According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method of transmitting feedback information by a base station supporting multi-user multi-input multi-output (MU-MIMO) to a network entity includes obtaining a projection matrix based on channel information estimated for multiple channels between antennas of the base station and each of user equipments, projecting at least one of the channel information and uplink data received from the user equipments to a second space from a first space using the projection matrix and transmitting feedback information including at least one of the projected channel information and the projected uplink data to the network entity.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of transmitting or receiving feedback information on multiple users in a wireless communication system supporting multi-user multi-input multi-output (MU-MIMO) and an apparatus therefor.
Discussion of the Related Art
A MIMO (multi-input multi-output) technology is a technology configured to enhance efficiency of data transmission and reception using a plurality of transmitting antennas and a plurality of receiving antennas instead of using a single transmitting antenna and a single receiving antenna. If a single antenna is used, a receiving side receives data via a single antenna path. On the contrary, if multiple antennas are used, the receiving end receives data via various paths. Hence, by using the MIMO, data transmission speed and an amount of data transmission can be enhanced and coverage can also be enlarged. A single-cell MIMO operation can be classified into a single user-MIMO (SU-MIMO) scheme and a multi user-MIMO (MU-MIMO) scheme. The SU-MIMO is a scheme that a single user equipment receives a downlink signal in one cell. The MU-MIMO is a scheme that two or more user equipments receive a downlink signal in one cell.

Method of transceiving feedback information in wireless communication system and apparatus therefor

Industry-Academic Cooperation FoundaTION, Yonsei University


A method for handling uncontrolled combustions in an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, the uncontrolled combustions occurring independently of the ignition by a spark plug and being detected in or at the internal combustion engine. To allow a rapid yet reliable reduction of uncontrolled combustions in an internal combustion engine in order to protect the internal combustion engine from damage, the number of detected uncontrolled combustions in a monitoring period is determined and compared to a threshold value. A temperature in a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine is dropped if the threshold value is exceeded.

In a gasoline engine, the vehicle is set in driving operation and/or the driving operation is maintained as the result of combustion of the supplied fuel-air mixture. The combustion of the fuel-air mixture is initiated by the ignition spark of a spark plug. The ignition spark forms a flame front which propagates in the entire combustion chamber, and the air-fuel mixture that is present is converted into kinetic energy during the combustion. For knocking combustions, a portion of the combustions proceed suddenly and cause a great pressure rise in the combustion chamber of the gasoline engine which generates a pressure wave that propagates and strikes the walls delimiting the combustion chamber, where the high-frequency oscillations are converted into structure-borne noise. These oscillations are detected by knock sensors (structure-borne noise sensors) and taken into account in controlling the gasoline engine by knock control in order to prevent engine damage. The gasoline engine is always operated at the knock limit in an efficiency-optimized manner. Damage to the gasoline engine as the result of the continually recurring knocking combustions is avoided with the aid of the knock control.
However, in addition to the described knocking combustions, auto-ignitions occur as the result of hot spots in the combustion chamber, oil droplets, or hot residual gas zones in the fuel-air mixture. Such auto-ignitions may appear as pre-ignitions before the ignition spark occurs, and as post-ignitions after the ignition spark occurs. One or multiple additional flame fronts arise in addition to the flame front induced by ignition sparks. These auto-ignitions are usually referred to as pre-ignitions, and increase the risk of knocking combustions in the end-gas zone. The structure-borne noise oscillations which occur are characterized by extreme pressure amplitudes, which may very quickly result in engine damage.
German Patent Application No. DE 696 28 770 T2 describes that such anomalous auto-ignitions may be recognized in that the amplitude of an auto-ignition is larger than a predefined threshold value, the auto-ignition being recognized in two steps: once after a first predetermined time period after the ignition has elapsed, and in a second step after a second predetermined time period, which is longer than the first predetermined time period, has elapsed. To minimize the auto-ignitions, after the anomalous auto-ignition has been identified, the amount of fuel injected is increased or decreased, or a throttle valve is closed. Determining the auto-ignitions requires a great expenditure of computing time, which delays a quick response to the anomalous auto-ignitions.

Method and device for handling uncontrolled combustions in an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle


A new and improved hand-held seam notching apparatus includes two double-armed lever assemblies. A first double-armed lever assembly includes a first handle portion, a first fulcrum portion, and a first jaw portion. The first jaw portion includes a first well portion and a first cutter assembly received in the first well portion. The first jaw portion also includes a first connector for connecting the first cutter assembly to the first well portion. A second double-armed lever assembly includes a second handle portion, a second fulcrum portion, and a second jaw portion. The second jaw portion includes a second well portion and a second cutter assembly received in the second well portion. The second jaw portion also includes a second connector for connecting the second cutter assembly to the second well portion. A fulcrum member is pivotally connected to the first fulcrum portion and the second fulcrum portion, such that when the first handle portion and the second handle portion are moved together, the first jaw portion and the second jaw portion are moved together, and when the first handle portion and the second handle portion are moved apart, the first jaw portion and the second jaw portion are moved apart. A tracing wheel assembly may be connected to one of the jaw portions. A depth control assembly may be provided for controlling a distance from an edge of a fabric to notches made by the respective cutter assemblies.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to devices for aiding in sewing, and, more particularly, to devices for aiding in notching seams in fabrics.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the art of sewing, two pieces of fabric are often aligned, and a seam is sewn to keep the pieces of fabric together. When a seam is sown, it is desirable that the seam be in a straight line with respect to the edges of the pieces of fabric being sewn together. However, it is often difficult to maintain a straight seam while sewing.
To aid a person in sewing a seam in a predetermined pattern, the technique of placing notches in the fabric in a predetermined pattern has been developed. The following U.S. patent discloses a seam notching device: U.S. Pat. No. 4,930,219. This patent discloses a seam notching device which includes a notching member which includes a linear array of seven triangular notch makers. This device has several disadvantages. First, the linear array of notches permits only a straight line of notches. For actual sewing projects, a person sewing may wish to provide a seam that is not in a straight line, and the U.S. Pat. No. 4,930,219 would not be much help in this regard. In this respect, it would be desirable if a device for providing notches for sewing seams permitted setting out a non-linear pattern of notches.
Another deficiency with U.S. Pat. No. 4,930,219 is that each of the notches cut is a simple notch in a linear array of single notches. This pattern of notches coincides with a straight seam. There a many types of seams other than straight seams. For example, some seams are in a zig zag pattern. In this respect, it would be desirable if a device for providing notches for sewing seams set out a pattern of notches suitable for a zig zag seam.
As shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,930,219, the notch cutters are present on a scissors device. A scissors device is useful for producing relatively small amounts of leverage and force multiplication to bring about notch cutting. The relatively small amounts of leverage may be adequate for cutting notches in thin fabric. However, the small amounts of leverage developed in a scissors device may be totally inadequate for cutting notches in a thick fabric. In this respect, it would be desirable if a device for providing notches in fabrics was capable of cutting notches in thick fabrics such as leather.
A hand-held tool that can generate large amounts and leverage and force multiplication is a pair of pliers. The following U.S. patents are representative of some devices using a pliers action: U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,476,633; 4,982,630; and 5,033,140. None of these devices disclose a hand-held pliers device for cutting notches in fabrics. In this respect, it would be desirable if a device were provided that employs a pliers action for cutting notches in fabrics.
Still other features would be desirable in a hand-held seam notching apparatus. There is a large variety of possible notch patterns that can be employed for a corresponding large variety of seam patterns. In this respect, it would be desirable if a notch cutting apparatus could be used for cutting a large variety of seam patterns.
In sewing operations, it is often desirable to trace a line onto fabric. In this respect, it would be desirable if a device for providing notches for sewing seams included a device for tracing in the fabric.
In sewing operations, it is often desirable if the person sewing could exercise steady control over the depth of the seam away from the edges of the respective fabrics being sewn together. In this respect, it would be desirable if a device for providing notches for sewing seams included a device for controlling depth of the seams from the edges of the fabrics to be sewn together.
Thus, while the foregoing body of prior art indicates it to be well known to use devices for cutting notches in fabrics, the prior art described above does not teach or suggest a hand-held seam notching apparatus which has the following combination of desirable features: (1) permits setting out a non-linear pattern of notches; (2) sets out a pattern of notches suitable for a zig zag seam; (3) is capable of cutting notches in thick fabrics such as leather; (4) employs a pliers action for cutting notches in fabrics; (5) can be used for cutting a large variety of seam patterns; (6) includes a device for tracing lines in the fabric; and (7) includes a device for controlling depth of the seams from the edges of the fabrics to be sewn together. The foregoing desired characteristics are provided by the unique hand-held seam notching apparatus of the present invention as will be made apparent from the following description thereof. Other advantages of the present invention over the prior art also will be rendered evident.


Applicant""s invention relates to a photo-curing light assembly having calibration circuitry determinative of the intensity level of the light source and the generation of an analogue control voltage from a digital control voltage during use which automatically adjusts light intensity to achieve proper energy levels during programmed curing times.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a photo-curing light assembly for photosensitive compounds and more particularly to a photo-curing light assembly having calibration circuitry permitting lamp intensity control throughout time frame illumination.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Numerous substances are sensitive to light energy. One class of such substances undergo polymerization in response to applied light energy. Such class of substances includes composites and adhesives that have found uses in the dental arts for dental repair and the fabrication of dental prosthetics.
The time to cure a photosensitive composite or adhesive is a function of several factors, including the type of composite or adhesive, the amount of composite or adhesive required for the application, intensity of the light energy delivered, and the time duration of exposure. The intensity level of the light source decreases over the life of the source thereby affecting the intensity level and amount of light energy delivered to cure the composite or adhesive. In such situation, longer exposure times are required.
Adjustment of the exposure time includes the varying of the intensity of the light source, e.g. utilizing low intensity light over greater exposure times or high intensity light over shorter exposure times. Depending upon the type and amount of composite or adhesive being utilized, it may be beneficial to vary the intensity of the light during the actual photo-curing operation by either steadily increasing the intensity or stepping the intensity of the light over the exposure time. Pre-programmed photo-curing systems allow the user to select from two or more pre-programmed intensity modes. Since the intensity level of the curing lamp decreases over time there is a need to provide for a photo-curing assembly which provides for proper curing control notwithstanding any such diminished capacity of the curing lamp.
An object of the present invention is to provide for a novel photo-curing light assembly permitting the calibration of the intensity level of the light source prior to use.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel photo-curing light assembly permitting calibration of the intensity level of the light source in a fast and efficient manner.
A further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel photo-curing light assembly permitting calibration of the intensity level of the light source constantly permitting automatic readjustment of the light output during use to achieve proper curing energy level for the programmed curing time, not withstanding the diminished intensity of the curing lamp during its usable life.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a novel photo-curing light assembly permitting the user to program a desired light intensity level over the duration time, to maintain a constant intensity, to increase intensity or to step intensity.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a novel light curing assembly automatically increasing the duration time when the intensity level has reached its maximum output, but is unable to provide the required energy level for curing.
Applicant""s invention relates to a photo-curing light assembly having calibration circuitry determinative of the intensity level of the light source and the generation of an analogue control voltage from a digital control voltage during use which automatically adjusts light intensity to achieve proper energy levels during programmed curing times.

Photo-curing light assembly having calibratable light intensity control


The present invention includes a method for reducing viral, bacterial, protozoan, fungal and other parasitic contamination from a biological solution. Biological solutions include, but are not limited to, solutions comprising blood, a blood component, cell culture or a component of a cell culture. In accordance with the present invention, there is provided, a method of inactivating a pathogen in blood or blood product in a container, comprising contacting at least one of said blood, blood product and container with a composition of the present invention. In accordance with the present invention, there is provided, a medical device comprising at least a surface treated with an anti-pathogenic composition of the present invention or containing at least an anti-pathogenic composition of present invention. In accordance with the present invention, there is provided, an anti-pathogenic composition for use in disinfecting fluids and biological tissues and surfaces contaminated with fluids and/or biological tissues, which comprises an anti-pathogenic amount of at least one quaternary ammonium compound in association with an acceptable carrier. A preferred anti-pathogenic composition of the present invention further comprises a bisguanidine compound. In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method for inhibiting in vitro or ex vivo infection or replication of human immunodeficiency virus in a biological fluid, comprising treating said biological fluid with an effective inhibiting amount of a bis-guanidine compound or a derivative thereof, and at least one quaternary ammonium compound in combination with a pharmaceutically carrier, such as DMSO.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to pathogenic compositions for use in blood and blood products, and blood containers, such as a blood donation bag. The present invention also relates generally to a method of processing and disinfecting human blood products. More particularly, this invention relates to a method of disinfecting whole blood, blood cells, plasma proteins, and plasma so that they may be used safely and effectively for diagnostic, therapeutic or research purposes. The present invention also relates to applications vis the blood circulatory system for controlling the pathological state produced by a pathogen, typically a viral, bacterial, protozoan, fungal or parasitic agent (at any stage of the life-cycle of the parasitic agent).
2. Description of Prior Art
The development of plastic blood collection bags has facilitated the separation of donated whole blood into its various components and analogous products, thereby making these different blood products (e.g., platelet concentrates) available as a transfusion product. With the passage of time and accumulation of research and clinical data, transfusion practices have changed greatly. One aspect of current practice is that whole blood is rarely administered; rather, patients needing red blood cells are given packed red cells, patients needing platelets are given platelet concentrate, and patients needing plasma are given plasma.
However, the increase in transfusing blood products finds a concomitant increase in the transmission of disease to the transfusion recipient. There is an existing and great need to assure a disease-free blood supply.
Blood products from human and animal donors are widely used for therapeutic, diagnostic and experimental purposes. A persistent problem associated with using blood products from human and animal donors is that these products are subject to contamination by blood-borne viruses and other micro-organisms such as bacteria. Of particular threat are viruses that appear to cause various forms of hepatitis, including the hepatitis B virus, the non-A, non-B hepatitis virus or viruses. Others of interest are cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr virus.
Viruses linked with the incurable and often fatal disease known as acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) are caused by a retrovirus or group of retroviruses (HIV, HIV-1, and HIV-2). The most common cause of AIDS is thought to be HIV-1.
The threat of hepatitis, AIDS, and bacterial transmission through transfusion and administration of blood products is not limited to blood cells but extends to the administration of plasma and plasma fractions such as Factor VIII concentrates, Factor IX concentrates, gamma globulin, and anti-thrombin III.
Disinfecting whole blood and blood products, including red blood cells, plasma, and plasma fractions with disinfectants strong enough to significantly inactivate viruses, bacteria and other organisms has generally been discounted because active agents strong enough to inactivate the pathogen typically damage cellular blood constituents or inactivate plasma and plasma protein factions. Additionally, the presence of any residual disinfectant in the blood product to be transfused could be hazardous to the recipient of the transfusion.
A typical component separation procedure used in the United States, the citrate-phosphate-dextrose-adenine (CPDA-1) system, utilizes a series of steps to separate donated blood into three components, each component having substantial therapeutic and monetary value. The procedure typically utilizes a blood collection bag which is integrally attached via flexible tubing to at least one, and preferably two or more, satellite bags. Using centrifugation, whole blood may be separated by differential sedimentation into such valuable blood components as plasma, packed red cells (PRC), platelets suspended in clear plasma (platelet-rich plasma, or PRP), platelet concentrate (PC), and cryoprecipitate (which may require extra processing).
Commonly used systems other than CPDA-1 include Adsol, Nutricell, and SAG-M. In these latter systems, the collection bag contains only anti-coagulant, and the nutrient solution may be pre-placed in a satellite bag. This nutrient solution is transferred into the PRC after the PRP has been separated from the PRC, thereby achieving a higher yield of plasma and longer storage life for the PRC. Improvements in current practices of viral marker screening and donor self-exclusion are continuously increasing the safety of the blood supply. However, despite these practices, a risk of transmission of pathogens with the transfusion of cellular components of blood remains since current screening tests do not screen for rarely occurring or as yet unknown transfusion transmissible pathogens (Dodd, R. Y. New Engl. J. Med. 327:419-421 (1992); Soland, E. M., et al. J. Am. Med. Assoc. 274:1368-1373 (1995); Schreiber, G. B., et al. New Engl. J. Med. 334:1685-1690 (1996)).
To combat the deficiencies associated with screening practices, the use of sterilization procedures of blood, red blood cell concentrates (RBCC), and other blood-derived components hold promise for eliminating pathogen transmission. In this connection, various approaches have been used to sterilize blood cells, the most efficacious so far use photochemical methods (Ben-Hur, E. and B. Horowitz Photochem. Photobiol. 62:383-388 (1995); Ben-Hur, E. and B. Horowitz AIDS 10:1183-1190 (1996)). The most promising photochemical methods employ the use of phthalocyanines (which are activated by light in the far red (660-700 nm)) for sterilization of RBCC (Horowitz, B., et al. Transfusion 31:102-108 (1991); Ben-Hur, E., et al. J. Photochein. Photobiol. B:Biol. 13:145-152 (1992)).
Pasteurization and other physical-chemical techniques have been used to remove or inactivate blood components, but most of these techniques have been limited to fresh plasma or fresh-frozen plasma. To date, these techniques are not suitable for treating cellular components of whole blood.
One disinfectant in use for blood products is beta-propiolactone. Beta-propiolactone, however, is a known carcinogen and hence potentially very dangerous. To the extent that significant residual amounts of this material may remain in the blood product which is actually transfused, the use of propiolactone represents a potential hazard.
There is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,833,165 (issued on May 23, 1989, in the name of Allan Louderback) the use of as little as 0.1% formaldehyde and/or phenol to inactivate HTLV-III in blood. However, recently available data and information indicate that red blood cells treated with as little as 0.02% formaldehyde and 0.01% phenol are not viable and not suitable for transfusion.
Viral inactivation by stringent sterilization has not found acceptance since this method typically destroys erythrocytes, thrombocytes, and the labile plasma proteins, such as clotting factor VIII. Viable RBC's can be characterized by one or more of the following: capability of synthesizing ATP; cell morphology; P50 values; filterability or deformability; oxyhemoglobin, methemoglobin and hemochrome values; MCV, MCH, and MCHC values; cell enzyme activity; and in vivo survival. Thus, if virally inactivated cells are damaged to the extent that the cells are not capable of metabolizing or synthesizing ATP, or the cell circulation is compromised, then their utility in transfusion medicine is compromised.
Viral inactivation by stringent steam sterilization is not acceptable for the above reasons. Dry heat sterilization, like wet steam, is harmful to blood cells and blood proteins at the levels needed to reduce viral infectivity. Use of stabilizing agents such as carbohydrates does not provide sufficient protection to the delicate blood cells and proteins from the general effects of exposure to high temperature and pressure.
Methods that are currently employed with purified plasma protein fractions, often followed by lyophilization of the protein preparation, include treatment with organic solvents and heat or extraction with detergents to disrupt the lipid coat of membrane enveloped viruses. Lyophilization (freeze-drying) alone has not proven sufficient to inactivate viruses, or to render blood proteins sufficiently stable to the effects of heat sterilization. The organic solvent or detergent method employed with purified blood proteins cannot be used with blood cells as these chemicals destroy the lipid membrane that surrounds the cells.
Another viral inactivation approach for plasma proteins first demonstrated in 1958 has involved the use of a chemical compound, beta-propiolactone, with ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. This method has not found acceptance in the United States due to concern over the toxicity of beta-propiolactone in the amounts used to achieve some demonstrable viral inactivation and also due to unacceptable levels of damage to the proteins caused by the chemical agents. Concern has also been raised over the explosive potential for beta-propiolactone as well. Attempts to inactivate viral decontaminants using photosensitizers and light have also been developed using some non-psoralen photosensitizers. The photosensitizers that have been employed are typically dyes. Examples include dihematoporphyrin ether (DHE), Merocyanine 540 (MC540) and methylene blue.
It would be highly desirable to be provided with anti-pathogenic compositions for use in blood and blood products, and blood containers, such as a blood donation bag.
It would be highly desirable to be provided with a method for processing and disinfecting human blood products.
It would be highly desirable to be provided with a method for disinfecting whole blood, blood cells, plasma proteins, and plasma so that they may be used safely and effectively for diagnostic, therapeutic or research purposes.
It would be highly desirable to be provided with a method vis the blood circulatory system for controlling the pathological state produced by a pathogen, typically a viral, bacterial, protozoan, fungal or parasitic agent.

Anti-pathogenic composition useful in blood preservation


An emergency water reservoir apparatus for providing a ready water reserve for extinguishing fires at a location such as a residence includes a water storage tank having an interior reservoir in fluid communication with a water hydrant valve. A water intake conduit in fluid communication with an established water supply and the interior reservoir permits delivery of water into the water tank from the established water supply system. Included at the reservoir end of the water intake conduit is a water intake cut-off device and an anti-siphon valve device. A water pump pumps water from the interior reservoir to the water hydrant valve. An infusion pump device with an infusion reservoir member and an adjustable infusion dispensing device provides infusion chemicals into the water passing from the interior reservoir to the water hydrant valve. An electrical power generator is included to provide backup power to the water pump and the infusion pump device when the location's power supply is cut off. The water hydrant valve has a hose quick fitting device to allow water hoses to be quickly attached to it. The water hoses allow a user to direct water from the water hydrant valve to locations where it is needed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to fluid reservoir systems and more particularly pertains to a new Emergency Water Reservoir Apparatus for providing a ready water reserve for extinguishing fires at a location such as a residence.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of fluid reservoir systems is known in the prior art. More specifically, fluid reservoir systems heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art fluid reservoir systems include U.S. Pat. No. 3,977,474; U.S. Pat. No. 5,234,286; U.S. Pat. No. 4,978,249; U.S. Pat. No. 4,612,951; U.S. Patent Des. 336,327; and U.S. Patent Des 305,353.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new Emergency Water Reservoir Apparatus. The inventive device includes a water storage tank having an interior reservoir in fluid communication with a water hydrant valve. A water intake conduit in fluid communication with an established water supply and the interior reservoir permits delivery of water into the water tank from the established water supply system. Included at the reservoir end of the water intake conduit is a water intake cut-off means and an anti-siphon valve means. A water pump means pumps water from the interior reservoir to the water hydrant valve. An infusion pump means with an infusion reservoir member and an adjustable infusion dispensing means provides infusion chemicals into the water passing from the interior reservoir to the water hydrant valve. An electrical power generator is included to provide backup power to the water pump means and the infusion pump means when the location's power supply is cut off. The water hydrant valve has a hose quick fitting means to allow water hoses to be quickly attached to it. The water hoses allow a user to direct water from the water hydrant valve to locations where it is needed.
In these respects, the Emergency Water Reservoir Apparatus according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of providing a ready water reserve for extinguishing fires at a location such as a residence.


A side-pumped fiber laser includes an optical fiber having a core and a cladding. The core has an index of refraction n1 and the cladding has an index of refraction n2, wherein n1 is greater than n2. The fiber further includes a coupling window integrally formed within a channel formed in an upper side of fiber cladding. The coupling window consists of an optical material having an index of refraction n3 wherein n3 is greater than n1. The fiber laser further includes a laser light source that is directed through the coupling window wherein laser light is directly coupled into the core of the fiber. The fiber of the fiber laser also preferably includes Bragg gratings written into the core beneath the coupling window and a reflective material disposed in a second window formed beneath the Bragg gratings.

The instant invention relates to fiber lasers, and more particularly to a side-pumped fiber laser.
Rare-earth doped fiber lasers are typically considered to be low power devices because efficient longitudinal coupling of pump laser light into the small fiber core is difficult, and there are limitations to the actual fiber itself. Limitations for higher output powers are given by the available power of the applied laser diode arrays that can be focused onto the fiber when longitudinally pumping, and the damage threshold of the core with respect to absorbed pump light intensity. It is thus difficult to increase the output power by only longitudinal pumping. It has been suggested by some that the solution for this problem is the repetitive pump-light in-coupling from the side of the fiber, hence the term xe2x80x9cside-pumpedxe2x80x9d. For example, side pumping arrangements of lasers are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,455,838 and 4,794,615. Side pumping of fiber lasers has been described in the articles by M. Hofer et al, xe2x80x9cHigh-Power Side-Pumped Passively Mode-Locked Er-YB Fiber Laserxe2x80x9d IEEE Photonics Technology Letters, Vol. 10, No. 9, September 1998, and Weber, et al , xe2x80x9cSide-Pumped Fiber Laserxe2x80x9d, Applied Physics B, Lasers and Optics, Vol. 63, Pages 131-134 (1996). In the Hofer article, side pumping of a double clad fiber is accomplished by cutting a 90 degree V-shaped groove into the outer cladding of the fiber. A lens was used to focus diode emission onto the V-groove facet. In the Weber article, side pumping of a double clad fiber was accomplished by removing the silicone outer cladding on the upper side of the fiber over a length of about 1 mm. A prism with the same refractive index as the inner cladding is placed onto the stripped location. An index matching oil is applied between the prism and the fiber.
While the prior art attempts to side pump light into the fiber have shown that side coupling is possible, there is still a need in the industry to improve coupling efficiency and to improve configurations for manufacturing such side pumping arrangements.
In this regard, the instant invention provides a simple and efficient means for side-pumping light into the core of a single clad fiber. More specifically, the side-pumped fiber laser includes an optical fiber having a core and a cladding. The core has an index of refraction n1 and the cladding has an index of refraction n2, wherein n1 is greater than n2. The fiber further includes a coupling window disposed in a window channel formed in an upper side of fiber cladding. The fiber laser further includes a laser light source, such as a laser diode bar emitting a laser light beam, or multiple laser light beams that are directed through the coupling window wherein laser light is directly coupled into the core of the fiber.
The coupling window consists of an optical material having an index of refraction n3, wherein n3 is greater than n1. The window channel is formed by physically removing a portion of the cladding material. The optical material utilized to form the coupling material is deposited onto the fiber within the channel and becomes part of the integral structure of the fiber. The coupling window effectively forms an integrated prism to guide light into the fiber and enhance coupling of the light into the core. The optical material that forms the coupling window can be a graded index material or a step index material. The coupling window can be shaped as a rectangle, triangle or other geometric shape depending on the laser diode smile, i.e. emission pattern, and aperture to further enhance coupling efficiency. Since the window material is deposited directly onto the fiber, rather than glued onto the surface, there is no air gap and no need to use index matching gels, and thus the coupling efficient is increased and the whole structure is better integrated.
A second embodiment of the fiber laser includes a fiber wherein Bragg gratings are written into the core beneath the coupling window. The fiber further includes a reflective window (mirror) disposed in a second window channel formed in the opposing lower side of the cladding beneath the Bragg gratings. The reflective window consists of a reflective optical material deposited into the window channel. The reflective window can be used as a filter to filter out unwanted wavelengths. The reflective window can also be used to tune the wavelength of the fiber laser by using a feedback mechanism.
Accordingly, among the objects of the instant invention are: the provision of a side-pumped fiber laser having a high coupling efficiency; the provision of a side-pumped fiber laser that allows pumping of light directly into the core of the fiber through a window prism directly integrated into the structure of the fiber; the provision of a side-pumped fiber laser that can filter out unwanted wavelengths; the provision of a side-pumped fiber laser that is tunable; the provision of a side-pumped fiber laser including Bragg gratings to enhance and direct coupling of the light into the core; and the provision of a side-pumped fiber laser including repetitive side-coupling of light into the fiber.
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention shall become apparent as the description thereof proceeds when considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.


A method and apparatus for characterizing and controlling the heat treatment of a metal alloy employing non-contact sensors selectively positioned to minimize the effects of background temperature contributions. The sensors monitor the temperature of the part being treated at a location that is remote from the surface that is being irradiated directly. In preferred embodiments, the surface where the temperature measurements are taken are located within a black body source. The collected temperature information is used to control the heat treatment of the metal alloy.

Cast aluminum is a single phase material in which other elements that are added to the aluminum phase are in solution or dissolved in the aluminum. When aluminum is allowed to slowly cool from a melt phase, e.g., standing in open air, the added elements in the aluminum precipitate out of the solution through a process known as nucleation. Nucleation in material allowed to slowly cool is a process in which not many nuclei are formed, but the ones that do form grow rapidly in size and consume the added elements. This results in a bulk article wherein the aluminum is a relatively pure metal with small volumes of added elements distributed throughout the aluminum. This state is undesirable when the aluminum is being used to form structural articles because pure aluminum is soft and weak.
If aluminum with added elements is rapidly cooled (quenched) while still hot and in a solutionized state, the added elements do not have the opportunity to form large nuclei, but will form many more smaller nuclei as the metals solidify. If the aluminum and added elements have been allowed to slowly cool to a solid, it is still possible to add enough thermal energy to force the added elements to dissolve in the aluminum (solutionize) without actually melting the aluminum. The advantage this offers is that aluminum can be cast into shape, cooled in air until some time later, and then resolutionized and quenched. The thorough distribution of many nuclei, distributed uniformly, dramatically increases the strength of the alloy over pure aluminum or alloys that cool too slowly and form fewer, but large nuclei.
The aluminum alloy can be developed to further improve its mechanical strengths by growing the size of many uniformly distributed nuclei through a process called "aging." During "aging," the nuclei grow as a diffusion process that progresses more rapidly at elevated temperatures. But, if the temperatures are elevated too extensively, the nuclei will collapse together and form fewer large nuclei similar to that found in aluminum that has been slowly cooled, e.g., without solutionizing, as described above.
The aluminum casting industry uses heat treating as a mechanism to increase the strength of the aluminum castings. The process usually amounts to the addition of sufficient thermal energy to force all of the elements that have been added to the aluminum into solution (solutionizing). Energy is consumed as these added elements are dissolved into the aluminum solid phase. The amount of energy required to achieve the necessary diffusion is significant.
Conventional methods for producing cast aluminum alloy products include initially pouring a suitable molten aluminum alloy into a mold. After the molten alloy has completely solidified, the casting is removed, and is set aside to cool in the open air. Normally, a few days worth of production is collected for a batch solutionizing process. Alternatively, the removed casting can be immediately subjected to a solution heat treatment without cooling first.
A conventional method for solution heat treating a cast part involves placing many cast parts in a large forced air convection oven. In the convection oven, the castings are heated to a desired "solution" temperature (approximately 1,000.degree. F.) and maintained at this temperature for at least 2-8 hours. Following the solution heat treatment, the cast part is immediately quenched in water to rapidly cool the product. Following this cooling, the part is naturally or artificially aged.
One of the drawbacks of conventional solution heat treatment processes, such as that described above is the length of time required to complete the treatment. Typically, large numbers of cast aluminum parts are solution heat treated at once in a batch process. Since it is difficult to maintain even and uniform temperatures in all the parts, in order to ensure that all the parts are properly heat treated, the length of the solution heat treatment process is usually at least two hours and often times more than eight hours. The length of time required for the solution heat treatment contributes significantly to the speed with which cast parts can be manufactured and also contributes significantly to the overall energy costs associated with the solution heat treatment process.
It has been proposed that infrared heat treatment systems may improve the operational efficiency of conventional air driven solution heat treating processes by reducing cycle times. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,306,359 describes a method for heat treating an aluminum part by applying infrared radiation directly from a source of infrared energy to the part until the part attains a desired state of heat treatment. According to the '359 patent, during the heat treating, the temperature of the part is monitored and the intensity of the radiation source is proportionally controlled in response to the monitored temperature. The temperature of the part in the '359 patent is described as being monitored by a plurality of optical pyrometers 80, 82 and 89, illustrated as being directed toward an irradiated surface of the part.
The '359 patent describes that the use of optical pyrometers to measure the temperature of the aluminum cast parts is complicated by the reflectivity of aluminum and the uncontrolled radiant energy from the background (i.e., the temperature of the lamps, and refractive surfaces). Reportedly, the reflectivity of the aluminum and the radiant energy of the background cooperate to create a temperature readout from the optical pyrometers that is not representative of the temperature of the surface of the part being observed by the optical pyrometers. In an effort to account for these inaccuracies and provide a more accurate reading of the temperature of the part, the '359 patent describes the taking of measurements from a background optical pyrometer, and making adjustments to the readout from the part optical pyrometer based on the readout from the background optical pyrometer.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,336,344 describes a method and apparatus for producing a cast aluminum part using a high intensity electric infrared heating system to heat the part. The described system is similar to the system described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,306,359 noted above. The '344 patent broadly describes that each infrared heating station includes means for monitoring the actual temperature of the wheel, and that the heating of the wheel at each station is controlled in accordance with this monitored temperature. Like the '359 patent, the '344 patent describes that optical pyrometers 46 can be used to generate a signal representative of the wheel temperature. The '344 patent describes that this signal can be used to control the heating of the parts. In the illustrations, the optical pyrometers are shown as being directed at a surface of the part that is irradiated.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,340,418 by the same inventor of the '344 patent proposes additional control methods to control the amount and application rate of infrared energy applied to the part during the solution heat treating process. These proposed methods rely upon the same optical pyrometers described in the '344 patent for assessing the part temperature. In one embodiment, the optical pyrometers are used to monitor the temperature of the part. This temperature is compared to a predetermined solution heat treatment temperature which is chosen as a function of the particular material used to cast the part. As long as the temperature of the wheel as measured is less than the predetermined solution heat treatment temperature, the heating is continued at the initial predetermined level provided by the infrared energy source.
In each of the processes described in the three patents noted above, the cast aluminum part is indexed through a plurality of individual stations while the part is rotated relative to the path of travel. By indexing the part through the stations, the part resides in each station for a predetermined period of time before it is transported to the next station.
Industry expectations for each of the processes and apparatuses described in the patents noted above was high; however, practical experience has shown that the processes and apparatuses described in the above patents have not found commercial acceptance due to difficulties in producing cast aluminum parts with reliable physical properties, such as strength. Accordingly, there continues to be a need for improvements to processes for solution heat treating cast metal alloy parts using infrared energy as a heat source.

Method and apparatus for characterizing and controlling the heat treatment of a metal alloy


A heat sink for a loudspeaker assembly includes: a housing of generally toroidal shape defining an interior portion and an exterior portion; and a plurality of fins extending from within the interior portion of the housing to, and at least partially over, the exterior portion of the housing.

The present invention is directed to methods and apparatus for providing a heat sink to draw heat from a voice coil and surrounding structure of a loudspeaker and dissipate such heat.
Loudspeakers (or simply "speakers") are designed for the reproduction of audio signals having a frequency range of approximately 20 Hz to 20 kHz and a pressure range of approximately 10−5 to 50 pascals, or 10−9 to 7×10−3 lbf/in.2.
A loudspeaker system normally includes one or more drivers (a transducer mechanism without a structural radiation enclosure), a crossover network (ensuring that a received electrical drive signal is within an optimum frequency range), and an enclosure. Loudspeakers are used in many different consumer products, such as home and automobile stereos, television and radio receivers, electronic musical instruments, toys, etc. Loudspeakers are also used in any number of professional applications, such as in broadcast stations, recording studios, concert halls, etc.
Loudspeakers may be classified in accordance with several factors, including type of radiation, type of driving element, reproduction range, and diaphragm shape. The type of radiation may include direct radiation and horn-loaded radiation. The driving element may be a magnetic element, an electrostatic element, a piezoelectric element, an ionophone element, or an air-jet element. Magnetic driving elements include dynamic (moving-coil, ribbon, etc.), moving-armature, and magnetostrictive technologies. Reproduction ranges include low frequency (woofer and subwoofer) ranges, mid-frequency (midrange and squawker) ranges, high-frequency (tweeter and super-tweeter) ranges, and full-ranges. Diaphragm shapes include cone (e.g., straight, parabolic, flared, etc.), dome, and flat shapes.
A commonly used loudspeaker classification is the dynamic (moving-coil) direct-radiator loudspeaker. In this type of loudspeaker, a permanent magnet produces a high flux density in a narrow air gap in which a moving voice coil is located. The interaction of the flux of the permanent magnet and an alternating current flowing within the voice coil produces a force that moves a diaphragm to achieve a piston action. The movement of the diaphragm causes corresponding acoustic sound waves, which are preferably linearly related to the electrical driving signal in order to produce high fidelity sound. Further details concerning conventional loudspeaker technology may be found in McGraw-Hill, Encyclopedia of Electronics and Computers, pp. 512-518 (2nd ed., 1988).
A significant disadvantage associated with the dynamic (moving-coil) direct-radiator loudspeaker is that it has a relatively low radiation efficiency, i.e., a ratio of sound output power to electrical input power. Indeed, the radiation efficiency of this type of loudspeaker is on the order of 0.5 to 4 percent. This inefficiency generally results in a majority of the electrical input power being converted into heat.
The voice coil is the primary heat generating elements of the loudspeaker. Conventional voice coil assemblies include a helical coil of electrical/magnet wire supported by a bobbin. The helical coil may be formed of a single layer or multiple layers of wire and may include multiple coils in axial alignment in the bobbin. As the bobbin is typically used to provide a mechanical connection between the voice coil and the diaphragm (or speaker cone), a relatively high stiffness is desirable. Conventional high-power loudspeakers may employ high-temperature materials in forming the bobbin such that it remains relatively stiff at elevated temperatures. Such materials include high glass transition point materials, i.e., TG and the like.
Permanent magnets formed of ferrite materials (such as ferrite ceramic magnets) have been in use for many years. More recent magnet designs include neodymium iron boron, a high reminence, high coercivity permanent magnet material. As the price of neodymium iron boron magnets continues to drop, and enhancements in material properties (e.g., reducing thermal demagnetization and increasing residual magnetic flux density) continue to occur, neodymium will become a more attractive material for use in audio loudspeakers. A neodymium iron boron magnet enjoys a substantially smaller size, as compared to ferrite magnets, and may weigh only a few ounces (for a 500 watt speaker application). Comparatively, a ferrite magnet may weigh about 8 pounds in the same application.
Cooling of the voice coil, the permanent magnet and surrounding structures continues to be of concern in high performance, high power loudspeaker designs.
Attempts at solving the above-described thermal management issue have been made, including forced air flow, metallic bobbin materials, impregnated bobbin materials, and inside/outside coil assemblies (e.g., a bobbin disposed between two voice coils), heat sinks, etc. Each of these attempts has been unsatisfactory for various reasons. Forced air flow techniques require through-holes in the assembly or increasing the area around the voice coil to permit such air flow. These techniques, however, reduce the magnetic field and degrades performance. Although metallic bobbins exhibit good thermal conductivity, they cause back electro-motive force (BEMF), which further reduces the efficiency of the loudspeaker. Impregnated bobbin materials exhibit only marginal improvements in thermal conductivity, while exhibiting poor bonding strength and in some cases, BEMF. In inside/outside voice coil assemblies, the heat buildup between the voice coil and the bobbin (the bond line) is increased by a factor of two and the bond line exhibits poor thermal conductivity as compared with a single (inside or outside) design. This is so because the bond line is subjected to heat from both sides and any heat transfer out of one of the voice coils must traverse a heat source (the opposite voice coil) to reach ambient fluids. Conventional heat sink designs have been unsatisfactory in some applications because the air flow across the heat sink has not resulted in sufficient heat transfer and subsequent cooling of the voice coil and/or the magnet—this problem may be exacerbated in neodymium iron boron magnet designs.
Accordingly, there are needs in the art for new methods and apparatus for dissipating heat from a voice coil and/or a permanent magnet of a loudspeaker.

Methods and apparatus for providing a heat sink for a loudspeaker


A method and circuit arrangement selectively swizzle data in one or more levels of cache memory coupled to a processing unit based upon one or more swizzle-related page attributes stored in a memory address translation data structure such as an Effective To Real Translation (ERAT) or Translation Lookaside Buffer (TLB). A memory address translation data structure may be accessed, for example, in connection with a memory access request for data in a memory page, such that attributes associated with the memory page in the data structure may be used to control whether data is swizzled, and if so, how the data is to be formatted in association with handling the memory access request.

As semiconductor technology continues to inch closer to practical limitations in terms of increases in clock speed, architects are increasingly focusing on parallelism in processor architectures to obtain performance improvements. At the chip level, multiple processor cores are often disposed on the same chip, functioning in much the same manner as separate processor chips, or to some extent, as completely separate computers. In addition, even within cores, parallelism is employed through the use of multiple execution units that are specialized to handle certain types of operations. Pipelining is also employed in many instances so that certain operations that may take multiple clock cycles to perform are broken up into stages, enabling other operations to be started prior to completion of earlier operations. Multithreading is also employed to enable multiple instruction streams to be processed in parallel, enabling more overall work to performed in any given clock cycle.
One area where parallelism continues to be exploited is in the area of execution units, e.g., fixed point or floating point execution units. Many floating point execution units, for example, are deeply pipelined. However, while pipelining can improve performance, pipelining is most efficient when the instructions processed by a pipeline are not dependent on one another, e.g., where a later instruction does not use the result of an earlier instruction. Whenever an instruction operates on the result of another instruction, typically the later instruction cannot enter the pipeline until the earlier instruction has exited the pipeline and calculated its result. The later instruction is said to be dependent on the earlier instruction, and phenomenon of stalling the later instruction waiting for the result of an earlier instruction is said to introduce "bubbles," or cycles where no productive operations are being performed, into the pipeline.
One technique that may be used to extract higher utilization from a pipelined execution unit and remove unused bubbles is to introduce multithreading. In this way, other threads are able to issue instructions into the unused slots in the pipeline, which drives the utilization and hence the aggregate throughput up. Another popular technique for increasing performance is to use a single instruction multiple data (SIMD) architecture, which is also referred to as 'vectorizing' the data. In this manner, operations are performed on multiple data elements at the same time, and in response to the same SIMD instruction. A vector execution unit typically includes multiple processing lanes that handle different datapoints in a vector and perform similar operations on all of the datapoints at the same time. For example, for an architecture that relies on quad (4) word vectors, a vector execution unit may include four processing lanes that perform the identical operations on the four words in each vector.
The aforementioned techniques may also be combined, resulting in a multithreaded vector execution unit architecture that enables multiple threads to issue SIMD instructions to a vector execution unit to process "vectors" of data points at the same time. Typically, a scheduling algorithm is utilized in connection with issue logic to ensure that each thread is able to proceed at a reasonable rate, with the number of bubbles in the execution unit pipeline kept at a minimum.
Despite the significant performance capabilities of SIMD execution units, it has been found that there is a substantial amount of processing overhead consumed in arranging data into a format that takes advantage of the multiple lane SIMD execution units. This problem is aggravated, for example, when data is stored in memory in an array of structures (AOS) format and an execution unit processes data in a structure of arrays (SOA) format. Furthermore, in many instances, one process may require the data in one format, while another will require the data to be in a different format, which often forces data to be stored in memory in one format, with a processor loading and re-ordering the data into the other format before processing the data with an SIMD execution unit.
One conventional approach to this problem is to load all the data, and then move it around in the vector register file. This approach, however, typically wastes many instructions. Another approach is to "swizzle," or rearrange, the load data right before entering it into the register file. While this approach typically saves functional instructions, the approach still typically requires every load to make multiple accesses into a data cache.
As an example, many typical workloads that rely on SIMD operations follow a simple loop where there is a vector load, followed by a SIMD floating point operation such as a multiply add, and then followed by a vector store. In many conventional processor architectures, this three instruction sequence will be processed as a four cycle load, a single cycle math operation, and a four cycle store, resulting in a loop that is very cache bandwidth heavy and that does not take full advantage of the processing capabilities of an SIMD execution unit.
Therefore, a significant need continues to exist in the art for a manner of minimizing the performance overhead associated with arranging data in a suitable format for execution in a data processing system, particularly for execution using an SIMD execution unit.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

International Business Machines Corporation


An approach for training a system to decode a chipless RFID tag involves varying at least one reading parameter of an interrogation signal and acquiring a test response signal response to each variation of the interrogation signal. One or more simulated response signals are simulated for one or more variations of the reading parameter. A decoding processor is trained to decode the identification (ID) of the RFID tag using the test response signals and the simulated response signals.

The radio frequency identification (RFID) tag is a type of identification device. When interrogated by a reading device which is also called an interrogator, RFID tags reflect or retransmit a radio frequency signal to return an encoded identification (ID) to the interrogator. RFID tag devices may be of two basic types. Chipped RFID tags include a microchip that stores data. Chipless RFID tags do not contain a microchip but instead rely on magnetic materials or transistorless thin film circuits to store data. As a general rule, chipped RFID tags cost more but have a larger data capacity than chipless RFID tags.

Chipless RFID decoding system and method


A location information management device comprises an output device information receipt unit receiving output device identification information and output device location information, a terminal device information receipt unit receiving terminal device identification information and terminal device location information, and a correspondence setting unit which specifies a data output device having a predetermined location relationship with a communication terminal device and associating the output device identification information with the terminal device identification information, a terminal identification information transmission unit transmitting the terminal device identification information, a first output data receipt unit receiving the terminal device identification information and output data, a first output data transmission unit specifying the output device identification information corresponding to the terminal device identification information and transmitting the output data and a specific state notice request; a first state notice receipt unit receiving a specific state notice, and a first state notice transmission unit transmitting the specific state notice to a communication terminal device.

1. Technical Field
Aspects of the present invention relate to technology for outputting data.
2. Related Art
There have been data output devices which output data received from a terminal device via networks, one of which obtains location information which shows location of the data output device and transmits the obtained location information to the terminal device via the networks. Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No. 2002-73318A discloses such a device.
According to the data output device, a sender of data (a user of the terminal device) may correctly identify the location where the data is outputted. When outputting the data to other persons, the sender thereby outputs the data to a data output device installed around a receiver of the data (a user receiving the outputted data), and may allow the receiver to easily obtain the outputted data.

Location information management device, data output system, and program


A device (10) identifies a defective object (12) from an image of the object (12) stored as pixel data in a pixel-data memory (52, 54, 56, 58). An inspection-point memory (72, 74, 76, 78) stores inspection-point data for the object (12). The inspection-point data represents inspection points (122, 124, . . . ) that are arranged in circuital (112, 136) and transverse (110) groups, where member inspection points of the circuital groups (112, 136) are also members of different ones of the transverse groups (110). A program memory (84) stores a program, which is executed by a processor (64, 66, 68, 70). The processor (64, 66, 68, 70) identifies which of the pixel data correspond to the inspection-point data, calculates differences between values of the corresponding pixel data within the circuital groups (112, 136), identifies a deviant pixel (116) if one of the differences exceeds a first threshold, calculates gradients of values of the corresponding pixel data within the transverse group (110a) including the deviant pixel and within at least one other transverse group (110b, 110c), and determines whether the gradients of the transverse group (110a) differs by more than a second threshold from the gradient of the other transverse group (10b, 10c).

It is often desirable to inspect containers, such as aluminum beverage cans, for defects and to identify defective containers before they are filled and sealed. Today's automated processing equipment can fill and seal containers at speeds of approximately 1800 containers per minute. Although manual inspection is possible, it is slow and expensive and provides opportunities for the containers to incur damage during the interim between inspection and processing. Therefore, engineers have developed systems that automatically inspect each container shortly before it is delivered to the processing equipment.
One type of automatic inspection device illuminates the interior of each container as it passes on a conveyor and acquires multiple images of the interior. The device converts each image into pixels and each pixel into a digital value, which is stored in an image buffer. A processor then executes an algorithm that both determines which pixels to inspect for defects and inspects those pixels. When a defect is detected, the device removes the defective container from the conveyor.
Because the processor must execute the lengthy inspection-pixel algorithm for the multiple images of each container, the device cannot inspect containers with the desired pixel resolution while operating at the desired speed. Thus, there is a trade off between inspection resolution and speed. Also, one portion of the interior may have a different reflectivity than another portion. In order to prevent image saturation, each camera's sensitivity is set to accommodate the highest expected reflectivity. Thus, the defect sensitivity of the device for an interior portion having a lower reflectivity may be less than that for a portion having a higher reflectivity. Additionally, different types of containers may have interiors with different average reflectivities. Thus, a technician may have to manually calibrate the sensitivity of each camera between processing runs of different types of containers.

Apparatus and method for identifying defective objects


A method for detecting CH.sub.4 with a Ga.sub.2 O.sub.3 sensor, and a method for measuring CH.sub.4 concentration with a Ga.sub.2 O.sub.3 sensor is provided. In order to solve the problem associated with the masking or disturbing effect alcohol has on the detection of methane with a gallium oxide detector, the present invention provides a method where the sensor conductivity ((G(t.sub.1)) is acquired at a first sensor temperature, and is compared with a first threshold value. If the conductivity ((G(t.sub.1)) exceeds this threshold value, it is determined that alcohol is present in the gas mixture to be examined. The sensor is then heated, and a second conductivity (G(t.sub.2)) is acquired. If the ratio of the second to the first conductivity exceeds a second threshold value, CH.sub.4 is likewise present in the gas mixture. The measurement of the CH.sub.4 concentration ensues by means of an acquisition of two conductivities (G(t.sub.1), G(t.sub.2)) at different temperatures. The corresponding CH.sub.4 value can be taken from a table or reference plot.

The present invention relates generally to methane detectors, methods of detecting methane in a gas mixture, methane concentration measuring devices and methods of measuring methane concentration in a gas mixture.
A serious problem in the use of gas sensors based on gallium oxide (Ga.sub.2 O.sub.3) films is that, given the simultaneous presence of several gases, the sensor signal is composed of the superposition of all present gas components with the same characteristics, e.g., all present gas components have a reducing effect. This behavior, generally called cross-sensitivity, poses a serious obstacle to the effective operation of methane warning systems or methane measurement devices based on sputtered semiconducting Ga.sub.2 O.sub.3 layers.
For example, given the simultaneous presence of methane and alcohol vapor or, respectively, solvent vapors, the lack of selectivity of the sensor elements causes an ambiguity of the sensor signal, and thus to false alarms of the detector. Or, a methane concentration is measured that deviates significantly from the actual methane concentration. Since the sensitivity S of the Ga.sub.2 O.sub.3 sensors to the more reactive components, i.e. the alcohol vapors or, respectively, solvent vapors, is very high (typically about one order of magnitude higher than to the less reactive gases), an additional reducing gas component, e.g. methane, cannot be detected with sufficient sensitivity.
Up to now, several solutions have been proposed for improving the selectivity of methane gas sensors based on Ga.sub.2 O.sub.3.
In the German patent DE 41 39 721, an arrangement is provided for the detection of gases and a method is known for the selective detection of at least one gas contained in a gas mixture. For the selective detection of at least one gas contained in a gas mixture, the operating temperature of the gas sensor is varied. The time curve of a signal that depends on the electrical conductivity of the sensor layer is evaluated. For this purpose, the operating temperature of the gas sensor is increased in a leap, and the time curve of the sensor signal is registered. The evaluation ensues by means of a Fourier transformation. A disadvantage of this method is the relatively large expense for the evaluation by means of the Fourier transformation.
The company SATE of Salerno, Italy, uses a method in which the CH.sub.4 sensor is operated for a certain time at a first temperature and operated for a certain time at a second temperature. This process is repeated periodically. Using this method, it is possible to avoid false alarms of the methane detector. However, the presence of methane in a gas mixture containing alcohol or solvent vapors cannot be detected using this sensor.
A method for selective gas detection is known from the prior art Sears et al., Selective Thermally Cycled Gas Sensing Using Fast Fourier-Transform Techniques, Sensors and Actuators B, 2 (1990), pp. 283-289. A fast Fourier transformation (FFT) is used for the analysis of the data. This method has the disadvantage that a high computing expense is required for the evaluation.
A method for the analysis of gas mixtures is known from the prior art Wlodek, S. et al., Signal-Shape Analysis of a Thermally Cycled Tin-Oxide Gas Sensor, Sensors and Actuators B, 1991, pp. 63-68. The function of change of conductivity over time is simulated by several summed Gauss functions. The indices of the Gauss functions represent characteristic features for the gases respectively present in the gas mixture. A considerable computing expense is also required here for the evaluation.
A method for determining the concentration of a single gas using an SnO.sub.2 gas sensor is known from the prior art Sears, W., et al., Algorithms to improve the selectivity of thermally-cycled tin oxide gas sensors, Sensors and Actuators, 1989, pp. 333-349. For this purpose, the conductivity is measured dependent on sensor temperature and time. For different gases, the result different sensor signal curves dependent on the concentration of the gas. However, a disadvantage of this method is that it can be used only for individual gases, i.e. this method cannot be used for a gas mixture consisting for example of air, methane and alcohol vapors.
Accordingly, there is a need for improved methane detectors, methods of detecting methane, methane concentration measuring devices and methods of measuring methane concentration that can overcome the problems associated with disturbing or masking gases such as solvents and which further provide accurate detection and measurement without requiring expensive equipment such as the expensive microprocessors required to perform the Fourier transformations, fast Fourier transformations and summation of Gauss functions required by the above-described methods.

Method for detecting and measuring CH.sub.4 with GA.sub.2 O.sub.3 sensor


A power consumption calculating apparatus includes a power consumption library unit storing a power consumption consumed in at least one logical primitive of a logic circuit at a time of transiting a state of the logical primitive in correspondence with an identifier provided for a combination of input signal states and a load capacitance; a logic circuit information storing unit storing information of a structure for the logical primitive and of a connection state between the logical primitives; a capacitance storing unit storing information for the load capacitance estimated in response to the logic circuit information; an input signal type storing unit storing information of input signal type in the logic circuit; a logical simulation unit carrying out a logical simulation with use of the logic circuit information and the input signal type information to determine state-transited information with the identifier used; and a power consumption calculating unit collecting the identifier obtained from a result of the logical simulation, determining a power consumption for the logical primitive with reference to the power consumption library unit in response to the state-transited information of the identifier and the load capacitance information, and summing the power consumption for at least the one logical primitive to determine a total power consumption of the logic circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a power consumption calculating apparatus and method of the same using a logical simulation. More specifically, it relates to a power consumption calculating apparatus and method of calculating the power consumption for calculating the power consumption consumed in a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) circuit in accordance with toggle information obtained from the logical simulation.
2. Description of the Related Art
Before manufacturing a semiconductor integrated circuit on a manufacturing line, estimation of power consumption consumed in the integrated circuit is carried out with use of a logical simulation to ensure that the power consumption should be within a design value. Such estimation of power consumption is known in the field of circuit design produced by CAD (Computer Aided Design) system when producing an integrated circuit, which has been proposed by a Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. Hei5-128192.
In such case of the gazette, power consumption information is previously provided for each of the cells constituting an integrated circuit so that it corresponds to combination of input signals in relation to the integrated circuit. A logical simulation is applied to the combination of input signals to thereby obtain state-transited information of the signals. The power consumption corresponding to the state-transited information is then calculated with reference to the previously provided power consumption information.
In this case, the state-transited information means that a signal level on an input pin emerges simply on what its value becomes at a certain time. In the power consumption calculating method described in the gazette, the power consumption is obtained from the previously provided power consumption information at every certain period of time. This power consumption is then added up to as a total value when adding the power consumption for each of the cells in accordance with the state transition of input signals.
However, the variation of input signals inputted to the cells is no consideration how the signals are altered to one after another at every period of time. Therefore, the power consumption for each of the cells should be constant while the state transition of input signals is made continuous for a certain period of time.
In consideration of the power consumption consumed in CMOS circuit, FIG. 10(a) is a circuit diagram for explaining the power consumption in a CMOS circuit which constitutes an inverter having a P-channel transistor P and an N-channel transistor N. The transistors P and N produce a state-transited information such as On and Off states in response to a high (hereinafter, abbreviated to H) level and low (hereinafter, abbreviated to L) level emerged on an input, as shown in FIG. 10(b).
As also shown in FIG. 10(c), an output of the inverter is altered from the L to H state when the input state is altered from the H to L state. At this time, with an altered current I1 altered into an output-connected load capacitor C1 from a power source VDD, the power consumption is produced in the transistor P due to an internal resistance. After terminating the alteration into the load capacitor C1, the power consumption can be neglected since the current flown from the power source VDD is extremely small.
While the input is altered from the L to H state, the output is altered to the H to L state. At this time, a current is not flown from the power source VDD, but, with a discharged current I2 discharged from load capacitor C1 to a ground, the power consumption is produced in transistor N due to internal resistance. After terminating the discharge of load capacitor C1, the power consumption can also be neglected due to a small current flown from the power source VDD.
As described above, in the case where an integrated circuit is made up of CMOS circuit, the value of power consumption is not constant while the state of input signal is made continued. That is, the power consumption is mostly emerged at altering the state transition of the input, but it is extremely small in steady state.
Thus, the power consumption consumed in the CMOS circuit is proportional to frequency for the state transition of input (or output) or its operating frequency. The power consumption calculating method by the gazette may therefore result in a case where the power consumption is not dependent on the frequency in principle since it is constant while the state transition of input signal is made continued.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a power consumption calculating apparatus and method of the same capable of calculating the power consumption consumed in an integrated circuit made up of CMOS device with use of a logical simulation.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a power consumption calculating apparatus, including: a power consumption library unit storing a power consumption consumed in at least one logical primitive constituting a logic circuit at a time of transiting a state of the logical primitive in correspondence with an identifier provided for a combination of input signal states emerged on the logical primitive and a load capacitance for the logical primitive; a logic circuit information storing unit storing information of a structure for the logical primitive and a connection state between the logical primitives in the logic circuit; a capacitance storing unit storing information for the load capacitance of the logical primitive estimated in response to the logic circuit information; an input signal type storing unit storing information of an input signal type in the logic circuit; a logical simulation unit carrying out a logical simulation with use of the logic circuit information and the input signal type information to determine state-transited information in the logical primitive with the identifier used; and a power consumption calculating unit collecting the identifier obtained from a result of the logical simulation for the logical primitive constituting the logic circuit, determining a power consumption for the logical primitive with reference to the power consumption library unit in response to the state-transited information of the identifier and the load capacitance information, and summing the power consumption for at least the one logical primitive to determine a total power consumption of the logic circuit.
The logic circuit may include a plurality of logical primitives.
The logical primitive may include a logic device made up of a CMOS circuit.
The load capacitance may be estimated from an output wiring capacitance of the logical primitive and an input terminal capacitance of logical primitives in succeeding stages.
The load capacitance may be estimated for arbitrary number of stages in a plurality of logical primitives.
The power consumption calculating unit may determine the power consumption for the state-transited information obtained from a result of the logical simulation, thereafter, may determine the power consumption for each time interval of an arbitrary time series different from a time series of the state-transited information in accordance with the result of the power consumption calculation.
The power consumption calculating apparatus may further include, a library unit determining the power consumption for at least one logical primitive at a time of transiting the input signals inputted to the logical primitive constituting a logic circuit to store the power consumption in correspondence with state transitions of the input signals; and a power consumption summing unit identifying the state transition of the input signal inputted to the logical primitive in accordance with a result of logical simulation in the logic circuit, reading out the power consumption from the library means, and determining the power consumption for the logical primitive to sum up the determined power consumption for the logic circuit.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a power consumption calculating method, including the steps of: (a) providing a power consumption library unit for storing a power consumption consumed in at least one logical primitive constituting a logic circuit at a time of transiting a state of the logical primitive in correspondence with an identifier provided for a combination of input signal states emerged on the logical primitive and a load capacitance for the logical primitive; (b) determining previously load capacitance information for the logical primitive estimated from information of a structure of the logical primitive and of connection state of the logical primitive in the logic circuit; (c) carrying out a logical simulation with use of the logic circuit information and the input signal type information to determine state-transited information in the logical primitive with the identifier used; (d) collecting the identifier obtained from a result of the logical simulation for the logical primitive constituting the logic circuit; (e) determining a power consumption for the logical primitive with reference to the power consumption library unit in response to the state-transited information of the identifier and the load capacitance information, and (f) summing the power consumption for at least the one logical primitive to determine a total power consumption of the logic circuit.
The power consumption calculating method may further include the steps of: (a1) determining previously a power consumption for at least one logical primitive at a time of transiting input signals inputted to the logical primitive constituting a logic circuit to store the power consumption in a library in correspondence with the state transition of the input signals; (b1) identifying the state transition of the input signal inputted to the logical primitive in accordance with a result of a logical simulation in the logic circuit; and (c1) reading out the power consumption corresponding to the state transition from the library, determining the power consumption for the logical primitive, and determining the power consumption of the logic circuit in accordance with the power consumption determined for at least the one logical primitive.
According to the constitution and method of power consumption calculation described above, the power consumption consumed in an integrated circuit made up of CMOS device can be determined by the logical simulation.

Power consumption calculating apparatus and method of the same


A facility for providing vehicle to vehicle event notification for connected and/or unconnected vehicles is disclosed. The facility enables a vehicle to detect an occurrence of a vehicle status trigger event and identify information describing an event type. The facility determines a priority of the vehicle status event based at least in part on the type of the vehicle status event. When the vehicle status event is to be reported to at least one other vehicle, the facility enables the vehicle to generate a vehicle status event message that includes the priority of the vehicle status event and at least a portion of the information describing the type of the vehicle status event. The vehicle status event message is then transmitted/broadcasted to at least one other vehicle.

According to the World Health Organization, more than 1.25 million people die worldwide each year as a result of road traffic crashes. Between 20 and 50 million more people suffer non-fatal injuries, with many incurring a disability as a result of their injury. Road traffic injuries cause considerable economic losses to individuals, their families, and to nations as a whole. These losses arise from the cost of treatment as well as lost productivity for those killed or disabled by their injuries, and for family members who need to take time off work or school to care for the injured. Road traffic crashes cost most countries 3% of their gross domestic product.

Vehicle to vehicle event notification system and method


Provided are an apparatus and method for binary-coding images considering the brightness of a current pixel and a difference in brightness between pixels. The apparatus includes a detector for detecting a local adaptive critical value for a pixel according to a regional characteristic of the pixel in the image, and a comparator for comparing the local adaptive critical value with the value of the pixel and outputting a binary-coded pixel value corresponding to the pixel. In detecting the local adaptive critical value, a local average parameter FLoc related to high frequency elements is supplied after being controlled according to a locally windowed region. Frequencies for converting from black pixels to white pixels or from white pixels to black pixels are reduced in a binary-coded output image so that an image with a reduced number of high frequency elements can be obtained to improve the compressibility of the binary-coded output image.

This application claims the priority of Korean Patent Application No. 2002-31607, filed Jun. 5, 2002, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method, which can output continuous-tone images as binary-coded data, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for binary-coding images so as to improve the quality of output images.
2. Description of the Related Art
A continuous-tone image consists of pixel values in a two-dimensional space. A binary coding apparatus limits output values to binary-coded values. For example, the binary-coding apparatus can be used for an apparatus, such as a facsimile, a printer, a digital copy machine, and a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel.
When a continuous-tone image is input to the binary-coding apparatus, the apparatus simplifies continuous-tone values to two levels, i.e., 0 or 1, and outputs the simplified values. To this end, a conventional binary-coding apparatus masks input pixels to critical values of the locations of the pixels that are presently processed.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a conventional binary-coding apparatus. Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional binary-coding apparatus includes a counter unit 100, a memory address generator 110, a memory 120, and a comparator 130.
The counter unit 100 outputs location information on an input pixel I(x,y) in a two dimensional image. The counter unit 100 outputs the location information while considering that continuous-tone images are input pixel-by-pixel from the top left corner to the bottom right corner of the two dimensional image. Accordingly, the counter unit 100 includes an X-axis location counter 101 and a Y-axis location counter 102. The X-axis location counter 101 outputs an X-axis value of the input pixel I(x,y) in the two dimensional image. The Y-axis location counter 102 outputs a Y-axis value of the input pixel I(x,y) in the two dimensional image.
The memory address generator 110 generates a one dimensional memory address corresponding to the X-axis and Y-axis location information output from the counter unit 100 and a control signal that controls the read mode of the memory 120.
The memory 120 stores mask critical values corresponding to each pixel of the two dimensional image. When the memory address and the control signal are transferred from the memory address generator 110, the memory outputs a predetermined mask critical value M(x,y) corresponding to the input pixel I(x,y).
The comparator 130 compares the value of the input pixel I(x,y) with the mask critical value M(x,y) to output a binary pixel value B(x,y) of the input pixel I(x,y). For example, if the value of the input pixel I(x,y) is larger than the mask critical value M(x,y), the comparator 130 outputs 1 as the binary pixel value B(x,y). If the value of the input pixel I(x,y) is not larger than the mask critical value M(x,y), the comparator 130 outputs 0 as the binary pixel value B(x,y).
Therefore, the quality of the binary-coded image output from the binary-coding apparatus is determined according to the resolution, the distribution and the size of a mask of the mask critical values stored in the memory 120. In other words, if the elements of the mask critical values are regularly arranged in the memory 120, regular patterns are formed in the image output from the binary-coding apparatus.
Bayer Dither's mask critical value matrices, which have been widely used, are shown in FIGS. 2A through 2C. FIG. 2A illustrates a 4×4 matrix of pixels and FIG. 2B illustrates an 8×8 matrix of pixels. FIG. 2C is the mask critical value matrix for rotate Bayer Dither of the 4×4 of pixels. When the size of a mask critical value matrix, i.e., a mask size, is small, arbitrary patterns may occur in a binary-coded image due to irregularities in the critical values located at visual edges and the edge values of a peripheral critical value arrangement.
A stochastic mask having irregularly arranged critical values, high frequency elements, and a size larger than a conventional mask can be used. Since the stochastic mask can represent a large number of critical values, the tone of an image output from a binary-coding apparatus can be improved.
The above-described masks are iteratively used for a two dimensional image as shown in FIG. 3. Here, FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a method of outputting a binary-coded image using the masking method of FIG. 1, wherein masks having the same size are iteratively used.
However, experimentally, a binary-coded image with reduced regular patterns due to the iterative use of the mask can be outputted only when the mask is larger than 64×64 pixels. As the size of a mask increases, it is possible to reduce the amount of patterning in an output binary-coded image. However, in that case, a memory capacity for storing mask critical values also increases. In addition, since the mask includes a high frequency element, such as blue noise, the high frequency element of an input image signal is reduced by the mask critical values. Therefore, the image quality of boundary elements, which are visually important elements in an image, is lowered as shown in FIG. 4. Here, the mask critical values are dispersed in the blue noise. In other words, the blue noise occurs because the critical values having similar values are separate from each other. A mask in which critical values are dispersed produces an excellent quality image; however, the mask cannot produce boundary portions due to the dispersed critical values. In other words, if the mask is used, the tone of a background having a large number of low frequency elements is represented well; however, the tone of boundary portions of characters or fine images is damaged. In addition, the technology to output the binary-coding image proposed has been previously disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,825,940.

Apparatus for binary-coding image and method using the same


A method can include receiving a signal associated with an attempted access to data that is stored at a specific location in memory; obtaining a selection value that selects which memory protection register of multiple alternative memory protection registers is to provide a memory protection attribute for the specific location in memory; obtaining, from the selected memory protection register, a memory protection attribute; and controlling access to the specific location in memory based on the obtained memory protection attribute.

In processor-based systems that execute program instructions that process data, where either or both of instructions and data are stored in memory, it can be advantageous to control memory access. Controlling memory access may prevent data or instructions from being corrupted or inadvertently overwritten by poorly written or malicious program code. For example, a portion of memory may be dedicated to an operating system, and that portion of memory may only be accessible to a processor when the processor is operating in a supervisor mode to prevent malicious code from corrupting the operating system. As another example, some portions of memory may be designated as either cacheable or not cacheable, and other portions of memory may be designated as bufferable or not bufferable. Access to these designated portions of memory may also be controlled to prevent unexpected results.