The present invention discloses methods for random access of a Relay Node (RN), which includes one method for random access wherein a RN monitors R-PDCCH and receives a random access response message according to a random access-radio network temporary identifier through the R-PDCCH. By the present invention, the random access procedure of the RN is achieved.

Currently, the Third Generation Partnership Projects (3GPP) launched a standard of the Long-Term Evolution advance (LTE-Advanced). The LTE-Advanced which is a relative improvement of Long-Term Evolution (LTE) retains the core of LTE, based on which a series of technologies are used to extend the frequency domain and space domain so as to improve utilization rate of spectrum, increase capacity of system or the like. The wireless relay is one of the LTE-Advanced technologies and is intended to expand the coverage of the cell, reduce the corner areas in the communication, balance the load, transfer the services of the hotspot areas, and save the transmission power of the terminal (or namely user equipment, abbreviated as UE).
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the network architecture using the wireless relay technology according to the prior art. As shown in FIG. 1, some new Relay Nodes (RNs) are added between the original Donor eNodeB (Donor-eNB) and UE, and these newly added RNs are wirelessly connected to the Donor-eNB, but are in the wired connection with the transmission network, wherein the radio link between the Donor-eNB and the RN is called as backhaul link and the radio link between the RN and the UE is called as access link. The downlink data first arrives at the Donor-eNB and then are transmitted to the RN, and afterwards the RN transmits it to the UE. The uplink data has the process inverted with the downlink data, which is not described in detail herein.
In order to configure resource of the backhaul link, Relay Physical Downlink Control Channel (R-PDCCH), Relay-Physical Dedicated Downlink Shared Channel (R-PDSCH), and Relay Physical Uplink Shared Channel (R-PUSCH) are defined. The resource of R-PDCCH, starting from an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbol received by the RN, can be partial Physical Resource Blocks (PRBs) in a subframe used for the downlink transmission of the backhaul link, or can also be partial OFDM symbols or all the OFDM symbols in a subframe used for the downlink transmission of the backhaul link.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the frame structure of a subframe used for the downlink transmission of the backhaul link according to the prior art. As shown in FIG. 2, the R-PDCCH is used to allocate an R-PDSCH resource and an R-PUSCH resource dynamically or semi-statically, wherein the R-PDSCH resource is used to transmit the downlink data of the backhaul link and the R-PUSCH resource is used to transmit the uplink data of the backhaul link. Considering the compatibility with the existing terminals and in order to avoid the transmission between the relay node and the base station has conflict with the transmission between the relay node and the terminal, the relay node monitors during normal transmission process the Downlink Assignment, Uplink Grant and the like which are indicated by the base station on the R-PDCCH, and then achieves the transmission between the relay node and the base station on the corresponding R-PDSCH and R-PUSCH. In addition, the relay node indicates Downlink Assignment, Uplink Grant and the like on Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) and achieves the transmission between the relay node and the terminal on the corresponding Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) and Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH).
Before the normal transmission process, the relay node in idle state (RRC_IDLE) needs to initially access the network by a random access procedure, and the relay node in the connected state (RRC_CONNECTED) needs to synchronize with the network and acquire resource allocation by the random access procedure so as to carry out subsequent data communication.
In a LTE system, the random access procedure can be triggered by any one of the following five events: (1) initial access in idle state; (2) initial access after Radio Link Failure (RLF); (3) Handover (HO); (4) downlink data being arrived in the connected state; and (5) uplink data being arrived in the connected state. Moreover, there are two different manners of the random access procedure: Contention Based (which is applicable for all the above five events); and Non-contention Based (which is only applicable for the above two events (3) and (4)). After the random access procedure is successful, normal downlink or uplink transmission can be carried out.
FIG. 3 is an interacted flow chart of the random access procedure in the manner of Contention Based according to the prior art. As shown in FIG. 3, the random access procedure in the manner of Contention Based comprises the following four steps.
Step 1: a terminal sends a random access preamble through Random Access Channel (RACH) in uplink.
Step 2: the Media Access Control (MAC) layer of base station generates a Random Access Response (RAR) message and sends the generated RAR message to the terminal through DownLink Shared Channel (DL-SCH), wherein the RAR message at least contains Random Access Preamble Identifier (RAPID), Time Alignment (TA) information, initial Uplink Grant (UL Grant) and temporary Cell-Radio Network Temporary Identifier (Temporary C-RNTI); and the RAR message is indicated by Random Access-Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RA-RNTI) on the Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH).
Step 3: the terminal sends a first Scheduled Transmission message on the Uplink-Shared Channel (UL-SCH), wherein the content of the Scheduled Transmission message at least contains Cell-Radio Network Temporary Identifier (C-RNTI) Media Access Control element (MAC Control Element) or Common Control logic Channel Service Data Unit (CCCH SDU); and the process of sending this Scheduled Transmission message can be supported by the Hybrid Automatic Retransmission reQuest (HARQ).
Step 4: the base station sends a Contention Resolution message on the DL-SCH,
wherein the Contention Resolution message is indicated by the C-RNTI or the Temporary C-RNTI on the PDCCH, and the process of sending this Contention Resolution message can be supported by the HARQ.
FIG. 4 is a random access procedure in the manner of Non-contention Based. As shown in FIG. 4, this random access procedure comprises the following steps.
Step 1: a base station allocates a random access preamble to a terminal through a downlink dedicated signaling,
wherein in the situation of handover, the downlink dedicated signaling is generated by a target base station and sent to the terminal by a source base station using a Handover (HO) Command; and in the situation that the downlink data arrives, the downlink dedicated signaling is sent to the terminal through the PDCCH.
Step 2: the terminal sends the allocated non-contention random access preamble through the RACH in uplink.
Step 3: the base station sends the RAR message on the DL-SCH, wherein the RAR message at least contains time alignment information and the RAPID, and in the situation of handover, the RAR message further contains the UL Grant, and the RAR message is indicated by the RA-RNTI on the PDCCH.
After the random access procedure is successful, the terminal monitors the PDCCH and acquires Downlink Assignment or Uplink Grant and the like by the C-RNTI indication on the PDCCH, then performs corresponding downlink transmission or uplink transmission. It can be seen from the above-mentioned that if the RN uses the random access procedure of the terminal, the RN will monitor the PDCCH after the access is successful. The subsequent transmission can't be carried out normally.
For the problem of how the RN accesses the R-PDCCH and performs the subsequent transmission normally, no effective solution has been proposed so far.


Methods and devices for programming conductive bridging RAM (CBRAM) memory cells improve the cycle stability by ensuring that the memory cells are erased before being written to anew. Optionally, in the event of overwriting the memory cells, memory cells may be written to only when the writing operation would alter the cell content (i.e., the state of bit stored in the memory cell is being changed from a logical 0 to a logical 1 or vice versa).

"Conductive bridging" memory cells (CBRAM) constitute a new and promising technology for semiconductor-based memory components. In the future, products based on CB technology are possible as a replacement both for flash memories and for DRAM memories. R. Symanczyk et al. describe in "Electrical characterization of solid state ionic memory elements" in Non-Volatile Memory Technology Symposium (NVMTS'03), San Diego, 2003, the electrical properties of memory elements based on so-called solid electrolytes, these elements also being called programmable metallization cells, or PMC when abbreviated, on account of their operating principle. In memory cells of this type, a vitreous or porous layer, for example made of chalcogenide glass such as GeSe, GeS or made of AgSe, CuS, WOx, etc., is situated between a metal electrode serving as ion donor, for example made of Cu, Ag, Au, Zn, and a counterelectrode made of inert material, for example W, Ti, Ta, TiN, doped Si or Pt. When a voltage or current pulse is applied between the electrodes, metal ions are driven into the chalcogenide glass by a redox reaction and form metal-enriched clusters, with the result that, given a sufficient metal concentration, a conductive bridge is formed between the two electrodes, which forms a low-resistance or "on" state of the memory cell. An electrical current or voltage pulse having opposite polarity inverts the redox reaction, so that the metal ions are drawn from the chalcogenide glass and the metal-enriched clusters are reduced. In this way, the metallically conductive bridge is terminated, and a high-resistance or "off" state of the memory cell then forms.
The accompanying FIGS. 1A and 1B schematically illustrate the above mentioned possible states of such a CBRAM memory cell 1, namely the high-resistance or off state in FIG. 1A and the low-resistance or on state in FIG. 1B, it being possible for the high-resistance state to be assigned for example to the logic state "0" and the low-resistance state to the logic "1" state. FIGS. 2A and 2B schematically illustrate a write operation for writing a logic "1" by application of a current or voltage pulse to the CBRAM memory cell 1, while FIGS. 2C and 2D schematically illustrate an erase operation in which a CBRAM memory cell 1 in the low-resistance or on state is put into the high-resistance or off state (FIG. 2D) by application of a current or voltage pulse having opposite polarity.
The suitability of such memory cells for high-density and fast nonvolatile memories has been recognized and investigated in the specialist report mentioned above.
For reliable operation over relatively long times, special programming and erasure strategies are necessary in order to guarantee the cycle stability. The accompanying FIG. 3 graphically shows the result of a typical cycle test such as occurs with an inadequately calibrated erase operation: the number of cycles with which the CBRAM cell was cycled is plotted on the abscissa axis and the electrical resistance of the CBRAM cell is plotted on the ordinate axis. Since the on state was written to a greater degree than erased, the resistance of the off state thus generated degrades with an increasing number of cycles. It is thus clear that in the extreme case, direct repeated writing of a logic "1" state corresponding to the on state in CBRAM memory cells causes serious write imprint and the cell would be very rapidly destroyed.

Intergrated circuit for programming resistive memory cells


Polyester-co-carbonate polyols and methods for producing the same are provided. The method comprises reacting one or more alcohols having an OH functionality of two or more with one or more organic diacids to form a reaction mixture, adding a first amount of dialkyl carbonate to the reaction mixture to remove water remaining from the reaction mixture by azeotropic drying, adding a transesterification catalyst to the dialkyl carbonate containing reaction mixture and adding a second amount of dialkyl carbonate to the catalyst containing reaction mixture.

1. Field
Embodiments of the invention generally relate to polyester-co-carbonate polyols and methods for producing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Liquid polyols which have excellent UV, hydrolytic, oxidative and chemical stability are required for various coating, adhesive, sealant and elastomer (C.A.S.E.). Polyester-co-carbonate polyols are either amorphous or liquid at room temperature and have excellent hydrolytic stability.
There are two existing routes for producing polyester-co-carbonate polyols. The most efficient route produces the desired product in a single reaction vessel by combining a polyol (alkyl diol, alkyl ether diol oligomer, etc), dialkyl carbonate, lactone, and catalyst in a reaction vessel under transesterification conditions. However, this procedure requires the ester functionality be derived by ring opening of expensive lactone monomers and precludes the use of readily available diacids because the water generated would deactivate traditional transesterification catalysts. In another route, the incorporation of less expensive diester functionality requires transesterification of preformed polyesters and polycarbonates. Typical cycle times for the production of polyesters on an industrial scale are approximately 24 to 36 hours. The production of polycarbonate from dialkyl carbonates on an industrial scale requires approximately 24 to 48 hours. Transesterification of the products requires an additional 6 to 10 hours. Therefore, the total cycle time would be 54 to 94 hours and does not account for transportation costs if the two processes cannot be accommodated at the same facility.
Therefore there is a need for more efficient and inexpensive methods for producing polyester-co-carbonate polyols.

Single-pot process for the production of polyester-co-carbonate polyols


A device for attachment to a tractor or similar vehicle for safe spray application of liquid chemicals around trees or like plants basically includes an elongated boom unit and a multinational spray unit pivoted by its inboard end on the boom unit, formed of an inboard section and an outboard section. The outboard section carries a spray nozzle and is pivoted by its inboard end to the outboard end of the inboard section. Spring members normally bias both sections of the spray unit into alignment with the boom unit, but first allow the inboard section followed, in turn, by the outboard section to move out of such alignment so they partially encircle a tree as the spray unit of the device contacts the trunk of the tree while the tractor moves the device forward and past the tree. Proximity switches and a photocell sense the correct positioning of the tree to emit sprayed chemical from the nozzle only when the spray unit is in contact with the tree.

1. Field of the Invention
This application relates to mobile devices for applying chemicals to assist in the cultivation of trees and other plants. More particularly, it concerns devices to be borne by tractors or like vehicles for spraying chemical liquids around the base of trees or other immobile, upstanding plants.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Orchards and groves of trees or similar upstanding plants require periodic application of plant chemicals, e.g., nematoicides to control nematodes present in the earth in which the plants grow, etc. Such applications can be made by workers using wand sprayers supplied from back-pack canisters or vehicle carried tanks. Alternatively, such application may be by spray jets mounted on a boom carried by a tractor or the like. An improvement in such tractor applicators has been disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,586,287.
The present invention provides further improvements in devices used to accomplish the type of plant chemical applications as discussed above.

Mobile plant chemical application devices


A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device substrate includes the steps of: arranging on a base a temporary fixing member for temporarily fixing an electronic component; temporarily fixing the electronic component on the base by the temporary fixing member; forming a substrate body on the base and the electronic component; removing a portion of the base which portion corresponds to the electronic component, thereby exposing the temporary fixing member; and removing the temporary fixing member, thereby enabling the electronic component to make an external connection.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to manufacturing methods of a semiconductor device substrate, semiconductor device substrates, and semiconductor devices, and more particularly, to a semiconductor device substrate having a base that supports a substrate body and includes an opening at a position (portion) where a semiconductor element is mounted, a manufacturing method of a semiconductor device substrate, and a semiconductor device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, with the increase in the operational frequency of a semiconductor element mounted on a semiconductor device, it is becoming necessary to stabilize a power supply voltage supplied to such a semiconductor element. In order to correspond to the need, a structure is proposed in which an electronic component such as a capacitor element is provided in a semiconductor device substrate (a substrate for a semiconductor device) on which a semiconductor element is mounted (refer to Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 04-283987, for example).
However, there are problems in semiconductor devices (semiconductor device substrates) having conventional structures in that manufacturing process thereof becomes complicated, electric properties thereof are degraded, and formation of connecting terminals becomes difficult, for example.

Semiconductor device substrate, semiconductor device, and manufacturing method thereof


A memory module including first and second ranks is provided. Each rank includes a separate plurality of individually accessible memory locations. Also included in the memory module is a control circuit coupled with the first rank and the second rank. The control circuit is configured to receive a write command for writing data to the first rank, and to process the write command to write the data to both the first rank and the second rank. Another embodiment of the invention features the control circuit alone.

A vital component of virtually all computer systems is a semiconductor or solid-state memory system. Such memory often holds both the programming instructions for a processor of the computer system, as well as the data upon which those instructions are executed. In one example, the memory system may include one or more dual in-line memory modules (DIMMs), with each DIMM carrying multiple dynamic random access memory (DRAM) integrated circuits (ICs). In addition, one or more processors may be coupled with the memory modules through a memory controller, which translates data requests from the processor into accesses to the data held in the memory modules.
Computer systems have benefited from the ongoing advances made in both the speed and capacity of memory devices, such as DRAMs, employed in memory systems today. However, increasing memory data error rates often accompany these advancements. More specifically, both "hard errors" (permanent defects in a memory device, such as one or more defective memory cells) and "soft errors" (data errors of a temporary nature, such as inversion of data held within one or more memory cells) tend to become more prevalent with each new technology generation.
To combat these errors, memory controllers in commercial computer systems often support an error detection and correction (EDC) scheme in which redundant EDC data is stored along with the customer, or "payload," data. When these data are then read from the memory, the memory controller processes the EDC data and the payload data in an effort to detect and correct at least one data error in the data. The number of errors that may be detected or corrected depends in part on the nature of the EDC scheme utilized, as well as the amount of EDC data employed compared to the amount of payload data being protected. Typically, the more EDC data being utilized, the higher the number of errors being detected and corrected, but also the higher the amount of memory capacity overhead incurred.
Due to the extra cost involved, some memory systems do not employ an error detection or correction capability. Further, in spite of the use of an EDC scheme, the error rates of the memory devices may overwhelm the capability of the memory system to detect and correct the errors. To address these errors, some memory systems may provide a spare DIMM to be used as a data "mirror" to store a second copy of data to protect the system against the failure of an in-use DIMM. However, similar to the use of EDC, the employment of one or more spare DIMMs also increases the cost and memory overhead associated with the memory system. In addition, memory systems employing a DIMM as a data mirror for an in-use DIMM typically are configured such that the memory controller must write the same data to both an in-use DIMM and a mirror DIMM as two separate write operations, thus essentially reducing the memory system bandwidth by half.

Memory module and method for mirroring data by rank

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method for operating an image display device using a pointing device includes receiving, from the pointing device, a first signal and a second signal to display a pointer at a particular location on a screen of the image display device, wherein the first signal initiates displaying of the pointer in accordance with a first input selection of the pointing device, determining whether coordinates corresponding to the second signal to display the pointer are outside an active area, wherein the active area is greater than an actual size of the screen, and resetting the coordinates to new coordinates corresponding to a pre-designated area of the screen and displaying the pointer at the pre-designated area of the screen when the coordinates are determined to be outside the active area.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image display device and a method for operating the same, and more particularly to an image display device, which is able to correct errors and increase user convenience by displaying a pointer at the center of a display screen if the pointer escapes from a virtual active area or a specific pattern is repeated, and a method for operating the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
An image display device functions to display images to a user. A user can view a broadcast program using an image display device. The image display device can display a broadcast program selected by the user on a display from among broadcast programs transmitted from broadcasting stations. The recent trend in broadcasting is a worldwide transition from analog broadcasting to digital broadcasting.
Digital broadcasting transmits digital audio and video signals. Digital broadcasting offers many advantages over analog broadcasting. The advantages include robustness against noise, less data loss, and easier error correction. Also, the digital broadcasting provides clearer and high-definition images. In addition, digital broadcasting allows interactive viewer services which analog broadcasting does not provide.
In order to operate an image display device, a remote control device, such as a remote controller separated from the image display device, is used. With changes in operations performed by the image display device, the remote control device additionally requires various functions to support the changes in operations. Accordingly, more convenient methods for users to control an image display device using a remote control device have been researched.

Image display apparatus and method for operating the same


Provided is a toner for electrostatic image development, having low-temperature fixability and long-term stable charge property and also having heat-resistant storage stability. The toner for electrostatic image development includes toner particles containing a binder resin. The binder resin has a domain-matrix structure in which a crystalline polyester resin is dispersed as a domain phase in a matrix phase formed of an amorphous vinyl polymer formed using at least a vinyl-based monomer. The amorphous vinyl polymer has a carboxy group concentration of not less than 0.2 mmol/g and not more than 1.0 mmol/g, and the crystalline polyester resin has an ester group concentration of not less than 0.1 mmol/g and not more than 7.1 mmol/g.

Recently, to achieve higher energy saving in image forming apparatuses of an electrophotographic system, there is a need for a toner for electrostatic image development (hereinafter may be referred to simply as a "toner") that is heat-fixable at lower temperature. Such a toner is required to have higher low-temperature fixability and also have long-term stable charge property so that high quality images can be formed for a long period of time.
For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a toner containing a crystalline polyester resin as a fixing aid.
However, with such a toner, the following problems occur unless the compatibility between the crystalline polyester resin and a binder resin is taken into consideration. For example, when the compatibility between the crystalline polyester resin and the binder resin daring heat fixation is high, there arises a problem in that heat-resistant storage stability is low because plasticization of the binder resin proceeds before heat fixation. On the ether hand, when the compatibility between the crystalline polyester resin and the hinder resin is low, there arises a problem in that sufficient low-temperature fixability is not obtained. Another problem in this case is that the crystalline polyester resin is separated and exposed at the surface of toner particles to cause a reduction in the charge property of the toner, so that image failures such as a reduction in image density and fogging occur.
Therefore, Patent Literature 2, for example, proposes that the affinity between the binder resin and the crystalline polyester resin and the concentration of ester groups in the crystalline polyester resin are controlled to achieve both the low-temperature fixability and long-term stable charge property simultaneously.
However, Patent Literature 2 has a problem in that, although low-temperature fixability and heat-resistant storage stability acre achieved, the long-term stability of charge property is low. This is because, although the compatibility between the crystalline polyester resin and the binder resin is taken into consideration, the binder resin used in combination with the crystalline polyester resin is also a polyester resin, i.e., resins of the same type are combined, another problem is that it is not possible to completely prevent the crystalline polyester resin from being exposed at the surface because, although the compatibility is controlled, these resins are of the same type.
Patent Literature 3 proposes that a combination of a crystalline polyester resin and a copolymer, obtained from a styrene-based monomer and a (meth)acrylate-based monomer is used as the binder resin. To achieve low-temperature fixability and heat-resistant storage stability simultaneously, the surface of the crystalline polyester resin used as seeds is surrounded by the resin of the same type as of the binder resin. However, there is no study on compatibility to completely prevent the crystalline polyester in the binder resin from being exposed at the surface, and there still arises a problem in that the long-terra stability of charge property is low.

Toner for electrostatic image development


The present invention provides methods and devices for mitigating inter-cell interference in communication environments having a plurality of cells. In some embodiments, a time-frequency transmission resource that includes multiple sub-carriers over multiple OFDM symbol intervals is partitioned into a first zone and a second zone. In the first zone, transmissions are transmitted on at least one frequency sub-band which is common to all of the plurality of cells. In the second zone, transmissions are transmitted on at least one frequency sub-band which is used by less than all of the plurality of cells, so as to mitigate inter-cell interference. In some embodiments, in the first zone transmissions are transmitted using a transmission power which is common to all of the plurality of cells and in the second zone transmissions are transmitted using a transmission power which is used by less than all of the plurality of cells so as to mitigate inter-cell interference.

A frequency re-use-1 scheme is commonly employed in OFDM based cellular networks. The frequency re-use-1 scheme involves each cell in a communication network using the same available bandwidth. Suppressing inter-cell interference to improve coverage and increase cell edge bit rates, however, is a challenge. A number of techniques have been considered to mitigate inter-cell interference.
One way is to use a fractional frequency re-use scheme, where each cell occupies only part of the available bandwidth. For example, a fractional frequency re-use approach for three base stations each associated with a respective cell involves each BS transmitting traffic to its respective cell using ⅓ of the available bandwidth. One drawback to such an approach is that it dramatically reduces network capacity, as compared to a frequency re-use-1 scheme where each cell uses all of the available bandwidth.
Another alternative is to use orthogonal frequency code division multiplexing (OFCDM), where frequency domain spreading is achieved using code division multiplexing. While such an approach achieves a spreading gain, performance degradation occurs as a result of orthogonality loss. In addition, when using such a scheme decoding and decoding hardware complexity increases.
Frequency hopping is another approach for inter-cell interference mitigation.
Yet another approach is to use macro diversity techniques including, for example, fast cell selection or soft handoff. Such an approach, however, introduces more complexity to the network.
Similarly, inter-cell interference cancellation techniques introduce more complexity in the receiver and are, therefore, not practical to be implemented everywhere.

Methods and systems to mitigate inter-cell interference


Various embodiments of the present invention relate to an earjack connection apparatus for an earphone antenna, and an electronic device comprising the same. To this end, the electronic device according to various embodiments of the present invention comprises: an earjack including a plurality of earjack electrodes; and a circuit board including a plurality of substrate electrodes and a plurality of substrate lines electrically connected to the plurality of substrate electrodes, wherein first and second substrate lines among the plurality of substrate lines can be configured to be electrically connected to a first substrate electrode among the plurality of substrate electrodes. Other embodiments are also possible.

Recently, various services and additional functions provided by electronic devices have been gradually increased.
The electronic device has an earjack for connecting various types of earphones. Various kinds of earjacks may be provided according to the earphones to be connected thereto. For example, the earjack supports a 4-pole earphone interface, a 3-pole earphone interface, and the like depending on the number of electrodes of the earphones to be connected thereto.

Earjack connection apparatus for earphone antenna, and electronic device comprising same


A device, which reliably guarantees the protection of electric cables that are located in the pivoting region of doors against cable damage or the splitting of an insulating layer includes a device for guiding and fixing electric cables in the pivoting region of doors. The device has first and second tubular sections, each having a sleeve region that is bent at a right angle and a substantially cylindrical cross-section. Both sleeve regions are interconnected such that they can rotate in relation to one another.

Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a device for leading and holding electrical lines in the swivel region of doors.
German Published, Non-Prosecuted Patent Application DE 39 17 201 describes a device for leading and holding electrical lines in the swivel region of doors and the like, particularly, folding doors of dishwashing machines, by an insulating retainer in which the lines are placed. This device has two half-shells that are joined together into which the cable harnesses or cable straps are placed and held there by friction. To protect the cable portion that is exposed to bending from breakage or damage, a fish plate that expands in flat fashion is disposed at each of the half-shell regions, which provides for an optimally small bending radius and protects the insulation of the electrical lines.
The problem of long-term bending loads or alternating bending loads on electrical lines, which may lead to a cable break or material degradation of the insulating layer, is managed, at least for a longer period, by the device according to German Published, Non-Prosecuted Patent Application DE 39 17 201. However, notwithstanding the ability to achieve a certain protection for the electrical lines by the device according to this reference, a significant residual risk remains that electrical lines that are exposed to a regular alternating load will sustain damage.

Device for leading and holding electrical lines in a swivel region of doors


A semitrailer comprising a main frame having a hitch, an axle assembly connected to the main frame, the axle assembly including at least two wheels for rotation relative to the main frame, a fairing connected to an underside of the semitrailer intermediate the hitch and the axle assembly, the fairing including a pair of lateral surfaces, a bottom surface spaced from the underside of the semitrailer, and a leading surface, wherein the leading surface includes an intake opening, and wherein at least one of the bottom surface or the lateral surfaces includes an exit opening, and a flow path fluidly connects the intake opening and the exit opening.

Most of today's tractor-trailers get about 6-7 mpg of fuel leaving significant potential for improving fuel economy of tractor-trailers. Reducing the fuel consumption of tractor-trailers would directly impact transportation costs of goods, serving businesses and consumers alike.
Fuel consumption of a tractor-trailer is influenced by the amount of drag forces incurred by the vehicle while traveling. As the drag forces increase, fuel consumption also increases. One area of a semitrailer where drag forces are high is the undercarriage of a semitrailer. Another area of the semitrailer where aerodynamic forces are high is the rear end of a semitrailer container. When the tractor-trailer is traveling, air flows under and around the semitrailer, placing significant drag forces on the wheels, undercarriage and rear of the truck. The tractor-trailer must use more power to overcome the drag, thereby increasing fuel consumption. Thus, it is most desirable to reduce drag beneath the undercarriage and at the rear end of a semitrailer.
What is needed then is a drag reduction system for a semitrailer that improves fuel economy.
It would, therefore, be desirable to provide a drag reduction system for a semitrailer that overcomes the aforesaid and other disadvantages.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Multicomponent improved vehicle fuel economy system


The disclosed game control device is a device executing a game that simulates a sport or an amusement in the real world. The device includes: a setter configured to set a situation in a sport or an amusement before an event on the game; an event generator configured to generate the event based on information of an operational input under the situation set by the setter; and a result generator configured to generate a game result based on the situation set by the setter and the event generated by the event generator.

Conventionally, a user has enjoyed games by operating a game device by himself or herself. In this case, the game device includes a hardware that reads game application software (game application program) and executes the program. Competitive games such as a baseball game or the like are known as games that are realized with game applications. In order to enhance game entertainment, such Competitive games may include a variety of functions as well as a competition itself. For example, Competitive games include a function that allows a user to customize abilities of game characters to be operated by the user.
For example, a laid-open Japanese patent publication 2000-189677 discloses a game system (baseball game) that includes schedule generation means for generating an action schedule for respective game characters. In this game system, a user can instruct a game character to do a specific action in order to enhance ability of the game character. In this game system, it is assumed that a user trains game characters (that is, enhance abilities of game characters) or competes against the other user or CPU. It is also assumed that the user performs a training and a competition in turns.
Recently, so-called social network games have become widespread which run on game applications created on the basis of operating environments such as application programming interfaces (API) operated on a web browser in a social networking service (SNS) provided by a particular service provider. Social network games may be defined as a type of online game played between a plurality of unspecified users who are communicating with each other. A player who has a communication terminal connectable to the Internet and with a web browser installed is able to enjoy network games regardless of time or location.

Game control device, game control method, program, recording medium, and game system


By configuring a high impedance frequency selective surface (HZ-FSS) structure for the appropriate values of surface impedance (surface resistance and surface reactance), a high frequency artificial ferrite metamaterial can be synthesized with almost any desired value of real and imaginary permeability. Materials with these properties have not previously been physically realizable at frequencies above 1 GHz.

Thin ferrite films have advantageous properties, such as absorption of electromagnetic radiation. However, it is well known that the properties of conventional ferrite materials are seriously degraded for frequencies above 1 GHz. There are numerous applications for materials or structures that provide the properties of a thin ferrite film at frequencies above those conventionally available.
Metamaterials are generally multi-component structures that can provide advantageous physical properties compared with uniform bulk materials. Such structures are also sometimes called engineered materials. A metamaterial ferrite is a metamaterial providing the properties of a ferrite film. It would also be very useful to be able to design metamaterials so as to provide desired permeabilities at given frequencies, particularly above 1 GHz.
A frequency selective surface (FSS) typically comprises a two-dimensional, doubly periodic, lattice-like structure of identical conducting elements. An FSS may also comprise an array of dielectric elements (possibly slots) within a conducting screen. A frequency selective surface (FSS) located close to a PEC (perfect electrical conductor) ground plane exhibits high impedance within narrow frequency bands, and is referred to as a high impedance frequency selective surface (HZ-FSS). Within these narrow frequency bands, the HZ-FSS structure functions as artificial magnetic conductor (AMC), having a reflection amplitude near unity and a surface reflection phase of zero degrees. An AMC can be used to suppress transverse electric and transverse magnetic surface waves. The term AMC is also used to refer to structures capable of acting as an artificial magnetic conductor at one or more frequencies.
FSS and AMC structures are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,218,978 to Simpkin et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,411,261 to Lilly, U.S. Pat. No. 6,483,481 to Sievenpiper et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 6,512,494 to Diaz et al.
FSS and AMC structures are of interest to antenna design. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,597,318 to Parsche et al. discloses a printed circuit antenna comprising a dielectric substrate disposed on a conductive ground plane. U.S. Pat. No. 6,262,495 to Yablonovitch et al. describes structures for eliminating surface currents on antenna surfaces. Also, U.S. Pat. No. 6,661,392 to Isaacs et al. discloses resonant antennas using metamaterials.
Patents and patent applications referenced in this disclosure are incorporated herein by reference.

Synthesis of metamaterial ferrites for RF applications using electromagnetic bandgap structures


The invention provides a wavelength multiplexing transmission apparatus includes a plurality of optical signal outputting sections for outputting optical signals having different wavelengths from each other, and a wavelength multiplexing section for wavelength multiplexing the optical signals outputted from the optical signal outputting sections and sending out a resulting optical signal. Each of the optical signal outputting sections includes a transmission light source driven by an electric signal for outputting an optical signal of a predetermined wavelength, and a wavelength filter capable of passing therethrough and sending out only an optical signal of the predetermined wavelength to be outputted from the transmission light source to prevent a wavelength drift of the optical signal outputted from the transmission light source. A variation of the wavelength of the transmission light source is detected, and the transmission light source is shut down in order to prevent otherwise possible crosstalk with another channel and prevent a further influence of the same.

1) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a wavelength multiplexing transmission apparatus and a wavelength demultiplexing reception apparatus suitable for use with wavelength multiplex transmission of a high density.
2) Description of the Related Art
In recent years, a demand for increase in capacity of a transmission apparatus has been and is progressively increasing as the information society advances progressively. Particularly, increase of the speed in electronics (an increase in transmission speed of an electric signal) is getting difficult after the speed exceeds 10 Gb/s, and it is anticipated significantly to achieve an increase in capacity by an increase. in speed on an optical signal level, particularly, by signal transmission to which a wavelength multiplex system is applied.
As a wavelength multiplex system, narrow-band wavelength multiplexing in the 1.55 xcexcm band which provides a wavelength with which the loss of an optical fiber is lowest is considered promising and has already been put into practical use. Further, since this wavelength band coincides with an application wavelength band of an optical amplifier for which an optical fiber doped with erbium is used and also the loss of a wave combiner/separator provided for performing wavelength multiplexing or wavelength demultiplexing can be compensated for by the optical amplifier, wavelength multiplexing of such a large number of waves that is not conventionally available can be performed.
However, in a transmission apparatus which adopts such a wavelength multiplex system as described above, when wavelength arrangement of the wavelengths of a plurality of transmission optical signals (transmission lights) is performed in a narrow band and in a high density in the 1.55 xcexcm band, small variations occur with the wavelengths of the transmission light signals by various causes, and also where a small wavelength variation occurs with some transmission light in this manner, the signal of the channel may not be transmitted successfully or may have an influence on the optical signal of a wavelength of an adjacent channel and bring about crosstalk with the adjacent channel.
In such an instance, a communication error may possibly occur not only with the channel with which the wavelength variation occurs but also with the channel with which the crosstalk occurs.
Accordingly, a transmission apparatus which performs high density wavelength multiplexing or wavelength demultiplexing described above not only has a subject to be solved in that wavelengths of transmission light sources must be stabilized, but also has another subject in that, should wavelength displacement occur, crosstalk with another channel must be prevented.
Further, while some optical signal transmission apparatus include a temperature stabilization circuit or a like circuit for a light source in order to secure stability of the temperature, where the stability of a thermistor which monitors the environment temperature of the light source is not sufficiently high, there is a subject in that it must be taken into consideration that a variation may occur because of deterioration of the thermistor as time passes. On the other hand, also there is another subject in that care must be taken of deterioration of a transmission light source itself which outputs an optical wavelength as time passes.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a wavelength multiplexing transmission apparatus and a wavelength demultiplexing reception apparatus wherein a variation of a wavelength of a transmission light source is detected to prevent that such variation causes crosstalk with another channel.
In order to attain the object described above, according to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wavelength multiplexing transmission apparatus, comprising a plurality of optical signal outputting sections for outputting optical signals having different wavelengths from each other, and a wavelength multiplexing section for wavelength multiplexing the optical signals outputted from the optical signal outputting sections and sending out a resulting optical signal, each of the optical signal outputting sections including a transmission light source and a wavelength filter.
The transmission light source is driven by an electric signal for outputting an optical signal of a predetermined wavelength, and the wavelength filter is capable of passing therethrough and sending out only an optical signal of the predetermined wavelength to be outputted from the transmission light source to prevent a wavelength drift of the optical signal outputted from the transmission light source.
Accordingly, with the wavelength multiplexing transmission apparatus, since, in each of the optical signal outputting sections, the transmission light source is driven by an electric signal to output an optical signal of the predetermined wavelength and the wavelength filter can pass therethrough and send out only the predetermined wavelength to be outputted from the transmission light source to prevent a wavelength drift of the optical signal outputted from the transmission light source, any optical wavelength displaced out of a pertaining predetermined normal range is attenuated by the pertaining wavelength filter and is not transmitted as a wavelength multiplex signal. Consequently, the wavelength multiplex transmission apparatus is advantageous in that crosstalk with another channel can be prevented.
The wavelength multiplexing transmission apparatus may be constructed such that each of the optical signal outputting sections further includes a first abnormal condition detecting section for supervising a level of the optical signal sent out from the wavelength filter and detecting an abnormal condition when the level is lower than a first threshold level set in advance.
The wavelength multiplexing transmission apparatus having the construction just described is advantageous in that, since the first abnormal condition detecting section in each of the optical signal outputting sections supervises a level of the optical signal sent out from the wavelength filter, by discriminating whether or not the level of the optical signal is lower than the first threshold level set in advance, an abnormal condition of the light source wavelength can be detected.
The wavelength multiplexing transmission apparatus may be constructed such that each of the optical signal outputting sections further includes a second abnormal condition detecting section for detecting an abnormal condition of an output level of the optical signal outputted from the transmission light source, and a third abnormal condition detecting section for detecting an abnormal condition of a wavelength of the optical signal outputted from the transmission light source when an abnormal condition is detected by the first abnormal condition detecting section and a normal condition is detected by the second abnormal condition detecting section.
The wavelength multiplexing transmission apparatus having the construction just described is advantageous in that, since, in each of the optical signal outputting sections, the second abnormal condition detecting section detects an abnormal condition of an output level of the optical signal outputted from the transmission light source and the third abnormal condition detecting section supervises results of detection of the first abnormal condition detecting section and the second abnormal condition detecting section, not only an abnormal condition of the light source but also a wavelength displacement can be detected.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wavelength multiplexing transmission apparatus, comprising a plurality of optical signal outputting sections for outputting optical signals having wavelengths different from each other, and a wavelength multiplexing section for wavelength multiplexing the optical signals outputted from the optical signal outputting sections and sending out a resulting optical signal, each of the optical signal outputting sections including a light source module, a temperature control section, an ambient temperature detecting section and a fourth abnormal condition detecting section.
The light source module includes a transmission light source, a temperature detecting section, and a heating/cooling section. The temperature detecting section detects an environment temperature of the transmission light source, and the heating/cooling section varies the environment temperature of the transmission light source.
The temperature control section outputs a control signal based on the temperature information detected by the temperature detecting section to the heating/cooling section to control the heating/cooling section so that the environment temperature may be stabilized at a reference temperature set in advance. The fourth abnormal condition detecting section detects an abnormal condition of the light source module based on the control signal from the temperature control section to the heating/cooling section and ambient temperature information detected by an ambient temperature detecting section provided for detecting an ambient temperature of the light source module.
The wavelength multiplexing transmission apparatus of the construction just described is advantageous in that, since, in each of the optical signal outputting sections, the temperature control section outputs a control signal based on the temperature information detected by the temperature detecting section to the heating/cooling section of the light source module, which includes the transmission light source, the temperature detecting section and the heating/cooling section, to control the heating/cooling section so that the environment temperature may be stabilized at the reference temperature set in advance and the fourth abnormal condition detecting section supervises the control signal from the temperature control section to the heating/cooling section and ambient temperature information detected by the ambient temperature detecting section, a wavelength abnormal condition can be detected indirectly by detecting an abnormal condition of a temperature stabilization circuit for the light source which is provided for wavelength stabilization.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wavelength multiplexing transmission apparatus, comprising a plurality of optical signal outputting sections for outputting optical signals having wavelengths different from each other, and a wavelength multiplexing section for wavelength multiplexing the optical signals outputted from the optical signal outputting sections and sending out a resulting optical signal, each of the optical signal outputting sections including a transmission light source driven by an electric signal for outputting an optical signal of a predetermined wavelength, a driving signal control section for controlling the electric signal for driving the transmission light source so that a level of the electric signal for driving the transmission light source may be stabilized at a reference level, and a fifth abnormal condition detecting section for detecting an abnormal condition of the transmission light source based on the level of the electric signal for driving the transmission light source which is controlled by the driving signal control section.
With the wavelength multiplexing transmission apparatus, since, in each of the optical signal outputting sections, the driving signal control section controls the electric signal for driving the transmission light source so that the level of the electric signal for driving the transmission light source may be stabilized at the reference level and the fifth abnormal condition detecting section supervises the level of the electric signal for driving the transmission light source which is controlled by the driving signal control section, there is an advantage that an abnormal condition of the driving current of the transmission light source can be detected and an abnormal condition of the wavelength of the transmission light source can be detected.
According to a still further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wavelength multiplexing transmission apparatus, comprising a plurality of optical signal outputting sections for outputting optical signals having wavelengths different from each other, and a wavelength multiplexing section for wavelength multiplexing the optical signals outputted from the optical signal outputting sections and sending out a resulting optical signal, each of the optical signal outputting sections including a light source module including a transmission light source for outputting an optical signal of a predetermined wavelength, a temperature detecting section for detecting an environment temperature of the transmission light source, and a heating/cooling section for varying the environment temperature of the transmission light source, a temperature control section for outputting a control signal based on the temperature information detected by the temperature detecting section to the heating/cooling section to control the heating/cooling section so that the environment temperature may be stabilized at a reference temperature set in advance, an ambient temperature detecting section for detecting an ambient temperature of the light source module, a fourth abnormal condition detecting section for detecting an abnormal condition of the light source module based on a relationship between the control signal from the temperature control section to the heating/cooling section and the ambient temperature information detected by the ambient temperature detecting section, a driving signal control section for controlling an electric signal for driving the transmission light source so that a level of the electric signal for driving the transmission light source may be stabilized at a reference level, a fifth abnormal condition detecting section for detecting an abnormal condition of the light source module based on the level of the electric signal for driving the transmission light source which is controlled by the driving signal control section, and a sixth abnormal condition detecting section for detecting an abnormal condition of a wavelength of the optical signal outputted from the transmission light source when an abnormal condition is detected by the fourth abnormal condition detecting section or the fifth abnormal condition detecting section.
With the wavelength multiplexing transmission apparatus, since, in each of the optical signal outputting sections, the fourth abnormal condition detecting section supervises the control signal from the temperature control section to the heating/cooling section and the ambient temperature detected by the ambient temperature detecting section while the fifth abnormal condition detecting section supervises the level of the electric signal for driving the transmission light source which is controlled by the driving signal control section and the sixth abnormal condition detecting section supervises results of detection of the fourth abnormal condition detecting section and the fifth abnormal condition detecting section, there is an advantage that a wavelength abnormal condition can be detected indirectly by detecting an abnormal condition of a temperature stabilization circuit for the light source which is provided for wavelength stabilization, and also there is another advantage that an abnormal condition of the driving current for the transmission light source can be detected and an abnormal condition of the wavelength of the transmission light source can be detected.
The wavelength multiplexing transmission apparatus may be constructed such that, when an abnormal condition of the light source module or the transmission light source is detected, the optical signal to be outputted from the optical signal outputting section to the wavelength multiplexing section is switched into an interruption condition.
With the wavelength multiplexing transmission apparatus having the construction just described, there is an advantage that, when an abnormal condition of the light source module or the transmission light source is detected, by switching the optical signal to be outputted from the optical signal outputting section, with which the abnormal condition is detected, to the wavelength multiplexing section into an interruption condition, crosstalk with another channel can be prevented and a further influence of it can be prevented.
According to a yet further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wavelength demultiplexing reception apparatus, comprising a wavelength demultiplexing section, a plurality of light reception sections, a plurality of error detecting sections, and a first transmission side wavelength abnormal condition detecting section.
The wavelength demultiplexing section receives, from a transmission side, a wavelength multiplexed optical signal including data having a predetermined format and demultiplexes the optical signal into a plurality of optical signals having wavelengths different from each other and same as those prior to the wavelength multiplexing.
Each of the light reception sections includes an interruption condition detecting section, which converts a pertaining one of the optical signals demultiplexed by the wavelength demultiplexing section into an electric signal and outputs, when the optical signal inputted to the light reception section is put into an interruption condition, detection information representing the interruption.
The error detecting section detects a data error with respect to the predetermined format from data included in the electric signals after the conversion by the light reception sections.
The first transmission side wavelength abnormal condition detecting section detects a wavelength with which an abnormal condition occurs from among wavelengths of the optical signals for which the wavelength multiplexing has been performed on the transmission side based on the detection information of the interruption condition detecting sections of the light reception sections and the data error detection information from the error detecting sections.
With the wavelength multiplexing transmission apparatus, there is an advantage that, since the wavelength demultiplexing section demultiplexes a wavelength multiplexed optical signal received from the transmission side and including data having a predetermined format into a plurality of optical signals having wavelengths different from each other and same as those prior to the wavelength multiplexing and the interruption condition detecting section of each of the light reception sections receives and converts a pertaining one of the optical signals demultiplexed by the wavelength demultiplexing section into an electric signal and outputs, when the optical signal inputted to the light reception section is put into an interruption condition, detection information representing the interruption and besides the error detecting sections detect a data error with respect to the predetermined format from data included in the electric signals after the conversion by the light reception sections and the first transmission side wavelength abnormal condition detecting section supervises the detection information of the interruption condition detecting sections of the light reception sections and the data error detection information from the error detecting sections, there is an advantage that an abnormal condition of the wavelength can be detected. Further, should some wavelength displacement of a signal light source of any of the wavelength multiplexing transmission apparatus occur, since the light source with which the wavelength displacement occurs can be specified, there is an another advantage that a countermeasure of replacement of a panel and/or release from the trouble can be taken rapidly.
The wavelength demultiplexing reception apparatus may be constructed such that the first transmission side wavelength abnormal condition detecting section is operable to detect that an abnormal condition occurs with a wavelength of one of two optical signals having adjacent wavelength bands to each other from among the optical signals for which the wavelength multiplexing has been performed on the transmission side when an interruption condition of one of the two optical signals which has a first wavelength is detected by a corresponding one of the interruption condition detecting sections and a data error of the optical signal which has a second wavelength is detected by a corresponding one of the error detecting sections.
The wavelength demultiplexing reception apparatus having the construction just described is advantageous in that, since the first transmission side wavelength abnormal condition detecting section supervises each two adjacent optical signals, an optical signal outputting section with which a wavelength abnormal condition occurs can be specified.
The wavelength demultiplexing reception apparatus may further comprise a transfer section for transferring, when it is detected by the first transmission side wavelength abnormal condition detecting section that an abnormal condition occurs with a wavelength of one of two optical signals, abnormal condition detection information representing such detection to the transmission side so that the optical signal of the wavelength with which the abnormal condition occurs may be put into an interruption condition.
The wavelength demultiplexing reception apparatus having the construction just described is advantageous in that, as the transfer section transfers abnormal condition detection information for putting the optical signal of the wavelength with which the abnormal condition occurs into an interruption condition, crosstalk with another channel can be prevented and a further influence of it can be prevented.
The wavelength demultiplexing reception apparatus may be constructed such that the transfer section uses one of ascending and descending lines between the wavelength demultiplexing reception apparatus and the transmission side which is different from that line which is used for transmission of the wavelength multiplexed optical signal from the transmission side.
With the wavelength demultiplexing reception apparatus having the construction just described, there is an advantage that, since, when the transfer section tries to transfer abnormal condition detection information to the transmission side, it uses one of the lines which is different from that one of the lines which is used for transmission of the wavelength multiplexed optical signal from the transmission side, an optical wavelength which may possibly cause crosstalk with another channel can be interrupted.
According to a yet further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wavelength demultiplexing reception apparatus, comprising a branching section, a plurality of variable wavelength filters, a plurality of filter control sections and a second transmission side wavelength abnormal condition detecting section.
The branching section receives a wavelength multiplexed optical signal from a transmission side and power branches the received wavelength multiplexed optical signal into a number of wavelength multiplexed optical signals equal to a number of multiplexed wavelengths different from each other.
The variable wavelength filters receive the wavelength multiplexed optical signals power branched by the branching section and pass optical signals of the different wavelengths therethrough.
The filter control sections output control signals to the variable wavelength filters to control the wavelengths of optical signals which can pass through the variable wavelength filters to follow up and pass the optical signals outputted from the variable wavelength filters, respectively.
The second transmission side wavelength abnormal condition detecting section detects, based on the control signals outputted from the filter control sections, a wavelength with which an abnormal condition occurs from among the wavelengths of optical signals for which the wavelength multiplexing has been performed on the transmission side.
With the wavelength demultiplexing reception apparatus, there is an advantage that, since the branching section power branches a wavelength multiplexed optical signal received from the transmission side into a number of wavelength multiplexed optical signals equal to the number of multiplexed wavelengths and the variable wavelength filters pass therethrough the optical signals of the wavelengths different from each other and same as those prior to the wavelength multiplexing from among the wavelength multiplexed optical signals power branched by the branching section and then the filter control sections output control signals to the variable wavelength filters so as to follow up and pass the optical signals outputted from the variable wavelength filters and the second transmission side wavelength abnormal condition detecting section supervises the control signals outputted from the filter control sections, a wavelength abnormal condition can be detected.
The wavelength demultiplexing reception apparatus may further comprise a transfer section for transferring, when it is detected by the second transmission side wavelength abnormal condition detecting section that an abnormal condition occurs with the wavelength of one of the optical signals, abnormal condition detection information representing the abnormal condition to the transmission side in order to put the optical signal of the wavelength with which the abnormal condition occurs into an interruption condition.
With the wavelength demultiplexing reception apparatus having the construction just described, there is an advantage that, as the transfer section transfers abnormal condition detection information for putting the optical signal of the wavelength with which the abnormal condition occurs into an interruption condition to the transmission side, crosstalk with another channel can be prevented and a further influence of it can be prevented.
The wavelength demultiplexing reception apparatus may be constructed such that the transfer section uses one of ascending and descending lines between the wavelength demultiplexing reception apparatus and the transmission side which is different from that line which is used for transmission of the wavelength multiplexed optical signal from the transmission side.
With the wavelength demultiplexing reception apparatus having the construction just described, there is an advantage that, since, when the transfer section tries to transfer abnormal condition detection information to the transmission side, it uses one of the lines which is different from that one of the lines which is used for transmission of the wavelength multiplexed optical signal from the transmission side, an optical wavelength which may possibly cause crosstalk with another channel can be interrupted with certainty.

Wavelength multiplexing transmission apparatus and wavelength demultiplexing reception apparatus


A foot peg assembly for a saddle-type vehicle for supporting a rider's foot while seated or standing on the vehicle comprises a mounting bracket for affixation to a frame portion of the vehicle, and a foot peg supported pivotably on the mounting bracket. The foot peg has a base and a step integral with the base extending outwardly therefrom. The base is attached pivotably to the mounting bracket for pivoting movement of the step relative to the mounting bracket. The base and the mounting bracket have mutually complementary configurations which maintain a close spacing therebetween through the range of pivoting movement of the step to substantially close the mounting bracket from entry of debris when the vehicle travels over unpaved ground surfaces.

As used herein, saddle type vehicles are intended to mean and to encompass any unenclosed vehicle which supports a rider in a position straddling a frame-mounted seat, including for example but without limitation two-wheeled vehicles such as bicycles and motorcycles and three-wheeled or four-wheeled vehicles such as so-called ATVs (all terrain vehicles).
Many such saddle-type vehicles are designed and intended for, and commonly used in, so-called off-road work, recreational and racing activities over unpaved trails and undeveloped terrain. As one example, motocross races between competing motorcycles follow winding, hilly and sharply turning off-road courses over undeveloped raw terrain.
During a motocross race, the soil of the race course typically becomes agitated and churned as competitors operate their motorcycles at high speeds and take turns at extreme angles. Off-road motorcycles used in motocross races are provided with foot pegs mounted to opposite sides of the vehicle frame, which riders use not just as foot rests but also as standing supports to assist in leaning and steering the motorcycles. The foot pegs are typically pivoted and spring-loaded to yield to any contact with the terrain under such conditions and, then to automatically spring back into place. Unfortunately, however, mud, dirt and other debris can be thrown into the pivot mounting locations for the foot pegs which may hinder or even completely overcome the ability of the foot pegs to spring back into proper operating position.
While this problem has been known for some time, a satisfactory solution has yet to be developed. In some off-road motorcycles, a deflector may be mounted forwardly of the foot pegs to attempt to intercept dirt, mud and debris thrown toward the foot pegs. Such deflectors may partially mitigate but are unable to prevent debris from entering the mounting locations for the foot pegs, so at best deflectors only somewhat delay the effects of debris.

Foot peg assembly for A saddle-type vehicle


Novel farnesyl derivatives which are inhibitors of the prenylated protein methyltransferase enzyme, and useful as anti-cancer drugs, have the following formula: wherein                R1represents farnesyl, geranyl or geranyl-geranyl;        Z represents C—R6 or N;        R2 represents H, CN, the groups COOR7, SO3R7, CONR7R8 and SO2NR7R7, wherein R7 and R8 are each independently hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, and the groups COOM and SO3M, wherein M is a cation;        R3, R4, R5 and R6 are each independently hydrogen, carboxyl, alkyl, alkenyl, aminoalkyl, nitroalkyl, nitro, halo, amino, mono- or di-alkylamino, mercapto, mercaptoalkyl, azido, or thiocyanato;        X represents O, S, SO, SO2, NH or Se; and the quaternary ammonium salts and N-oxides of the compounds of formula I wherein Z is N.

Ras proteins play a key role in tyrosine kinase growth-factor receptors signalling (Egan, S. H. and Weinberg, R. A. Nature 365, 781-782 (1993); McCormick, F., Nature, 363, 15-16 (1993)). These proteins bind guanosine triphosphate (GTP) and propagate the growth factors' signal to the MAP kinase cascade. They are associated with the plasma membrane where activation of the raft kinase occurs through a direct ras-raf interaction (Zheng, X. F. et al., Nature, 364, 308-313 (1993); Warne, P. H., Nature, 364, 352-353 (1993)). Termination of growth factors signalling involves hydrolysis of the GTP-bound ras to the GDP form of the protein. Oncogenic ras proteins do not hydrolyze GTP and are therefore in a permanently active state. This contributes to the uncontrolled cell growth of tumor cells that express activated ras proteins. Mutated ras proteins are found at high frequencies in human cancers (Bos, J. L. Cancer Res., 49, 682-4689 (1989); Barbacid. M., An. Rev. Biochem, 56, 779-829 (1987)). In some types of tumors, such as colon and pancreatic carcinomas, the incidence of activated ras is higher than 50%. Therefore, pharmacological methods to affect ras activity may be of use for the treatment of certain types of human cancers.
A pharmacological approach to inhibit ras oncoprotein activity has been recently described (Kohl, N. E., et al., Science, 260, 1934-1937 (1993); James G. L., Science, 260, 1937-1942 (1993)). It was demonstrated that specific cell-active inhibitors of the CAAX farnesyltransferase inhibit ras-dependent cell growth and reverse the transformed phenotype of cells expressing activated ras. These studies were directed by earlier experiments which indicated that farnesylation of ras oncoproteins is absolutely required for their membrane anchorage and transforming activity (Hancock, I. F., et al., Cell, 57, 1167-1177 (1989); Casey, P. J., et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 86, 8323-8327 (1989)). Because ras proteins farnesylation is followed by proteolytic removal of their AAX and subsequent carboxyl methylation of the farnesylcysteine. Inhibitors of the protease or of the methyltransferase could have been expected to affect ras activity. If this were the case then inhibiting the last and only reversible step in ras processing, namely carboxylmethylation, could have been of advantage. However, point mutation analysis of ras oncoproteins processing and activity, indicated that farnesylation is sufficient to confer membrane anchorage and activity (Kato, K., et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 89, 6403-6407 (1992)). It was also reported that N-acetyl-trans-trans-farnesyl-L-cysteine (AFC), a substrate for the prenylated protein methyltransferase (PPMTase) can inhibit ras methylation in ras-transformed NTH3T3 cells, but does not inhibit their growth (Volker, C., et al., J. Biol. Chem., 266, 21515-21522 (1991)). Blockers of enzymatic methylation of prenylated proteins which inhibit the third modification in ras proteins were found useful in controlling neoplastic cell growth (U.S. Pat. No. 5,202,456).
Methylation is the last step in the ras maturation pathway, and this is the only step which is truly reversible. It stands to reason that inhibition of this step would be less harmful to normal ras protein present in the non-tumor cells than inhibition of the preceding and irreversible steps of farnesylation or proteolysis of the ras protein. PPMTase is the last enzyme in the cascade of ras processing, and it is thus expected that its substrate recognition site would share some similarities with analogous sites that associate the carboxy-terminal farnesylcysteine of ras. Accordingly, PPMTase inhibitors may recognize and block a farnesylcysteine recognition domain which is important for ras functions without affecting processing of prenylated proteins that are important for the function of non-tumor cells.
PPMTase inhibitors which may be useful in the blockage of ras activity and which can be used as anti-tumor agents, would be highly desirable.
Because of the central role of ras in growth-factor receptors signalling, farnesyl derivatives that would block ras functions may also be useful for non-tumor human diseases associated with growth factors. It was shown that AFC and related farnesyl derivatives inhibit platelet aggregation and neutrophils chemotaxis (Philips, M. R., et al., Science, 259, 977-980 (1993); Akbar, H., et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., USA, 90, 868-872 (1993)). It thus stands to reason that potent PPMTase inhibitors will also be useful for the relief of septic shock symptoms in which macrophages are involved, in psoriasis which involves bEGF-dependent cartenocytes proliferation and in restinosis and atherosclerosis in which platelets' activation and PDGF-dependent smooth muscle proliferation are involved.

Farnesyl derivatives and pharmaceutical compositions containing them


An operating device is provided having a first button, a second button, and a regulating member. The first button has a tubular hole having a bottom, and is able to be pressed in the direction from the opening edge of said tubular hole to the bottom. The second button freely fits the inside surface of said tubular hole on the outside surface of the second button. The regulating member engages the edge of the first button and regulates the movement of the first button in the pressing direction. The first button is swingable on its edge.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an operating device, such as one which may be used in a portable device.
The present invention relates to an operating device, and more particularly, to an operating device which is provided in a portable device and controls the functions of the portable device.
2. Description of the Related Art
For example, an operating device may be used as a shutter-release button of a camera. A shutter-release button comprises a two-step switch which has two depth positions to which it may be depressed. When the user depresses the two-step button to its first depth position (halfway depression), the camera executes a pre-photographing operation, for example, photometry operation. After that, when the two-step button is depressed to the second depth position (full depression), the camera executes the photographing operation, i.e. it captures an image.
The reaction force on depressing to the second depth position is larger than to the first depth position, so that the user easily recognizes that a shutter-release button is divided into two positions. This construction is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (KOKAI) No. 9-73843.
However, the differential between the reaction force of the second depth position, and that o the first depth position is little, so that the user may depress the second depth position when the user intends to depress only the first step. In the case that the user wears groves, this tendency becomes more remarkable.


An error correcting code (ECC) function and a parity interface scheme providing a translation capability between the ECC and parity protocols is implemented for memory systems in personal computers (PCs). The ECC function addresses the problems of interfacing memory with a variety of other components that may communicate in words composed of differing numbers of bytes. A partial write function within an ECC module permits a read/modify/write operation without extra components, at faster speeds and with minimal use of the system bus. An improved parity/ECC protocol interface is implemented by choosing an appropriate ECC code to facilitate parity generation and checking. This is done by selecting a code that contains groupings of data bits corresponding to the desired parity scheme. The ECC XOR trees are modified to allow parity checking and error correction decode simultaneously, thereby eliminating the need for two sets of XOR trees in the interface.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to error detecting and/or correcting schemes for digital computers and, more particularly, to an error correcting code (ECC) function especially useful for memory systems in personal computers (PCs) and to a parity interface scheme providing a translation capability between the ECC and parity protocols.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Data integrity and system reliability are major concerns for all computer systems. Consequently, various schemes have been developed to insure acceptable levels of error detection and/or correction of data. Parity bits, for example, may be used to detect a single bit error occurring in a finite number of data bits. Various data integrity schemes are particularly appropriate for specific applications in a computer system. For example, error correcting code (ECC) schemes are quite useful for interfacing with memory due to their correction capability coupled with the higher probability of error associated with semiconductor memory. ECC schemes have been used in mainframe computer systems for some time.
As the need for increased data integrity has developed, small systems such as personal computers (PCs) have turned to a stand-alone error correcting code (ECC) function to replace parity schemes in storing and retrieving data from memory. ECC affords the additional protection of single (or more) error correction and multiple error detection by adding a number of check bits to the data before storing it in memory. These check bits, along with the data bits, are decoded after reading from memory to provide the enhanced data integrity.
Existing methods for an ECC buffer to memory provide check bit generation and checking on a large data word which is generally thirty-two bits. However, many components in PCs are only capable of sending or receiving 8-bit or 16-bit units of data, and even 32-bit microprocessors typically do not communicate with memory in 32-bit segments. It is therefore necessary to write words of varying 8-bit or byte lengths while maintaining the integrity of the associated check bits.
In a 32-bit ECC scheme, the check bits that are stored with the data are generated based on the entire thirty-two bits. This makes it necessary to regenerate all of the check bits if even one data bit has changed. Thus, if one byte of data needs to be written to memory, the entire 4-byte double word must first be read, checked and corrected, the new eight bits substituted, and then all four bytes must be rewritten to memory with the appropriate new check bits. The same is true if two or three bytes of data need to be written to memory. This is called a partial write or a read/modify/write operation.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,884,271 to Concha et al. describes a method for handling the read/modify/write problem which uses a correct-on-error scheme where check bits are generated on uncorrected data and then regenerated if the data is found to be in error. This requires a "long" and a "short" read/modify/write cycle, as well as two types of read cycles, to handle data with or without errors, respectively. This approach suffers from being relatively complex in operation. Moreover, the correct-on-error scheme allows data processing to begin while the ECC logic determines if an error is present. This has a disadvantage in that the processor must back up and discard the corrupt data when an error occurs.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,319,356 to Kocol et al. describe a memory that periodically checks and scrubs errors from itself. Kocol et al. do not address the problems of interfacing memory with a variety of other components that may communicate in words composed of differing numbers of bytes.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,852,100 to Christensen et al. describes an error correction and detection method which, like the Concha et al. patent, also incorporates a correct-on-error scheme with multiple ECC sub-blocks. Christensen et al., like Kocol et al., do not address the problems of interfacing memory with a variety of other components that may communicate in words composed of different numbers of bytes. In addition, Christensen et al. use a single ECC unit to handle data of varying numbers of bytes. Column 5 of the Christensen et al. patent describes the dedication of an ECC unit to each sub-block of data for various reasons. While the Christensen et al. approach could be employed to address the problem of storing words of varying numbers of bytes, it is generally not feasible due to the excessive overhead on the number of bit paths and consequently cost and space.
Although an ECC function may be implemented for reading and writing to memory, many computer systems, especially PCs, use parity checking in other applications, most notably the system bus. When more than one integrity protocol is used within a system, an interface must provide translation capability between the different protocols. Typically, such an interface requires separate parity and ECC Exclusive OR (XOR) trees, resulting in signal delay and using valuable silicon real estate.

ECC function with self-contained high performance partial write or read/modify/write and parity look-ahead interface scheme

International Business Machines Corporation


Disclosed is a receptacle connector assembly for an IC card, comprising: a connector housing (20) having a top surface (21), a bottom surface (22), and a peripheral wall (23) located between the top surface and bottom surface; a plurality of terminals (30) mounted in the connector housing and extending from the peripheral wall; a shielding member (40) removably attached to the top surface of the connector housing and having a portion extending over the terminals; and a supporting member (50) removably attached to the connector housing and covering the portion of the shielding member extending over the terminals.

In the conventional receptacle assemblies for an IC card, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,807,137 and 5,896,274, and JP11-260488, adhesive is employed to secure a shielding member for shielding noises to a header housing of the receptacle connector assembly, where the shielding member covers a portion of terminals; a metal shield of the IC card then covers a portion of the shielding member.
Though such a design helps the connector shield from noises, the shielding member may not be properly insulated from the metal shield.
In addition, the lacking of protective measure between the shielding member and the terminals results in easy penetration of dust through the gap formed between the shielding member and metal shield and into the header housing or terminals, thereby causing short circuits.
Furthermore, it is relatively inconvenient to remove the shielding member from the header housing in case components are damaged during assembly.

Receptacle connector assembly for IC card and IC card connector


The present invention discloses a contact center with speaker identification and verification (SIV) capabilities. In the invention, a set of contact center components can provide automated interactive communications with callers, can provide queue management for callers waiting to communicate with live agents, and can provide skills based routing for assigning live agents to callers. The SIV component can analyze speech utterances to determine a speaker identify based upon biometric characteristics of the analyzed speech utterances. Additionally, the SIV component can process speech from contact center sessions. In one embodiment, the SIV component can prevent agent substitutions from occurring of which the call center is unaware. The SIV component can also be used to distinguish whether communication session content was spoken by a contact center agent or a caller.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of contact center technologies and, more particularly, identifying contact center agents based upon biometric characteristics of an agent's speech
2. Description of the Related Art
Historically, contact center agents have been placed in operations centers where they work along side many other contact center agents. Each agent has operated from an agent-specific desktop, which includes a data terminal and phone connection. Contact center agents have been identified based upon a user name and password combination and/or based upon an identifier of a device (e.g., phone or terminal) used by the agent.
Conventionally, front end software that drives the agent desktop has been part of a vendor-specific solution that connects the agent to contact center backend components, which are also vendor-specific. The protocols, hardware, and software used by the different vendors have historically been incompatible with one another, requiring all contact center components to be those of a single vendor.
In a related application (U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/680,304 entitled "IMPLEMENTING A CONTACT CENTER USING OPEN STANDARDS AND NON-PROPRIETARY COMPONENTS"), Applicants have disclosed an open contact center which describes a technique for implementing a contact center based upon open standards, which are independent upon any specific vendor. An open contact center permits interactions to occur using standard hardware and software devices. For example, an agent can interact with contact center components using standard telecommunication devices, such as a SIP based phone and/or a HTTP based browser. Use of standards based hardware can permit contact center agents to work outside a centralized operations center. That is, in an open contact center environment, contact center agents can seamlessly work from remote locations, such as from their home or from geographically separated small office locations. Basically, agents of an open contact center would be able to work from any location so long as a network connection exists that permits them to communicate with the open contact center backend system.
Further, use of open standards within a contact center combined with an ability to integrate geographically distributed agents can create an opportunity for independent knowledge brokers to sell their services to one or more contact centers. For example, a doctor, lawyer, computer technician, and the like, can work from their own office and sell their services by the hour to many different contact centers. These contact centers benefit because they do not have to employ skilled agent on a full time basis, but can instead dynamically obtain services of the independent knowledge brokers as needed. Customers benefit as well by being granted access to a large pool of skilled professionals. Knowledge brokers are provided with a new competitive market in which they can sell their skills.
Conventional agent identifying techniques lack a fraud resistant means of identifying an agent. That is, basing agent identity solely on a user name or device identity (i.e., conventional identification techniques) can be easily spoofed by dishonest agents. For example, an agent could initially authenticate themselves with a contact center and then substitute a representative to handle calls in their place. Callers, and/or the call center would remain unaware of the substitution, which could result in an unqualified or untrained call center agent handling customer issues. Further, a contact center could be paying a premium for an agent believed to have exceptional skills, when in fact a substitute, who would normally be paid at a lower rate, is handling calls.

Identifying contact center agents based upon biometric characteristics of an agent's speech

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


According to one embodiment, an information processing device reads a management file in a storage device. The information processing device analyzes information necessary for management and stores the analysis result. The information processing device performs specified processing based on the analysis result stored by the analysis processor. The information processing device obtains update information of the management file of each content item accumulated in the storage device and determines whether the update information has been changed or not. The information processing device performs the specified processing using the analysis result previously stored by the analysis processor if the update information has not been changed.

Regarding content such as high-definition (HD) which is accumulated in a storage device, the standard called SeeQVault is a digital right management (DRM) technique for protecting a copyright. Storage devices such as Secure Digital (SD) cards and Universal Serial Bus hard disk drives (USB-HDDs) conform to the SeeQVault standard. Content recorded in a storage device conforming to the SeeQVault standard can be reproduced by an information processing device having a decoding function conforming to the SeeQVault standard.
The content recorded in a storage device ready to DRM such as SeeQVault comprises a management file in which information necessary for management is stored separately from a data file. Information such as the number of content items in the storage device, titles, recorded times and resume information (what content was last reproduced and to which part it was last reproduced) is stored in the management file. In the information processing device, if an instruction to list and display content in the storage device in the order of titles or recorded times is received, necessary information is obtained from the management file to generate list information sorted in the order of titles or recorded times, and a content list is displayed on a screen based on the list information.
Incidentally, in the information processing device in which the DRM technique is adopted, the more the number of content items stored in the storage device increases, the more time is required to analyze the management file and to generate the list information and the slower the content list is displayed. Then, a problem that the content list display is desired to be speeded up is caused. It should be noted that the speeding up of the content list display means reducing the interval between the time the content list display is requested by, for example, user's instruction input, etc., and the time the content list is displayed on a screen.


An assembly is disclosed which enables a printed circuit board (PCB) to be added to or removed from a computer system without deactivating other parts of the system. The assembly, which holds the PCB, translates lateral motion into vertical motion to enable lateral motion to be applied to derive the vertical motion needed to plug and unplug a PCB into and out of an expansion slot. This motion translation makes it possible to insert or remove a PCB via a rear, front, or side access portal of a housing rather than through the top of the housing. Thus, the assembly eliminates the need to remove the housing from a rack, or to remove a top from the housing, which in turn eliminates the need to shut down any other parts of the system. Thus, the assembly enables a PCB to be “hot swapped” into and out of a computer system.

Most of today's computer systems provide expansion slots for accommodating expansion cards. The expansion slots allow expansion cards to be plugged into and coupled with an expansion bus (e.g. PCI, PCI Express, etc.) of the host system. Once the expansion cards are coupled to the expansion bus, the host system can communicate with and take advantage of the functionalities provided by the expansion cards. With such expansion slots, the capabilities of the host system can be easily expanded.
In large scale systems, a plurality of expansion slots may be encased within a single housing (referred to herein as a "boat"). A plurality of these boats may be mounted onto one or more racks; thus, in a large scale system, there may be multiple racks, with each rack having a plurality of boats, and each boat holding a plurality of expansion slots.
In such a large scale system, an expansion card may be added to or removed from the system as follows. Initially, a system administrator removes a boat from the rack, and removes the top from the boat. The administrator needs to remove the top from the boat because he/she needs to get vertical access to the expansion slots in order to insert an expansion card into an expansion slot (by pushing the card down into the slot) or to remove an expansion card from an expansion slot (by pulling the card up from the slot). Once an expansion card is inserted into or removed from the system, the administrator replaces the top of the boat, and mounts the boat back onto the rack. The system can thereafter resume normal operation.
A problem with this approach is that, in order to insert or remove an expansion card from the system, a boat has to be removed from the rack, and the top has to be removed from the boat. This typically requires that the entire system be shut down, or at the very least, that all of the expansion cards in the boat be deactivated. Unfortunately, this partial or complete shutdown of the system often cannot be done because many large scale computer systems run mission critical applications, which cannot tolerate any downtime to any part of the system. Consequently, in many if not most implementations, the above approach to card insertion and removal cannot be used.

Mechanism for facilitating hot swap capability