 120) having a first index of refraction (n1) to a second material (e.g., mirror 120) having a second index of refraction greater than the first index of refraction (n2), a portion of the optical signal 150 is refracted into the second material 120 and a portion of the optical signal 150 is reflected back into the first material (e.g., towards receiver 140). For optical signals reflected by non-metallic surfaces, if the angle of incidence is such that the reflected and the refracted rays are at the Brewster angle (i.e., tan−1 [n2/n1]), the reflected ray is linearly polarized parallel to the reflective surface. Thus, the intensity (I1) of the transmitted signal (e.g., the reflected optical signal 155) can be calculated according to Equation [1] below:I1=I cos2(θ)  [1]    where I is the intensity of the incident optical signal 150, and θ is the angle of incidence of optical signal 150. Thus, as θ approaches 90°, the value of cos2(θ) approaches zero such that the intensity of the reflected signal decreases and the degree of polarization increases (e.g., up to 100% polarization). Furthermore, placing a mirror at a 45° angle in an optical receiver requires precise positioning during the manufacturing process, and slight variations in the angle of the mirror can greatly affect the degree of polarization (and thus the amount of lost intensity) in the reflected light wave(s).
This "Background" section is provided for background information only. The statements in this "Background" are not an admission that the subject matter disclosed in this "Background" section constitutes prior art to the present disclosure, and no part of this "Background" section may be used as an admission that any part of this application, including this "Background" section, constitutes prior art to the present disclosure.

Apparatuses for reducing the sensitivity of an optical signal to polarization and methods of making and using the same


A system and methods can create a synthetic image of a target from a 3D data set, by using an electro-optical (EO) image and sun geometry associated with the EO image. In some examples, a 3D surface model is created from a 3D data set. The 3D surface model establishes a local surface orientation at each point in the 3D data set. A surface shaded relief (SSR) is produced from the local surface orientation, from an EO image, and from sun geometry associated with the EO image. Points in the SSR that are in shadows are shaded appropriately. The SSR is projected into the image plane of the EO image. Edge-based registration extracts tie points from the projected SSR. The 3D data set converts the tie points to ground control points. A geometric bundle adjustment aligns the EO image geometry to the 3D data set.

Commercial earth observation satellites, such as Ikonos and Geoeye-1, offer imagery of ground-based targets. These satellites typically offer multispectral (MSI) imaging, which provides images at red, green, blue, and near-infrared wavelengths, and panchromatic (PAN) imaging, which provides black-and-white images formed from wavelengths that span the visible spectrum. This imagery is commonly referred to as electro-optical (EO) imagery.
In many cases, the multispectral images show registration errors with respect to one another and with respect to 3D sources such as LADAR, a digital elevation model database, a system that generates 3D points from imagery, radar generated points, or another suitable sources. For instance, white vent covers on a non-white roof may not be aligned with their proper three-dimensional locations, or a LADAR point set from a sidewalk may be erroneously colored with the grass adjacent to it. These are but two specific examples; other registration errors are possible. These registration errors may complicate use of the multispectral images, and can introduce uncertainty in downstream applications that rely on the multispectral images to locate particular objects.
Laser Detection and Ranging (LADAR), typically obtained from aircraft that fly over the ground-based targets, can produce a three-dimensional profile of the targets. LADAR can produce a collection of points that represent the surface or surfaces of the targets, which is often referred to as a point cloud. Some 3D data sets obtained from LADAR can include additional intensity information corresponding to the location data. 3D data sets that include the intensity information can be used to form an image from which traditional 2D image-to-image registration techniques can be applied. However, some 3D data sets may lack the associated intensity information, and therefore cannot be used with the traditional image-to-image registration techniques.

System and method for automatically registering an image to a three-dimensional point set


An arrangement of a planetary gearset (2) with an axially adjacent shift element in a housing (1) of a transmission of a vehicle. The planetary gearset (2) is connected to the shift element in a detachable manner.

From the document DE 20 2006 014 562 U1, an arrangement of a planetary gearset with an axially adjacent shift element as components of an automatic transmission of planetary structure for a motor vehicle is known. The planetary gearset consists of a planetary gear carrier and planetary gears, which are mounted on the planetary gear carrier by means of planetary gear bolts. The planetary gear carrier comprises among other things a carrier plate by which the planetary gearset is connected to the adjacent shift element for torque transfer.
The shift element that is axially adjacent the planetary gearset is a clutch. To actuate this clutch, it comprises an annular cylinder that cooperates with an annular piston to form a pressure chamber. In the known arrangement, the connection of the clutch to the carrier plate of the planetary gear carrier is formed by riveting the annular cylinder of the clutch to the carrier plate of the planetary gear carrier. This riveting forms a permanent joint between the annular cylinder of the clutch and the web plate or guide disk of the planetary gearset so that, even if only one component within this structural group is defective, the entire planetary gearset has to be replaced.
Accordingly, the purpose of the present invention is to improve an arrangement of the generic type described to begin with in such a manner that rejection costs are reduced.

Arrangement of a planetary gearset with an axially adjacent shift element in a transmission


The concepts relate to broadcasting white space utilization. One example can interact with a wireless device that is configured to obtain authorization to use a set of radio white space frequencies in accordance with one or more constraints. The example can obtain an individual radio white space frequency and associated individual constraints. This example can also utilize the individual radio white space frequency for network access independent from the wireless device that is configured to obtain the authorization.

Ever increasing numbers of wireless devices are being introduced and sold. As such, the radio frequency (RF) spectrum available for these wireless devices to communicate continues to get more and more crowded. More efficient use of the RF spectrum, and sharing under-utilized RF spectrum are very important to meet the growing number of wireless devices. One portion of the RF spectrum that is under-utilized is the portion reserved for television (TV) broadcasting. Governmental regulators divided the TV portion (and/or other portions) into a plurality of channels. However, for any given geographic region many of the channels are not utilized for TV or radio broadcasting.
Unused frequencies of the reserved TV portion of the RF spectrum can be referred to as TV white space. It is possible to utilize these TV white spaces for other uses, however, their use tends to be tightly regulated by governmental institutions (such as the Federal Communications Commission in the United States).
These governmental institutions are establishing databases that map channel or frequency utilization to geographic location. Stated another way, for a given location, the database can indicate a sub-set of frequencies that are utilized for TV broadcasting and other licensed use (such as wireless microphones in some countries) and/or a different sub-set of frequencies that are TV white spaces. Potentially, the governmental institutions may allow individual TV white space frequencies to be temporarily used for other purposes. However, any access point device (sometimes referred to as a "master") that wants to temporarily use one or more of these TV white space frequencies has to have the capability to know its own geographic location to within an accuracy acceptable by the regulators and also has to have access to the database via the Internet so that the device's location can be utilized in conjunction with the locations in the database. The device may be able to obtain authorization to utilize individual TV white space frequencies according to specific conditions or constraints. For instance, the constraints may relate to the location of the device, a duration of the authorization, and/or an allowed transmission power. Other available radio frequencies may be handled in a similar manner.


Embodiments disclosed herein include devices, systems, and methods for determining tear film break-up time and for detecting eyelid margin contact and blink rates, particularly for diagnosing, measuring, and/or analyzing dry eye conditions and symptoms. The apparatus and methods for determining tear film break-up time and for detecting eyelid margin contact and blink rates, particularly for diagnosing, measuring, and/or analyzing dry eye conditions and symptoms may employ ocular surface interferometry (OSI) devices or other imaging and display devices capable of imaging and displaying a picture of a patient's eye during tear film break-up time and blink rate related procedures.

In the human eye, the precorneal tear film covering ocular surfaces is composed of three primary layers: the mucin layer, the aqueous layer, and the lipid layer. Each layer plays a role in the protection and lubrication of the eye and thus affects dryness of the eye or lack thereof. Dryness of the eye is a recognized ocular disease, which is generally referred to as "dry eye," "dry eye syndrome" (DES), or "keratoconjunctivitis sicca" (KCS). Dry eye can cause symptoms, such as itchiness, burning, and irritation, which can result in discomfort. There is a correlation between the ocular tear film layer thicknesses and dry eye disease. The various different medical conditions and damage to the eye as well as the relationship of the aqueous and lipid layers to those conditions are reviewed in Surv Opthalmol 52:369-374, 2007 and additionally briefly discussed below.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the precorneal tear film includes an innermost layer of the tear film in contact with a cornea 10 of an eye 11 known as the mucus layer 12. The mucus layer 12 is comprised of many mucins. The mucins serve to retain aqueous in the middle layer of the tear film known as the aqueous layer. Thus, the mucus layer 12 is important in that it assists in the retention of aqueous on the cornea 10 to provide a protective layer and lubrication, which prevents dryness of the eye 11.
A middle or aqueous layer 14 comprises the bulk of the tear film. The aqueous layer 14 is formed by secretion of aqueous by lacrimal glands 16 and accessory tear glands 17 surrounding the eye 11, as illustrated in FIG. 2. The aqueous, secreted by the lacrimal glands 16 and accessory tear glands 17, is also commonly referred to as "tears." One function of the aqueous layer 14 is to help flush out any dust, debris, or foreign objects that may get into the eye 11. Another important function of the aqueous layer 14 is to provide a protective layer and lubrication to the eye 11 to keep it moist and comfortable. Defects that cause a lack of sufficient aqueous in the aqueous layer 14, also known as "aqueous deficiency," are a common cause of dry eye. Contact lens wear can also contribute to dry eye. A contact lens can disrupt the natural tear film and can reduce corneal sensitivity over time, which can cause a reduction in tear production.
The outermost layer of the tear film, known as the "lipid layer" 18 and also illustrated in FIG. 1, also aids to prevent dryness of the eye. The lipid layer 18 is comprised of many lipids known as "meibum" or "sebum" that is produced by meibomian glands 20 in upper and lower eyelids 22, 24, as illustrated in FIG. 3. This outermost lipid layer is very thin, typically less than 250 nanometers (nm) in thickness. The lipid layer 18 provides a protective coating over the aqueous layer 14 to limit the rate at which the aqueous layer 14 evaporates. Blinking causes the upper eyelid 22 to mall up aqueous and lipids as a tear film, thus forming a protective coating over the eye 11. A higher rate of evaporation of the aqueous layer 14 can cause dryness of the eye. Thus, if the lipid layer 18 is not sufficient to limit the rate of evaporation of the aqueous layer 14, dryness of the eye may result.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, it has been a long standing and vexing problem for clinicians and scientists to quantify the lipid and aqueous layers and any deficiencies of same to diagnose evaporative tear loss and/or tear deficiency dry eye conditions. Further, many promising treatments for dry eye have failed to receive approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration due to the inability to demonstrate clinical effectiveness to the satisfaction of the agency. Many clinicians diagnose dry eye based on patient symptoms alone. Questionnaires have been used in this regard. Although it seems reasonable to diagnose dry eye based on symptoms alone, symptoms of ocular discomfort represent only one aspect of "dry eyes," as defined by the National Eye Institute workshop on dry eyes. In the absence of a demonstrable diagnosis of tear deficiency or a possibility of excessive tear evaporation and damage to the exposed surface of the eye, one cannot really satisfy the requirements of dry eye diagnosis.
In addition, the importance of the lipid layer on dry eye syndrome has been well studied (See FIG. 1 for the lipid layer on the cornea of the eye). The creation of normal tear film is a continuous process and the etiology has been well described. With adequate meibomian gland function and proper blinking, proper tear film is maintained. One method of visualizing the duration of tear film is to ask a patient to keep their eyes open and visualizing the tear film through the use of fluorescein strips or other devices. In patients with dry eyes, the tear film is less stable, and breaks up faster and results in a quicker break-up time. Longer durations before tear film break-up indicates healthier tear film and meibomian gland function.
One known method for determining tear break-up time is Fluorescein Break-up Time (FBUT). FBUT is performed with a strip of fluorescein that is applied in the lower eyelid fornix and then quickly removed. The patient will be asked to blink three times and then look into the slit lamp without trying to blink. Using a cobalt-blue filtered light and a slitlamp microscope, a measurement is taken of the amount of time that elapses from the last blink and appearance of the first break in the tear film (a break will be seen by the appearance of a dark spot in the blue field). Typically in clinical practice this is done with a stop watch. FBUT of less than 10 seconds or less is consistent with dry eyes.
However, there are problems with FBUT. For example, the physical application of the fluorescein filter paper strip to the conjunctiva can stimulate tearing. In addition, the mere presence of fluorescein may change the properties of the tear film. Other methods have been tried to avoid using fluoresecein, such as using a keratometer, a keratoscope, or a Tearscope. These methods are termed Non Invasive Break-up Time, or NIBUT. Another technique is to analyze the prerupture phase of the tear film break-up referred to as Tear Thinning Time, or TTT, in which the distortion that occurs on the image of the eye is viewed. However, in all of these methods, the improper use of a stop watch or imperfect methods of detecting tear break up or the prerupture phase of the tear film can result in error. None of these methods provide a quantitative method of determining an amount of time for an area of interest to change on a surface of an eye.
Further, dry eye sufferers are affected in their abilities to perform everyday activities due to the persistent irritation and eye strain that can occur as a result of long periods of computer terminal use. Deficiency in their lipid layer thickness of the eye can be exasperated by partial or incomplete blinking. For example, the number of complete blinks would increase the higher the position of gaze of the individual. So if an individual were looking at a computer which was ten (10) degrees above eye level, they would need more complete blinks than if the computer were at eye level. Similarly if the computer monitor were placed below eye level significantly, there would be the need for fewer blinks because the rate of evaporation from the eye would decrease as the height of the exposed aperture decreases. These factors have been studied and published as work place safety and ergonomic studies have indicated the effect eye strain on productivity and worker satisfaction. Besides eye level position, other qualifiers are a factor, such as the context of the work, local humidity, type of task, age, skin color etc. of any one individual.
Thus, there is also a need to be able to observe blinking in a standardized method to determine whether or not the lids touched during the blinking process. The importance of the lipid layer on dry eye syndrome has been well studied (See FIG. 1 for the lipid layer on the cornea of the eye). The blink of the upper eyelid can maintain a sufficient lipid layer and the normal blink, defined by complete closure of the upper eyelid to the lower eyelid may not always occur.
For the purposes of this discussion, there are two types of blinks; the complete blink in which the upper eyelid makes contact on the lower eyelid throughout the margin of the eyelid, and the partial blink in which a portion or all of the eyelid margin is not in contact with each other. There needs to be a significant percentage of blinks to be complete to maintain the normal lipid layer of the eye. It would be clinically useful to be able to observe blinking in a standardized method to determine whether or not the lids touched during the blinking process. It is only when lids are shut completely, and then reopened, that oil is released from the meibomian glands. The exact ratio of how many blinks should be complete versus those that are partial blinks (i.e. where the lids do not touch) has never been determined. The study of blink rate is voluminous but there has not been a quantifiable study on the amplitude of the blink, types of blinks (complete versus partial) during a specific time periods, or the percentage of blinks that adequately resurface the cornea with lipids. Determining the amount of travel of the blink will indicate what is normal and not normal for these patients. With this information, the clinician can better inform patients in regards to their symptoms or condition, provide eyelid exercises, or propose additional therapy to alleviate the symptoms of dry eye. Currently, there is no standardized quantitative method for analyzing partial blinking.

Apparatuses and methods for determining tear film break-up time and/or for detecting lid margin contact and blink rates, particulary for diagnosing, measuring, and/or analyzing dry eye conditions and symptoms


It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing apparatus and a printing method which can perform an appropriate printing operation on a print medium while keeping an ink ejection range to a minimum required even when the print medium transported is deviated from a theoretical position, and which can also reduce a running cost and ink mist. Thus, the present invention is characterized by determining the actual position of the print medium transported to the printing position; based on the determined print medium position, setting an area slightly larger than the print medium lying area as a print area; and performing the printing operation on that area.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and a printing method for printing an image on an entire print medium by transporting the print medium relative to printing means that prints an image by forming dots on the print medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
Demands for digital image printing apparatus as output devices for a wide range of electronic equipment, including computers, copying machines and facsimiles, are growing significantly. The printing apparatuses currently in use are capable of using various print mediums, such as plain paper, OHPs and glossy paper. Information that can be printed includes various kinds of data, such as graph and pictures as well as general documents. Of the printing apparatus, an ink jet printing apparatus has come to be able to print images of high quality, even surpassing that of silver salt pictures thanks to a higher density integration of printing means and a color image printing capability that have become possible in recent years. Because of these advantages, there are increasing numbers of occasions where the ink jet printing apparatus is used for printing photographs.
With the picture printing application of the ink jet printing apparatus ever increasing, a so-called "marginless printing", which prints an image on the entire surface of a print medium without leaving a margin edge along a periphery of the print medium, has come to be one of the important printing methods in the ink jet printing apparatus as in the case with silver salt pictures.
Among ink jet printing apparatus capable of implementing such a "marginless printing", there is, for example, an apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-169155.
In an ink Jet printing apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-169155 (1996), a setting of print data for marginless printing is performed as shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11.
FIG. 10 shows how print data to be printed in one main scan of a print head is arranged in a main scan buffer, in a so-called serial type ink jet printing apparatus which performs printing by moving ink jet printing means (print head) having a plurality of print elements (or nozzles) in a direction perpendicular to a transport direction of the print medium. FIG. 11 shows how print data is set on the entire area of a print medium for the marginless printing.
When the printing is done in one main scan of the print head, it is necessary to store in a buffer data which indicates whether or not a dot is to be formed at each position arranged in the main scan direction at a pitch that matches a dot formation pitch for each nozzle.
The main scan buffer BF shown in FIG. 10 represents a case where the number of nozzles arrayed in the print head is V and the number of printed dots in the entire area of the print medium in the main scan direction is H.
In the figure, Hb1 and Hb2 indicate the number of dots to be formed in areas overrunning from the left and right side edges of the print medium (front and rear ends in the scan direction) when a marginless printing is performed. When the marginless printing is performed, those areas overrunning the print medium onto which ink is ejected need to be set for the following reasons.
When a print medium is supplied and transported, an actual position of the print medium may deviated from a theoretical position T0 set n the printing apparatus, as shown in FIG. 11. This positional deviation varies according to dimensional errors of components making up the printing apparatus that occur during the manufacturing process and to changes in conditions for supplying and transporting print medium that are caused by temperature and humidity variations. Therefore, these variations are difficult to eliminate completely.
If a marginless printing is performed with the print medium position deviated from a theoretical position and the printing operation (ink ejection operation) is performed only on the theoretical position of the print medium, an area overrunning from the theoretical print medium position fails to be applied with ink, forming a margin W. This indicates that the marginless printing is not performed properly.
Thus, in performing the marginless printing, it is conventional practice to set an overrunning area T2 where the printing operation is performed outside the periphery of the theoretical print medium position set on the printing apparatus, as shown in FIG. 11. As a result, should the print medium, after being supplied and transported, deviate from the theoretical position, this enables the entire print medium to be applied with ink. In FIG. 11, n represents an area printed by nth main scan and n1 an area printed by (n+1)th main scan.
In the ink jet printing apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-169115 (1996), however, a maximum value of positional deviation of the print medium is experimentally determined and a uniform overrunning area T2 of a width equal to the maximum deviation is set outside of and along the periphery of the theoretical print medium position. Normally, the width of the overrunning area T2 is set to about 1 mm to 3 mm.
With this arrangement the amount of ink applied to where the print medium does not exist tends to be comparatively large, causing a variety of inconveniences.
One such inconvenience is an increased running cost due to increased ink consumption. The ink consumption for one sheet of print medium is the amount of ink applied to the overrunning area added to the amount of ink applied to the entire surface of the print medium. Therefore, the larger the overrunning area, the higher the running cost based on ink consumption becomes.
Another inconvenience is a contamination of interior of the printing apparatus with ink. The ink jet printing apparatus for marginless printing has an ink absorber installed at the printing position so as to absorb that part of the ink applied to the overrunning area T2 which does not land on the print medium S. However, the print head produces minuscule ink droplets (ink mist) as well as normal-size ink droplets that land on the print medium S and the ink absorber. The ink mist is carried by an air flow produced by the main scan operation of the print head, floats around and eventually adheres to various parts other than the absorber, contaminating the interior of the printing apparatus. As the overrunning area T2 increases, the degree of contamination deteriorates.


An optical fiber cable routing guide for bending an optical fiber cable while protecting the optical fiber cable from sharp bends that could cause optical fiber damage or degradation of signal transmission. The cable routing guide is made in the form of an elongated curved channel to receive and bend an optical fiber cable and the enclosing strain relief boot at an optical fiber cable connector. One end of the elongated curved channel is shaped to make abutting contact with the cable connector and has protruding studs shaped to prevent rotation of the cable routing guide relative to the cable connector. The cable routing guide is easily installed without the need for tools and provides compact installation and routing of optical fiber cables within an enclosure.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates in general to a guide for an optical fiber signal transmission cable and, more particularly, to an optical cable routing guide to direct the optical cable direction while minimizing signal transmission degradation and strain on the optical fiber.
2. Description of Related Art
Optical fibers are becoming more commonly used for signal transmission in communications and information handling applications. Optical fibers provide a large increase in the signal transmission bandwidth of a transmission cable compared to the bandwidth provided by conventional wire transmission cables. The increased bandwidth of optical transmission cables allows a greatly increased amount of signal data to be transmitted over comparably sized cables. In information handling applications, such as computer systems having large information storage capabilities, optical fiber transmission cables are used to provide connections between units of the computer system in order to most efficiently transmit large amounts of information from unit to unit. One example would be an ESCON interface between the computer systems.
While optical fiber cables provide a bandwidth advantage over the use of wire cables, the optical fibers have the disadvantage of being more fragile than metallic wires. Care in handling and in routing optical fiber cables is imperative to avoid damage to the optical fibers which can result in degradation of signal transmission. Sharp bends of the optical fibers in routing optical fiber cables must be avoided. Excessively sharp (small radius) bends can introduce microcracks in the optical fiber which degrades the transmission of optical signals. Also, because of the laws of optics governing light transmission, a small radius bend of the optical fiber can result in signal loss due to some of the transmitted light leaking out of the fiber at the bend.
The prior art recognizes the need to control routing of optical fibers and optical fiber cables by providing troughs for supporting optical fiber cables including curved troughs having a minimum radius of curvature to prevent bending of the optical cable too sharply. In addition, assemblies to provide strain relief of the optical fiber at optical fiber cable connectors connecting the cables to system units are known to the art. U.S. Pat. No. 5,530,787 to Arnett discloses an optical fiber guide for preventing sharp bends having a sleeve mounting member for mounting to a optical fiber connector. STK drawing 4112197 shows a similar approach. There are problems encountered with these approaches however. Specifically, the prior art ESCON connector brace strain relief depended upon the structure around the connector to prevent twisting, and additionally, it would only bend the strain relief in one direction.
For applications where system units are mounted on drawers or racks in enclosures such as cabinets, there is a need to protect the optical fiber cables from sharp bends at the connectors to the system units when drawers are moved and cabinet doors are closed. Since compactness of system unit mounting in an enclosure is a desirable feature, the protective guides for the optical cables should be as compact as possible and should be adaptable for directing the optical fiber cables in different directions.
Therefore there is a need for an optical fiber cable guide that is compact, easily installed and is adaptable to cable direction while providing the necessary protection from sharp bends.
It is an object of the present invention to disclose an optical fiber cable routing guide for protecting an optical fiber cable from sharp bends at or near to a cable connector that is totally independent of the surrounding structure in providing strain relief.
It is another object of the present invention to disclose an optical fiber cable routing guide that is attachable to the cable by pressing onto a connector strain relief boot connected to a optical fiber cable connector.
It is a further object of the present invention to disclose an optical fiber cable routing guide that may be attached to direct an optical fiber cable in either of two directions.
It is yet another object of the present invention to disclose an optical fiber cable routing guide that is easily installed without the need for tools and provides compact installation of optical fiber cables within an enclosure.
In accordance with the principles of the present invention, there is disclosed an optical fiber cable routing guide comprising an elongated curved channel having a generally U-shaped cross-section formed by an inner curved wall, an outer curved wall and a base. The curved channel supports and guides the direction of an optical fiber cable enclosed in a strain relief boot fixed to an optical fiber cable connector. A proximal end of the elongated curved channel is shaped to make abutting contact with the optical fiber cable connector so that protruding stud elements of the inner curved wall, the outer curved wall and the base prevent rotation of the cable routing guide relative to the cable connector. A distal end of the elongated curved channel is shaped to receive a collar feature on the strain relief boot to constrain the position of the cable routing guide on the strain relief boot with the proximal end of the curved channel in abutting contact with the cable connector.
The elongated curved channel is formed to have a radius of curvature to bend the optical fiber cable through an angle, usually in the range of 90xc2x0, while protecting the optical fiber cable from sharp (small radius) bends that could cause optical fiber damage or degradation of signal transmission. By choosing the radius of curvature of the curved channel to be as small as possible consistent with the bending constraints on the optical fibers and by reducing the length of the curved channel, the space needed to bend the cable through 90xc2x0 is minimized.
The optical fiber cable routing guide is manually installed over the strain relief boot fixed to the optical fiber connector without the need for any tools or fixtures such as clamps, clips or other holding means. The strain relief boot, as is known to the art, is a hollow tube formed of resilient material having a first end fixed to the optical fiber cable connector and a second end extending away (usually in the range of 1-3 inches) from the connector. The optical fiber cable is inserted through the tube of the strain relief boot into the connector for connection of the optical fibers as is well-known to those skilled in the art. The optical fiber cable guide is installed by inserting the strain relief boot into the opening of the U-shaped cross-section of the elongated curved channel forming the cable guide and pushing the cable guide toward the cable connector to make abutting contact of the proximal end of the curved channel with the cable connector. A collar at the second end of the strain relief boot is fitted into the shaped distal end of the curved channel to prevent the cable guide from moving away from abutting contact with the cable connector. The optical fiber cable guide may be installed on the strain relief boot in either of two orientations providing the ability to bend the optical fiber cable in a first direction, or alternatively, by rotating the optical fiber cable guide by 180xc2x0 with respect to the cable connector, to bend the optical fiber cable in a second direction opposite to the first direction.
The above, as well as additional objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed written description.

International Business Machines Corporation


A processing gas is prevented from entering into a space below a placement table. A supporting surface for supporting the lower face of a placement table is provided at an inner circumferential portion of the upper end of a support column. A circumferentially extending purge gas groove is formed outside the supporting surface, in an intermediate circumferential portion of the upper end of the support column. A narrow flow path is provided outside the purge gas groove, at a position corresponding to an outer circumferential portion of the upper end of the support column. A purge gas diffuses in the circumferential direction in the purge gas groove and flows out to the outside from the narrow flow path. Such a flow of the purge gas prevents a processing gas from entering into the purge gas groove and a space below the placement table.

Generally, various processes, e.g., a film forming process, an etching process, an oxidation/diffusion process, an annealing process and a modification process, are performed on a semiconductor wafer serving as an object to be processed in a manufacturing process of a semiconductor integrated circuit. For example, in the film forming process, a polysilicon film, a SiO2 film, a W (tungsten) film, a WSi (tungsten silicide) film, a Ti (titanium) film, a TiN (titanium nitride) film, a TiSi (titanium silicide) film and the like are deposited on a surface of the wafer. A heat treatment apparatus performing such a film forming process is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-open Application Nos. H9-237763 and 2001-23966.
Here, a conventional general single-wafer heat treatment apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. 7. FIG. 7 shows a configuration of a conventional general single-wafer heat treatment apparatus. The heat treatment apparatus includes an evacuatable processing chamber 2, wherein a shower head 4 for introducing various necessary gases into the processing chamber 2 is installed in a ceiling portion thereof. Further, inside the processing chamber 2, a placement table 8 of a thin plate shape is supported on a cylindrical support column 6 which is extended upward from a bottom portion of the chamber, and a semiconductor wafer W is mounted on an upper surface of the placement table 8. A plurality of heating lamps 10 is installed under the processing chamber 2. Heat rays emitted from the heating lamps 10 are introduced into the chamber through a transmission window 12 provided in the bottom portion of the chamber, whereby the wafer W as well as the placement table 8 is heated.
A N2 gas serving as a purge gas is supplied into a space under the placement table 8 by a purge gas feeding unit 14 to thereby prevent a processing gas from entering into the space under the placement table 8. Accordingly, an unnecessary film is prevented from being adhered to an upper surface of the transmission window 12 or a lower surface of the placement table 8. If an unnecessary film is adhered to the transmission window 12, a transmittance of the heat rays becomes decreased to thereby deteriorate a heating efficiency. Further, if an unnecessary film is unevenly adhered to the lower surface of the placement table 8, a light absorptance becomes nonuniform and a temperature distribution is developed on the placement table 8 to thereby decrease an in-surface uniformity of the wafer's temperature. In order to overcome such a drawback, it is very important to supply the above-mentioned purge gas.
For example, in the aforementioned film forming process, if a diffusion rate of a processing gas used for film forming is not so high, the processing gas can be sufficiently prevented from entering into the space under the placement table 8. However, in case of using a processing gas having a very high diffusion rate, e.g., a silane gas, even though the purge gas is supplied into the space under the placement table 8, the processing gas enters into the space under the placement table 8 from a small gap, whereby an unnecessary film can be adhered to the lower surface of the placement table 8 or the upper surface of the transmission window 12.
In order to avoid such a phenomenon, it can be considered to substantially increase a flow rate of the purge gas. But, if so, a pressure inside the space under the placement table 8 is also increased. Since the increased pressure is exerted on the whole lower surface of the placement table 8, it is possible that the placement table 8 is raised to thereby generate a misalignment of the placement table. Further, in case that the placement table 8 is strongly fixed to the support column 6, the placement table 8 itself can be destroyed. Besides, since a flow speed of the purge gas jetting outwardly through the gap between the upper surface of the support column 6 and the lower surface of the placement table 8 becomes considerably greater, a circumferential portion of the placement table 8 is partially cooled to thereby deteriorate the in-surface uniformity of the temperature of the wafer W. Accordingly, it is not allowable to sharply increase the flow rate of the purge gas.


Decomposition of an aqueous electrolyte solution when an aqueous lithium ion secondary battery is charged and discharged is suppressed, and the operating voltage of the battery is improved. The aqueous lithium ion secondary battery includes an anode, a cathode, and an aqueous electrolyte solution, the anode including a composite of an anode active material and polytetrafluoroethylene, wherein peaks of the polytetrafluoroethylene at around 1150 cm−1 and at around 1210 cm−1 are observed in FT-IR measurement of the composite, but a peak of the polytetrafluoroethylene at around 729 cm−1 is not observed in Raman spectroscopy measurement of the composite.

A lithium ion secondary battery that contains a flammable nonaqueous electrolyte solution is equipped with a lot of members for safety measures, and as a result, an energy density per volume as a whole of the battery becomes low, which is problematic. In contrast, a lithium ion secondary battery that contains a nonflammable aqueous electrolyte solution does not need safety measures as described above, and thus has various advantages such as a high energy density per volume. However, a conventional aqueous electrolyte solution has a problem of a narrow potential window, which restricts active materials etc. that can be used.
As one means for solving the above described problem that the aqueous electrolyte solution has, Non Patent Literature 1 discloses that dissolving a high concentration of lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (hereinafter may be referred to as "LiTFSI") in an aqueous electrolyte solution can expand the range of a potential window of the aqueous electrolyte solution to 1.9-4.9 V (vs. Li/Li+). In Non Patent Literature 1, such an aqueous electrolyte solution of a high concentration, LiMn2O4 as the cathode active material, and Mo6S8 as the anode active material are combined, to form an aqueous lithium ion secondary battery.
Non Patent Literature 2 discloses that combining an aqueous electrolyte solution of a high concentration with C/TiO2 to form SEI (Solid Electrolyte Interphase) can result in an expanding potential window of the aqueous electrolyte solution on the reduction side to 1.83 V (vs. Li/Li+).

Aqueous lithium ion secondary battery, method for producing anode active material composite, and method for producing aqueous lithium ion secondary battery


Address map generation is described. More particularly, static addresses are obtained. A system design at least a portion of which is for instantiation in configurable logic of an integrated circuit is obtained. The system design includes a processor. At least one predefined circuit block in the design is identified as a peripheral connected to a processor. The at least one predefined circuit block is for instantiation in the configurable logic of the integrated circuit. Assigned to the at least one predefined circuit block is a static address range which is obtained from the static addresses. An address map for the design is generated having the at least one predefined circuit block with the static address range. Thus, for example, independent designers designing separate systems having a same set of peripherals may map to the same static address ranges independent of software system builder tool version, board, or processor used.

Programmable logic devices ("PLDs") are a well-known type of integrated circuit that can be programmed to perform specified logic functions. One type of PLD, the field programmable gate array ("FPGA"), typically includes an array of programmable tiles. These programmable tiles can include, for example, input/output blocks ("IOBs"), configurable logic blocks ("CLBs"), dedicated random access memory blocks ("BRAMs"), multipliers, digital signal processing blocks ("DSPs"), processors, clock managers, delay lock loops ("DLLs"), and so forth. Notably, as used herein, "include" and "including" mean including without limitation. One such FPGA, the Xilinx Virtex® FPGA, is available from Xilinx, Inc., 2100 Logic Drive, San Jose, Calif. 95124.
Another type of PLD is the Complex Programmable Logic Device ("CPLD"). A CPLD includes two or more "function blocks" connected together and to input/output ("I/O") resources by an interconnect switch matrix. Each function block of the CPLD includes a two-level AND/OR structure similar to those used in Programmable Logic Arrays ("PLAs") and Programmable Array Logic ("PAL") devices. Other PLDs are programmed by applying a processing layer, such as a metal layer, that programmably interconnects the various elements on the device. These PLDs are known as mask programmable devices. PLDs can also be implemented in other ways, for example, using fuse or antifuse technology. The terms "PLD" and "programmable logic device" include but are not limited to these exemplary devices, as well as encompassing devices that are only partially programmable.
For purposes of clarity, FPGAs are described below though other types of PLDs may be used. FPGAs may include one or more embedded microprocessors. For example, an embedded microprocessor may be located in an area reserved for it, generally referred to as a "processor block."
Heretofore, a software tool used to instantiate a processor-based design in a PLD, such as an FPGA, assigned address ranges for coupling circuit blocks ("peripherals") to a processor, such as with an embedded or instantiated processor, on a random basis subject to availability. Accordingly, if a design was changed, then on a subsequent instantiation of the design in a PLD, the address ranges would be reassigned by such software tool. Conventionally, this meant that one or more of the address ranges would change from an initial instantiation of a design to an instantiation of a revision of the design. This variability is a consequence of the flexibility of the PLD platform. However, such variability, especially when not used by a user, makes the task of managing designs more complex and error prone as each instantiation could have different addressing of peripherals. It should be understood that heretofore two identical systems which would be independently designed may yield different address maps for coupling to a bus or buses. Such variability was dependent on the particular PLD platform, the Embedded Developer Kit ("EDK") software tool or tools, or the printed circuit board ("PCB"). As is well-known, a microprocessor accesses memory and I/O via addresses. For a microprocessor to access memory or an I/O device, conventionally such microprocessor places an address for the device on an address bus coupled to the device, along with a read or write instruction on a control bus for the device
In contrast to a system-on-chip implementation in a PLD, an Application Specific Integrated Circuit ("ASIC") or Application Specific Standard Product ("ASSP") dedicated system-on-chip integrated circuits with built in peripherals, such as a PowerPC 405GP from International Business Machines ("IBM)" of New York for example, have addresses that are fixedly assigned by the manufacturer.
Accordingly, it would be desirable and useful to provide means that facilitate yielding a same address map for similarly situated peripherals of same or different systems regardless of the EDK software version used, PLD used, or PCB used, or any combination thereof, for instantiation of a system design on a PLD.


A method is provided for prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease, such as atherosclerosis, by administering therapeutically effective dosages of a drug comprised of ascorbate, lipoprotein(a) binding inhibitors, and antioxidants.

Lipoprotein(a) ("Lp(a)") was first identified by Blumberg, B. S., et al. (1962) J. Clin. Invest. 41: 1936-1944 , and Berg, K. (1963) Acta Pathol. 59: 369-382. The structure of Lp(a) resembles that of low-density lipoprotein ("LDL") in that both share a lipid apoprotein composition, mainly apolipoprotein B-100 ("apo B"), the ligand by which LDL binds to the LDL receptors present on the interior surfaces of arterial walls. The unique feature of Lp(a) is an additional glycoprotein, designated apoprotein(a), apo(a), which is linked to apo B by disulfide groups. The cDNA sequence of apo(a) shows a striking homology to plasminogen, with multiple repeats of kringle 4, one kringle 5, and a protease domain. The isoforms of apo(a) vary in the range of 300 to 800 kDa and differ mainly in their genetically determined number of kringle 4 structures. McLean, J. W., et al. (1987) Nature 300: 132-137. Apo(a) has no plasmin-like protease activity. Eaton, D. L., et al., (1987) Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA, 84: 3224-3228. Serine protease activity, however, has been demonstrated. Salonen, E., et al. (1989) EMBO J. 8: 4035-4040. Like plasminogen, Lp(a) has been shown to bind to lysine-sepharose, immobilized fibrin and fibrinogen, and the plasminogen receptor on endothelial cells. Harpel, P.C., et al. (1989) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86:3847-3851; Gonzalez-Gronow, M., et al. (1989) Biochemistry 28: 2374-2377; Miles, L. et al. (1989) Nature 339: 301-302; Hajjar, K. A., et al. (1989) Nature 339: 303-305. Furthermore, Lp(a) has been demonstrated to bind to other components of the arterial wall like fibronectin and glycosaminoglycans. The nature of these bindings, however, is poorly understood.
Essentially all human blood contains lipoprotein(a); however, there can a thousand-fold range in its plasma concentration between individuals. High levels of Lp(a) are associated with a high incidence of cardiovascular disease. Armstrong, V. W., et al. (1986) Atherosclerosis 62: 249-257; Dahlen, G., et al. (1986) Circulation 74: 758-765; Miles, L. A., et al. (1989) Nature 339: 301-302; Zenker, G., et al. (1986). Stroke 17: 942-945 (The term occlusive cardiovascular disease will be used hereafter as including all pathological states leading to a narrowing and/or occlusion of blood vessels throughout the body, but particularly atherosclerosis, thrombosis and other related pathological states, especially as occurs in the arteries of the heart muscle and the brain.)
For some time, general medical practice has focused on the role of LDL, the so called "bad cholesterol," in occlusive cardiovascular disease. A great many studies have been published ostensibly linking occlusive cardiovascular disease with elevated levels of LDL. As a result, most therapies for the treatment and prevention of arteriosclerosis rely on drugs and methods for the reduction of serum levels of LDL's. Such therapies have had mixed results. The efficacy of such approaches to the problem of occlusive cardiovascular disease continues to be major source of debate.
There exists therefore a need for a drug therapy for reducing the binding of Lp(a) to vessel walls, for reducing the overall level of Lp(a) in the circulatory system and for promoting the release of existing deposits of Lp(a) on vessel walls.

Prevention and treatment of occlusive cardiovascular disease with ascorbate and substances that inhibit the binding of lipoprotein (A)


There are provided an apparatus for sensing capacitance, a method for sensing capacitance, and a touch screen apparatus. The apparatus for sensing capacitance includes; a driving circuit unit applying driving signals to a first capacitor; an integration circuit unit including a second capacitor and a third capacitor respectively charged by a change in capacitance generated in the first capacitor based on the driving signals to generate a predetermined output voltage and calculating a voltage difference between the output voltage of the second capacitor and the output voltage of the third capacitor; and a control unit determining characteristics of a noise signal based on the voltage difference and controlling the driving signals based on the characteristics of the noise signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for sensing capacitance and a touch screen apparatus, capable of minimizing an effect of noise by estimating frequencies of noise signals using a difference between output voltages of capacitors integrated in different directions from a change in capacitance to be measured, and controlling frequencies of driving signals therefrom.
2. Description of the Related Art
A touch sensing apparatus, such as a touch screen, a touch pad, and the like, is an input apparatus that is attached to a display apparatus to provide an intuitive input method to a user and has, in recent times, been prevalently applied to various electronic apparatuses such as mobile phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), navigation devices, and the like. In particular, as demand for smart phones has recently increased, the use of a touch screen as a touch sensing apparatus capable of providing various input methods in a restricted form factor has been increased on a daily basis.
Touch screens applied to mobile devices may largely be classified into resistive-type touch screens and capacitive-type touch screens, according to a method of sensing a touch input utilized therein. Among the touch screens, the use of capacitive-type touch screens has been gradually increased owing to a relatively long lifespan, various input methods, easy implementation of gestures, and the like. In particular, a multi-touch interface may be more easily implemented in capacitive-type touch screens than in resistive-type touch screens, and as a result, has been widely applied to devices such as smart phones, and the like.
The capacitive-type touch screen includes a plurality of electrodes having a predetermined pattern, wherein a plurality of nodes in which a change in capacitance occurring due to a touch input is provided by the plurality of electrodes. The self-capacitance or mutual-capacitance of the plurality of nodes distributed on a two-dimensional plane may be changed by the touch input. Here, a weight average calculation method, and the like, may be applied to the change in capacitance occurring in the plurality of nodes to calculate coordinates of a touch input. In order to accurately calculate the coordinates of a touch input, a technology of accurately sensing the change in capacitance that occurs due to a touch input is required. However, when electrical noise occurs in a wireless communication module display apparatus, or the like, a change in capacitance cannot be accurately sensed.
Patent Document 1 discloses a touch sensor chip using dynamic frequency modulation and an operating method thereof, but discloses a method for changing a frequency of a sensing signal rather than frequencies of driving signals and therefore, is different from the contents of the present invention. In addition, Patent Document 2 discloses the contents of applying a plurality of driving signals having different frequencies, but does not disclose the contents of estimating frequencies of noise signals from results obtained by measuring a change in capacitance and determining frequencies of driving signals therefrom.

Apparatus and method for sensing capacitance, and touch screen apparatus


A shipping document comprises a first printable portion and a second printable portion attached together by a connecting strip comprising at least one detachable chad, and at least one detachable border strip removably attached to at least one free edge of the first printable portion. When the second printable portion is folded against the first printable portion the border strip extends beyond the second printable portion. When an adhesive is applied to the removable chad and the border strip, the shipping label can be secured to a surface by the adhesive and subsequently removed from the surface by detaching the border strip and the chad from the sheet, while the first and second printable portions remain attached along the connecting strip. The invention includes a method and apparatus for applying the shipping document to a surface.

Shipping documents are widely used by distribution warehouses, organizations and carriers to accompany delivery packages. Shipping documents typically include shipping labels and packing slips or shipping lists. Shipping labels are generally identification labels affixed to the shipping container to provide originating and destination information, as well as other non-confidential and useful information required by transport or carrier companies, customs and other government authorities, customers, etc. Packing slips and shipping lists provide information about the contents of the shipping container, often including information regarding the content, courier, warranty, control marks, operation, invoices, messages, drawings, destination address, optical tracing information, transponder, reference number and/or other pertinent information.
Current methods of creating and affixing shipping documents (such as shipping labels and packing slips) to a shipping container (such as a carton, envelope, container or other item) generally employ an adhesive envelope or pouch as a means of carrying the shipping documents. For example, the packing slip is often sealed in a clear plastic pouch and affixed to the exterior of the shipping container. Adhesives are used to affix the pouch to the shipping container, typically pre-applied pressure sensitive adhesives that are covered by a removable protecting strip or "release layer", such that when the release layer is removed the pouch can be adhered to the shipping container by the application of pressure along the adhesive-bearing portion of the pouch.
The packing slip is typically folded in a manner which hides confidential information or other information that is not necessary to the shipping of the container, for example the contents of the container, and inserted in the pouch, through a slit formed in the pouch that can be sealed either independently or as the pouch is adhered to the container. Upon receiving the container the recipient accesses the interior of the pouch and its contents by removing a tear strip or the like from the face of the pouch. While the shipping documents are sealed in the pouch, only information necessary for the shipping of the container is visible, such as the shipping label.
Distribution warehouses, organizations and carriers who fill orders for goods may employ manual processes, or partially or fully automated processes, to create and affix shipping documents to a shipping container, using for example the conventional shipping pouch described above. However, a shipping document constituted by a single sheet of printable material which includes both the shipping label and the packing slip is desirable, as it reduces the amount of paper used and facilitates creation because the shipping documents can be printed by a single pass through a conventional printer. However, automated systems currently employed to create and affix such shipping documents are very slow, averaging a rate of about 15 shipping containers per minute. With growing e-commerce activity, the demands are higher than ever and industry requires significantly higher rates in order to prevent bottlenecks and meet delivery timelines.
Another option is to employ a thermal print technology to print the packing list on the rear face of the shipping label, which is then applied to the shipping container. This option is also slow, and creates a further problem for the end user recipient because the shipping label is typically a small piece of paper, which makes the packing list difficult both to read and to file. As most businesses are accustomed to using letter size paper or legal size paper, the recipient of smaller packing lists will often take the additional step of photocopying the small packing list in order to record it on a larger sheet of paper for filing, which is time consuming and uses additional paper.

Shipping document and method and apparatus for applying a shipping document to a surface


This invention aims at providing a PLL synthesizer circuit that can shorten lock-up time while sufficiently securing a time constant of a low-pass filter, and has a structure wherein a phase comparator 3 outputs output signals .phi.R and .phi.P on the basis of a reference signal fr output from a reference frequency divider 2, and a comparison signal fp output from a comparison frequency divider 4; the output signals .phi.R and .phi.P are negatively fed back to the comparison frequency divider 4 through a charge pump 5, a low-pass filter 6 and a voltage controlled oscillator 7, and a lock detection circuit 8 outputs a lock signal LD when in a locked state. When an output signal SVCO of the voltage control oscillator 7 coincides with a set frequency, when the lock detection circuit 8 does not output the lock signal LD, a reset circuit 15 outputs a reset signal PC to the reference frequency divider 2 and to the comparison frequency divider 4, and the reset signal PC brings the phase of the reference signal fr into conformity with the phase of the comparison signal fp.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a PLL synthesizer circuit that operates so as to always bring an output signal frequency into conformity with a set frequency.
2. Description of the Related Art
A PLL synthesizer circuit is a negative feedback circuit that operates so as to bring a set frequency into conformity with an output signal frequency. Recently, the PLL synthesizer circuit has been used for automobile telephones, portable telephones, etc., and the time necessary to fix an output signal frequency to a set frequency must be shortened in order to reduce access time of the PLL synthesizer circuit.
An example of conventional PLL synthesizer circuits will be explained with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings. A quartz oscillator 1 outputs a reference clock signal CK of a natural frequency based on the oscillation of a quartz oscillation element to a reference frequency divider 2, and this reference frequency divider 2 divides the frequency of the reference clock signal CK on the basis of a set frequency, which is set from outside, and outputs a reference signal fr to a phase comparator 3. A comparison frequency divider 4 outputs a comparison signal fp to the phase comparator 3. The phase comparator 3 compares the reference signal fr with the comparison signal fp, and outputs pulse signals .phi.R and .phi.P corresponding to their frequency difference and their phase difference, respectively, to a charge pump 5.
The charge pump 5 outputs an output signal SCP on the basis of the pulse signals .phi.R, .phi.P output from the phase comparator 5, to a low-pass filter (hereinafter referred to as "LPF") 6. This output signal SCP contains a pulse component in its D.C. component. The D.C. component rises and falls with the frequency changes of the pulse signals .phi.R, .phi.P, while the pulse component changes on the basis of the phase difference of the pulse signals .phi.R, .phi.P.
The LPF 6 smoothes the output signal SCP of the charge pump 5, and outputs an output signal SLPF, from which a radio frequency (RF) component is removed, to a voltage controlled oscillator (hereinafter referred to as "VCO") 7. The VCO 7 outputs an output signal SVCO having a frequency corresponding to the voltage value of the output signal SLPF of the LPF 6 to an outside circuit and to the comparison frequency divider 4 described above. The comparison frequency divider 4 divides the frequency of the output signal SVCO of the VCO 7 and outputs it to the phase comparator 3.
The pulse signal .phi.R output from the phase comparator 3 is output as a pulse signal f.DELTA. to a lock detection circuit 8. This lock detection circuit 8 outputs a lock signal LD when a pulse width of the pulse signal f.DELTA. is below a predetermined value or when the pulse signal f.DELTA. is not output. When the output signal SVCO of the VCO 7 changes and the pulse width of the pulse signal f.DELTA. is above a predetermined value, the lock detection circuit 8 outputs an unlock signal ULD at an L level.
In the PLL synthesizer circuit having the circuit construction as described above, when a setting of the comparison signal fp, for example, is changed and its frequency is lowered from the lock state where the frequency and phase of the reference signal fr are in conformity with those of the comparison signal fp, differences occur in the frequencies and phases of the reference signal fr and the comparison signal fp as shown in FIG. 7, and then, the phase comparator 3 outputs the pulse signals .phi.R and .phi.P, and the unlock signal ULD at an L level is output. The D.C. component of the output signal SCP of the charge pump 5 changes and the pulse component develops. The voltage level of the output signal SLPF of the LPF 6 rises on the basis of the output signal SCP, and the output signal SLPF of the LPF 6 converges to a voltage level corresponding to the comparison signal fp set afresh, and the operation mode returns to the lock state.
When the frequency of the comparison signal fp of the PLL synthesizer circuit is lowered as described above, the output signal SLPF of the LPF 6 rises from V1 to V2 as indicated by a solid line in FIG. 8, for example. However, since the phase difference occurs even when the frequency of the reference signal fr is in conformity with that of the comparison signal fp, the output signal SLPF, which has risen to a point near V2, converges with V2 while repeating an over-shoot and under-shoot. Accordingly, there remains the problem that the lock-up time from the change of setting of the comparison signal fp to the rise and conversion of the output signal SLPF from V1 to V2 is long. On the other hand, the lock-up time can be shortened by reducing the time constant of the LPF 6 to reduce an over-shoot and under-shoot, but when the time constant of the LPF 6 is reduced, the pulse component contained in the output signal SCP of the charge pump 5 cannot be sufficiently eliminated, so that the frequency of the output signal SVCO of the VCO 7 becomes unstable.

PLL synthesizer having frequency dividers with reset control


In the present invention, in interval photographing, a CPU performs still image photographing based on a capture interval and a capture length set for each scene in advance. Then, for each captured still image, the CPU calculates a difference between images, writes a judgment flag indicating whether the difference is exceeding a capture threshold in EXIF information, and stores all captured images. When the interval photographing is ended, the CPU reads out the captured images, performs time-lapse moving image generation processing by using images having a positive judgment flag in the EXIF information, and stores the result.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a moving image generating apparatus, a moving image generating method, and a storage medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, there is a technology for interval photographing for capturing images at predetermined time intervals, in which the importance level of a photographed subject and a change in difference are detected to dynamically change the capture intervals, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (Kokai) Publication Nos. 2002-218309 and 2007-150993.
An object of the present invention is to provide a moving image generating apparatus, a moving image generating method, and a program capable of easily generating a moving image allowing subtle changes among captured images to be effectively enjoyed in accordance with the photographing environment and purpose.

Moving image generating apparatus, moving image generating method, and storage medium


In order to produce a packaging for a sink which has particularly good absorption properties and a low rate of transportation damage there is proposed a packaging for a sink which comprises at least one supporting body that is formed at least partly from a foamed plastic material and comprises at least one seating element incorporating a seating channel for an edge section of the sink, and an outer packaging whose interior accommodates the sink and the at least one supporting body, wherein the at least one supporting body extends over substantially the entire internal height of the interior of the outer packaging.

It is known to pack sinks individually into a respective transportation carton and to use shaped members made from a foamed plastic material so as to protect the sink from the effects of shock loadings.
In particular, a packaging for a sink is known wherein two seating strips of foamed material are pushed onto the short side walls of the edge of a sink which comprises two equally large basins. Furthermore, in the case of this sink packaging, a web protector having a U-shaped cross section is placed on the intermediate web located between the two basins from above, and the two basins are supported from below by a substantially T-shaped supporting body which is arranged below the bases of the basins and below the intermediate web separating the two basins from one another. This known sink packaging thus comprises four shaped members made of foamed plastic material which are arranged on the sink separately from one another and are not in contact with one another. The shaped members and the sink are accommodated in a cuboid outer packaging, wherein each of the shaped members is of significantly lesser height than the interior of the outer packaging so that each of the shaped members can be supported either only on the base or only on the top wall of the outer packaging.


An improved row crop header for harvesting crops planted in rows. The improved row crop header has a plurality of row units mounted on a frame such that the adjacent gatherers of two adjacent row units are in offset planes to permit the overlap of the adjacent gatherers. This overlap permits the row units to be arranged closer together on the frame allowing the row crop header to harvest narrower crop rows than existing corn heads. Also provided is a method that uses the improved row crop header to harvest narrower crop rows than in the past.

Several variations of header units have been used in combines or harvesting machines for harvesting row crops such as corn and cotton. One of the first such header units was a corn head with fixed spacing between the row units. Several other corn heads allowing variable spacing between the row units were then developed.
With the advent of the variable row width header units, the last several years has seen a rapid increase in the research and development of the effect of varying row widths on the growth of corn and other row crops. The existing corn heads and harvesting machines are designed to efficiently harvest corn planted in rows having a row width of greater than 20 inches, because the existing corn heads have the gatherers of their row units in the same plane, thereby limiting how close the row units can be arranged together.
For example, a typical existing corn head with a plurality of row units has both the gatherers of each row unit arranged in the same plane. Thus, the adjacent gatherers of any two adjacent row units are also arranged in the same plane. This limits how close the adjacent row units can be positioned as the adjacent gatherers of the adjacent row units can interfere with each other if the adjacent row units are arranged too close to each other. As the technology to build the chains and other row unit components limits the minimum width of a row unit, the positioning of adjacent row units determines the minimum crop row width that can be efficiently harvested by the existing corn heads. Thus, current technology limits the row widths to about 20 inches because the gatherers in adjacent row units of the existing corn heads can interfere with each other if they are brought any closer.
Recent research on the spacing of the corn rows has indicated special benefits for narrower row spacings that are 12-16 inches apart. In addition to the obvious increase in yield and crop population, these benefits include improved erosion control and better weed control. The narrower rows also require less chemicals and pesticides per unit of yield thereby benefitting the environment.
Existing header units are not designed to harvest rows having a spacing of 16 inches or less. Consequently, they are very wasteful and inefficient in harvesting narrow rows leading to a sub-optimal harvesting efficiency.
The problems identified above are not intended to be exhaustive but are among the many that reduce the effectiveness of current solutions to the problem of harvesting crops planted in narrow rows. Other problems may also exist; however, those presented above should be sufficient to demonstrate that currently known solutions are amenable to worthwhile improvement.

Narrow row corn head with staggered height row units


A self-adjusting load elevator has a base, a horizontal load platform, a vertically expandable scissors linkage coupled between the load platform and the base, and an air actuator chamber. The air actuator chamber is formed of a compressible bellows and a fixed volume reservoir. The bellows is compressible between specified maximum and minimum bellows heights which correspondingly determine substantially different maximum and minimum bellows volumes and coupled between the scissors linkage and the load platform. The air reservoir is coupled to the bellows and has a fixed volume that is substantial compared to the difference between the maximum and minimum bellows volumes. A normally closed air inlet/outlet valve is coupled to the air actuator.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to load elevators for use in loading and unloading a number of packages or objects, and more specifically, to load elevators and methods of using them that can maintain the top of a changing load at a convenient predetermined height.
2. Description of Related Art
In the handling of a number of packages or objects, a common task is to manually transfer them between an elevated table, conveyor, etc. and a pallet resting on the floor. While the table or conveyor remains at a fixed height, the top of the load on the pallet, where the next box or object is to be loaded or removed, usually is at a different height which varies as the packages, etc. are piled on or removed from the pallet. This difference in height, and the changes in this difference during loading or unloading of the packages, can be fatiguing for the person doing the moving. Therefore, elevators have been developed for raising the pallet from the floor to a more convenient height and even for automatically adjusting the height of the pallet as the load increases or decreases so the preferred height of the top of the load is maintained.
For example, Cox's U.S. Pat. No. 4,764,075 shows a scissor elevator supported by helical metal springs that maintain the top of a load of boxes or the like at a preset height P above the floor (e.g. 0.975 m) as boxes are added or removed (Cox, FIG. 6, upper diagram). Once the desired preset height P, the maximum load height h and maximum load weight W, and the height S of the fully compressed springs are given, only the spring constant k (or the value of the spring capacity C=k.multidot.S) needs to be determined. Because the maximum load height h and maximum weight W will vary from application to application, such a device usually needs to be purchased with a number of sets of springs and a change in application requires the consulting of a spring table and inconvenient changing of springs. That is, the means for adjusting the elevator for changes in the maximum load weight or changes in the density of the loaded objects is crudely quantized into cumbersome changes of the elevator springs rather than being continuously variable. Also, it is not practical to make such adjustment, i.e. the change of springs, while the elevator is under load.
While theoretically the spring constant k (or spring capacity C) of Cox's device might be determined by the user experimentally for a given maximum load height h and maximum weight W, in practice it is impractical to switch springs with a load in place. Therefore, Cox provides a formula or table for the user to follow to estimate the needed spring capacity C from the maximum load height h and maximum weight W. The formula assumes that the load is of approximately uniform density from box to box, in which case the springs should ideally be linear springs. The formula also assumes that, if there is no load on the pallet, the selected spring should produce only a little preloaded force to support the empty elevator mechanism and pallet.
In contrast, French Patent No. 1,473,991 (Fogautolube S. A.) shows a scissor-type pneumatic jack powered by a double-chamber bellows inserted between a base plate 2 and an intermediate plate or cup carried by the pivot pin of the scissors. However, this device appears to have been designed as a simple jack for autos and therefore does not discuss how to automatically keep loads of different heights at a preset distance from the floor for loading and unloading. Because the shape of a bellows changes significantly when substantially inflated or compressed, such a device may be less linear than a spring. However, substantial linearity is not required for a lifting jack because one simply inflates the bellows until the desired height is reached.
Similarly, French Patent No. 1,282,755 (Dittberner) shows a scissor-type pneumatic jack powered by a single-chamber bellows inserted between a base plate and an intermediate plate or cup carried by the pivot pin of the scissors.
German Patent No. 3,801,491 (Hahn) shows a scissor-type pneumatic jack powered by a single-chamber bellows inserted between plates carried by the scissor legs. This device is a loader/receiver for shelf system, and therefore it features a way of tilting the upper platform.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,174,722 (Alm) also is a jack for lifting vehicles. It has a scissor-type pneumatic lifter powered by a bellows inserted between upper and lower plates which ride in tracks on the scissor legs. U.S. Pat. No. 4,921,074 (Ochs) shows a narrow scissor-type pneumatic lifter attachment that can be fitted on each track of existing vehicle lifting platforms (See FIG. 1). The bellows is between a base and a top platform, but to one side of the scissor support (FIG. 2) so that the device is not wider than a vehicle track.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,688,760 (Garman) has a scissor-type pneumatic lifter powered by a multi-chamber bellows inserted between an upper platform and the base. Since the upper platform has a "backrest assembly 60" it appears to be designed as a lifter chair or bed. Its novel features are directed an improved linkage for the scissor legs which stabilize the top platform.
Other jack patents simply show various geometries for scissor-type automobile-lifting pneumatic jacks. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,070,960 (Phillips) is a compact lift having a multi-chamber bellows surrounded by scissors on four sides. U.S. Pat. No. 2,610,824 (Grier) has a plurality of bellows or air bags, each bag having a metal frame with holes 34 to accommodate the pivot pin of a corresponding scissor or "lazy tong" stabilizer. U.S. Pat. No. 3,379,411 (Vanderjagt) uses an air hose folded on itself several times as the bellows, and a lifting arm (claim 3) or plate (claim 4) is connected to one end of a base 22. U.S. Pat. No. 2,001,744 (Patterson) shows front and side scissor stabilizers around a plurality of bellows.
While the bellows devices of the prior art have the advantage that their elasticity or springiness can be increased or decreased by respectively raising or lowering the air pressure in the bellows, they have the disadvantage of being generally less linear than the sets of helical springs of Cox over a wide range of potential loads. Moreover, when a bellows is inflated or deflated with high pressure air, it may suddenly elongate or contract. If such a bellows were used as an actuator in a load elevator, such sudden elongation or contraction could translate into sudden motion of the elevator that could injure the person it.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a self-adjusting load elevator that uses a bellows as the height adjusting device yet overcomes these disadvantages. It is a further object of the invention to provide such a load elevator with a safety mechanism for preventing sudden or jerky motion that may be dangerous to the user. A further object is to provide improved methods of using such devices that make it easy for the user to adjust the load elevator for different maximum loads.


In general, the disclosure describes a method that includes partitioning resources of a computing device into a first namespace comprising a first physical network interface and a second namespace comprising a second physical network interface; creating, by a test agent executing as a process in the second namespace, a test agent child in the second namespace; migrating the test agent to execute as a process in the first namespace; communicating, by the test agent child via the second physical network interface, test packets; obtaining, by the test agent, network performance measurement data that is based at least on the test packets; and outputting, by the test agent while executing as a process in the first namespace, an indication of the network performance measurement data.

A computer network is a collection of interconnected computing devices that can exchange data and share resources. In some examples, the computing devices may provide services to measure network performance of a computer network. For example, the computing devices may exchange data to compute key performance indicators (KPIs), such as latency, inter frame gap (Inter Frame Delay Variation), jitter, packet loss, throughput, and the like.
Computing devices of a network can be configured as measurement points (e.g., with test agents) to measure network performance. For example, a test agent of a sender computing device (referred to herein as "sender device") may send a test packet to a test agent of a receiving device (referred to herein as "receiver device"), which in turn may use the test packet to compute one or more KPIs. As one example, the sender device may send a test packet including a timestamp indicating the time at which the test packet is sent (referred to herein as "sending timestamp"). When the receiver device receives the test packet, the receiver device generates a timestamp indicating the time at which the test packet is received (referred to herein as "receiving timestamp"). The receiver device may use the timestamps to compute one or more KPIs, such as latency. A controller may obtain the measured KPIs from the receiver device, and may output for display, e.g., via a graphical user interface, the measurements to a user or network administrator.
A computing device may include a kernel that can partition kernel and hardware resources among processes, such that one set of processes has access to some of the resources, while another set of processes has access to other resources. Each such partition of resources and the processes having access to that partition is known as a namespace. Processes can create additional namespaces and move between namespaces. Example kernel and hardware resources that may be allocated among namespaces include file names, interprocess communication, process identifiers (IDs), and user IDs. There are many kinds of namespaces, including the network namespace. A network namespace created on a device has a private set of network (e.g., Internet Protocol-IP) addresses, one or more routing tables, a network stack, and other network resources. Each network interface of the device is allocated to one namespace, although any given namespace may have multiple network interfaces (physical and/or virtual).

Namespace-aware test agents for network performance measurement


Disclosed is a perpendicular recording head for a hard disk drive. The perpendicular recording head includes a yoke that has a plurality of grooves essentially perpendicular to a magnetic flux that flows in a vertical direction relative to the yoke. The perpendicular grooves inhibit residual magnetism in the vertical direction and enhance yoke domain stability.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to perpendicular recording heads used in hard disk drives.
2. Background Information
Hard disk drives contain a plurality of magnetic heads that are coupled to rotating disks. The heads can magnetize and sense the magnetic fields of the disks to write and read data, respectively. The heads each have an air bearing surface that cooperates with a flow of air generated by the rotating disks to create an air bearing. The air bearing prevents mechanical wear between the head and the disk.
The heads magnetize the disk in either a horizontal direction parallel with the disk surface, of a vertical direction perpendicular to the surface of the disk. Vertical recording occupies less surface space and thus allows for increased disk capacity.
Vertical recording heads include a write pole that emanates a magnetic field. The poles typically extend from a yoke. The poles and yoke are integrally formed during the fabrication of the head.
As shown in FIG. 1, the generation of a write current will create a magnetic flux 1 that is vertically aligned with a yoke 2 of a head. When the write current is terminated there is a residual magnetism in the yoke. As shown in FIG. 2, because of the crystalline structure of the yoke 2, the residual magnetism 3 has components in the vertical direction. This vertical magnetism can cause yoke domain lock up. It is possible to reduce domain lock-up by forming an anti-ferromagnetic layer in the yoke. But this would require a sputtering process and would limit the type of manufacturing processes that can be used to fabricate the heads. It would be desirable to provide a yoke design that reduce domain lock-up and would allow the head to be fabricated with different manufacturing processes.

Perpendicular recording head with a grooved yoke