Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to the field of communication technology, and disclose a vibration method, a mobile terminal, and a computer-readable medium. A corresponding relation between music parameters and vibration signals is pre-stored in the mobile terminal. The vibration method is applied to a mobile terminal and includes: acquiring, according to the a preset ringtone, a music parameter of the ringtone; searching for a vibration signal corresponding to the music parameter according to the music parameter of the ringtone; generating a driving signal matching the ringtone according to the found vibration signal, where the driving signal is used to drive a motor inside the mobile terminal to produce a vibration matching the ringtone; and when the ringtone is played, driving the motor to vibrate according to the generated driving signal. In this way, the mobile terminal vibrates according to the rhythm of music, meeting users' personalized requirements.

With the improvement of living standards, people are having more personalized requirement on ringtones of mobile phones. Ringtones are expected to be pleasant to ears and provide different tactile feelings. A mobile phone can vibrate while playing a ringtone, which somewhat meets people's needs for tactile feelings.
However, the inventor of the present disclosure finds that in the prior art, all mobile phones vibrate in the same boring manner, and cannot be distinguished according to vibrations thereof. The vibration lacks the rhythm of music, and cannot meet users' personalized requirements.

Vibration method, mobile terminal, and computer-readable storage medium


A method for controlling device feature sizes produced by polishing operations such as chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) is provided. The method includes instituting process controls to control the processing operations used in combination to produce features of a metal layer with a desired thickness, based on the thickness of the previous metal layer or layers. A target thickness for first and second metal layers is established. After the first metal layer is produced and the difference between the first metal target thickness and the actual first metal thickness is determined, the target thickness for the second metal features is adjusted. Once the target thickness for the second metal features is adjusted, each of the processing operations used to produce the second metal layer is controlled in combination to produce the second metal features with the adjusted target thickness.

In today's rapidly advancing semiconductor manufacturing industry, devices are being formed to include smaller device features and using more precise alignment tolerances. It is necessary to produce device features having desired sizes in all three dimensions. In order to produce device features having the desired and correct three dimensional size, it is necessary to control the thickness of the device features accurately. While this is true for all semiconductor device features, particular structures such as stacked MOM (metal oxide metal) capacitors and stacked RTMOM (rotated metal oxide metal) capacitors, are particularly sensitive to the thicknesses of the conductive layers used to form the stacked capacitors. While it is important to control the respective thicknesses of each of the individual metal layers used to form the MOM capacitors, it is equally important to control the aggregate thickness of the stacked layers used to form the MOM capacitors.
Methods are needed to control such parameters.

Process control methods for CMP (chemical mechanical polishing) and other polishing methods used to form semiconductor devices

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.


The invention relates to a device for producing a web of corrugated cardboard comprising a first corrugating roller for producing a corrugated web. The device further has a glue application roller for applying glue to the corrugated web. The glue application roller is associated to the first corrugating roller so as to form a gap and is displaceable relative to the first corrugating roller in order to influence the glue application quantity. The device further comprises a displacement device for displacing the glue application roller relative to the first corrugating roller and a pressing device for pressing a laminating web against the corrugated web. It is further provided with a regulating device which is in signal connection with the displacement device, a gap regulating unit in order to adjust a gap width of the gap between the first corrugating roller and the glue application roller, and a contact force regulating unit in order to adjust a contact force applied to the first corrugating roller by the glue application roller.

Devices and methods of the generic type are sufficiently known through prior public use. The application of glue to a corrugated web is usually adjusted manually via a gap between a glue application roller and a corrugating roller associated thereto. Furthermore, the contact force of the glue application roller acting on said corrugating roller is usually adjusted as well. The drawback of this method is that the glue application roller may be damaged or destroyed when no corrugated web is provided, thus causing the glue application roller to be pressed directly against the corrugating roller when no corrugated web is arranged therebetween.

Device for producing a web of corrugated cardboard that is laminated on at least one side

BHS Corrugated Maschinen-und Anlagenbau GmbH


A new and distinct form of Agastache plant characterized by light orange yellow flowers, dark calyces, an upright branching habit, a long bloom time, and excellent vigor.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Agastache, given the name, 'Summer Glow'. Agastache is in the family Lamiaceae. This new variety is from a cross between a dwarf form of Agastache sp. 'Pink Pop' (an unpatented plant) as the seed parent and Agastache aurantiaca 'Apricot Sunrise' (unpatented) as the pollen parent. Compared to the seed parent, Agastache sp. 'Pink Pop', the new cultivar has light orange yellow flowers rather than pink. Compared to the pollen parent, Agastache aurantiaca 'Apricot Sunrise', the new cultivar has light orange yellow flowers rather than orange.
This plant exhibits the following characteristics that make it unique:                1. light orange yellow flowers,        2. dark calyces,        3. an upright branching habit,        4. a long bloom time, and        5. excellent vigor.
The new variety has been reproduced only by asexual propagation (cuttings and micropropagation). Each of the progeny exhibits identical characteristics to the original plant. Asexual propagation by division and micropropagation as done in Canby, Oreg., shows that the foregoing characteristics and distinctions come true to form and are established and transmitted through succeeding propagations. The present invention has not been evaluated under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary with variations in environment without a change in the genotype of the plant.


An image display processing method for a display device, an image display processing device, a display device and a storage medium are provided. The display device includes a backlight unit, the backlight unit includes a plurality of backlight blocks and is driven by a local dimming mode, and the image display processing method includes: acquiring a regional eigenvalue of each backlight block of an (n)th frame image and a regional eigenvalue of each backlight block of an (n−1)th frame image; and performing a peak driving processing on a backlight luminance of each backlight block of the (n)th frame image, based on a preset threshold, the regional eigenvalue of each backlight block of the (n)th frame image and the regional eigenvalue of each backlight block of the (n−1)th frame image, so as to acquire an adjusted backlight luminance of each backlight block of the (n)th frame image.

Along with the continuous progress of electronic technology, Virtual Reality (VR) or Augmented Reality (AR) technology, as a kind of high and new technology, has been applied more and more in daily life such as games, entertainment and the like. Virtual reality technology is also called as immersive technology or artificial environment.
The existing virtual reality system mainly simulates a virtual, three-dimensional world through a high-performance computing system with a central processor, and provides a user with visual, auditory and other sensory experience through a head-mounted device, thus making the user feel like being present. Moreover, the human-computer interaction can also be carried out.

Image display processing method and device thereof, display device and storage medium


The present invention provides a multi-phase sampling system in which each sampler samples a transition and data of an incoming data signal. By enabling each sampler to sample a transition in addition to data of the incoming data signal, phase errors associated with each of the samplers can be determined. The phase error determinations provide valuable information that can be used 1) to correct the phase errors of the system sampling the incoming data signal, 2) to correct the phase errors of a multi-phase system that is transmitting the incoming data signal, and/or 3) to correct the phase errors of both a multi-phase system that is sampling an incoming data signal and of a multi-phase system that is transmitting the data signal.

The present invention relates to multi-phase sampling. In particular, the present invention provides a multi-phase sampling system that overcomes problems with current multi-phase systems that result from the inability of these multi-phase sampling systems to optimally sample an incoming data signal.
An ever-increasing demand exists for communications systems that are capable of operating at increasingly higher data rates. As monolithic processes (e.g., complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS)) are increasingly being used to create devices that perform high-speed data processing, it has become necessary to use multiple phases in the devices for sampling and processing incoming signals in order to sample the incoming data signals at the Nyquist rate. The need for using multiple samplers in order to sample the data signal at a high enough speed can be seen from the following example. The cycle or retrigger time of a data retiming latch is often limited by the regeneration speed of the internal positive feedback circuitry of the latch. Although such a sampler or latch cannot be retriggered fast enough to Nyquist sample an incoming signal of a particularly high data rate, it is capable of taking a snapshot of a rapidly changing signal. By using a multiplicity of samplers on evenly staggered clock phases, each latch can be allowed a generous regeneration time, while still enabling sampling of the data signal at the Nyquist rate. An example of a known multi-phase system is a 3.5 gigabit per second (Gb/s) retiming circuit for non-return-to-zero (NRZ) data that uses a 10-phase sampling system built in 0.28 micrometer (um) CMOS. Such a system is disclosed in ISSCC Digest of Technical Papers, Vol. 42, pages 352–353 and 478, Feb. 15–17, 1999.
These and similar types of systems share the strategy of processing high-speed incoming signals by using multiple lower-speed samplers that all sample the incoming signal in a round-robin fashion. The samplers are lower in speed because they are comprised of larger transistors, which have larger parasitic capacitances, and thus have longer regeneration times and slower retrigger times. Due to the slower speeds of the large samplers, many samplers may be required in order to sample a very high data rate signal at the Nyquist rate. Also, because the samplers are larger in size, they dissipate more power. Obviously, such systems have many disadvantages that need to be overcome.
Multi-phase systems are also used to transmit data. In these systems, data is transmitted by using multiple phases to control respective selectors, each of which gates a different bit to the output of the transmitting multi-phase system. In this case, the jitter of each data edge is determined by the timing error of each data phase.
For monolithic implementations (e.g., CMOS), it is common to generate the multiple phases using a ring oscillator. The most common form of ring oscillator utilizes a number N of identical gain stages, each with a delay of τ, connected in a ring with a net inversion. As is well known in the art, such a system oscillates with a period of 2Nτ, and produces 2N evenly-spaced timing phases, with the phases being derived from both the rising and falling edges of each delay cell output. Such oscillators can be made tunable and are well-suited for monolithic IC implementation. However, such systems are designed such that the number of phases is even, i.e., for 2N evenly-spaced phases, where N is an integer.
In practice, the exact delay of oscillator elements will differ between the N different cells. These variations include random cycle-to-cycle delay variations, resulting largely from thermal, supply, and substrate noise in the devices, and deterministic delay errors, which are consistent cycle after cycle. These static delay errors can be caused by a number of factors, including: 1) device size variation due to fabrication errors that occur during the IC fabrication process, 2) non-symmetrical layout of the various delay cells, including capacitance, resistance and inductive mismatches caused by unequal wiring or crosstalk with other signals, 3) unequal proximity of various delay cells to other features which causes variations in doping or dielectric thickness to occur and/or unequal loading of the various delay outputs which can cause mismatched fan-out delays.
In addition, these same delay variations can afflict the clock distribution network. Because of its distributed nature, the clock network may also suffer from delay mismatches due to unequal supply voltages caused by resistive drops across the power distribution network. Also, it is possible for variations in the clock-to-sample delay between the input samplers to occur. The sum of all these errors results in an overall phase sampling error in the system.
One known way of preventing or reducing these phase errors is to decrease the aforementioned error factors 1)–3). However, solutions for doing this are difficult to implement and, thus far, have not been totally satisfactory. Furthermore, implementing these solutions typically result in increases in power dissipation and circuit size, and/or place an onerous burden on the designer to create precisely symmetrical samplers. Furthermore, such solutions must be implemented during device design and fabrication, not after the device has already been created. Therefore, failure to satisfactorily implement the solutions during the design and manufacturing process will likely result in phase error sampling problems occurring during operation of the device.
Another approach that has been used to eliminate phase error sampling problems in multi-phase systems is to focus on ensuring that the clock is very precise and to use very large samplers (referred to herein interchangeably as "latches"). If relatively small latches are used with a very precise clock, sampling errors will still occur due to the fact that the parasitic capacitances of the smaller transistors of the smaller latches result in very significant timing mismatches between the latches. However, if very large latches are used, which means that very large transistors are used to create the latches, the latches are slower and the timing mismatches caused by the differences in the parasitic capacitances of the transistors of the latches are less significant. Therefore, using very large latches with a very precise clock can decrease or eliminate sampling problems caused by phase errors, but there is a tradeoff. As stated above, larger latches take up more area, are slower than smaller latches and also consume more power than smaller latches, which are all undesirable traits in circuit design.
Accordingly, a need exists for a multi-phase system that is capable of sampling high speed signals at the Nyquist rate and that does not require the use of large samplers, which normally have relatively high power consumption requirements. A need also exists for a multi-phase system that does not require that the clock be precise or that the layout for each sampler be completely symmetrical, thus eliminating onerous burdens that would otherwise be placed on designers and manufacturers to create perfectly symmetrical latches and/or perfectly precise clocks.


A blade block of a hair cutter including a fixed blade, a movable blade reciprocating with respect to the fixed blade, and a blade base to which the fixed blade and the movable blade are attached. The fixed blade and the movable blade are assembled with a reciprocating guide unit into a blade unit. The reciprocating guide unit guides the movable blade to reciprocate with respect to the fixed blade. The blade block include an insertion opening. A mounting unit is provided to mount the blade unit to the blade base by inserting the blade unit into the insertion opening so that a cutting edge is exposed to the outside of the blade block.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to a blade or cutting block of a hair cutter or shaver. In particular, the present invention relates to a blade block structure and technique to reduce a cost of the blade block and to improve an efficiency of assembling the blade block of hair cutter.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally, as shown in FIGS. 15(a) and 15(b), a blade block Aa is constructed by mounting a movable blade 5 on a blade base 6 so as to reciprocate with respect to a fixed blade 4. The blade block Aa is detachably mounted onto a body of a hair cutter or shaver. The fixed blade 4 having a comb-like portion is brought into contact with the movable blade 5 via a spring 18, and a cover 20 fixes or secures the fixed blade 4 and the movable blade 5 to the blade base 6. A guide mechanism is provided to reciprocate the movable blade 5 with respect to the fixed blade 4 is constructed as follows. Guide members 21 project from the blade base 6, and are inserted into insertion holes 4a and 5a formed in the fixed blade 4 and the movable blade 5, respectively. A driving force is transmitted from a drive mechanism in the body of the hair cutter to the movable blade 5, so that the movable blade 5 reciprocates within the range of the elongated insertion hole 5a.
Further, the movable blade 5 is pressed toward and against the fixed blade 4 by a spring portion, which is separate from the movable blade 5, and is mounted to the blade base 6.
The blade block Aa as described above is detachably mounted to the body of the hair cutter. In particular, in a medical hair cutter (such as is used e.g. to prepare a patient for a medical procedure by shaving the hair from a portion of the patient""s body), the blade block Aa, including the blade base 6, the fixed blade 4 and movable blade 5 and so on, which directly contact a human skin is disposable and is not used more than once, to ensure safety and sanitariness. Accordingly, it is desired to reduce a cost and to improve efficiency of assembling of the blade block Aa.
On the other hand, in the conventional blade block structure of the hair cutter, the number of parts is large and the process for assembling the blade block is inefficient.
Accordingly, the present invention is provided in view of the above-described problems. It is an objective of the present invention to provide a blade block of a hair cutter, in which the number of parts are reduced to improve the efficiency of assembly of the blade block of the hair cutter, and automated assembly can easily be achieved, and the cost can be reduced.
To achieve the above and/or other goals, the present invention provides a blade block of a hair cutter that is detachably mountable to a hair cutter body. The blade block includes a fixed blade and a movable blade that reciprocates with respect to the fixed blade. The blade block includes a blade unit, a blade base and a mounting unit. The blade unit includes the fixed blade and the movable blade coupled by a reciprocating guide that enables the movable blade to reciprocate with respect to the fixed blade. The blade base defines an insertion opening. The mounting unit enables the blade unit to be mounted to the blade base when the blade unit is inserted into the insertion opening, so that a cutting edge of the blade unit extends toward and is exposed to the outside or exterior of the blade block.
According to the construction described above, the fixed blade and the movable blade are assembled into the blade unit by using the reciprocating guide. The blade unit is inserted into the insertion opening of the blade base, and is fixed to the blade base by the mounting unit in a condition or orientation such that the cutting edge extends toward outside of the blade block. Thus, the number of parts can be reduced in comparison with the conventional construction, and assembling of the blade block can be automated. Thus, the cost of manufacturing the blade block can be reduced. In addition, since the reciprocating guide is provided between the fixed blade and the movable blade, where machining precision can easily be achieved, the precision of the reciprocating guide function of the movable blade can be easily improved, and sharpness of the blade unit is easily maintained.
Preferably, a skin contact surface is provided at an outer surface of the blade base, and the cutting edge of the blade unit, inserted into the insertion opening, is inclined with respect to the skin contact surface. According to and as a result of this structure and construction, even if the blade base has a certain thickness, the cutting edge is not separated from and can tightly and closely contact the skin. Thus, even hair that might otherwise easily escape from the cutting edge, such as downy hair, can be held and cut short.
Preferably, the blade base includes a base plate, a wall portion provided at a periphery of the base plate and a corner portion formed between the base plate and the wall portion. The insertion opening is provided in a vicinity of the corner portion. The blade base is slidably detachably mounted to the hair cutter body. According to this construction, since the blade unit is inserted into the insertion opening provided in the vicinity of the corner portion, the cutting edge can be closely applied to the skin. Further, since the blade base is slidably attached to and detached from the hair cutter body, the blade block can easily be attached and detached by using a single hand.
Further, at least one stopper to position the fixed blade with respect to the blade base can be provided at each opposite side edge of the fixed blade. According to this construction, the blade unit can be securely supported against a load or force in the lateral direction of the fixed blade, in other words, in the reciprocating direction of the movable blade. Thus, a mounting strength (i.e., structural rigidity) of the blade unit can be improved.
Further, it is preferable that the fixed blade includes at least one guide piece, preferably formed by cutting and bending, so as to enable the movable blade to reciprocate. According to this construction, for example, the guide piece can be formed at the same time that the fixed blade is manufactured (e.g. by pressed or stamped). Thus, the guide piece can be formed easily and with improved precision.
The guide piece can extend in parallel with a reciprocating direction of the movable blade, so that the guide piece guides the movable blade surface contact with the movable blade while the movable blade reciprocates. According to this construction, the guiding of the movable blade in the reciprocating direction is satisfactorily performed by the guide piece extending in parallel with the reciprocating movement direction of the movable blade. In addition, the strength of the blade block due to the thickness of the guide piece can suppress backlash in a direction toward the cutting edge. Thus, the guiding precision can be improved. Further, since the guide piece extends in parallel with the reciprocating movement direction of the movable blade, and a broken (cut) face of the guide piece does not contact the edge of the guide hole, the roughness of the broken (cut) face of the guide piece does not affect the guiding function.
Preferably, a plurality of guide pieces extend in parallel with each other and are spaced from each other in a direction perpendicular to the reciprocating movement direction of the movable blade. According to this structure, the strength of the guide pieces against the force toward the cutting edge can substantially double. In addition, since a plurality of guide pieces are provided in parallel with each other, each guide piece does not require high size precision. Thus, the size precision does not have to be manufactured with a high precision (i.e. to size tolerance is high).
Alternatively, the guide piece can extend in a direction perpendicular to the reciprocating movement direction of the movable blade. The opposite edges of the guide piece, in a width direction thereof, slidably contact facing edges spaced in the width direction of a guide hole provided in the movable blade. According to this construction, since the guide piece can be guided at opposite edges in the width direction, its strength in a direction toward the cutting edge can be sufficiently improved. Further, the strength to support the movable blade against loads or forces at the time of cutting hair can be improved, and backlash can be avoided.
Further, the movable blade can have a guide hole that is elongated in the reciprocating movement direction, and a widened opening at one end of the guide hole. A stopper portion is further provided at a tip of the guide piece. The stopper portion is smaller than the widened opening and is larger than a width of the guide hole. According to this construction, the stopper portion can be inserted into the guide hole through the widened portion. Thus, the fixed blade is prevented from separating from the movable blade, and thus, the blade unit is prevented from falling apart.
The reciprocating guide can include a guide hole provided in the movable blade, a guide piece projecting from the fixed blade and slidably movable with respect to the guide hole, and a bent portion provided at an edge of the guide hole. According to this construction, since the bent portion provided at an edge of the guide hole slidably contacts the guide piece, the guide piece does not contact and is not guided by a broken (cut) edge of the guide hole. Thus, the guiding function becomes stable and unusual noise is prevented from occurring.
The guide piece and the bent portion of the guide hole can extend in opposite directions so as to face each other. According to this construction, since the guide piece is guided by the bent portion, which faces and slidably contacts the guide piece, the height of the guide piece can be shortened, and thus, the thickness of the blade unit can be decreased. In addition, since the bent portion extends toward the guide piece, the blade base does not require a portion into which the bent portion extends.
Further, for example, when the facing bent portions, provided at the opposing edges of the guide hole, are bent by more than 90 degrees, a sharp taper can be provided toward the bent portion (i.e. the movable blade). Thus, the efficiency of assembling the blade block can be improved, when the opposing bent portions engage with the guide pieces, which face the bent portions.
Alternatively, the guide piece and the bent portion of the guide hole can extend in a same direction. According to this structure, an introducing area for the guide piece can be formed naturally and simultaneously with a bent surface formed at the bent portion of the guide hole.
In addition, when the bending angle of the facing bent portions are less than 90 degrees, an amount of press fitting (bending) of the facing guide pieces can be set (or adjusted) to obtain a predetermined guiding function. Accordingly, the guide piece and the guide hole do not require high precision in their size and enable manufacturing with large tolerances.
It is preferable to further include an insertion guide portion provided on the blade base. The insertion guide portion guides the blade unit when the blade unit is assembled to the blade base by insertion of the blade unit into the insertion opening of the blade base. According to this construction, a positioning operation of the blade unit can be easily performed by the insertion guide portion formed on the blade base. Thus, efficiency of assembling of the blade unit can be improved.
It is preferable to further include a spring provided in the blade unit and an introducing portion provided on the blade base to introduce the spring to the blade base. According to this construction, when the blade unit is assembled with the blade base, the spring is prevented from deformation, which might occur when the spring is hooked by the blade base. On the contrary, the blade base is prevented from being scraped by the spring. Thus, the predetermined set pressing force of the spring is not changed, the assembling can be stable (i.e. not prone to error), and the movable blade can be stably pressed toward the fixed blade.
Preferably, the spring includes a flat portion, and corners of a peripheral surface of the spring are rounded or beveled. According to this structure, when the blade unit is inserted into the insertion opening of the blade base so as to be assembled with each other, the spring is easily slidable at the flat portion. Thus, the blade unit can be easily assembled to the blade base. In addition, since the corners of the peripheral surface of the spring are rounded or beveled, the spring is prevented from deformation, which might occur when the spring is hooked by the blade base. On the contrary, the blade base is prevented from being scraped by the spring. Thus, the predetermined or preset pressing force of the spring is not changed, the assembling can be stable, and the movable blade is stably pressed toward the fixed blade. Further, even when the spring is unitarily formed with the movable blade as one piece or connected with the movable blade, i.e., when the movable blade and the spring move together, the spring does not scrape the blade base and is not hooked by the blade base. Thus, driving of the movable blade can be made stable.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a blade block of a hair cutter includes a fixed blade and a movable blade which reciprocates with respect to the fixed blade. The blade block which is detachably mounted to a hair cutter body, is provided with a reciprocating guide including at least one guide piece projecting from the fixed blade, and at least one guide hole provided in the movable blade. The at least one guide piece is inserted into the at least one guide hole so that the movable blade can reciprocate within the range defined by the reciprocating hole. According to this construction, the guide piece can be unitarily formed with the fixed blade as one piece. Thus, the construction of the reciprocating guide can be simplified.


An apparatus estimates SOH of a battery based on a battery voltage variation pattern. A data storing unit obtains and stores battery voltage, current and temperature data from sensors, at each SOH estimation. A first SOC estimating unit estimates first SOC by current integration using the battery current data. A second SOC estimating unit estimates open-circuit voltage from the voltage variation pattern, and calculates and stores second SOC corresponding to the open-circuit voltage and temperature using correlations between the open-circuit voltage/temperature and SOC. A weighted mean convergence calculating unit calculates and stores convergence value for weighted mean value of ratio of the second SOC variation to the first SOC variation. A SOH estimating unit estimates capacity corresponding to the weighted mean convergence value using correlation between the weighted mean convergence value and the capacity, estimates relative ratio of the estimated capacity to an initial capacity, and stores it as SOH.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to apparatus and method for estimating SOH (State Of Health) of a battery, which is a parameter representing capacity degradation of a battery, and more particularly to apparatus and method for estimating SOH of a battery based on SOC (State Of Charge) that is a parameter representing a residual capacity of a battery.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, electric vehicles or hybrid electric vehicles (hereinafter, referred to as electric-driven vehicles) are driven in an electric-driven mode using an electric energy stored in a battery.
A vehicle using a fossil fuel operates an engine using a liquid fuel, so it is not difficult to measure a residual amount of fuel. However, in case of an electric-driven vehicle, it is not easy to accurately measure a residual energy of a battery.
An electric-driven vehicle is moved using an energy charged in a battery, so it is important to check a residual capacity of a battery. Accordingly, techniques for informing a driver of information such as a possible traveling distance by checking SOC of a battery are actively developed.
As an example, there is a method for measuring a voltage of a battery while the battery is charged/discharged, estimating an open-circuit voltage of the battery in an unloading state from the measured voltage, and then mapping SOC corresponding to the estimated open-circuit voltage by referring to a SOC table defining a SOC for each open-circuit voltage. However, when a battery is charged/discharged, the estimated voltage of a battery is significantly different from an actual voltage due to an IR drop effect, so accurate SOC cannot be obtained unless such an error is corrected.
For reference, the IR drop effect means a phenomenon that a voltage is rapidly changed when a battery starts being discharged in connected to a load or starts being charged from an external power source. Namely, a battery voltage rapidly decreases when discharge is initiated, and a voltage rapidly increases when charging is initiated.
As another example, there is a method for estimating SOC of a battery by integrating charging/discharging currents of the battery. When this method is used, SOC accuracy is deteriorated as time goes since measurement errors occurring during the current measuring process are continuously accumulated.
Meanwhile, SOH is another parameter representing a state of a battery, besides the above SOC. SOH is a parameter quantitatively representing a capacity change of a battery caused by an aging effect, and it allows checking how much the capacity of a battery is degraded. Thus, if SOH is checked, a battery may be exchanged at a suitable point of time, and also a charging/discharging capacity of a battery may be controlled according to a use term of the battery to prevent overcharging or overdischarging of the battery.
The change of capacity characteristics of a battery is reflected on the change of internal resistance of the battery, so it is known that SOH can be estimated from internal resistance and temperature of a battery. In other words, capacity of a battery is measured for each internal resistance and temperature of a battery through charging/discharging experiments. Then, the measured capacities are evaluated into relative numerical values based on an initial capacity of the battery to obtain a look-up table for SOH mapping. After that, internal resistance and temperature of a battery under an actual battery use circumstance are measured, and then SOH corresponding to the internal resistance and temperature is mapped from the look-up table to estimate SOH of a battery.
In the above SOH estimating method, the most important thing is how accurately an internal resistance of a battery can be obtained. However, it is in actually impossible to directly measure an internal resistance of a battery while the battery is charged/discharged. Thus, commonly, battery voltage and charging/discharging current are measured to indirectly calculate a battery internal resistance according to Ohm's law. However, since the battery voltage is different from an actual voltage due to the IR drop effect and also the battery current has a measurement error, the internal resistance simply calculated according to the Ohm's law and SOH estimated from the internal resistance does not ensure sufficient reliability.

Apparatus and method for estimating state of health of battery based on battery voltage variation pattern


A light amount-adjusting device has a base plate with an optical path aperture, first and second blade members, and a driving unit for swinging open and close the blade members. Each blade member has a base-end portion and a front-end portion. The base-end portion is pivotally held on the base plate. The front-end portion faces the aperture. First and second boss-like protrusions project from the base plate and from the surfaces of the blade members. The protrusions are coupled to define the heightwise positions of the blade members in the direction of the optical axis. The vertically overlapping blade members pivotally supported on the base plate can be swung open and closed without interfering with each other. The device produces less frictional load when the aperture is opened and closed, and thus less noise.

The present invention relates to a light amount-adjusting device for use in an imaging device such as a camera or in a projecting device such as a projector. More particularly, the invention relates to a light amount-adjusting device such as an aperture device for adjusting the light amount in an optical path or a shutter device for blocking the light amount. The invention also relates to a light amount-adjusting device for use in a projector unit using such a device.
Generally, a light amount-adjusting device of this kind is widely known as a device which is incorporated in a lens barrel such as an imaging lens or projector lens and which is used to adjust the amount of light according to the circumstances of use. A related art device of this kind has been so configured that one or more blades are mounted in a base plate provided with an aperture formed in an optical path. The blades are swung open and closed by a driving motor, thus performing a shutter operation or an operation,for restricting the amount of light.
Such a light amount-adjusting device has a base plate molded from a synthetic resin, as disclosed, for example, in a patent reference JP-A-2003-57715. Shaft pins are mounted on the base plate. Base-end portions of plural blade members are securely supported to the shaft pins. The blade members are arranged at a given interval around the aperture. Front-end portions of the blade members stop down the aperture to a variable extent or shut off the aperture by rotating the blade members by the same amount. A holding plate is mounted like a cover over the base plate. The blade members are positioned between the base plate and the holding plate so as to be capable of being swung open and closed.
Where the plural blade members are superimposed like fish scales over the base plate forming the aperture in the optical path as described above and are swung open and closed, the following structure has been heretofore adopted. A second blade is stacked on a first blade, and then the holding plate is placed on the topmost blade. Therefore, the blades superimposed vertically frequently interfere with each other, resulting in malfunction. Especially, if the blades are distorted by temperature or external shock, the blades mesh with each other, making the device inoperative. Another problem is that friction between the blades hinders them from being smoothly swung open and closed.
Accordingly, a structure having a base plate with rib-like protrusions which support the first and second blades, respectively, is known as disclosed in the above-cited patent reference. A difference in heightwise position corresponding to the thickness of each blade is created between the two protrusions. However, if the protrusions that alleviate the interference (friction) between the blades are formed on the base plate supporting the blades in this way, the following problem arises. Where the blades are made of metal sheet less affected by temperature variations and undergoing less aging variations, for example, the blades themselves are large in mass. If an attempt is made to swing open and closed the blades at high speed, the blades are swung up and down perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the blades by vibrations. Consequently, the operation is unstable and generates noise. Also, malfunction may occur.
In view of the foregoing mutual motion between the blades, it is a main object of the invention to provide a light amount-adjusting device which prevents plural blades superimposed vertically from interfering with each other to thereby prevent failure of operation. The light amount-adjusting device also prevents the blades from producing noise when swung open and closed. In the light amount-adjusting device, low frictional load occurs when the blades are swung open and closed.
Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the invention and the associated drawings.

Light amount-adjusting device and light amount-adjusting device for projector unit


The present invention provides a method for encoding messages. The method includes identifying at least a first plurality of messages indicative of a corresponding first plurality of data transmission rates and a second plurality of messages indicative of a corresponding second plurality of data transmission rates based on a prior transmitted message, where the first and second pluralities of messages are unequal. The method also includes transmitting a message from one of at least the first and second pluralities of messages.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to communications; more specifically, message encoding.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 illustrates a typical cellular based wireless communication system. Communications from base station 10 to mobile stations 12, 14 and 16 are transmitted using downlink channels 18, 20 and 22, respectively. Similarly, communications from mobile stations 12, 14 and 16 to base station 10 are transmitted using uplink channels 24, 26 and 28, respectively.
FIG. 2 illustrates a downlink data communication channel having time slots 40, 42, 44 and 46. The data transmitted in each of the slots may be transmitted at one of several standard rates. For example, slot 40 contains data transmitted at rate R1, slot 42 has data transmitted at rate R2, slot 44 has data transmitted at rate R5 and slot 46 has data transmitted at rate R12. The rate used to transmit data in each slot is chosen based on a request made by the mobile station that will be receiving the data. For example, while a mobile is receiving data at rate R1 during time slot 40, the mobile is also monitoring communication channel conditions by measuring, for example, a carrier to interference ratio. Based on that measurement, the mobile station transmits a data rate request to base station 10 before the end of slot 40 so that the base station can transmit at the new rate during slot 42. If, for example, the carrier to interference ratio has increased indicating improving channel conditions, the mobile will request rate R2 for the next time slot where rate R2 is a higher data rate than rate R1. Similarly, if during slot 42 the carrier to interference ratio improves significantly, the mobile may ask for a rate increase to rate R5 for slot 44. The number of bits used to specify the new rate depends on the number of standard rates that are available. In a proposed communication system known as HDR (High Data Rate), 14 different data rates are available, therefore the request requires four bits.
FIG. 3 illustrates an uplink control channel known as the pilot/DRC (data rate control channel). The pilot/DRC channel is transmitted by the mobile to provide the base station with a pilot signal that the base station uses to demodulate other transmissions from the mobile to the base station. The pilot/DRC is also used to provide the base station with data rate request information from the mobile. The pilot and data rate request information are alternated using equal amounts of time. For example, time slot 60 is used to transmit pilot signal while time slot 62 is used to transmit bit B1 of a data rate request message. Slot 64 is then used to transmit pilot information while slot 66 is used to transmit bit B2 of the data rate request message. Slot 68 is used to transmit pilot signal, and slot 70 is used to transmit bit B3 of the data rate request message. Similarly, slot 72 is used to transmit pilot signal while slot 74 is used to transmit bit B4 of the data rate request message. This pattern repeats until another data rate request message is sent where bits B1, B2, B3 and B4 of prior data rate request message are replaced with four bits specifying the new rate.
The height of each slot indicates the power level used to transmit the information in the slot. It should be noted that the pilot and data rate request bits are transmitted at the same power level. As a result, 50% of the power in the pilot/DRC channel is associated with data rate request messages. Generally, any overhead or control channel such as a pilot/DRC channel increases the overall noise in a communication system and thereby adversely affects the quality of the voice or data communication channels. Therefore, it is desirable to reduce the amount of power in overhead or control channels.


A universal remote control apparatus and method for controlling various types of devices and equipments, the universal remote control apparatus includes a service profile generator which generates a service profile based on first device information and second device information that are recognized from at least one device, a service profile management unit which stores and manages the generated service profile, a service profile-based control unit which universally controls the at least one device based on the service profile, and a user interface unit which receives from a user a first selection on a first device object corresponding to the first device information and a second selection on a second device object corresponding to the second device information.

A remote controller is designed to control a device in a remote place. However, as types of devices are diversified and the number of devices increases, the number of remote controllers needed to control the devices is also increasing. The increase in the number of remote controllers may cause user inconvenience in managing and using the remote controllers. Specifically, when features of devices being controlled are different from each other, user interfaces of the remote controllers may also be different. Therefore, it is difficult to effectively control the remote controllers. Also, when the devices being controlled are manufactured by different manufacturers, the remote controllers may be incompatible. Therefore, despite the above user inconvenience, many users generally have the same number of remote controllers as the number of devices being controlled, and select a corresponding remote controller as necessary and control a device.
To solve the above-described problems and the user inconvenience, some electronic device manufacturers provide a universal remote controller capable of controlling all products of a corresponding company using one remote controller. However, even in this case, it may not be possible to control products of another company.
Even in the case of a remote controller with a macro function, since the macro pre-programs control operations and assigns the programmed control operations on a particular button, it may be inconvenient to program the macro when the configuration of a device is uncontrollable using standardized patterns.
Also, the remote controller using the macro function cannot provide a multiple service that can control various types of devices including a peripheral device, for example, a light device, according to a circumstance or a user taste.
Accordingly, there is a need for a universal remote control apparatus and method of controlling various types of devices based on service profiles.

Universal remote control apparatus and method based on service profiles


Medicine injection apparatuses having multiple chambers. The chambers may be in lateral relationship. A torsional part is adapted to turn and be repositioned angularly relative to a main body to allow different chambers to be used to receive an injection assembly. The medicine injector can be constructed to administer multiple doses. The apparatuses may also have a storage chamber for storing the injection assembly after use. Plural drivers may be used to administer multiple doses, such as at the different angular positions of the torsional part. The apparatuses may allow multiple automatic injections from different angular positions and storage of an injector after use. Needle fright is reduced by minimizing exposure of an injection needle prior to injection.

There is a significant market in medicine autoinjectors. Such devices are often used to inject a medicine like epinephrine to treat allergic reactions from bee stings or other anaphylactic episodes.
Other medications are or may be needed on a quick basis. Autoinjectors may serve useful for quick access and administration of other medicines. Alternative medicines include medicines now available, such as some analgesics. It may further include medicines which may be available or found hereafter to be suitable for administration using autoinjectors. Such alternative medicines might include antidotes to various poisons. Such antidotes may be used to counter the effects of poison gas attack, such as may be used in military operations. Other possible uses which may be now known or hereafter developed, might include antidotes for snake bites, other poisonous animals, and poisonous plants. Exposure to poison gases or biological agents in wartime or other situations may in particular be best treated when there is immediate injection of a suitable injectable medicine.
Other medications may also be suitable for administration in autoinjectors, such as pain relievers, vaccines needed on a quicker basis than usually provided via medical services facilities, and other medicines provided on an unexpected basis or those only useful for a short period of time. Autoinjectors may also be desired for other reasons, such as: remoteness, travel, convenience at sea where motion may make more traditional injections more difficult, and many other reasons. Use of autoinjectors may be desired with many medications which are injectable.
Some problems which have been associated with autoinjectors is that the number of doses of medicine being injected may not be the same for different people, different sizes of people (children versus adults who typically require different dosing), and the circumstances giving rise to the need for medicine injection may require different dosing levels. Prior efforts to effect dose control have not been altogether successful in meeting all the various situations and people for which medicine injection is needed.
Another longstanding problem arises from the need in the use of some drugs for an immediately available second dose or further multiple doses if the first dose has been unsuccessful in treating the medical emergency. Heretofore a user requiring immediately available second or subsequent automatically injected doses of medication was forced to carry two or more autoinjectors. This has lead to unnecessary expense and inconvenience due to the bulk of carrying multiple injectors. Further the potential for inadvertently leaving one or more of the necessary injectors at home or elsewhere leads to potential critical risk.
In the use of epinephrine for anaphylaxis for example, studies have shown that approximately one third of patients requiring epinephrine will need a second dose within a few minutes, while other studies have shown that only approximately sixteen percent in fact carry the necessary second autoinjector. Therefore an autoinjector that is capable of delivering multiple automatic injections would meet a critical need which has not been successfully met in prior devices.
A further longstanding problem which arises in almost all injection of medicines is that many people find the process unpleasant. This may be further aggravated by obvious visual sighting of the syringe to the patient. This may also be a problem for another user which is merely an administrator. The administration of an injection to a recipient or patient may be unpleasant or uncomfortable both for the patient to perform self-administration, and for performance by an available other administrative person. This may be a problem leading to delay in the administration of an injection. Thus, it is desirable to minimize these negative reactions, since many people are strongly affected by them and just about all people desire avoiding them except due to acceptance as a needed medical treatment.
The inventor has determined that, it is desirable to have medicine injectors which may controllably administer one or more doses and minimize visual exposure of the injection needle. It is also desirable to have an autoinjector which may provide multiple automatically injected doses, and which can do such in a manner which minimizes adverse effects associated with visual sighting of the needle, particularly during the time period immediately before the injection or injections occur. This may apply to situations as indicated above or in other circumstances.
It is more generally desirable to reduce or minimize negative reactions associated with injections and to reduce sighting of injection needles. Reducing negative effects is particularly desirable immediately before an injection is administered.
Due to the nature of certain medicines and sensitivity of some individuals, it is also desirable to provide penetration depth control for the injection needle. This may also be desired for proper administration at the appropriate depth in the tissue or person, or for other reasons.
Some or all of the problems explained above and other problems may be helped or solved by one or more embodiments of the inventions shown and described herein. Such inventions may also be used to address other problems not set out above or which are only understood or appreciated at a later time. The future may also bring to light currently unknown or unrecognized benefits which may be appreciated or more fully appreciated in association with the inventions shown and described herein. The desires and expected benefits explained herein are not admissions that others have recognized such prior to the inventions described herein.


A display device is disclosed including a plurality of pixels arranged in a predetermined configuration. Each pixel including a mirror element disposed over a flat surface. A light modulating material disposed over the mirror element for selectively modulating a predetermined wave length of light received from an external source by transitioning between a first and a second state. The light modulating material in the first state causes destructive interference in the predetermined wave length of light and in the second state causes constructive interference in the predetermined wave length of light.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to flat panel display devices and more particularly, to a phase transition flat panel display including Vanadium Dioxide (VO2)--based pixels in order to electrically modulate light by utilizing the phase transition property of VO2.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Display devices are conventionally classified into two basic categories including active and passive displays. Active displays which are light generating devices include such technologies as Cathode Ray Tubes (CRT), Light Emitting Diodes (LED) and Plasma Display Panels (PDP), while passive displays are light modulating devices where the light source is either ambient or light from a separate source and includes such technologies as Liquid Crystal Displays (LCD), Electrochromic Displays (ECD) and Electrophoretic Displays (EPID).
Another classification for displays relates to the physical size or geometry of the device. Flat Panel displays are generally more compact and energy efficient, and utilize practically all of the above mentioned technologies except for CRT technology. Attempts to flatten the conventional CRT have been unsuccessful since the devices produced have had either poor picture quality or excessive manufacturing costs.
A very successful type of Flat Panel Display is the LCD device. The LCD includes a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix configuration utilized to either transmit or block light. Whether light is transmitted or blocked, depends on the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules which is controlled by an electrical bias. The early LCDs utilized a "passive matrix" scheme in order to address the individual pixels when producing images. This scheme consists of applying a voltage to a single row and then adjusting the column voltages to produce a large combined voltage across the selected pixels in that row. This addressing scheme enabled the early LCDs to be efficient and low cost. However, due to a cross talk complications, the Passive Matrix LCDs cannot provide both good contrast and resolution.
In order to overcome the cross talk problem, the "active matrix" scheme was developed for LCD devices. This scheme utilizes an array of transistors in order to address the individual pixels. Each pixel receives a voltage from its column line only when its own transistor is switched on. This enables Active Matrix LCDs to provide good resolution as well as good contrast. However, these devices have some drawbacks. First of all, these type of displays draw more power than a display utilizing the "passive matrix" scheme. These types of displays are also more expensive and complicated to produce. Another drawback is that these type of displays tend to have lower yields due to the difficulty of fabricating the transistor arrays which is needed to perform the "active matrix" addressing.
Another type of flat panel display is the ECD device. The ECD device generally includes a cell with at least two electrodes where at least one consists of electrochromic material, an electrolyte and at times an insulator. Applying a voltage across the electrodes causes ions present in the electrolyte to be absorbed by one of the electrodes thereby producing a change of color or transmissive property in the electrode. The change in color or transmissive property is the effect that enables these types of displays to produce images.
VO2 exhibits an insulator-to-metal phase transition at temperature T.sub.c =68.degree. C. which is accompanied by a significant change in electrical and optical properties. Due to this feature this material has been utilized in various electrical and optical applications. These applications have included: a medium for holographic optical recording, a temperature stabilizer and controller, an electronic switch, material for screening and modulating microwave radiation and electronic and optical memory elements. One of the optical properties which is significantly changed is the index of refraction, which would enable VO2 to modulate light reflectance. The phase transition in VO2 can be thermally induced by utilizing heater elements disposed under the film of this material. Some primitive display functions have been demonstrated earlier, with modulation of the reflectance of the VO2 with an external heater. The latter heated the glass substrate as well, causing a high power consumption and a long response time of 0.2-0.5 s.
It is therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an improved Flat Panel Display by employing phase transition of the pixelized VO2 film in a new embodiment which allows selective heating of the light modulating film and more efficient use of this material to provide new display functions and properties, such as video frequency of operation, high resolution, gray levels and color, together with a low dissipating power and utilizing well established manufacturing technique which provides high yield and lower cost.


A color filter array includes first pixels, second pixels, third pixels, and fourth pixels. The first pixels transmit light with visible and infrared (IR) wavelengths. The second pixels transmit light with the visible wavelengths and surround each of the first pixels. The third pixels transmit light with a first range of wavelengths among the visible wavelengths. The fourth pixels transmit light with a second range of wavelengths among the visible wavelengths.

The present inventive concept relates to a semiconductor device manufacturing technology and, more particularly, to a color filter array, an image sensor including the same, and a method of acquiring infrared (IR) data using the same.
A three-dimensional (3D) image sensor that provides depth data as well as image data is being researched and developed. A color filter array (CFA) used in the 3D image sensor may include a color pixel for acquiring color data of an object and an infrared (IR) pixel for acquiring depth data of the object. A method for acquiring high quality color and IR data from the color filter array having both a color pixel and an IR pixel is being researched and developed.

Color filter array, image sensor including the same, and infrared data acquisition method using the same


Steam assisted gravity drainage (“SAGD”) is practised in a first section of a reservoir containing heavy oil. When steam/oil ratio rises sufficiently, steam injection into the first section is curtailed or terminated. Non-condensible gas is then injected into the section to pressurize it and production of residual oil and steam condensate is continued. Concurrently with pressurization, SAGD is practised in an adjacent reservoir section. As a result, some of the residual oil in the first section is recovered and steam loss from the second section to the first section is ameliorated.

Steam assisted gravity drainage ("SAGD") is a process first proposed by R. M. Butler and later developed and tested at the Underground Test Facility ("UTF") of the Alberta Oil Sands Technology and Research Authority ("AOSTRA"). The SAGD process was originally developed for use in heavy oil or bitumen containing reservoirs, (hereinafter collectively referred to as 'heavy oil reservoirs'), such as the Athabasca oil sands. The process, as practised at the UTF, involved:                Drilling a pair of deviated wells having horizontal portions positioned close to and above the base of the reservoir containing the heavy oil. The horizontal portion of one well was located above the other in relatively close, generally co-extensive, vertically spaced apart and parallel relationship. The wells were spaced apart about 5–7 meters and extended in parallel horizontal relationship through several hundred meters of the oil pay or reservoir. The upper well was completed or equipped for steam injection. The lower well was completed for flowing production of heated oil and steam condensate. In summary, an associated pair of 'horizontal wells', suitable for the practice of SAGD, were provided;        Then establishing fluid communication between the wells so that fluid could move through the span of formation between them. This was achieved by circulating steam through each of the wells to produce a pair of "hot fingers". The span between the wells warmed by conduction until the contained oil was sufficiently heated so that it could be driven by steam pressure from one well to the other. The viscous oil in the span was replaced with steam by injecting steam through the injection well and producing the oil from the span through the production well. The wells were then ready for SAGD operation;        Then converting to the practice of SAGD production. More particularly, the upper well was used to inject steam and the lower well was used to produce a product mixture of heated oil and condensed water. The production well was operated under steam trap control. That is, the production well was throttled to maintain the production temperature below the saturated steam temperature corresponding to the production pressure. Otherwise stated, the fluids being produced at the production interval should be at undersaturated or "subcooled" condition. (Subcool=steam temperature corresponding to the measured producing production pressure—measured temperature.) This was done to ensure a column of liquid over the production well, to minimize "short-circuiting" by injected steam into the production well. The injected steam began to form an upwardly enlarging steam chamber in the reservoir. The chamber extended along the length of the horizontal portions of the well pair. Oil that had originally filled the chamber sand was heated, to mobilize it, and drained, along with condensed water, down to the production well, through which they were removed. The chamber was thus filled with steam and was permeable to liquid flow. Newly injected steam rose through the chamber and supplied heat to its peripheral surface, thereby enlarging the chamber upwardly and outwardly as the oil was mobilized and drained, together with the condensed water, down to the production well.This process is described in greater detail in Canadian patent 1,304,287 (Edmunds, Haston and Cordell).
The process was shown to be commercially viable and is now being tested by several oil companies in a significant number of pilot projects.
Now, the operation of a single pair of wells practising SAGD has a finite life. When the upwardly enlarging steam chamber reaches the overlying, cold overburden, it can no longer expand upwardly and heat begins to be lost to the overburden. If two well pairs are being operated side by side, their laterally expanding steam chambers will eventually contact along their side edges and further oil-producing lateral expansion comes to a halt as well. As a result, oil production rate begins to drop off. As a consequence of these two occurrences, the steam/oil ratio ("SOR") begins to rise and continued SAGD operation with an associated well pair eventually becomes uneconomic.
If one considers two side-by-side SAGD well pairs which have been produced to "maturity", as just described, it will be found that a ridge of unheated oil is left between the well pairs. It is, of course, desirable to ameliorate this loss of unrecovered oil.
In Canadian patent 2,015,460 (Kisman), assigned to the present assignee, there is described a technique for limiting the escape of steam into a thief zone. For example, if steam is being injected into a relatively undepleted reservoir section and there is a nearby more depleted reservoir section, forming a low pressure sink, there is a likelihood that pressurized steam will migrate from the undepleted section into the more depleted section—which is an undesired result. One wants to confine the steam to the relatively undepleted section where there is lots of oil to be heated, mobilized and produced. The Kisman patent teaches injecting a non-condensible gas, such as natural gas, into the more depleted section to raise its pressure and equalize it with the pressure in the relatively undepleted section. By this means, the loss of steam from the one section to the other can be curtailed or minimized. This is taught in the context of patterns of vertical wells.
The Kisman patent further teaches that pressurizing the more depleted section with natural gas has been characterized by an increase in production rate from that section, if the production well penetrating the section is produced during pressurization.

Process for sequentially applying SAGD to adjacent sections of a petroleum reservoir


A method for power management for applications having duty-cycled high peak supply currents includes charging a buffer capacitor with a first current supplied by a battery, wherein the first current is limited by a current limiter. A load is supplied with a second current supplied by the buffer capacitor, wherein the second current comprises a pulsed current. The current limiter is controlled with at least one of a plurality of sensor inputs to limit a capacity degradation of the battery.

Many applications require a relatively low average supply current provided by a battery, but periodically require a high peak current. These applications are often duty-cycled, with a relatively long inactive period (e.g., sleep, stand-by or off time). Typically, a battery can easily sustain the average current for a long period of time, but the battery life, or capacity, is degraded significantly when peak currents are required to be supplied.
Traditional solutions to the problem of battery degradation due to pulsed loads include adding a large capacitor in parallel with the battery. However, this large capacitor is costly, can have mechanical reliability issues due to its size, and also can contribute significantly to leakage current thus further reducing the effective battery life. In addition, use of a lower leakage capacitor in parallel with the battery further increases the cost beyond that incurred with a standard capacitor having higher leakage current.

Power management for applications having duty-cycled high peak supply currents


A bucket for use in a swinging bucket centrifuge. A core holder is located between two end chambers, with the annular space between the core holder and the bucket sidewall maintaining the chambers in fluid communication. Windows at each end of the bucket allow fluid collections to be monitored. This enables more accurate data to be obtained regarding the effect of fluids of different specific gravity on a fluid saturating a sample. For example, to obtain data allowing a more accurate modeling of reservoir conditions in an oil field impacted by both gas and water displacement, the amount of oil expelled from a rock sample by gas under pressure and temperature conditions simulating those in the reservoir is measured and, after replacing the gas with water, the amount of oil expelled by water under simulated conditions is measured.

In order to determine the distribution or effect of fluids in oil-bearing rock formations from test samples it is common to saturate a core sample of the rock with one of the fluids and to submerge the sample in another fluid in a centrifuge chamber. Typically, one of the fluids is oil from the rock formation and the other is water or gas. Because the fluids are immiscible and of different densities, when the centrifuge is rotated some of the fluid in the sample is expelled and replaced by the other fluid. This can be noted and measured through a window provided in the bucket.
When dealing with an oil-bearing formation that is impacted by both gas and water displacement, such as studies involving the effects of water injection in a gas gravity drainage field, it has been necessary to use two different centrifuge buckets in two separate experiments conducted at ambient conditions. Typically, an oil-saturated core sample is placed in a centrifuge bucket and gas is injected into the centrifuge chamber. When the centrifuge is rotated gas will expel some of the oil in the sample. Because the oil has a greater specific gravity than the gas, it collects in the window area at the outer extremity of the bucket. Then the oil-saturated sample, which now contains only the oil which was not expelled during the above experiment, is submerged in a water-filled centrifuge bucket of different design wherein the window area is at the inner extremity of the bucket. Upon rotation of the centrifuge oil is expelled from the sample and, having a lower specific gravity than water, collects in the window area at the inner extremity of the bucket. The results of both experiments then have to be integrated in order to determine the calculated effect of the gas and water in the formation. This is not an entirely reliable procedure, however, because the experiments are not conducted under reservoir conditions, and the actual conditions in the reservoir are often not adequately reflected in a model based on the data collected. This problem is made worse by the fact that the sample loses its gas saturation from the first experiment, thereby not enabling actual reservoir conditions to be reflected during the second experiment.
Another approach to the study of a three phase gas/water/oil system is to use coreflooding experiments. Such procedures require the use of large cores, in the order of four to five feet long, which have to be flooded at an extremely slow rate, often requiring months to complete the operation.. Moreover, capillary pressure causes oil to be held in the ends of the core. Since such oil would not normally be present in a reservoir, this tends to give misleading results. Coreflooding experiments are therefore not practical as a means of quickly obtaining an accurate model of such a reservoir. Coreflooding experiments are, in addition, quite expensive to carry out.
It would be desirable to be able to obtain data which more realistically reflects actual conditions in a reservoir affected by both gas and water pressure, and to do so rapidly, accurately and economically. Further, it would be desirable to be able to collect such data in a single experiment rather than in two separate experiments.


A rollover sensing apparatus and method are provided for predicting rollover and/or pitchover conditions of a vehicle. An angular rate sensor senses attitude rate of the vehicle, a first accelerometer measures horizontal acceleration of the vehicle, and a second accelerometer measures vertical acceleration of the vehicle. A current attitude angle is estimated with Kalman filtering and a future attitude angle is predicted at an advance time. The predicted attitude angle is compared to a threshold and an output is produced for indicating a predicted vehicle rollover condition based on the comparison. A vehicle rollover condition about the longitudinal axis of the vehicle is predicted by comparing a future roll angle to a rollover angle threshold, while a pitchover condition about the lateral axis of a vehicle is predicted by comparing a future pitch angle to a pitch angle threshold.

The present invention generally relates to rollover sensors and, more particularly, to low-cost vehicle rollover sensors for sensing a rollover condition of a vehicle.
Future generation automotive vehicles may increasingly employ safety-related devices that deploy in the event that the vehicle rolls over to provide added protection to the occupants of the vehicle. For example, upon detecting a vehicle rollover condition, a pop-up roll bar can be deployed such that, when activated, the roll bar further extends vertically outward to increase the height of support provided by the roll bar. Other controllable features may include actuating deployment of one or more air bags, such as front or side deployment air bags, or actuating a pretensioner to pretension a restraining device, such as a seat belt or safety harness, to prevent occupants of the vehicle from ejecting from the vehicle or colliding with the roof of the vehicle.
In the past, basic rollover sensors have been employed in automotive vehicles to measure the angular position of the vehicle from which a rollover condition can be determined. The basic rollover sensors have included the use of a pendulum normally hanging vertically downward due to the earth's gravitational force. Many basic automotive sensing devices are employed simply to monitor the angular position of the vehicle relative to a level ground horizontal position. As a consequence, the basic automotive vehicle rollover sensors have generally been susceptible to error when the vehicle travels around a turn or becomes airborne, in which case the earth's gravitational force, which the sensor relies on, may be overcome by other forces.
More recently, sophisticated rollover sensing approaches have been considered. One such approach considered requires the use of six sensors including three accelerometers and three angular rate sensors, also referred to as gyros, all of which are employed together for use in an inertial navigation system which tracks position and attitude of the vehicle. The three accelerometers generally provide lateral, longitudinal, and vertical acceleration measurements of the vehicle, while the three gyros measure pitch rate, roll rate, and yaw rate. However, the more sophisticated rollover sensing approaches generally require a large number of high-precision and expensive sensors. In addition, known sophisticated systems are susceptible to cumulative drift errors, and therefore must be reset occasionally.
It is, therefore, one object of the present invention to provide for vehicle rollover sensing that requires minimal sensed measurement parameters and is relatively immune to errors generally found in conventional automotive-grade sensors. It is another object of the present invention to provide for vehicle rollover sensing for an automotive vehicle that may predict a future rollover condition in advance to allow time to deploy occupant protection measures. It is a further object of the present invention to provide for reliable vehicle rollover sensing in a low-cost sensing module.


A data processing system of client/server architecture operating on a message basis comprises client spaces capable of issuing processing requests in the form of messages, and server spaces for executing the processing as requested by checking a request code contained in the message. The request codes are previously classified into client-space dedicated codes and kernel-space dedicated codes. A message communication facility for performing message transfer between the clients and the servers includes a check function for checking whether the message originates in the kernel space when the request code contained in the message is the kernel-space dedicated code. The processing request message issued from a space other than the kernel space by using the kernel space dedicated code is rejected as an error. Security of the system can thus be assured.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a data processing system which operates on a message basis, and more particularly to a message-based data processing system which includes client spaces and server spaces, wherein a processing request issued by a client space in the form of a message is sent to a server space through a communication facility to be processed by the server space. More particularly, the present invention is concerned with a message-based data processing system of client/server architecture in which a message request code is provided for each of the processing requests issued for the client spaces for the purpose of preventing the client space from accessing a kernel space having privileged functions by checking the request code in the communication facility to thereby ensure the security of the kernel space and hence that of the data processing system.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the field of the data processing system, there has recently been developed and used such an operating system (OS) which is implemented by dividing the function thereof into unitary functions or function units such as a file management function, a terminal management function, a fault management function and so forth. These OS functions resulting from the division are accommodated in spaces referred to as the server spaces, respectively, which are created in a memory space. On the other hand, the primitive part of the operating system or OS which operates in a privileged mode is accommodated in a space referred to as the kernel (or nucleus) space, which may be generally considered as one of the server spaces. In contrast, spaces provided for the application programs such as user programs are referred to as the client spaces to distinguish them from the server spaces. At this juncture, it should however be noted that although the kernel space is one of the server spaces, it may also be regarded to be a client space in the sense that the kernel space issues control messages to the other server spaces, as described later on. Hereinafter, the OS functions will simply be referred to as the server space, with the kernel of the operating system being referred to as the kernel space, while the application programs are termed the client spaces. When a client space desires service from a server space, the former issues a corresponding request in the form of a message to the server space. In response, the server space checks the request message issued from the client space as to whether the request has authorization as required and provides the services to the client space when the request thereof is decided as having the authorization. On the other hand, the kernel space is a specific server space which is imparted with privileged authorizations for fundamental or primitive functions of the operating system such as deletion of the other server space, creation of new server space and the like. The client spaces and the server spaces except for the kernel space are created and/or deleted by the function privileged to the kernel space, wherein disposition of these spaces are managed by a server referred to as a process server space.
In order that a client space can send a processing request message, the client space has to acquire beforehand the so-called capability (i.e. destination or sink of the message). The capabilities of the individual client spaces are supervised by a mediator server. Exceptionally, the capabilities to the mediator server and the process server are imparted to the client spaces upon creation thereof. These capabilities are referred to as the callable capability (C-CAP) and can not request any processing. Any client space having a request for service of the OS function from the server space has to send once a message to the mediator server by using the callable capability for thereby requesting the meditator server to check the authorization of the client server, and only the client space that has passed the authorization check is delivered with a resource capability which allows the client space to issue a request for the desired OS function such as file reference by using the resource capability.
For a better understanding of the present invention, a description will now be made of the problems of the data processing system which the present invention solves. Referring to FIG. 6 of the accompanying drawings which shows schematically in a block diagram a general arrangement of a message-based data processing system of a client/server space architecture, a reference numeral 20 generally denotes a processor module (PM) constituted by at least one CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a memory. Provided internally of to the processor module 20 are client spaces 11 which accommodate application programs and can issue a variety of processing requests in the form of messages, a kernel space 12 for controlling the whole data processing system, and a server space 17 which processes the requests issued by the client spaces 11 and accommodates therein programs 41a and 41b for executing the processing as requested. Further, a reference numeral 40 denotes a kernel of an operating system which incorporates a message communication facility 40. Messages sent from the client spaces 11 to the server space 17 are denoted by reference numerals 13a, 13b and 13c, respectively.
With the structure of the data processing system described above, transfer of the messages is performed on the presumption described below for realizing a variety of processing requests.
(a) The individual spaces are so created as to operate completely independent of one another, wherein each space constitutes a minimum unit for which security is to be ensured.
(b) Transactions of request and response between the client spaces 11 (inclusive of the kernel space 12) and the server space 17 are performed by using the messages 13a, 13b, 13c, etc. The server space 17 can accept the requests from a plurality of client spaces 11.
(c) To allow the server space 17 to discriminate the messages 13a, 13b and 13c from one another, the client space 11 adds an object operation code or OOC in abbreviation (hereinafter referred to as the request code) to each message as it is issued. The content of the request code OOC is previously determined so that the code serves as an interface agent between the server space 17 and the client space 11.
(d) The spaces can be classified into a public space which includes the client spaces and the intrinsic server space and which occupies one virtual address space and a kernel space 12 which shares a control table with a program of the kernel 40 for controlling the whole system.
In operation, when the client space 11 issues a message 13 having a request code OOC set therein to the destination server space 17, the message communication facility 14 serving as the mediator mentioned hereinbefore sends that message 13 to the server space 17. Upon reception of the message 13, the server space 17 identifies discriminatively the content or type of the request message by checking the request code OOC contained in the message 13 to thereby activate the program 41a or 41b, which is adapted to execute the processing requested by the message as identified.
The data processing system described above suffers from a problem, which will be elucidated below by referring to FIG. 7 of the accompanying drawings.
In the first place, it must be pointed out that the message 13 issued from the kernel space 12 which is destined to control the whole system has specific and important content or meaning in contrast to the messages issued from the public client space 11. Nevertheless, there may arise such situation in the case of the data processing system now under consideration that a request code (e.g. OOC=x) indicating a request message which is intrinsically allocated to the kernel space 12 is erroneously placed in the request message 13 issued from a client space 11 with malicious intent or inadvertently. In that case, the above-mentioned message will be interpreted as one originating from the kernel space 12 regardless of the fact that the sender of that message is actually a client space 11. Consequently a processing request which controls the whole system can be issued from the client space, thereby endangering the security.

Message-based data processing system that provides checking for access to server space


A silicon on insulator substrate includes a semiconductor bulk handle wafer, an insulating layer on said semiconductor bulk handle wafer and a semiconductor film on said insulating layer. An opening extends completely through the semiconductor film and insulating layer to expose a surface of the semiconductor bulk handle wafer. Epitaxial material fills the opening and extends on said semiconductor film, with the epitaxial material and semiconductor film forming a thick semiconductor film. A trench isolation surrounds a region of the thick semiconductor film to define an electrical contact made to the semiconductor bulk handle wafer through the opening.

The use of silicon on insulator (SOI) substrates in the fabrication of integrated circuit devices is well known in the art. With reference to FIG. 1, an SOI substrate 10 typically comprises a semiconductor bulk handle wafer 12, an insulating layer 14 and a semiconductor film 16 arranged in a stack. The semiconductor film 16 may be doped in accordance with the application, or alternatively may be un-doped in which case the SOI substrate 10 is of the "fully-depleted" type. The semiconductor film 16 may, for example, have a thickness of 35-70 nm. The insulating layer 14 is commonly referred to in the art as a buried oxide (BOX) layer.
It is common for certain integrated circuit devices, such as those used in imaging where the semiconductor film 16 is fabricated to include a photosensitive region, for epitaxial growth processing to be used to increase the thickness of the semiconductor film. For example, a thick semiconductor film 18 with a thickness of 2-20 μm is not uncommon. An example of such a thick SOI substrate 10′ is shown in FIG. 2 with the thick semiconductor film 18 including the epitaxial portion 16′ over the semiconductor film 16. The epitaxial portion 16′ may be doped in accordance with the application.
In a number of circuit applications, it is necessary to effectuate voltage control over the biasing of the semiconductor bulk handle wafer 12. FIG. 3 illustrates one known method and structure for making an electrical contact to the semiconductor bulk handle wafer 12. In this implementation, a deep etch is made from the front surface of the thick semiconductor film 18, with the deep etch extending through the epitaxial portion 16′, the semiconductor film 16 and the insulating layer 14 and further partially extending into the semiconductor bulk handle wafer 12. The opening formed by the deep etch is lined with a barrier liner 20 and filled with a metal fill 22. The barrier liner 20 may, for example, comprise a Titanium or Tantalum Nitride material and the metal fill 22 may, for example, comprise a copper material to form a conductive bulk contact 24. The material of the barrier liner 22 is selected to prevent contamination of the semiconductor material by the metal fill 22. Deep trench isolation (DTI) structures 26 may be formed to surround the bulk contact 24 so as to isolate the region 28 of the thick semiconductor film 18 where the bulk contact 24 is formed from the active region 30 of the thick semiconductor film 18 where integrated circuit structures are fabricated. The process for forming the DTI structures 26 utilizes a deep etch that is made from the front surface of the thick semiconductor film 18, with the deep etch extending through the epitaxial portion 16′ and the semiconductor film 16 and further partially extending into the insulating layer 14. The opening formed by this deep etch is then filled with an insulating material.
FIG. 4 illustrates another known method for making an electrical contact to the semiconductor bulk handle wafer 12. In this implementation, a deep etch is made from the front surface of the thick semiconductor film 18 extending through the epitaxial portion 16′, the semiconductor film 16 and the insulating layer 14 and partially extending into the semiconductor bulk handle wafer 12. The opening formed by the deep etch is then filled with a metal plug 32. The metal plug 32 may, for example, comprise tungsten material to form a bulk contact 34. Deep trench isolation (DTI) structures 26 may be formed to surround the bulk contact 34 so as to isolate the region 28 of the thick semiconductor film 18 where the bulk contact 34 is formed from the active region 30 of the thick semiconductor film 18 where integrated circuit structures are fabricated. The process for forming the DTI structures 26 utilizes a deep etch that is made from the front surface of the thick semiconductor film 18, with the deep etch extending through the epitaxial portion 16′ and the semiconductor film 16 and further partially extending into the insulating layer 14. The opening formed by this deep etch is then filled with an insulating material.
The bulk contacts and methods of making described above suffer from a number of drawbacks including: a need to use a thick resist or hard mask to make the deep etch; a need to control surface flatness of the thick semiconductor film 18; a need to avoid contamination of the thick semiconductor film 18; thermal budget limitations that affect process steps; a challenging aspect ratio for the deep etch; and possible introduction of undesired stress.
There is accordingly a need in the art to provide an improved process for forming a contact to the semiconductor bulk handle wafer of an SOI substrate.

Method for forming an electrical contact between a semiconductor film and a bulk handle wafer, and resulting structure


A system that facilitates in situ determination of lubricity in a fluid comprises a multi-element sensor positioned within a machine, wherein the multi-element sensor obtains data regarding a plurality of parameters of a fluid. A component calculates lubricity of the fluid based at least in part upon the measured parameters.

Dynamoelectric machines, such as motors and generators and other rotating machines, such as gears and bearing systems, are widely employed in industrial and commercial facilities. These machines are relied upon to operate with minimal attention and provide for long, reliable operation. Many facilities operate several hundred or even thousands of such machines concurrently, several of which are integrated into a large interdependent process or system. Like most machinery, at least a small percentage of such equipment is prone to failure. Some of these failures can be attributed to loss of lubrication, incorrect lubrication, lubrication breakdown, or lubrication contamination.
Depending on the application, failure of a machine in service can possibly lead to system or process latency, inconvenience, material scrap, machinery damage, hazardous material cleanup, and even a dangerous situation. Thus, it is desirable to diagnose machinery for possible failure or faults early in order to take preventive action and avoid such problems. Absent special monitoring for certain lubrication problems, a problem may have an insidious effect in that although only a minor problem on the outset, the problem could become serious if not detected. For example, bearing problems due to inadequate lubrication, lubrication contamination or other causes may not become apparent until significant damage has occurred.
Proper lubrication facilitates extension of machinery life. For example, when motor lubricant is continuously exposed to high temperatures, high speeds, stress or loads, and an oxidizing environment, the lubricant will deteriorate and lose its lubricating effectiveness. The loss of lubricating effectiveness will affect two main functions of a lubrication system, namely: (1) to reduce friction; and (2) to remove heat. Continued operation of such a degraded system may result in even greater heat generation and accelerated system degradation eventually leading to substantial machinery damage and ultimately catastrophic failure. To protect the motor, the lubricant should be changed in a timely fashion. However, a balance must be struck—on one hand it is undesirable to replace an adequate lubricant but on the other hand it is desired to replace a lubricant that is in its initial stages of breakdown or contamination prior to occurrence of equipment damage. As each particular application of a lubricant is relatively unique with respect to when the lubricant will breakdown or possibly become contaminated, it becomes necessary to monitor the lubricant.
Lubricity can be defined as "an ability of a lubricant to reduce friction between moving, loaded surfaces." Prior to a mandated reduction in the sulfur content of diesel fuels in the early 90's, no acceptable measurement of lubricity of a fluid was defined. Reduction of sulfur in diesel fuels typically is accomplished via hydro heating, which inadvertently removes lubricating elements from the fuels. Such reduction of sulfur (and thus lubricating elements) has caused premature equipment breakdowns and, in some cases, catastrophic failure. Thus, a demand arose for a system and/or methodology for testing for lubricity of a fluid. Laboratory procedures and measures of lubricity were defined and incorporated into ASTM standards. Such procedures include the Standard Test Method for Evaluating Lubricity of Diesel Fuels by the Scuffing Load Ball-on-Cylinder Lubricity Evaluator (SLBOCLE), the Test Method for Evaluating Diesel Fuel Lubricity by an Injection Pump Rig, the Standard Test Method for Evaluating Lubricity of Diesel Fuels by the High-Frequency Reciprocating Rig (HFRR), and other laboratory testing procedures.
Unfortunately, performing the testing methods described above requires expensive, bulky equipment. Furthermore, the ASTM testing methods require a substantial amount of time for completion, and moreover require operator intervention. More importantly, these tests must be done off-line in a laboratory or bench-top setting. They cannot be done on-line, in real time as the machinery operates. It is to be understood, however, that no standard of lubricity presently exists—only disparate procedures for testing lubricity. The measurements obtained via employing the ASTM testing methods are error-prone due to complexity of such testing procedures, and reproducing the measurements for verification purposes is difficult due to an amount of time required for obtaining a measurement. Moreover, the laboratory testing procedures do not account for an environment in which a lubricant will be employed. For instance, surface coating of metallic parts within a machine can impact an ability of a lubricant to effectively mitigate wear between two moving components. Also, a fluid's ability to carry particular particles within an operating environment can impact lubricity of the fluid. With a continuing trend towards limiting the amount of sulfur present in fuels and lubricants, an in situ sensor that continuously monitors lubricity of a fluid can mitigate breakdown and catastrophic failure of machinery.
In view of at least the above, there exists a strong need in the art for a system and/or methodology facilitating continuous in situ measurement and analysis of parameters relating to fluid lubricity, and a system and/or methodology for maintaining such fluids.