Technologies for projecting a noncontinuous image onto at least a portion of a projection region using a projector of a projection device. The projection device is configured to determine one or more cut-out areas of the projection region. Each cut-out area defines an area within the projection region on which a corresponding portion of the image is not to be projected by the projector of the projection device. The projection device is further configured to update the projection region based on the cut-out area(s) and project, via the projector, the image onto the updated projection region, wherein no portion of the image is projected on cut-out area(s). Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Digital projectors are typically used to project an image onto a flat surface, such as a wall or screen, using a rectangular aspect ratio from a perpendicular angle. However, under certain conditions, the image may be projected onto a surface that is not flat (e.g., curved, angled, etc.). Additionally, the image may be projected onto the surface at a non-perpendicular angle relative to the projector. Accordingly, some projectors are configured to compensate for such surfaces, such as by use of keystone correction (i.e., skewing the image), thereby making the image rectangular. Depending on the environment in which the projector is being used, any number of objects may interfere with the projection of the image, effectively disrupting the view of the image. In other words, the image may not be accurately displayed onto the projected surface, due to the obstructive objects interfering with the projection of the image.


An apparatus and method conducting downhole measurement operations in a borehole penetrating an earth formation. The apparatus may include a module configured to be conveyed in a borehole and to receive at least one device. The module may receive the device internally or in one or more recessed areas. A housing with at least one opening may encompass the exterior of the module. The apparatus may have a first position that allows access to the module through the at least one opening, and a second position that isolates the module from the exterior of the housing. The method may include conducting downhole measurement related operations using the apparatus. The method may include moving the housing and module between the first position and the second position.

Evaluating earth formations and borehole environments may involve conveying tools for conducting measurements into the borehole environment. The borehole environment may include rough borehole wall surfaces, objects in borehole fluids, and other physical hazards. Conveyance in the borehole environment may pose a risk of physical damage to tools conveyed in the borehole environment.
Some of these tools also require access to some or part of the tool when the tool is located on the surface. For example, sampling tanks that may be filled downhole may need removal on the surface, or an energy source may need adjustment or repair. Protecting the tool from physical damage in the borehole environment often means that the protection must be removed in order to gain access to the tool on the surface. What is needed is a protective housing that allows access to the necessary parts of the tool on the surface while providing protection downhole and does not require costly and time consuming disassembly/reassembly of the protective housing to gain/restrict access.

Apparatus and method for protecting devices downhole


An apparatus and method provides one or more controlled, dynamically loaded, modular, cryptographic fillers. Fillers may be loaded by a single loader, multiple independent loaders, or nested loaders. Loaders may be adapted to load other loaders, within cryptographic controls extant and applicable thereto. Integration into a base executable having one or more slots, minimizes, controls, and links the interface between the fillers and base executables. The filler may itself operate recursively to load another filler in nested operations, whether or not the fillers are in nested relation to one another. An ability of any filler to be loaded may be controlled by the base executable verifying the integrity, authorization, or both for any filler. The base executable may rely on an integrated loader to control loading and linking of fillers and submodules. A policy may limit each module function, access, and potential for modification or substitution. Dynamically loaded modules (loaders, other fillers, and submodules thereof), typically represent a relatively small portion of the overall coding required by the base executable, and may provide strong controls limiting integration by providing access that is nested, layered, or both between modules excluding direct access to or by them from the base executable or supported applications.

1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to cryptographic systems and methodology. More particularly, the present invention relates to novel apparatus systems and the capability of hosting a plurality of individual modularized methods for allowing encrypting applications within a single use application operating on a computer and to separately control the access, use, and authorization of each of the individual encrypting applications.
2. The Background Art
Encryption is a technology dating from ancient times. In modern times, encryption of military communications has been common. However, since the famous "ENIGMA" machine of World War II, cryptography has been used in numerous functions. One of those functions is special purpose software or applications that may be hosted on computers. Hiding underlying algorithms, limiting access, inhibiting reverse engineering, limiting unauthorized use, controlling licensure, and the like may be legitimate uses of cryptography.
Cryptographic Processes
Modern cryptography protects data transmitted over high-speed electronic lines or stored in computer systems. There are two principal objectives: secrecy, to prevent the unauthorized disclosure of data, and integrity (or authenticity), to prevent the unauthorized modification of data. The process of disguising plaintext data in such a way as to hide its substance is encryption, and the encrypted result is cyphertext. The process of turning cyphertext back into plaintext is decryption.
A cryptographic algorithm, also called a cipher, is the computational function used to perform encryption and/or decryption. Both encryption and decryption are controlled by a cryptographic key or keys. In modern cryptography, all of the security of cryptographic algorithms is based in the key or keys and depends not at all on keeping any details of the algorithms secret.
There are two general types of key-based cryptographic algorithms: symmetric and public-key. Symmetric algorithms (also called secret-key algorithms) are algorithms where the encryption key can be calculated from the decryption key and vice versa (and in fact these keys are usually the same). These require that a sender and receiver agree on these keys before they can protect their communications using encryption. The security of these algorithms rests in the key, and divulging the key allows anyone to encrypt and decrypt data or messages with it.
In public-key algorithms (also called asymmetric algorithms), the keys used for encryption and decryption different from each other in such a way that at least one key computationally infeasible to determine from the other. To ensure secrecy of data or communications, only the decryption key need be kept private, and the encryption key can thus be made public without danger of encrypted data being decipherable by anyone other than the holder of the private decryption key. Conversely, to ensure integrity of data or communications, only the encryption key need be kept private, and a holder of a publicly-exposed decryption key can be assured that any ciphertext that decrypts into meaningful plaintext using this key could only have been encrypted by the holder of the corresponding private key, thus precluding any tampering or corruption of the ciphertext after its encryption.
Most public-key cryptographic algorithms can be used to provide only one of secrecy or integrity but not the other; some algorithms can provide either one but not both. Only the RSA (Rivest, Shamir, and Adleman) public-key algorithm (U.S. Pat. No. 4,405,829), whose security is based on the difficulty of factoring large numbers, has been able to be used to provide both secrecy and integrity.
A private key and a public key may be thought of as functionally reciprocal. Thus, whatever a possessor of one key of a key pair can do, a possessor of the other key of the key pair can undo. The result is that pairwise, secret, protected communication may be available without an exchange of keys. Thus, in general, a receiver, in possession of its own private key may be enabled to use its own copy of a sender's public key, to decrypt data encrypted with a sender s private key corresponding to the sender s public key.
An asymmetric algorithm assumes that public keys are well publicized in an integrity-secure manner. A sender (user of a public key associated with a receiver) can then know that the public key is valid, effective, and untampered with. One way to ensure integrity of data packets is to run data through a cryptographic algorithm. A cryptographic hash algorithm may encrypt and compress selected data. Such hash algorithms are commercially available. For example, the message digest 5 (MD 5), and the message digest 4 (MD 4) are commercially available software packages or applications for such functions.
A certificate may be thought of as a data structure containing information or data representing information, associated with assurance of integrity and/or privacy of encrypted data. A certificate binds an identity of a holder to a public key of that holder, and may be signed by a certifying authority. A signature is sometimes spoken of as binding an identity of a holder to a public key in a certificate. As a practical matter, a certificate may be very valuable in determining some level of confidence in keys associated with encryption. That is, just how "good" is an encryption in terms of privacy and integrity? That confidence level may be established by means of a certificate hierarchy. By certificate hierarchy is meant a certification process or series of processes for providing certificates from a trusted authority to another creator of keys.
A certificate, being a data structure, may contain, for example, data regarding the identity of the entity being certified as the holder of the key associated with the certificate, the key held (typically it is a public key), the identity (typically self-authenticating) of the certifying authority issuing the certificate to the holder, and a digital signature, protecting the integrity of the contents of the certificate. A digital signature may typically be based on the private key of the certifying authority issuing the certificate to the holder. Thus, any entity to whom the certificate is asserted may verify the signature corresponding to the private key of the certifying authority.
In general, a signature of a certifying authority is a digital signature. The digital signature associated with a certificate enables a holder of the certificate, and one to whom the certificate is asserted as authority of the holder, to use the signature of the certifying authority to verify that nothing in the certificate has been modified. This verification is accomplished using the certificate authority s public key. This is a means to verify the integrity and authenticity of the certificate and of the public key in the certificate.
Cryptographic Policies
Government authorities throughout the world have interests in controlling the use of cryptographic algorithms and keys. Many nations have specific policies directed to creation use, import, and export of cryptographic devices and software. Numerous policies may exist within a single government. Moreover, these policies are undergoing constant change periodically.
Cryptographic policies may limit markets. For example, a cryptographic algorithm may not be included in software shipped to a country having laws restricting its importation. On the other hand, such a cryptographic device may be desired, highly marketable, and demanded by the market in another country. Thus, generalized software development standardization of software, and the like may become difficult for software vendors. Moreover, users have difficulties attendant with supporting limited installed bases of specialized software. That is, a sufficient installed base is required to assure adequate software.
In short, cryptographic use policies sometimes constrain the set of cryptographic algorithms that may be used in a software system. In addition to restrictions on allowable algorithms, cryptographic use policies may also place constraints on the use and strength keys associated with those algorithms. Software shipped or used in any country must be in compliance with the policies extant.
Another common aspect of certain cryptographic use policies is a requirement that a copy of cryptographic keys be stored or "escrowed" with an appropriate authority. However the mechanisms necessary to satisfy different policies can vary greatly.
Cryptography, especially public key cryptography, provides certain benefits to software designers. U.S. Pat. No. 4,200,700, U.S. Pat. No. 4,218,582, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,405,829 are directed to such technology and are incorporated herein by reference. These benefits are available in situations where data may be shared. Many modem software packages (applications, operating systems, executables) are used in businesses or in other networks where multiple "clients" may share a network, data, applications, and the like. Most modern software packages employ cryptography in some form.
One application for cryptography in network management or network operating systems includes authentication. Also, integrity of data packets transferred, encryption of files, encoding associated with licenses for software or servers, and license distribution or serving are some of the applications for cryptography.
Users may be identified and their rights to access may be authenticated by means of passwords on a network. Cryptography is typically used to transfer some authentication, integrity, verification, or the like in a secure manner across a network that may be open to channel tapping. Public key cryptography is typically used in such a circumstance. Another application of cryptography for authentication involves a single sign-on. For example, a user may need to enter a single password at the beginning of a session. This may remain true regardless of the number of servers that may eventually be called into service by the individual user (client) during this single session. Historically, scripts have been used to provide a single sign-on, but public key mechanisms are now being provided for this function.
Users have previously demonstrated that networks may be subject to attack by spoofing of network control packets. This procedure may be demonstrated in playback and in man-in-the-middle scenarios. By such spoofing, users may obtain unauthorized privileges on a network server. Adding packet signatures, keyed on a per-session basis may provide improved packet integrity.
File encryption is becoming more available. Such encryption has particular use in the special circumstance of audit files. For example, a need exists to protect an audit trail from inspection or modification, or both, by a system administrator, even though the audit trail remains under the system administrator's physical control.
Certain licensing schemes may use various encryption modes to protect software against piracy by end users and others throughout a distribution chain. Data structures cryptography methodologies, checks, and other protection mechanisms may be proprietary to a software developer. Nevertheless, license server mechanisms are being developed to support control of the use of application software in conformity with licenses. Licenses may be provided by an application software provider. The license server may use public key cryptography to create and verify signed data structures. Secret key cryptography may be used to support authentication and file encryption.
Certain applications may provide file confidentiality using proprietary, exportable, secret key algorithms. Users in large numbers make use of such algorithms. Nevertheless, considerable interest in breaking such proprietary algorithms has been successful with certain software. Proprietary encryption methodologies have been consistently broken, given enough time and attention by interested hackers.
Certain applications use public key cryptography for digital signatures. Market leaders in software have provided relatively weak secret key algorithms adopted by others. Thus, files written in different applications from different vendors, even encrypted files, may be opened by an application from any of the vendors using the market leader s secret key algorithm. Within a single product line, a vendor of software applications may use multiple algorithms. Several, if not a plethora of, algorithms exist, including both secret key algorithms and public key algorithms. Stream and block ciphers, as well as hash functions are available and well documented in the computer programming art. Also, certain algorithms are the subject of patent applications which may cloud their broadly based use.
What is needed is a standardized cryptography methodology for distribution across entire product lines. Moreover, encryption technologies are needed for permitting a licensee of a principal software manufacturer to become a third party vendor or value-added distributor capable of producing its own proprietary software, software additions, or preplanned software modules. Currently, software-with-a-hole may provide an operating system with a cryptographic module that fits in the "hole" in an operating system. However, software manufacturers using this technology typically require that a third-party vendor send its product to the principal software manufacturer for integration. The manufacturer may then provide all interfacing and wrapping of the third-party s filler (such as an encryption engine) to fit within the "hole" in the software of the manufacturer.
Also, export restrictions exist for encryption technology. Limiting the strength of exported cryptography is established by statute. To be exportable, such products must meet certain criteria (primarily limitations on key size) that effectively prevent the exportation of strong cryptographic mechanisms usable for data confidentiality. Moreover creating "cryptography with a hole" is undesirable for several reasons, including export and import restrictions. Cryptography with a hole is the presence of components specifically designed or modified to allow introduction of arbitrary cryptographic mechanisms by end users. A great escalation of the difficulty of such introduction, without creating numerous, individually customized software packages, is a major need today, although not necessarily well recognized.
Certain foreign countries have more stringent regulation of the importation of encryption technology by non-government entities. A government may require that any imported encryption technology be subject to certain governmental policies as well as key escrow by some governmental agency. Key escrow systems may be easily provided in software, but integrity and assurance remain difficult. Using only software, reliable key escrow may be impossible, in the absence of very high assurance. For example, Class B3 or A1 may be required of a "trusted computing base" in order to protect keys against disclosure or modification. Likewise, protection of algorithms against disclosure or modification, and escrow against bypass, are also often required. Under any circumstances, software offers few protections when compared with hardware solutions.
Customers, whether third-party vendors, distributors, or end users, need information security. International commercial markets need products that may be marketed internationally without a host of special revisions that must be tracked, updated, and maintained with forward and backward compatibility as to upgrades and the like. Meanwhile such solutions as key escrow do not receive ready customer acceptance in U.S. markets, particularly where a government is an escrow agent. Furthermore, individual customers or vendors may wish to operate individualized cryptography systems or other authenticable applications in conjunction with a single operating system or host application. Currently, no provision exists for allowing such customization in a controlled, authenticable environment.
Therefore, what is needed is a cryptography apparatus and method that may be mass produced in a variety of products across an entire product line. A technology, or product that can be sold in identical form both domestically and abroad is highly desirable. An encryption method and apparatus are needed that may provide improved methods for security and integrity of data provided by cryptographic algorithms and keys themselves, without requiring "trust" between sender and receiver.
Also needed is a key escrow mechanism for corporate environments. For example, file encryption by an employee will usually be required to be subject to an escrow key in the possession of the employer. Also, in conjunction with signature authorities, delegation of such authority may be useful in a corporate environment. Nevertheless, each corporate user may be viewed as a secondary (vendor) level desiring to have its own encryption and escrow control of all copies of all keys.
What is needed is a method for producing cryptographic applications that may be customized individually, from individual modules. That is, what is needed are modules that may be used to limit the capabilities of cryptographic applications without proliferating individual customized software products that may become very difficult to maintain, upgrade, support, and the like. What is needed is an apparatus and method that can separate a cryptography application or a cryptography filler for an operating system "slot" into modules. Modules need to be configured to minimize the extent of interfaces and the amount of code that must be interfaced. Modules should minimize the number of exclusions from a system that must be patched or replaced in order to enable the software system to satisfy relevant cryptography usage policies.
What is needed also are an apparatus and method effective to enable a manufacturer of a cryptographic engine to produce a single implementation of a modular package embodying particular cryptographic algorithms. The manufacturer should remain able to include that implementation in all versions of a software product. This should be true regardless of different key usage policies mandated by various regulatory authorities. It should be true regardless of a requirement for disabling of certain of the included algorithms.
Also needed is an alternative to prior art systems that require both a "policy" and an algorithm implementation to be supplied (even lastly shipped) from the manufacturer of a cryptography engine as the wrapping and certifying entity. Instead, what is needed is an apparatus having an architecture and implementation by which a manufacturer of a cryptographic engine need not be the same entity as a supplier/generator of a policy (e.g., government) to which the cryptographic engine s algorithms are constrained to conform.
Beneficial, and therefore desirable or needed, is an apparatus and method having distinct executable modules and policy data structures sufficiently separable to reduce the cost of customizing an entire software system. Thus, a system is needed that is adaptable to inexpensive customization without implementing an embedded policy.
Also needed is an apparatus and method for separating a policy from an algorithm to enable flexibility in the management and delivery of cryptographic capabilities in conformance with the local regulations. For example, some method is needed by which a manufacturer can produce a cryptographic engine, but exclude a policy certificate permitting use of the algorithms implemented by that engine. That is, a method is needed by which a manufacturer or one or more other policy certificate authorities may separately offer key and policy authorization, certification, and verification conforming to local regulations.
Further need exists for an apparatus and method whereby a plurality of dynamically linked cryptographic modules might be hosted within a single base application. Accordingly, the dynamically inked cryptographic modules might be separately accessed, authorized, and used, and might operate independently of each other. Such a need exists whereby the individual dynamically linked cryptographic modules, singly, or as a whole might be absent from the base application without significantly limiting the operation of the base application.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Nested strong loader apparatus and method


A medical tubing quick disconnect apparatus for connecting two tube ends, is provided with clamping jaws for shutting off flow through one of the tube ends, to enable separation of the components of the disconnect apparatus.

1. The Technical Field
The present invention is directed to tubing connection and disconnection apparatus, particular in the environment of medical tubing devices.
2. The Prior Art
When individuals are hospitalized, or otherwise being treated, it is often necessary that such persons be catheterized, in their urinary tract, both during the hospital stay, and often for extended periods thereafter. Typically, the catheterizations involve the actual catheter, a length of uninterrupted tubing, which terminates in a fitting to a collection bag.
Difficulties arise, when the collection bag is full and must be changed, or when switching from a large bag (in-home use) to a smaller bag (for use when moving about or leaving the home). The recuperating patient must either externally clamp or knot the tubing, prior to disconnecting the tubing from the bag and changing the bag.
It would be desirable to provide a device for enabling the rapid disconnection and re-connection of tubing, such as catheter tubing, for example to facilitate the changing from one bag to another, whether for replacing a full bag, or for switching between larger and smaller bags.
It would also be desirable to provide such a tubing disconnect apparatus that has a simple and reliable structure and mode of operation, with positive locking when connected.
It would be further desirable to provide a tubing quick disconnect apparatus that shuts off the flow through the tubing, prior to making the disconnect.
These and other desirable characteristics of the present invention will become apparent in view of the present specification, including claims, and drawings.

Medical tubing quick disconnect apparatus


A method and a circuit for masking digital data handled by an algorithm and factorized by a residue number system based on a finite base of numbers or polynomials prime to one another, comprising making the factorization base variable.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to algorithmic processings performed on digital data handled by a microprocessor or an integrated circuit. The present invention more specifically relates to processings performed on digital data in cryptographic cyphering or authentication applications implementing so-called secured algorithms. In such applications, the data handled by the algorithms and on which basic operations (additions, multiplications) are performed must be protectable against piracy, that is, against external attacks aiming at discovering secret data and/or the calculation algorithm.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
For example, when an integrated circuit (be it a microprocessor or an operator in wired logic) executes a calculation on data, this calculation has an influence upon its power consumption. An analysis of the power consumption of the integrated circuit during the algorithm execution may enable a pirate to discover the processed data or the algorithm which executes them. Such attacks by analysis of the power consumption of an integrated circuit handling data are known as the SPA (single power analysis) or the DPA (differential power analysis).
An example of application of the present invention relates to authentication procedures of digital files (for example, audio files) or of electronic processing elements (for example, smart cards) to validate the authorization of the user to have access to information (for example, audio data or on-chip data).
For questions of calculation rapidity and of algorithm implementation ease, the numbers on which operations are desired to be performed by automatic calculation means may be factorized by application of the so-called Chinese remainder theorem (CRT).
The Chinese remainder theorem, applied to integers, may be expressed as follows. For any sequence of numbers mi (i ranging between 1 and n) prime to one another and for any sequence of integers xi, there is a single integer x smaller than the product of the sequence of prime numbers of the factorization base, such that for any i:xi=x modulo mi.
This means that, for a finite sequence of numbers mi, prime to one another, any number smaller than the product of this finite sequence can be represented uniquely, in a sequence of positive integers in a number equal to the number of elements of the sequence of numbers prime to one another. This representation is called the residue number system (RNS) representation.
In other words, for any integer x between 0 and M, where M represents the product of prime numbers mi of the factorization base, one may write:
                              x          =                                                                                    ∑                                      i                    =                    1                                    n                                                                                x                    i                                    ·                                      m                    i                                    ·                                                                                                          M                        i                                                  -                          1                                                                                                                                  m                      i                                                                                                        M                          ,                                                                              with                                                                                M                    =                                    ∏                              i                =                1                            n                                                  m              i                                      ,                              M            i                    =                      M                          m              i                                      ,                                                                and  where                                                                                                              M                i                                  -                  1                                                                                  m              i                                                          (formula  1)            is the inverse of number Mi modulo mi. Notation |. . . |M is used to designate a number (here, the result of the sum) modulo M.
The advantage of residue number systems is that operations such as addition, subtraction, and multiplication are simplified and can be executed in parallel architectures. In fact, the elementary operations can be performed on each integer of the factorization of the number to be calculated. The result is then obtained by applying above formula 1 to the result.
For example, two numbers x and y on which a calculation is desired to be performed are factorized by using the same base of prime numbers. After, the addition, subtraction, and product operations are carried out on the elements of the factorization, modulo the corresponding prime numbers. A set of values is obtained in the factorization base, which are recombined to obtain the result.
The major advantage of an automated execution of the calculations by means of integrated circuits is that the individual operations modulo the numbers of the factorization base involve numbers always having the same size, which enables execution of these calculations by means of parallel architectures and within a same duration.
However, a disadvantage is that the processed numbers are more easily detectable by the different attacks, especially, by power analysis of the integrated circuit.
Conventionally, to mask the processing of one or several numbers, these numbers are combined with random quantities, before the algorithmic processing.
A disadvantage is that this modifies the processed number(s), which imposes performing a reverse modification at the end of the processing to recover the expected result.
Another disadvantage is that the masking increases the processing complexity as well as the duration of the full calculation.
More generally, the residue number system applying the Chinese remainder theorem applies when the operations and operands are those of any finite body. For example, this system applies to a body of polynomials modulo an irreducible polynomial, or to the body of integers modulo a prime number.

Masking of factorized data in a residue number system


Methods of forming microelectronic devices by disposing a radiation curable underfill material or adhesive material between a substrate and a microelectronic die, and exposing any radiation curable material which bleeds-out therefrom to radiation before or immediately after disposition, thereby reducing the extent of material bleed-out.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to methods for disposing underfill and adhesive materials during microelectronic package fabrication. In particular, the present invention relates to utilizing radiation curable materials, which, when exposed to such radiation, prevents excessive bleed-out during the fabrication of the microelectronic packages.
2. State of the Art
In the field of electronic systems, there is continuous competitive pressure to increase the performance of components while reducing production costs. This competitive pressure is particularly intense in the fabrication of microelectronic devices, where each new generation must provide increased performance while also reducing the size or footprint of the microelectronic device.
As shown in FIG. 17, an exemplary microelectronic package includes a microelectronic die 202 that is mounted on a substrate 204, such as an interposer, a motherboard, and the like, which functionally connects the microelectronic die 202 through a hierarchy of electrically conductive paths (not shown) to the other electronic components (not shown). The illustrated method for electronically mounting the microelectronic die 202 to the substrate 204 is called flip chip bonding. In this mounting method, electrically conductive terminals or pads 206 on an active surface 208 of the microelectronic die 202 are attached directly to corresponding lands 212 on a surface 214 of the substrate 204 using reflowable solder bumps or balls 216, thermocompression bonding, or any other known methods of flip chip attachment.
To enhance the reliability of the solder bumps 216 connecting the microelectronic die pads 206 and the substrate lands 212, an underfill material is used to mechanically and physically reinforce them. In a known method of underfill encapsulation shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, a low viscosity underfill material 222, such as an epoxy material, is dispensed from at least one dispensing needle 230 along at least one edge 224 (usually one or two edges) of the microelectronic die 202. The underfill material 222 is drawn between the microelectronic die 202 and the substrate 204 by capillary action (in generally the x-direction shown as arrows 240 in FIG. 19), and the underfill material 222 is subsequently cured (hardened) using heat, which forms the microelectronic package 200 shown in FIG. 20.
With the pressure to decrease the size of the microelectronic packages, bump pitch 226 and bump height 228 has decreased. Thus, it has become successively more difficult to obtain adequate underfill material dispersion without continuously decreasing the viscosity of the underfill material 222 or improving its wettability properties. However, decreasing the viscosity and/or improving the wettability of the underfill material 222 results in the underfill material 222 bleeding out and substantially surrounding the microelectronic die 202, as shown in FIGS. 20 and 21. This bleed-out area beyond the edges 224 of the microelectronic die 202 is generally referred to as a "bleed-out tongue" 232 having a varying width 234. The bleed-out tongue 232 is a problem because it can cover and contaminate valuable surface area on the substrate 204.
For example, as shown in FIG. 22, an exemplary stacked package 250 includes a microelectronic die 202 that is mounted on a substrate 204 with a plurality of solder bumps 216 extending between microelectronic die pads 206 and substrate lands 212, as discussed with regard to FIG. 17. A second microelectronic die 242 is attached by its back surface 244 to a back surface 246 of the microelectronic die 202 with a layer of adhesive 248. A plurality of wirebonds 252 makes electrical contact between lands 254 on an active surface 256 of the second microelectronic die 242 and wirebond lands 258 on the substrate 204. The substrate wirebond lands 258 are placed as close to the microelectronic die 202 as possible in order to conserve the valuable surface area in the substrate 204 and also meet chip scale package small form factor requirements. However, FIG. 22 illustrates the stacked package 250 without an underfill material. As shown in FIG. 23, the underfill material 222 is disposed before the wirebonds 252 (see FIG. 22) are attached. However, the bleed-out tongue 232 can have a width 234, which covers the wirebond lands 258. Thus, at least the portion of the bleed-out tongue 232 covering the wirebond lands 258 would have to be removed in order to attach the wirebonds 252 (see FIG. 22). This, of course, is difficult and may reduce the reliability of the microelectronic device, as well as increasing the package cost.
As shown in FIG. 24, the bleed-out problem also exists when the second microelectronic die 242 of FIG. 23 is directly attached by its back surface 244 to the substrate 204 rather than being stacked. An adhesive material 262 is disposed between the substrate 204 and the second microelectronic die 242. When the second microelectronic die 242 is positioned and placed on the substrate 204, the adhesive material 262 can bleed-out and cover the wirebond lands 258, which would have to be removed in order to attach the wirebonds 252 (see FIG. 22). This, again, is difficult and may reduce the reliability of the microelectronic device, as well as increasing the package cost.
Therefore, it would be advantageous to develop techniques to effectively dispose underfill and adhesive materials between a microelectronic die and the substrate while substantially reducing the bleed-out.

Methods of reducing bleed-out of underfill and adhesive materials


The present invention provides a colorless multiplexing system and method for detecting new optical channels at power levels below that which would cause data errors in existing traffic, and on top of background light, thus, overcoming a known risk inherent in colorless multiplexing—that a channel of the same wavelength as an existing channel is incorrectly added to the original working, traffic-carrying, channel's path.

Colorless combiners and multiplexers are used to combine wavelengths. For example, in a dynamic wavelength router (DWR) variable optical attenuator mux module (VMUX) a colorless combiner is used to colorlessly combine local add channels. A colorless combiner is also used in a booster-combiner amplifier to colorlessly combine local add channels with express channels from other node degrees.
However, a risk in colorless multiplexing is the potential for the addition of incorrect channel wavelengths that are already in use by working, traffic-carrying, channels, thus causing wavelength collisions and data errors. Such incorrect wavelengths may occur due to errors in tunable-wavelength settings, or by erroneous choice of fixed-wavelength data cards. If the incorrect wavelength is permitted to ramp up in power, then interference will occur between local add channels, or between add and express channels, even when using colored VMUX modules (if they are subtending to a wavelength selective service (WSS)). See, for example, in FIG. 1, wherein a reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer (ROADM) node is shown, illustrating modules that are colorless combiners (elements 114, 116), and further illustrating potentially interfering paths (i.e. the dashed lines).
Modulation of data channels is well known in the art. For example, modulation of data channels is used to identify working channels, to quantify parameters in working channels, and to carry ancillary information. U.S. Pat. No. 5,390,185, issued to Hooijmans et al. on Feb. 14, 1995, discloses a transmission system that includes a transmitter for transmitting to a communication channel a send signal, which is a combination of a main signal and an auxiliary signal. U.S. Pat. No. 5,798,857, issued to Tamura et al. on Aug. 25, 1998, discloses spontaneous emission occurring in association with direct optical amplification using an erbium-doped optical fiber that is modulated with an auxiliary signal, such as a supervisory signal, for transmission of the auxiliary signal. U.S. Pat. No. 5,995,256, issued to Fee on Nov. 30, 1999, discloses a method and apparatus that are provided for high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) optical subcarrier management and reception in a communication network. U.S. Pat. No. 6,108,113, issued to Fee on Aug. 22, 2000, discloses a method and system for transporting ancillary network data wherein a sub-carrier modulation signal containing ancillary network data is superimposed on a high bit-rate data signal prior to transport over an optical link. Additionally, U.S. Pat. No. 6,574,016, issued to Harley et al. on Jun. 3, 2003, discloses a method and apparatus for ancillary data in a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) system wherein a low bit rate channel is provided over an amplitude modulated sub-carrier that is used to amplitude intensity modulate an optical data signal that is output from a transmitter in the network. Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 7,054,556, issued to Wan et al. on May 30, 2006, discloses the use of fast Fourier Transform (FFT) detection of channel modulation for working traffic channel identification.
Also known in the art is the method of using colored multiplexors (filters) to prevent incorrect wavelengths from being added. However, if colored multiplexors (filters) are introduced, then the system is no longer a colorless multiplex system. Additionally, another method known in the art is to try and detect new channels by a direct power reading before bringing the later channel up to full power. Background light often makes a direct power measurement insensitive, so that the power needed to detect a new channel is higher than the threshold for causing data errors in existing traffic.
The patents disclosed above demonstrate how information may be carried continuously via various modulations techniques, or identify wavelengths in channels at working power. None of these systems or methods, however, are used to verify the suitability of an optical wavelength for addition to an optical system before it is made operational and brought to potentially damaging power, because they lack the ability to cross-correlate modulation information with the physical wavelength selectivity of the Optical Channel Monitor (OCM).
Thus, what is needed is a system and method for detecting new optical channels at powers below that which would cause data errors in existing traffic. Furthermore, what is needed is a system and method for detecting new optical channels at these power levels while on top of background light.

System and method for a channel guard in a reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer


A short cell management unit capable of carrying out OAM (operation, administration and maintenance) functions on short cell connection basis (newly defined F7 flow) included in VC (virtual connection) in addition to OAM functions on VC basis (F5 flow) which are defined in a conventional B-ISDN. The F7 flow includes the entire OAM functions such as fault management, performance management, which are included in F4 and F5 flows that carry out the management by causing a standard OAM cell defined in the existing B-ISDN to flow. To implement this, a variable length OAM cell is newly provided as one of the short cells, and a base station and a switching office are newly provided with a short OAM cell/standard OAM cell translator for carrying out mapping between the short OAM cell and the standard OAM cell. Furthermore, a generally used standard OAM processor is used for implementing the management functions (F4 and F5 flow) defined in the standard B-ISDN.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a short cell management unit and method, and more particularly to a short cell management unit and method for managing a short cell terminal unit included in a short cell multiplex ATM transmission system for transmitting a plurality of the short cells multiplexed in the payload of a standard ATM cell.


A device and a method for analyzing objects, including buildings, build environments and/or environment areas is proposed. Image data points of an object are gathered and geo-referenced in order to generate object data points. Properties of the object such as material composition, material state or material properties are determined based spectral characteristics evaluation. Three-dimensional object models are generated in accordance with the evaluation of spectral characteristics.

Web mapping services are capable of featuring maps for a variety of locations such as cities and towns or natural landscapes. In particular, map imagery in one location may comprise a birds eye perspective that directly integrates three-dimensional landscape and terrain features. For example, textured 3-D building models may be displayed in a map representation.
Moreover, these web mapping services can also provide street-level views of various locations. In particular, panoramas of stitched images can be displayed upon request, providing a user with a 360° panoramic street-level view of a chosen map location.
Moreover, advanced driver assistance systems for vehicles are designed to avoid collisions and accidents by offering technologies that alert the driver to potential problems, or to avoid collisions by implementing safeguards and taking over control of the vehicle. In particular, driver assistance systems may be configured to recognize objects in the proximity of a vehicle and to warn a driver when there is an imminent collision or take action on anonymously.
However, the level of detailed information provided for three-dimensional structure models in web mapping services as well as in driving assistance systems is limited. In particular, current systems do not provide sufficient information relating to object composition (e.g. what kind of materials are contained in a displayed building façade) or material properties such as a material degradation state or a contamination state of a displayed object.


A work station includes a lower work surface and a pair of tiered article support sections located above the work surface. The work surface defines a generally planar area along an inner edge thereof, and an inclined storage area which angles upwardly and outwardly away from the planar area for the storage of documents thereon. The tiered article support sections include a lower tier which extends vertically and includes an erasable marker board surface. Each lower tier supports an upper tier which defines an upper shelf or ledge for the storage of documents. A worker using this computer work station is able to readily store, view and access documents located either on the work surface or the article support sections to facilitate organization of work-in-progress.

Most offices provide conventional work surfaces such as tables and desks for supporting papers and the like. However, for jobs or projects which involve a large volume of paper, conventional work surfaces typically have a limited amount of table or desk top space. This limited space can make it more difficult to manage or control a large amount of papers or documents as they are being used. More specifically, the worker typically has a limited amount of space in which to spread out and display the documents. Further, even when the documents are spread out on the work surface, those documents that are stored in the areas of the work surface located farthest away from the worker typically are more difficult to access and view.
It is an object of the invention, therefore, to provide a work station which overcomes many of the difficulties associated with displaying and accessing documents on conventional work surfaces.
This invention relates to a work station which provides an increased surface display area which facilitates the display and organization of the documents being used by a worker, i.e. the worker's work-in-progress. In particular, the inventive work station includes a lower work surface and a pair of tiered article support sections located above the work surface which more effectively displays work-in-progress and increases the display area on which the documents can be stored.
More particularly, the work surface is horizontally enlarged and is U-shaped so as to provide a work surface area which partially wraps around the user to facilitate access to documents being stored thereon. The work surface includes a generally flat or horizontal work area which is defined by the area along an inner edge of the work surface that is closest to the user. This inner work area provides the primary area, for example, for writing or for the use of a computer keyboard.
The work surface also includes an inclined storage area which angles upwardly and outwardly away from the work area and the user located adjacent thereto. The inclined storage area is provided for the storage of documents, for example, that are used more frequently wherein the inclination of the storage surface makes it easier to review and locate the documents.
The tiered article support sections further increase the amount of display area in the work station. The article support sections are spaced upwardly above the lower work surface and preferably are located to the left and right sides of the worker. Each section includes a lower tier which extends horizontally along an outer edge of the work surface and vertically at an inclined angle. The lower tier preferably includes a functional surface, such as an erasable marker board surface to allow a worker to take notes and draw sketches.
Each of the left and right article support sections further includes an upper tier which extends vertically upwardly from the lower tier and is horizontally offset so as to define an upper shelf or ledge on which documents can be readily stored. The documents are stored at such an angle to allow a user to readily see, identify and access the documents. Further, the upper tier also is formed of a marker board material to define an additional functional surface on which a user can readily write and take notes. The markable surfaces of the upper and lower tiers alternatively can be formed of other functional materials, such as a tackable material.
The work station further includes a height adjustable computer monitor which is located in a region between the left and right article support sections, preferably in front of a user. The computer monitor is spaced above the inclined area of the work surface to allow papers to be stored directly underneath the computer monitor.
With this work station, a worker seated thereon is partially surrounded by the horizontal work surface while the article support sections extend upwardly above the left and right sides of the work surface. The worker can thereby work in this work station while being able to readily store, see and access documents located either on the work surface or the article support sections, and also can readily use the markable surfaces thereof. The work station thereby makes it easier for a worker to organize his or her work-in-progress.
Other objects and purposes of the invention, and variations thereof, will be apparent upon reading the following specification and inspecting the accompanying drawings.


An arrangement in passenger vehicles, that provide a mechanism for reducing the peak inertial loading on the occupant including children during lateral acceleration, and has synergistic comfort, convenience and utility features.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention defines a means to incorporate in passenger vehicles, unique occupant supports that enhance the safety, comfort, utility and convenience. The special needs of child seats for vehicle have not evolved much beyond a static plastic seat with solid wings and projections to prevent excessive movement. This invention allows movement of the occupant to improve the well being of the occupant on the measures noted.
2. Objects & Advantages
Some of the objects and advantages of the present invention are safety arrangements particularly for lateral or side impacts that provide energy absorption and a reduction in the peak acceleration, intrusion into the space occupied by the passenger and reduce other factors that can seriously injure or kill passengers or occupants. The present invention also addresses the discomfort of lateral accelerations due to vehicle movement. This invention also addresses the special needs of children's support in vehicles to reduce injury, increase comfort, and improve convenience to the parent and finally the enhancing the experience and related child development that derives from stimuli absorbed while traveling in a vehicle.


In a memory device having a memory core and a signal interface, receiving a command that specifies at least a portion of a memory access. During the memory access, transferring data between the memory core and the signaling interface, and transferring the data between the signaling interface and an external signal path, and prior to transferring the data between the signaling interface and the external signal path, receiving enable information to selectively enable at least a first memory resource and a second memory resource, wherein each of the first memory resource and the second memory resource performs a control function associated with the memory access.

In modern memory devices, storage banks are commonly partitioned into a set of small, fast subbanks that may be accessed in parallel to write and read blocks of data that span the width of the full storage bank. The trend in a number of memory applications, however, is toward finer-grained memory access so that, in a read or write operation directed to multiple subbanks, many storage locations may be accessed unnecessarily, needlessly consuming power and increasing thermal loading. As memory bandwidth demand continues to increase in portable and compact applications, future memory components will likely need to reduce power consumption to extend battery life and/or meet thermal loading specifications.


A fitting for attaching ENT tubing to a concrete form has an inverted cup-like configuration with a bottom opening and an internal cavity within a fitting wall. A flange extends outwardly from the fitting wall around the bottom opening and has fastener-receiving holes for attaching the fitting to a plane surface of a concrete form. A socket extends through the fitting wall into the cavity for receiving an end portion of an ENT tube. The socket has a plurality of circumferentially-spaced resilient fingers that are inclined inwardly toward the socket axis for gripping an ENT tube. A pair of opposite fingers have teeth that are receivable in an annular groove in an end portion of a corrugated ENT tube. The teeth have rounded ends to facilitate ratcheting movement of the ENT tube end portion both into and out of the socket.

This application relates to the art of electrical fittings and, more particularly, to fittings for use with ENT tubing. The application is particularly concerned with fittings for attaching ENT tubing to concrete forms and will be described with specific reference thereto. However, it will be appreciated that the application has broader aspects and that features of the fitting can be used for other purposes in other environments.


A method for requesting a Base Station (BS) to assign sub-channels to a Subscriber Station (SS) in a communication system, The method includes determining a channel quality of sub-channels assigned using a normal sub-channel assignment scheme, transmitting, to the BS, a first codeword of a Channel Quality Indicator CHannel (CQICH) indicating a transition from the normal sub-channel assignment scheme to a band Adaptive Modulation and Coding (AMC) sub-channel assignment scheme, during a sub-channel assignment scheme transition based on the determined channel quality, transmitting a second codeword of the CQICH and a report response message in response to a report request message received from the BS, and transmitting, to the BS, differential Channel Quality Indicators (CQI) of the selected bands.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) communication system, and more particularly to a system and a method for assigning a sub-channel in a BWA communication system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Communication systems are now capable of providing voice services, data services, and various multimedia services. However, because the conventional voice-based communication system has a relatively small data transmission bandwidth and imposes high service charges on users, it is difficult to satisfy the increasing service demands of users.
In addition, with the development of communication industry and increase of user demands for an Internet service, it is more necessary to provide a communication system capable of satisfying the user demands.
Accordingly, a BWA communication system has been proposed, which has enough broadband to satisfy the user demands while efficiently providing an Internet service.
The BWA communication system integrates voice, low speed dates services and high speed data services with multimedia application services for high quality dynamic images, and then deliver these integrated services. The BWA communication system is capable of connecting to a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), a Packet Data Serving Node (PDSN) network, an Internet network, an International Mobile Telecommunication (IMT)-2000network, an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) network, etc., through wireless media using a broadband including 2 GHz, 5 GHz, 2 GHz, 60 GHz, etc. Further, the BWA communication system is capable of supporting a channel transmission rate of more than 2 Mbps.
Commonly, the BWA communication system is classified into a Broadband Wireless Local Loop (BWLL), a Broadband Radio Access Network (BRAN), and a high speed Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) according to a terminal's mobility (stationary or mobile), communication environments (indoor or outdoor), and a channel transmission rate.
The radio access scheme of the BWA communication system has been standardized by an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.16 standardization group. The IEEE 802.16 standardization group is currently establishing an IEEE 802.16d standard and an IEEE 802.16e standard as a standard for providing a wireless broadband Internet service to stationary terminals or mobile terminals. In particular, research is being performed to support a high speed service capable of ensuring mobility and various levels of Quality of Service (QoS) in a BWA communication system such as a WLAN communication system and a wireless Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) communication system. Representative communication systems of the BWA communication system are the IEEE 802.16d communication system and the IEEE 802.16e communication system (hereinafter commonly referred to as IEEE 802.16d/e communication systems).
The IEEE 802.16d/e communication systems utilize an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) scheme/an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) scheme in order to support a broadband transmission network for a physical channel of the wireless MAN system. However, the IEEE 802.16d communication system considers only a single cell structure and stationary Subscriber Station (SS), which means the system does not accommodate the mobility of the SSs at all. The IEEE 802.16e communication system accommodates the mobility of an SS in the IEEE 802.16d communication system. Herein, an SS having the mobility will be referred to as a Mobile Station (MS).
Because the IEEE 802.16d/e communication systems have a wide data transmission bandwidth as compared to radio technology for an existing voice service, they can transmit mass storage data in a short amount of time and efficiently use channels by sharing all user channels. Further, because the IEEE 802.16d/e communication systems ensure QoS, users can receive various services of different qualities according to the characteristics of a service.
In the IEEE 802.16d/e communication systems, because all users connected to a Base Station (BS) share and use a common channel and intervals, for which each user uses the channel, are assigned by the BS in each uplink and downlink frame, the BS must inform each user of uplink and downlink access information so that each user can separately use the channel.
Accordingly, the IEEE 802.16d/e communication systems classify channel information into uplink and downlink channel information, define information for each channel by Type, Length and Value (TLV), insert the defined information for each channel into a Downlink Channel Descriptor (DCD) message and a Uplink Channel Descriptor (UCD) message, aid periodically transmit the DCD and UCD messages to all users, thereby informing SSs of characteristic information for channels,
FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a conventional frame structure of an IEEE 802.16d or IEEE 802.16e communication system.
Referring to FIG. 1, a frame is classified into a downlink (DL) sub-frame 100 and an uplink (UL) sub-frame 140. The downlink sub-frame 100 includes a preamble field 110, an MAP field 120, and a downlink (DL) burst field 130. The preamble field 110 is a field through which synchronization signals, i.e., a downlink preamble sequence, are transmitted in order to acquire synchronization between a BS and SSs. The MAP field 120 is a field through which a downlink-MAP message is transmitted, and the DL burst field 130 is a field through which downlink data targeting the SSs are transmitted. The downlink sub-frame 100 includes sub-channels assigned through a normal sub-channel assignment scheme and a band Adaptive Modulation and Coding (AMC) sub-channel assignment scheme, The uplink sub-frame 140 includes an uplink (LJL) burst field through which uplink data targeting the BS are transmitted from the SSs.
The IEEE 802.16 d/e communication systems assign resources to each user through an uplink and a downlink by the sub-channel, which is a set of specific sub-carriers. The band AMC sub-channel assignment scheme adaptively changes a modulation technique and a coding technique according to wireless environments in order to improve the data transmission efficiency. Further, because it's a basic algorithm for the band AMC sub-channel assignment scheme is already known to those skilled to the art, a detailed description will be omitted.
The normal sub-channel assignment scheme may include a Partial Usage Sub-Channel (PUSC) assignment scheme, a Full Usage Sub-Channel (FUSC) assignment scheme, an optional FU)SC assignment scheme, an AMC permutation assignment scheme, etc. For an uplink, a PUSC, an optional FUSC, an AMC permutation, etc., exist. All other sub-channel assignment schemes excluding the band AMC sub-channel assignment scheme basically assign sub-carriers randomly scattered in an entire frequency domain to one sub-channel, thereby causing each user receiving sub-channels to acquire frequency diversity gain.
In the IEEE 802.I6 d/e communication systems, a BS assigns Channel Quality Indicator Channels (CQICHs) for reporting its own Channel Quality Indicator (CQI) to the SSs, and each of the SSs informs the BS of its own channel conditions through the assigned CQICH. The CQICH is a uplink channel used when the SS measures and compares reception qualities of downlink pilot channels received from BSs included in an active set, selects one BS from which the SS is to receive downlink packet data, and feedbacks the reception qualities of the pilot channels to the BS. That is, the CQICH represents a channel assigned to the SSs for the CQI.
More specifically, in the IEEE 802.16 d/e communication systems, the BS assigns the CQICH to all SSs, and each SS may transfer the CQI of 5 bits or 6 bits to the BS through the CQICH. For example, because the CQI of 6 bits, which may be transmitted from each SS through the CQICH corresponds to 26, it is possible to use the total 64 codewords. From among the 64 codewords, 32 codewords are used in order to report a Carrier-to-Interference Noise Ratio (CINR) value of a channel to the BS. With the exception of the already defined codewords used for other purposes of the other 32 codewords not being used for reporting the CINR value, seven codewords have not yet been currently defined.
If an SS has received a sub-channel through the normal sub-channel assignment scheme, the SS transitions an average CINR value for a Whole bandwidth according to 32(25) levels for
a 5 bit encoding, and transmits encoding results to a BS through the CQICH.
If an SS has received a sub-channel through the band AMC sub-channel assignment scheme, the SS selects five bands having the best channel conditions, and transmits a differential value between CINR values for the selected bands to the BS. When the differential value received from the SS is 1, the BS determines that a CINR value of the current frame is larger than a CINR value of the previous frame. However, when the differential value is 0, the BS determines that the CINR value of the current frame is smaller than the CINR value of the previous frame.
When the BS assigns sub-channels through the band AMC sub-channel scheme, it is necessary to report CINR values for each band of the SSs to which the sub-channels are assigned.
FIGS. 2 and 3 are flow diagrams schematically illustrating conventional signal flows for sub-channel assignment between a BS and an SS in wither an IEEE 802.16d or IEEE 802.16e communication system. More specifically, FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating a BS transmitting a CQI request to the SS and assigning a sub-channel to the SS, and FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating an SS requesting the BS to assign a sub-channel by transmitting a CQI to the BS.
Referring to FIG. 2, the BS 220 transmits a CQI Report Request (REP-RFQ) message to the SS 210 in step 201. The SS 210 transmits a Report Response (REP-RSP) message including its own CQI to the BS 220 in response to the REP-REQ message in step 202. After receiving the REP-RSP message including the CQI from the SS 210, the BS 220 assigns a sub-channel through the band AMC sub-channel assignment scheme in step 203. After receiving the sub-channel from the BS 220 through the band AMC sub-channel assignment scheme, the SS 210 selects five bands having the best channel conditions, and transmits a CQI including a differential value between CINR values for the five selected bands, i.e., a Band AMC Differential CQI, to the BS 220 from a frame, after transmitting the REP-RSP message in step 204.
Referring to FIG. 3, when the SS 310 is to receive a sub-channel from the BS 320 through the band AMC sub-channel assignment scheme, the SS 310 transmits the REP-RSP message including its own CQI to the BS 320 without reception of the REP-REQ message. That is, the SS 310 informs the BS 320 that the SS 310 is to first receive the sub-channel through the band AMC sub-channel assignment scheme in step 301. The BS 320 assigns the sub-channel through the band AMC sub-channel assignment scheme in step 302.
After receiving the sub-channel from the BS 320 through the band AMC sub-channel assignment scheme, the SS 310 selects five bands having tie best channel conditions, and transmits a CQI including a differential value between CINR values for the five selected bands, i.e., a Band AMC Differential CQI, to the BS 320 from a frame after transmitting the REP-RSP message in step 303.
When a BS assigns a sub-channel through the normal sub-channel assignment scheme, the BS assigns the sub-channel by using the downlink MAP message of the MAP field 120 in FIG. I without using separate signals through the normal sub-channel assignment scheme, and an SS having received the sub-channel from the BS through the normal sub-channel assignment scheme reports an average CINR value for a whole bandwidth to the BS. That is, when the SS receives the sub-channel through the band AMC sub-channel assignment scheme, the SS selects five bands having the best channel conditions, and reports only a differential value between CINR values for the five selected bands. However, when the SS receives the sub-channel through the normal sub-channel assignment scheme, the SS reports the average CINR value for the whole bandwidth to the BS.
Herein, in the IEEE 802.16 d/e communication systems, it may be impossible for a BS to normally receive the REP-RSP message transmitted from an SS for reception of the sub-channel through the band AMC sub-channel assignment scheme. When the BS has not normally received the REP-RSP message from the SS, the BS may determine the differential value between the CINR values for the five bands having the best channel conditions, which is transmitted from a frame after the SS has transmitted the REP-RSP message, as the average CINR value for the whole bandwidth. Therefore, a problem may occur in the sub-channel assignment through the band AMC scheme and it may be difficult to provide a communication service to the SS. Further, the stability and reliability of the system may deteriorate

System and method for assigning a sub-channel in a BWA communication system


One system of the present invention includes a modulated light source subsystem to provide a first light signal with a first modulation index, and a second light signal with a second modulation index. The system also includes a region to receive an analyte for evaluation and direct the first light signal thereto, and a detector responsive to the second light signal and a third light signal from the region to provide an output representative of spectroscopic information. The third light signal further includes noise induced by residual amplitude modulation that is reduced at the detector by the second light signal in accordance with a difference between the first modulation index and the second modulation index.

The present application relates to the reduction of undesired amplitude modulation, and more particularly, but not exclusively, relates to the reduction of residual amplitude modulation in frequency-modulated signals carrying information.
Various techniques for detecting extremely low concentrations of a substance of interest have been developed that involve Frequency Modulation (FM) of a laser beam. These techniques include Frequency Modulation Spectroscopy (FMS), wideband FM, Wavelength Modulation Spectroscopy (WMS), and the like. Generally, the frequency-modulated laser light is directed through an analyte that is characterized by spectral absorption and/or dispersion of the interrogating light. The returned light, an altered form of the interrogating light, is detected and evaluated to determine these spectroscopic characteristics of interest. More particularly, FMS can utilize a one-tone modulation technique or a two-tone modulation technique as is further explained in the article by Silver, Joel A., Frequency-Modulation Spectroscopy for Trace Species Detection: Theory and Comparison Among Experimental Methods, APPLIED OPTICS, Vol. 31, No. 6 (20 Feb. 1992), which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Frequency modulation of laser light typically results in an undesired amount of Amplitude Modulation (AM), so-called Residual Amplitude Modulation (RAM), due to nonideal behavior of the laser and/or other elements of the system. Unfortunately, residual amplitude modulation limits the sensitivity of FM techniques with lasers—functioning as a form of noise that can at least partially obscure spectroscopic information in the output signal.
One scheme to reduce residual amplitude modulation depends on frequency modulation of the laser beam with an Electro-Optic Modulator (EOM). Unfortunately, the frequency modulation index range available with existing EOMs is somewhat limited—such that very high modulation frequencies are needed—correspondingly increasing cost and complexity of the system. Furthermore, suitable EOMs are not available for certain interrogation wavelength ranges that have promising applications.
In principle, it has been recognized that residual amplitude modulation can be avoided by detecting an absorption signal in a phase-sensitive manner when the phase of the residual amplitude modulation is different from the phase of the frequency modulation signal. Generally, it is optimal that this phase difference be 90°. However, this scheme is also limited by very stringent requirements regarding linearity and dynamic range of various system elements. Furthermore, phase of the residual amplitude modulation needs to remain stable for such schemes to be effective.
Still another scheme exists peculiar to lead-salt lasers. For this scheme, the laser is operated at or near an operational limit for which laser output power is generally independent of electric current. Drawbacks of this approach include a limited availability of wavelengths for absorption detection and the adverse impact such operation has on the lifetime of the laser.
Accordingly, there is a need for further contributions in this area of technology.

Reduction of residual amplitude modulation in frequency-modulated signals


A computer mouse for generating and delivering control signals to a computer includes a foot-operated device having a housing with a top foot engaging surface, a bottom surface and an interior with one or more rollers rotatably captivated therein and disposed in moving engagement with a fixed surface. Movement of the user's foot is transmitted to the rollers, causing rotation of the rollers in a direction corresponding with the direction of foot movement. Detectors within the housing sense movement of the rollers in the x and y directions and translate the roller motion into electrical signals by generating pulses. A micro controller receives and interprets the pulses to determine linear direction of movement of the rollers in the x and y direction and transmits the interpreted data to a computer. Mechanical clicking operation is provided, wherein the one or more rollers are axially moved in response to downward force of the user's foot on the mouse, causing a switch to be operated momentarily to an on state. Alternatively, the clicking operation is performed electronically, wherein light sensors detect foot movement by comparing sensed light with predetermined ambient light conditions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a foot-controlled computer mouse for use independently or in conjunction with a hand-operated computer mouse for delivering control signals to a computer.
2. Description of the Related Art
The operating systems of most state of the art computers, including the software which runs on these systems, is largely dependent on the use of a mouse for moving a pointer or cursor on the display and to activate specific areas and/or icons on the display. Systems such as WINDOWS 95 and MACINTOSH systems require the user to use a hand-operated computer mouse in order to perform numerous functions to operate the computer and to utilize software programs. Further, use of various programs to navigate on the Internet is highly dependent on the point and click operations of a computer mouse.
While the use of a hand-operated computer mouse to enter commands and perform various functions on a computer has been well accepted and is now a standard operating component, there are times when the use of a hand-operated mouse is inconvenient. For instance, when completing a form or making entries on a spreadsheet, it is necessary to move the cursor (pointer) to each area on the form and then to click on the mouse to activate that area prior to making an alpha numeric entry using the keyboard. Performing this task requires the computer operator to constantly remove his/her hand from the keyboard to grasp the mouse in order to move the cursor to the next entry area. This constant hand movement between the keyboard and mouse reduces the efficiency of the computer operator and sometimes results in confusion if the operator looses his/her place on the display. In other instances, a typist using a word processing program may find it inconvenient and burdensome to constantly remove their hands from the keyboard to operate the mouse when entering menu commands to perform various functions of the word processing software.
In view of the problems and limitations associated with the use of a hand-operated computer mouse, there is an urgent need in the art for a computer mouse which does not require use of the hands so that the computer operator can maintain his/her hands on the keyboard or other peripheral computer operating device. The present invention proposes a solution to the problems and limitations of the hand-operated computer mouse and provides a foot-controlled computer mouse which frees the computer operator's hands to operate the keyboard or other peripheral devices.


To provide an autonomous moving body capable of moving with efficiency along a path toward a travel end point while avoiding a collision with a moving obstacle, its control method, and its control system. An autonomous moving body in accordance with the present invention includes means to create a traveling path of the autonomous moving body that extends from a travel start point to a travel end point, means to calculate a point at which a moving obstacle located within the moving area crosses the created traveling path of the autonomous moving body as a collision prediction point, means to calculate a first passage time period during which the moving obstacle passes through the collision prediction point, and means to calculate a second passage time period during which the autonomous moving body passes through the collision prediction point. Further, if at least a part of the second passage time period overlaps the first passage time period, the traveling speed of the autonomous moving body is adjusted so that the second passage time period does not overlap the first passage time period.

In recent years, the development of vehicles, walking robots, and the likes that move autonomously in a predetermined moving area such as a limited area indoors or outdoors, i.e., the so-called "autonomous moving bodies" has been pursued. An autonomous moving body like this not only recognizes the own position of the autonomous moving body within a moving area, but also creates a traveling path, along which the autonomous mobbing body attempts to move, in advance or in real-time.
If an obstacle exists in the moving area when the autonomous moving body creates a traveling path, the autonomous moving body creates a traveling path in such a manner that the autonomous moving body does not collide with the obstacle. Note that examples of the obstacle include a fixed obstacle that is fixed and thus do not move, and a moving obstacle that moves such as people and other robots. With regard to the fixed obstacle, by creating a traveling path while defining the vicinity of the obstacle as a prohibited area at the start, any problem can be prevented from occurring even in cases where the traveling path is created in a successive manner. However, the moving obstacle causes various problems because it moves. For example, if such a moving obstacle has a large moving speed, the position of the moving obstacle changes whenever a new traveling path is created, and therefore the traveling path is widely changed. As a result, there is a possibility the autonomous moving body could not track the path completely and could collide with the obstacle. In particular, if a moving obstacle moves so as to come relatively closer to the autonomous moving body, the risk of collision increases.
Patent document 1 discloses an autonomous moving device that stores a predetermined maximum speed, an acceleration, and a deceleration as traveling control conditions, uses a traveling control target area that is defined ahead of the moving device in the traveling direction in advance, and changes the setting of the traveling speed in the traveling direction based on the control conditions only when an obstacle is detected within the traveling control area. In the autonomous moving device disclosed in Patent document 1, since the moving device does not react to any obstacle located outside the traveling control area, the number of reactions to objects other than obstacles on the passageway such as walls can be reduced. Therefore, it is possible to perform efficient traveling at a higher speed in comparison to cases where the traveling control area is not used.
Further, Patent document 2 discloses a bipedal walking robot that determines whether the walking of the robot should be stopped or not based on the relative distance and the relative angle between the robot and another moving body. Then, when the walking should be stopped, the bipedal robot performs control so that the moving distance that the bipedal robot moves before coming to a standstill becomes equal to or shorter than a predetermined distance. In the bipedal walking robot disclosed in Patent document 2, since the bipedal walking robot can stop at or within a predetermined distance when the robot comes closer to another moving body, the collision between the robot and the moving body can be avoided.
[Patent Document 1]
    Japanese Patent No. 3879860[Patent Document 2]    Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2004-299001

Autonomous moving body, its control method, and control system


A signal processing system which accepts input from an x-ray detector-preamplifier and produces a signal of reduced dynamic range for subsequent analog-to-digital conversion. The system conditions the input signal to reduce the number of bits required in the analog-to-digital converter by removing that part of the input signal which varies only slowly in time and retaining the amplitude of the pulses which carry information about the x-rays absorbed by the detector. The parameters controlling the signal conditioner's operation can be readily supplied in digital form, allowing it to be integrated into a feedback loop as part of a larger digital x-ray spectroscopy system.

The present invention relates generally to systems for digitally processing the pulses generated in detector systems in response to absorbed radiation and, more particularly, to analog conditioning the signals in such systems prior to their digitization and subsequent digital processing in high resolution, high rate, digital spectrometers for x-rays or gamma rays.
There is a need, in very high counting rate applications such as synchrotron radiation research, for improved x-ray spectrometers. In many of these applications it is desired to detect and count x-rays of one particular energy under conditions where such x-rays of interest are greatly outnumbered by x-rays of a different but nearby energy. A typical example would include X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) of dilute metallo-protein solutions, where elastically scattered incident x-rays (noise events) greatly outnumber the fluorescence x-rays (signal events) from the metal of interest. Since the x-ray spectrometer's total count rate capability is limited by energy resolution considerations, it spends most of its time processing noise pulses, which limits the acquisition rate of good signal pulses. Under these conditions it is advantageous to employ multiple detector systems to increase the total acquisition rate of good signals. Commercial spectrometers with 13 channels are now fairly commonly sold and many researchers are considering systems with over 100 channels. This technique is limited by several factors, including cost, lack of high count rate capability with pileup inspection, the lack of an energy resolved analysis of the spectrum seen by each detector, the practical difficulties associated with retuning the processing electronics for a large number of detector channels, and, often, the sheer bulk of the required electronics.
Cost is an important issue because of the large number of detector channels to be implemented. Typical instrumentation for a single detector channel using a high quality analog spectroscopy amplifier and energy spectrum analyzer ("multi-channel analyzer" or MCA) presently costs approximately $6,000. The cost of outfitting the desired 100 channels is thus prohibitively expensive for most researchers. Because of price and counting rate considerations, usually only an energy window analysis ("single channel analyzer" or SCA) is used, even for systems with only a few detectors.
A significant fraction of interesting synchrotron experiments also require energy analysis, however. These are typically experiments done using softer x-rays, in the region of 2000-4000 eV, where the energy resolution of even the best spectrometers is not adequate to fully resolve the signal energy of interest from the background energies. In these cases a simple SCA window cannot be set to accept only signal counts. Instead a full energy analysis is required, using peak fitting or deconvolution techniques to extract the signal peak from any nearby background peaks.
The throughput, or maximum countrate capability, of energy analyzing spectrometers is often set by the time it takes for the energy analyzer to process a pulse. During this time the system is "dead" and cannot accept other pulses. Common MCAs, particularly the low cost variety which are configured as personal computer cards, can be quite slow, usually limiting count rates to less than 50,000 per second. Because a factor of 10 increase is desired for synchrotron applications, MCAs are not usually employed and the cheaper and faster windowing SCAs are used instead.
Digital spectrometers have been viewed as a solution to both these problems since, once an x-ray signal pulse has been converted to a shaped peak by a digital filter and the peak's maximum value captured, the problem of providing the MCA function becomes easy since the captured magnitude is already a digital value and can be used directly as an address in the histogramming process required to produce a spectrum. No deadtime is introduced either, again because the value is already digital.
To inspect for pileup, the spectrometer must be able to detect the arrival times of the pulses coming from the preamplifier and then reject those that are closer together than the spectrometer's shaping time. If this is not done, such pulses are summed by the processing circuitry ("piling up"), and produce spectral distortions in the output. Because pileup occurs as the square of the input pulse rate, pileup inspection becomes a necessity when operating at the high count rates encountered in synchrotron experiments. The ability of the inspection circuitry to resolve sequential pulses in a digital system is generally limited by the sampling rate of its analog-to-digital converter (ADC), which defines the inter-sample period. As the number of sample periods between two sequential pulses decreases it becomes increasingly difficult to determine that, in fact, more than a single pulse is present. For very high data rates, then, high ADC sampling rates are required to minimize the number of undetected piled-up events.
Spectrometer bulk also becomes an issue when many detector channels are required. The conventional electronics required for a 13 element detector array alone completely fill an electronics rack. Thus considerably higher density is required if 100 element arrays are to be practically implemented, since even that single equipment rack has already begun to become unwieldy.
For these synchrotron applications, and many others as well, it would thus be advantageous to have a low cost, small volume spectrometry device capable of providing full energy analysis with good energy resolution at high count rates and be further capable of being interfaced to a computer system so that necessary tuning operations could be accomplished automatically by an appropriate program.
Spectrometers based on digital signal processing techniques have been considered as a solution to these problems as well, since digital circuitry is often both denser and cheaper than analog circuitry, because interfacing the spectrometer to a computer system would be quite natural, and, as noted above, providing MCA functionality could be accomplished, deadtime free, with little additional cost. In practice, however, practical attempts to produce low cost, digital spectrometer systems have failed. Experience shows that the preamplifier signal must be digitized with approximately 14 bits of accuracy in order to achieve acceptable energy resolution, and available ADCs which are both fast enough to give good time resolution and have this many bits are still very expensive. The only digitally based spectrometers produced to date have been approximately twice as expensive as conventional analog spectrometers.

Method and apparatus for analog signal conditioner for high speed, digital x-ray spectrometer


A primary flight control device for an aircraft, such as a flaperon attached to an aircraft wing, utilizes independent yet interactive airgap control systems designed to avoid weight penalties associated with conventionally used cam and track systems. An actuator directly controls movements of the flaperon; the flaperon motion is then used to slave separate movements of secondary flight control devices, such as a flaperon hinge panel and a cove lip door, to various positions of the flaperon for indirect control of aerodynamic air gaps during flight. The use of a bell crank for indirectly slaving the flaperon hinge panel movements to the flaperon avoids conventionally used cam and track systems. Although the cove lip door utilizes a separate linkage system, the bell crank and cove lip door linkage systems work in conjunction to assure desired aerodynamic airflows over the aircraft wing and flaperon structures.

Various control devices are used to effectively and efficiently maneuver aircraft during various phases of flight. Some control devices are directly attached to wings of an aircraft, such as ailerons adapted for controlling "roll", i.e. the rotational movement of an aircraft about its longitudinal axis. Spoilers may also be directly attached to aircraft wings to rapidly reduce wing lift when and as desired, particularly during various descent phases of a flight. Flaps are typically also attached directly to the wings to change their aerodynamic shapes for assuring stable flight control during slower speeds, such as during takeoff and landing phases of flight.
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary schematic view of a wing 10, attached to a fuselage 12, the wing and fuselage together depicting a portion of an aircraft 14 configured in accordance with the described related art. The wing 10 has a forward or leading edge 15 which may include deployable slats 16, as yet another wing control device. The wing also has a trailing edge 17 that includes outboard ailerons 18 and outboard flaps 20. The trailing edge 17 may also include inboard ailerons 22 and inboard flaps 24. As noted earlier, the ailerons are used for roll control of the aircraft 14, while the flaps are utilized to enhance lift control at lower speeds, e.g. for takeoffs and landings.
In some instances, the effective deployment of flaps may require translational movements in addition to their normal downward angular movements from stowed positions for creating spaces and/or gaps that need to be controlled for purposes of aerodynamic efficiency. Thus, arrows 26 and 28 indicate the directions, when deployed, of rearward translational movements of outboard flaps 20 and inboard flaps 24, respectively. Typically, ailerons, including the inboard aileron 22 require no translational movement, as do the dedicated flaps 20, 24.
The translational movement or extensions of outboard and inboard flaps 20, 24 of the convergent wing design of the aircraft wing 10 of FIG. 1 would pose an issue of angular interference, if the respective flaps were immediately adjacent each other. Such interference is avoided, however, by portion of the wing 10 that includes the inboard aileron 22, which is positioned between the flaps 20, 24 and involves no translational deployment.
In large turbofan jet aircraft, the functions of a flap and at least an inboard aileron may often be combined into a single or unitary control device called a flaperon. Since both flaps and ailerons are usually attached to the trailing edges of the aircraft wings, flaperons are also likewise attached. Thus, referring now to FIG. 2, the inboard aileron 22 of the aircraft 14 is shown attached to the trailing edge 32 of the wing 10, as shown at an interface 30 of the leading edge 34 of the inboard aileron 22. It should be noted that the inboard aileron 22 may be rotated about a hinge axis 38 into a rigid downward position 22″ (shown in phantom); i.e. deployed from the stowed position shown to a fixed angle along the downward arc of angle B, to function solely as a flap, even though without a gap, since at relatively slower speeds, i.e. during takeoff and landing, the outboard ailerons may be solely relied upon to effectively control roll of the aircraft 14.
Since the inboard aileron 22 also function as a flap, in aviation parlance such control device is also called a "flaperon", to the extent that it may be called upon to selectively perform both aileron or flap functions, depending on circumstances and/or phases of flight.
When functioning as an aileron, the so-called flaperon 22 is rotated upwardly along arc A from its stowed position as shown, up to and including a limit position 22′ (shown in phantom), to the extent that a functional aileron must be free to move both upwardly and downwardly. Conversely, the flaperon 22 may be rotated downwardly along arc B from its stowed position, down to and including a limit position 22″ (also shown in phantom). Finally, the trailing edge 32 of the wing 10 incorporates an aft-facing cove lip 36, a volume or space in which the leading edge 34 of the flaperon may rotate in close proximity, as depicted in FIG. 2 at the interface 30.
Referring now to FIG. 3, the flap 24 may also be capable of acting as an aileron, and thus as a flaperon. Therefore, the flap 24 may also be variously called a flaperon 24. However, because deployment of the flaperon 24 may involve a translational extension, the physical structure involved in its deployment must accommodate translational in addition to pivotal movement. In the related art structure shown, a hinge panel 40, configured for management of aerodynamic air gaps created during the extension aspect of deployment of the flaperon 24 is coupled to the structure of the cam track mechanism 42 to assure desired angular positioning relative to the wing 10 and the flaperon 24.
Several challenges are presented by such structures adapted to satisfactorily accommodate both angular and translational motion, including the need to assure requisite fail-safe strength and robustness under occasional extreme loads, such as those associated with turbulence and other phenomena routinely encountered in flight. As such, the cam track mechanism 42 includes relatively heavy cam tracks 44 that define paths for cam track rollers 48 that are directly secured to roller links 46. Use of the cam track mechanism 42 has also necessitated the use of a technology called "fusing", for assuring safety in the event of "jamming" of any of the track rollers 38. Since jamming is an issue to be avoided at all costs, at least two roller links are typically riveted together in a cam track-style mechanism 42 (FIG. 3) for appropriate safety redundancy. Such links are designed to fail in a predictable manner, necessitating additional weight that would be preferably avoided.
Thus, it is desirable to provide novel aerodynamic gap control structures to accommodate both angular and translational movements of flaperons, but wherein such structures can retain robustness and yet be lighter in weight, in the face of increasingly stringent aircraft design requirements.

Cove lip door slaved to trailing edge control device