Broadly speaking, embodiments of the present techniques provide apparatus and methods to identify and correct communication errors in a network formed of a plurality of nodes. In particular, the apparatus and methods identify synchronisation errors in a network which result in delayed propagation of messages through the network.

There are ever increasing numbers of devices within the home, office buildings or the outdoor environment that have processing and communication capabilities which allow such devices to interact with other processing devices and cloud services. Everyday objects and relatively small scale processing devices may be connected to each other and to central platforms as part of the "Internet of Things" (IoT). For example, a heating system in the home may gather information from various temperature sensors and control the activation of heaters based on the gathered information; a factory pollution monitoring sensor may gather information from various chemical sensors and arrange maintenance based on the gathered information; whilst a healthcare provider may use wireless sensors, such as a heart rate monitor to track the health of patients while they are at home. In the cases described above the data is generally forwarded to a cloud service on the internet, using machine-to-machine (M2M) communication techniques.
In IoT, or in a typical M2M communication network, devices (or nodes) may be arranged in any suitable topology, such as a mesh topology (in which each node is connected to more than one other node), or a line topology (in which nodes are arranged in a line and each node is connected to the node located to the right of it). Typically, in a communication network at least one 'leader' device or 'coordinator' device is used to propagate messages to the nodes in the network. One or more nodes receive a message directly from the leader device (depending on the topology of the network), and then each node forwards the message to its neighbouring node(s) such that the message quickly propagates throughout the network. This may be an efficient way to transmit messages across a large communication network. The messages may contain new code to be implemented by the nodes in the network, for example. Whatever topology is used to arrange the nodes, as the number of nodes increases, the hop count between nodes located on the edge of the network and the leader device generally increases. This means that if any of the nodes stop working correctly or are slow to transmit messages, the nodes located far away from the leader device may not receive new messages or may receive messages a long time after they were originally sent by the leader device.
Techniques for enabling the detection of errors in a communication network are described herein.

Error detection in communication networks


A high-frequency power supply apparatus for supplying high-frequency power to a load the impedance of which greatly fluctuates is provided, wherein a stable high-frequency current is always maintained without having overcurrent or overvoltage generated in a drive circuit thereof. In the high-frequency power supply apparatus, a constant-current conversion circuit is connected between an LCR series resonant circuit and a half-bridge drive circuit, high-frequency current of the LCR series resonant circuit is controlled by the voltage of the half-bridge drive circuit, and a constant-current function is applied to impedance variation of the load. Due to the constant-current conversion circuit, the gate of a MOSFET of the half-bridge drive circuit is driven with a parallel capacitor using a transformer inserted in the LCR series resonant circuit, and the phases of the high-frequency current of the LCR series resonant circuit and the output of the half-bridge drive circuit are maintained to be constant.

In an inductively coupled plasma (ICP) emission spectrometer, plasma is generated and maintained by introducing a plasma-generating gas such as argon as well as an analysis sample into a plasma torch and supplying high-frequency power to an induction coil. An elemental composition of the sample is analyzed by measuring a light emission from sample atoms excited in the plasma by using a spectroscope or the like.
A high-frequency electromagnetic field is produced in a plasma-generation portion by a high-frequency current flowing through the induction coil, and the plasma is heated by induction current caused by acceleration of charged particles in the plasma. Since this induction current decreases magnetic fields formed by the induction coil, effective inductance of the induction coil decreases. Moreover, energy loss due to heating of the plasma provides a resistance component of impedance of the induction coil.
While the plasma is formed, impedance of the induction coil varies. A state of the plasma varies according to the plasma-generating gas, condition of the analysis sample, supplied power to the plasma, etc., and the impedance of the induction coil also varies.
A resonant circuit is formed by the induction coil and a capacitor to supply power to the plasma. This resonant circuit is driven by a high-frequency power supply that provides high-frequency power, for example, in a range of several 100 W to several kW at 27 MHz. Since an output impedance of a high-frequency power supply is designed to be 50Ω in general, a tuning circuit is arranged between the high-frequency power supply and the resonant circuit and is controlled so that the impedance seen from the high-frequency power supply side is 50Ω all the time. It is a common method that a vacuum variable capacitor in the tuning circuit is adjusted by using a motor or the like so that the reflected power from the tuning circuit becomes zero.
In this way, it is relatively easy to design a highly efficient high-frequency power supply under conditions of a constant resonant frequency and a constant load impedance. However, in the case that the load impedance varies, maintaining the optimum condition all the time by operating the tuning circuit requires a complicated control mechanism and costly parts, which has become a negative factor in application to industrial products.
A free-running method with changing frequency in response to the variation in the load impedance without using costly parts such as the vacuum variable capacitor is, for example, disclosed in Patent Document 1. In Patent Document 1, the frequency of the high-frequency power supply is changed by using a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) so that the reflected power from the tuning circuit is minimized. Nonetheless, since variable elements such as the vacuum variable capacitor or the like are removed from the tuning circuit, variation in the resistance component of the induction coil cannot be coped with.
Because of this, a method of directly driving the resonant circuit without limiting the output impedance of the high-frequency power supply to 50Ω is also disclosed. It is possible to provide a cheap power source with high efficiency although the high-frequency power supply cannot be placed far from the induction coil by using a transmission line such as a coaxial cable or the like, and the high-frequency power supply has to be placed near the induction coil. Due to employment of a self oscillation method of automatically changing the frequency in response to the variation of the load impedance, it is possible to construct a simpler high-frequency power supply circuit eliminating a frequency control circuit and a tuning circuit.
A self-oscillating high-frequency power supply circuit in an induction heating apparatus is disclosed in Patent Document 2 where a portion of voltage of the resonant circuit is fed back to a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) switching element in the high-frequency power supply. Moreover, a method of using a vacuum tube as the switching element is disclosed in Patent Document 3, and a method of using a transistor as the switching element is disclosed in Patent Document 4. Further, in Patent Document 5, a method of driving one side of the resonant circuit with a half bridge and a method of driving two sides of the resonant circuit with a full bridge are disclosed. In Patent Document 2, a portion of voltage of the capacitor in the resonant circuit is used as a gate voltage of a MOSFET by transformer coupling. In Patent Document 5, a current in the resonant circuit is fed to a resistor by transformer coupling for use as a gate voltage of the MOSFET.
Among these methods, even when variation occurs in the load impedance, oscillation continues at a resonant frequency determined by the load impedance, the switching element such as the MOSFET or the like are driven automatically at the same frequency due to feedback from the resonant circuit, and a process such as phase control between the resonant circuit and the drive circuit is not required any more.

High-frequency power supply apparatus for supplying high-frequency power


The present invention is directed to multifunctional surfacing films each comprising: (a) a single layer of curable polymer composition having opposing first and second surfaces: (b) a peelable porous sheet disposed at or beneath the second surface; and (d) at least one porous sheet of functional material disposed within the single layer of curable polymer composition and positioned between the first surface and the peelable porous sheet, and methods of making and using such multifunctional surfacing films.

Aircraft face a harsh environment in use, often subject to aggressive chemicals (e.g., paint strippers, deicing fluids, jet fuel) and environmental conditions including lightning strikes and other potential degradation mechanisms due to environmental stresses (e.g., UV, salt, acid or thermal degradation). In addressing these issues, aircraft manufacturers are under increasingly difficult pressures to reduce manufacturing costs, and to reduce weight and improve performance of the aircraft.


The invention relates to a two-way approach to isolate, recover and upgrade 2,3-Butanediol (2,3-BDO) from fermentation broth. A complete separation and recovery process for 2,3-BDO using acetalization and trans-acetalization sequence. Acetalization with butyraldehyde using heterogeneous catalysts, either Amberlyst-15® or Nafion NR50®, efficiently isolates 2,3-BDO as phase-separated protected dioxolane. The approach provides significant process advantages with easy product recovery and high recyclability of the catalyst. Trans-acetalization of dioxolane with methanol (methanolysis) followed by distillation of acetal, yielded very high purity 2,3-BDO with about 90% isolated yield. Alternatively, dioxolane is used in a process direct to methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) as a BDO synthon allowing for recovery of the aldehyde.

2,3-Butanediol (2,3-BDO) is a valuable bio-based chemical that has wide range of industrial applications. Especially, derivatives of 2,3-BDO find applications as plasticizers, cosmetics, drugs, polymers, and food additives. Considered as promising platform molecule, 2,3-BDO is used for the synthesis of basic and fine chemicals such as dehydration products methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) and butadiene. Moreover, it also has application as a sustainable and renewable drop-in fuel due to its high anti-knock index and high heating value (27.19 KJ g−1).
Currently, the global 2,3-BDO market is valued at 75 million USD, and with wide applications of 2,3-BDO and its derivatives the overall production and demand is expected to surge. According to QY research report published recently, nearly 15,000 MT (metric ton) of 2,3-BDO was produced globally in 2019, and the overall compound annual growth rate is expected to increase to 2.88% by 2025. Several metabolic engineering fermentation processes were developed to enhance the production of BDO. Recently, Zhang and coworkers reported an efficient metabolic pathway using engineered Zymomonas strains (Zymomonas mobilis) for large scale product of 2,3-BDO, up to 120 g/L. However, the separation and recovery of BDO from the complex fermentation broth remains a challenge due to its aqueous solubility. The current process involves water removal and distillation of 2,3-BDO (boiling point 180° C.) from the fermentation mixture. The high thermal energy required makes the process less economical and high energy intensive. This traditional approach also concentrates the other broth components, as well as 2,3-BDO, which makes downstream processing more challenging. Several other methods reported include liquid-liquid extraction, pervaporation (membrane separation), anionic extraction, sugaring-out extraction etc. In addition to these, recent reports also suggested butanol-based extraction-assisted distillation for purification of 2,3-BDO.
However, these methods are hampered by inherent limitations and drawbacks; such as membrane fouling caused by other broth components, a large excess of solvent used and low 2,3-BDO isolated yields. Reactive extraction methods possess several advantages over distillation including large throughput and low energy consumption. Earlier reports of reactive extraction methodology for isolation of 2,3-BDO uses strongly acidic environment that are corrosive and would require advanced alloys or coatings in plant equipment which may prove impractical and costly. Heterogeneous catalysts hold significant advantages over conventional homogeneous catalysts. When employed in an industrial setting, easy separation of products from reaction medium, recycling and reuse of heterogeneous catalysts makes the process economical and environmentally friendly.
The present inventors have reported a simple, solvent free method for the acetalization of 2,3-BDO with bio-derived aldehydes to yield substituted 1,3-dioxolanes (cyclic acetal). Phase separation and easy isolation of high purity dioxolanes. Thus, eliminating elaborate purification processes which is a major advantage of the present method. The present invention provides the separation and recovery of 2,3-BDO from fermentation broth as an acetal (dioxolane). Upon coordination to form cyclic acetals (dioxolane), the product phase separates from the 2,3-BDO/water mixture and can readily be isolated as the pure compound. The present inventors have also investigated the conversion of dioxolane (as a 2,3-BDO synthon) to the synthetically important dehydration product, methyl ethyl ketone. The cyclic acetal (dioxolane) produced from the reaction between butyraldehyde and BDO was utilized to demonstrate the butyraldehyde recyclability and the conversion of BDO to fuels (precursor).
Two different approaches can be utilized to recover the butyraldehyde and BDO or its derivatives for fuel(s) generation from dioxolane. These are: 1) hydrolyze the dioxolane to generate butyraldehyde and BDO and 2) cleave the dioxolane to generate butyraldehyde and methyl ethyl ketone (MEK).
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for the separation, recovery and upgrading of biomass derived 2,3-BDO. The present method overcomes the current drawbacks of available processes, as well as, problems associated with recovering 2,3-BDO in low yields and purity.

Separation, recovery and upgrading of biomass derived 2,3-butanediol


Inhalable pharmaceutical compositions can include an aqueous dispersion of particles including a hydrophobic bioactive agent (e.g., CoQ10) suitable for continuous aerosolization. Due to their chemical composition and methods of manufacture, the pharmaceutical compositions exhibit distinctive physicochemical properties that provide advantageous aerosol transmission and output.

Cancer is presently one of the leading causes of death in developed nations. Lung cancer is one example of a cancer with a high mortality rate and low long-term survival rate. Although research has vastly increased the understanding of many of the molecular mechanisms of tumorigenesis and has provided numerous new avenues for the treatment of cancer, including lung cancer, standard treatments for most malignancies remain gross resection, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. While increasingly successful, each of these treatments can cause numerous undesirable side effects. For example, surgery can result in pain, traumatic injury to healthy tissue, and scarring. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy may cause nausea, immune suppression, gastric ulceration and secondary tumorigenesis. Furthermore, such extreme side effects can come without a correspondingly high survival rate.
Delivery of a therapeutic agent to the respiratory tract is one avenue for the treatment of numerous local and/or systemic diseases, including lung cancer. However, conventional techniques for delivery of agents to the lung can be ineffective, inefficient, and/or insufficient. For example, many known methods produce aerosols that have droplets that are two large to deliver a pharmaceutical to the lung, and/or that are too inconsistent to reliably deliver a specific dose. Particle formation technologies developed to address issues such as particle size, for example mechanical micronization processes and solution-based phase separation processes, can have additional limitations. Mechanical micronization methods such as milling can cause thermal and/or mechanical degredation of the pharmaceutical. Spray drying, another method used to micronize drug substances, can lead to difficulty in collecting small particles.


An optical architecture for receiving and slowing down high-speed data for high-speed digital testing applications is provided in which an input generating means transmits high-speed input test vectors to an apparatus under testing. In response, the apparatus under testing generates output test vectors. These high speed output test vectors are converted to slow-speed data signals by optically demultiplexing the high-speed vectors into high-speed parallel data signals and then expanding the parallel data signals to for slow-speed data signals. The slow-speed data signals are then compared with slow-speed reference vectors on a personal computer to determine whether the apparatus under testing is in error for any of its output channels.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of digital testing apparatus for analyzing high speed data.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The objective of digital testing is to determine whether for a given input signal (usually called "input test vector" since it is a set of parallel input bits) the output value (or state) of the device under test (DUT) is in error for any of its output channels. The test must determine the location of the error (i.e., specific bit and state) and the nature of the error (i.e., "1" instead of "0" or vice versa). State-of-the-art commercially available digital testers can test silicon based integrated circuits at speeds of the order of 200 MHz. Digital testing at 1-2 GHz rates as required for LSI GaAs integrated circuits or high-speed superconductive devices, however, is impossible with any known technology. This is because of the lack of a established high-speed technology that is capable of satisfying some rather stringent test requirements which include receiving the DUT's high-speed output data, transferring the data to the tester while avoiding transmission line effects, and converting the high-speed data to low-speed data so that they can be compared with the expected reference data which are stored in a conventional low-speed memory.
A typical 100 MHz clock digital tester provides data pulsewidths of 10 ns with combined rise and fall times of about 30% the pulsewidth or 1.5 ns each. The timing resolution or accuracy with which the edges of the pulses are applied to the inputs of the DUT is typically 3-5% of the pulsewidth or about 300 ps. This requirement arises because of the need to verify the predicted propagation delay through the DUT. Thus the tester must provide input test vectors whose elements (or bits) are positioned in time as accurately as possible. The tester skew (defined as the maximum timing error of a tester that measures the arrival of a pulse simultaneously applied to every pin of the tester's input) is typically 10% of the pulsewidth or 1 ns. By extrapolating these guidelines, the specifications of a 1.5 GHz (RZ) digital tester can be determined. The width of each bit is 666 ps which implies that square waveforms of about 330 ps must be generated having rise and fall times of 50 ps. For 5% time resolution, the tester must be able to place the pulse edges as accurately as 35 ps. The system skew figure must be kept to less than 66 ps.
In a general high-speed testing scenario, a demultiplexer (DMUX) or serial-to-parallel converter is used to slow down the high-speed output DUT data so that they can be tested or stored using conventional low speed electronics. The highest speed DMUX device can operate at 1.5 G bit/s data rates and has a rise and fall time of 150 ps. This rise and fall time speed exceeds the specifications of the 1.5 GHz tester by a factor of 2. Consequently, there is a need for a digital testing device capable of testing high-speed data in excess of 1 GHz.

System for optically splitting high-speed digital signals using cascading tree-type configuration wherein the number of successive level of cascading increase by a factor of two


A cable or the like protection and guide device can be applied to various conditions at a mounting fixed end and a mounting movable end. A cable or the like protection and guide device (100) in which mounting brackets (140, 140) are detachably connected to a pair of right and left side plate units (110, 110) adjacent to the mounting fixed end through fixed end side adaptors (130, 130) respectively, and mounting brackets are detachably connected to a pair of right and left side plate units (110, 110) adjacent to the mounting movable end through movable end side adaptors, (150, 150), respectively.

A conventional cable or the like protection and guide device includes upper end portions and lower end portions of a number of connected pairs of right and left resin link plates from a mounting fixed end toward a mounting movable end. Flaps and bottom plates are used as connecting members. A fixed side mount fitting is detachably mounted to resin link plates adjacently arranged on mounting fixed edges in a right and left symmetrical manner, respectively. A movable side mount fitting is detachably mounted to resin link plates adjacently arranged on mounting movable edges in a right and left symmetrical manner, respectively. See, Patent Reference 1, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2000-120807.
Since in such a protection and guide chain, the fixed side mount fitting and the movable side mount fitting are composed of metal, wear damage is liable to occur in a connecting portion to a resin link plate and the endurance of the entire chain is in question.
A cable or the like protection and guide device includes a number of pairs of right and left spaced side plate units connected to each other from a mounting fixed end toward a mounting movable end. The connecting plates are detachably bridged over flexional inner circumferential sides and flexional outer circumferential sides of the side plate units in predetermined intervals. A fixed side mounting bracket is connected to side plate units proximately arranged on the mounting fixed ends in a symmetrical manner, respectively. A movable side mounting bracket is connected to side plate units proximately arranged on the mounting movable ends in a symmetrical manner, respectively. In this way a cable or the like is accommodated in cable accommodating space surrounded by the side plate units and the connecting plates from the mounting fixed end toward the mounting movable end.
See, Patent Reference 2, the specification of Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-69527.


A method and system are provided for investigating a gas-liquid fluid mixture as it is conveyed in a conduit having a first constriction region providing a reduced conduit cross section. The method and system include inducing the mixture to exhibit swirling flow in the first constriction region, thereby separating the liquid from the gas, and determining one or more properties of the fluid in the first constriction region.

The determination of gas and liquid flow rates in gas-liquid fluid mixtures is important in the oil and gas industry.
An example of an apparatus for measuring such flow rates is Schlumberger's Vx™ system (see e.g. I. Atkinson, M. Berard, B.-V. Hanssen, G. Ségéral, 17th International North Sea Flow Measurement Workshop, Oslo, Norway 25-28 Oct. 1999 "New Generation Multiphase Flowmeters from Schlumberger and Framo Engineering AS") which comprises a vertically mounted Venturi flow meter, a dual energy gamma-ray hold up measuring device and associated processors. This system allows the simultaneous calculation of gas, water and oil volumetric flow rates in multi phase flows.
However, with conventional implementations of Vx™ technology the accuracy of the calculations starts to degrade as the gas volume fraction (GVF) increases above about 90%. In particular, at high GVF it can be difficult to determine properties of the liquid phase.
WO2005/031311 discloses a flow conditioner for providing an isokinetic main fluid stream to be sampled by a sampling probe. The flow conditioner is a pipe section which includes a swirl inducing section, a flow straightener and an orifice plate. The swirl inducing section distributes a liquid film on the wall of the pipe section which is shed back into the gas core by the orifice plate, whereby turbulence causes good mixing of the liquid and gas phases. Straightening the flow of the gas core prior to the orifice plate reduces the amount of liquid that is redeposited onto the pipe wall after shedding by the orifice plate upstream of the sampling point.
WO 2004/106861 proposes a multi phase flowmeter in which a twisted tape device is used to separate a liquid phase from a liquid-gas mixture into an annular film on the tube wall of a straight pipe section. Measurements are made to determine the liquid flow rate in the film. Following the straight pipe section, the liquid is re-entrained into the gas stream by an expansion contraction system. The homogenised flow is then passed to a Venturi.
J. Gibson and M. Reader-Harris, Swirling flow through Venturi tubes of convergent angle 10.5° and 21°, Proc. FEDSM2006, Jul. 17-20 2006, Miami, Fla., discusses computations of swirling flows of dry gases in Venturi tubes.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and apparatus for investigating a gas-liquid mixture


A method and system for estimating water cut or water fraction. The method may include independently establishing a production index for a region in a well. An initial flow rate in the region may be computed from the production index. Further, a measured flow rate may also be monitored within the region on an ongoing rate, for example, with a Venturi device. Thus, a comparison of the initial and measured flow rates may also take place on an ongoing basis so as to provide a real time read of fluid density. This, in turn may be used to estimate water cut of anywhere between 0 and 100% for the region in a dynamic manner. As a result, production from the overall well may be optimized with greater accuracy as a determination on the amount of production allowed, if any, is made on a region by region basis with improved water cut accuracy regarding each region.

Exploring, drilling and completing hydrocarbon and other wells are generally complicated, time consuming and ultimately very expensive endeavors. In recognition of these expenses, added emphasis has been placed on efficiencies associated with well completions and maintenance over the life of the well. Further, ever increasing well depths and sophisticated architecture are also employed for the sake of maximizing the efficiency and total hydrocarbon recovery from a given hydrocarbon reservoir. For example, vertical well depth may exceed 10,000 feet in order to reach deep reservoirs as well as to help ensure maximum vertical contact with the reservoir.
Of course, even maximum vertical contact with the reservoir is limited given that the reservoir, as with most any other geologic formation, is found in a layered fashion. For example, it would not be uncommon to find a reservoir that occupies about 100 feet vertically, but tens of thousands of feet horizontally. As a result, well architecture often includes a cased vertical well section that extends into an open-hole horizontal or lateral leg section. In fact, the main bore of the well may vertically traverse the reservoir with several lateral legs emerging therefrom and going in different horizontal directions through the reservoir.
Not only does each horizontal leg add to the amount of contact with the reservoir, each leg may add dramatically to the amount of contact. For example, even in the noted circumstance where the well may afford 100 feet of vertical contact to the main bore, each lateral leg may extend to 10,000 feet or more horizontally through the reservoir. Thus, where perhaps five such horizontal legs emerge from the main bore in this fashion, 50,000 feet of added contact surface with the reservoir is provided by way of these legs. In a case where each of the legs is about the same diameter as the main vertical bore, this means that about 500 times the amount of interface with the reservoir has been provided by way of the legs as compared to the main bore.
Of course, with tens of thousands of feet of added well space provided by horizontal legs as described above, tens of thousands of feet of added well maintenance and management is required. For example, production from the reservoir may change over time and contaminants, often water, may begin to be produced. However, it is unlikely that water will suddenly be produced from all regions of the horizontal legs simultaneously. Rather, water production is likely to emerge inconsistently at isolated locations of one horizontal leg or another. Nevertheless, because each horizontal leg emerges from the same main bore, water production at a single location of a single horizontal leg may adversely affect all of production operations. Stated another way, the dramatic increase in reservoir contact area afforded by the horizontal legs has also dramatically increased the likelihood of water production with the potential to affect production operations.
In order to address the possibility of water production from a single location adversely affecting all production operations in a well of multilateral architecture as described, each leg is generally compartmentalized into zonally isolated regions. For example, the architecture of a 10,000 foot leg may be zonally isolated into five separate 2,000 foot sections. In this way, each section may be monitored throughout production operations for water production. Thus, once sufficient water production is detected at one of the sections, production therefrom may be closed off or reduced, for example, by closing a sliding sleeve or valve actuated by surface control or through an intervention if necessary.
The ability to detect water production and independently close off production, section by section as noted above, generally involves the placement of a dedicated capacitance measurement tool within each section. Each tool may be provided with the ability to communicate with equipment at the oilfield surface. So, for example, where water production is detected by the tool within the third section of the second lateral leg, the operator at the surface of the oilfield is provided with such information and may take appropriate corrective action (e.g. to direct closing of a sliding sleeve in the section to stop production therefrom). As a result, production from all other sections of the second leg and all other legs may proceed unaffected by any water production from the now closed off section.
Unfortunately, the ability to detect true water production or an accurate "water cut" by a conventional capacitance measurement tool is limited. Specifically, the amount of water that is being produced as compared to the totality of the produced fluid may not be ascertained with a great degree of accuracy, particularly where the water cut exceeds about 25-30%. That is, once the water being produced exceeds 25-30% of the produced fluid, the readings obtained from a capacitance measurement tool will continue to show only a 25-30% cut, even though the actual cut may be 35-80% or more.
Often, the inability to detect the true water cut is not of major concern. For example, it may be desirable to close off all production from a section whenever water production exceeds about 10%. Thus, the inability to accurately ascertain a 55% cut, for example, is of no significance. However, this is not always the case as many times it is desirable to know the true water cut even if well over 30%.
In wells such as those described hereinabove where an extensive amount of interface with the reservoir takes place in through horizontal legs, the true cut value over 30% is likely to be of significance. In multilaterals such as these, water cut may exceed 30% but only in an intermittent fashion. That is, the horizontal architecture may serve to promote a phase separation between water and hydrocarbons such that surges of water emerge periodically. Thus, the detection of water may not actually be an indication that the entire section being monitored has transitioned to an overall state of high water production. Instead, it may merely be that a temporary surge of water is detected as a result of the well architecture. Of course, the significance of such a temporary surge is unknown if the operator is never made aware of whether the water cut from the surge is 30%, 100%, or some other value in between. As a result, the operator may be left to assume a 100% water cut whenever the cut detection is over 30%. This may in turn lead to prematurely and unnecessarily closing off the leg section. In fact, given that the well is multilateral in nature, this natural phase separation problem is likely to be repeated at several different sections of the well. Therefore, a dramatic reduction in the overall productivity and efficiency of the well may take place as a multitude of well sections are prematurely closed off due to the unavailability of true water cut data in excess of about 30%.


Disclosed is a delay circuit. The delay circuit includes a pulse generating unit, a timing adjusting unit, and a pulse width adjusting unit. The pulse generating unit is configured to generate a pulse signal having a preset width in response to a rising edge of an input signal. The timing adjusting unit is configured to activate an output signal in response to the pulse signal after a predetermined time has lapsed. The pulse width adjusting unit is configured to adjust a pulse width of the output signal in response to the activation of the output signal.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to a semiconductor circuit, and more particularly, to a delay circuit for use in a semiconductor circuit.
2. Related Art
Conventionally a delay circuit can be realized in several ways. For example, the delay circuit can be realized by arranging unit delays in the form of an array, with an inverter is used as the unit delay.
The delay circuit according to the conventional art allows a signal to be sequentially delayed through a plurality of unit delays, thereby delaying an input signal by a predetermined time.
However, the conventional delay circuit is problematic because the conventional delay circuit cannot delay an output signal by a predetermined time due to a variation of a width of the input signal, or may cause the output signal to have an irregular pulse width. Further, when the input signal has an excessively broad pulse width (for example, about several hundreds picoseconds), the output signal may not be generated.


A dynamic reconfiguration training machine learning computer architecture is disclosed. According to some aspects, a computing machine accesses a configuration file. The configuration file specifies parameters for a machine learning session. The computing machine trains a machine learning module to solve a problem, where the machine learning module operates according to the parameters specified in the configuration file. The computing machine generates an output representing the trained machine learning module.

Machine learning is useful for many purposes, such as optical character recognition, image recognition, network intruder detection, spam filtering, and the like. However, configuring a machine learning architecture for a given task may be cumbersome and may require modification to code or hardware. As the foregoing illustrates, a dynamic reconfiguration training computer architecture for machine learning may be desirable.

Dynamic reconfiguration training computer architecture


The present invention provides a power negotiation protocol that enables PDs and PSEs to negotiate the amount of inline power that a PD consumes and the corresponding PSE provides. This power negotiation allows the PDs provide fine-grained power consumption level to PSEs, and the PSEs are able to manage inline power efficiently using the negotiation protocol of the present invention. The PDs can ask the PSEs for more power when needed rather than having to constantly reserve the maximum amount of power they can consume at all times. Similarly, the PDs can release reservation of excess power when their respective power requirements decrease. The PSEs can limit the amount of power that can be consumed by the PD, thereby providing the ability for an administrator to control how much power a given PD can consume.

With the introduction of IEEE 802.3af standard, the number of inline powerable devices (PDs) having varying power consumption levels is expected to increase. Similarly, there is power-sourcing equipment (PSE) that supports the different levels of power that it can provide. For example, Cisco Systems, Inc. produces inline power cards that support 6.3 W devices. For backward compatibility, there are IEEE PDs that utilize the Cisco Discovery Protocol (CDP). Thus, there are combinations of PDs and PSEs that need some negotiation to make sure that the PDs don't oversubscribe the PSE. For example, it's required that a 15 W PD doesn't consume more than 6.3 W on old inline power cards.
Currently, IEEE classifications exist to denote ranges of power consumption of PDs. However, these classifications are very coarse. For example, IEEE Class 3 devices consume anywhere from 7 W to 15.4 W. This means that an IEEE Class 3 device that needs only 7 W actually requires 15.4 W to be allocated by the PSE. Power management by the PSE's power manager is therefore inefficient, and there is a need for power negotiation between PDs and PSEs that overcomes this problem.

Method and apparatus for negotiating power between power sourcing equipment and powerable devices


A device for measuring the movement of a ball is a flat pad or a frame defining an opening with one or more magnetic field inducing elements mounted thereon. One or more sensor elements are mounted in the flat pad or the frame, and connected to instrumentation so as to record induced, time-varying current signals from disturbances in a magnetic field by the ball penetrating the field. The device may also be arranged so as to measure the spin characteristics and other vectors of a conductive, charged and/or magnetized golf ball penetrating field. Or, the device may be arranged so as to have no magnetic field inducing elements, whereby the magnetic field of a modified, magnetized golf ball, when passing through an opening, or over a flat pad, induces time varying current signals in at least one sensor element, which can be processed to predict the complete ball flight parameters, i.e., velocity, trajectory and spin.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to means for measuring the flight of a ball, and more particularly, to a device and method for measuring the kinematics of a moving ball, such as a golf ball, and a modified ball for use therewith.
2. Description of Prior Art
Currently, some driving ranges, golf shops, or the like have so called electronic swing analyzers or similar devices which normally use a tarpaulin or other type netting into which a golfer may hit a golf ball to determine where the golf ball might land on a golf course. Such tarpaulins or the like might include a projected golf course or a computer generated image of a golf fairway to produce an image of approximately where the ball would have landed on the course. However, the known devices do not have means to completely and conclusively measure how fast the ball is traveling, its launch angle, the tracking angle or the spin characteristics of the ball. Therefore, there exists a need in the art for a device and method to simultaneously measure all kinematic motion parameters of a ball, such as a golf ball in flight, and which may be used to play a virtual game, such as a game of golf.

Device and method to measure kinematics of a moving golf ball


An uplink scheduling-free transmission method and an uplink scheduling-free transmission device are provided. The uplink scheduling-free transmission method includes: dividing, by a base station, MA resources into groups of MA resources, and configuring, by the base station, the groups of MA resources to obtain at least two groups of MA resource pools, wherein at least parts of respective MA resources in the at least two groups of MA resource pools are different from each other; and notifying, by the base station, a UE of the at least two groups of MA resource pools, to enable the UE to select an MA resource pool from the at least two groups of MA resource pools, wherein the selected MA resource pool is to be used by the UE.

Three types of New Radio (NR) scenarios have been proposed by the 3rd-Generation Partnership Projection (3GPP), i.e., massive Machine Type Communications (mMTC), Ultra-Reliable and Low Latency Communications (URLLC) and enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB). In the mMTC scenario, there is a big connection, and a non-orthogonal uplink scheduling-free transmission scheme, as an effective transmission mechanism, may meet the requirement in this scenario. Through the scheduling-free scheme, it is able to reduce a large quantity of signaling load, and through the non-orthogonal scheme, it is able for a large quantity of users in the system to access simultaneously. When a large quantity of users access in the network simultaneously, the inter-cell interference is a bottleneck for the network performance. For a scenario with scheduling, it is able to reduce the inter-cell interference through interference coordination, and for the scheduling-free scenario, it is impossible to reduce the inter-cell interference through the interference coordination.
In the mMTC scenario, it is able for the non-orthogonal uplink scheduling-free transmission scheme to meet the requirement on big connection and broad coverage. Due to the use of the uplink scheduling-free transmission scheme, the data transmission may be performed by a large quantity of User Equipments (UEs) simultaneously, and these UEs may randomly select Multiple Access (MA) resources, so the inter-cell interference at a base station side may increase dramatically. Even when an advanced receiver is adopted, it is still impossible to eliminate the inter-cell interference.

Uplink scheduling-free transmission method and device with groups of PDMA resource pools

CHINA ACADEMY OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY


A new intermediate transfer member which has a durable coating layer which easily conforms to the elastic deformation of the rubber layer, exhibits good wear resistance, permits easy resistance control, and fulfills such requirements as protection of the photosensitive body from staining, prevention of toner sticking, and decrease in the coefficient of friction. It is characterized in that the coating layer is composed mainly of a urethane resin which is formed from a polyol compound and a polyisocyanate compound in an excess amount in terms of NCO/OH molar ratio and which contains a solvent-insoluble fraction no less than 70%.

The present invention relates to an improvement on the intermediate transfer member that is used in the electrostatic recording process for electrophotographic devices and electrostatic recording devices such as copying machines and printers in which an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of an image-forming body, the latent image is developed with a toner, and the toner image is transferred to a recording medium such as paper via said intermediate transfer member which holds the toner image temporarily before image transfer. The present invention relates also to an improvement on the image-forming device which forms images by the intermediate transfer system using said intermediate transfer member.
Conventional electrophotographic image-forming devices such as copying machines and printers work in the following manner. First, a photosensitive body (image-forming body) has its surface uniformly charged by a charging means such as charging roll. The charged photosensitive body is given a projected image through an optical system, so that the part struck by light becomes discharged, thereby forming an electrostatic latent image. The photosensitive body is given a toner by the aid of a developing roll or any other developing means, so that the latent image electrostatically attracts the toner, thereby forming a toner image. The toner image is transferred to a recording medium such as paper by a transfer means such as a transfer roll. The transferred image is fixed with heating to the recording medium by the aid of a fixing means such as a fixing roll. In this way a print image is obtained.
The above-mentioned process is basically applied also to color printers and color copying machines; however, it needs some modifications for color images which are formed by four toners, that is, magenta, yellow, cyan, and black. In order to obtain a desired hue, a process is necessary to overlay these toners in a certain ratio. There have been proposed several systems to achieve this object.
The first system is the multiple development system, in which the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive body is developed (made visible) by sequentially overlaying the four toners, magenta, yellow, cyan, and black so that a color toner image is formed on the photosensitive body as in the case of monochromatic printing. This system permits the device to be constructed comparatively compact but has the disadvantage of having difficulties in tone control and being unable to produce high-quality images.
The second system is the tandem system, in which four photosensitive bodies are arranged in tandem and latent images on them are developed with four toners (magenta, yellow, cyan, and black) respectively. The resulting toner images are transferred sequentially to a recording medium such as paper so as to reproduce a color image thereon. This system gives rise to images of good quality but has the disadvantage of requiring a large, expensive device because each photosensitive body has a charging mechanism and a developing mechanism.
The third system is the transfer drum system, in which a recording medium such as paper is wound around a transfer drum which is turned four times such that the four magenta, yellow, cyan, and black toner images on the photosensitive body are sequentially transferred to the recording medium so as to reproduce a color image. This system produces images of comparatively good quality but has the disadvantage of involving difficulties in winding a thick paper such as post card around the transfer drum. This restricts the kind of recording medium to be used.
In order to eliminate the above-mentioned disadvantages of the multiple development system, the tandem system, and the transfer drum system, there has been proposed a new system called the intermediate transfer system. This system does not need a large device, nor does it restrict the kind of recording medium to be used.
The intermediate transfer system is designed such that the toner images of magenta, yellow, cyan, and black on the photosensitive body are sequentially transferred to and held temporarily by an intermediate transfer member in the form of drum or belt so that a color image is formed on the intermediate transfer member, and this color image is finally transferred to a recording medium such as paper. This system has the advantage of producing a high-quality image because of its ability to control the tone by overlaying four toner images. This system does not need a large device because it obviates photosensitive bodies arranged in tandem as in the tandem system, nor does it restrict the kind of recording medium to be used because it obviates the necessity of winding the recording medium around the transfer drum as in the transfer drum system.
The color image formation by the intermediate transfer system may be accomplished by a device shown in FIG. 1 (which employs a cylindrical intermediate transfer member) or by a device shown in FIG. 2 (which employs a belt-like intermediate transfer member).
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a cylindrical photosensitive body 1 which rotates in the direction of the arrow indicated. This photosensitive body 1 is charged by the primary charger 2. Upon exposure to the image light 3, the exposed part loses the charge and hence forms on the photosensitive body 1 an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the first color component. The electrostatic latent image is developed with the first color (magenta toner M) by the developer 41. There is formed on the photosensitive body 1 an image of the first color (magenta toner). This toner image is transferred to the intermediate transfer drum 20a (in FIG. 1) or the intermediate transfer belt 20b (in FIG. 2) which turns in contact with the photosensitive body 1. (The drum and belt are collectively referred to as "intermediate transfer member 20a or 20b" hereinafter.) The transfer from the photosensitive body 1 to the intermediate transfer member 20a or 20b takes place at the nip between them because the latter is biased by the power source 61. After the transfer of the first toner (magenta) image to the intermediate transfer member 20a or 20b, the photosensitive body 1 has its surface cleaned by the cleaning unit 14. This cycle completes the development and transfer operation as the photosensitive body 1 makes one turn. Subsequently, the photosensitive body 1 turns three times and the toner images of the second color (cyan), the third color (yellow), and the fourth color (black) are formed consecutively on the photosensitive body 1 by the developing units 42, 43, and 44. After each turn, each toner image is transferred to the intermediate transfer member 20a or 20b and overlaid on the previously transferred image. Thus a synthesized color toner image corresponding to the original color image is formed on the intermediate transfer member 20a or 20b. Incidentally, the device shown in FIG. 2 has a developing station which holds developers 41 to 44 which are displaced sequentially each time the photosensitive body 1 turns so that development takes place sequentially with magenta toner (M), cyan toner (C), yellow toner (Y), and black toner (B).
With an image of overlaid color toners formed thereon, the intermediate transfer member 20a or 20b comes into contact with the transfer roller 25, and the nip between them receives a recording medium 24 (such as paper) from the paper feed cassette 9. At the same time, a secondary transfer bias is applied to the transfer roller 25 from the power source 29, so that the synthesized color toner image is transferred from the intermediate transfer member 20a or 20b to the recording medium 24. The recording medium 24 is further led to the fixing station 15 in which the synthesized color toner image is fixed by heating on the recording medium 24. After transfer, the intermediate transfer member 20a or 20b has its surface cleaned of residual toner by the cleaning unit 35 and returns to the initial state and becomes ready for the next cycle of image forming.
For images to be formed by the intermediate transfer system, the above-mentioned intermediate transfer member 20a or 20b should be made of a soft, resilient material because it comes into direct contact with the photosensitive body 1, the toner image, and the recording medium 24. A cylindrical intermediate transfer member 20a as shown in FIG. 1 is made up of a metal drum base (or cylindrical metal core) 200 and a surface layer of electrically conductive rubbery elastic material 201 as shown in FIG. 3. A belt-like intermediate transfer member 20b as shown in FIG. 2 is a belt formed from an electrically conductive rubbery elastic material 201 reinforced with fabrics or spirally wound yarns (not shown) as shown in FIG. 4. The rubbery elastic material 201 may have on its surface a resin coating layer 202 to protect the photosensitive body from being stained, to prevent the toner from sticking to it, and to decrease the coefficient of friction.
When used for an electrophotographic image-forming device, the intermediate transfer member shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 greatly affects the transfer efficiency and hence the image forming depending on its resistivity. It is desirable that the intermediate transfer member have a resistivity in the so-called middle range of 10.sup.11 to 10.sup.14 .OMEGA..multidot.cm. This presents difficulties in making the intermediate transfer member free from variation in resistance. It is particularly difficult to adjust a rubber compound to such a middle range of resistivity. An idea proposed so far to address this problem is that the layer of rubbery elastic body 201 is adjusted to a resistivity of 10.sup.3 to 10.sup.6 .OMEGA..multidot.cm, which is comparatively easy to attain, and this layer is covered with a coating layer 202 of resin having a comparatively high resistivity, so that the intermediate transfer member as a whole has a desired resistivity in the middle range as mentioned above.
The disadvantage of this layer structure is that the resin coating layer 202 is generally much harder than the rubbery elastic body and hence it does not fully conform to the elastic deformation of the electrically conductive rubber layer 201. The result is that the coating layer 202 formed on the intermediate transfer drum 20a or the intermediate transfer belt 20b tends to crack. The cracking causes rubber compounding ingredients to ooze out, catches toner particles, or changes the coefficient of friction. These troubles defeat the desired object. The durability of the coating layer is important particularly for the belt-like intermediate transfer member which undergoes extreme flexing.
A conceivable solution to this problem is to make the coating layer 202 from a soft resin; however, this is not practical because a soft resin is subject to large plastic deformation and is sticky with a high coefficient of friction.
When the coating layer 202 is to function to adjust the resistivity of the intermediate transfer member as a whole, it has to be incorporated with an electrically conducting material such as carbon black for decrease in resistivity because a resinous material in general has a high volume resistivity. This leads to the necessity of complex processes, including preparation of a coating material and formation of a coating layer, both containing an electrically conducting material uniformly dispersed therein.

Intermediate transfer member and image-forming device


The invention relates to a vehicle steering wheel which comprises a steering wheel skeleton consisting of a steering wheel rim having an interior space, and of a hub and at least one spoke connecting the hub with the steering wheel rim. The vehicle steering wheel further comprises at least one additional mass fastened to the steering wheel skeleton and constructed as a separate part. The at least one additional mass is intended for reducing vibration and is provided in the interior space of the steering wheel rim. At least one flexible clip is provided which engages on the additional mass and holds the additional mass against the steering wheel skeleton.

The invention relates to a vehicle steering wheel.
Standard vehicle steering wheels may be provided with separate additional masses to be fastened at desired sites on the steering wheel skeleton. These additional masses are intended to increase the inert mass of the vehicle steering wheel as a whole and to largely prevent vibrations. Additional masses have generally hitherto been fastened to the hub.
As slight modifications to the steering wheel also lead to a different coordination of the steering wheel with respect to the inert masses of its individual parts, slightly lighter or heavier additional masses are to be able to be fastened to the steering wheel skeleton quickly and simply, without a reconstruction of the steering wheel being required. Such a fine coordination of the individual parts of a steering wheel is also appropriate if with the same steering wheel skeleton different embodiments are to be produced (e.g. with additional facings or function switches).
The invention provides a vehicle steering wheel, in which the additional mass for reducing vibration can be arrested quickly and simply on the steering wheel skeleton. This is achieved in a vehicle steering wheel which comprises a steering wheel skeleton consisting of a steering wheel rim having an interior space, and of a hub and at least one spoke connecting the hub with the steering wheel rim. The vehicle steering wheel further comprises at least one additional mass for reducing vibration fastened to the steering wheel skeleton and constructed as a separate part. The at least one additional mass is provided in the interior space of the steering wheel rim. At least one flexible clip is provided which engages on the additional mass and holds the additional mass against the steering wheel skeleton. This clip makes possible a simple, rapid clipping of the additional mass on the steering wheel skeleton. As through the clip a separate part is available for fastening the additional mass to the steering wheel skeleton, the additional mass can also be constructed slightly differently and hence also with a slightly altered weight, without a different clip being required. By using such a clip, the additional mass is preferably also to be pressed in a prestressed manner against the steering wheel skeleton. The prestressing is to be selected such that no vibrations can occur between the additional mass and the steering wheel skeleton. For this purpose, it can be advantageous if in addition also a form-fitting connection is provided between the additional mass and the clip. This form-fitting connection prevents a faulty positioning of the additional mass and the clip with respect to each other on installation.
Preferably, a further form-fitting connection is present between the clip and the steering wheel skeleton. This also facilitates the exact positioning of the clip on the steering wheel skeleton on installation. Furthermore, such an additional form-fitting connection serves for the additional securing of the clip on the steering wheel skeleton.
The above-mentioned form-fitting connections can be formed for example by a recess and a corresponding projection, which projects into the recess.
According to the preferred embodiment, several additional masses are fastened to the steering wheel rim by means of clips. The accommodating of the additional mass takes place here advantageously in the steering wheel itself, if the latter has a hollow profile which is open in cross-section. The clip presses the additional mass into the interior of this hollow profile and closes it. Thereby, the additional mass does not project outwards with respect to the steering wheel rim, or only projects slightly, and also does not prevent the process of encasing with foam.
The clip which embraces the steering wheel rim can be secured in addition by a shell-shaped hard panel or cover visible from outside, which presses together the free ends or edges of the clip. In this connection, the clip has a dual function by not only fastening the additional mass but also the visible panel to the steering wheel rim. The visible panel is preferably a plastic panel or a panel of a different material such as aluminum, wood or composite material and is arranged on the inner face of the steering wheel rim in steering wheels having a particularly high-quality appearance. Its fastening can also be achieved according to one design by a clip connection, by the panel, the clip and the foam casing of the steering wheel being coordinated with each other such that with a steering wheel which is already encased in foam, possibly even already covered with leather, the panel is clipped onto the clip.

TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH and Co. KG


A deposition mask for forming an organic layer pattern of an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display includes a base member having a first surface facing a substrate of the OLED display, and a second surface facing a side opposite to the first surface, and including a plurality of openings passing through the first surface and the second surface for forming the organic layer pattern. The opening has a pair of first side walls and a pair of second side walls. Each side wall of the openings has an inclination surface inclined with respect to a thickness direction of the base member, and when measuring an inclination angle of the inclination surface with reference to the first surface of the base member, the inclination angle of the first side wall and the inclination angle of the second side wall are different from each other.

1. Field
The described technology relates generally to a mask for thin film deposition and a manufacturing method of an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display.
2. Description of the Related Art
An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display includes a hole injection electrode, an electron injection electrode, and an organic emission layer formed therebetween, and the display emits light as holes injected from an anode and electrons injected from a cathode are recombined to form excitons at the organic light emission layer. The organic light emitting diode (OLED) display device, having high quality properties such as low power consumption, high luminance, a wide viewing angle, a high reaction speed, and the like, is receiving much attention as a next-generation display device for mobile electronic devices.
The organic light emitting diode (OLED) display includes an organic light emitting display panel including a display substrate on which thin film transistors and organic light emitting diodes (OLED) are formed. The organic light emitting diode includes an anode, a cathode, and an organic emission layer. Holes and electrons are injected from the anode and the cathode, respectively, to form excitons, and the excitons make a transition to a ground state, thereby causing the organic light emitting diode to emit light.
In a flat panel display such as the organic light emitting diode (OLED) display, a vacuum deposition method is used for depositing an organic material or metal used as the electrode in a vacuum atmosphere and forming a thin film on a flat plate. In the vacuum deposition method, a substrate on which an organic thin film will be formed is positioned in a vacuum chamber, and an organic material is evaporated or sublimated by using a deposition source unit to deposit it on the substrate.
A deposition mask is used to form an organic layer of a desired shape on the substrate. When an organic material is deposited on a large-sized substrate, a fine metal mask (FMM) may be used as the deposition mask. Since the FMM is a high-definition metal mask having high durability and strength, the organic material can be deposited on the large-sized substrate in a desired pattern.
The FMM may be a deposition mask for depositing an organic material on a large-sized substrate in a high-definition pattern. Using the FMM, a plurality of desired high-definition patterns of organic material can be formed on the substrate all at the same time or concurrently. To deposit the organic material in the desired pattern, the high-definition metal mask may include a plurality of square-shaped slits or a plurality of stripe-shaped slits for allowing the organic material to pass through the FMM. Here, the plurality of square-shaped slits or the plurality of stripe-shaped slits may form a unit masking part, and a plurality of unit masking parts may be provided. A deposition technique using the high-definition metal mask may be used in an organic material deposition and cathode formation process to manufacture the large-sized organic electro-luminescence display device.
To increase the resolution of the organic light emitting diode (OLED) display, the pitch of subpixels of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) are reduced, and to reduce the pitch, an interval between the slots formed in the deposition mask are reduced. However, if the interval within the mask pattern is decreased, a bridge portion of the mask supporting a portion between the slots becomes weak and may be easily broken. Accordingly, it is difficult to manufacture a deposition mask having a high resolution of more than 300 ppi (pixels per inch).
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the described technology and therefore may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Mask for deposition and method for manufacturing organic light emitting diode display using the same


The subject disclosure are directed to systems, apparatuses, devices and methods for vertebral and spinal correction. In some embodiments, an expansible implant is provided which may be inserted between two vertebrae, for instance, for maintenance and/or restoration of the distance/space between vertebrae. The implant may include first and second opposed plates that are intended to move away from one another, and which engage portions of vertebrae via a recess provided for on a bearing surface of the plates. The implant may additionally include at least first and second opposed end members, where at least one of the end members includes an aperture configured for receiving at least a portion of a retaining element adapted for retaining the implant in an expanded configuration once the implant is expanded. Methods of treatment and methods of use of such implants for the alleviation of back pain (for example) are also provided herein.

The spinal column is made up of four main components: the spinal chord, the vertebra, the ligaments, and the intervertebral disc, and each may play a role in back pain. Generally, back pain may be caused by spinal instability, disc or ligament degeneration, bone joint dislocation, spinal root or articulation compression, and the like. For instance, deterioration of the intervertebral disc, such as a result of spinal stenosis, can lead to extreme discomfort and pain.
Accordingly, a common source of back pain is the result of the degeneration or herniation of the intervertebral disc, causing compression of the spinal column, which in turn can lead to the pinching of the spinal nerves and the release of inflammatory chemical mediators that promote swelling and inflammation thereby further irritating spinal nerves.
One method used for the relief of back pain, such as that caused by spinal stenosis, involves surgery designed to remove and/or reduce pressure on the spinal nerves/roots caused by such mechanical breakdown of the spinal column. Several techniques, such as interspinous process decompression, are known for effecting a vertebral correction, e.g., to attempt to restore an intervertebral space to its original shape or distance.
For instance, where back pain is caused by deterioration of the intervertebral disc, intervertebral implants, such as cages or disc prosthesis, have been designed to be inserted into the deteriorated region between two vertebral endplates in an effort to stabilize or increase the space between the vertebrae. Such intervertebral implants, however, limit the extent to which vertebrae can move towards each other since, when the spine is extended, spinous processes tend to come into abutment against the surfaces of the implants. Furthermore, since implants do not have the same mechanical properties as that of an intervertebral disc, the overall mechanical properties of the spine present significant discontinuities compared with an intact spine, thereby increasing deterioration of the intervertebral disc.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a spinal implant and corresponding associated methods (e.g. method of use) that reduce the above noted disadvantages of implants that are used to address spinal complications, and provide for the reduction of back pain as well as the restoration of the spine. At least some of the embodiments of the present disclosure meet these and other needs in the art.

Apparatus for restoration of the spine and methods of use thereof


Composite particles of a semiconductor particle such as a metal chalcogenide within a crosslinked, cored dendrimer are described. Additionally, methods of making the composite particles and compositions that contain the composite particles are described.

Semiconductor particles in the nanometer size range (e.g., 1 to 100 nanometers or 1 to 10 nanometers) are of increasing interest in a variety of applications such as catalysis, electronic devices, and sensors. Many methods that are used to prepare semiconductor particles in this size range, however, are problematic.
Semiconductor particles such as cadmium sulfide and zinc sulfide in the nanometer size range have been prepared by reacting organometallic reagents with sulfur sources at temperatures in the range of 250° C. to 300° C. At least some of these organometallic reagents are toxic.
Semiconductor particles in the nanometer size range have been prepared within dendritic structures. The dendritic structures have been loaded with cations from a soluble metal salt and then precipitated. These metals are typically coordinated on the outer surface by functional groups within the dendritic structure. Such coordination can disadvantageously affect the utility of the semiconductor particles for various applications such as where it is desirable to modify the particle surface after it has been prepared.

Templated semiconductor particles and methods of making


An apparatus in one embodiment comprises at least one processing platform comprising a plurality of processing devices. The processing platform is configured to abstract a plurality of partner platforms and a plurality of enterprise applications to extract a plurality of connectivity parameters associated with respective ones of the partner platforms and the enterprise applications, to manage connections between the partner platforms and the enterprise applications by implementing connectivity parameters, wherein the implementing provides the partner platforms with centralized access to the enterprise applications via a broker layer, to select one or more of the connectivity parameters to be used in connection with routing of data between a given partner platform and a given enterprise application, and to route the data between the given partner platform and the given enterprise application via the broker layer using the selected one or more connectivity parameters.

Business-to-business (B2B) refers to commercial relationships between businesses. For example, one business may rely on another business for materials for production of a given product, or a business may require the services of another business for operational reasons, such as accounting and payroll. B2B companies offer enterprises services and goods such as, but not necessarily limited to raw materials, manufacturing, data storage and/or cloud services that enterprises may need to operate and profit.
Enterprise functions and objectives are often impeded by heterogeneous application requirements and resulting compatibility and connectivity issues with multiple B2B vendor platforms. For example, in response to changes in their applications and platforms, enterprises may need to work with each B2B vendor to develop workable solutions for interfacing their systems with the inconsistent and diverse protocols and configurations used by their B2B partners. The need for the organizations to adapt to various inflexible vendor configurations, requires large expenditures of computer and personnel resources to develop compatibility solutions.

Cloud broker for connecting with enterprise applications


An image taking apparatus according to the present invention has: a primary CCD section that receives a predetermined first part of object light focused by an image-taking optical system to produce a primary image signal; a secondary CCD section that has a dynamic range wider than that of the primary CCD section and receives a second part of the object light excluding the first part to produce a secondary image signal; an image signal processing circuit that produces image data based on a synthetic signal produced by synthesizing the primary image signal and the secondary image signal if the synthetic signal, rather than the primary image signal, is selected; and an information adding section that adds predetermined additional information to the image data if the image signal processing circuit produces the image data based on the synthetic signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image taking apparatus that captures object light and produces image data representing an object image.
2. Description of the Related Art
One example of such image taking apparatus is a digital camera that captures object light with a solid-state imaging device and produces image data representing the object image. Such a digital camera has been popular for quite a few years. However, the charge coupled device (CCD), which is commonly used in the digital camera as the solid-state imaging device for capturing object light, has a disadvantage that the dynamic range for the quantity of object light is narrow compared with the silver-salt film. That is, if the quantity of object light exceeds the upper limit of the dynamic range for the quantity of light, the CCD, which outputs signals corresponding to the quantity of object light, becomes saturated and can output only fixed signals. On the other hand, the silver-salt film captures object light by changing the photosensitivity in accordance with the quantity of the object light. The silver-salt film also has a dynamic range for the quantity of light and becomes saturated if the object light is too intense and exceeds the upper limit of the dynamic range. However, the upper limit of the dynamic range of the CCD is lower than that of the silver-salt film. As a result, a picture printed based on the image data produced by the digital camera with such a CCD suffers the so-called whiteout in a bright part of the object image or the so-called blackout in a dark part of the object image. For example, a picture of a clear sky with clouds and a person in the shade of a tree may be poor in quality due to whiteout in the part of the clouds or blackout in the part of the person.
In recent years, there has been developed a technique as described below to overcome the above drawback of the CCD. According to this technique, one CCD is composed of an array of composite pixels, each of which is a pair of a primary pixel of high sensitivity and a secondary pixel of wide dynamic range. In the following description, the CCD composed of an array of such composite pixels will be referred to as a composite CCD, the part of the composite CCD which is composed of an array of such primary pixels will be referred to as a primary CCD section, and the part of the composite CCD which is composed of an array of such secondary pixels will be referred to as a secondary CCD section. According to this technique, dark object light of a small quantity of light is captured by the primary CCD section composed of primary pixels of high sensitivity. And bright light of a large quantity of light, which may make the primary CCD section saturated, is captured by the secondary CCD section composed of secondary pixels of wide dynamic range. The image data representing the object image is obtained by synthesizing the output signals from the primary CCD section and the secondary CCD section. In this way, the whiteout and the blackout described above can be prevented.
In a photo printing shop, when image data produced by the digital camera is received from a user asking for printing, the printer for producing pictures from the image data typically automatically performs an image correction processing, such as gradation correction, tone correction and white balance correction, on the image data. In the printer, data determined to represent an excessively bright image is regarded as a noise or the like and smoothed via the image correction processing. As a result, if the user asks for printing of a picture based on the image data representing an object image of a scene of a wide dynamic range produced by the high-performance digital camera with the composite CCD, the image data representing delicate gradations or the like of the bright object light captured by the composite CCD may be smoothed by the involuntary image correction processing, and the printed picture may be poor in quality due to whiteout or the like, as is conventional. That is, even if rich image data representing an object image of a scene of a wide dynamic range is obtained by the high-performance digital camera described above, part of the rich data may be wasted in printing.
There has been developed a printer used in photo printing shops that can appropriately inhibit an image correction processing, such as gradation correction, tone correction and white balance correction, of image data not to interfere with the intention of the user if the user has taken pictures by adjusting the shutter speed, the aperture or the like according to a particular intention.
As an example of the digital camera designed for such a printer, there has been proposed a digital camera that is provided with a typical CCD, has a user-selectable shooting mode, such as a manual mode and an exposure correction mode, in which the user can adjust the shutter speed or the aperture during photographing, and has a function of adding, to the image data obtained in such a shooting mode, correction inhibiting information that indicates that an image correction processing, such as gradation correction, tone correction and white balance correction, of the image data (for example, see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-156711 (p. 4-9, FIG. 5 )) is inhibited. For the image data with the correction inhibiting information obtained in such a digital camera, the printer inhibits the image correction processing of the image data in accordance with the correction inhibiting information.
It seems that the disadvantage of the printing can be avoided by applying the invention disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-156711 to the digital camera with the composite CCD.
However, the digital camera disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-156711 requires the user to perform some intentional manipulation of the digital camera, such as switching of the shooting mode, in order for the printer to inhibit an image correction processing, such as gradation correction, tone correction and white balance correction, of the image data obtained by photographing. Thus, it is difficult to apply the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-156711 to the high-performance digital camera that produces high-volume image data representing an image of a wide dynamic range regardless of the intention of the user.
In addition, the image processing of the high-volume image data obtained in the high-performance digital camera, which is performed by the printer, is not always desired to be inhibited. For example, if available image data disproportionately exists in a certain part of the dynamic range due to poor photographing, it is desirable that the image data obtained in the digital camera is effectively used by selecting the available data or performing an appropriate correction processing to make use of the available data. However, the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-156711 cannot handle such a situation.
While problems have been described by taking the digital camera as an example, these problems concern not only the digital camera but also other image taking apparatus that capture object light and produce image data representing the object image.


As a positive electrode active material, a lithium transition metal complex oxide having a layered rock-salt structure containing lithium (Li) and containing magnesium atoms (Mg) substituted for part of lithium atoms (Li) is used. The lithium transition metal complex oxide is formed by chemical or electrochemical substitution of Mg atoms for part of Li atoms in LiCoO2, LiMnO2, LiFeO2, LiNiO2, or the like. A cell is prepared in which a negative electrode 2 and a positive electrode 1 including the lithium transition metal complex oxide (positive electrode active material) are disposed in a non-aqueous electrolyte 5 including a lithium salt, and part of Li in the lithium transition metal complex oxide is extracted by discharging the cell. Then, the electrolyte including Li is replaced with an electrolyte including Mg, and the cell is discharged, so that Mg atoms are substituted for the part of Li atoms in the lithium transition metal complex oxide.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, positive electrode active material, and method of manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Background Art
Metal oxides having a layered rock-salt structure, such as lithium cobaltate, are currently used as high-voltage positive electrode active materials for lithium-ion batteries. However, since metal oxides have a capacity as low as 124 to 150 mAh/g, techniques for higher-capacity are underdevelopment, and intensive research on substitution materials is being carried out (refer to, for example, JP-2001-243951-A and JP-2001-155729-A).
Lithium cobaltate has a theoretical capacity approximately as high as 274 mAh/g. However, 55% of the theoretical capacity, which is approximately 150 mAh/g, is said to be the limitation of its use as positive electrode active material at present. For this reason, it is desired that the capacity of lithium cobaltate be increased.

Non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, positive electrode active material and method of manufacturing the same


A dielectric layer (50) is formed over a semiconductor (10) that contains a first region (20) and a second region (30). A polysilicon layer is formed over the dielectric layer (50) and over the first region (20) and the second region (30). The polysilicon layer can comprise 0 to 50 atomic percent of germanium. A metal layer is formed over the polysilicon layer and one of the regions and reacted with the underlying polysilicon layer to form a metal silicide or a metal germano silicide. The polysilicon and metal silicide or germano silicide regions are etched to form transistor gate regions (60) and (90) respectively. If desired a cladding layer (100) can be formed above the metal gate structures.

As the dimensions of metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistors continue to shrink materials other than silicon oxide are currently being used to form the transistor gate dielectric layer. For MOS transistors with a gate length of less than 30 nm it is estimated that a silicon oxide thickness of 10-15 angstroms will be required to form the gate dielectric layer. One important limitation in determining the suitability of various materials for use in forming the gate dielectric is the amount of gate leakage current that results. In general the gate leakage current increases as the thickness of the gate dielectric layer decreases. One method for increasing the actual gate dielectric layer thickness without affecting transistor performance is to use materials that possess a higher dielectric constant (i.e., high K dielectric) compared to silicon oxide. It is estimated that for low power transistors that need silicon oxide dielectric layers of less that 15 Angstroms a high K dielectric will be necessary. In addition for high performance devices with a required silicon oxide dielectric layer thickness of 10 Angstroms a high K dielectric will also be required. (see International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors (SIA, San Jose, Calif.) http//public.itrs.net, 2001) Some of the high K dielectrics current being investigated are HfO2, ZrO2, Al2O3, silicates, aluminates, HfSiON, HfAlON, and HfON.
MOS transistors formed using high K dielectric layers and polysilicon gate electrodes have exhibited large threshold voltage shifts. The threshold voltage shifts are especially large for PMOS transistors that typically have polysilicon gate electrodes that have been doped p-type. For CMOS integrated circuits to function correctly the threshold voltages of the NMOS and PMOS transistors have to be carefully controlled to be less than the supply voltage. The threshold voltage shifts exhibited using high K dielectric and polysilicon gate electrodes will cause CMOS integrated circuits comprising transistors with these layers to be inoperable. In addition to threshold voltage shifts for high K dielectrics, boron penetration and polysilicon depletion effects are also problems that affect PMOS transistors as the thickness of the dielectric layer is reduced. The method of the instant invention provides a solution to the above-described problems of threshold voltage shift, boron penetration, and polysilicon depletion.

Dual work function gate electrodes using doped polysilicon and a metal silicon germanium compound


A steering device for an automotive vehicle toy comprises a motor to be driven by a remote control operation, a steering mechanism having a return spring for biasing steering wheels into a neutral position, and a clutch for transmitting a driving force of the electric motor to the steering mechanism against the return spring. The clutch includes a holding disc, clutch elements engageable with the holding disc such that the clutch elements can be moved in a radial direction of the holding disc by a centrifugal force, and an outer cylindrical member concentrically accommodating the holding disc and the clutch elements in it, and firmly secured to the mechanical reduction gear. A plurality of engaging groove portions are formed in the holding disc at equal spaces through a partition wall. An engaging element engageable with the engaging groove portions is formed on an inner side of that outer peripheral portion of each clutch element which is brought into pressure contact with an inner peripheral surface of the outer cylindrical member. Each engaging element has a cut portion engageable with the partition wall. The clutch elements are engaged with either the engaging grooves or the partition wall such that the clutch elements are slidable in the radial direction.

This invention relates to a steering device, in which a clutch of a remote control vehicle toy, such as a radio-controlled vehicle toy, is improved.
Heretofore, there is known a steering device of an automotive vehicle toy of the type mentioned above as discussed in an early laid-open publication of a Japanese Utility Model Application No. 55269/1988. This steering device has an operating mechanism comprising a chassis for supporting at front end portion thereof a pair of steering wheels such that the steering wheels can make a change of direction, a pair of tie rods connected at one ends thereof to the pair of steering wheels, respectively, and an operating member horizontally pivotably supported on the chassis and connected to the other ends of the tie rods. The steering member is connected, through both a clutch and a mechanical reduction gear, to a small-sized steering electric motor which is also mounted on the chassis. The steering member is biased by a return spring into a neutral position.
As for the clutch, a holding disc is firmly secured to a rotary shaft of the small-sized steering electric motor, a plurality of arcuate clutch elements are engaged with the outer periphery of the holding disc, and an outer cylindrical member, the inner peripheral surface of which is pressure contacted by the clutch elements, is firmly secured to a gear on the driving side in the mechanical reduction gear.
The conventional steering device thus constructed is operated as follows. That is, for example, a hand-carry type transmitter is operated to transmit instructions to a receiver contained in the automotive vehicle toy in order to drive a small-sized driving electric motor by utilizing dry batteries loaded in the vehicle toy as a power source. In accordance with the instructions from the transmitter, the driving electric motor causes the automotive vehicle toy to run forwardly and backwardly. The small-sized steering electric motor is also rotated normally and reversely in accordance with the instructions from the transmitter. Upon rotation of the small-sized steering electric motor, a driving force thereof is transmitted to the steering member in the steering mechanism through the clutch and mechanical reduction gear in order to cause the steering member to be pivoted against the return spring, so that the steering wheels would be pivoted through the tie rods, etc., thereby making a change of direction rightwardly and leftwardly. When the transmitter is brought back to the neutral position, the supply of an electric current to the small-sized steering electric motor is cut, so that the clutch would be turned off. In this condition, the steering member is brought back to the neutral position by the return spring. As a result, the steering wheels are brought into a straight-forward condition.
During the driving of the small-sized operating electric motor, the clutch elements are moved towards the outer periphery side of the holding disc by a centrifugal force caused by rotation of the rotary shaft, so that the clutch elements would be brought into pressure contact with the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylindrical member. As a result, the clutch is turned on. On the contrary, when the supply of the electric current to the small-sized operating electric motor is cut, the pressure contacting relation between the clutch elements and the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylindrical element is removed. As a result, the clutch is turned off. In this condition, the steering wheels are brought back to the neutral position by the spring force of the return spring.
However, the above-mentioned steering device for an automotive vehicle toy has the following problems. When the spring force of the return spring and output of the small-sized operating electric motor are changed by some reasons (for example, change in size of the steering wheels), the clutch is also required to be replaced by another one having a different size. This means that the clutch must also be changed in accordance with various kinds of automotive vehicle toys. Therefore, production efficiency is bad.
The above prior art device has additional problems in that when the clutch is repeatedly turned on and turned off, the temperature within the outer cylindrical member becomes high because of heat caused by friction between the outer peripheral portions of the clutch elements and the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylindrical member. Therefore, the outer cylindrical member and clutch elements must be formed of a heat-proof material so that they can stand a high temperature.

Steering device for automotive vehicle toy


A power headroom report method and apparatus of a User Equipment (UE) provides an efficient resource allocation in a mobile communication system. The power headroom report method of the present disclosure includes calculating a power headroom change by comparing the current power headroom and the previous power headroom. The method also includes determining, when the power headroom change is greater than a predetermined threshold value, whether a report prohibit timer set to a predetermined value has expired. The method further includes reporting the current power headroom when the report prohibit timer has expired, and resetting the prohibit timer to a different value.

The present disclosure is directed to a fourth generation mobile communication system supporting ultra-high speed multimedia service evolved from the third generation system characterized by IMT-2000 high speed multimedia service that has been evolved from the first generation analog and second generation digital mobile communication systems in series.
One of the representative second generation mobile communication systems is CDMA 1x system. FIGS. 4 and 5 are graphs illustrating voice activity state variations during human speech. FIG. 4 shows the voice activity variation during the presence of speech, and FIG. 5 shows the voice activity variation during the absence of speech. In FIGS. 4 and 5, the y axis denotes voice activity state, and the voice activity states of CDMA 1x are categorized into full rate, half rate, 1/4 rate, and 1/8 rate. These voice activity states correspond to voice transfer rates of 9.6 kbps, 4.8 kbps, 2.7 kbps, and 1.5 kbps, respectively for transmitting voice data at different transmission power levels. The voice data is transmitted at 3.75 dB for 9.6 kbps transfer rate, −0.25 dB for 4.8 kbps transfer rate, −2.72 dB for 2.7 kbps transfer rate, and −5.875 dB for 1.5 kbps, compared to the uplink pilot channel. As previously mentioned, the transmission power of the uplink voice channel varies quite significantly according to the voice transfer rate in CDMA 1x system. If the voice transfer rate changes from the full rate to 1/8 rate, the transmission power decreases over 9-fold (9.625 dB). Such a significant change of voice transfer rate takes place frequently during the voice call session, especially in the speech section (see FIG. 4) rather than in the non-speech section (see FIG. 5). In FIG. 4, the abrupt change of voice transfer rate in the speech section is marked with circles. The change of voice transfer rate in the non-speech section takes place less abruptly and less frequently as shown in FIG. 5.
Among the third generation mobile communication systems, CDMA HRPD (High Rate Packet Data) and WCDMA HSPA (High Speed Packet Data) systems are representative examples of mobile communication systems having the channel structure for high speed data transmission. The CDMA HRPD system is a system based on Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), and the typical structure of HRPD system includes a Packet Data Service Node (PDSN) 101 connected to the Internet and transmitting high speed packet data to a base station 103 and a Packet Control Function (PCF) 102 for controlling the base station 103, as shown in FIG. 1. The base station 103 performs radio communication with a plurality of mobile stations 104 and transmits high speed packet data to the mobile station having the highest data rate.
The fourth generation mobile communication system evolved from the third generation mobile communication system, such as a HRPD system, aims at a data rate of 20 Mbps or higher for ultra high-speed multimedia service and adopts an orthogonal frequency transmission scheme such as Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM). The Long Term Evolution (LTE) and LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) of the 3GPP standard are representative fourth generation mobile communication systems. Referring to FIG. 2, the LTE system includes evolved Node B (eNB) 202 performing radio communications with a plurality of User Equipment (UEs) 201 to provide high speed multimedia service, Mobility Management Entity/Serving Gateway (MME/S-GW) 203 for managing UE mobility, call processing, and data transfer path, and Packet Data Network Gateway (P-GW) 204 connected to the Internet to deliver the high speed packet data to the UE via the eNB.
In a system where the reverse (or downlink) resource is allocated to the UEs based on the eNB scheduling, the eNB should know the information regarding the power headroom of each UE for efficient scheduling. If the eNB has no information regarding the power headroom of the UE, the UE may be allocated a resource larger than the data amount to be transmitted in unit time duration based on the current power headroom, resulting in unnecessary waste of reverse (or uplink) resources. The LTE standard also specifies the power headroom report procedure. In LTE, the power headroom report is triggered when the downlink path-loss measured by the UE is greater than a predetermined threshold value.
However, the conventional power headroom report has a drawback in that the UE reports power headroom too many times in a short duration when the UE is moving at high speed or the radio channel of the UE varies frequently due to the ambient environment.

Power headroom report method and apparatus of user equipment