An apparatus and method for the transfer of voice traffic in a Voice over Digital Subscriber Line (VoDSL) gateway are disclosed, which are capable of transferring the voice traffic without use of a central processing unit (CPU). The gateway provides an interface between an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network and a public switched telephone network (PSTN). The gateway includes a first ATM interface that communicates an ATM cell signal with the ATM network, a vocoder that communicates a voice signal with the PSTN by a channel, and a time division multiplex (TDM) bus that communicates a voice traffic signal between the first ATM interface and the vocoder.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the transfer of voice traffic in a Voice over Digital Subscriber Line (VoDSL) and, more particularly, to a time division multiplex (TDM) bus that reduces the load on a central processing unit (CPU).
2. Background of the Related Art
A communication system employing an Asynchronous Transfer mode (ATM) network is based on a digital signal process, and a communication system employing a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) is based on an analog signal process. A VoDSL gateway is generally provided between the digital ATM network and the analog PSTN to transmit and receive signals there between.
The construction and operation of a related art apparatus used for the transfer of voice traffic in a VoDSL gateway will be described with reference FIGS. 1–3.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a coupled construction of an ATM network system and a PSTN system. As shown in this drawing, a plurality of Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) modems 3 are each connected in common to a telephone 1, which enables communication using a voice signal, and to a personal computer (PC) 2 that processes digital data and conducts communication using the processed digital data. The ADSL modems 3 function to transmit and receive digital data in an asymmetric manner.
A Digital Subscriber Line Access & Multiplex (DSLAM) unit 5 is connected in common to the plurality of ADSL modems 3, to multiplex output signals from the ADSL modems 3. An ATM switch or ATM network 6 is connected to the DSLAM unit 5 to switch a digital signal from the DSLAM unit 5 to a desired destination, at high speed.
A VoDSL gateway 7 is connected to the ATM network 6 to convert a digital ATM cell signal, from the ATM network 6, into an analog signal and transfer the converted analog signal to the desired destination. The VoDSL gateway 7 is also adapted to convert an analog signal, received from the desired destination, into a digital ATM cell signal and transfer the converted digital ATM cell signal to the ATM network 6.
A PSTN 8 is connected to the VoDSL gateway 7 to switch the analog signal from the VoDSL gateway 7 to the desired destination. The PSTN 8 also functions to provide the analog signal from the desired destination to the VoDSL gateway 7.
In operation, if the telephone 1 designates a desired destination and generates an analog signal thereto, then the corresponding ADSL modem 3 receives the generated analog signal, converts it into a digital signal, and outputs the converted digital signal to the DSLAM unit 5.
Alternatively, if the PC 2 designates a desired destination and generates a digital signal thereto, then the corresponding ADSL modem 3 receives the generated digital signal and outputs it to the DSLAM unit 5 at high speed. The ADSL modem 3 also applies an output signal from the DSLAM unit 5 to the telephone 1 or PC 2.
The DSLAM unit 5 multiplexes output signals from the plurality of ADSL modems 3 and transfers the resulting signal to the ATM network 6. The DSLAM unit 5 further demultiplexes an output signal from the ATM network 6 and accesses one of the plurality of ADSL modems 3, corresponding to the demultiplexed signals, to apply the demultiplexed signals to the corresponding ADSL modem 3.
The ATM network 6 is adapted to switch signals at high speed in an asynchronous manner. In the case where a destination of a signal, transmitted from a subscriber to the ATM network 6, is a subscriber accommodated in the PSTN 8, the ATM network 6 outputs the transmitted signal to the VoDSL gateway 7. The ATM network 6 further switches a digital ATM cell signal from the VoDSL gateway 7 to a corresponding subscriber.
The VoDSL gateway 7 converts a digital ATM cell signal from the ATM network 6 into an analog signal and transfers the converted analog signal to the PSTN 8. The VoDSL gateway 7 also converts an analog signal from the PSTN 8 into a digital ATM cell signal and transfers the converted digital ATM cell signal to the ATM network 6.
The PSTN 8 switches the analog signal from the VoDSL gateway 7 to a subscriber of the desired destination. The PSTN 8 also switches the analog signal from the subscriber of the desired destination to the VoDSL gateway 7, to transfer the signal to the subscriber of the ATM network 6.
As mentioned above, the VoDSL gateway 7 converts a digital ATM cell signal from the ATM network 6 into an analog signal and transfers the converted analog signal to the PSTN 8. Additionally, the VoDSL gateway 7 converts an analog signal from the PSTN 8 into a digital ATM cell signal and transfers the converted digital ATM cell signal to the ATM network 6. In this regard, the VoDSL gateway 7 is an important system unit for interfacing a digital network and an analog network.
The construction of the VoDSL gateway 7 is shown in detail in FIG. 2. The VoDSL gateway 7 includes a master or ATM interface 10 interfaced to the ATM network 6, for transmitting and receiving digital ATM cell signals to/from the ATM network 6. Also, the VoDSL gateway 7 includes a plurality of targets or vocoders 20 that are each interfaced to the PSTN 8, for converting an analog signal from the PSTN 8 into a digital signal and vice versa. The ATM interface 10 and the plurality of vocoders 20 are interconnected via a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus.
The master or ATM interface 10 includes a CPU 13, connected to the ATM network 6, that processes an ATM cell signal or voice signal from the ATM network 6 in real time, according to an ATM Adaptation Layer 2 (AAL2) Common Part Sublayer (CPS) protocol and a Service Specific Convergence Sublayer (SSCS) protocol. Namely, the CPU 13 disassembles an ATM cell signal or reassembles the disassembled cells in real time and monitors and controls other function blocks.
The master or ATM interface 10 further includes a memory 15 for storing a voice traffic signal generated by the process of the CPU 13, based on the AAL2 CPS and SSCS protocols. A PCI bridge 17 transmits an output signal from the memory 15 to a corresponding one of the vocoders 20 over the PCI bus, receives an output signal from the corresponding vocoder 20 over the PCI bus, and stores the received signal in the memory 15 under the control of the CPU 13.
Each of the targets or vocoders 20 includes a PCI bridge 27 for transmitting and receiving digitized voice traffic signals to/from the ATM interface 10, over the PCI bus. A memory 25 stores the voice traffic signal received by the PCI bridge 27 and outputs the stored signal in response to an associated control signal. A CPU 23 reads the voice traffic signal stored in the memory 25, converts it into a Voice Telephony over ATM (VToA) signal, and outputs the converted VToA signal to a digital signal processor (DSP) (not shown).
The DSP is adapted to perform a vocoding operation that converts a VToA voice traffic signal into a G.711 PCM signal. The DSP outputs the G.711 PCM signal to the PSTN 8 via an associated interface.
The vocoders 20 may process, for example, 512 subscriber channel voice traffic signals. A larger number of vocoders may be employed to rapidly process a larger number of channel signals at the same time. The ATM interface 10 may control signals to be processed in four vocoders 20, for example.
There is a need to have the number of vocoders 20 correspond to the number of channels connected to the PSTN 8. Also, a sufficient number of ATM interfaces 10 to control the vocoders 20 is desirable. The vocoders 20 and the ATM interfaces 10 transmit and receive data over the PCI bus.
The PCI bus is operated in a memory mapped I/O manner under CPU control. The CPUs 13 and 23 in the ATM interface 10 and vocoder 20 operate the PCI bridges 17 and 27 in concert with and in the same manner as the memories 15 and 25, respectively.
FIG. 3 is a data input/output timing diagram of the VoDSL gateway 7. A detailed operational description will hereinafter be given of the ATM interface 10 reading a voice traffic data signal written in a specific one of the vocoders 20, as an example, with reference to FIG. 3.
To access and read data from the specific vocoder 20, the ATM interface 10 generates a frame signal FRAME# to notify the plurality of vocoders 20 that the PCI bus operation is beginning. Then, the ATM interface 10 drives an address and data signal AD to select the specific vocoder 20.
The ATM interface 10 also outputs a command and byte enable signal C/BE# to the specific vocoder 20 to inform it as to whether the PCI bus operation type is a read or write operation. Further, the ATM interface 10 outputs an initiator ready signal IRDY# to the specific vocoder 20 to notify it that the ATM interface 10 is ready to receive a voice traffic data signal.
After the frame signal FRAME# is sent to the specific vocoder 20, the voice traffic data signal is transferred from the vocoder 20 to the ATM interface 10 on the combined basis of the initiator ready signal IRDY# and a target ready signal TRDY#, from the vocoder 20. In more detail, when the initiator ready signal IRDY# from the ATM interface 10 has a low level and the target ready signal TRDY# from the specific vocoder 20 also has a low level, the vocoder 20 repeatedly sends the voice traffic data signal over the PCI bus and the ATM interface 10 reads it from the PCI bus. At this time, the ATM interface 10 generates a device selection signal DEVSEL# to notify the other vocoders 20 that it is occupying the PCI bus, continuously, to read the voice traffic data signal from the specific vocoder 20. In response to the device selection signal DEVSEL#, the other vocoders 20 make no request to occupy the PCI bus.
If the transfer of the voice traffic data signal is completed through the above procedure, then the ATM interface 10 and the specific vocoder 20 discontinue generating their respective ready signals IRDY# and TRDY#. Further, the ATM interface 10 removes the frame signal FRAME# and device selection signal DEVSEL# to notify the other vocoders 20 that the data transfer has been completed.
In FIG. 3, the reference character CLK denotes a clock signal that the ATM interface 10 generates for synchronization of the PCI bus. All signals other than the target ready signal TRDY# from the vocoder 20 are generated by the ATM interface 10, which is a master of the PCI bus. The address and data signal AD is a bi-directional signal.
In the related art VoDSL gateway, resources, such as the ATM interface 10 and the plurality of vocoders 20, share the PCI bus. Such bus sharing creates a need for arbitration of the PCI bus occupancy, leading to an increase in the load on the CPU 13.
Further, in the case where the PCI bus is employed in the VoDSL gateway, all resources cannot occupy the PCI bus at the same time. This causes a delay in voice traffic signals for resources not occupying the PCI bus. Such a delay causes a loss in voice traffic signals and, in turn, a degradation in the quality of service (QoS) of the voice communication.

Apparatus for transfer of voice traffic in VoDSL gateway


Estimates of a communication system configuration, such as a DSL system, are based on operational data collected from a network element management system, protocol, users and/or the like. The operational data collected from the system can include performance-characterizing operational data that typically is available in an ADSL system via element-management-system protocols. Generated estimates and/or approximations can be used in evaluating system performance and directly or indirectly dictating/requiring changes or recommending improvements in operation by transmitters and/or other parts of the communication system. Data and/or other information may be collected using “internal” means or may be obtained from system elements and components via email and/or other “external” means. The likelihood of a model's accuracy can be based on various data, information and/or indicators of system performance, such as observed normal operational data, test data and/or prompted operational data that shows operating performance based on stimulation signals. One example of such prompted data uses frequency carrier masks to approximate the Hlog of a given channel, including information regarding bridged taps attenuation, etc.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to methods, systems and apparatus for managing digital communications systems. More specifically, this invention relates to estimating the configuration of a group of channels or lines in a communication system such as a DSL system.
2. Description of Related Art
Digital subscriber line (DSL) technologies provide potentially large bandwidth for digital communication over existing telephone subscriber lines (referred to as loops and/or the copper plant). Telephone subscriber lines can provide this bandwidth despite their original design for only voice-band analog communication. In particular, asymmetric DSL (ADSL) can adjust to the characteristics of the subscriber line by using a discrete multitone (DMT) line code that assigns a number of bits to each tone (or sub-carrier), which can be adjusted to channel conditions as determined during training and initialization of the modems (typically transceivers that function as both transmitters and receivers) at each end of the subscriber line.
"xDSL" and "DSL" are terms for used to generally refer to digital subscriber line equipment and services, including packet-based architectures, such as ADSL, HDSL, SDSL, SHDSL, IDSL VDSL and RADSL. DSL technologies can provide extremely high bandwidth over embedded twisted pair, copper cable plant. DSL technologies offer great potential for bandwidth-intensive applications.
ADSL or asymmetric digital subscriber line services generally use existing unshielded twisted pair copper wires from a telephone company's central office (CO) to a subscriber's premise. ADSL modems at both the CO and remote locations send high-speed digital signals over the copper wires and may be capable of providing a downstream bandwidth of about 1.5 Mbps-6.144 Mbps (8 Mbps in ADSL1 and used in Japan and China already), and an upstream bandwidth of about 32 Kbps-640 Kbps with loop distances ranging to 5.5 km.
HDSL or high bit rate DSL provides a symmetric, high-performance connection over a shorter loop, typically requires two or three copper twisted pairs, and is capable of providing both upstream and downstream bandwidth of about 1.5 Mbps over loop distances of up to about 3.7 km. SDSL or single line DSL provides a symmetric connection that matches HDSL data rates using a single twisted pair, but operates over a shorter loop of up to about 3.0 km. VDSL or very high bit rate DSL typically is implemented in asymmetric form, as a very high speed variation of ADSL over a very short loop. Specifically, target downstream performance is typically about 52 Mbps over local loops of 300 m, 26 Mbps at 1,000 in, and 13 Mbps at 1,500 in. Upstream data rates in asymmetric implementations tend to range from about 1.6 Mbps to about 2.3 Mbps. VDSL also offers symmetric data rates of typically 10-25 Mbps. Newer versions of VDSL known as VDSL2 promise symmetric data rates of 100 Mbps and downstream rates to 150 Mbps in asymmetric configurations. Additionally, there are a small number of nonstandard RADSLs or rate adaptive asymmetric DSLS, which, like ADSL, provide a dynamic data rate that adapts to the length and quality of the line (and used a line transmission method that is now nearly defunct in DSL called QAM or CAP). These versions of DSL utilize a packet-based approach that does away with the line-grabbing practice of circuit switched networks. This packet-based approach works well in a variety of situations.
DSL services are much more dependent on line conditions (for example, the length, quality and environment of the copper loop) than traditional telephone services, which typically use a bandwidth including frequencies up to about 4 kilohertz compared to DSL services which utilize a bandwidth including frequencies sometimes over 1 MHz. While some local loops are in great condition for implementing DSL (for example, having short to moderate lengths with minimal bridged taps and splices) many local loops are not as suitable. For example, local loop length varies widely. Moreover, the wire gauge for a local loop may not be consistent over the length of the loop, having two or more different gauges spliced together. Still further, many existing local loops have one or more bridged taps (a length of wire pair that is connected to a loop at one end and is unconnected or poorly terminated at the other end). This type of line information (for example, wire gauge information, bridged-tap information, segment information and load coil information) is important to the evaluation of DSL systems and configurations. Another important class of line conditions is the noise measured on the line, which can be caused by radiation from other DSLs ("crosstalk"), radio ingress of AM or amateur radio stations, thermal noises in the line or receiver analog components, various appliances at the home, electronic equipment in the loop plant or at the central office. These types of noises can vary from time to time and be relatively stationary, impulsive or a combination of both. This type of information also can be important for the evaluation of DSL systems and configurations.
The different conditions and configurations of these loops, including how they are arranged and operated within bundles or binders from the telephone company CO and other locations, mean that every group of DSL loops is different and thus behave differently. Information may exist about individual lines, or can be determined using earlier techniques (for example, evaluation using voice-band measurement and loop-qualification methods). However, this information fails to take into account the interaction among lines (active and inactive), including interactions such as crosstalk (that is, unwanted interference and/or signal noise passed between adjacent lines that occurs due to coupling between wire pairs when wire pairs in the same or a nearby bundle are used for separate signal transmission). Moreover, the accuracy of some of this information is questionable; it has been found that line quality varies widely, even among lines in the same group. Further, voice-band measurements do not always accurately reflect the DSL environment of loops. Therefore, techniques that evaluate a single line in each binder or other group, for example, and then extrapolate that information to all other lines in such a group, may not provide accurate information about those other lines or even the evaluated line itself.
Other techniques include characterizing DSL transmission lines using time-domain reflectometry, in which a predetermined test signal is sent from a point of origin to a DSL transmission line, the line reflects a portion of the signal back to the point of origin, and the reflected signal is analyzed to determine transmission line characteristics. In other situations, a reference loop might be analyzed and/or characterized to generate a transfer function and to model the effects of attenuation, noise, etc. on signals in the reference loop. Typically, one reference loop is selected in each binder or other group of lines and evaluated.
However, these techniques for evaluating a single loop or line do fail to take into account the environmental operation of these lines. That is, there are environmental conditions that affect line performance beyond the behavior of the line alone. Testing a single reference loop may develop some basic information about the line itself, but such information does not assist in the understanding and implementation of optimized services to many users who are using the grouped lines contemporaneously.
Another problem with the testing, monitoring, and maintenance required for successful DSL deployment is the fact that different parties frequently use and operate adjoining DSL lines. For example, some lines in a CO might be operated by an ILEC (Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier), which utilize their own operational and usage rules and systems. Other lines in the same binders and/or other groupings might be operated by one or more CLECs (Competitive Local Exchange Carrier), which are in direct competition with the ILECs in the marketplace, and which likewise have their own operational and usage rules and systems. The exclusionary and competitive nature of these situations, and others like them, mean that there is little opportunity to obtain specific information about the DSL line environment.
Systems, methods and techniques that permit modeling of DSL systems, including 30 DSL binders and other groups, would represent a significant advancement in the art. In particular, management systems may provide only limited information nominally on the line and a system that could infer substantially more information from that limited information would represent a considerable advancement in the field of DSL service rates and associated ranges.

DSL system estimation and parameter recommendation

Adaptive Spectrum and Signal Alignment, Inc.


Frequency converters include waveguides configured for a local oscillator (LO) signal, an intermediate frequency (IF) signal, and an RF signal. A multimode IF waveguide can be used for selectively coupling of an IF signal and to reduce signal contributions produced by the LO signal. Typically, the multimode waveguide is situated to that the IF signal and the LO signal propagate in different waveguide modes, and a selected one of these signals can be selectively attenuated. In some examples, a periodically stepped waveguide is used to enhance propagation of a selected waveguide mode or a lossy conductor is used to attenuate a selected waveguide mode.

The processing and analysis of wide bandwidth electrical signals presents formidable challenges. For example, the clock rates of conventional analog to digital converters are inadequate to capture wideband signals in real time. Characterization of such electrical signals is also difficult. Conventional sampling systems used for signal acquisition and measurement tend to transmit portions of sample strobe pulses used to capture signal samples along with the signal samples so that measurements include artifacts associated with the strobe pulses. In addition, conventional samplers tend to operate at low strobe rates and provide sampled signal (IF) or other processed output signals based on charge accumulated on sample capacitors, and thus IF bandwidths and sensitivities are limited. In view of these and other shortcomings, improved signal acquisition and conversion systems are needed.

Waveguide samplers and frequency converters


A measurement system having an analyzer unit (2; 102) and at least one replaceable sensor (1; 101). Each sensor has a transponder (13) in which sensor-specific data is stored. The analyzer unit has an antenna (21) for wireless readout of the data stored in the transponder and for wireless transmission of the power required to operate the transponder. The transponder (13) and the antenna of the analyzer unit (2) are further configured to additionally transmit and receive the measurement signal of the sensor (1) wirelessly. The sensor may be accommodated in a connecting unit (32, 52, 62, 72, 112) configured to be secured to a corresponding mating component (41, 56, 66, 76, 116).

This invention relates to a measurement system having an analyzer unit and at least one replaceable sensor, each sensor having a transponder in which sensor-specific data is stored, and the analyzer unit having an antenna for wireless readout of the data stored in the transponder and for wireless transmission of the power required to operate the transponder.
Sensor-specific data stored in the transponder may include, for example, information on the measurement range, calibration data, the manufacturing date (in the case of aging-sensitive sensors), identification numbers, which prevent inadvertent connection of sensors not approved for use with the analyzer, and similar data.
Measurement systems of this type are known, for example, from German Patent Application 197 22 744 A1, which is incorporated into the present application by reference. In the measurement system described there, the sensor is connected to the analyzer unit by a plug-and-socket connection, which transmits the measurement signal of the sensor to the analyzer unit. The transponder is situated on the sensor in the vicinity of this. plug-and-socket connection, and the antenna is situated on the analyzer unit for readout. However, the plug-and-socket connection is a weak point, in particular when low voltages must be transmitted—e.g., in the case of load cells with wire strain gauges—whereby thermal stresses result in significant errors. Such plug-and-socket and-socket connections are also disadvantageous when the sensors deliver a very high-impedance signal—e.g., pH electrodes—and are therefore susceptible to contact problems and insulation resistance is inadequate. Finally, plug-and-socket connections are preferably avoided also when the sensors are replaced frequently, which increases the risk of wear and breakage.

Measurement system having at least one replaceable sensor


An image forming apparatus such as a copying machine which is capable of multi print job is disclosed, the image forming apparatus stores identification information of the recording sheet tray selected by a selection means for each registered print job in memory for each print job. When a recording sheet tray for a new print job is selected, selection of the recording sheet tray for the registered print job stored in memory is inhibited or a notice will be issued. Thereby, the recording sheet tray selected for the preceding print job will not be selected for the subsequent print job.

This application is based on patent applications No. H10-44243 and H10-362085 filed in Japan, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly relates to an image forming apparatus which registers a plurality of print jobs in memory, reads out the registered print jobs to print on recording sheets.
2. Description of the Related Art
Heretofore, two types of copying apparatus have been known. One is a type of copying apparatus which prints documents set on platen glass and the other is a type of copying apparatus which executes reading of documents and printing separately and can operate printing of a document read previously during reading of the following document.
The latter type of copying apparatus can read the next document during printing of a document read previously. The image data of the next document is stored in memory as a print-waiting print job, and upon completion of printing of the preceding document, the print-waiting print job is read out from the memory and printed.
Therefore, the operator can start copying of the next document without waiting for completion of printing even though the copying apparatus is currently printing the preceding document.
Such a function is called a multi print job function.
On the other hand, a copying apparatus is usually provided with a plurality of recording sheet trays. The recording sheet trays are classified into two types: the first type of recording sheet tray which accommodates recording sheets of a predetermined standard size (A4, B4, etc.) and cannot accommodate recording sheets of other sizes, and the second type of recording sheet tray which can accommodate recording sheets of various sizes.
Recording sheet trays of the second type are of two types: one is universal recording sheet trays which can accommodate many recording sheets and the other one is hand feed recording sheet trays which cannot accommodate so much recording sheets as the former but can easily gain access from the outside for setting recording sheets.
Because the size of a recording sheet to be accommodated can be changed relatively easily in the case of the second type recording sheet trays, recording sheets of various sizes ranging from the standard sizes such as A4, B4, and etc. to non-standard various sizes are used. In particular, because a recording sheet can be set easily in the case of a hand feed recording sheet tray, various types of recording sheets of not only various recording sheet sizes but also recycled recording sheets, color recording sheets, and OHP recording sheets are used.
When a first type recording sheet tray, for which the recording sheet size is not changed easily, holds no desired recording sheet, the operator sets desired recording sheets on a hand feed recording sheet tray or on a universal recording sheet tray, if the quantity is much, and selects the hand feed recording tray or universal recording sheet tray from an operation panel.
When a recording sheets are fed from a hand feed recording sheet tray or a universal recording sheet tray for copying operation using a copying apparatus having the above-mentioned multi print job, the following problem is caused. That is,
An operator has set desired recording sheets on a hand feed recording tray, selected the hand feed recording sheet tray, performed document reading, and left from the place without confirming that printing is executed as desired.
After that and before the printing is executed, another operator sets new recording sheets with replacing for the previously set recording sheets and operates copying, then as the result, the documents of the former operator are printed on the recording sheets which are set by the latter operator.
Such a trouble is caused particularly in the case of a hand feed recording sheet tray and a universal recording sheet tray. However, such a trouble can be caused also in the case of first type recording sheet trays described herein above. The trouble is caused not only for copying apparatus but also for other various image forming apparatus such as printers which are connected to plural computers.

Image forming apparatus for registering a plurality of print jobs in memory and selecting sheet tray accordingly


A Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Ceregina White’ characterized by its large sized spider type blooms with white ray-florets, with a response time of 52 days, and which is grown as a disbud.

'Ceregina White' is a product of a breeding-program which had the objective of creating new chrysanthemum cultivars with a double type flower, a 7.5 week response and a medium plant height (90 cm). The new plant of the present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant. 'Ceregina White' is a seedling from a cross in a breeding program maintained under the control of inventor. The female parent is #92154-unpatented-, an unnamed seedling not available to inventor for description. The male parent is unknown, being a mixed population of a group of male parents. The new and distinct cultivar was discovered and selected as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross by Mark Roland Boeder in a controlled environment (greenhouse) in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands in 2001. The first act of asexual reproduction of 'Ceregina White' was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in 2001 and propagated further in a controlled environment in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands.


A fuel tank cap which enables static electricity to be discharged quickly and stably when the user manually touches a fuel tank cap to open or close the cap. The fuel tank cap has a casing body and a cover member with four discharge projections for discharging static electricity to a filler neck of a fuel tank. The four discharge projections are arranged in a third radial direction that has an angle of 45 degrees with respect to both a first radial direction and a second radial direction. The first radial direction, in which a handle member of the cover member is arranged, gives the maximum contraction of the cover member, whereas the second radial direction gives the minimum contraction of the cover member. The four discharge projections are arranged on a circle about the center of the cover member to reduce the effect of resin contraction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cap of a fuel tank with a pressure control valve for controlling pressure in the fuel tank.
2. Description of the Prior Art
One known example of fuel tank caps is disclosed in JAPANESE UTILITY PATENT PUBLICATION GAZETTE No. 6-88606. FIG. 38 is a sectional view illustrating a fuel tank cap 300. As shown in FIG. 38, the fuel tank cap 300 includes a plastic casing body 302 screwed to a filler neck FN of a fuel tank (not shown), a cover member 330 attached to the casing body 302, and a negative pressure valve 340 received in a valve chamber 304 of the casing body 302 for controlling pressure in the fuel tank. The negative pressure valve 340 includes a rubber valve body 342, a valve supporting member 346 with a fitting aperture 346a for supporting the valve body 342, and a spring 348 for pressing the valve body 342. When the differential pressure between the tank pressure and the atmospheric pressure applied to the valve body 342 increases to or above a predetermined level, the negative pressure valve 340 opens to make the tank pressure approach atmospheric pressure.
The user manually operates the cover member 330 to open and close the fuel tank cap 300. The conventional fuel tank cap does not ground the fuel tank cap and releases electricity when the user who is electrostatically charged manually touches the fuel tank cap in a dried atmosphere.

Fuel tank cap and method of manufacturing the same


According to the teachings presented herein, a wireless communication apparatus compensates for timing misalignment in its received signal processing. In at least one embodiment, the apparatus estimates a set of path delays for a received signal and sets processing delays on the estimated path delays. The apparatus jointly hypothesizes combinations of fractional timing offsets for two or more paths, and computes a decision metric for each joint hypothesis that indicates the accuracy of the joint hypothesis. As non-limiting examples, the decision metric may be a signal quality metric, or a distance metric (such as between a measured net channel response and an effective net channel response reconstructed as a function of the combination of fractional timing offsets included in the joint hypothesis). The apparatus evaluates the decision metrics to identify a best estimate of timing misalignment, and correspondingly compensates coherent processing of the received signal.

Interference and noise are the main signal impairments affecting receiver performance in code division multiple access (CDMA) systems. Linear equalization receivers compensate for interference arising from dispersive channels (inter-symbol and/or inter-code), and compensate for noise coloration caused by the receive filter. Generalized Rake receivers perform symbol-level processing, while chip equalizer (CE) receivers perform chip-level processing, but they are equivalent examples of linear equalization receivers. A good introduction to G-Rake processing appears in G. E. Bottomley, T. Ottosson, and Y.-P. E. Wang, "A generalized RAKE receiver for interference suppression," IEEE J. Select. Areas Commun., vol. 18, pp. 1536-1545, Aug. 2000.
As a generalization, linear equalization receivers set processing delays on estimated path delays, to collect desired signal energy, and set additional processing delays off-path, at positions good for characterizing interfering signal energy. Interference due to dispersion and noise are the main sources of performance degradation for the scenarios considered prior to release 7 of the Wideband-CDMA (WCDMA) standard (Release 7).
Release 7 introduces multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) schemes, along with higher order modulation. Performance requirements for higher signal to noise ratios (SNR) than previously considered were also introduced. The increased complexities and more stringent signal quality requirements translate into requirements for more precise modulation and demodulation processes than were required for previous standard releases. Similar performance and precision improvements are being driven in other wireless standards, too, as increasingly complex modulation/demodulation schemes are adopted to achieve higher data rates.
The increased precision requirements for signal processing leads to a new source of interference that may be referred to as "timing offset." For example, when multiple transmit (TX) antennas are used at a base station, each transmission chain has some inherent delay due to the physical components involved (cabling, filtering, etc.). If the base station transceiver does not compensate for the difference in delay between TX chains, the transmitted signals will be received with some time misalignment. Misalignment can be a significant issue if the transmissions are to be combined coherently at the receiver. Similarly, when multiple receive (RX) antennas are used, differences in the RX chains, such as filter group delay differences, can cause an effective time misalignment in the respective received signals. Again, this misalignment becomes a potentially significant performance issue in coherent combining.
Even in the absence of misalignment in parallel transmit/receive chains, timing offset issues arise from the coarseness of the timing grids used by many receivers for reporting the path delays of a multiple-component received signal. For example, a delay reporting grid on the order of one-half to one-quarter of a chip may be used to identify path delays in a typical WCDMA receiver. However, research has shown that delays must be tracked to within as little as one sixty-fourth of a chip to avoid performance degradation.
Various techniques are known for improved delay estimation. For example, sophisticated multipath delay estimation is taught in the commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 6,839,378 B1 to Sourour, et al. In the '378 patent, one embodiment of delay estimation processes paths in ray strength order, so that delay estimation is improved by subtracting out the influence of stronger paths for estimating the delays of the weaker paths. Further, the commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 6,674,815 B2 to Zangi teaches exemplary techniques for tracking fractionally-spaced fading radio channels, for symbol-spaced estimation processing.
Still further, various techniques are known for improving Rake finger placement in view of the potential coarseness of the delay reporting grid. For example, different placement grids for path searching and Rake finger placement are used in the commonly-owned and co-pending U.S. patent application identified by application Ser. No. 10/653,679, which is published as US 2005/0047485 A1. In the '679 application, an independent timing grid of potentially finer resolution is used to place Rake fingers on and around signal path delays reported using a potentially coarser timing grid. The use of independent search and placement grids allows for some "tuning" of finger placement.
However, to the extent that path delays are identified and corresponding processing delays are placed according to timing grids limited to practical timing resolutions, one may expect timing offset issues potentially to be present in any practical receiver. Correspondingly, one technique for managing the potential performance problems arising from timing offset appears in the commonly-owned and co-pending U.S. patent application identified by application Ser. No. 11/219,183 and published as US 2006/0268962 A1. In the '183 application, a Rake receiver switches between one-finger and multi-finger modes, for example, based on determining which mode offers a better signal quality measure. The '183 application teaches that single-finger despreading yields better performance in the absence of appreciable timing offset between an estimated and an actual channel delay, while multi-finger despreading is better in the presence of appreciable timing offset.

Method and apparatus for compensating for processing timing misalignment in a communication receiver


A rotor for an electrical machine includes a laminated core having a main axis and a plurality of poles delimiting a plurality of radial seats extending along the main axis, each seat being delimited by a first and a second pole. The rotor includes a plurality of magnets inserted in the seats and a plurality of springs locking the magnets in the seats; the springs acting between each magnet and the first pole delimiting the relative seat for pushing each magnet towards the second pole delimiting the same seat.

The rotors of motors with permanent magnets of known type, used especially in brushless motors, usually consist of a laminated core, that is to say, a core made up of a pack of thin metal laminations and having a principal axis that coincides with the axis of rotation of the motor.
The rotor normally has a plurality of longitudinal slots and a central hole, which extend parallel to the main axis, for accommodating the magnets and a drive shaft, respectively.
The slots form in the laminated core a sort of segment structure, forming the poles of the rotor, where each segment, which remains connected to a central portion of the laminated core surrounding the hole of the shaft, separates two adjacent slots.
The magnets extend along the axis of the rotor, in which they are positioned radially, arranged, in general, against a par of respective contact elements at the outer end of the relative slot which is generally open on the outer surface of the rotor (except for the aforesaid contact elements).
A common problem with this type of rotor linked to the method of fixing the magnets in the relative slots.
The magnets must be attached in the slots in a precise position both for the correct electromagnetic operation of the motor and so as not to trigger vibrations during operation of the motor.
In the reference rotors for this invention, that is, with the magnets positioned radially, one prior art solution glues the magnets in the relative seats. The magnets with glue on them are inserted in the relative slot and held by a special tool abutted against the outer contact elements until the glue sets.
In a different embodiment, the magnets are held in position in the slot by a tool whilst the rotor is inserted in a mould where plastic is injected. In this way, the magnets are co-pressed with the laminations and held in position by the plastic.
The aforesaid prior art solutions are relatively expensive due to the assembly complexity.
In another embodiment, which is the one most commonly used, each magnet is held abutted against the contact elements by a radially pushing spring interposed between the magnet and the central portion of the laminated core.
These springs may be single (one for each magnet) or grouped together in a singular annular element.
In this solution a major disadvantage is that given a magnet, the corresponding spring, due to the mechanical tolerances for inserting the magnet, may push the magnet in a not perfectly radial direction so that it abuts against only one of the contact elements prepared, that is, against only one of the segments which delimit the slot.
In some cases, there may be segments which are not stabilised by the magnets and which therefore vibrate during operation of the motor.
Moreover, the magnet may chip at the contact element due to the reduced contact surface of the latter.

Rotor for an electrical machine and relative assembly method


An electrical connector, for example a lampholder comprises an on/off switch mechanism including a push bar. The connector further comprises a locking arrangement including an interlock member which extends to the pushbar and moves into and out of cooperation with an aperture in the pushbar. When a cooperating device, for example a lamp, is inserted into the connector the interlock member moves axially into the lampholder to a position at which the pushbar is free to move between "on" and "off" positions. When no cooperating device is connected, the interlock member prevents movement of the pushbar. The pushbar and the interlock member include respective inclined surfaces arranged such that the pushbar will be moved to the "off" position when a cooperating device is removed from the connector.

Electrical lampholders generally comprise a securing arrangement by which a lamp may be secured in the lampholder. At least one contact, in the form of a biased plunger, for example, is usually provided to deliver electrical power to the lamp. Some lampholders also include an on/off switch mechanism by which electrical power to the lamp can be switched on and off by a user. In most known lampholders, the switch mechanism is arranged such that it can be switched on and off irrespective of whether or not there is a lamp in the lampholder. However, it has recently been recognized that this can give rise to a potentially dangerous situation where for example the switch mechanism is switched on without a lamp or other device in the lampholder. Under these circumstances, the electrical power delivery contact or contacts of the holder will be exposed, and this can result in electrocution of a person who inadvertently touches the contact.
One solution to this potentially dangerous situation is disclosed in British Patent Application GB-A-2,207,818. This patent specification describes a bayonet bulb holder in which a so-called shutter element cooperates with a transverse bar which forms part of a switch mechanism to prevent the bulb holder from being switched on unless a bulb is inserted in the holder. A peg on the shutter element engages with a slot in the transverse bar to inhibit movement of the bar. When a bulb is inserted in the holder, bayonet lugs thereon effect rotation of the shutter element, causing the peg to move away from the slot in the transverse bar and thereby releasing the bar to be switched to its "on" position. The transverse bar and the peg are further arranged to prevent rotation of the shutter element when the bar is in its "on" position. In this way, removal of a bulb is prevented unless the switch mechanism is in its "off" position.
While the bulb holder disclosed in GB-A-2,207,818 provides a solution to the problem of electrically live contacts being exposed, it is a limited solution in that there is still one potentially dangerous situation which appears to have been overlooked. This situation could arise when a bulb burns out in the bulb holder while the switch mechanism of the bulb holder is on. Under these circumstances, a person wishing to change the bulb, and who is unaware or has forgotten that the switch mechanism must be switched off before the bulb can be removed, may try to force the bulb out of the bulb holder. This may result in the bulb breaking and thereby exposing live wires within the bulb.
We have previously addressed this problem of live contacts being exposed in our as yet unpublished British Patent Application No. 8914956.1, the teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference. The lampholder disclosed in patent application includes an interlock tube having an arm extending therefrom, which arm co-operates with a slot in a pushbar to prevent movement of the pushbar unless a bulb is inserted in the lampholder. As a bulb is inserted in the lampholder the interlock tube is rotated, thereby moving the arm out of the slot and releasing the pushbar for movement between its "on" and "off" positions.
Our previously proposed lampholder also incorporates a means by which the pushbar is moved automatically to its "off" position as a bulb is removed. A camming surface is provided on the pushbar in association with the slot. The camming surface is arranged such that, as a bulb is removed rotation of the interlock tube causes the arm to act against the camming surface, thereby urging the pushbar to its off position. Thus, our previously proposed lampholder, in addition to providing a means by which the pushbar is prevented from being switched to its "on" position unless there is a bulb in the holder, also provides a means by which the pushbar is moved automatically to its "off" position as a bulb is removed from the holder.
Our previously proposed lampholder provides a further solution to the problem of exposed live contacts, but is best suited for use with bayonet-type connections because the angular movement associated with bayonet-type connections is well suited to importing angular movement to the interlock tube. However, our previously proposed lampholder and the bulb holder described in the abovementioned GB-A-2,207,818 are not particularly well suited for use with so-called edison screw connections in which a screw threaded cap co-operates with a similarly threaded member on the lampholder.


An air valve device is adapted to be fitted into an opening of an inflatable article, and includes a valve seat formed with a valve body that is disposed between an inflating port and a conduit, an axially movable member having a valve disc which is disposed in the conduit to be moved between open and closed positions, and a plunger which is connected to the valve disc and which has a head end disposed in the inflating port, a biasing member disposed to bias the valve disc to the closed position, and a releasably retaining mechanism disposed between the valve seat and the plunger to arrest axial movement of the movable member against the biasing action of the biasing member when the valve disc is in the open position, thereby facilitating inflation and deflation of the inflatable article.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an air valve device for an inflatable article, more particularly to an air valve device which facilitates deflation of an inflatable article.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a conventional air valve device 1 is generally used for an inflatable article (not shown), such as a swimming ring, an air cushion, etc., and is shown to include a valve seat 1, a movable member 4, a biasing member 2, and an end cap 3. The valve seat 1 includes a seat body 11, upper and lower tubular walls 12, 13 extending upwardly and downwardly from the seat body 11, respectively, and a lower plate 14 connected to the lower tubular wall 13 and spaced apart from the seat body 11. The seat body 11 has a central mounting hole 111 and four communicating holes 112 arranged around the central mounting hole 111. The lower tubular wall 13 has a plurality of passage holes 131. The movable member 4 includes a plunger 41 which has a connected end 43 that extends through the mounting hole 111 to engage a valve disc 44, and a head 42 that is operable to move the valve disc 44 from a closed position, as shown in FIG. 2, where the valve disc 44 is in air-tight engagement with the seat body 11 to shut off the communicating holes 112, to an open position, where the valve disc 44 is disengaged from the seat body 11 to permit air to flow through the communicating holes 112, and a seal ring 441 which is attached to the valve disc 44 to ensure air-tight engagement between the valve disc 44 and the seat body 11. The biasing member 2 is disposed to surround the plunger 41 so as to bias the movable member 4 to the closed position. The end cap 3 includes a cap body 31 and a connecting strip 32 to openably close the upper tubular wall 12. Since the valve disc 44 is moved to the open position against the biasing action of the biasing member 2, the plunger 41 has to be held in a depressed state during inflation and deflation of the inflatable article, especially during deflation, which is inconvenient to the user.

Air valve device for an inflatable article


A method and apparatus for simultaneously producing fluid from one or more zones of an oil or gas well, while injecting fluid into one or more other zones of the well, and for converting a depleted production zone into an injection zone, by remotely shifting sleeves in the apparatus to selectively align inlet and outlet ports with production and injection flow paths, respectively. A production string is provided within a completion string; the completion string has inlet and outlet ports to the well bore. One or more production sleeves have production conduits which can be selectively aligned with inlet ports by shifting the production sleeves. One or more injection sleeves have injection conduits which can be selectively aligned with outlet ports by shifting the injection sleeves.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is in the field of equipment used in the production of fluids from, and injection of fluids into, oil and gas wells having multiple zones.
2. Background Art
Many oil or gas wells extend through multiple formations, resulting in the establishment of multiple zones at different depths in the well. It may be desirable to produce formation fluids such as gas or oil from different zones at different times, and to inject fluids such as water into different zones at different times, for the purpose of ultimately obtaining the maximum production from the well. Further, it may be desirable to produce formation fluids from one or more zones, while simultaneously injecting fluids into one or more other zones. Finally, it may be desirable to convert a particular zone from a production zone into an injection zone, after the zone is depleted.
Known equipment for these purposes usually requires pulling the completion assembly from the well, and changing or reconfiguring the equipment in the assembly, when it is desired to commence or cease production or injection in a particular zone. Further, known equipment is generally limited to the production of fluid or the injection of fluid at any given time, with simultaneous production and injection not being possible, or at least difficult. More specifically, known equipment is not capable of the simultaneous production from multiple zones and injection into multiple zones.

Multi-purpose injection and production well system


A method for forming a planarized dielectric layer comprising the steps of first dissolving hydrogen silsesquoxane (HSQ) in a solvent to form a solution, then spreading the solution over a silicon substrate. Next, the solvent is allowed to evaporate, and then heated-treated using a temperature of between 150.degree. C. to 400.degree. C. to form a silica-coated dielectric layer. Finally, a fluoride implant treatment (FIT) is performed to create a dielectric layer having a better thermal stability, more stable dielectric constant and a lower leakage current.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a method for forming a planarized dielectric layer. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method of forming a planarized dielectric layer such as a flowable oxide layer over a device substrate, and then treating the dielectric layer using a fluoride implant treatment so that the dielectric layer has a more stable dielectric constant and a lower leakage current, thereby improving its electrical properties.
2. Description of Related Art
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,756,977 by Haluska et al., a method of forming a silica dielectric layer over a device substrate is proposed. The method is to dissolve hydrogen silsesquioxane (HSQ) in a solvent to form a solution, and then the solution is spread over the electronic devices. Next, the solution is allowed to evaporate. Then, the substrate is heat-treated using a temperature of between 150.degree. C. to 1000.degree. C., thus forming a silica coating on top. The processing just ends there without mentioned anything about subsequent treatments.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,441,765 by David S. et al., subsequent treatments of the dielectric layer formed by the aforementioned method are further described. In the patent, after the heat treatment of the substrate, the substrate is placed in a chamber exposed to a mixture containing gaseous hydrogen and an inert gas. For example, the inert gas is nitrogen, and the ratio of gaseous hydrogen to nitrogen, that is, H.sub.2 :N.sub.2 is about 10.about.15%:90.about.85%. Thereafter, the dielectric layer is annealed to lower its dielectric constant. However, nothing is mentioned about how to improve other electrical properties.
As the manufacturing of electronic devices is moving to the deep sub-micron regime, any dielectric film must have a narrow gap-filling capability in order to obtain a better planarization. Furthermore, the dielectric film must have good electrical properties such as a thermally stable dielectric constant and a low leakage current.
In light of the foregoing, there is a need in the art to provide an improved method of forming a planarized dielectric layer.

Method for forming a planarized dielectric layer


A process for making a stabilized, liquid, diepisulfide based prepolymer having a viscosity at 25 C. ranging from 20 to 330000 centipoises which comprises polymerizing at room temperature a monomer composition comprising at least one diepisulfide monomer in the presence of at least one anionic polymerization initiator and at least one halogenated polymerization inhibitor and compositions made therefrom.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to stabilized, liquid diepisulfide based prepolymers, a method for preparing such prepolymers, a method for polymerizing curing the prepolymers into final polymer materials and their lo application for making transparent optical articles such as ophthalmic lenses.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
Diepisulfide based resins are of major interest in the optical field owing to their high refractive indexes of 1.7 or more.
Document U.S. Pat. No. 5,807,975 discloses thermal polymerizaton and curing of diepisulfides, in particular for the manufacture of optical materials such as a lens material for spectacles. This thermal polymenzation/curing of diepisulfides lasts for several hours, generally about 20 hours.
Document EP-0.942.027 discloses an optical resin prepared by curing a polymerizable composition comprising a (thio)epoxy compound having at least one intramolecular disulfide bond The cuing catalysts which may be used arc typically tertiary amines, phosphines, Lewis acids, radical polymerization catalysts and cationic polymerization catalysts. Lengthy polymerization time are reported
Document WO 00/26272 discloses a process for making thio containing resins which comprises polymerizing a composition comprising at least one diepisulfide compound and as polymerization catalyst, an alkaline metal, alkaline-earth metal or ammonium salt of an acid having a pKa ranging from 0.5 to 14.
Although, such a polymerization process leads to fast polymerization/curing of the composition, die process is very difficult to control due to the highly exothermic polymerization reaction and often results in a charred resin inappropriate for making optical articles such as ophthalmic lenses.
It has now been discovered that it is possible to safely prepare a liquid diepisulfide based prepolymer which is stable in time, the prepolymer being able to be later safely polymerized/cured into a transparent resin useful for making optical articles such as ophthalmic lenses.
Thus, an object of the present invention is a stabilized, liquid, diepisulfide based prepolymer useful for making transparent final resins.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a process for is making a stabilized, liquid, diepisulfide based prepolymer.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a process for making a transparent optical article through fast polymerization/curing of a stabilized, liquid, diepisulfide based prepolymer.
These and other objects arc attained by providing a stabilized, liquid, diepisulfide base prepolymer having a viscosity at 25xc2x0 C. ranging from 20 to 33000 cPs, preferably from 100 to 1000 cPs.
By a xe2x80x9cstabilizedxe2x80x9d prepolymer there is meant a prepolymer the viscosity of which does not vary and particularly does not increase more than 20% when stored at 20xc2x0 C. over a period of 7 days, preferably 10 days and more preferably one month.
By a xe2x80x9cliquidxe2x80x9d prepolymer there is meant a prepolymer which can be poured and cast into a casting mold such as a casting mold for making ophthalmic lenses.

Diepisulfide based prepolymers and their use in the optical field

Essilor International Compagnie Generale d""Optique


Aspects for applying channel stress to Fin field-effect transistors (FETs) (FinFETs) using a self-aligned single diffusion break (SDB) isolation structure are disclosed. In one aspect, a FinFET-based circuit is provided. The FinFET-based circuit includes a semiconductor substrate and a Fin formed from the semiconductor substrate. The FinFET-based circuit also includes first and second FinFETs, each corresponding to the Fin. The FinFET-based circuit also includes a gate region disposed between the first FinFET and the second FinFET. An SDB isolation structure is formed in the Fin between the first FinFET and the second FinFET. The self-aligned SDB isolation structure is self-aligned with the gate region and electrically isolates the first FinFET and the second FinFET. The self-aligned SDB isolation structure applies stress to a first channel corresponding to the first FinFET and to a second channel corresponding to the second FinFET.

I. Field of the Disclosure
The technology of the disclosure relates generally to Fin field-effect transistors (FETs) (FinFETs), and particularly to applying stress to a channel region of a FinFET.
II. Background
Transistors are essential components in modern electronic devices. Large numbers of transistors are employed in integrated circuits (ICs) in many modern electronic devices. For example, components such as central processing units (CPUs) and memory systems each employ a large quantity of transistors for logic circuits and memory devices.
As electronic devices become more complex in functionality, so does the need to include a greater number of transistors in such devices. However, as electronic devices are required to be provided in increasingly smaller packages, such as in mobile devices, for example, there is a need to provide a greater number of transistors in a smaller IC chip. This increase in the number of transistors is achieved in part through continued efforts to miniaturize transistors in ICs (i.e., placing increasingly more transistors into the same amount of space). In particular, node sizes in ICs are being scaled down by a reduction in minimum metal line width in the ICs (e.g., 65 nanometers (nm), 45 nm, 28 nm, 20 nm, etc.). As a result, the gate lengths of planar transistors are also scalably reduced, thereby reducing the channel length of the transistors and interconnects. Reduced channel length in planar transistors has the benefit of increasing drive strength (i.e., increased drain current) and providing smaller parasitic capacitances resulting in reduced circuit delay. However, as channel length in planar transistors is reduced such that the channel length approaches a magnitude similar to the depletion layer widths, short channel effects (SCEs) can occur that degrade performance. More specifically, SCEs in planar transistors cause increased current leakage, reduced threshold voltage, and/or threshold voltage roll-off (i.e., reduced threshold voltage at shorter gate lengths).
In this regard, to address the need to scale down channel lengths in transistors while avoiding or mitigating SCEs, transistor designs alternative to planar transistors have been developed. One such alternative transistor design includes a Fin field-effect transistor (FET) (FinFET) that provides a conducting channel via a "Fin" formed from a substrate. Material is wrapped around the Fin to form the gate of the device. For example, FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary FinFET 100. The FinFET 100 includes a semiconductor substrate 102 and a Fin 104 formed from the semiconductor substrate 102. An oxide layer 106 is included on either side of the Fin 104. The FinFET 100 includes a source 108 and a drain 110 interconnected by the Fin 104 such that an interior portion of the Fin 104 serves as a conduction channel 112 between the source 108 and drain 110. The Fin 104 is surrounded by a "wrap-around" gate 114. The wrap-around structure of the gate 114 provides better electrostatic control over the channel 112, and thus helps reduce the leakage current and overcoming other SCEs.
Although a FinFET, such as the FinFET 100, reduces leakage current and avoids or mitigates SCEs compared to planar transistors, ICs employing FinFETs continue to need increased performance. One way to achieve increased performance in a FET, including a FinFET, is to apply stress to the channel so as to alter carrier mobility within the channel. For example, stress applied to a channel of an N-type FinFET causes corresponding electrons to flow more easily, while stress applied to a channel of a P-type FinFET causes corresponding holes to flow more easily. In either case, stress applied to a channel is designed to change the carrier mobility so as to increase conductance in the channel, thus increasing performance of the corresponding FinFET. Such stress is achieved by applying compressive or tensile pressure on a channel. However, conventional methods to apply stress in FETs, such as by growing epitaxial layers on a substrate or employing silicide contacts, for example, are more complex and less effective when employed with FinFETs.

Applying channel stress to Fin field-effect transistors (FETs) (FinFETs) using a self-aligned single diffusion break (SDB) isolation structure


Adjustable components for swimming pool cleaners or other devices are disclosed. The components, when forming part of a fluid-interruption cleaner, can accommodate a variety of diaphragms (valves) of different lengths. The exterior of the cleaner's inner tube, to which the diaphragm is attached, includes a series of spaced, concentric ribs, any selected group of which may be gripped by a cantilever ring positioned between the inner tube and the cleaner body. Because the inner tube may be alternatively positioned relative to the cantilever ring and body, it can accept and accommodate diaphragms of varying lengths. The components also facilitate removal of the diaphragm and inner tube from the cleaner for inspection or, for example, when repair or replacement is desired.

A variety of devices exist that move automatically over surfaces of swimming pools to be cleaned. One such pool cleaner operates in cooperation with the reduced pressure caused by a pump to induce debris-laden fluid within a pool to flow through the cleaner (and other filtration equipment if desired). The cleaner functions by causing a valve, or diaphragm, to oscillate, periodically interrupting the fluid flow through the cleaner. This periodic interruption in turn causes movement of the device over the surface to be cleaned. Suitable valves or diaphragms for such a fluid-interruption cleaner are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,642,833 and 4,742,593, which patents are incorporated herein in their entireties by this reference.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,014,382, also incorporated herein in its entirety by reference, discloses one such fluid-interruption version of an automatic swimming pool cleaner. As described in the patent, the cleaner preferably includes a tubular resilient diaphragm to interrupt the flow of fluid (such as water) through the cleaner during use. The diaphragm entrance is typically located adjacent the inlet foot of the cleaner, while its exit communicates with an inner tube circumscribed by the cleaners rigid extension pipe (outer tube). Because the cleaner's exterior body (together with the inlet foot and inner tube) fix the diaphragm in position, the diaphragm is not easily removed from the cleaner for repair or replacement. Moreover, the rigid structures can accommodate only a single size diaphragm. As a result, not only must diaphragm manufacturing tolerances be minimized, but substitution of diaphragms of different lengths is precluded as well.


A current supply circuit includes a bit select circuit selectively providing even-numbered bits or odd-numbered bits of eight bit image data, and supplies a gray-scale current corresponding to the bits provided from the bit select circuit to a pixel. In a one-frame period, a time length for supplying a current corresponding to the even-numbered bits to the light-emitting element is set twice as large as a time length for supplying a current corresponding to the odd-numbered bits. By setting 16 levels of the gray-scale current for four bits, a current-time product of a current passing through the light-emitting element during the one-frame period can be controlled to 256 levels for eight bits. Thereby, an image display device provided at each of the pixels with the light-emitting element can reduce sizes of circuits generating the gray-scale current in accordance with a digital signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image display device and an image display method, and particularly to an image display device, which includes a light-emitting element of a current drive type in each of pixels, and executes gray-scale expression based on a digital signal.
2. Description of the Background Art
As an image display device of a flat-panel type, attention has been given to an image display device of a self-light-emitting type, in which each pixel is formed of a light-emitting element of a current drive type. The image display device of the self-light-emitting type has high visibility as well as high moving picture quality. A light-emitting diode (LED) is well known as a kind of light-emitting element of the current drive type.
The image display device includes a plurality of pixels, which are arranged in rows and columns, and are successively driven by dot-sequential scanning or line-sequential scanning to receive a display current. Each pixel keeps luminance corresponding to the display current, which was received for the above driving, until its next driving. The display current received by each pixel is usually formed of an analog current for achieving gray-scale expression. This analog current can be set to a level intermediate between maximum and minimum luminance levels of each light-emitting element so that each pixel can execute the gray-scale expression.
Therefore, the image display device provided with the light-emitting elements of the current drive type requires a current supply circuit, which generates the display current according to image data for exhibiting stepwise luminance at each pixel.
For example, Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 11-212493 has disclosed a structure of an image display device, which provides image data formed of a digital signal of multiple bits. For supplying a display current (i.e., gray-scale current) for gray-scale expression, this structure includes a plurality of constant current supplies or sources connected in parallel as well as thin film transistors (TFTs), which are turned on/off in response to a plurality of bits forming the image data, and are interposed between the constant current supplies. A sum of currents selectively supplied from these constant current supplies is supplied to the light-emitting element.
In particular, a ratio of powers of 2 (e.g., 1:2:4:8) is set between output currents of the constant current supplies so that the gray-scale current can be controlled stepwise at equal intervals.
However, the current supply circuit described above suffers from a problem that a current supply circuit increases in size with the number of bits of the image data. Typically, the number of constant current supplies increases so that a footprint or area of the current supply circuits increases, and outer sizes of the image display device increase. Further, increase in circuit scale results in an increased manufacturing cost.

Image display device supplied with digital signal and image display method


Machine control systems for controlling a land levelling or earthmoving process of a wheel loader relative to a working plane are disclosed. In some embodiments, the wheel loader may be equipped with a land levelling or earthmoving blade and may comprise tool positioning means for adjusting the position and orientation of the tool relative to the first body. In some embodiments, the machine control system comprises a machine control unit and an orientation detection system. In some embodiments, the orientation detection system may include orientation detection means which are designed to be attached to the blade and/or to the wheel loader for detecting a position and an orientation of the blade relative to a working plane. In some embodiments, the orientation detection means are adapted to generate orientation data according to the relative position and orientation of the blade and to transmit the orientation data to the machine control unit.

On building sites and construction areas, land levelling and earthmoving processes are often performed by bulldozers. These are equipped with continuous tracks for providing a stable attitude relative to the ground and a dozer blade for shoving sand, soil and debris. For land levelling usually a straight blade is used, which is relatively short and does not have a lateral curve or side wings.
Bulldozers have a disadvantage compared to wheel loaders, though, as the operating costs are higher. For instance, the transfer of bulldozers to the worksite is expensive, as even for short distances bulldozers need to be carried to the worksite, e.g. on articulated vehicles, whereas wheeled heavy machinery such as a wheel loader normally can be driven on its own wheels on public roads.
Therefore, an increasing number of wheel loaders are being used on construction sites for grading operations and allied fields. On the other hand, the use of wheel loaders for precise land levelling and earthmoving processes is complicated and challenging for the operator if a predefined working plane is to be maintained. Due to their wheels, wheel loaders generally have a higher center of gravity than bulldozers. Also, the dampers work independently at the two axles. Thus, the working axis of a wheel loader is subject to higher acceleration oscillations and other variations, for instance if heavy load on the loader bucket or blade shifts the center of gravity towards the front. Additionally, there is the possibility of wheel spin leading to a submerging of one or more wheels beneath the working plane. Thus, for an operator it is almost impossible to keep the tool of the loader in the correct position and orientation relative to the working plane all the time throughout the process.
Thus, there is a need a machine control system for precise land levelling and earthmoving processes aiding the operator to always hold the tool in the correct position and orientation—in particular the correct height and tilt angle—relative to the working plane.
There are some machine control aiding systems for heavy machinery equipment known from prior art that measure the position and/or orientation of a tool relative to the machinery and either provide a feedback for the operator about the position and attitude or at least partially operate the machinery automatically. For instance, U.S. 2006/0245902 A1 discloses a system identifying an orientation of a loader bucket and an indication of said orientation to an operator, and EP 1 988 220 A2 discloses a machine control system for wheel loaders and other heavy machinery equipment adapted to automatically relocate the tool into predefined positions.
The available systems are not suitable, though, for the special needs of precise land levelling and earthmoving processes with a wheel loader and a blade that can be used for land levelling or earthmoving purposes in a predefined working plane.

Machine control system for a wheel loader comprising a grading blade


A rail vision system visually reads signal aspect information from each wayside signal device of a wayside signaling system. It also warn a train operator of the more restrictive signal aspects and imposes a penalty brake application should the train operator fail to acknowledge the warning. Each wayside signal device communicates from a railway operating authority information including directions as to how the train should proceed along the upcoming segment of railway track. The rail vision system includes a signal locating system and a rail navigation system. The signal locating system isolates visually the upcoming wayside signal device and reads the information therefrom as the train approaches thereto. The rail navigation system determines the position that the train occupies on the railway track and provides the signal locating system with data as to the whereabouts of the upcoming wayside signal device relative to the position of the train. This enables the signal locating system to isolate visually the upcoming wayside signal device and to provide the information read therefrom to the rail navigation system. The rail navigation system can then warn the train operator of the more restrictive signal aspects, and should the train operator fail to acknowledge the warning, impose a penalty brake application.

A railway operating authority is responsible for conducting rail traffic safely along the railway track routes under its control. The movement of one or more trains along a railway track route can be governed in a variety of ways. For multiple trains travelling on an unsignaled route (i.e., in dark territory), the operating authority typically issues orders by radio to the operator of each train so as to maintain adequate separation between trains and otherwise safely guide each train through such territory. For trains travelling on a route equipped with a wayside signaling system, the operating authority guides each train via wayside signal devices dispersed at various intervals throughout the length of the railway route. Though trains can be guided safely along unsignaled routes, wayside signaling systems are preferable, especially on heavily trafficked routes, as they can be used to guide trains even more safely and more quickly along such signaled routes with less distance between them.
It is well known that a wayside signaling system is used to communicate signal aspect information to a train as it travels along the railway route. One type of wayside signaling system features a continuous succession of DC train detection circuits along the entire length of the railway route through which to control a multiplicity of wayside signal devices spaced apart from each other along the route. Each train detection circuit covers a section of track approximately 10,000 feet in length and is electrically isolated from the next detection circuit via an insulated joint situated between each track section. Each train detection circuit merely detects whether its section of track is occupied by a train and communicates a signal indicative of same to its corresponding wayside signal device. For this type of wayside signaling system, each wayside signal device typically takes the form of a display of colored lights or other indicia through which to visually communicate signal aspect information to a train operator. It is the signal aspect information that denotes the condition of the upcoming segment of track, i.e., whether it is clear, occupied by a train or subject to some other speed restriction.
Each signal aspect is conveyed by a color or combination of colors and denotes a particular course of action required by the operating authority. The particular colors of red, yellow and green generally denote the same meaning as when used on a standard traffic light. In a four aspect wayside signaling system, for example, the following scheme may be employed: green for clear, yellow and green for approach medium, yellow for approach, and red for restricted/stop. If a train is detected on a section of track, the train detection circuit corresponding thereto informs its corresponding wayside signal device. As the train approaches a track segment over which the wayside signal device has coverage, the railway authority that operates that segment then uses the wayside signal device to communicate visually the appropriate signal aspect to the train operator.
Another type of wayside signaling system also features the continuous succession of DC train detection circuits along the railway track route. They, too, are used to control the wayside signal devices spaced along the route. Each of the wayside signal devices in this type of signaling system also includes an AC track circuit that accompanies or overlays each DC train detection circuit and serves to supplement its visual display. Each wayside signal device through its AC track circuit communicates over the rails the signal aspect information (i.e., the cab signal) up to a range of approximately 5,000 feet. As a train rides on the rails, the cab signal is sensed by pick up coils mounted in front of the leading axle of the locomotive. The cab signal is filtered, decoded and eventually conveyed to a cab signal device located in the cab of the locomotive. The cab signal device typically includes a display of colored lights to convey visually the signal aspect information so that the train operator will be kept apprised of the signal aspect applicable to the upcoming segment of track.
Most railway operating authorities such as Conrail and Union Pacific, for example, use the four aspect system to communicate the condition of the upcoming track segment. Each of the wayside signal devices in such a system typically takes the form of an AC power frequency track circuit from which a carrier frequency typically ranging between 50 to 100 Hertz carries the cab signal in coded format. In this four aspect wayside signaling system, each signal aspect is communicated via electrical pulses in the aforementioned way to the cab signal device using the following preset code rates: 180 pulses per minute for Clear, 120 for Approach Medium, 75 for Approach, and 0 for Restricted/Stop. Each of the latter three aspects imposes a restriction in the speed with which the train may proceed along that segment of railway track.
Two trains travelling in the same direction along a railway route equipped with a three aspect wayside signaling system may be directed, for example, as follows. One train approaches a wayside signal device that is displaying a green/clear aspect indicating that it is clear to proceed on the upcoming segment of track. Meanwhile another train situated two segments ahead is stopped on a track segment whose wayside signal device is displaying a red/stop aspect. The next signal that the trailing train encounters is a yellow/approach aspect because the leading train is occupying the track segment governed by the wayside signal device that is displaying the red/stop aspect. The yellow/approach aspect typically indicates that the trailing train must reduce its speed and be prepared to stop before encountering the track segment covered by the next wayside signal device. If the leading train still has not moved, the trailing train must stop before it reaches the next wayside signal device because that signal device is the one that is still displaying the red/stop aspect.
Railway equipment manufacturers have offered a variety of systems whose objective is to operate the brakes of a train in compliance with such directions issued by the railway operating authorities. These systems typically employ the cab signal devices in conjunction with automatic train protection (ATP) systems. By processing the directions received from the wayside signaling systems according to known principles, such prior art devices and systems are used to derive, and require the train to comport with, braking profiles. These prior art systems typically brake the train automatically when the train operates contrary to the limits imposed by the braking profiles and thus contrary to the wayside signaling system on which the train is riding.
The cab signal device thus typically features an audible warning device and an acknowledgment input. The acknowledgment input allows the train operator to acknowledge the more restrictive signal aspects and thereby prevent a penalty brake application. For example, when the train encounters a segment of track over which one of the speed restrictions is in force and the train is nevertheless permitted to exceed the speed restriction, the cab signal device will activate the audible warning device. If the train operator does not initiate a service brake application so that the train comports with the calculated speed distance braking profile, the cab signal device will automatically impose a penalty brake application to stop the train. The cab signal device typically provides power continuously to a feed circuit to energize, and thus keep closed, an electropneumatic valve. Should the train run afoul of the speed distance braking profile, the cab signal device denergizes the valve to vent the brake pipe to atmosphere thereby applying the brakes. In newer locomotives equipped with modern brake control systems such as the WABCO EPIC.RTM. system, the cab signal device offers a similar input to the electronic brake control system to provide the same function.
Some cab signal devices also offer overspeed protection as an optional feature. A speed sensing device provides an indication of speed to the cab signal device. The cab signal device automatically shuts down the engine of the locomotive if the speed of the train exceeds a predetermined value.
The territorial coverage of the DC train detection circuits and the wayside signal device AC track circuits is typically not coextensive. Whereas each DC train detection circuit covers a section of track approximately 10,000 feet in length, each wayside signal device through its AC track circuit can typically apply its cab signal on a reliable basis to a range of about 5,000 feet. Consequently, repeater units are often used to fill the gaps so as to provide continuous cab signal coverage between wayside signal devices.
The cab signal devices on present day trains are designed to operate on wayside signaling systems that provide continuous coverage over the entire track route. Should a wayside signal device or a repeater unit fail, the cab signal device will interpret the loss of signal aspect information as a stop aspect and automatically impose a penalty brake application. Though the train operator can typically prevent a penalty brake application by acknowledgment or other actions, it is generally not operationally acceptable to routinely require repeated wayside signal "cut-out" and "cut-in" procedures to cover such loss of coverage. Though such wayside signaling systems are widely used on both freight railroads and passenger transit properties, they have not been extensively deployed on the longer freight railroad routes. This is primarily due to cost considerations . It is quite expensive to equip railway track routes with wayside signal devices let alone the necessary repeater units. The need for repeater units alone can often more than double the cost of implementing a wayside signaling system. This increase in cost is due to the need for infrastructure such as acquiring sites at which to install the equipment and providing the foundations, equipment housings and power access at those sites. Many railway routes therefore have the type of wayside signaling system in which there are gaps in cab signal coverage because repeater units either are not used or only used in certain places.
For heavy freight trains with conventional continuous cab signal devices, it is generally not practical to provide automatic train stop techniques to enforce braking. Several factors such as the braking characteristics, the signal block lengths and grades for any given train and terrain are not known and thus worst case conditions would therefore have to be assumed. This would result in overly restrictive braking curve assumptions for most cases, which would affect train operations too severely to be practical. Consequently, most freight train operators with continuous cab signal devices (e.g., Conrail and Union Pacific Railroads), provide only a warning of the more restrictive signal aspects, with an acknowledgment requirement. The penalty brakes are applied automatically only if the train operator fails to acknowledge the more restrictive signal aspects. The train operator can thus satisfy the acknowledgment requirement, yet still not apply the brakes so as to stop the train before approaching a red signal.
Yet another type of wayside signaling system also features the continuous succession of DC train detection circuits along the railway track route. They, too, are used to control the wayside signal devices spaced along the route. In this type of wayside signaling system, however, each of the wayside signal devices controls a track transponder located at a fixed point along the track before each wayside signal device. When a train is detected on a section of track, the train detection circuit corresponding thereto informs its corresponding wayside signal device. The train, however, can only receive the signal aspect information from the transponder as it passes by each fixed point. By using the track transponders to transmit additional encoded data such as the profile of the upcoming track segment and the signal block length, a train equipped with an automatic train protection (ATP) system is able to enforce braking on routes covered by such a wayside signaling system.
The primary disadvantage of transponder based ATP systems is that trains so equipped are required to pass discrete points on the railway track to receive the updated signal aspect information. Some railway authorities have therefore used radio systems to supplement the information received from the track transponders. Other authorities have used fixed transponders only, with updated information transmitted by radio from the wayside signal devices.
Another shortcoming common to all transponder based ATP systems is that they are rather expensive to install and maintain. Maintenance, for example, typically requires replacement of transponders that are damaged. Maintenance may also require a change in the codes or the locations of the transponders as the configuration of the railway track may well be changed over time.
Current automatic train protection systems present significant disadvantages whether used in connection with wayside signaling systems featuring wayside signal devices having AC track circuits or fixed point transponders. For wayside signaling systems featuring wayside signal devices featuring AC track circuits, it is expensive to equip railway routes with repeater units to prevent gaps in coverage from which signal aspect information would be unavailable. Moreover, the cab signal device will interpret such loss of the cab signal as a stop aspect and automatically impose a penalty brake application. For wayside signaling systems featuring wayside signal devices featuring fixed point transponders, a train equipped for travel on such routes is required to pass fixed points to receive the updated signal aspect and guidance information from the transponders. Transponder systems are also expensive to install and maintain.
There is therefore a need in the railroad industry for a system that could operate the brakes of a train in compliance with a wayside signaling system without the aforementioned disadvantages. Specifically, it would be quite desirable to develop a system that can visually read the signal aspect information from each wayside signal device of a wayside signaling system. Such a system could be designed to operate on any type of wayside signaling system that visually displays the signal aspect information.
Related to the invention is subject matter described and claimed in a copending application entitled Rail Navigation System, U.S. Ser. No. 08/604,032, filed Feb. 20, 1996. This copending application is assigned to the assignee of the present invention, and its teachings are incorporated into the present document by reference. The rail navigation system allows a train to locate the position it occupies on a railway track route.
As best described in the cited document, the rail navigation system features a database including data pertaining to the locations of railway track routes and the locations and orientations of curves and switches in those railway track routes. It also receives inputs from devices such as an odometer, a rate of turn measuring apparatus and a navigational receiver. According to instructions contained within its programming code, the rail navigation system uses the aforementioned data along with and in comparison to the enumerated inputs to determine where the train is located in relation to track route location data stored in the on-board database. Through such processing, the coordinates the train occupies on the globe are matched against the database information to determine not only on which track the train is traveling but also the particular position that the train occupies on that track.
It should be noted that the foregoing background information is provided to assist the reader in understanding the instant invention. Accordingly, any terms used herein are not intended to be limited to any particular narrow interpretation unless specifically stated otherwise in this document.