A select circuit selectively outputs one of a transition indication signal that is the output of an edge sense circuit of an input timer, a transition indication signal that is an output of an edge sense circuit of an output timer, and a control signal for controlling output using software. The state of activation of a switch circuit for controlling transmission of a clock signal to a counter of the output timer is then controlled by the signal selected by the select circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a microcomputer comprising of a semiconductor integrated circuit and more particularly relates to controlling the operation of a timer provided in a microcomputer.
2. Description of the Related Art
Microcomputers have input ports, output ports, memory and Central Processing Units (hereinafter referred to as xe2x80x9cCPU""sxe2x80x9d) and are operated under software control to perform various functions. Microcomputers therefore have a wide range of applications in control of the operation of household appliances and control of vehicle engines, etc.
Microcomputers are also provided with timers for controlling the timing of the operation of various functions. Timer circuits provided in microcomputers are, for example, input timers and output timers.
An input timer has a function for counting the number of pulses of a clock signal using a counter. An input timer transfers a number of pulses counted at a counter for outputting in response to the detection of a transition (for example, a falling edge from a level of a power supply voltage VDD to the level of an earth voltage VSS) of the voltage level of a pulse signal externally inputted via an input port, i.e. transferring of a count value for a number of pulses transferred in intervals occurring on transitions in the voltage level of the pulse signal inputted from one of the input ports can be carried out. The intervals between the occurrence of an external input signal can therefore be confirmed from the output of the register that is the output of the input timer.
Input timers are also used, for example, in microcomputers for use with vehicles in order to obtain the speed of a piston operation occurring in a cylinder of an ignition chamber used in an engine unit, i.e. a signal outputted in accompaniment with one piston operation is used as a pulse signal inputted from one of the input ports and the speed of the piston operation can be obtained by carrying out arithmetic processing using a count value stored in the register of the input timer.
Output timers have a function for counting the number of pulses of a clock signal using a counter. An output timer then outputs a signal indicating coincidence when the number of pulses counted by the timer coincides with a prescribed set pulse number.
In, for example, microcomputers for use with vehicles, an output timer is used in order to designate control of the timing of ignitions of a spark plug in a combustion chamber used in an engine unit, i.e. a signal indicating coincidence from an output timer is utilized in order to time ignitions of a spark plug in response to the prescribed set number of pulses in an effective manner.
When both the input timer and the output timer are used to control an engine unit in the above way, it is preferable to link mutual operations in order to make controlling the respective operations straightforward.
However, applications where each timer can be put to use are by no means limited to the above. Various demands are therefore made by the users, such as control of the operations in such a manner that the two timers are linked, control of the respective timer operations using software, and control of the respective timer operations using signals from outside of the microcomputer.
For example, when two external input signals for controlling the respective operations of the input timer and the output timer are prepared at peripheral circuits of a microcomputer, demands are made to control the operation of the respective timers using the two external input signals. Further, when a program for controlling the operation of the two timers is built into programmable memory within the microcomputer, control of the operation of the respective timers using software is demanded.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a microcomputer capable of arbitrarily selecting methods of controlling operation of the timer functions and that can be put to a wide range of practical uses.
It is a further object of the present invention to achieve the aforementioned object without bringing about increases in circuit scale of increasing the complexity of control.
In order to realize the above object, the microcomputer of the present invention comprises a first timer circuit for outputting a count value counted for a number of clocks for a clock signal based on a transition indication signal indicating a transition of a voltage level of an externally inputted pulse signal, a second timer circuit operating in response to a count permit signal and outputting an output signal when the count value counted for the number of clocks of the clock signal becomes a prescribed count value and a select circuit for outputting one of a plurality of signals including the transition indication signal and an internally generated signal as a count permit signal for controlling the operation of counting the number of clocks of the clock signal.
In the microcomputer of the present invention, generation of the internally generated signal can be controlled by software.
The select circuit of the microcomputer of the present invention can output one of the plurality of signals as the count permit signal in response to the select indication signal.
Further, in the microcomputer of the present invention, the plurality of signals can include an externally inputted signal different from the pulse signal.
Still further, in the microcomputer of the present invention, the first timer circuit can comprise a dividing circuit for outputting a divided signal divided from the transition indication signal, and outputs the count value in response to the divided signal, with the divided signal being included in the plurality of signals selected by the select circuit.


Butyl based composition having hydrocarbon resins are provided herein. The hydrocarbon resin has a Tg from −10° C. to 25° C., a number average molecular weight between 20 to 500, a weight average molecular weight between about 100 to about 2000, and a glass transition temperature between about 0° C. to about −80° C.

Aliphatic-aromatic based hydrocarbon resins are used in isobutylene based compositions to impart suitable filler dispersion and modify the range of mechanical and fatigue resistant properties of the composition without affecting the permeability characteristics. However, certain butyl based compositions comprise one or more polymers having a high softening point ("SP") and a high glass transition temperature ("Tg"). Therefore, adding such polymers increases the butyl based composition Tg, and the potential for cold cracking and decreasing cold temperature resistance in various applications. For example, isobutylene-isoprene based compositions are prone to crack at severe low temperature conditions (i.e., −35° C. to −40° C.) under tension-compression cyclic loadings. While additives can be added the butyl based composition to decrease the overall Tg, often an additive will increase the permeability coefficient of the composition, which is undesirable, especially for applications such as tire inner liners.
Under certain circumstances, the addition of a secondary polymer such as natural rubber, ethylene propylene rubbers or ethylene propylene diene monomer ("EPDM") can reduce Tg as well as the low temperature brittle point ("LTB") of the composition and impart low temperature flex fatigue resistance. Or, similarly, relative large amount of oils in the isobutylene based composition can increase the free volume of the polymer chains and cause a suppression of the Tg and LTB.
On the other hand, additives such as low molecular weight plasticizers can result in an increase in permeability coefficient, especially for applications such as tire inner liners. For example, a bromobutyl-natural rubber blend composition can result in more rapid air loss in a tire when compared to a 100% bromobutyl polymer blend based composition. Further, some isoprene based polymers, such as isobutylene co-para-methylstyrene based polymers, have improved permeability characteristics but also have higher glass transition temperatures than conventional isobutylene-isoprene based compositions. Therefore, these polymers pose serious concerns with respect to low temperature performance. While co-monomers such as para-methyl styrene with functionality in the side group can help in efficient packing of the chains and reduce permeability, efficient packing reduces the free volume of the polymer, thereby increases Tg.
To fully utilize the improvements in air barrier properties for applications such as tire inner liners, butyl based compositions with very low Tg and high cold temperature fatigue resistance are needed. Therefore, a need exists for reducing the Tg (and LTB) and improving cold temperature fatigue resistance of butyl based elastomer compositions without decreasing permeability or rheo-mechanical properties.

Hydrocarbon resins for butyl based compositions and methods of making the same


An enzymatic RNA molecule which specifically cleaves mRNA encoded by an mdr-1 gene.

This invention relates to methods for treating cancer.
Transformation is a cumulative process whereby normal control of cell growth and differentiation is interrupted, usually through the accumulation of mutations affecting the expression of genes that regulate cell growth and differentiation.
Scanlon WO91/18625, WO91/18624, and WO91/18913 describes a ribozyme effective to cleave oncogene RNA in the Hras gene. This ribozyme is said to inhibit C-fos expression in response to cis-plantin or other stimuli.

Method and reagent for inhibiting P-glycoprotein (mdr-1-gene)


A waveguide device has an input waveguide, a plurality of output waveguides, a channel waveguide array, an input slab waveguide, and an output slab waveguide. The output slab waveguide connects an output end of the channel waveguide array to the output waveguide, and has optical input/output characteristics set to given ratios for the output waveguides with respect to the input waveguides. The waveguide device is capable of adjusting signal levels output from the respective waveguides without the need for circuit parts for compensating for loss differences and also the need for a process of highly accurately attaching parts.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an arrayed waveguide grating or a waveguide device having a slab waveguide, a demultiplexer or a multiplexer which employs an arrayed waveguide grating or a waveguide device, and an optical communication system which employs an arrayed waveguide grating or a waveguide device or a demultiplexer or a multiplexer.
2. Description of the Related Art
As the volume of data to be transmitted over an optical fiber communication system increases, it is desired that the optical fiber communication system have an increased capacity for data transmission. In view of such a demand, growing importance is attached to optical wavelength filters for use as multiplexing and demultiplexing devices for multiplexing and demultiplexing wavelengths in DWDM (Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing) communication systems.
Optical wavelength filters are available in various types. Of the various wavelength filters, an arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) has a narrow wavelength band and a high extinction ratio, and has features as a multi-input, multi-output filter device. The arrayed waveguide grating is capable of demultiplexing multiplexed signals and multiplexing signals, and can easily be used to make up wavelength multiplexing and demultiplexing devices.
FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings shows an overall arrangement of a conventional arrayed waveguide grating. As shown in FIG. 1, the conventional arrayed waveguide grating, generally denoted by 11, comprises substrate 12, one or plural input waveguides 13 disposed on substrate 12, a plurality of output waveguides 14 disposed on substrate 12, channel waveguide array 15 disposed on substrate 12,and curved in a certain direction with respective curvatures, inlet slab waveguide 16 disposed on substrate 12, and connecting input waveguides 13 to channel waveguide array 15, and outlet slab waveguide 17 disposed on substrate 12, and connecting channel waveguide array 15 to output waveguides 14. Multiplexed signal light entered from input waveguides 13 is spread by inlet slab waveguide 16, and enters into channel waveguide array 15.
Channel waveguide array 15 comprises a plurality of arrayed waveguides having respective different optical path lengths which are successively longer or shorter. Therefore, signal light beams guided through the respective arrayed waveguides couple in respective different phases spaced at certain intervals to the outlet slab waveguide 17. Since the signal light beams actually suffer chromatic dispersion, the cophasal surfaces of the signal light beams are inclined depending on the wavelength. As a result, the signal light beams are focused (converged) at different positions corresponding to the difference wavelengths on the interface between the outlet slab waveguide 17 and the output waveguides 14. Since the output waveguides 14 are disposed in the respective positions corresponding to the difference wavelengths, desired wavelengths can be extracted from the respective output waveguides 14. The slab waveguides are disclosed in Japanese laid-open patent publication No. 7-63934, for example. The general technique of multiplexing and demultiplexing optical signals is disclosed in Japanese laid-open patent publication No. 7-49430, for example.
With the conventional arrayed waveguide grating 11 shown in FIG. 1, the light emitted from channel waveguide array 15 into outlet slab waveguide 17 reaches output waveguides 14 that is connected to the output side of outlet slab waveguide 17. In output waveguides 14, the intensity of the light is greater progressively toward the central ones of output waveguides 14, and smaller progressively toward the peripheral ones of output waveguides 14.
Heretofore, it has been proposed to uniformize the levels of the optical signals thereby to uniform the levels of the optical signals that are detected from the output waveguides. According to one proposal, in order to adjust the levels of the optical signals that are detected from the output waveguides, attenuators for compensating loss differences are individually connected to the respective output waveguides, thus making up an attenuator. However, it is necessary to prepare as many resistors having different resistances as the number of the different levels of the optical signals that are detected from the output waveguides. Furthermore, since the attenuation levels of the attenuators vary depending on the temperature, it is necessary to use a temperature compensation circuit in combination with the attenuators. The arrayed waveguide grating with such attenuators for compensating loss differences is not practical as to cost and space.
An arrayed waveguide grating which is designed to extract a monitor signal using higher-order diffracted light tends to cause a large detected light level difference because a waveguide for guiding the monitor signal is positioned away from the optical axis of light emitted from a channel waveguide array. Consequently, the arrayed waveguide grating needs a structure for compensating for a signal level loss before or after the signal light is detected.
Japanese laid-open patent publication No. 2000-98177 discloses a device having an optical waveguide with a plurality of ports and an optical fiber array. Deviations between the ports and the propagation axes of the optical fibers of the optical fiber array are managed to set transmission losses between the ports of the optical waveguide to desired values. Though the disclosed arrangement does not need an external attenuator, it poses yield and cost problems because of the need for fine adjustment of the propagation axes.
While the drawbacks of the conventional arrayed waveguide gratings have been described above, multiplexers for multiplexing optical signals and demultiplexers for demultiplexing optical signals which employ the conventional arrayed waveguide gratings, and optical communication systems which employ the conventional arrayed waveguide gratings and the multiplexers and demultiplexers are also problematic in that they are complex in structure and large in size, and cannot be reduced in cost.

Arrayed waveguide grading with optical input and output characteristics settable to desired values


A method for generating satellite clock corrections for a WADGPS network computers satellite clock corrections after removing other substantial error components. Errors caused by the ionosphere refraction effects are removed from GPS measurements taken at reference stations using dual-frequency GPS measurements. The multipath noise are removed by smoothing of GPS pseudorange code measurements with carrier-phase measurements. The tropospheric refraction effect can be largely removed by modeling, and if desired, can be improved by the use of small stochastic adjustments included in the computation of the clock correction. After removing the above error factors, satellite clock corrections are computed for individual reference stations, and an average clock correction is formed for each of a plurality of satellites by taking an average or weighted average of the satellite clock corrections over reference stations to which the satellite is visible.

GPS uses satellites in space to locate objects on earth. With GPS, signals from the satellites arrive at a GPS receiver and are used to determine the position of the GPS receiver. Currently, two types of GPS measurements corresponding to each correlator channel with a locked GPS satellite signal are available for civilian GPS receivers. The two types of GPS measurements are pseudorange, and integrated carrier phase for two carrier signals, L1 and L2, with frequencies of 1.5754 GHz and 1.2276 GHz, or wavelengths of 0.1903 m and 0.2442 m, respectively. Some receivers output a Doppler measurement which is simply the difference in two consecutive integrated carrier phase measurements. The pseudorange measurement (or code measurement) is a basic GPS observable that all types of GPS receivers can make. It utilizes the C/A or P codes modulated onto the carrier signals. The measurement records the apparent time taken for the relevant code to travel from the satellite to the receiver, i.e. the time the coded signal left the satellite according to the satellite clock minus the time it arrives at the receiver according to the receiver clock.
The carrier phase measurement is obtained by integrating a reconstructed carrier of the coded signal as it arrives at the receiver. Thus, the carrier phase measurement is also a measure of a transit time difference as determined by the time the signal left the satellite according to the satellite clock and the time it arrives at the receiver according to the receiver clock. However, because an initial number of whole cycles in transit between the satellite and the receiver when the receiver starts tracking the carrier phase of the signal is usually not exactly known, the transit time difference may be in error by the periods of a few carrier cycles, i.e. there is a whole-cycle ambiguity in the carrier phase measurement. Since the carrier frequencies are much higher and their pulses are much closer together than those of the C/A or P codes, the carrier phase measurement can be much more accurate than the code measurement. In addition, the code measurements are affected much more than the carrier phase measurements by the interference of reflected signals with the direct signal. This interference also causes the code measurements to be less accurate than the carrier phase measurements.
With the GPS measurements available, the range or distance between a GPS receiver and a satellite is calculated by multiplying a signal's travel time by the speed of light. These ranges are usually referred to as pseudoranges (false ranges) because the receiver clock generally has a significant time error which causes a common bias in the measured range. This common bias from receiver clock error is solved for along with the position coordinates of the receiver as part of the normal navigation computation. Various other factors can lead to errors or noise in the calculated range, including ephemeris error, satellite clock timing error, atmospheric effects, receiver noise and multipath error. To eliminate or reduce these errors, differential operations are typically used in GPS applications to cancel the noise factors in the pseudorange and/or carrier phase measurements resulting from these error sources. Differential GPS (DGPS) operations typically involve a base reference GPS receiver, a user GPS receiver, and a communication mechanism between the user and reference receivers. The reference receiver is placed at a known location and the known position is used to generate corrections associated with some or all of the above error factors. The corrections are supplied to the user receiver and the user receiver then uses the corrections to appropriately correct its computed position. The corrections can be in the form of corrections to the reference receiver position determined at the reference site or in the form of corrections to the specific GPS satellite clock and/or orbit. Corrections to the reference receiver position are not as flexible because, for optimum accuracy, they require that the same satellites be observed by the user receiver and the reference receiver.
The fundamental concept of Differential GPS (DGPS) is to take advantage of the spatial and temporal correlations of the errors inherent in the GPS measurements. The GPS satellite clock timing error (clock error), which appears as a bias on the pseudorange or carrier phase measurement, is perfectly correlated between the reference receiver and the user receiver. So, a DGPS system is capable of completely removing the clock error, which typically contributes about several meters of error to the user position.
The atmospheric effects are due to the GPS signal passing through the charged particles of the ionosphere and then through the water vapor in the troposphere. The effect of the ionosphere on the GPS signal is usually modeled by an ionospheric refraction model and errors in the model contribute to errors in the computed range. These errors are strongly correlated between the reference and user receivers over short distances between the two receivers, but the correlation diminishes over large distances.
Refraction of the GPS signal in the troposphere can generally be modeled to remove 90 to 95 percent of the tropospheric effects. The residual tropospheric errors can be reduced by the use of a DGPS when the user does not roam across large distances, because the correlation of tropospheric refraction error typically disappears as soon as the user is a few tens of kilometers away from the reference receiver. So the use of the DGPS by itself does not produce meaningful reductions of the residual tropospheric refraction error. Sometimes, the uncorrelated error at the reference receiver can even worsen the situation by introducing additional error into the computed user position.
The ephemeris or satellite orbital error can be modeled as having along-track, cross track, and radial error vectors. The satellite orbital error can be reduced by using the DGPS system. However, the reduction is somewhat limited because the correlation in the satellite orbital error gradually reduces as the separation between the reference and user receivers increases. The correlation is largely diminished over continental distances.
Receiver noise and multipath (reflected signal) effects are generally uncorrelated between the reference and user receivers. These error effects are sometimes amplified by the use of DGPS systems.
To overcome the inaccuracy of the DGPS system in wide-area applications, various wide area DGPS (WADGPS) techniques have been developed. The WADGPS includes a network of multiple reference stations in communication with a computational center or hub. Error corrections are computed at the hub based upon the known locations of the reference stations and the measurements taken by them. The computed error corrections are then transmitted to users via a communication link such as satellite, phone, or radio.
In some cases, raw data such as the measurements and positions of the reference receivers are supplied to the user receiver(s) rather than the corrections. The user receiver can select the data from a particular reference station or form corrections from a weighted combination of the data from the multiple reference stations.
By using multiple reference stations, WADGPS provides more accurate estimates of the error corrections. However, the use of multiple reference stations also makes computation of the error corrections more complicated and different error factors can alias into each other, destroying the correlations inherent in the GPS measurements.

Method for generating clock corrections for a wide-area or global differential GPS system


A printing plate includes, on the printing surface of a raised part, grooves passing through from one side to another thereof. Preferably, the grooves are parallel to each other and equally spaced apart. More preferably the raised part is in the shape of a nearly-rectangular frame, and the grooves are provided such that one side of the near-rectangle and the longitudinal direction of the grooves form an angle of 45°.

Flexography is a type of relief printing that uses a flexographic plate of flexible rubber or resin, and a liquid printing substance. Currently, printing substrates (which is understood as any object on which printing is performed) that can be used for printing with this method include paper as well as cellophane and aluminum foil, and the like.
FIG. 10 illustrates a printing unit that constitutes a key component of a flexographic press. The printing unit includes an impression table 11 that supports a printing substrate 10, a printing plate 1 having a raised part 2, a plate cylinder 12, an anilox roll 16, a dispenser 18, and a doctor roll 15. Printing substance 17 such as ink is supplied to anilox roll 16 using dispenser 18. Anilox roll 16 and plate cylinder 12 are in the shape of cylindrical rolls that contact each other and are rotated in the directions indicated by arrows 48 and 46, respectively. Plate cylinder 12 includes on its perimeter surface printing plate 1 that has raised part 2 in a configuration that corresponds to the design to be printed. Raised part 2 and printing substrate 10 are disposed to be in contact with each other. Printing substance 17 is applied to raised part 2 by anilox roll 16 and then transferred to printing substrate 10. Printing substrate 10 is disposed on a main surface of impression table 11 and is moved in the direction indicated by arrow 47 as printing proceeds. The transferred design is defined by the top surface configuration of raised part 2. The substance that has been printed onto printing substrate 10 and has the configuration of raised part 2 is hereinafter referred to as a "printed substance". In the present example, the printed substance 4 is in the shape of a frame.
The curved perimeter surface of anilox roll 16 is contacted by raised part 2 as well as doctor roll 15. Doctor roll 15 serves to uniformly spread printing substance 17 supplied by dispenser 18 over the perimeter surface of anilox roll 16. Thus, doctor roll 15 is disposed in contact with anilox roll 16 between the location where printing substance 17 is supplied and the location where it is in contact with raised part 2.
Alternatively, a plate-like doctor blade may be used that replaces, and functions similarly to, doctor roll 15. Further, a flexographic press may include a cylindrical fountain roll that replaces, and functions similarly to, dispenser 18 to supply printing substance 17 to anilox roll 16.
Conventionally, flexography has been used for printing characters and graphics onto packaging papers. However, as it may be employed in forming thin films, it is also used for other purposes than printing characters and graphics. For example, flexography may be used for forming alignment layers for a liquid crystal display, with a glass being the printing substrate and a polyimide thin film being printed on its surface.
Flat panel displays using e.g. a liquid crystal panel are employed in a variety of devices such as mobile phones, personal digital assistants, televisions and the like. The liquid crystal panel thereof has liquid crystal that is sealed between a pair of panel substrates spaced apart at a predetermined distance. A thermosetting or UV curing seal is used to bond the liquid crystal panels together along their periphery and to prevent the liquid crystal from leaking.
In recent years, a method of manufacturing liquid crystal panels called the dropping and panel-alignment method, or the dropping and filling method, has gained in popularity. The method preforms a frame-shaped seal on one of a pair of panel substrates and then drops a predetermined amount of liquid crystal within the frame. The panel substrate is then bonded together with the other panel substrate under a depressed atmosphere before retrieving them to the ambient atmosphere to produce a liquid crystal panel. The method allows the filling of liquid crystal and the bonding together of the two panel substrates simultaneously without leaving bubbles in the liquid crystal.
Conventional methods of forming a seal for the liquid crystal panel include the screen-printing method, the dispensing method and the like. In the screen printing, a screen mesh comes in contact with the surface of a printing substrate including a panel substrate and may scratch an alignment layer on the panel substrate, resulting in a decreased displaying quality. To prevent this, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 9-258194, methods have been proposed to separate the screen mesh from the printing substrate by inserting a spacer therebetween. This, however, requires emulsion to be thinly spread on the alignment layer, which may easily be punctuated, often causing the sealing material to be printed on the alignment layer. The dispensing method (see Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 5-15818) uses a dispensing nozzle to print unicursally a frame using sealing material for each cell, which takes a long time. For example, it is inefficient when printing hundreds of small frames of sealing material on one panel substrate.
Consequently, methods have been developed for forming a seal without scratching the surface of the printing substrate while using flexography with improved productivity.
For a small film thickness of a seal in the dropping and panel-alignment method, when two opposed panel substrates are bonded together, part of the liquid may leak through a gap between the seal and the panel substrate prior to the entire periphery of the seal being in contact with the panel substrate to seal the liquid therein. Air may also enter the liquid crystal panel through a gap between the seal and the panel substrate upon retrieving the panel substrates from the depressed atmosphere to the ambient atmosphere. Accordingly, the pre-printed seal should have a thickness equal to or greater than 20 μm, and preferably a thickness in the range from 25 to 30 μms.
Flexography is suitable for producing a thin film of 0.01–1 μm. For a film thickness greater than several micrometers, attempts have been made to increase the amount of substance transferred from the anilox roll to the raised part of the printing plate by providing dot-like dimples on the raised part of the printing plate, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 10-217418. However, conventional flexography can stably produce a film thickness of around 10 μm, at most. The thickness of printing substance transferred to the printing substrate is hereinafter referred to as the "film thickness". Trying to produce a greater film thickness requires correspondingly larger dot-like dimples on the raised part of the flexographic printing plate. However, printing substance is often insufficiently supplied from the anilox roll into the dot-like dimples, which leaves bubbles, resulting in bubbles in the printed substance after printing or in printed lines being partially narrower (a narrower portion of the printed line is hereinafter referred to as the "narrowness").
The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems. An object of the present invention is to provide a relief printing plate and method of printing using the same, and an apparatus and method for manufacturing liquid crystal devices that allow printing for producing a film thickness greater than would be achieved by the conventional art without causing bubbles or narrownesses.

Printing plate, press and method of printing, and apparatus and method for manufacturing liquid crystal devices


A speaker and antenna configuration for use in a mobile device. The speaker and antenna configuration includes a speaker, an antenna, and a circuit board. The circuit board includes at least one sound passageway. The speaker is mounted on one side of the circuit board such that sound from the speaker passes substantially through the sound passageway. The antenna is situated on the other side of the circuit board. In one embodiment, the antenna includes a perforation configured such that sound from the speaker passes substantially through the perforation.

As mobile telephone technology has advanced, the mobile telephone developers have concentrated on making the telephone smaller so that more volume and weight could be set aside for new features, while keeping the overall form-factor of the phone to be pocket-sized.
However, the quality of the sound reproduction is an important factor in a customer's decision to buy a mobile telephone. Audio quality of a speaker is determined by its frequency response over an audible frequency range, as well as a volume of space provided within a mobile telephone's case. Making mobile telephones smaller affects the volume of space available for the speaker, which in turn may negatively impact the frequency response of the speaker, and hence the customer's decision to purchase the mobile telephone.
In addition to reducing the size of the mobile telephone, mobile telephone developers may also provide antenna designs that include internal antenna arrangements. Placement of the antenna inside a case of the mobile telephone reduces the overall size of the mobile telephone -and prevents antenna breakage. However, improper placement of the internal antenna in relation to the speaker may result in interference that reduces the quality of the sound. Moreover, antennas must be oriented so that few telephone parts and external obstacles are interposed between an external radio source and the telephone antenna.
Deploying the antenna on a flip or a boom causes its own problems. A flip requires extra enclosing hardware, as well as a resilient path for conductors to carry signals between the flip and the main mobile device. More parts thus produce higher cost, greater weight, and lower reliability, as well as other problems. The same problems may apply to any other component, such as a speaker, that may be deployed on a flip or boom.
Therefore, the mobile telephone developer must design a combination of speaker, antenna, and case configuration that provides an acceptable audio quality with minimum antenna interference within a limited space. Thus, it is with respect to these considerations and others that the present invention has been made.

Antenna and speaker configuration for a mobile device


A complex base band signal b of a send signal from a mobile station of the CDMA system is obtained, then a portion of the complex base band signal is normalized in amplitude, and the normalized signal is synchronized with a PN code and the time reference is estimated. A frequency error is estimated from a complex correlation value used for the estimation of the time reference. The normalized signal is corrected corresponding to the estimated frequency error, and the corrected signal is used to estimate and correct the initial phase. The corrected signal and the time reference are used to estimate a time lag between a symbol point and the sample point nearest thereto and a reference signal displaced by the time lag is generated. The reference signal and the corrected signal are used to estimate the remaining frequency error and initial phase by the least squares method. All the estimated values are used to correct the signal b, and the corrected signal and the reference signal are used to calculate the waveform quality.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for measuring the waveform quality of signals that are transmitted from mobile stations of, for example, a mobile radio communication system using the CDMA scheme.
The standardization of a digital cellular system using the CDMA scheme is now proceeding in Subcommittee (TR45.5) of TIA/EIA under the leadership of Qualcomm, Inc. and standards for performance evaluations of transceivers are defined as IS-98 and IS-97. The present invention relates, in particular, to a method for measuring parameters of CDMA modulated mobile station send signals, such as a carrier frequency error, the carrier phase and the clock (symbol) phase (timing), and detecting therefrom the waveform quality defined in Standard IS-98 mentioned above.
There has already been proposed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/825,502 entitled "Parameter Measuring Apparatus for Digital Quadrature Modulation Signals" (The corresponding Japanese patent application was not laid open to public inspection as of the priority date (Dec. 4, 1996) of this application.) a method for measuring, based on Standard IS-98, the waveform quality of mobile station send signals OQPSK (offset QPSK) modulated according to Standard IS-95. A description will be given first, with reference to FIG. 1, of the configuration of the apparatus.
The signal to be processed is down-converted to an IF signal, which is subjected to AD conversion by suitable sampling and stored as digital data in a memory. The IF digital signal is converted to a complex base band signal in a baseband converting part 11. The complex base band signal is input into a rough parameter estimating part 12, in which its parameter (the carrier frequency, for instance) is roughly estimated, then the thus estimated parameter is used to correct the complex base band signal in a correcting part 13, and the corrected base band signal is demodulated in a data detecting part 14. The demodulated data is provided via a time reference extracting part 15 to a reference signal generating part 16, wherein a reference signal is generated. The complex base band signal corrected in the correcting part 13 and the reference signal are used to estimate the parameter with high precision in a precise parameter estimating part 17. Finally, the complex base band signal corrected in the correcting part 13 is further corrected corresponding to the highly precise estimated value, and the resulting corrected signal and the reference signal are used to calculate the waveform quality in a waveform quality calculating part 19. The parameter estimation in the rough parameter estimating part 12 is made with such a degree of accuracy as to permit correct demodulation of the base band signal in the data detecting part 14.
The conventional method involves the data demodulation to extract the time reference. To perform this, it is necessary to estimate the parameter to such an extent as not to cause a demodulation error and correct the complex base band signal accordingly prior to the data demodulation. Hence, the occurrence of a demodulation error will cause an error in the extraction of the time reference, introducing an error in the subsequent parameter estimation. Furthermore, the prior art method employs plural parameter estimating parts and, upon each parameter estimation, entirely corrects the complex base band signal. If the signal is long, the calculating time will increase accordingly.

Waveform quality measuring method and apparatus


The present description concerns an electronic device including: a modulator-demodulator circuit; a first integrated circuit implementing a first subscriber identification module; and at least one second integrated circuit intended to implement a second subscriber identification module, wherein a sequencing terminal of the first circuit and a sequencing terminal of the second circuit are connected to a same sequencing terminal of the modulator-demodulator circuit.

Wireless communication devices comprising a plurality of integrated circuits each implementing a subscriber identification module are known. Some of these circuits may form part of a removable microcircuit card, or SIM card, inserted by a user in a dedicated location, or slot, of the device. Other circuits may form part of an irremovable electronic chip, welded in factory on a printed circuit board of the device.
The presence of a plurality of these circuits, removable or not, in a same device enables the user to access extended wireless communication functionalities. However, the integration of such circuits causes a complexity and cost increase of the devices.


This invention includes methods of forming capacitors. In one implementation, a first capacitor electrode material is formed over a substrate. The first capacitor electrode material is exposed to a nitrogen comprising atmosphere effective to form a dielectric silicon and nitrogen comprising material on the first capacitor electrode material. The dielectric silicon and nitrogen comprising material is exposed to an aqueous fluid comprising a base and an oxidizer. The aqueous fluid has a pH greater than 7.0. After the exposing to the aqueous fluid, an aluminum oxide comprising capacitor dielectric material is deposited over the first capacitor electrode material. A second capacitor electrode material is formed over the aluminum oxide comprising capacitor dielectric material. Other aspects and implementations are contemplated.

Capacitors are one type of device used in integrated circuits, for example in the fabrication of logic circuitry and memory circuitry. A continuing goal in integrated circuit manufacture is to reduce the size of individual devices, thereby increasing density and/or reducing the size of the integrated circuit which is manufactured. With capacitors, a continuing challenge is presented to produce ever smaller capacitors, while maintaining desired adequate capacitance. Techniques for doing so include improved structural design as well as utilizing materials which maximize capacitance. For example, high dielectric constant capacitor dielectric materials have been introduced to replace or complement conventional dielectric materials such as silicon nitride. Further, treatment of capacitor electrodes, as well as treatment of capacitor dielectric materials after deposition, can favorably or adversely affect the ultimate capacitance of the capacitor.
Often, there is a trade-off between desired capacitance and undesired leakage current through the capacitor. In many instances, techniques and materials which maximize dielectric constant can also increase leakage current between the capacitor electrodes in varying degrees. It would be desirable to develop techniques which tend to increase dielectric constants of certain deposited material, and thereby capacitance of the capacitor, without a corresponding large degree of increase in leakage current.
While the invention was motivated in addressing the above identified issues, it is in no way so limited. The invention is only limited by the accompanying claims as literally worded, without interpretative or other limiting reference to the specification, and in accordance with the doctrine of equivalents.


One embodiment provides a system that facilitates an intermediate node to handle a potential timeout event. During operation, the system receives, by an intermediate node, a keep-alive control packet which indicates a name for an Interest message, an indicator to keep alive a Pending Interest Table (PIT) entry, and a time period for which to keep the PIT entry alive. The intermediate node determines whether the keep-alive control packet corresponds to the PIT entry based on the name, and, responsive to determining that the keep-alive control packet corresponds to the PIT entry, updates a timeout value of the PIT entry based on the time period indicated in the keep-alive control packet. Responsive to determining one or more interfaces specified in the PIT entry from which the Interest message is received, the intermediate node forwards the keep-alive control packet to the one or more interfaces.

Field
This disclosure is generally related to distribution of digital content. More specifically, this disclosure is related to providing notification by a content producing device to intermediate routers of a potential timeout event in order to keep an Interest alive in a content centric network (CCN).
Related Art
The proliferation of the Internet and e-commerce continues to create a vast amount of digital content. Content-centric network (CCN) architectures have been designed to facilitate accessing and processing such digital content. A CCN includes entities, or nodes, such as network clients, forwarders (e.g., routers), and content producers, which communicate with each other by sending Interest packets for various content items and receiving Content Object packets in return. CCN Interests and Content Objects are identified by their unique names, which are typically hierarchically structured variable length identifiers (HSVLI). An HSVLI can include contiguous name components ordered from a most general level to a most specific level. As an Interest packet is routed through the network from a content requesting node to a content producing node, each intermediate CCN router adds an entry in its Pending Interest Table (PIT) corresponding to the Interest and forwards the Interest to the next CCN router. When a matching Content Object packet is sent from the content producing node back to the requesting node, it follows the reverse path of the Interest. Each intermediate CCN router forwards the Content Object along the requesting interfaces listed in the corresponding PIT entry and subsequently removes the PIT entry, indicating that the Interest has been fulfilled.
A PIT entry can also be removed by a CCN node (or router) when the PIT entry times out. A node can select any time out value that the node deems appropriate upon adding an Interest to its PIT. PIT entries can time out under different scenarios. One case is due to congestion in the network, which results in the system dropping the Interest or the matching Content Object. Another case is when the content producing node or application responsible for generating the matching Content Object needs to perform a computationally intensive task (e.g., that takes 45 seconds) before it can send a response back. In both cases, PIT entry timeouts can lead to the requesting node re-expressing the Interest, sometimes repeatedly and over a short period of time. PIT entry timeouts can also cause intermediate CCN routers to transmit the re-expressed Interests on multiple interfaces, thus increasing network traffic and creating additional congestion.

Interest keep alives at intermediate routers in a CCN


A system including a memory having regions including a first and second region, the first region being different from the second region, and a digital rights management engine to receive a plurality of ciphertext cipher blocks, decrypt the ciphertext cipher blocks yielding plaintext cipher blocks, output the plaintext cipher blocks to the first region of the memory over a period of time, provide a plurality of decoy cipher blocks in addition to the plaintext cipher blocks, the decoy cipher blocks having a pattern in which: a first one of the decoy cipher blocks consists of data, and a second one of the decoy cipher blocks consists of data which is the same as the data of the first one of the decoy cipher blocks, and output the decoy cipher blocks to the second region of the memory during the period of time. Related apparatus and methods are also included.

The following references are believed to represent the state of the art:
U.S. Pat. No. 7,526,808 to Lynn, et al.;
U.S. Pat. No. 7,624,282 to Hollar;
U.S. Pat. No. 7,721,333 to Home;
US Published Patent Application 2007/0169191 of Greene, et al.;
US Published Patent Application 2008/0208560 of Johnson, et al.;
US Published Patent Application 2008/0216051 of Johnson, et al.; and
US Published Patent Application 2011/0060915 of Tal.


What is disclosed is a system and method for estimating tidal chest volume using 3D surface reconstruction based on an analysis of captured reflections of structured illumination patterns from the subject with a video camera. The imaging system hereof captures the reflection of the light patterns from a target area of the subject's thoracic region. The captured information produces a depth map and a volume is estimated from the resulting 3D map. The teachings hereof provide a non-contact approach to patient respiration monitoring that is particularly useful for infant care in a neo-natal intensive care unit (NICU), and can aid in the early detection of sudden deterioration of physiological condition due to detectable changes in respiratory function. The systems and methods disclosed herein provide an effective tool for tidal chest volume study and respiratory function analysis.

Monitoring respiratory events is of clinical importance in the early detection of potentially fatal conditions. Current technologies involve contact sensors the individual must wear constantly. Such a requirement can lead to patient discomfort, dependency, loss of dignity, and further may fail due to a variety of reasons including refusal to wear the monitoring device. Elderly patients and neo-natal infants are even more likely to suffer from the adverse effects of continued monitoring. Unobtrusive, non-contact, imaging based methods are increasingly needed for monitoring patient respiratory function.
Accordingly, what is needed in this art are sophisticated systems and methods for estimating tidal chest volume by analyzing distortions in reflections of structured illumination patterns captured in a video of a thoracic region of a subject of interest being monitored for respiratory function.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Processing a video for tidal chest volume estimation


The device for detecting percussion events (DISP) comprises at least one axial accelerometer sensor (ACC1, ACC2, ACC3), characterized in that it also comprises at least one additional axial sensor insensitive to the translational vibrations (MAGN1, MAGN2), for measuring an information item representative of the orientation of the device (DISP) relative to a vector field of known direction within a fixed coordinate system not linked to the device (DISP), and low cut-off filtering means (FILTCB) provided with at least one input receiving measurements transmitted by the axial sensor or sensors (ACC1, ACC2, ACC3, MAGN1, MAGN2), means (AN) of analyzing the measurements filtered by said low cut-off filtering means (FILTCB), comprising comparison means (COMP) for comparing data from the analysis means (AN) with one or two thresholds (SP, SN).

There are impact detection devices. The document U.S. Pat. No. 6,369,794 B1 (Matsushita Electric Industrial Co) discloses a system for managing intentional impacts made by a user on a cell phone. The device comprises at least one accelerometer whose measurements are processed by comparison with thresholds to detect an impact.
Such systems have a not inconsiderable detection error rate, and significant calculation means.
One aim of the invention is to offer an alternative to the abovementioned devices, with reduced cost and complexity, and with a reduced percussion event detection error rate.
Another aim of the invention is to be able to distinguish a strong angular acceleration from a genuine percussion event.

Device for detecting a percussion event, and associated mobile system


In a heating apparatus for X-ray inspection which heats at least one surface of a sample (7) by convection to perform an X-ray inspection, a planar heater 1 formed of an X-ray transmitting material having an opening 1b for passing gas is provided at a window part 22 for making an X-ray observation of the sample. Thereby, a board can be subjected to convection heating uniformly without enlarging or complicating the apparatus.

In recent years, an assembled circuit board has been made high in density, large in the number of layers and increasing in variety of using materials. Therefore, the necessity for an X-ray inspection capable of observing the interior or joint part of a component, in addition to conventional optical inspections has increased.
In particular, an X-ray inspection at high temperature capable of observing a change in crystalline structure or a change in the melted state by heating a sample to high temperatures can be used to observe a melted state and behavior on cooling of a solder which exists at a joint part of a component in real time. Therefore, this inspection is useful in analyzing a cause of defective generation at a solder joint part.
Where an X-ray inspection is performed on a sample under heating conditions, conventionally, there are often found cases that the sample heated outside an inspection system is set inside the inspection system and then subjected to observation. An X-ray inspection system having a heating apparatus is also proposed. However, at some of the heating elements necessary in the heating apparatus or at a part of the apparatus, a metal low in X-ray transmission is used. Since the metal absorbs, reflects, diffracts or scatters X-rays, a disadvantage is found that an X-ray receiving apparatus is unable to sufficiently receive an X-ray from an X-ray irradiation apparatus to result in a failure of conducting an accurate inspection. Thus, a heating apparatus which is capable of conducting a clear X-ray inspection under heating conditions has been required.
Further, in order to conduct an accurate inspection, it is necessary to heat a sample to high temperatures as rapidly and uniformly as in actual production. Therefore, a heating apparatus which is capable of performing rapid and uniform heating has been required. Still further, since components have been downsized, there is a growing demand for observing a very small component clearly at high magnification. In order to reduce a focal length, a heating apparatus has been required to be made thinner.
Thus, in Patent Document 1, an observation apparatus in which a heater containing a metal at some parts is separated from a sample piece to heat the sample with heated-air is proposed.
In Patent Document 2, a heating apparatus which uses ceramics formed into a plate shape as a material constituting the heating apparatus is also proposed.
In Patent Document 3, a reflow heating apparatus equipped with a heating unit which heats compressed air and feeds it is still also proposed.
However, according to the above-described conventional technologies, there has been a problem that, where a sample heated outside an inspection system is set inside the inspection system and subjected to observation, the sample decreases in temperature or unevenness in temperature distribution during the setting, thus resulting in a failure of controlling the temperature sufficiently. Further, there also has been a problem that a change in the state of the sample in association with a change in the temperature, for example, void occurrence on melting of solder or a change in a wet state, is unable to be observed accurately and in real time according to a required profile.
Further, in an X-ray inspection system equipped with heating apparatus, a metal low in X-ray transmission is used at some of the heating elements of the heating apparatus or at a part of the apparatus. And, there also has been a problem that the metal blocks the field of view for observing an X-ray image to result in a failure of making a sufficient observation.
In order to cope with these problems, the observation apparatus known by Patent Document 1 is provided with a high-temperature chamber which has a heater and a fan outside an observation path of a sample, thereby heating the sample by supplying heated-air from the high-temperature chamber.
However, in the above-described method, it has been difficult to elevate the temperature of a sample rapidly and also difficult to heat the sample in its entirety uniformly, thereby it has been difficult to control the temperature of the sample, resulting in a failure of making an observation in real time according to a required profile.
Further, the heating element is separated from the observation path, thereby an air sending passage and an air blowing mechanism of heated-air is required. Therefore, a problem is posed that a system is made larger to increase a focal length, by which it is impossible to observe a very small component clearly at high magnification. There also have been problems that an angle for observation is limited, a system is complicated and fabricated with difficulty and the system is more likely to malfunction.
In the heating apparatus known by Patent Document 2, ceramics formed into a plate shape are used as a material constituting a heating element, thereby avoiding blockage of an X-ray by the material constituting the heating apparatus. However, a problem is posed that a ceramics heater is slow in elevating temperatures, difficult in controlling temperatures, easily broken and low in durability. Further, since the heating apparatus is not provided with a mechanism for generating air flow within it, there is found a problem that unevenness in temperature distribution inside the apparatus causes.
At present, reflow soldering heating methods used for boards produced worldwide are mostly done by convection heating. This is because, in most cases, components are loaded above and below a glass epoxy board (the back surface is not flat) and therefore thermal conduction heating is not usable.
However, there is a significant difference in soldering behavior between thermal conduction heating and convection heating which is actually conducted on the market. This is because there is a difference in temperature elevation speed between various parts such as a board, a solder paste and a component and also there is a difference in the amount of the solder paste to be dried and oxidized.
For this reason, an inspection which heats an assembled circuit board by thermal conduction heating that may cause a phenomenon which does not take place in reality is meaningless in examining a mechanism of various types of soldering defects caused by convection heating. The above fact is known by technical experts of soldering as common knowledge.
Where a board is subjected to a motion image inspection with an X-ray, convection heating is needed for examining the soldering behavior which takes place in reality. However, conventional reflow heating furnaces for X-ray inspection which have been so far filed are mostly conducted by thermal conduction heating.
In addition, convection heating is described in some of the patent applications like that found in Patent Document 3. Since heated-air is supplied outside a field of view of an X-ray, the temperature distribution on a board is different from the actual temperature distribution and temperatures differ widely at various parts. Further, in the reflow heating apparatus known by Patent Document 3, heated compressed air is ejected to cause convection, thereby heating a sample. Therefore, a problem is posed that an air compressing mechanism is needed to result in a larger and complicated apparatus.


The present invention provides a conveniently usable optical apparatus such as a camera which is provided with a visual axis detecting apparatus and a display portion in the field of view of a finder and which realizes a predetermined operating function which is not started when the finder observer is seeing the display portion and the like.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an optical apparatus such as a single-lens reflex camera, a still video camera or a video camera which is provided with a visual axis detecting device and designed to start a predetermined control function on the basis of the output of the visual axis detecting device.
2. Related Background Art
As disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 3-87818, there is known an apparatus which can select a control function by an observer's visual axis position. By applying such an apparatus to a camera or the like, the setting or the like of photographing conditions can be input by the visual axis.
Also, in the visual axis detecting device described above, a photographer's eyeball is illuminated by an infrared light emitting diode or the like and the image of the eyeball is directed to an image sensor such as a CCD.
Further, it is often the case that display means in the field of view of a finder is illuminated by an LED of high luminance.
Now, generally in the field of view of the finder of a camera, a display portion for displaying photographing information is provided adjacent to an object image observation field, and in case of photographing, attention is always paid to this display portion and an object image, whereby photographing under appropriate conditions becomes possible. Accordingly, it is necessary for the finder observer to see the display portion and the object image alternately, but this often results in the following inconvenience. Human sight is obtained as a result of collectively processing image information projected onto a retina, and image information obtained a moment before is also added and recognized there. In fact, it has been found that the gaze point repeats a considerably vehement jumping exercise and stoppage, and there is a time when the gaze position by the sight and eyeball motion cannot be completely related with each other at one to one.
Accordingly, in spite of the observer being conscious of seeing the display portion, it is detected that actually, the visual axis position lies on an index mark for a predetermined control function started on the basis of the output of the visual axis detecting device, and it may happen that against the observer's will, the camera starts this predetermined function.
Also, U.S. Pat. No. 4,109,145 is known as an eye-controlled apparatus.

Optical apparatus capable of performing a desired function by gazing


A mobile communication system is constructed including a plurality of cluster heads, cluster members, a topology management device, and a location management device. Each cluster head exchanges routing information with only each cluster member in a cluster to which the terminal itself (host terminal) belongs, and with only a cluster head in another cluster adjacent to the cluster to which the host terminal belongs. Each cluster member exchanges routing information with only a cluster head in a cluster to which the host terminal belongs. The topology management device and location management device receive the routing information from each cluster head only.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mobile terminal device, a topology management device, and a location management device in a situation wherein a communication network is comprised of sets of mobile terminal devices, the topology management device, and the location management device, and to a communication method in the communication network.
2. Related Background Art
There are studies on an ad hoc network in which mobile terminal devices, which constitute the network, relay transmitted data among them to implement data transmission in a multihop method among the mobile terminal devices. The known methods of constructing the ad hoc network include a method in which each mobile terminal device autonomously calculates a route to another mobile terminal device (e.g., cf. Document 1 "T. Clausen, P. Jacquet, Project Hipercom, "Optimized Link State Routing Protocol (OLSR)," RFC3626, Internet <URL:www.ietf org/rfc/rfc3626.txt>"). Another known method is one in which a control device different from the mobile terminal devices calculates a route and notifies the mobile terminal devices of the calculated route (e.g., cf. Document 2 "Bharat Bhargava, Xiaoxin Wu, Yi Lu, and Wechao Wang, "Integrating Heterogeneous Wireless Technologies: A Cellular Aided Mobile Ad hoc Network (CAMA)," ACM Mobile Network and Applications, 2003").
In the method wherein each mobile terminal device autonomously calculates the route, for example, as described in the Document 1, the mobile terminal devices constituting the ad hoc network exchange terminal identification information (routing information) on the network with each other. This permits each mobile terminal device to figure out a location where another mobile terminal device is located on the ad hoc network, and thus enables each mobile terminal device to determine a route to the other mobile terminal device.
In the other method wherein the separate control device calculates the route between mobile terminal devices, for example, as described in the Document 2, the control device collects the routing information from all the mobile terminal devices. The control device is able to figure out a location where each mobile terminal device is located on the ad hoc network, based on this routing information, and thus the control device is able to determine a route between mobile terminal devices.

Mobile terminal device, topology management device, location management device, and communication method


The present invention provides for an improved application of signal strength weightings in a SDMA sectorized cellular network. The improved signal strength weightings application is conducted through the improved selection of weightings from a new codebook subset or by the selection of weightings from a larger codebook subset. In a further embodiment, an antenna beam index or bit map can be used to select the best beam(s) in a SDMA sectorized cellular network. In another embodiment, a field or factor in an uplink or downlink transmission packet can designate which directional transmission beam is best suited for the transmission or when the directional transmission beam should be activated.

There is an increasing demand on mobile wireless operators to provide voice and high-speed data services, and at the same time, these operators want to support more users per basestation to reduce overall network costs and make the services affordable to subscribers. As a result, wireless systems that enable higher data rates and higher capacities are needed. The available spectrum for wireless services is limited, and the prior attempts to increase traffic within a fixed bandwidth have increased interference in the system and degraded signal quality.
One problem exists when prior art omni-directional antennas are used at the basestation because the transmission/reception of each user's signal becomes a source of interference to other users located in the same cell location on the network, making the overall system interference limited. Such an omni-directional antenna is shown in FIG. 1(a). In these traditional mobile cellular network systems, the base station has no information on the position of the mobile units within the cell and radiates the signal in all directions within the cell in order to provide radio coverage. This results in wasting power on transmissions when there are no mobile units to reach, in addition to causing interference for adjacent cells using the same frequency, so called co-channel cells. Likewise, in reception, the antenna receives signals coming from all directions including noise and interference.
An effective way to reduce this type of interference is to use multiple input-multiple output (MIMO) technology that supports multiple antennas at the transmitter and receiver. For a multiple antenna broadcast channel, such as the downlink on a cellular network, transmit/receive strategies have been developed to maximize the downlink throughput by splitting up the cell into multiple sectors and using sectorized antennas to simultaneously communicate with multiple users. Such sectorized antenna technology offers a significantly improved solution to reduce interference levels and improve the system capacity.
The sectorized antenna system is characterized by a centralized transmitter (cell site/tower) that simultaneously communicates with multiple receivers (user equipment, cell phone, etc.) that are involved in the communication session. With this technology, each user's signal is transmitted and received by the basestation only in the direction of that particular user. This allows the system to significantly reduce the overall interference in the system. A sectorized antenna system, as shown in FIG. 1(b), consists of an array of antennas that direct different transmission/reception beams toward each user in the system or different directions in the cellular network based on the user's location.
The radiation pattern of the base station, both in transmission and reception, is adapted to each user to obtain highest gain in the direction of that user. By using sectorized antenna technology and by leveraging the spatial location of mobile units within the cell, communication techniques called space-division multiple access (SDMA) have been developed for enhancing performance. Space-Division Multiple Access (SDMA) techniques essentially creates multiple, uncorrelated spatial pipes transmitting simultaneously through beamforming and/or precoding, by which it is able to offer superior performance in multiple access radio communication systems.
This method of orthogonally directing transmissions and reception of signals is called beamforming, and it is made possible through advanced signal processing at the base station. In beamforming, each user's signal is multiplied with complex weights that adjust the magnitude and phase of the signal to and from each antenna. This causes the output from the array of sectorized antennas to form a transmit/receive beam in the desired direction and minimizes the output in other directions, which can be seen graphically in FIG. 2.
While known methods exist in the conventional multi-user multiple antenna systems that employ an orthogonal precoder to place weightings on the spatially orthogonal beamforming transmissions, the known methods and systems are not optimized in the precoding operations, and thereby fail to optimize the performance on the network. The present invention resolves these problems. Further, the installation of many antennas at single base stations can have many challenges which are resolved by the present invention. Since the available spectrum band will probably be limited while the requirement of data rate will continuously increase, the present invention also supports an expansion of the available spectrum over known methods for precoding in the cellular network.
The various components on the system may be called different names depending on the nomenclature used on any particular network configuration or communication system. For instance, "user equipment" encompasses PC's on a cabled network, as well as other types of equipment coupled by wireless connectivity directly to the cellular network as can be experienced by various makes and models of mobile terminals ("cell phones") having various features and functionality, such as Internet access, e-mail, messaging services, and the like.
Further, the words "receiver" and "transmitter" may be referred to as "access point" (AP), "basestation," and "user" depending on which direction the communication is being transmitted and received. For example, an access point AP or a basestation (eNodeB or eNB) is the transmitter and a user is the receiver for downlink environments, whereas an access point AP or a basestation (eNodeB or eNB) is the receiver and a user is the transmitter for uplink environments. These terms (such as transmitter or receiver) are not meant to be restrictively defined, but could include various mobile communication units or transmission devices located on the network.


Image signal demodulation apparatus for demodulating an FM image signal having a carrier, an upper sideband and first and second lower sidebands, of which a modulating signal frequency is comparably close to a frequency of the carrier. The apparatus comprises an equalizer for equalizing a group delay characteristics of the FM image signal at around the carrier frequency, a moire reduction circuit for delaying, with respect to the carrier, respective aliasing components of the first and second lower sidebands by predetermined amounts respectively in response to the output of the equalizer, a limiter for removing amplitude variations of the output of the moire reduction circuit and restoring the upper sideband, a demodulator for demodulating the output of the limiter. The output of the demodulator contains a baseband component having a maximum frequency, and a lowpass filter for passing only the baseband component lower than the maximum frequency. The demodulator together with the moire reduction circuit causes to perform as such that a first moire component generated due to an aliasing caused upon modulation of the FM image signal, becomes opposite in phase relationship to a second moire component generated upon demodulation of the FM image signal, so that the first and second moire components are cancelled out each other.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image signal demodulation apparatus for use in such as a video tape recorder (VTR) and, particularly to an image signal demodulation apparatus capable of reducing moire pattern adequately.
2. Description of the Related Art
A pulse count type demodulator which utilizes zero crossing of an FM image signal as a reference, has been used generally as an FM image signal demodulation apparatus for a VTR. In case of "low" carrier freqeuncy FM signal system in which the carrier frequency f.sub.c of the FM image signal is comparably close to its modulating signal frequency f.sub.p, sideband components of the FM image signal are mixed, upon demodulation, into a baseband of the demodulated signal at an FM demodulator of pulse count type, resulting in signal degradation called moire interference.
According to an exemplary method for dealing with such phenomenon, moire components including a component of 2f.sub.c -2f.sub.p which is produced in the pulse counter are attenuated by delaying a first lower sideband signal with respect to the carrier by a predetermined amount of time which may be about 50 n sec when a carrier frequency f.sub.c of the FM signal is 7 MHz, and a modulation frequency f.sub.p is 5 MHz, and advancing a first upper sideband signal with respect to the carrier by a predetermined amount of time which may be about 15 n sec under the same conditions. Alternatively, the carrier frequency f.sub.c may be set to a value which is 1.5 times the maximum frequency of the baseband signal frequency range such that the moire component becomes out of the baseband range.
On the other hand, in a VTR of such as the S-VHS system (one of the Industry Standard Recording/Playback Systems), the "low" carrier frequency FM recording system mentioned above is employed, there have two sources of degradation of image quality of luminance signal as follows:
[1] As shown in FIG. 1, second and subsequent lower sidebands of an FM signal are frequency-folded with respect to the frequency of 0 Hz generating aliases which interfere in the FM spectrum, resulting a moire interference (hereinafter simply called "moire") after the demodulation. Particularly, when aliases of a first and the second lower sidebands are close in frequency to each other, there may be a beat produced, resulting in conspicuous image quality degradation. A relation between the carrier frequency f.sub.c and the modulating signal frequency f.sub.p in this case can be approximated from f.sub.c -f.sub.p =-(f.sub.c -2f.sub.p) by equation (1). EQU f.sub.p =2f.sub.c /3 (1)
Frequency f.sub.m of the moire after demodulation due to the aliasing of the second lower sideband becomes as follows: EQU f.sub.m =2f.sub.c -2f.sub.p ( 2)
[2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a conventional VTR playback system including a conventional image signal demodulation apparatus. An FM signal reproduced from a magnetic tape by a recording/playback head which is not shown, is amplified by a preamplifier 2, and, after its amplitude characteristic and group delay characteristic around the carrier frequency are equalized by a playback equalizer 3, the reproduced FM signal is supplied to an FM demodulator 5 through a limiter 4. When this FM demodulator 5 takes in the form of the pulse counter as shown in FIG. 3, an output signal spectrum becomes as shown in FIG. 4 and frequency components beyond the baseband are attenuated or removed by a low pass filter (LPF) 6. The limiter 4 functions to remove amplitude variation components and to restore the upper sideband. In FIG. 3, reference numerals 8 and 9 indicate a delay circuit and an exclusive OR circuit, respectively. The exclusive OR circuit may be replaced with a multiplier.
As shown in FIG. 4, the output signal contains a component whose frequency is twice the carrier frequency f.sub.c and its lower sidebands 2f.sub.c -2f.sub.p, 2f.sub.c -3f.sub.p, etc., are mixed in the baseband, causing moire. Particularly, when the frequency of the second lower sideband component "f.sub.m =2f.sub.c -2f.sub.p " of the doubled carrier frequency, is close to the baseband signal frequency f.sub.p, a beat is generated, resulting in substantial degradation of image quality. A relation between f.sub.c and f.sub.p, in this case, can be approximated by: EQU f.sub.p =2f.sub.c /3 (3)
because the moire frequency f.sub.m is substantially equal to f.sub.p. From the equations of 2f.sub.c -2f.sub.p =f.sub.m and f.sub.p =2f.sub.c /3, frequencies of major moire components in the above mentioned items [1] and [2] are identical to each other.
The above described conventional image signal demodulation apparatus has the following drawbacks:
(1) It requires two processes (adjustments), that is, the process for increasing the group delay time of the lower sideband with respect to the carrier by a predetermined amount and the process for decreasing the group delay time of the upper sideband with respect to the carrier by a predetermined amount.
(2) In VTRs etc., in order to improve the pulse characteristics of the signal after it is demodulated, it is necessary to equalize the group delay characteristics around the carrier frequency. However, it is difficult to do this together with controlling the group delays of the upper and lower sidebands.
(3) It is impossible to cancel moire due to the aliasing of lower sidebands generated upon modulation, although the moire produced upon demodulation can be attenuated.

Video demodulation apparatus with moire component cancellation


Systems and methods allow for reliably and efficiently managing files stored on a data storage medium associated with a computer system such as a set-top box. The computer system manages a collection of metadata describing each of the files stored on the data storage medium in a memory during operation of the computer system. A current snapshot of the collection of metadata is periodically or otherwise stored to the data storage medium. Following a reboot of the computer system, the collection of metadata can be recovered to the memory from the snapshot of the collection of metadata stored on the data storage medium.

Most television viewers now receive their television signals through a content aggregator such as a cable or satellite television provider. In the typical instance, encoded television signals are sent via a cable or wireless data link to the viewer's home, where the signals are ultimately decoded in a set-top box (STB) or other computing system. The decoded signals can then be viewed on a television or other appropriate display as desired by the viewer.
More recently, STBs and other computing systems have become more advanced, and now provide more features than were previously available. Many STBs, for example, now provide personal video recorder (PVR) functionality whereby programs contained within received signals are stored on a disk drive or other storage medium for later viewing. With the advent of PVR and other advanced features, many computing devices used in video processing now include hard disk or other data storage devices to increase the capability to store video and other content for subsequent enjoyment.
While the addition of mass storage to STBs and other computing systems can greatly improve the convenience and functionality for the customer, this new capability often comes with new engineering and operations issues. Access times for disk reads and writes, for example, can be relatively slow in comparison to reads and writes to memory, which in turn can affect the responsiveness or other performance of the system. Moreover, in the event of a sudden power-off or other unpredictable event, the data on the disk or other storage device can become corrupt or otherwise difficult to use. While various file management systems have been attempted with varying levels of success, there nevertheless remains a desire to increase efficiency and robustness of file management.
It is therefore desirable to create systems and processes for managing files in a set-top box or other computing system. These and other desirable features and characteristics will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background section.

Systems and methods for reliably managing files in a computer system


An improved mass storage system having a read channel adapted to store in a FIFO memory digitized analog samples of data symbols read from a disk, the buffered digitized samples being processed by digital circuitry that may be operated at a slower speed than the maximum symbol rate from the disk. In one embodiment, the read channel has an analog portion that processes analog signals from a read head and includes an ADC for converting the processed analog signals into digital samples in response to a first clock; a FIFO storing therein the digital samples in response to the first clock and reading out the stored digital samples in response to a second clock; and a detector, in response to the second clock, detecting the digital samples from the FIFO into digital data. The maximum frequency of the first clock is less than the maximum frequency of the second clock.

The read channel in a mass storage system "demodulates" data read from a magnetic medium, such as a hard disk, and converts the demodulated data into a form (e.g., digital data) which can be utilized by, for example, a computer.
The data is stored on a disk as symbols, the data having been encoded using a modulation code (e.g., a run-length limited code) and, typically, an error correction code (e.g., a Reed-Solomon and/or Low Density Parity Check) applied prior to encoding with the modulation code, to increase the reliability of the mass storage system. As will be explained in more detail below, the symbols are preferably recorded on the disk with uniform density to strive for the maximum data capacity that the disk can hold. One consequence of using uniform symbol density is that the rate at which the data symbols are read from the disk depends upon which track is being read since the disk spins at a substantially constant rate. In a typical mass storage system, the symbol rate can vary by a factor of two or more between the innermost and outermost tracks.
A typical prior art read channel comprises an analog front-end (AFE) and a digital back end (DBE). The AFE amplifies, filters, and, in response to a clock, digitizes the signals from a read head positioned over the disk, while DBE, also in response to the clock, processes the digitized analog samples from the AFE to recover the stored data. The frequency of the clock is related to the incoming symbol rate. A controller, knowing what track the read head is reading, sets the clock frequency. Generally, all of the circuitry in the read channel is designed to process in real-time the maximum symbol (data) rate that can be read from the disk.
For read channels capable of reading up to many hundreds of megabits per second of data from the disk, all of the circuitry in the read channel, particularly the DBE, is usually implemented in a high-speed, small-geometry, power-hungry, complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor process technology (e.g., 65 nm CMOS). The power consumed by the digital logic in the read channel is highest when the read channel is reading data from the outermost track. The amount of power needed by the read channel, particularly when reading the outermost tracks, might be too much for portable or other low-power applications.

Low-power read channel for magnetic mass storage systems


A spacer is provided to allow a surface mount device (SMD) to be surface mounted onto a PCB with greater degrees of freedom. The spacer is designed to be surface mountable to the PCB and includes an electrically non-conducting body that has a first surface facing the SMD, a second surface facing the PCB, and through holes and/or indents in the electrically non-conducting body to accommodate electrical conductors that provide electrical connections between the SMD and the PCB. The spacer may provide one or more of: an elevated height (so that the SMD is elevated above the PCB), an offset along the surface of the PCB relative to a designated position for the SMD on the PCB, or a tilt in one or more directions relative to a surface of the PCB.

Surface-mount technology (SMT) is the main technology for producing electronic circuits in which electronic components are mounted or placed directly onto the surface of printed circuit boards (PCBs). Such electronic components are specifically made to be surface mountable and are often referred to as surface-mount devices (SMDs). SMDs are designed to be placed on and soldered to a surface of a PCB. For example, different electrical components (such as a transistor, resistor, light-emitting diode, or integrated circuit chip) may be mounted on a PCB to form a circuit for everyday electronic devices or equipment such as televisions, computers, appliance, etc.

Spacer for surface mountable electronic components


A cable of this invention includes a core comprising a plurality of coated optical fibers and a filling composition of matter which is disposed about the fibers. Typically, the fibers and the filling material are diposed within a tubular member which is disposed within a sheath system. The sheath system include longitudinally extending strength members and a plastic jacket. The filling composition which fills interstices in the core is one which includes an oil constituent which is a relatively high molecular weight aliphatic hydrocarbon. The aliphatic hydrocarbon is a synthetic oil such as polyalphaolefin or mineral oil. A relatively large percent by weight of an antioxidant system is used to prevent thermal oxidative degradation of the filling material as well as of materials in contact with the filling material. Advantageously, for stabilization and metal deactivation, the composition includes zinc dialkyldithiophosphate or diaryldithiophosphate. A styreneethylene propylene copolymer is also included in order to reduce oil separation of the filling material. A fumed silica is used to impart gel properties to the material.

In the cable industry, it is well known that changes in ambient conditions lead to differences in water vapor pressure between the inside and the outside of a plastic cable jacket. This generally operates to diffuse moisture in a unidirectional manner from the ouside of the cable to the inside of the cable. Eventually, this will lead to an undesirably high moisture level inside the cable, especially if a plastic jacket is the only barrier to the ingress of the moisture. High levels of condensed moisture inside a cable sheath system may have a detrimental effect on the transmission characteristics of a metallic conductor cable.
Furthermore, water may enter the cable because of damage to the cable which compromises its integrity. For example, rodent attacks or mechanical impacts may cause openings in the sheath system of the cable to occur, allowing water to enter, and, if not controlled, to move longitudinally along the cable into splice closures.
In the prior art, various techniques have been used to prevent the ingress of water through the sheath system of a cable and along the core. For example, a metallic shield which often times is used to protect a metallic conductor cable against lightning and rodent attacks is provided with a sealed longitudinal seam. However, the forming of a shield about a cable core requires the use of relatively low manufacturing line speeds. Also, the use of a metallic shield is destructive of the otherwise all-dielectric property of an optical fiber cable. Further, lightning strikes may cause holes in a metallic shield.
It is not uncommon to include provisions in addition to or as an alternative to a metallic shield for preventing the ingress of water into the core. Waterblocking materials have been used to fill cable cores and to coat portions of cable sheath systems to prevent the movement longitudinally thereof of any water which enters the cable. Such a material, typically is referred to as a filling material. In optical fiber cables, a further important function of a filling material is the maintenance of the optical fibers in a low stress state.
As taught in the prior art, U.S. Ser. No. 07/691,770 filed on Apr. 26, 1991 in the name of C. F. Tu, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,187,763, a cable filling material, especially an optical fiber cable filling material, should meet a variety of requirements. Among them is the requirement that the physical properties of the cable remain within acceptable limits over a rather wide temperature range e.g., from about -40.degree. to about 76.degree. C. It is desirable that the composition of matter of the filling material be substantially free of syneresis, i.e. have an ability to retain uniform consistency, over the temperature range. Generally, syneresis is controlled by assuring dispersion of an adequate amount of colloidal particles or other gelling agent. Other desirable properties of the compositions include thermal oxidation resistance.
Optical fiber cables have made great inroads into the communications cable market. Although the presence of water itself within an optical fiber cable is not necessarily detrimental to its performance, passage of the water along the cable interior to connection points or terminals or associated equipment inside closures, for example, may cause problems. In both cases, under freezing conditions, the performance of optical fiber deteriorates quickly.
Further complicating the optical fiber cable situation is the introduction of a waterblocking filling material into the cable core in order to prevent the incursion of water. Suitable waterblocking materials in use must yield under strains experienced when the cable is made or handled. Otherwise, movement of the optical fibers within the cable would be prevented and the fibers would buckle because they contact, with a relative small periodicity, a surface of the unyielding filling material. The smaller the periodicity of the fibers when contacting such an unyielding surface, the greater a loss which is referred to as microbending loss.
Typically, microbending loss in optical fiber cables is more difficult to control at long wavelengths than at short ones. Thus the requirements on the mechanical properties of a fiber cable filling material are typically substantially more severe for cable that is to be used at 1.55 .mu.m, for example, than they are if the cable is to be used at shorter operating wavelengths of 1.3 .mu.m, for example. Although, it has been found that some prior art filling materials perform quite satisfactorily at wavelengths up to about 1.3 .mu.m, it has also been found that this is often not the case at longer wavelengths.
Because silica-based optical fibers typically have their lowest losses at or near the 1.55 .mu.m wavelength, there is great interest in operating optical fiber telecommunication systems at approximately that wavelength. Thus, it is important to have available filling compositions for optical fiber cable that has no significant cabling-induced losses at long wavelengths, including about 1.55 .mu.m.
Filling compositions for use in optical fiber cables should have a relatively low shear modulus, G.sub.e. However, it has been determined that, at least for some applications, a low value of G.sub.e of the filling material is not sufficient to assure low cabling loss, and that a further parameter, the critical yield stress, .sigma..sub.c, needs to be controlled because it also affects the optical performance of fibers in a cable with a filling material.
Incorporating a block copolymer into the grease-like composition of matter allows a reduction of the amount of colloidal particles that has been added to the mixture to prevent syneresis of the gel. This reduction can result in cost savings. Furthermore, it makes possible the formulation of less bleeding compositions having a very low critical yield stress.
Waterproofing filling materials for use in cables also must pass industry standard drip tests. To pass these tests, filling materials in cable cores must be retained as cable samples, suspended vertically, and subjected to specified elevated temperatures. Some prior art materials, which have been used, perform satisfactorily with respect to microbending and associated losses, but they bleed out excessively and have problems in meeting current drip tests. Also, it is desired that the low mean added losses exhibited by some prior art filling materials at least be met by filling materials which pass the drip test and have suitable low temperature properties.
Oil separation is a property of a grease-like material which describes the tendency to bleed oil during its lifetime. What is desired is a filling material which has an oil separation no greater than 5% when centrifuged at a rotational speed equivalent to a relative centrifugal force of about 26,000 G. for two hours.
The viscosity of the sought after filling material also is important with respect to processing. Because cable drip is related to oil separation, constraints on the sought after filling material include oil separation, critical yield stress and viscosity. These constraints usually are antagonistic to each other. For example, a reduction of oil separation and an increase in cable drip temperature require high viscosity and yield stress whereas to facilitate processing and to reduce optical loss requires low viscosity and yield stress.
Another problem relating to filled optical fiber cables is the compatibility of the filling material with some coating materials which are disposed about drawn optical fiber to protect the optical fiber. If compatibility is lacking, the performance and/or the appearance of the optical fiber could be affected adversely. The compatibility of otherwise suitable prior art filling materials with some coating materials, particularly those which are relatively soft, is something less than desired.
The filling composition of matter is one which includes an oil constituent which is a relatively high molecular weight aliphatic hydrocarbon. The aliphatic hydrocarbon constituent may be a synthetic oil or mineral oil such as polyalphaolefin, for example, or a relatively high molecular weight mineral oil. Relatively low pour point oils are used in order to improve optical loss at low temperatures. A relatively large percent by weight of an antioxidant system is used to prevent thermal oxidative degradation of the filling material as well as of materials in contact with the filling material. A low molecular weight copolymer is also used to reduce oil separation of the filling material.
Although the above-mentioned composition is suitable from many standpoints for ease in waterblocking in an optical fiber cable, there is a desire to improve cost and performance of the composition.
What is sought after is a waterblocking composition which has a lower cost and improved performance over those used in the past. More particularly one of the constituents may not only give improved performance but also may provide synergistic properties.

Optical fiber cable provided with stabilized waterblocking material