A portable power generating system can be operated by using a portable pressure canister containing a liquefied butane fuel gas. In the power generating system, a part of the butane gas contained in the pressure canister is used as a fuel gas and reminder of the butane gas is used to prepare a reformed gas containing hydrogen gas by reaction with water. The hydrogen gas in the reformed gas and oxygen gas in air are used in a fuel cell to generate electric power. The power generating system is characterized in a compact portable one which further comprises a device for regulating the amount of the butane gas discharged from said pressure canister and a device for controlling a flow rate of the butane gas, installed in feed lines of supplying the butane gas from said pressure canister to said reforming device.

A fuel cell is known as a power generation system having a high energy efficiency, which generates electric power through electrochemical reaction of mainly hydrogen and oxygen, or hydrogen-rich gas obtained by reforming natural gas or the like and air, which are introduced to a fuel electrode and an oxygen electrode, respectively. Therefore, there has been proposed a portable type power generating system utilizing the fuel cell have been proposed.
Japanese Patent Kokai Publication No. 5-190196 proposes a portable power source wherein hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell is operated by using hydrogen absorbed in a hydrogen storage alloy in a pressure canister. This portable power source has such problems as the hydrogen storage alloy container is too expensive to be widely used, and the container is too heavy to be used in a portable power source.
Japanese Patent Kokai Publication No. 6-310166 also proposes a portable fuel cell power source comprising a fuel pressure canister filled with aqueous solution of methanol at a high pressure instead of hydrogen, a fuel reforming device which modifies the aqueous solution of methanol discharged from the fuel pressure canister into a gas consisting mainly of hydrogen, a fuel cell which generates electricity by using the hydrogen-rich gas as the fuel, and a cabinet that houses these components. This power source has such a problem that the fuel pressure container which contains the aqueous solution of methanol at a high pressure must have a high withstand pressure while such a pressure container is not suited to a portable apparatus and is not commercially available, resulting in an inconvenience for wide commercial applications.
For these reasons, portable power generation systems commercialized at present are still based on a gasoline engine, although it is a problem that small gasoline engine power generation systems of output power within several hundreds of watts have energy efficiency as low as 10% or less.


Process for the preparation of 5-alkylpyridine-2,3-dicarboxylic esters by reaction of 2-oxosuccinic esters with 2-alkylacrolein oximes.

Derivatives of pyridine-2,3-dicarboxylic acid, in particular 5-alkylpyridine-2,3-dicarboxylic acids, are valuable intermediates for the preparation of 2-(2-imidazolin-2-yl)nicotinic acid compounds, which have distinct herbicidal activity. In particular, the (R,S)-5-ethyl-2-(4-isopropyl-4-methyl-5-oxo-2-imidazoline-2-yl)nicotinic acid is of economic interest. The preparation of this compound is described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,460,776.
In accordance with their importance, a number of syntheses are known for the preparation of pyridine-2,3-dicarboxylic acid derivatives. According to the teaching of EP 274,379 A2, compounds of pyridine-2,3-dicarboxylic acid are obtained either by reaction of 3-halogeno-2-ketosuccinic acids with .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated aldehydes or ketones and ammonia, or from aminobutenedicarboxylic esters and .alpha., .beta.-unsaturated aldehydes or ketones. These process either start from halogen-containing compounds, which require the use of halogen-resistant apparatuses and lead to halogen compounds polluting the environment as waste products, or from commercially unavailable or insufficiently available substances. Their use is therefore limited.
The synthesis of pyridine-2,3-dicarboxylic acid derivatives described in EP 299,362 A1 is also based on the use of aminobutenedicarboxylic esters and .alpha., .beta.-unsaturated carbonyl compounds. Both starting materials have to be used in pure form. The high expenditure for distillation resulting from this requirement casts doubt on the economy of the process.
The process of EP 308,084 A1 for the preparation of pyridine derivatives starts from halogenopropenoic or halogenobutenoic acid derivatives which are reacted with a 2-alkylacrolein oxime. An example of this synthesis is the preparation of 5-ethylpyridine-2,3-dicarboxylic acid from N-phenylchloromaleinimide and 2-ethylacrolein oxime. Apart from the fact that N-phenylchloromaleinimide can only be obtained by a complicated sequence of several reaction steps from maleic anhydride, the process requires long reaction times of up to 60 hours and gives the desired compound only in moderate yields.
As can be seen, the known processes do not fulfill all industrial and economical conditions which have to be satisfied by industrially performed processes. In some cases, they are based on the use of starting materials whose preparation is complicated or which lead to by-products polluting the environment during the synthesis, or further processing and, in other cases, they require long reaction times or give the desired compounds only in insufficient yields.
The aim of the present invention is to remove the disadvantages of the prior art and to provide a process for the preparation of esters of 5-alkylpyridine-2,3-dicarboxylic acid which satisfies the requirements of industrial practice.

Process for the preparation of esters of 5-alkylpyridine-2,3-dicarboxylic acid


The multi-chamber liquid pump of the present invention includes an input chamber, an intermediate chamber and a liquid output chamber. Pressurized gas provides the motive force for outputting liquid from the pump, such that liquid is output at a constant flow rate during pump operation. Liquid flows into the input chamber, through one or more valves into the intermediate chamber, and through one or more subsequent valves to the output chamber while liquid is constantly output from the output chamber. The system controller provides control signals to the valves to facilitate the pump's continual operation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to devices for pumping liquid, and more particularly to a liquid pumping device that is activated by pressurized gas, and which contains an input chamber, an intermediate chamber and an output chamber.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In nearly every fluid transfer application it is necessary to provide a pump to provide the motive force to move the liquid through a liquid supply line. With the exception of gravitational systems and siphon systems, the utilization of liquid pumps is a necessity and many types of pumps have been developed throughout history. Many of the pumps are powered by rotating or reciprocating motorized devices which tend to create a vibration or pulsation in the pumped liquid and the systems that utilize such pumps. For many applications the vibration and pressure pulsation of such pumps is insignificant and such pumps provide adequate performance.
However, many liquid transfer applications involve liquids having a delicate chemical make-up and chemical processes that are adversely affected by the pulsation and vibration of pumped liquid. For such applications it is necessary to utilize a pump that does not create pulsation and vibration of the pumped fluid. Additionally, many precise chemical processes require strict control of the flow rate of the pumped liquid, and prior art pumps that induce pulsation and vibration within the pumped fluids have difficulty meeting such flow rate constraints. Semiconductor fabrication processes are one such application in which ever stricter constraints on liquid pumping parameters continue to be developed. In many particular applications within the semiconductor fabrication industry pulsation and vibration of pumped chemicals adversely affects the delicate chemical balance of processing liquids as well as the chemical reactions of the processing liquids with the semiconductor substrates in the various fabrication steps.
A need therefore exists for pumps that pump liquids without subjecting the liquids to pulsation and vibration, while providing tight control of the flow rates of the pumped liquids. The present invention, in its various embodiments disclosed herein, provides a pump system that utilizes pressurized gas to provide the motive force to continuously pump liquids through liquid flow lines. The pulsation and vibration created by the prior art pumping systems is eliminated and a strict control of pumped liquid flow rates is obtained.

Gas pressurized liquid pump with intermediate chamber


An aqueous pigment dispersion capable of easily preparing an aqueous pigment ink for inkjet recording, from which is obtained a colored image which is excellent in scratch fastness and excellent in properties on any recording media such as color development on plain papers and gloss on dedicated papers, is provided. An aqueous pigment dispersion containing carbon black or an organic pigment (P), a (meth)acrylic copolymer (A), a polyoxyethylene/polyoxypropylene block copolymer (B) represented by the following general formula (1), a polyether based polyurethane (C), a basic material and water, wherein a mass ratio of the total of nonvolatile contents of (A), (B) and (C) to (P), (A+B+C)/P, is from 0.3 to 1.6; and a mass ratio of A/(A+B+C) is from 0.05 to 0.45, is provided.HO—(C2H4O)a—(C3H6O)b—(C2H4O)c—H  (General Formula 1)

In an inkjet recording method, following diffusion of printers or diversification of needs of a recording form in consumers, in recent years, not only general-purpose plain papers such as PPC papers mainly used for texts but recording media (dedicated papers) having an ink-receiving layer such as glossy papers for photography for the purpose of obtaining high-quality images on a par with silver halide prints have been used. Under these circumstances, aqueous inks to be used for inkjet recording are required to obtain excellent colored images on any recording media.
Furthermore, in pigment inks, scratch fastness of images is very important because a pigment and a medium are separated from each other on dedicated paper.
In order to satisfy such characteristics, there are known a method of adding a block copolymer of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide (see Patent Documents 1 and 2) in an ink; a method of adding an acrylic resin for the purpose of enhancing fixability in addition to a self-dispersion pigment and the subject block copolymer (Patent Documents 3 and 4); a method of dispersing a pigment with a styrene acrylic resin and adding a urethane resin (Patent Document 5); and the like.
However, when the subject block copolymer is merely added as disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2, there is involved a problem that in the case of using a pigment, dispersion becomes defective.
Also, the method of adding the subject block copolymer to a self-dispersion pigment and further adding an acrylic resin as disclosed in Patent Documents 3 and 4 involves a problem that though scratch fastness is excellent, color development on plain papers, an aspect of which is an advantage of the self-dispersion pigment, is impaired, and gloss on dedicated papers is insufficient.
The method of dispersing a pigment with a styrene acrylic resin and adding a urethane resin as disclosed in Patent Document 5 involves a problem that though scratch fastness is excellent, color development on plain papers and gloss on dedicated papers are not exceptionally excellent.
Patent Document 1: JP-B-3-43313
Patent Document 2: JP-A-2004-27037
Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent No. 3649389
Patent Document 4: Japanese Patent No. 3915369
Patent Document 5: JP-A-2007-119708

Aqueous pigment dispersion and aqueous pigment ink for inkjet recording


A scaffold jig including a first T-bar that has a first horizontal bar with a first vertical bar extending therefrom. The first vertical bar has a plurality of adjustment holes. Also included is a second T-bar that has a first horizontal U-iron with a second vertical bar extending therefrom. The first U-iron has an opening passing therethrough. The second vertical bar has a bracket with a bracket opening projecting therefrom. The second vertical bar receives the first vertical bar therein to form a support bar. Included is a third T-bar that has a second horizontal U-iron with a third vertical bar extending therefrom. The second U-iron has an opening therethrough and is supported by a step of a ladder. Lastly, a straight bar is included that has a first end positioned between the support bracket, and a second end positioned within the third vertical bar, and a plurality of adjustment holes. The straight bar forms a support brace to support the support bar.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a scaffold jig and more particularly pertains to providing a tool that when used in conjunction with two ladders forms a scaffolding platform and further allowing the scaffold jig to form a scaffolding platform on any two ladders.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of scaffolding is known in the prior art. More specifically, scaffolding heretofore devised and utilized for the purpose of providing an elevated working platform for one or more workers are known to consist basically of familiar, expected, and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which has been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,332,062 to Revere discloses a simplified scaffold ladder. U.S. Pat. No. 5,181,582 to Meadows discloses a scaffold for an a-frame ladder. U.S. Pat. No. 4,232,759 to Jacobs discloses a mobile ladder-scaffolding system. U.S. Pat. No. 3,997,024 to Fredricks and Smith discloses a portable scaffold ladder. U.S. Pat. No. 3,724,592 to Fleischer discloses an adjustable ladder and scaffold. Lastly, U.S. Pat. No. 3,491,852 to Leist discloses a ladder scaffold.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe scaffold jig that allows any two ladders when used in conjunction with the scaffold jig to form scaffolding that may be placed inside or outside the ladder set-up, to allow the user to locate the scaffold platform where he can reach his work area.
In this respect, the scaffold jig according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of providing a tool that when used in conjunction with two ladders forms a scaffolding platform and further allowing the scaffold jig to form a scaffolding platform on any two ladders.
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a new and improved scaffold jig which can be used for providing a tool that when used in conjunction with two ladders forms a scaffolding platform and further allowing the scaffold jig to form a scaffolding platform on any two ladders. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.


A method for producing a polypropylene blend from a plastic packaging materials containing high molecular weight polypropylene, other high molecular weight polymers such as polyethylene, low molecular weight polymers and other contaminants. The method includes extraction, solid-liquid separation and liquid-liquid phase separation using various organic solvents. The polypropylene blend has a purity of 95% and has favorable melt flow characteristics, while retaining satisfactory mechanical properties.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention concerns a method by which a polypropylene blend is produced by processing a plastic mixture that is composed of polypropylene and other high molecular weight polymers and which is contaminated with low molecular weight polymers and other impurities. Additionally, the invention concerns a polypropylene blend with specific characteristics produced in accordance with the method.
In this case, xe2x80x9chigh molecular weight polymersxe2x80x9d include such polymers having a molecular weight over approximately 10000, for example, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene and polyethylene such as, for example, LDPE (low density polyethylene), LLDPE (linear low density polyethylene), MDPE (medium density polyethylene), HDPE (high density polyethylene) UHDPE (ultra high density polyethylene) with corresponding degree of polymerization.
In contrast, xe2x80x9clow molecular weight polymersxe2x80x9d include such polymers having a molecular weight of up to approximately 5000, for example, waxes or other degraded high molecular weight polymers.
The plastic mixture may also contain polyester.
2. Background of the Invention
During the introduction of the Dual System in Germany, while implementing the packaging regulation, the proper recycling of the collected plastics posed a particular challenge. An entirely new fraction, namely the plastics composites, was introduced on the market. Special recycling methods must be found for the heterogeneity and varying composition of the composite plastics. Raw material recycling is principally appropriate for this purpose. Since the plastics, within the framework of the Dual System, are collected in conjunction with a range of interfering materials, methods have been developed that reduce the separation expense to a justifiable level, but that also ensure a specific degree of purity of the plastics material. The methods described in international patent application nos. WO 96/20819 and WO 99/36180 are examples of dry process methods for the generation of composite plastic agglomerate. The method in accordance with international patent application no. WO 98/18607 is also successful when polyolefin is extracted using, among other things, sink-float separation.
After all, the objective is to separate the composite plastics into specific types of polymers and to employ them in making new products. In this regard, a method is suggested in international patent application no. WO 00/77082 A1, which was published after the priority date of the present application, by which a polyolefin plastic fraction is brought into contact with a solvent and the temperature of the solvent and, as the case may be, also the ratio of solvent to the quantity of plastic is adjusted in such a manner that as many of the polymer types as possible are dissolved. In a subsequent solid-liquid separation, one polymer type is precipitated from the solution using shearing. PP (polypropylene), LDPE (low density polyethylene), HDPE (high density polyethylene) could, in particular, be separated in conjunction with a thermal separation method, for example, in accordance with German patent application no. DE 198 06 355 A1, in which two liquid phases are produced, one of which is solvent rich and a second is polymer rich.
The content of waxes, additives, decomposition products and other impurities interferes during further recycling, particularly when these polyolefins are intended for use as new products. German patent application no. DE 100 62 437.5 which shares the same priority date, suggests a method by which the plastic mixture is introduced into an organic solvent in which at least one of the high molecular weight polymers is soluble at a specific temperature. In this case, in the presence of the employed organic solvent, the specific temperature can be defined as the dissolving temperature at which at least one of the polymers contained in the plastic mixture will be present in dissolved form by more than 10-50% by weight. In the method, the solvent at normal pressure is maintained at an operating temperature at which none of the high molecular weight polymers is dissolved and whereby a specific weight ratio of plastic mixture to solvent is adjusted. During a certain residence period, the low molecular weight components are extracted and, if necessary, the plastic mixture could then be removed from the solvent.
Each of international patent application nos. WO 96/20819, WO 99/36180, WO 98/18607 and WO 00/77082 A1 and German patent application nos. DE 198 06 355 A1 and DE 100 62 437.5 is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.
Surprisingly, it was determined that products with excellent material characteristics could be generated if, initially at temperatures lower than the dissolving temperature, the plastic mixtures are freed from soluble components using solid-liquid extraction (SLE) and only afterwards are dissolved as well as subjected to subsequent separation steps. This would be particularly successful if the plastic mixture is available in pellet form.
By xe2x80x9cpelletsxe2x80x9d is meant granulate or agglomerate which could be produced using the above mentioned dry and wet processing methods. Granulate and in particular agglomerate are characterized by high porosity or, as the case may be, by having surface fissures so that the extraction of low molecular weight polymers and other contaminants, surprisingly, is achieved with a satisfactory level of purity. Depending on the composition of the starting material, plastics blends are generated which are intended to be used together with new materials or as a replacement for new materials.
Of the plastics blends, the polypropylene blend is of particular interest.
Polypropylene is a part-crystalline material in which the crystalline share is between 50 to 70% depending on the production conditions. In this manner, isotactic, atactic and semi-tactic polypropylene is produced during propylene homopolymerization. The higher isotactic, or as the case may be, higher crystalline homopolymers can be subjected to heavy-duty mechanical pressure, are temperature stable and have low impact strength at low temperatures. The production processes may be differentiated based upon the different catalyst systems that are used for polymerization. Accordingly, a distinction is made between Ziegler-Natta and metallocene polypropylenes. Furthermore, different methods exist according to which block and random copolymers could be produced.
In Dr. Ing. Bodo Carlowitz""s manual xe2x80x9cKunststofftabellenxe2x80x9d [Plastics Tables], Hanser Publishing House, 4th edition, pp. 33 to 47, the common polypropylene characteristics are described. It reveals that the melt flow index MFR (measured at 230xc2x0 C. with a load of 2.16 kg in accordance with ISO 1133) of the polypropylene produced in accordance with the above method, is in the range of 0.2 to 50 g/10 min. With an increasing MFR value, the tensile strength of each polypropylene type decreases significantly so that the yield stress lies between 30 and 34 N/mm2 for a higher isotactical homopolypropylene at a density of 0.906 to 0.910 g/cm3 with a very high MFR value of 20 to 40 g/10 min.
The processing of polypropylene usually occurs using injection molding. To achieve faster cycle times but still maintain polypropylene injection molded parts with good constant mechanical characteristics, it is desirable to generate a polypropylene from plastic packaging materials that flows easily and which has mechanical characteristics which are as good as a polypropylene that flows less easily.
Therefore, it is the object of the invention to make available a method with which a polypropylene blend with a defined composition and a purity of more than 95% can be produced from mixed plastic packaging materials that as opposed to a new product has the advantage in the processing that it flows easily while retaining satisfactory mechanical characteristics.
These objectives are solved by the method in accordance with the invention and a polypropylene blend produced in accordance with the method of the invention.
The method in accordance with the invention is characterized by
the introduction of the plastic mixture into an organic solvent in which at least one high molecular weight polymer from the plastic mixture is soluble at a temperature specific for the polymer;
the maintaining of the solvent under normal pressure at an operating temperature at which no high molecular weight polymer is dissolved and adjusting the weight ratio of plastic waste mixture to solvent;
the extraction of low molecular weight components during a particular residence period of the plastic waste mixture in the solvent;
the dissolving of the plastic waste mixture already freed from low molecular weight components and the execution of a solid-liquid separation (SLS) for the removal of insoluble components such as paper, aluminum and other polymers depending on the type of solvent;
dissolving and phase separation, in other words, taking advantage of the presence of at least two liquid phases for the separation of different polymer compositions into fractions; and dissolving and selective precipitation of the polypropylene fraction using shearing or flow;
degassing of the polypropylene fraction; and
granulation of the polypropylene fraction for the polypropylene blend.
This sequence of steps ensures that the polypropylene is made available in the desired purity.

Method for the production of a polypropylene blend

Der Grune Punkt - Duales System Deutschland AG


Conveyor assembly for packagings, comprising a substantially horizontally conveying conveyor. Situated near the delivery end of the conveyor is a bearing plate, which when the pack moves onto it moves further substantially at the same speed as the conveyor into an accommodation in which the pack has to be placed. When the pack is entirely clear of the conveyor, the bearing plate is moved back so fast that the pack, through its inertia and through its speed of displacement, does not move back and comes to a standstill, so that it is subsequently received in the accommodation.

The invention relates to a conveyor assembly for packagings, in particular for heavier packagings which are fed in one by one and have to be packed in a box. The invention also relates to a method for packing those articles in a box.
Products such as bags of chips are packed by first placing the chips in bags, which are subsequently fed to a device for stacking them. When a suitable stack has been formed, said stack is pushed in some way into an outer such as a box.
Many ways of collecting such packagings, such as bags of chips, into a stack are known in the prior art. Such bags are generally fed in on a substantially horizontal conveyor belt and are subsequently stacked on top of one another in the vertical direction. During this stacking on top of one another it is important for the bags to be moved quickly, on the one hand, but not to fall from quite a great height, on the other hand.
It has in fact been found that product can be damaged if such bags fall from quite a great height. This applies to, for example, packagings of frozen chips, where the chips break during the fall.
It is an object of the present invention to move in particular larger packagings, without damaging them, from a horizontal position, in which they are lying one behind the other, to a vertical position, in which they are lying one above the other.
It is a further object of the present invention to process packagings rapidly and subsequently place them in an outer.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to accomodate packagings as far as possible without damage as they leave the end of a delivery conveyor.
More particularly, the object of the present invention is to ensure that, as a result of the high delivery speed of a conveyor, such packagings do not run against stops and the like, which can cause damage, and/or that they do not drop from a considerable height.
One or more of the abovementioned objects is achieved by a conveyor assembly for packagings, comprising a substantially horizontally conveying conveyor and an accommodation or receiving space for packagings, which receptacle is situated near the delivery end of said conveyor, in line with the latter and below it, a supporting member being provided near the delivery end of said conveyor, which supporting member is movable in the horizontal direction between a position in which the opening to said accommodation is substantially clear and a position in which said opening is shut off, while displacement means are present for moving said supporting member, which displacement means are designed in such a way that during displacement to the position which shuts off the opening of the accommodation the speed of the supporting member corresponds approximately to the speed of said conveyor.
According to a further aspect of the invention, the displacement means are embodied in such a way that the supporting member is moved at a speed of at least 1 m/s, and preferably 3 m/s, to the position which clears the opening of the accommodation.
The supporting member can comprise a supporting plate on which the packagings, such as bags of frozen chips, but also any other pack known in the prior art, can be moved.
According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the displacement means comprise a servomotor. According to a further advantageous embodiment, the conveyor comprises a levelling section for placing the packagings preferably in as flat a position as possible on a conveyor and subsequently stacking them on top of one another in the vertical direction.
The invention also relates to a method for delivery of a pack from a conveyor which extends substantially horizontally to an accommodation situated below it near the end of the conveyor, in which on the arrival of said pack at the end of said conveyor a supporting plate provided near said end of said conveyor is moved past said end of said conveyor in substantially the same direction of displacement and at substantially the same speed of displacement as said conveyor, in which process said pack is moved with said supporting member, and said supporting member is moved back to the end of the conveyor after said pack is resting substantially on it.
More particularly, according to a further aspect of the invention, the bearing surface of said supporting member and the return displacement of said supporting member are embodied in such a way that said pack undergoes substantially no return displacement.
According to a special embodiment of the invention, at the end of the return displacement the pack has substantially no horizontal speed.

Conveyor assembly for packagings, and method for delivery of a pack


A transducer is tuned to a desired impedance by building piezoelectric assemblies of multiple layers, each layer acting as a parallel capacitor. Piezoelectric layers are preferably constructed by plating or otherwise placing a conducting perimeter around a piezoelectric substrate. Gaps are suitably formed in the conducting layer by dicing or otherwise to form distinct electrical conducting regions on each layer. Piezoelectric layers are then suitably placed such that positive and negative conducting regions on each layer contact positive and negative regions on other layers. Layers are suitably joined by epoxy or by any other joining technique.

This invention relates generally to ultrasonic transducers such as those used in medical imaging. More particularly, the invention relates to transducers with piezoelectric assemblies at having multiple piezoelectric substrates.
Transducers are devices that convert electrical energy to mechanical energy, or vice versa. Transducers in audio loudspeakers, for example, convert electrical signals into mechanical vibrations that in turn create audible sound waves. Similarly, transducers are often used to generate high frequency ultrasonic waves for various applications such as medical imaging, non-destructive evaluation (NDE), non-invasive surgery, dentistry and the like.
Transducers generally create ultrasonic vibrations through the use of piezoelectric materials such as certain forms of crystals (e.g. quartz) or ceramic polymers. Piezoelectric materials vibrate in response to alternating voltages of certain frequencies applied across the material. U.S. Pat. No. 5,637,800 issued Jun. 10, 1997 to Finsterwald et al. and incorporated herein by reference, for example, discloses a transducer suitable for medical use that includes arrays of piezoelectric elements. Such a transducer is typically connected to electronics that drive the transducer via a coaxial cable or the like.
Piezoelectric elements are similar to common analog capacitors in that piezo elements generally include two electrodes separated by a piezoelectric material that functions as a dielectric. The overall capacitance of a transducer is dependent upon the area and the thickness of the piezo material. Because the piezo elements in many types of transducers (e.g. phased arrays, high density linear and curved arrays, high frequency linear arrays, multidimensional arrays and the like) are generally very small, such transducers generally exhibit relatively low capacitance. The low capacitance corresponds to a relatively high impedance compared to that of the drive electronics, which typically has an impedance on the order of 50-75 ohms. As is known in the art, the impedance mis-match between the transducer and the electronics results in inefficient transfer of electrical energy, undesirably high ringdown, excessive heat production (which can present a safety hazard if the transducer comes into contact with human skin), and the like. Hence, it is generally desired to match the impedance of the transducer to the impedance of the drive electronics. Impedance matching in this situation, however, can typically be quite difficult to accomplish in practice.
One method of decreasing the impedance of the transducer relative to the impedance of the electronics is to increase the capacitance of the transducer through the addition of external parallel capacitors or inductors. The addition of discrete elements, however, typically increases the cost, complexity and variability of the transducer. Other transducers have sought to reduce impedance by reducing the space between piezo elements (commonly called xe2x80x9ckerf widthxe2x80x9d) such that the total quantity of substrate used is increased. Reducing kerf width, however, places piezo elements closer to each other, thus increasing undesirable cross-talk and resonance between piezo elements of the transducer. The overall performance of such transducers is therefore degraded.
Another strategy for reducing transducer impedance involves creating the logical equivalent of parallel capacitors. One such method is disclosed by Richard L. Goldberg and Stephen W. Smith, xe2x80x9cMultilayer Piezoelectric Ceramics for Two-Dimensional Array Transducersxe2x80x9d, IEEE TANSACTIONS ON ULTRASONICS, FERROELECTRIC, AND FREQUENCY CONTROL, Vol. 41, No. 5, September 1994, pp. 761-771, incorporated herein by reference. This reference discloses a piezoelectric element formed by placing green (i.e. unfired) ceramic between two electrodes with xe2x80x9cfingersxe2x80x9d that create additional capacitance. Such an element has several disadvantages in practice, however, in that it is generally difficult to manufacture and that the differentiation shrinkage (i.e. thermal contraction) between green ceramic and the electrode materials during the firing process frequently results in cracks in the piezo element. Moreover, the conducting material in the electrodes frequently diffuses into the ceramic during the firing process, thus degrading the performance of the transducer. It is therefore desired to create an efficient and easily-manufacturable transducer having an impedance that can be matched to that of the drive electronics.
A transducer is tuned to a desired impedance by building piezoelectric assemblies of multiple layers, each layer acting as a parallel capacitor. Piezoelectric layers are preferably constructed by plating or otherwise placing a conducting perimeter around a piezoelectric substrate. Gaps are suitably formed in the conducting layer by dicing or otherwise to form distinct electrical conducting regions on each layer. Piezoelectric layers may then be placed such that positive and negative conducting regions on each layer contact positive and negative regions on other layers. Layers may be suitably joined by epoxy or by any other joining technique.

Multi-piezoelectric layer ultrasonic transducer for medical imaging


A stain removal product and process is disclosed. The product includes a liquid cleaning composition which contains water, an organic solvent and a surfactant, an absorbent stain receiver, and a sonic or ultrasonic wave generating source for imparting sonic or ultrasonic waves onto stains on textiles. The sonic or ultrasonic wave source is, for example, a hand-held, pen-shaped device with a directed point to focus the sonic or ultrasonic waves at the stain to be removed.

The present invention generally relates to compositions, product kits, and processes for removing stains or spots from carpeting or upholstery using sonic or ultrasonic waves.
Typical carpet cleaning and refreshment products and processes are used to clean the entire carpet or upholstery. However, in some circumstances the user may wish only to clean localized areas of carpeting or upholstery. Alternatively, the user may wish to spot-clean localized areas of stain before subjecting the entire carpet or upholstery to an overall cleaning operation.
One problem associated with spot cleaning operations is the risk of damaging the substrate which needs stain removal. Thus, when brisk brushing is used during the operation, the resulting shear forces can disrupt and abrade carpeting, thereby leading to a premature worn appearance. Dyes may be discolored or partly removed in the spot-cleaned area. In some instances, the spot cleaning, itself, may leave xe2x80x9cringsxe2x80x9d or unsightly residues on the carpet or upholstery. Various means and special implements for avoiding or minimizing such problems are available to professional cleaners. However, for in-home use by relatively unskilled operators, there is a continuing search for simple, safe, yet effective methods for spot-cleaning carpeting and upholstery. These problems also occur when cleaning entire carpets and the like in that excessive brushing and rubbing can abrade carpeting giving the entire cleaned area a worn appearance and/or render residual cleaning ingredients visible.
Accordingly, there remains a need in the art for a product and process for removing stains from carpeting and upholstery without causing undesirable wear and tear on the cleaned carpet, and which minimizes the appearance of residue.
Cleaning/pre-spotting compositions and methods are also disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,102,573; 5,041,230; 4,909,962; 4,115,061; 4,886,615; 4,139,475; 4,849,257; 5,112,358; 4,659,496; 4,806,254; 5,213,624; 4,130,392; and 4,395,261. U.S. Pat. No. 4,692,277 discloses the use of 1,2-octanediol in liquid cleaners.
The invention meets the needs identified above by providing a carpet stain removal product and process which can be localized for small stains or can be used to clean large areas of carpeting and the like. In essence, the product includes a liquid cleaning composition which contains water, an organic solvent and a surfactant, an absorbent stain receiver, and a sonic or ultrasonic wave generating source for imparting sonic or ultrasonic waves to stains on textiles. The sonic or ultrasonic wave source is, for example, a hand-held, pen-shaped device with a directed point to focus the sonic or ultrasonic waves at the stain to be removed. The invention also provides a process for removing stains from carpeting. This process involves the steps of applying an effective amount of a liquid cleaning composition to the stain, imparting sonic or ultrasonic waves to the treated stain, and contacting the stain with an absorbent stain receiver having an absorbent material while applying pressure so as to absorb the stain into the absorbent material of the absorbent stain receiver. Variations of the aforedescribed stain product and process are also described herein and contemplated by the invention.
As used herein, the phrase xe2x80x9csonic or ultrasonic wavesxe2x80x9d means mechanical pressure or stress waves which can propagate through any material media, wherein the frequency spectra of these waves can vary from a few cycles/second (Hz) to a few billion Hz; the word xe2x80x9csonicxe2x80x9d refers to the frequency range of sound waves (for human hearing) which is 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz. Pressure waves of frequency above human hearing are referred to as ultrasonic. The sono-mechanical effects of stress waves for enhancing stain removal is not related to human hearing and therefore the boundary between sonic and ultrasonic is irrelevant for this invention.
All percentages, ratios and proportions herein are by weight, unless otherwise specified. All documents cited are, in relevant part, incorporated herein by reference.

Carpet stain removal product which uses sonic or ultrasonic waves


A water-soluble film contains a polyvinyl alcohol resin (A), and has a complete dissolution time (T) and a curl area percentage (S), wherein a product (T×S) of the complete dissolution time (T) and the curl area percentage (S) satisfies the following expression (1):1000≤(Complete dissolution time (T))×(Curl area percentage (S))≤7000  (1)The water-soluble film satisfies contradictory property requirements, i.e., satisfactory solubility and curl suppressing property, for example, even if being formed by using an acid-modified PVA resin.

PVA films are made of PVA resins which are thermoplastic and yet water-soluble. The PVA films are significantly different in various film properties and texture than hydrophobic films such as polyethylene terephthalate films and polyolefin films which are generally used as packaging films.
Conventionally, chemical agent portion packages (unit packages) have been proposed which each include a bag formed from a PVA resin film and a chemical agent such as an agricultural chemical or a detergent contained in the bag, and take advantage of the water solubility of the PVA resin. The unit packages are used in a wide variety of applications.
Known examples of the PVA resin film to be used for the water-soluble unit packages in such applications include: a water-soluble film (see, for example, PTL 1) which comprises 100 parts by weight of a PVA, 5 to 30 parts by weight of a plasticizer, 1 to 10 parts by weight of starch and 0.01 to 2 parts by weight of a surfactant; and a water-soluble film (see, for example, PTL 2) which is formed from a resin composition containing 100 parts by weight of an anionic group-modified PVA resin (A) having a 4 wt. % aqueous solution viscosity of 10 to 35 mPa·s as measured at 20° C., an average saponification degree of 80.0 to 99.9 mol % and an anionic group modification degree of 1 to 10 mol %, 20 to 50 parts by weight of a plasticizer (B), 2 to 30 parts by weight of a filler (C) and 0.01 to 2.5 parts by weight of a surfactant (D).

Water-soluble film, chemical agent package and water-soluble film production method


Provided are (i) a touch panel substrate improved in uniformity of in-plane light transmittance and (ii) an electronic device employing the touch panel substrate. A plurality of first sensor electrodes (11) are formed by dividing first conductor lines (13). At least one of a pair of ends of the first conductor lines (13), which pair of ends face each other via a dividing line along which the first conductor lines (13) are divided, has a wide width part (40) which is wider than the other part of the first conductor lines (13), when viewed from above.

A touch panel has a plurality of electrodes which are electrically insulated from each other. The touch panel is capable of detecting a contact position, where a detection target is in contact with a detection surface, by detecting a change in capacitance in an electrode which change is produced in a case where a finger or an input pen is brought into contact with a detection surface. Such electronic devices are widely used that a touch panel is provided on a display surface of a display device and that allows a user to input an operation via a display screen while the user is looking at a displayed image.
Patent Literature 1 discloses a touch panel device capable of suppressing a moire that occurs in a case where first electrodes are superimposed on second electrodes.
FIG. 29 is a plan view illustrating a configuration of a touch panel device of Patent Literature 1. (a) of FIG. 29 is a plane view illustrating a configuration of a touch panel device in which a first electrode substrate 404 is superimposed on a second electrode substrate 406. (b) of FIG. 29 is a plan view illustrating a configuration of the first electrode substrate 404. (c) of FIG. 29 is a plan view illustrating a configuration of the second electrode substrate 406.
According to the touch panel device of Patent Literature 1, the first electrode substrate 404 is configured such that a plurality of first electrodes 403 are provided in parallel to each other at regular intervals (see (b) of FIG. 29). Each of the plurality of first electrodes 403 is made up of conductor lines. The conductor lines have a rhombic grid shape.
Further, the second electrode substrate 406 is configured such that a plurality of second electrodes 45 are provided in parallel to each other at regular intervals (see (c) of FIG. 29). Each of the plurality of second electrodes 405 is made up of conductor lines. The conductor lines have a rhombic grid shape.
By thus providing a plurality of electrodes on an identical substrate at regular intervals, the plurality of electrodes are electrically insulated from each other. This allows a contact position, where a detection target is in contact with a detection surface, to be detected by detection of a change in capacitance in an electrode.

Touch-panel substrate with conductor lines including a wide width portion, method for manufacturing touch-panel substrate, and electronic device


A character information display device includes: a display format deciding part 2 for deciding that the display format of a character string to be displayed is telop display when the number of characters making up the character string exceeds the number of characters for one line on the screen; a scroll speed setting part 6 for setting the scroll speed of the character string to be displayed at a reference speed in a case where the character string is judged as a character string easy to read, and setting the scroll speed of the character string to be displayed at a slower speed than the reference speed in a case where the character string is judged as a character string difficult to read by a reading difficulty judging part 4; and so on.

In the following Patent Document 1, there is disclosed a character information display device for setting a scroll speed of a character string to be displayed, and telop-displaying the character string at the scroll speed.
Namely, the character information display device has a data analysis part for, upon receiving display data, analyzing the display data, and determining the number of characters making up the character string to be displayed, and a main control part determines the scroll speed of the character string based on the analysis result of the data analysis unit, and outputs an instruction of telop-displaying the character string at the scroll speed to a display control unit.
However, the character information display device always telop-displays a character string irrespective of the length of the character string to be displayed.
For this reason, even when the number of characters making up the character string to be displayed is small, and it is possible to display all the characters on a screen at the same time, it is assumed that the character string is telop-displayed.
Also in the following Patent Documents 2 and 3, as in the above Patent Document 1, there is disclosed a character information display device for determining a scroll speed of a character string in consideration of superficial attributes such as the number of characters and colors of the characters. However, the scroll speed of the character string is not determined in consideration of profound attributes of the characters (e.g., familiarity of characters (index indicating a degree of approachability to characters) and complexity).
It is considered that visibility of the character is often affected not only by superficial aspects of the character but also by profound aspects of the character.
For this reason, for example, even if the number of characters making up the character string is small, it is difficult to read the character string in the case where characters that are lower in familiarity are included therein. Accordingly, a lot of time may be required for reading thereof.

Character information display device and character information display method


A connector sealing mechanism for, and a method for mating a plug unit and receptacle unit of, an electrical, fiber-optic, or hybrid electro-optical connector unit. The connector unit and connector sealing mechanism are adapted for use in underwater and harsh environments, such as high pressure environments. The connector sealing mechanism is used to open and close a passage through the connector unit, the sealing mechanism having an open position and a closed position. The sealing mechanism includes a moveable gate body that is moveable in a lateral, as opposed to axial, direction within the connector unit. The gate body has a bore hole that is substantially aligned with the passage in the connector unit when in the open position. The sealing mechanism also has a gate key for moving the gate body laterally within the connector unit from the open position to the closed position. In the method, a plug unit having at least one keyway and at least one key (or tab) is mated to a receptacle unit having at least one key (or tab). The plug and receptacle units are forced together and rotated at certain points in order to move the keys through the keyways and thereby mate the two units.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of underwater and harsh environment electrical and fiber-optic connectors. More particularly, the present invention relates to underwater-mateable connectors suitable for high pressure applications.
2. Description of Related Art
An ever increasing need exists for electrical, fiber-optic, and hybrid electro-optical connectors that can be used in hostile environments. Further, a need often exists for such connectors that can be installed in the field and mated/demated repeatedly underwater. As a result, conventional electrical and optical connectors have been developed that can be thus employed, examples of which are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,682,848; 4,411,491; 4,948,377; and 5,194,012.
While the connectors exemplified by these patents do provide interconnection means suitable for harsh environments and that can be cycled underwater, they have many shortcomings. The connectors of the above cited patents employ fluid-filled and pressure-balanced construction, which is a desirable feature. Yet the key to successful operation of connectors of the fluid-filled type is employing the sealing means to keep the fill-fluid in the connector and to keep the outside environment from contaminating the interior of the connector.
Conventional sealing mechanisms exist for accomplishing these functions. One class of such electrical connectors employs an assembly of springs and stoppers to seal the entrance to the mating area of the connectors. While these are successful for electrical connectors, they are not easily adapted to accommodate the connection of optical circuits. Moreover, they are relatively complicated and expensive in both electrical and optical applications.
Another sealing mechanism has an opening into the mating chamber consisting of an elastomeric tubular entrance surrounded by an elastomeric sphincter that pinches the entrance closed either upon itself, in the unmated condition, or against an entering probe, in the mated condition. This has been used with some success for both electrical and optical connectors, but is far from a complete solution to the problem. One drawback is that seals of this sort do not work well in all conditions. Another disadvantage of is that after being mated for a prolonged period of time, such seals lose their "memory," failing to close quickly, and thereby exposing the interior of the chamber to the outside environment.
Still another category of wet-mateable optical connectors uses a simple slit in an elastomeric barrier into the mating chamber of the connector to separate the interior of the chamber from the exterior environment. These connectors rely on the elastic properties of the barrier to seal the connector before, during, and after penetration of the mating probe. They do not work well, however, due to the fact that the seal does not close upon itself reliably. Fill fluid leaks out, and the outside fluid leaks in.
All of the known schemes for providing repeatable, reliable optical connections in hostile environments, therefore, are only marginally effective. The optical connectors presently available are extremely expensive and generally require complicated means for terminating the connector elements to the optical or electrical cables they are intended to eventually connect. While the reliability of electrical connectors is better, the most successful electrical connectors, those employing springs and stoppers for their seal, are complicated, expensive, and not easily adaptable for fiber-optic connections.
Therefore, a need exists for a simple, inexpensive, and effective connector for repeatedly and reliably making either electrical, optical, or hybrid electro-optical connections in hostile environments. Such environments include sea water and high pressure zones, such as the greatest ocean depths.

Underwater-mateable connector for high pressure application


A dual damascene process is disclosed. A substrate having a base dielectric layer, a lower wiring layer inlaid in the base dielectric layer, and a cap layer capping the lower wiring layer is provided. A dielectric layer is deposited on the cap layer. A silicon oxide layer is deposited on the dielectric layer. A metal hard mask is formed on the silicon oxide layer. A trench opening is etched into the metal hard mask. A partial via feature is etched into the dielectric layer within the trench opening. The trench opening and the partial via feature are etch transferred into the dielectric layer, thereby forming a dual damascene opening, which exposes a portion of the cap layer. A liner removal step is performed to selectively remove the exposed cap layer from the dual damascene opening by employing CF4/NF3 plasma.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to copper interconnects and semiconductor manufacturing process. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved copper dual damascene process, which is particularly suited for a copper dual damascene process utilizing a metal hard mask and is capable of solving undesired recess defects near a lower wiring layer caused by misalignment between a via hole and the lower wiring layer. The aforesaid recess defect is etched through a capping layer that caps the lower wiring layer and into a low-k dielectric layer that encapsulates the lower wiring layer.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Damascene interconnect processes incorporated with copper are known in the art, which are also referred to as "copper damascene processes" in the semiconductor industry. The copper damascene processes provide a solution to form a conductive wire coupled with an integral via plug without the need of dry etching copper. Either a single damascene or a dual damascene structure is used to connect devices and/or wires of an integrated circuit. Generally, the dual damascene process encompasses trench-first, via-first, partial-via-first, and self-aligned processes.
FIGS. 1-5 are schematic, cross-sectional diagrams showing a conventional partial-via-first dual damascene process. As shown in FIG. 1, a substrate 1 having thereon a base layer or a lower low-k dielectric layer 10 is provided. A lower copper wiring 12 is inlaid into the lower low-k dielectric layer 10. The lower copper wiring 12 and the low-k dielectric layer 10 are covered with a lower cap layer 14. A low-k dielectric layer 16, a silicon oxide cap layer 18, a metal hard mask layer 20 and a bottom anti-reflective coating (BARC) layer 22 are sequentially deposited on the lower cap layer 14. A layer of photoresist (Trench Photo) 30 having a trench opening 32 therein is formed on the BARC layer 22.
Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 2, a dry etching process is carried out. A trench recess 36 is etched into the metal hard mask layer 20 and the silicon oxide cap layer 18 through the trench opening 32. The dry etching stops on the silicon oxide cap layer 18. The remaining photoresist 30 and BARC layer 22 are then stripped off.
As shown in FIG. 3, another BARC layer 38 is coated over the substrate 1 and fills the trench recess 36. A layer of photoresist (Via Photo) 40 is then formed on the BARC layer 38. The photoresist layer 40 has a via opening 42 patterned by using conventional lithographic methods. The via opening 42 is situated directly above the trench recess 36.
Thereafter, using the photoresist layer 40 as an etching hard mask, the BARC layer 38, the silicon oxide cap layer 18, and the lower low-k dielectric layer 16 are etched through the via opening 42, thereby forming a partial via feature 46 in an upper portion of the dielectric layer 16. As shown in FIG. 4, the remaining photoresist layer 40 and the BARC layer 38 are stripped off by using oxygen plasma, thereby exposing the remaining metal hard mask layer 20.
As shown in FIG. 5, using the metal hard mask layer 20 as an etching hard mask, a dry etching is performed to etch away the exposed silicon oxide cap layer 18 and the lower low-k dielectric layer 16 simultaneously through the trench recess 36 and the partial via 46, thereby forming a dual damascene opening 50 comprising a trench opening 56 and a via opening 66. This dry etching stops on the lower cap layer 14.
As shown in FIG. 6, a so-called liner removal step or LRM step is carried out to remove the exposed lower cap layer 14 from the via opening 66, thereby exposing the lower copper wiring 12. The subsequent steps for forming an upper damascene wiring structure including, for example, deposition of barrier and plating of copper are known in the art and are therefore omitted. The aforesaid LRM step usually uses a plasma source comprising hydrogen-containing carbon fluoride such as CH2F2 or CHF3.
However, as the critical dimensions of semiconductor integrated circuit devices shrink, the misalignment between the via opening 66 of the dual damascene opening 50 and the lower copper wiring 12 becomes worse. As shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, when misalignment occurs, the low-k dielectric layer 10 that encapsulates the lower copper wiring 12 is recess etched in the aforesaid LRM step after the overlying cap layer 14 is etched through. Therefore, an undesired recess defect 80 forms next to the lower copper wiring 12. Such recess defect 80 becomes problematic when performing the following barrier deposition because the barrier cannot uniformly deposit into the recess defect 80, thus adversely affecting the performance and reliability of the semiconductor integrated circuit devices. Another drawback is that the use of hydrogen-containing carbon fluoride such as CH2F2 or CHF3 in the aforesaid LRM step results in residues that are difficult to be removed. It is believed that such residues include organic meal substances derived from the plasma gas and the metal hard mask.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,905,968 discloses a process for selectively etching dielectric structure comprising a lower layer of undoped silicon oxide or F-doped silicon oxide and an upper layer of C, H-doped silicon oxide (k=2.5˜3) in order to avoid the use of an etch stop layer between the lower layer and the upper layer. The dielectric structure is etched in a plasma-etching step, which plasma-etching step is conducted using a plasma source gas that comprises nitrogen atoms and fluorine atoms. The plasma source gas can comprise a gaseous species that comprises one or more nitrogen atoms and one or more fluorine atoms (e.g., NF3). The plasma source gas can comprise (a) a gaseous species that comprises one or more nitrogen atoms (e.g., N2) and (b) a gaseous species that comprises one or more fluorine atoms (e.g., a fluorocarbon gas such as CF4). U.S. Pat. No. 6,905,968 teaches that the cap layer exposed by the via opening is removed by using CH2F2 or CHF3 plasma.
In light of the above, there is a need in this industry to provide an improved method of forming dual damascene structure in the fabrication of integrated circuits, which is capable of solving the aforesaid problems.

Damascene interconnection structure and dual damascene process thereof


A wiring unit that can reduce the number of oil bubbles. A wiring unit includes: a wire harness; and a wiring board on which the wire harness is arranged, wherein the wiring board has a through hole that penetrates the wiring board, and a filter that is provided in the through hole, and has pores formed in its framework having a polygonal cross section.

Conventionally, in automatic transmissions of vehicles, a wire harness connected to equipment for controlling or executing a transmission operation is arranged. The wire harness is made by bundling together a plurality of electric wires using a binding member or the like. The wire harness described in JP 2014-199069A is known as such a wire harness.
JP 2014-199069A is an example of related art.


A system and method for inspecting an object, where both a fan beam and a pencil beam of penetrating radiation are used to illuminating the object concurrently. Both beams may be derived from a single source of penetrating radiation. The pencil beam is noncoplanar with the fan beam and may be scanned with respect to the object. Radiation scattered from the pencil beam within the object is detected, and the scatter signal thus generated is used in conjunction with a transmission signal which characterizes attenuation of the fan beam by the object.

X-ray systems are commonly employed for such applications as the inspection of materials or containers by illuminating the material or container from the outside by means of fan beams. A fan beam refers to a beam having an opening angle in one dimension substantially larger than the width of the beam in a dimension orthogonal to the first. Additionally, the use of a pencil beam, scanned across the object under inspection is also known and used in the art.
The concurrent or alternating application of one or more fan beams and one or more pencil beams is the subject, for example, of copending provisional application No. 60/072,890, filed Jan. 28, 1998, which is herein incorporated by reference.
The methods known in the art for concurrently applying multiple beams require multiple sources penetrating radiation.

Fan and pencil beams from a common source for x-ray inspection


An aerating base plate designed for placement in the bottom of a conventional plant receptacle, such as a flowerpot. The plate has a sidewall that extends downwardly from the perimeter of a convex top. The top includes a number of perforations that function to enable water and air to flow into, or out of, an interior area of the plate. The plate's sidewall features a number of openings that also enable water and air to flow into, or out of, the plate's interior area. The sidewall's openings are sufficiently small so that they substantially prevent any flow of soil into the plate's interior area.

There are a number of different types of receptacles that may be used for holding a growing plant. Examples of such receptacles include window boxes, square or rectangular planters, and frusto-conical and cylindrical flowerpots.
Most plant receptacles will typically feature one or more drain holes to enable water to drain from the soil contained within the receptacle. The drain hole(s) also function to provide a flow path for air into, or out of, the bottom of the receptacle. To effectively achieve these functions, the drain hole(s) must be located in, or proximate, the bottom of the receptacle.
A significant problem experienced with the above-described prior art plant receptacles results from the manner in which the drain hole(s) are covered. Prior to filling the receptacle with soil, it is a common practice to place pot shards or stones within the receptacle to partially cover the drain hole(s). These objects function to prevent the soil within the receptacle from escaping via the hole(s). However, if a drain hole is excessively covered, the roots will rot due to insufficient drainage and aeration. If too little of a drain hole is covered, a significant amount of soil may escape from the receptacle.
In an effort to overcome the above-noted problem, it is known in the art to employ a specially-designed plant receptacle system. The system includes a unique plant receptacle and a shaped plastic plate. The plate fits within the receptacle and sits above the receptacle's drain hole. The plate features a plurality of downwardly-extending support legs that are received within complementary sockets in the receptacle's bottom surface. When the receptacle is filled with soil and a user applies water to the surface of the soil, perforations in the plate's top surface allow the water to flow through the plate. The water can then exit the receptacle via the receptacle's drain hole. The plate's perforations are of a small enough size to substantially prevent the flow of soil through the plate.
One important aspect of the above-described system is that the plate's diameter must exactly match the inner diameter of the receptacle, as measured at a point just above the receptacle's bottom surface. If a tight fit is lacking, the soil will flow past the perimeter of the top of plate, travel beneath the plate, and then escape the receptacle via the drain hole. This effectively prevents the use of the plate in any conventional plant receptacle where there would be a gap between the receptacle's sidewall and the perimeter of the plate.
While most plant receptacles having one or more drain holes, this is not the case for plant receptacles that are "self-watering." A self-watering plant receptacle has no drain holes and instead features a dedicated liquid reservoir and a wick structure that functions to deliver the water from the reservoir into the soil above the reservoir. The advantage of a self-watering receptacle is that frequent watering of the plant is not required. Once a user fills the reservoir, the receptacle will maintain the soil in a moist state for an extended period of time. However, this type of receptacle can be quite expensive and may therefore not be readily available and/or practical.


A carousel for dispensing canisters of film having a film-holding base secured to a vertical spine mounted centrally of the base, a plurality of vertical dividers extending radially from, and circumferentially of, the spine, vertically-extending wall sections secured to the outermost edges of the dividers, so that the spine, the dividers, and the wall sections together form vertical channels to receive and hold the canisters. The uppermost portions of the wall sections are open to receive the canisters, and the lowermost ends of the wall sections are spaced from the base sufficiently to permit removal of individual canisters, and the base and with the upper end of the spine are pivoted where they are to be attached to a display device so the entire unit can be rotated. If desired, the canisters can have keys on their bodies or their caps, and the channels can have corresponding key slots, so that the canisters will be held in the channels with their labels outermost.

Various forms of gravity-feed film dispensers have been used in the past. One, shown in Jaquish U.S. Pat. No. 3,674,175, is a free-standing display cabinet. This display cabinet measures about two feet wide, two feet tall, and five inches deep, and has vertical dividers which can be placed in different positions to form compartments for holding stacks of different size films. It has a transparent facing to display the film, and the facing is open along the bottom edge for film removal. The dividers fit within longitudinal grooves running from side to side on the inside surfaces of the top and bottom of the display.
An improvement on this Jaquish design has been used in which the display cabinet has alternating ribs and grooves running from front to back on the top and bottom, instead of from side to side. This permits the dividers to be more readily removed for adjustment. This unit also has a openings in the ribs to receive detents carried by the dividers, to better hold the dividers in place.

Carousel-type gravity feed film dispenser and film cassette therefor


A display device with integrated touch screen is provided. The display device may include a panel and a touch IC. The panel may include a plurality of driving electrodes and sensing electrodes. The touch IC may compensate for a feedback common voltage outputted from the panel by generating a compensation common voltage based on the feedback common voltage and applying the compensation common voltage to the driving electrodes and the sensing electrodes when the panel operates in a display driving mode.

1. Field of the Disclosure
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a display device, and more particularly, to a display device with integrated in-cell type touch screen.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Touch screens are a type of input device that may be included in display devices such as Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs), Field Emission Displays (FEDs), Plasma Display Panel (PDPs), Electroluminescent Displays (ELDs), and Electrophoretic Display (EPDs), and may enable a user to input information by directly touching a screen with a finger, a pen or the like while looking at the screen of the display device.
Particularly, the demand of display devices with an integrated in-cell type touch screen, which may include a plurality of built-in elements configuring the touch screen, is recently increasing. Such display devices may be used in slim-profile portable terminals such as smart phones and tablet Personal Computers (PCs)
In a related art display device with an integrated in-cell type touch screen disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,859,521, a plurality of common electrodes for a display are segmented into a plurality of touch driving areas and touch sensing areas, thereby allowing a mutual capacitance to be generated between the touch driving area and the touch sensing area. Therefore, the related art display device measures the change of a mutual capacitance that occurs from a touch, and thus determines whether there is a touch.
In other words, in the related art display device with an integrated in-cell type touch screen, a plurality of common electrodes for the display perform the function of a touch electrode when a panel operates in a touch driving mode. This allows the display device to perform both a display function and a touch function, where the display and touch functions may appear simultaneous to a user.
When a panel operates in a display driving mode, a common voltage is applied to a plurality of common electrodes that also perform the function of touch electrodes. However, a common voltage difference may occur, for example, between one end of a common electrode to which the applied common voltage is first transferred, and another end of the common electrode to which the applied common voltage is last transferred.
This common voltage difference may be caused by the internal resistance and capacitance components of each common electrode, and the change in the alternating current (AC) component and direct current (DC) component of the common voltage that occurs according to an image realized by the panel. The common voltage difference may cause flickering and image sticking defects. Therefore, a compensation circuit that compensates for the common voltage is generally used.
In LCDs of the related art, common electrodes are formed as one body and are connected to each other, and it is possible to implement one common voltage compensation circuit. However, in display devices with an integrated in-cell type touch screen of the related art, common electrodes are typically divided into a plurality of driving electrodes and sensing electrodes for performing a touch function. In such devices, it may be complicated and difficult to implement a common voltage compensation circuit.

Display device with integrated touch screen


A control system of an engine is provided. The control system includes an exhaust emission control catalyst provided in an exhaust passage, a deceleration fuel cutoff module for performing a deceleration fuel cutoff when a deceleration fuel cutoff condition is satisfied in an engine decelerating state, a purging unit for performing a purge to supply a purge gas to an intake passage during the deceleration fuel cutoff, an evaporated fuel supply amount estimating module for estimating a supply amount of evaporated fuel to the intake passage when the purge is performed, and a catalyst temperature estimating module for estimating a temperature of the exhaust emission control catalyst when the purge is performed, based on the supply amount of the evaporated fuel. The purging unit controls a supply flow rate of the purge gas to the intake passage when the purge is performed, based on the exhaust emission control catalyst temperature.

The present invention relates to a technical field of a control system of an engine in which a purge gas containing evaporated fuel desorbed from a canister is supplied to an intake passage.
Conventionally, arts are known, in which during a deceleration fuel cutoff of the engine, when it is determined that evaporated fuel easily overflows from a canister, the purge gas containing the evaporated fuel desorbed from the canister is supplied to an intake passage of an engine. For example, JP2007-198210A discloses such an art. By supplying the purge gas to the intake passage during the deceleration fuel cutoff as above, the overflow of the evaporated fuel from the canister can be reduced. Although the evaporated fuel within the purge gas supplied to the intake passage is discharged unburned to an exhaust passage through the engine, the unburned evaporated fuel can be purified by an exhaust emission control catalyst provided in the exhaust passage.
Further, in JP2007-198210A, when a temperature of the exhaust emission control catalyst is detected and the detected result indicates a temperature below a predetermined value, the supply of the purge gas to the intake passage is reduced to suppress degradation of emission performance.
However, in JP2007-198210A, even when the purge gas is supplied to the intake passage when the temperature of the exhaust emission control catalyst is the predetermined value or higher, depending on the temperature of the exhaust emission control catalyst, if an excessive amount of unburned evaporated fuel reaches the exhaust emission control catalyst, the emission performance may still degrade, which leaves room for improvement.


A DSRC car-mounted equipment which automatically drives a receiver circuit only when it is necessary to suppress the consumption of an electric power. A DSRC car-mounted equipment comprises a receiver circuit 3 driven upon being supplied with an electric power from a battery 6A, a receiver circuit drive means 4 for driving said receiver circuit, and a drive condition judging means 10 for judging the drive conditions of said receiver circuit drive means, wherein said drive condition judging means includes vibration data detecting means 12, 15 for detecting the vibration data B, F of said vehicle, and vibration data judging means 14, 17 for comparing the vibration data of said vehicle with reference values Cb, Cf, and wherein when said vibration data satisfy predetermined conditions for said reference values, judgement signals Da, Df for driving said receiver circuit are output to said receiver circuit drive means.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a car-mounted equipment of a dedicated short-range communication (hereinafter abbreviated as DSRC) system used for intelligent transport systems (hereinafter referred to as ITS) and, particularly, to a DSRC car-mounted equipment which automatically drives a receiver circuit only when it is necessary to suppress the consumption of an electric power and to a DSRC apparatus using the same.
2. Prior Art
In the DSRC car-mounted equipment used for the ITS, in general, a receiver circuit is maintained driven at all times whenever the vehicle is traveling so that a dedicated short-range communication is readily realized when it is required to make a communication with an on-the-road equipment.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a conventional DSRC car-mounted equipment and a peripheral constitution thereof. In FIG. 6, the DSRC car-mounted equipment 1 includes a receiver circuit 3 and a transmitter circuit (not shown) for executing the dedicated short-range communication with an on-the-road equipment 2 installed on a path along which the vehicle travels, and a receiver circuit drive means 4 for driving the receiver circuit 3.
The receiver-circuit drive means 4 in the DSRC car-mounted equipment 1 is connected to a battery 6 through an ignition switch 5. When the ignition switch 5 is turned on, the receiver circuit 3 is driven being served with an electric power from the battery 6 mounted on the vehicle.
When the ignition switch 5 is turned on, the receiver circuit drive means 4 is driven by the battery 6 at all times to supply an electric power to the receiver circuit 3.
FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating another prior art.
In FIG. 7, a receiver circuit drive means 4 in a DSRC car-mounted equipment 1 is directly connected to a battery 6A incorporated in the DSRC car-mounted equipment 1 separate from a battery 6 for ignition.
As is widely known, the battery 6A is constituted by a cell that is incorporated, a dry cell or a solar cell system.
In this case, the receiver circuit drive means 4 that is connected to the battery 6A continues to supply an electric power to the receiver circuit 3.
As is well known, a transmitter circuit that is not shown in the DSRC car-mounted equipment 1 is supplied with an electric power only when a request for transmission has occurred.
According to the conventional DSRC car-mounted equipment which is supplied with an electric power from the battery 6 mounted on the car as shown in FIG. 6, the receiver circuit drive means 4 continues to supply the electric power to the receiver circuit 3 when the ignition switch 5 is turned on, arousing a problem in that heat is generated by the receiver circuit 3 and by the receiver circuit drive means 4.
In particular, the DSRC car-mounted equipment is mounted near the dashboard in the room of the vehicle and is subject to be heated when it is irradiated with sunlight, and is generally placed under severe temperature conditions where the temperature may exceed 100.degree. C. Accordingly, heat generated by the receiver circuit 3 and by the receiver circuit drive means 4 creates a serious problem.
Referring to FIG. 7, again, when the electric power is directly supplied from the battery 6A in the DSRC car-mounted equipment 1, the receiver circuit 3 is maintained supplied with the electric power even when it does not at all require the electric power such as when the vehicle is left to stand or when the DSRC car-mounted equipment 1 is carried away, leaving a problem in that the life of the battery 6A is shortened due to the continuous consumption of the electric power.
The present invention was accomplished in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its object is to provide a DSRC car-mounted equipment which automatically drives the receiver circuit only when it is necessary to suppress the consumption of the electric power, and a DSRC apparatus using the same.
The present invention is concerned with a DSRC car-mounted equipment for executing a dedicated short-range communication with an on-the-road equipment installed on a path along which the vehicle travels, comprising:
a receiver circuit driven upon being supplied with an electric power from a battery; PA1 a receiver circuit drive means for driving said receiver circuit; and PA1 a drive condition judging means for judging the drive conditions of said receiver circuit drive means; PA1 wherein said drive condition judging means includes: PA1 wherein when said vibration data satisfy predetermined conditions for said reference values, judgement signals for driving said receiver circuit are output to said receiver circuit drive means. PA1 a memory means for storing vibration data over a predetermined period; PA1 a communication end signal-forming means for forming a communication end signal when the communication with the on-the-road equipment has ended; and PA1 a reference value-setting means which reads, from said memory means, the vibration data of just before the communication has started with the on-the-road equipment in response to the communication end signal and operates a reference value, and stores said reference value.
vibration data detecting means for detecting the vibration data of said vehicle; and PA2 vibration data judging means for comparing the vibration data of said vehicle with reference values; and
The invention is further concerned with a DSRC car-mounted equipment, wherein said vibration data is a vibration level, said reference value corresponds to a vibration level of said vehicle under predetermined traveling conditions of said vehicle, and said drive condition judging means outputs a judgement signal when said vibration level is greater than said reference value.
The invention is further concerned with a DSRC car-mounted equipment, wherein said vibration data is a vibration frequency, said reference value corresponds to a vibration frequency band under predetermined traveling conditions of said vehicle, and said drive condition judging means outputs said judgement signal when said vibration frequency represents said reference value.
The invention is further concerned with a DSRC car-mounted equipment, wherein said vibration data include a vibration level and a vibration frequency, said reference value includes a first reference value corresponding to a vibration level under predetermined traveling conditions of said vehicle and a second reference value corresponding to a vibration frequency band under predetermined traveling conditions of said vehicle, and said drive condition judging means outputs said judgement signal when said vibration level is larger than said first reference value and when said vibration frequency represents said second reference value.
The invention is further concerned with a DSRC car-mounted equipment, wherein said vibration data include a vibration level and a vibration frequency, said reference value includes a first reference value corresponding to a vibration level under predetermined traveling conditions of said vehicle and a second reference value corresponding to a vibration frequency band under predetermined traveling conditions of said vehicle, and said drive condition judging means outputs said judgement signal when said vibration level is larger than said first reference value or when said vibration frequency represents said second reference value.
The invention is further concerned with a DSRC car-mounted equipment, wherein said drive condition judging means includes a filter means for filtering said vibration data, and compares the vibration data after filtered with said reference value.
The invention is further concerned with a DSRC car-mounted equipment, wherein said drive condition judging means includes an external input switch, and said reference value is variably set depending upon an operation signal output from said external input switch when said external input switch is operated.
The present invention is further concerned with a DSRC car-mounted equipment, wherein said reference value is set being changed-over to a plurality of steps depending upon said operation signal.
The invention is further concerned with a DSRC car-mounted equipment, wherein said reference value is updated and set based upon the vibration data detected when said external input switch is operated.
The invention is further concerned with a DSRC car-mounted equipment, wherein said drive condition judging means includes a vehicle speed sensor for detecting the speed of said vehicle, and said reference value is variably set depending upon said vehicle speed.
The invention is further concerned with a DSRC car-mounted equipment, wherein said drive condition judging means includes:
The invention is further concerned with a DSRC apparatus using a DSRC car-mounted equipment, comprising a plurality of dents and bumps formed maintaining a predetermined distance and a predetermined width on a predetermined region of the path along which the vehicle travels, wherein said drive condition judging means outputs said judgement signal in response to the result of comparison of a reference value corresponding to said dents and bumps with said vibration data.
The invention is further concerned with a DSRC apparatus, wherein said dents and bumps are formed on a region just preceding a communication region where there is installed an on-the-road equipment with which the communication is executed from the receiver circuit.
The invention is further concerned with a DSRC apparatus, wherein said dents and bumps are formed on a region just preceding a curved region of said traveling path.
The invention is further concerned with a DSRC apparatus, wherein said dents and bumps are formed on a region just preceding a sleep warning region of said traveling path.
The invention is further concerned with a DSRC apparatus, wherein the distance and the width of said dents and bumps are variably set depending upon different regions of said traveling path.

DRSC car-mounted equipment and DRSC apparatus using the same


The present invention provides apparatus, methods, and computer program products that can decrease the latency with which the coefficients of a function representative of signal are determined. Specifically, the apparatus, methods, and computer program products of the present invention, taking advantage of the independence of samples, updates each of the coefficients of the function as each sample is received. As such, when the final sample is received, the apparatus, methods, and computer program products of the present invention need only update each coefficient with the contribution of the last sample prior to outputting the coefficients. As such, the latency from the time the last sample is received and the availability of the coefficients is decreased. To further decrease the latency, in one embodiment, the apparatus, methods, and computer program products of the present invention prestore either all or a portion of the possible values of the contribution of a sample to each coefficient, such that. As such, when the sample is received, the apparatus, methods, and computer program products of the present invention evaluate the value of the sample and retrieve the appropriate value from the prestored values that corresponds to the coefficient, sample, and value of the sample, thereby decreasing the time required to determine the coefficients. The apparatus, methods, and computer program products of the present invention also allow individual or subsets of the coefficients to be observed and also allow individual or subsets of the coefficients to be determined in varying resolutions.

Signal processing is an important function of many electronic systems. In particular, in many electronic systems, data is transmitted in signal form. Further, some electronic systems analyze and monitor the operation of mechanical or chemical systems by observing the characteristics of signals, such as vibration signals and other types of signals, that are output from these systems. In light of this, methods have been developed to characterize signals such that information or data in the signal is available for data processing.
As one example, in many electronic systems, time domain signals are typically transformed to the frequency domain prior to signal processing. A typical method for converting signals to the frequency domain is performed using Fourier Transforms. The Fourier Transform of a signal is based on a plurality of samples of the time domain signal taken over a selected time period, known as the base frequency. Based on these samples of the signal the Fourier Transform provides a plurality of coefficients, where the coefficients respectively represent the amplitude of a frequency that is a multiple of the base frequency. These coefficients of the Fourier Transform, which represent the signal in the frequency domain, are then used by electronic systems in processing the signal.
Although Fourier Transforms are among some of the most widely used functions for processing signals, there are other functions that are either currently used or will be used in the future, as a better understanding of their applicability is recognized. These functions include Bessel functions, Legendre Polynomials, Tschebysheff Polynomials of First and Second Kind, Jacoby Polynomials, Generalized Laguerre Polynomials, Hermite Polynomials, Bernoulli Polynomials, Euler Polynomials, and a variety of Matrices used in Quantum Mechanics, Linear Analysis functions, wavelets and fractals just to name a few.
Although Fourier transforms and the other functions mentioned above are useful in determining characteristics of signals for use in data processing, there are some drawbacks to their use. Specifically, application of these functions to signals is typically computationally intensive. This is disadvantageous as it may require the use of specialized processors in order to perform data processing. Further, and even more importantly, the time required to perform the number of computations using these functions may cause an unacceptable delay for many data processing applications. In fact, a goal of many data processing systems is the ability to process data signals in real time, with no delay.
For example, the Fourier Series is defined as an infinite series of coefficients representing a signal. To transform a signal using a Fourier Series would require an infinite number of computations. To remedy this problem, many conventional data processing systems use Discrete Fourier Transforms (DFT), as opposed to the infinite Fourier Series. The DFT is the digital approximation to the Fourier Series and is used to process digitized analog information. Importantly, the DFT replaces the infinite series of the Fourier Series with a finite set of N evenly spaced samples taken over a finite period. The computation of the DFT therefore provides the same number of coefficients as the samples received, instead of an infinite number of samples required by the Fourier Series. As such, use of the DFT provides the most satisfactory current means to process the signal.
Because of the importance of reducing the time required to process signals, however, methods have been developed to further reduce the number of computations required to perform a DFT of a signal. Specifically, the DFT procedure computes each coefficient by a similar process. The process for a general coefficient is; multiply each sample by the sine or cosine of the normalized value of the independent variable times the angular rate and sum over all of the samples. This procedure defines N multiply-add steps for each of N coefficients, which in turn, equates to N2 multiply-add computations per DFT. As many samples of a signal are typically required to perform an adequate approximation of the signal, the DFT of a signal is typically computational and time intensive.
One of the methods developed to reduce the number of computations is the butterfly method, which reduces the number of computations from N2 to N times log(N). The butterfly method is based on the fact that many of the trigonometric values of the DFT are the same due to periodicity of the functions. As such, the butterfly method reduces the matrix associated with the DFT into N/2 two-point transforms (i.e., the transforms representing each coefficient an and bn). The butterfly method further reduces the redundant trigonometric values of the DFT. Although the butterfly method reduces the number of computations over the more traditional DFT method, it also adds complexity to the Fourier transformation of a signal. Specifically, the butterfly method uses a complex method for addressing the samples of the signal and the matrix containing the functions. This complexity can require the use of specialized processors and increase time for computation of the Fourier Transform. By its nature, the butterfly is a batch process, which does not begin determination of the coefficients until after all of the samples have been received. As described later, this method causes latency in the determination of the coefficients of the function.
An additional problem with the DFT, besides the number of computations required, is that the value of each coefficient of the DFT is a function of all the samples of the signal. Therefore, none of the coefficients of the DFT can be determined until all of the samples have been processed. Once the last sample of a set is received, the values of all of the coefficients can then be defined. As such, the time between the arrival of the last sample and the availability of the coefficients is referred to as the latency of the system. If the time for processing the coefficients is greater than the time to collect the set of samples, the system cannot operate in real time.
Although no coefficient is defined until all of the samples have been received, there is an advantageous property of the DFT that has not been heretofore recognized in the prior art. This property is the independence of samples. In a set of samples being transformed in a DFT process, each sample makes a contribution to each coefficient based only on the sine or cosine of the applicable angle. This is illustrated in Appendix 1. Specifically, each of the coefficients of the DFT, (i.e., A0, A1, A2, . . . and B0, B1, B2, . . . ), is the summation of the application of each sample to the sine and cosine functions associated with each coefficient. For example, the coefficient A1 is the summation A11+A12+ . . . A18, which are the application of each sample to the cosine function associated with the A1 coefficient. As each of the samples are related to each coefficient by addition, each sample is independent of the other samples and can be used to update the coefficients prior to receipt of the other samples.
Many conventional systems for determining the Fourier Transform of a signal do not recognize this independence of samples aspect of the DFT. Specifically, conventional systems that use the DFT typically first receive a number of samples N of a signal, and only after all of the samples have been received does the system generate each of the coefficients. As such, these conventional systems have an associated latency equal to the time required for the system to compute each of the coefficients after the last sample is received. This latency may be significant. For example, if a conventional system determines a DFT using N=64 samples, then the number of computations is N2 or 4096. For the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT), this is reduced to N times log(N) or 64(6) equals 364.
Appendix 1 illustrates an example of a data processing system that waits until all of the samples have been received prior to determining the coefficients of the DFT. As can be seen, the data processing system illustrated in Appendix 1, first receives eight samples of the signal prior to beginning to process any of the coefficients of the Fourier Transform. Only after receipt of the samples does the system begin to calculate the coefficients. As latency is defined as the time between the receipt of the last sample and the time at which the coefficients are available, this data processing system has latency equal to the time required to perform all computations of the coefficients. As such, this data processing system cannot be used for real-time data processing. As real-time data processing or approximate real-time data processing is advantageous for use in many data processing systems, it would be desirous to provide apparatus and methods that decrease the time required to perform transformation of signals.
An additional problem with many conventional data processing systems, such as the butterfly, is that the coefficients of the function cannot be independently observed due to the complexity of the system. Further, because the butterfly determines the coefficients in a batch method, as opposed to real time, individual coefficients can not be observed and tracked as each new sample is received. Because, the batch method of analysis adds latency, considerable processing must be employed with conventional systems to observe and track coefficients over time. Observance and tracking individual coefficients of a signal is advantageous for in-depth signal analysis.
A still further problem with many conventional data processing systems is that these systems typically do allow for variation of the resolution of individual coefficients of the function. For example, the butterfly is configured to calculate each coefficient producing the same number coefficients as of samples. This may be disadvantageous in applications in which there is interest in only one or a subset of the coefficients, as the butterfly will spend time and resources determining coefficients of less importance to the same resolution as those coefficients of importance. In light of this, it would be desirous to provide apparatus and methods that allow for the tracking and observance of individual coefficients and also varying the resolution with which individual coefficients are calculated.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Apparatus, methods, and computer program products for determining the coefficients of a function with decreased latency