An apparatus/method for producing fabric-like electronic circuit patterns created by methodically joining electronic elements using textile fabrication-like methods in a predetermined arrangement.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fabric-like array of electronic and/or optoelectronic circuitry and a method for forming the fabric-like array in two- or more dimensions.
The present invention concerns an apparatus comprising electronic and/or optoelectronic circuitry for implementing electronic and/or optical functions, wherein the circuitry is realized and/or integrated in two or more dimensions and a method for method for realizing and/or integrating circuitry in two- or more dimensions, wherein the circuitry comprises elements in the form of wires, fibres, ribbons, strips or multicomponent filaments and/or combinations thereof, wherein said circuitry is electronic and/or optoelectronic circuitry for implementing electronic and/or optical functions in an apparatus comprising circuitry of this kind.
More particularly, the present invention relates to integrating filament-like electrical and/or optical conduits into two- and three-dimensional physical structures for creating electronic or optoelectronic circuitry, sensors and/or emitters. The spatial extent or region of influence of such circuitry, sensors and/or emitters is controlled by specific definition of the electrical and/or optical properties of the individual filaments and how they are incorporated into the structures.
In particular, the present invention concerns integrating filament-like electrical and/or optical conduits into two- and three-dimensional physical structures for creating electronic or optoelectronic circuitry, sensors and/or emitters. The spatial extent or region of influence of such circuitry, sensors and/or emitters is controlled by specific definition of the electrical and/or optical properties of the individual filaments and how they are incorporated into the structures.
2. Background Information
The development of integrated circuits on silicon and semiconductor compound materials has revolutionized the electronic industry. However, the ever increasing complexity and costs of higher integration technology has generated interest in novel materials and methods.
The development of integrated circuits on silicon and semiconductor compound materials has revolutionized the electronic industry. However, the ever increasing complexity and costs of higher integration technology has generated interest in novel materials and methods.
For instance, progress in conductive polymers and organic materials has led to novel displays, diodes and field-effect transistors using these materials. See G. Horowitz "Organic field effect transistors" Adv. Mat. Vol. 10, pp. 365–377 (1998); D. Pede & al. "A general-purpose conjugated-polymer device array for imaging" Adv. Mat. Vol 10, pp. 233–237 (1998); R. H. Friend et al. "Electroluminescence in Conjugated 'Polymers", Nature 397, pp.121–128 (1999).
Thin-film-based inorganic semiconductor technologies compatible with low temperature-resistant packaging and substrate materials are under rapid development, and include amorphous silicon as well as polysilicon and microcrystalline silicon. In this connection, see, e.g. J. G. Blake & al., "Low-temperature polysilicon reshapes FPD production", Solid State Technology, pp.151–161 (May 1997).
Defect tolerant architectures have been proposed to circumvent the problems of trying to produce defect free chips, for instance by J. R. Heath & al., "A defect-tolerant computer architecture: opportunities for nanotechnology", Science, Vol. 280, pp. 1716–1721 (Jun. 12, 1998).
Such novel materials and methods open up entirely new opportunities in electronics and optoelectronics that extend much beyond providing an evolutionary route to alleviating problems and limitations adhering to the present state of the art. Unfortunately, present-day semiconductor-oriented technologies are totally inadequate for exploiting the true potential of these novel materials and methods, and there exist pressing needs for complementing technologies. One area of particular importance is that of gaining freedom from the dominating role of the substrate.
In traditional silicon-based technologies, the electronic functionality is derived from the semiconducting silicon substrate, which severely restricts opportunities for extensions into the third dimension. Furthermore, physical dimensions are restricted, and the traditional lithographic processes provide only limited flexibility with respect to intra-device connectivity. This includes both the physical characteristics of the connecting lines themselves and how they can be positioned throughout the device structures in question. Typically, the substrate and its layered superstructures contain electrical interconnects where electric currents flow in patterned strip- or ribbon-like conducting paths that have been created by subtractive or additive processes.
Subtractive processes are well-known and much used in the semiconductor industry, and involve wet or dry etching whereby conducting material is removed from portions of the substrate. Conducting material is retained in regions where a protective layer has been applied in the patterns desired, e.g. by optical lithography. Typically, all modern microelectronic circuits involve multiple step lithography processes where image(s) of parts or all of the circuitry, mostly wires, and devices are transferred to the substrate. This requires careful register between each step, the more so as the features become smaller and smaller. The substrate must be extremely flat and rigid. Furthermore, the circuitry cannot be continuous through this approach. Several chips have to be made individually on one wafer at the time. Furthermore, the integration of electronic and optoelectronic circuits is extremely difficult by such methods. It would therefore be highly advantageous to find microcircuit fabrication methods which eliminate lithographic processes altogether and allow for flexible continuous fabrication of electronic and optoelectronic circuits.
Additive processes have hitherto been less used in electronic circuits, but may become important in the future. They include microprinting and micromolding of conducting inks or solid state conductors, screen printing and more exotic means such as laser mediated deposition (see, e.g.. H. Yabe & al., "Direct writing of conductive aluminum line on aluminum nitride ceramics by transversely excited atmospheric CO2 laser", APL 71 2758 (1997)).
The present invention introduces the concept of woven electronics as a new generic approach to making and assembling electronic and optoelectronic devices and apparatus, in particular by exploiting opportunities that arise with the advent of novel electronic materials. This implies a radical departure from present state of the art.
This is substantiated by searches performed in the literature have to a small extent been able to identify any relevant prior art. Yet there is for the sake of completeness in order to briefly discuss patent documents which touch upon circumstances of general relevance for the present invention.
Thus there is from DE 31 16 348 A1, "Elektrische Verbindungseinrichtung" (Oscar Alonso, USA), and WO96/38025 A1, "Composite materials" (Geroge William Morris, Great Britain) known substrates which incorporate woven layers with electrical conduits. The latter are, however, applied after the weaving process has been finished, by methods such as etching, printing or electron sputtering.
JP-05299533, "Electronic part mounting board and electronic part device using the same" (Ohigata Naoharu, Japan) discloses a woven structure incorporating conducting wires interspersed with electrically insulating filaments. However, the focus is here substantially on providing alternative substrates to replace circuit mounting boards subjected to thermal and mechanical stress and the publication discloses in principle neither a new kind of functionality nor novel apparatuses which can be seen to be of relevance for the present invention.
Further can be mentioned U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,913,744 and 5,902,416 (both H. Hoegel & al.) which concern wire-like, band-like and rod-like solar cells which in at least one embodiment are provided in a woven structure. It is stated that the separate solar cells in the woven structure can be electrically connected at the underside of the crossing in the web with a counter-electrode in order to realize charge transfer between centre electrodes of the solar cells. It is also stated that the contact effect can be improved by a compression of solar cells in the form of wires or the crossing points either by thermal treatment or by use of electrically conducting adhesive. The object in this case is to achieve an improved arrangement of the solar cells, including among other by allowing the realization of tandem cells.
Generally there is both from the patent literature and other literature known to include conducting metal wires by weaving into a large number of objects. This includes meshes, which e.g. act as electrical shielding in housings, and electrodes and filters in material science. Metallic fabrics and metallic embroidery are used to make decorative and protective clothes. Conducting wires are integrated in fabrics to provide clothing and furniture, which prevent the formation of electrostatic charge or alternatively used for providing electrical heating. In so-called "smart clothes" such woven structures may for instance be used for connecting or providing the clothes and apparels with electronic devices and sensors. For instance can in this connection be mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 5,906,004 (Lebby & al.) (assigned to Motorola Inc.) which discloses a textile fabric with a number of electrically conducting fibres, which are able to provide either a wire-based or wireless connection between the textile fabric and a portable electronic device. The intention is that the textile fabric may be used for manufacturing functional clothes and other objects of woven textile fabric with the intention of increasing the functionality of the clothing or the functionality of the object. Typically are electrically conducting fibres disclosed in the capacity of providing an interconnection to a portable electronic device of some kind or other. Concerning the development in this area it can also generally be referred to S. E. Braddock and M. O'Mahony, "Techno Textiles—Revolutionary Fabrics for Fashion and Design", ch. 2, Thames and Hudson, New York (1998). Summing up a survey of the prior art illuminated by the above-mentioned patent literature and other literature shows that the use of a woven structure which provides electrically conducting and electrically screening functions is per se well-known and the same is also the case for uses of such structures for providing electrical connections between discrete, separate or surface-mounted devices. Inherent features of such woven structures for providing a more comprehensive electronic or optoelectronic functionality is not touched upon at all.
To conclude, in order to realize the potential in a wide range of emerging electronic and optoelectronic materials and methods, there is a need for complementing technologies which are not within the present-day state of the art. Prominent among such technologies are those that can provide electrical and optical interconnections in two and three dimensions, with high spatial density, high signal speed potential and small crosstalk. Also prominent are technologies and materials suitable as structural platforms for large area electronics and/or three dimensional device architectures.

Apparatus comprising electronic and/or optoelectronic circuitry and method for realizing said circuitry


In a method for the acquisition of data relating to multi-dimensional NMR spectra (designated as the SHARC protocol—SHaped, ARrayed aCquisition Protocol), crossed signals are shifted at will in frequency space using selective pulses and frequency dependent folding.

Multi-dimensional NMR spectra are generally quite complex. This constitutes a problem in the analysis of the structure of organic or inorganic compounds, wherein larger molecules have more complex multi-dimensional NMR spectra. The data acquisition of spectra with acceptable resolution and the interpretation of such spectra is therefore very difficult.
Standard NMR methods are e.g. the HSQC (Heteronuclear Single Quantum Coherence) or HMBC (Heteronuclear Multiple Bond Correlation), see IUPAC recommendations for NMR pulse sequences (Angew. Chem. 2003, 115, 3293-3301). Reynolds and Enriquez describe (J. Nat. Prod. 2002, 65, 221-244) NMR methods for analyzing the structure of natural substances. Frydman (WO 2004/011899) describes a method for acquiring multi-dimensional NMR spectra with one single scan, wherein partitions of a sample are subdivided into a set of independent parts of different resonance frequency ranges, and the sample is measured slice by slice (in dependence on the volume) with selective pulses (thereby simultaneously applying strong gradient pulses). Disadvantageously, this method is insensitive and relatively large sample amounts or high substance concentrations are required. It is also disadvantageous in that it is difficult to carry out, since the signals from the different scans must be added and the requirements for reproducibility of the gradient field strengths are high. K. Takasugi describes a method for spectral reconstruction of convoluted NMR spectra on the basis of multiple convolution, wherein all excited frequencies undergo the same convolution in the indirect dimension during data acquisition, which corresponds to frequency-independent folding (46th ENC Conference, Apr. 10 to 15, 2005, Providence, R.I., USA; Abstract online available on Apr. 6, 2005).
Dunn and Sidebottom (Magn. Reson. Chem. 2005, 43, 124-131) describe a method for calculating back folded NMR spectra with the aim to accelerate data acquisition and the evaluation of the structural confirmation of small organic molecules, wherein 2 or 3 NMR spectra are measured during data acquisition with different reduced spectral windows in the indirect dimension.
Two-dimensional (2D), I,S-correlation experiments consist of a sequence of radio frequency pulses and delays which effect transfer of magnetization between the spins I and S. The chemical shifts of the S-nuclei are acquired in an indirect (digitized) evolution time t1. The delay, during which the evolution of chemical shifts of the S-nuclei takes place, is thereby incremented in steps. This results in modulation of the NMR signal with the frequencies of the S-nuclei during t1. After the magnetization transfer, the chemical shift of the I-nuclei during t2 is directly detected. Fourier transformation along both time axes produces a 2D spectrum with the chemical shifts of the S and I spins as axes. This concept can be easily extended by introducing additional indirect time domains to more than two dimensions (M. Sattler in Angew. Chem. 2004, 116, 800-804). A two-dimensional NMR experiment consists of several phases, the first so-called preparation phase, a second so-called evolution and mixing phase, and the actual detection phase in which an interferogram (FID) is recorded. The time of the evolution phase, which is called t1, is a variable waiting time within a millisecond to second range, within which chemical shift and spin-spin couplings develop. The evolution and mixing phase is followed by time t2, which is also constant. The data recorded in a two-dimensional NMR experiment is often shown in a so-called contour diagram. Such a contour diagram shows a section along a contour line through the cross signals of the spectrum. These two-dimensional experiments can also be performed as part of multi-dimensional experiments.
The standard method for acquiring data of a multi-dimensional NMR spectrum is based on the application of a certain sequence and succession of excitation pulses of high frequency (pulses) and waiting times (delays). The coherence orders of magnetization thereby generated, their transfer to other coherences, and the rules for selecting the desired magnetizations are entirely described by the product operator formalism.
NMR experiments, during which the frequencies were not convoluted in the indirection evolution phases, are synonymously called "normal NMR experiments", "conventional NMR experiments" or "standard-NMR experiments" below. Conventional multi-dimensional NMR spectra are e.g. homonuclear and heteronuclear multi-dimensional NMR experiments, such as HSQC (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1992, 114, 10663-10665), HMBC, COSY, TOCSY, HSQC-TOCSY, in particular, 2 and 3-dimensional NMR experiments. The dimension of multi-dimensional NMR experiments, e.g. of two-dimensional heteronuclear NMR experiments, is the dimension of the chemical shift of the protons and the dimension of the chemical shift of the observed heteronuclei, e.g. the carbon atoms.
In the conventional method for data acquisition of a multi-dimensional NMR spectrum, the evolution time is usually linearly incremented in the evolution phase, wherein the incrementation time Δt1 in the evolution phase meets the Nyquist theorem (equation 1) in order to provide the correct spectral window in the indirect dimension.IN0=1/(Nd0×BF1×SW1), wherein  Equation 1                d0=initial delay (initial waiting time)        Nd0=number of Δt1 increments        SW1=spectral window in the indirect dimension        BF1=basic frequency (e.g. at 9.39 T for 1H 400.13 Hz and for 13C 100.58 Hz),        IN0=incrementation time
Realization of the above-described experimental conditions thereby observing the Nyquist theorem for correct digitization of the frequencies yields the cross signals in the frequency domain after Fourier transformation (FT) in both dimensions (equation 2), wherein the chemical shift of the measured cross signals are correctly represented in the indirect dimension, i.e. are not folded.S(t1,t2)→FT→S(ν1,ν2), wherein  Equation 2                S(t1,t2)=signal after incrementation time        S(ν1,ν2)=Fourier-transformed signals
Equation 1 shows that the indirect spectral window SW1 is inversely proportional to the incrementation time IN0 (=Δt1). In consequence thereof, the indirect spectral window SW1 is reduced when Δt1 is extended, and consequently, the frequencies of those cross signals of a multi-dimensional NMR spectrum, which are outside of the selected spectral window, are no longer correctly digitized and thus do not occur at the original chemical shift in the NMR spectrum. This phenomenon of folding in the data acquisition of NMR spectra is extensively described in the literature (two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy, 2nd ed. 1994, W. R. Croasmun and R. M. K. Carlson, Wiley-VCH, pages 493-503) and generally reduces the overall measuring time and increases the digital resolution of the cross signals, which results from equations 3-5:DR=SW [Hz]/TD1*, wherein  Equation 3                SW[Hz]=spectral window in Hertz        DR=digital resolution,        TD1*=complex number of experimentsDR=1/AQ(t1)  Equation 4        AQ(t1)=acquisition time in the indirect dimension according to equation 5.AQ(t1)=Nd0×IN0×TD1*  Equation 5
For the chemical shifts (called "frequencies" or "apparent frequency" νi in this context) of the cross signals in the indirect dimension of all excited coherences in the evolution time and irrespective of a possible violation of the Nyquist theorem, there is a direct functional dependence on the Δt1 incrementation time in accordance with equation 6.νi(Ωs)=f(Δt1)νi+1(Ωs)=f(Δt1), wherein Equation 6                νi(Ωs), νi+1(Ωs)=chemical shift of the cross peak i or i+1,        f(Δt1)=function of the incrementation time Δt1.
Analysis of the cross signals (cross peaks) of a multi-dimensional NMR spectrum, e.g. a HSQC spectrum, shows, upon closer observation of the resonance frequencies, that the cross signals arrange themselves in preferably overlying signal groups (peak cluster) in frequency space in dependence on their chemical shift. In consequence thereof, there are frequency ranges in the multi-dimensional NMR spectrum, which generally contain no cross signals and therefore no information.
This observation is substantiated by the fact that the aromatic protons with few electrons (low field-shifted signal areas) in first approximation always result in cross signals with carbons in low field shifted areas in an HSQC-NMR spectrum. Since, however, routine measurements are performed over the entire desired chemical shift range in order to satisfy the Nyquist theorem, there are compulsorily void frequency spaces which contain only a few signals or none at all. A conventional HSQC spectrum of an organic molecule of a molecular mass of between 300 and 500 g/mol usually yields an NMR spectrum in which more than 95% of the frequency areas contain no information in the form of cross signals. For small molecules, it is estimated that up to 99% of the frequency space is not utilized.
In NMR spectroscopy, there are moreover different types of radio frequency pulses, so-called RF pulses. The "hard pulses" are rectangular pulses with wide excitation bandwidth (rectangular high power pulses with a wide frequency excitation band). The "hard pulses" are non-selective. "Shape pulses" are pulses which selectively excite defined frequency ranges. Such pulses are e.g. Gauss, rectangular, sine, BURP pulses and are collectively called shaped pulses or selective pulses below (amplitude and power shaped pulses with a selective excitation band), see e.g. Freeman, Journal of Progress in Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy 1998, 32, 59-106.

Method for the acquisition of data relating to multi-dimensional NMR spectra by means of frequency-dependent convolution


A method and system are directed to enabling a detector to perform relatively accurate channel estimates on blocks of data that include relatively short training sequences in wireless communication signals. Channel re-estimation is performed by transferring the estimation calculations from the time domain into a channel state domain. In one embodiment, information obtained from known training sequences and unknown data may be combined to generate an initial channel estimate. An embodiment of a new recursive Expectation Maximization (EM) process generally i) initializes the EM process with the initial channel estimate; ii) determines updates for the channel estimates; iii) produces a reduced observation vector; iv) generates a special sequence of channel states; v) rearranges each channel state estimate in the reduced observation vector; vi) generates a low-dimensional channel model matrix inversion based on the generated special sequence of channel states; and vii) generates channel estimates based on the generated matrix inversion.

A multiple access wireless communication system enables multiple users to simultaneously access and use the system. These systems employ multiple access schemes, such as Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) and Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA). For FDMA, the multiple access wireless communication system's spectrum is divided into fixed frequency slots and users are allocated one or more slots for communication.
For CDMA, the multiple access wireless communication system assigns a unique code to each user that is used to modulate a signal from the user and that modulation identifies the user to the system. In CDMA systems, all users transmit and receive code-modulated data simultaneously, and the data for a given user is distinguished at the receiver using the code assigned to that user.
For TDMA, the multiple access wireless communication system divides time into fixed slots and users are allocated one or more time slots for communication over the system. Additionally, Global System for Mobile communications (GSM), is another type of multiple access wireless communication system that employs narrow band TDMA to allow at least eight simultaneous telephone calls on the same radio frequency.
Typically, a forward communication channel is used to transmit data signals from a base station to a mobile station; and a reverse communication channel is employed to transmit data signals from the mobile station to the base station. However, the transmission of a signal through a wireless medium can have arbitrary attenuation and delay due to hilly terrain, atmospheric conditions, outages and other factors. Also, the Doppler frequency shift in wireless signals transmitting from a fast moving vehicle can create fast fading channels where channel parameters can vary within each received block of data. To compensate for these less than ideal conditions, a base station's detector will employ various methods to estimate the attenuation and delay introduced in communication channel so that it can detect and identify each user's signal in the received signals.
For example, TDMA wireless communication systems often employ a training sequence that is included in each transmitted block of data to estimate channel. These methods usually employ an inverse of a matrix formed from the training sequence data. Also, since the training sequence can be known in advance, the inverse is typically precalculated and not separately performed for each received block of data. Similarly, CDMA wireless communication systems employ substantially the same methods based on a pilot signal that is included in each block of data.
Recently it has been shown that schemes exploiting several uncorrelated transmitting antennas are very promising for wireless communications. For example, delay diversity transmission (DDT), the simplest transmit diversity scheme in which delayed copies of the modulated signal are transmitted from multiple antennas, can significantly improve the performance of receiving devices (detectors). However, the transmit diversity gain is obtained by artificially introduced multipath requiring more channel parameters to be estimated given the same training sequence. Hence, the transmit diversity gain may not be fully utilized due to degradation of channel estimation accuracy. For example, accuracy of channel estimates based only on GSM training sequences (originally designed for channels without transmit diversity) may be not enough for transmit diversity schemes that in turn deteriorates the receiver performance.
The receiver performance may be improved by utilizing semi-blind detection methods, which combine information obtained from the known training sequence and unknown data to improve channel estimates. In particular, data-aided iterative channel estimation (ICE) or joint channel estimation and symbol detection based on the Expectation-Maximization (EM)-algorithm along with other iterative methods may be used. However, application of these methods implies a complicated inverse of a matrix formed by all transmitted data in a block. Since this matrix includes random transmitted together with known training sequence, then computational demanding matrix inverse should be performed for each transmitted block. Thus, there is a need for a low complexity matrix inverse that may be embedded into the EM (or some other iterative process) based receiver.

Method and system for channel estimation using iterative estimation and detection


A differential interferometric ballastic gravity measurement apparatus and method for measuring differential gravity between separate points employs at least two separate gravity sensors having respective free-fall masses capable of independent operation, an arrangement mounting the gravity sensors independent of one another in respective self-leveling states and at separate locations, a fiber optic-guided laser light interferometer coupled to the gravity sensors and adapted to produce a light signal indicative of a single measurement of differential gravity between the separate locations where the gravity sensors are situated, and a processing control system coupled to the gravity sensor and fiber optic-based laser light interferometer for activating independent operation of the gravity sensors and interferometer and for detecting the light signal and producing an electrical signal representing the measurement of differential gravity between the separate locations.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to apparatus for measuring gravity variations on the earth surface and also in holes drilled into the earth and, more particularly, is concerned with a differential interferometric ballistic gravity measurement apparatus and method.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Relative gravity meters, based on the principle of balancing the weight of a fixed mass with forces from a normal or superconducting spring, are used in measuring gavity variations from point to point on the earth surface and also in holes drilled into the earth. Absolute gravity meters are known which use laser light interferometry to precisely measure the acceleration of a falling mass and thus the absolute value of gravity. Examples are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,351,122 to Niebauer et al and U.S. Pat. No. 5,461,914 to Zumberge et al. The gravity meters of these patents have one arm of the interferometer in free-fall and the other arm stationary and isolated from ground motion. The gravity meter of the Zumberge et al patent employs a fiber-optic element to direct the laser light and uses the end of the fiber to act as a beam-splitter.
Also, methods for measuring gravity gradient over a fixed vertical interval are described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,693,451 to Dunlap et al, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,688,584 and 3,727,462 to Stone et al, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,704,626 to Stone. Measuring gravity gradient, as done with the devices disclosed in the Stone patents, implies the fixed positioning of two masses for free-falling in spaced relation along the same vertical axis and measuring gravity at two vertically displaced points.
The devices mentioned above for measuring relative and absolute gravity and gravity gradient have the following drawbacks when used in many practical applications. Many times, they are too large in size to be useful, too time-consuming to setup and calibrate, and too sensitive to environmental conditions that adversely affect their performance and the reliability of their measurements. Relative gravity meters of the spring-type which have been used extensively in boreholes are but one example. They have size and calibration problems; and they are sensitive to temperature changes. Absolute gravity meters also typically suffer from similar problems which limit their range of applications. Both relative and absolute gravity meters are also time-dependent instruments, requiring measurements of gravity to be taken sequentially. The gradient gravity apparatus described above operates only with respect to vertical gradient.
Consequently, a need exists for innovation in the design and development of a gravity measurement apparatus which will retain beneficial features of some of these prior art meters and apparatus but not their drawbacks nor substitute new drawbacks in their place.

Differential interferometric ballistic gravity measurement apparatus and method


The present disclosure provides a display substrate, a method for manufacturing the same, and a display device. The display substrate includes: a base substrate having pixel regions arranged in an array, each pixel region including a first sub-pixel region and a second sub-pixel region; a light emitting layer and a color conversion layer sequentially stacked on the base substrate; the color conversion layer includes a first color conversion block in at least the first sub-pixel region of at least one pixel region, each of the at least one first color conversion block includes at least two color conversion materials for converting a light component of a color into a light of a target display color, colors of the light components converted by the color conversion materials are different, the target display color is different from the color of the light emitted from the light emitting layer.

An Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) display panel includes an anode layer, a light emitting layer, a cathode layer, and a color resist layer sequentially stacked, wherein the color resist layer includes a plurality of color filters of red, green, and blue.
In the OLED display panel, after an electric field is applied to the light emitting layer through the anode layer and the cathode layer, the light emitting layer emits light under an action of the electric field, and after the light emitted from the light emitting layer is irradiated onto the color resist layer, each color filter may filter out light of different colors from the color filter in the light emitted from the light emitting layer and transmit the light of the same color.

Display substrate, method for manufacturing the same, and display device


In conventional liquid crystal display controllers such as for portable telephone sets, the display is reduced in the stand-by state but the liquid crystal display duty is not changed, i.e., even the common electrodes of the rows that are not producing display are scanned, and the consumption of electric power is not decreased to a sufficient degree in the stand-by state. A liquid crystal display controller (2) includes a drive duty selection register (34) capable of being rewritten by a microprocessor (1), and a drive bias selection register (32). When the display is changed from the whole display on a liquid crystal display panel (3) to a partial display on part of the rows only, the preset values of the drive duty selection register and of the drive bias selection register are changed, so that the display is selectively produced on a portion of the liquid crystal display panel at a low voltage with a low-duty drive.

The present invention relates to technology for controlling display and, specifically, to technology that can be particularly effectively adapted to controlling the drive of liquid crystal, such as technology that can be effectively utilized in a display control circuit in a dot-matrix liquid crystal panel for displaying characters or in a liquid crystal panel having a function of displaying pictures, marks, icons, characters (figures), etc. independently of the dot-matrix character display.
A liquid crystal display device, in general, comprises a liquid crystal display panel, a liquid crystal display controller formed as an integrated circuit on a semiconductor substrate for driving the liquid crystal display panel, and a microprocessor (MPU) or a microcontroller including a microprocessing unit (CPU) for controlling the writing of display data or the display operation of the liquid crystal display controller.
A liquid crystal display controller including a character generator for forming a display pattern of dot-matrix type is constituted by a display data memory for storing character codes (hereinafter referred to as a random access memory for display data or a display data RAM), a character generator memory for storing character patterns such as character fonts (hereinafter referred to as a read-only memory for a character generator or a character generator ROM), an address counter for reading display data from the display data RAM in accordance with the drive position of the liquid crystal display panel, a liquid crystal drive circuit for driving the liquid crystal by generating drive signals for common electrodes and for segment electrodes of a liquid crystal display panel, and a timing generation circuit for generating clock signals that give display timings.
The microprocessor writes, onto the display data RAM, character codes corresponding to characters to be displayed on the liquid crystal display panel. An address counter successively reads out character codes from the display data RAM in accordance with the drive position of the liquid crystal display panel, and successively reads out character patterns by making access to the character generator ROM by using character codes that are read out as part of the addresses. The character patterns that are read out are successively sent, as liquid crystal turn-on/off data, to a segment shift register in the liquid crystal drive circuit. When the data of one line are accumulated, the whole segment driver circuits output the drive voltages of the turn-on/turn-off level simultaneously thereby to drive the liquid crystal display panel.
Each character is constituted by a plurality of lines in a vertical direction and, hence, the above-mentioned control operation is repeated by the number of lines of the character for every display row (8 lines when the character comprises 5 (horizontal)×8 (vertical) dots). The turn-on/turn-off control operation for the display is executed in a time-division manner for each of the lines. Therefore, a selection signal of one line generated from the timing control circuit is sent to a common shift register. As the shift register shifts for each line, a common driver successively outputs a drive voltage of the selection level of the line.

Liquid crystal display controller and liquid crystal display device


The invention provides a directional back-light arrangement for an auto-stereoscopic display in which different parts of the backlight arrangement point in different directions. This means that different parts of the backlight arrangement will be suitable for directing images in different directions, while reducing the effect of optical aberrations resulting from large exit angles.

Various types of auto-stereoscopic display device are known. Essentially, such displays include an optical arrangement which directs different views into different directions at which the eyes of a user may be located, so that the user does not need to wear special glasses for this purpose.
The different directions of the views to different locations can for example be achieved with a lens arrangement, with individual lenses covering groups of pixels. The lenses then direct light from different pixels in different directions, and in this way different images (e.g. left and right) can be sent to different directions.
Another approach is to use a barrier arrangement. This again has the function of limiting the direction in which light from individual pixels can be sent.
A problem with this arrangement is that the resolution of the individual views is reduced. By operating in time-multiplex as well as spatial-multiplex manner increased resolution can be obtained.
The designs outlined above provide the different views in fixed different directions. However, other designs provide tracking of the position the eyes of one or more viewers. This means that for each viewer only two views need to be generated, instead of a full set of views (typically 9 or 15) filling the field of view.
This invention is particularly concerned with a known type of auto-stereoscopic display in which a light-steering backlight is used to direct light into the eyes of one or multiple viewers that are detected using cameras. The left- and right-images are displayed sequentially on an LCD.
For each viewer, two direction light source configurations of the backlight are switched on and off in phase with the LCD such that at a given moment in time each eye sees either the correct image or a black screen.
A light-steering backlight can for example comprise a pixellated backlight and a lens arrangement. By controlling backlight elements, the resulting light output direction is determined by the lens. Electrowetting prism arrays can also be provided for directing a backlight output in different directions.
Typically, a lens array is used to achieve the required light-steering. However, these lens arrays suffer from aberrations off-axis. As a consequence, loss of angular resolution occurs at larger incidence angles. This is a problem with backlight-steering approaches generally.
To address this problem, it has for example been proposed to place the illumination sources on a curved surface and to limit the aperture of each optical element. Multiple optical elements are then stacked and shifted a distance horizontally equal to the width of the aperture opening. A vertical diffuser can be used to achieve a homogeneously lit display. This however results in a more complicated optical structure.

Auto-stereoscopic display device and driving method


A system and method for avoiding write back collisions. The system receives a plurality of instructions at a pipeline queue. Next an issue queue determines a number of cycles for each instruction of the plurality of instructions. The issue queue further determines if a collision will occur between at least two of the instructions. Additionally, the system determines in response to a collision between at least two of the instructions, a number of cycles to delay at least one of the at least two instructions. The instructions are then executed. The system then places the results of the instruction for instructions that had a calculated delay in a result buffer for the determined number of cycles of delay. After the determined number of cycles of delay, the system sends the results to a results mux. Once received at the results mux the results are written back to the register file.

The present disclosure relates to issue to write back management, and more particular aspects relate to adjusting issue to write back latency to avoid write back collisions.
In many systems to avoid write back collisions developers have had to install stalling mechanisms to slow the flow of the results of the execution of the write back to the registry. These stalling mechanisms have a negative impact on the performance of the underlying systems as the stalling mechanisms prevent use of processing resources.

On-the-fly adjustment of issue-write back latency to avoid write back collisions using a result buffer

International Business Machines Corporation


An encoding method to encode image data comprising a sequence of blocks with a predetermined compression rate in one pass is disclosed. The blocks are divided into two sets, a first set and a second set. The blocks in the first set are encoded within the sum of an available bit length and a predetermined lending bit length. The blocks are encoded in the second set within the available bit length. A lending bit length is updated when the current bit length is larger than the available bit length. The left bit length is updated when the current bit length is not larger than the available bit length. The left bit length and the lending bit length are adjusted when the current block is in the second set, the lending bit length is positive and the left bit length is larger than a predetermined threshold.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to data compression, and in particular relates to devices and methods of encoding image data.
2. Description of the Related Art
The rapid growth of digital imaging applications, including desktop publishing, multimedia, teleconferencing, and high-definition television (HDTV) has increased the need for efficient and standardized image compression techniques. Without image compression, the transmission of images would require an unacceptable bandwidth for many applications. As a result, methods of compressing images have been the subject of numerous research publications. Image compression schemes convert an image consisting of a two-dimensional array of pixels into a sequence of bits which are transmitted over a communication link. Each pixel represents the intensity of the image at a particular location therein. The transmission link may be an ordinary telephone line.
Consider an image comprising a gray-scale representation of a photograph at a resolution of 1000×1000 lines. Each pixel typically consists of 8 bits which are used to encode 256 possible intensity levels at the corresponding point on the photograph. Hence, without compression, transmission of the photograph requires that 8 million bits be sent over the communication link. A typical telephone line is capable of transmitting about 9600 bits per second; hence the picture transmission would require more than 10 minutes. Transmission times of this magnitude are unacceptable.
As a result, image compression systems are needed to reduce transmission time. It is also apparent to those skilled in the art that image compression systems may also be advantageously employed in image storage systems to reduce the amount of memory needed to store one or more images.
However, under a fixed compression system, an area of the image data may be distorted due to fixed compression rates. Specifically, the actual compression rates of different regions in the same image data are different because of different region contents. The actual compression rates of the regions with smooth contents are higher, and on the other hand, the actual compression rates of the regions with complex contents are lower. To achieve the best compression quality, an encoder can reserve some bits from first encountered smooth regions and utilize the saved bits for encoding latter complex regions. Nevertheless, one-pass encoding is normally adopted for encode processing for consistency and simplification. With one-pass encoding, image data passes through the encoder once, and the fixed compression rate is applied as the content is encountered. Thus, when a complex region is encountered before any smooth region is encountered, there are no saved bits for encoding the complex region and the complex region is encoded with the fixed compression rate. Consequently, it may cause distortion of the complex region of the image data.

Method and device for encoding image data with a predetermined compression rate in one pass


A luminaire is provided, having first and second enclosures, a pipe, and a chamber. The first enclosure includes luminaire components that emit a light beam, has two openings, and is otherwise sealed. The second enclosure includes electronic circuits coupled to the luminaire components, has an opening, and is otherwise sealed. The first enclosure rotates relative to the second enclosure. The pipe couples an opening of the first enclosure to an opening of the second enclosure, rotates relative to the first enclosure, and is otherwise sealed. The chamber includes a drying agent, two openings, and is otherwise sealed from the external air. One opening of the chamber is rotatably coupled to an opening of the first enclosure. The other opening of the chamber is completely covered by a membrane that allows air to pass through the material while reducing the passage of water droplets in the air.

Luminaires with automated and remotely controllable functionality (which may be referred to as automated luminaires) are well known in the entertainment and architectural lighting markets. Such products are commonly used in theatres, television studios, concerts, theme parks, night clubs, and other venues. A typical automated luminaire provides control from a remote location of the pan and tilt functions of the luminaire allowing an operator to control the direction the luminaire is pointing and thus the position of the light beam on the stage or in the studio. Many automated luminaires additionally or alternatively provide control from the remote location of other parameters such as intensity, focus, zoom, beam size, beam shape, and/or beam pattern of light beam(s) emitted from the luminaire. Such automated luminaire products are often used outdoors in, for example, theme parks or concerts. Maintaining a dry, controlled physical environment inside an automated luminaire is important for the continuing operation of the unit.

System and method for controlling the humidity and pressure in a luminaire


Methods and apparatus to provide alert enrichment in a cloud storage system. In one embodiment, the system performs alert/event identification with information from an identity matching service for the components of the cloud storage system to generate a resource identifier for the component associated with a first one of the processed alerts/events, and use the resource identifier to identify a service, platform, virtual machine, virtual application, virtual data center, organization and/or platform component associate with the first one of the processed alerts/events.

As is known in the art, storage systems, such as so-called, cloud storage systems, contain a large number of hardware devices and components and software applications, modules, and component. In the presence of a fault, alert, or other condition needing attention, it can be difficult to identify the source of the fault or alert since there are many complex components that may be provided by multiple vendors which may make it difficult to exchange information in an efficient manner.
For example, in a cloud storage environment, alerts and events from various event sources in platforms normally contain limited information that may not be meaningful and may seem unrelated to the environment from which they originate. It is challenging for IT personnel to extract executable data from the alerts and take appropriate action.
With large volumes of alerts/events constantly coming from various sources, it is challenging to prioritize the alerts/events and take proper actions without putting the alerts or events in the proper context, such as organizations/business units, impacted applications, etc. It is time consuming to trouble-shoot events/alerts, errors, etc., without associating the alerts and events with their relevant physical or logical topology resources or assets. In addition, many of the IT resources are managed in silos by IT personnel specialized in certain technology domains. For example, when a blade in the Cisco Unified Computing System (UCS) fails or has performance issues its impact propagates to the ESX server deployed on the blade, to the virtual machines deployed on the ESX server, to the applications or critical services running on those virtual machines, to the critical business that relies on those services. It may take hours or even days to sort through those alerts or events, which may result in significant detrimental impact on an enterprise.

Method and apparatus for event/alert enrichment


A front derailleur is configured to be accurately mounted to a bicycle frame in a prescribed mounting position. The front derailleur has a chain guide, a front derailleur main body, an intermediate piece and a fastening piece. The front derailleur main body has a mounting part with a curved mounting face having a circular arc arranged around a first pivot axis extending in a first direction. The intermediate piece has a first curved abutting face mating with the curved mounting face of the mounting part to pivot relative to each other about the first pivot axis, a second curved abutting face having a circular arc arranged around a second pivot axis extending in a second direction perpendicularly arranged relative to the first direction, and a first through hole extending in a third direction generally perpendicular to the first and second directions and passes through the first and second abutting faces.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a front derailleur for bicycle use. More particularly, the present invention relates to a front derailleur configured to be mounted to the frame of a bicycle by a fastening piece.
2. Background Information
There are front derailleurs for bicycles that are mounted to the bicycle frame with a fastening piece that is disposed between the front derailleur and the bicycle frame. The fastening piece used with this kind of front derailleur has a fixing part that is fixed to the frame by welding or the like and a support part configured to support the front derailleur. Since the position to which the fastening piece is installed on the frame depends on the quality of the work performed when fixing the fixing part to the frame, there are times when the installation precision of the fastening piece is poor. When the installation precision of the fastening piece (more specifically, the fixing part) is poor, the position of the support part is offset from where it should be and, consequently, there are cases in which the front derailleur cannot be installed in the prescribed position. For example, if the fastening piece is installed poorly on the seat tube of the bicycle frame, the support part might be out of position relative to the circumferential direction of the seat tube or in the lengthwise direction of the seat tube.
In order to resolve this issue, a front bicycle derailleur has been proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,199,997 (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication 53-102550), assigned to Shimano Inc., that is mounted to a support part in such a manner that it can be swung about a center axis of the seat tube and moved up and down along the lengthwise direction of the seat tube in order to adjust the mounting position. The front derailleur basically includes a chain guide, a four bar-linkage mechanism, and a front derailleur main body having a fastening piece with a mounting part configured to be mounted to the support part by a fastening screw. The structure of the front derailleur and the fastening piece presented in the publication will now be described in further detail.
The support part has a first curved support face that is curved in such a manner as to have the shape of a circular arc in a cross sectional view of the support part lying in a plane normal to the lengthwise direction of the seat tube and a first through hole that runs through the first curved support face substantially in a second direction perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of the seat tube. The first through hole is elongated in a direction substantially parallel to the lengthwise direction of the seat tube.
The mounting part has a mounting face that is curved in a manner corresponding to the contour of the first curved support face of the support part in a cross sectional view of the support part lying in a plane normal to the lengthwise direction of the seat tube. The mounting part of the front derailleur main body is mounted to the support part with the fastening screw that passes through the first through hole of the support part in such a manner as to extend in a direction substantially parallel to the second direction.
Since the first through hole of the support part of the fastening piece is elongated in a direction substantially parallel to the lengthwise direction of the seat tube, the mounting part of the front derailleur main body can be moved along a path substantially parallel to the lengthwise direction of the seat tube with respect to the support part when the mounting part is being mounted to the support part. Additionally, since the first curved support face is curved in such a manner as to have the shape of a circular arc in a cross sectional view of the support part lying in a plane normal to the lengthwise direction of the seat tube and the mounting face is curved in a manner corresponding to the contour of the first curved support face of the support part in a cross sectional view of the mounting part lying in a plane normal to the lengthwise direction of the seat tube, the front derailleur main body can be swung about the center of curvature of the first curved support face (i.e., its position can be adjusted in a manner that approximates turning about the center axis of the seat tube) when the mounting part is being mounted to the support part.
In view of the above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that there exists a need for an improved front derailleur. This invention addresses this need in the art as well as other needs, which will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.


A sensor assembly for use in a vehicle seat cushion for detecting the presence of an occupant includes a mat adapted to be installed in the vehicle cushion. The mat includes first mounting structure and a first sensor device attached to the mat. A first member has a second mounting structure adapted to be attached to the first mounting structure for attaching the first member to the mat. A second member is movably mounted relative to the first member about an axis. A second sensor device is mounted in the second member.

This invention relates in general to a vehicular seat assembly having a flexible air bag suppression sensor apparatus. More specifically, this invention relates to a spring sensor assembly of the sensor apparatus.
Vehicular air bags play an important role in restraining a seat occupant in vehicular crash situations. However, air bags designed for adequately restraining a large sized occupant may not provide optimal restraint protection for a smaller sized occupant or for a child occupying a child seat. In addition, the deployment of an air bag corresponding to an unoccupied seat represents an unnecessary repair expense.
Sensor apparatuses have been proposed for detecting whether or not a given seat is occupied. These types of sensor apparatuses act as on/off switches in controlling the deployment of a corresponding air bag. However, these types of sensor apparatuses simply address the need for preventing the deployment an air bag when the seat is unoccupied.
Other sensor apparatuses have been proposed to detect the placement of an occupant in a given seat for the purpose of suppressing the deployment of a corresponding air bag. Specifically, these types of sensor apparatuses detect whether or not the front and/or rear portions of a given seat are occupied. In situations in which only the front or only the rear portion of the seat is occupied, a sensor apparatus provides a signal for controlling the degree in which the air bag is to be suppressed during deployment. However, these sensor apparatuses do not provide a means for suppressing the air bag when both the front and rear portions of the seat are occupied.
Other sensor apparatuses have been proposed which determine the weight of an occupant based on detected variations in seat occupancy loading for providing a means of controlling the degree in which a respective air bag is to be suppressed during deployment. However, these types of sensor apparatuses require that a sensor apparatus be directly mounted to the structure of a given seat and that the sensor apparatus itself be structural. Consequently, these sensor apparatuses are relatively massive. Additionally, these sensor apparatuses are typically sensitive to physical and environmental changes that affect the repeatability of the performance of the sensor apparatus.
Other sensor apparatuses include a flexible sensor apparatus mounted to a seating face of a seat cushion. The flexible sensor apparatus includes a plurality of sensors imbedded at various locations of the vehicle seat cushion. These sensors, along with a microprocessor and an appropriate algorithm, are generally capable of detecting both the size of a passenger and the presence of an occupied child seat for the purpose of controlling the degree in which a corresponding air bag is to be suppressed during deployment. The flexible sensor apparatus offers improved reliability, as well as the advantages of being nonstructural and compact. However, the individual sensors are commonly affected by shear forces within the seat cushion, which may lead to false signals. The plurality of sensors are also difficult to install properly onto the sensor apparatus.

Spring sensor retention assembly for sensor apparatus mounted in a vehicle seat cushion


Provided are a method, system, and program for writing data in a tape medium having wraps. A layout of the tape is provided including at least one segment within a full available length of a first set of wraps for writing user data and at least one segment within a full length of a second set of wraps for writing a work copy of the user data. User data is received to write to the tape medium and detecting is performed as to whether the data being written is occurring in a specified write mode. If the data writing is not occurring in the specified write mode, then writing the received user data to one segment in the first set of wraps. If the data writing is occurring in the specified write mode, then writing a work copy to available full length wraps not having user data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method, system, and program for storing data in a storage medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
Three prevalent tape storage technologies include a helical scan tape where data is stored along vertical or diagonal tracks on the tape, parallel tape where data is stored on tracks in parallel during one scan on the tape, and serpentine tape where data is written in a forward and then reverse direction in a serpentine pattern across bands or tracks on the magnetic tape medium. In serpentine tape drives, the bands extending the length of the tape may be divided into segments, such as a housekeeping segment, calibration segment, user data segment, etc., where data is written in a serpentine manner within the longitudinal bands of a segment. A serpentine tape drive first read/writes a set of tracks in a forward direction within a segment of a band, referred to as a wrap, then read/writes the next set of tracks in a reverse direction, and so on, leading to a serpentine pattern for the data layout. In serpentine tape technology, a wrap comprises a set of tracks written for some length of one of the bands that extend the entire length of the tape and a wrap section comprises a wrap for the length of one segment.
"Synchronized data" is defined as data or other information which is subject to a "synchronizing event" or similar command requiring the tape drive to not return "Command Complete" to a write type of command, or an indication that the command has been or will be successfully executed, until it has actually committed the data to media, specifically, the magnetic tape. As the result, if power is lost, the data can be recovered from the tape, whereas it may not be recoverable from a volatile DRAM storage of the tape drive buffer.
One example of a synchronizing event is a Write Filemark command with the Immediate bit set to "0". This means that the drive is not to respond immediately, but instead is to respond when the command has completed, meaning that any data sent as part of the command is written out to tape. A specialized case of a Write Filemark command is where the number of Filemarks field is also set to "0", meaning that the Write Filemark command has no data of its own, and all data which precedes the command must be written to tape before a command complete is sent. Hence, this command is often referred to as a "Synchronize" command, as is known to those of skill in the art.
Another example of a synchronizing event is a host selectable write mode known to those of skill in the art as "non-buffered writes", where an implicit synchronize must be performed after each record is written from the host. "Command Complete" is not returned for any write command until the data is successfully written on media.
Herein, writing any data record, group of records, or other mark, is defined as a "transaction", and writing such data record, etc., as the result of a synchronizing event is defined as a "synchronized transaction".
A difficulty with respect to magnetic tape is that the data is recorded sequentially without long gaps between data sets, whereas synchronized transactions are stored in separate bursts for each synchronizing event, with a noticeable time period before writing the next transaction. This requires that the tape drive "backhitch" after writing the synchronized transaction in order to write the next transaction closely following the preceding transaction. Tape is written or read while it is moved longitudinally at a constant speed. Hence, a backhitch requires that the tape be stopped, reversed to beyond the end of the previous transaction, stopped again, and accelerated up to speed in the original direction before the next transaction can be written to the tape. As is understood by those of skill in the art, the backhitch process consumes a considerable amount of time, and, if a large number of small synchronized transactions are to be stored, the throughput of the tape drive is reduced dramatically. As an example, backhitch times can vary from about half a second to over three seconds.

Method, system, and program for storing data in a storage medium


An electrostatic actuator and a method of driving the same are provided. The actuator controls the displacement of a target object by adjusting a voltage between fixed comb electrodes and a moving comb electrode. The actuator includes an actuator control signal generator generating an actuator control signal by pulse-width modulating an actuator driving signal and a carrier signal; and an actuator unit including the fixed comb electrodes and the moving comb electrode and adjusting the voltage according to the actuator control signal. Accordingly, the displacement can be easily controlled using the pulse-width-modulated actuator driving signal even when both the voltage of the actuator driving signal and the frequency of the carrier signal are high.

1. Field of the Invention
Apparatuses and methods consistent with the present invention relate to an actuator and a method of driving the same, and more particularly, to an actuator which can detect the displacement of a target object using a modulated actuator driving signal without an operational amplifier and a method of driving the actuator.
2. Description of the Related Art
Actuators control the displacement of a target object by adjusting voltage between fixed comb electrodes and a moving comb electrode. An actuator control signal applied to the fixed comb electrodes for displacement detection may be an actuator driving signal in which a high frequency carrier signal is contained.
Here, the actuator control signal is generated by an operational amplifier disposed on an electrostatic actuator. However, it is difficult for a high frequency carrier signal to be contained in a high voltage actuator driving signal due to features of the operational amplifier.
As a result, when the voltage of the actuator driving signal and the frequency of the carrier signal are high, it is difficult for conventional actuators to detect the displacement using a modulated actuator driving signal.

Electrostatic actuator and controller with PWM driving


The roll beam girder system for bridges has beams constructed from two end sections and a keystone center section. The two end sections have a top rolled steel beam welded to a bottom rolled steel beam, the top beam comprising about two-thirds of the total height of the section, the top beam being shorter than the bottom beam at the end joining the keystone section, the projecting end of the bottom beam having a slight camber. The keystone section has a top girder and triangular bottom key sections. The end sections and the keystone section have mating 45.degree. ends, with the ends of the top beam of the keystone section resting on the top of the projecting end of the bottom beam of the end section, a compression splice being formed by a row of nine bolts through the flanges on either side of the web of the mating end section and keystone section beams. Because of the slight camber of the projecting end of the end section and the nature of the compression splice, the bending moments are fixed, there is a slight curvature at the keystone section, and the load is borne by the end supports. Precast reinforced concrete planks may be welded transversely between the beams to form the floor of the bridge, which may optionally be smoothed with a two inch layer of concrete to form the roadway. The beams are supported by end supports. In this manner a roll beam bridge having a single span from 60 feet to 150 feet may be constructed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to girder systems for bridges, and particularly to a roll beam bridge. It includes a method of forming compression splices for steel beams, a system of girders for the frame of the bridge using rolled beams, and a bed of reinforced concrete planks.
2. Description of the Related Art
Bridges may be broadly classified as fixed or moveable. Fixed bridges may be further classified as beam, arch and suspension. While all bridges must carry the full weight of the bridge and the traffic on their foundation, it is significant to note that arch bridges are in compression and thrust outward on their end supports or bearings, while suspension bridges are in tension and apply a continual pull on their end supports.
While there are several types of fixed, beam bridges, for purposes of understanding the present invention in terms of the related art, it is useful to note that beam bridges include types known as rolled beam, plate girder, box girder and continuous. Rolled beam bridges use steel girders rolled as a single, integral unit at the mill in various shapes, such as I-beam, H-beam, T-beam, etc. Roll beam bridges generally are useful for short spans of 50 to 150 feet. Plate girder bridges employ steel girders joined to make different shapes by welding or by bolts or rivets. An I-beam, for example, may be constructed from three plates, a top flange, bottom flange, and web, often using angles to construct the girder. Plate girders generally are capable of having greater stiffness than rolled beams and permit longer spans. Box girders are constructed from four plates welded together into a box shape, and have been used for spans from 100 ft to 850 ft. Continuous bridges are supported at three or more points, and are capable of resisting bending moments and shear at all sections throughout their length.
An additional consideration includes the material used to construct the beams. Modern bridges are generally constructed from steel or concrete. Bridges made of reinforced concrete were either arch bridges, slab bridges of quite short span, generally consisting of a reinforced concrete slab extending from end support to end support, or deck girder bridges having a concrete slab integral with concrete girders. The development of prestressed concrete has led to increased use of concrete in bridge construction. Prestressing involves stretching the steel reinforcement bars or wires before or during casting of the concrete to increase the compressive strength of the concrete, saving about one-fourth the volume of concrete and about three-fourths the weight of reinforcing steel. Prestressed concrete can be used in spans up to 600 feet, and longer spans are possible with cable support.
The present invention relates to a single span rolled beam bridge of about 60 feet to 150 feet in length using steel girders of the rolled beam variety. Currently rolled beam girders are custom made, in lengths of 120 feet or more. Such construction methods require special permits for transportation of the beams to the bridge site. Once erected, contractors must lay out concrete forms between the beams, which requires that the workers be supported by cables, construction of sufficient foundations for safety equipment, and other safety measures which alone add about 90 days to construction time, as well as hazards to health and safety. The present invention allows prefabricated construction of the beams from roll beam girders in sections which may be transported to the job site without special permits, and flooring made from precast reinforce concrete planks. A novel method of making a compression splice between the steel girders permits such a construction technique. The construction of the sections and the splice permit the moments to be fixed and borne by the end supports. The prior art does not disclose a similar method of bridge or girder construction.
U.S. Pat. No. 811,257, issued Jan. 30, 1906 to Joseph B. Strauss, discloses a concrete or concrete and steel bridge having hollow concrete forms for beam girders and hollow concrete forms for transverse joists, connected by steel bars and loops, the hollow forms being erected to form a frame and filled with concrete to form a concrete bridge using prefabricated forms. U.S. Pat. No. 1,688,128, issued Oct. 16, 1928 to Ernest Moccetti, discloses reinforced concrete girders having webbed structures in which the concrete in not continuously reinforced, but has main tensile reinforcements in zones of the greatest tension and special tension reinforcements in the webs for lighter weight, greater internal strength and smaller bulk.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,336,622, issued Dec. 14, 1943 to Robert G. LeTourneau, teaches the use of trapezoidal box beam girders with joists extending into a supported by the beams, supporting a solid metal flooring. U.S. Pat. No. 3,365,852, issued Jan. 30, 1968 to Ronald J. Pitillo, shows structural framing units made by cutting a triangular piece from the web of an I-beam, cutting the I-beam longitudinally with cutting torches, and rejoining the beam in the shape of trusses, etc., using the triangle to support the joints. Pitillo shows the construction of specialty trusses and roof beams, but no method suitable to the construction of bridge beams, and particular not to end sections and keystone sections having multiple beams cut in specific ratios of web beam sizes and at specific angles and joined by bolts through the flanges to form a splice.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,425,076, issued Feb. 4, 1969 to Ulrich Finsterwalder, shows a method for joining the spans of a highway bridge between two cantilevered spans using resilient tensioning members rigidly connected to adjoining sections composed of tendons piercing concrete joists and covered by the road surface. U.S. Pat. No. 4,042,991, issued Aug. 23, 1977 to Macy, et al., describes a portable load carrying structure, particularly for use in the Arctic to span breaks in the ice, consisting of I-beams, preferably made of aluminum, hinged together in parallel so they fold for compact storage and transport.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,526,544, issued Jun. 18, 1996 to Wiedeck, et al., shows a bridge having a flat base body and at least one roadway surface pivotally connected to the base body where the roadway surface may be pivoted above the base body to form a bridge. German Patent No. 1,939,737, published Feb. 18, 1971, teaches a method of building a prestressed concrete bridge which uses an orthotropic concrete slab roadway.
Soviet Invention Certificate No. 1,474,201, published Apr. 23, 1989, describes a method of building a bridge with a "zero bending moment" using alternating sections composed of two parts, including two end span sections with beams having a reinforced concrete top and metal bottom, and a center section with a metal top and reinforced concrete bottom with an orthotropic roadway in which the metal parts of the beams are placed under tension by tension members at the end supports and the junctions of the end sections with the center section, and in which the concrete is in compression. The bride is a continuous bridge.
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singularly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus a roll beam girder system for bridges solving the aforementioned problems is desired.


According to one embodiment, a head restraint attached to a top of a bed of one of a medical image diagnosis apparatus and a medical treatment apparatus, the head restraint comprises a headrest portion configured to allow a head of an object to be placed thereon, with the object being placed on the top, and an arm up holder configured to be detachable from the headrest portion and place an arm of the object near one of a vertex of the head of the object and a temple of the head when the head of the object is placed on the headrest portion.

Assume that a region to be imaged or the like is the head of a patient in image diagnosis using a medical image diagnosis apparatus typified by X-ray computed tomography apparatuses, magnetic resonance imaging apparatuses, and the like or medical treatment using a radiotherapy apparatus or the like. In this case, a head restraint is used to restrain the head of the patient on the top of a bed at a predetermined position or in a predetermined state. When a region to be imaged or the like is, for example, a chest region, an abdominal region, or a region between an armpit and a knee, an arm up holder is used to prevent the arms of the patient on the top from overlapping the region to be imaged. A doctor or a medical technician selects such a head restraint or an arm up holder from various types of tools in accordance with the region to be imaged or the region to be treated.
FIG. 1 is a view for explaining the structure of a conventional head restraint 11 provided for a top 12. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the state of the patient who is placed on the top 12 by using the conventional head restraint 11. As shown in FIG. 1, the head restraint 11 is partly inserted into the top 12 of the bed and fixed with a pin (or a hook) so as to be attached to the bed as an additional tool. A patient is placed on the top 12 such that the head or neck is placed on the head restraint 11 in conformity with its shape. When, for example, the head of a patient is to be imaged, the head is fixed on the head restraint 11 so as not to move by using a fixing band (hook-and-loop fastener) 13 which is prepared separately, as needed. When, for example, a chest region is to be imaged, an arm up holder 14 for supporting portions of the arms is attached to the head restraint 11, as shown in FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b).
A conventional head restraint 11 and arm up holder 14, however, have the following problems. That is, since the conventional arm up holder 14 is fixed in the state where it is partly laid on the head mount area of the head restraint 11, it is impossible to detach the arm up holder 14 unless the patient is raised from the top. When, therefore, performing whole body imaging or the like by using a contrast medium, for example, the doctor raises the patient and detaches the arm up holder 14 upon the head restraint 11, and then images a region other than the head. This imposes heavy loads on the doctor and the patient in imaging. In addition, in some cases, it is impossible to image a contrast medium flowing into each region at a proper timing. The arm up holder attached to the conventional head restraint is designed to support portions of the arms raised to a predetermined height. This gives a physical pain to an aged patient or the like who cannot raise his/her arms to a predetermined height. It is sometime impossible to properly perform imaging or the like.

Medical head restraint and medical bed system using the same


According to one embodiment of the invention, a method of packaging ball grid arrays includes providing a substrate having a plurality of holes formed therein. Each hole is associated with a respective one of a plurality of contact pads formed on a first surface of the substrate. The method further includes disposing a plurality of balls within respective ones of the plurality of holes such that at least a portion of each ball projects outwardly from the first surface, and applying a force to each of the balls from above the first surface to couple the balls to the substrate.

There are many different types of integrated circuit packages and many different techniques for manufacturing integrated circuit packages. For example, one type of integrated circuit package is a ball grid array package. Ball grid array packages are desirable because, among other attributes, they save valuable printed circuit board space. Because of the desirable attributes of BGAs, integrated circuit package manufacturers desire to find reliable and cost-effective ways to manufacture BGAs.
Many factors determine whether or not ball grid array ("BGA") packages are fabricated in a cost effective manner. One such factor is the quality of the bond between the balls and the substrate. If quality is substandard, then the BGA package will not pass the testing phase. For example, drop test and board level reliability ("BLR") requirements for integrated circuit packages, especially BGA packages, can be difficult to meet given the stringent ball attach requirements of the packages.

Method and system for packaging ball grid arrays


An image sensor is provided that can be made compact, low power consuming, and operative at high speed without degrading image quality and read-out speed. The image sensor includes a pixel cell having a photo diode 31 and a reset transistor 32 connected to a power supply, a detection transistor 33 for detecting the signal voltage of the photo diode 31, a selection transistor 34 for selecting the detection transistor 33 and reading the signal voltage therefrom; a peripheral circuit 12 having MOS transistors; and an input/output circuit 13 having MOS transistors. The gate dielectric films 60A of the reset transistor 32 and the detection transistor 33 are formed thicker than the gate dielectric film of the selection transistor 34.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor apparatus and a fabrication method thereof, and more particularly, to a small CMOS image sensor of high performance.
A CMOS image sensor is a kind of useful solid imaging devices. Compared with a CCD image sensor that is highly sensitive and of high image quality, a CMOS image sensor is characterized in that it can be driven with a single driving voltage and that its power consumption is about 1/10 times as large as that of a CCD image sensor. A CMOS image sensor is used for a cellar phone and a handy terminal because of these advantages.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the case of a CMOS image sensor, an imaging element and a signal processing circuit can be formed on the same semiconductor substrate and additionally, the CMOS image sensor can be fabricated in a process in which a semiconductor integrated circuit is fabricated, which is a great advantage of the CMOS image sensor.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the construction of a CMOS image sensor.
As showed in FIG. 1, the CMOS image sensor 200 is constructed by the following: a photo controls the photo detecting unit 201, a reading circuit 203 that reads an amount of light the photo detecting unit 201 detects and converts the amount of light into a digital signal, and so forth. The photo detecting unit 201 is constructed by a large number of pixel cells that is arranged in a matrix such as CIF (common Intermediate Format, 352×288 pixels) and VGA (Video Graphics Array, 640×480 pixels) so that the resolution fits that of a TV telephone and a PC. An image formed on the photo detecting unit 201 is divided into the pixels, and the amount of light on each pixel is converted into a voltage signal.
FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing the equivalent circuit of a pixel cell.
As showed in FIG. 2, a pixel cell is constructed by a photo diode 211 that receives a light, generates electricity proportional to the amount of received light by photoelectric conversion, and stores it therein, and three n-channel MOS transistors 212-214 that reads the stored electricity as a voltage signal. The operation of the pixel cell will be described in detail.
In response to a reset signal input to the reset transistor 212, the reset transistor 212 turns on and sets the cathode of the photo diode 211 at a reset voltage (=power supply voltage VM). Electron proportional to the amount of received light is stored in the cathode so that the voltage level of the cathode lowers. In response to a select signal, the select transistor 214 is turned on, and the voltage level of the cathode of the photo diode 211 is output to a reading circuit 203 showed in FIG. 1 through the detect transistor 213 and the select transistor 214.
Subject that the number of electrons generated by the photoelectric effect is equal, the smaller the sum of the junction capacitance of the photo diode 211 and the gate capacitance of the detecting transistor 213 is, the larger the voltage level of the cathode of the photo diode 211 changes. Accordingly, the smaller the junction capacitance of the photo diode 211 and the gate capacitance of the detecting transistor 213 are, the larger the sensitivity to the amount of received light is.
On the other hand, a down-sized CMOS image sensor having even higher resolution and better image quality is desired. To achieve these objects the size of each pixel cell and a driving circuit needs to be reduced.
The scaling rule that simply applies a process of finer rule, however, does not solve the problem completely. If the gate length of a CMOS transistor is reduced in compliance with the scaling rule, the thickness of gate dielectrics needs to be reduced at the same time. For example, the process of 0.35 μm long gate demands a 7-8 nm thick dielectrics; the process of 0.25 μm long gate demands about 5 nm dielectrics; and the process of 0.18 μm long gate demands an about 3 nm thick dielectrics.
The application of a finer rule may involve various problems as discussed below.
If the thickness of gate dielectrics is reduced, a gate leaking current generally increases. Since the gate electrode of the detecting transistor 213 showed in FIG. 2 is connected to the cathode of the photo diode 211, if the gate leaking current of the detecting transistor 213 increases, the gate leaking current damages signal charge accumulated at the cathode. Especially, the gate leaking current increases in the case of a process of less than 0.25 μm in which the thickness of the gate dielectrics becomes 5-2.5 nm. The increased gate leaking current disturbs the true signal generated by photoelectric effect and decreases S/N ratio. Especially when an image is captured in a dim light, the true signal is weak, and the gate leaking current generates a white dot in the dim image and substantially degrades image quality.
If the thickness of the gate dielectrics is reduced, the gate capacitance of the detecting transistor 213 is increased. Because the detecting transistor 213 is connected to the cathode of the photo diode 211, the sum of the junction capacitance of the photo diode 211 and the gate capacitance of the detecting transistor 213 is increased. As described above, the voltage change caused by the signal charge generated by photoelectric effect is reduced, and the sensitivity of the CMOS image sensor to the amount of light is reduced.
It is desired that the cathode of the photo diode 211 be reset by a reset signal of a higher voltage level so as to avoid the effect of dispersion in the reset voltage of each reset transistor. However, the higher the level of the reset signal is, the more the gate leaking current of the reset transistor 212 increases. When the thickness of the gate dielectrics becomes 5 nm or less, the gate leaking current increases and the reliability of the gate dielectrics is degraded.
In a fine rule process, the lightly doped drain (LDD) or the source/drain region is generally formed by a dense shallow As ion layer. Because a substrate of a high impurity density is used, the junction capacitance of depletion layer formed between the source/drain region and the substrate. Consequently, the time required reading a signal voltage by charging and discharging this junction is increased, that is, reading speed is reduced. Especially, in the process of 0.25-0.18 μm rule gate length, a pocket region is often formed under the LDD or the source/drain so as to prevent the depletion layer from extending. Because the pocket is formed by an impurity region of the same conductivity type as the substrate and a high density, the junction capacity is further increased by the depletion layer formed between the source/drain region and the pocket region, and the speed of reading the signal voltage is further reduced.


A method of controlling a terminal of an integrated circuit includes determining a frequency ratio between a frequency of a signal and a frequency of another signal received by an integrated circuit. A selected signal appearing at a selected terminal of the integrated circuit is selectively interpreted in accordance with an operating mode when the frequency ratio is below a selected value and in accordance with another operating mode when the frequency of the signal is above a selected value.

Reducing the number of pins required by an integrated circuit is normally one important factor in reducing overall packaged integrated circuit device size and cost. Additionally, integrated circuit devices with smaller numbers of pins typically assist in reducing the design complexity at the higher levels of the system application. At the same time, any reduction in the number of pins cannot unduly limit the input/output capability of the integrated circuit nor unreasonably constrain the range of operations available to the end user. This situation is particularly true in regard to integrated circuit devices that support multiple modes, such as digital audio devices which can be utilized in either pulse code modulation (PCM) or Direct Stream Digital (DSD) applications and thereby support different application options in a single package.
A pulse code modulated (PCM) audio system typically utilizes three clocks and a single stream of PCM—encoded serial audio data (SDATA). Specifically, an external master clock (EMCK) signal controls the overall timing of the processing operations, a serial or bit clock (SCLK) signal times the transfer of the individual bits of serial PCM audio data, and a left-right clock (LRCK) signal differentiates between left and right stereo data samples in the PCM data stream. On the other hand, the Direct Stream Digital (DSD) protocol, used to record audio under the Sony/Philips Super Audio Compact Disk (SACD) standard, is based on two channels of one-bit audio data (DSDA and DSDB) and a single serial clock (DSD—CLK) signal. The DSD protocol also utilizes the external master clock EMCK. Therefore, in order to accommodate both modes in a single flexible and efficient integrated circuit device, an input/output scheme must be developed which addresses the differences between the DSD and PCM protocols with a minimum number of pins.
One current approach to providing the required input/output capability in DSD—PCM multiple-mode devices utilizes two independent sets of pins, one set for exchanging DSD protocol data and clock signals, and another set for exchanging PCM data and clock signals. This technique, however, is contrary to the goal of reducing the number of pins on the packaged device and/or overall package size. Another conventional approach is to share some pins for both the DSD and PCM modes, and dedicating other pins for supporting only one mode or the other. For example, one or more of the pins required for exchanging PCM mode clock signals might be also used for exchanging one channel of data in the DSD mode. However, this scheme normally requires additional internal and external control circuitry and /or one or more mode control pins for configuring the data and clock pins to support the selected operating mode.
Consequently, new techniques are required for supporting multiple-mode integrated circuits with a minimum number of pins. In particular, such techniques should not require the dedication of one or more available pins for mode configuration purposes nor require substantial additional control circuitry.

Circuits and methods for reducing pin count in multiple-mode integrated circuit devices


An application server running an SNA application includes a TN3270 server. Performance of the application server is enhanced by relocating away from the application server the conversion of data between ASCII and EBCDIC, as well as command scanning and packaging. The relocating can take the form of, for example, a browser plug-in at the client or elsewhere. In addition, the client is able to carry on communications with the application server over a standard port by logically situating a communication server between the client and the application server. The client communicates with the communication server over the standard port, while the communication server forwards the communications to the application server over a non-standard port.

1. Technical Field
The present invention generally relates to enhancing application server performance in a network. More particularly, the present invention relates to enhancing application server performance in a network by relocating performance-degrading processing away from the application server.
2. Background Information
Historically, most critical back-end data operations for enterprises have been implemented in mainframe computer systems, for example, SNA applications operating on a mainframe from International Business Machines Corporation (IBM). As one skilled in the art will know, "SNA" stands for System Network Architecture, a proprietary IBM architecture and set of implementing products for networking an enterprise. After the advent of the Internet, these same enterprises then wanted to be able to access these applications over networks employing TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol), for example, the Internet. Systems have been devised that allowed remote access to these types of applications. For example, TN3270 provides the capability to send 3270 screen controls via TCP/IP. However, communicating with SNA application servers over TCP/IP involves additional CPU processing overhead to accommodate the differing capabilities of the two protocols. This can result in an overall degradation in the performance of such servers for mission-critical applications.
For example, SNA applications use the EBCDIC data format, whereas the ASCII data format is used outside of the SNA applications. Thus, converting between these data formats is necessary. In addition, as another example, commands from the client to the TN3270 server are embedded within the data stream destined for the SNA application. Thus, the TN3270 server must scan for commands within the information flow and separate them from the data (referred herein to as "command scanning and packaging").
Still further, beyond the processing-intensive operations described above, TN3270 involves communicating with the application server over a non-standard port, port 23, which raises additional security issues beyond those already faced for Internet access. For security reasons, enterprises do not want to open up more ports in their firewalls than are absolutely necessary. The standard port that is typically opened for Internet access is port 80, and security is already in place to handle the fact that port 80 is opened.
Thus, a need exists for a way to enhance the performance of SNA application servers. A further need exists to provide a uniform model for access to SNA applications over a standard port.

Enhancing application server performance by relocating performance-degrading processing