A depth camera assembly (DCA) configured to determine distances between the headset and one or more objects in an area surrounding the headset. The DCA includes an imaging device, an illumination source, and a controller. The controller identifies objects in a portion of the local area, determines a depth zone for each object and corresponding structured light (SL) illumination parameters including a SL pattern for each object based on the depth zone, instructs the illumination source to illuminate a scene comprising the one or more objects with the determined SL pattern, and instructs the imaging device to capture images of the illuminated objects. The controller determines the depth information for the illuminated objects and updates the depth information associated with the objects.

The present disclosure generally relates to virtual or augmented reality systems, and more specifically relates to depth camera assemblies that obtain depth information of a local area using various patterns of structured light.
Virtual reality (VR) systems, augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR) systems, can leverage the capture of the environment surrounding a user in three dimensions (3D). However, traditional depth camera imaging architectures are comparably large in size, heavy, and consume significant amounts of power. Example common depth camera imaging architectures for obtaining 3D information of a scene include: time-of-flight (both direct-detect pulses and encoded waveforms), structured light (SL), and stereo vision. Different depth camera imaging architectures provide different strengths and weaknesses, so certain depth camera imaging architectures may provide better performance than others in different operating conditions. However, because of the relatively large size of conventional depth camera imaging architectures, many systems including a depth camera typically use a single type of depth camera imaging architecture configured for a particular use case. As head-mounted systems are increasingly used to perform a broader range of functions in varied operating conditions and environments, including large range of depths, selecting a single depth camera imaging architecture to obtain depth information of an area surrounding the head-mounted system and user may impair the user experience with head-mounted systems.


The invention provides systems, methods, and computer programs to improve the accuracy and efficiency with which data analysts can use news stories, press releases, and other sources of information to maintain databases that contain information about individuals and businesses and other organizations. Documents containing material information are acquired in computer-readable form and optionally may then be reduced to raw text. One or more computerized systems process the text and tag important terms such as proper nouns, job titles, awards, and other terms indicating professional, educational, corporate, or other developments. The invention provides a user interface with which a data analyst can review, confirm, remove, modify, introduce, and link the tags, ultimately adding the information and links to a database and storing the source document in an electronic warehouse for future retrieval.

The present invention relates to computerized systems and methods and computer products that may be used to create or update database records. Embodiments of such systems, methods, and products may, for example, identify information in electronic documents (which may have been converted from print documents) relating to the subject matter of a database, extract such information, and update or create a record or otherwise populate the database with such information. In a particular embodiment, the database stores business-related news about individuals which is updated with information identified and extracted from news stories and reports, press releases, agency and administrative filings such as SEC filings, and other sources of information.
The invention has application to systems and services such as the BLOOMBERG PROFESSIONAL® Service, which currently provides, among other things, financial, business, and legal information and news.
Providing and updating such information require constant review of new and altered data in forms such as, for example, news, reports, articles, governmental filings (including administrative filings), records of proceedings, press releases, government records (including, e.g., corporate records). New information continues to multiply, however, often with consequent growth of the editorial staff that reviews the information.

Identifying and/or extracting data in connection with creating or updating a record in a database


Techniques for performing key frame extraction, recording, and navigation in collaborative video presentations. The techniques include extracting a plurality of frames from media content at a predetermined rate, removing frame areas that do not correspond to a screen area for displaying electronic meeting/webinar content, de-duplicating the plurality of frames, identifying frames that correspond to the “slide type” or similar type of frames, and extracting key frames from the slide type of frames. The key frames can be recorded in a slide deck or other similar collection of key frames, as well as displayed as clickable thumbnails in a UI. By clicking or otherwise selecting a thumbnail representation of a selected key frame in the UI, or clicking-and-dragging a handle of a key frame locator bar to navigate the thumbnails to the selected key frame, users can quickly and more efficiently access desired slide presentation content from an electronic meeting/webinar.

Participants of electronic meetings and webinars employ various types of electronic devices for establishing wired and/or wireless connections to the electronic meetings/webinars, such as desktop computers, laptop computers, tablet computers, smartphones, and so on. Such electronic meetings/webinars allow their participants to present, receive, and/or share media content (e.g., audio content, video content) through their electronic devices during the electronic meetings/webinars, as well as make and save recordings of the media content, such as for display in a web application, for future reference or review.

Key frame extraction, recording, and navigation in collaborative video presentations


A trapping area creating method in which an image represented in form of a combination of polygons is divided into a plurality of image areas by a straight line passing through vertexes of the polygons. The propriety of trapping is decided for each pair of image areas adjacent to one another in at least one direction of two predetermined directions, with respect to the plurality of image areas wherein the image is divided. A band-shaped trapping area extending along a boundary of two image areas constituting a pair of image areas decided as being suitable for a trapping is created.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a trapping area creating method of creating a band-shaped trapping area extending along the color identification boundary of an image, a trapping area creating apparatus for creating a trapping area, a trapping area creating program for causing a computer to execute the trapping area creating method when the trapping area creating program is incorporated into the computer, and a trapping area creating program storage medium storing the trapping area creating program.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, there is known a method of creating an image by a multicolored printing using a plurality of machine plates associated with a plurality of primary colors. In the event that on an image created by such a multicolored printing there is a color identification boundary in which colors near two primary colors are close to one another, it often brings about a blank space on the color identification boundary owing to misregistration among a plurality of machine plates. In view of the foregoing, hitherto, there is performed a trapping of compensating for misregistration between machine plates by means of edging one or both of two color areas contacting with each other at a color identification boundary in which colors near two primary colors are close to one another, at a band-shaped trapping area along the color identification boundary.
Recently, as a computer technology advances, it often happens that editing of an image created by a multicolored printing is performed on a computer. In this case, it is troublesome for editors to severally create the trapping area. Accordingly, there is desired a trapping area creating program for automatically creating a trapping area from image data.
As a method of creating trapping area by such a trapping area creating program, there is proposed, for example, a creating method in which an image is divided into a large number of small areas as a lattice, existence as to a color identification boundary is decided for each small area, and the small areas associated with the color identification boundary are coupled with one another to create a band-shaped trapping area.
In order to create a band-shaped trapping area, it is necessary that an image be divided into a sufficiently large number of small areas. However, dividing the image into so large number of small areas causes an amount of computation to be enormous. This involves a problem that a creation of the trapping area is slow down.

Trapping area creating method, trapping area creating apparatus, and trapping area creating program storage medium


A converging design multi-chip module having semiconductor chips connected to a substrate recessed into a cavity of the MCM package body, the chips being interconnected using flip chip and control collapse chip connection, wherein a metal heatspreader plate is adapted to engage the backside of the chips and is held in place by an attachment ring welded to the package body. Alternatively, the heatspreader plate can be glued directly to the backside of the chips using a high thermal conductivity and low modulus cement. One or more electrically passive thermal shunt chips are disposed between the substrate and the heatspreader plate for additional heat conduction. In a preferred embodiment, the attachment ring is made from KOVAR.RTM. and has a thermal coefficient of expansion that is about the same as that of the package body. Thermal grease is interposed between the heatspreader plate and the semiconductor chips for improved heat transfer. In an alternative embodiment, the heatspreader plate is directly shunted to the substrate. In another alternative embodiment, the heatspreader plate is urged against the chips by a spring plate or a coiled spring against a lid for the package cavity.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to cooling of a multi-chip module. More precisely, the present invention relates to reducing the thermal resistance of a multi-chip module (i.e., "MCM") that uses flip chip and control collapse chip connection as the interconnect to the substrate in a cavity down ceramic package by adapting a heatspreader plate and a thermal shunt chip to the module.
2. Prior Art and Related Information
In conventional multi-chip modules, by packing a number of semiconductor devices in close proximity to each other while eliminating the individual packages for each of the devices, the electrical performance is improved and the board space occupied by the devices is reduced. Due to an increase in the packing density, however, the power density of the multi-chip module is typically higher than when separately packaged devices requiring more elaborate thermal design and thermal management schemes in order to maintain the device temperature within acceptable ranges are used.
In conventional multi-chip modules, the devices are connected to a substrate and the electrical connection among the devices is accomplished within the substrate, which may also be an integral part of the MCM package. One of the technologies used to connect the devices to the substrate is called flip chip and control collapse chip connection (i.e., "C4"). With this technology, solder bumps are developed at the chip terminals. Subsequently, the devices are flipped over on the substrate and the solder bumps are reflowed to make connection to the terminal pads on the substrate as shown in FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b). Internal thermal resistance and thermal performance of the MCM using flip chip and C4 interconnect technology are determined by the heat flow paths from the devices to the package body. Most of the heat generated by the devices flows out through one of the two primary heat flow paths in order to get to the package surface and eventually to a heat sink located on the package surface.
Based on the heat flow paths from the devices to the package body, the thermal design of modules with flip chip and C4 is categorized as a diverging design or a converging design. In a diverging design, the module may be arranged so that most of the heat flows out from the back side (passive side of the semiconductor device) as shown in FIG. 2(b). This arrangement is called a diverging MCM design because heat flows out of the device 1 in the opposite direction relative to the direction of the electrical signal flow, as indicated by the arrows in the magnified view of FIG. 2(a). More precisely, heat flows from the backside 8 of the device 1 through a thermally conductive medium 7 to the package body 4 and the heat sink 6 while the electrical signals flow out from the active side 9 of the device 1 to the substrate 3 and the interconnect layers within the substrate 3. Typically, the thermally conductive medium 7 is thermal grease or solder. A lid 5 encloses the devices 1 inside the package body 4.
In the case of a converging design, shown in FIGS. 3(a) and (b), the heat flows out from the active side 9' of the device 1', which is the same side as the circuitry. Hence, the electrical signals also flow out in the same direction as the heat flows. As indicated by the arrows in the magnified view of FIG. 3(a), the heat flows through the C4 solder bumps 2' into the substrate 3', from the substrate 3' to the package body 4', and eventually to the heat sink 6'. A lid 5' encloses the devices 1' inside the package body 4'.
Unfortunately, the conventional converging and diverging MCM designs have shortcomings. For example, the thermal performance of the converging multi-chip module with flip chip and C4 depends on thermal resistance through the solder bumps as well as the substrate's thermal characteristics. The thermal resistance from each device to the substrate is thus a function of the number and size of the bumps, and the thermal resistance of the substrate. But the number of the solder bumps is constrained by the number of electrical pads on the device as well as by the size of the available area on the die for placing electrically passive bumps (i.e., thermal bumps). Consequently, heat dissipation is limited by the area available for conduction.
Although the thermal resistance of the substrate can be decreased by incorporating thermal vias in the substrate, doing so increases the cost of the substrate and limits the routing capability of the substrate. Since heat management is a constant factor in circuit design, a need presently exists for effectively and efficiently cooling MCMs.

Heatspreader for cavity down multi-chip module with flip chip


An omnidirectional borehole navigation system is provided that includes a housing that can be placed within the smaller diameter drill pipes used towards the bottom of a borehole, an outer gimbal connected to the housing, and at least two or more stacked inner gimbals that are nested in and connected to the outer gimbal, the inner gimbals each having an axis parallel to one another and perpendicular to the outer gimbal. The inner gimbals contain electronic circuits, gyros whose input axes span three dimensional space, and accelerometers whose input axes span three dimensional space. There are an outer gimbal drive system, an inner gimbal drive system for maintaining the gyro input axes and the accelerometer input axes as substantially orthogonal triads, and a processor responsive to the gyro circuits and the accelerometer circuits to determine the attitude and the position of the housing in the borehole.

For several reasons, it is essential to accurately monitor and guide the direction of the drill bit such that a borehole is created where desired. One reason is that it is expensive to drill a borehole at a cost of about $500,000 per day. Another reason is that it may be necessary by law for an oil rig to log the location of its boreholes at a regular frequency such that the oil rig can be properly monitored.
Many prior art systems have attempted to accurately and efficiently monitor the location of the drill bit to determine its location, but each system has had limitations. For example, the internal diameter of a drill pipe may not be large enough to fit the optimal number of typical navigation sensors. To overcome this obstacle, one prior art system removes the drill bit from the borehole and lowers a monitoring tool down the borehole to determine its current location. A disadvantage of this system is that it is costly to stop drilling and spend time removing the drill bit to take measurements with the monitoring tool.
To determine the location of a drill bit in a borehole, it is desirable to know the position and the attitude, which includes the vertical orientation and the north direction. To know the position, it is first desirable to know the attitude. Typically, gyroscopes can be used to determine the north direction, and accelerometers can be used to determine the vertical orientation. Prior art systems have used single orientation gyroscopes and/or single orientation accelerometers due to size limitations. However, these systems can suffer from long-term bias stability problems.
In another prior art system, single-axis accelerometers are used to determine the vertical orientation of the drill bit. A system such as this, however, does not provide the drill bit's orientation relative to north, which is necessary to determine the full location of a borehole: a system that uses accelerometers is typically only adequate if the oil rig is going to drill a vertical borehole, since an accelerometer system cannot determine north.
In other prior art systems, a magnetometer is used to determine the magnetic field direction from which the direction of north is approximated. However, systems such as these must make corrections for magnetic interference and use of magnetic materials for the drill pipe. Additionally, systems that rely only on magnetometers to determine north can suffer accuracy degradation due to the Earth's changing magnetic field.
The use of gimbals in a navigation system is desirable to calibrate the sensors and to compensate for the sensor biases such that the system can accurately determine attitude and position. A navigation system using gimbals may be more accurate by a factor of 100 compared to a non-gimbaled strapdown system. Moreover, a navigation system that uses two or more gimbals only requires the sensors to be stable for a few minutes, rather than for days, in comparison to a system that doesn't use gimbals.
One prior art system uses only a single gimbal for all sensors. However, this system does not allow simultaneous estimation of all sensor biases nor the estimation of the north and the vertical for all borehole orientations. Other systems have used gimbals within a gyro sensor, but this does not provide all axes of observability.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Multi-gimbaled borehole navigation system

The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.


An auxiliary electromagnetic thermal treatment apparatus for use with an endoscope to provide the endoscope with electromagnetic thermal treatment capabilities includes a handle portion and an elongate portion connected to the handle portion and dimensioned to be at least partially inserted within a working channel of an endoscope. The elongate portion includes at least one delivery tube having a memory portion comprised of a shape memory material and defining a normally unstressed curved configuration. The delivery tube is longitudinally moveable relative to the handle portion to extend the memory portion beyond the working channel of the endoscope such that the memory portion assumes the normal unstressed curved configuration thereof. An electromagnetic probe is disposed within the delivery tube and is longitudinally moveable relative to the delivery tube to extend a probe end portion thereof beyond the delivery tube and within tissue. The electromagnetic probe is adapted to follow the curved configuration of the memory portion of the delivery tube for deployment at an angularly oriented relation with respect to the endoscope. A rotatable control member is mounted to the handle portion and operatively connected to the one delivery tube. The control member is rotatable to move the delivery tube between a first retracted position and a second advanced position. An actuator is also mounted to the handle portion and is operatively connected to the electromagnetic probe. The actuator is moveable to extend the probe end portion beyond the delivery tube. A combination of an endoscope and an auxiliary thermal treatment device and a method for thermally treating tissue is also provided.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates generally to a method and apparatus for thermal treatment of tissue and, more particularly, to an auxiliary apparatus to be used with a conventional endoscope to provide the endoscope with thermal treatment capabilities. The auxiliary apparatus is particularly contemplated for use with a cystoscope or a urethroscope for hyperthermia treatment of prostatic tissue.
2. Background of the Related Art
Benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) or hyperplasia affects over one out of every two males over the age of fifty. BPH is the non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland and is characterized generally by a constriction of the urethra by the prostate gland. An array of symptoms are associated with BPH including frequent urination, complications in urinary flow and associated pain.
Generally there are two primary methods for treating BPH, namely, drug therapy and surgical intervention. Drug therapy incorporates the use of one or more drugs such as Proscar.TM. and Hydrin.TM. to either reduce the size of the prostate or to relax the urethral muscles thereby facilitating the normal functioning of the urinary system. Known drug therapies, however, are limited in their effectiveness and present many drug side effect concerns.
Surgical methods for treating BPH include transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), transurethral incision of the prostate (TUIP), visual laser assisted prostatectomy (VLAP), balloon dilation and stenting. TURP is the most common method employed for BPH treatment today and involves the insertion of an electrosurgical cutting instrument through the urethral passage. The cutting elements of the instrument are positioned adjacent the prostate gland, and the instrument is energized such that the cutting elements selectively cauterize and resect tissue from the core of the prostate. The TURP procedure, however, has many side effects including bleeding, retrograde ejaculation, impotence, incontinence, edema and a prolonged recovery period for the patient. An example of an electrosurgical cutting instrument utilized in conjunction with a TURP procedure is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,192,280.
Transurethral incision of the prostate (TUIP) involves the use of an electrocautery device which is passed through the urethra. The device is employed to make multiple incisions in the prostate, thereby permitting the prostate to be displaced from the urethra wall to create an opening for urine flow. Success with the TUIP procedure is generally limited providing only temporary relief and requiring a subsequent repeat of the procedure in the future.
Visual laser assisted prostatectomy (VLAP) includes insertion of a laser catheter through the urethra and directing laser energy laterally through the catheter sleeve at the urethral wall and the prostatic tissue. The laser energy causes the tissue to coagulate. The coagulated tissue eventually necrosis from lack of blood flow and is naturally removed from the body. Drawbacks of VLAP include increased recovery time, acute pain and irritation, and undesired burning of the urethral wall. Examples of methods and apparatuses utilized in VLAP treatment of BPH are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,242,438 to Saadatmanesh et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,322,507 to Costello.
Balloon dilation procedures for BPH involve expanding and stretching the enlarged prostate with a balloon catheter to relieve pressure off the constricted urethra while stenting incorporates the insertion of tiny wire-mesh coils which expand into a scaffold to hold the urethra open. Balloon dilation and stenting, however, are only temporary procedures typically requiring follow up within a year period. In addition, stenting presents complications of stent migration and consequent irritation.
Transurethral microwave therapy (TUMT) and high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) have been developed for the treatment of BPH. In accordance with a TUMT procedure, a foley-type urethral catheter having a microwave emitting antenna at a probe end is inserted into the urethral passage for a period of time sufficient to treat the tissue by microwave radiation. Intraurethral applicators of this type are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,967,765, 5,234,004 and 5,326,343. The drawbacks of TUMT include the inability to focus the heat energy in the prostatic area and the inability to achieve high temperatures uniformly within the prostate.
High intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) includes directing high intensity ultrasound waves at the prostate tissue to create heat in a precise area to coagulate and necrose tissue. A transurethral probe is utilized to create the ultrasound beams for both imaging and ablation of the prostatic tissue. Disadvantages of this procedure include the inability to directly focus the ultrasound energy at the prostatic tissue.
A more recent form of treatment for BPH involves thermally treating prostatic tissue with radio frequency electromagnetic energy. For example, one current technique, known as transurethral needle ablation (TUNA.TM.), involves the transurethral application of a medical instrument having a built-in RF needle electrode system. The TUNA.TM. instrument is inserted into the urethra and advanced to a position adjacent the prostate. Thereafter, the RF needles are advanced to penetrate the urethral wall and access the prostatic tissue. The RF system is activated whereby a RF current is transmitted through each electrode to pass through the tissue to a grounding pad thereby forming a necrotic legion which is eventually absorbed by the body. Apparatuses and methods for treating BPH via the TUNA.TM. technique are disclosed for example in U.S. Pat. No. 5,366,490.
The TUNA technique has several disadvantages which detract from its usefulness. In particular, the TUNA instruments are generally complex typically incorporating built in optical systems, aspiration systems, etc. As a result, the instruments are relatively expensive to manufacture. Moreover, the TUNA instruments are generally enlarged by virtue of the various systems incorporated within the instrument, thus, increasing patient trauma and discomfort during use.
Accordingly, the present disclosure is directed to an auxiliary apparatus for the RF thermal treatment of prostatic tissue. This apparatus is intended for use in conjunction with a conventional endoscope such as a cystoscope and incorporates an RF system and associated mechanism that is at least partially positionable within the working channel of the scope. The apparatus by use in conjunction with a conventional cystoscope makes use of the existing systems, e.g., optical and illumination, of the scope, which effectively results in a less complex and less expensive RF thermal treatment device. Furthermore, the apparatus may be used in cystoscopes as small as 5 mm (or even smaller) in diameter thereby providing a less invasive system for transurethral ablation as compared to the TUNA instruments and technique.

Apparatus for thermal treatment of tissue


A finder optical system is provided which is made up of an object lens system and an eyepiece system wherein the object lens system comprises, arranged from the object side:. a first lens group, which has a negative lens L.sub.1, PA1 a second lens group, which has a positive lens L.sub.2, and PA1 a third lens group, which has a negative lens L.sub.3, and has an overall positive refractive power, and wherein PA1 the eyepiece system is used for observing an image formed via the object lens system, PA1 the positive lens L.sub.2 of the second lens group in the object lens system has a bi-aspherical surface, and PA1 the magnification of the finder optical system is changed by moving at least the second lens group in the object lens system along the optical axis.

A Keplerian finder is used as a finder for a high-end lens-shutter camera. Being arranged with a field frame or a reticle near the focal point of an object lens, the Keplerian finder, which is constructed with an object lens, which has a positive refractive power and an eyepiece, is capable of providing a clear observation of a field of view, a border of a field of view, and various display indicators. In the Keplerian finder, an entrance pupil exists inside the finder or at the object side of the finder. The Keplerian finder also provides an advantage that, even if it is used as a "zoom finder" for continuous change of magnification or as a wide angle finder, it does not require a large object lens. A zoom finder is particularly popular.
Keplerian optical systems, as disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open patent applications H3-233420 and H6-242377 are well known. In such an optical system, the object lens system is constructed, respectively from the object side, with a first lens group which has a negative refractive power, a second lens group which has a positive refractive power, and a third lens group which has a negative refractive power.
In recent years, attempts have been made to provide a smaller finder with larger magnification for a lens-shutter camera. However, the invention disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open patent application H3-233420 etc. proposes a finder in which each of the object lens groups is constructed with only one lens. This small finder corrects aberration excellently. However, it has a zoom ratio of only about 2.times., which is not large enough. A finder which has a zoom ratio of more than 2.times. is disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open patent application H6-242377. However, each of the lens groups in such a finder is made up of more than one lens. In particular, the second lens group is constructed with a plurality of lenses, which increases manufacturing cost.


The technologies described herein are generally directed to facilitating operation of a system for implementing fifth generation (5G) or other next generation networks. In accordance with one or more embodiments, systems described herein can include a processor, and a memory that can store executable instructions that can facilitate receiving, from a second device, information corresponding to iterations of ones of a sited group of antennas generated by the second device by selecting the iterations of ones of the sited group of antennas, with a selected iteration of the selected iterations including a subgroup of the sited group of antennas that is designated for a simulation of an operation of the subgroup. Further, the operations include simulating respective operations of the selected iterations, including propagation mapping with respect to respective wireless signals associated with the selected iterations, and estimating respective utilizations of the respective wireless signals.

To continue supporting next generations of mobile devices, radio access networks are constantly evolving to include new and different types of hardware. Antennas, for example, are included in some modern networks with designs that support much higher-bandwidth than have been widely employed in previous generations of wide area networks. In some implementations, a much larger number of these high-bandwidth antennas are used to provide network coverage. Problems can occur however, when conventional approaches are used to design these networks.
For example, for newer high-bandwidth millimeter wave transmitters, in some network implementations, one hundred or more transmitters per square mile can be sited for network coverage. With current manual approaches, only a small number of such networks can be evaluated. Without rapid evaluation of many different implementations, network designs with high levels of efficient coverage may be missed.
The above-described background relating to network hardware is merely intended to provide a contextual overview of some current issues, and is not intended to be exhaustive. Other contextual information may become further apparent upon review of the following detailed description.

Placement of antennas for fifth generation (5G) or other next generation networks


The image compression device comprises: a DCT processing unit in which original image data is subjected to a two-dimensional discrete cosine transformation to obtain DCT coefficients; and a quantization processing unit in which the DCT coefficients are quantized by a default quantization table to obtain quantized DCT coefficients. In an optimum quantization table generation unit, an optimum quantization table is generated in such a manner that a quantization error between each of the DCT coefficients and each of the corresponding dequantized DCT coefficients, which are obtained by dequantizing each of the quantized DCT coefficients using the optimum quantization table, becomes a minimum value. The quantized DCT coefficients are compressed to obtain compressed image data, which is stored in a recording medium, together with the default quantization table and the optimum quantization table.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to a device which compresses still image data in accordance with a JPEG (Joint Photographic Expert Group) algorithm and records the compressed image data in a recording medium and, also, to a device which reads the compressed image data from the recording medium and expands the compressed image data to reproduce the still image.
2. Description of the Related Art
Image data contains a large amount of information. Accordingly, if the image data is directly processed, a large capacity memory and protracted data transfer time is required. Thus, conventionally, the image data is, first, decoded, so that the image data can be compressed, and is then processed.
A standard algorithm, for the encoding of high resolution images and the transfer of that information through telecommunication transmission channels, has been recommended by the JPEG. In order to enable a large-scale data compression, the baseline process of the JPEG algorithm breaks down the original image data into components on a spatial frequency axis using a two-dimensional discrete cosine transformation (two-dimensional DCT) process. Thereafter, the data expressed on the spatial frequency axis is quantized by using a quantization table. The quantized data is then encoded using a Huffman table.
By performing such a data compression, part of the information of the original image is lost. Namely, the image quality of the reproduced image may be deteriorated in comparison with the original image. If the value of each of the quantization coefficients included in the quantization table is set to have a smaller value, the values of the quantized DCT coefficients become large. This improves the quality of the reproduced image, but the amount of the compressed data is increased. Conversely, it is possible that, by estimating the quality of the reproduced image, the values of the quantization coefficients can be altered so as to obtain a sufficiently high quality image. The data compression is then performed again, but such an operation needs a lengthy time to process the image data, and thus, the operation efficiency is low.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-135568 (corresponding to U.S. Ser. No. 08/337,409) discloses an image compression device, in which second quantization coefficients are obtained in such a manner that a quantization error, i.e., a difference between a DCT coefficient and a corresponding dequantized DCT coefficient, becomes a minimum. Thus, an optimum quantization table composed entirely of second quantization coefficients is generated, which is then recorded in a recording medium together with the compressed image data.
However, the optimum quantization table, by using minimum value quantization errors which relate to one image as a whole, is not necessarily the optimum regarding each block of pixels which, together, form the one image, even though the quantization error has a minimum value with respect to the one image as a whole. Therefore, in the expansion process using the optimum quantization table, the improvement of the quality of the reproduced image is limited to some extent. Therefore, it is desired that the image quality is further improved.


An optical scanner and a two-dimensional scanning device using the same are provided. The optical scanner includes a scanning mechanism and a swing support. The swing support is designed to support the scanning mechanism on a housing so as to allow the scanning mechanism to swing and made up of a plurality of springs. The springs are so constructed so as resist unwanted vibrations acting on the optical scanner in directions different from a scan direction, thereby ensuring a stable scan of a light beam at all the time.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an optical scanner which may be used in a laser scanning bar code reader or a laser scanning obstacle detector for automotive vehicles, and more particularly to an improved vibration-resisting structure of an optical scanner capable of scanning a given range accurately free from vibrational disturbances and a two-dimensional scanning device using the same.
2. Background Art
Japanese Patent First Publication No. teaches a low-cost optical scanner for use in emitting a laser beam in a bar coder reader or an obstacle detector. This scanner has a mirror-finished magnet supported by a torsion spring and subjects the magnet to an alternating field to move the magnet in a direction in which the torsion spring is twisted so that light from a source is reflected on the magnet to scan a target.
In the above scanner, increasing a scan angle requires decreasing the diameter of the torsion spring to 140 xcexcm to increase the degree of elastic deformation thereof. This, however, encounters the drawback in that the torsion spring is extended or bent easily in a direction different from a twisted direction required for a scanning operation. In other words, the magnet supported by the torsion spring undesirably undergoes vibrations in various directions different from the twisted direction required for the scanning operation. Thus, in a case where the scanner is installed in an automotive vehicle for obstacle detection, strong acceleration-caused vibrational disturbances act on the magnet, thereby resulting in undesirable deflection of a scanning beam.
It is therefore a principal object of the invention to avoid the disadvantages of the prior art.
It is another object of the invention to provide an optical scanner designed to keep the deflection of a scanning beam to a minimum even when the scanner undergoes vibrational disturbances in various directions and a two-dimensional scanning system using the same.
According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided an optical scanner which may be employed in a laser beam bar code reader or an automotive obstacle detector equipped with a radar. The optical scanner comprises: (a) a housing; (b) a scanning mechanism constructed to be swingable about a given swing line to emit a light beam for scanning a given angular range, the scanning mechanism including a base and an inertia body projecting from the base toward the given swing line; (c) a support supporting the scanning mechanism on the housing so as to allow the scanning mechanism to swing, the support including a plurality of elastic plates each having a length one end of which is attached to the housing and other end of which is attached to the base of the scanning mechanism so that the elastic plates intersect each other with an offset on a line parallel to the given swing line, each of the elastic plates having a width in a direction parallel to the given swing line; and (d) a driver swinging the scanning mechanism to direct the light beam to the given angular range.
In the preferred mode of the invention, the inertia body is so provided that the center of gravity of the scanning mechanism is defined on the given swing line.
The inertia body may include a gravity center location adjusting mechanism capable of adjusting a location of the center of gravity of the scanning mechanism.
The base of the scanning mechanism has formed thereon a reflecting surface for reflecting the light beam emitted from a light source toward the given angular range.
The base of the scanning mechanism may have a mount extension plastically bent from at least one of ends thereof opposed in a direction parallel to the given swing line. The inertia body is mounted on the mount extension.
The mount extension may have a holder in which the inertia body is press fit.
The elastic plates have the same length between the housing and the scanning mechanism.
The elastic plates may be implemented by a first hollow rectangular spring plate and a second hollow rectangular spring plate. The second hollow rectangular plate passes through an opening of the first hollow rectangular plate so as to intersect the first hollow rectangular plate with the offset on the line parallel to the given swing line.
The elastic plates may alternatively be implemented by a first and a second U-shaped spring plate each including a base portion and a pair of arms extending from the base portion at an interval away from each other. The interval is greater than a width of the arms. One of the arms of the first U-shaped spring plate passes between the arms of the second U-shaped spring plate.
Each of the elastic plates may have rigidity resistant to change in form thereof which increases as approaching a portion of the elastic plate joined to the housing from a portion of the elastic plate joined to the scanning mechanism. This may be achieved by increasing the width of each of the elastic plates toward the housing.
Each of the elastic plate has the ends press fit in portions of the housing and the scanning mechanism, respectively.
Each of the housing and the scanning mechanism has ends opposed in a direction perpendicular to the given swing line. Each of the ends is bent to hold a corresponding one of the ends of the elastic plates tightly to join the housing and the scanning mechanism together.
Each of the elastic plates is joined to the housing and the scanning mechanism while undergoing elastic deformation.
Each of the elastic plates may have clips which are fitted on the end of the housing and the end of the scanning mechanism to join the housing and the scanning mechanism together.
Each of the housing and the scanning mechanism may have connecting portions each of which is connected to one of the ends of the elastic plates. Either of the connecting portions and the ends of the elastic plates has a protrusion, and the other has an engaging portion engaging the protrusion for securing a positional relation therebetween.
The driver includes a permanent magnet mounted on the scanning mechanism and a solenoid disposed opposite the permanent magnet. When energized, the solenoid produces a magnetic field varying periodically around the permanent magnet to swing the scanning mechanism.
The permanent magnet may also serve as the inertia body.
The permanent magnet has two magnetic poles arrayed perpendicular to the given swing line and is so located as to face a central portion of the permanent magnet when the scanning mechanism is at rest.
The driver may alternatively include a permanent magnet mounted on the scanning mechanism and two solenoids. The permanent magnet has magnetic poles arrayed parallel to the given swing line. The solenoid is disposed across one of the magnetic poles of the permanent magnet.
The driver may also have a magnetic field strength measuring device which measures a change in strength of a magnetic field of the permanent magnet caused by a swing of the scanning mechanism and outputs a signal indicative thereof.
The driver also includes a control circuit which is responsive to the signal outputted from the magnetic field strength measuring device to control energization of the solenoid so as to bring a swing of the scanning mechanism into a given condition.
The control circuit energizes the solenoid intermittently. The magnetic field strength measuring device uses the solenoid when deenergized to measure the change in strength of the magnetic field of the permanent magnet.
The driver may alternatively include piezoelectric devices adhered to the elastic plates which are so energized as to expand and contract the elastic plates in a cycle to swing the scanning mechanism.
The driver swings the scanning mechanism at a resonance frequency determined by mass of the scanning mechanism and spring constants of the elastic plates.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a two-dimensional scanning device which comprises: (a) a first scanner directing a light beam emitted from a light source to a first scan direction; and (b) a second scanner directing the light beam inputted from the first scanner to a second scan direction traversing the first scan direction. Either or both of the first and second scanner include: (a) a housing; (b) a scanning mechanism constructed to be swingable about a given swing line to emit a light beam for scanning a given angular range, the scanning mechanism including a base and an inertia body projecting from the base toward the given swing line; (c) a support supporting the scanning mechanism on the housing so as to allow the scanning mechanism to swing, the support including a plurality of elastic plates each having a length one end of which is attached to the housing and other end of which is attached to the base of the scanning mechanism so that the elastic plates intersect each other with an offset on a line parallel to the given swing line, each of the elastic plates having a width in a direction parallel to the given swing line; and (d) a driver swinging the scanning mechanism to direct the light beam to the given angular range.
According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided an optical scanner which comprises: (a) a housing including a pair of arms extending in the same direction; (b) a scanning mechanism constructed to be swingable about a given swing line to emit a light beam for scanning a given angular range; (c) a support supporting the scanning mechanism on the housing so as to allow the scanning mechanism to swing, the support including a pair of elastic plates surrounded by the arms of the housing, each of the elastic plates having a housing-attachment strip and a scanning mechanism-attachment strip, the housing-attachment strip having a bent end attached to an end of one of the arms of the housing, the scanning mechanism-attachment strip having a bent end attached to the scanning mechanism, the elastic plates being arranged adjacent each other so that ridges defined by bends of the ends of the housing-attachment strips and the scanning mechanism-attachment strips are arrayed along a line; and (d) a driver swinging the scanning mechanism about the line along which the ridges of the housing-attachment strips and the scanning mechanism-attachment strips are arrayed for directing the light beam to the given angular range.
In the preferred mode of the invention, the scanning mechanism has a reflecting surface for reflecting the light beam emitted from a light source toward the given angular range.
The center of gravity of the scanning mechanism is defined on the line along which the ridges of the housing-attachment strips and the scanning mechanism-attachment strips are arrayed.
The driver swings the scanning mechanism at a resonance frequency determined by mass of the scanning mechanism and spring constants of the elastic plates.
The driver includes a permanent magnet mounted on the scanning mechanism and a solenoid disposed opposite the permanent magnet. When energized, the solenoid produces an alternating field to move the permanent magnet, thereby swinging the scanning mechanism.
The permanent magnet is mounted on one of ends of the scanning mechanism opposed to each other in a direction of a swing of the scanning mechanism.
An inertia body may also be mounted on the other end of the scanning mechanism which adjusts the center of gravity of the scanning mechanism to a desired location.
Second inertia bodies may also be mounted on ends of the scanning mechanism opposed to each other in a direction parallel to the line about which the scanning mechanism swings.
The scanning mechanism has arms extending to a side of emission of the light beam to mount the second inertia bodies thereon.
Each of the elastic plates also has a second scanning mechanism-attachment strip. The housing-attachment strip is arranged between the scanning mechanism-attachment strip and the second scanning mechanism-attachment strip.
Each of the elastic plates has formed therein slits to define the housing-attachment strip and the scanning mechanism-attachment strips.
An end of each of the slits is rounded.
Each of the elastic plates may have a waved portion connecting between the housing-attachment strip and the scanning mechanism attachment strip.
Each of the elastic plates is made of a spring plate which has the housing-attachment strip formed on a first end thereof and the scanning mechanism-attachment strip formed on a second end opposite the first end and which is so deformed elastically that the ridges defined by the bends of the ends of the housing-attachment strips and the scanning mechanism-attachment strips are arrayed along the line about which the scanning mechanism swings.
The elastic plates are connected to each other to define a one-piece spring plate which has the housing-attachment strip and the scanning mechanism-attachment strip formed on each of opposed ends thereof.

Vibration-resisting structure of optical scanner


A semiconductor device having an n channel MISFET formed on an SOI substrate including a support substrate, an insulating layer formed on the support substrate and a silicon layer formed on the insulating layer has the following structure. An impurity region for threshold adjustment is provided in the support substrate of a gate electrode so that the silicon layer contains carbon. The threshold value can be adjusted by the semiconductor region for threshold adjustment in this manner. Further, by providing the silicon layer containing carbon, even when the impurity of the semiconductor region for threshold adjustment is diffused to the silicon layer across the insulating layer, the impurity is inactivated by the carbon implanted into the silicon layer. As a result, the fluctuation of the transistor characteristics, for example, the fluctuation of the threshold voltage of the MISFET can be reduced.

The adoption of an SOI (Silicon On Insulator) substrate has been examined for achieving the improvement in performances of LSI such as the reduction of power consumption and the speed-up.
For example, in the process disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2007-103492 (Patent Document 1), when forming a LOCOS layer (15) on an SOI substrate (10) and then forming an n type SOI transistor (100) in an element region surrounded by the LOCOS layer (15), boron (B) for preventing a parasitic channel is introduced into an end part (30) of a channel region. Also, fluorine (F) or carbon (C) is introduced as a diffusion suppressing atom for suppressing the diffusion of B into the end part (30) of the channel region (see FIG. 2 and paragraphs [0029] to [0033]). By introducing the diffusion suppressing atom in this manner, the diffusion of B in the end part (30) of the channel region is suppressed, and the reduction in the concentration of B in the end part (30) of the channel region can be suppressed. By this means, since the formation of the parasitic channel which is easily inverted to an n type can be suppressed, it is possible to provide a semiconductor device having such features as small leakage current, high speed operation and low power consumption.
Also, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2011-138826 (Patent Document 2), a substrate (11) having a structurally-altered layer (12) is disclosed as a substrate for semiconductor device. As the substrate (11), a silicon substrate, a gallium-arsenic compound semiconductor substrate and others can be adopted, and the structurally-altered layer (12) is formed by implanting ions which do not form any conductivity-type region from one surface of the silicon substrate (11) in a thickness direction (see paragraphs [0034] to [0039]). Further, the Patent Document 2 discloses an SOI substrate having a crystalline insulating layer (21) formed in a region at a depth of 1 to 2μm from an ion implantation surface of the silicon substrate (11) and the structurally-altered layer (12) formed in a region at a depth of 5 to 50μm from the ion implantation surface of the silicon substrate (11) (see paragraphs [0068] to [0072]).
Also, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2000-31481 (Patent Document 3) indicates that the activation rate of impurities is reduced to half to one-tenth when both of boron and carbon are doped as channel impurities. For its solution, in the MOSFET disclosed in the Patent Document 3, a carbon-doped layer is provided at a position away from the surface of the silicon substrate, and thereby solving the problems of threshold variation and increase of parasitic resistance without causing the inactivation of impurities.
Also, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2008-85253 (Patent Document 4) discloses a MOSFET in which impurities are efficiently moved locally to a part of an SOI layer near an interface with a gate insulating film by excessive enhanced diffusion, and as a result, the impurity concentration on a front surface side of a channel region of a completely depleted SOI layer becomes higher than that on a buried insulating film side. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2001-110740 (Patent Document 5) discloses that an interstitial-silicon high-concentration layer with high silicon density is formed near a surface of a semiconductor substrate by the ion implantation of Si or Ge. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2001-156291 (Patent Document 6) discloses a technique in which enhanced diffusion of fluorine is effectively prevented even when fluorine is introduced in a state where channel impurities are present and Si—F bonds are efficiently formed in the channel region. More specifically, after annihilating interstitial silicon atoms generated by the ion implantation of fluorine by the first heat treatment, fluorine is moved to the channel region by the second heat treatment, and thereby forming Si—F bonds at high efficiency.
Note that numbers in parentheses in the descriptions above correspond to the reference numbers in the respective Patent Documents.

Semiconductor device with silicon layer containing carbon


The present invention relates to a connectable-as-stacked ultrasound probe, a plurality of which can be connected to at least one probe connecting device provided in an ultrasound imaging system, an ultrasound imaging system and a diagnostic sonography system. A plurality of ultrasound probes can be connected at the same time as the connecting device of the ultrasound imaging system and one of the ultrasound probes connected to the ultrasound imaging system can be used as selected. The ultrasound probe comprises connecting devices 13a and 13b adapted for connection to the connecting device 10a of the ultrasound imaging system 10, other connecting devices 14a and 14b connected and appropriately wired to the connecting devices 13a and 13b, respectively, interconnecting wires 15a and 15b laid between the connecting devices 13a and 14a and between 13b and 14brespectively, and transducers 16a and 16b connected in parallel to the connecting devices 14a and 14b, respectively, by branching the interconnecting wires 15a and 15b. The ultrasound imaging system 10 comprises a monitor 10b that receives and analyses the data from the probe through the connecting device 10b and displays an ultrasound image. The ultrasound probe and ultrasound imaging system 10 are combined to form a diagnostic sonography system.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a connectable-as-stacked (will be referred to as "stack-connectable" hereafter) ultrasound probe, a plurality of which can be connected to at least a probe connector of an ultrasound imaging system, an ultrasound imaging system and a diagnostic sonography system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently a variety of advanced ultrasound imaging systems has been proposed, and they are widely used in the clinical fields such as in the study of circulatory organs, internal medicine, examination of obstetric and gynecologic regions, etc. As the ultrasound imaging system has become a prevailing diagnostic tool in the clinical fields, various types of ultrasound probes different in frequency and shape from one another and adapted to meet clinical requirements have been proposed for use. In some clinical fields, the same region of interest has to be examined by using a variety of ultrasound probes. To this end, an ultrasound imaging system is required to which a plurality of ultrasound probes can be connected simultaneously.
FIG. 22 shows the construction of a conventional ultrasound imaging system indicated generally with a reference numeral 1. In the Figure, the reference numerals 1a and 1b indicate connectors, respectively, to which the connectors of ultrasound probes are to be connected. The numerals 2a and 2b indicate select switches, respectively, either of which is used to select the connector 1a or 1b to which an ultrasound probe 7 the operator is going to use is connected. The reference numeral 3 indicates a transmission circuit that generates and supplies an electric signal that will drive an electroacoustic or ultrasound transducer provided in the ultrasound probe. An ultrasound is transmitted from the probe 7 and directed into the body of an examinee. The ultrasound is reflected there and returned to the probe 7. The numeral 4 indicates a reception circuit that amplifies a received electric signal derived from the conversion by the electroacoustic transducer of the reflected ultrasound or echo from inside the examinee's body. The reference numeral 5 indicates a probe information interface that reads the information indicative of the type of ultrasound probe 7 connected to the ultrasound imaging system 1. The numeral 6 indicates a thermal monitoring circuit having a thermistor that detects the temperature inside the ultrasound probe 7. The thermal monitoring circuit 6 comprises thermosensors 6a and 6b and thermosensor select switches 6c and 6d, for each of the ultrasound probes 7.
The ultrasound probe 7 comprises a connector that is to be connected to the connector 1a or 1b of the ultrasound imaging system 1, a group of electroacoustic transducers 7b that generate ultrasound, a thermistor 7c that detects the temperature of the ultrasound probe 7, and a probe information coder 7d that encodes and holds the information indicative of the type of the ultrasound probe 7.
In the above-mentioned arrangement, since connection of the connector 7a of the ultrasound probe 7 to either the connector 1a or 1b of the ultrasound imaging system 1 completes the connection between the connectors 7a and 1a or 1b, only one ultrasound probe 7 can be connected to one connector 1a or 1b. Under these circumstances, the ultrasound imaging system 1 is provided with a plurality of connecting devices (connectors 1a, 1b) to each of which one ultrasound probe 7 is connectable. A desired ultrasound probe is selected for use in a clinical study by operating one of the corresponding select switches 2a and 2b provided on the ultrasound imaging system 1.
In this case, the number of connecting devices that can be provided on one ultrasound imaging system 1 is the upper limit of the number of ultrasound probes 7 simultaneously connectable to one ultrasound imaging system 1.
In the above-mentioned prior art, at a clinical site, a greater number of ultrasound probes 7 are used than the number of connecting devices equipped on an ultrasound imaging system 1 and if it is necessary to use a probe 7 not currently connected to the ultrasound imaging system 1, one of the already connected probes 7 have to be disconnected from the scanner 1 and the necessary probe 7 must be connected to the scanner 1 in place of the disconnected probe, which is very annoying and troublesome to the operator or doctor working in an ultrasound study. Note that, the term "ultrasound" used in the present invention can be alternatively replaced by "ultrasonic", if necessary.

Stack-connectable ultrasound probe, ultrasound imaging system and diagnostic sonography system


Disclosed are devices and methods for performing an assay which determines the presence or quantity of an analyte in a fluid sample by detecting binding of the analyte to at least one immobilized analyte capture reagent and washing unbound material from the immobilized analyte capture reagent. The devices and methods an elongated solid phase flow matrix, including capillary channels capable of driving capillary fluid movement, and further including (i) a first region adapted for receipt of the fluid sample, (ii) a second region at which the analyte capture reagent is immobilized, (iii) a third region for application of a wash reagent capable of removing unbound substances from the second region; and (iv) an absorbent reservoir of high volume capacity. The second region is positioned intermediate to the first region and the third region and intermediate to the absorbent reservoir and the third region. The device also includes means to detect analyte bound at the second region. The flow matrix and the regions thereof are sized and positioned to cause the fluid sample to flow initially along the elongated flow matrix in one direction toward and through the second region, and subsequently, the liquid reagent to flow along the elongated flow matrix in a second direction opposite the first direction, through the second region, and into the absorbent reservoir, drawing unbound substances with it.

The invention relates to methods and devices for performing specific binding assays, in particular, for detecting the presence of an analyte in a fluid sample.
Detection of a particular analyte (e.g., an antigen, such as a pathogen or a hormone or a single-stranded nucleic acid target) in a fluid sample may be accomplished using a variety of binding assays, e.g., immunoassays or DNA hybridization assays. Generally, such an assay involves reaction of the test sample with a specific binding reagent (e.g., a specific antibody) and with a reagent which facilitates the direct or indirect quantitative measurement of the amount of the analyte of interest in the test sample. In one particular example known as an Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay or ELISA, an antibody covalently bound to an enzyme (e.g., horseradish peroxidase) is reacted with a test sample and the presence of an analyte is assayed by reaction of the immunocomplex with substrate (e.g., 4-chloro-1-naphthol) followed by measurement of the colored end product.
Coleman (U.S. Pat. No. 3,799,742; 1974) reports an immunoassay which involves the breaking of two membranes to allow a fluid sample to flow into a chamber containing specific binding reagents (e.g., an antibody specific for the analyte). The presence of the analyte is monitored by a color reaction.
Bauer et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 3,811,840; 1974) report the use of specific binding reagents immobilized on an absorbent wick. The wick is dipped into an analyte-containing sample, facilitating the migration of the sample into the wick; the presence of analyte is detected by a color reaction.
Neremberg (U.S. Pat. No. 3,645,687; 1972) reports an immunoassay similar to that of Bauer et al., except that the analyte-containing sample is applied with a capillary tube.
Dafforn et al. (Clin. Chem. 36: 1312, 1990) report an immunoassay for HIV antibody detection. Latex microspheres coated with antigen are embedded in the fibers of a wick; a human serum sample, applied to the wick, migrates downstream (by capillary action) contacting the antigen. Crushing of a substrate ampule releases substrate into a sponge (located upstream of the sample entry port). When saturated, the sponge expands to contact the wick, and substrate is slowly transported into the wick. Simultaneous to substrate release, a protein-A-enzyme conjugate solution is manually added to the wick downstream of the sample entry port. Slow release of the substrate by the sponge allows time for conjugate reaction with the immobilized antibody-antigen complex. Complexes are detected by color reaction.
Li et al. (Analytical Biochem. 166: 276, 1987) report a one-step immunoassay in which a paper support containing immobilized antibodies and enzyme is dipped into a sample containing substrate, a color indicator, and an enzyme inhibitor, as well as the analyte to be detected. Capillary action draws the sample up the paper, the inhibitor (present in a finite quantity) migrates out of the reactive zone, and color development is assayed. The height of the color bar is proportional to the analyte concentration.
Zuk et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,435,504; 1984 and Clin. Chem. 31: 1144, 1985) report a competitive immunoassay using a dry paper strip containing immobilized antibody. The strip is dipped first into a solution containing both the analyte and an enzyme-analyte conjugate and then completely immersed into a solution containing substrate and a color developer. The height of the color bar is proportional to the analyte concentration.
Deutsch et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,094,647; 1980) report a competitive immunoassay in which a sample analyte is blotted onto an absorbent test strip. The strip is dipped into a developing fluid which transports the analyte along the test strip (by capillary action), facilitating contact first with labelled analyte and then with immobilized analyte-specific antibody. Unbound reagents are transported farther along the test strip. Labelled analyte and sample analyte compete for binding to the immobilized antibody; the amount of label measured at the site of immobilized antibody is inversely proportional to the quantity of analyte in the sample.
Cole et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 3,246,339; 1981) report the use of an absorbent reservoir to draw off excess liquid from the test wells of an assay device; analyte is trapped on the test wells' porous membrane surface and detected.
Bagshawe (U.S. Pat. No. 3,888,629; 1975) report the use of an absorbent reservoir to promote filtration of a fluid sample through a matrix pad containing dried specific binding reagent.
Tom et al. ((U.S. Pat. No. 4,366,241) reports an immunoassay device having two bibulous zones, an analyte binding partner being non-diffusively fixed in a first zone (the "immunoabsorbing zone"), and the second zone being a reservoir zone which is either directly or indirectly in liquid-receiving relationship with the first zone to pull liquid through and out of the first zone.
Brooks et al. (WO90/05906) reports a test device which includes (i) a reaction zone capable of retaining a detectable assay product, (ii) a control absorbent in liquid-transferring contact with the reaction zone which meters a predetermined flow of sample or binding reagents through the reaction zone, and (iii) an absorbent reservoir which speeds flow of fluid through the control absorbent.

Reversible flow chromatographic binding assay


A sit up exercising apparatus has a seat assembly, an actuating bar The seat assembly has front leg, a cushioned seat and a rear leg. The actuating bar is attached pivotally to the seat assembly and provides an elastic force to assist a person using the sit up exercising apparatus and has multiple rollers. The rollers massage a person's back who is using the sit up exercising apparatus. Consequently, a person's backbone is not likely to be injured, and the exercising force can be adjusted to accommodate individual users based on their age or physical condition.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sit up exercising apparatus, and particularly relates to a sit up exercising apparatus on which the exercising force required for a user to sit up can be adjusted based on the user's age or physical condition.
2. Description of Related Art
Different exercising apparatuses are available to exercise different parts of a user's body such as chest, legs, arms, waist and the like. A sit up exercising apparatus is used to exercise a person's waist. A conventional sit up exercising apparatus generally comprises a padded board and an ankle strap. The padded board has a bottom end and a bead end and is generally mounted horizontal like a bench. The padded board on some advanced versions of the conventional sit up exercising apparatus can raise the bottom end of the padded board to increase the force required to do a sit up. However, sit up exerciser do not have the capability to reduce the force required to do a sit up. The ankle strap is attached to the board at the bottom end. To use the conventional sit up exerciser, a user lies on the padded board with his or her feet through the ankle strap and sits up to exercise his or her waist. However, constantly pressing a person's backbone against the padded board may be uncomfortable or injure the backbone of a weak user.
Therefore, the invention provides a sit up exercising apparatus to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.


A three dimensional printing system includes a laser system, a beam splitter, a pinhole, a sensor, and a controller. The laser system emits a light beam of varying diameter carrying at least 100 watts of optical power along an optical path. The laser has an imaging plane along the optical path which can be coincident or close to a focal plane at which the beam has a minimum diameter. The beam splitter is positioned along the optical path to receive the beam and to transmit most of the optical power and to reflect remaining optical power. The pinhole is positioned along the optical path at the imaging plane to receive the reflected beam having a minimal diameter. The controller is configured to analyze a signal from the sensor to determine intensity and distribution parameters for the light beam.

Three dimensional (3D) printers are in rapidly increasing use. One class of 3D printers includes direct metal laser melting printers that selectively melt and fuse metal powder in a layer-by-layer manner. These printers utilize metal powders such as stainless steel, aluminum, and titanium. The lasers required output a very high power density. Conventional methods and equipment for calibrating lasers are generally impractical because the laser beam will rapidly degrade most calibration equipment including the various optical components and sensors. There is a need for an accurate and durable system for calibrating such high power density lasers.

Sensor system for directly calibrating high power density lasers used in direct metal laser melting


A separating device. The separating device is used in a tank, for separating solid, gas, and liquid of polluted water, including a first panel, and a plurality of first dividers. The first panel is disposed in the tank, includes a first body and a plurality of first tubes. The first body has a plurality of first openings. The first tubes, connected with the first openings, are disposed under the first body. The first dividers, corresponding to the first tubes, are horizontally disposed under the first tubes. A gap is formed between each first divider and each first tube. The first tube projects to the first divider, forming a projecting perimeter within the first divider.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a separating device, and in particular, to a separating device used in a reacting tank, for separating solid, gas, and liquid from polluted water in the reacting tank.
2. Description of the Related Art
As shown in FIG. 1, a separating device, conventionally utilized in wastewater treatment, is often disposed in an anaerobic sludge tank 1. Wastewater, entering the tank 1, is decomposed under anaerobic conditions, producing biogas which includes methane, carbon dioxide and hydrogen gas. The gas rises with the upflow sludge through a guiding area 2 to a gas collecting area 3. The rest of the solid-liquid mixture enters a solid-liquid area 4 through a gap G. A slanting plate 5 separates the solid and the liquid, keeping solid material in the solid-liquid area 4. The liquid then overflows to a weir 6.
In the conventional separating device, a scum weir (not shown) disposed in the gas collecting area releases gas. However, the conventional separating device has an enclosed gas collection area. Problems such as when to discharge the scum, and how to completely discharge the scum frequently arise. Additionally, openings for the liquid to flow through are required, affecting overall intensity.

Industrial Technology Research Institute


An acoustic apparatus comprises a cabinet, and a loudspeaker unit and a driving apparatus disposed in the cabinet. The acoustic apparatus is driven by an external power amplifier which normally constant-voltage-drives a conventional loudspeaker. The driving apparatus has a power amplifier circuit and a transfer function control circuit, and drives the loudspeaker unit in cooperation with the external power amplifier. The driving apparatus generates an electric energy corresponding to an increase in energy from that which is required in a normal constant-voltage-driving, the increase being produced by an operation of the transfer function control circuit, and the generated energy is inputted to the loudspeaker unit. By means of the above, when the acoustic apparatus is driven by the external power amplifier, an internal resistance of the loudspeaker unit is substantially cancelled or reduced, and an improvement of the electro-acoustic transducing characteristics of the loudspeaker unit or a loudspeaker system is achieved.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an acoustic apparatus which is connected to a general-purpose or usual power amplifier for normally driving a loudspeaker and improve electro-acoustic reproduction (transduction) characteristics of an loudspeaker constituting the acoustic apparatus, and a driving apparatus for driving the loudspeaker to improve its electro-acoustic reproduction characteristics in cooperation with the general-purpose power amplifier.
2. Prior Art
A conventional power amplifier for driving a loudspeaker (loudspeaker unit (vibrator) or a loudspeaker system) normally has a substantially zero output impedance, and constant-voltage drives the loudspeaker.
In contrast to this, recently, there are proposed acoustic systems which improve acoustic reproduction characteristics of loudspeakers or make a loudspeaker vibration system compact without impairing acoustic reproduction characteristics by so-called negative impedance driving (a negative impedance component is included in an output impedance) or so-called motional feedback (MFB) driving (a loudspeaker output is detected by a certain method) (European Patent Application Publication No. 0 322 686, No. 0 322 679, No. 0 322 053, U.S. Pat. No. 4,118,600 and the like).
However, these acoustic systems need special-purpose driving apparatuses (power amplifiers) corresponding to loudspeakers to be used. For this reason, when a user who possesses and regularly uses a general-purpose power amplifier wants to constitute the system, he or she cannot utilize his power amplifier at all.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Gazette No. Sho 58-29295 discloses a technique that a loudspeaker is connected in series with a negative resistance circuit having a negative resistance at a predetermined frequency or less, and the series circuit of the loudspeaker and the negative resistance is driven by a general-purpose amplifier to improve bass tone range characteristics of the loudspeaker. However, as shown in FIG. 9, the negative resistance circuit uniquely disclosed in the embodiment of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Gazette No. Sho 58-29295 is a transistor class-A single amplifier which has a resistor as a load. Such a transistor class-A single amplifier is not used for supplying power to a low-impedance load such as a loudspeaker in terms of voltage utilization efficiency, power loss, cost, and the like except for a case wherein it is used for a very small power such as an earphone or a headphone, or a very special case like in a hobby use. More specifically, this transistor class-A single amplifier does not belong to a category of power amplifiers for driving a loudspeaker in a general idea. Furthermore, in this negative resistance circuit, an impedance Z which is a detection resistor corresponding to a detection resistor Rs for speaker current detection according to the present invention, is connected in series with the loudspeaker unit through a transistor and, an emitter resistor is connected at one end to a point where the emitter of the transistor and loudspeaker unit 2 are connected each other and is also connected at its other end to a grounding point. With this arrangement, a current that flows through the loudspeaker (speaker current) also flows through the emitter resistor at the time when the loudspeaker is driven, whereby it is made impossible to precisely detect the current (speaker current) flowing through the loudspeaker unit. Since this negative resistance circuit is not constituted by a push-pull circuit and; among A class amplifiers, the negative resistance circuit is restricted in its applicability, it cannot simply be replaced with a power amplifier circuit which precisely detects the speaker current thereby to enable it to output the optimal negative resistance and is generally suitable for driving the speaker.
More specifically, although Japanese Patent Laid-Open Gazette No. Sho58-29295 theoretically suggests that a loudspeaker can be negative-resistance driven using a general-purpose power amplifier by connecting the loudspeaker in series with a negative resistance circuit, it does not disclose or suggest an arrangement of a practical negative resistance circuit which can drive a loudspeaker without posing any problem.

Acoustic apparatus and driving apparatus constituting the same


A system (18) for controlling a safety system (44) of an automotive vehicle (10) includes a longitudinal acceleration sensor (36), a vehicle speed sensor (20), a lateral acceleration sensor (32), a yaw rate sensor, and a controller (26). The controller (26) determines a reference pitch in response to the longitudinal acceleration signal and the vehicle speed signal and a reference roll angle in response to the yaw rate signal, the wheel speed signal and the lateral acceleration signal. The controller (26) determines a roll stability index and a pitch stability index. The controller (26) determines an adjusted pitch angle in response to the reference pitch angle and the pitch stability index and an adjusted roll angle in response to the reference roll angle and the roll stability index. The controller (26) controls the safety system (44) in response to the adjusted roll angle and the adjusted pitch angle.

In recent years, many vehicle control systems have been developed to enhance vehicle stability and tracking performance in critical dynamic situations. Such vehicle control systems include yaw stability control systems, roll stability control systems, integrated vehicle dynamic control systems, etc. In these systems, knowledge of the vehicle roll and pitch attitude is very important. For example, in yaw stability control systems the effect of vehicle body roll and pitch, as well as the dynamically changing road super-elevations and road grades is significant because they directly influence both the vehicle lateral dynamics and lateral acceleration measurements. In roll stability control systems, roll angle is one of the most important variables used to construct feedback pressure command and combat the detected roll instability. Hence a successful vehicle dynamics control must involve an accurate determination of the vehicle roll and pitch attitude. However, these values are not directly measured on production vehicles and therefore must be estimated instead.
The vehicle state estimation algorithms implemented on a production vehicle for vehicle dynamic control purpose is normally based on dead reckoning sensors only, such as wheel/steering encoders and inertia sensors which are utilized to predict the vehicle's high frequency behavior. The vehicle state estimates can be obtained from a physical vehicle model, or via integration of the inertial sensor signals, or a combination of both. The estimation accuracy, however, can be very crude for a lot of maneuvers/road conditions, which in turn severally limits the control performance. One reason is that the vehicle model is only effective in the linear region. Another, perhaps more important, reason is that there is simply not enough inertia information. In order to accurately estimate vehicle states in all operating modes, a full six-degree-of-freedom inertial measurement unit (IMU) may be used. A typical IMU consists of three accelerometers and three gyroscopes mounted in a set of three orthogonal axes. The IMU measures the acceleration and the rotation rate of the vehicle in all three dimensions at a high sampling rate, typically at frequencies higher than 100 Hz. From this information, attitude and velocity of the vehicle can be derived via mathematical integration. Vehicle position and heading are generally not observable without external information.
Recent progress in the development of Micro-Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) has made it possible to put IMU on production vehicles because of their small size, low cost and ruggedness. The reduction in size and cost, especially cost, however, has also led to a drop in accuracy of the inertial unit as a whole. The predominant error sources in the inertial sensors, whether they are gyros or accelerometers, are bias, scale factors and random walk. These errors are added up via mathematical integration, and may lead to large drifts in the attitude and velocity estimates, unless external absolute sensors are used to constantly bound the errors.
In practice, all inertia sensing systems are aided in some way by low frequency external sensors, such as global positioning system (GPS), Doppler radar, star trackers to name a few. Due to the increasing popularity and decreasing cost of GPS, a lot of effort has been devoted to the development of GPS aided inertial systems for vehicle control purpose. While fairly good estimation accuracy can be attained in open sky environment using this approach, the performance deteriorates when the satellite signals bounce off of reflective surfaces such as tall buildings and other structures in the "urban canyon". In the worst case, when fewer than three or four satellites can be "seen" (i.e., driving through a tunnel), the GPS provides no information to bound the errors associated with high frequency inertia sensors. Another disadvantage is that GPS device is not at all common and/or cost effective on current production vehicles.
Therefore, there is a significant need for a low-cost device that provides accurate and robust estimate of the vehicle global attitude.

Attitude sensing system for an automotive vehicle relative to the road


A projectile circuitry assembly for use in projectiles comprising a chassis defining a generally cylindrical a main body portion and further defining an interior cavity for containing one or more projectile components and further defining an antenna aperture through the body portion to expose the interior cavity. In various embodiments the projectile circuitry assembly comprises a plurality of circuit boards and a wrap antenna, the plurality of circuit boards and wrap antenna interconnected via an integrated flex-line to define a single unitary device without the use of a connector, the wrap antenna comprising one or more antenna elements defined on a flexible antenna substrate layer, wherein the plurality of circuit boards are positioned in the interior cavity and the wrap antenna is threaded through the antenna aperture and wrapped circumferentially about an exterior of the cylindrical wall of the body portion.

Extensive efforts have been directed toward guiding, steering, or configuring military grade projectiles for proximity sensing or seeking operations. Such projectiles greatly enhance target engagement and operational efficiencies compared to traditional projectiles. For example, in certain applications the ability to perform guided maneuvers and/or for proximity sensing may be necessary to provide a reasonable probability of engaging a target as delivery errors, environmental factors, or other issues are known to significantly degrade the effectiveness of traditional projectiles. This is particularly true when engaging moving targets, small targets, or targets that can take evasive action. In addition, capabilities can reduce collateral damage, conserve ammunition, reduces costs, minimize personnel time in engaging targets, among other benefits.
Such projectiles have included barrel-fired and non-barrel-fired projectiles, boosted, and non-boosted projectiles, and spin-stabilized and fin-stabilized projectiles. In addition, such projectiles have included, low-caliber (50 caliber or less), medium-caliber (greater than 50 caliber to 75 mm), and large caliber projectiles (greater than 75 mm and generally used as artillery, rockets, and missiles).
For example, large-caliber artillery and other projectiles, have been successfully guided—utilizing systems such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,981,672, owned by the owner of the instant application. Artillery shells utilizing this type of design have been well received by the military. For example, see U.S. Pat. No. 7,412,930. These patents are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties for all purposes.
Guided missiles have long been utilized for targeting aircraft and may be self-guided or remotely guided. See, for example U.S. Pat. No. 3,111,080, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. Such missiles are typically fin-stabilized rather than spin-stabilized, having internal propulsion systems and relying upon fins and radially-extending flaps or propulsion-directing members for altering flight path. In addition, guided missiles typically need to be launched or fired from launch tubes or brackets that are designed specific to the missile. Due to their internal propulsion systems, missiles are substantially more expensive than non-propelled projectiles.
With respect to medium and small caliber projectiles, several solutions have been proposed utilizing movable aerodynamic surfaces for steering. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,422,507, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes, discloses a greater than 50 caliber projectile that may be fired from a conventional barreled gun. This projectile utilizes a spoiler that extends and retracts from a rearwardly positioned despun portion out into the air stream. The despun portion is despun by a motor and batteries provide power to the bullet.
Several solutions to guiding small-caliber projectiles, that is 50 caliber or less, have been proposed. These include firing the projectile without spinning the projectile and utilizing axially extending control fins for altering the flight. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,781,709, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. A notable disadvantage to such projectiles is that they cannot be fired from existing rifled barrels for conventional non-steerable projectiles and require internal batteries for operating the control circuitry and control fins which may affect the useful life of the projectile and provide a failure path. U.S. Pat. No. 5,788,178, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes, also discloses a small-caliber bullet that is designed to be fired from a non-rifled barrel. Deployable flaps are utilized to control the flight path in the '178 device and the device requires a battery.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,716,639 discloses small to medium caliber projectiles fired through a rifled barrel that use beveled surfaces or canards on a despun nose portion operated by a motor and battery for flight control. U.S. Pat. No. 4,537,371 discloses a projectile fired through a barreled projectile that distributes air from the air stream through the projectile with valves to discharge the air laterally to change the flight path. These references are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes.
Additional prior guidance systems utilizing fins, wing-like projections, or canards have been proposed. See for example the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,373,688; 4,438,893; 4,512,537; 4,568,039; 5,425,514; 6,314,886; 6,502,786; 7,849,800; 8,319,164. These patents are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes.
It is generally understood in the art that fuzing, sensing, communications, proximity, and other functions are generally required for such projectiles. For example, GPS, height-of-burst (HOB), sensing, seeking, proximity detection, and other functions add capabilities for control or to enhance projectile performance to engage a target. Further improvements are always welcome for these projectiles that enhance accuracy, allow miniaturization, increase range, provide cost savings, or improve reliability.


A semiconductor memory device includes a memory block having first and second word lines extending in a first direction and bit lines extending in a perpendicular second direction; a first driver region at a side of the memory block in the first direction driving the first word lines; a second driver region at another side of the memory block in the first direction driving the second word lines; a sensing region at a side of the memory block in the second direction controlling the bit lines responsive to signals from drive lines; a first conjunction region at an intersection of the first driver and sensing regions including a first driver driving the drive lines responsive to signals from control lines; and a second conjunction region at an intersection of the second driver and sensing regions, including a second driver driving the drive lines responsive to signals from the control lines.

The inventive concepts described herein are generally related to semiconductor memory devices, and more particularly, to a semiconductor memory device in which a word line is driven in the same direction as a sense amplifier control signal line.
Semiconductor memory devices are basically equipped with sensing circuits for detecting and amplifying data transferred through bit lines. If a word line is selectively activated, data of memory cells coupled to the selected word line are transferred to the sensing circuit by way of bit lines. The sensing circuit detects and amplifies the data transferred through the bit lines, and outputs the detected and amplified data. The sensing circuit may include an equalizer, an NMOS sense amplifier, and a PMOS sense amplifier, each of which is operable in response to signals transferred to drive signal lines arranged in a word line direction.


A hearing protection and/or loudspeaker element (1) is provided which includes a carrier part (2) arranged on a protective helmet (5) and a module (4) which can be actively connected to an outer ear of the wearer to act as a hearing protection and/or loudspeaker module. The carrier part (2) and protective helmet can be fixed to the head of the wearer. The module (4) which acts as the hearing protection and/or loudspeaker module can be adjusted in relation to the loudspeaker part (2) and shifted from a position of rest to a position of use. The module (4) itself is like a plug and is embodied as a part that covers the entrance of the human outer ear.

The invention relates to a hearing protection and/or loudspeaker element with a carrier part and a module that can be effectively connected to an ear of the user acting as a hearing protection and/or a loudspeaker, with the carrier part being fixable to the head of the user.
A multitude of various embodiments of protective helmets and mounting systems for fixing protective hearing cups to a protective helmet have become known. In a known arrangement (EP 0646333 B1) the protective hearing cups are held to the protective helmet pivotally via cantilevers, which must make contact in the position of use, i.e. in the area of the ear of the user, with an appropriate pressure such that the ears are protected from noise occurring. Here, not only a particularly large protective hearing cup is necessary, because the entire ear must be covered, but it is also disadvantageous that the user is subjected to enormous heat, because the pressing protective hearing cups lead to a particularly intense perspiration.
Further, an embodiment of an ear protection is known (U.S. Pat. No. 997,673) in which cups covering the entire ear are arranged on an arc-shaped holding bar guided over the head of the user. Although the cups covering the entire ear as well as the plugs that can be inserted into the ear are held to the holding bar in an adjustable manner, they require prior setting. After positioning this hearing protection, the cups contact the ears and/or cover the area of the ear and the plugs are inserted into the auditory canal. An adjustment or setting of the plugs in reference to the cups is not possible when the hearing protection is worn. Additionally, here the ears of the user always have to be covered in their entirety. Again, the protective hearing measures embodied as cups lead to a particular perspiration when it is hot.
Further, a protective helmet has become known (DE 3722465 A1) in which a pumping device is mounted at the helmet and can be operated at the outside, accessible from the outside of the helmet, in order to inflate two bellows, each of which is arranged between the helmet and an allocated noise-insulating ears cover. The ears covers are mounted to the helmet. The bellows can be deflated by ventilation devices using an operating element accessible from the exterior of the helmet, when the protective helmet is to be taken off. Here, too, ears covers that cover the entire ear of the user and make contact with a respective pressure are provided, which lead to perspiration and thus they are frequently not used for that very reason.

Hearing protection and/or loudspeaker element