The dot arrangement determination method for determining an arrangement pattern when m dots (where m is a natural number) are arranged in a specific pixel area, the method comprises: a setting step of variably setting an arrangement pattern in which the m dots are arranged without overlapping at pixel positions in the specific pixel area; a first image evaluation value calculating step of calculating an image evaluation value of a halftone image formed by arranging the m dots in the specific pixel area in accordance with the arrangement pattern set in the setting step; a second image evaluation value calculating step of calculating an image evaluation value of a halftone image implemented according to the arrangement pattern set in the setting step when dots cannot be formed in an arbitrary pixel row in the specific pixel area; and a dot arrangement calculating step of determining the arrangement pattern with least image quality degradation for inability to form dots in an arbitrary pixel row in the specific pixel area by approximately solving a combinational optimization problem for the arrangement pattern using calculation results of the first and second image evaluation value calculating steps.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a dot arrangement determination method and apparatus suitable for forming pseudo gradation images, a method for creating a threshold matrix, a program for implementing the functions of these methods with a computer, and an image forming apparatus that uses a threshold matrix; and particularly relates to a halftone processing technique suitable for an inkjet recording apparatus or another image forming apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an inkjet recording apparatus, ink is deposited on recording paper or another such recording medium by ejecting ink droplets from the nozzles of a recording head (also referred to as a print head), and prints or images (hereinafter referred to collectively as "images") are recorded by these dots of deposited ink, but conditions may arise in which ink cannot be ejected from the nozzles for various reasons. For example, when a particular nozzle in a group of nozzles fails to eject, the dots that should have originally been deposited by the nozzle are missing, which results in unintended flaws in the form of lines (streaking) in the recorded image on the recording medium, and the image quality is reduced.
To deal with such problems in the prior art, a method is proposed to achieve a deposition arrangement (dot arrangement) wherein quality reduction in the recorded image resulting from deposited position misalignments due to nozzle ejection failure or ejection direction errors can be prevented (Japanese Patent Application Publication Nos. 2001-88328 and 2002-16803). Other proposals include a technique for performing a pseudo gradation process that improves graininess, that is suitable for photographic images, and that has excellent gradation reproducibility (Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2002-16802), as well as a threshold matrix for obtaining a dot arrangement in which image quality reduction in areas of low resolution is prevented (Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2004-15674).
However, in the techniques proposed in the prior art, the technique of reducing nonuniformities (in the line patterns or concentration) resulting from omitted dots (so-called "dot gaps") due to nozzle ejection failures or the like is not investigated in terms of visual characteristics, and the optimum dot arrangement based on visual characteristics is not determined.
Also, in Japanese Patent Application Publication Nos. 2002-16803 and 2002-16802, the characteristics of the dot arrangement achieved by image processing are described, but an optimization technique is not used in the method for achieving these characteristics.

Dot arrangement determination method, program and apparatus, threshold matrix creating method and program, and image forming apparatus


The invention relates to an intaglio printing plate for producing a printing image with at least one engraved area in the printing plate surface, characterized in that the engraved area has one or more structural elements in which the edge area has a greater engraving depth than the inside area, the edge area and the inside area are directly adjacent, and the inside area is designed as a plateau that is lowered relative to the printing plate surface, to a method for producing the printing plates, to a data carrier with a printed image produced by intaglio, and an intaglio printing process.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a data carrier with a printed image produced by intaglio, to an intaglio printing process as well as to printing plates for carrying out the intaglio printing process and a method for producing the printing plates.
2. Related Art
It is distinctive for gravure printing that the printing, i.e. ink-transferring, areas of the printing plate are present as depressions in the plate surface. These depressions are produced by a suitable engraving tool or by etching. Before the actual printing operation, ink is applied to the engraved plate and surplus ink removed from the surface of the plate by a stripping doctor blade or wiping cylinder so that ink is left behind only in the depressions. Then a substrate, normally paper, is pressed against the plate and removed, the ink adhering to the substrate surface and forming a printed image there. If transparent inks are used, the thickness of inking determines the color tone. The high bearing pressure subjects the substrate material additionally to embossing, which also stands out on the back of the substrate.
Among gravure printing techniques a distinction is made between rotogravure and intaglio or line intaglio. In rotogravure, the printing plates are produced for example by electron beam, laser beam or graver. It is distinctive for rotogravure that different gray or color values of the printed image are produced by cells of different density, size and/or depth disposed regularly in the printing plate.
In contrast, in intaglio linear depressions are formed in the printing plates to produce a printed image. In the mechanically fabricated plate for intaglio, a wider line is produced with increasing engraving depth due to the usually tapered engraving tools. Furthermore, the ink receptivity of the engraved line and thus the opacity of the printed line increases with increasing engraving depth. In the etching of intaglio plates, the nonprinting areas of the plate are covered with a chemically inert lacquer. Subsequent etching produces the engraving in the exposed plate surface, the depth of the engraved lines depending in particular on etching time and line width.
The intaglio technique, in particular the steel intaglio technique, provides a characteristic printed image that is easily recognizable to laymen and not reproducible with other common printing processes. If the engravings in the printing plate are deep enough, a data carrier printed by intaglio is given through embossing and inking a printed image that forms a relief perceptible with the sense of touch. Steel intaglio is therefore preferably used for printing data carriers, in particular security documents and documents of value, for example bank notes, shares, bonds, certificates, vouchers, security labels and the like, which must meet high standards with respect to forgery-proofness.
WO 97/48555 discloses a method for producing intaglio printing plates in reproducible fashion by machine. The lines of a line original are detected and the surface of each line precisely determined. An engraving tool, for example a rotating graver or laser beam, is first used to engrave the outside contour of this surface to cleanly border the surface. The bordered area of the surface is then cleared by means of the same or another engraving tool so that the total line is precisely engraved in accordance with the line original. Depending on the form and guidance of the engraving tool, a basic roughness pattern serving as an ink trap for the printing ink arises at the base of the cleared surface.
To obtain a sufficient measure of tactility of the image produced by intaglio, very thick inking is required according to prior art methods. Thick inking, however, at the same time means high consumption of ink, which in turn results in high production costs. In addition, the quantity of ink applied to the plate must be increased in the conventional technology to close with ink all engraved areas that are to yield tactile structures in the printed image. Thus, there is more surplus ink that must be removed from the surface of the plate by a stripping doctor blade or wiping cylinder, which leads to problems in the waste disposal of the wiped inks.

Gravure printing plate and valuable document produced by the same


An on-line information providing scheme capable of dynamically accounting for user's interest with respect to information and providing appropriate information presentation according to the user's interest. An information provider device updates the information attribute value of the specified information and a user attribute value of the user by reflecting the information attribute value and the user attribute value with each other so as to dynamically update the user's interest and an information characteristic of the specified information, and selects a first set of information according to the user's interest by matching an updated user attribute value with the information attribute value of each information, and a second set of information according to the user's interest by matching an updated information attribute value of the specified information with the information attribute value of each other information. The specified information and an information list containing at least one of the first set of information and the second set of information are then transmitted from the information provider device to the information user device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a scheme for providing information on-line between an information user device located at a user side and an information provider device located at an information provider side which is connected with the information user device through a network.
2. Description of the Background Art
An information presentation system accounting for user's interest can be realized by using WWW as a communication platform and dynamically creating HTML sentences for each user in terms of CGI script.
In order to provide information presentation accounting for user's interest in this system, a user initially makes a membership registration to an information provider side, and then registers information fields of his/her own interest to the information provider side by way of submitting replies to a questionnaire. The information provider then stores in a user DB (database) an information indicating the user's interest (user attribute value) in correspondence to a user ID.
Also, the information provider classifies individual information according to its information field, and sets up an information indicating the information field (information attribute value) and stores it in an information DB in advance.
When the user makes an access to the information provider, the user's user ID is sent to the information provider. The information provider retrieves the user attribute value corresponding to the received user ID from the user DB, and selects and provides a set of information which is expected to suit the user's interest best by comparing the retrieved user attribute value with the information attribute value of each information registered in the information DB.
In the above described conventional system, there is a need for the user to acquire a membership at the information provider side and registers the user attribute value to the information provider side prior to system utilization and there is a problem that this user attribute value set up is tedious. In addition, the registered user attribute value will not be changed until the set up is made again so that there is a problem that the registered user attribute value cannot follow the change in the user's interest. Also, the user attribute values of all the users are to be managed at the information provider side so that there is a problem that a processing load on the information provider become large.
Moreover, there is a need for the information provider to set up information attribute values for all information in order to classify information and there is a problem that this information attribute value set up is tedious. In addition, the information attribute value set up is to be carried out arbitrarily by the information provider so that there is a problem that the set up is not made again automatically even when a current information attribute value is not appropriate from a viewpoint of the user.
Furthermore, when the user makes an access to the information provider, the information provider can easily identify the user because the user ID is to be sent to the information provider so that there is a problem regarding protection of privacy of the user.

On-line information providing scheme featuring function to dynamically account for user's interest

Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation


A method of mitigating proppant settling in a hydraulic fracture in order to better suspend the proppant as well as ensure a more uniform pack, by mixing a pre-determined volume percent of low density additive, such as glass beads or other suitable material, such as polylactic acid particles, into the fracturing slurry along with the standard high-density proppant, it is anticipated that density gradients can be induced inside the fracture. Upward movement of low density additive due to them having density lower than the carrier fluid will interfere with downward movement of high-density proppant and vice versa. This mutual interference between the two proppants confined in the narrow fracture will significantly hinder the settling/segregation of the high-density proppant. The low density material has a specific gravity of about 0.3, particle size distribution similar to that of standard proppant, and sufficient mechanical strength to survive fracture closure stress.

1. Field of the Invention
The method of the present invention pertains to hindered settling of proppant in vertical fractures by the addition of low density material into the fracturing slurry comprising of fracturing fluid and proppant.
2. General Background of the Invention
Hydraulic fracturing involves the creation of a crack in a reservoir to enhance hydrocarbon production. Highly viscous fluids blended with proppant or sand is injected into the crack. When the fracture closes, the proppant left in the fracture creates a large flow area and a highly conductive pathway for hydrocarbons to flow into the wellbore. The proppant or sand is utilized to maintain an open fracture. The viscous fluids are utilized to transport, suspend and eventually allow the proppant to be trapped inside the fracture. the fluids typically follow power law behavior for the range or shear rates encountered in hydraulic fracturing treatments.
Typical fluid volumes in a propped fracturing treatment can range from a few thousand to a few million gallons. Proppant volumes can approach several thousand cubic feet. The goal is to obtain uniform proppant distribution; and therefore, a uniformly conductive fracture along the wellbore height and fracture half-length. However, the complicated nature of proppant settling in non-Newtonian fluids often causes a higher concentration of proppant to settle down in the lower part of the fracture. This often leads to a lack of adequate proppant coverage on the upper portion of the fracture and the wellbore. Clustering of proppant, encapsulation, bridging and embedment are few phenomena that lower the potential conductivity of the proppant pack.
Proppant transport inside a hydraulic fracture has two components when the fracture is being generated. The horizontal component is dictated by the fluid velocity and associated streamlines which help carry proppant to the tip of the fracture. The vertical component is dictated by the terminal particle settling velocity of the particle and is a function of proppant diameter and density as well as fluid viscosity and density. The terminal settling velocity is further complicated by the various phenomena mentioned earlier.
At some point of the fracture generation process, proppant coverage reaches an equilibrium geometry, above which all the proppant injected is carried out farther into the fracture. This potentially restricts the effective propped fracture height as well as greatly increases potential for bridging during treatment.
When pumping ceases, the fracture eventually closes on the proppant pack. The fluid contains viscosity breakers that lower the apparent viscosity and aid the acceleration of fracture closure due to faster leakoff. This reduction in fluid viscosity of the static fluid leads to higher settling velocities causing more proppant to drop to the fracture bottom. The potential for voids and non-uniform packing contribute to a lower effective propped area and hence significantly lower effective wellbore radius as closure occurs.
Other inventions aimed at prevent proppant settling in a vertical fracture have focused on creating proppant with density equal to that of the carrier fluid. Thus, the proppant in the fluid would be neutrally buoyant in the fracture and stay in place vertically into the fracture closure. The methods of creating neutrally buoyant proppant includes surface-sealing of porous ceramic particles to trap air-filled voids inside the particles, creating composites of strong materials and hollow ceramic spheres, and creating hollow spheres with sufficient wall strength to withstand closure stresses.
These approaches all possess inherent drawbacks in terms of proppant durability and cost to manufacture.

Method to enhance proppant conductivity from hydraulically fractured wells


A method of and apparatus for inspecting a container having a base and a mouth. Light is directed through the container base into the container, and out of the container through the container mouth, using at least one light source disposed beneath the container base. A plurality of images of the container mouth is obtained from the light transmitted through the container mouth. Minimum bore diameters of the container mouth are calculated from the plurality of images, and an overall lowest minimum bore diameter (OLMBD) of the minimum bore diameters is identified. A value other than the OLMBD is determined to be an effective minimum bore diameter of the container mouth.

In the manufacture of containers, various anomalies can occur that affect the commercial acceptability of the containers. Such anomalies are known as "commercial variations" and can involve one or more attributes of the container. For example, commercial variations can include dimensional characteristics of the container at an open mouth of the container. Thus, it is often times useful to provide inspection equipment capable of inspecting the containers for commercial variations. The term "inspection" is used in its broadest sense to encompass any optical, electro-optical, mechanical or electrical observation or engagement with a container to measure or determine a container characteristic, including but not necessarily limited to commercial variations. U.S. patents that illustrate inspection processes of this type for glass containers include U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,461,228 and 6,175,107.
A general object of the present disclosure, in accordance with one aspect of the disclosure, is to provide a more reliable optical plug gage (OPG) apparatus and method for more accurately gaging a size of a container mouth bore.
The present disclosure embodies a number of aspects that can be implemented separately from or in combination with each other.
In accordance with an aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a method of inspecting a container having a base and a mouth. Light is directed through the container base into the container, and out of the container through the container mouth, using at least one light source disposed beneath the container base. A plurality of images of the container mouth is obtained from the light directed through the container mouth, and minimum bore diameters of the container mouth are calculated from the plurality of images. An overall lowest minimum bore diameter (OLMBD) of the minimum bore diameters is identified, and an effective minimum bore diameter of the container mouth is determined to be a value other than the OLMBD.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, there is provided an apparatus for inspecting a container having a base and a mouth. At least one light source is disposed beneath the container base, wherein the light source directs light through the container base into the container, and out of the container through the container mouth. A light sensor is disposed with respect to the light source and the container to sense light transmitted through the container mouth. A processor acquires a plurality of images of the container mouth from the light sensor, calculates minimum bore diameters of the container mouth from the plurality of images, identifies an overall lowest minimum bore diameter (OLMBD) of the minimum bore diameters, and determines an effective minimum bore diameter of the container mouth to be a value other than the OLMBD.

Container inspection apparatus and method


A system for enhancing the resolution of an image comprising a plurality of phase affecting light transmitting objects, preferably plates, disposed in a stack in the light path of the light energy defining an image, each plate having a thickness and being spaced a distance apart from others of the plates. Preferably, a source of radiant energy is provided for irradiating the plates and spaces between the plates in the stack and optionally the image itself to enhance resolution further by creating standing waves that interfere with the light in the light path defining the image. The plates are preferably edge illuminated, and the radiant energy may be visible light, ultraviolet energy or infrared energy, individually or intermixed. The system has application both for enhancing existing images as well as enhancing images during the image storage process.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the art of enhancing image resolution and creating a sense of depth perception through spatial filtering usually carried out within the image transform regions. Some of the better known prior art technologies are the schlieren, dark ground, phase contrast and modulation contrast methods.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Image resolution enhancement methods consist of emphasizing the higher spatial frequencies of the image transform. Methods for doing this exploit qualities unique to either diffraction or interference but on occasion they are combined. As used here, diffraction is the process of limiting a single wave in any way whereas interference is the interaction of two or more waves with each other.
As Abbe has shown, all information concerning the image of an object is contained in its diffraction pattern. Light reflected from any point of an image array a(u) is a complex quantity composed of real and imaginary components, amplitudes and phases respectively. Photography fails to preserve these relationships since film responds solely to light amplitudes. Only the absolute value of each element of array a(u) would be recorded. Object reconstruction from these diffracted images is possible only when their components are real, that is, when their phase components are either zero or 180.degree..
A phase object is an optical element having high light transmission and which causes a relative phase retardation at various points on its surface that is proportional to its thickness variation at those points. Required thickness variations are best obtained by controlled dielectric deposition on specified areas of a plate's surface. A shell cast plastic sheet and/or window glass pane have randomly distributed thickness variations that could, at times, favor their use as phase objects. Optical flat or even window glass are good examples. In a phase object, the vectors representing the complex amplitudes of all of an object's various points are of equal length but differ in phase angles. The vector sum of these vectors is the single vector that represents the zero order of the diffraction pattern.
Spatial image enhancement by the dark ground and schlieren methods suppress the zero order and its vector is therefore greatly reduced or eliminated while the image's new vectors become of unequal length and therefore represent an increase in contrast. There are a variety of ways of accomplishing this. Mechanical means such as discs so placed as to block out the central portions of an image is the technique of dark ground enhancement with its disc located on the object side of the lens. In the schlieren method, a knife edge at the image focal plane literally cuts its diffraction image, and thereby its transform, in half. In the phase and modulation contrast methods, the zero order vector is shifted by means of a phase object upon whose surface the location and thickness of a dielectric is varied.
The joint use of diffraction and interference together in the photographed image is of great theoretical and practical significance. French physicist Lippman used this to produce dyeless color images from black and white positives. He coated the rear surface of a photo plate with mercury so that the wave from any given point of the transform is reflected back through the film's emulsion and thereby interferes with its incoming wave. This results in standing waves throughout the emulsion whose wavelength at any point is that of the incoming wave at that point. When the developed positive is viewed at an angle under white light, the embedded standing waves function as spectral diffraction gratings, and extract from the white light, a color that corresponds exactly to that at the same point on the object. The result is a picture in exquisite natural color.
A hologram is the image captured on film of an interference created diffraction pattern. Light from a coherent source is divided into two paths. One contains the plane (reference) wave, while the other illuminates the object. The object's reflecting points cause their reflected (object) waves to be spherical. An intersecting plane (film) placed at a point where the spherical and plane waves are interfering, would have on its surface, a series of irregularly spaced concentric rings looking somewhat like a zone plate. The ring spacings correspond to the phase differences between the zero and first orders of the transform. When viewed under its reference light, the film's rings cause its diffraction and result in object reconstruction.

Method and apparatus for enhancing image resolution by means of a multiplicity of phase objects and an optional external radiant flux


Disclosed is a ranging transmission method comprising: a mobile station receiving a message including backoff window information from a base station; and the mobile station performing ranging transmission on the basis of the backoff window information, wherein the message includes a ranging backoff window indicator indicating an increase or decrease in a backoff window size for ranging retransmission.

Ranging is a procedure by which a mobile station adjusts transmission parameters (frequency offset, time offset and transmit power) for uplink communication with a base station when the mobile station performs network re-entry and network entry.
Specifically, a ranging procedure is used for the following four purposes: initial ranging, handover ranging, periodic ranging and bandwidth request ranging. Initial ranging refers to a process of uplink time synchronization (i.e., time and frequency synchronization) when a user equipment attempts initial network entry. Handover ranging refers to a process of establishing initial synchronization between a user equipment and a target base station when the user equipment hands over from a source base station to the target base station. Periodic ranging is used for a user equipment to periodically update uplink synchronization. Bandwidth request ranging is used for a user equipment to request an uplink resource to a base station.
When a mobile station attempts to enter a network, the mobile station selects a ranging channel, selects a ranging code, and transmits the selected ranging code to a base station through the selected ranging channel. Upon receipt of the ranging code, the base station transmits, to the mobile station, a message representing that the ranging code has been successfully received.
The number of mobile stations entering a network increases as communication technologies develop. When lots of mobile stations in an idle state attempt network entry/re-entry, access collision and access congestion occur, resulting in deterioration of communication performance. Accordingly, a method for solving this problem is needed.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and apparatus for ranging transmission by mobile station in wireless communication system


The invention is related to a method for producing silicone hydrogel contact lenses with having a stable coating thereon. A method of the invention comprises a water-based coating process (step) for forming a relatively-stable base coating of a homo- or copolymer of acrylic acid or C1-C3 alkylacrylic acid onto a silicone hydrogel contact lens made from a lens formulation comprising from about 35% to about 60% by weight of N-vinylpyrrolidone.

Soft silicone hydrogel contact lenses are increasingly becoming popular because of their high oxygen permeability and comfort. But, a silicone hydrogel material typically has a surface, or at least some areas of its surface, which is hydrophobic (non-wettable) and susceptible to adsorbing lipids or proteins from the ocular environment and may adhere to the eye. Thus, a silicone hydrogel contact lens will generally require a surface modification.
A known approach for modifying the hydrophilicity of a relatively hydrophobic contact lens material is through the use of a plasma treatment, for example, commercial lenses such as Focus NIGHT & DAY™ and O2OPTIX™ (CIBA VISION), and PUREVISION™ (Bausch & Lomb) utilize this approach in their production processes. Advantages of a plasma coating, such as, e.g., those may be found with Focus NIGHT & DAY™, are its durability, relatively high hydrophilicity/wettability), and low susceptibility to lipid and protein deposition and adsorption. But, plasma treatment of silicone hydrogel contact lenses may not be cost effective, because the preformed contact lenses must typically be dried before plasma treatment and because of relative high capital investment associated with plasma treatment equipment.
Various other approaches are proposed and/or used for modifying the surface hydrophilicity of a silicone hydrogel contact lens. Examples of such approaches include: incorporation of wetting agents (hydrophilic polymers) into a lens formulation for making the silicone hydrogel contact lens (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,367,929, 6,822,016, 7,052,131, and 7,249,848); a layer-by-layer (LbL) polyionic material deposition technique (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,451,871; 6,719,929; 6,793,973; 6,884,457; 6,896,926; 6,926,965; 6,940,580; and 7,297,725, and U.S. Pat. Appl. Pub. Nos. 2007/0229758A1; 2008/0174035A1 and 2008/0152800A1); crosslinking of LbL coatings on contact lenses has been proposed in commonly-owned copending US pat. Appl. pub. Nos. 2008/0226922 A1 and 2009/0186229 A1; and attachment of hydrophilic polymers onto contact lenses according to various mechanisms (see for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,099,122, 6,436,481, 6,440,571, 6,447,920, 6,465,056, 6,521,352, 6,586,038, 6,623,747, 6,730,366, 6,734,321, 6,835,410, 6,878,399, 6,923,978, 6,440,571, and 6,500,481, US Pat. Appl. Pub. Nos. 2009/0145086 A1, 2009/0145091A1, 2008/0142038A1, and 2007/0122540A1). Although those techniques can be used in rendering a silicone hydrogel material wettable, there are some shortcomings in those techniques. For example, wetting agents may impart haziness to the resultant lenses because of their incompatibility with other silicone components in the lens formulation and may not provide a durable hydrophilic surface for extended wear purposes. LbL coatings may not be as durable as plasma coatings and may have relatively high densities of surface charges; which may interfere with contact lens cleaning and disinfecting solutions. Crosslinked LbL coatings may have a hydrophilicity and/or wettability inferior than original LbL coatings (prior to crosslinking) and still have relative high densities of surface charges. In addition, they may not be cost-effective and/or time-efficient for implementation in a mass production environment, because they typically require relatively long time and/or involve laborious, multiple steps to obtain a hydrophilic coating.
Recently, a new cost-effective approach has been described in U.S. pat. Appl. pub. No. 2012/0026457 A1 (herein incorporated by reference in its entirety) for applying a non-silicone hydrogel coating onto a silicone hydrogel contact lens, in which an organic solvent-based coating solution is involved in forming a stable, interpenetrating base coating on a silicone hydrogel contact lens and then a partially-crosslinked hydrophilic polymeric material are covalently attached onto the base coating of a silicone hydrogel contact lens directly in a lens package during autoclave. Although this new approach can provide silicone hydrogel contact lenses with durable hydrophilic coatings thereon, it may not be environmentally friendly coating process because it involves use of organic solvent in the coating process.
Therefore, there is still a need for new coating of forming a stable base coating on a silicone hydrogel contact lens in an environmentally-friendly manner.

Method for applying stable coating on silicone hydrogel contact lenses


Network traffic is sent via alternate paths in cases of network link or node failure. An alternate node responds to U-Turn traffic from a primary neighbor to select a further alternate. An algorithm for determining the alternate paths is provided to select loop-free neighbors.

Networks are used to transmit data (also called network traffic) between network devices connected by links. A path used for transmission of data between two network devices may go through several intermediate network devices and links. A network device may be a router, a computer, a processor in a multiprocessor computer, or any other device as long as it is capable of performing the required network tasks.
A network in general has multiple paths between a given source and a given destination, uses some routing protocol to select a set of the available paths and should be capable of tolerating some links between network devices breaking. One example of such a network is a packet-switched network transmitting packets consisting of binary data. The packets are sent from one network device (also called a host or a node) to another network device, usually through several intermediate network devices known as routers that determine the next hop, i.e. the next network device in the path to the destination.
The transmission of data between network devices, such as routers, may be accomplished using a variety of technologies: wires, phone lines, optical links, wireless links, and others. The low-level protocols used by implementations of these technologies are known as physical layer (or level 1) protocols.
Internet Protocol (IP) based networks, i.e., networks conforming to Request for Comments (RFC) 0791 and RFC 1349 distributed by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) are a popular type of packet-switched networks. The IETF develops, distributes, and maintains a variety of network standards commonly referred to by their numbers as RFCs. A global IP network comprising a large number of interconnected local networks is known as the Internet. A full set of RFCs is available at the IETF's Internet site.
IP is an example of a network layer (or level 3) protocol. Network layer protocols rely on link layer (or level 2) protocols. These protocols may also involve routing packets. A popular type of link layer protocol is Ethernet.
A host is connected to at least one other host. A network router is a host connected to two or more other hosts. Hereinafter, these other hosts will be called the hosts' neighbors and the connection ports on the hosts will be called interfaces. A transmission over a single link between two neighbors is called a "hop". Upon receiving a packet, a router decides the best, for some definition of best, next hop to use, such that the packet eventually arrives at its destination. This decision is usually made using the information carried within the packet, such as the packet's destination host. A router may also use information about the network's topology, i.e. how other hosts are interconnected to determine which interface to direct an incoming packet. Another variable that the router may consider in making its decision is the input interface on which the packet has arrived. Alternatively, a packet may simply carry a label, which the router would use to determine the output interface by using a table per input interface indexed by the labels and containing the output interfaces. One such label-based forwarding mechanism is known as Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS, RFC 3031).
Normally, routing selects the lowest cost path to the destination. Given a network topology, each link in each direction is assigned a positive number, its cost. Given this information, the path chosen for forwarding a packet is the route with the least sum of costs. Each router stores in its memory the network topology and the relevant link costs and for each destination D determines to which neighbor it sends a D-addressed packet so that it travels the lowest cost path. However, other considerations may apply, such as reducing strain on some links in the network, or prioritizing delivery of some packets over others.
After a change in network topology (for example, when a link between two hosts is broken), the routing decisions made by routers may also change. In other words, a packet arriving to a router from interface A may be forwarded to interface B before the change and to interface C after the change. To minimize network traffic loss after a topology change, it is preferable that even before network routers become aware of what the new topology is and make proper adjustments in their traffic forwarding strategy, they continue to forward packets to their destinations. In other words, it is preferable that the forwarding strategy does not cause a loss of traffic in case of topology change even when forwarding decisions are based on stale (pre-change) topology and before even the occurrence of the change becomes known.
Obviously, this task is simply impossible in some cases (to take an extreme example, when all links in a network fail) and trivial in others (for example, when an extra link or links between routers are added to a network without other changes, the old forwarding strategy would remain functional by simply ignoring the added links). However, usually links between routers fail one at a time and networks have enough link redundancy to allow traffic redirection. Many routing algorithms, such as Open Shortest Path First (OSPF), rely on link state advertisements (LSAs) to inform all the other routers in a routing group of link status. In the case of a down link, the routers directly connected to that link (that are still able to function) broadcast (flood) a new LSA indicating the down link. These routers compute routes based on the new information and install those new routes. As the other routers in the routing group receive the LSA, they also recompute routes based on the new information and install those new routes as well.
The goal is for all of the routers to compute the same routes. Once their view of the network from the LSAs becomes consistent, the routes become identical since they use algorithms that provide identical results to compute the routes. However, since the information takes a different amount of time to get to each router, each router may take a different amount of time to compute the new routes, and there may be more than one link event at any given time, different routers may have different routes installed for some time after a topology change. Inconsistent routes may cause routing loops (closed-loops), where traffic is forwarded in a ring of routers, never to reach their final destination.

Rapid alternate paths for network destinations


A user equipment (UE) can receive, from an eNodeB, a serving PLMN system information block (SIB)19 for a carrier frequency of a serving PLMN of the UE. The UE can acquire inter-frequency and inter-PLMN discovery system information acquisition assistance signaling information from the SIB19. The UE can process a non-serving PLMN SIB19 for one or more carrier frequencies of a non-serving PLMN using the inter-frequency and inter-PLMN discovery system information acquisition assistance signaling information. The UE can identify inter-frequency and inter-PLMN discovery announcement rate information and monitoring control configuration information for the one or more carrier frequencies of the non-serving PLMN to enable the UE to perform device-to-device (D2D) discovery with a UE in the non-serving PLMN according to the inter-frequency and inter-PLMN discovery and inter-PLMN discovery announcement rate information and monitoring control configuration information.

Wireless mobile communication technology uses various standards and protocols to transmit data between a node (e.g., a transmission station) and a wireless device (e.g., a mobile device). Some wireless devices communicate using orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA) in a downlink (DL) transmission and single carrier frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA) in an uplink (UL) and a sidelink (SL) transmissions. Standards and protocols that use orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) for signal transmission include the third generation partnership project (3GPP) long term evolution (LTE), the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.16 standard (e.g., 802.16e, 802.16m), which is commonly known to industry groups as WiMAX (Worldwide interoperability for Microwave Access), and the IEEE 802.11 standard, which is commonly known to industry groups as WiFi.
In 3GPP radio access network (RAN) LTE systems, the node can be a combination of Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN) Node Bs (also commonly denoted as evolved Node Bs, enhanced Node Bs, eNodeBs, or eNBs) and Radio Network Controllers (RNCs), which communicates with the wireless device, known as a user equipment (UE). The downlink (DL) transmission can be a communication from the node (e.g., eNodeB) to the wireless device (e.g., UE), and the uplink (UL) transmission can be a communication from the wireless device to the node.
Additionally, in 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) long term evolution (LTE) Release 12, Device to device (D2D) discovery functionality is introduced to enable D2D service. With direct D2D communication, a user equipment (UE) can communicate directly with each other without or with partial involvement of a base station or an evolved node B (eNB). One issue with D2D communication is device discovery to enable D2D service. Furthermore, challenges arise in inter-frequency and inter-PLMN D2D discovery for D2D communication in a same or different public land mobile network (PLMN).
Reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiments illustrated, and specific language will be used herein to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the technology is thereby intended.

Inter-frequency inter-public land mobile network (PLMN) discovery


A loudspeaker includes an acoustical enclosure having an internal wall dividing the enclosure into first and second subchambers, an electro-acoustical transducer having a vibratable speaker cone mounted in an opening in the internal wall of the acoustical enclosure, an internal vent in the internal wall of the acoustical enclosure for pneumatically coupling the first and second subchambers, a first external vent in a wall of the first subchamber for pneumatically coupling the first subchamber to an exterior environment outside of the acoustical enclosure, and a second external vent in a wall of the second subchamber for pneumatically coupling the second subchamber to the exterior environment, a ratio of the acoustic masses of the internal vent to the the second external vent being approximately 3/1 to 7/1, and a ratio of the acoustic masses of the first external vent to the second external vent being approximately 15/1 to 30/1.

The present invention relates generally to the field of loudspeakers, and more particularly, to a loudspeaker having a dual chamber acoustical enclosure having two external vents and one internal vent.
A common objective in designing loudspeaker systems is to improve acoustical performance in the operating band of the system and to minimize distortion caused by, among other things, loudspeaker cone excursions at frequencies at and below a lower cutoff frequency of the system.
In general, when a loudspeaker is energized, its electro-acoustic transducer diaphragm ("cone") reciprocates or vibrates at a frequency which varies with the signal input to the loudspeaker. When an unmounted or unbaffled loudspeaker is operated in a so-called "free air" mode, its cone exhibits large mechanical excursions as it approaches its resonant frequency, which produces significant acoustical distortion. In order to control this motion and thereby reduce the distortion level of the loudspeaker, it is customary to mount the loudspeaker in some form of housing or loudspeaker enclosure.
In its simplest form, this enclosure is a closed box with the loudspeaker mounted or suspended in an opening in one wall thereof. Such a loudspeaker system causes the large amplitudes of the loudspeaker cone excursions to occur at a different frequency, thus changing the resonant frequency of the loudspeaker relative to its resonant frequency in its "free air" mode of operation.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,549,631, issued to Amar G. Bose, discloses an acoustic suspension loudspeaker system that has an acoustical enclosure of rectangular cross-section with a baffle dividing the interior of the enclosure into first and second subchambers. The acoustical enclosure of the loudspeaker system disclosed by Bose is commonly referred to as a "bass reflex" enclosure. Each subchamber of this enclosure has a port tube ("vent") that couples the respective subchamber to the exterior environment outside of the enclosure. The dividing baffle carries a woofer. This type of acoustical enclosure can be thought of as a dual chamber acoustical enclosure having two "external" vents. Each external vent serves as a passive radiating means. More particularly, each external vent provides an acoustic mass that constitutes an extra reactance which can be used to tailor the frequency response of the loudspeaker system at the low end. A ported or vented system is characterized by a resonance (port resonance) at which the mass of air in the port (vent) reacts with the volume of air within the enclosure to create a resonance at which the excursion of the loudspeaker cone is minimized. The dual chamber acoustical enclosure provided with two external vents disclosed by Bose provides improved sensitivity at port resonance which results in an extension of the lower cutoff frequency of the loudspeaker system to a lower value, while also reducing loudspeaker cone excursions in the vicinity of the lower cutoff frequency of the loudspeaker system.
However, for bass reflex loudspeakers of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,549,631 (Bose) to achieve a flat bandpass response, a loudspeaker driver with a rather high magnetic efficiency is required, which is expensive. Moreover, bass reflex loudspeakers which utilize two subchambers having ports for directly acoustically coupling each of the respective subchambers to the exterior environment, tend to provide poor response for acoustic frequencies falling between the resonant frequencies of the two subchambers and their corresponding respective ports when the resonant frequencies of the two subchambers vary by more than a factor of 3 to 1.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,875,546, issued to Palo Krnan, discloses a two-chamber bass reflex type loudspeaker that overcomes the above-noted deficiency of the Bose loudspeaker system. In particular, the Krnan loudspeaker system exhibits good frequency response for frequencies between the resonant frequencies of the two subchambers of the two-chamber enclosure, even when these resonant frequencies are separated by a factor of up to 10 to 1. The Krnan loudspeaker system includes a first subchamber that is pneumatically and acoustically coupled with the second subchamber via a first port (vent) that is sized to enclose a first acoustic mass of air while one of the subchambers is pneumatically and acoustically coupled with the outside environment via a second port (vent) that is sized to enclose a second acoustic mass of air. By properly constructing the first and second subchambers and first and second ports, the acoustical enclosure will operate as an acoustical bandpass filter in which high frequency distortion components such as those generated by diaphragm excursions of the transducer (speaker cone) will be acoustically attenuated.
Although the Krnan loudspeaker system described above does overcomes some of the problems inherent with electrical filtering via crossover networks, and does exhibit better performance over a broader operating band than the Bose loudspeaker system described above, it still has significant drawbacks and shortcomings. More particularly, the efficiency of the Krnan loudspeaker system is less than desirable, and the distortion products generated in the vicinity of the lower cutoff frequency are greater than is desirable.
It should be mentioned that Japanese Published Application Number 4-301998, naming Kinihiko Tamura as the inventor, discloses a dual-chamber loudspeaker system that features a "triple-vented" acoustical enclosure, with two "external" vents that pneumatically and acoustically couple respective subchambers to the exterior environment, and one "internal" vent that pneumatically and acoustically couples the first and second subchambers of the enclosure to one another. This dual-chamber, triple-vented loudspeaker system is a low band (i.e., bass) loudspeaker system. The internal vent is specifically designed and used to minimize distortion due to loudspeaker cone excursions at frequencies lower than the resonant frequency (i.e., it sharpens the upper cutoff frequency of the bass speaker), but does not contribute to acoustical output within the normal operating band. In fact, Tamura teaches that even in the narrow low frequency band of interest in his system, the internal vent actually acts as a bypass circuit whose effect is to reduce the acoustical output from the external vents, as well as to reduce the level of the distortion.
Based on the above and foregoing, it can be appreciated that there presently exists a need in the art for a loudspeaker system having an acoustical enclosure that overcomes the above-discussed drawbacks and shortcomings of the presently available technology. The present invention fulfills this need in the art.

Loudspeaker having a dual chamber acoustical enclosure with two external vents and one internal vent


A vehicle seat is disclosed that provides longitudinal adjustment and height adjustment of a head restraint by actuation of a manual release. One embodiment discloses a vehicle seat with a rod extending from a seat back and a frame mounted to the rod. A head restraint is mounted to the frame by a linkage to extend and retract. A locking mechanism cooperates with the head restraint and the frame for permitting incremental locking positions of the head restraint relative to the frame. A manual release releases the locking mechanism to extend and retract the head restraint relative to the rod. Another embodiment includes an eccentric mechanism pivotally connected to the frame. A wire spring is mounted to the frame for engaging a notch in the rod. An actuator rotates an eccentric mechanism for disengaging the wire spring from the notch in the rod for permitting height adjustment.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to adjustable head restraints for vehicle seats.
2. Background Art
The prior art has provided adjustable head restraints for vehicle seats. One such example is U.S. Pat. No. 6,899,395 B2, which issued on May 31, 2005 to Yetukuri et al. Adjustable head restraints permit the user to adjust the head restraint to a desired position.
The prior art has also provided active head restraint systems that translate a head restraint towards an occupant in response to an impact condition to minimize whiplash conditions during an impact. Some active head restraint systems employ expandable head restraints. An example of an active head restraint system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,767,064 B2, which issued on Jul. 27, 2004 to Veine et al.

Adjustable head restraint for vehicle seat


A capacitance based reactive power balancing current limited power supply (RPBCLPS) for driving floating DC loads utilizes capacitive reactance to limit current being supplied to a load, rather than inductance. A capacitor transfers charge from an AC current input to a DC load. A fuse electrically protects the capacitor from high frequency current harmonics. A diode clamp electrically protects the capacitor from voltage spikes. A rectifier converts the AC current input into DC current for driving the DC load. The reactive power balancing current limited power supply can be incorporated as a key component into reactive power balancing electrical power distribution systems. Such systems can comprise a grid configuration structured to distribute the AC electrical power from a utility source to a plurality of DC loads. Further, the DC loads can be cooperatively located to provide functional distributed capacitance throughout a substantial portion of the grid.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a reactive power balancing current limited power supply (RPBCLPS) for driving floating DC loads, such as for LED lighting, battery charging stations, and other applications. More in particular, the invention is directed to a power supply which utilizes capacitive reactance to limit the current being supplied to the load, rather than inductance. Accordingly, the present invention provides improved power supply efficiency, limits surge when first powered, improves reactive power balance of the local premises and/or local grid, improves power quality of the electrical grid, and reduces EMI present on the grid.
2. Description of the Related Art
The advent of smart grids and the related evolution in the interconnectivity of electrical power distribution systems, including both upstream and downstream effects of local premises consumption on the power grid, are beginning to change the way that power distribution systems are engineered. For instance, a certain degree of computerized control and monitoring of power consumption is beginning to be implemented as not only energy consumption patterns evolve, but also as new classes of electricity consuming devices emerge. By way of further example, new technologies are giving rise to electrical battery powering of lawnmowers, vehicles, backup power supplies for household or commercial use, etc., such that large scale localized battery charging is becoming an important design consideration. As another example, light emitting diode ("LED") technology is making its way into mainstream lighting applications, including residential and commercial buildings, alike, as well as in street lights, stadiums, and other municipal applications. Other examples include a variety of intelligent systems on premises, from security applications to heating and cooling, to household appliances.
With such changes come certain new challenges, particularly in the way devices are powered, which can have various effects on the local premises as well as the broader energy grid. This presently entails a variety of drawbacks that remain with implementation of current technologies, in addition to the various shortcomings associated with the aforementioned newly emerging technologies. As such, there is a need for providing an improved means to power both traditional and newly emerging devices.
Before discussing in more detail the various shortcomings of current power supplies and related devices and systems, it will help to provide several definitions which set the stage for understanding the various needs in the art.
"Floating Loads" are electrical loads that are not attached to a fixed potential (such as ground), but "float" up and down the voltage range as needed. Examples of floating loads are: LEDs, LED Strings (series connected), LED arrays (a group of series connected and parallel connected LEDs), batteries, motors, low voltage halogen lamps, incandescent lamps, LED bulbs, resistive heating elements, to name a few.
"Reactive Power Balancing" refers to a device related phenomenon wherein the device, when powered, improves the power factor of a building or grid by adding capacitive reactance to an inductive load.
"Current Limited" means that the maximum current that can flow in the connected load is limited and defined by the maximum voltage and frequency.
"AC" or Alternating Current refers to an electrical generator's output as alternating positive to negative around a neutral with currents flowing in one direction on the positive cycle and in the opposite direction on the negative cycle. By contrast, "DC" or Direct Current flows in a constant direction (unidirectional flow of electric charge).
In light of the foregoing definitions, one problem in the art involves the use of magnetics (inductors or transformers) by typical AC/DC power supplies to reduce voltages to usable levels for solid state components or batteries. Solid state devices and batteries require DC power and cannot work with AC power directly. As such, high frequency switching circuits are used to perform the voltage reduction. This creates high frequency current harmonics that must be filtered at the power supply. Any unfiltered high frequency current harmonics will pollute the "mains" with what is known as "conducted EMI." As the conducted EMI propagates along the mains "radiated EMI" is generated. Conducted and radiated EMI create problems by interfering with radio, and other wireless control and communication systems.
Also, by using magnetics, rectifying the AC, and adding storage capacitors in the power supply, the power supply uses "reactive energy" to charge inductors and capacitors (reactive components). This technique deviates from the ideal "resistive" load that power companies prefer to drive. Reactive energy is not used up but is conserved and released back into the power grid. This creates a problem in that reactive energy must still be delivered to charge the reactive components. Regarding power supplies, in particular, the inductive nature of the traditional power supply reduces the overall power factor ("PF") of the building electrical system unless corrected inside the power supply—which adds cost, inefficiency, and complexity to the power supply (therefore, less "green"). Even though a single power supply can correct its own power factor, it only improves the overall power factor by adding more real power to the system; it does not help balance the inductance and reactance present on the grid. So, at best, it is neutral. In other words, while PFCorrected power supplies may not add to the overall reactive energy problem, they do not help it either.
By way of further background, it is noted that "Power Factor" (or simply "PF") is a measure of how effectively electrical power is being used. A high PF benefits both the customer and the utility, while a low PF indicates poor utilization of electrical power and adds cost to the delivery of power to the customer which is passed on as higher energy cost. PF is a value from 0 to 1 (or 0 to 100%). Resistive is 1 and pure reactance (inductance or capacitance) is 0. The power company prefers to drive resistive loads because that is the power the customer is charged for in their buildings.
Various types of power are at work to provide us with electrical energy. Here is what each one is doing:
"Working Power" (kW or kilowatts), also called "true" or "real" power, is the portion of power used in all electrical appliances to perform the work of heating, lighting, motion, etc.
"Reactive Power" (kVAR's or kilovolt-amperes-reactive), also known as non-working power, exists in inductive loads to generate and sustain a magnetic field or in a capacitor to sustain an electrical field. Common types of inductive loads are motors, compressors and lighting ballasts.
Homes and businesses have mainly resistive and inductive loads, but few capacitive loads such as some compact fluorescent lamps ("CFLs") or emergency exit signs. The ratio between these two types of loads becomes important with addition of more inductive equipment which reduces the PF from an ideal value of 1 or 100%.
"Apparent Power" (kVA or kilovolt-amperes) is the vector sum of Working Power to Reactive Power.
Power Factor (PF) is therefore defined as the ratio of working power to apparent power (PF=kW/kVA). The typical value is about 0.8. The utility company charges for both how much power the customer actually uses and for the excess power that the utility was required to supply. Thus, low PF results in higher utility costs. Low PF also results in overheating in wires, circuit boards and motors. It is therefore in the customer's best interest to maintain a PF as close to 100% as is economically feasible.
Turning to a more detailed explanation on the definition and role of "Inductive Reactive Energy": When a voltage is applied to an inductor the current will charge the magnetic field. The magnetic field and current will rise linearly, but will lag the voltage by 90 degrees. Every electric load that works with magnetic fields (motors, chokes, transformers, inductive heating, arc-welding generators) produces a varying degree of electrical lag, which is called inductance. The line current drawn by an inductive load consists of two components: magnetizing current and power-producing current. The magnetizing current is the current required to sustain the electro-magnetic flux or field strength in the machine. This component of current creates reactive power that does not do useful "work," but circulates between the generator and the load. It places a heavier drain on the power source, as well as on the power source's distribution system. The real (working) power-producing current is the current that reacts with the magnetic flux to produce the mechanical output of the motor.
Turning to a more detailed explanation on the definition and role of "Capacitive Reactive Energy": When a voltage is applied to a capacitor the current creates an electrostatic field. The voltage rises as the capacitor charges up its field. The voltage will lag the current by 90 degrees. The current thus "leads" the voltage. If a charged capacitor is connected in parallel to an inductor, the capacitor will discharge into the inductor, creating a magnetic field. When the capacitor is completely discharged, the inductor then discharges its magnetic field, and charges up the capacitor. If there was no resistance in the process inherent in real components, this action would go on forever; a true perpetual motion machine. The capacitance acts as a source of energy to charge the magnetic field. The capacitor sees the inductor as a reactive load. The two components are opposite in nature and complement each other. Reactive currents flowing in a power grid are doing the same thing as the example above. As the AC voltage swings positive through zero and then negative, the reactive elements attached to the grid will charge and discharge on each cycle. This creates a current flow first in one direction and then the opposite direction. Most of the electrical loads on the grid are inductive and so the power company adds capacitance to the grid to locally compensate. The more local the capacitance is to the inductive loads the less energy is lost in the wires and transformers.
It is thus important note that when the power company first turns on, it charges up the reactive power in the grid, and then begins delivering real power to the loads. In an ideal world where wires and transformers would not have resistance, this would happen one time and the reactive energy would continuously flow back and forth on the grid without loss. In the real world the wire and transformer resistances create heat, eventually dissipating the reactive energy unless it is regenerated by the power company.
In light of the above considerations, power companies routinely add thousands of capacitors to the grid to reduce reactive energy losses. Many companies are in the business of evaluating building power factor and designing custom solutions for buildings or other localities. They may add capacitors at individual loads or they may add a bulk capacitor at the service point and actively monitor power factor and switch the capacitors in and out of the circuit as needed. The power companies would like the customers to take care of their power factor problem in this way since it helps them deliver power more effectively and they are free from the expense and maintenance of adding capacitance. They are giving incentives to customers by beginning to charge for poor power factor on a monthly basis. It is obviously better to purchase the equipment, own it and get rid of the monthly charge.
It would therefore be beneficial to provide a power supply solution that a) removes existing inductive lighting and other devices from the building or other locale, which reduces the inductive reactive energy required by the building/location; and which further b) adds local capacitance to the local/building power grid.
One more important figure of merit to note is "Power Quality" which determines the fitness of electrical power to consumer devices. Synchronization of the voltage frequency and phase allows electrical systems to function without significant loss of performance or life. The term "Power Quality" is used to describe electric power that drives an electrical load and the load's ability to function properly. Without the proper power, an electrical device (or load) may malfunction, fail prematurely or not operate at all.
The electric power industry typically comprises electricity generation (AC power), electric power transmission and ultimately electricity distribution to an electricity meter located at the premises of the end user of the electric power. The electricity then moves through the wiring system of the end user until it reaches the load. The complexity of the system to move electric energy from the point of production to the point of consumption combined with variations in weather, generation, demand and other factors provide many opportunities for the quality of the supply of electric power to be compromised.
While "power quality" is a convenient term for many, it is the quality of the voltage—rather than power or current—that is actually described by the term. The voltage becomes distorted away from a pure sinusoid. This distortion happens when loads introduce current harmonics (120, 180, 240, etc.) of the 60 Hz sine wave back into the system. These harmonics will alter the shape of the incoming voltage waveform which other equipment will "see." Switching power supplies, electronic ballasts, phase dimmers, and on/off equipment are the main contributors of current harmonics. If the offending currents are removed, the voltage waveform will once again be purely sinusoidal.
In light of the foregoing background, it would therefore be beneficial to provide a power supply that uses an alternative technology, instead of inductance, to limit the current being supplied to the load. It would be a further benefit for such a power supply to more efficiently pass currents to LED or other devices/loads (thus, improving power quality in a building or other premises as well).
It would also be advantageous if such a power supply solution could permit removal of existing inductive lighting and other devices from buildings or other locales, so as to reduce the overall inductive reactive energy required by the building/location. It would be another important benefit if such a power supply could also add local capacitance to the local/building power grid.
It would be further beneficial for such a power supply solution to limit surge when first powered, improve reactive power balance of the local premises and/or local grid, improve power quality of the electrical grid, and reduce EMI already present on the grid.

Reactive power balancing current limited power supply for driving floating DC loads


In a semiconductor device, where, with respect to a parasitic resistor in a current mirror circuit, a compensation resistor for compensating the parasitic resistor is provided in the current mirror circuit, the current mirror circuit includes at least two thin film transistors. The thin film transistors each have an island-shaped semiconductor film having a channel formation region and source or drain regions, a gate insulating film, a gate electrode, and source or drain electrodes, and the compensation resistor compensates the parasitic resistor of any one of the gate electrode, the source electrode, and the drain electrode. In addition, each compensation resistor has a conductive layer containing the same material as the gate electrode, the source or drain electrodes, or the source or drain regions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device, particularly a semiconductor device including a thin film semiconductor element, and a manufacturing method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a current mirror circuit is used in many cases as part of a power supply circuit of a display or the like. The power supply circuit includes an analog circuit, and the performance of a bias circuit is important as the stable operation. It is important to design a bias circuit in a case of designing a high-performance analog circuit or a low-voltage operation circuit.
In conventional amplifier circuits, there are some of them, the performance of which is improved by multistage connection of thin film transistors (TFTs) (for example, see Patent Document 1: Japanese Published Patent Application No. H6-37558).

Semiconductor device including a current mirror circuit

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


Certain exemplary embodiments comprise a circuit breaker mounting plate that can comprise a prong adapted to receive a clip. The prong can define a first longitudinal axis that extends in a first direction and in an opposing second direction. The prong can be adapted to receive a spring. The clip can comprise a latch. The latch can be adapted, via the spring, to releasably attach a circuit breaker to the circuit breaker mounting plate.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,744,003 (Koslosky), which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety, allegedly recites that "[p]lug-on enclosed fusible switches, enclosed lug devices and non-enclosed molded case circuit breakers are attached to a panelboard in a single or side-by-side double row. Spring biased latches retain the devices to the panelboard. Locating notches on the panelboard locate the devices at incremental spacing to provide a variable, compact arrangement for the devices. Filler plates and end structures on the devices cooperate with a cover for the panelboard to provide an integral dead front. The panelboard is particularly adapted for field [sic] assembly, including attachment of a main feed device which effects a plug-on feed in either a single or electrically parallel double panel arrangement." See Abstract.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,768,091 (Vinson), which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety, allegedly recites a "circuit breaker mounting bracket is comprised of a generally upright support member, a base member extending generally perpendicularly from a bottom of the support member, a flange depending from a distal end of the base member at an angle less than 90 degrees, and a brace member depending obliquely from the back of the support member. The flange is adapted to be secured to a support surface, such as a deck within an air conditioning or furnace cabinet. The brace member and the flange cooperate to maintain the bracket in a rigid, upright position within the cabinet. The bracket includes a din rail comprising two generally L-shaped flanges integrally formed with the support member, whereby one or more circuit breakers are mountable in a fixed position relative to the bracket. A C-shaped channel is formed on the support member between the L-shaped flanges for receiving two retaining members, which inhibit lateral movement of the circuit breaker(s) mounted on the bracket." See Abstract.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,943,207 (Kim), which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety, allegedly recites a "mountable circuit breaker assembly and a method for mounting a circuit breaker on a base. A body portion of the circuit breaker is provided with rail insertion grooves on opposite sides thereof. The rail insertion grooves receive stepped portions of a corresponding pair of mounting rails mounted on a base. The circuit breaker body is retained relative to the mounting rails by engaging a protruding portion provided on one of the stepped portion of the mounting rails and the rail insertion grooves with a recessed portion provided on the other of the stepped portion of the mounting rails and the rail insertion grooves. The circuit breaker may be mounted onto a base on which the pair of mounting rails is provided by sliding the circuit breaker body between the mounting rails so that the respective stepped portions of the mounting rails are received in the respective rail insertion grooves provided on the circuit breaker body." See Abstract.

System and method for mounting a breaker


A fast optical switch and networks comprising fast optical switches are disclosed herein. In an example embodiment, a fast optical switch includes two or more fabric switches; a first selector switch; and a second selector switch. The first selector switch may selectively pass a signal to one of the two or more fabric switches. The one of the two or more fabric switches may act on the received signal to provide a switched signal and the second selector switch may selectively receive the switched signal provided by the one of the two or more fabric switches. A slot of the fast optical switch comprises a transmission window of one of the two or more fabric switches that occurs in parallel with at least a portion of a reconfiguration window of the other of the two or more fabric switches.

Datacenters are the storage and data processing hubs of the internet. The massive deployment of cloud applications is causing datacenters to expand exponentially in size, stimulating the development of faster switches in order to cope with the increasing data traffic inside the datacenter. Current state-of-the-art switches are capable of handling 12.8 Tb/s of traffic by employing application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) equipped with 256 data lanes, each operating at 50 Gb/s. Such switch ASICs typically consume as much as 400 W, whereas the power consumption of the optical transceiver interfaces attached to the ASIC is comparable.
To keep pace with traffic demand, switch capacity has to be doubled approximately every 2 years. So far, this rapid scaling was possible by exploiting advances in complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) manufacturing, collectively described by Moore's law (i.e., the observation that the number of transistors in a dense integrated circuit doubles about every two years). However, in recent years there are strong indications of Moore's law slowing down, which raises concerns as per the capability to sustain the target scaling rate of switch capacity. Alternative technological approaches have been identified, such as the co-integration of photonics and electronics in multi-chip modules, which are expected to enable the development of datacenter switches with up to 100 Tb/s capacity. However, it is expected that further scaling will not be possible in a way that is viable from the technological, economic, and power consumption perspective.


A pipette control arrangement consists of a housing assembly adapted for operatively housing a pump assembly and for operatively connecting a pipette to the pump assembly via a flexible air tube. The pump assembly is adapted to independently accommodate a plurality of volume specific removable cylinder-plunger systems. The pipette control arrangement may further include a quick release trigger operated mechanism for rapidly and or in large volumes dispensing liquid from an attached pipette.

A typical non-motorized or manually operated pipette control arrangement includes a housing that incorporates a pumping system and a pipette connecting mechanism for either fixedly of removably connecting a pipette to the housing. Some of these arrangements include a thumb operated mechanical system for controlling the aspiration and dispensing of liquids by the pipette.
Various prior art pipette control arrangements exist and are effective in aspirating and dispensing liquids through a pipette. The pipette control arrangements of the prior art, however, generally suffer from one or more drawbacks and limitations that oftentimes render them undesirable or unsuitable for a specific use. Generally these drawbacks and limitations stem from the device being unable to efficiently accommodate a wide variety of volumes of liquid and are therefore limited to certain pipettes having specific volumetric capacities. Furthermore, these devices suffer from the inability to rapidly dispense large volumes of liquid.
By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,527,437 discloses a manually operated pipette control system incorporating a thumb wheel operated mechanical system coupled with a bellows type pumping system. It would be obvious that this device is limited to a certain volume of liquid that may be aspirated and or dispensed by a pipette based upon the dimensions of the bellows pumping system. In addition, it is obvious that even if a user wished to rapidly dispense all or substantially all of the contents of an attached pipette, that the user must repeatedly operate thumb wheel and other mechanical elements associated therewith, until such liquid is dispensed.
Accordingly, there is a well-established need for a pipette control system that avoids the drawbacks and limitations of the prior art. In particular, it would be desirable to provide a pipette control system that is capable of accommodating a plurality of cylinder-plunger pumping systems having a variety of volumetric capacity. Further, it would be desirable to provide a pipette control system that includes a quick release mechanism for rapidly introducing air into and or releasing an existing vacuum in the pipette control system, which allows for the rapid discharge of any liquid present in the pipette. Still further, it would be desirable to provide a pipette control system that is relatively simple and inexpensive in construction and which is adapted for convenient operation by a user.


An airbag device includes: an airbag; an inflator; a gas discharge state switching member; and a tether belt which is one example of a connecting member. The gas discharge state switching member is switched over from a gas discharge state to a gas non-discharge state by being pulled into the inside of the airbag. The tether belt connects the gas discharge state switching member and a portion of an inner peripheral portion of the airbag to each other. An arranged position of the gas discharge state switching member, a position where the tether belt is connected to the inner peripheral portion of the airbag, and a passing line of the tether belt are disposed at portions which avoid a portion of the airbag which comes into contact with an occupant in a regular posture state when the airbag receives the occupant.

Patent Document 1 discloses an airbag which includes regulating means for regulating the outflow of gas through a vent hole. The regulating means includes a squeezing member which can squeeze the vent hole, and a connecting member which is provided for connecting the squeezing member and a surface of the airbag which faces an occupant. When the airbag is inflated, the squeezing member is pulled by way of the connecting member so that the vent hole is closed. However, when the occupant comes into contact with the inflated airbag so that the surface of the airbag which faces the occupant retracts, the squeezing member is loosened so that the vent hole is opened.
As another prior art relating to the present invention, there is Patent Document 2.