An information processing apparatus includes a pressure detecting unit for detecting a magnitude of a contacting pressure of a contacted object with respect to an input device operated when physically contacted by the contacted object; and a changing unit for changing a display region displayed on a display device of predetermined information to be displayed on the display device according to an output signal output from the input device at a speed corresponding to the magnitude of the contacting pressure detected by the pressure detecting unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a program.
2. Description of the Related Art
With development of recent information techniques, various information processing apparatuses capable of displaying predetermined information of PDA (Personal Data Assistant), portable telephone, music reproduction device, personal computer, display device, and the like are being developed, and needs of the user putting importance on portability thereof is rapidly increasing. The information processing apparatus is becoming miniaturized in order to respond to the needs of the user.
According to the miniaturized information processing apparatus, a display screen such as a monitor for displaying the predetermined information is also miniaturized. In such compact screen, the information that can be displayed all at once and the visibility of displayed information are limited by themselves when browsing various contents such as contents, maps, pictures, text data, table calculation data, sentence data, and illustration data on the Web. Thus, in such information processing apparatuses, operation for changing the scale and the scroll of the content (display target) is frequently carried out.
An input device which is operated by detecting the contacting position of the finger or the like of the user and which outputs a predetermined signal such as a touch panel and an input device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-337649 is developed, and a technique of changing the scale and the scroll with such input device is developed. Among them, the changing (scrolling) of the displayed position (range) in the content is a scrolling operation generally carried out in a GUI (Graphical User Interface), and methods such as a method by a scroll bar, and a method of dragging one point on the screen while pressing the point with a mouse, a finger, a touch pen, or the like are often used. A method of specifying the magnification with a menu, a method by a magnification scroll bar, and the like are often used to change (scaling) the display magnification of the displayed content.
However, such scaling operations have low intuitive performance for the user compared to the scrolling operation carried out by directly dragging the screen, and thus becomes a cause the operability of the information processing apparatus is unable to be enhanced.
As described in Nobuyuki Matsushita and Jun Rekimoto, "HoloWall: Designing a Finger, Hand, Body, and Object Sensitive Wall", Proceedings of UIST'97, 1997; and Jun Rekimoto, SmartSkin: An Infrastructure for Freehand Manipulations on Interactive Surfaces CHI2002, 2002, an information processing apparatus capable of, through the use of an input device (multi-touch interface) capable of recognizing (multi-touch) the operation point (e.g., touch position in the touch panel) to be operated by the user not at one point but at two or more points, controlling scaling according to the distance between two points is developed. Such information processing apparatus can adjust scaling by opening and closing of two fingers or the like touching the input device.

Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program


A method for automatically providing voice paging information of a caller in a switching system having an automatic attendant function. The method includes the steps of controlling an automatic answering machine equipped in the switching system upon receiving an incoming call, thereby outputting an announcement message containing a voice paging announcement message, and waiting for input data from the caller. When voice paging request data is received during the waiting for the input data, the automatic answering machine is controlled to output a voice paging announcement message, thereby establishing a voice paging channel. The switching system also broadcasts a voice paging signal received from the caller, waits for a response of an extension subscriber, and establishes a channel for the incoming call when the extension subscriber responds, thereby executing a call service associated with the incoming call. When dialing information is received during the waiting for the input data, the name and extension number of a desired extension subscriber are identified from a subscriber table and then broadcasted. When the extension subscriber responds to the broadcasting, a terminating channel is established, thereby executing a call service associated with the incoming call.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a call service control method in a digital switching system, and more particularly to a method for controlling an automatic attendant voice paging service in a digital switching system.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a switching system such as a private exchange or key telephone system, an automatic attendant function is provided. In accordance with such an automatic attendant function, an off-hook is automatically carried out in a switching system in response to an incoming ring from a central office line, thereby establishing a terminating channel. A voice announcement from the switching system is then transferred to a caller. If necessary, the voice announcement, which is stored in an automatic answering machine equipped in the switching system, may be optionally changed by the operator of the switching system. Thus, such a message for an automatic answering can be appropriately set in accordance with the characteristics of the switching system. In accordance with the voice announcement, the caller at the site of the central office line dials a desired extension number and a desired extension group number so that he can talk with a desired extension subscriber. The automatic attendant function, which is stored in an automatic attendant function card equipped in the switching system, is an edit-type voice announcement function. In accordance with such an edit-type voice announcement function, avariety of basic sentences are previously stored in the form of recorded voices. In accordance with a given situation, appropriate basic sentences are edited into a complete sentence which is, in turn, transferred as an announcement message. In a switching system having the above-mentioned automatic attendant function, it is possible to achieve a service associated with an incoming call signal from a central office line in accordance with a voice announcement without using any telephone operator.
In accordance with an automatic attendant service adopted in a conventional switching system having the above-mentioned automatic attendant function, an off-hook is first automatically carried out in the switching system in response to an incoming ring from a central office line, thereby establishing a terminating channel. The switching system then carries out a voice announcement function, thereby advising a caller at the side of the central office line of information about extension subscribers. When the caller dials a desired extension number and a desired extension group number in accordance with the voice announcement, the switching system senses the dialing and then sends a ring signal to a desired extension subscriber.
That is, when the switching system receives dialing information about a desired extension number, it sends a ring signal to a desired extension subscriber. Where the extension subscriber performs an off-hook in response to the ring signal, the switching system executes a call service function associated with an incoming call from the central office line. Where there is no response to the ring signal due to an absence of the extension subscriber or other reasons, one of other extension subscribers should respond to the incoming call signal and then execute a switching function. On the other hand, where the caller at the site of the central office line dials only the number of a desired extension group, one of extension subscribers belonging to the extension group carries out a call conversation in response to the ring signal and then switches the incoming call to a desired extension subscriber in accordance with an appropriate method.
Accordingly, the automatic attendant function used in the conventional switching system requires an extension subscriber capable of executing the function of a telephone operator or a switching function. In this case, however, a degradation in the efficiency of the automatic answering machine, which is expensive, occurs.

Voice paging service control method in a switching system


A cache control unit and a method of controlling a cache. The cache is coupled to a cache accessing device. A first cache request is received from the device. A request identification information is assigned to the first cache request and provided to the requesting device. The first cache request may begin to be processed. A second cache request is received from the cache accessing device. The second cache request is assigned to the first cache request and provided to the requesting device. The first and second cache requests are finally fully serviced.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to providing processors with fast memory access and, more particularly, to providing control of cache memory systems.
2. Description of the Related Art
Processors often employ memories which are relatively slow when compared to the clock speeds of the processors. To speed up memory access for such processors, a relatively small amount of fast memory can be used in a data cache.
A cache can mediate memory accesses and lessen the average memory access time for all or a large portion of the address space of a processor even though the cache is small relative to the address space. Caches do not occupy a specific portion of the address space of the processor but instead include tag information which identifies addresses for information in lines of the cache.
Typically, a cache compares an address received from a processor to tag information stored in the cache to determine whether the cache contains a valid entry for the memory address being accessed. If such a cache entry exists (i.e. if there is a cache hit), the processor accesses (reads from or writes to) the faster cache memory instead of the slower memory. In addition to tag information, a cache entry typically contains a "validity" bit and a "dirty" bit which respectively indicated whether the associated information in the entry is valid and whether the associated information contains changes to be written back to the slower memory. If there is no cache entry for the address being accessed (i.e. there is a cache miss), access to the slower memory is required for the cache to create a new entry for the just accessed memory address.
Caches use cache policies such as "least recently used" or "not last used" replacement techniques to determine which existing entries are replaced with new entries. Typically, computer programs access the same memory addresses repeatedly. Therefore, the most recently accessed data is likely to be accessed again soon after the initial access. Because recently accessed data is available in the cache for subsequent accesses, caches can improve access time across the address space of the processor.
A different method for increasing processor speed is the use of parallel processing techniques. For example, by providing a number of functional units which perform different tasks, a "very long instruction word" (VLIW) processor can perform multiple functions through a single instruction. Also, a general purpose processor and a vector processor may be integrated to operate in parallel. An integrated multiprocessor is able to achieve high performance with low cost since the two processors perform only tasks ideally suited for each processor. For example, the general purpose processor runs a real time operating system and performs overall system management while the vector processor is used to perform parallel calculations using data structures called "vectors". (A vector is a collection of data elements typically of the same type.) Multiprocessor configurations are especially advantageous for operations involving digital signal processing such as coding and decoding video, audio, and communications data.

Cache control unit with a cache request transaction-oriented protocol


A method for allowing communication between a remote analytical instrument and a client component is provided. The method includes communicating a first software message in a first message format from a client component to a first connectivity driver, translating the first software message from the first message format to the second message format using the first connectivity driver, and communicating the software messages in the second message format directly to the first remote analytical instrument from the first connectivity driver. The first software message relates to the operation of a first remote analytical instrument. The first software message is selected from a standardized command set. The first remote analytical instrument is configured to receive messages in a second message format different than the first message format which are capable of inducing operation of the first remote analytical instrument.

A Laboratory Information Management System or Laboratory Integration Management Solution (LIMS) is a software system used in laboratories for the integration of laboratory software and analytical instruments and the management of samples, laboratory users, standards and other laboratory functions such as Quality Assurance (QA) and Quality Control (QC), sample planning, invoicing, plate management, and workflow automation. LIMS software may also support information gathering, decision making, calculation, review and release into the workplace and away from the office. More recently, LIMS software are starting to expand into Electronic Laboratory Notebooks, assay data management, data mining and data analysis.
One core function of a LIMS is the management of samples. This typically is initiated when a sample is received in the laboratory at which point the sample will be registered in the LIMS. This registration process may involve accessioning the sample and producing barcodes to affix to the sample container. Various other parameters may be recorded as well, such as clinical or phenotypic information corresponding with the sample. The LIMS may then track chain of custody of the sample as well as the sample location. Location tracking often involves assigning the sample to a particular location such as a shelf/rack/box/row/column. Other event tracking may be required such as freeze and thaw cycles that a sample undergoes in the laboratory.
Modern LIMS have implemented extensive configurability as each laboratories needs for tracking additional data points can vary widely. LIMS vendors often cannot make assumptions about what these data tracking needs are and therefore need to be adaptable to each environment. LIMS users may also have regulatory concerns to comply with such as CLIA, HIPAA, GLP and FDA specifications and this can affect certain aspects of sample management in a LIMS solution. One key to compliance with many of these standards is audit logging of all changes to LIMS data, and in some cases a full electronic signature system is required for rigorous tracking of field level changes to LIMS data.
One may configure a LIMS whereby users are assigned roles or groups. Typically the role of a user will dictate their access to specific data records in the LIMS. Each user account is protected by security mechanisms such as a user id and a password. Users may have customized interfaces based on their role in the organization. For example, a laboratory manager might have full access to all of a LIMS functions and data, whereas laboratory technicians might have access only to data and functionality needed for their individual work-tasks.
Some LIMS offer some capability for integration with analytical instruments. A LIMS may create control files that are "fed" into the analytical instrument and direct its operation on some physical item such as a sample tube or sample plate. The LIMS may then import instrument results files to extract QC or results data for assessment of the operation on the sample or samples. Data owners may access the resulting stored information at any time. Typically, the LIMS operate using instructions which are generated in a first message format and the analytical instruments operate by receiving commands in a second message format which is different from the first message format. As a result, in order to communicate between the LIMS and the analytical instrument, the instructions routinely need to be converted into commands, and vice versa, using one of a variety of known techniques.
Currently, in one technique, some LIMS communicate with analytical instruments through a series of hardware interface cards which are instrument-specific and therefore vary with respect to the type of analytical instrument they are being installed on or connected with. Each hardware interface card must be installed on or connected with a particular type of analytical instrument. The hardware interface card may translate instrument data into a standardized language which is then communicated with a host computer, providing for a universal interface between the analytical instrument and the host computer. Often, the host computers are then connected with a remote computer upon which the LIMS software resides. Having to design and manufacture a hardware interface card for each analytical instrument for which the LIMS needs to communicate with, can be rather costly.
Alternatively, in another technique, specific software can be written for and loaded onto each analytical instrument to be used as a "dedicated" interface. A dedicated interface is one that is designed to operate with only one type of computer or one type of analytical instrument. Although not as convenient, dedicated interfaces can be used to overcome specific hardware issues which arise with universal interfaces. Nevertheless, a dedicated interface is not as convenient as a universal interface, and may require software to be written for and loaded onto each analytical instrument.
Finally, using a last technique, a client computer generates instructions in a first message format using specific information obtained about the analytical instrument. Those instructions are then communicated with the analytical instrument using the LIMS, which is often centrally located on a remote computer. In some instances, the specific information about the analytical instrument includes its logical location and operational parameters, so that then client computer may generate instructions in a first message format which are then sent to the LIMS and later converted into commands in a second message format different from the first message format, in order to induce operation of the analytical instrument. Without knowledge of this specific information, the client computer is unable to generate the instructions.
It would be desirable to provide a simplified method for allowing a LIMS to communicate between a plurality of remote analytical instruments which does not require the use of a specialized hardware interface cards or specific software to be written for and loaded onto each analytical instrument. It would also be desirable to provide a simplified method for allowing a client computer of a LIMS to communicate between a plurality of remote analytical instruments which does not require the client computer to have access to specific information about the analytical instrument, such as the logical location or operational parameters for the analytical instrument.

System for communicating between a plurality of remote analytical instruments


A base station receiver, a computer program product operable at a base station, and a method operable at a base station receiver, for receiving uplink transmit diversity transmissions utilizing a master/slave scheme at the receiver. One or more tracking loops, such as a searcher task, a time tracking loop, or a frequency tracking loop may be implemented at the base station receiver to determine compensation values, such as finger timings for a rake receiver or frequency compensation values, in accordance with characteristics of a first received pilot channel transmitted utilizing a first precoding weight vector. Here, corresponding compensation values may be derived for the reception of a secondary pilot channel transmitted utilizing an precoding weight vector orthogonal to the first precoding weight vector, simply based on those determined for the first pilot channel.

1. Field
Aspects of the present disclosure relate generally to wireless communication systems, and more particularly, to a base station receiver for receiving a closed-loop transmit diversity uplink transmission.
2. Background
Wireless communication networks are widely deployed to provide various communication services such as telephony, video, data, messaging, broadcasts, and so on. Such networks, which are usually multiple access networks, support communications for multiple users by sharing the available network resources. One example of such a network is the UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN). The UTRAN is the radio access network (RAN) defined as a part of the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), a third generation (3G) mobile phone technology supported by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). The UMTS, which is the successor to Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) technologies, currently supports various air interface standards, such as Wideband-Code Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA), Time Division-Code Division Multiple Access (TD-CDMA), and Time Division-Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access (TD-SCDMA). The UMTS also supports enhanced 3G data communications protocols, such as High Speed Packet Access (HSPA), which provides higher data transfer speeds and capacity to associated UMTS networks.
Generally, a wireless multiple-access communication system can simultaneously support communication for multiple wireless terminals. Each terminal communicates with one or more base stations via transmissions on the forward and reverse links. The forward link (or downlink) refers to the communication link from the base stations to the terminals, and the reverse link (or uplink) refers to the communication link from the terminals to the base stations. This communication link may be established via a single-in-single-out, multiple-in-single-out, single-in-multiple-out, or a multiple-in-multiple-out (MIMO) system.
A transmit diversity system employs multiple transmit antennas and multiple receive antennas for data transmission. A transmit diversity channel formed by the transmit and receive antennas may be decomposed into several independent spatial channels. Each of the independent spatial channels corresponds to a dimension. The transmit diversity system can provide improved performance (e.g., higher throughput and/or greater reliability) if the additional dimensionalities created by the multiple transmit and receive antennas are utilized.
Generally, during uplink communications, two aspects may be observed, with the first being related to transmit power, while the second may be related to interference observed at base station. With respect to the first aspect, an access terminal may be limited by a maximum transmit power and as such a limited maximum correlated data transmission rate. With respect to the second aspect, interference caused by other users may limit system capacity.
As the demand for mobile broadband access continues to increase, research and development continue to advance the UMTS technologies not only to meet the growing demand for mobile broadband access, but to advance and enhance the user experience with mobile communications.

Master-slave architecture in a closed loop transmit diversity scheme


A display system includes a light source 110 and a spatial light modulator 122 located to receive light from the light source. The spatial light modulator (e.g., a DMD) includes a number of independently controllable elements that are activated for a period of time to display light of a desired brightness. A light sensor 136 is located to determine a characteristic of light from the light source 110. A control circuit 126 is coupled to the spatial light modulator 122 and controls the period of time that the independently controllable elements are activated. This period of time is based at least in part by an input received from the light sensor 136.

One technology that is used for display systems is based on a digital micromirror device or DMD. Such systems are commercially available from Texas Instruments, Inc. under the trademark DLP™ (Digital Light Processing). Referring to FIG. 1, an example of a DMD system 10 is illustrated, wherein the light from a light source 11 is applied through a first condenser lens 13 and through a color wheel 15, which will typically rotate at least once per frame of the image to be displayed. The light passing through the color wheel 15 passes through a second condenser lens 17 onto a DMD chip 19. The DMD chip includes an array (on the order of one million) of tiny mirror elements, or micro-mirrors, where each mirror element is hinged by a torsion hinge and support post above a memory cell of a CMOS static RAM as shown in FIG. 2.
FIG. 2 shows a portion of a typical DMD array 19 having mirror elements 21 suspended over a substrate 23. Electrostatic attraction between the mirror 21 and an address electrode 25 causes the mirror to twist or pivot, in either of two directions, about an axis formed by a pair of torsion beam hinges 27a and 27b. Typically, the mirror rotates about these hinges until the rotation is mechanically stopped. The movable micro-mirror tilts into the on or off states by electrostatic forces depending on the data written to the cell. The tilt of the mirror is on the order of plus 10 degrees (on) or minus 10 degrees (off) to modulate the light that is incident on the surface. For additional details, see U.S. Pat. No. 5,061,049 entitled "Spatial Light Modulator" and U.S. Pat. No. 5,280,277 entitled "Field Updated Deformable mirror Device," both by Larry J. Hornbeck.
Referring again to FIG. 1, the light reflected from any of the mirrors may pass through a projection lens 29 and create images on the screen 31. The DMD's are controlled by electronic circuitry fabricated on the silicon substrate 23 under the DMD array. The circuitry includes an array of memory cells, typically one memory cell for each DMD element, connected to the address electrodes 25. The output of a memory cell is connected to one of the two address electrodes and the inverted output of a memory cell is connected to the other address electrode.
Data is provided by a timing and control circuit 33 determined from signal processing circuitry and an image source indicated at 35. Once data is written to each memory cell in the array, a voltage is applied to the DMD mirrors 21 creating a large enough voltage differential between the mirrors 21 and the address electrodes 25 to cause the mirror to rotate or tilt in the direction of the greatest voltage potential. Since the electrostatic attraction grows stronger as the mirror is rotated near an address electrode, the memory cell contents may be changed without altering the position of the mirrors once the mirrors are fully rotated. Thus, the memory cells may be loaded with new data while the array is displaying previous data.
The intensity of each color displayed on the screen 31 is determined by the amount of time the mirror 21 corresponding a particular pixel directs light toward screen 31. For example, each pixel may have 256 intensity levels for each color (e.g., red, green or blue). If the color level selected for a particular pixel at a particular time is 128, then the corresponding mirror would direct light toward that area of screen 31 for ½ (e.g., 128/256) of the frame time.


A laser driver uses a switch, a current mirror, a control transistor and two current generators to control the ON and bias currents in a laser diode. In the bias mode the current from one generator is shared by one half of the current mirror and the adjustable control transistor. The other current generator then drives the other half of the mirror circuit and the laser diode in parallel, resulting in the laser diode getting the same amount of current that the control transistor gets. In the ON mode, the switch cuts off the first half of the current mirror, which is mirrored in the other half, so that all of the other generator current is used in the laser diode. The current drivers are adjustable to the ON current and the control transistor current is adjustable to the bias current.

A laser diode driver circuit is implemented from two current drivers, a switching circuit, a mirror circuit and one transistor which adjustably sets the ON and OFF bias currents for the laser diode.
A laser diode driver must be adjustable to drive a diode with a low current bias level when the diode is OFF, and a high current level when it is ON. The circuit must be able to handle enough current when driven by a low voltage power supply, and have few components. Operational amplifiers with surrounding circuits are sometimes used but it is difficult to get a single amplifier to output two adjustable current levels. An improved circuit is needed.
The circuit contains two current drivers which generate equal currents which are adjustable to the ON current of the diode. In the ON mode, all of the current from one of the drivers is forced by a control transistor to go through the diode. In the bias (OFF) mode a slight amount of adjustable current from the same control transistor is used determine how much current goes to the diode. Thus, a single control transistor can be used to control the two current levels, by turning the control transistor fully OFF in one case and making the transistor adjustable to the bias current in the other.

Current switching driver with controlled bias and ON states


A hillside agricultural irrigation apparatus includes an agricultural irrigation pipe extending across a slope of hillside in a direction that is transverse to the slope, and braces coupled between the agricultural irrigation pipe and the hillside for disabling the agricultural irrigation pipe from sliding or rolling down the hillside, the braces are spaced apart longitudinally along the agricultural irrigation pipe and each includes a collar on the agricultural irrigation pipe, and at least one anchor coupled between the collar and the hillside anchoring the collar to the hillside disabling the agricultural irrigation pipe from sliding or rolling down the hillside.

Agricultural irrigation is the application of irrigation water to an agricultural crop. There are several methods of irrigation, which vary in how the irrigation water is applied to the agricultural crop. Common irrigation methods include surface irrigation, micro-irrigation, drip irrigation, sprinkler irrigation, center pivot irrigation, and lateral move irrigation.
Of significance is surface irrigation. Surface irrigation is the oldest form of irrigation, in which water moves across the surface of an agricultural land to wet it and infiltrate the soil. Surface irrigation is often called flood irrigation when the irrigation results in flooding or near flooding of the cultivated land. Historically, this has been the most common method of irrigating agricultural land and is still used in most parts of the world.
A common form of surface irrigation involves installing a series of agricultural irrigation pipes directly on the ground adjacent to of the agricultural land to be irrigated. The pipes, which are customarily made of plastic, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), or the like, are configured to receive irrigation water and dispense it to the surface of the agricultural land, such as by longitudinally spaced apart openings, spouts, or sprinkler heads formed in the pipes. The pipes vary in size, typically from ½ inch to 24 inches depending on the needs of the agricultural irrigation application.
Agricultural land, land devoted to agriculture, often includes hillside areas. To surface irrigate a hillside, the pipe is set onto across the hillside in a direction that is transverse to its slope; this results in an even application of irrigation water across the hillside, which flows downwardly along the sloped ground to wet it and infiltrate the soil. Water to an agricultural pipe extending across a hillside inherently weighs down the pipe, which can cause it to slide or roll down the sloped ground thereby disrupting irrigation efficiency and precision.

Hillside agricultural irrigation apparatus


An image generating apparatus for a paving machine, which generates an output image based on input images captured by multiple image capturing parts attached to the paving machine, includes a coordinates correlating part that correlates coordinates in a space model disposed around the paving machine with coordinates in input image planes in which the input images are positioned and an output image generating part that generates the output image by correlating the values of the coordinates in the input image planes with the values of coordinates in an output image plane in which the output image is positioned, via the coordinates in the space model. The space model includes a first plane area parallel to a road surface and a second plane area that intersects the road surface. The second plane area is set at the front end of the paving machine in a traveling direction of the paving machine.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an image generating apparatus for a paving machine that generates an output image based on multiple input images captured with multiple cameras attached to the paving machine, and to an operation support system for a paving machine using the apparatus.
2. Description of Related Art
An operator support apparatus for an asphalt finisher that includes a camera that captures an image of the interior of a hopper, a camera that captures an image of a peripheral area of the hopper on its left outer side, and a camera that captures an image of a peripheral area of the hopper on its right outer side has been known.

Image generating apparatus for paving machine and operation support system for paving machine


A spotlight for shooting films and videos is provided. The spotlight comprising light-emitting diodes (LEDs) arranged on a light-emitting surface, of which color LEDs emit different LED colors (R, G, A, B, Ye) and provide luminous flux portions for a color mixture. At least one LED comprises a luminescent LED. The spotlight further comprising a device for setting the luminous flux portion emitted by the LEDs, which device drives the LEDs at least in groups. At least one color LED emits the LED color “blue” or “cyan”, and the luminescent LED comprises a yellow-green, daylight-white, neutral-white or warm-white luminescent LED, which covers at least a portion of the color LEDs with the exception of the color LED emitting the LED color “blue” or “cyan”.

The invention relates to a spotlight for shooting films and videos with light-emitting diodes arranged on a light-emitting surface, and to a method for setting the color characteristics emitted by the spotlight.
Lighting spotlights with light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are known which are used for example as camera attachment light for film and video cameras. Since the LEDs used therefor have either the color temperature "daylight white" or "warm white", a continuously variable or exact switching on or switching over from a warm-white to a daylight-white color temperature is not possible and the color rendering when shooting films and videos is unsatisfactory in both variants.
Typical film materials for shooting films such as "cinema color negative film", are optimized for daylight with a color temperature of 5600 K or for incandescent lamp light with a color temperature of 3200 K and achieve excellent color rendering properties with these light sources for illuminating a set. If, when shooting films, other artificial light sources are used for illuminating a set, then these must be adapted to the optimum color temperature of 3200 K or 5600 K, on the one hand, and have a very good color rendering quality, on the other hand. In general, the best color rendering level with a color rendering index of CRI≧90 . . . 100 is required therefor.
As when use is made of fluorescent lamps for illumination when shooting films or videos, however, it can happen in the case of artificial light sources having a non-continuous spectral profile that although said light sources achieve the required values for color temperature and color rendering, when used for shooting films they nevertheless have a considerable color cast by comparison with light from incandescent lamps or HMI lamps or daylight. In this case, this is referred to as an inadequate mixed light capability. This effect can also occur when use is made of different-colored LEDs in an LED spotlight. Thus, in a test with an LED combination optimized for a color temperature of 5600 K and a color rendering index of CRI=96, when shooting films, a considerable red cast was ascertained in comparison with HMI lamps. Experiments with daylight-white LEDs also did not yield satisfactory results with regard to the mixed light capability.
DE 102 33 050 A1 discloses an LED-based light source for generating white light which makes use of the principle of three-color mixing. The three primary colors red green blue (RGB) are mixed in order to generate the white light, in which case at least one blue-light-emitting LED, which is referred to as transmission LED and emits directly used light primarily in the wavelength range of from 470 to 490 nm, and also another LED, which operates with conversion and is correspondingly referred to as conversion LED and emits light primarily in the wavelength range of at most 465 nm, are combined in a housing. Disposed in front of both LEDs or a surface (array) constructed from a multiplicity of both types of LEDs is a common conversion surface composed of a potting or a glass plate with one or more luminescent materials, such that the luminescent materials completely convert the light from the conversion LED but allow the light from the transmission LED to pass through unimpeded.
Optimum color rendering for shooting films and videos cannot be ensured with this light source either, since there is in particular the risk of overemphasis of suppression of color components and thus corruption of the colors of an object illuminated by the light source. For this reason, a light source of this type is used predominantly in the entertainment sector.
Moreover, the luminescent material in the known light source is excited by short-wave radiation of max. 465 nm, whereby disadvantages with regard to efficiency and lifetime of the luminescent LEDs are to be expected.
US 2004/0105261 A1 discloses a method and a device for emitting and modulating light with a predetermined light spectrum. The known lighting device has a plurality of groups of light-emitting devices, each group of which emits a predetermined light spectrum, and a control device controls the power supply to the individual light-emitting devices in such a way that the radiation that results overall has the predetermined light spectrum. In this case, through a combination of daylight-white and warm-white LEDs and changing the intensities, it is possible to set any color temperatures between the warm-white and daylight-white LEDs.
Disadvantages of these methods include the likewise non-optimum color rendering when shooting films and videos and the lack of an opportunity to set a predetermined color temperature and an exact color locus. Depending on the choice of individual LEDs or groups of LEDs and the color temperature respectively set, it is necessary here to reckon with in part considerable color deviations from the Planckian locus, which color deviations can only be corrected by placing correction filters in front. What is more, the luminous efficiency is not optimal in the case of a warm-white setting of the combination of daylight-white and warm-white LEDs, since relatively high conversion losses occur in this case as a result of the secondary emission of the luminescent material. A further disadvantage of this method is that, for setting a warm- or daylight-white color temperature, a large proportion of the LEDs of the respective other color temperature cannot be utilized or can only be utilized in greatly dimmed fashion and, consequently, the degree of utilization for the color temperatures around 3200 K or 5600 K that are typically required when shooting films is only approximately 50%.

Arnold & Richter Cine Technik GmbH & Co. Betriebs KG


A method of controlling an eye surgical laser is disclosed for the separation of a volume body with predefined posterior and anterior interfaces from a human/animal cornea. The method including controlling the laser with a control device, the laser being configured to emit pulsed laser pulses in a predefined pattern into the cornea. The posterior and anterior interfaces of the volume body are defined by the predefined pattern and are generated by an interaction of the individual laser pulses with the cornea through photodisruption. The control device controls the laser beam such that both interfaces are generated via a continuous, uninterrupted sequence of laser pulses. A treatment device is disclosed with at least one eye surgical laser for the separation of a predefined corneal volume with predefined interfaces of a human/animal eye by photodisruption and with at least one control device for the laser(s).

Devices and methods for controlling a photoablative ophthalmologic laser are known. Thus, EP 1 628 606 B1 describes a method and a device for precisely processing organic tissue by means of a laser, wherein a pulsed laser and a beam focusing device are formed such that the laser beam pulses effect a photodisruption in a focus located within the organic material. However, it is disadvantageous in these known methods and devices that the posterior and anterior interfaces of the volume body to be separated are always separated and generated temporally offset and temporally interrupted, respectively, in the known photodisruptive methods and devices. In particular, the posterior interface farther spaced from the corneal surface is first swept with the laser beam. After completing the posterior interface, the laser is turned off and a displacement, in particular horizontal displacement of the laser focus towards the anterior interface still to be produced, is effected. After reaching and adjusting the laser focus to the anterior interface, the laser is again put into operation and the anterior interface is swept with the newly focused laser beam. However, such a method results in treatment times taking relatively long, which can adversely affect the patient.

Method for controlling an eye surgical laser and treatment device


A system, method and program product for managing profiles for devices in a network. A computer system is disclosed having a configuration management system for managing configuration profiles for a set of devices within a network, and includes: a boundary definition system that employs a computerized process for defining a plurality of geospatial boundaries; a device manager that employs a computerized process for interfacing with remote agents associated with respective devices to recognize when a device has migrated into a new geospatial boundary; and a profile management system that employs a computerized process for uploading an updated configuration profile to the remote agent in response to the device being migrated to the new geospatial boundary.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to configuring network elements, and more particularly to a system, method and program product for automatically configuring network elements based on geospatial mapping coordinates.
2. Description of the Related Art
Configuration of network elements (e.g., servers, routers, workstations, peripherals, and other devices) continues to impose significant overhead when manufacturing, testing, shipping and installing such elements. In particular, a technician or other user is typically required to, e.g., edit a profile, load a driver, etc., whenever a device requires configuration or reconfiguration.
In many instances, the device will undergo various reconfigurations during its lifecycle. For example, a device may require a first configuration after it is manufactured and delivered to a testing facility, a second configuration when it is purchased and received at a reseller's warehouse, a third configuration when it is received at a client's location for installation, and a fourth configuration when it is retired or put up for resale. As noted, each reconfiguration requires a certain amount of time and cost, thus adding to the overall expense of the network element.

Geospatial based management of configuration profiles

International Business Machines Corporation


A portable fan device for use with a spray misting bottle which is capable of being mounted atop a spray applicating head portion of the misting bottle so that a fan blade unit of the fan device is positioned forwardly and in communication with an atomized spray nozzle of the spray head and cools and atomizes the mist spray issued by the nozzle. Releasable securing means such as an attachment bracket or contoured gripping tabs extending from the fan underside are employed for securing the fan body in a generally horizontal fashion atop the spray head. A stand member is held within a recessed cavity in the fan underside and can be rotated downwardly to support the fan device in an upright position for use as a portable fan once the fan body has been detached from atop the spray head. In a further embodiment, a gripping tab which forms part of the releasable securing means can provide the dual function of gripping part of the spray head and supporting the fan body in an upright position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to fan driven misting devices and, more particularly, to a portable fan device for use with a spray misting bottle which is releasably securable to the misting bottle for use either with or apart from the bottle and which enhances the spray atomizing effect of the bottle.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various different types of fan devices are known in the art which are portable and are capable of providing cooling comfort to a user. An example of such a device is U.S. Design Patent No. 349,570, issued to Radtke, Jr., which teaches a portable electric fan including a body enclosing a fan blade unit and a pivoting tab extending from the body upon which the body may be supported. Battery means are provided for powering the fan device.
Also known in the art are portable misting devices which incorporate a portable fan structure atop a fluid carrying reservoir base and which act as a cooling and enhanced distributing means for the issued atomized spray mist. An example of such a device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,338,495, issued to Steiner et al., which teaches a portable misting fan. The misting fan is constructed of an integral head unit which includes a portable fan and an atomizing means separated into respective chambers and a connector which extends from the head unit and attaches the head unit atop a fluid reservoir bottle. The atomizing means includes a stem which extends into the fluid receptacle to withdraw fluid and the fan means works in combination with an outlet port of the atomizing means to cool and distribute the spray as a fine mist.
The shortcomings of the misting fan of Steiner et al. include the requirement that the atomizing means form a part of the head unit as well as the inability to detach the head unit from the receptacle bottle for use apart from the receptacle bottle. The fan means in the Steiner et al. device is therefore limited to use alone with the spray bottle.

Portable fan device for use with a spray misting bottle


An adapter provides a link between a digital media player having a memory on which is stored digital media files, a display device, and a remote control. The adapter receives from the digital media player data which is used to generate a representation of a user interface which is provided to the display device for display. The adapter also receives from the remote control data for use in generating commands for controlling operations of the digital media player whereby a change in state of the digital media player resulting from a performance of an operation caused by the remote control will be reflected in the user interface on the display device.

A described adapter device provides both remote control and a graphical user interface on a television or other secondary viewable screen for accessing, controlling, and browsing the contents of a device that does not have built in remote control or television user interface capabilities. The attached second device could be, for example, a portable digital media player such as an Apple iPod® or the like.
Using the Apple iPod® as an example (but understanding that the principles described are broadly applicable to portable media player devices in general), the iPod® has a serial communications interface on a connector located on the bottom of the device. This communications interface can receive input commands for actions such as play/pause, left, up, select, etc. The communications interface can also send text information that mimics the information displayed on the iPod® LCD. This interface is provided to allow external devices to control playback of media stored within the iPod®. For example, automobile manufacturers may offer integration kits that use the serial protocol to connect steering wheel or dashboard buttons to the iPod® and to also display iPod® player and browsing interface text on a secondary dash mounted display.
It is also known to offer add-on IR remote controls that can be used to control an iPod® from a distance, often in combination with a docking station which facilitates connecting the analog music outputs of the iPod® to a conventional stereo receiver, etc.
The market for accessories for portable media player devices is very large. In this arena, the iPod® portable media player is currently the number one portable media player at the time of writing and will thus be used by way example in the detailed descriptions that follow. It will nevertheless be understood and appreciated that the principles expressed herein are broadly applicable to any media player device in general which is capable of receiving control information and outputting information related to media being played on the device.
As noted, there are several existing accessories that allow an iPod® to be connected to a home stereo system, but they add nothing to the functionality of the device and are basically just cables or passive docks for cable management. There are also remote control devices, but they only offer basic playback control, no browsing of the content stored within the iPod® is possible.
There is thus no product in the market that connects an iPod® to a TV or other display screen for the purpose of rendering the text serial interface data on a TV screen such that it is readable from a distance. The iPod® Photo model connects to a TV for photo display, but not for browsing with a remote. There are also no products in the market today that provide both an enhancement of the iPod® display as well as a wireless remote control.
Accordingly, a need exists for an adapter device which allows a user to remotely access, browse, and control a portable media player using an IR remote and a television or other display screen.

System and method for accessing a user interface via a secondary device


The servosystem includes adjusting means (1) for changing the position of mechanical element (3), a first transducer (5) for forming an adjusting voltage which is a measure of a desired position of the element, a second transducer (15) for forming a response voltage which is a measure of the actual position of the element, and detection means (13) for forming an error signal (If) which is a measure of a difference between the response voltage and the adjusting voltage. The detection means (13) have a first and a second input (11, 21) which are connected to the first transducer and the second transducer, respectively, and an output (23) which is connected to an input (27) of control means (29) for generating, in dependence on the value of the error signal, a control signal (Vc1, Vc2), for controlling the adjusting means. A compensation resistor (31) is inserted in the connection lead (9) between, for example the first transducer (5) and the input (11) of the detection means (13) connected thereto. The detection means (13) conduct a compensation current through the compensation resistor (31), which compensation current causes a voltage drop across the compensation resistor which is equal to the difference between the response voltage and the adjusting voltage, and form the error signal (If) so that its value is proportional to the value of the compensation current. Consequently, no control signal is applied to the adjusting means (1) if said connection (9) is interrupted.

The invention relates to a servosystem, including adjusting means for changing the position of a mechanical element, a first transducer for forming an adjusting voltage which is a measure of a desired position of the element, a second transducer for forming a response voltage which is a measure of the actual position of the element, and detection means for forming an error signal which is a measure of a difference between the response voltage and the adjusting voltage, which detection means have a first and a second input which are connected to the first and the second transducer, respectively, and an output which is connected to an input of control means for generating, in dependence on the value of the error signal, a control signal for controlling the adjusting means.
A servosystem of this kind, in which the adjusting means are formed by a motor, is known from the abstract in English of JP-A-5-333 901. Systems of this kind are used to adjust the mechanical element to a desired position which is adjusted, for example manually by means of the first transducer. The first and second transducers may include, for example first and second potentiometers, the first potentiometer being adjustable by way of a rotary knob while the second potentiometer is coupled to the mechanical element so that the setting of the second potentiometer changes when the position of the element changes. In systems of this kind a given distance inherently exists between the first and the second transducer and the detection means, so that comparatively long electrical leads are required for interconnection of these parts. A break in one of these leads could cause an uncontrolled and usually undesirable change of position of the mechanical element. In the known servosystem, therefore, steps are taken to ensure that in the case of a break in the lead between the second transducer and the detection means a simulated response voltage is applied to the second input of the detection means. To this end, the adjusting voltage from the first transducer is inverted and applied as an auxiliary voltage, via a resistor, to the second input of the detection means. The value of said resistor is so high that when the connection between the second transducer and the second input is in order, the auxiliary voltage does not influence the detection means. If said connection is interrupted, the auxiliary voltage is applied to the second input of the detection means instead of the response voltage, so that the error signal has the value zero. In that case the motor will not be activated. This wire breakage protection is based on the assumption that the first transducer is fully operational. Therefore, this method is suitable only for counteracting the adverse effects of a wire break in the connection between the second transducer and the second input of the detection means.
A feasible application of a servosystem of the kind set forth is, for example adjustment of the position of the headlights of a vehicle. Using this system, the light beam is directed so that the light lands on the road at a desired distance from the vehicle. In such an application the first transducer may be situated near the instrument panel of the vehicle and the other parts of the system preferably near the headlights. Another possibility consists in that, for example the first transducer includes one or more sensors which measure the position of the vehicle relative to the road, and an electronic circuit which forms the adjusting voltage from the data supplied by the sensors. The sensors may be arranged, for example to measure the height of the vehicle relative to the road near the front and rear axes. The electronic circuit may include, for example a microprocessor. Generally speaking, in such cases a comparatively long and vulnerable connection lead is required between the first transducer and the detection means or between various parts of the first transducer (in said example between the sensors and the electronic circuit), so that the risk of wire breakage in this lead is comparatively high. Therefore, the known servosystem is not very well suitable for applications of this kind.


Provided is an excellent robot device capable of preferably detecting difference between dirt and a scratch on a lens of a camera and difference between dirt and a scratch on a hand. A robot device detects a site in which there is the dirt or the scratch using an image of the hand taken by a camera as a reference image. Further, this determines whether the detected dirt or scratch is due to the lens of the camera or the hand by moving the hand. The robot device performs cleaning work assuming that the dirt is detected, and then this detects the difference between the dirt and the scratch depending on whether the dirt is removed.

With the rapid advent of aging society, a society in which an aged person may enjoy a healthy active life without requiring nursing care as far as possible and in which the aged person requiring the nursing care may live an independent life without clinical deterioration as far as possible is needed. In the future, as a need for the nursing care and domestic help increases, the number of helpers gets short if one helper looks after one user. Therefore, there is an increasing need for a mechatronics device such as a robot aimed to carry housework and the nursing care for the human by communicating with a human and performing the work such as the grasp of an object mainly in aged care facilities and families with an aged person.
Most of this type of robot devices are provided with a camera, detect or recognize an object in a working space based on an image taken by the camera, and perform the work such as the grasp. Therefore, when there is the dirt or the scratch on the lens of the camera, this significantly affects ability to detect/recognize an object, and this leads to deterioration in operation efficiency. When there is the dirt on a grasping unit of an object such as the hand, a grasped object gets dirty and this gives an adverse mental effect to someone who receives the object.
For example, a robot device, which compares a plurality of images in the same area to detect whether there is dirt on a lens of a camera from difference between images in the same area, is suggested (refer to Patent Document 1, for example). However, the robot device cannot detect whether the difference between the images in the same area is due to the dirt or a scratch on the lens of the camera, in other words, this cannot detect the difference between the dirt and the scratch on the lens of the camera. Also, the robot device cannot detect the dirt on a hand or detect the difference between the dirt and the scratch on the hand.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Robot device, method of controlling robot device, computer program, and program storage medium


A display substrate includes a base substrate, a first storage electrode, a second storage electrode, a first insulating layer, a first spacing member and a second spacing member. The base substrate includes a first pixel region and a second pixel region that are defined by a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of source lines extended in a direction different from an extended direction of the gate lines. The first storage electrode is in the first pixel region. The second storage electrode is in the second pixel region. The first insulating layer covers the first storage electrode, and has a recessed portion on the second storage electrode. The first spacing member is on the first insulating layer corresponding to the first storage electrode. The second spacing member is on the recessed portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a display substrate and a display panel having the display substrate. More particularly, the present invention relates to a display substrate having improved mechanical strength, decreased light leakage, and a display panel having the display substrate.
2. Description of the Related Art
A liquid crystal display (LCD) device includes an LCD panel having a thin film transistor (TFT) substrate, a color filter substrate and a liquid crystal layer. The color filter substrate faces the TFT substrate. The liquid crystal layer is interposed between the TFT substrate and the color filter substrate, and an orientation of liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer is varied in response to an electric field formed by an electric signal, thus, light transmittance of the liquid crystal layer is changed. A column spacer is formed between the TFT substrate and the color filter substrate to maintain a gap between the TFT substrate and the color filter substrate. A liquid crystal layer is interposed between the TFT substrate and the color filter substrate.
When a plurality of column spacers having a constant height are formed on substantially the entire area of the LCD panel, an acceptable height variation of a liquid crystal receiving space is determined by compressibility of the column spacers. When a cell-gap of the liquid crystal layer is restricted by the compressibility of the column spacers, the height margin is restricted by the compressibility of the column spacer.
In addition, when friction caused by the compression of the column spacers having the constant height is increased, the column spacers do not recover their original shape which increases light leakage caused by the compression of the column spacers

Display substrate and display panel having the same


A composite body for use, for example as a cutting tool, having a metal-carbonitride layer of titanium, zirconium or hafnium carbonitride with at least two of these metals in the lattice structure as deposited by a CVD or plasma-activated-CVD process.

Substrate bodies coated with hard materials are known in the art. Due to the applied coating of hard materials, optionally applied in several layers, a wear resistant surface can be combined with a tough substrate, capable to sustain high mechanical loads. Basically two processes are used for applying the hard material layer, the Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) or the Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD). Such coatings are known easpecially in the field of cutting tools for machining workpieces, where they have the purpose of extending the life of the cutting tool. Usual protective coatings consist for instance of TiC, TiN and/or aluminum oxide. Also multilayer coatings with the layer sequence TiN, Ti(C,N), TiN on a substrate with any desired C:N mixing proportions have been proposed.
For producing wear-resistant layers for machining tools made of rapid machining steel primarily PVD processes are used, while for tools made of hard metals (cemented carbide alloy) CVD processes are preferred. Both processes have advantages and disadvantages. While PVD coatings can be produced starting at approximately 400.degree. C., for the CVD processes far higher temperatures are required, which as a rule lie at about 1000.degree. C. Consequently temperature-sensitive substrates are coated by means of the PVD process, however with this mode of coating it is difficult and costly to achieve a uniform surrounding coating of bodies having a complicated shape.
In "Surface and Coating Technology", 33, (1987) Pages 91 to 103, the properties of ternary nitrides and carbonitrides of the metals titanium, zirconium, hafnium, vanadium, niobium, chrome and aluminum, produced through cathodic sputtering, are tested. In the case of coatings of (Zr,Ti)(C,N), (Zr,Ti)(C,N), (Nb,Ti)(C,N) as well as (Hf,Ti)C and (Hf,Ti)C higher microhardnesses could be reached.
Furthermore from the DE-A1-25 05 009 a process is known for coating inorganic substrates with carbides, nitrides and/or carbonitrides of iron, boron, silicon or the transition metals of the group IVa to VIa of the periodic system of elements through direct thermal reaction of the metals or their derivatives with substances delivering carbon or nitrogen, optionally in the presence of further additives, wherein as carbon and nitrogen donors, among others compounds containing the cyanogen-group with a triple bond between the carbon and the nitrogen should be used. As one of those compounds acetonitrile is mentioned. The coating should be done through the CVD process. The described compounds are exclusively monometallic carbides, nitrides or carbonitrides. It has been found during testing of a process following the teaching contained in this patent that the Zr(C,N) cannot be produced with this process. In all cases the deposition rates per time unit are very low.
More recently the CVD process activated by a corona-discharge plasma (PCVD) has gained importance. With this process it was possible to deposit adherent hard material layers onto tools starting already from approximately 450.degree. C., similarly to the PVD process. Such a process is described for instance in DE 38 41 731 for the deposition of carbides, nitrides or carbonitrides of titanium or zirconium. The individual deposition layers consist of titanium or zirconium nitride, carbide or carbonitride.

Composite body and process for its production


A method for estimating unknown parameters (pan angle (ψ), instantaneous tilt angle (τ) and road geometry of an upcoming road segment) for a vehicle object detection system. The vehicle object detection system is preferably a forward looking, radar-cued vision system having a camera, a radar sensor and an processing unit. The method first estimates the pan angle (ψ), then corrects the coordinates from a radar track so that pan angle (ψ) can be treated as zero, and finally solves a least squares problem that determines best estimates for instantaneous tilt angle (τ) and road geometry. Estimating these parameters enables the vehicle object detection system to identify, interpret and locate objects in a more accurate and efficient manner.

Various types of object detection systems for motor vehicles have been developed which utilize one or more sensors to identify, interpret and/or locate objects surrounding the vehicle. Examples of such systems include forward looking systems (FLS), rear detection systems (RDS), and side detection systems (SDS).
Some FLSs are referred to as "vision-only systems," in that they only utilize cameras and not radar, laser or other types of sensors. In the case of single camera vision systems (referred to as "monocular vision systems") and multiple camera vision systems (referred to as "stereo vision system") a processing unit usually has to estimate the pan and tilt angles of a camera, as well as the vertical curvature of an upcoming road segment in order to accurately interpret and locate detected objects. One way in which these estimates can be performed is by using optical flow techniques in which a focus of expansion is found in the image. These techniques, however, require a significant amount of computations and frequently do not produce robust, accurate estimates.
Another type of object detection system is referred to as a "radar-cued vision system", which broadly includes all object detection systems that utilize both radar sensors and cameras to identify, interpret and/or locate objects. A typical forward looking, radar-cued vision system for a vehicle includes a radar sensor and one or more cameras directed generally in front of the vehicle. The radar sensor initially detects an object so that a region of the camera image in which the object is likely to be found can be identified, narrowed in on, and analyzed in more detail.

Method for estimating unknown parameters for a vehicle object detection system


The invention provides a display medium having a dimmer layer which comprises at least two kinds of charged mobile fine particles. Each of the at least two kinds of the charged mobile fine particles respectively has different coloration and a different mobility, and the charged mobile fine particles of at least one kind of the at least two kinds show coloration when in a dispersed state. The invention further provides a display device having an electric field forming unit and the dimmer layer. The invention further provides a display method which uses the display medium and includes putting the charged mobile fine particles of at least one of the kinds being dispersed while having other charged mobile fine particles not being dispersed.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a display medium and a display method. In particular, the invention relates to a display medium and a display method using charged mobile fine particles widely usable as optical elements such as dimmer glass, a dimmer element, and a display element.
2. Description of the Related Art
Along with the advancement of the highly information-based society, needs of electronic paper systems, color display systems, and large surface area display systems have been increased. As technologies to realize these systems, display technologies such as CRT, liquid crystal, EL, LED, and plasma have been developed. Further, besides these self-light-emitting systems, developments of reflection type display systems, which can save electric power consumption and scarcely cause an uncomfortable feeling to eyes of human being, have been investigated. As the reflection type display system, a reflection type liquid crystal technique is dominantly used.
On the other hand, while needs for the next generation of electronic paper display systems are very high, the present situation is that hopeful techniques to satisfy the needs have not established yet. Examples of known candidate methods supposed to be practically usable include an electrophoresis method, a liquid crystal method, and an organic EL method.
Since a liquid crystal method is a filter method, it has a problem that the medium thickness and weight are difficult to decrease. Since an organic EL method is a self-light-emitting type, there is a problem that it has no memory and its uses are thus limited within a narrow range.
As a display element using an electrophoresis method, the following techniques have been disclosed.
A method of using microcapsules arranged between a pair of electrodes, wherein a dispersion media and electrophoresis particles are encapsulated in the microcapsules, has been disclosed. Also, a magnetophoresis method using microcapsules encapsulating a magnetic fluid has been reported.
Further, a method of selectively driving plural kinds of colored particles disposed in a mixed state in a single microcapsule has been disclosed.
However, since all of these methods use microcapsules, it is difficult to carry out fine dot display and full color display. In the case of a conventionally-known method, it was difficult to selectively drive the particles in principle.
Further, a structure has been described in which approximately the same amount of charged electrophoresis particles are each disposed in a plurality of sections divided along the surfaces of a pair of substrates having a prescribed distance therebetween, and the dispersion medium is blue and the electrophoresis particles are black. It has been reported that the display quality can be improved by the structure.
However, the structure has difficulty in full color display, and must have a parallel arrangement because if layered, color display by a subtractive color-mixing method using combination of particles in the respective layers cannot be carried out. As a result, the apparatus becomes complicated.
Further, a method for carrying out color display by arranging the cells or microcapsules expressing a plurality of colors in parallel has been disclosed (. In this method, owing to the parallel arrangement, high resolution and sufficient contrast cannot be achieved.
Further, a method of layering two or more layers of light transmitting electrophoresis parts containing particles and/or a medium in vertical direction has been disclosed. However, dyes are used for coloring the particles and therefore no sufficient coloration density is obtained.
Further, a method has been disclosed wherein the cells having two display electrodes arranged at overlaying positions, two collection electrodes, and two kinds of light transmitting colored particles are layered or parallel arranged. However, since relatively large particles colored by dyes are employed, no sufficient color density can be obtained and stability of the coloring agents are problematic.
Furthermore, a method where particles are moved in a direction vertical to a substrate has been disclosed, wherein the particles are colorless in a dispersed state and show a color of particles in a agglomerated state. However, in this method, since a predetermined color is obtained by agglomerating particles, a plurality of cells wherein the particles are encapsulated has to be prepared and area gradation has to be applied in order to realize multi-colorization and multi-gradations. Accordingly, since it is difficult to represent one pixel with one cell and to realize colorization in one pixel, the method has problems in that high resolution is difficult to obtain and sufficient contrast cannot be obtained.

Display medium, display device and display method


An adjustable head tool (AHT) is configured for positioning a free motion headform (FMH) having a regulated FMH backoff requirement prior to an impact between the FMH and a target surface having a target point. The AHT has a built-in or a variable backoff angle relative to the position of the target point, and includes a cranial portion and an adjustable facial template. The cranial portion encloses a linkage assembly, and the facial template has one or more facial features. A rotary dial translates the facial template with respect to the cranial portion to maintain the regulated FMH backoff requirement. The cranial portion includes a forehead impact zone having a first set of demarcations, and the rotary dial has a second set of demarcations corresponding to the first set of demarcations. The dial is set so the second set of demarcations matches the first set during positioning of the AHT.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has a legislative mandate under Title 49 of the United States Code, Chapter 301, Motor Vehicle Safety, to issue Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) and Regulations to which manufacturers of motor vehicle and equipment items must conform and certify compliance. The overarching goal of the FMVSS is a reduction in both the number and the resultant severity of occupant injuries during a vehicle collision. Of these standards and regulations, FMVSS 201 in particular requires that passenger cars and certain other designated vehicles provide at least a specified minimal level of protection when a head of a vehicle occupant strikes or encounters a stationary structure within the vehicle interior. To facilitate such testing, model and/or dummy heads, commonly referred to as free motion headforms or FMH, are subjected to controlled impact testing in accordance with a rigid set of standards.
In order to comply with FMVSS 201, manufacturers enact precisely controlled internal testing procedures. Typically, to measure and evaluate the end effect of various simulated vehicle collisions, an FMH is connected to an impactor device, cylindrical piston, or launch arm and propelled toward a target point on a test surface. The targeted test surface is an interior structure or surface of a vehicle interior, e.g., a headliner, A-pillar, B-pillar, and the like. To ensure meaningful test data, the parameters for set up and execution of an FMVSS201 test should be precisely defined and repeatable. However, the process of positioning an FMH is somewhat involved, and positioning in a precise and repeatable manner can be difficult using conventional positioning tools and methodologies. As a result, some level of positional variation can be introduced during crash test set up by the bias and/or relative skill level of the individual operators, the equipment/tools used during the test setup, and the organizations responsible for conducting FMVSS201 tests for a given vehicle model.

Adjustable face tool for positioning a free motion headform


A complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) imager flush reset circuit is provided. The flush reset circuit has an interface to receive first (e.g., VDD) and second (e.g., ground) reference voltages. The flush reset circuit has a solitary (flush) signal interface. There is also an interface connected to a transistor set power interface to supply a Vflush1 signal at least one threshold voltage different than the second reference voltage, in response to receiving a flush signal. The flush signal is used to create a CMOS imager hard reset prior to a soft reset.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to integrated circuit (IC) fabrication and, more particularly, to a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) imager flush reset capability.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 depicts a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) imager with a "buried" or "pinned" photodiode (prior art). Conventionally, the image cell circuit includes four transistors and one photodiode. The pixel operation is divided into three main stages: reset, exposure, and reading.
(1) The reset stage: by turning on the reset and transfer (Tx) transistors, the photodiode capacitance is charged to a reset voltage. As for the case of the p+np buried photodiode shown in FIG. 1, the buried cathode (n) is totally depleted and set to the pinned voltage (Vpin).
(2) The exposure stage: with the absorption of light by the photodiode, electron and hole pairs are generated. The holes fill the depleted acceptor sites in the p-region, and the electrons fill the depleted donor sites in the n-region. The potential of the photodiode cathode decreases as the photoelectrons fills up at the donor sites.
(3) The reading stage: the pixel value is read out by a correlated double sampling (CDS) circuit. First, the select transistor and the reset transistor are turned on, the floating diffusion (FD) is set to high, and the output is set to the reference level. Then, the transfer transistor (Tx) is turned on, the accumulated photo-electrons in the photodiode are transferred to the FD. Photo-charges in FD are converted to the signal voltage by a source follower (SF) and read out as signal voltage level. The signal is constructed by subtracting the reference voltage level from the signal voltage level (see FIG. 2).
FIG. 2 is a timing diagram associated with of the pixel circuit of FIG. 1 (prior art). The advantage of using a buried photodiode in a CMOS imager sensor is that low dark currents may be obtained. If the charge in the buried n-cathode can be completely depleted during the reset, and the signal electrons in the buried n-cathode can be completely transferred during a CDS reading, then zero lag and zero reset noise can be achieved. Several device design parameters optimization such as: low voltage depleted diode, wide transfer transistor size, low threshold voltage, and high gate voltage on transfer transistor must be considered to achieve the complete transfer of the signal electrons in the buried n-cathode.
A color CMOS imager consists of pixels for detecting red, green, and blue colors using either an RGB color filter array to filter out unwanted spectrum, or by fabricating the photodiodes in a stack, so that the shallower photodiode detects the blue spectrum and the deepest photodiode detects the red spectrum. A pixel of a CMOS imager usually consists of one active pixel sensing (APS) circuit and one photodiode. An APS circuit is referred to herein as a "transistor set". However, to increase the fill factor (the ratio of the photodiode area to the pixel area), a shared transistor set is used in modern CMOS imager fabrication. For a shared transistor set, two to four pixels (two to four photodiodes) typically share one transistor set.
The diode is first reverse biased to create a large depletion region where there are "no" free electrons and free holes. This is called the reset process. The depletion regions extend into both n- and p-regions, with ionized fixed positive charged donors and ionized fixed negative charged acceptors in the depleted n- and p-regions, respectively. When a photon is incident to the depletion region it excites an electron from the valance band to the conduction band. Equivalently, it generates an electron at the conduction band and a hole at the valence band. Due to the potential energy difference, the generated electrons flow to the n region and recombine with an ionized donor state, while the holes flow to the p-region and recombine with the negative charged accepter state. As a result, the space charge region loses negative charges and positive charges. The width of the space charge region varies as the voltage across the space charge region is reduced. In a four-transistor set (4T APS) of FIG. 1, the stored charge in the photodiode is transferred to the floating diffusion. The pixel circuit detects the voltage reduction as the output signal of the floating diffusion. The reduction in floating diffusion voltage is known as charge-to-voltage conversion. The accurate measurement of this voltage reduction is needed to reproduce the color of the object. In a 3T transistor set, or 3T APS cell circuit design, no transfer transistor and charge transfer process are needed. The pixel circuit detects the voltage reduction as output signal of the photo detector directly.
For the 3T transistor set, the sensing circuit detects the photodiode voltage, and the charge in the photodiode is never completely discharged. For the 4T transistor set, the charge transfer from the photodiode to the floating diffusion may not be completed and the charge in the floating diffusion is never completely discharged after the sensing circuit detects the signal. In either case, at the end of sensing, charges remain in the diode and floating diffusion. The amount of the remanding charge in each photodiode (3T), or in each photodiode and floating diffusion (4T) is not identical. As a result, the usual reset process that applies VDD to the gate and drain of the reset transistor, may not reset each photodiode (3T), or each photodiode and floating diffusion (4T) to the same voltage. The above-mentioned process is a "soft reset" and usually accompanies the so-called image lagging phenomenon. In order to avoid the image lagging phenomenon, a hard reset process is used to keep the reset transistor biased in the active region, or keep the gate voltage of the reset transistor higher than the drain voltage of the transistor by at least one threshold voltage. This solution takes care for the image lagging problem, but the reset voltage is low unless the gate of the reset transistor is biased higher than VDD, which may induce high voltage stress and result in device reliability failures. If the hard reset is followed up with a soft reset, which pre-charges the sensing circuit (including the bit line) to high voltage state, then fixed pattern noise can be minimized.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a pixel with a reset assist circuit and an associated timing diagram for the flushed reset of a pixel (prior art). As noted by Bedabrata Pain et al., the above-mentioned problems can be overcome by a flush hard reset followed by a soft reset process. The flushed-reset pixel approach eliminates the disadvantages of both the hard and soft-reset processes while retaining their respective advantages, without modification of the photodiode pixel layout. Therefore, the performance of the photodiode pixel is not altered. As shown, during the early stage of flush reset the φflush and φreset are on. The transistor MFR is off and MFR-out is on. The transistors MFdrop and MFR-out, MFR-load form a voltage divider. Therefore, the drain voltage of the reset transistor Mrst is lower than VDD. Since φreset is at VDD, the voltage at the cathode of the photodiode, VD is lower than VDD by at least one threshold voltage. After hard reset, the φflush is pulses low, and the drain voltage and the gate voltage of the reset transistor Mrst are VDD, and a soft reset begins.
However, the above-described circuit requires an addition independent bias voltage sources and operating signals. In this circuit there are a bias line, a flush pulse line, a Vload line and four (4) transistors added to the conventional active pixel sensing circuit.
It would be advantageous if the above-mentioned reset and the fixed pattern noise problems could be solved with a simple circuit and solitary control signal.


A method of wire routing includes the steps of providing an array of cells on a semiconductor chip, determining a minimum distance location between a first clock point, an second clock point and a drive point for connecting to a connection point in the array of cells, and defining a wire path through an array of blockages disposed in the array of cells from the minimum distance location to the first clock point and from the minimum distance location to the second clock point to create a path for a wire for connecting the first clock point and the second clock point to a connection point such that skew is minimized between the starting clock point and the second clock point from the connection point when a clock signal is provided to the connection point from the drive point.

1. Field of the Invention
This disclosure relates to a clock router for semiconductor chips and, more particularly, to a balanced clock router with variable width wires to minimize skew.
2. Description of the Related Art
As the performance of microprocessors increases, it is essential to improve the design of clocks and their distribution on a chip to minimize skew. Clock skew can be defined simply as the difference in arrival time of clock signals at different points on a chip. Clock wiring is becoming increasingly critical in high performance chip design. As technology advances, chips are becoming larger as line width are becoming smaller and circuit delays are dropping. This results in the clock signal delay becoming a larger fraction of machine cycle time. Skew is also becoming a larger fraction of machine cycle time.
A possible clock network can be built as an "H-tree". The central assumption underlying the H-tree is that clock points all present the same load and that they are uniformly distributed throughout the chip. While these assumptions are never met completely in real chips, the resulting tree demonstrates some of the properties of more realistic clock networks.
Referring to FIG. 1, the development of an H-tree is shown. Clock points (not shown) of uniform capacitance are assumed to be uniformly distributed throughout the area of a chip 10. On the basis of this assumed symmetry, it is appropriate to provide a drive point 14 for a clock system 16 at the center of the chip as indicated by a dot. This will balance delays along wires 20 to the right and left, since spanned distances are equal. Clock system 16 will still present a substantial amount of skew, however. Actual clock points (not shown) of chip 10 are wired by conventional means to the nearest end point of clock system 16. End points 12 will in some cases be very close to clock points and some a significant distance away. When wired by conventional means (which minimizes the total amount of wiring used), clock points near end points 12 will see less delay than those far away. In the extreme case of a single end point 12 providing a clock signal to both the nearest clock point and the furthest clock point in a given quadrant, the difference in distance between extreme clock points is one quarter the perimeter of the chip.
The situation may be improved by subdividing each quadrant of FIG. 1 into quarter-quadrants, and replicating, at appropriately reduced size, the H-tree wiring pattern in each quarter-quadrant as illustrated in FIG. 2. The maximum range in distance from actual clock point (not shown) to end points 12 would be half of the value of the distance in FIG. 1. A "two-stage" H-tree may still result in excessive skew. The process of quartering the smallest region served by each end point 12 of a given H tree and providing an additional "H" within this smaller region may be continued to produce a "multi-stage" H-tree as illustrated in FIG. 3
FIG. 3 is a 4-stage H-tree that divides the chip into 256 small regions, each with an edge that is 1/16 the originally chip edge. Because wiring to actual clock points 12 in chip 10 is completed only from the end of the last stage of H's, the variability in wire length has been reduced by a factor of eight. Hence the variability in delay from the central feed point of the entire chip to any final clock point has been similarly reduced.
Note that the total length of wire in the H-tree increases by (w/2)+h each time a stage is added. If enough stages are added, the capacitance implied in the wires may become significant compared to the clock loads being driven. In this case, adding more stages will significantly slow down the waveform at the end of the tree. It is not sufficient to provide only balanced delays in a robust clock network. In addition, waveforms must remain reasonably fast in their switching. Practically, this implies that in an H-tree as is illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, wires that are closer to the central drive point 14 of the entire network will have to be wider than those at the load end (clock point 12) of the tree. It may in fact be necessary to provide a level of buffer circuit at some point within the tree to provide waveforms that are adequately fast in their transition times to be useable as clocks at the load ends.
Note again that the fully symmetrical H-tree assumes that clock loads are uniformly distributed throughout the chip, and that it is possible to provide the tree at the exactly desired location. Neither of these assumptions is met in practice. Integrated circuit chips have clock loads that offer non-uniform capacitance, and that are clustered in some areas of the chip and totally absent from others. In addition, the need to provide signal wiring can lead to some regions of the chip being unusable by clock wiring, so that the symmetrical tree may not be possible even if a chip were to have uniformly distributed clock loads. Nevertheless, the general principles of providing balanced delay to small sections of a chip and wire widths that increase as one moves from the load points to the drive point apply in practical realistic clock networks.
A variety of algorithms exist for performing general wiring of integrated circuit chips. The problem to be solved by all of these is generally to connect two or more points using the wiring levels allowed by the semiconductor process without violating design rules, and without erroneously connecting wires that are intended to remain unconnected.
One useful algorithm for performing such routing is the Lee Maze Runner algorithm, whose basic operation is illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. In the Maze Runner algorithm, the area of interest is seen as a rectangular grid of cells 22, each of which can accommodate a wire (not shown). The physical rectangle corresponding to a cell 22 is set so that the cell can fit a legal wire and its space. Points to be connected are mapped into cells 22 by position. The next step is finding a path from a starting cell 24 containing a start of a wire to the cell (or cells) containing an ending point 26 (or points) to complete the connection thereto. Pre-existing wires, or wires already made, block the paths of wires that need to be routed through the cells, making them unusable for the current connection being wired.
A typical situation is that illustrated in FIG. 4 which shows the array of cells 22, with the starting cell 24 for a desired wire 26 in the lower left corner, and the ending (or "target") cell 26 for a wire (not shown) in the upper right. Blocked cells 28 are disposed within array of cells 22 either due to prior wiring, or to reserve space that is wire-free.
The Maze Runner stores that information associated with such a situation as (typically) an array of data structures, each of which contains blockage information, and also a "distance" measure, which reflects the distance of the corresponding cell from starting cell 24 for a wire . Initially, this distance is set to some normally illegal value (such as -1) to represent "undefined", and the distance of the starting cell is set to 0. Information specifying which cell 22 is start cell 24 of the wire and which cell 22 (or cells) is (or are) ending or target cell(s) 26 may be kept in the cell data structure or in a separate data structure.
Referring now to FIG. 5, the Maze Runner proceeds in two distinct phases. The first, propagation, determines all cells that can be legally reached from paths starting at the starting cell, and, in addition, determines the shortest distance (in cells) to each such reachable cell. This is shown in FIG. 5 by the numbers in each cell which represent the distance from starting point 24 . The second, back tracking, uses the distance measures determined in propagation to develop the actual path between start and target cells. The backtracked path is indicated by a desired wire path 30.
The propagation phase of the Maze Runner is very simple, and proceeds as follows:
A. Set a "change counter" to zero PA1 B. For each cell 22 in the array: PA1 C. When all cells 22 have been processed, examine the change counter. If it exceeds zero, return to step A; if is it 0, begin back-trace. PA1 A. Beginning at cell C corresponding to ending cell 26. PA1 B. Mark cell C indicating that it is on the wire path desired. PA1 C. If the cell C is starting cell 24, exit. PA1 D. Look at all cells N that are immediately adjacent to each cell C.
a. If the cell is a blocked cell 28, skip to the next cell. PA2 b. If the cell has undefined distance, skip to the next cell. PA2 c. Compute the distance of the cell location from starting cell 24 location (dd=distance+1) PA2 d. Examine all cells N that are adjacent to cell 22: PA2 a: If distance (N)<distance (C), set C to N, and proceed to step B. If more than one neighbor N meets the above condition, pick the one which continues cell-to-cell "movement" in the same direction as the prior "move"; if there is no prior "move", pick a direction arbitrarily.
I. If distance (N) is undefined, set distance (N)=dd, and increment change counter PA3 ii. If distance (N) is defined and exceeds dd, set distance (N)=dd, and increment change counter.
Note that this is guaranteed to stop, and further, will determine all cells reachable from starting cell 24.
The back track phase of the Maze Runner is similarly simple, and proceeds as follows:
Possible results of the back track phase are illustrated in FIG. 5 as desired wire 30.
The Maze Runner algorithm above has been illustrated in a two dimensional context. The typical integrated circuit application of the algorithm is three dimensional, as several "layers" of wiring are typically provided by contemporary technologies. The same basic notions apply, however. In addition, in the three dimensional case, it is possible to achieve certain special results: one might, for example, restrict different layers of wiring to a single X or Y direction only, or, by modifying the concept of distance, might make a give layer mostly X or Y direction, while allowing small "jogs" in the non-preferred direction. Such changes might require minor modification to the back trace phase of the algorithm.
The basic Maze Runner is not directly applicable to clock wiring as it is always attempting to minimize wire length, and has no notion of timing within. It also typically deals with wires of one constant width. Consequently, a need exists for efficient clock routing tools in which wiring distance, power dissipation, delay and skew are all allowed for and optimized. For reasonable delays, such tools further need to be able to accommodate wires some of whose width may be 20-50 (or more) times the width or minimum width wires, while also including some minimum width wires as well. Finally, such tools must be able to set wire widths over a very broad range to accommodate fine tuning of optimized parameters.

Method of clock routing for semiconductor chips

International Business Machines Corporation