A burner for an entrained bed gasifier is provided in which a stable ignition is accelerated in the vicinity of a fuel jetting port and a good combustion state is maintained. A fuel (1, 3), such as coal and char etc., and a portion of a gasifying agent (2, 4, 5) are premixed in a burner before they a charged into a gasifier. The burner includes a triple tubular member including an outer tubular portion, an intermediate tubular portion, and an inner tubular portion. A seal gas tube is positioned within the inner tubular portion. At the time when the fuel, such as coal and char etc., and a premixing gas (a portion of the gasifying agent) are charged into the burner, at least any one of the fuel, such as coal and char etc., and the premixing gas is charged in a tangential direction relative to the burner central axis so as to be given a swirling directional velocity component.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a burner for jetting a fuel and a gasifying agent (a gas including at least one of oxygen, hydrogen and steam) into an apparatus for gasifying an organic fuel like coal etc., and to a fuel etc. supply method.
2. Description of the Prior Art
FIG. 15 is a diagrammatic view showing an arrangement of gasifier and ancillary machinery and equipment in the prior art. Coal, crushed at a mill 46 and mixed with N.sub.2 gas at a mixer 47, is carried by the N.sub.2 gas and charged into a coal burner 011 for a gasifier 41. The coal is reacted with a gasifying agent so as to be gasified, and then is separated of char at a char recovery device 42. The coal is then taken out as a generated gas. The separated char enters a mixer 45 and is returned to a char burner 011 for the gasifier 41 by a carrying gas N.sub.2 to be burnt by the gasifying agent.
FIG. 16 is a longitudinal sectional view showing one example of a burner in the prior art which charges a fuel and a gasifying agent into a gasifier. The gasifying agent flows in a central passage 012, formed in the center of an inner tube 032. A mixture of the fuel (pulverized coal) and a carrying N.sub.2 flows in an annular sectional passage 013, formed between the inner tube 032 and an outer tube 031. The central passage 012 and annular sectional passage 013 are disposed coaxially. A fuel jet 01, 03 and a gasifying agent jet 02, 04 impinge on each other outside the burner, thereby accelerating the mixing of the fuel and the gasifying agent.
In the burner of the prior art in which the fuel jet and the gasifying agent jet impinge on each other outside the burner, if the oxygen partial pressure of the gasifying agent is low, then the combustion speed of the fuel and char becomes smaller than the jet velocity in the close vicinity of burner. Therefore, the ignition point becomes remote from the jetting port of the burner. In a combustor portion of a coal gasifier, there occur shortcomings, such as a worsening of combustibility due to a remote ignition point, and a solidification of ash melted in the burner portion.
As to carrying by nitrogen, the charging amount of nitrogen into the gasifier is preferably reduced as much as possible for the performance of the gasifier. However, in a coaxial type burner, if the charging amount of nitrogen is reduced, the size of the gap between the annular sectional passages in which the fuel flows is made smaller for geometrical reasons, and then a possibility of blockage arises.
In order to obtain a good ignition of fuel, it is necessary to adjust the flow rate of the fuel, char, and the premixing gas, corresponding to calorific value and reaction speed of the fuel, and to set a most appropriate condition for ignition. Conventionally, if the fuel and char are carried by an inert gas such as nitrogen etc., they are mixed with a gasifying agent in the gasifier (but outside the burner) so that the ignition condition is satisfied. If the oxygen partial pressure in the gasifying agent is low, however, the reaction of the fuel and char at the mixing portion close to the burner jetting port is minimal. Therefore, it is difficult to satisfy a condition for stable ignition.


The present invention relates to proteinase inhibitor II genes, SaPIN2a and SaPIN2b, their production in transformed plants, and isolation of SaPIN2a and SaPIN2b proteins from transformed plants of the invention. The invention further relates to use in inhibiting endogenous protease activities in transformed plants. In specific embodiments, the protease activities are trypsin-like and chymotrypsin-like activities. The invention relates to a method for protection of heterologous protein production in transformed plants by the co-expression of a proteinase inhibitor gene, e.g. SaPIN2a or SaPIN2b, which encodes a proteinase inhibitor protein, or a biologically active fragment, analog, and variant thereof, that inhibits protease activities. Specifically, the present invention also provides methods of inhibiting programmed cell death, including senescence, in plants. The invention further relates to methods to enhance resistance of plants to pests or pathogens, including insects. The present invention also relates to genetically modified plants, and in particular genetically modified lettuce. The genetically modified plants have inhibited endogenous trypsin-like and chymotrypsin-like activities following transformation of the plant with a vector comprising one or more proteinase inhibitor II gene, such as SaPIN2a and/or SaPIN2b. The invention further relates to transformed plants having enhanced resistance to insects. The invention further relates to transformed plants in which PCD or senescense is inhibited by transformation of plants using vectors of the present invention.

Proteinase inhibitor II (PIN2) is a serine proteinase inhibitor protein with two reactive sites, one inhibiting chymotrypsin and the other, trypsin (Bryant et al., 1976, Biochemistry 15: 3418–3424). PIN2 proteins are found in many Solanaceae plants including tomato (Gustafson and Ryan, 1976, J. Biol. Chem. 251: 7004–7010), potato (Bryant et al., 1976, Biochemistry 15: 3418–3424) and tobacco (Pearce et al., 1993, Plant Physiol. 102: 639–644). PIN2 proteins are present in leaves, flowers (Atkinson et al., 1993, Plant Cell 5: 203–213; Pena-Cortes et al., 1991, Plant Cell 3: 963–972; Brandstater et al., 1996, Mol. Gen. Genet. 252: 146–154), fruits (Pearce et al., 1988, Planta 175: 527–531), stems (Xu et al., 2001, Plant Mol. Biol. 47: 727–738) and tubers (Bryant et al., 1976, Biochemistry 15: 3418–3424).
Previously, plant proteinase inhibitors (PIs) were not known to inhibit endogenous plant proteases but were thought to have specificities for animal or microbial enzymes (Ryan, 1981, In The Biochemistry of Plants Vol.6 (Marcus, A., ed.). New York: Academic Press, pp. 351–370). The role of plant proteinase inhibitor proteins in defense is supported by studies of artificial insect diets and in vitro inhibition assays on insect gut proteases using purified proteinase inhibitor proteins from various plants (Hilder et al., 1993, Transgenic plants conferring insect tolerance: proteinase inhibitor approach. In: S. Kung and R. Wu (Eds.), Transgenic Plants, Volume 1, Academic Press, New York, pp. 317–338; Felton and Gatehouse, 1996, Antinutritive plant defence mechanisms. In: M. J. Lehane and P. F. Billingsley (Eds.), Biology Of The Insect Midgut, Chapman and Hall, London, pp. 373–416; Reeck et al., 1997, Proteinase inhibitors and resistance of transgenic plants to insects. In: N. Carozzi and M. Koziel (Eds.), Advances In Insect Control: The Role of Transgenic Plants, Taylor and Francis, London, pp. 157–183; Gatehouse, 1999, Biotechnological applications of plant genes in the production of insect-resistant crops. In: S. L. Clement and S. S. Quisenberry (Eds.), Global Plant Genetic Resources For Insect-resistant Crops, CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp. 263–280). Hence, the function of plant proteinase inhibitors was thought to be in the prevention of invasion through inhibition of foreign proteolytic enzymes of pests or pathogens (Ryan, 1989, BioEssays, 10: 20–24; Brzin and Kidric, 1995, Biotechnol. Genet. Eng. Rev. 13: 420–467).
There have been reports on the developmental regulation and tissue-specific accumulation of plant PIs (Rosahl et al., 1986, Mol. Gen. Genet. 202: 368–373; Sanchez-Serrano et al., 1986, Mol. Gen. Genet. 203: 15–20; Margossian et al., 1988, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 85(21):8012–8016; Hendriks et al., 1991, Plant Mol. Biol. 17: 385–394; Pena-Cortes et al., 1991, Plant Cell, 3, 963–972; Lorberth et al., 1992, Plant J. 2: 477–486; Xu et al., 2001, Plant Mol. Biol. 47: 727–738). Proteinase inhibitor II from Solanum americanum (SaPIN2a) is highly expressed in the phloem and has possible involvement in regulating proteolysis in the sieve elements (Xu et al., 2001, Plant Mol. Biol. 47: 727–738). The localization of SaPIN2a mRNA and protein to the companion cells and sieve elements suggests regulation of proteolysis in phloem development/function.
What is needed are methods and compositions for expressing proteinase inhibitor proteins SaPIN2a and SaPIN2b by heterologous expression in transformed plants (i) to inhibit activities of endogenous proteases, particularly trypsin- and chymotrypsin-like activities; (ii) to delay the onset of senescence and/or programmed cell death, and/or increase their resistance to pests; and (3) for high level expression of proteinase inhibitor proteins for their isolation.

Genetically modified plants expressing proteinase inhibitors, SaPIN2a or SaPIN2b, and methods of use thereof for the inhibition of trypsin- and chymotrypsin-like activities


A bicycle rim includes a substantially H-shaped outer part including an annular body and two sidewalls. A tire space is defined between the annular body and the two sidewalls. A substantially U-shaped inner part is connected to the outer part. The inner part and the outer part are made by composite material. The outer part is made before the inner part which is combined with the outer part in another mold.

A conventional bicycle rim is made of metal such as Aluminum alloy which is strong and easily formed. Nevertheless, the conventional bicycle rim is heavy and cannot satisfy the needs from the market, especially for racing bicycles and road bicycles. In order to reduce the weight of the bicycle rims, some manufacturers use fibers material o be the inner portion of the rim which includes an outer portion made of metal. This improvement can only achieve limited goals for having a light bicycle rim.
A further improvement for the bicycle rim is to make the whole bicycle rim by fibers material. The method for making the light bicycle rim uses a bladder completely or partially enclosed by the fibers material and both of which are then arranged into a mold set. The bladder is inflated and contacts against the fibers material to form the chamber in the bicycle rim and the fibers material is heated under a pre-set pressure, so that when the fibers material becomes stiff in the mold, the bicycle rim is formed with the light material and a space is defined within the rim. However, the thickness of the bladder cannot be controlled perfectly so that the thickness of the rim varies. Therefore, the manufacturers have to proceed extra trimming or machining steps to the rim so as to meet the expected design purposes. If the shape of the annular curved groove becomes a U-shaped groove with straight sidewalls then the structural strength of the bicycle rim will be weakened.
The present invention intends to provide a bicycle rim made of composite material and the method for making the rim includes two times of heat-molding to respectively make the outer part and the inner part of the rim so as to obtain the strong and light bicycle rims.


A method and apparatus for handling a two-component explosive product which includes a bladder having an internal storage compartment with a nozzle inlet for receiving one component of the explosive material, such as liquid nitromethane. A removable cap is provided for sealing the nozzle inlet so that the bladder may be transported to the site of unexploded ordnance. At the site, a second of the two-component explosive material is added such as amine in either liquid or powder form or a dry sensitizer such as micro-balloons composed of glass or ceramic micro-spheres. These components are mixed together in the bladder. The cap is removed from the nozzle inlet in order to receive the introduction of the second component and then a detonator device is placed into the inlet nozzle. An actuator or energizer for the detonator is remotely located from the site of the unexploded ordnance and may be actuated at the discretion of the operator.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of explosive devices for humanitarian elimination of unexploded ordnance, and more particularly to a novel explosive package which is a safe and effective tool for controlled detonation or blow-in-place disposal of land mines and unexploded ordnance.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
Currently, there is a need to provide innovative techniques for land mine and unexploded ordnance neutralization and removal using powdered or liquid explosive materials employing sympathetic detonation techniques. The destruction of mines in place, whether buried, surface or above ground, is rapidly becoming the accepted method of permanently neutralizing unexploded ordnance including bobby-traps, land mines or the like. In the past, liquid explosive foams have been used. Such liquid explosive foam incorporates nitro-methane-based foam employing the use of aerosol technology and emulsion science. The energetic component comprises approximately 90 percent of the foam material. Although such foam explosives have been successful, other packages or devices for disposing of or neutralizing unexploded ordnance are needed for humanitarian demining. In humanitarian demining, it is generally accepted that upon detection of a land mine, for example, "blow-in-place" techniques will be used to neutralize the threat. This is generally done with high explosives, such as C-4, TNT block or the like or by directed energy, such as employing a shaped charge attack. The use of these techniques also has its drawbacks, including: the costs associated with the logistics of handling high explosives, the possible safety factors involved with placing explosives directly on an exposed land mine and the like.
Therefore, a long-standing need has existed to provide a humanitarian demining delivery system or device for neutralizing unexploded ordnance which may employ a two-component explosive material that can be transported separately and combined at the site of the unexploded ordnance for subsequent detonation. Such use of a two-component explosive material package must have the ability to properly separate or seal one component from a second component during transport while being adapted to accommodate introduction of the second component to the first component at the unexploded ordnance site followed by installation of a detonator which can be remotely actuated.


The present invention provides a ventilation apparatus for a fuel cell system, reliably performs ventilation of the fuel cell box after shutting down the operation of the fuel cell (when ignition is off), comprising a fuel cell box 3 housing a fuel cell 2, an extractor fan 4 for performing ventilation of the fuel cell box 3, an auxiliary battery 5 which can drive the extractor fan 4, a capacitor 7 which can drive the vehicle drive motor 6 and which can also drive extractor fan 4, a state detector 8 which detects the status of the auxiliary battery 5, and an ECU 9 connected to the state detector 8 to thereby determine the status of the auxiliary battery 5, wherein the capacitor 7 drives the extractor fan 4 under the control of the ECU 9.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a ventilation apparatus for a fuel cell system which ventilates a fuel cell box after a fuel cell is shut down.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, fuel cell powered vehicles which use fuel cells for driving power are being investigated as part of a trend towards becoming practical vehicles. Fuel cells obtain power by causing an electrochemical reaction between a supplied fuel gas (such as hydrogen) and an oxidizing gas (such as air containing oxygen). For installation of the fuel cell in vehicles, a method of housing the fuel cell in a fuel cell box in order to protect the fuel cell from the outside is being investigated.
The provision of an extractor fan in the fuel cell box in order to reduce hydrogen concentration within the fuel cell box is being investigated. Because it is necessary for this extractor fan to operate even after the fuel cell power is shut down, it has been considered to drive this by means of an auxiliary battery, which drives auxiliary equipment.
However, when the auxiliary battery deteriorates so that the expected power is not obtained, there are times when the extractor fan cannot be driven sufficiently.

Ventilation apparatus for fuel cell system


Methods and systems are provided for operating a driveline of a hybrid vehicle that includes an internal combustion engine, an electric machine, and a transmission are described. In one example, accelerator pedal position provides a basis for requesting vehicle acceleration and vehicle wheel torque is determined from the requested vehicle acceleration.

A human driver may request torque from a vehicle via an accelerator pedal. The position of the accelerator pedal may be converted directly from accelerator pedal position into a requested engine torque. The requested engine torque may be provided by opening or closing a throttle, adjusting spark timing, and adjusting an amount of fuel injected to the engine. The engine torque may be output to an input of a transmission. The transmission may transfer torque from the engine to an axle, and the axle may transfer torque from the engine to vehicle wheels. However, a hybrid vehicle may include an electrical machine with the engine to provide requested demand torque. The requested demand torque may be provided in part by the engine and in part by the electric machine. The allocation of torque provided via the engine and the electric machine may be responsive to battery operating conditions, the level of the driver demand torque, and other parameters. Further, the driver demand torque may be provided by simply summing of engine torque and electric machine torque when the engine and electric machine torques are both provided to the transmission input shaft. However, for hybrid vehicles that have an electric machine located downstream of the transmission in a direction of positive torque flow from the powertrain or driveline to vehicle wheels, the driver demand may not be a simple sum of engine output torque and electric machine torque because of gears and clutches of the driveline. Therefore, it may be desirable to provide a way of determining a desired engine torque output and a desired electric machine output that provides the driver demand even when driveline torque sources are separated by driveline components that include gears and clutches.
The inventors herein have recognized the above-mentioned issues and have developed a driveline operating method, comprising: providing a wheel torque in response to a desired vehicle acceleration, the desired vehicle acceleration responsive to accelerator pedal position and present vehicle speed.
By determining a desired vehicle acceleration that is responsive to accelerator pedal position and vehicle speed, it may be possible to determine a desired wheel torque to provide the desired vehicle acceleration. The desired wheel torque may then be separated into portions or fractions and allocated to the various torque sources in the driveline. Torque of the torque sources may be adjusted based on components in between the wheels and the torque sources so that the desired wheel torque and vehicle acceleration may be provided. For example, if the desired wheel torque is 300 N-m and 100 N-m is allocated or to be provided by the electric machine, then torque of the electric machine may be adjusted such that electric machine torque multiplied by the final drive ratio equals 100 N-m. If the remaining 200 N-m of wheel torque is allocated or to be provided by the engine, then engine torque may be adjusted such that engine output torque multiplied by the transmission gear ratio and the final drive ratio equals 200 N-m. In this way, torque provided by the torque sources may be adjusted to provide the requested driver demand even for a hybrid driveline with distributed torque sources.
The present description may provide several advantages. Specifically, the approach may respond consistently to a driver demand even in different hybrid vehicle operating modes. Further, the approach allows a driver demand torque to be followed consistently even with different driveline configurations. Additionally, the approach may reduce driveline torque disturbances since it considers driveline inertia responsive to hybrid vehicle operating mode.
It should be understood that the summary above is provided to introduce in simplified form a selection of concepts that are further described in the detailed description. It is not meant to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, the scope of which is defined uniquely by the claims that follow the detailed description. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any disadvantages noted above or in any part of this disclosure.

Methods and system for determining driver demand


Embodiments of the invention include an apparatus for performing Galois multiplication using an enhanced Galois table. Galois multiplication may include converting a first and second multiplicand to exponential forms using a Galois table, adding the exponential forms of the first and second multiplicands, and converting the added exponential forms of the first and second multiplicands to a decimal equivalent binary form using the Galois table to decimal equivalent binary result of the Galois multiplication.

Modern communication systems often deploy multilayer forward error correction schemes to increase their performance. A typical scheme is to layer a convolutional code on top of a block code. However, the implementation of these coding schemes can be very computationally expensive and introduce substantial delays for encoding and decoding. The delays will reduce the effective data rate attainable on a channel and thus need to be minimized. One method to accelerate the computation is to add specialized hardware at the expense of adding substantial cost to the system. Since these communication systems typically already have at least one general-purpose processor that is required to implement and control the modem, it would be advantageous to use this existing processor to also perform the error correction. A common choice for the block code is a non-binary BCH code called the Reed-Solomon code. This code requires special mathematical operations using Galois math (additions and multiplications) operating on a binary extension field. These special multiply operations are not built into standard processors (even if standard multiplication is built in), and to implement these multiplies can require too many processor cycles to be feasible given the desire to minimize coding delays in the system.

Method and system of improved Galois multiplication


A telecommunication device for the deaf includes a self-identification sequence which automatically commences upon the initiation of communication with the device. The self-identification sequence consists of a series of characters which may be separated by pauses and the device listens during the pauses to see if TDD communication has been established. The purpose of the character string is so that a receiving station can identify, with a low rate of error, a calling TDD and therefore switch the incoming call to a TDD equipped operator. This capability is particularly useful for emergency service operators (911 services) which must be able to handle incoming TDD calls with a maximum of efficiency and a minimum of error.

Persons who are deaf or hearing-impaired who cannot hear well enough to use the telephone commonly make use of communication terminals specifically constructed and designed to enable such persons to converse over the telephone lines. Such devices are referred to as telecommunication devices for the deaf or TDD and include both a keyboard and a display connected to the telephone through a modem (modulator/demodulator). The modem is typically built into the TDD and either directly wired to a telephone line or coupled through an acoustic coupler to a normal telephone handset. The TDD is capable of transmitting information over a telephone line by means of coded tones to another similar TDD connected at the opposite end of the telephone line through another modem.
There are several protocols by which electronic devices are capable of communicating through analog lines, such as telephone lines. The most common used in the industry is referred to as ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange), and is commonly used for information interchange between computers. However, historically, TDD have operated on a different protocol, referred to as Baudot. There is both a Baudot code and a protocol of communication referred to as Baudot/Weitbrecht.
The Baudot/Weitbrecht communication protocol has several idiosyncrasies which result from the early equipment used to implement it. Baudot devices communicate at 45.5 Baud and utilize a 5 bit code utilized only by Baudot machines. In the Baudot code transfer protocol, the presence of a logical 1 is indicated by an 1400 Hertz tone while the presence of a logical 0 is indicated by an 1800 Hertz tone. Under Baudot code, where no character or bit is being transmitted, there is no tone transmitted on the line. Baudot machines operated in simplex, that is to say if two Baudot machines are communicating, only one is capable of transmitting at a time. The normal convention of Baudot communication is that the receiving station communicate in Baudot first to the calling station. The ability to communication to the outside world through a TDD can be an essential, sometimes even vital, service to a deaf person. For example, in times of emergency, a deaf person must be able to use his or her TDD to make an emergency call of a kind that a hearing person makes orally. It is for that reason that many emergency service operators (including 911 services) in the United States are required to be equipped with TDD, and incoming call detectors to sense TDD on the line, so as to handle in-coming calls from deaf or hearing impaired persons in emergency situations. In such situations, however, the existing Baudot protocol presents a deficiency in the operation of a TDD device in such a emergency situation. The deficiency arises because the calling TDD normally waits for a response from the answering TDD prior to transmitting characters. If the TDD user is calling a 911 emergency service center, the person answering the telephone may hear only silence on the telephone line. Several emergency service operating systems have implemented circuits, therefore, intended to monitor the incoming lines and detect the characteristic TDD signals (1400 and 1800 Hertz) on the incoming line, and, when such signals are received, to alert the operator that the call is coming from a TDD or to switch that incoming line from a hearing person to a TDD. Thus, many emergency service operator systems are presently equipped with devices, referred to as TDD detectors, which are capable of sensing TDD generated codes and alerting the operator that a call is from a TDD, so that the incoming signal can be connected to the services own TDD.
It has been a problem with such TDD detectors and incoming signals from TDD in that the TDD detectors are capable of being falsely tripped. The 1800 and 1400 Hertz of Baudot tones are sounds which are common in the human environment, making it possible for background sounds to be interpreted as a Baudot character. Also, some TDD detectors may require several characters to be received by the calling TDD, which may leave the calling deaf person in some confusion as to what information has been received by the emergency services operator. Both difficulties would be ameliorated if a protocol existed by which TDD could identify specifically themselves, and the capabilities of their TDD, in a manner that was sufficiently distinctive so as to render extremely unlikely either falsely triggering or not triggering at all the TDD detector present at the emergency services facility.

Telecommunication device for the deaf with automatic self-identification


A rotary control (120) is illuminated through a controlled illuminated indicator provided by a light guide arc reflector (114) disposed on a control panel (104) along an outer periphery of a rotary control knob (112). The controlled illuminated indicator concurrently indicates status and location of the rotary control knob. The controlled illuminated indictor generates an increased rotational arc of illumination in response to the knob being rotated in a first direction and generates a decreased rotational arc of illumination in response to the knob rotated in a second direction. The rotary control (120) utilizes a helix slider (304) to control upwards and downwards movement of a reflector shield (302) which block and unblocks light rays in response to the knob (112) being rotated.

Communication devices, such as vehicular radios, often include illuminated controls for various radio functions such as volume adjustment, channel change and the like. Designing rotary illuminated controls for the vehicular radio environment is often challenging, as the rotary control can be difficult to fit within a limited form factor of the radio's control panel.
In a dark vehicular environment, a control knob may be insufficiently lit or not lit at all, thus making the control difficult to locate. illumination resolution is typically limited by the number of light sources and thus a light indicator may only show up as a single dot. The use of additional light sources may not be feasible for applications restricted by size and cost. Also, the use of numerous light sources further burdens electrical circuitry and software control.
Additionally, state or level information pertaining to the control, for example volume level, is typically displayed on a separate display which is located elsewhere on the control panel away from the volume control knob. For vehicular applications, drivers typically have to take a quick glance at the separate display to identify the current control state while driving, which can be distracting. Using independent displays in such a manner is also extremely costly.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved approach to lighting a control for a communication device.

Illuminated rotary control for a communication device


A method of locating a memory address of a nonvolatile memory card that corresponds to an external address in an integrated circuit card controller that controls memory operation of the card is described. The controller includes a first memory address mapping window and a second memory address mapping window, each storing one of a first and a second set of memory addresses of the nonvolatile memory card. The method includes the steps of accessing the first window for the memory address associated with the external address when external circuitry accesses the nonvolatile memory card with the external address. If the first window has the memory address, then the first window is accessed for the memory address. If the first window does not have the memory address, then the second window is accessed for the memory address. If the second window does not have the memory address, then the second window is updated with a third set of memory addresses of the nonvolatile memory card. The second window is then switched with the first window such that the second window becomes the first window and the first window becomes the second window. If the second window has the memory address, then the second window is simply switched with the first window such that the second window becomes the first window and the first window becomes the second window. The new first window is then accessed for the memory address. In this way, updates of the first and second windows are minimized.

One type of prior nonvolatile memory is the flash erasable and electrically programmable read-only memory ("Flash EPROM"). The flash EPROM can be programmed by a user. Once programmed, the entire contents of the flash EPROM can be electrically erased. The flash EPROM may then be reprogrammed with new data.
Prior art personal computer systems typically employ removable data storage media. One common prior art removable storage medium is a floppy disk. A relatively new prior art storage medium is an integrated circuit-based memory card ("IC memory card").
Prior art flash EPROMs are nonvolatile and reprogrammable, and this has permitted the flash EPROM technology to be used for removable data storage. One such prior art application is the flash EPROM memory card ("flash memory card"). The flash memory card typically includes a number of flash EPROMs. The flash memory card can be erased and programmed electrically.
A prior art computer system that can receive a flash memory card typically includes an integrated circuit ("IC") card interface controller. The IC card controller is typically used in the prior art computer system to interface with the flash memory card. In addition, the IC card interface controller can also interface with other types of IC cards, such as a modem card and a LAN ("Local Area Network") card. When a flash memory card is connected to the prior art computer system, the IC card interface controller receives addresses, data, control signals, power, and ground from the computer system. The IC card interface controller in turn controls operations of the flash memory card.
Disadvantages are, however, associated with the prior IC card interface controller. One disadvantage associated is that the IC card interface controller cannot address all of the address locations of the flash memory card at any given time. Instead, the 16 card interface controller is only allowed to access a section (i.e., block) of the entire memory space of the flash memory card at any given time. The addresses of that section of the memory space of the flash memory card are maintained in a memory address mapping window in the IC card interface controller.
When a circuit of the computer system accesses the flash memory card with an address, the IC card interface controller first accesses the window to see if the address is within the window. If the window contains that address, it means that the current access to the flash memory card is to the section and the flash memory card can then be accessed. If the window does not contain that address, it means that a different section of the flash memory card is addressed and the window needs to be updated with the addresses of that different section of the flash memory card. In order to update the window with the addresses of that different section, many layers of software running on the computer system need to be invoked. This typically causes the update of the window to be relatively time consuming that in turn affects the speed of accessing the flash memory card.
Another disadvantage is that the window typically needs to be repeatedly updated during a read or write operation of the flash memory card. As is known, in a prior flash memory card, a block allocation structure is located in a bottom area of the card and a file control structure is located in a top area of the memory space of the card. During an access to the flash memory card, the two structures need to be accessed many times before a section of the flash memory card is actually accessed. This typically causes the window in the IC card interface controller to be repeatedly changed, which takes a significant amount of time and results in a performance penalty.

Nonvolatile memory card controller with an optimized memory address mapping window scheme


An OFDM receiver has four antennas or more for receiving an OFDM modulated high frequency signal, and plural OFDM demodulators for inputting a baseband signal of a time domain thereto on the basis of the high frequency signal and outputting the baseband signal of a frequency domain, wherein the OFDM demodulators are arranged every plural antenna groups with two or more of the antennas as one group, and a signal is diversity-synthesized by a first phase shifter until the baseband signal of the time domain is inputted to each of the OFDM demodulators, and the baseband signal of the frequency domain is diversity-synthesized by a second phase shifter.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an OFDM receiver for receiving an OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) modulated high frequency signal by diversity synthesis, and particularly relates to an OFDM receiver suitably used in a television receiver for car mounting.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 4 shows a conventional OFDM receiver. In FIG. 4, plural antennas (shown in the case of four antennas) 111, 121, 131, 141 for receiving an OFDM modulated high frequency signal are arranged in places separated from each other on a vehicle as one example. Receiving portions 112, 122, 132, 142 are correspondingly connected to the respective antennas 111 to 141. The respective receiving portions 112 to 142 have the same construction, and frequency-convert the high frequency signal to be received to an intermediate frequency signal. A/D converters 113, 123, 133, 143 are connected to the next stages of the respective receiving portions 112 to 142. Each A/D converter converts the intermediate frequency signal to a digital signal, and outputs a baseband signal of a time domain.
First to fourth OFDM demodulating means 114, 124, 134, 144 are connected to the next stages of the respective A/D converters 113 to 143. The respective OFDM demodulating means 114 to 144 have a high speed Fourier converter of the same construction therein, and perform conversion to the baseband signal of a frequency domain by performing Fourier transformation by taking synchronization of the baseband signal of the time domain.
A first phase control circuit 151 is connected between the output terminal of the first OFDM demodulating means 114 and the output terminal of the second OFDM demodulating means 124 among the above four OFDM demodulating means. A second phase control means 152 is connected between the output terminal of the first OFDM demodulating means 114 and the output terminal of the third OFDM demodulating means 134. A third phase control means 153 is connected between the output terminal of the first OFDM demodulating means 114 and the output terminal of the fourth OFDM demodulating means 144. A first phase shifter 154, a second phase shifter 155 and a third phase shifter 156 are respectively connected to the next stages of the second to fourth OFDM demodulating means.
The respective phase control means 151 to 153 have the same construction, and respectively compare the phase of the baseband signal of the frequency domain outputted from the second to fourth OFDM demodulating means 124, 134, 144 and the phase of the baseband signal of the frequency domain outputted from the first OFDM demodulating means 114, and respectively output its phase difference signals to the first to third phase shifters 154 to 156. Each of the phase shifters 154 to 156 outputs a baseband signal of the frequency domain conformed to the phase of the baseband signal of the frequency domain outputted from the first OFDM demodulating means 114 by changing the phase of the inputted baseband signal of the frequency domain by each phase difference signal.
The baseband signal of the frequency domain outputted from the first OFDM demodulating means 114 and the baseband signal of the frequency domain outputted from the first phase shifter 154 are added by a first adder 157. The baseband signal of the frequency domain outputted from the second phase shifter 155 and the baseband signal of the frequency domain outputted from the third phase shifter 156 are added by a second adder 158. A third adder 159 is connected between the output terminal of the first adder 157 and the output terminal of the second adder 158. Accordingly, the baseband signals of the frequency domain outputted from all the OFDM demodulating means 114 to 144 are finally added by the third adder 159 in the same phase relation. Accordingly, a baseband signal having maximum signal electric power is obtained from the third adder 159. A bit error included in the added baseband signal is corrected by an error correcting means 160, and the corrected baseband signal of the frequency domain is outputted.
When there is an antenna greatly reduced in level of the received high frequency signal by fading caused by e.g., the movement of a mounted vehicle in the conventional OFDM receiver, it is impossible to accurately take the synchronization of the baseband signal of the time domain in the OFDM demodulating means corresponding to this antenna. In such a state, no Fourier transformation can be also accurately performed by this OFDM demodulating means so that no baseband signal of electric power sufficient to correct the error and corresponding to the number of antennas can be obtained. Accordingly, the problem of causing a reduction in image quality, etc. is caused.
Further, since the expensive OFDM demodulating means is arranged by the same number correspondingly with each antenna, it has a disadvantage in that the receiver is high in cost.

OFDM receiver for easily synchronizing base band signal


Techniques for polling fingers on a channel (which are fingers for which symbols are to be combined) to determine the last finger on the channel. As each finger is polled, the polled finger compares its state information with the state information for the channel to determine whether or not it is the last finger on the channel. The polled finger may be deemed as the last finger if (1) the polled finger is the current last finger, (2) the polled finger is later than the current last finger, or (3) all fingers on the channel have been polled and none of the fingers indicated that it is the last finger. If the polled finger is deemed as the last finger then, (1) the channel state information is updated with the polled finger state information, and (2) the symbols provided by the polled finger may be marked as being ready for subsequent processing.

1. Field
The present invention relates generally to data communication, and more specifically to techniques for polling for last finger on a channel in a digital communication system.
2. Background
In a wireless communication system, a modulated signal transmitted from a transmitter (e.g., a terminal) may reach a receiver (e.g., a base station) via a number of signal paths due to artifacts in the propagation environment (e.g., building, natural structures, and so on). A received signal at the receiver may thus include a number of multipath components, each of which corresponds to a signal instance received via a different signal path. Since the receiver may also receive signals from multiple transmitters, the received signal may thus include a number of multipath components for a number of transmitters.
For a digital communication system, a rake receiver is often used to process a number of multipath components in the received signal for a given "channel". A channel may refer to, for example, a data transmission from a specific terminal. The rake receiver normally includes one or more searcher elements and a number of demodulation elements, which are often referred to as "searchers" and "fingers", respectively. Each searcher may be operated to process the received signal to search for strong multipath components. Each finger may then be assigned to process a different multipath component of sufficient strength. By assigning a number of fingers to process a number of multipath components for the channel and combining demodulated symbols from all assigned fingers, more of the energy in the received signal may be collected for the channel and improved performance may be achieved.
Each multipath component is associated with a particular propagation delay and a particular time of arrival at the receiver, both of which are determined by the signal path. Each active finger is then associated with a respective time offset that is determined by the arrival time of the multipath component assigned to the finger. Each active finger would then process the received signal based on its time offset and provide demodulated symbols for its assigned multipath component. The demodulated symbols from each finger are "deskewed" (i.e., aligned in time) and accumulated with demodulated symbols from other fingers on the same channel to provide final demodulated symbols for the channel.
When multiple fingers are assigned to process multiple multipath components for a given channel, it is necessary to wait for the last finger to finish its processing before the final demodulated symbols for all assigned fingers can be processed by subsequent stages. The received signal can be buffered until the deskewed signals from all signal paths are received and then processed, or the demodulated symbols can be stored until the last finger is processed. In the later case, the last finger is normally the one assigned to process the latest arriving multipath component for the channel. Conventionally, the final demodulated symbols are buffered for a duration of time that is longer than the largest expected difference between the earliest and latest arriving multipath components (which is commonly referred to as the delay spread). By buffering the final demodulated symbols for this length of time, the last finger can be assured to have finished its processing, and the buffered final demodulated symbols may then be provided to subsequent processing stages.
This conventional mechanism for ensuring that the last finger has finished its processing is not efficient for several reasons. First, the buffering needs to cover the largest expected delay spread for the system, which may be long for some Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) systems. Second, longer processing delay is incurred by having to wait for the largest expected delay spread to elapse before initiating subsequent processing on the final demodulated symbols.
There is therefore a need in the art for techniques to more quickly and efficiently determine when the last finger has finished its processing so that the final demodulated symbols may be expediently processed.


A semiconductor integrated circuit comprises an electrically programmable fuse element that is provided between a programming voltage node and a latch node, and a latch circuit that latches a voltage at the latch node. The semiconductor integrated circuit further comprises a current source that controls a magnitude of an operation current of the latch circuit, and controls a resistance determination value for determining whether the fuse element is programmed or not.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a semiconductor integrated circuit, and is applied, for example, to a semiconductor integrated circuit including an electrically programmable fuse (e.g. eFuse).
2. Description of the Related Art
In the prior art, there is known a so-called MOS capacitor in which a source and a drain are mutually connected to implement a function of a capacitor. Use has been made of a semiconductor integrated circuit that includes a so-called antifuse element, wherein a high voltage is applied between the gate electrode and the source/drain of a MOS capacitor, thereby breaking a gate insulation film to let a current through, and programming the antifuse element (see, e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 6,667,902).
However, when data is read out after the antifuse element is programmed, the following situations (1) and (2) will arise.
(1) Read-Out Margin is Low.
The resistances of antifuse elements are randomly distributed. In general terms, there are a resistance value distribution of programmed elements and a resistance value distribution of non-programmed elements. When a read-out circuit is designed, these distributions have to be strictly examined and the programmed elements have to be distinguished from the non-programmed ones on the basis of a proper resistance determination value. However, the read-out circuit that determines the resistance determination value tends to be affected by an error in manufacture, and the read-out margin is low.
(2) The Test Time Increases.
The resistance value is a measure for judging how well programming is executed. To exactly measure the resistance value leads to an improvement in reliability. In an available method of measuring the resistance value, a current is fed through the antifuse element by a given selection means, and the actual current value is measured by a tester. In this case, about 50 msec, for instance, are needed to complete the measurement of the current that flows through one antifuse element. Accordingly, about 5 sec are needed to complete measurement for 100 programmed antifuse elements. Since such a long time is needed, the test time increases when a large number of resistance values are measured in mass-production.

Semiconductor integrated circuit with electrically programmable fuse


An image coding apparatus, comprising an image reconstruction unit configured to reconstruct an image, a parameter determination unit configured to determine one or more filter parameters, based on one or more first parameters which are based on the reconstructed image and one or more second parameters which are based on codec signaling information, and a mixed-domain filtering unit configured to filter in a frequency domain and a pixel domain the reconstructed image based on the determined filter parameters to obtain a filtered image.

Still image compression technologies can be used e.g. in still image codecs such as H.264/AVC, H.265/HEVC and JPEG. Improvement of the decoded image can be achieved by post filtering. There are two base classes of post filtering: encoder side post filtering and decoder side post filtering.
In case of encoder side post filtering, filter parameters are estimated on the encoder side and are then transferred to the decoder side. The decoder recovers post filter parameters after transmission and applies filter parameters for decoded image filtering before delivery to the end user. In this case filter design and filter parameter estimation depend on the still image encoder architecture.
In case of decoder side post filtering post filter parameters are estimated from the decoded image and so there is no still image encoder modification.
The most familiar encoder side post filter is the Adaptive Loop Filter. This filter was proposed on MPEG standardization meeting for use in the Next Generation Video codec.
A still image decoder recovers post filter parameters from a transmitted bitstream and uses these parameters for decoded image filtering before end user delivery.
According to an Adaptive Loop Filter (ALF) method, each reconstructed (decoded) image is divided into a set of small macroblocks (super-pixels) and then each macroblock is filtered by an adaptive post filter.
An ALF can comprise three blocks: A parameter estimation block, a pixel domain filtering block and an application map block. In the encoder, the parameter estimation block estimates a 2D impulse response for a Wiener filter in pixel domain for each macroblock based on matching between original and reconstructed images. Then these impulse responses are quantized and transferred to an entropy encoder. The entropy encoder inserts encoded filter parameters into an output bitstream transferred from encoder to decoder side. In the decoder, the entropy decoder recovers the Wiener filter impulse response for each macroblock and transfers filter parameters to the pixel domain filtering block for use in the filtering process. In the decoder and the encoder the pixel domain filtering block performs reconstructed image filtering in pixel domain according to filter parameters from the parameter estimation block. In the decoder the filtered image is used for decoded image improvement before end user delivery. Filtering can be applied not for full reconstructed frame but only for part of image. In the encoder the application map block chooses which super-pixels should be filtered based on a rate-distortion optimization (RDO) process. The application map is encoded by the entropy encoder and written into the output bitstream on the encoder side. In the decoder the entropy decoder recovers the filter application map. Then this map is used to turn on/off filtering.
The ALF can have the following base features for still image encoding:                The filter impulse response is derived based on original and filtered reconstructed images matching        Filter parameters are transferred from encoder to decoder side        Filtering is performed in the pixel domain        The filter is applied as a post filter (decoded picture improvement)        The application map is built based on an RDO process
Despite advantages of the ALF structure, there is still a need for improvements in image coding.

Mixed domain collaborative post filter for lossy still image coding


A method and an apparatus for controlling current in an array cell is disclosed. The method includes applying a supply voltage to a first access point of a transistor, precharging a second access point of the transistor to a predetermined voltage, applying a control voltage to a third access point of the transistor, and discharging the second access point of the transistor to turn on the transistor which causes a current flow through the array cell connected to the transistor.

Numerous memory array configurations require the operation of forcing a current and reading out a voltage during sensing, or forcing a high current to change a status of an array cell as rapidly as possible.
These operations, however, often lack in accuracy because the current control is slowed down by parasitic resistances and capacitances present on a selected path.
Memory devices generally comprise a plurality of memory cells arranged in an array and configured to store data. The memory cells are arranged in a regular array of rows and columns. Memory arrays further comprise a plurality of word lines and a plurality of bit lines. Each word line may be coupled to a row of memory cells, whereas each bit line may be coupled to a column of memory cells. If, for example, a cell array comprises n*m columns of memory cells, the memory device may comprise n*m bit lines. Analogously, if the cell array comprises p rows of memory cells, the memory device may comprise p word lines. The cell array comprising n*m columns of memory cells and p rows of memory cells may then comprise p*n*m memory cells altogether. The word lines and the bit lines are employed to access memory cells for reading, erasing, and programming. Generally, a specific memory cell is read, erased, or programmed by application of specific voltages to the word line and to the bit line coupled to the specific memory cell.
A memory device may furthermore comprise a plurality of sense amplifiers. The sense amplifiers are used to sense the logic levels of the bit lines by amplifying small voltage swings to recognizable logic levels. Therefore, the sense amplifiers are instrumental for read-out of the memory cells.
A memory device may comprise a sense amplifier-bit line multiplexer block which couples the sense amplifiers to the bit lines which are coupled to the columns of memory cells in the cell array. The sense amplifier-bit line multiplexer block is employed to reduce the number of sense amplifiers needed to operate a specific number of columns of memory cells. If, as described above, the cell array comprises n*m columns of memory cells, i.e. n*m bit lines, and a sense amplifier-bit line multiplexer block allowing 1:m multiplexing is employed, n sense amplifiers suffice to operate the n*m bit lines. Each of the n sense amplifiers may be coupled to a data line. Therefore, the memory device may comprise n data lines.
An example conventional memory device with the capacity to store 1 Mbit of data may comprise a cell array comprising 1048576 (=1024×1024) memory cells. The 1048576 memory cells may be arranged in a regular array comprising 512 rows, i.e. 512 word lines, and 2048 columns, i.e. 2048 bit lines. If a sense amplifier-bit line multiplexer block allowing 1:64 multiplexing is employed, 32 sense amplifiers suffice to read out each of the 1048576 memory cells (32 bit data words). If the sense amplifier-bit line multiplexer block allows 1:128 multiplexing, 16 sense amplifiers suffice (16 bit data words).
Due to the structure of memory cell arrays, precise current control in an array cell is difficult. When, for example, a write operation is to be carried out, current control is slowed down by parasitic resistances and capacitances present on a selected path, such as bit line and multiplexer capacitances and equivalent resistances, which results in ineffective current control in an array cell.
For these or other reasons there is a need for an improved method and/or apparatus for controlling current in an array cell.

Method and apparatus for controlling current in an array cell


A method of fabricating a backlight module in which at least one luminescence element is positioned, including: positioning a luminescence element in at least one cavity formed on a carrier; forming a lower electrode on a substrate; transferring the luminescence element positioned on the carrier to the substrate, connecting the luminescence element to a pattern of the lower electrode formed on the substrate, and removing the carrier; forming an insulating layer on a surface of the substrate to which the luminescence element is transferred, and exposing a top region of the luminescence element; and forming an upper electrode on the exposed top region of the luminescence element. Accordingly, the backlight module including very small luminescence elements being of a micro unit in size is easily fabricated.

1. Field of the Invention
Apparatuses and method consistent with the present invention relate to a backlight module and a method of fabricating the same and, more particularly, to a backlight module including luminescence elements being of a micro unit in size and a method of fabricating the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a liquid crystal display (LCD) is a device which displays various kinds of information but it does not include a self-luminescence element. Due to this reason, an LCD needs an additional device with luminescence elements, positioned at the rear of the display, to uniformly brightening the whole screen of the display. Such a device is a Back Light Unit (BLU). The BLU comprises a backlight module including luminescence elements, and a panel layer mixing light emitted from the backlight module and transferring the light to an LCD panel.
A backlight module used in the BLU includes a plurality of luminescence elements. As an example of the luminescence elements of the backlight module, a Light Emitting Diode (LED) is used. The LED backlight modules, which have been developed and used, include a plurality of luminescence elements being about 1 mm by 1 mm in size. A backlight module has to provide light in a certain amount or more. Thus, there is a problem in that a large number of LEDs should be used.
To solve the problem and to efficiently use luminescence elements, a method has been developed to distribute light emitted from luminescence elements to a large region, by additionally using an optical system such as lenses.
However, when an optical system such as lenses is additionally positioned within an LCD, a process becomes complicated and a manufacturing cost increases accordingly. Furthermore, since an optical system is additionally placed, there is a limit in reducing the thickness of the LCD. Furthermore, a loss of light occurs while the light is refracted by the optical system.
Furthermore, since a conventional backlight module is fabricated by mounting luminescence elements, one by one, on a substrate, the time required for the process of mounting all the luminescence elements is very long.

Backlight module including at least one luminescence element, and method of fabricating the same


A method and apparatus for treating a surface of an aluminum substrate for a printing plate includes treating the substrate surface with a treatment liquid being circulated, separating and discharging aluminum ions from a portion of the treatment liquid, recovering a sodium hydroxide solution from the treatment liquid, mixing the recovered sodium hydroxide solution with the treatment liquid being circulated, and maintaining a predetermined concentration of aluminum ions in the treatment liquid to be used. A portion of the treatment liquid containing sodium aluminate solution is mixed with aluminum slag containing an amorphous aluminum hydroxide produced at the time of neutralization of a waste acid and a waste alkali produced during surface treatment to thereby supersaturate the sodium aluminate solution, crystallize the aluminum hydroxide, and recover the sodium hydroxide solution to be returned to a liquid control tank to maintain a predetermined concentration of aluminum ions in the treatment liquid. Further, the characteristics of the aluminum slag are changed to be usable as an industrially available aluminum hydroxide. Still further, a hydrolytic reaction is caused in a separated part of the treatment liquid. Preferably, the supersaturated aluminate solution is passed through a filter, so that aluminum hydroxide is crystallized from the sodium aluminate solution, and the sodium hydroxide solution is recovered.

The present invention relates to a method for performing surface treatment of an aluminum plate used for a printing plate, and particularly relates to a method for recovering an etching liquid containing sodium hydroxide as a main component thereof and a method for improving the quality of aluminum slag generated in the surface treatment.
Various treatment liquids are used in performing surface treatment of an aluminum plate for a printing plate. For example, nitric acid and hydrochloric acid are used in an electrical surface-roughening process, sulfuric acid is used in an anodizing process, and aluminum hydroxide is generally used in a process of etching aluminum chemically.
On the other hand, as a support or substrate for a lithographic press plate, an aluminum plate or an aluminum alloy plate is used, and the surface shape or the like of the substrate after being treated varies largely depending on the concentration of aluminum ions in the above-mentioned treatment liquid, so that the aluminum ions greatly affect the quality of a plate used for a printing plate.
For example, when electrochemically roughening an aluminum plate with nitric acid, the concentration of nitric acid is preferably selected to have a value ranging from 5 grams/liter to 30 grams/liter to perform uniform roughening, and the concentration of the aluminum ions is preferably selected to have a value ranging approximately from 5 grams/liter to 15 grams/liter.
Additionally, when performing an anodizing treatment with sulfuric acid, the concentration of sulfuric acid preferably ranges from 50 grams/liter to 300 grams/liter. If the concentration of the aluminum ions exceeds 15 grams/liter, an anodized film cannot be produced uniformly on the aluminum plate surface.
Generally, an etching treatment using sodium hydroxide is performed as a process after roughening the surface mechanically or before or after roughening the surface with nitric acid or sulfuric acid electrochemically. In most cases, aluminum ions exist in a treatment liquid. Thus, the optimum values of the respective concentrations of the sodium hydroxide and aluminum ions range from 200 to 600 grams/liter, which is not more than the saturation concentration, and from 10 to 100 grams/liter. Additionally, the ratio of the aluminum ion concentration to the sodium hydroxide concentration is low, and generally the concentration of aluminum ions is made no higher than the saturation concentration.
As described above, the aluminum ion concentration greatly influences the quality of an aluminum substrate used for a printing plate, and hence maintaining the proper aluminum ion concentration in the treatment liquid to a predetermined value is critical. To maintain the concentration of aluminum constant, the treatment liquid in the treatment system has generally been discharged externally of the system, or, as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Sho-57-192300, the aluminum ions in a treatment liquid have been absorbed by an ion-exchange resin.
However, in the method for discharging the treatment liquid in a treatment system externally of the system to adjust the concentration of aluminum ions, treatment liquid must be discharged together with the aluminum ions, so that the quantity of the treatment liquid used becomes very large and the amount of waste treatment liquid is also large.
In the method for absorbing aluminum ions with an ion-exchange resin to discharge the aluminum ions externally of a system, the ratio of removing the aluminum ions relative to the amount of ion-exchange resin used is so low that a large quantity of resin must be used. Furthermore, the resin must be exchanged frequently, for instance, every three months, and thus the operating costs of the system are high.
Additionally, the present applicants have earlier proposed (see Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei-1-200992) a method of discharging aluminum ions externally of a system through diffusion dialysis using an ion-exchange resin to separate aluminum ions from sodium hydroxide. However, in diffusion dialysis, aluminum hydroxide scale and the like tends to adhere to the waste liquid side after removal of undissolved metal such as iron adhering to a film. Thus, after the diffusion dialysis, an acid such as sulfuric acid must be used to clean the system, for instance, every three days, thereby increasing the cost of using such a system. Additionally, a large amount of aluminum slag is discharged during the surface treatment process of an aluminum plate, and there has not been any commercial use of this slag, so that managing and disposing of the slag is burdensome.
Additionally, in accordance with a technique disclosed in Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. Sho-57-2649, a silicic acid is added, but applications of this technique are limited, and the technique is not preferably used for the surface treatment of a substrate for a lithographic press plate.
In view of the foregoing conventional methods, when performing surface treatment of an aluminum plate for a lithographic press plate using various alkali treatment liquids, and particularly when performing a surface etching treatment using sodium hydroxide, it has been difficult to maintain the concentration of aluminum ions in a treatment system to a predetermined value to make the quality of the treated surface superior and uniform. Additionally, it has been difficult from the standpoint of environmental integrity and operating costs to reuse the large amount of aluminum slag discharged during the surface treatment process. However, as described above, no suitable method has yet been proposed.
Another problem that the invention is directed to solving is to accelerate the crystallizing reaction of the etching liquid and the aluminum hydroxide and to reduce impurities contained in the aluminum hydroxide changed in quality when the liquid in which the above-mentioned aluminum slag is dissolved is crystallized and the aluminum slag is changed in quality.
Thus, the conventional methods and apparatus for performing surface treatment of an aluminum plate for a lithographic printing plate using various alkali treatment liquids, and particularly surface etching using sodium hydroxide, are inadequate to: maintain a predetermined concentration of aluminum ions in a treatment liquid (etching liquid) in a treatment system to make the quality of the treated surface superior and uniform, industrially reuse the aluminum hydroxide recovered from the etching liquid, and accelerate the crystallizing reaction to recover the etching liquid, and reduce impurities contained in the recovered aluminum hydroxide. However, as has been described above, no acceptable method therefor has been conventionally proposed.

Method for treating a surface of an aluminum substrate for a printing plate


The invention relates to an AIS ship transceiver which, after reception of an AIS base station message, validates the transmitting AIS base station and activates or deactivates the emitting of AIS radio signals in dependence on the validation.

Monitoring the ship traffic increasing throughout the world is based today predominantly on radar monitoring, voice radio and the utilization of AIS (Automatic Identification System). Since the year 2000, the AIS has been specified as obligatory standard by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in order to increase the safety of international ship traffic. This locally limited radio system is used for exchanging navigations and other ship data which are intended to enable the ships to obtain a comprehensive overview of the adjacent ship traffic. The primary aim in this context is to avoid collision between ships.
With the aid of an AIS ship transceiver arranged on the ships, AIS radio signals which the corresponding ship data such as, for example, navigation data, are emitted in a broadcast process alternately on two channels in the FM maritime radio band, namely on 161.975 MHz on the one hand, and on 162.025 MHz, on the other hand. Emitting the individual AIS radio signals in this case occurs at fixed time intervals, the occupancy of which is tuned independently by the relevant subscribers of AIS radio cell, so-called SOTDMA (Self Organizing Time Division Multiple Access). Thus, only 2,250 time slots are available per minute to the individual subscribers for a transmission of data.
With the aid of the AIS ship transceiver installed on board, the radio signals emitted by the other ships can be received, wherein the ship data contained in the AIS radio signals can then be extracted. By means of the reception of the ship data of different ships in the environment of a ship, an overview of the adjacent ship traffic or of the adjacent ships can thus be derived so that a ship can find out, for example, in what direction and with what speed adjacent ships are traveling which, for example, are not directly visible due to poor sight conditions. This makes it possible therefore to avoid collisions and to generate a significantly improved, even if locally limited, situational overview.
Due to the FM frequency band used, the radio range of AIS from ship to ship corresponds to approximately 40 to 60 km, which corresponds to slightly more than the normal visual range on the high sea. Due to their higher positions, coast stations can cover a circle of up to 100 km. Due to the limited range and the SOTDMA transmission protocol used, ships which can see and receive one another form an AIS radio cell within which the subscribers can transmit and receive without collision.
The AIS thus only represents a local radio system which, although it provides sufficient time slot capacity for a ship on the high sea, is not suitable however for a worldwide, especially satellite-based survey of the ship traffic since the coverage of a satellite comprises many individual AIS radio cells. However, a real-time survey of the AIS ship traffic data occurring worldwide would be of great interest to shipping companies, the maritime organizations or environmental ministries, especially in order also to counteract illegal machinations on the high sea.
Thus, a global ship monitoring system for example is known from the post-published DE 10 2011 113 152 A1 by means of which ships of ship traffic on the high sea can be monitored centrally. For this purpose, commercial aircraft have AIS receiving units which receive the AIS radio signals emitted by the ships along their flight route and transmit them for further processing to a base station. By this means, an almost gapless coverage and monitoring can be achieved especially on much-traveled routes.
In the recent past, trials have been undertaken to arrange AIS receiving antennas on satellites in order to be able to receive the AIS radio signals emitted worldwide with the aid of a satellite system. Thus, a satellite-based system is known, for example, from US 2008/0086267 A1 in which an AIS receiving unit is arranged at the satellites in order to be able to receive the AIS radio signals emitted by the ships. The AIS information contained in the AIS radio signals is forwarded to a central station in order thus to obtain global monitoring of the ship traffic. By means of such a satellite system, gapless monitoring thus can also be achieved in remote regions.
The Western industrial nations, in particular, demand the introduction of control of the marine traffic from space as part of their anti-terror campaign. With regard to AIS radio signals in highly frequented maritime regions, however, such satellite-based monitoring systems have the considerable disadvantage that the detection of ships can no longer be implemented with sufficient accuracy. Due to the extreme altitude of a satellite, an area of reception having a diameter of approx. 5000 to 6000 km is covered. Since the AIS as a local radio system organizes itself independently into individual radio cells, all of which transmit on the same frequency band, such a large radius of reception however leads to the reception of a multiplicity of radio cells having identical transmitting frequency and time slots so that AIS radio signals of different AIS radio cells become superimposed and normal data processing is no longer possible. It is especially on highly frequented shipping routes or in the vicinity of harbors and coasts that the area of reception of the satellite covers such a large number of ships that sufficiently reliable monitoring is no longer possible due to the signal collisions.
To counter this problem, two additional FM channels are provided from now on for satellite-based monitoring with the aid of AIS radio signals, in addition to the AIS frequencies already existing (AIS1: 161.975 MHz; AIS2: 162.025 MHz). For this purpose, for the communication, the channels 156.775 MHz (AIS3) and 156.875 (AIS4) are to be allocated especially for the reception of AIS radio signals from space by satellite. The background to introducing the additional satellite AIS (SAT-AIS) frequencies is to obtain as complete as possible a maritime situational overview with the aid of SAT-AIS on the high sea away from the coastal regions. However, it is not currently possible with AIS1 and AIS2 for the above-mentioned reasons (interferences).
According to the ITU definition (ITU-R-M-1371-4), AIS3 and AIS4 radio signals are switched off automatically at the ship when the ships are within the communication range of so-called AIS base stations which generally are installed at the coast. If a ship receives a "base station report" (message 4), sent out by an AIS base station with the demand to switch off SAT-AIS (control bit for "transmission control for long range broadcast message"), the AIS ship transceiver installed on the ship deactivates the emission of the AIS3/AIS4 radio signals for the satellite-based monitoring. This is intended to achieve in coastal regions which, as a rule, are highly traveled due to the concentration of ship traffic, no AIS3/AIS4 radio signals should be emitted in order not to disturb the satellite reception due to a multiplicity of radio signals, which can become mutually superimposed. Monitoring is then done via the AIS base stations. If the ship is located outside the communication range of an AIS base station, the emission of the AIS3/AIS4 radio signals is switched on again automatically for satellite-based monitoring at the ship.
However, the automatic switching-off function has the disadvantage that this functionality can be misused. It is thus conceivable, for example, that pirates or other terrorist organizations force the AIS ship transceiver to be switched off by means of a fake AIS base station message although the ship is not in range of an AIS base station. In the worst case, this would lead to the ship not emitting any AIS radio signals for satellite-based monitoring and the ship can thus no longer be monitored and located. However, it is also conceivable that by forging such an AIS base station message, the crew of a ship themselves switch off the AIS ship transceiver for satellite-based monitoring and thus, for example, perform illegal activities or escape access by security authorities.

Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V.


The present invention relates to cerium oxide powder and a process for producing the same. The cerium oxide powder of the invention, which is produced by mixing a cerium source such as cerium oxide, cerium hydroxide and cerium carbonate with an alkali metal compound, as flux, and performing high temperature treatment, may have a variety particle size while having spherical shape.

Cerium oxide is a high-functional ceramic material widely used for catalysts, phosphors, cosmetics, abrasives, etc. With the advent of the STI process in the semiconductor device field, it is drawing attention as inorganic abrasive, the key material of the slurry used in the next-generation chemical mechanical polishing (hereunder referred to as "CMP") process.
Properties required for the CMP slurry used in the STI CMP process are removal rate of the silicon oxide film, selectivity between the silicon oxide film and the silicon nitride film, low scratch production of the polished surface, etc. To obtain such a slurry, the cerium oxide powder, or the abrasive, should have ideal particle size, shape, oxidation property, crystallinity, strength, etc.
High temperature solid state method is a method for synthesizing new material through decomposition of volatile substance such as carbonate or thermal reaction of different materials by heating near the melting point to increase atomic activity.
Powder synthesis by high temperature solid state method is limited in that particle growth is difficult to control, depending on composition, particle size, coagulation status, impurity composition and content, etc. For example, materials including carbonate are decomposed in the temperature range of 700-1000° C. In the process of decomposition and emission of carbon dioxide, distance between particles increases and particle shape is not controlled. As a result, particle growth or shape control is limited.
In high temperature treatment of ceramic materials, a material having a lower melting temperature is often used as flux in order to reduce sintering temperature and obtain fine particles. The flux offers a liquid phase at a temperature lower than the melting temperature of the main material, thereby improving inter-particle contact and facilitating melting of the main material sintering, which makes material transfer easier.
There were reports on synthesis of cerium oxide powder by high temperature treatment of cerium salts (cerium carbonate, cerium chloride, cerium sulfate, cerium hydroxide, etc.). However, in most cases, high temperature treatment was performed for the simple purpose of phase transition to cerium oxide. Thus, control of particle shape or size was limited.
According to the conventional synthesis method of cerium oxide proposed by Matijevic et al., raw materials such as Ce(SO4)24H2O, (NH4)4Ce (SO4)42H2O, (NH4)2Ce(NO3)6, and so forth are sealed in a Pyrex tube and heated to a pre-determined temperature to precipitate cerium hydroxide. Then, it is calcined at about 600° C. to obtain particles in the form of hexagonal plate or sphere (Wan Peter Hsu, Lena Roannquist, Egon Matijevic, "Preparation and Properties of Monodispersed Colloidal Particles of Lanthanide Compounds. 2. Cerium(IV)," Langmuir, 4, 31-37 (1988)).
With the technique reported in this paper, control of particle shape and size is possible at very low concentration. However, at high concentration, because mixture crystal of needle-shaped cerium hydroxide and cerium sulfate is obtained, shape control is difficult. Besides, productivity is also low. Moreover, the resulting powders are present as hydrates of a size of several nanometers, which makes shape maintenance during high temperature treatment very difficult.
Takuya Tsuzuki et al. synthesized nano-sized uniform cerium oxide particles using cerium chloride (CeCl3) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) through mechanochemical and calcination processes. They reported that cerium hydroxide can be synthesized by mechanochemical reaction by crushing cerium chloride adding sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and sodium chloride (NaCl) with a steel ball, and that spherical, nano-sized cerium oxide particles are obtained by calcining the cerium hydroxide at a temperature of 500° C. or higher (Takuya Tsuzuki, Paul G. McCormick, "Synthesis of Ultrafine Ceria Powders by Mechanochemical Processing," J. Am. Ceram. Soc., 84(7), 1453-58, (2001)).
Since this technique has to use excess sodium chloride (NaCl) as spacer in the calcination process to control particle coagulation, washing off of the sodium chloride is difficult. Also, coagulation control is impossible at a temperature higher than the sublimation temperature of sodium chloride. And, only cerium chloride (CeCl3) can be used as starting material.
According to the synthesis method of cerium oxide used as abrasive material for CMP slurry, which was invented by Hitachi Chemical of Japan, (Korean Patent Application No. 10-2001-7014923), cerium salts (cerium carbonate, cerium sulfate, cerium oxalate) are baked in a rotary kiln at 600-1000° C. to obtain cerium oxide powder, which is crushed using a jet mill or a beads mill to prepare a cerium oxide abrasive.
In this technique, very tiny sintered particles (several nanometers) with weak strength are synthesized to reduced scratch during the CMP process. Consequently, particle shape is quite non-uniform and particle size is also impossible during the thermal treatment process.

Cerium oxide powder and process for producing the same


The present invention discloses, in a two-way radio frequency (RF) communications system having at least one repeater, a plurality of channels, and a plurality of subscriber units, a repeater receives a message that identifies a channel that is selected to serve as a rest channel for the system. The channel that is currently serving as the rest channel for the system is monitored by subscriber units that are idle in the system. If the repeater determines that the channel selected to serve as the rest channel is hosted by the repeater, the repeater periodically transmits an identity of the channel as the channel currently serving as the rest channel on at least the channel.

Many varieties of trunked two-way radio communications systems are known in the art. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating both a typical conventional radio system 101 and a trunked radio system 103. In the conventional radio system 101, a plurality of subscriber units are formed into talkgroups. Each talkgroup uses separate channels for communication. Thus, each talkgroup is served by one channel. In contrast, the trunked radio system 103 and its subscriber units use a pool of channels for virtually an unlimited number of talkgroups. Thus, all talkgroups are served by all channels. The trunked radio system 103 works to take advantage of the probability that not all talkgroups need a channel for communication at the same time. Estimates are made about how much load a typical user presents to the system in terms of calls per hour and duration of each call. For a traffic load, fewer channels are required since all talkgroups are served by all channels. Combining this with the number of users on the system, and the acceptable quality of service (QoS), determines how many trunked channels are required to satisfactorily serve the number of users. With a given number of channels, a much greater number of talkgroups can be accommodated as compared with conventional radio systems. Hence, a primary purpose of a trunked radio system is the efficient utilization of channels allowing for more users to carry many conversations over a fewer number of distinct channels.
As seen in FIG. 2, a trunked radio system can be either a centralized trunked radio system 201 or a decentralized trunked radio system 203. A centralized trunked radio system 201 uses a dedicated or exclusive channel, which is often referred to as a control channel, for communication between subscriber units and a central controller 205. Other terms that sometimes refer to the central controller 205 include trunking controller, site controller, resource allocator, channel allocator, controller, and other like terms. The subscriber units constantly monitor the control channel for channel assignment instructions. In order to start a group call (i.e., a one-to-many call), a subscriber unit requests that a channel is allocated for its use, and the central controller 205 transmits instructions telling the subscriber units in the group to switch to a traffic channel assigned for that call. A similar process is followed when a subscriber unit starts an individual call (i.e., a one-to-one call).
A decentralized trunked radio system 203, however, does not require the use of an exclusive channel. The intelligence or control function for assignment of a channel to a call remains in the subscriber units. Thus, the decentralized trunked radio system 203 can co-exist with conventional users on the same channels without the use of the control channel. When a call is initiated by a subscriber unit, the channel assignment is determined by the logic in subscriber units, not by a controller. In operation, a subscriber unit scans the channels, finds an idle channel and starts a call on the idle channel. The disadvantage of the decentralized trunked radio system 203 is that the scan to find an idle channel significantly increases the access time, which often provides for unacceptably high latency delays during call set up.
Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure.

Method of communicating which channel is to be monitored by subscriber units that are idle in a communication system


A component integration system including a component manager that controls the main message loop of the application program and allows a multiplicity of components running within a single process to share in main message loop services. If the application program supports multiple threads running within a single process, then the component manager allows a multiplicity of components running within a single thread to share in main message loop services. Specifically, the component manager routes messages from the main message queue to the various components and allows the components to share in the following services: (1) allocation of idle time, (2) pretranslation of accelerator and other messages, (3) notification of program state changes, and (4) pushing the main message loop. The component manager and the cooperating components define standard interfaces for introducing new components into the application program. Thus, these new components may share in the message loop services without having to duplicate the message loop processing code, and without developing parallel execution stacks.

Many types of application programs are currently available for personal computer systems, such as word processing programs, spread sheet programs, personal calendar programs, multimedia programs, etc. These application programs typically include a number of components that function, in many respects, as independent entities. Each component is typically configured as a separate module or object in an object-oriented operating environment.
Although a component is an independent module, it defines an interface--a standardized communication syntax--for communicating with it. In this manner, virtually all of the functionality of the application program may be implemented through a set of cooperating components. For example, a word processing program may include a separate component for each document that the user has opened, as well as separate components for the tool bar, each item in the tool bar, each pull-down window that can be activated from the tool bar, each individualized user interface that can be activated from the tool bar, etc.
Each component usually, but not necessarily, includes a graphical user interface aspect, which is typically referred to as a window. When a user selects a particular component, the component may become instantiated, which means that the component's window is created and displayed. The user may then interact with the component by sending input messages to the component. For example, a user may open a word processing document and then use the keyboard to enter text into the document. Many components may be simultaneously instantiated, and the set of instantiated components changes dynamically as the user operates the computer system, opening windows, closing windows, selecting functions, and so forth.
Because more than one component may be instantiated at the same time, each component has the capability of becoming active, which is also referred to as receiving the focus. When a component has the focus, it receives general input messages from the user input devices, such as the keyboard and the mouse. The user changes the active component by using a predefined activation command. For example, some components may be activated by navigating the pointer near or over a top level or displayed portion of the desired component, other components may be activated by through a point-and-click command with the pointer on a top level portion of the desired component, and these or other components may be activated through predefined keyboard commands.
The object-oriented operating environment allows components developed by different groups to be integrated into a cooperating whole. This allows program modifications and improvements to be implemented by adding new components that define new functionality to a preexisting application program. The program developers therefore provide tools, such as interfaces, to help integrate newly created components into a preexisting set of cooperating component. It is important, of course, that the various components cooperate properly with each other.
With this in mind, the program developers typically build as much functionality into an application programs as possible, given a particular release date. But desirable new features and options are almost always identified after the release date. And in many case, certain features may only be desirable for a select group of users, whereas other users may prefer a different set of features. For this reason, tools that often referred to as a "software developer's tool-kit" or "SDK" are often provided to allow developers to make post-release modifications to an application program. Much effort goes developing SDKs and making application programs amenable to post-release modifications. In fact, the developers of an original application program may intend that software developers will use an SDK to create new components for the application program that were never anticipated by the original program developers.
Generally stated, there is a need to integrate components, including post-release components developed using an SDK, with the other components of an application program so that all of the components operate properly in conjunction with each other. There are a number of objectives when integrating the component that are not satisfied by prior component integration systems. In particular, there are a number of objectives that are not met for integrating post-release components into a preexisting application programs.
In prior art component integration systems, the operating system coordinates the routing of the focus and input messages to application programs that are running on different threads or processes. Because each thread or process may operate its own message loop, the coordination provided by the operating system allows each of the application programs to receive message loop services. However, the operating system gives no support to providing message loop services to multiple components running within a single thread or process. It would be advantageous, therefore, for the components running within a single thread or process to be able to receive message loop services.
For example, a component may be capable of changing a global state parameter of the application program, such as turning on or off a warning message feature or a background printing feature. It would be advantageous for the application program to take notice of this type of global program state changes so that the state will remain set when the user activates another component. For instance, if the user turns a warning message feature off when a post-release component is active, it would be annoying if the warning message feature remained on when other components are subsequently activated.
Notification of a modal state invoked by a component is another one of the critical pieces that is missing in prior component integration systems. When a component enters a modal state, such as a spin dial or another multi-item selection device, it typically displays a special user interface that requires a response from the user before terminating the modal state. Therefore, it would be advantageous for the windows for the other instantiated components to be disabled so that they cannot be activated until the modal state has been terminated. Prior component integration systems are restricted in their ability to disable peer-level components, which interferes with and limits the flexibility of modal state functions.
More importantly, a component must not operate in a way that conflicts with the operation of the underlying application program. A typical application program has a top level or main message loop that allows the application program to read input messages from a main message queue and dispatch the input messages to the appropriate components in an orderly manner. If a component interrupts the main message loop of the application and initiates its own message loop, a parallel execution stack may be created. This may cause the component to return processing to the main message loop in a manner that causes the application program to become unstable and crash unexpectedly. This, of course, is most undesirable. Other major problems would be caused by this type of private message loop because it probably would not include the proper logic for handling keyboard accelerators. It would also inhibit the allocation of idle time to other components. Therefore, a post-release component, whose operation cannot be known in advance, should not be permitted to operate its own message loop. Instead, a post-release component should be configured to rely on the main message loop processing of the underlying application program.
This restriction complicates the allocation of idle time, which allows an application program to perform idle time tasks, such as background printing, computing, or data transferring. In response to an idle condition, such as the main message queue being empty, the application program allocates idle time to components that have idle time tasks to perform. Prior component integration systems are not able to allocate idle time to post-release component that have idle time tasks to perform. Moreover, idle time may occur when the application program is waiting for a return from a message dispatched to a component. If idle time occurs when a post-release component is executing a function, prior component integration systems are not able to allocate this idle time to other components.
In addition, the application program may be configured to detect specific key combinations that map to predefined command. These specific key combinations, such as Ctrl-S for a save command, are referred to as accelerator messages. When the application program notices an accelerator message, the application program executes a predefined function call, such as a save function call, rather than dispatching the message to a component. It would be advantageous for the application program to be able detect accelerator messages directed to a post-release component. But because post-release components are typically not permitted to run their own message loops, there is no mechanism in place for routing accelerator and other messages to the post-release components. Those skilled in the art will understand that the previous statement refers to general components that are not in an OLE/COM in-place relationship. OLE in-place objects do have a mechanism for routing accelerator and other messages to post-release in-place components. However, prior component integration systems do not generalize this concept to components that are not OLE in-place objects.
Therefore, there is a need for a component integration system that may selectively route accelerator and other messages to a component for translation prior to translation by the host application program. There is a further need for a component integration system that allocates idle time to various components running within a single thread or process, disables components at appropriate times, and notifies components of application program state changes. There is a further need to provide this component integration system with a standard interface so that components supplied by various groups, including post-release components, may be properly integrated into the application program.

Component integration system for an application program