A pitch averaging Bragg grating includes a plurality of grating peaks spaced by different pitch values. By selecting the different pitch values to have an average pitch value equal to a target pitch value, the pitch averaging Bragg grating can be made to perform like a constant pitch Bragg grating having a fixed pitch at the target pitch value. The different pitch values can be multiples of the minimum placement resolution of a production tool to be used to produce the Bragg grating. The pitch averaging Bragg grating can be used in place of constant pitch Bragg gratings in optical devices and systems, such as DFB lasers, DBR lasers, optical spectral filters, multi-wavelength laser arrays, and WDM systems.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the field of optics, and more specifically, to methods and structures for improving the manufacturability of Bragg gratings and systems that include Bragg gratings.
2. Related Art
Optical spectral filters are a critical component in modern optical systems. A Bragg grating is a type of optical spectral filter that is often used to filter and select specific wavelengths in optical systems. Conventional Bragg gratings are formed by a series of evenly spaced grating peaks that reflect a particular wavelength of light. Because of this fixed-pitch characteristic, conventional Bragg gratings can be referred to as "constant pitch" Bragg gratings.
FIG. 1A shows a conventional constant pitch Bragg grating 121A that includes a plurality of grating peaks 122A formed on a substrate 120A. Grating peaks 122A are all spaced equally from one another at a fixed pitch P_BRAGG. When pitch P_BRAGG satisfies the "Bragg condition" for a particular wavelength, it will strongly reflect that wavelength of light. The Bragg condition for the fundamental wavelength is defined by the following:P_BRAGG=λ/(2*neff)  (1)where λ is the wavelength of the reflected light and neff is the effective refractive index of the optical waveguide. Because of this relationship, pitch P_BRAGG can be referred to as the "Bragg pitch" for wavelength λ. Similarly, wavelength λ can be referred to as the "Bragg wavelength" for pitch P_BRAGG.
Distributed-feedback (DFB) lasers make use of this filtering characteristic of Bragg gratings to generate single wavelength lasers. FIG. 1B shows a conventional DFB laser 100 that could be produced using constant pitch Bragg grating 121 shown in FIG. 1A. DFB laser 100 includes an active region 110 formed between an upper boundary region 120 and a lower boundary region 130, which in turn is formed on a substrate 140. An upper contact is formed over upper boundary region 120, while a lower contact 150 over the bottom surface of substrate 140. Upper boundary region 120 includes constant pitch Bragg grating 121.
Upper boundary region 120, active region 110, and lower boundary region 130 form a laser diode structure that produces light emission within active region 110 when a current flows between upper contact 160 and lower contact 150. Cleaved ends 111 and 112 of the laser diode structure and constant pitch Bragg grating 121 form a resonating cavity that allows lasing to take place within active region 110, and a laser beam 190 is emitted, once sufficient current flows between upper contact 160 and lower contact 150. Without a grating the laser cavity will support a plurality of lasing wavelengths. The Bragg grating 121 performs a filtering function allowing the laser to lase at just a single wavelength, and thus discriminate between all of the other longitudinal modes of the cavity.
However, in a typical DFB laser, lasing can actually occur in one of two modes. FIG. 2A shows an example transmission curve T121 for constant pitch Bragg grating 121 shown in FIG. 1A. A stop band S1 (sometimes referred to as a "reject band") bounded by wavelengths WL1 and WL2 indicates the region of low transmissivity for the Bragg grating.
Lasing can only occur at a transmission maximum within stop band S1. Specifically, lasing will occur at either wavelength WL1 or WL2, the two transmission maxima at either side of stop band S1. The actual lasing wavelength (mode), or the hopping characteristics between two modes, depends on many fabrication parameters such as waveguide width, material composition, and in particular, cleaving accuracy for the ends of the laser (e.g., cleaved ends 111 and 112 in FIG. 1B). Unfortunately, even state of the art cleaving technology is several generations away from being able to provide the cleaving accuracy that is required to produce a predictable lasing mode. Consequently, conventional DFB laser production is plagued by low yields, and by a manufacturing process where every single DFB laser needs to be tested to determine its lasing characteristics.
To overcome this bi-modal lasing problem, conventional Bragg gratings sometimes include a phase shift gap to adjust the transmission characteristics of a Bragg grating within its stop band. Specifically, the phase shift gap is intended to introduce an additional tranmission maximum in the center of the stop band. A phase shift gap is an enlarged spacing between two grating peaks in a Bragg grating that is designed to introduce a quarter wavelength shift between the between the grating peak groupings on either side of the phase shift gap (i.e., the light reflected by one of the grating peak groupings is dephased by 180° from the light reflected by the other grating peak grouping). Consequently, a Bragg grating that includes such a phase shift gap can be referred to as a quarter wavelength shifted ("λ/4-PS") Bragg grating.
FIG. 2B shows a conventional A /4-PS constant pitch Bragg grating 221. λ/4-PS constant pitch Bragg grating 221 formed on a substrate 220 is substantially similar to constant pitch Bragg grating 121 shown in FIG. 1, except that Bragg grating 221 includes a central phase shift gap G_PHASE. Phase shift gap G_PHASE divides grating peaks 222 into two filter groupings 221-1 and 221-2. Within filter groupings 221-1 and 221-2, all grating peaks 222 are spaced by pitch value P_BRAGG. Phase shift gap G_PHASE is sized to introduce a quarter wavelength shift between filter groupings 221-1 and 221-2. This quarter wavelength shift requires that phase shift gap G_PHASE be half a period longer than the fixed pitch P_BRAGG (i.e., G_PHASE=1.5 times P BRAGG).
Note that λ/4-PS constant pitch Bragg grating 221 is still considered a constant pitch Bragg grating because phase shift gap G_PHASE does not adjust the Bragg wavelength of the Bragg grating. Filter groupings 221-1 and 221-2 are so named because they perform the actual "filtering" within Bragg grating 221. In other words, the constant pitch filter groupings 221-1 and 221-2 determine the position of the stop band for Bragg grating 221, just as the constant pitch of Bragg grating 121 shown in FIG. 1A determines the position of the stop band for Bragg grating 121. Phase shift gap G_PHASE does not change the position of that stop band. Rather, phase shift gap G_PHASE merely adjusts the behavior of the reflectivity curve within that stop band.
FIG. 2C shows an example transmission curve T221 for the λ/4-PS constant pitch Bragg grating 221 shown in FIG. 2B. Transmission curve T221 is superimposed on transmission curve T121 (dotted line) from FIG. 2A for comparative purposes. A stop band S2 (bounded by wavelengths WS1 and WS2) indicates the region of low transmissivity for transmission curve T221. Note that while stop band S2 is wider than stop band S1 shown in FIG. 2A, the two stop bands have the same location (e.g., both are centered around a wavelength WL3), because the constant pitch of filter groupings 221-1 and 221-2 are the same as the constant pitch of Bragg grating 121 (i.e., P_BRAGG). However, the introduction of phase shift gap G_PHASE into Bragg grating 221 causes transmission curve T221 to have a maximum within stop band S2 at wavelength WL3. Wavelength WL3 will therefore always be the dominant mode provided by the Bragg grating, and a DFB laser that incorporates λ/4-PS constant pitch Bragg grating 221 will not be affected by cleaved end characteristics, and will lase only at wavelength WL3.
Note also that the contrast (i.e., the difference between maximum and minimum tranmission) of the transmission curve T221 is significantly reduced relative to transmission curve T121. This is due to the introduction of phase shift gap G_PHASE. Additional phase shift gaps can further reduce the tranmission contrast which in turn can unacceptably reduce the wavelength discrimination of the device. Furthermore, incorporating multiple phase shift gaps into a conventional Bragg grating can significantly complicate the manufacturing process, since a tool that has been calibrated to produce the fixed Bragg pitch will likely require re-calibration or re-adjustment at each phase shift gap (note that even adding a single phase shift gap can significantly increases the manufacturing complexity for conventional Bragg gratings). Therefore, conventional λ/4-PS Bragg gratings included at most a single quarter wavelength phase shift gap (although some academic research has been done on up to three identical phase shift gaps).
Bragg gratings are typically manufactured in one of three ways: (1) interference lithography, (2) photolithography, or (3) e-beam lithography. In interference lithography, two coherent beams are used to create a standing wave that exposes a periodic pattern into a resist layer. In photolithography, the desired grating pattern is incorporated into a photomask, which is then used to expose a photosensitive layer. And in e-beam lithography, an electron beam is scanned directly across an electron-sensitive layer to create the desired pattern.
Each of these techniques is constrained by a minimum placement resolution (i.e., the accuracy with which a tool can address locations on the target piece) that limits the grating pitch values that can be produced. Typically, e-beam lithography is used to manufacture Bragg gratings, due to the generally better placement resolution characteristics of such tools. For example, the minimum placement resolution of a particular e-beam lithography tool could be 10 nm, in which case the grating pitch values produced by that tool would be limited to multiples of 10 nm. On the other hand, a different e-beam lithography tool might have a minimum placement resolution of 25 nm, in which case the grating pitch values produced by that tool would be limited to multiples of 25 nm.
This type of tool-specific limitation can make manufacturing a conventional Bragg grating problematic, since the desired Bragg pitch may not necessarily be compatible with the minimum placement resolution of a particular tool. For example, communication on the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) grid (ITU-T G.694.1 (2002)) at 195 THz requires a 1537.40 nm wavelength laser, which in turn requires a 240.144 nm constant pitch value (using equation (1) and assuming an effective refractive index neff of 3.201). Unfortunately, the typical minimum placement resolutions of modern lithography tools do not coincide with this pitch value.
For example, the LEICA™ EBPG-5 and HITACHI™ HL800D lithography tools have minimum placement resolutions of 5 nm and 10 nm, respectively. Therefore, those tools could write grating pitches that are multiples of their minimum placement resolution; i.e., 240 nm, 245 nm, or 250 nm pitch values would be achievable with the LEICA™ tool, while 240 nm and 250 nm pitch values would be achievable with the HITACHI™ tool. However, the 240.354 nm target pitch (which is not a multiple of 5 nm or 10 nm) would not be achievable with either tool, based on their standard minimum placement resolutions. This limitation can make DFB laser production for modern communication systems very difficult, since such systems typically require extremely fine wavelength control.
For instance, the channel adjacent to the 195 THz channel on the ITU grid is 194.9 THz (1538.19 nm). Using the same assumptions that were applied to calculate the Bragg grating pitch for the 195 THz channel, the 194.9 THz channel requires a 240.267 nm pitch. Thus, the difference between pitch values for the adjacent channels is 0.123 nm, which is far less than the minimum placement resolution of modern e-beam lithography tools.
One technique to overcome this minimum placement resolution problem is to apply a small scaling correction factor to the deflection system of an e-beam lithography tool. For example, a +0.06% correction to field magnification is sufficient to change the pitch value written by an e-beam lithography tool from 240 nm to the target 240.144 nm. State of the art e-beam lithography systems can have scaling accuracies better than 0.01%, making this approach a workable solution.
However, this type of scaling correction technique can be extremely difficult and time-consuming. A different scaling correction would be required before writing each desired pitch value, making single-pass writing operations for multiple Bragg gratings (having different fundamental wavelengths) impossible. Also, depending on the design of the e-beam lithography tool, additional calibration corrections would be required to minimize field and subfield stitching errors.
Another technique to overcome the minimum placement resolution of an e-beam lithography tool is to apply carefully controlled electron doses at selected locations that are compatible with the minimum placement resolution of the tool ("on-grid locations"). These electron doses are sized to create accumulated effective dose peaks at non-resolvable locations ("off-grid locations"). This technique, known as weighted-dose allocation variable-pitch e-beam lithography (WAVE) requires an accurate model of the forward and backward-scattered electron energy distributions in the resist and an algorithm to calculate the individual sub-dose values and locations. The WAVE technique can therefore be even more complicated than the scaling correction technique.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a technique for producing Bragg gratings that are compatible with standard lithography tool resolution requirements, but can also provide arbitrarily selectable wavelength filtering properties.

Average pitch gratings for optical filtering applications


A judgement section (10) and a ratio calculation section (11) in an image processing apparatus input image signals in digital form of n color components forming colors, transferred externally in time series, and calculate conversion parameters indicating change of ratios of signal strength values between input image signals per color component based on a total sum of the ratios of synthesis signal values, each conversion section (12, 13, 14) and a signal range calculation section (15) converts input image signals to output image signal without any change of the ratio of signal strength values between the input image signals based on the conversion parameters, per color component.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus capable of suppressing the change of hue of color image signals as image data transferred from external devices and also capable of increasing a sharpness of outlines or boundaries of the image data.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG.1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional image processing apparatus disclosed in a patent document whose laid-open publication number is JP-A-58/198969, xe2x80x9cMethod of sharpness for imagexe2x80x9d. In FIG. 1, the reference character S0 designates a sharp signal and U0 denotes un-sharp signal. The reference number 141 designates a subtracter. The subtracter 141 inputs both the sharp signal S0 and un-sharp signal U0 to calculate a difference (S0xe2x88x92U0) between both signals S0 and U0. A multiplier 142 inputs the difference from the subtracter 141. The multiplier 142 multiplies the difference (S0xe2x88x92U0) by a constant value k. A multiplier 143 inputs the result of the multiplication of the multiplier 142.
Next, a divider 144 inputs an image signal I0 and an image signal Ii. In order to obtain a sharpness highlighting signal, the divider 144 performs a division of image signals I0 and Ii and outputs a divisional result I0/Ii. The multiplier 143 inputs the result I0/Ii from the divider 144 and performs a multiplication of the result k(S0xe2x88x92U0) and the result I0/Ii. An adder 145 inputs both the image signal Ii and the result k(S0xe2x88x92U0) (I0/Ii) and adds them and outputs the result Iixe2x80x2 of the addition. That is, the image signal Iixe2x80x2 obtained by the sharpness processing can be expressed by the following equation (1):                               I          i          xe2x80x2                =                              I            i                    +                                                    I                i                                            I                0                                      xc3x97            K            xc3x97                                          (                                                      S                    0                                    -                                      U                    0                                                  )                            .                                                          (        1        )
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional another image processing apparatus disclosed in the patent document whose laid-open publication number is JP-A-61/273073, xe2x80x9cEdge highlighting processing apparatus for color gradation image informationxe2x80x9d. In FIG. 2, the reference number 151 designates a RGB/brightness conversion unit, 152 denotes a RGB/YMC conversion unit, 153 indicates a multiplexer, and 154 designates an outline highlighting unit.
Both the RGB/brightness conversion unit 151 and the RGB/YMC conversion unit 152 input digital signals R, G, and B. The RGB/brightness conversion unit 151 outputs a brightness I. This brightness I can be expressed by the following equation (2).
I=0.30xc3x97R+0.59xc3x97G+0.11xc3x97Bxe2x80x83xe2x80x83(2).
On the other hand, the RGB/YMC conversion unit 152 performs only a complementary operation because R and G, B and Y, M and C are in a complementary color relationship, respectively.
The multiplexer 153 inputs an output as a result from the RGB/YMC conversion unit 152. The multiplexer 153 selects and outputs only one of three kinds of information Y, M, and C supplied from the RGB/YMC conversion unit 152 through input terminals of the multiplexer 153 according to a state of selection terminals. The outline highlighting unit 154 inputs the selected one, namely the YMC signal, from the multiplexer 153 through an input terminal of the outline highlighting unit 154. The outline highlighting unit 154 further inputs the brightness I from the RGB/brightness conversion unit 151. The brightness signal I is delayed per pixel according to a clock signal and then converted to intermediate data D1 that will be expressed by the following equation (3).
D1=2Inxe2x88x92(In+1+Inxe2x88x921)xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(3)
where In is a brightness I of the n-th pixel.
The intermediate data designate a result of an edge extraction operation. For example, the intermediate data D1 becomes 0 when the brightness I is not changed, and becomes a negative value or a positive value when the brightness I is changed.
Next, the intermediate data D1 are converted into a complementary coefficient D2 with reference to a table showing a relationship between edge extraction results and complementary coefficients. In the table showing the relationship between the edge extraction results and the complementary coefficients, the value 1 is set when the edge extraction result is 0, and the value is in 0 and 1 when the edge extraction result is a negative value, and the value is not less than 1 when the edge extraction result is a positive value. The final result can be expressed by the following equation (4) when the complementary coefficients D2 is multiplied by selected YMC signal.                     O        =                  {                                                                                Y                    xc3x97                    D2                                                                                M                    xc3x97                    D2                                                                                C                    xc3x97                    D2                                                                        .                                              (        4        )
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the operation flow of an image processing method executed by another conventional image processing apparatus disclosed in the patent document whose laid-open publication number is JP-A-3/175876, xe2x80x9cEdge processing method for color imagesxe2x80x9d. In the conventional image processing method shown in FIG. 3, the color information obtained by scanning color documents by an image device are divided or resolved into a red component, a green component, and a blue component. Each of the red, blue, and green components is scanned per pixel and sampled. Finally, the sampled image information are used as input image data (R1, G1, B1).
The input image data R1, G1, and B1 are converted to three stimulus values X1, Y1, and Z1 for a target pixel and adjacent pixels that are adjacent to the target pixel in a specific pixel area (Step ST161).
Then, a CIE color coordinate x1 and y1 and a visual reflection factor Y1 are obtained based on the three stimulus values X1, Y1, and Z1 (Step ST162). A sharpness processing for the visual reflection factor Y1 is performed (Step ST163) by using the Laplacian filter, that is well known, in order to obtain the three stimulus values X2, Y2, and Z2 based on the CIE color coordinate x1 and y1 and the visual reflection factor Y2. Then, the three stimulus values X2, Y2, and Z2 are calculated by using the CIE color coordinate x1 and y1 and the visual reflection factor Y2 that has been obtained by the edge processing (Step ST164).
Finally, the three stimulus values X, Y2, and Z2 are converted to the image information R2, G2, and B2 (Step ST165) and those image information R2, G2, and B2 are then outputted as output image data to external image devices (not shown).
A concrete example for the above image processing will be explained.
In Step ST161, the input image information R1, G1, and B1 are converted based on the following equation (5).                               (                                                    X1                                                                    Y1                                                                    Z1                                              )                =                              (                                                            0.6067                                                  0.1736                                                  0.2001                                                                              0.2988                                                  0.5868                                                  0.1144                                                                              0.0                                                  0.0661                                                  1.1150                                                      )                                                        (                                                                    R1                                                                                G1                                                                                B1                                                              )                        .                                              (        5        )
At Step ST162, the CIE color coordinate x1, y1 and the visual reflection factor Y1 are calculated based on the following equations (6) and (7), respectively.                               x1          =                      X1                          X1              +              Y1              +              Z1
                                              y1            =                          Y1                              X1                +                Y1                +                Z1                                              ,                                    (        6        )            xe2x80x83Visibility=Y1xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(7)
In Step ST163, the sharpness processing is performed by using the Laplacian filter. In this sharpness processing, when the visibility of a target pixel is Y1, and when the visibilities of adjacent pixels that are located at front, behind, right, and left pixels adjacent to the target pixel are Yb, Yc, Yd, and Ye, respectively, the degree xe2x80x9cParmxe2x80x9d of the sharpness can be expressed by the following equation (8).
Y2=Y1xe2x88x92Parmxc3x97(Yb+Yc+Yd+Yexe2x88x92(4xc3x97Y1))xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(8).
In Step ST164, the three stimulus values X2, Y2, and Z2 are calculated by using the CIE color coordinate x1 and y1 and the visual reflection factor Y2 that has been obtained by the edge processing. These three stimulus values X2, Y2, and Z2 are obtained by performing the inverse conversion function shown in the equation (6).
In Step ST165, the three stimulus values X2, Y2, and Z2 are converted to the image information R2, G2, and B2 by using the inverse function shown in the equation (5).
Because the conventional image processing apparatuses have the configurations and the functions described above, for example, the image processing apparatus as the conventional example 1 has a drawback that the sharpness of image is increased when the signal Ii is changed, but any sharpness of image is not changed or increased when the sharpness of image is not changed when the signal Ii is not changed and the change of color is changed. In addition, the conventional image processing apparatus requires to divide signals into a sharp signal and un-sharp signal. This causes to increase the processing time period. As a result, the total time period to perform image processing becomes long.
In addition, because the calculation for the brightness I is executed based on the equation (2) described above in the conventional image processing apparatus as the conventional example 2, there is a drawback that it is difficult to realize the function on a hardware.
Furthermore, because the three stimulus values are calculated based on the equation (5) described above in the color image edge processing method executed by the conventional image processing apparatus as the conventional example 3, there is a drawback that it is also difficult to realize the function on a hardware.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is, with due consideration to the drawbacks of the conventional technique, to provide an image processing apparatus, that may easily been made on a hardware, capable of judging a change of input image signals between a target pixel and peripheral pixels adjacent to the target pixel based on a difference of signal strengths of them and also capable of highlighting a ratio of the change of input image signals with suppressing the change of hue of the input image signals.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an image processing apparatus has judgement means and conversion means. The judgement means inputs input image signals of n color components (n is a positive integer not less than three) forming colors of a plurality of image pixels transferred from an external device in time series, calculates a synthesis signal value of a target image pixel per input color component in said input image signals by performing a division of a sum of signal strength values of said input image signal about said target image pixel by a value of the n-th power of 2, and calculates a synthesis signal value of reference image pixels per color component in said input image signals by performing a division of a sum of signal strength values of said input image signals about said reference image pixels adjacent to said target image pixel by using the value of the n-th power of 2, calculates a ratio of said synthesis signal values of each reference image pixel and said target image pixel per reference image pixel, and calculates a conversion parameter indicating a change rate of signal strength values of said input image signals per color component based on a total sum of said ratios of said synthesis signal values. The conversion means converts said input image signals to output image signals without a change of a ratio of signal strength values between said input image signals per n-color component based on said conversion parameter per color component obtained by said judgement means. Accordingly, this configuration and function of the image processing apparatus achieves to suppress any change of hue of the input image signals and to highlight a part of change of color of the input image signals, and to form the image processing apparatus on a hardware easily.
In the image processing apparatus as another preferred embodiment according to the present invention, said judgement means selects input image signals as one color component in said input image signals forming said n color components, calculates a sum of signal strength values of said input image signals about said target image pixel as said synthesis signal value of said target image pixel per selected input image signals, calculates a sum of signal strength values of said input image signals about said reference image pixels as said synthesis signal value of said reference image pixels per selected input image signals, then calculates said ratio of said synthesis signal values of said target image pixel and said reference image pixel per reference image pixel, and calculates said conversion parameter indicating the change of the signal strength value of said input image signals of said selected color component based on said total sum of said synthesis signal values. Further, in the image processing apparatus above, said conversion means converts said input image signals without a change of said ratio of said signal strength values between said input image signals based on said conversion parameter per color component obtained by said judgement means. Accordingly, this configuration and function of the image processing apparatus achieves to suppress any change of hue of the input image signals and to highlight a part of change of color of the input image signals, and to form the image processing apparatus on a hardware easily.
The image processing apparatus as another preferred embodiment according to the present invention, further comprises signal range calculation means for setting a signal strength value of said output image signal outputted from said conversion section as a new upper limit value when said signal strength value of said output image signal is over a predetermined value, and for re-calculating said signal strength value of said output image signal transferred from said conversion means without any change of said ratio of said signal strength values among said input image signals of said n color components (n is a positive integer not less than three), and for outputting re-calculated output image signals.
In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, an image processing apparatus has coordinate conversion means, judgement means, conversion means and reverse conversion means. The coordinate conversion means inputs input image signals of n color components (n is a positive integer not less than three) forming colors of a plurality of image pixels transferred from an external device in time series, converts said input image signals to brightness signals, chromaticness signals, and hue signals. The judgement means inputs said brightness signals, said chromaticness signals, and said hue signals transferred from said coordinate conversion means, calculates a ratio of a change of said input image signals among a target pixel and reference pixels adjacent to said target pixel by using a difference of vectors per brightness signal, chromaticnes signal, and hue signal, and calculates a total sum value of said differences of said vectors, and for calculating a conversion parameter per brightness signal, chromaticness signal, and hue signal by calculating an inner product of said total sum value and an unit vector of each of said brightness signals, said chromaticness signals, and said hue signals. The conversion means converts said brightness signals, said chromaticness signals, and said hue signals without a change of a ratio of signal strength values between said brightness signals, said chromaticness signals, and said hue signals based on said conversion parameters per brightness signal, chromaticnes signal, and hue signal. The reverse converting means converts said brightness signals, said chromaticness signals, and said hue signals outputted from said conversion means to output image signals of n color components forming colors. Accordingly, this configuration and function of the image processing apparatus achieves to suppress any change of hue of the input image signals and to highlight a part of change of color of the input image signals, and to form the image processing apparatus on a hardware easily.
In the image processing apparatus as another preferred embodiment according to the present invention, said judgement means calculates said conversion parameters indicating a change rate of the brightness signals by calculating a ratio of the brightness signals between said target pixel and said reference pixels per reference pixel and calculating the total sum of said ratios of said brightness signals, and wherein said conversion means converts said brightness signals, said chromaticness signals, and said hue signals without a change of said ratio of said signal strength values between said brightness signals based on said conversion parameters per brightness signal. Accordingly, this configuration and function of the image processing apparatus achieves to suppress any change of hue of the input image signals and to highlight a part of change of color of the input image signals, and to form the image processing apparatus on a hardware easily.
In the image processing apparatus as another preferred embodiment according to the present invention, the judgement means calculates said conversion parameters within a range of a lower limit value to an upper limit value for said conversion parameters.


A control system for a hybrid drive unit, in which an assist prime mover is connected through a transmission mechanism to an output member, to which a torque outputted by a main prime mover is transmitted, comprises gear shift controller for switching a shift control condition of said transmission in accordance with the action state of said main prime mover. A gear shift is inhibited in case a vehicle is run by an assist prime mover, and the gear shift is inhibited also in case the assist prime mover outputs a torque in connection with starting the main prime mover. A transmission is operated into a state just before starting the shifting operation in case the gear shift is inhibited in connection with starting the main prime mover.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a hybrid drive unit provided with a plurality of prime movers as a power source for driving a vehicle, and more particularly, to a control system for a hybrid drive unit, wherein a second prime mover is connected through a transmission to an output member, to which a power is transmitted from a first prime mover.
The present invention relates to the subject matter contained in Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-178163, filed on Jun. 23, 2003, which is expressly incorporated herein by reference.
2. Description of the Related Art
One example of this kind of hybrid drive unit is disclosed in JP-A-2002-225578. In the hybrid drive unit described in this publication, an engine and a first motor generator are connected to each other through a synthesizing/distributing mechanism composed of a single pinion type planetary gear mechanism, an output member is connected to the synthesizing/distributing mechanism in a torque a torque transmittable manner, and a second motor generator is connected through a transmission mechanism to the output member.
According to the hybrid drive unit described in JP-A-2002-225578, therefore, a torque synthesized from an output torque of an engine and a torque of the first motor generator in accordance with a gear ratio of the single pinion type planetary gear mechanism appears on an output shaft, and an engine speed can be controlled by the first motor generator. Therefore, it is possible for the engine to be driven for the optimum fuel consumption thereby to improve a fuel consumption of a vehicle. Moreover, the torque can be applied to the output shaft, by generating an electric power (i.e., regeneration of energy) by the first motor generator so as to drive the second motor generator by the electric power generated, when the engine is being driven at the optimum fuel consumption. Therefore, sufficient driving force can be obtained without deteriorating the fuel consumption. Moreover, the torque outputted by the second motor generator can be raised and transmitted to the output shaft, by having an gear ratio to be set by the transmission greater than "1". And in case the gear ratio is reduced (e.g., in case the transmission is set in a high speed stage), a speed of the second motor generator can be decreased so that the second motor generator can be changed into a low power type or a small size type.
In Japanese Published Examined Application 47-31773, moreover, there is disclosed the hybrid drive unit, in which a low brake is released and a high brake is applied in case of switching to a high gear stage, and in which the high brake is released and the low brake is applied in case of switching to a low gear stage. Thus, the interchange between the high gear stage and the low gear stage can be achieved by switching a connection of the brakes.
According to the invention disclosed in the aforementioned JP-A-2002-225578, the engine is started by driving the first motor generator connected to the engine through the synthesizing/distributing mechanism. However, since the first motor generator is also connected to the output shaft, it is necessary for the torque not to appear on the output shaft during a startup of the engine, by countervailing the output torque of the first motor generator by driving the second motor generator. Therefore, ordinarily, a gear shift is inhibited during the startup of the engine, and is carried out after the startup of the engine is completed. Moreover, since a shifting preparatory control such as a play reducing of a transmission mechanism is required before executing a shifting operation, a time-lag occurs during the period from an instant when a shifting command is outputted until the instant when the shifting operation is substantially started. Because of this, there arises a problem that a rise of the driving force is delayed at the starting time of driving a vehicle, in case the shifting preparatory control is carried out after the engine is started completely.
According to the invention disclosed in the aforementioned Japanese Published Examined Application 47-31773, moreover, there is a problem such that the shocks occur if a timing of switching between the high brake and the low brake is off.


A slider-zipper assembly for reclosable packaging in which the slider is coupled to the top portions of the zipper parts. The zipper can be either a flanged zipper or a string (i.e., webless) zipper. In one embodiment, the slider has a pair of diverging profiled projections that fit in and interlock with respective profiled grooves in the zipper parts. In another embodiment, the slider has a pair of diverging profiled grooves that receive and interlock with respective profiled projections that project upwardly from the zipper parts. Alternatively, the slider could have one projection and one groove for interlocking with the respective zipper parts. The diverging profiles on the slider cause adjacent sections of the zipper to open as the slider is moved in the zipper opening direction. Alternatively, the projections on the slider could be discontinuous.

This invention generally relates to slider-operated flexible zippers for use in reclosable pouches, bags or other packages of the type in which perishable material, such as foodstuff, may be stored.
Reclosable fastener assemblies are useful for sealing thermoplastic pouches or bags. Such fastener assemblies often include a plastic zipper and a slider. Typically, the plastic zippers include a pair of interlockable fastener elements, or profiles, that form a closure. As the slider moves across the profiles, the profiles are opened or closed. The profiles in plastic zippers can take on various configurations, e.g. interlocking rib and groove elements having so-called male and female profiles, interlocking alternating hook-shaped closure elements, etc.
In one type of slider-operated zipper assembly, the slider straddles the zipper and has a separating finger at one end that is inserted between the profiles to force them apart as the slider is moved along the zipper in an opening direction. The other end of the slider is sufficiently narrow to force the profiles into engagement and close the zipper when the slider is moved along the zipper in a closing direction.
Other types of slider-operated zipper assemblies avoid the use of a separating finger. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,047,450 discloses a zipper comprising a pair of mutually interlockable zipper profiles, portions of which form a fulcrum about which the zipper halves may be pivoted out of engagement. This is accomplished by a slider that straddles the zipper and has an opening end designed to force lower edges of the bases of the zipper halves towards each other, causing the interlocked zipper profiles to pivot in opposite directions about the fulcrum point and thereby disengage.
It is also known to provide sliders that do not straddle the zipper. For example, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/175,188 discloses a slider-operated zipper assembly for reclosable packaging in which the slider is mounted inside the zipper. This slider-zipper assembly design allows packaging film to be sealed directly to the exterior or backs of the zipper parts without interfering with the operation of the slider. Being able to seal the packaging film to the outside of the zipper parts makes it easier to incorporate header features that are typically used to provide evidence of tampering. Conventional extension flanges are not needed when the packaging film is joined to the backs of the zipper profiles.
There is a need for further improvements in slider-zipper assembly designs that allow packaging film to be sealed directly to the exterior of the zipper parts.

Reclosable packaging having slider coupled to top of zipper


The invention relates to scanning magnetic microscope which has a photoluminescent nanoprobe implanted in the tip apex of an atomic force microscope (AFM), a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) or a near-field scanning optical microscope (NSOM) and exhibits optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR) in the vicinity of unpaired electron spins or nuclear magnetic moments in the sample material. The described spin microscope has demonstrated nanoscale lateral resolution and single spin sensitivity for the AFM and STM embodiments.

1. Field of the Invention (Technical Field)
The present invention relates to a scanning magnetic microscope based on optically detected magnetic resonance and embodiments thereof.
2. Description of Related Art
Significant progress in recent years in scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) have had a revolutionary impact in the direct imaging of atomic scale structure. Usually, STM and AFM devices are used for imaging of surface structures and cannot provide information about three-dimensional structures which are of the greatest interest in nano-technology, structural biology, biochemistry, and related fields of science. Magnetic resonance force microscopy (MRFM) was designed to meet the demands for imaging technology to be (1) nondestructive, (2) three-dimensional, (3) Angstrom-scale spatial resolution, and (4) capable of imaging individual biological molecules in situ. The recently developed techniques that demonstrate the highest sensitivity and spatial resolution are MRFM and optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR). Significant progress in MRFM has been made since the first experiment, which was performed at IBM by a team led by Rugar. Today MRFM promises to achieve single spin sensitivity with several nanometer spatial resolution.
The main achievements in MRFM method are related to transfer of the detection of a very weak microwave signal to the detection of the mechanical oscillation of a micro-cantilever. Another option to enhance the sensitivity is transfer of the microwave signal to the optical domain, which is realized in the ODMR method. Related single spin experiments were independently performed in 1993 by two groups led by Moerner and Orrit. Today the principles of detection of a single spin based on ODMR are well established. The limitation of the lateral resolution of ODMR is related to the size of the light spot. The highest resolution is obtained by a near-field scanning optical microscope (NSOM), which has a light spot size of about 30-50 nm. Another limitation of the ODMR technique is that the unpaired electron has to be a part of a molecule, which absorbs or emits light.

Spin microscope based on optically detected magnetic resonance

The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy


An apparatus and method for clutter elimination from signals which digitizes a signal to generate n samples of the signals. M basis functions (such as various levels of filters) are fit to the n samples. An i+1 basis function of the m basis functions is iteratively subtracted from each of the n samples, and the difference is stored in an i difference signal until the i+1 difference signal is less than a threshold. In various embodiments, the threshold may be an absolute noise floor (R.sub.O.sup.min) preset by a manufacturer or a user. In other embodiments, the threshold may be based upon an absolute or relative predictor error of the signal once the basis function (filter) has been removed. The i difference signal may be used for performing a frequency estimate of the signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to signal processing. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for automatic clutter elimination which uses a variety of techniques for performing different levels of clutter elimination from different signals.
2. Background Information
In the signal processing art, it is typical that raw signals will be received in a form wherein a signal which is desired to be processed and noise (also known as clutter), are contained within the same raw signal. Typically, in these circumstances and in certain prior art systems, filtering has been performed upon the raw signal in order to remove the clutter. In certain prior art electronic implementations of signal processing devices, including those in use in ultrasonic color Doppler imaging, filters such as wall or high-pass filters have been used to remove low frequency information from the signal indicating stationary or very slow moving objects, such as those due to tissue or slow-moving blood flow. In these techniques, Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT), Infinite Impulse Response (IIR), and Finite Impulse Response (FIR) filters have been used to process the raw signal data into a form which may be used for various purposes, including color Doppler imaging. In another technique, clutter is removed from the signal using successively higher order basis functions (e.g., the Legendre functions) until the signal desired to be processed becomes apparent. This is described in the Applicants' previous application entitled "Parametric Clutter Elimination," filed on Apr. 10, 1992, assigned U.S. Ser. No. 07/867,038, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,228,009, which has been assigned to the assignee of the present invention.
In prior art systems, the same level of filtering or the same order of basis functions is removed for all signals which are being processed. For example, in the case of ultrasonic color Doppler imaging wherein the processed signals are displayed in various colors representing motion in the body, the same level of filtering (whether by prior art methods of filtering or Applicants' Parametric Clutter Elimination techniques and apparatus described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,228,009), the same level of filtering is applied for an entire group of signals (e.g., an entire frame in a region of interest). This approach, however, suffers from several defects.
In the case of color Doppler imaging wherein a set of signals from a region of interest (ROI) in a subject are used to form a video frame for display, higher levels of filtration may result in the distortion or elimination of signal data for areas in which there is slow moving blood flow by severely biasing the signal. For example, when viewing arterial and venous blood flow simultaneously in the same ROI, heavy filtering may be required for the arterial blood flow in order to remove clutter due to motion of the arterial wall. For arterial blood flow, using Applicants' U.S. Pat. No. 5,228,009, a linear or quadratic component may be desired to be removed from the raw signal data. For venous blood flow using this technique, in contrast, a mean may be desired to be removed from the raw signal. Thus, within a single region of interest in the case of ultrasonic examination, different levels of filtering are desirable for the various signals to generate the frame. Prior art methods limit the user to selecting one type of filtering which is performed upon all scans of each ROI. This poses substantial problems because signals representing venous blood flow may be severely biased to an undetectable level by the high level of filtering applied to the arterial blood flow. Thus, a fixed setting of the filter for an entire frame or ROI is undesirable.
Yet another defect of prior art signal processing methods and apparatus for removing clutter is that, typically, the level of filtration is controlled by the user via selection using a selector dial or similar input apparatus (e.g., icon selected on a display screen). For example, if the user requires a single level of filtering (e.g., removing a mean from the signal, as in Applicants' prior U.S. Pat. No. 5,228,009), then that level's filtering is applied entirely across the frame. As previously described, this is unsatisfactory. Moreover, user intervention is required to select the appropriate level of filtering. A technician being familiar with ultrasonic operating concepts thus may, depending upon operating circumstances, adjust the level of filtering to an appropriate level. However, an inexperienced technician may select an inappropriate filtering level. Thus, prior art methods of filtering signals, especially for use in ultrasonic imaging apparatus, suffers from several disadvantages.


The present disclosure provides a pellet composition having enhanced thermal stability for use in a thermally-actuated, current cutoff device. Certain inorganic stability additive particles, such as silica, talc, and siloxane, can be mixed with one or more organic compounds to form a thermal pellet composition. A solid thermal pellet maintains its structural rigidity up to a transition temperature (Tf), but further has improved overshoot temperature ranges. Therefore, the improved thermal pellets have a maximum dielectric capability temperature (Tcap), above which the pellet composition may lose substantial dielectric properties and conducts current that is at least 50° C. greater than the Tf. In certain variations, maximum dielectric capability temperature (Tcap) is greater than or equal to about 380° C.

This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.
Temperatures of operation for appliances, electronics, motors and other electrical devices typically have an optimum range. The temperature range where damage can occur to system components or where the device becomes a potential safety hazard in the application or to the end-user serves as an important detection threshold. Various devices are capable of sensing such over-temperature thresholds. Certain devices which are capable of sensing over-temperature conditions and interrupting electrical current include electrical thermal fuses, which only operate in a narrow temperature range. For example, tin and lead alloys, indium and tin alloys, or other metal alloys which form a eutectic metal, are unsuitable for appliance, electronic, electrical and motor applications due to undesirably broad temperature response thresholds and/or detection temperatures that are outside the desired range of safety.
One type of device particularly suitable for over-temperature detection is an electrical current interruption safety device, known as a thermal cut-off (TCO), which is capable of temperature detection and simultaneous interruption of current, when necessary. Such TCO devices are typically installed in an electrical application between the current source and electrical components, such that the TCO is capable of interrupting the circuit continuity in the event of a potentially harmful or dangerous over-temperature condition. TCOs are often designed to shut off the flow of electric current to the application in an irreversible manner, without the option of resetting the TCO current interrupting device. Certain appliances and applications require the use of robust over-temperature detection devices with high-holding temperatures exceeding the operating temperatures and/or holding temperatures of conventional TCO designs. Thus, in various aspects, the present disclosure provides TCO designs that are thermally stable and continue to exhibit dielectric properties after activation or current interruption, even at high temperatures.

High thermal stability pellet compositions for thermal cutoff devices and methods for making and use thereof


An image processing apparatus includes an image acquiring unit that acquires an original image data containing first data, and a data processing unit that edits the first data in the original image data thereby generating edited original image data, and outputs the edited original image data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and a computer program product.
2. Description of the Related Art
A technology for embedding various data in an original image when outputting the original image on a recording medium is widely used in image processings. Examples of data to be embedded into an original image include data on protection of security or contents of the original image, and data for associating the contents of the original image with web pages. Such data is generally embedded as various patterns in an image.
Barcodes are widely known as examples of such patterns. However, barcodes are disadvantageous in that it is necessary to have a space for placing a barcode in the original image, and it is difficult to maintain security of data encoded in the barcode because the barcode may be cut off from the original image. As countermeasures to such situations, conventional technologies for arranging faint background patterns on the original image instead of barcodes are known.
For example, Japanese Patent No. 2833975 discloses dot codes for embedding additional information in an original image. A dot code is formed by a plurality of blocks, each having base points called "marker" in every corner of the block, and dot images indicative of information are arranged inside the block. Furthermore, Japanese Patent No. 3628312 discloses a faint-image embedding apparatus and a faint-image detecting apparatus. The faint-image embedding apparatus can add confidential data in non-text format to a text image. The faint-image detecting apparatus can detect confidential data from a printed document. Moreover, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-336219 discloses a conventional technology for retrieving embedded data from an original image. In the conventional technology, two-dimensional patterns formed by slash and backslash are embedded as background images in the original image.
However, the conventional technologies are only for embedding data in an image to be output, and not for editing such embedded data (deletion or change of contents of data). For example, while it is required to retrieve data for identifying a printed object that is embedded in an original, it is also required to prevent the data from being retrieved from copies of the original. In this case, the data on the copies needs to be deleted therefrom. Furthermore, when an image is to be copied or printed for a number of times, if identification data of image processing apparatuses that have copied or printed the image can be incrementally embedded in the image, traceability of the image can be realized thereby assuring reliability of the image.

Image processing apparatus, method, and computer program product that generates and encodes coupled information identifying image copying and processing devices


A method of encoded communication in which a receiver generates a receiver public key by looking up a monitoring authority public key, multiplying four prime numbers, and encoding the identities of two of the prime numbers with the monitoring authority public key. The receiver communicates the public key to a sender, who creates a message, encodes it with the receiver public key, and transmits it to the receiver. The receiver then decodes the encoded message with the four prime numbers. The monitoring authority may decode the two prime numbers of the receiver's key, and factorize the product of the remaining primes. An unauthorized party would be faced with the much more difficult or impossible task of factorizing the original product of the four primes.

Electronic messages are normally transmitted between remote correspondents via a communications system typically including a network of interconnected computers. Such messages are readily intercepted and viewed by others using the network. Thus, correspondents desiring privacy may encrypt or encode a message in a way that only the recipient can decrypt or decode it to view the message contents. A common encryption technique is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,405,829 to Rivest et al., which is incorporated by reference. The technique is also known as the RSA technique.
Rivest discloses a "public key" technique in which each user desiring to receive encrypted messages creates a numerical encoding key that may be mathematically applied by a sender to an original message to encode the message. The recipient also creates and maintains secretly a decoding key that, when mathematically applied to the encoded message, decodes it to regenerate the original message. Each encoding key includes the product of two large prime numbers. These two prime factors can not be determined from their product without extraordinary computation efforts. The secret decoding key is also derived from the same two secret prime numbers. Each recipient posts his or her own encoding key in a public repository so that all correspondents wishing to send confidential messages to that recipient may use that recipient's key to encode messages. The public key repository is like a telephone directory, in that it enables anyone to look up a listed individual and obtain a number required for communication. Because of the difficulty of factoring the prime factors in a public encoding key, the decoding key remains secure to a degree.
The difficulty of deriving the secret decoding key from a public encoding key varies with the size of the key. With modest computing power, a small product of two primes may be factored by attempting to divide it by each successive prime number until division occurs without a remainder. Larger numbers require more sophisticated techniques, and as a general rule, factorization is more difficult with larger numbers. Using current technology, a public key expressed as a string of 512 binary "one" or "zero" bits will require several thousand hours of computer time to crack by factoring, and may be considered "difficult," but not "bulletproof." A key of 1024 bits is currently considered "bulletproof" or impossible to crack; with the best available factorization techniques, it would require all global computing resources to be devoted to the task for many years. Even as computer calculation speed increases impressively, a small increase of the key size can preserve essentially absolute security of the private decoding key.
While perfect privacy may be desired by individual correspondents, there is occasionally a need for a legitimate monitoring authority to decode a message. Such authorities may include law enforcement agencies seeking evidence of criminal activity, employers seeking to investigate dissemination of trade secrets, and governments seeking to prevent espionage by the dissemination of national security secrets, including secret communications by terrorists into and out of the country. Thus, governments may limit the size of keys to ensure that decoding messages is merely difficult, but not impossible. Unfortunately, this means that users are vulnerable to decoding of their public keys and messages by the extraordinary efforts of unauthorized interceptors or "eavesdroppers". This is of particular concern as major financial transactions and sensitive technology may need to be transmitted electronically. Thus, there is a trade-off between privacy to protect efficient commerce, and decodability to ensure national security.
In current practice, there is no limit placed on the size of public keys used in domestic communications, but keys used for international communications are limited. U.S. law is believed currently to prohibit international transmission or receipt of a communication encoded with a public key greater than 512 bits in length. As a result, a commercially sensitive communication within a multinational company, but which crosses national borders, may be vulnerable to interception and decoding, or must be restricted to less efficient means of communication. If some communications are exempted from the key length limit, such as for international banking, an opportunity exists for international espionage or terrorist communications undetectable by government investigators.
Accordingly, there is a need for an encryption system that permits correspondents to maintain an higher level of security against unauthorized interceptors, and a lesser level of security against a monitoring authority. This need is provided by a method of encoded communication in which a receiver generates a receiver public key by looking up a monitoring authority public key, multiplying four prime numbers, and encoding the identities of two of the prime numbers with the monitoring authority public key. The receiver makes his or her public key available to a sender, who creates a message, encodes it with the receiver public key, and transmits it to the receiver. The receiver then decodes the encoded message with the four prime numbers. The monitoring authority may decode the two prime numbers of the receiver's key, and factorize the product of the remaining primes. An unauthorized party would be faced with the much more difficult or impossible task of factorizing the original product of the four primes.

Public key cryptographic system having differential security levels


The present application relates to novel substituted dihydropyrazolone derivatives, processes for their preparation, their use for treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases and their use for the preparation of medicaments for treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases, in particular cardiovascular and haematological diseases and kidney diseases, and for promoting wound healing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present application relates to novel substituted dihydropyrazolone derivatives, processes for their preparation, their use for treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases and their use for the preparation of medicaments for treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases, in particular cardiovascular and haematological diseases and kidney diseases, and for promoting wound healing.
2. Background of the Invention
A deficient supply of oxygen to the human organism or its components which either impairs regular functioning of the organism or its components due to its duration and/or its extent or causes its functioning to break down completely is called hypoxia. Hypoxia can be caused by a reduction in the available oxygen in the air breathed in (for example during periods at a high altitude), by disorders in external respiration (for example as a result of disturbed functioning of the lungs or obstruction of the respiratory tract), by a reduction in the cardiac output (for example in the event of cardiac insufficiency, acute right ventricular overloading with pulmonary embolism), by too low an oxygen transport capacity of the blood (for example as a result of an anaemia or intoxication, for example with carbon monoxide), locally demarcated by a reduced blood flow as a result of vascular occlusions (ischaemia states typically for example of the heart, the lower extremities or the brain, diabetic macro- and microangiopathy) or also by an increased oxygen requirement of the tissue (for example as a result of increased muscular activity or local inflammations) [Eder, Gedigk (ed.), Allgemeine Pathologie und pathologische Anatomie, 33rd ed., Springer Verlag, Berlin, 1990]
The human organism is capable to a limited extent of adapting acutely and chronically to situations of reduced oxygen supply. In addition to an immediate response, which includes inter alia an increase in the cardiac output and respiratory output and a local dilation of blood vessels by vegetative-nervous control mechanisms, hypoxia brings about a change in the transcription of numerous genes. The function of the gene products here serves to compensate the oxygen deficiency. Thus, expression of several enzymes of glycolysis and glucose transporter 1 is enhanced, as a result of which anaerobic ATP production increases and survival of the oxygen deficiency is rendered possible [Schmidt, Thews (ed.), Physiologie des Menschen, 27th ed., Springer Verlag, Berlin, 1997; Löffler, Petrides (ed.), Biochemie und Pathobiochemie, 7th ed., Springer Verlag, Berlin, 2003].
Hypoxia furthermore leads to enhanced expression of vascular endothelial cell growth factor, VEGF, as a result of which regeneration of blood vessels (angiogenesis) is stimulated in hypoxic tissues. The blood flow through ischaemic tissue is thereby improved in the long term. This counter-regulation is evidently only very inadequate in the case of various cardiovascular diseases and vascular occlusion diseases [overview in: Simons and Ware, Therapeutic angiogenesis in cardiovascular disease, Nat. Rev. Drug. Discov. 2 (11), 863-71 (2003)].
Furthermore, in cases of systemic hypoxia expression of the peptide hormone erythropoietin formed predominantly in the interstitial fibroblasts of the kidneys is enhanced. The formation of red blood cells in the bone marrow is thereby stimulated, and the oxygen transport capacity of the blood is therefore increased. This effect has been and is used by high-performance athletes in so-called high altitude training. A decrease in the oxygen transport capacity of the blood for example as a result of anaemia after hemorrhaging usually causes an increase in erythropoietin production in the kidney. With certain forms of anaemia, this regulatory mechanism may be disturbed or its normal value may be set lower. Thus for example in patients suffering from renal insufficiency, erythropoietin is indeed produced in the kidney parenchyma, but in significantly reduced amounts with respect to the oxygen transport capacity of the blood, which results in so-called renal anaemia. Renal anaemia in particular, but also anemias caused by tumours and HIV infection are conventionally treated by parenteral administration of recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO). No alternative therapy with an orally available medicament currently exists for this expensive therapy [overview in: Eckardt, The potential of erythropoietin and related strategies to stimulate erythropoiesis, Curr. Opin. Investig. Drugs 2(8), 1081-5 (2001); Berns, Should the target hemoglobin for patients with chronic kidney disease treated with erythropoietic replacement therapy be changed?, Semin. Dial. 18 (1), 22-9 (2005)]. Recent studies demonstrate that, in addition to its erythropoiesis-increasing action, erythropoietin also has a protective (anti-apoptotic) action, which is independent thereof, on hypoxic tissue, in particular the heart and the brain.
Furthermore, according to recent studies therapy with erythropoietin reduces the average severity of morbidity in patients with cardiac insufficiency [overviews in: Caiola and Cheng, Use of erythropoietin in heart failure management, Ann. Pharmacother. 38 (12), 2145-9 (2004); Katz, Mechanisms and treatment of anemia in chronic heart failure, Congest. Heart. Fail. 10 (5), 243-7 (2004)].
The genes described above which are induced by hypoxia have the common feature that the increase in their expression under hypoxia is caused by the so-called hypoxia-inducible transcription factor (HIF). HIF is a heterodimeric transcription factor which comprises an alpha and a beta subunit. Three HIF alpha isoforms have been described, of which HIF-1 alpha and HIF-2 alpha are highly homologous and are of importance for hypoxia-induced gene expression. While the beta subunit (of which 2 isoforms have been described), which is also called ARNT (aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator), is expressed constitutively, expression of the alpha subunit depends on the oxygen content in the cell. Under normoxia, the HIF alpha protein is poly-ubiquitinized and then degraded proteasomally. Under hypoxia this degradation is inhibited, so that HIF alpha dimerizes with ARNT and can activate its target genes. The HIF dimer bonds here to so-called hypoxia-responsible elements (HRE) in the regulatory sequences of its target genes. The HRE are defined by a consensus sequence. Functional HRE have been detected in the regulatory elements of numerous hypoxia-induced genes [overviews in: Semenza, Hypoxia-inducible factor 1: oxygen homeostasis and disease pathophysiology, Trends Mol. Med. 7 (8), 345-50 (2001); Wenger and Gassmann, Oxygen(es) and the hypoxia-inducible factor-1, Biol. Chem. 378 (7), 609-16 (1997)].
The molecular mechanism on which this regulation of HIF alpha is based has been clarified by the works of several independent groups of researchers. The mechanism is conserved from species to species: HIF alpha is hydroxylated by a subclass of oxygen-dependent prolyl 4-hydroxylases, called PHD or EGLN, on two specific prolyl radicals (P402 and P564 of the human HIF-1 alpha subunit). The HIF prolyl 4-hydroxylases are iron-dependent, 2-oxoglutarate-converting dioxygenases [Epstein et al., C. elegans EGL-9 and mammalian homologs define a family of dioxygenases that regulate HIF by prolyl hydroxylation, Cell 107 (1), 43-54 (2001); Bruick and McKnight, A conserved family of prolyl-4-hydroxylases that modify HIF, Science 294 (5545), 1337-40 (2001); Ivan et al., Biochemical purification and pharmacological inhibition of a mammalian prolyl hydroxylase acting on hypoxia-inducible factor, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 99 (21), 13459-64 (2002)]. The enzymes were annotated as prolyl hydroxylases for the first time in 2001 [Aravind and Koonin, The DNA-repair protein AlkB, EGL-9, and leprecan define new families of 2-oxoglutarate- and iron-dependent dioxygenases, Genome Biol. 2 (3), research0007.1-0007.8, Epub 2001 Feb. 19].
The pVHL tumour suppressor protein, which together with elongin B and C forms the so-called VBC complex, which adapts the HIF alpha subunit to an E3 ubiquitin ligase, bonds to the prolyl-hydroxylated HIF alpha subunit. Since the prolyl 4-hydroxylation of the HIF alpha subunit and its subsequent degradation takes place as a function of the intracellular concentration of oxygen, HIF prolyl 4-hydroxylases have also been called a cellular oxygen sensor. Three isoforms of these enzymes have been identified: EGLN1/PHD2, EGLN2/PHD1 and EGLN3/PHD3. Two of these enzymes (EGLN2/PHD1 and EGLN3/PHD3) are induced transcriptionally even under hypoxia and are possibly responsible for the lowering of the HIF alpha levels to be observed under chronic hypoxia [overview in: Schofield and Ratcliffe, Oxygen sensing by HIF hydroxylases, Nat. Rev. Mol. Cell. Biol. 5 (5), 343-54 (2004)].
Selective pharmacological inhibition of HIF prolyl 4-hydroxylases brings about the increase in the gene expression of HIF-dependent target genes and is therefore beneficial for the therapy of numerous disease syndromes. In the case of diseases of the cardiovascular system in particular, an improvement in the course of the diseases is to be expected from induction of new blood vessels and the change in the metabolic situation of ischaemic organs from aerobic to anaerobic ATP production. An improvement in the vascularization of chronic wounds promotes the healing process, especially in the case of poorly healing ulcera cruris and other chronic skin wounds. The induction of endogenous erythropoietin in certain disease forms, in particular in patients with renal anaemia, is likewise a therapeutic goal to be aimed for.
The HIF prolyl 4-hydroxylase inhibitors described hitherto in the scientific literature do not meet the requirements to be imposed on a medicament. These are either competitive oxoglutarate analogues (such as for example N-oxalylglycine), which are characterized by their very low action potency, and therefore in in vivo models have as yet shown no action in the sense of an induction of HIF target genes. Or they are iron-complexing agents (chelators), such as desferroxamine, which act as non-specific inhibitors of iron-containing dioxygenases and, although they bring about an induction of the target genes, such as for example erythropoietin, in vivo, evidently counteract erythropoiesis by complexing of the available iron.
2-Heteroaryl-4-aryl-1,2-dihydropyrazolones having a bactericidal and/or fungicidal action are disclosed in EP 165 448 and EP 212 281. The use of 2-heteroaryl-4-aryl-1,2-dihydropyrazolones as lipoxygenase inhibitors for treatment of respiratory tract, cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases is claimed in EP 183 159. 2,4-Diphenyl-1,2-dihydropyrazolones having a herbicidal activity are described in DE 2 651 008. The preparation and pharmacological properties of certain 2-pyridyl-1,2-dihydropyrazolones are reported in Helv. Chim. Acta 49 (1), 272-280 (1966). WO 96/12706, WO 00/51989 and WO 03/074550 claim compounds having a dihydropyrazolone partial structure for treatment of various diseases, and hydroxy- or alkoxy-substituted bipyrazoles for treatment of neuropsychiatric diseases are disclosed in WO 2006/101903. Heteroaryl-substituted pyrazole derivatives for treatment of pain and various CNS diseases are furthermore described in WO 03/051833 and WO 2004/089303. WO 2006/114213 has meanwhile disclosed 2,4-dipyridyl-1,2-dihydropyrazolones as inhibitors of HIF prolyl 4-hydroxylases.
The X-ray crystal structure of the compound 3-methyl-1-(pyridin-2-yl)-4-(1-pyridin-2-yl-3-methyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-2H-3-pyrazolin-5(1H)-one (other name: 5,5′-dimethyl-2,2′-dipyridin-2-yl-1′,2′-dihydro-2H,3′H-3,4′-bipyrazol-3′-one) is reported in Acta Crystallogr., Section E: Structure Reports Online E57 (11), o1126-o1127 (2001) [Chem. Abstr. 2001:796190]. The synthesis of certain 3′,5-dimethyl-2-phenyl-1′-(1,3-thiazol-2-yl)-1′H,2H-3,4′-bipyrazol-5′-ol derivatives is described in Indian J. Heterocyclic Chem. 3 (1), 5-8 (1993) [Chem. Abstr. 1994:323362]. The preparation and tautomerism of individual 4-(pyrazol-5-yl)pyrazolin-5-one derivatives is reported in J. Heterocyclic Chem. 27 (4), 865-870 (1990) [Chem. Abstr. 1991:428557]. A therapeutic use has not hitherto been described for the compounds mentioned in these publications. The compound 2-tert-butyl-1′-[4-(4-chlorophenyl)-1,3-thiazol-2-yl]-3′,5-dimethyl-1′H,2H-3,4′-bipyrazol-5′-ol is listed as a test example in WO 2007/008541.

Substituted dihydropyrazolones and their use


Several different methods alone or in combination can be used to reduce image jump or stutter. The image plane on which the original image is taken can be mechanically or electronically rotated about a point of rotation in the scene. The number of original images which are viewed could be increased by interpolation. The subtended viewing angle of the viewpoints can be reduced and viewpoints within the subtended viewing angle can be increased by interpolation. Reduced subtended viewing angle images can be created for each eye. The depth of focus of the images can be changed by identifying the images that jump and blurring the images outside the area of interest. The original images can be processed to move the image plane further back from the objects in the scene. Some of the images ordinarily existing between the right and left eye perspectives can be eliminated. The objects in the background of the scene being photographed can be identified and shifted forward in the scene. The highest detail volume of the images can be identified and the images can be processed to rotate around the volume. The highest detail area can be identified and the original images processed to displace the images to minimize the movement of the highest detail area. The original images can be viewed and a point within each image identified to align the point from view to view using a linear or other transformation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to methods and apparatus for optimizing images with an apparent depth and, more particularly, to methods and apparatus which use one or a combination of several techniques to minimize image jump or stutter in depth images.
2. Description of the Related Art
Images which have an apparent depth can be produced in a number of different ways. Images produced using integral, lenticular and barrier technology suffer from a problem commonly called image jump or stutter as the point of view of the viewer of the image shifts. This problem can be partially understood by using FIG. 1 which shows a cross sectional view through an integral or lenticular photograph. Portions of the images 1-4, originally photographed from different image taking viewpoints, are formed on a photographic media 10. These portions of the images are projected into viewer space by a faceplate 12, sometimes called an overlay or faceplate, which has formed on one surface a series of cylindrical or spherical refracting surfaces having a positive diopter power. The curvature of the refracting surfaces and the faceplate thickness is predetermined by design to establish a local lens focal length substantially equal to faceplate thickness. Therefore, images coincident with the rear surface of the faceplate will be projected to an infinite conjugate on the opposite side. The combination of the curved surface and the faceplate material could be considered as a lens or lenslet and the entire assemblage an array of lenses or lenslets. In the special case of lenslets formed as parallel cylinders, the lenslets are commonly called lenticules, therefore in the case of a lenticular photograph the images 1-4 on substrate 10 positioned under each lens 14 are thin linear slices of the original photographs (or images captured) and the lenses 14 are cylindrical. In the case of an integral photograph, the images 1-4 on substrate 10 are circular portions of the original photographs and the lenses 14 are spherical. Because the images 1-4 formed on the substrate 10 are discrete portions of the original images, as the viewpoint of the viewers shift from viewpoint 1 to viewpoint 2, a transition or jump occurs between the images. This sudden shift makes the photograph seem less real.
The jump problem is even more apparent when objects in the original scene are separated depth wise by a significant distance. This further problem is illustrated and exaggerated in FIG. 2 in which two objects 16 and 18, when photographed through two cameras 20 and 22 (or a single camera with multiple lenses), produce two images 24 and 26. Between these two images 24 and 26, not only does the position of object 16 in the foreground move or displace toward the right a distance d.sub.1, but the position of object 18 in the background displaces a different distance d.sub.2. If the viewer is viewing these images through a lenticular or integral faceplate on a photograph and concentrates attention on the object 16, for example a person, when the view jumps between images 24 and 26, object 18, which could be a tree behind the person, will experience a large displacement or shift. This shift of objects at a distance behind the attention or focal point also makes the photographs seem less real.
Prior art systems for capturing multiple images and creating depth images have typically used optical capturing system (cameras) and optical printing systems (enlargers with special mirrors). Such systems are not capable of moving images or portions of images relative to each other or of creating images in between the actually captured images. That is, the prior art optically based systems are incapable of solving the image jump or stutter problem.

Method and apparatus for optimizing the resolution of images which have an apparent depth


In order to improve the electrical contact between electrode (1) and current collector (13) in a fuel cell containing a liquid carbonate (10) as the electrolyte it is proposed that between the electrode and the current collector a functional layer (12) be placed. The electrode (11) consists of a material based on lithium cobaltate, and the functional layer (12) is attached thereto. This functional layer, like the electrode, is preferably applied in the green state, and after assembly of the cell, the ultimate electrochemical fuel cell is obtained by sintering.

Such a method is known from the German Offenlegungsschrift 40 30 904. There, nickel oxide is used in the electrodes. Between the electrodes and the current collector, a so-called functional layer is employed which improves the contact between electrode and current collector. In the this Offenlegungsschrift it is proposed to place a "green" foil between the electrode and the current collector and then to bake out this material.
The use of nickel oxide in the electrodes in the first instance provides an effective electrochemical cell, more in particular a fuel cell, but in the long term it was found that internal short circuits arise. Consequently, the use of nickel oxide electrodes is undesirable.
It has been proposed, in the prior art, to employ lithium cobaltate instead. It was found that this presents greater problems than in the case of an electrode based on nickel oxide, which relate to the transition resistance between electrode and current collector.
If, however, a functional layer is used such as that proposed in the above-mentioned German Offenlegungsschrift 40 30 904, it was found that, as the cell warms up, diffusion of carbonate material takes place between the electrode, which for example is in the green state, and the functional layer, as a result of which the effect of the functional layer is lost and the transition resistance increases.

Method of manufacturing an electrochemical cell

Stichting Energieonderzoek Centrum Nederland


A force sensor is disclosed herein. The force sensor includes first and second layers formed from electrically conductive material. The force sensor also includes a third layer formed from an electrically insulative material disposed between the first and second layers. The third layer is a mesh defining a distribution of plurality of spaced openings. It is also disclosed herein that the force sensor can be incorporated in an auscultation training system. The auscultation training system can also include an auscultation device operable to be pressed against the force sensor whereby the force sensor emits a signal in response to being pressed. The auscultation training system can also include a controller communicating with the force sensor and operable to receive the signal. The auscultation training system can also include a database of sound files wherein the controller is operable to select one of the sound files in response to the signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to force sensors formed from flexible materials.
2. Description of Related Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 7,770,473 discloses a pressure sensor. The pressure sensor can be incorporated into textile products. The pressure sensor includes a multilayer thread having a pressure sensitive layer exhibiting a pressure-dependent electrical resistance, and a conductive layer in contact with the pressure sensitive layer. Further, the sensor includes conductive threads in contact with the multilayer thread.


The trip bar is sub-divided into a first actuating part associated to the trip rod of the actuator and a second actuating part operating in conjunction with the indicating device. A mechanical coupling link is arranged between the two actuating parts being adjustable between a coupled position and a disengaged position. An operating lever performs locking of the second actuating part in the active position to keep the fault information on the indicating device, whereas the first actuating part returns automatically to the inactive position when said mechanical link is in the disengaged position.

The invention relates to a tripping device for an electrical circuit breaker, comprising:
a rotary trip bar cooperating in the active position with an actuator to transmit a tripping order to the mechanism in the event of an electrical fault, PA1 an indication device for indication of the fault after the mechanism has tripped, PA1 and return means to return the trip bar to an inactive position enabling the circuit breaker to be reclosed. PA1 either a first type of circuit breaker not enabling reclosing of the contacts so long as indication of the fault has not been cleared; PA1 or a second type of circuit breaker enabling reclosing of the contacts while keeping the fault information.
The electrical fault signal SDE function indicates the nature of the trip on an electrical fault. This involves a mechanical and electrical indication which locks the circuit breaker simultaneously in the open state. Reclosing of the circuit breaker is only possible if the user has previously cleared the locking by returning the indication device to a rest position.
In certain applications, it has already been proposed to reclose the circuit breaker after tripping to ensure continuity of service, while keeping the fault information. Tripping systems known to date are irreversible and have to be customized in the plant when manufactured.
Two types of circuit breakers are then obtained:
These two tripping systems complicate plant manufacturing management. In addition, the customer has to make the choice of the type of tripping, according to his requirements, when placing his order.

Tripping device for a circuit breaker equipped with an electrical fault indication


A data encoding and decoding device and method uses simple algorithms and keeps encoding error to a minimum. The data encoding device includes an original data splitting section for splitting data into "higher order data" and "lower order data," which represents the most significant portion of a digital data sample and the least significant portion of the digital data sample, respectively. Further, a differential calculation section calculates a difference between successive samples of the higher order data, and a number-of-items calculation section determines the number of data samples in the input data series. The lower order data and the differential data are then combined to obtain the encoded data.

In the field of what is termed multimedia, including games machines, data encoding is often used to compress audio data, video data and the like in order to record the audio data and the like efficiently on a memory cassette, CD-ROM or the like. Encoding methods such as APCM, DPCM, and ADPCM have long been known as such data encoding methods. These encoding methods basically involve the calculation of data differentials and allow compression and decompression using comparatively simple algorithms.
Further, recent years have seen the adoption of data encoding methods such as the JPEG (Joint Photographic Coding Expert Group) and the MPEG (Moving Picture Expert Group) methods. Data encoding using JPEG, MPEG, and other such methods involve DCT (discrete cosine transformation) processing, quantization processing and the like, which are orthogonal function transformations, and allow comparatively efficient compression and decompression.
Other data encoding methods include those disclosed in Laid-open Japanese Patent Application S. 58-171094 and Laid-open Japanese Patent Application S. 59-35040. The data encoding method disclosed in Laid-open Japanese Patent Application S. 58-171094 is one in which, after the higher order development formula has been developed, data is compressed with reference to the development formula correlation on the time axis. Further, the data encoding method disclosed in Laid-open Japanese Patent Application S. 59-171094 is one in which data compression is carried out by expressing waveform data using two types of data, namely envelope information and the waveform pitch.
However, the following problems have arisen in the various data encoding methods mentioned above, and elsewhere.
The DPCM, DPCM and ADPCM data encoding methods have a problem in that, although they allow the original data to be compressed using a comparatively simple algorithm, compression and decompression are accompanied by substantial sound quality deterioration. For example, in cases such as when there is a substantial amount of variation in the original data, there are instances where differentials of the original data exceed the predetermined data length. As a result, errors occur between the data after decoding and the original data, and these errors become quantization noise and are a cause of sound quality deterioration and picture quality deterioration.
Further, JPEG, MPEG, and other such data encoding methods have the advantage that they can achieve relatively high compression ratios. However, JPEG, MPEG, and other such data encoding methods require complicated algorithms such as DCT and the processing is therefore complicated and a long time is required for processing.
Moreover, the data encoding method disclosed in Laid-open Japanese Patent Application S. 58-171094 requires the calculation of a higher order development formula for the original data, and the encoding and decoding algorithms become complicated. In the data encoding method disclosed in Laid-open Japanese Patent Application S. 59-35040, there is liable to be a substantial error between the data after decoding and the original data because the original data is expressed using only the envelope and the pitch.
The present invention has taken the above situation into account, and the object of the invention is to carry out compression and extension with little encoding or decoding error using simple algorithms in a data encoding device, data decoding device, data encoding method, and data decoding method.

Data encoding device, data decoding device, data encoding method and data decoding method