A method of maintaining cache coherency in a computer system including two or more processors sharing information, the processors coupled by two or more interconnects to a memory such that the processors are not directly coupled to the same is disclosed interconnect is disclosed. The method of maintaining cache coherency includes the steps of: accessing and sharing, by a first processor and a second processor, information from the memory and setting path indicators in directories associated with at least two of the interconnects on a respective first and second access path to the memory, and storing the information in respective associated first and second caches; and writing a new value to the information, by a writing processor sharing the information, the writing step including the steps of: invalidating other copies of the information via the path indicators; acquiring exclusive access to the information by changing the path indicators to an exclusive state; and writing the new value to the information, in response to the acquiring step.

In general, prior art cache coherency protocols can be divided into shared resource methods and directory 1 based protocols. In shared resource methods, coherency is maintained by ensuring that all address operations are visible to caches in the entire system. This is accomplished by using shared address buses and requiring inclusion in the lower level caches that attach to the shared address buses. The other approach is to maintain either global or distributed directories of the location of information throughout the system.
Traditional shared memory multiprocessing systems have been designed with a single shared address bus for all memory coherent requesters. The drawback of this approach is that the system throughput is limited by this single address bus. Other shared memory multiprocessor systems use a single switching unit, with similar limitations on address bandwidth.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,755,930 issued to Wilson, Jr. et. al., ("Wilson") discloses a method for hierarchical cache memory coherency, but requires that a cache write-through be used, i.e., every cache write operation updates the corresponding location in central memory. Wilson maintains coherency through requiring cache inclusion and requiring write-through of all cache writes to central memory. Requiring cache inclusion uses cache space inefficiently, and using write-through uses interconnection bandwidth inefficiently. Thus, a need exists for a coherency method that does not require inclusion or write-through. The present invention addresses such a need.
A review of directory-based approaches to cache coherency can be found in "Directory-Based Cache Coherence in Large-Scale Multiprocessors", by Chaiken, D.; Fields, C.; Kurihara, K.; and Agarwal, A., Computer Magazine, June 1990, pp. 49-58. These prior art directory schemes are classified into three categories: full-map directories, limited directories, and chained directories. A full map directory exists when one bit is present for every processor to identify if a cache line is held by that processor. A limited directory allows a limited number of processors to hold a given cache line. A Chained directory uses a linked list of the processors that hold a given cache line. A need exists for a method that does not require a directory entry for every processor, does not limit the number of cached copies, and does not have the latency or complexity associated with a linked list system. The present invention addresses such a need.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,297,269 issued to Donaldson et. al., discloses a multiprocessor cache coherency protocol that uses a global full-map directory scheme in central memory. All memory accesses would perform lookups in the single directory. One concern with such a single-directory system is that it may create a system bottleneck. A method without the limitation of a single directory is desired. The present invention addresses such a need.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,313,609 issued to Baylor et. al., discloses a coherency method that uses a global directory. This method has the same limitation as the Donaldson patent, in having limited access to the single directory. The single global directory also prevents scaling of the system, since the directory size and the access traffic to the directory would have to increase for a larger system. A method without a global directory is desired. The present invention addresses such a need.
The use of distributed directories avoids some of the limitations associated with a global directory. An example of the full-map distributed directory approach is described by D. Lenoski, J. Laudon, T. Joe, D. Nakahira, L. Stevens, A. Gupta, and J. Hennessy, in "The DASH Prototype: Logic Overhead and Performance," IEEE Transactions on Parallel and Distributed Systems, Vol.4, No. 1, January 1993, pp. 41-61 ("Lenoski"). Lenoski's system maintains a full-directory for all the processors, with one directory bit per cache line for every processor in the system. Thus, in this DASH system, every directory has a number of bit entries equal to the number of cache lines times the number of processors in the system. Thus a need exists for a cache coherency directory that uses a smaller directory size and does not require an entry for every processor in the system for every directory. The present invention addresses such a need.
A distributed directory system wherein the directories are distributed and associated with hierarchical switch elements that also contain caches is disclosed by H. Mizrahi, E. Baer, and J. Zahorjan, in "Extending the Memory Hierarchy into Multiprocessor Interconnection Networks: A Performance Analysis," 1989 International Conference on Parallel Processing, pp. I-41-I-50 ("Mizrahi"). Mizrahi's system arranges the caches in a tree structure and connects them to a global memory. The directories in Mizrahi's system record the switch port that provides a path to the desired cached copy. The limitation of the Mizrahi system is that only one single copy of each memory location is allowed to be present in the system at a time. Thus, Mizrahi completely avoids the difficulty of coherency enforcement. While the scheme of Mizrahi is simple in implementation, it may suffer performance problems where read information needs to be shared. A method is needed that overcomes this limitation of a single copy of each memory location. The present invention addresses such a need.
Omran and Aboelaze build on the work of Mizrahi and describe a multistage switch network with caching and directories in the switches ("Omran"). See R. Omran, and M. Aboelaze, "An Efficient Single Copy Cache Coherence Protocol for Multiprocessors with Multistage Interconnection Networks" in Proceedings of the 1994 Conference for Scalable High Performance Computing, pp. 1-8, May 1994. Omran also relies on a single copy requirement to prevent cache coherency problems. Cache inclusion is not required in the different level caches since only one copy is allowed in the system. Thus, a need still exists for a cache coherency protocol without a global directory that allows multiple copies in a switch-based network, but does not require a full directory of all processors in each switch directory. The present invention addresses such a need.
A brief survey of the state of the art of coherence methods for multistage interconnection networks is also discussed by Omran and Lee. See R. Omran, and D. Lee, "A Multi-cache Coherence Scheme for Shuffle-Exchange Network based Multiprocessors," Proceedings of the Fifth Symposium on the Frontiers of Massively Parallel Computation, February 1995 ("Omran and Lee"). The techniques described include the full-map, which provides a bit for each cache in the system, and which is not scalable. Omran and Lee conclude that when directory schemes are used in multistage interconnection networks, immense coherence traffic is generated, causing more contention and latency problems. Omran and Lee then propose a Shuffle Network topology allowing only a single copy. A solution is desired which does not have a single copy limitation and does not have the large amounts of coherence traffic that would typically be expected with such a system. The present invention addresses such a need.

System and method for maintaining cache coherency using path directories

International Business Machines Corporation


A light emitting device with an increased light extraction efficiency includes a two-dimensional periodic structure in a surface thereof and has two layers that together form an asymmetric refractive index distribution with respect to the active layer, which is in between the two layers. The light emitting device includes a substrate layer, a first layer, an active layer and a second layer that are stacked sequentially. The first layer includes at least one layer, including a semiconductor cladding layer of a first conductivity type. At least one layer of the first layer has a refractive index that is lower than a refractive index of the active layer and lower than a refractive index of a layer of the second layer that is adjacent to the active layer. Each constituent layer of the second layer has a refractive index that is lower than the refractive index of the active layer.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a semiconductor light emitting device (LED) that has high light extraction efficiency. More particularly, the present invention relates to an LED that has a two-dimensional periodic structure and has an asymmetric refractive index distribution with respect to the interposed active layer. The present invention further relates to a light emitting device (LED) that has high light extraction efficiency, has a two-dimensional periodic structure, and has an intermediate layer arranged on the light extraction side of the active layer. The intermediate layer has a refractive index that is lower than or equal to that of the active layer, but is the highest of all of the refractive indices of the semiconductor layers arranged on the light extraction side of the active layer.
2. Description of the Related Art
Semiconductor-based light emitting devices (LEDs) are expected to be used in a wide range of applications, including signs, displays and illuminations. Semiconductor materials generally have a higher refractive index than the surrounding medium, such as air and resins. Thus, the light emitted from an LED undergoes total internal reflection and is not effectively extracted outside. This leads to a problem that the efficiency of light utilization by LEDs is low. For example, semiconductor materials typically have a refractive index of 2.0 to 3.5 while the surrounding medium such as air and resins has a refractive index of 1.0 to 1.5. For this reason, the light emitted from a semiconductor material undergoes total internal reflection at the boundary of the semiconductor and the surrounding medium, allowing only a small percentage of the emitted light (i.e., a few percent) to escape from the LED.
Thus, a way is needed to effectively extract the light emitted from LEDs to the outside.
One approach is to form a periodic structure in the surface of a semiconductor (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,779,924, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 10-4209, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-128445, and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-31221). The periodic structure in the surface of the semiconductor serves to change the wavenumber of the internal light and thus, its direction, so that the internal light can no longer undergo the total internal reflection and can thus be extracted into the surrounding medium. In this technique, the large solid angle of the internal light improves the extraction efficiency of light.
A three-dimensional light wave simulation has revealed that the extraction efficiency of self-luminous devices featuring the above-described periodic structure is limited by the diffraction efficiency of the periodic structure: A significant amount of light is left trapped within LEDs. The three-dimensional light wave simulation is a known wave optics-based simulation technique developed by the present inventors (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-69709).
One problem of the periodic structure approach is that the structure may not be made with perfect periodicity depending on the type of the process used to make it. Such defective periodic structures cannot achieve sufficiently high light extraction efficiency. Also, making the periodic structure with perfect periodicity requires an elaborate process, which can add to cost.
One approach to improve the light extraction efficiency is to integrate the two-dimensional periodic structure into the light emitting layer (active layer). Although the integration of the two-dimensional periodic structure significantly improves the light extraction efficiency, the quality of the light emitting layer can significantly be affected. Thus, this approach still remains impractical.
Semiconductor surfaces containing broken bonds also contain various surface states and defects within the band gap. Carriers present near the semiconductor surface thus recombine through these surface states and defects (surface recombination). A two-dimensional periodic structure formed on the active layer creates on the processed surface a state similar to that seen on the surface in which bonds between crystals are broken. As a result, carriers injected into the active layer recombine at the surface, producing heat rather than light. This decreases the light conversion efficiency.


A brush seal assembly for sealing a gap between a first component and a second component, comprising: a body; bristles extending from the body; and an extension from the body, the extension having an elongated slot therein. The slot, when the brush seal assembly mounts between the first and second components, allows the brush seal assembly to float within the gap. An axial brush seal assembly, comprising: a body; bristles extending from the body; and means for allowing movement of the brush seal assembly in an axial direction within the gap. An apparatus, comprising: a first component; a second component spaced from the first component in an axial direction; and an axial brush seal assembly movably mounted between the first and second components. The brush seal assembly can move in said axial direction.

This invention relates to floating brush seal assemblies. Specifically, this invention relates to axial brush seal assemblies that can float in the axial direction within a gap between two components.
Gas turbine engines that exhibit high axial and radial growth transients between adjacent components during operation typically use a labyrinth seal between the components to control leakage. A labyrinth seal comprises a plurality of teeth extending from a disk on one of the components and a honeycomb pad on the other component. The teeth and the pad cooperate to form a serpentine leakage path between the components. The serpentine path inhibits fluid flow between the components.
However, labyrinth seals have several drawbacks. First, the rigid teeth of the labyrinth seal cannot accommodate a "zero clearance" condition without incurring permanent wear or damage to the teeth. This wear increases the leakage rate of the seal. Second, the leakage rate of the labyrinth seals increases with the increased clearance between the teeth and the pad.


A golf ball having improved aerodynamic efficiency is characterized by the arrangement of a plurality of modified tear-drop shaped dimples arranged on the surface thereof. The ball has a dimple-free equator which divides the ball into two identical hemispheres, each of which is broken into equal quadrants by two great circles passing through the poles of the ball. Each quadrant has a maximum circular area filled with a first plurality of tear-drop shaped dimples. A second plurality of tear-drop shaped dimples is arranged between the circular areas so that the dimple coverage on the ball is maximized.

The present invention relates generally to golf balls and more particularly to the arrangement of tear-drop shaped dimples on the surface of the ball.
Dimples are provided in the surface of a golf ball in order to control and improve the flight of the ball. One of the basic criteria for the use of dimples is to cover the maximum surface of the ball with dimples without diminishing the aerodynamic symmetry of the ball in order to satisfy the requirements of the United States Golf Association (U.S.G.A.). Aerodynamic symmetry means that the ball must fly in substantially the same manner with little variation regardless of how it is placed on a tee or on the ground.

Golf ball having circular groups of tear dropped dimples


In a system of accelerating a car using a brake operating mechanism, the driver is required to be ready to step on the brake operating mechanism so as to rapidly decelerate the car in order to avoid danger, if necessary, while he is releasing his foot from the brake operating mechanism, which is a burden for the driver. Therefore, a footrest function range and a braking force increasing function range are provided to an operating amount or an operating force of a pedal 13.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for controlling run of a car, a method of controlling run of a car and a car using the apparatus and, more particularly to following distance controlling auto-cruise including slow acceleration and deceleration running in a congested area. Automatic control technologies are being developed. The automatic control technologies are that a distance between a self-car and a preceding car (including an obstacle) is detected using a radar, and an engine, a motor, a transmission and a brake are automatically controlled so that the distance becomes a safe following distance. An example of the automatic control technologies is following distance controlling auto-cruise including slow acceleration and deceleration running in a congested area (hereinafter, referred to as "ACC": Adaptive Cruise Control).
Among the ACC, there are known systems that automatic control is performed only for starting and acceleration operations and a driver operates deceleration and stopping according to his own decision in order to secure higher safety.
One example of the systems is that deceleration and stopping operations and starting and acceleration operations are performed by operating only a brake pedal using a conventional oil brake system.
For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.4-38600 discloses a system that when the running mode is set to a slow deceleration running mode due to traffic congestion, the car can be stopped and started by one-pedal running of braking operation. That is, the driving force is controlled so that the running speed of the car becomes a target running speed when there is no brake operation, and the diving force is controlled not to act toward a running direction when there is brake operation.
According to the conventional technologies described above, in order to perform stopping and starting operations by one pedal of braking operation using a conventional brake operating mechanism, the pedal can be used only as if it is an ON-OFF switch, that is, the car is decelerated and stopped when the brake pedal is stepped on, and started and accelerated when the brake pedal is released.
Therefore, in a case of, for example, acceleration a car, the driver is required to be ready to step on the brake operating mechanism so as to rapidly decelerate the car in order to avoid danger, if necessary, while he is releasing his foot from the brake operating mechanism, which is a burden for the driver.

Apparatus for controlling run of a car, and car using the apparatus


An inspection system in which the surface of a substrate is continuously scanned by a linear CCD. The surface is illuminated in a narrowly focused strip from a broad-band light source that is selectively wavelength filtered to optimize image contrast to the optical characteristics of the surface under inspection. A channel integrator in the light source optical system provides illumination homogeneity at the surface of the substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an optical inspection system and more particularly to an improved system for rapidly determining the location and size of via openings in substrate sheets.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, via openings are formed in ceramic substrate sheets in order to provide connecting paths through the sheets. A number of sheets are used to form a multi-layer module that mechanically supports and electrically interconnects a plurality of integrated circuit chips mounted on the module. The via openings are very small and are usually closely spaced (e.g., 100 microns in diameter and 600 microns spacing). The ceramic substrates are sintered after the vias are formed. This sintering process can sometimes cause a change in the location of a via from its intended location; the difference between the intended location and the actual location is called distortion. For the next generation of substrates, which utilize a thin-film process, this distortion can affect the via locations; thereby preventing a satisfactory electrical connection between the via conductor and the thin-film wiring. It can also affect the electrical connection between two or more substrate sheets.
There are several prior art systems commercially available for measuring via distortion. They use an area array CCD detector and accompanying optics to illuminate the surface of the ceramic substrate and reflect light from the surface to the area array. A typical system of this type moves the substrate (under servo control) to a series of programmed positions relative to CCD area array. An image of a via is acquired by the CCD area array while the substrate is stationary. Because of the time required to position the substrate and to form the via image in prior art inspection systems, vias are inspected for distortion on a sampling basis only; usually only about one percent of the vias are inspected. Inspection by continuous scanning of the substrate surface has heretofore not been possible because of inadequate light available at the scanned surface to provide sufficient contrast between the via opening and the surface itself, and because an area CCD array is unsuited to continuous scanning.

Optical system for rapid inspection of via location


A controlled release beadlet that sequentially releases carotenoids over time within the gastrointestinal tract of a subject, as well as a method of administering the carotenoids. The beadlet provides a specific ratio of carotenoids which release from the beadlet at preselected times during passage through the gastrointestinal tract. The method includes releasing the carotenoids in preselected ratios at specific time intervals in the gastrointestinal tract to mitigate competition between the carotenoids for their uptake, and/or to potentially maximize the uptake of individual carotenoids within a mixed carotenoid formulation.

The present disclosure relates to dietary supplements and a method for administration, and more particularly, to beadlets having specific ratios of carotenoids which release in the gastrointestinal tract in a sequential, timed release manner.
Carotenoids are tetraterpenoid organic pigments that are naturally occurring in chloroplasts and chromoplasts of plants. Different types of carotenoids are known individually to promote skin health, eye health and prostate health, and to prevent free radical damage, among other things. For example, epidemiological studies over the last 30 years consistently demonstrate an inverse relationship between carotenoid-rich fruit and vegetable consumption and risk of chronic disease, such as heart disease, stroke and some types of cancer. Mayne S T. Beta-Carotene, carotenoids and disease prevention in humans. FASEB J. 10:690-701 (1996).
Human dietary intakes of fruits and vegetables, however, have been repeatedly found to be inadequate for optimal health. Report of a Joint WHO/FAQ Expert Consultation; Diet, Nutrition and the Prevention of Chronic Disease. WHO Technical Report Series, 916. Geneva, January 28-February 1 (2002); Blanck H M, et al. Trends in fruit and vegetable consumption among U.S. men and women, 1994-2005. Prev Chronic Dis. 5:2 (2008).
Therefore, there are a variety of supplements on the market that provide doses of carotenoids. These supplements suffer some issues. For example, supraphysiological doses of individual carotenoids have shown unexpected and worrisome results in the past, as in the case of β-carotene. Further, the effectiveness of a mixed carotenoid supplement is dictated by the fraction of the ingested amount that is actually absorbed and reaches its target site, also known as its "bioavailability." Much evidence suggests that, when administered together, individual carotenoids compete with one another for bioavailability, specifically for micelle formation and bile salts, which assist in uptake, and consequent intestinal absorption, thus limiting the efficacy of current multicarotenoids supplementation. van het Hof K H, et al. Dietary factors that affect the bioavailability of carotenoids. J Nutr. 130:503-06 (2000); Maiani G, et al. Carotenoids: Actual knowledge of food sources, intakes, stability and bioavailability and their protective role in humans. Mol Nutr Food Res. 53:S194-S218 (2009). For example, because β-carotene aggressively consumes bile salts, it is absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract more quickly, and reduces the absorption of other carotenes, such as lutein. Other carotenoids suffer similar competition issues, which impairs the effectiveness of conventional combination or mixed carotenoid supplementation.

Multicarotenoid beadlets and related method


A handheld and bench top hose and tubing cutter for cutting hose and tubing of various sizes is disclosed. The hose cutter comprises a upper arm member and lower arm member with each arm member having its own handle, finger guard and colored differently. An intermediate pivot point is located close to one end of each of the two arm members to join the two arm members. The upper arm member further comprises a replaceable cutting blade located close to the pivot point. The lower arm member further comprises a nested cradle facing the cutting blade. The nested cradle has a suitably contoured supporting surface for the positioning of a hose or tube of various sizes to be engaged and cut through by the cutting blade. The upper and lower arm member also respectively includes opposing stopping surfaces such that, upon contacting each other, they would act as a positive stop for the cutting process with the position of the cutting blade clearing the nested cradle. Additionally, the upper and lower arm member respectively includes opposing limiting surfaces close to the pivot point to guarantee a maximum opening angle between the upper and lower arm member for the avoidance of the danger of exposing the cutting blade.

This invention is related to a device for cutting small to large sized and reinforced rubberized tubing. More particularly, the invention deals with such a device functioning both as a hand held and a bench top tool. Some applications are the cutting of radiator hoses in an automotive repair shop or the cutting of certain plastic tubing for plumbing work.
The need of thus the existence of prior art and associated devices for cutting a variety of tubing has been around for many years. For example, both Canadian Patent No. 1,178,426 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,987,750 disclosed a scissors type of tube cutter including two arms connected in their middle points and operating with a scissors like action. One end of the arms consists of a pair of opposing jaws. One of the jaws has a tube-shaped support surface that positions a tube for engagement by a blade held by the other jaw. Both of the disclosed devices have been commercialized and have been useful in cutting reinforced rubberized tubes. However, the manufacturers of these two devices typically limit the outside diameter of tubes to be cut to 1.5xe2x80x3 or smaller (Lisle Catalog 2000, page 50; S and G Tool Aid Catalog, page 41; Snap On Catalog 2000, page E-33; Mac Tool Catalog 2000, Page 310; Matco Catalog 1998-1999, page 182). These devices are not useful in cutting reinforced radiator hoses of larger sizes from 2xe2x80x3 to 2.5xe2x80x3 in outside diameter. This inventor has experimented with an enlarged version of the scissors design as mentioned above and has found four major limitations of such a design for cutting large sized tubes:
1. The cutting device has to be 24xe2x80x3 or longer in order to achieve enough leverage to cut a tough reinforced radiator tube of diameter in the range of 2xe2x80x3-2.75xe2x80x3. Thus, it is too large to be of practical use for an auto mechanic.
2. While these devices all use a sharp pointed blade thus having a very small contact area for the penetration and cutting of a reinforced tube, some of the larger sized radiator hoses are much more flexible than the smaller ones. Thus, the surface deformation of the larger sized radiator hoses results in a large area of contact with the blade. Consequently, the larger sized radiator hoses still make the cutting more difficult.
3. When cutting a hose near its end, the surface near the end is less rigid thus it flexes more than the surface of the longer portion of the hose. The uneven flexing of the hose straddling the blade tends to force the blade thus the device to bend toward the side that flexes less (the longer side of the hose). As a consequence, the bent blade either fails to cut properly or can not cut at all.
4. Yet another draw back of the large scissors design is that it has to be operated by two hands. Consequently, an operator does not have a spare hand to hold the hose in proper position to be cut.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,412,380 (Kish, 1983) discloses a cutter for air conditioning hoses. The device comprises a base that is provided with axially spaced and axially aligned tubes for the reception of the hose to be cut. The device further consists of a manually operable handle that is pivotally secured to the base and a cutter blade that is movable through the hose to sever the hose into a desired length. As such, the device is designed toward an application wherein it is to be mounted on the top of a workbench, not a portable tool. It can not be easily used as a convenient hand held tool. Furthermore, the device employs an axially spaced and axially aligned tube to hold the hose to be cut. Therefore, the size of the holding tube needs to be fairly close to that of the hose to be cut. As the holding tube is an integral part of the device, a user needs to maintain several cutters having different sized holding tubes to cover a wide range of hose sizes. This is rather expensive and inconvenient.
In light of the various drawbacks of the prior art as explained above, the present invention is directed to an improved hose cutter.
It is an objective of this invention to devise a compact, portable and hand held hose cutter that is small enough to be stored in a mechanic""s tool box.
The second objective of this invention is to have the subject hose cutter capable of cutting a large sized radiator hose as well as smaller sized tubes or hoses.
The third objective of this invention is to make the subject hose cutter also functional as a bench top or floor model, whereby an operator would operate the cutter with one hand while holding the hose to be cut with another hand.
Other objectives, together with the foregoing are also attained in the exercise of the invention as described in the following description and resulting in the embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Handheld and bench top hose and tubing cutter


The present disclosure provides an error detector for determining an error vector between a radio trajectory and an image trajectory. The error detector includes: an input for monitoring a radio trajectory of an object from a radio signal and an image trajectory of an object from an image over an observation area; a correlation module arranged to correlate the radio trajectory with the image trajectory; an error module arranged to determine an error vector between the radio trajectory and the image trajectory; and an output arranged to transmit the error vector for use in determining an estimated trajectory of a target based on a target trajectory from a radio signal.

It is possible to track a target (i.e. a target object) using radio tracking. Radio tracking involves receiving one or more radio signals from observation area and identifying the target from the radio signals. In this way, the position of the target can be determined directly from the radio signal.
Such tracking of targets is not ideal for various reasons. For instance, radio signal techniques may be found to be inaccurate depending on the layout of the observation area. For example obfuscations may exist or areas of high reflection within the observation area. In addition, in an instance where a plurality radio signals exist at the same time and frequency it may not be possible to resolve the signals corresponding to each target, especially where some signals interfere (that is overlap in time and frequency).

Compensating radio tracking with comparison to image based tracking


Aspects herein describe new methods of determining optimal actions to achieve high-level goals with minimum total future cost. At least one high-level goal is inputted into a user device along with various observational data about the world, and a computational unit determines, through particle methods, an optimal course of action as well as emotions. The particle method comprises alternating backward and forward sweeps and tests for convergence to determine said optimal course of action. In one embodiment a user inputs a high-level goal into a cell phone which senses observational data. The cell phone communicates with a server that provides instructions. The server determines an optimal course of action via the particle method, and the cell phone then displays the instructions and emotions to the user.

Artificial intelligence is used to find non-obvious strategies and tactics to achieve high-level goals, while having limited ability to affect the world, and limited ability to observe the world.
Problem solving in robotics and similar disciplines usually involves control problems. In real-world and in sophisticated virtual environments, various ambiguities and uncertainties arise as a problem progresses and the robot or computer solving the problem takes action. Control problems usually have two parts, an estimation problem, which naturally runs forward in time, and a regulation problem, which naturally runs backwards in time. Previously, scientists in robotics have used particle methods to find solutions for estimation problems with high degrees of uncertainty by using particle methods. For example, a particle filter with Monte Carlo estimation estimates Bayesian models by representing information, including ambiguity, as a probabilistic distribution. Other techniques have involved linearizing high-dimensional problems to achieve a solution more easily.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A space saving rack for storing skis is disclosed. The ski storage rack includes a mounting plate secured to a vertically arranged support member. The mounting plate has a plurality of spaced, horizontally-extending dowel pins attached to it for receiving a plurality of skis and poles vertically positioned therebetween. Resilient retaining clips are detachably mounted on the outer ends of the dowel pins to secure the skis and poles between the dowel pins. A catch basin is positioned on a horizontally arranged support member and is configured for receiving snow and ice melting and dropping from the skis and poles. The catch basin is located below and in vertical alignment with the mounting plate so that the mounting plate and dowel pins overlie the catch basin. The lower ends of the skis and poles are positioned and supported on the catch basin.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of the invention relates to sporting equipment storage devices, and more particularly to a space saving apparatus for storing skis.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the past skis and their associated poles have been stored between uses in a variety of ways. For example, by merely propping them against an outside wall of a building. However, this method exposes the ski equipment to both theft and damage from the outdoor environment. Ski storage has also been effected indoors by merely hanging them on wall hooks or standing them against a wall in storage closet or similar room. These techniques, however, are equally ineffective in that they require larger storage areas, cause storage rooms to become cluttered thus rendering it more difficult to retrieve the skis for use, as well as causing floors to become wet from snow and ice melting and dripping from the skis.
Various indoor storage devices for skis have been utilized in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,905,481 to Laterra sets forth a rack for vertically storing skis comprising a pair of vertically spaced and aligned unitary brackets. One bracket has a plurality of spaces for receiving one end of the skis, and the other bracket has a shelf to receive the butt ends thereof.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,673,088 to Mancini discloses another ski storage rack for vertically storing a plurality of pairs of skis using an open quadrangular wooden frame which is mountable on a wall. The frame is constructed to store successive pairs of skis in vertically offset relationship so that curved ski tips and bindings are spacedly staggered and interdigitated to maximize the use of the available space of the rack.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,988,007 to Chiarot illustrates still another ski storage rack having a bracket mounted on a vertical surface or support member. A plurality of ski hanger modules are slidably mounted on the bracket and receive the skis therein. Adjacent hanger modules are positioned inverted with respect to each other allowing close ski spacing. The modules and are provided with apertures for receiving locking means to secure the skis in place.
As such, it may be appreciated that there continues to be a need for a new and improved ski storage rack which addresses both the problems of ease of use, portability, and effectiveness in construction, and in this respect, the present invention fulfills this need.


A vessel for collecting biological particulate matter suspended in fluid includes a body having first and second ends and a fluid passageway there between. A filter member is disposed at one of the first and second ends of the body, the filter member having a porosity that permits passage of fluid but retains at least a portion of the biological particular matter. The exterior surface of the body portion includes at least one agitation member. The agitation member may be formed, for instance, as a blade, fin, projection, helical ring, or other protuberance.

Automated slide preparation systems for analyzing biological materials are known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,143,627, 5,282,978, and 6,562,299, and U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2003-0207455 A1 and 2003-0207456 A1, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety, describe such automated systems. Some or all of these slide preparation systems employ a collection vessel having a filter that is introduced into the sample liquid and onto which a selected quantity of the dispersed sample of cells are collected. A pressure system connected with the collection vessel draws sample liquid into the vessel for collecting the cells on the filter surface.
In automated slide preparation systems, it is often desired that the biological sample, from which cells are obtained, be agitated prior to cell collection. Agitation of the sample causes cell clusters, bits of tissue, and mucous to break up and create a relatively homogenous sample of cellular material. Some automated slide preparation systems agitate the biological sample by immersing the vessel having the filter into the biological sample and rotating the vessel at high speeds. The high speed rotation causes the biological sample solution to rotate as well, which causes the necessary agitation and mixing of the solutions. However, the high speed rotation also causes small amounts of the mixture to aerosolize or splash out of the vial containing the biological sample, thereby increasing the chances of cross-contamination.

Filter for automated slide preparation system


A dowel member for reinforcing concrete structures includes a metal strip and a plurality of dowels projecting perpendicularly from the strip. Each dowel includes a dowel shank welded at one of its ends to the strip, and a dowel head disposed at the other of its ends. The dowel shank includes a center section having ribs on its outer periphery, and a pair of end sections having smooth cylindrical outer peripheries.

The invention pertains to the reinforcement of concrete beams or panels and, in particular to a dowel strip acting as a bent-up bar in reinforced concrete beams or panels, the dowel strip 4A (see FIG. 4) consisting of a bottom strip and a plurality of dowels 6A perpendicularly welded to the strip at one of their ends 5A, each dowel having a dowel shank 7A and, on their upper ends, a dowel head 8A that is wider than the dowel shank, whereby the dowel shank has ribs on at least part of its surface.
Known dowel strips of this kind (DE-PS 27 27 159.6) serve as bent-up bars in reinforced concrete beams and panels at points of support, particularly in the vicinity of column connections of the beam 1 with vertical columns 2, i.e. connections to absorb the lateral forces occurring in these areas due to stress created by the vertical columns.
In a reinforced concrete beam or concrete panel reinforced in this fashion, an internal compression force grid is formed in the column area, the pattern of which resembles a truss, the truss components of which are referred to with the terms customarily used for trusses.
Longitudinal reinforcement bars 3 provided near the topside of the beam or panel each act as form a tension chord component of the force truss in the area of the columns. The dowels 6A of the dowel strip located perpendicular to these tension chord components represent the vertical tension components of the force truss. The concrete that is in compression on the underside of the beam or the panel in the vicinity of the columns, assumes the function of the compression chord component 11 of the force truss, but this function may also be assumed by the dowel strips if the strips extend in the longitudinal direction of the beams. Between (i) the dowel heads on top and the points of support of the column or the dowel strips of adjacent additional dowels, sloped strut component 10 of the force truss are formed in the concrete.
The formation of a joint of the force truss at the dowel head or strip, respectively, requires that the vertical tension component 6A be transferred all the way to the dowel head or strip, respectively, so that the differential forces can be transferred to the tension chord component 3 or the compression chord component 11, respectively through a positive enclosure by the concrete.
In the known dowel strips, the dowel shank 7A is designed smooth and cylindrical as shown in FIG. 4; the resulting relatively minor adhesion between the dowel shank and the concrete results in the force of the vertical tension component 6A being transferred until it reaches the dowel head or dowel strip, respectively.
The sloped main tensile stress 10 forming in the concrete leads to the formation of shearing cracks 12 in the concrete extending approximately along the sloped strut components 10, whereby the width of the cracks restricts the load carrying capacity of the beam or panel.
According to a known reinforcement technique, the width of unavoidable shearing cracks in the concrete is limited and the carrying capacity of the structural beam increased by inserting additional bent-up bars essentially extending perpendicular to the expected direction of the cracks.
In a beam or panel equipped with dowel strips serving as bent-up bars, according to this prior art theory, either the bent-up bars consisting of dowel strips would be reinforced by using more or larger diameter dowels, or a separate, additional bent-up bar would be inserted to limit the width of the cracks. Both measures, however, involve additional material and labor costs.
In a known dowel strip of the above kind (EP-A-495 334), the dowels are made from ribbed reinforcement bar; the dowel shank has ribs on its surface. The vertical tension member force acting inside the dowel shank is thus not at all or only to an insignificant extent transmitted to the end of the dowel, with the result that the desired formation of a truss framework joint at the dowel ends is impaired.
The aim of the invention is therefore to design a dowel strip configuration to effectively limit the width of the cracks in the concrete without additional material or labor expenditures while maintaining the effective formation of truss framework joints at the dowel heads.

Dowel member for reinforcing concrete structures


A personal sound system is described that includes a wireless network supporting an ear-level module, a companion module and a phone. Other audio sources are supported as well. A configuration processor configures the ear-level module and the companion module for private communications, and configures the ear-level module for a plurality of signal processing modes, including a hearing aid mode, for a corresponding plurality of sources of audio data. The ear module is configured to handle variant audio sources, and control switching among them.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to personalized sound systems, including an ear level device adapted to be worn on the ear and provide audio processing according to a hearing profile of the user and companion devices that act as sources of audio data.
2. Description of Related Art
Assessing an individual's hearing profile is important in a variety of contexts. For example, individuals with hearing profiles that are outside of a normal range must have their profile recorded for the purposes of prescribing hearing aids which fit the individual profile. U.S. Pat. No. 6,944,474 B2, by Rader et al., describes a mobile phone with audio processing functionality that can be adapted to the hearing profile of the user, addressing many of the problems of the use of mobile phones by hearing impaired persons. See also, International Publication No. WO 01/24576 A1, entitled PRODUCING AND STORING HEARING PROFILES AND CUSTOMIZED AUDIO DATA BASED (sic), by Pluvinage et al., which describes a variety of applications of hearing profile data.
With improved wireless technologies, such as Bluetooth technology, techniques have been developed to couple hearing aids using wireless networks to other devices, for the purpose of programming the hearing aid and for coupling the hearing aid with sources of sound other than the ambient environment. See, for example, International Publication No. WO 2004/110099 A2, entitled HEARING AID WIRELESS NETWORK, by Larsen et al.; International Publication No. WO 01/54458 A2, entitled HEARING AID SYSTEMS, by Eaton et al.; German Laid-open Specification DE 102 22 408 A 1, entitled INTEGRATION OF HEARING SYSTEMS INTO HOUSEHOLD TECHNOLOGY PLATFORMS by Dageforde. In Larsen et al. and Dageforde, for example, the idea is described of coupling a hearing aid by wireless network to a number of sources of sound, such as door bells, mobile phones, televisions, various other household appliances and audio broadcast systems.
One problem associated with these prior art ideas, which incorporate a variety of sound sources into a network with a hearing aid, arises because of the need for significant amounts of data processing resources at each audio source to support participation in the network. So there is a need for techniques to reduce the data processing requirements needed at a sound source for participation in the network. Another problem with prior art systems incorporating a variety of sound sources into a network with a hearing aid arises because the sampling rates, audio processing parameters and processing techniques needed for the various sources of sound are not the same. So simply providing a channel between the hearing aid and variant audio sources is not effective. Furthermore, for diverse personal sound systems, techniques for managing the process of switching from one source to another must be developed.
Thus, technologies for improving the compatibility of hearing aids with mobile phones and other audio sources are needed.

Personal sound system including multi-mode ear level module with priority logic


A wavelength dispersion compensation apparatus is provided which requires only a small number of dispersion compensation fibers for compensating for the wavelength dispersion of a wavelength multiplex signal caused in the transmission optical fibers.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a wavelength dispersion compensation apparatus for compensating for wavelength dispersion occurring in light signals during transmission through optical fibers, and particularly relates to a wavelength dispersion compensation apparatus for a wavelength multiplex transmission system.
2. Background Art
An optical fiber for transmitting light signals possesses the property that the transmission times of light signals differ depending upon the wavelength of the light signal. Thus, in the case when a light signal is transmitted through optical fibers, the signal waveform is likely to spread depending upon the transmission distance. This phenomenon is called the xe2x80x9cwavelength dispersionxe2x80x9d.
Optical fibers possess a characteristic wavelength called zero-dispersion wavelength. If the wavelength of a light signal conforms with the zero dispersion wavelength, wavelength dispersion will not occur irrespective of the transmission length. Therefore, when a light signal with a single wavelength is transmitted, it is possible to prevent degradation of the SIN ratio by conforming the wavelength of the light signal with the zero-dispersion wavelength of the optical fiber.
However, if the wavelength of the light signal does not conform with the zero dispersion wavelength of the optical fiber used for transmission of the light signal, measures must be taken to compensate the wavelength dispersion which occurs during the transmission of the light signal. In order to compensate for wavelength dispersion, a measure is generally taken, in which, a particular dispersion compensating fiber is provided which generates a reverse wavelength dispersion of the light signal, and the light signal is first passed through the particular dispersion compensating fiber before the light signal is sent to the optical fiber forming the transmission line.
For wavelength multiplex transmission systems to transmit light signals through an optical fiber line by multiplex light signals having different wavelengths, the problem of wavelength dispersion becomes more complicated. That is, the amount of dispersion of the wavelength dispersion increases with increasing differences between the wavelengths of light signals and the zero dispersion wavelength, and wavelength multiplex signals passing through the optical fiber undergo different wavelength dispersions corresponding to the wavelengths of the light signals.
Conventionally, the wavelength dispersion compensation apparatus shown in FIG. 2 has been used. The wavelength dispersion compensation apparatus shown in FIG. 2 is used in a wavelength multiplex transmission system for transmitting a wavelength multiplex signal which composes of light signals with wavelengths from xcex1 to xcexn. To this wavelength dispersion compensation apparatus, individual light signals before multiplexing with the wavelengths from xcex1 to xcexn are admitted.
In this example, the wavelength xcex1 is closest to the zero dispersion wavelength of the optical fiber used for the wavelength multiplex transmission, and the difference in wavelength from the zero dispersion wavelength increases in the order of xcex2, xcex3, . . . , xcexn. Thus, if a wavelength multiplex signal is transmitted without compensation through the transmitting optical fiber, the amount of wavelength dispersion will be smallest for the light signal with the wavelength of xcex1, and the amount of the wavelength dispersion generated in each light signal increases in the order of xcex2, xcex3, . . . ,xcexn.
In the wavelength dispersion compensation apparatus, the light signal with a wavelength of xcex1 is made to pass a single dispersion compensation fiber DCF1, and the light signal with the wavelength of xcex2 is made to pass two dispersion compensation fibers DCF1, . . . , and the light signal with the wavelength of xcexn is made to pass n pieces of dispersion compensation fibers. By making each light signal having the wavelength from xcex1xcx9cxcexn pass through appropriate number of dispersion compensation fibers, each light signal s subjected to wavelength dispersion which is reverse in the direction to that of the transmission, and the absolute value of which is the same as that undergone during transmission.
These light signals with wavelengths from xcex1 to xcexn, after passing through the dispersion compensation fibers, are amplified by respective light amplifiers AMP1 to AMPn, multiplexed by the arrayed waveguide grating AWG to produce a wavelength multiplex signal, and the multiplex signal is transmitted by the transmission optical fiber.
In the above transmission system, during transmission, the light signals with wavelengths from xcex1 to xcexn will experience light dispersions corresponding to the wavelength differences between the wavelength of the light signals and the zero dispersion wavelength. However, as described above, the wavelength dispersions are compensated for in the course of passing through respective dispersion compensation fibers. Therefore, as a result, it becomes possible to transmit a wavelength multiplex signal without experiencing wavelength dispersion.
Since the hereinabove described device for compensating the wavelength dispersion compensates for wavelength dispersion by the use of a number of dispersion compensating fibers for each light signal before the wavelength multiplexing, a large number and a large quantity of dispersion compensating fibers are required, so that the problem arises that a large space is required for accommodating the dispersion compensation fibers. Furthermore, another problem arises that, since the dispersion compensation fibers are expensive, the wavelength dispersion compensation apparatus becomes also expensive.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a wavelength dispersion compensation apparatus for a multiplex wavelength transmission system, which does not need a large number of dispersion compensation fibers and which can be constructed at low cost.
The wavelength dispersion compensation apparatus of the present invention compensates for wavelength dispersion of a wavelength multiplex signals, when a wavelength multiplex signal is transmitted through an optical fiber of the wavelength multiplex transmission system, wherein said wavelength dispersion compensation apparatus comprises:
a plurality of dispersion compensation fibers for transmitting said wavelength multiple signal or individual light signals which compose said wavelength multiplex signal in sequence and for producing the wavelength dispersion for said individual light signals in order to compensate for the wavelength dispersion which will occur during transmission through the transmission optical fiber;
a plurality of light branching means, disposed at the output ends of each of said plurality of dispersion compensation fibers, for separating and extracting a light signal with a specific wavelength from the light signals forming the wavelength multiplex signal output after passing through said dispersion compensation fibers; and
a wavelength multiplexing means for amplifying light signals separated and extracted by said light branching means to a specific level, for generating a wavelength multiplex signal by multiplexing the light signals after amplification, and the wavelength multiplex signal is supplied to the transmission optical fibers.

Wavelength dispersion compensation apparatus in wavelength multiplex transmission system

Abstract: The dispersion compensation fibers are used for transmitting individual light signals which composes a wavelength multiplex signal, in order to give a wavelength dispersion in the opposite direction, the absolute value of which is the same as the dispersion which will be caused in the light signals during transmitting in the transmission optical fibers. At the output ends of the dispersion compensation fibers, a pair of two light signals with specific wavelengths is extracted by the light branching means composed of fiber gratings FG11 and FG12 and so on. The light signals extracted by the light branching means are multiplexed by the arrayed waveguide AWG2 and supplied to the transmission optical fibers after amplified by the light amplifiers AMP1 to AMP8.


A three-dimensional image/two-dimensional image display device includes a plurality of display pixels, and a lenticular lens for three-dimensional display. Each display pixel is consisted of M×N number of sub-pixels to be viewed from N view points. A pitch a of sub-pixels arranged in the longitudinal direction of ridge projection of the lenticular lens and a pitch b of the sub-pixels arranged in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the lenticular lens satisfy the following expression. The M×N number of sub-pixels included in each of said display pixels are formed within a square area.a:b=N:1

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image display device which is capable of individually displaying images that are to be viewed from a plurality of view points and displaying an image without reducing resolution when images different from one another are viewed from the plurality of view points, a portable terminal device incorporating therein such image display device, a display panel incorporated within the image display device, and an image display method. Particularly, the present invention relates to an image display device capable of displaying a three-dimensional image without reducing resolution, displaying a two-dimensional image and three-dimensional image with the same resolution, and further, displaying a two-dimensional image and three-dimensional image at any location in a blended fashion, a portable terminal device incorporating therein such image display device, a display panel incorporated within the image display device, and an image display method using the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a display device has been studied which is capable of displaying a three-dimensional image. In 280 years B.C., Greece-mathematician Euclid considered and defined "binocular vision is what a person perceives when he/she sees, using his/her right and left eyes one at a time, different images of the same object that are created when viewed from different directions" (non-patent literature 1: Chihiro Masuda, "Three-Dimensional Display" Sangyo Tosho, K.K.). That is, a three-dimensional display device should have a capability to distribute images with parallax to right and left eyes, respectively.
A number of three-dimensional image display methods have conventionally been studied and developed as a method for realizing the above-stated capability and those methods can be classified mainly into two types of methods, i.e., a method using eyeglasses and a method not using eyeglasses. One of methods of the type using eyeglasses would be an anaglyph method using difference in color, a polarized eyeglasses method using polarization, or the like. However, in the method using eyeglasses, a user of eyeglasses basically cannot remove the burden of wearing eyeglasses and in consideration of such problems, non-eyeglasses observing, which is performed by not using eyeglasses, has intensely been studied and developed in recent years. The non-eyeglasses observing includes, for example, a method using a lenticular lens and a method using a parallax barrier.
The parallax barrier method was conceived by Berthier in 1896 and identified by Ives as practical in 1903. FIG. 1 shows an optical model illustrating a three-dimensional image display method using a parallax barrier. As shown in FIG. 1, a parallax barrier 105 is a barrier (light shield) which has a number of fine vertical-striped openings, i.e., slits 105a formed therein. Furthermore, disposed in the vicinity of one surface of the parallax barrier 105 is a display panel 106. In the display panel 106, pixels 123 for right eye and pixels 124 for left eye are arranged in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the slits. Moreover, disposed in the vicinity of the other surface of the parallax barrier 105, i.e., on the side opposite the display panel 106 is a light source 108.
Lights were emitted from the light source 108 and have transmitted through the openings (slits 105a) of the parallax barrier 105 and then through the pixels 123 for right eye, thereby flowing out as light fluxes 181. Similarly, lights were emitted from the light source 108 and have transmitted through the slits 105a and then through the pixels 124 for left eye, thereby flowing out as light fluxes 182. In this case, the location of an observer who is able to identify a three-dimensional image is determined by a positional relationship between the parallax barrier 105 and the pixels. That is, it is required that a right eye 141 of the observer 104 falls within an area through which all of the light fluxes 181 corresponding to a plurality of pixels 123 for right eye pass and a left eye 142 of the observer 104 falls within an area through which all of the light fluxes 182 corresponding to a plurality of pixels 124 for left eye pass. As shown in FIG. 1, this positional relationship between the eyes and the light fluxes corresponds to the case where a midpoint 143 between the right eye 141 and left eye 142 of the observer falls within a quadrangle shaped three-dimensional visible range 107 shown in FIG. 1. Among line segments extending in a direction along which the pixels 123 for right eye and pixels 124 for left eye are arranged in the three-dimensional visible range 107, a line segment passing through a intersection 107a of diagonal lines in the three-dimensional visible range 107 is longest. Accordingly, in case of the midpoint 143 being positioned at the intersection 107a, a latitude of a displacement which is allowed when the position of the observer is displaced in a right or left direction becomes maximum and therefore, when the midpoint 143 is positioned at the intersection 107a, it can be concluded that the observer views images from a most preferable position. In consideration of the above-described fact, it is recommended that the three-dimensional image display method is constructed such that when assuming a distance between the intersection 107a and the display panel 106 is an optimal observation distance OD, the observer views images keeping the distance OD from the display panel. Note that a virtual plane spaced apart from the display panel 106 the optimal observation distance OD in the three-dimensional visible range 107 is referred to as an optimal observation plane 107b. This allows lights from the pixels 123 for right eye and the pixels 124 for left eye to reach the right eye 141 and left eye 142 of the observer, respectively. Therefore, it becomes possible that the observer identifies an image displayed on the display panel 106 as a three-dimensional image.
At the beginning of emergence of the method using a parallax barrier, the parallax barrier was disposed between pixels and eyes, and therefore, a problem arises in that the parallax barrier obstructs the view and serves to cause the visibility of an image to be displayed to be low. However, the recent commercialization of a liquid crystal display panel makes it possible to dispose the parallax barrier 105 on the rear side of the display panel 106 to improve the visibility of an image to be displayed. This currently leads to enhancement of the study and development of a three-dimensional image display device using a parallax barrier.
An example of a product which uses a parallax barrier and became a commercial reality is described in a table 1 of Nikkei Electronics, No. 838, pp. 26-27 issued on Jan. 6, 2003 (non-patent literature 2). This product is a cellular phone incorporating therein a 3D (three-dimensional) liquid crystal display panel and the liquid crystal display panel making up a three-dimensional image display device is 2.2-inch diagonal in size and has 176 columns of 220 dots as a display dot. Furthermore, a liquid crystal display panel for switching between on and off of effect of parallax barrier is provided allowing a display on the panel to switch between three-dimensional display and two-dimensional display. Although the display device displays a two-dimensional image with a definition of 128 dpi in both vertical and horizontal directions, at the time of display of three-dimensional image, the display device displays images for left eye and images for right eye in a vertical stripe form and in an alternate fashion, and therefore, the display device displays the image with a definition of 64 dpi in a horizontal direction, which definition is half the definition, 128 dpi, in a vertical direction.
Furthermore, the method using a lenticular lens is invented by Ives et al. in around 1910, as described in, for example, the aforementioned non-patent literature 1. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a lenticular lens and FIG. 3 shows an optical model illustrating a three-dimensional display method using a lenticular lens. As shown in FIG. 2, a lenticular lens 121 is constructed such that one surface of the lens is planarized to provide a plane and the other surface thereof has formed therein a plurality of hog-backed projections (cylindrical lens 122), each extending in one direction, so that the longitudinal directions of the projections are parallel to one another.
Moreover, as shown in FIG. 3, a three-dimensional image display device of the type using a lenticular lens is configured so that a lenticular lens 121, a display panel 106 and a light source 108 are arranged in this order when viewed by an observer, and pixels of the display panel 106 are positioned on a focal plane of the lenticular lens 121. The display panel 106 is constructed such that pixels 123 for display of an image for right eye 141 and pixels 124 for display of an image for left eye 142 are arranged in an alternate fashion. In this case, individual sets of the pixel 123 and pixel 124, those pixels being adjacent each other, are provided so as to correspond to the cylindrical lenses (projections) 122 of the lenticular lens 121, respectively. This allows light emitted from the light source 108 and having transmitted through the individual pixels to be distributed by the cylindrical lenses 122 of the lenticular lens 121 in directions toward left and right eyes. Thus, it becomes possible for the left and right eyes to identify images different from each other, thereby allowing an observer to identify a three-dimensional image.
Whereas the method using a parallax barrier is the method for "shielding" unnecessary light rays by using a barrier, the method using a lenticular lens is the method for changing a direction in which light propagates and therefore it can be concluded that providing the lenticular lens theoretically never reduces the brightness of display screen. Accordingly, application of the method using a lenticular lens to a portable device etc. whose ability to display images with high brightness and operate with low power is regarded as particularly important is promising.
An example of a three-dimensional image display device developed using a lenticular lens is described in the above-stated non-patent literature 2. A liquid crystal display panel making up a three-dimensional image display device is 7-inch diagonal in size and has 800 columns of 480 dots as a display dot. Furthermore, changing a distance between a lenticular lens and a liquid crystal display panel by 0.6 mm allows switching between three-dimensional display and two-dimensional display. The number of view points arranged in a horizontal direction is five and when an observer changes his/her viewing angle in a horizontal direction, he/she can view five different images. That is, a display definition achieved at the time of display of three-dimensional image is reduced to one fifth of a display definition achieved at the time of display of two-dimensional image.
Furthermore, a simultaneous multiple-image display for simultaneously displaying multiple images has been developed as an image display device using a lenticular lens (for example, refer to the patent literature 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. H06(1994)-332354 (FIG. 13)). This display is configured so that through use of lenticular lens ability to distribute images, images different from one another when viewed from different directions are simultaneously displayed under the same conditions. This allows a single simultaneous multiple-image display to simultaneously provide a plurality of observers, who are positioned in directions different from one another relative to the display, with images different from one another. The patent literature 1 discloses that when using the simultaneous multiple-image display, saving of space for arrangement of displays and reduction in electricity expense are achieved, but those beneficial effects cannot be obtained in the case where a number of displays corresponding to the number of observers are prepared.
However, the aforementioned conventional techniques have the following problems. That is, when displaying images different from one another so that the images are viewed from a plurality of view points, the resolution of individual images to be displayed is disadvantageously reduced. Particularly, the resolution of an image to be displayed is reduced to a greater extent at the time of display of three-dimensional image than at the time of display of two-dimensional image. FIG. 4 is a top view illustrating sub-pixels in the aforementioned three-dimensional image display device using the parallax barrier and allowing view from two view points. One display pixel to be used at the time of display of three-dimensional image is comprised of two display pixels to be used at the time of display of two-dimensional image. At the time of display of three-dimensional image, the two display pixels serve as a pixel for left eye and a pixel for right eye to allow the display device to display an image for left eye and an image for right eye, respectively. The pixel for left eye and the pixel for right eye each are comprised of three primary color sub-pixels with primary colors, red, blue and green, and three slit openings correspond to one display pixel. In more detail, the red sub-pixel 411 for left eye and the green sub-pixel 422 for right eye correspond to a first slit opening. Furthermore, the blue sub-pixel 413 for left eye and the red sub-pixel 421 for right eye correspond to a second slit opening. Still furthermore, the green sub-pixel 412 for left eye and the blue sub-pixel 423 for right eye correspond to a third slit opening. Note that the individual sub-pixels are partitioned by a light shield section 6. When assuming a pitch of primary color sub-pixels arranged in the longitudinal direction (vertical direction 11) of slit opening is a and a pitch of the primary color sub-pixels arranged in a direction (horizontal direction 12) orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of slit opening is b, the following expression 1 results.a:b=3:1  (Expression 1)
As a result, a relationship between a pitch a of display pixels arranged in the longitudinal direction of slit opening and a pitch c of the display pixels arranged in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of slit opening is represented by the following expression 2. That is, when a three-dimensional image is displayed by the three-dimensional image display device shown in FIG. 4, the size of one display pixel is represented by a in the longitudinal direction of slit opening and by c in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction.a:c=1:2  (Expression 2)
On the other hand, when a two-dimensional image is displayed by the three-dimensional image display device shown in FIG. 4, the parallax barrier 105 is removed and the one display pixel to be used at the time of display of three-dimensional image is used as two display pixels. Note that a method for removing a parallax barrier includes, for example, constructing a parallax barrier by a liquid crystal display panel for switching between on and off of effect of parallax barrier, as shown in the aforementioned non-patent literature 2, and changing light transmittance of individual elements of the liquid crystal display panel. Furthermore, when a lenticular lens is used instead of parallax barrier, changing a distance between the display panel and the lenticular lens allows elimination of effects of the lenticular lens.
In more detail, at the time of display of two-dimensional image, as shown in FIG. 4, three sub-pixels, i.e., the red sub-pixel 411 for left eye, green sub-pixel 422 for right eye and blue sub-pixel 413 for left eye, are used as one display pixel and three sub-pixels, i.e., the red sub-pixel 421 for right eye, green sub-pixel 412 for left eye and blue sub-pixel 423 for right eye, are used as one display pixel. As a result, the size of one display pixel is represented by a in the longitudinal direction of slit opening and by (c/2) in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction. Therefore, it turns out that the pitch, used at the time of display of three-dimensional image, of the pixels arranged in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of slit opening becomes twice the pitch, used at the time of display of two-dimensional image, of the pixels arranged in the same direction. Accordingly, as is the case with the three-dimensional image display device described in the aforementioned non-patent literature 1, the resolution of an image to be displayed at the time of display of three-dimensional image in the horizontal direction 12 is reduced to half the resolution of an image to be displayed at the time of display of two-dimensional image.
The reduction in the resolution of an image to be displayed becomes problematic particularly when a three-dimensional image is displayed together with character information and when character information is three-dimensionally displayed. Since the display pixel is caused to take a shape of a rectangle with a 1:2 aspect ratio, the resolution in a horizontal direction is reduced and lack is generated in a vertical line making up a character when the character is displayed. As a result, the visibility of a character to be displayed is reduced to a large extent. This problem becomes more prominent as the number of view points increases.
Problems similar to those described above are not limited to a three-dimensional image display device, but generally observed in the display device for displaying images so that the images are viewed from a plurality of view points. That is, when displaying images so that the images are viewed from a plurality of view points different from one another; the resolution of images arranged in a direction in which sub-pixels that are to be viewed from a plurality of view points are arranged is reduced to an extent larger than the resolution achieved at the time of display of a single image and especially when a character is displayed together with the images to be viewed from a plurality of view points, the visibility of character is disadvantageously and significantly reduced.
Furthermore, a problem arises in that when using the conventional techniques relating to the aforementioned three-dimensional image display device, switching between three-dimensional display and two-dimensional display is performed all over the screen and therefore it is impossible that a three-dimensional image and a two-dimensional image are displayed on any location in a blended fashion.

Image display device, portable terminal device, display panel and image display method using the same


Provided are a method of and apparatus for lossless video encoding and decoding, in which a differential residual block generated by calculating a difference between pixels of a residual block resulting from interprediction is encoded, thereby improving the compression rate. The method of lossless video encoding includes performing interprediction between a reference frame and a current frame in units of a predetermined-size block to generate a predicted block of a current block to be encoded, generating a residual block composed of residual signals corresponding to differences between pixels of the predicted block and the current block, calculating differences between the residual signals of the residual block in a predetermined direction and generating a differential residual block based on the calculated differences, and performing entropy-encoding on the differential residual block.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to encoding and decoding of video data and, more particularly, to a method of and apparatus for lossless video encoding and decoding, in which a differential residual block generated by calculating a difference between pixels of a residual block resulting from interprediction is encoded, thereby improving the compression rate.
2. Description of the Related Art
H.264/moving picture expert group (MPEG)-4/advanced video coding (AVC), one of the video compression standards, uses various techniques such as multiple reference motion compensation, loop filtering, variable block size motion compensation, and context adaptive binary arithmetic coding (CABAC) to improve the compression rate.
According to the H.264 standard, a picture is divided into macroblocks for video encoding. After each of the macroblocks is encoded in all interprediction and intraprediction encoding modes, an appropriate encoding mode is selected according to the bit rates required for encoding the macroblocks and the degree of distortion between the original macroblock and a decoded macroblock. Then, the macroblock is encoded in the selected encoding mode. Interprediction involves performing prediction on a macroblock of a current frame by referring to a macroblock of a neighboring frame. Intraprediction involves performing prediction on a current macroblock of a current frame using a neighboring macroblock of the current macroblock within the current frame.
Video encoding includes lossy encoding and lossless encoding. For lossless encoding, a difference between a predicted block and a current block, i.e., a residual signal, is directly entropy-encoded without undergoing discrete cosine transform (DCT). According to the prior art, the residual signal, i.e., a residual block, is entropy-encoded without undergoing a separate process or a differential value formed using pixel values of a neighboring block of the residual block is entropy-encoded, thereby degrading the compression rate and making parallel processing using a pipeline method difficult.

Method of and apparatus for lossless video encoding and decoding

Industry-Academia Coorperation Group of Sejong University


An optical head for recording, reproducing, or erasing information by projecting a light beam onto a disk-like recording medium. The optical head includes a fixed head unit having a light source for generating the light beam and a sensor for receiving light reflected from the disk-like recording medium which was generated by the light source and projected onto the disk-like recording medium. The head also includes a movable head unit movable in the radial direction of the disk-like recording medium toward the fixed head unit. The movable head unit has an objective lens for condensing the light beam generated by the light source and projecting the light beam generated by the light source and projecting the light beam onto the disk-like recording medium. The fixed head unit and movable head unit each include a wall having an optical path window therein positioned in the optical path between the first head unit and the movable head unit. Each wall also includes a portion surrounding the optical path window and projecting in the direction of the optical path between the fixed head unit and the movable head unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical head for use in an information recording and reproducing apparatus for optically recording, reproducing or erasing information on a recording medium, such as an optical disk, an optical magnetic disk or the like.
2. Description of Prior Art
In this kind of information recording and reproducing apparatus, an optical head provided with a series of optical systems is used to record, reproduce or erase audio or visual information by using a light beam with high performance characteristics and operating to record, reproduce, or erase a random portion of the disk. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the optical head is composed of optical elements, such as a semiconductor laser 1, a collimator lens 2, polarization beam splitters (PBSs) 3, 6 and 7, an objective lens 4, a condenser lens 5, a servo sensor 8, an RF sensor 9 and the like, which elements are mounted in a head block. Recently developed head blocks have been made light in order to shorten the seek time. In these head blocks, the optical head is divided into a fixed head unit 31 and a movable head unit 32 movable for seeking as shown in FIG. 2. In this case, the movable head unit 32 is provided with an objective lens 4 and a reflecting mirror 33. The objective lens 4 is supported by an unillustrated bobbin and is capable of being moved by an actuator (not shown) mounted at the movable head unit 32 in the focusing direction and in the tracking direction.
The fixed head unit 31 is provided with optical elements, such as a semiconductor laster 1, a collimator lens 2, polarization beam splitters 3, 6 and 7, a condenser lens 5, a servo sensor 8, an RF sensor 9 and so on.
An optical path L extends in a direction parallel with the seek direction between the fixed head unit 31 and the movable head unit 32, and optical path windows 31a and 32a corresponding to and positioned in the optical path L are disposed in the fixed head unit 31 and the movable head unit 32, respectively.
However, the conventional optical head having the above-mentioned composition has the following problems.
1. It is likely that dust, which intrudes into the blocks of the head units 31 and 32 through the optical path windows 31a and 32a, will stick and accumulate onto the face "b" of the polarization beam splitter 3 corresponding to the optical path window 31a and the face "a" of the reflecting mirror 33 mounted in the movable head unit 32 corresponding to the optical path window 32a. If the dust thus sticks and accumulates onto the polarization beam splitter 3 and the reflecting mirror 33, the effective value of the laser power is decreased, the light signal is influenced and the reliability of the servo signal is lowered.
2. Since the bobbin of the actuator for supporting the objective lens 4 is moved in the direction of the optical axis of the objective lens 4 in controlling the focusing direction, the objective lens 4 approaches and retreats from the optical head block (carriage) of the movable head unit 32. Therefore, when the objective lens 4 is far from the optical head block, dust is likely to intrude into the optical head block from above the reflecting mirror 33, and then stick and accumulate onto the reflecting mirror 33. If dust thus sticks and accumulates onto the reflecting mirror 33, the effective value of the laser power is decreased, the light signal is influenced, and the reliability of the servo signal is lowered.

Optical head for recording, reproducing, or erasing information having fixed and movable head units


In accordance with an embodiment, the invention provides a spectral enhancement system that includes a plurality of distributed filters, a plurality of energy distribution units, and a weighted-averaging unit. At least one of the distributed filters receives a multi-frequency input signal. Each of the plurality of energy-detection units is coupled to an output of at least one filter and provides an energy-detection output signal. The weighted-averaging unit is coupled to each of the energy-detection units and provides a weighted-averaging signal to each of the filters responsive to the energy-detection output signals from each of the energy-detection units to implement distributed gain control. In an embodiment, the energy detection units are coupled to the outputs of the filters via a plurality of differentiator units.

The invention generally relates to spectral enhancement systems for enhancing a spectrum of multi-frequency signals (e.g., acoustic, electromagnetic, etc.), and relates in particular to spectral enhancement systems that involve filtering and amplification.
Conventional spectral enhancement systems typically involve filtering a complex multi-frequency signal to remove signals of undesired frequency bands, and then amplifying the filtered signal in an effort to obtain a spectrally enhanced signal that is relatively background free.
In many systems, however, the background information may be difficult to filter out based on frequencies alone because the complex multi-frequency signal may include background noise that is close to the frequencies of the desired information signal. Moreover, many conventional spectral enhancement systems inadvertently amplify some background noise with the amplification of the desired information signal.
For example, a spectral enhancement system may include one or more band pass filters into which an input signal is received, as well as one or more compression and/or amplification units, the outputs of which are combined at a combiner to produce an output signal. If the frequencies of the desired signals, for example, vowel sounds in an auditory signal are either within a band filtered frequency or are surrounded by substantial noise signals in the frequency spectrum, then such a filter and amplification system may not be sufficient in certain applications.
As a particular example of a spectral enhancement system, an electronic cochlea models the traveling-wave amplifier architecture of a biological cochlea as a cascade of nonlinear-and-adaptive second-order filters with corner frequencies that decrease exponentially from approximately 10 kHz to 100 Hz. Due to the successive compounding of gains, a change in the individual filter gains of a few percent can alter the gain of the composite transfer function by many orders of magnitude. For example, (1.1)45=73 while (0.9)45=0.009. It is very difficult to accomplish such wide-dynamic-range gain control with one localized amplifier without changing the amplifier's bandwidth, temporal resolution, and power dissipation drastically. Any parameter variations in the Q's of the various cochlear filters, which can result in inhomogenities and nonrobust or unstable operation, are compensated for through gain control. Any physical biological system, such as the cochlea, must possess a feedback system to ensure that it works in a real-world environment, where parameters are not perfectly matched and controlled to high precision as in current digital implementations or simulations.
Distributed gain control and the traveling-wave phenomena are important aspects of the silicon cochlea (as disclosed in A Low-Power Wide-Dynamic Range Analog VLSI Cochlea, Sarpeshkar, R., Lyon, R. F., and Mead, C. A., Analog Integrated Circuits and Signal Processing (1998), the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference) in replicating the performance of the biological cochlea. The silicon cochlea's importance to cochlear implant processing is significant for at least the following reasons.
1) An exponentially tapering filter-cascade architecture provides an extremely efficient mechanism for constructing a bank of closely spaced high-order filters as disclosed in Traveling Waves versus Bandpass Filters: The Silicon and Biological Cochlea, Sarpeshkar, R., Proceedings of the International Symposium on Recent Developments in Auditory Mechanics, World Scientific (2000), and Filter Cascades as Analogs of the Cochlea, Lyon, R. F., Neuromorphic Systems Engineering (1998), the disclosures of which are both hereby incorporated by reference. As the number of channels in implants continues to grow (e.g., 31 channel implants, 64-channel implants, 128-channel implants etc.), the advantages of filter cascades in creating a bank of high-order filters will become more and more apparent.
2) A sophisticated frequency-dependent version of the gain control algorithms presently used in implants and hearing aids may be implemented as disclosed in Comparison of Different Forms of Compression in Wearable Digital Hearing Aids, Stone, M. A., Moore, B. C. J., Alcantara, J. I., and Glasberg, B. R., J. Acoustic Society of America, (1999), the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. Thus loud sounds at one frequency do not have to result in inaudible sounds at another frequency. Also, the gain control allows important phenomena in the perception of speech in noise such as forward masking to be easily modeled. Gain control has been shown to be particularly important in the performance of speech recognition systems in reverberant and noisy environments.
3) The architecture of the cochlea is amenable to both time and place coding as described in A Low-Power Analog Front-end Module for Cochlear Implants, Wang, R. J. W, Sarpeshkar, R, Jabri, M. and Mead, C. XVI World Congress on Otorhinolaryngology (1997), the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
4) The biological realism allows several important phenomena in biology to be naturally replicated. These include filter broadening with level, the distributed coding of loudness, the transition from place cues to time cues as level increases, redundant signal representations, the close intertwining of both filtering and compression rather than the artificial separation of filtering and compression in today's implants, compression of long-term information while preserving good sensitivity to transients, two-tone suppression, the upward spread of masking, and forward masking. Although it is quite possible that none of these effects have any importance for implant patients, given that cochlear front ends have been shown to improve speech recognition in noise it is unlikely that models closer to the biology will have no impact on implant patients. It is also likely that coding strategies that are closer to the biology will prove superior to those that are not.
5) The silicon cochlea's analog circuit techniques provide a foundation for ultra-low-power cochlear implant design.
The silicon cochlea may be implemented as a particular form of local feedforward gain control as disclosed in A Low-Power Wide-Dynamic Range Analog VLSI Cochlea discussed above. Such an implementation, however, generates input-output curves that are too compressive as compared with those in a real cochlea. Such curves are not suitable for direct use in cochlear implants. Furthermore, such curves cannot easily be programmed to implement a desired compression characteristic, an important necessity in a practical system.
There is a need therefore, for an improved spectral enhancement system that is efficient and practical.

System and method for distributed gain control