An optical element comprising: a polarizing element (A), separating incident light into polarization to then emit light, and made of a cholesteric liquid crystal, and a linearly polarized light reflection polarizer (B) transmitting linearly polarized light with one polarization axis and selectively reflecting linearly polarized light with the other polarization axis perpendicular to the one polarization axis, wherein the polarizing element (A) has a distortion rate with respect to emitting light to incident light in the normal direction of 0.5 or more and a distortion rate with respect to emitting light to incident light at an angle inclined from the normal direction by 60 degrees or more of 0.2 or less, the polarizing element (A) has a function increasing a linearly polarized light component of emitting light as incidence angle is larger; is capable of condensation and collimation of incident light from a light source and capable of suppressing transmission of light in an arbitrary direction.

There has been conventionally conducted a trial to condense or collimate light from a diffusion light source using an optical film having a flat front surface or to control a transmittance of light therefrom in a specific direction of the optical film having a flat front surface. A typical example of such a trial is a method in which a bright line light source is combined with a band pass filter (see, for example, a publication of JP-A No. 6-235900, a publication of JP-A No. 2-158289, a publication of JP-A No. 10-321025, a specification of USP 6307604, a specification of DE 3836955 A, a specification of DE 4222028 A, a specification of EP 578302 A, a specification of US 2002/34009 A and a pamphlet of WO 02/25687 A1). There has been proposed a method in which a band pass filter is disposed on a CRT, or a display with a light source emitting a bright line such as electroluminescence to thereby condense and collimate light; or the like (see, for example, a publication of JP-A No. 2001-521643, a publication of JP-A No. 2001-516066, a specification of US 2002/036735 A, a publication of JP-A No. 2002-90535 and a publication of JP-A No. 2002-258048).
A method has been proposed in which polarization and retardation are combined with each other or the like (see a specification of JP No. 2561483). An optical element has been proposed, in other patent literatures, that is constituted of a reflection polarizer-a roratory polarization plate-a reflection polarizer (see a specification of U.S. Pat. No. 4,984,872, a specification of US 2003/63236 A and a pamphlet of WO 03/27731 A1). An optical element has been proposed that uses a hologram material (see a pamphlet of WO 03/27756 A1).
In a method in which a bright line spectrum is used as an optical film imparting directivity to a diffusion light source, however, since a requirement is a high precision level related to wavelength matching between a kind of a light source and a band pass filter, which has made fabrication thereof difficult. On the other hand, no large problem occurs in a case where a monochromatic light is used, whereas in a case where adaptation is required for the three primary colors, coloration is felt unless transmittance of the colors changes at the same ratio according an incidence angle. Therefore, in combination of a bright line light source and a band pass filter, a requirement is a precise matching of a wavelength of the light source with a band pass filter, which is high in technical difficulty.
For example, in the publications of JP-A 2002-90535 and JP-A 2002-258048, used for light condensation in the front direction is a reflecting plate obtained by combining a left circularly polarized light separating plate and a right circularly polarized light separating plate together or alternatively a reflecting plate obtained by inserting a ½ wavelength plate between circularly polarized light separating plates with the same direction of the rotation. In this system, a necessity arises for forming corresponding layers for respective wavelengths of a light source, which necessitates lamination of three sets for color display. This has led to complexity in construction and a high cost.
In a case where polarization and retardation are used, there has arisen a tendency that a secondary transmission region emerges at a further larger incidence angle if an emittable angle range is narrowed.
In a case where obliquely incident light passes through a retardation plate, there is generally a tendency that an optical path length is longer; and with an increase in optical path length, a difference in optical path length also increases. With combination of this characteristic and a polarizer adopted, it is possible to fabricate a polarizing element having angular dependency of transmittance as taught in the specification of JP-2561483. Such a polarizing element can change a transmittance according to an incidence angle. For example, with such a polarizing element, it is possible that a transmittance in the front direction is higher, while a transmittance of an obliquely incident light is lower.
If a layer imparting no retardation in the front direction and a retardation of ½ wavelength in an oblique direction is inserted between optical elements separating circularly polarized light in the same direction of the rotation, light is totally reflected in an oblique direction; therefore, light is transmitted only in the front direction (see Publication of JP-A No. 10-321025). In this method, however, in a case where a condition that total reflection occurs at a specific angle is set, a problem has been remained that a transmission region emerges at an incidence angle larger than the specific angle. With increase in incidence angle, the length of an optical path is longer and an imparted retardation increases. Hence, a property emerges that light is again transmitted at an incidence angle that imparts a retardation of a ¾ wavelength. Therefore, if a transmission characteristic is confined only in the front direction, a transmission component is, to the contrary, generated in an oblique direction, which has become a trouble.
The specification of US 2003/63236 A and the pamphlets of WO 03/27731 A1 and WO 03/27756 A1 all improve a productivity of reflection polarizer laminates for use in transflective by enabling a production according to a roll-to-roll method by use of a rotatory polarizer, as solution of a problem of reduction in productivity and decrease in area yield which have been caused by fabricating the reflection polarizer laminates through lamination having a small displacement in angular registration. In such a general combination of a reflection polarizer-a rotatory plate-a reflection polarizer, there has been no chance that an angular dependency of a transmittance occurs. In a general polarizer using a laminate of a chiral material and a retardation plate such as quartz crystal and saccharose, it is difficult to fabricate the rotatory polarizer, while intentionally controlling a retardation plate having a rotatory polarization characteristic changed by an incidence angle. A TN liquid crystal layer works as a rotatory plate, no phenomenon has been observed that an optical rotation angle varies according to an incident angle, working as an optical rotator of about 90 degrees in a direction of oblique incidence in a similar way to that in the front direction.
On the other hand, hologram materials are, in more of cases, expensive, poor in mechanical characteristics, and soft and weak in nature, which have been problematic about long term durability.
As discussed above, conventional optical elements have been problematic because of difficulty in fabrication, hardness in obtaining a target optical characteristic, poor reliability and the like.

Optical element, light condensation backlight system, and liquid crystal display


Correlation Interferometer Geo Location (CIGL) uses DF antenna array movement on an aircraft while taking a Plurality of sets of transmitted signal Measurements. Each measurement set is stored as data in a covariance matrix, and the matrices are each decomposed to yield measured array vectors. Using an array manifold table developed during calibration of the CIGI. system, and containing testing array vectors, the measured array vectors are each correlated to testing array vectors to develop a correlation Surface that includes compensation for perturbations Such as aircraft induced electromagnetic scattering, All the correlation surfaces are summed and normalized, with the resultant summation undergoing conjugate gradient processing to more accurately geo-locate the transmitter. Improved accuracy with fewer antennas and polarization independence are also achieved.

In the earliest prior art the method of locating the position of a remote transmitter was to utilize a direction finding (DF) triangulation technique where signals from the transmitter are received at widely spaced DF antenna sites. A line-of-bearing (LOB) measurement to the transmitter is measured at each antenna site. When the LOBs are plotted on a map they intersect at the transmitter location. The accuracy of this intersection is directly related to the accuracy of these lines-of-bearing.
A typical radio frequency interferometer system computes an AOA to a transmitter by utilizing the phase difference of the transmitter signal arriving at individual antennas of an array. A remote transmitter is located by utilizing the amplitude and phase difference of a signal from the transmitter arriving at different antennas of an antenna array. The phase measurements of the interferometer can be AOA ambiguous if the baselines of the antenna array, that is the separation of the antennas of the array and used to measure signal phase, is greater than half the wavelength of the incoming signal. The number of ambiguous AOA's is closely approximated by the ratio of the interferometer baseline to the emitter wavelength and one key to successful emitter geolocation estimation is to correctly resolve these potential ambiguities by careful DF array design and measurement processing.
As the interferometer baseline length increases, thereby increasing the number of AOA ambiguities, the phase measurement accuracy increases, and the rapidity of transmitter ranging to the required accuracy improves due to the more accurate bearing measurements. Thus, the desire for accurate bearing measurements, requiring a long interferometer baseline, conflicts with the need for robust phase or AOA ambiguity resolution, which is easier to accomplish with a short baseline. In addition, long baselines are difficult to achieve when the receiving apparatus is on an aircraft.
One technique to overcome this complexity is to use an AOA ambiguous long baseline interferometer or (LBI). One approach to passive ranging utilizing an LBI to resolve the AOA ambiguities, which are identical to the antenna array grating lobes, is by phase tracking the emitter signal during the relative motion of the platform, such as an aircraft, containing the DF antenna array. Lobe tracking is utilized in which 2n solutions are set up for an array with a length of nλ, where λ is the wavelength of the transmitter signal and n is an integer. Only one of the potential solutions converges to the true solution with the remainder being rejected as diverging. Phase tracking is continuously performed by the lobe tracking process in order to eliminate all but one of the potential solutions so that the ambiguity integer m, which determines the number of 2π cycles which must be added to the interferometer phase measurement to correctly identify the correct AOA, is determined.
The phase tracking approach has certain drawbacks. For instance, the signal can be interrupted by terrain blockage or intermittent emitter operation and the trend on the ambiguity integer m (phase tracking) is lost. Additionally, vibration can distort the trend and hinder correct ambiguity resolution. Observer attitude motion can cause large changes in the ambiguity integer, m. These changes are difficult to separate from translational motion relative to the emitter.
Another drawback to the phase tracking approach is that the number of lobes, i.e. potential solutions, is determined by the ratio of d/λ, where d is the baseline length and λ is the signal wavelength.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,835,060 entitled "Self-resolving LBI Triangulation" also teaches a long base line interferometer (LBI) system for determining the position of a transmitter. The system has two antennas and the phase differences between the signals received by the antennas at each end of the long base line are monitored as the interferometer moves along a measurement path to obtain repetitive phase difference measurements distributed along the measurement path. To determine the location of the transmitter, a cost function is evaluated to select one of a set trial grid points for the transmitter. The position of the transmitter is then estimated by least squares convergence using the selected trial grid point as a starting point.
The measured phase difference corresponds to the angle of arrival of the transmitted signal plus an unknown constant minus an unknown integer multiple of 2π. The measured phase difference (in radians) can be expressed as follows:
                    Φ        =                              [                                          Φ                0                            +                                                                    2                                                                                π                                                                                l                                    λ                                                                                Cos                                                                                θ                                      ]                                                                        mod                                                              2                                                              π                                    (                  EQ                                                              1                )            in which Φ is the measured phase difference, Φ0 is an unknown constant, L is the length of the baseline of the LBI antenna, λ is the wavelength of the transmitted signal and θ is the angle of arrival of the transmitted signal relative to the LBI base line. This approach has a limitation in that it cannot handle signals from arbitrarily polarized transmissions. Computing directions to arbitrarily polarized transmissions, requires both phase and amplitude RF measurements on more than two antennas.
Another prior art passive ranging approach utilizes a short baseline/long baseline interferometer or SBI/LBI system in which at least two SBI measurements separated in time are needed to resolve the two-antenna element LBI ambiguity. This approach is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,734,702 "Passive Ranging Method and Apparatus".
U.S. Pat. No. 5,039,991, entitled "Perturbation modeling system for use in processing direction-finding antenna outputs" teaches and claims a system for compensating for perturbations of received electromagnetic radiation caused by the various surfaces of an aircraft by correlating antenna outputs to representative data in a database that is empirically derived during calibration of the system at a plurality of scaled electromagnetic radiation frequencies to determine the proper azimuth and elevation associated with transmissions.
See also a paper by N. Saucier and K. Struckman, Direction Finding Using Correlation Techniques, IEEE Antenna Propagation Society International Symposium, pp. 260-263, June 1975, which teaches the same concepts as taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,039,991.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,734,702 discloses two approaches utilizing SBI/LBI. One approach locates the target with SBI derived measurements and uses the SBI range to predict the LBI phase change. This approach requires some SBI location convergence before improving it with the LBI. The use of the SBI phase difference to initially compute a slant range means this method will not initially converge faster than a more conventional SBI-only system until range accuracy sufficient to resolve the LBI has been achieved. In order to overcome this slow initial convergence to the range estimate, a second technique is used instead, if the slow initial convergence is intolerable.
The second technique utilizes the SBI unit direction-of-arrival vector (DOA) to predict the LBI phase change. This technique does not require location to any accuracy before differentially resolving the LBI with sequential SBI measurements, and hence provides rapid convergence to an accurate range estimate. However, this SBI/LBI technique has the drawback of limiting the SBI/LBI baseline ratio, and requiring the use of a medium baseline interferometer (MBI) in many cases. It also requires a two dimensional (2-D) SBI to measure emitter direction of arrival or DOA, as opposed to just a one dimensional interferometer array measuring AOA.
The baseline restriction existing in the conventional SBI/LBI approach necessitates the addition of more antenna elements and receivers to obtain the LBI baseline required to achieve the desired range accuracy quickly. This introduces extra complexity, cost and weight to a system.
One technique to overcome the extra complexity, cost and weight is to use an AOA ambiguous long baseline interferometer or LBI. One early approach to passive ranging utilizing an LBI which may have only two antenna elements is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,935,574 by Pentheroudaki. This approach resolves the AOA ambiguities, which are identical to the antenna array grating lobes, by phase tracking the emitter signal during the relative motion of the platform containing the antenna array. Such lobe tracking is utilized in which (2n) solutions are set up for an array with a length of nλ, where λ is the transmitter signal wavelength and n is an integer. Only one of the potential solutions converges to the true solution with the remaining possible solutions being rejected as diverging. Phase tracking is continuously performed by a lobe tracking process in order to eliminate all but one of the potential solutions so that the ambiguity integer m, which determines the number of 2π cycles which must be added to the interferometer phase measurement to correctly identify the correct AOA, is determined.
As described above, a typical DF interferometer system locates a remote transmitter by utilizing the phase difference of the transmitter signal arriving at the individual antennas. DF accuracy of such systems is directly related to DF array aperture size which is determined by the spacing between multiple antennas of antenna array of the DF system. All other things being equal, larger DF apertures increase LOB accuracy generating more accurate transmitter fixes. However, simply increasing DF aperture sizes without increasing the number of DF antennas leads to large amplitude correlation side lobes and a real potential for large errors. Therefore, such prior art DF systems require many antennas and DF receivers and are very expensive. The need for more antennas and more DF receivers negatively affects their use on aircraft.
In summary, accurate transmitter geo-location computations require long baseline interferometer (LBI) accuracy's. Theoretically only three antenna elements are required for unique 2π radians azimuth coverage, but conventional DF interferometer systems must utilize a number of additional antenna elements and receivers to control the gross error rate of a resulting from the inherent AOA ambiguity in phase measurement.
As will be appreciated, the number of antenna elements required by airborne DF interferometer systems leaves a limited amount of space for other sensors on the aircraft's exterior. Thus, it is desirable to provide a DF interferometer system for aircraft that needs only a few antenna elements while providing the same or greater transmitter location accuracy as prior art systems.

BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.


The present invention relates to a method and a device to improve the transmission characteristics of physical layer (PHY) hybrid automated repeat request (HARD) in multi subchannel frequency division duplex (FDD) links. The present invention provides a method for decreasing a transmission delay in a multi-sub-channel data transmission of physical layer frames using hybrid automated repeat request with acknowledgement signaling, wherein said method comprises: determining, if no physical layer frame needs to be transmitted in a provided sub channel, determining, if there is a physical layer frame of another sub-channel with pending acknowledgement, selecting said physical layer frame with pending acknowledgement, if no physical layer frame needs to be transmitted in the provided sub-channel, and transmitting said selected frame in said provided sub-channel. The method can also or additionally comprise determining a threshold number, based on the number of sub-channels in said multi-sub-channel data transmission, determining the number of physical layer frames to be transmitted in all subchannels, and controlling the transmission power of the transmission of the physical layer frames, on the basis of the relationship between said threshold number and said determined number of physical layer frame.

The technical background is for example defined in the technical report of the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) TR 25.896 V0.3.1 (2003-05).
Hybrid ARQ (H-ARQ)
H-ARQ is an implicite link adaptation technique. In H-ARQ, link layer acknowledgements are used for re-transmission decisions. There are different schemes for implementing H-ARQ-Chase combining, rate-compatible punctured turbo-codes and incremental redundancy. Incremental redundancy or H-ARQ-type-II is another implementation of the H-ARQ technique wherein instead of sending simple repeats of the entire coded packet, additional redundant information is incrementally transmitted if the decoding fails on the first attempt.
H-ARQ-type-III also belongs to the class of incremental redundancy ARQ schemes. However, with H-ARQ-type-III, each retransmission is self-decodable which is not the case with H-ARQ-type II. Chase combining (also called H-ARQ-type-III with one redundancy version) involves the retransmission by the transmitter of the same coded data packet. The decoder at the receiver combines these multiple copies of the transmitted packet weighted by the received signal to noise ratio (SNR). Diversity (time) gain is thus obtained. In the H-ARQ-type-III with multiple redundancy version different puncture bits are used in each retransmission.
The choice of H-ARQ mechanism however is important. Window based Selective Repeat (SR) is a common type of ARQ protocol employed by different systems including RLC R99. SR is generally insensitive to delay and has the favorable property of repeating only those frames that have been received in error. To accomplish this feat, the SR ARQ transmitter must employ a sequence number to identify each frame it sends. SR may fully utilize the available channel capacity by ensuring that the maximum frame sequence number (MBSN) exceeds the number of frames transmitted in one round trip feedback delay. The greater the feedback delay the larger the maximum sequence number must be. However, when Hybrid ARQ is partnered with SR, several difficulties are seen.
The memory requirements to the user equipment (UE) are high. The mobile must store soft samples for each transmission of a frame. The MSBN frames may be in transit at any time. A large MBSN requires significant storage in the UE adding to the costs of the unit.
Hybrid ARQ requires the receiver to reliably determine the sequence number of each transmission. Unlike conventional ARQ, every frame is used even if there is an error in the data. In addition, the sequence information must be very reliable to overcome whatever channel conditions have induced errors in the data. Typically a separate, strong code must be used to encode the sequence information, effectively multiplying the bandwidth required for signaling
Stop-and-wait is one of the simplest forms of ARQ requiring very little overhead. In stop-and-wait, the transmitter operates on the current frame until the frame has been received successfully. Protocol correctness is ensured with a simple one-bit sequence number that identifies the current or the next frame. As a result, the control overhead is minimal. Acknowledgement overhead is also minimal, as the indication of a successful/unsuccessful decoding (using acknowledged/not-acknowledged i.e. ACK, NACK, etc) may be signaled concisely with a single bit. Furthermore, because only a single frame is in transit at a time, memory requirements at the UE are also minimized. Therefore, HARQ using a stop-and-wait mechanism offers significant improvements by reducing the overall bandwidth required for signaling and the UE memory.
However, one major drawback exists: acknowledgements are not instantaneous and therefore after every transmission, the transmitter must wait to receive the acknowledgement prior to transmitting the next frame. This is a well-known problem with stop-and-wait ARQ. In the interim, the channel remains idle and system capacity goes wasted. In a slotted system, the feedback delay will waste at least half the system capacity while the transmitter is waiting for acknowledgments. As a result, at least every other timeslot must go idle even on an error free channel.
N-channel stop-and-wait Hybrid ARQ offers a solution by paralleling the stop-and-wait protocol and in effect running a separate instantiation of the Hybrid ARQ protocol when the channel is idle. As a result no system capacity goes wasted since one instance of the algorithm communicates a data frame on the forward link at the same time that the other communicates an acknowledgment on the reverse link. However, the receiver has to store a number of N frames for this scheme.
The physical layer (PHY) HARQ is being studied as a potential technique to support UTRA FDD Enhanced uplink. PHY HARQ allows a reduction of the transmission delay and an improvement of the system capacity. A user equipment (UE) communicates with one or more base stations (Node Bs), and the data packets (RLC SDU) from the UE are send to Node B frame by frame over an uplink. If a physical layer (PHY) frame from the UE is received correctly by a Node B which is connected with the UE, the Node B will send back an acknowledged (ACK) signaling to the UE over a downlink, and the UE will then transmit a new PHY frame. If the PHY frame is not received correctly by the Node B, a not-acknowledged (NACK) signaling will be sent to the UE, and the UE will retransmit the PHY frame again. PHY HARQ can be implemented by using an N-channel Stop-And-Wait (SAW) HARQ mechanism, in which the PHY frames are sent in N different continue time-multiplex channels. Each of the N channels has an independent HARQ processing, in other words, the error PHY frame only can be retransmitted at the next frame of the same channel which transmitted the original packet. Under such conditions, the PHY frame can be transmitted continuously, and system does not waste time to wait for the ACK/NACK signaling. Several key factors will decide about the selection of the sub-channel number, such as transmission delay, processing times of the UE and the Node B, the Node B buffer size as well as ACK/NACK signaling length. In the case of the sub-channel number is too small, such as 2, the delay time between original transmission and retransmission is short. However, in this case, UE and Node B have to process a PHY frame more quickly, and ACK/NACK singling transmission power may be higher, since short length ACK/NACK signaling has not enough processing gain. To avoid the problems described above, the sub-channel number is always selected 4 or 5 to insure that Node B and UE have enough processing time when e.g. a 10 millisecond (ms) transmission time interval (TTI) is used.
When a data packet (RLC SDU) needs to be transmitted in a physical layer (PHY) channel, it needs to be segmented, encapsulated step by step by the radio link control (RLC) layer and the media access control (MAC) layer at the transmitter side. The receiver receives the PHY frames carrying the information of the data packets (RLC SDU). The receiver RLC layer will deliver the data packet (RLC SDU) to the higher layer when all PHY frames are received successfully.
Since each physical frame only contains a part of the information of the data block (RLC SDU), any lost or delayed PHY frame will cause a total loss or delay of the data frame (RLC SDU). If any PHY frame is incorrect, under an N-channel SAW HARQ mechanism, the frame will be retransmitted at the next frame in the same sub-channel. If the incorrect frames are the last several frames belong to the data packet (RLC SDU), there it is likely not any other frames carrying information of the data packet (RLC SDU) that need to be transmitted in other sub-channels, when the incorrect frames are transmitted in one or more sub-channels. Thus the continuity of the data packet (RLC SDU) transmission is broken. The probability of the data packet (RLC SDU) with a longer transmission delay time will increase along with the retransmission probability and sub-channel number value N is increasing. This will decrease the transmission efficiency single data packets as well as increase the delay time. It is very harmful to the service of time sensitive transmission of small data packet (RLC SDU).
Under PHY HARQ, the block error rate (BLER) of the first transmission is always equal to 10%˜20% to get a HARQ gain. Conventionally, the BLER of the first transmission is same for all PHY frames carrying the information of the data packet (RLC SDU).
All the above approaches for communication and data transfer schemes have in common that they do not provide a solution for the unsatisfactory frame transfer termination characteristics of conventional HARQ techniques.
Therefore, it is desirable to have HARQ techniques that can overcome these problems and that provide improved frame transfer termination characteristics.

Method and device for decreasing a transmission delay in a multi-channel data transmission


The invention relates to a method and an arrangement in a press tool for reducing the relative speed at which a moveable sheet metal holder impacts against a press upper part for transmitting a working force or is separated therefrom on completion of pressing. The invention is characterised in that the force for acceleration of the sheet metal holder is transmitted from the press upper part by way of a mechanical transmission device fitted to the sheet metal holder in such a way that an initial movement is imparted to the holder before the press upper part comes to bear against the sheet metal fabrication and sheet metal holder, and that only then does the press upper part impact against sheet metal fabrication and sheet metal holder and for depression of gas-filled springs arranged adjacent to and supporting the sheet metal holder.

The use of a tool and fabrication holder mounted in a press is known in sheet metal forming operations. Certain parts of the tool follow the movement of the press slide, while other parts are at rest during a part of the press cycle. One example is where a sheet metal holder is used, which rests on springs, which exert the sheet metal holding force. Other examples of moveable tool parts are shuttles and punches. The springs, at least three in number, are at rest until the upper tool part impacts against the holder and moves this downwards, the springs being tensioned. A direct impact on a stationary sheet metal holder places heavy stresses on the tool and on mechanical parts of the press, whilst unwanted noise and vibrations are generated. An excessive impact between the upper tool part and the sheet metal holder also has a negative effect on the sheet metal forming process itself, since the sheet metal fabrication that is to be formed is situated between upper tool and sheet metal holder, and since there is a risk of the sheet metal lubrication film breaking down, which carries a risk of irregular quality in the subsequent sheet metal drawing process.
After the pressing process, the holder with finish-formed sheet metal part is brought into its original position by the springs returning to their extended standby position. Because a certain return speed is imparted to the holder by the springs, there is a risk that the holder will not stop immediately when the springs reach their limit position, but will continue until the g-force has braked the speed. There is a risk here that both holder and fabrication will lift off entirely from the springs. This "lifting" of the fabrication and the holder causes wear and creates noise. There is also a risk of the holder itself jumping out of its guides.
Attempts have previously been made to solve the aforementioned problem by the use of CNC hydraulic systems or by reducing the impact stresses and the fabrication and holder lifting through the use of separate dampers. The disadvantage of CNC hydraulic systems is the need for a separate hydraulic source and cooling facility for the hydraulic fluid used. Connecting hoses are required. Energy losses occur during acceleration and retardation. Moreover, such a system is relatively complicated and expensive. Damping the impact through the use of separate dampers likewise has disadvantages, partly due to the generation of heat and partly due to the fact that the damping function does not vary according to the pressing speed. Known damping arrangements are often temperature-sensitive and also sensitive to mechanical effects.
A design construction for initiating an downward movement of a fabrication holder is specified in EP 1 034 858 A2. This design construction requires special arrangements for incorporation into a pressing tool and it is doubtful whether the design construction can be retrofitted to existing tools.
As an example of the prior art, reference will also be made to DE 3623188 C1, on the basis of which the pre-characterising clauses of each of the independent claims have been worded.

Method and a device for reducing the noise level at a deep-drawing press


An equalization signal generator generates an equalization signal having a constant pulse width. The constant pulse width prevents an equalization timing shortage from occurring due to a singly applied address transition detecting signal. The present invention prevents the pulse width of the equalization signal from being wider than required resulting from a plurality of overlapped address transition detection signals by decreasing a pulse width of the equalization signal to thereby enhance a semiconductor memory chip operating speed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a memory device and more particularly to an equalization signal generator for a semiconductor memory device.
2. Background of the Related Art
As shown in FIG. 1, a related art equalization signal generator includes a plurality of address buffers AB0, . . . ,ABn and address transition detectors AD0-ADn, and address transition detection (ATD) signal adder 10, and an equalization signal generating unit 20. A corresponding one of the plurality of address buffers AB0-ABn respectively receives a corresponding one of a plurality of address signals ADD0-ADDn. The plurality of address transition detectors AD0-ADn receives signals outputted from the address buffers AB0-ABn. The address transition detection (ATD) signal adder 10 sums respective address transition detection signals ATD0-ATDn from address transition detectors AD0-ADn. The equalization signal generating unit 20 receives a signal ATDS outputted from the adder 10 and outputs an equalization signal EQ.
FIG. 2 illustrates a detailed stricture of the address transition detection signal adder 10 and the equalization signal generating unit 20 in the equalization signal generator of FIG. 1. Three address signals ADD0, ADD1, ADD2 will be selected from the plurality of address signals ADD0-ADDn for convenience.
As shown, the address transition detecting signal adder 10 includes a NOR gate for NORing the address transition detection signals ATD0, ATD1, ATD2 and outputting the address transition detection signal ATDS. The equalization signal generator 20 includes a delay unit 30 having a plurality of serially connected inverters I1-In for delaying the signal ATDS outputted from the address transition detection signal adder 10, and a NAND gate for NANDing a delayed signal DEL outputted from the delay unit 30 and the signal ATDS outputted from the address transition detection signal adder 10.
As shown in FIGS. 3A through 3C, the respective address transition detection signals ATD0, ATD1, ATD2 are NORed in the NOR gate of the adder 10, and the signal ATDS is outputted from the NOR gate as shown in FIG. 3E. At this time, when at least one of the address transition detection signals ATD0, ATD1, ATD2 is at a high level, the signal ATDS is rendered to be a low level. In order to render the signal ATDS to be a high level, the applied address transition detection signals ATD0, ATD1, ATD2 should be at a low level.
The signal ATDS is applied to the delay unit 30 and the NAND gate in the equalization generating unit 20 for outputting the equalization signal EQ, as shown in FIG. 3F. Because the size of the transistors in the inverters I1-I4 are different, the delay signal DEL serving as an output signal of the delay unit 30 is delayed for a longer time when the signal ATDS applied to the delay unit 30 is turned from a low level to a high level than when the signal ATDS is turned from a high level to a low level.
Therefore, when the signal ATDS is turned from a high level to a low level, the delay signal DEL is rendered to be a low level as shown in FIG. 3E. When the signal ATDS is turned from a low level to a high level, the equalization signal EQ remains at a high level due to the longer delay of the ATDS signal through the delay unit 30 for appropriately carrying out an equalization operation.
However, as shown in FIGS. 4A through 4C, when a pulse width of the equalization signal is decreased in order to accomplish a faster semiconductor chip operation, and although a single address transition detection signal is applied, a sufficient pulse width TD is not secured as shown in FIG. 4F, whereby a normal equalizing operation may not be properly carried out. Further, when a plurality of address transition detection signals are applied, the pulse width of the equalization signal becomes unnecessarily wide, thereby resulting in an abnormal chip operation.

Equalization signal generator for semiconductor memory device


A loom simultaneously forms a plain weave (16) and a gauze weave (15) in a textile (9) in one weaving cycle. To form the plain weave (16), the adjacent warp threads (1L,2L) that are used to form the upper shed and lower shed are alternately lifted from the lower shed position into the upper shed position and lowered from the upper shed position into the lower shed position by the same drop wire/needle shank (4). To form the gauze weave (15), only the warp threads (2D) that form the upper shed are raised by the drop wire/needle shank (4) from the lower shed position into the upper shed position and lowered from the upper shed position into the lower shed position.

DE-PS 360 112 discloses a needle shaft device for producing types of fabric with alternate plain and leno weave.
The shafts are raised in a controlled manner in this instance by the slay being retracted by means of a carrier which is connected to the slay arm. By changing the manner in which the shafts are raised, it is possible to produce plain weave, and by successively raising the same shaft with lateral displacement thereof, it is possible to produce leno weave. In order to form the leno shed, a conventional shaft is laterally displaced with the shed in the closed state so that the warp threads of this shaft can be guided over the needle tips and warp threads of the other shaft which is a needle shaft.
If the needle shaft over whose needle tips the warp threads of the second shaft, that is to say, the conventional shaft, have been guided is raised, the leno shed is formed.
When the plain shed is formed, the lateral displacement of the warp threads is dispensed with; the shafts are raised alternately at regular intervals.
From the sequence described for forming a leno and plain shed, it can be seen that a fabric having alternate plain and leno weaves can be produced, that is to say, a plain weave can first be formed in the fabric and subsequently a leno weave. It is not disclosed how, during a weaving cycle, that is to say, from one reed beat-up operation to the next, both a plain weave fabric and a leno weave fabric can be produced.
Consequently, it is not disclosed what means could be provided for simultaneously producing weaves of this type in a fabric.
A device for producing a fabric having plain weaves and leno weaves is known from DE-PS 646 462 and has two needle combs which are located one above the other in one plane.
The needle combs are controlled independently of each other, whereby it is possible to change the weave during operation of the loom in such a manner that, after one or more leno weaves, plain weaves can also be produced.
However, the document does not disclose how plain and leno weaves can be formed in a fabric at the same time and what means are used for the production thereof.
A loom for producing a fabric comprising stationary, leno and weft threads is known from DE 101 28 538 A1.
This document also does not disclose how plain or leno weaves can be produced simultaneously during the production of fabric.

Method for producing a fabric in plain weaves and leno weaves and a loom for carrying out the method


Certainty of detecting a watermark embedded in a color image is increased. Image data acquisition means of an image processing device acquires image data. Histogram generation means generates, based on pixel values of an image indicated by the image data acquired by the image data acquisition means, a histogram for each region in the image. Region selection means selects tom the image a region having a sparse color distribution in the histogram generated by the histogram generation means. Image processing means embeds a watermark in the region selected by the region selection means.

Hitherto, there is known a technology of embedding watermarks in an image such as a still image and a moving image. For example, in Patent Literature 1, there is described a technology of embedding a watermark in an image in order to identify a source of the image posted in an unauthorized website.

Image processing device and image processing method for selecting regions based on gradiation for embedding a watermark


Particularly pure di-C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl 5-nitro-isophthalates are obtained in good yield and in a simple process by dissolving 5-nitro-isophthalic acid in a mixture of a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl alcohol and a solvent which is miscible or only partially miscible with water, heating in the presence of a strong acid, thus forming a second, aqueous phase, crystallizing out, after the esterification reaction has ended, the di-C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl 5-nitro-isophthalate formed from the organic phase by cooling and removing the aqueous phase before or after the di-C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl 5-nitro-isophthalate is separated off.

1. Field of the Invention
Dimethyl 5-nitro-isophthalate is an important intermediate for preparing radiopaque media for intravenous administration which comprise, as X-ray-absorbing component, derivatives of 5-amino-2,4,6-triiodo-isophthalic acid. Other dialkyl 5-nitro-isophthalates may be used similarly. There is a considerable demand for such intermediates which should be obtainable at the lowest possible cost and, at the same time, in high purities. In the pharmaceutical sector, even intermediates have to be at least 99.5% pure with respect to by-products, and a particular by-product may generally be present at the most at 0.3%.
2. Discussion of the Background
A plurality of synthetic routes for preparing dimethyl 5-nitro-isophthalates are already known; however, none of them is satisfactory. According to J. Org. Chem. 26, 2963 (1961) and U.S. Pat. No. 2,680,730, dimethyl isophthalate is dissolved in concentrated or fuming sulfuric acid and nitrated using a mixture of sulfuric acid and nitric acid. The desired compound is obtained as main component; however, during the nitration (as has been found by our own experiments), not insignificant amounts of the undesirable isomeric dimethyl 4-nitro-isophthalate are formed. Additionally, variable amounts of monomethyl 5-nitro-isophthalate are formed by hydrolysis during work-up when the reaction mixture is discharged onto ice (see Example 9). The resulting product is by no means pure enough for the above-mentioned use in pharmaceutics. The product has to be purified by recrystallization, and considerable losses of yield occur. The above-mentioned literature states that the desired product is obtained in a yield of only 42% of theory. Even the recrystallized product is not yet sufficiently pure, as becomes evident when the melting point of this product (119-121.degree. C.) is compared with the melting point of the pure product (123.degree. C.).
According to Ber. 43, 3474 (1910) and Pharmazie, 21 (3), 167-170 (1966), dimethyl 5-nitro-isophthalate can also be obtained by esterifyng 5-nitro-isophthalic acid with a large excess of methanol (for example 33 mole of methanol/mole of 5-nitro-isophthalic acid) in the presence of sulfuric acid. In this reaction, initially the monomethyl ester and then from this the dimethyl ester is formed, which crystallizes out from the solution. However, the product which is obtained is not pure enough for pharmaceutical applications, since it comprises 0.3 to 0.5% of the monomethyl ester. Here, the product likewise has to be purified by recrystallization and the above-mentioned disadvantages have to be accepted.
The esterification of 5-nitro-isophthalic acid with diazomethane (see Indian Drugs & Pharmaceutical Industry, November/December 1980, p. 35 ff.) is also not satisfactory, since diazomethane is very toxic and carcinogenic and, owing to its high instability, can only be handled on an industrial scale if very costly safety measures are taken. A diazomethane-based production process can therefore not be carried out economically. Thus, it is not surprising that the same authors describe, in the same publication, a further process where 5-nitro-isophthalic acid is initially converted, using thionyl chloride, into its acid chloride which, after intermediate isolation, is reacted with methanol to give the desired ester. To this end, large excesses of reagents have to be employed. Moreover, very long reaction times are required (for example 48 h just for forming the acid chloride). The resulting product is not pure, and once again, it has to be purified by recrystallization, with the above-mentioned disadvantages, so that altogether three process steps are required. This complicated synthesis likewise gives the desired product in only unsatisfactory yield. Likewise, this process does not allow an economical preparation of the desired product. Another known process for the esterification of carboxylic acids is the esterification by means of dialkyl sulfate. According to the more recent prior art (EP-A 757 028), the esterification is carried out in the presence of a water-insoluble tertiary amine and water, if appropriate in the presence of a water-insoluble solvent, with addition of a base at a pH of 5 to 12. A disadvantage of this process is the use of extremely carcinogenic dialkyl sulfates. Apparently, it is not possible to prepare dimethyl 5-nitro-isophthalates in this manner. This may be due to the fact that, according to the EP-A, the resulting esters are generally worked up by distillation (in which see p. 3, line 19), which is not possible for dimethyl 5-nitro-isophthalate since even its melting point is high (123.degree. C.) and nitro compounds do not withstand considerable thermal stress.

Process for preparing di-C.sub.1 - C.sub.4 -alkyl 5-nitro-isophthalates


A fixed pin bow sight is comprised of a bow sight having an attachment portion, a sight pin mounting portion and a sight pin having a plurality of sight tips on said sight pin. Each of the sight tips are predisposed on the sight pin and spaced to provide accurate targeting of an arrow shot from a bow having a particular shooting speed. The spacing between sight tips is defined by the desired targeting distances from the bow. For example, the uppermost sight tip may be configured for a target that is twenty yards away with subsequent sight tips provided for ten yard increments (e.g., 30, 40, 50 and 60 yards). The sight tips are configured to be vertically aligned relative to the ground when firing the bow so that as the distance from target is increased the appropriate sight tip moves from top to bottom of the sight pin.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to sights for archery bows and, more specifically, to bow sights having sight pin constructions that are pre-set for a particular bow so as to reduce the amount of adjustment necessary to sight in the bow sight to the bow.
2. Description of the Art
Archery bow sights utilizing a plurality of sight pins have been known in the art for many years. Typically, these sights use a bracket or other mounting structure for mounting the sight to a bow. The sight is commonly comprised of a pin plate, a pin guard, and a plurality of sight pins which are secured to the pin plate and extend into a sight window formed by the pin guard. The sight is mounted to a bow in a manner so that when the bow string is drawn, the archer can look through a peep sight provided in the bow string and align the tip of a pin attached to the sight with a target. For sights utilizing a plurality of sight pins having their tips vertically aligned, each individual sight pin is typically provided for aiming the bow at a target at a particular distance from the archer. For example, one pin may be positioned in the sight for aiming the bow at a target 50 yards from the archer while another pin may be positioned for a target that is at 70 yards distance.
An example of a bow sight known in the art is illustrated in FIG. 1 in which a bow sighting device 10 is connected to an archery bow 12. The sighting device 10 is comprised of a pin plate 14, a pin guard 16 and a sight window 18 formed therebetween. A plurality of sight pins 20 are secured to the pin plate 14 by attachment members 22, such as screws, which engage the sight pins 20 and extend through a slot 24 formed in the pin plate 14. The sight pins 20 extend transversely from the pin plate 14 into the sight window 18. The sighting device 10 is attached to a first bracket 28 by securement members 30. The first bracket 28 may be adjustably connected to a second bracket 32 by securement members 34, and the second bracket 32 may be adjustable secured to a third bracket 36 by screw members 38, which attach it to the bow 12.
In use, the archer typically aligns a peep sight positioned on or formed in the bowstring with one of the sight pins 20. In order to properly sight in the sight to the bow (i.e., properly adjust sight pin to a particular distance from the target), each of the sight pins 20 is individually positioned and adjusted to correspond to a given distance (e.g., 20 yards, 40 yards, 60 yards, etc.) from the bow 12. The sight pins 20 allow the archer to better position the aim of the arrow to compensate for target distance and trajectory. Thus, the archer must position him/herself a specific distance from the target (e.g., 20 yards) and shoot several arrows at the target while adjusting the 20 yard sight pin until the position of the 20 yard sight pin corresponds to arrows hitting the center of the target. The same procedure is repeated for each of the other sight pins (e.g., 30 yard pin, 40 yard pin, 50 yard pin, etc.). In most cases, upon repeated shooting, the sight pins can be fairly closely positioned relative to the bow sight at positions that provide acceptable targeting. As the distance from the target increases, however, it becomes increasingly more difficult to sight in the pins as the shooters ability to hold the bow steady during targeting becomes more important. That is, at close range, slight movement of the bow during a shot will have less effect on the arrows trajectory relative to the target than will similar movements at long range. Thus, while the error of the position of each sight pin may be approximately equal, such errors are not as detrimental at close range, but are exacerbated as the distance-to-target increases.
Some bow sights provide a single sight pin. Such single pin bow sights are provided for target practice where the distance from the target does not change. Single pin bow sights are also used in sights commonly referred to as pendulum sights that are used in conjunction with tree stands and the like where the hunter is positioned above the target and is aiming in a severely downward direction at the ground to animals below the hunter. In such a situation, the distance to target, while not fixed, is usually within a small range thus suited for a single pin sight arrangement.
Once a single pin sight is adjusted for a particular distance-to-target, the sight is not suited for being used at other ranges. It would be desirable, however, to provide a fixed pin arrangement that can also be used at other ranges without requiring adjustment or re-sighting of the sight pin to accommodate such other distances-to-target. In addition, it would be advantageous to provide a single sight pin structure having multiple sight points configured for attachment to conventional type bow sights.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


The present invention may be used for human exercise. The apparatus for human exercise may have a support frame having two interior frame members spaced apart and positioned generally vertical with two side frame members spaced apart from and generally parallel to the two interior frame members. An upper cross member may be attached at an upper end and a lower cross member may be attached at a lower end of the two interior frame members and the two side frame members. A right kick arm element and a left kick arm element may be rotatably attached to the support frame and a kick board may be attached to the two interior frame members.

The invention relates to apparatus for use in exercising and strengthening the human body. The new apparatus allows exercising many elements of the human body and exercising martial arts methods. Various exercise devices or apparatus may be attached to allow a broad range of exercise methodology.
There may currently exist apparatus for exercising the human body. These apparatus may allow combinations of weight exercise for arms, legs, body twisting and bending as well as other body strengthening and toning. The structure used to create the force or weight resistance for exercising may not allow for an ease of selection and operation of the apparatus. Also, many exercise apparatus do not allow attachment of a selection of different types of exercise devices. The incorporation of martial arts devices to allow such exercising may not be compatible with more traditional weight exercise apparatus.

Exercise and workout apparatus with karate elements


The embodiments of the invention comprise a self-aligned super stressed p-type field effect transistor (PFET). More specifically, a field effect transistor comprises a channel region comprising N-doped material and a gate above the channel region. The field effect transistor also includes a source region on a first side of the channel region and a drain region on a second side of the channel region opposite the first side. The source and drain regions each comprise silicon germanium, wherein the silicon germanium has structural indicia of epitaxial growth.

1. Field of the Invention
The embodiments of the invention comprise a self-aligned super stressed p-type field effect transistor (PFET).
2. Description of the Related Art
Strain engineering has become the main method to drive device performance in recent complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technology generations. Carbon-doped silicon (Si:C), which has a smaller lattice constant than silicon, can insert compressive strain in the PFET channel when a layer of carbon-doped silicon is put directly under the PFET channel regain. On the other hand, silicon germanium (SiGe) which has a larger lattice constant than silicon also can insert compressive strain in the PFET channel when it is epitaxially grown in source and drain regions. Moreover, carbon-doped silicon can help reduce B diffusion and improve the epitaxial quality of silicon germanium.

International Business Machines Corporation


Provided herein are microfluidic devices that can be used as a 3D bioassay, e.g., for drug screening, personalized medicine, tissue engineering, wound healing, and other applications. The device has a series of channels {e.g., small fluid channels) in a small polymer block wherein one or more of the channels can be filled with a biologically relevant gel, such as collagen, which is held in place by posts. As shown herein, when the device is plated with cells such as endothelial cells, new blood vessels grow in the gel, which is thick enough for the cells to grow in three dimensions. Other channels, e.g., fluid channels, allow drugs or biological material to be exposed to the 3D cell growth. Cells, such as endothelial cells, can be cultured and observed as they grow on the surface of a 3D gel scaffold, where e.g., rates of angiogenesis can be measured, as well as intervascularization and extravascularization of cancerous cells.

The study of cellular interactions is important to understand the development of a number of diseases. Devices for investigation of cellular interactions typically allow cells to grow on a horizontal monolayer over a sheet of collagen or other biocompatible gel. Such devices can be used, for example, with endothelial cells that eventually form blood vessels that grow downward. Adding drugs to these devices allow a qualitative assessment of the effect of the drug on the formation of blood vessels from the top of the device, where the blood vessels appear as holes in the gel. However, it is not possible to image the blood vessels from the side.
Thus, there is a need for improved devices that allow for the study of cellular interactions.

Device for high throughput investigations of multi-cellular interactions


Providing multi-dimensional password/challenge authentication for a computer device includes, in response to a login request, sending a login webpage, the webpage at least comprising a set of randomly generated icons with graphical attributes for sequentially selecting; and, determining whether each icon choice entered by a user complies with at least a dimensional option preset for each digit of a preset password according to at least a dimensional option of the digit.

Daily life requires the use of a wide variety of information devices, such as mobile phones, personal computers, notebook computers, and tablet computers. The information devices may keep users' personal data and identity data. Due to the prevalence of networks, an increasing number of network functions are performed on-line. In particular, servers have to store users' personal data and identity data in order to provide network services, such as social networking services, webpage/email services, mobile commerce services, banking on-line transaction services, database access services, or content and information provider services. Hence, to ensure security and privacy, the servers usually require that, before accessing the services provided by the servers, users have to follow an authentication procedure for recognizing the users' identity. At present, the most common authentication procedure is a password-based challenge authentication procedure whereby a server typically requires that, before accessing its services, users ought to enter a username and a password for identity recognition (or known as "login"), in order to prevent user personal data from being stolen or fraudulently changed.
With network coverage and accessibility increasing rapidly, hackers are becoming more likely to target a user's password with a view to faking the user's identity. Therefore, simple passwords no longer provide adequate protection. In view of this, various mechanisms are put forth to provide better protection. For example, users are required to create a password that meets the requirements of password length, complexity, and unpredictability, such that the strength of the password is sufficient to fend off brute-force search attacks and dictionary attacks. Furthermore, users are required to change their passwords regularly to invalidate old passwords, thereby reducing the chance that their passwords will be cracked. The aforesaid mechanisms enhance security and thus help users protect their accounts.
However, users usually seek Web-based access to various Websites for various online services through a username/password authentication process and challenges. In practice, most users log in to different Websites with different usernames and passwords. The aforesaid mechanisms require the users to memorize multiple passwords for accessing online services offered by various Websites. Users often log in to just a small number of Websites daily and thus seldom correctly remember the passwords of infrequently visited Websites.
Some authentication mechanisms dispense with usernames but require users to enter a password for obtaining access authority, for example, entering a passcode, a PIN, or a power-on password into a cell phone or a mobile device (such as an iPad or a tablet) in order to unlock the cell phone or the mobile device. The passcode usually consists of a set of numbers. The password is formed from a combination of a set of letters and numbers and thus provides a higher security level than the passcode which contains just a set of numbers. In practice, the security levels provided by the aforesaid mechanisms are unsatisfactory because the mobile devices are usually intended for use in public spaces. As a result, onlookers or unauthorized persons beside a mobile device user can see and memorize a passcode or password being entered into the mobile device by the user while the user is unlocking the mobile device.

Method and computer system for dynamically providing multi-dimensional based password/challenge authentication


A system and method for controlling peer-to-peer remote copy (PPRC) operations initiated from one or more host devices that desire to store data contents written to a first storage system to a second storage system over a communications link. The system enables receipt and generation of copy services commands from host devices and the determination of whether a received command pertains to a copy service over an established PPRC relationship for that particular customer to enable that customer to perform storage operations effecting data written to a first storage server having source volumes and stored in a remote second storage system having target volumes. The copy services command effecting data contents of source volumes and/or remote target volumes will be enabled if it is determined that said PPRC relationship is already established for that customer; and, prevented if the received copy services command does effect any volume not already in a copy services relationship.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to peer-to-peer remote copy (PPRC) or Flash Copy (FC) data storage technology, and specifically, to methodology for deactivating the ability to establish new PPRC or FC relationships between devices via in-band commands after initialization of the disaster recovery configuration is complete.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Peer-to-Peer Remote Copy ("PPRC") is a hardware-based disaster recovery solution designed to maintain a mirror image of application data at a remote secondary location. Particularly, key to PPRC, is the migration of data sets from mass storage devices, such as hard disk drives or other data storage media, to another set with a minimum of disruption to the applications using the data. Particularly, Peer-to-Peer Remote Copy (PPRC) mechanisms automatically copy changes that are made to a source (primary) volume to a target (secondary) volume until the PPRC relationship is suspended or terminated.
FIG. 1(a) depicts, in general, a PPRC system 10 showing a primary Enterprise Storage System 15 including a primary production Enterprise Storage Server (ESS) 17 and a host server 20 running a host application that reads and writes data to the primary ESS 17. The primary ESS 17 is linked to a secondary ESS storage system 25 including a remotely located secondary backup 27 and corresponding remote back-up host server 30 via an Enterprise Systems Connection ("ESCON") connection 45. In current configurations, the enterprise connection 45 comprises a high-speed link, supporting, for example, 2-Gigabit-per-second (Gbps) Fibre/FICON data transfer rates, however, other ESS system configurations implementing other high-data rate connectivity are applicable. As known, peer-to-peer remote copy solutions comprise functionality for enabling direct and synchronous copying of data at the volume level from the primary ESS 17 to the secondary backup ESS 27. As known, the PPRC solution for direct copying of data is transparent to the operating system of the primary ESS and any applications running on the primary hosts, however, there is a performance impact on application I/Os.
FIG. 1(b) depicts a Storage Service Provider (SSP) 50 that provides PPRC storage solutions for primary sites depicted by host servers 60a, . . . , 60n where the production applications run. The storage service provider includes primary Enterprise Storage Server (ESS) 77 that receives production data from the servers 60a, . . . , 60n, via respective Input/Output (I/O) or in-band links 65a, . . . , 65n for storage in a set of volumes 80. Particularly, host server requests for data content storage are initiated via system/server user interfaces over in-band links (e.g. ESCON, FICON, FCP).
A PPRC relationship is established with a secondary ESS or recovery site ESS 87 having volumes 85 onto which the production data is mirrored by PPRC over peer-to-peer links 90 connected by ESCON host adaptors (not shown). As shown in FIG. 1(b), a workstation 92 providing a configuration interface 95 is connected to each of the primary and secondary ESS storage systems 77, 87 via respective out-of-band links 97, 98.
A further ESS storage function is referred to as FlashCopy which provides a point-in-time (PiT) copy of a logical volume, also called T0 copy, with almost instant availability for the application of both the source and target volumes. Only a minimal interruption is required for the FlashCopy relationship to be established, so the copy operation can be initiated. The copy is then created by the ESS, with minimal impact on other ESS activities. FlashCopy may also be used in conjunction with either the local or remote copies of data created by PPRC, making it easy to create additional copies for rapid recovery following application errors or for other uses. FlashCopy is invoked at volume level taking into account the following considerations: 1). The source and target volumes must have the same track format; 2). The target volume must be at least as large as the source volume; 3). The source and target volumes must be within the same ESS logical subsystem (LSS); and 4). A source and a target volume can only be involved in one FlashCopy relationship at a time.
It is known that one use of FC is for backing data up to tape. The data on tape must be "consistent", therefore writes to the data cannot be allowed during the backup. Since many shops require 24/7 data access, FC can be used to make a copy of the data, which copy is then backed up to tape.
It is additionally understood that the FC and PPRC can be used in combinations to achieve additional functions. For example, a PPRC pair may be suspended (due to a hardware failure) and a PPRC Resync is desired. During the PPRC Resync, the secondary is not in a "consistent" state until the Resync finishes, therefore if the Resync fails, the secondary is not usable. If a FC of the PPRC secondary is made before the PPRC Resync is started, a "consistent" secondary copy is always available.
As soon as a FlashCopy establish command is issued (either invoked by a TSO (Time Sharing Operation) command, or by means of the ESS Copy Services Web user interface (WUI) (Configuration GUI) command, for example, the ESS establishes a FlashCopy relationship between the target volume and the source volume. This relationship exists from the time a FlashCopy operation is initiated, until the ESS copies all data from the source volume to the target volume. Optionally a FlashCopy may be requested not to execute the background copy, in this case the relationship must be specifically withdrawn in order to terminate it.
There are basically three stages that a FlashCopy relationship goes through: Establishing the relationship (Phase 1), then copying the data (Phase 2), and finally terminating the relationship. During the establish phase of the FlashCopy relationship, a metadata structure is created for this relationship. This metadata is used by the ESS microcode to map source and target volumes as they were at the time when the FlashCopy was requested (T0 copy), as well as to manage subsequent reads and updates to the source and target volumes. Updates to the source volume after the FlashCopy relationship is established will not be reflected on the target device. The establish process takes a minimum amount of time. As soon as the relationship is established, user programs have access to both the source and target copies of the data. With the relationship already established, and the source and target volumes already available for the applications to use them, the copy phase (Phase 2) begins. How this copy phase is conducted depends on the copy option that is selected for this FlashCopy operation. The FlashCopy relationship may be established either with or without background copy. FlashCopy will manage the copy process differently according to a specified option.
When multiple customers share disk controllers to meet their PPRC needs, security is a primary concern for the Storage Service Providers (SSP). That is, when customers (via host servers 60a, . . . , 60n) generate in-band copy commands, they may effect integrity of an established PPRC relationship, i.e., effect the state of a remote volume and data contents written thereto.
Since existing PPRC establish commands (without the restrictions) are accepted and executed, customer data remains at risk if a PPRC establish command is issued.
It would thus be highly desirable to provide a mechanism for limiting or restricting execution of remote copy service commands in order to better preserve integrity of data copied to remote storage systems.

Restricting the execution of copy services commands


A video indexing system analyzes contents of source video and develops a visual table of contents using selected images. A system for detecting significant scenes detects video cuts from one scene to another, and static scenes based on DCT coefficients and macroblocks. A keyframe filtering process filters out less desired frames including, for example, unicolor frames, or those frames having a same object as a primary focus or one primary focuses. Commercials may also be detected and frames of commercials eliminated. The significant scenes and static scenes are detected based on a threshold which is set based on the category of the video.

The present invention is related to an apparatus which detects significant scenes of a source video and selects keyframes to represent each detected significant scene. The present invention additionally filters the selected keyframes and creates a visual index or a visual table of contents based on remaining keyframes.
Users will often record home videos or record television programs, movies, concerts, sports events, etc. on a tape for later or repeated viewing. Often, a video will have varied content or be of great length. However, a user may not write down what is on a recorded tape and may not remember what she recorded on a tape, DVD or other medium or where on a tape particular scenes, movies, or events are recorded. Thus, a user may have to sit and view an entire tape to remember what is on the tape.
Video content analysis uses automatic and semi-automatic methods to extract information that describes contents of the recorded material. Video content indexing and analysis extracts structure and meaning from visual cues in the video. Generally, a video clip is taken from a TV program or a home video.
In U.S. Ser. No. PHA 23252, of which the present application is a continuation in part thereof, a method and device is described which detects scene changes or "cuts" in the video. At least one frame between detected cuts is then selected as a key frame to create a video index. In order to detect scene changes a first frame is selected and then a subsequent frame is compared to the first frame and a difference calculation is made which represents the content difference between the two frames. The result of this difference calculation is then compared to a universal threshold or thresholds which is/are used for all categories of video. If the difference is above the universal threshold(s) it is determined that a scene change has occurred.
In PHA 23252 a universal threshold(s) is/are chosen which is/are optimal for all types of video. The problem with such an application is that a visual index of a video which contains high action, such as an action movie, will be quite large, whereas a visual index of a video with little action, such as the news will be quite small. This is because in a high action movie, where objects are moving across a scene, the content difference between two consecutive frames may be large. In such a case, comparing the content difference to a universal threshold will result in a "cut" being detected even though the two frames may be within the same scene. If there are more perceived cuts or scene changes then there will be more key frames and vice versa. Accordingly an action movie ends up having far too many key frames to represent the movie.

Significant scene detection and frame filtering for a visual indexing system using dynamic thresholds


The number of pages of a print job received at printer (10) is determined (256). If the number of pages is low, printing is conducted at intermediate speed (262). If the number of pages is higher, printing is conducted at high speed (254). If the number of pages is not known, a default is selected (260). The default often will be to print at intermediate speed because most jobs are short. If high speed printing is in progress when a job is received, the next job is printed at high speed (254). Alternatively, a predetermined number of the first pages of a job may be printed at intermediate speed.

In laser printers of today, time to first print is often limited to the printhead lock time, which is the time period provided to permit the rotating printhead mirror to reach printing speed. Printhead lock is simply the stable operation of the laser printhead at a predetermined speed, and printhead lock time is the time period from start from inactive or partially active to assure printhead lock.
Moreover, some printers are operating at increasingly higher speeds, and such higher speeds require longer times to reach lock. Conventional imaging devices print jobs of a predetermined kind, such as ordinary text printing, at the maximum speed of the printer for such printing. This invention achieves reduced printing time by not printing certain jobs at the maximum speed of the imaging device for such printing.


A summary of a captured document image is produced on the basis of detected handwritten annotations made to a document prior to image capture. The scanned (or otherwise captured) image is processed to detect annotations made to the document prior to scanning. The detected annotations can be used to identify features, or text, for use to summarize that document. Additionally, or alternatively, the detected annotations in one document can be used to identify features, or text, for use to summarize a different document. The summary may be displayed in expandable detail levels.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to processing a scanned image of a document (for example a paper document) to generate a document summary from the scanned image.
2. Description of Related Art
There are many occasions in which it would be desirable to compile automatically a summary of a document. Several approaches for such systems have been proposed in the prior art.
For example, European Patent Application EP 0902379 A2 describes a technique in which a user is able to mark certain words or phrases in an electronic version of a document (for example ASCII text), which the system then extracts to compile a document summary. However, such a system requires the user to work with an electronic version of the document. Furthermore, the document must already exist in the electronic form before any words or phrases can be selected by the user.
Regarding the summarizing of paper documents (or scanned images of paper documents), reference may be made to the following documents:
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,638,543 and 5,689,716 describe systems in which paper document images are scanned and the images are processed using optical character recognition (OCR) to produce a machine-readable version of the document. A summary is generated by allocating "scores" to sentences depending on critical or thematic words detected in the sentence. The summary is generated from the sentences having the best scores.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,848,191 describes a system similar to U.S. Pat. No. 5,689,716 using scores to rank sentences, the score being dependent on the number of thematic words occurring in a sentence. However, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,848,191, the summary is generated directly from the scanned image without performing OCR.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,491,760 describes a system in which significant words, phrases and graphics in a document image are recognized using automatic or interactive morphological image recognition techniques. A document summary or an index can be produced based on the identified significant portions of the document image.
"Summarization Of Imaged Documents Without OCR" by Chen and Bloomberg, in Computer Vision and Image Understanding, Vol. 70, No. 3, June 1998, on pages 307-320, describes an elaborate technique based on feature extraction and scoring sentences based on the values of a set of discrete features. Prior information is used in the form of feature vector values obtained from summaries compiled by professional human summary compilers. The sentences to be included in the summary are chosen according to the score of the sentence.
The above paper based techniques all employ variations of statistical scoring to decide (either on the basis of OCR text or on the basis of image maps) which features, or sentences, should be extracted for use in the complied summary.

Using annotations for summarizing a document image and itemizing the summary based on similar annotations


An apparatus for manipulating a relational data base includes a unit for describing input data in a table format, a unit for describing all the operational manipulation with respect to the input data in a non-text format, and a unit for outputting data by referring to the relational data base based on the described input data and operational manipulation. The input data of a table format includes an input table and an output table. The input table includes an operational description region and the output table includes a region wherein a map relation between the respective items of the input and output table is described. The manipulation contents are described in the operation manipulation description region and the map relation description region. The operation flow is described and defined by a connection line with directiveness. The apparatus enables description of all the operational manipulation in a graphical manner in a non-text format, providing a user with data base manipulation environment with excellent understandability and operability.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a system and a method of manipulating a data base, and more particularly, to a system of manipulating a relational data base.
2. Description of the Background Art
One data base systems directed to making information resources available to users by means of an abbreviated language is a relational data base system.
Data is stored in the form of table in the relational data base system. A table is constituted as shown in FIG. 1, for example, including a table name 100 indicative of the entire contents of the table and item names 101a and 101b for identifying the contents of the respective columns. Data 102a and 102b are placed under the item names 101a and 101b, respectively.
The relational data base stores a plurality of tables. A table name 100 varies from table to table in order to identify each table. In each table, an item name also varies from column to such column that each column is distinguishable from other columns.
A table of a relational data bases comprises a row 103 and columns 104a and 104b. The row 103 is a group of data elements (102a, 102b) related to a particular event.
The relational data base system bases on a relational model. The relational model meets the following three requirements.
(1) Although an internal data construction takes a form of table as shown in FIG. 1, the order of rows and columns thereof is not defined. The table is referred to as a relation table and corresponds to a file. A row corresponds to a record. A column is referred to as attribute or an item and corresponds to a field.
(2) Data in the table are consistent with each other. Therefore, the following two types of integrities are maintained. (a) There exists a data item for identifying each row of the table. Such data is referred to as an item or a primary key. (b) When such primary key is also used as a part of another table, the primary keys in both tables are consistent with each other.
(3) A data manipulation language is prepared which is used for manipulation based on relational algebra.
Languages for use in manipulating a relational data base include SQL (structured query language) and QBE (query by example). General explanations on SQL and QBE are described in "Introduction to Simple Reference Language" by T. Hirao, p. 80-p89, pp. 140-142, Oct. 25, 1983, Ohm Sha.
SQL is a command type language having such a function as data definition (definition of a table and of data manipulation). The command type denotes a format which allows a user to give an instruction through a terminal equipment under TSS (time sharing system) without using a program. The SQL is an non-procedure language which gives only an instruction on "what we want".
The QBE is a display based (example type) language which allows a user to give an instruction by setting conditions at an appropriate column while looking at a frame of the table displayed on a terminal equipment.
While a SQL type language is structured to implement instructions from definition of a table for manipulation and deletion within one language system, a QBE type language is structured to implement only manipulation of a table.
The relational data base system provides also an instruction type referred to as a storage type in which previously stored instruction on manipulation of a relational data base is called for execution whenever necessary.
Manipulation of a relational data base such as modification, deletion and search of a table requires definition of an operation procedure in a text format by utilizing such commands as "SELECT", "FROM" and "WHERE", for example, in a SQL type language. Almost all the data as objectives of manipulation of a relational data base are data of table format based on the above-described relation table. It is not necessarily easy for a user to define an operation procedure while regrasping in a text format the data construction from such table format.
In addition, although the manipulation procedure after the completion of definition can be stored for additional use, the manipulation procedure read out for the additional use, which is described in a text format, has too low understandability to be used.
With QBE, it is possible to describe a manipulation procedure in a table by reading out a table using and filling the table with such commands as "DRAW" and "DRAW COND". This QBE also allows a graphic representation of a simple procedure by using a table only. For describing a complicated manipulation procedure, however, the QBE requires a description in the text format in which an unlabeled column is called by using "ENLARGE" or the like and a manipulation procedure is described in this column in the text format. The same problem as in the case of SQL therefore arises.
Software for visually acquiring a relational data base is described in "Relational Data Base for Macintosh with Substantial Management Function", by N. Nisho, Nikkei BYTE, July 1990, pp. 186-pp. 198.
The software provides independent graphical editing means for designing of data structure, layout of display data and such. Complicated manipulation procedures should be described using a flow chart even with this software.

Manipulating data in a relational data base having operational manipulations defined in an input table and displayed results in an output table with a line displayed designating direction of data flow

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


Certain embodiments provide a variably-sized removable portion integrated into an object. The object may include a surface and a variably-sized removable portion that includes separation edges that define a shape of the variably-sized removable portion. In certain embodiments, each of the separation edges is a different size and is concentrically-aligned with each other. Certain embodiments provide that each of the separations edges is separable from the surface of the object such that a size of an opening left when one of the separation edges is separated from the surface is variable depending on the size of the separation edge selected to be separated from the surface.

The present invention generally relates to objects manufactured as defining one or more openings. More specifically, certain embodiments provide removable portions integrated into an object for creating a variably-sized opening within the object.
Currently, a wide variety of products are manufactured as defining one or more openings. For example, door hangers with messages like "DO NOT DISTURB" are manufactured to define an opening for fitting around a door knob or handle. As another example, bibs are manufactured to define an opening for fitting over a wearer's head or around a wearer's neck. However, in most cases, the size of the opening defined by the object is predefined and non-adjustable. In many instances, predefined, non-adjustable openings defined by an object may not be large or small enough to meet the preferences of a user. In some cases, when the predefined, non-adjustable openings defined by an object are too large or too small, the object may be unusable, objectionable or not optimized for an intended purpose of the user.
Thus, there is a need for providing removable portions integrated into an object for creating a variably-sized opening within the object.
Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of such systems and methods with the present invention as set forth in the remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings.

Objects with built-in, variably-sized, removable portions


An internal combustion engine comprising a fuel injector arranged in a combustion chamber. A fuel is injected at a timing when the temperature T of the fuel particles fed into the combustion chamber rises past the vicinity of a minimum temperature of a cool flame region during a compression stroke and reaches a reaction stagnation region near the top dead center of the compression stroke and the fuel particles are dispersed throughout the combustion chamber as a whole near the top dead center of the compression stroke.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an internal combustion engine.
2. Description of the Related Art
Known in the art is a compression-ignition type engine wherein fuel is injected into the combustion chamber in a compression stroke slightly before 60 degrees before top dead center in the compression stroke, the mean particle size of the fuel injected at that time is made at least a particle size where the temperature of the fuel particles reaches a boiling point of the main fuel ingredient, determined by the pressure at that time, at about top dead center in the compression stroke or after top dead center in the compression stroke so as to prevent evaporation of the fuel due to boiling of the main fuel ingredient from the fuel particles after injection up until the top dead center of the compression stroke is reached and so as to make the main fuel ingredient in the fuel particles boil and evaporate to cause ignition and combustion of the fuel after substantially the top dead center in the compression stroke (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 7-317588).
In this compression-ignition type engine, the intention is to make the particles of the injected fuel disperse uniformly in the combustion chamber and thereby to make the generation of soot and NO.sub.x substantially zero. That is, if the pressure in the combustion chamber becomes high, the air resistance becomes larger, so it is not possible to make the particles of the injected fuel disperse throughout a broad range. Therefore, to enable the particles of the injected fuel to be dispersed throughout a broad range, the fuel is made to be injected slightly before 60 degrees before top dead center of the compression stroke, where the pressure in the combustion chamber is low.
Even if the particles of the injected fuel are dispersed over a broad range, however, if a portion of heavy density of the evaporated fuel is formed from the fuel particles, NO.sub.x and soot will be generated. The reasons for this will be explained in detail later, but roughly speaking are as follows:
That is, if the fuel is injected slightly before 60 degrees before top dead center of the compression stroke in the above way and the fuel particles are large in size, the evaporation of fuel due to boiling of the main fuel ingredient of the fuel particles will be prevented until the substantially top dead center of the compression stroke is reached. The injected fuel, however, includes low boiling point ingredients. The boiling temperature of the low boiling point ingredients, that is, the initial boiling point, is a temperature considerably lower than the boiling temperature of the main fuel ingredient. Therefore, if the temperature in the combustion chamber at the time of fuel injection is higher than the initial boiling point, the low boiling point ingredients in the injected fuel will immediately evaporate. As opposed to this, if the temperature in the combustion chamber at the time of fuel injection is lower than the initial boiling point, the low boiling point ingredients in the injected fuel will evaporate when the temperature in the combustion chamber exceeds the initial boiling point. If the low boiling point ingredients in the injected fuel are evaporated, a layer of evaporated fuel comprised of the low boiling point ingredients will be formed around the fuel particles.
On the other hand, when the compression stroke proceeds, the temperature in the combustion chamber rises. When the temperature in the combustion chamber reaches a certain temperature or more, the evaporated fuel around the fuel particles will bond with oxygen and be burned. If the density of the fuel particles at this time is high, the fuel particles will receive the heat of combustion of the evaporated fuel from the surrounding fuel particles and become high in temperature. As a result, the hydrocarbons in the fuel particles will be decomposed by the heat into hydrogen atoms H.sub.2 and carbon C. The hydrogen atoms H.sub.2 produced by this heat decomposition will burn explosively and generate a high temperature, therefore NO.sub.x will be produced. On the other hand, if carbon C is produced due to the heat decomposition, the carbon atoms will bond with each other and will partially be exhausted as soot.
In this way, if the density of the fuel particles is high, NO.sub.x and soot will be produced due to the heat decomposition of the hydrocarbons in the fuel particles. To prevent the generation of such NO.sub.x and soot, it is sufficient to increase the interval between the fuel particles. Therefore, it is sufficient to cause the fuel particles to disperse over a wide range. Accordingly, the above in-cylinder injection type internal combustion engine is designed to inject the fuel slightly before 60 degrees before top dead center of the compression stroke so as to cause the fuel particles to disperse over a wide range.
The temperature in the combustion chamber slightly before 60 degrees before top dead center of the compression stroke, however, becomes higher than the initial boiling point of the injected fuel, so if fuel is injected, the low boiling point ingredients in the injected fuel will immediately evaporate. As a result, a region of high density evaporated fuel of the low boiling point ingredient will be locally formed around the fuel injector. If a region of high density evaporated fuel is formed in this way, even if the space between fuel particles becomes large, the fuel particles will become high in temperature due to the heat of combustion of the evaporated fuel present at a high density between the fuel particles and therefore the hydrocarbons in the fuel particles will be decomposed by the heat into hydrogen atoms H.sub.2 and carbon C, so NO.sub.x and soot will be generated.
To prevent the generation of such NO.sub.x and soot, it is necessary to prevent the local formation of a region of high density evaporated fuel of the low boiling point ingredient. Toward this end, it is necessary to complete the fuel injection and complete the dispersion of the injected fuel before the temperature in the combustion chamber reaches the initial boiling temperature.


A motor comprises a stator and a rotor (20) disposed within the stator. The stator comprises a shell comprising a plurality of sidewalls (10a-10d) and arcuate connection parts (11a-11d) connecting neighboring sidewalls. The cross section of the shell is a polygon with fillets. The stator also comprises a plurality of magnets (12a-12d) installed inside the arcuate connection parts. The magnets (12a-12d) are mutual arranged at intervals. The outer surface of each magnet (12a-12d) is attached to inner surfaces of the two neighboring sidewalls (10a-10b) and a gap is formed between the magnet and the inner surface of the corresponding arcuate connection part. Air gaps are formed between the inner surface of the magnets (12a-12d) and the outer surface of the rotor. Disposing the magnets inside the arcuate connection parts improves the space utilization ratio. In addition, the gaps formed between the outer surface of magnets and the inner surface of arcuate connection parts may be used for adhesive to fix the magnets to the shell.

A cross section of a conventional permanent magnet DC motor is shown in FIG. 1. Such motors use a cylindrical shell 1. A rotor 3 is received in the cylindrical shell 1. Permanent magnets 2 are fixed to the inner surface of the cylindrical shell 1 and are distributed around the rotor 3. However, the motor with such outline structure has the following problems: 1) it is easy to roll in the process of transport; 2) the installation is inconvenient and an additional positioning device is required.
A square motor developed in this field in recent years is shown in FIG. 2. The motor uses a square shell 1′. Permanent magnets 2′ are installed at the inner surface of the four sidewalls of the shell 1′. A rotor 3′ is received in shell 1′. The Permanent magnets 2′ are distributed around the rotor 3′. Although such motor with square shell solves the above-mentioned shortcomings of conventional cylindrical motor, it has the following problems: 1) the shell has low space utilization rate, and the space of four angles are not used; 2) the diameter of rotor is equal to the size of shell minus the thickness of shell and the thickness of the permanent magnet. In the requirement of the motor shell having relatively small size, the diameter of rotor 3′ is restricted by the thickness of the shell 1′ and the magnet 2′.