An auto-changer has a shelf which holds magazines that contained differently sized cartridges. The magazines are conveyed to a recording/reproducing device and include discrimination information concerning the cartridges contained therein. Sensors detect the discrimination information, and a conveyor conveys the magazine between the housing shelf and the recording/reproducing devices based on the detected information.

1 . Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an auto-changer adapted to contain recording mediums in a plurality of units directly therein or in a cartridge, take out a desired one of the contained recording mediums and convey it to a recording/reproducing apparatus.
2 . Related Background Art
An auto-changer 201 according to the prior art is of such a construction as shown in FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings and is comprised of an apparatus 202 for recording and/or reproduction (hereinafter referred to as the recording/reproducing apparatus), housing shelves (not shown) in which a plurality of cartridges 203 are housed in parallelism to one another, and conveying means 204 for moving the cartridges 203 in vertical directions indicated by arrows by suitable driving means (not shown).
When for example, a recording medium in the sixth containing shelf from below is to be used, the conveying means 204 is moved to the position of the sixth housing shelf from below and the cartridge 203 therein is conveyed to and placed in the conveying means 204 by a suitable carrying mechanism (not shown). After the cartridge 203 has been placed, the conveying means 204 is moved downwardly and brings the cartridge 203 to the position of the cartridge insertion port of the recording/reproducing apparatus 202.
The cartridge 203 is discharged from the conveying means 204 and is inserted into and mounted in the recording/reproducing apparatus 202. When access is to be obtained to another medium, the cartridge is discharged from the recording/reproducing apparatus 202 and is returned to the housing shelf, and the conveying operation for the next cartridge 203 is entered.
The addition of a new caridge to the housing shelf is accomplished by inserting the cartridge into the conveying means 204 through the insertion port 205, moving the conveying means 204 and conveying the cartridge to a desired empty housing shelf. Also, the interchange of a cartridge is accomplished by the conveying means 204 conveying the cartridge 203 to be interchanged from the housing shelf to the insertion port 205, discharging it from the insertion port 205 and introducing a new cartridge 203 as described above.
The auto-changer according to the prior art registers and controls recording mediums for each one unit (one cartridge) and conveys them to the recording/reproducing apparatus, and mounts and dismounts them. Accordingly, it is necessary that the conveying mechanism be returned to the housing shelf each time recording mediums in one unit (one cartridge) are interchanged, and this leads to the waste of much time during the interchange of the cartridge. Particularly, the waste of time is enlarged more for recording mediums of small memory capacity in one unit (one cartridge). Also, the recording/reproducing system is designed to interchange the same recording mediums in a single form and therefore, the form of data to be recorded is limited as shown in the following example.
For example, a recording medium in the form of a tape is used for the recording of data such as moving images, from the viewpoint of a great capacity and continuity. The recording medium in the form of a tape, however, is extremely inferior in performance due to its structure, with regard to the access to arbitrary data. Also, in a searching apparatus such as a library in which the size of individual files is small but the number of the files is enormous, use is made of recording mediums in the form of a disc excellent in accessibility, but such recording mediums are unsuitable for the recording of a great deal of continuous data. Further, for the memorization of documents to be permanently preserved, use is made of recording mediums of the recording type (not requiring overwriting) which is capable of recording only once.
As described above, in the multimedia system, it is necessary that data in different forms such as moving images, static images, voices and documents be made mixedly present at a time and frequently interchanged for use. So, in terms of the system construction, it is possible to connect individual recording/reproducing apparatuses (including apparatuses of the changer type) differing in recording form through a network, select and use an apparatus conforming to the form of recorded data. However, when the installation locations of the recording/reproducing apparatuses are dispersed, physical custody or the like for the preservation of recording mediums becomes difficult. Also, when a plurality of recording/reproducing apparatuses are concentratedly installed at a location, there are left problems such as the connectability to the network and the necessity of maintenance of each apparatus.


A polarization maintaining optical fiber, for guiding a measuring light beam, is provided within a probe. The probe is configured to be rotatable in the circumferential direction of the polarization maintaining optical fiber. A polarization direction rotator, for rotating the polarization direction of the measuring light beam that enters the polarization maintaining optical fiber accompanying rotation of the probe, is provided in order to maintain a state in which the polarization direction of the measuring light beam that enters the polarization maintaining optical fiber and the direction of the polarization axis of the polarization maintaining optical fiber are matched.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical tomography system that obtains optical tomographic images by OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography) measurement.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, optical tomographs that utilize OCT measurement are employed to obtain tomographic images of living tissue. In an optical tomograph, a low coherence light beam emitted from a light source is divided into a measuring light beam and a reference light beam. Thereafter, a reflected light beam, which is the measuring light beam reflected by a measurement target when the measuring light beam is irradiated onto the measurement target, is combined with the reference light beam. Tomographic images are obtained, based on the intensity of a interference light beam obtained by combining the reflected light beam and the reference light beam (refer to U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,564,089, 6,615,072, 6,687,010 and 7,133,138, for example).
There are some optical tomographs that utilize TD-OCT (Time Domain OCT) measurement. In TD-OCT measurement, the measuring position in the depth direction (hereinafter, referred to as "depth position") within a measurement target is changed, by changing the optical path length of the reference light beam. Thereby, tomographic images can be obtained at different depth positions within measurement targets.
As another type of optical tomograph that can obtain tomographic images at high speeds without changing the optical path length of the reference light beam, optical tomography apparatuses that employ SD-OCT (Spectral Domain OCT) measurement have been proposed. The SD-OCT optical tomograph divides a wide band low coherence light beam into a measuring light beam and a reference light beam by a Michelson interferometer. Then, the measuring light beam is irradiated onto a measurement target, and a reflected light beam, which is the measuring light beam reflected by the measurement target, is combined with the reference light beam, to obtain a interference light beam. Thereafter, the interference light beam is decomposed into different frequency components. The channeled spectra of the decomposed interference light beam undergo Fourier analysis, and tomographic images are obtained without scanning in the depth direction (refer to "Amplified, frequency swept lasers for frequency domain reflectometry and OCT imaging: design and scaling principles", R. Huber et al., OPTICS EXPRESS, Vol. 13, No. 9, pp. 3513-3528, 2005, for example).
Further, an optical tomograph that obtains optical tomographic images at high speeds without changing the optical path length of a reference light beam, by SS-OCT (Swept Source OCT) measurement, has also been proposed. The SS-OCT optical tomograph sweeps the frequency of a laser beam which is emitted from a light source. Reflected light beams of each wavelength are caused to interfere with the reference light beam. The intensities of reflected light beams at a depth positions within a measurement target are obtained by performing Fourier analysis on interference spectra for the series of wavelengths. The tomographic images are obtained employing the detected intensities.
When the various optical tomographs described above are applied to endoscopes, optical fibers are provided within probes which are to be inserted into body cavities, and light beams are guided through the optical fibers. In optical tomographs, it is often the case that a tomographic image is obtained along a predetermined surface of a measurement target. In order to do so, it is necessary to scan the light beam around the peripheral direction of the probe. There is a known structure in which a probe is configured to be rotatable in the axial direction thereof.
Meanwhile, there are cases in which living tissue and the like exhibit birefringence or optical rotatory power. There are known optical tomographs that measure the polarization state of reflected light beams when light is irradiated onto living tissue or the like, in order to investigate these types of polarization properties (refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-301049, "Three dimensional polarization sensitive OCT of human skin in vivo", M. Pircher et al., OPTICS EXPRESS, Vol. 12, Issue 14, pp. 3236-3244, 2004, and "Determination of the depth-resolved Stokes parameters of light backscattered from turbid media by use of polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography", J. F. de Boer et al., OPTICS LETTERS, Vol. 24, No. 5, pp. 300-302, 1999, for example).
When the various types of optical tomographs described above are applied to endoscopes, lasers are generally used as light sources, and linearly polarized light beams having predetermined polarization directions are employed as the measuring light beam and the reference light beam. It is preferable for the reflected light beam and the reference light beam to be adjusted when they are combined, because the intensity of the interference light beam becomes maximal when the polarization directions of the reflected light beam and the reference light beam are matched. However, single mode optical fibers, which are generally used in endoscopes, cannot necessarily maintain the polarization state of light that propagates therethrough. Therefore, when variation factors such as vibration during rotation of the probe and temperature changes are applied, the polarized state of the light that propagates through the optical fiber changes. For example, even if the light beam emitted from a light source is linearly polarized light, the polarization direction may change, or a portion of the light beam may become elliptically polarized light. That is, the polarized state of light that propagates through the optical fibers is unstable.
In addition, optical components which are employed in optical tomographs, such as mirrors and fiber couplers, have polarization properties such that the transmittance, reflectance, or the dividing ratio thereof changes according to the polarization direction of light incident thereon. In the case that light having an unstable polarization state enters optical components having polarization properties, the signal level received by a detector varies, the S/N ratio decreases, and values that do not accurately reflect the results of measurement are obtained. As a result, the image quality of tomographic images deteriorates, such as by the images becoming grainy, and targets of diagnosis which should be discriminated may be overlooked. This is a problem that arises not only when measuring the polarization properties of a measurement target, but also during general measurements.
Use of a polarization maintaining optical fiber, which is capable of propagating linearly polarized light while maintaining the polarization direction thereof, within the probe may be considered. In this case, it becomes necessary to cause the linearly polarized light beam to enter the polarization maintaining optical fiber such that the polarization direction thereof matches the unique polarization axis thereof. However, if the probe is rotated to perform scanning in the peripheral direction as described above, the polarization maintaining optical fiber therein also rotates. Therefore, it is not possible for the polarization direction of the linearly polarized light and the polarization axis of the polarization maintaining optical fiber to be constantly matched. If the polarization direction and the polarization axis do not match, the linearly polarized light that enters the polarization maintaining optical fiber often becomes elliptically polarized light, which is unsuited for measurement of polarization properties. In addition, signal levels will vary, because the polarization state of emitted light changes along with the rotation of the probe, and the image quality of tomographic images will deteriorate.
A linearly polarized light beam may be converted into a nonlinearly polarized light beam prior to entering the polarization maintaining optical fiber. A polarizing plate that transmits only light having a predetermined polarization direction may be provided. The polarizing plate may be caused to rotate along with the rotation of the probe, thereby matching the polarization axis of the polarization maintaining optical fiber within the probe and the polarization direction of the light beam. However, if this configuration is adopted, light having polarization directions other than the predetermined polarization direction is absorbed or reflected, and therefore, the amount of light loss becomes great.
The optical tomograph disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,564,089 and 6,615,072 is provided with a Faraday rotator as an element for adjusting polarization directions. However, the Faraday rotator must be miniaturized in order to be provided at the tip of the probe, which is to be inserted into body cavities. The types of Faraday rotators which are capable of being miniaturized are limited in the wavelengths for which they can be utilized, and therefore are not suited for optical tomographs. A magnetic garnet monocrystal, in which the crystal itself has magnetism, may be employed as the material of the Faraday rotator to achieve some degree of miniaturization. However, this type of Faraday rotator is likely to generate ghosts due to reflection, because the refractive index of the magnetic body is high. For this reason, reflection preventing measures, such as provision of a watertight seal filled with index matching fluid, forming bonding surfaces at angles other than right angles to prevent feedback of reflected light, and the like, become necessary. The reflection preventing measures lead to increases in manufacturing costs.
The optical tomograph disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,564,089 and 6,615,072 also employs a polarization controller as an element for adjusting polarization directions. The optical tomograph disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,687,010 and 7,133,138 uses a polarization maintaining optical fiber capable of maintaining the polarization state of light for a portion of the optical path, uses single mode optical fibers for the rest of the optical path, and employs a polarization controller to adjust the polarization directions of light. However, polarization controllers are mechanically driven, which results in slow operating speeds. Other shortcomings of tomographs that employ polarization controllers are that: the tomographs become bigger in size; they are unstable because of their high sensitivity; it takes time to find optimal combinations of operational parameters, as there are three parameters to be adjusted; adjustments by operators are required, because the propagating state of light within optical fibers change; and the like. That is, these tomographs are not well suited for practical use. Particularly regarding adjustment by polarization controllers, there is the aforementioned problem of control speed thereof. Therefore, if the polarization direction shifts greatly during diagnosis utilizing OCT measurement, there is a possibility that diagnosis will be interrupted.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


An imaging system for acquisition of NIR and full-color images includes a light source providing visible light and NIR light to an area under observation, such as living tissue, a camera having one or more image sensors configured to separately detect blue reflectance light, green reflectance light, and combined red reflectance light/detected NIR light returned from the area under observation. A controller in signal communication with the light source and the camera is configured to control the light source to continuously illuminate area under observation with temporally continuous blue/green illumination light and with red illumination light and NIR excitation light. At least one of the red illumination light and NIR excitation light are switched on and off periodically in synchronism with the acquisition of red and NIR light images in the camera.

Near-infrared (NIR) imaging has been described in the literature for various clinical applications. Typically such an imaging modality utilizes a contrast agent (e.g. indocyanine green) that absorbs and/or fluoresces in the NIR. Such contrast agents may be conjugated to targeting molecules (e.g. antibodies) for disease detection. The contrast agents may be introduced into tissue intravenously or subcutaneously to image tissue structure and function (e.g. flow of blood/lymph/bile in vessels) that is not easily seen with standard visible light imaging technology.
Independently of the clinical application, endoscopic NIR imaging devices typically include multiple imaging modes as a practical feature. For example, endoscopists utilize visible spectrum color for both visualization and navigation, and an endoscopic imaging device that offers NIR imaging typically provides a concurrent color image. Such concurrent imaging devices can be realized, for example, as follows:                One conventional configuration utilizes spectral separation of the visible and the NIR light, with full color and NIR image signals acquired using separate sensors for the different color (e.g. red, green, and blue) and NIR spectral bands or a single color sensor with an integrated filter with filter elements transparent to the different spectral bands (e.g. red, green, blue and NIR). Thus, such multi-modality color and NIR imaging devices provide dedicated sensors or sensor pixels for each of the two imaging modes. Disadvantageously, this increases the number of image sensors in multi-sensor implementations or compromises image resolution when on the same sensor, specific sensor pixels are dedicated for NIR imaging while others are utilized for color imaging.        Another conventional configuration utilizes a single monochrome image sensor for sequential imaging of the visible and NIR light. The object is hereby sequentially illuminated with light in the red, green, blue and NIR spectral bands, with separate image frames being acquired for each spectral band and composite color and NIR images being generated from the acquired image frames. However, this approach, where image frames are acquired sequentially at different times, can generate objectionable motion artifacts (i.e. color fringing and "rainbow effects") in the composite color and NIR images. These artifacts can be mitigated by increasing the acquisition or frame rate to more than, for example, 15 frames/second (fps), for example to 90 fps, or even 180 fps. Because of the high data transfer rate, high frame rates are difficult to implement for high definition images (e.g. 2 million pixels), or images having a large dynamic range (>10 bits), thus limiting image size and/or resolution.
It would therefore be desirable to provide a system and a method for simultaneous acquisition of full-color visible light and NIR light images, which obviates the aforementioned disadvantages and does not compromise image resolution and/or introduce objectionable motion artifacts.

Imaging system for combined full-color reflectance and near-infrared imaging


A device for emitting an acoustic wave includes a flared structural piece bearing at its base an electromechanical transducer and defining at its flared end an output surface. A mechano-acoustic coupler made of one piece is a solid piece and exhibits: a first portion for mounting on the transducer, a second portion extending from the first portion up to the level of the output surface, the coupler being suspended on the structural piece at the level of the second portion and the second portion having a cross-sectional area at the level of the output surface which is strictly greater than its cross-sectional area at the level of the first portion, and a third portion extending from the second portion, where the third portion has a cross-sectional area which is smaller than the output surface, the third portion including a cross-section of greater area than the output surface.

Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a device for emitting an acoustic wave, such as a loudspeaker.
Description of Related Art
Use is currently made of devices for emitting an acoustic wave comprising a flared structural piece (or frame) which bears at its base an electromechanical transducer (including for example a coil) and which defines at its flared end an output surface.
A membrane linked to the transducer is then generally mounted suspended inside the structural piece (i.e. on the same side of the output surface as the transducer). The membrane is caused to vibrate by the transducer and thus emits an acoustic wave (in the case in point, through the output surface).
When devices produced according to this design are juxtaposed, it is not possible to obtain a continuous emitting surface owing to the fact that the space required for the structural pieces (or frames) is greater than that for each membrane; the membranes of the different devices are therefore themselves not contiguous.
In order to improve this state of affairs, U.S. patent application 2009/141 916 proposed a design according to which a radiating diaphragm is mounted at the end of a cylindrical coil former. This design therefore does not include the flared structural piece (or frame) conventionally used, as the patent application in fact emphasises.
It may be desirable for different reasons, in particular in order to avoid a specific development and to turn on the other hand to a piece of proven design, to continue to use a flared structural piece. It is thus sought in particular to propose a design which allows for the juxtaposition of the emitting surfaces of different emission devices without calling the use of a flared structural piece into question.


In order to reduce load placed on a CPU (central processing unit) in providing SBP-2 (serial bus protocol 2) initiator capability, provided are a sequence control circuit activated by the CPU for controlling a command issue sequence, a packet processing circuit for assembling operation request blocks (ORB) into a transmission packet and extracting a status from a received packet; buffer for storing a command ORB provided by the CPU; a buffer for storing a management ORB provided by the CPU; a buffer for storing a status received for an issued management ORB and providing the status to the CPU; and a buffer for command for storing a status received for an issued command ORB and providing the status to the CPU.

The present invention relates to a command issuing apparatus for a high-speed serial interface.
In recent years, IEEE 1394 interfaces have received attention as high-speed serial interfaces for interconnecting audiovisual apparatuses and computers. The IEEE 1394 technology can be used not only for communications between computers through ATAPI (AT Attachment Packet Interface) and SCSI (Small Computer System Interface), which are conventional parallel interfaces, but also for communications between audiovisual apparatuses. This is because IEEE 1394 defines asynchronous communication and isochronous communication.
When computer data is stored in a magnetic disk such as a hard disk or an optical disk such as a DVD-RAM or computer data stored in such a disk is read by a host computer using the IEEE 1394 technology, a control command and data is typically transmitted using asynchronous communication. SBP-2 (Serial Bus Protocol 2), which is a protocol using asynchronous communication, has been generally used for communication between the host computer (initiator) and the hard disk or DVD-RAM (target).
With the commencement of digital broad casting services in Japan, the fusion of audiovisual apparatuses and computers has been accelerated and a hard disk and DVD-RAM have begun to be used as a recording medium for a set top box (STB). Audiovisual data is recorded on these disks in a format that can be handled as a computer file in order to facilitate the management and editing of the data. In such a case, it is required that an SBP-2 initiator capability be provided in the STB, which is an audiovisual apparatus.
Because the dominating apparatuses having the SBP-2 initiator capability have been computers, central processing units (CPUs) offering sufficient speed performance have controlled the transmission and reception of all packets, especially the generation of packets containing operation request blocks (ORBs), in accordance with a program. However, in terms of a cost/performance ratio it is difficult to include a CPU offering sufficient speed performance in an audiovisual apparatus.
In addition, when audiovisual data is recorded or images are reproduced or edited in a target apparatus (such as a hard disk drive or DVD-RAM drive) by an initiator apparatus (STB), the CPU cannot provide sufficient command execution speeds and therefore transmission performance of the target apparatus cannot be fully exploited. Furthermore, required transfer performance of the entire system cannot be achieved.

Command issuing apparatus for high-speed serial interface

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


An input protection circuit which makes it possible to protect an internal circuit with respect to withstanding an electro-static charge by forming multiple discharge loops by connecting each input pad via an input protection circuit. The circuit includes a plurality of pads formed on a P well within a substrate, first discharge paths formed between neighboring pads, and a second discharge path formed between the pads and circuit ground.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an input protection circuit, and in particular to an improved electrostatic discharge (ESD) input protection circuit which is capable of effectively discharging an electrostatic charge in order to prevent damage to internal circuit elements in an integrated circuit.
2. Description of the Conventional Art
FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional input protection circuit, which, as shown therein, includes a pad 1 coupling an input signal to an internal circuit, and a bipolar NPN shunt transistor 2 connected to the signal path between the pad 1 and the internal circuit with the base thereof connected to receive a substrate voltage (VBB) and the emitter thereof connected to ground voltage (Vss).
FIG. 2 illustrates the physical layout of the input protection circuit of FIG. 1. As shown therein, a semiconductor substrate includes a p well forming the base of the bipolar NPN shunt transistor 2, and an n+ region forming the collector of the transistor 2 which is connected between the pad 1 and the internal circuit, and another n+ region forming the emitter of the transistor 2 which is connected with the ground voltage (Vss). A field oxide region (FOX) isolates the n+ collector and emitter regions and overlies the p-well.
The operation of the conventional input protection circuit will now be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.
When an electrostatic charge is inputted via the pad, a break-down phenomenon occurs between the n+ well forming the collector and the p well forming the base for thus increasing the amount of the electrostatic charge upon the p well. Therefore, the transistor becomes forward biased into conduction and the electro-static charge is discharged (shunted) through the p well and the (n+) collector region to ground (VSS).
However, in the conventional input protection circuit, since each pad has connected thereto an input protection circuit, so that the electro-static discharge path is made short, when a large electrostatic charge is inputted, it is impossible to properly discharge the electro-static charge.


A pass card having a card body with a cavity therein, a module with a semiconductor chip implanted permanently in the cavity of the card body, and a micro-encapsulated adhesive for fixing a nonconductive plastic substrate of the module in the card body.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a smart card. In such cards, a module including the semiconductor chip is permanently fixed in a cavity in the card. The card itself can be molded from a plastic as a single piece. Preferably, the plastic is molded so as to form the cavity for the semiconductor chip. Alternatively, the card can consist of multiple layers connected to one another by lamination. In this case, the cavity is cut into the card.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A module to be implanted in a smart card of this type is described in German Reference DE 37 23 547. The module is fixed in the cavity of the card by means of a heat adhesive layer. To activate the heat adhesive layer and establish the adhesive connection, the layer must be heated at least briefly to relatively high temperatures, in some cases up to 150.degree. C. To this end, the module is implanted in the card by means of a heat punch. It is disadvantageous, first of all, that the card experiences plastic deformation in the cavity region due to the heat. This detracts from the optical impression of the card surfaces, which bear high-quality printing. Secondly, it is difficult and expensive to find and duplicate the optimal parameters for the implantation process (temperature of heat punch, duration of heat, geometry of punch, etc.). Furthermore, a special problem arises in processing semiconductor chips of various sizes, because the heat absorbed by the chips and the heat conducted to the heat adhesive layer depends on the size of the semiconductor chip. Incorrectly set parameters thus result in poor adhesion. Under certain circumstances, the adhesion is so inadequate that the module can be removed from the card very easily. In addition, overheating the sensitive semiconductor module can impair its function.
Furthermore, it is known from German reference DE 42 29 639 to fix modules of this type in cards by means of instant adhesives based on cyanoacrylate. However, since such adhesives take only seconds to harden, they cannot be applied to one or both of the surfaces to be connected until immediately before the module and the card are put together. This requires an additional process step linked directly to the implantation step in terms of time (and thus in terms of space as well). When instant adhesives are used, it is therefore not possible to provide mass-produced modules with adhesive layers and then store them for days or weeks prior to the actual implantation process.

Pass card having a semiconductor chip module attached by a microencapsulated adhesive


A method of over-current protection includes: determining a current flowing through a first element to be protected, comparing the determined current with a plurality of thresholds, controlling a counter based on the comparing the determined current with a plurality of thresholds, and stopping the current flowing through the first element by activating a switch in series with the first element when an output of the counter reaches a predetermined counter threshold.

Electrical cables are pervasive in many applications, such as personal electronics, automotive, and industrial applications. Electrical cables are typically made of electrically conductive material, such as copper, and may be used to electrically connect two components, allowing the flow of electricity between them. There are many types of electrical cables, such as power cables, coaxial cables, and twisted-pair cables. Some electrical cables include a collection of wires insulated from each other. Other electrical cables may include a single wire. Each type of cable may be optimized for a particular use.
Electrical cables may be damaged, destroyed, or present a safety hazards when stressed with an over-current event. Over-current protection circuits, therefore, may be used to protect electrical cables from over current events by limiting or stopping a current flowing through the element being protected.
Fuses have been used to protect a power source, a load, a cable, wiring systems, electrical equipment, and other electrical component from an over-current event. A fuse is typically a low resistance element that would interrupt the flow of current through it when current beyond the fuse's current rating flows through it. Fuses typically include a thin metal filament that is capable of handling current up to the fuse's current rating, but is configured to melt, and thus interrupting the flow of current, when the fuse's current rating is exceeded. Fuses may be referred to as a sacrificial device because the tripping of the fuse is an irreversible event. In other words, a blown fuse may not be reused.

Circuit and method of over-current protection


The use is described of derivatives of α-phenylthiocarboxylic and α-phenyloxycarboxylic acids with formula (i): in which the substituents have the meanings described in the text, for the preparation of a medicine for the prophylaxis and treatment of diabetes, particularly type 2 diabetes, its complications, the various forms of insulin resistance, and hyperlipidaemias

Diabetes is a widespread disease present throughout the world and is associated with major clinical complications including microvascular complications such as diabetic retinopathy, diabetic neuropathy and diabetic nephropathy, and macrovascular complications such as atherosclerosis, peripheral vasculopathies, myocardial infarction and stroke.
The insulin resistance that characterises diabetes is also involved in syndrome X, in polycystic ovary syndrome, in obesity, in hypertension, in hyperlipidaemia and in hypercholesterolaemia (J. Am Osteopath Assoc 2000 October; 100(10):621-34; JAMA 2002 November 27; 288(20):2579-88).
Hyperlipidaemia, hypercholesterolaemia and hypertension are known to play a decisive role in the onset of coronary heart disease (CHD).
An increase in protein glycosylation is also known to be involved in the above-mentioned complications of diabetes (Diabetologia 2001 February; 44(2):129-46).
Said complications constitute a serious threat to the health and well-being of the individual.
Different clinical forms of diabetic disease are known, the most common being type 2 and type 1 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is characterised by a reduced sensitivity to the action of insulin (insulin resistance) and gives rise to an increase in insulin levels in the body in an attempt to compensate for this defect and to a consequent increase in glucose levels. There have been numerous reports confirming that insulin resistance is involved in many disease conditions other than type 2 diabetes itself, such as dyslipidaemia, obesity, arterial hypertension, fatty liver and certain macrovascular and microvascular characteristics of diabetic disease itself. The association between insulin resistance and obesity, hypertension and dyslipidaemia is known as syndrome X.
For the treatment of type 2 diabetes, a number of drugs have been on the market for some time now such as the biguanides and sulphonylureas. The best known of the biguanides is metformin but its mechanism of action is not clear and it presents side effects such as gastrointestinal disorders and the danger of acidosis in conditions of renal, cardiac, hepatic, pulmonary insufficiency, etc. The sulphonylureas promote the secretion of insulin by the β-cells and have episodes of hypoglycaemia as a possible side effect. In addition, all the monotherapies with sulphonylureas or with metformin are doomed to failure in the long term (UKPDS Study).
Recently introduced onto the market are the thiazolidinediones, which are insulin-sensitising antidiabetic agents such as troglitazone (J. Med. Chem., 1989, 32, 421-428), pioglitazone (Arzneim. Forsch./Drug Res., 1990, 40 (1), 37-42), and rosiglitazone (Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett., 1994, 4, 1181-1184) which are capable of reducing diabetic hyperglycaemia and insulin levels. The side effects already established for troglitazone and feared for other compounds belonging to this class are: liver toxicity (which has led to the withdrawal of troglitazone from the market in the USA), increased LDL-cholesterol, weight gain and oedema.
These compounds are synthetic ligands with high affinity for Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptor γ (PPARγ) (J. Biol. Chem., 1995, 270, 12953-12956).
Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptors (PPARs) are receptors belonging to the superfamily of the nuclear receptors whose function is to control the expression of genes involved in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism (J. Med. Chem., 2000, 43, 527-550). Various subtypes of PPARs have been identified: PPARγ, PPARα and PPARβ (also known as 6). The gamma isoform (PPARγ) is involved in the regulation of the differentiation of adipocytes and in energy homeostasis, while the alpha isoform (PPARα) controls the oxidation of fatty acids resulting in modulation of the lipid levels in plasma. It is important to note that the reduction of lipids, which is obtained in rodents with PPARγ agonists such as rosiglitazone, is hardly to be found in human subjects, whereas the lipid reduction caused in rodents by fibrates is confirmed in humans. A correspondence between activation of the PPARγ receptor and serum-glucose-lowering activity has been confirmed in structure-activity relationship studies aimed at identifying new molecules with potential antidiabetic action (J. Med. Chem., 1996, 39, 665-668; J. Med. Chem., 1998, 41, 5020-5036; 5037-5054; 5055-5069). The insulin-sensitising action would appear to be related to the fatty acid recruitment action regulated by the activated PPARγ receptor, which is thought to lead to an improvement in the insulin resistance of the tissues by improving glycaemia and lowering insulin levels (Diabetes, 1998, 47, 507-514).
Over the past few years mixed-profile molecules have emerged, i.e. ligands of PPARγ and PPARα (KRP 297, Diabetes, 1998, 47, 1841-1847; DRF 2725, Diabetes, 2001, 50, suppl. 2, A108; AZ 242, Diabetes, 2001, 50, suppl. 2, A121-A122; WO 01/16120). It is in this context that we should view the very recent publication of a Smithkline Beecham patent (WO 02/067912 published on 6 September 2002) which refers to a new class of compounds defined as "PPAR pan-agonists", i.e. agonists capable of activating all three PPAR isoforms so as to minimise the unwanted side effects of PPARγ activation. In particular, this new class of antidiabetic agents, though maintaining the characteristics typical of PPARγ activation, are thought to lead to less weight gain and milder oedema. These compounds are potentially capable of exerting good control of diabetic disease by presenting a serum-glucose-lowering and serum-lipid-lowering action with fewer of the side effects typical of the first series of compounds in the thiazolidonedione class, which were exclusively ligands of the PPARγ receptor. The structures claimed in patents WO 01/16120 and WO 02/067912 share the characteristic in common that they present a fibrate-like portion.
Not all the scientific community, however, agrees with what has been outlined here above. In fact, studies regarding new-generation compounds, whether thiazolidinedione derivatives or not, (MC555, J. Biol. Chem., 1998, Vol. 273 (49), 32679-32684; NC2100 Diabetes, 2000, 49, 759-767, YM440, Metabolism, 2000, 49, 411-417), in gene transactivation tests, in-vitro experiments on glucose uptake with muscle tissue, and in-vivo experiments in transgenic animals with deficient expression of the PPARγ receptor, have suggested there may be no direct relationship between activation of the PPARγ receptor and the serum-glucose-lowering and serum-lipid-lowering activity of these compounds (Toxicology Letters, 2001, 120, 9-19).
By way of confirmation of this, there are a number of investigators who have chosen to use in-vivo screening of diabetic animals (db/db mice, ob/ob mice) in order to identify possible insulin-sensitising agents which are not necessarily good PPAR ligands. From these experiments a number of compounds with interesting antidiabetic activity have been selected and are still in the course of study in animal models (DRF 2189, J. Med. Chem., 1998, 41, 1619-1630; JTT-501, J. Med. Chem., 1998, 41, 1927-1933).
The scientific community would now seem to be oriented towards a search for new compounds with a different mechanism of action which have a similar or superior effect on insulin sensitivity and glucose homeostasis without toxic effects (J. Med. Chem., 2001, 44, 2601-2611) and which are endowed with serum-lipid-lowering activity superior to that of both the old and new antidiabetic agents currently in use.
Hyperlipidaemia is a severe aspect of diabetic disease, constituting, together with the hypertension that is often present, a risk factor for atherosclerosis and for cardiovascular disease which is the first cause of death in diabetes.
The need to reduce the lipids in the blood is often tackled using fibrates, which, despite the positive results obtained in insulin resistance, have never proved successful as serum-glucose-lowering agents.

Use of α-phenylthiocarboxylic and α-phenyloxycarboxylic acids with serum-glucose-lowering and serum-lipid-lowering activity

Sigma-Tau Industrie Farmaceutiche Riunite S.p.A.


A heat generating resistive element which is used in a liquid discharge head for discharging a liquid from a discharge port by thermal energy, consisting of a composition ratio of 15–30 at % Fe, 35–60 at % Si, 10–50 at % N and 1–10 at % O, in total to 100 at % or substantially 100 at %.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a heat generating resistive element of a liquid discharge head (which may be hereafter called an ink jet head or a recording head) for recording or printing letters, marks and images on a recording medium containing paper, a plastic sheet, fabric and an article, by discharging a functional liquid such as ink; a substrate for the liquid discharge head having the heat generating resistive element; the liquid discharge head; and a manufacturing method therefor.
2. Related Background Art
An ink jet recording device with the use of this kind of ink jet heads (recording heads) has the characteristic of recording an image of high definition at high speed, by discharging ink of fine droplets from a discharge port at high speed. Particularly, an ink jet recording device which employs an electrothermal conversion body for an energy generating device for generating energy used for discharging ink, and has the system of discharging an ink bubble produced by the heat energy generated by the electrothermal conversion body, is suitable for the higher-definition and higher-speed recording of images, and the miniaturization and colorization of a recording head and a recording device, so that it has attracted a great deal of attention in recent years. (For instance, see U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4,740,796).
FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing the general configuration of an essential part of a substrate in a recording head used for ink jet recording as described above. FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of a substrate 2000 for an ink jet recording head cut along an 2—2 line corresponding to an ink channel in FIG. 1.
As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of discharge ports 1001 are arranged in this ink jet recording head, and an electrothermal conversion element 1002 generating a thermal energy used for discharging ink from each discharge port 1001 is installed on a substrate 1004 of each ink channel 1003. The electrothermal conversion element 1002 mainly comprises a heat generating resistive element 1005, an electrode interconnection 1006 for supplying an electric power thereto, and an insulating film 1007 for protecting them.
Each ink channel 1003 is formed by jointing a top board having a plurality of channel walls 1008 integrated therein to a substrate 1004 while aligning a relative position of it to an electrothermal conversion element 1002 on a substrate 1004 by a method such as image processing. Each ink channel 1003 has the end on the opposite side of a discharge port 1001 communicating with a common liquid chamber 1009, in which the ink supplied from an ink tank (not shown) is stored.
The ink supplied to the common liquid chamber 1009 is led to each ink channel 1003, forms a meniscus in the proximity of a discharge port 1001, and is retained there. At this moment in time, an ink head selectively drives an electrothermal conversion element 1002, rapidly heats the ink on a thermic effect surface to boil it with the use of the generated heat energy, and discharges the ink through an impulse force generated by boiling.
Referring to FIG. 2, a substrate 2000 for an ink jet recording head is constituted by multilayers consisting of a silicon substrate 2001, a heat storage layer 2002 made of a thermal oxide film, an interlayer film 2003 which also serves as a heat storage function and is made of a SiO film or a SiN film, a heat generating resistive layer 2004, metal wiring 2005 made from Al, Al—Si and/or Al—Cu, a protective layer 2006 made of a SiO film and a SiN film, and a cavitation resistant film 2007 for protecting the protective layer 2006 from chemical and physical shocks caused by the heating of the heat generating resistive layer 2004. The substrate 2000 for the ink jet recording head has a thermic effect portion 2008 of the heat generating resistive layer 2004 configured on one part of the top face.
The heat generating resistive element used in such a recording head is required to have characteristics in the following:                (1) being superior in thermal responsiveness and capable of instantly discharging ink;        (2) having slight change in an ohmic value after a continuous driving operation at high speed, and capability of stabilizing the bubbling state of ink;        (3) having superior heat resistance and thermal stress properties, the long life, and high reliability.
As a heat generating resistive element satisfying these requests, the configuration of using TaN for the material of the heat generating resistive element is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H07-125218.
The stability of the characteristics of a TaN film constituting a heat generating resistive element, particularly the rate of change in resistance after the heat generating resistive element has repeated a recording operation over a long period of time, has a strong correlation with a composition of a TaN film. When tantalum nitride including TaN0.8 hex among the TaN films constitutes a heat generating resistive element, the heat generating resistive element shows a low rate of change in electrical resistance after having repeated the recording operation over a long period of time, and superior discharge stability.
However, as described above, an ink-jet recording device has been increasingly required in recent years to have higher functions such as higher picture quality and recording at higher speed.
Among them, as for the improvement of picture quality, the picture quality can be improved by decreasing the size of a heater (a heat generating resistive element) and by reducing a dot size (reducing a discharge quantity per dot). In addition, as for the higher-speed recording, the speed of recording can be increased by driving a heater in shorter pulses than before and consequently increasing a driving frequency.
However, in order to drive a heater at high frequency in an ink jet head configuring a reduced size of a heater for coping with higher picture quality as described above, the heater (a heat generating resistive element) is needed to increase a sheet resistance value.
FIGS. 3A and 3B is a view for describing a relation between a heater size and various drive conditions. FIG. 3A shows the relation between the sheet resistance value of a heat generating resistive element and the value of an electrical current with respect to a driving pulse width, when a heater size changes from a large size (A) to a small size (B) while a driving voltage is constant. In addition, FIG. 3B shows the relation between the sheet resistance value of a heat generating resistive element and the value of an electrical current with respect to the driving voltage, when the heater size changes from the large size (A) to the small size (B) while the driving pulse width is constant. In FIGS. 3A and 3B, a solid line shows the sheet resistance value, and a broken line shows the value of the electrical current.
As is evident from FIGS. 3A and 3B, in order to drive an ink jet head having the decreased size of a heater in the same condition as a conventional one, the sheet resistance value has to be increased. In addition, a method for driving by increasing the sheet resistance value and the driving voltage reduces the value of an electrical current in relation to energy, so that it can save energy. Particularly, in the case of a liquid discharge head arranging a plurality of heat generating resistive elements therein, the effect becomes great.
However, HfB2, TaN, TaAl or TaSiN, which have been conventionally used for the material of a heat generating resistive element in the ink jet recording head as described above, show a specific resistance value of about 200 to 800 [μΩcm]. In consideration of stably manufacturing the heat generating resistive element and stabilizing the discharge characteristics of a liquid, the maximum film thickness of the formed heat generating resistive element is limited to about 400 angstrom, but the sheet resistance value obtained when employing the above described materials is limited to about 200 [Ω/□]. Consequently, it is difficult to obtain a higher sheet resistance value than the above value so long as using the above described material.
From this reason, conventionally, there has not been such a heat generating resistive element for an ink-jet recording head as to have superior thermal responsiveness in short pulse drive and a high sheet resistance value. Furthermore, when making a heater size small and the ink-jet recording head discharge small ink drops in order to obtain a recording image of higher definition, a conventional heat generating resistive element has to increase the value of an electrical current passing through it, and consequently have caused the problem of increasing heat generation and consequent energy consumption.

Heat generating resistive element, substrate for liquid discharge head having the heat generating resistive element, liquid discharge head, and manufacturing method therefor


An imaging device has color signal generating means (20) for outputting first color signals (R5, G5, B5) corresponding to incident light, and matrix operation means (67) for performing a matrix calculation including multiplication of the first color signals, color signals obtained by raising the first color signals to a power with a first constant (i) as an exponent, color signals obtained by raising the first color signals to a power with a second constant (j) as an exponent, and corresponding matrix coefficients to obtain second color signals (R6, G6, B6). The first and second constants and the matrix coefficients are determined so that the total characteristics of the color signal generating means and the spectral sensitivity characteristic correction means (6) approximate human chromatic curves or spectral sensitivity curves obtained by a linear transformation thereof. Good color reproducibility can be obtained without the use of an infrared cut filter for chromatic correction in the imaging device, and high-sensitivity imaging can be performed under dark conditions.

A conventional imaging device has a lens that focuses incident light, an imaging device that converts the focused optical image to an electrical signal, and an image signal processing means that processes the electrical signal obtained from the imaging device to obtain a prescribed image signal.
To resolve different colors, when the imaging device is a single-element sensor having a single CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) sensor, these being the types of sensors usually employed as imaging elements, a filter of a different color is required for each pixel.
To obtain red (R), green (G), and blue (B) color signals, red, green, and blue primary color filters that pass optical bands corresponding to red, green, and blue may be used, or magenta (Mg), cyan (Cy), yellow (Ye), and green (G) complementary filters may be used. Filters of each of these colors are designed with dyes or pigments having spectral transmission characteristics that pass light of the desired color, but they also have a certain transmittance in the near infrared region. The principal component of the photoelectric conversion section of the imaging element is a semiconductor such as silicon (Si), so the photoelectric conversion section is sensitive to the part of the near infrared region with comparatively long wavelengths. The signal obtained from an imaging element equipped with color filters therefore responds to light rays in the near infrared region.
The chromatic curves that express human sensitivity to color and the brightness curve that expresses human sensitivity to brightness are located in the so-called visible spectral region from 380 nm to 780 nm in which sensations can be perceived, but there is barely any sensitivity at wavelengths longer than 700 nm. To match the color reproducibility of the imaging device to the human chromatic curves, it has been necessary to make a visual sensitivity correction by placing an infrared cut filter (hereinafter, IRCF) in front of the imaging element to block near infrared rays.
When sensitivity is more important than color reproducibility, however, as in a surveillance camera, it is better not to provide an IRCF and to allow the imaging element to receive near infrared light, so that the near infrared part of the spectrum can be used.
Conventional imaging devices address the above situation by incorporating an optical filter means for making a visual sensitivity correction in coordination with the diaphragm means that adjusts the amount of incident light, to obtain good color reproducibility by using the filter means to make a visual sensitivity correction when the diaphragm is stopped down. Below a certain level of illumination, however, the optical filter is removed from the optical path by an operation coordinated with the diaphragm so that high-sensitivity imaging is performed using the infrared light. An IRCF is used as the optical filter means for the visual sensitivity correction. When the visual sensitivity correction is performed, light of wavelengths equal to or greater than a certain wavelength (more specifically, equal to or greater than 650 nm) is attenuated (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Another conventional imaging device uses an infrared cut filter to attenuate infrared light during high-sensitivity imaging, and uses an infrared cut filter and a band attenuation filter that attenuates yellow-green during imaging that combines high sensitivity with good color reproducibility. The image signal is obtained by switching filters to adjust the mixing ratio of the red, green, and blue signals according to the imaging purpose (see, for example, Patent Document 2).
Yet another conventional imaging device has means for output of a prescribed color image signal in imaging with at least a prescribed amount of incident light or with a light source that produces mainly visible light, and for output of a monochrome image signal in imaging with less than the prescribed amount of incident light or with a light source that produces mainly infrared light. When the prescribed color image signal is output, the white balance is corrected by using a prescribed mixing ratio of the red, green, and blue signals (see, for example, Patent Document 3).    Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2001-36897 (pp. 3-6, FIGS. 1-5)    Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2003-134522 (pp. 3-5, FIG. 1)    Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2003-264843 (pp. 5-6, FIG. 1)


There is provided methods for use in control signaling in advanced wireless communication systems that support flexible allocation of TDD UL-DL configurations. Where HARQ-ACK bundling is used, PDCCH/EPDCCH transmissions indicating DL SPS release and PDSCH transmissions with corresponding PDCCH/EPDCCH are scheduled only on DL and/or special subframes in a DL association set which are not after the subframe in the DL association set carrying an UL grant. Where HARQ-ACK multiplexing is used, the value of the DL assignment index (VDAIUL) is set to the number of subframes in the DL association set. Cross-subframe scheduling is also used.

The following abbreviations may be found herein:
3GPPthird generation partnership projectACKacknowledgementCRCcyclic redundancy checkDAIdownlink assignment indexDCIdownlink control informationDLdownlinkeIMTA systemssystems with TDD interference management andtraffic adaptationeNBnode B/eNodeB/base stationFDDfrequency division duplexHARQhybrid automatic repeat requestHARQ-ACKhybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgmentLTElong term evolutionLTE-Along term evolution advancedNACKnegative acknowledgement(E)PDCCH(enhanced) physical downlink control channelPDSCHphysical downlink shared channelPUCCHphysical uplink control channelPUSCHphysical uplink shared channelRel.Release (e.g. LTE Rel. 11 means LTE Release 11)SIBsystem information block (e.g. SIB-1 or SIB1 meanssystem information block type 1)SIFsubframe indicator fieldSPSsemi-persistent schedulingTDDtime division duplexTPCtransmit power controlUCIuplink control informationUEuser equipmentULuplink
LTE wireless communication systems aim to provide enhanced services including higher data rates and lower latency with reduced cost. One benefit of deploying LTE TDD systems is to enable configurable asymmetric UL-DL resource allocations in a radio frame. Typically if more data is to be sent in DL, there can be a higher number of DL subframes configured in a radio frame to accommodate the greater DL data volume. In previously-proposed LTE TDD systems, asymmetric resource allocation is achieved by providing seven different semi-statically configured UL-DL subframe configurations for a given radio frame, as specified in Table 4.2-2 of 3GPP TS 36.211 v 10.5.0 (2012-06) which is extracted below.
TABLE 4.2-2Uplink-downlink configurationsUplink-Downlink-downlinkto-Uplinkconfigu-Switch-pointSubframe numberrationperiodicity012345678905msDSUUUDSUUU15msDSUUDDSUUD25msDSUDDDSUDD310msDSUUUDDDDD410msDSUUDDDDDD510msDSUDDDDDDD65msDSUUUDSUUD
It can be seen that the different TDD UL-DL configurations in the table above provide between 40% and 90% DL subframes, and in conventional practice the UL-DL configuration in use at an eNB is informed to the UE (and changed) only via system information on the broadcast channel. The UL-DL configuration is only configured semi-statically and so may not adapt/match to the instantaneous traffic situation. This is inefficient in terms of resource utilization, particularly in small cells or cells with a small number of users where the traffic situation can often change more frequently or rapidly.
To address this inefficiency, a flexible TDD configuration study item for LTE-A Release 11 was completed. Evaluations in the study item revealed possibly significant performance benefits by allowing TDD UL-DL reconfiguration based on traffic adaptation in small cells. The studies also recommended interference mitigation schemes for systems with TDD UL-DL reconfiguration.
For asymmetric UL-DL configuration and flexible TDD allocation, there are several challenges to overcome before any implementation may be considered viable. One challenge relates to reference HARQ-timing used for UL and DL when TDD reconfiguration may happen as frequently as on a radio frame basis. It is thought that addressing certain difficulties associated with HARQ-ACK feedback for DL transmission (particularly difficulties related to the timing coupling between UL grant and DL scheduling in flexible-TDD systems) may help in this regard.
Diagram (100) in FIG. 1 illustrates the HARQ timing rule specified in LTE Rel. 8, 9, 10 and 11. As specified in LTE Rel. 8-11 and illustrated in diagram (100), one UL subframe in radio frame (n) or (n+1) is responsible for carrying HARQ-ACK feedback for M DL and/or special subframes in radio frame (n), where M is the size of a DL association set K as specified in Table 10.1.3.1-1 of 3GPP TS 36.213 (which is the lower table (120) in FIG. 1). In table (120), the DL association set K is defined for each UL subframe for the different TDD UL-DL configurations. For instance, in TDD UL-DL configuration #3 (125), UL subframe #2 (124) is responsible for carrying HARQ-ACK feedback for DL transmissions which happened k subframes earlier, where the value(s) of k is/are specified in table (120). In this instance (i.e. for UL subframe #2 in TDD UL-DL configuration #3) the values of k are 7 (123), 6 (122) and 11 (121). Hence, UL subframe #2 (124) in TDD UL-DL configuration #3 (125) is responsible for carrying HARQ-ACK feedback for the 7th, 6th and 11th earlier subframes. As a result, in TDD UL-DL configuration #3 (125), UL subframe #2 (114) in radio frame n+1 is responsible for carrying HARQ-ACK feedback for the following subframes in frame n: special subframe #1 (111) (for k=11), DL subframe #5 (112) (for k=7) and DL subframe #6 (113) (for k=6). Thus, in this example, the predefined DL association set K is {7, 6, 11} or {DL subframe #5, DL subframe #6, special subframe #1} and M=3.
In the present context, the subframe number of a particular subframe in a radio frame may also be referred to as the subframe index. For example, for UL subframe #2 in a given radio frame, the subframe index is 2. Likewise, for UL subframe #5 in a given radio frame, the subframe index is 5.
In cases where only one serving cell is configured for a UE, a 2-bit Downlink Assignment Index (DAI) field, VDAIUL, in DCI format 0/4 represents the total number of subframes with PDSCH transmissions and with PDCCH/EPDCCH indicating downlink SPS release sent to the corresponding UE within all the subframes of the DL association set. The value of VDAIUL includes all PDSCH transmissions, with and without corresponding PDCCH/EPDCCH, within all subframes in the DL association set K.
In timing diagram (200) in FIG. 2A, TDD UL-DL configuration #1 is broadcast by a base station using SIB-1. According to the LTE Rel. 8-11 HARQ timing rule discussed above, the HARQ-ACK feedback for DL subframe #0 (201) and/or for special subframe #1 (202) is reported on UL subframe #7 (203). Hence, the relevant DL association set K related to UL subframe #7 (203) is {7,6} or {DL subframe #0 (201), special subframe #1 (202)}. The total number of subframes with PDSCH transmissions and with PDCCH/EPDCCH indicating downlink SPS release within this DL association set {DL subframe #0, special subframe #1} related to UL subframe #7 (203) is indicated by the value of VDAIUL in UL grant (204). UL grant (204) is sent by the base station on special subframe #1 for PUSCH transmission on UL subframe #7 according to the UL grant timing specified in table 8-2 of TS36.213 (see immediately below). Notably, the UL grant (204) is sent on special subframe #1 (202) which is the latest subframe in the DL association set related to UL subframe #7 (203).
TDD UL/DLConfigu-DL subframe number nration01234567890464616464244344444454677775
As another example, according to the HARQ timing rule discussed above, in TDD UL-DL configuration #1 the HARQ-ACK for DL subframe #5 and/or for special subframe #6 in frame n is reported on UL subframe #2 in frame n+1. The total number of subframes with PDSCH transmissions and with PDCCH/EPDCCH indicating downlink SPS release within the DL association set {DL subframe #5 in frame n, special subframe #6 in frame n}(or {7,6}) related to UL subframe #2 in frame n+1 is indicated by VDAIUL sent in the UL grant (206). UL grant (206) is sent by the base station on special subframe #6 in frame n for PUSCH transmission on UL subframe #2 in frame n+1 (this is again according to UL grant timing specified in table 8-2 above). And again, the UL grant (206) is sent on special subframe #6 in frame n which is the latest subframe in the DL association set related to UL subframe #2 in frame n+1.
Thus, it can be observed that all UL grants (204, 205, 206 and 207 in FIG. 2A) are transmitted in the DL/special subframe which is the latest DL transmission instance in the related DL association set. Therefore, the UL grant timing allows the base station to count all of the PDSCH transmissions and PDCCH/EPDCCH transmissions indicating SPS release which happened within a DL association set and to notify the intended UE of the number of said transmissions using VDAIUL in the UL grant. In other words, because UL grants are sent on the last subframe in the related DL association set, the base station such as eNB can count the number of subframes in that DL association set (up to and including the said last subframe on which the UL grant is sent) which included PDSCH transmissions and/or PDCCH/EPDCCH transmissions indicating SPS release, and it can communicate this number to the intended UE via VDAIUL sent in the UL grant. Then, by interpreting VDAIUL in the received UL grant, the UE can tell the total number of PDSCH transmissions and PDCCH/EPDCCH transmissions indicating SPS release that it should have received. This then enables the UE to know whether to send ACK or NACK in the relevant UL subframe, depending on whether or not all PDSCH transmissions and PDCCH/EPDCCH transmissions indicating SPS release are successfully received.
The UL grant timing diagram (200A) in FIG. 2B shows the timing of UL granting and DL HARQ-ACK timing for all seven TDD UL-DL configurations. It can be seen that an UL grant is always transmitted no earlier than the last DL transmission instance within the DL association set related to the particular UL subframe. There is therefore a coupling between the timing of UL grant and DL transmission scheduling. As a result, it could be problematic if the timing of UL grant and DL transmission scheduling were to follow different reference timing for a particular TDD UL-DL configuration.
In spite of this, in flexible-TDD systems, reference timing configurations are expected to be selected independently for DL and UL respectively. In other words, in flexible-TDD systems, the timing of UL grant and DL transmission scheduling are expected to follow different reference timing for a particular TDD UL-DL configuration. The abovementioned coupling between the timing of UL grant and DL transmission scheduling may therefore have the potential to cause problems, including in relation to TDD HARQ-ACK bundling and TDD HARQ-ACK multiplexing operation, and it may be desirable if such problems (or one or some of them) could be ameliorated or at least reduced. Ameliorating or reducing such problems (or one or some of them) may help to achieve gains from flexible-TDD systems.
It is to be clearly understood that mere reference herein to previous or existing apparatus, systems, methods, practices, publications or other information, or to any associated problems or issues, does not constitute an acknowledgement or admission that any of those things individually or in any combination formed part of the common general knowledge of those skilled in the field, or that they are admissible prior art.

DL scheduling and HARQ-ACK feedback for DL transmissions in flexible-TDD systems without and with cross-subframe scheduling


Dual purpose apparatus and process for increasing the efficiency of absorption of oxygen by a biodegradable waste in a continuous operation in a waste collection station and for removing the oxygen enriched waste from the collection station by separately introducing waste and oxygen, which may be air, into a collector under a highly agitated state, and agitating the air and waste under pressure in a collector by a partially recessed vortex type impeller as back pressure is provided to the collector either by a nozzle means or an outlet means. The collector is mis-matched relative to the impeller to increase the retention and mixing time of the air and waste in the collector. The oxygen enriched waste is removed from the collector either by the nozzle means into the waste water in which the apparatus may be immersed, or the outlet means, wherein said outlet means also serves to remove the waste from the collection station, said nozzle means or said outlet means being alternatively actuated with regard to the passage of waste there through by a value diverting means.

The treatment of waste water such as sewage or other biodegradable materials under pressure by air or oxygen is known to the art.
Such treatment has been done as a batch process in a pressurized vessel as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,477,581.
While the process of U.S. Pat. No. 3,477,581 is an advance in the treatment of sewage and other waste water, it requires one or more relatively large pressurized tanks and is not suited for a continuous process or for systems for small communities which may otherwise use septic tanks and the like.
The pressurization of the waste water as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,477,581 will increase the absorption rate of the oxygen used, but requires closed tanks and is not suited for a continuous process.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 903,506 teaches an apparatus which is adaptable for use in a continuous process for adding oxygen to biodegradable sewage to permit the aerobic reduction of the sewage by organic means. This apparatus has marked advantages over the prior art in that it allows for a continuous process to introduce oxygen under pressure into biodegradable waste products. In addition, the apparatus will function in relatively shorter periods of time and in relatively lower levels of water then was capable in any prior art process or apparatus.
The apparatus described in said U.S. patent application has many uses and is advantageously employed in combination with a pump means to remove the oxygen enriched biodegradable waste products from a treating station. For example, in collection stations, it is common to place collection sumps in locations where gravity piping will be too deep for the continuation of the pipeline. The sumps are provided with a pump and float control to pump down the sump, i.e. to remove the wastes therefrom, when it becomes full. Since the sewage or waste water may be anaerobic or become anaerobic during its residence in the sump, obnoxious odors result. These sumps may be located within city areas, in which case such odors would be extremely objectionable. It follows, therefore, that the apparatus can be advantageously used in wet well collection stations to deliver oxygen under pressure into waste products to thereby promote the biodegradability of the waste materials. However, the apparatus is not, as described in said patent application, capable of also pumping the treated waste out of the collection station and therefore, as indicated above, it has to be used in combination with a conventional pump.


In a position measuring device in which data, which requires buffering, may be held without accommodating a high-capacitance capacitor in the inside of the encoder, a backup current source may be exchanged while the circuits required for the operating capability state remain operable. In addition, current usage during the buffering time may be held low, and the service life of the backup current source may be extended, so that the demand for maintenance may be reduced. The position measuring device may include an encoder main part, arranged to measure the extent of the shift in position of an object to be measured, and a backup current source arranged to supply backup current when main current source, that supplies encoder main part with current, is interrupted. Outside of the encoder main part, an auxiliary current source is provided which, during the exchange of a main battery of the backup current source, undertakes supplying backup current in place of this main battery. The backup current source supplies backup current only to those circuits of the encoder main part which require buffering.

Position measuring devices, e.g., absolute position measuring devices, may have a backup current source in order to prevent the loss, in case of an interruption of the main current source, of data important for the operation of the encoder, such as data indicating the rotational position of a motor or the position of motion.
For example, in the position measuring device illustrated in FIG. 4, there are a primary current source 3, a backup current source 1a (external battery) and a chargeable high capacitance capacitor C1 inside an encoder 2. When primary current source 3 is interrupted, the current required is backed up or buffered by backup current source 1a and high capacitance capacitor C1. That means, at normal operation, a voltage Vcc from primary current source 3 drives a current via nodes n1 and n2 and a diode D24 to the internal circuits. In this context, high capacitance capacitor C1 connected to node n1 is also charged. If an interruption of primary current source 3 occurs, a voltage Vbat drives a current from a battery BAT on the inside of backup current source 1a via nodes n3 and n4 to principal encoder part 2, and via a diode D23 a current supply of internal circuits 23 is undertaken. Since diode D24 is present on the side of primary current source 3, no reverse current of the backup current occurs in this context.
On the inside of backup current source 1a, a normal battery BAT is available, and during an exchange of the battery on account of the service life of this external battery BAT, after a sufficient charging of high capacitance capacitor C1, primary current source 3 is switched off and the external battery current source is exchanged during buffering by the high capacitance capacitor within a period of time during which buffering by high capacitance capacitor C1 is possible.
Such encoders are frequently used for the position report of servomotors, and, because of technical revolution in recent years, downsizing and, on account of the problem of heat development of the motor because of downsizing, high temperature capability is called for in the operating temperature range. However, when the high temperature capability is considered in the operating temperature range, the problem may arise that the buffering capacity decreases in the course of time based on the influence of the heat-conditioned quality decrease of the capacitor, and the buffering time may be reduced. As a high capacitance capacitor for buffering, an electric double layer capacitor may be used, and since this may be extremely large compared to general electronic components, a disadvantageous influence on the downsizing of the encoder or on the layout room on a printed circuit board may be unavoidable.
As regards such backup current sources, for example, in Japanese Published Application No. 2000-014047, an encoder is described that has the task of making available an encoder and its backup method, the capacitor for buffering at a location distant from the encoder being developed in an environment having a different temperature, and the reduction in quality of the capacitor is prevented and the reliability of the buffering activity is increased, and, in addition, limitations with respect to the shape and the dimensions of the encoder itself are removed, and downsizing may be achieved. The encoder described in this publication, in the case of which, after the processing of the detection signal of an encoder detection part for determining rotations or a straight-line motion by electrical circuits connected to the primary current source, an encoder output signal is emitted and at least the encoder detection part and the electrical circuits are disposed in an encoder housing, is arranged such that the buffer capacitor for buffering in response to an interruption in the primary current source is arranged outside the encoder housing, the buffer capacitor being connected to a lead wire extending out of the encoder housing, and being arranged at a location distant from the encoder housing, the lead wire being connected between a diode connected to the primary current source and the electrical circuits, and the buffer capacitor being connected directly to the primary current source.
But, since the encoder described in this publication uses a direct capacitor for buffering the main current source, it may not be practical, since the backup current source may be insufficient and the buffering time may be insufficient. And since, in addition, no distinction is made between the current system fed by the main current source and the current system fed by the backup current source, the current usage may be high even during the buffering, whereby the above problem may become worse, and, in addition, a decrease of the service life of the backup current source itself may occur.
Japanese Published Application No. 2001-309577 describes a backup current supply device that has the task of making available a backup current supply device, the backup battery being able to be safely exchanged without the backup data of an absolute encoder being lost. As far as the construction of the device of this publication is concerned, in this context a backup current supply device is involved in which, in parallel, at least two backup batteries and connecting parts for connecting these batteries are made available, and at least one backup battery is connected to one connecting part, while a new backup battery is connected to the other battery connecting part, so that the backup battery may be safely exchanged and a loss of backup data may be prevented.
However, since even in the device described in this publication no distinction is made between the current system fed by the main current source and the current system fed by the backup current source, the current usage may be high also during the buffering, which is why the problem of the service life of the backup battery may still not be solved.
Japanese Published Application No. 2002-213994 describes a backup current supply device, the task of which is to make available at a favorable price a backup current supply device having excellent reliability and service-proved capability, in which there may be no loss of the data of the absolute encoder of a servo system that are to be buffered. As far as the construction of the device of this patent literature is concerned, a servomotor on which an absolute encoder is arranged, a motor control which controls the servomotor and a backup current supply device is made available. The backup current supply device includes a buffer capacitor connected in parallel to a backup battery. In response to the interruption of the main current source of the absolute encoder, the backup current supply device undertakes the buffering of the data. It is connected to the main current source via a detachable connecting terminal or clamp, so that the exchange of the backup power supply device may be easily possible. Furthermore, in parallel, at least two second connecting terminals are made available for connecting the backup current supply device, and the connecting terminal of the backup current supply device is connected to at least one of the second connecting terminals. Since, during the exchange of the backup current supply device, the new backup current supply device is able to be connected to the second connecting terminal, at which there is no connection, there may not come about any loss in the data that are to be buffered.
However, just as with the publications mentioned above, since no distinction is made between the systems of the main current source and the backup current supply device, the current drain may be high, and similar problems may appear as in the above examples.


The invention relates to a device for displacing an object, which device includes a drive device for moving the object along an axis of motion, a control unit which is coupled to the drive device, a set-point generator which is coupled to the control unit and is arranged to determine from secondary conditions a jerk set profile and set points for a plurality of sampling periods for a trajectory to be traveled and to apply the set points to the control unit per sampling period. A problem solved by the invention consists in that secondary conditions such as, for example the maximum velocity or the desired final position, can be changed during a motion along a trajectory. To this end, during the displacement along the trajectory and in response to a change of the secondary conditions, a jerk set profile and associated set points are derived in the set-point generator from the secondary conditions for the sampling periods as from a sampling period succeeding the change. A jerk set profile is used which comprises two pulse pairs, each pulse pair comprising two pulses of the same amplitude and opposite sign. It is an advantage of the invention that the waiting time for the execution of changed instructions is reduced.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a device for displacing an object, which device includes a drive device for moving the object along an axis of motion, a control unit which is coupled to the drive device, a set-point generator which is coupled to the control unit and is arranged to determine from secondary conditions a jerk set profile and set points for a plurality of sampling periods for a trajectory to be traveled and to apply the set points to the control unit per sampling period.
The invention also relates to a method of displacing an object along a trajectory by means of a drive device, in which a jerk profile and set points are determined from secondary conditions for a plurality of sampling periods for the trajectory.
2. Description of Related Art
A device of the kind set forth is known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,331,264. In the context of the present patent Application, secondary conditions are to be understood to mean initial values, final values and constraints, such as the maximum velocity, the maximum acceleration and the maximum jerk, being the derivative of the acceleration to time. Furthermore, a set profile is to be understood to mean a function of continuous time, representing the value of one of the motion variables at any sampling instant of the task to be performed.
The set-point generator of the known device is arranged to determine, prior to the displacement along the indicated trajectory, the jerk set profile and the other set points for the other motion variables for a plurality of sampling periods for the displacement of the object along the indicated trajectory and to apply the set points to the control unit per sampling period, so that the drive mechanism can displace the object along the indicated trajectory. It is a drawback of the known device that during the displacement of the object along the trajectory there is a waiting period for changing secondary conditions influencing the motion of the object. This waiting period occurs, for example in the case of a correction of the desired final position or upon adjustment of a higher maximum velocity of the object.

Control by means of a set-point generator


A portable device for cooling a container, such as a beverage, while providing a source of illumination. The portable device may have one or more inner packets containing one or more chemicals, within an outer packet containing one or more chemicals, whereby breaching the one or more inner packets causes the contents of the one or more inner packets to combine with the contents of the outer packet, resulting in one or more chemical reactions that lower the temperature of the outer surface of the outer packet and generate light.

Instant cold packs are often used to treat injuries or sore muscles. An instant cold pack typically consists of two packets or bags: a first packet containing water, inside a second packet containing a solid chemical such as ammonium nitrate or calcium ammonium nitrate. When the inner packet of water is broken by squeezing the package, it dissolves the solid chemical in an endothermic reaction. The resulting reaction absorbs heat from the surroundings, quickly lowering the temperature of the inner surface of the second packet. Instant cold packs may be carried as first aid to remote or wilderness areas where ice is unavailable.
Light sticks are self-contained, short-term light-sources. They are often used for recreation, and to provide light for military, police, fire, or emergency medical services operations. Light sticks typically consist of two vessels: an inner packet containing a first chemical, inside an outer translucent plastic tube containing a second chemical or solution of chemicals. The inner packet may contain a chemical such as hydrogen peroxide. The chemicals inside the plastic tube may be a mixture of dye, a base catalyst such as sodium salicylate, and diphenyl oxalate. The outer plastic tube may be flexed, causing the inner vessel to break and allowing the contents of the inner packet and outer plastic tube to combine. When the contents combine, they generate light by chemiluminescence, without the need for an external energy. source. The reaction releases energy mostly as light, with very little heat.
Although instant cold packs and light sticks have been commercially available for years, they have not been combined in a manner according to the present invention disclosed herein.


Apparatus for use within an IP Multimedia Subsystem, IMS, network to handle Session Initiation Protocol, SIP, messages. The apparatus comprises a receiver for receiving a SIP message from a peer IMS node, and a SIP message inspector for inspecting a P-Charging-Vector, PCV, header within a received SIP message in order to detect the presence within the PCV header of a parameter and associated handling determinator. The apparatus further comprises a SIP message handler for determining, on the basis of a handling determinator and without reference to said associated parameter, an action or actions to be applied to said parameter and associated handling determinator.

IP Multimedia services provide a dynamic combination of voice, video, messaging, data, etc. within the same session. By growing the number of basic applications and the media which it is possible to combine, the number of services offered to the end users will grow, and the inter-personal communication experience will be enriched. This will lead to a new generation of personalised, rich multimedia communication services, including so-called "combinational IP Multimedia" services.
The Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) is a third generation wireless system designed to provide higher data rates and enhanced services to users. The UMTS architecture includes a subsystem known as the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) for supporting traditional telephony as well as new IP multimedia services. IMS provides key features to enrich the end-user person-to-person communication experience through the use of standardised IMS Service Enablers, which facilitate new rich person-to-person (client-to-client) communication services as well as person-to-content (client-to-server) services over IP-based networks. The IMS is able to connect to both PSTN/ISDN (Public Switched Telephone Network/Integrated Services Digital Network) as well as the Internet. It is expected that IMS will be integrated into current and future Long Term Evolution (LTE) deployments.
The IMS makes use of the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) to set up and control calls or sessions between user terminals (or terminals and application servers). The Session Description Protocol (SDP), carried by SIP signalling, is used to describe and negotiate the media components of the session. Whilst SIP was created as a user-to-user protocol, IMS allows operators and service providers to control user access to services and to charge users accordingly. The 3GPP has chosen SIP for signalling between a User Equipment (UE) and the IMS as well as between the components within the IMS.
By way of example, FIG. 1 illustrates schematically how the IMS fits into the mobile network architecture in the case of a GPRS/PS access network (IMS can of course operate over other access networks). Call/Session Control Functions (CSCFs) operate as SIP proxies within the IMS. The 3GPP architecture defines three types of CSCFs: the Proxy CSCF (P-CSCF) which is the first point of contact within the IMS for a SIP terminal; the Serving CSCF (S-CSCF) which provides services to the user that the user is subscribed to; and the Interrogating CSCF (I-CSCF) whose role is to identify the correct S-CSCF and to forward to that S-CSCF a request received from a SIP terminal via a P-CSCF.
Within the IMS service network, Application Servers (ASs) are provided for implementing IMS service functionality. Application Servers provide services to end users in an IMS system, and may be connected either as end-points over the 3GPP defined Mr interface, or "linked in" by an S-CSCF over the 3GPP defined ISC interface. In the latter case, Initial Filter Criteria (IFC) are used by an S-CSCF to determine which Applications Servers should be "linked in" during a SIP Session establishment (or indeed for the purpose of any SIP method, session or non-session related). The IFCs are received by the S-CSCF from an HSS during the IMS registration procedure as part of a user's Subscriber Profile.
IMS implements flexible user charging schemes in respect of IMS services. In particular, IMS allows operators to charge for value added services over and above the mere transfer of data. For a given IMS session, it is possible that a number of IMS network elements will generate data required for offline and/or online charging. This is likely to become more common as the IMS evolves such that multiple ASs are used per session. To decrease the need for correlation at a (central) charging control function which collects data from multiple IMS charging elements, especially in the case of online charging (e.g. used for prepaid subscribers), it is useful to concentrate charging information at a single network element per session and to transfer all of this charging information from that single element to the charging control function. This will of course require that unique information available in other network elements be transported to the selected charging point.
One method to achieve the transport of charging information between IMS network elements within SIP messages involves the use of the SIP private header P-Charging-Vector (PCV). PCV is defined in RFC3455 with the parameters:                icid-value; the IMS Charging Identity Value. The icid-value is a charging value that identifies a dialogue or a transaction outside a dialogue. It is used to correlate charging records. An icid-value must be a globally unique value.        icid-gen-addr; the address of the SIP proxy that creates the icid-value.        orig-ioi; the originating Inter Operator Identifier.        term-ioi; the terminating Inter Operator Identifier.        generic-param; this parameter allows for the use of further parameters without the need to specify these individually. A network operator may define such further parameters for use within its own network domain in order to transport network specific information within the PCV.
The treatment of these parameters in the different network elements is described in TS 24.229. This treatment is different for each parameter and also dependent on the network element. [It is noted that, as with other SIP privacy headers, the PCV header is not included in a SIP message sent between networks if no trust relationship exists between them.] An extension to the PCV is described in 3GPP TS 24.229 (access-network-charging-info).
The generic-param may be used to carry charging related information over and above that provided for by the existing icid-value, icid-gen-addr, orig-ioi, and term-ioi parameters described above. In addition, further parameters could be specified for this purpose. However, both of these options would require that all network elements through which a message carrying the parameter can pass are updated to include appropriate behaviour, i.e. the added information must be known and understood by all of the affected network elements. This would be a complicated process particularly in a multi-vendor solution, i.e. where different vendors supply different parts of an operator's network.

Charging information transfer in the IMS


Apparatus for the production of glow discharge, preferably for a large-area plasma CVD process, including a vacuum coating chamber (K) and a microwave waveguide resonator with one or more coupling points, wherein the resonator is made in the form of a microwave waveguide ring resonator (13, 13'), reaction zones (R) are formed at the coupling points between the microwave waveguide ring resonator (13, 13') and the vacuum chamber (K), and in each case a series of magnets (5, 5', . . . ; 6, 6', . . . ) of different polarity are provided, so that in front of the reaction zone (R) individual tunnels of magnetic field lines (16, 16') running parallel thereto are formed and each magnetic field (16, 16') encloses a spatially uniform plasma tube (17) in the reaction zone (R).

In the state of the art apparatus which consist, for example, of a microwave waveguide which is connected via a coupling point to a funnel or horn antenna, are known. By means of this antenna the microwaves are coupled into a vacuum coating chamber through a quartz glass window, making a plasma CVD process, for example, possible in this chamber.
Furthermore, apparatus are known which have a microwave waveguide which by means of a coupling point transmit the microwaves to a microwave waveguide resonator.
This waveguide resonator is characterized by a standing interference pattern of the microwave field, as well as one or more coupling points for supplying the glow discharge for anticorrosion processes and ECR wafer dry etching processes.
These known apparatus with funnel or horn antennas have the disadvantage that, among other things, the quartz glass window between the antenna and the vacuum chamber is also coated during the coating process and thus affects or prevents the passage of the microwaves.
The apparatus with a microwave waveguide resonator have the disadvantage that tuning of the resonator length, resonator position and the coupler is necessary. Moreover, due to the standing interference pattern of the microwave field, in many cases a plasma that is not sufficiently uniform spatially is obtained, and consequently an unsatisfactory distribution of the coating rates, in a PCVD process, for example.
It is therefore the object of the present invention, first to find an apparatus that is independent of a device, such as the quartz glass window for example, which will lastingly affect the microwaves before they enter into the interior of a coating chamber. Secondly, an apparatus is to be found which, over the average time, will permit a spatially more uniform distribution of the coating rates of large-area substrates, such as searchlight reflector inserts, in a PCVD process.