Disclosed herein are related to a system and a method of remotely rendering an image. In one approach, a console device generates an image according to a gaze direction of a user of a head mounted display (HMD). In one aspect, the image includes a first area and a second area disposed along an axis, where the second area is located farther away from a foveated area of the image than the first area. In one aspect, the foveated area corresponds to the gaze direction of the user of the HMD. In one aspect, the console device compresses the image according to the axis, where the second area is compressed at a higher level than the first area. In one aspect, the compressed image is transmitted to the HMD. The HMD may decompress the compressed image according to the axis, and render the decompressed image.

Artificial reality such as a virtual reality (VR), an augmented reality (AR), or a mixed reality (MR) provides immersive experience to a user. In one example, a user wearing a head mounted display (HMD) can turn the user's head, and an image of a virtual object corresponding to a location of the HMD and a gaze direction of the user can be displayed on the HMD to allow the user to feel as if the user is moving within a space of an artificial reality (e.g., a VR space, an AR space, or a MR space).
In one implementation, an image of a virtual object is generated by a console communicatively coupled to the HMD. In one example, the HMD includes various sensors that detect a location of the HMD and a gaze direction of the user wearing the HMD, and transmits the detected location and gaze direction to the console device through a wired connection or a wireless connection. The console device can determine a user's view of the space of the artificial reality according to the detected location and gaze direction, and generate an image of the space of the artificial reality corresponding to the user's view. The console device can transmit the generated image to the HMD, by which the image of the space of the artificial reality corresponding to the user's view can be presented to the user. In one aspect, the process of detecting the location of the HMD and the gaze direction of the user wearing the HMD, and rendering the image to the user should be performed within a frame time (e.g., less than 11 ms). Any latency between a movement of the user wearing the HMD and an image displayed corresponding to the user movement can cause judder, which may result in motion sickness and can degrade the user experience.

Axis based compression for remote rendering


The present invention provides a multilayer ceramic package, which comprises a conductive layer, formed like a square layer, applying a power voltage V.sub.DD or a ground voltage V.sub.SS to a semiconductor device, and having a square hole in its central portion, a plurality of inner leads connected to the conductive layer at the inner portion of the conductive layer, and a plurality of outer leads connected to the conductive layer at the outer portion of the conductive layer, wherein if a first contact point between the inner lead and the conductive layer, a second contact point between the outer lead and conductive layer, a distance between adjacent two first contact points is C.sub.1, a distance between adjacent two second contact points is C.sub.2, a shortest distance from the first contact point to the second contact point is h, both C.sub.1 /h and C.sub.2 /h are 3/8 or less.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to improvement of a conductive layer for a power voltage V.sub.DD or a ground voltage V.sub.SS using a multilayer plastic package and a multilayer ceramic package such as a pin grid array package (PGA).
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, in a multilayer ceramic package such as a pin grid array package (PGA), a conductive layer (hereinafter called simply as conductive layer) for supplying a power voltage V.sub.DD or a ground voltage V.sub.SS to a semiconductor device (IC chip) is structured as shown in FIG. 1.
That is, in FIG. 1, a conductive layer 11 comprises a square layer-like conductor. In the central portion of the conductive layer 11, a square hole is formed. In the end portion of the inside of the conductive layer 11, contact points 12 to be connected to an inner lead are formed. The contact points 12 are irregularly arranged due to a bonding pad formed in the inner lead. Therefore, the distance among the contact points 12 differs.
In the end portion of the outside of the conductive layer 11, contact points 13 to be connected to an outer lead for a power voltage source or a ground pin are formed. The contact points 13 are irregularly arranged due to the other outer lead for a signal pin. Therefore, similar to the contact points 12, the distance among the contact points 13 differs.
In the conventional multilayer ceramic package, the positions and the number of the contact points 12 and 13 are determined regardless of the shape of the conductive layer 11. In other words, in conventional, neither the rule of the arranging method of the contact points 12 and 13 nor the rule of the setting method of the number of the leads exists.
In the state that no constant rule exists, if a plurality of output buffers, which are formed in the IC chip in the package, are turned on at the same time, a large current must be supplied to the IC chip during a short period of time in order to normally drive the plurality of the output buffers. In this case, in the conventional package, the current flowing in the conductive layer 11 becomes uneven, the power voltage V.sub.DD or the ground voltage V.sub.SS largely varies. This variation becomes the so-called simultaneous switching noise, thereby causing an erroneous operation of an input buffer or that of a logic circuit.
FIG. 2 shows a distribution of current density of the conductive layer 11 for the ground voltage V.sub.SS and current is dense in an area D.


The present invention is a process for the manufacture of gelatin which includes providing a collagen containing material and demineralizing the collagen containing material to produce ossein. The ossein is added to a water solution containing at least 3% sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide and at least 3% sodium sulfate for a time sufficient to form a reacted slurry. The reacted slurry is heated to a temperature of at least 45.degree. C. for a time sufficient to solubilize the ossein thereby producing a solution containing gelatin. The pH of the solution containing gelatin is raised to greater than 9.8. The pH of the solution containing gelatin is reduced with a sulfate salt of a divalent or trivalent metal to a neutral pH (between 7.0 and 8.0). The pH of the gelatin solution is then lowered to between 5.0 and 6.0 and a polymeric flocculant is added to the gelatin solution in an amount of less than 0.1% based on the dry weight of the gelatin to form a floc and the floc is removed. The resulting gelatin is filtered and desalted.

High purity gelatins are generally required for imaging applications. Currently the most commonly employed manufacturing process for obtaining high purity gelatins involves demineralization of bone, followed by extended alkaline treatment (liming) and finally gelatin extractions with water of increasing temperature as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,514,518, and 4,824,939. This process commonly referred to as lime processed ossein has existed with various modifications throughout the gelatin industry for a number of years. The liming step of this process requires up to 60 days or more, the longest step in the approximately 3 month process of producing gelatin. The extended time required by the current limed ossein process for producing gelatin results in the need for increased inventories of the work in progress.
An object of the present invention is to reduce the typical 3 month processing time required to extract photographic quality gelatin from ossein.


Regions A–F of photodetectors output electric signals a–f respectively, in accordance with an amount of reflected light from an optical disc 1. The electric signals a–f are input to A/D converters through an RF amplifier unit respectively. An arithmetic circuit subjects the electric signals a–f to arithmetic processing, so as to generate a focus error signal FE and a tracking error signal TE. A CPU measures a DC level of an output signal from the A/D converter, and transmits control signals OCa–OCf to a variable resistor in the RF amplifier unit so that a difference between the DC level and a median in a dynamic range of the A/D converter attains “0”. The CPU transmits control signals GCa–GCf to a variable resistor in the RF amplifier unit so that output amplitude of an output signal is within the dynamic range.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical recording and reproduction apparatus, and more particularly to focusing control and tracking control in an optical pickup device provided in an optical recording and reproduction apparatus.
2. Description of the Background Art
An optical recording and reproduction apparatus includes an optical pickup device as a device for recording information on a disc medium in a stable manner and reproducing the information with fidelity. The optical pickup device is equipped with an objective lens driving mechanism (hereinafter, also referred to as an actuator) for focusing control and tracking control. Here, focusing control refers to causing an objective lens to follow wobbling of a disc surface, the lens collecting a laser beam from semiconductor laser for irradiation of a target position on the disc medium, while tracking control refers to causing the objective lens to follow decentering from a track. The optical pickup device automatically adjusts the objective lens such that a relative positional relation between a target position on the disc medium and a laser beam spot is always maintained constant.
Focusing control and tracking control are realized by detecting return light of the beam collected by the objective lens for irradiation of the disc medium. For example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laying-Open Nos. 6-176371 and 2-5228, normally, when a light receiving element such as a photodiode receives return light of the beam, an actuator is operated based on an output from the light receiving element. That is, feedback control is achieved.
FIG. 7 shows a configuration of a main portion of a conventional optical recording and reproduction apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 6-176371.
Referring to FIG. 7, the optical recording and reproduction apparatus includes an optical head 100 arranged so as to face an optical disc 1, a focus error detection portion 110, a tracking error detection portion 120, analog-digital converters (hereinafter, also referred to as A/D converter) 130, 140, a processor 200, digital-analog converters (hereinafter, also referred to as D/A converter) 80, 81, and drivers 90, 91.
Optical head 100 includes a focus actuator 103, a tracking actuator 104, and an optical system 102.
Focus error detection portion 110 is constituted of a not-shown photodiode portion and an amplifier unit. In the photodiode portion, a photodiode (not shown) divided into four regions receives reflected light from optical disc 1. Then, sum signals (a+c) and (b+d) are obtained by calculating sums of outputs from one pair (a, c) and another pair (b, d) of regions located diagonal to each other among these four regions (denoted as a, b, c, and d, for example).
The amplifier unit receives sum signals (a+c) and (b+d) output from the photodiode portion as inputs, and outputs an output voltage proportional to a difference between the input signals (a+c)−(b+d) as a focus error signal fe.
Tracking error detection portion 120 is also constituted of a not-shown photodiode portion and an amplifier unit. In the photodiode portion, when a photodiode (not shown) divided into two regions (denoted as e, f, for example) receives reflected light from the optical disc, signals e and f are output in accordance with an amount of reflected light.
The amplifier unit receives output signals e, f from the photodiode portion as inputs, and outputs an output voltage proportional to a difference between the input signals (e−f) as a tracking error signal te.
Focus error signal fe and tracking error signal te are converted to digital focus error signal FE and tracking error signal TE in A/D converters 130, 140 respectively, for input to processor 200.
Processor 200 includes a focus control unit 70 generating a focus drive signal FD based on focus error signal FE and a tracking control unit 71 generating a tracking drive signal TD based on tracking error signal TE. Generated focus drive signal FD and tracking drive signal TD are converted to analog signals by D/A converters 80, 81 respectively, for input to drivers 90, 91.
Driver 90 drives focus actuator 103 based on focus drive signal FD so that a beam spot focuses. Driver 91 drives tracking actuator 104 based on tracking drive signal TD so that a beam spot 101 is positioned in the center of a track.
Here, focus error signal fe and tracking error signal te output from error detection portions 110, 120 respectively tend to exhibit variation in gain and offset, depending on variation in optical disc 1 and optical system 102. Accordingly, A/D converters 130, 140 receiving these error signals fe, te need to have a wide dynamic range so as to accept also such variation in processor 200. On the other hand, an A/D converter with a wide dynamic range is expensive, resulting in an increase in the cost of the apparatus.
As shown in FIG. 7, a portion for adjusting gain and offset of error signals fe, te is provided in processor 200. An output from an error detection portion gain/offset adjustment portion 150 can be used to automatically correct variation in the gain and offset in each of error detection portions 110, 120.
With such a configuration, a dynamic range of A/D converters 130, 140 can be narrowed, and reduction in the cost of the apparatus can be achieved.
On the other hand, in the optical recording and reproduction apparatus described above, error signals fe, te input to A/D converters 130, 140 respectively are generated by performing addition and subtraction of the outputs based on the light received at the photodiode portions in focus error detection portion 110 and tracking error detection portion 120 respectively. Therefore, a dynamic range sufficient for taking in a calculation result is necessary in A/D converters 130, 140, which means that the apparatus is still expensive. For example, when output amplitude (peak to peak value) of the output based on the received light is assumed to be 1V, the output amplitude of focus error signal fe is comparable to 4V. Here, the A/D converter needs to have a dynamic range for covering this amplitude.
In connection with large output amplitude of the error signal, a range of adjustment of the offset and gain also becomes wider. Accordingly, control of these factors becomes complicated, resulting in cost increase.

Optical recording and reproduction apparatus including stable and inexpensive servo control mechanism


A method for calibrating an impulse radio distance measuring system comprising an impulse radio transceiver by conducting a pulse through a transmit receive switch to an antenna, receiving return energy which has been discharged across the transmit receive switch, determining a time of arrival of the return energy. The return energy is comprised of two distinct pulses, one of which represents discharge of the transmit switch as the original pulse travels to the antenna, the second represents energy reflected from the antenna and again discharged across the transmit receive switch while the switch is in the transmit position. The timing of the un-reflected energy is determined then the timing of the reflected energy relative to the un-reflected energy is determined through auto-correlation of the time domain scan of the received composite waveforms.

In recent years, modern communications technology has provided various systems for position determination. The global positioning system (GPS) operated by the United States Department of Defense, for example, is a highly complex system of determining the position of an object. The GPS system depends on measuring the time-of-flight of microwave signals from three or more orbiting satellite transmitters by a navigation receiver that computes the position of the mobile unit. According to the GPS system, each satellite broadcasts a time-stamped signal that includes the satellite's ephemeris, i.e., its own position. When the mobile unit receives a GPS signal, the mobile unit measures the transmission delay relative to its own clock and determines the pseudo-range to the transmitting satellite's position. The GPS system requires three satellites for two-dimensional positioning, and a fourth satellite for three-dimensional positioning.
Another approach is that employed by the U.S. Navy's TRANSIT system. In that system, a mobile unit performs continuous doppler measurements of a signal broadcast by a low earth orbit (LEO) satellite. The measurements continue for several minutes. The system usually requires two passes of the satellite, necessitating a wait of more than 100 minutes. In addition, because the position calculations are performed by the mobile unit, the satellite must broadcast information regarding its position, i.e., its ephemeris. Although the TRANSIT system is capable of high accuracy (on the order of one meter), the delay required is unacceptable for commercial applications.
Although these systems accurately determine the unknown position of an object, they are extremely complex, and, more importantly, expensive to implement. For example, both the GPS and TRANSIT systems require multiple satellites, sophisticated receivers and antennas that require hundreds of millions dollars of investments. Also, response times of GPS and TRANSIT systems are typically slow due to their narrow bandwidth. Furthermore, since these systems depend on orbiting satellites, they require an unimpeded view of the sky to operate effectively.
There is a great need in many different fields for a simple, less expensive alternative to complicated position determination systems. One such area is a typical shipping terminal, e.g., a major sea-port or an airport. In a sea-port, containers having valuable cargo are stored at warehouses or are left in designated places in the terminals. Also, containers are sometimes moved from one section of the port to another section in preparation for their eventual loading into a cargo ship or being picked up by trucks or railcars after being unloaded from a cargo ship. Often it is necessary to determine the location of one or more containers. However, it is difficult to identify one or more containers among hundreds, or thousands of containers in a terminal. Similar problems are also encountered in airports and railway terminals where containers are kept in storage sites.
A simple, less expensive position determination system is also desirable for locating police units. Such a position determination system can be used as a vehicle locator system. A city dispatcher would be able to quickly and efficiently dispatch police units if the dispatcher has pre-existing knowledge of each unit's locations. Currently city dispatchers use mobile phones to communicate with police units in order to know their locations. However, using mobile phones to determine the positions of the police units has some disadvantages. Use of mobile phones is expensive and time consuming. Also, when a police officer is not in the car, it is not possible to determine the unit's location.
Recently, the FCC has mandated that all cell phone systems implement position determination for use in emergency call location. In addition, there is a need for position determination as part of cell phone security, fraudulent use, and zone handoff algorithms. These requirements are difficult to meet and GPS is not adequate to reliably deliver the required accuracy.
Systems comprised of two or more radio transceivers have been developed which are intended to locate and track objects within the scope or zone of the system, including other transceivers. Necessary to this function is the capability of the transceivers to accurately measure distance, whether it is the distance to the object being tracked or distance to another transceiver. However, the distances measured typically only take into account the distance from the antenna of one radio to the antenna of the other radio while the actual distance of the transmitter of the signal from the antenna may be greater, thus making distance determination inaccurate. Even distances of signal travel within the transceiver circuitry can be as much as forty feet. Compounding this error is the fact that as the circuitry warms, signal time of flight through circuitry may increase due to reaction of the circuitry to heat.
Known in the art is the technique of time domain reflectometry (TDR) which typically measures the length of a wire by sending a pulse down the wire and timing the arrival of the reflection. In this manner, one is able to pinpoint breaks in underground cable, for example. However, to applicant's knowledge this technique has not been used to determine distance of the internal circuitry in a transceiver apparatus because reception of energy while the transceiver is transmitting has been blocked by use of a transmit receive switch. Typically, transmit receive switches protect receive circuitry from the power associated with signal transmission in order to prevent "blinding" the receiver to incoming signals. This has prevented use of TDR to measure internal transceiver circuitry.
Thus, a system and method is needed to enhance the accuracy of positioning systems and to provide feedback and re-calibration in case of measurement drift due to temperature variations.

Method and apparatus for impulse radio transceiver calibration


The invention relates to a compressor and an expander for use in a compander realized in CMOS-technology which is used to improve speech quality in mobile phone systems AMPS (NAMPS), NMT and TACS (JTACS, ETACS, NTACS). The compander is integrated with other functions of the mobile phone. The compressor and expander have SC-amplifiers controlled by a control logic. A double comparator XOR-block is used in the control of the amplifiers.

The specifications for mobile phones, except for the NMT450 network in the Nordic countries, require the use of a compander. The compander is used to improve speech quality. The companding reduces noise and different interferences originating in the radio path.
The compander is employed in the audio part of the mobile phone. Present solutions use a compander realized in prior art bipolar technology. A prior art compander comprises two sections, the compressor and the expander. The compressor compresses with a ratio of 1:2 the dynamics of the signal passing through it, and the expander accordingly expands with the ratio of 2:1 the dynamics of the signal passing through it.
FIG. 1 shows the operating principle of a bipolar compander according to prior art. In its IC implementation the compressor 1 and the expander 2 are two substantially identical blocks within the same IC circuit. The basic component blocks are a full wave rectifier 3 and 4, an adjustable amplifier cell 5 and 6, an operational amplifier 7 and 8, and the internal biasing of the circuit. With external components it is possible to realize the functions of either compression or expansion. This takes place by connecting the adjustable amplifier cell 5, 6 and the full wave rectifier 3, 4 either to the feedback chain (compressor) or the input of the amplifier (expander).
FIG. 2 shows the operating principle of a compander, which differs from the generally known compander embodiment and forms the basis when the compander according to the invention is realized.
The compressor section 9 comprises identical amplifier sections 11 and 12 with gain G. The input signal Uin is connected through both amplifier sections 11, 12 to the full wave rectifier block 13 having the input signal level Uref=G*G*Uin. The amplifiers are controlled according to this information so that the desired compression is achieved. The output signal Uout=G*Uin is obtained at the output of the first amplifier 11.
The first amplifier 14 of the expander section 10 is an inverse amplifier of the respective G-amplifier and its gain is 1/G. The input signal Vin is also connected directly to the block 15 operating with gain G. From this block 15 the signal is connected to the full wave rectifier block 16, the rectifier 16 having an output level Uref=G*Uin. According to this information the amplifiers 14 and 15 are controlled so that the desired expansion is obtained. The output signal Uout=1/G*Uin is obtained at the output of the first 1/G-amplifier 14.
The amplifier gain changes until the signal Uref supplied to the full wave rectifier block 13, 16, after a certain response time, reaches a level of constant dynamics. This level is called the ineffective level, the reference level, at which a signal passes through the compressor 9 and the expander 10 with unaltered dynamics. The operating ranges of the compressor and the expander are formed relating to this reference level.
The widely known operating principle shown in FIG. 2 does not stipulate in which way the amplifier control should be realized. It is worth noting that full wave rectification is used to detect the level of the signal to be companded. The amplifier gain is changed according to this level information, so that the desired compression or expansion is obtained. The prior art compander realized in bipolar technology also uses full wave rectification to control the amplification.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,987,383 discloses an integrated compression amplifier that can be constructed in CMOS technology and whose threshold voltages are programmable. The amplifier utilizes switched capacitor amplifiers.
A basic problem is that the prior art compander embodiment poorly suites present mobile phone applications. Due to its encapsulation it requires a large area on the circuit board. It further requires several external components. The main problem of the basic solution described in FIG. 2 is on the other hand how to realize it in practice.
If the compander is realized in CMOS-technology and full wave rectification of the signal is used, there is an alternative in the use of A/D-converters, so that it will be possible to control the controlled amplifiers with which the companding of the payload signal can be realized accurately. The circuitry for the A/D-conversion would be complicated. On the other hand, if a full wave rectified analog signal is used to control the amplifiers, the amplifier realization will be complicated in order to obtain the required linearity and dynamics.
The mobile phone specifications define so-called transient response times for the compressor and the expander, an attack response time tA determined by the sudden increase of the signal, and a return time tR due to the sudden decrease of the signal. These times determine how fast the output of the compressor or the expander will follow changes in the input level. The compressor has a tA of about 3,5 ms and a tR of about 13,5 ms. The expander tA and tR are about 13,5 ms. Realization of these differing transient response times is problematic.
When CMOS-technology is used, and when the smallest possible silicon area is sought after, the amplifiers must be realized as so-called switched capacitor amplifiers, i.e. or SC-amplifiers (Switched Capacitor), which are based on the use of clock controlled capacitors. Then there is a problem to get a correct timing of the sampling of the processed payload signal. The offset voltages and the coupling of different interferences to the payload signal should be minimized.
The mobile phone specifications demand that it must be possible to switch off the compression and expansion functions in some situations, for example in the type approval measurements of the mobile phones. When it is desirable to use the same compander in different mobile phone systems, in AMPS, NMT and in TACS, differing audio line levels in the mobile phone transmission and reception paths will pose a problem. Then it will be inconvenient to switch off the companding or to implement the by-pass mode so that it would be suitable for all systems.


An image forming apparatus is provided that, is capable of physically preventing taking-out of the set document, even when a thick copy-prohibited document is set on a document reading device. The image forming apparatus is configured to place a document on a document table, and at least the document is read by closing a pivotally supported document cover portion to cover the document and the image forming apparatus comprises a read-out document determining portion and when the document is determined to be a copy-prohibited document, and prevents the document from being taken out from the document table by locking the rotation of the pivotally supported portion of the document cover.

An image forming apparatus is proposed that has a function of preventing copying (printing) of copy-prohibited documents represented by bank notes, securities, etc.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2005-20334 discloses the image forming apparatus that, when setting the copy-prohibited document on a document reading device (scanner) and trying to copy the document, is capable of not only preventing copying of the document but also physically preventing taking-out of the thus set copy-prohibited document.
In the image forming apparatus disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2005-20334, a locking claw which is disposed at a document cover portion (document mat) of the image forming apparatus and used for fastening the document cover portion to a document setting portion of the document reading device fastens (locks) the document cover portion to the document setting portion engaging with a locking portion disposed at the document setting portion.
Therefore, in the image forming apparatus when the copy-prohibited document is a paper with the thickness of the order of several millimeters, the document set on the document reading device can be physically prevented from being taken out.
However, when the copy-prohibited document is, for example, a thick document such as a book, the locking claw can not engage with the locking portion disposed at the document setting portion.
As a result, the document cover portion can not be fastened to the document setting portion and the thick document can not be physically prevented from being taken out from the document setting portion.


A water tight quick connect electrical connector is provided for electrically coupling the ends of two conductors together. The connector includes a cylindrical plastic sleeve and a pair of generally cylindrical inserts insertable in the open ends of the sleeve. Each insert has an angled face and is formed with a longitudinal passageway that terminates on the angled face of the insert. In use, conductors are inserted through the passageways of the inserts until their bared ends are exposed on the angled faces of the inserts. The inserts are then pressed into the sleeve until their angled faces engage each other and the bared ends of the conductors are pressed together and held in firm engagement between the faces to form an electrical connection. Locking ribs on the inserts and locking grooves on the inside of the sleeve lock the inserts in place and form a water tight seal.

Electrical wiring in general and automotive electrical system wiring in particular often calls for two wires or conductors to be spliced together to form part of an electrical circuit. Such a requirement arises often in the case of automotive wiring systems when, for example, components such as blowers, sound systems, and other electric and electronic components are removed for repair and then replaced. In many such instances, the original wiring to and from such components must be cut in order to remove the component and then re-spliced when the component is installed again. A variety of other instances also occur during maintenance and indeed during fabrication of all types of vehicles in which wires must be spiced or electrically connected together. In marine environments, for example, wires often must be connected in locations where the connection will be exposed to corrosive moisture such as salt water, fuel oil, or the like. Even in residential and commercial housing, electrical connection of two wires is often required.
A number of connectors have been developed for splicing or connecting wires together. One of the most venerable, for example, is the traditional wire nut, wherein the bare ends of two or more wires are twisted together and an internally spiral threaded nut is twisted or screwed onto the wire ends to hold the ends in tight electrical contact. While such wire nuts are very common and have been used for many years, in commercial and residential wiring, they nevertheless exhibit serious shortcomings in some environments such as in automotive and marine wiring systems. Specifically, in such applications, wire nuts tend to be too bulky to fit into the small tight areas through which the wires often extend. Further, wire nits are not "in line" connectors; that is, the wires, when connected together, are not collinear with each other but rather enter in parallel at the open end of the wire nut. This contributes to the space problem mentioned above and also requires that there be substantial slack in the wires so that their ends can be twisted together. In many cases, the necessary slack is simply not available, particularly in automotive and marine applications. Finally, wire nuts do not create a sealed water tight connection. As a result, they are particularly inapplicable to use in marine applications such as in the wiring systems of boats and ships.
In line electrical connectors have also been developed. Examples of such connectors are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,001,131 of Guhl, 3,079,459 of Abbott, 3,786,173 of Vogt, 4,874,909 of Velke, Sr. et al., and 5,502,280 of Rocci et al. While these devices represent various attempts to create in line electrical connectors that are quick connecting and in some instances provide a sealed connection, they nevertheless exhibit various problems and shortcomings inherent in their respective designs. Guhl for example teaches a pair of threaded sleeves that, when threaded onto jaws that embrace the wires, cause the jaws to close on the wires. However, such an arrangement does not couple the wires directly to each other, is difficult to install, and does not form a water tight connection. In the Abbott connector, the bared frayed ends of two wires are brought together in the connector, but are held only loosely together resulting in junction resistance. This device, too, is cumbersome and difficult to install and forms a sealed connection only through the use of clamps that must be installed and tightened.
In Vogt, the ends of two wires are aligned in the connector and are electrically coupled by a metal pin, which pierces the wires to engage the bare conductors therein. No water tight seal is formed and the wires are not connected directly together but only through an ancillary pin. This can and often does result in unwanted electrical resistance at the connection. In Velke the bared ends of two wires are overlapped in a connector housing and the housing is twisted to wrap the ends tightly in a coiled metal gripping element that wraps tightly around the overlapped ends. This approach is interesting, but nevertheless does not form a water tight connection and is subject to degradation over time as the gripping element loosens under the influence of vibration, movement, or stress on the connectors.
Thus, a need exists for an electrical connector that is of the compact in line type, that is quick and easy to install in only a very few steps, that forms a permanent water tight electrical connection between two conductors, and that is economical to manufacture and reliable in use. It is to the provision of such an electrical connector that the present invention is primarily directed.

Water tight quick connect electrical connector


A shopping-type bag manufactured from lightweight plastic, or the like, and having a normally open mouth through which articles to be carried are received within and removed from the bag. A plurality of elongated, flexible strips are coextensively connected to and extended from the bag. The strips are of sufficient length to be mated together to constrict or close the mouth opening and thereby prevent the articles being carried from inadvertently falling out when the bag is tilted, jostled or laid horizontally. Each of the strips is provided with a series of serrations extending thereacross at which the strips may be severed from the bag so that the mouth can be quickly and easily reopened to permit access to the articles being carried within the bag.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a shopping-type bag manufactured from a lightweight material and including a plurality of elongated, flexible strips that are adapted to be tied together to close or constrict the mouth opening of the bag and thereby prevent the contents from spilling out when the bag is tilted, jostled or laid horizontally.
2. Background Art
Plastic, cloth and paper bags have been regularly used by shoppers to carry groceries and other articles. However, the contents of the bag may fall out through the normally open mouth thereof when the bag is tilted or laid horizontally. Consequently, a shopper must be careful to avoid spilling the contents when handling such a bag, particularly when several bags are being carried at the same time, when the shopper bends over, when the bag is laid flat on a car seat, and when the bag is jostled or the shopper bumped. Not only will the shopper be faced with the inconvenience of retrieving and repackaging the spilled contents, but certain articles (e.g. eggs and glass jars) may be susceptible to breakage.
Therefore, it would be desirable to have available a shopping-type bag having a low cost, easy to use means for constricting or closing the mouth opening so as to prevent the contents being carried from spilling out when the bag is tilted, jostled or laid horizontally. It would also be desirable to be able to quickly and easily reopen the mouth of the bag to permit the shopper to gain access to the contents being carried therein.


Methods for grinding low-K interlayer dielectric (ILD) wafers are described herein. In various embodiments, the method may include cutting and severing a semiconductor wafer into a plurality of portions, the cutting and severing being performed in a manner that allows the portions to remain disposed with each other as if the semiconductor wafer had not been cut, applying a tape to a front side of the as if uncut semiconductor wafer, and grinding a backside of the taped as if uncut semiconductor wafer. In various other embodiments, the method may include attaching an adhesive to a backside of the semiconductor wafer prior to cutting the semiconductor wafer along the streets of the semiconductor wafer with the scribed lines to cut and sever the semiconductor wafer into a plurality of portions, with the portions remaining proximally disposed to each other and held in place by the adhesive as if the semiconductor device had not been cut.

The present disclosure is related to the field of semiconductor device manufacturing and packaging. More specifically but not exclusively, the present disclosure is related to grinding of semiconductor wafers having low-K interlayer dielectric (ILD) layers.
The desire for thinner wafers and enhanced performance of integrated circuits has led to the integration of low-K (low-dielectric constant) interlayer dielectrics into semiconductor devices. Low-K dielectrics have lower dielectric constant values than materials such as silicon dioxide (K ˜4) and thus are able to reduce the capacitance between metal interconnects on a chip or integrated circuit die, allowing faster and smaller integrated circuits. The use of low-K dielectrics as insulators in semiconductor wafers, however, creates difficulties during wafer packaging assembly operations. For example, grinding of low-K wafers using conventional wafer grinding processes has proven impractical because low-K dielectrics display poor adhesion and fragility. Additionally, wafer sawing may be difficult because cracks often propagate from the dicing saw through the wafer and into the integrated circuit.


In order to select certain sheet sizes or formats for a rotation by 90.degree. in the plane of the sheet, sensors are provided which sense the presence of a sheet on a supply and turning table. The sensors provide a respective signal for the control of a sheet turning mechanism. After turning the sheets are fed in the proper positional orientation to further processing, for example, in a folding apparatus. The turning mechanism also performs a sheet lifting and lowering operation. The sheet transport out of the turning mechanism is performed at a speed higher than the speed of the sheets travelling into or onto the turning mechanism to provide the time necessary for the sheet turning operation which takes place in three steps: sheet lifting, sheet turning, and sheet lowering in response to a control signal from the sensors which determine what sheet format needs to be reoriented.

Electrostatic printers are known for printing large format drawings, for example. The printing paper is pulled off from supply rollers. Depending on the size of the drawings, two or more paper supply rollers having paper webs of a different width may be positioned for cooperation with the printer. The printing of the drawings takes place either relative to the sheet length or crosswise thereto.
Once the printing is completed, these large format drawings are folded by machines capable of handling such large formats. U.S. Pat. No. 5,045,039 (Bay), issued on Sep. 3, 1991, discloses such a folding machine. Such a machine folds large sheets of different sizes with different folding patterns and the sheets are so folded that the parts list or legend head of the sheet appears in the proper position on the folded sheet. In other words, for proper recognition of the drawing, the legend head must appear on the top sheet section of the folded sheet. For this purpose it is necessary that the sheets are fed to the folding machine in the proper positional orientation.
Further, it is known to program such folding machines in such a way that the number of folds to be formed may vary, depending on a length of the sheet. However, independently of the number of folds to be made it is always necessary that the legend head or parts list must appear on the top sheet section when the folding operation is completed and this requirement must be met independently of the lengthwise or crosswise orientation of the sheet prior to entering into the folding machine. This requirement that the legend head or parts list must appear in a predetermined position on the top sheet section of the folded sheet requires that, for example, in drawings that are printed on a sheet taken off from a wide roller in a longitudinal format, can be fed directly into the following folding apparatus. However, when drawings are printed onto sheets in a cross-format, that is with a half size, and the sheet has the same width from a supply roll having the same width, it is necessary that the sheet on its way to the folding machine is turned by 90.degree., for example, on a supply and sheet orienting table. Such orienting takes place in the plane of the drawing in order that the folding operation can be correctly performed. The same considerations apply where one or more paper rolls having a smaller width are used as the paper supply.
Swiss Patent CH 650,221 (Bay), issued on Jul. 15, 1985, discloses an apparatus for transporting sheets having a rectangular format, however, of different sizes. In such an apparatus it is necessary that the individual sheets in accordance with their format, travel so that the correct sheet edge forms the leading edge when such sheets enter a folding machine and/or an edge branching automat. The sheet transport takes place as an automatic feed advance by linearly effective transport elements such as rollers and the like. In order to assure that the proper edge forms the leading edge, sensors are provided for recognizing the sheet format. The sensors are arranged above the supply table and cooperate with an adjustable holding member which permits rotating of sheet of a certain format about a vertical eccentrically arranged axis, whereby the holding member forms the axis and transport elements then turn the respective sheet about the vertical axis on the table. The known apparatus works so slow for rotating large sheets and needs a large table for transporting the sheet in different directions.

Method and apparatus for the positionally correct supply of differently sized sheets to a sheet folding machine


A backlight control unit for a liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal panel for displaying an image, a backlight for providing light to the liquid crystal panel, a gate driving unit and a data driving unit for driving the liquid crystal panel, a timing controller for outputting signals to control the gate driving unit and the data driving unit, and for outputting a dimming control signal to control a light output amount of the backlight according to representative gradation values obtained by analyzing red, green, and blue gradations included in inputted image data, and an inverter for controlling the backlight to control a light output amount from the backlight according to the dimming control signal outputted from the timing controller.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a display device, and more particularly, to a backlight control unit and a liquid crystal display (LCD) device having the same. Although the present invention is suitable for a wide scope of applications, it is particularly suitable for controlling an optical output of a backlight according to an image.
2. Description of the Background Art
Generally, an LCD device includes a liquid crystal panel with a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix form, and a driving unit for driving the pixels. The liquid crystal panel includes a color filter substrate, a thin film transistor (TFT) array substrate attached to the color filter substrate, and a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween. A common electrode and a pixel electrode are formed on the color filter substrate and the TFT array substrate, respectively, through which an electric field is applied across the liquid crystal layer.
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing red, green and blue pixels arranged on a liquid crystal panel in accordance with the related art. The red (R), green (G), and blue (B) pixels sequentially arranged on a substrate 110 in a matrix form, as shown in FIG. 1. Since the LCD device is not a light emitting device but rather an optical modulation device, a backlight is provided at a rear surface of the substrate 110. The amount of light emitted from the backlight transmitted through the R, G, and B pixels is controlled, to thereby display a desired image. More specifically, the R, G, and B pixels of the LCD device transmit R, G, and B wavelengths of light emitted from the backlight and absorb other wavelengths, respectively. Thus, the LCD device has brightness lower than a related art color cathode ray tube. Therefore, an LCD device having four sub pixels for implementing a white pixel (W) in addition to the R, G, and B pixels has been proposed.
FIG. 2 is a plan view showing red, green, blue, and white pixels arranged on a liquid crystal panel in accordance with the related art. The red (R), green (G), blue (B), and white (W) pixels are sequentially arranged on a substrate 210 in a matrix form, as shown in FIG. 2. As aforementioned, the R, G, and B pixels of the LCD device transmit R, G, and B wavelengths of light emitted from the backlight and absorb other wavelengths, respectively. The white pixel (W) increases brightness of a white color component that is also collectively generated by the R, G, and B pixels, thereby enhancing an entire brightness of the LCD device.
Each amount of light that passes through the R, G, and B pixels is determined according to an alignment direction of liquid crystal corresponding to the R, G, and B pixels. The alignment direction of liquid crystal is controlled by R, G, and B gradations constituting image data. The gradation is a value representing brightness of light that passes through each of the respective R, G and B pixels.
A white gradation implemented by the white pixel (W) is determined according to the R, G, and B gradations of the image data. For instance, the white gradation can be determined by applying a minimum value among the R, G, and B gradations or a squared value of the minimum value to the white pixel. However, there is a limitation as to how much the entire brightness of the LCD device can be enhanced by using white (W) pixels.
The limitation is due to the amount of space occupied by the white (W) pixel, which is a ¼ of the entire area among the R, G, and B pixels. Since the white pixel is very narrow, an overall light output amount of white light emitted through the white pixel is not very substantial. According to the conventional algorithm for determining a white gradation, if one or two of R, G, and B gradations is a minimum value, the minimum value is applied as a white gradation. Such an algorithm may result in the entire brightness of an LCD device having R, G, B, and W pixels being lower than that of an LCD device composed of R, G, and B pixels. Further, such an algorithm may result in only primary colors, such as red, green, blue, magenta, yellow, and cyan, being displayed if one or two of the R, G, and B gradations is at a very low value.

Backlight control unit and liquid crystal display device having the same


The present invention is directed to the provision of a servomotor driving apparatus that feeds energy stored in a power storage part connected with a DC link that connects a rectifier circuit with an inverter circuit so that the energy stored in the power storage part can be reduced. A motor driving apparatus (1) includes: a step-up type DC/DC converter circuit (11) for boosting voltage appearing at an output of the power storage part (C1) connected with a DC link; and a DC/AC conversion circuit (12, 14) for converting the boosted DC electric power into AC electric power and feeding it to an electric power source.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a motor driving apparatus and, more particularly, it relates to a motor driving apparatus that feeds electric power, stored during regeneration, to an electric power source.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a motor driving apparatus, a large driving current flows during normal power operation and a regenerative current flows during deceleration. Therefore, the motor driving apparatus has to be designed in consideration of the peak current during normal power operation and, as a result, it is forced to be large in size and expensive. Further, the regenerative current generated during deceleration is fed to a resistor so that it is transformed into thermal energy and consumed and, therefore, the energy is wastefully lost.
As a measure to solve these problems, a motor driving apparatus disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-141440 includes a power source rectifier circuit for converting AC electric power into DC electric power, an inverter circuit for converting DC electric power into AC electric power to drive an AC motor, and a DC link for connecting the power source rectifier circuit with the inverter circuit, wherein a capacitor is connected with the DC link.
Here, the electric power stored in the capacitor is supplied to the inverter circuit during acceleration of the motor, while the regenerative current is stored in this capacitor during deceleration of the motor, so that the driving current can be leveled and the regenerative current is not be consumed wastefully.


A method for producing a body of a passenger car is provided. A plurality of body components are connected to each other, the body components are provided at least in part with a plastic. The body is produced in a combined internal high pressure forming and injection molding process.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a method for producing a body of a passenger car, such a body of a passenger car, and an installation for producing such a body of a passenger car.
In series production of passenger cars, a plurality of body components are usually connected to each other, for example, through welding or adhesive bonding in order to produce the vehicle structure. It is further known that individual body components of the body can be provided with a plastic in order to configure them as hybrid components. Such hybrid components are used, for example, in instrument supports, door supports or other support components.
Existing passenger car bodies usually consist of a plurality of individual parts connected to each other by joining techniques requiring great resources and expenditure. In order to achieve sufficient precision in the joining-together of the individual body components, a plurality of individual operations are required on very expensive assembly lines. The individual body components that usually consist of a steel or aluminum alloy are formed into the desired geometry in presses or on shell construction lines and put together to form the body in further work steps by welding robots. In particular, with aluminum body components other joining techniques such as clinch-bonding or similar are also used. Optionally the body components are also put together in differential construction—thus with different joining technologies—for example if individual body parts consist of a fiber-reinforced plastic. This leads to many individual and expensive steps with high costs and imprecision. A further problem is that it has only been possible up to now to add components, units, cables or similar to the body or integrate them therein using extremely great resources.
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method, a body and an installation of the type mentioned above, by means of which a significantly simplified production and assembly process of the body is achieved.
In order to provide a method, by means of which the body of the passenger car can be created in a significantly simplified production and assembly method, in accordance with the present invention the body is produced in a combined internal high pressure forming and injection molding process. In other words, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention all or at least a large proportion of the vehicle body is produced in a correspondingly combined internal high pressure forming and injection molding installation. This takes place, for example, in that corresponding body components are connected to each other or fitted through internal high pressure forming and/or injection molding of plastic. It is possible, for example, to connect individual body components to each other in a shape-locking way, for example through corresponding internal high pressure forming methods such as hydro-clinching or hydro-punch-riveting. It is likewise possible to connect the body components to each other through the intermediary of hybrid connecting nodes using plastic. Additionally, the plastic can also be used to mold corresponding reinforcing structures at least partially on the respective body components. For example, a weight reduction can be produced, as the wall thicknesses of the body components can also be correspondingly reduced. In addition component and/or function regions for components, units or parts can be integrated in the plastic.
As a result there is a significant simplification of the process for producing the passenger car body, as not only the body components can be joined together in one stage but also a plurality of function regions or similar, required up to now and arranged separately on the body, can now be an integral constituent part of the body.
A further advantage lies in the drastic reduction in the number of individual components, from which the vehicle body is joined together. In addition there is a quality improvement through fewer work steps in comparison with other joining methods, which is reflected in lower production tolerances and lower repetition tolerances. A further advantage is that a body with high rigidity, strength and structural integrity, for example in case of accident-related force impact, can be realized through point-by-point reinforcement of the structural components with the plastic. Further advantages are the high ecological sustainability of this design and economy even with small numbers. In addition, new types of unusual design concepts can be provided through the present method extremely rapidly and cost-effectively. The very high function integration thereby reduces also the subsequent production costs and times. In addition there are lower industrialization costs for the infrastructure and buildings and lower investment costs, for example through the omission of cathodic immersion painting and other installations, for example painting installations.
The advantages described above in connection with the method according to the invention apply in the same way for a body and an installation.


A thermally-conductive polymer composition suitable for making molded reflector articles having light-reflecting surfaces is provided. The composition comprises: a) about 20% to about 80% by weight of a base polymer matrix such as polycarbonate; and b) about 20% to about 80% by weight of a thermally-conductive carbon material such as graphite. The composition can be used to make reflector articles such as housings for automotive tail lamps, head lamps, and other lighting fixtures. A method for manufacturing reflector articles is also provided.

The present invention generally relates to plastic articles having light reflecting surfaces. Particularly, the articles are made from a thermally-conductive polymer composition that can dissipate heat from a heat-generating light source within the articles. The reflector articles can be used as housings for automotive tail lamps and head lamps, flashlights, searchlights, and other lighting fixtures.
In the past, reflector articles or housings for lighting devices were made by stamping sheets of metal, for example, steel or aluminum, into a desired shape. Then, the surface of the metal could be buff-polished to form a reflective surface. This metal-stamping process produced reflector housings having good mechanical strength, but only a limited number of simple shapes could be made using this cumbersome process. Also, the polishing process could be time-consuming and expensive.
Today, reflector housings are often made from thermosetting or thermoplastic compositions that can be molded into a variety of complex shapes. Typically, these compositions contain a resin and a reinforcing material that improves the strength and dimensional stability of the molded reflector housing.
For example, Withoos et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,188,358 discloses a method for making a metallized plastic reflector. A film or fabric of fibrous material (for example, glass or carbon fibers) is provided over a convex surface of a mold and saturated with a thermo-hardening synthetic resin. After partial hardening of the resin, a layer of liquid metal particles is sprayed onto the resin. A supporting layer including a synthetic resin reinforced with fibrous material (for example, polyester or nylon) is provided over the metal layer. After hardening of the assembly, the mold is removed.
Ohio et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,364,637 discloses a method of making a highly reflective plastic reflector having a crystalline inorganic film coating. The method involves making a reflector having a molded body comprising a thermoplastic or thermosetting resin. The Patent discloses that the resins may be filled with reinforcing fillers such as glass fibers, mica, and asbestos. A light-reflective meal such as silver or aluminum is coated on one or all sides of the molded body. A light-transmissive film of an inorganic substance such as a metallic oxide or oxide of amphoteric elements is coated over the metallized coating.
Daniels et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,507,254 and 4,570,203 disclose a method of making a light reflector for a photographic flash unit. The method involves molding a plastic housing using an injection-molding process. According to the patents, the reflector is shaped into its trough-like configuration by injecting liquid plastic into a mold. The plastic is allowed to solidify to form the plastic housing which maintains the contour of the reflector. The Patents disclose that polycarbonate can be used as the plastic in this manufacturing operation.
Ikeda et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,945,775 discloses a lamp reflecting mirror suitable for use as a automotive head lamp, fog lamp, or the like. The Patent discloses that the lamp reflecting mirror is produced by injection-molding a composition containing 30 to 50% by weight of polyphenylene sulfide resin, 5 to 30% by weight of calcium silicate whiskers, and 20 to 65% by weight of granular inorganic filler.
As discussed above, conventional reflectors typically are coated with a light-reflective metal, such as aluminum, silver, chromium, and the like, using a vacuum-coating process. It is important for the reflector article to have a smooth surface so that the metallized, reflective coating can be uniformly deposited on the surface of the article. Many conventional reflector articles have rough and irregular surfaces, and it can be difficult to uniformly deposit the metallized coating onto such surfaces. There is a need for a reflector article having a smooth surface which will accept a metallized, light-reflecting coating easily. The reflective coating should be capable of being applied completely and uniformly to the surface of the reflector article. The present invention provides such a reflector article.
In addition, the light sources contained within reflector housings, for example, automotive tail lamps, can generate a tremendous amount of heat. Many reflector housings are made from molded plastics that are poor conductors of heat. As a result, heat remains trapped within this reflective area, and temperatures can quickly rise causing damage to the lighting device. There is a need for a thermally-conductive reflector that can effectively remove heat from heat-generating lamp assemblies. The present invention provides such a thermally-conductive reflector housing. The present invention also includes the thermally-conductive compositions and methods used to make such reflector housings. These and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention are evident from the following description and attached figures.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Thermally-conductive plastic articles having light reflecting surfaces


The present invention relates to a method and a virtual private network (VPN) gateway server 10 providing rules for wireless access over a secure tunnel connection to a corporate network 20. The corporate network 20 is protected by firewall functionality, with different access configurations for different remote users. The VPN gateway server 10 includes a user database 15 which provides rules specific for each user for the access to the corporate network 20 using the secure tunnel. The rules include specific sets of TCP ports associated with respective specific users. The gateway server 10 limits an authenticated user's access to the corporate network 20, which access is performed by means of the tunnel connection provided by the gateway server 10, to the associated allowed TCP server ports.

The desire and possibility to use wireless terminals for accessing the Internet is expected to grow rapidly during the coming years. Such access will be greatly improved by the third generation (3G) mobile networks which the mobile network operators have introduced, or are about to introduce, around the world. Also, existing mobile networks have recently been upgraded with additional functionality to facilitate such access, for example GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) networks upgraded with GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) functionality.
At the same time, the number of employees wishing to use their wireless terminals to access resources of their company when they are outside of the office are continuously growing, especially with the introduction of more and more powerful wireless devices that provide functionality which make them suitable as a remote working tool.
The desire for wireless access to corporate network resources, together with the increasing possibilities for wireless access to the Internet, will increase the companies deployment of Virtual Private Networks (VPN) designed to provide clients with wireless access to company resources.
In general, a Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a concept which builds a secure, private communication infrastructure on top of a public network. The logical concept VPN tunnel replaces a private line and the tunnel may interconnect two corporate network sites, a so-called site-to-site VPN, or interconnect a remote user with a corporate network, a so-called remote access VPN.
In a remote access VPN a VPN gateway server typically interconnects the corporate network with the Internet. Thus, a user may use a dial-up Internet connection, provided by an Internet Service Provider, in order to connect to a corporate network through the VPN gateway server. Since the user connects over a public network, certain security measures need to be taken, typically encryption of the connection and authentication of the user. After the VPN gateway server successfully has authenticated a user over the encrypted connection between the client and the corporate VPN gateway, the user is provided with access to the corporate network over a so called secure VPN tunnel. Using the tunnel, the user is able to access different resources in the company network. Similarly, if the users use wireless client terminals having Internet access via a wireless network, secure VPN tunnels may be established between the wireless clients and a VPN gateway through the wireless network and the Internet, thereby enabling wireless remote access to a corporate network resources.
As stated, access to a corporate network over a secure VPN tunnel connection implies encryption of the connection and authentication of the accessing user. However, once the secure tunnel connection is established there are no user specific accessing rules within the tunnel. Instead, the tunnel enables a wireless client to use all TCP ports that are constantly opened for any authenticated accessing user.
To have constantly opened TCP ports within a secure tunnel connection for all authenticated users is not in line with the fact that many employees using wireless client terminals only need access to certain applications within a corporate network. Moreover, some employees may not even be authorized to access certain corporate applications. Therefore, it is desirable to provide a design which in a simple way enables a company to control to what extent wireless clients are allowed to access a corporate network within a secure VPN tunnel.


Axial piston fluid translating units commonly experience undesirable shaft deflections and barrel tilting during operation. A fluid translating unit includes a barrel plate interposed the end of a barrel and a porting surface defined within a housing thereof. The barrel plate is axially spaced from an end of the barrel and is in face sealing engagement with the porting surface. The barrel plate defines a plurality of fluid ports, each communicating between one of a plurality of barrel cylinder bores and the porting surface. In one aspect a plurality of counterbores are provided in the barrel in surrounding relation to the fluid ports. A plurality of seal rings having a sealing end defining an annular seal face of a predetermined width for face sealing engagement with the barrel plate. The seal rings are each disposed in one of the counterbores in circumferential sealing relation of a predetermined length which is no greater than the width of the sealing face. A plurality of annular springs are disposed in the counterbores for urging the seal rings into sealing engagement with the other of the barrel and the barrel plate. This arrangement permits tilting of the barrel without damaging contact or excessive leakage between the barrel plate and the porting surface.

It is common industry knowledge that the rotating barrel of an axial multiple piston fluid translating unit tends to move or tilt relative to a porting plate or a porting surface of the housing thereof. Such movement or tilting results from the pistons operating against an inclined cam plate as well as radial force components resulting from the pistons being in different planes.
Tilting of the barrel causes the barrel face to be inclined relative to the porting surface. This can result in undesirable fluid leakage and localized contact between the mating surfaces with resultant damage thereto.
These problems have been recognized in the prior art, and numerous solutions proposed therefor. Once such proposed solution is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,808,950. This patent discloses a pump barrel having a port plate rotatable therewith against a valve plate with a sleeve extending into counterbores in both the barrel and the port plate and a separate O-ring seal associated with each end of the sleeve and its respective counterbore. This system also includes separate washers disposed at each end of the sleeve in the respective counterbores to compress the O-ring seals and provide an axial thrust force urging the port plate into contact with the valve plate. This results in an unnecessarily complicated and expensive design requiring the providing of recesses at each end of the sleeve to receive the O-rings. It is also necessary to provide counterbores in both the piston barrel and the port plate rotatable therewith to receive the opposite ends of the sleeve and the seals. Additionally, it is necessary to provide washers in each of the counterbores at the opposite end of the sleeve to compress the O-rings and to provide a thrust force of the port plate against the valve plate. This system also provides undesirable stiffness in the relationship of the barrel to the port plate due to engagement of the sleeve with the counterbores in each of those elements and could result in tilting forces being transferred from the barrel to the port plate. Provision of sufficient clearance around the sleeve to avoid or minimize such tilting force transfer could result in failure of the seals due to extrusion of those seals into the annular clearance around the sleeve by the extremely high pressures encountered in a piston pump of this general type. It is therefore apparent that such a system is highly undesirable, not only from an economic standpoint but, also from the high risk that the system will not operate to provide the intended freedom and/or early failure of the system due to blowout of the seals.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,007,663 discloses another proposed solution to the problem of barrel tilting in a hydraulic translating unit. This patent teaches a system in which a flanged slipper pad includes a cylindrical end engaging each of the cylinder bores in the rotating barrel and a flanged end engaging a port plate secured to the housing or head of the pump or motor. An annular plate defines a series of openings therein telescoped over the flanged sleeves underneath said flanges and utilizes a series of springs between the annular plate and the end of the barrel for urging the flanged ends of the sleeves against the port plate for sealing purposes. Since the port plate is secured to the housing or head of the pump and the slipper pads are telescopically engaged in the outer ends of the cylinder bores in the barrel, rotation of the barrel may causes a tendency for the slipper pads to tilt in the cylinder bores which could cause leakage and undesirable contact of the slipper pads with the valve plate. This could also be further aggravated by tilting of the cylinder block. Due to the relatively lengthy engagement of the slipper pad with the cylinders, tilting of the cylinder block may cause further tilting of the slipper pads relative to the valve plate. This system is also complicated in that it involves many innerfitting small parts and therefore would be considered to be excessively expensive.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,481,867 discloses another proposed solution to the problem of the cylinder block tilting with the resultant undesirable effects. This patent teaches a seal plate disposed between the cylinder block and a valve plate for rotation with the barrel and in sliding contact with the valve plate. The plurality of cylinder bores in the cylinder block each contains a telescopically mounted bushing consisting of a thin-walled cylinder which can make tight contact with a inner wall surface of the bore as expanded in diameter by a high pressure liquid within the bore and the bushing. The other end of the bushing defines a flanged portion which is engaged against the seal plate and is urged into contact therewith by a compression coil spring and a plate positioned between the flanges of the bushings and the end surface of the cylinder block. This structure requires the provision of excessive space between the end of the barrel and the valve plate thus resulting in a larger overall unit and greater space requirements. The expansion of the bushings in the cylinder bores for sealing purposes could also severely restrict the ability of the bushings to move relative to the cylinder block thus creating undesirable motion of the bushings relative to the seal plate as the cylinder block tilts. This system would also be undesirably complicated and expensive to manufacture.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,201,117 teaches yet another proposed solution to the problem of barrel tilting relative to a porting surface within the pump or motor housing. In this system, a toroidal distributor, rotatable with the barrel, is disposed in sliding contact with a distribution flange. The toroidal distributor includes a series of spherical pockets on the side thereof facing the barrel for reception of the complimentary spherical ends of a plurality of cylindrical plugs telescopically engaging the cylinder bores in the pump barrel. The cylindrical plugs are secured to the toroidal distributor by thin-walled tubes extending through the openings therein and flanged at their opposite ends to retain the cylindrical plugs in sealing relation to the spherical surfaces of the toroidal distributor. The cylindrical plugs each define annular grooves around the outer periphery thereof for reception of sealing rings which engage the inner surface of the cylinder bores of the barrel. This system results in an undesirable length of engagement of the cylindrical plug within the cylinder bore which, unless adequate clearance is provided, may restrict motion of the barrel relative thereto, thus causing a disruption of the sealing relationship of the peripheral surfaces on the cylindrical plug and the toroidal distributor. This system is also undesirably complex and expensive to manufacture due to the various parts thereof and the required precision machining of the spherical sealing surfaces on both the cylindrical plugs and the toroidal distributor.
In view of the undesirable aspects of the above described prior art systems, it is highly desirable that means be provided for simply and effectively compensating for tipping of the barrel within an axial piston fluid translating unit without affecting or disrupting the close tolerance, running seal between the outer end of a barrel plate and the porting surface of such translating units. It is also desirable that the sealing means between the barrel and the barrel plate be axially compact to minimize the physical size of the fluid translating unit. It is also desirable that the length of the flow path from the end of the barrel to the porting plate be as short as possible to minimize the volume of fluid residing therein.
The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems as set forth above.

Axial piston fluid translating unit with sealed barrel plate


A method for manufacturing a semiconductor optical device includes: forming a laminated semiconductor structure of GaN-based materials on a semiconductor wafer, the laminated semiconductor structure forming a laser diode of GaN-based materials, including an active layer having a quantum well structure; cleaving the semiconductor wafer including the laminated semiconductor structure to expose a cleaved end face of the laminated semiconductor structure; and forming an SiO2 film on the cleaved end face and performing a heat treatment to cause Ga vacancy diffusion in the active layer to disorder the quantum well structure of the active layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a GaN-based semiconductor optical device, and more particularly to a method for manufacturing a GaN-based semiconductor optical device in which the waveguide has a window region formed in an end face thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, in order to enhance the recording density of optical discs, intense R&D effort has been carried out to develop semiconductor lasers capable of light emission in the blue to ultraviolet range. Such semiconductor lasers include GaN-based semiconductor lasers formed of a Group III-V nitride compound semiconductor such as AlGaInN, which are already in practical use.
These blue-violet laser diodes (hereinafter referred to as "blue-violet LDs") are formed by growing a compound semiconductor in crystal form on a GaN substrate.
A representative compound semiconductor is the Group III-V compound semiconductor, in which Group III and V elements are combined together. Mixed crystal III-V compound semiconductors having different compositions can be formed by bonding pluralities of Group III atoms and Group V atoms in different manners. Examples of GaN-based compound semiconductors used to form a blue-violet LD include GaN, GaPN, GaNAs, InGaN, and AlGaN.
As is known, GaN-based LDs are used as optical sources in next generation DVD drives (a type of optical disc drive). In order to increase the writing speed of these drives, it is important to increase the output power of the GaN-based LD used therein. One problem limiting the output power of LDs is catastrophic optical damage (COD), since it greatly affects the reliability of the LDs.
An effective method for preventing COD to an LD is to reduce the light absorption and temperature of its end face portions.
The end faces of an LD, unlike the inside of the LD, include a large number of dangling bonds (or broken covalent bonds), since these faces are formed by cleaving. Therefore, surface level, that is, surface energy states which trap carriers are present at the end faces of the LD and cause many nonradiative recombinations, i.e., recombinations of electrons and holes which do not contribute to light emission. Since carriers injected into the end face portions of an LD are lost due to nonradiative recombination, these portions have a lower effective density of injected carriers than the center portion of the length of the LD in the waveguide direction. As a result, the end face portions act as light absorbing regions and increase in temperature during the operation of the LD, since the absorbed light is transformed into heat energy. This results in a reduction in the bandgap, which causes these portions to further absorb light. This positive feedback (or vicious cycle between the temperature rise and the light absorption increase of the end face portions) may lead to a situation where the temperature of the end face portions exceed the melting point of their material resulting in melting of these portions and hence occurrence of COD. One method for preventing this is to form a window structure in each end face portion to increase its bandgap and thereby reduce or limit its light absorption.
Another method for preventing COD to an LD is to enhance the heat dissipation capability of the LD and thereby reduce its temperature.
Conventional LDs formed of GaAs-based, AlGaAs-based, InP-based, or AlGaInP-based material have a window structure formed in one or each end face thereof. Such a window structure is formed by disordering an end face portion of the active layer and thereby increasing its bandgap. That is, the formation of the window structure reduces or limits the light absorption of the end face portion.
A known conventional semiconductor laser device having a window structure is constructed as follows.
An n-Al0.6Ga0.4As lower cladding layer, an active layer region, and a p-Al0.6Ga0.4As upper cladding layer are sequentially formed on top of one another on an n-GaAs substrate. (The active layer region includes an undoped GaAs active layer.) Electrodes are then formed, and the wafer is cleaved to produce a Fabry-Perot resonator. An SiO2 film having a thickness of 2500 Å is then formed on the light emitting end face of the resonator and heat treated at 950° C. in a hydrogen atmosphere for 30 seconds by RTA (rapid thermal annealing) to disorder the active layer. This increases the energy gap of the active layer, thereby forming a window region therein. (See, e.g., JP-A-6-13703, paragraphs 0009 to 0014, FIG. 1.)
A known method for manufacturing a semiconductor laser device proceeds as follows. First, a laminated semiconductor structure, or multilayer structure, is formed on an n-type GaAs substrate. The laminated structure includes an n-type AlGaAs cladding layer, an active region including a GaAs quantum well layer, and a p-type AlGaAs cladding layer. Next, a mesa, or stripe, is formed by etching and then buried under an n-type GaAs layer to form a waveguide. The wafer is then cleaved in a direction perpendicular to the length of the stripe to produce a resonator having a length of approximately 500 μm. A silicon dioxide film is then formed on each end face of the semiconductor laser device structure (or resonator) and heated at 850° C. for 30 minutes to diffuse Si into the end face portions of the quantum well active region. This disorders and thereby transforms these end face portions into window structures having a wider effective bandgap than the undisordered center portion of the active region. (See, e.g., JP-A-6-104522, paragraph 0015, FIGS. 1 and 2.)
Another known method for manufacturing a semiconductor laser device proceeds as follows. First, a plurality of semiconductor laser devices are formed on an n-GaAs wafer. Next, the wafer is cleaved along crystal planes into laser bars each including a plurality of semiconductor laser devices arranged in a line. It should be noted that this cleaving forms the end faces of the resonators of these devices. A reflective film made up of an SiO2 film and an SiN film is then formed on the front end faces of the resonators. The reflective film of each laser bar is then lamp-annealed or laser-annealed in an RTA system to cause the excessive Si in the SiO2 film to diffuse into the front end face portions of the semiconductor laser devices. This causes the front end face portion of the MQW active layer to be intermixed with the Si, resulting in an increase in the bandgap of the MQW active layer and hence a decrease in its light absorption. (See, e.g., JP-A-9-92927, paragraphs 0024 to 0027, FIGS. 1 to 5.)
Further, there is a known technique of achieving selective quantum well intermixing in GaAs—AlGaAs structures by impurity-free vacancy diffusion. (See, e.g., Boon Siew Ooi et al., "Selective Quantum-Well Intermixing in GaAs—AlGaAs Structures Using Impurity-Free Vacancy Diffusion," IEEE JOURNAL OF QUANTUM ELECTRONICS, VOL, 33, NO. 10, 1997, pp. 1784-1793.)
GaAs, InP, and AlGaInP have relatively low heat conductivities of 0.55 W/cm*K, 0.68 W/cm*K, and 0.067 W/cm*K, respectively. On the other hand, GaN-based material, which is used to form a blue-violet LD, has a high heat conductivity, as compared to GaAs-based, InP-based, and AlGaInP-based materials. For example, GaN has a heat conductivity of 2 W/cm*K. Therefore, blue-violet LDs are less likely to suffer from COD than LDs formed of GaAs-based, InP-based, or AlGaInP-based material, and conventional blue-violet LDs do not have a window structure formed therein.
However, since the end faces of the resonator of a blue-violet LD are also formed by cleaving, surface level exists at these end faces, as in the case of a red LD. It should be noted that there is a need to increase the output power of blue-violet LDs including those used as writing LDs in DVD drives. Increasing the output power of blue-violet LDs will result in a situation where the problem of COD can no longer be ignored. This means that blue-violet LDs also need to have a window structure to achieve high output power.
However, although Zn, Si, etc. can be used as impurities to form a window structure in LDs of GaAs-based material (having an oscillation wavelength of 780 nm) and in LDs of AlGaInP-based material (having an oscillation wavelength of 660 nm), they cannot be used to form an effective window structure in LDs of GaN-based material (having an oscillation wavelength of 405 nm) since the light absorption of the end faces will increase.

Method for manufacturing semiconductor optical device


This disclosure provides a pixel structure of inorganic light emitting diode. A first power line is disposed between two adjacent first sub-pixel and second sub-pixel, and the first sub-pixel and second sub-pixel are electrically connected to the same first power line. Also, a first reference line is disposed on an opposite side of the first sub-pixel away from the second sub-pixel, and a second reference line is disposed on an opposite side of the second sub-pixel away from the first sub-pixel. The first sub-pixel and the second sub-pixel have substantially the same length.

1. Field of the Disclosure
The disclosure relates to a pixel structure of inorganic light emitting diode, and more particularly, to a pixel structure of inorganic light emitting diode including uniformly spaced sub pixels.
2. Description of the Background
In recent years, with the progress of semiconductor and related technologies, electronic products, such as personal digital assistants (PDA), mobile phones, smart phones and notebook (NB) are getting popular, and the trend of design is focused on providing these electronic products with facilitation, multi-functions and aesthetic. As the demands for those electronic products are increased daily, the display screen/panel, which plays an important role in those electronic products, has become the primary objective to designers in this field. However, in addition to achieve high brightness and low power consumption, it is more desirable to significantly overcome the disadvantages of the display screen/panel, including low uniformity of light, yield and reliability.


Methods and systems are provided for generating vendor declaration requests in a trade preference processing context. In one implementation, an electronic database is utilized that contains at least one of purchase order data sets and goods receipt data sets that include information about vendors and about goods purchased from the vendors. The electronic database may be accessed to assemble a worklist from the information included in the data sets. The worklist may define a plurality of processing packages associated with individual vendors and indicate the goods purchased from the vendors. The processing packages on the worklist may then be processed in a batch process to generate the vendor declaration requests.

International trade has grown at an astounding rate over the last few decades. Among the reasons for this growth are globalization, economic liberalization in developing countries, increased mergers and acquisitions, and regional trade agreements like the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) or the European Union (EU).
As a consequence of the growth in international trade, both businesses and governments around the world are seeking ways to take advantage of the opportunities in international trade. However, with multiple parties involved in each cross-border transaction, complicated tariffs and duties, extensive documentation requirements, and fast-changing legal regulations that shift with each new locality, international trade presents a host of both business chances and business-oriented technological challenges.
While companies are under intense competitive pressure to minimize costs and to reduce cycle times, product sourcing is going global and represents one of the driving forces behind international trade. The increased reliance on global sourcing introduces additional pressure to implement automated systems that provide efficiency for diverse import-export scenarios. In other words, to remain increasingly competitive, companies need to replace manual, time-consuming approaches with automated processes.
One field that permits a higher degree of automation is trade preference processing. Trade preferences are measures that grant preferential customs treatment for goods from certain countries and geographical areas. Trade preferences are of benefit to both the importing and exporting economies. As to imports, trade preferences lower import costs by taking advantage of reduced or zero import duties. As to exports, trade preferences increase the competitiveness because the customer has to pay lower-or no-customs duties.
When goods are exported in an exemplary scenario from a member state of NAFTA to the EU, the EU grants trade preferences in the form of reduced customs duties if the exporter can demonstrate that the goods originate from the NAFTA region. Vice versa, NAFTA grants reduced import duties for imports from the EU if the imported goods are recognized as originating from the EU. As a consequence of trade preferences, companies need to determine and certify the origin of their goods.
While the origin of "simple" goods such as raw materials is rather easy to establish, this is not the case for complex goods like cars or industrial equipment. Such complex goods consist of a large number of individual parts delivered from various vendors (or plants) and thus have different origins. In order to determine whether goods consisting of individual parts are eligible for trade preferences or not, one has to take a look at the origin of each individual part. Generally speaking, goods composed of parts that mainly originate from the EU will be eligible for trade preferences when importing them from the EU into the NAFTA region, whereas goods composed of parts that mainly originate from non-EU countries will not be eligible for such a preferential treatment.
To determine the origin of the individual parts constituting a complex good that is to be exported, the manufacturer of the complex good requests so-called vendor declarations from his vendors that deliver the individual parts. A vendor declaration is a certificate that basically confirms that one or more parts delivered by a particular vendor are originating from a particular region (or, in the alternative, that the parts do not originate from this region) such as the EU. By collecting, aggregating, and evaluating the aggregated vendor declarations received for the individual parts of a complex good, the manufacturer of the complex good can determine whether or not the complex good will be eligible for trade preferences.
For manufacturers of complex goods, the generation of vendor declaration requests is a cumbersome task that often still requires many manual interactions and therefore becomes error-prone. Furthermore, problems result from the fact that larger companies purchase hundreds of thousands of different materials from thousands of different vendors. In principle, a vendor declaration is required for each individual material so that the data to be processed in connection with the generation of vendor declaration requests is immense. The problems resulting from the necessity of mass data handling associated with the generation of vendor declaration request are still aggravated by the fact that in most companies, vendor declarations requests have to be generated at a particular point in time (often once a year when requested from the local customs authority).
There currently exists no satisfactory solution to the mass data handling problems that arise in connection with the generation of vendor declaration requests in larger companies. Existing software and hardware solutions suffer from time out errors, buffer overflows and similar problems.
Accordingly, there is a need for a technique for mass data handling in a preference processing context and, in particular, as far as the generation of vendor declaration requests is concerned.

Methods and systems for mass data handling in a preference processing context


A shoe having an upper, a sole and an adjustable heel including a first heel member connected to the sole at a rear portion thereof and a second heel member arranged at least partially within the first heel member. The second heel member is movable relative to the first member between a first position in which the first and second heel members provide the heel with a first height and a second position in which the first and second heel members provide the heel with a second height greater than the first height. In the first position of the second heel member, the second heel member is arranged partially within the first heel member whereas in the second position of the second heel member, the second heel member is arranged below the first heel member.

Currently available high-heel shoes for women have a relatively large heel which is fixed to the sole and has a single, predetermined height. This fact has some significant disadvantages for the wearer. In particular, individuals wearing high-heel shoes often experience fatigue or discomfort in their feet because the high heel requires the foot to be bent into an unnatural position. It is also known that prolonged wearing of high-heel shoes can lead to more serious foot problems. Furthermore, some women prefer to wear shoes with relatively low heels at one time of the day, for example, while commuting to work, and then change to shoes with relatively high heels while at work and again back to the shoes with low heels after work.
In order to relieve foot fatigue or discomfort, prevent the development of foot problems or meet personal preferences, a woman is therefore compelled to change from shoes having a relatively high heel to another pair of shoes with a different, lower heel height. It is inconvenient to carry another such pair of shoes and the process of changing shoes is very time consuming.

Adjustable heel assembly and shoe including the same


The medical condition information storage unit contains the information related to the predetermined medical condition and the symptoms of the medical condition. The contact information storage unit contains the contact information related to the level of urgency. The screen configuration data storage unit contains the information related to the patient's communication device based on the level of urgency. The symptoms of a particular medical condition and the measures to cope with the symptoms are selected based on the level of urgency of the patient's medical condition. Accordingly, the screen configuration data of the patient's communication device is generated.

There have been many inventions in the past relating to sending emergency signals when a person is feeling unwell. The communication device in which a button is provided next to the receiver of a telephone and the toting-type communication device such as the emergency wireless pendant hung around the neck when the person is traveling outside and the like are a few examples of such devices.
The main feature of the communication device is to convey an urgent medical situation to some specific person (contact person), such as a doctor in charge, when a button in the communication device is pressed. There are also devices that patients can carry on their person and that detects any physical abnormality by sensors through any change in the heartbeat or breathing pattern. When a sensor in this device detects any abnormality in the patient, the device sends out a beeping sound or flashing light that can be perceived by a third person located near the patient.
In the conventional communication device, there is no provision to determine the operational steps and the contact person. Hence, even if there is no actual emergency condition, the registered contact destination such the patent's home, the patent's family doctor etc. is informed of the patient's medical condition on click of a button.
Some communication devices have many buttons, each corresponding to one contact. Even in such communication devices, there is no screen configuration and design regarded for the symptom or the illness of the patient. The operation ability of the communication device is bad as the communication of the illness or the symptoms of the patient is not performed. The reason of the inefficient operation of the communication device can be attributed to the pressing of the wrong button.
In the type of communication device provided with sensors, even if the patient uses the device under normal conditions, pressure is exerted on the device based on the patient's posture and condition. This becomes a reason for conveying a wrong communication about the condition of the patient.
An object of the present invention is to provide a convenient communication device and system in which the operational contents of the communication device used by patients can be set based on the medical condition or the symptoms of the patient.

System and program for providing medical support