Embodiments of the present invention provide for systems, apparatuses, and methods for collaborative watershed restoration projects, which may include one or more restoration actions involving a variety of different stakeholders that, when completed, provides a positive contribution to the ecological health of at least one watershed. The identified restoration actions may be a comprehensive list of actions recognized as addressing limiting factors that may exist in a watershed. Ecological outcomes may drive stakeholder involvement in collaborative watershed restoration projects. While the system provides transparency to the projects that are being funded, stakeholder confidence may benefit from additional assurances provided through a certification that the projects are satisfactorily completed.

Healthy freshwater ecosystems across the globe are disappearing at an alarming and dangerous rate. Increasing pressures are continually asserted upon these already stressed and damaged ecosystems. Much of this loss, at least in the United States, occurs on privately owned lands. While public and private funding exists to assist private landowners (PLOs) in restoring these ecosystems, the bureaucracy and direct costs associated with accessing this assistance creates a strong disincentive to action. Furthermore, watershed restoration projects typically take specialized knowledge to conceive, design, implement, and certify. These hurdles may be, or may appear to be, insurmountable for a large number of PLOs. As a result, many otherwise viable restoration projects go undone.

System, method, and apparatus for collaborative watershed restoration projects


The present invention is directed to a method for production of alkylene oxide polymers comprising reacting an alkylene oxide in an inert hydrocarbon solvent in the presence of a catalyst. The method of the present invention offers alkylene oxide polymers with a great commercial value and a high degree of polymerization which can be produced industrially advantageously with high reproducibility by the use of a catalyst obtained by a simple procedure of applying heat treatment to the product obtained by reacting an organic zinc compound with particular aliphatic polyhydric alcohol and monohydric alcohol.

Generally, the commercial value of alkylene oxide polymers increases with the degree of polymerization. For example, when an ethylene oxide polymer as described above is used as a pulp dispersant for paper manufacturing, the optimum amount of its use varies depending on the molecular weight thereof. Because the effect generally increases as the molecular weight of the polymer increases, a polymer with higher degree of polymerization makes it possible to accomplish the object with a smaller amount when compared to a polymer with lower degree of polymerization. In other words, the use of a polymer with low molecular weight is uneconomical because it results in an increase in the amount of a polymer used, and it is also undesirable for paper manufacturing because it worsens the homogeneity of paper surface. On the other hand, the use of a polymer with high degree of polymerization as a thickener offers not only the excellent viscosity increasing effect with a smaller amount of use but also a great viscosity increasing effect which cannot be achieved by a polymer with low degree of polymerization, because an increase of the degree of polymerization results in a rapid rise of aqueous solution viscosity.
For these reasons, a development of a novel method which permits industrially reproducible manufacturing of alkylene oxide polymers with higher degree of polymerization is in demand in the relevant field.
A large number of studies have been made on the polymerization of alkylene oxides, particularly on ethylene oxide and propylene oxide. For example, it is known that the product obtained by reacting an organic zinc compound with a polyhydric alcohol and further reacting the reaction product with a monohydric alcohol, or the product obtained by reacting an organic zinc compound with a monohydric alcohol and further reacting the reaction product with a polyhydric alcohol (Japanese Patent Examined Publication Nos. 7751/1970 and 27319/1978) exhibits excellent catalytic activity on alkylene oxide homopolymerization or copolymerization of two or more alkylene oxides so that a polymer with a high degree of polymerization can be obtained.
It has been pointed out, however, that these methods are faulty, i.e., industrially advantageous production cannot be achieved, because the reproducibility of polymerization velocity, the degree of polymerization of the polymer obtained, etc., are poor. Further, its yield is insufficient and the polymerization product becomes lumpy. Moreover, even the degree of polymerization remains unsatisfactory. Alternatively, it has been attempted in another method to obtain a polymer with high reproducibility by using as a catalyst the product obtained by reacting an organic zinc compound and a polyhydric alcohol (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 232433/1987) in contact with various fine granular metal oxides and nonionic surfactants as dispersion aids. However, this method has been pointed out to have difficulty in the catalyst preparation.

Method for production of alkylene oxide polymers


Provided is a liquid crystal display device, including: a first substrate and a second substrate. On the second substrate, a plurality of gate signal lines, a plurality of data signal lines, a plurality of pixel electrodes provided correspondingly to a plurality of pixels, and a common electrode provided so as to be opposed to the pixel electrodes are formed. An interline pitch of the gate signal lines is smaller than an interline pitch of the data signal lines. In each of the pixels, the pixel electrode overlaps, in plan view, gate signal lines adjacent to the pixel electrode.

An IPS liquid crystal display device (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2012-113090) includes, on at least one of a pair of substrates arranged so as to be opposed to each other via liquid crystal, a pixel electrode and a common electrode in each pixel region on the liquid crystal side. In this configuration, an electric field in a direction parallel to the substrate (lateral electric field) is generated between the pixel electrode and the common electrode so that the lateral electric field is applied to the liquid crystal to drive the liquid crystal. In this manner, the amount of light passing through the region between the pixel electrode and the common electrode is controlled to display an image. The IPS liquid crystal display device has an advantage in that display change is small even when the device is viewed from a direction oblique to a display surface, that is, the device is excellent in so-called wide viewing angle characteristics.

Liquid crystal display device and manufacturing method thereof

PANASONIC LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY CO., LTD.


An acoustic wave detector includes: a transducer; and a light reflecting member which is positioned between the transducer and a subject surface that is irradiated with the light, and which reflects scattered light on the subject surface. The light reflecting member includes a first reflecting surface and a second reflecting surface positioned closer to the transducer than the first reflecting surface, and a distance between the first reflecting surface and the second reflecting surface is an odd multiple of a half wavelength of a predetermined wavelength included in an acoustic wave generated from the light reflecting member by the scattered light.

Photoacoustic tomography (PAT) for determining an optical property distribution of a subject such as a tissue with a high resolution by making use of a characteristic of an acoustic wave whereby less scattering occurs in the subject than with light has been proposed in recent years (see NPL1). When the tissue is irradiated with pulsed light from a light source, the light propagates while diffusing through the tissue. A light absorber contained in the tissue absorbs energy from the propagating pulsed light, and as a result, an acoustic wave (typically an ultrasonic wave) is generated (this phenomenon may be referred to as a photoacoustic effect). When the acoustic wave is detected (received) by an acoustic wave detector such as an ultrasonic probe, an acoustic wave signal serving as an electric signal is obtained. By analyzing the acoustic wave signal, an optical property distribution in the tissue, and in particular an optical energy absorption density distribution, can be obtained.
According to NPL1, a sound pressure (P) of an ultrasonic wave obtained from a light absorber in a tissue in PAT can be expressed by the following equation.P=Γ·μa·Φ  [Math. 1]
Γ is a Grüneisen coefficient serving as an elasticity property, which is obtained by dividing the product of the square of a coefficient of cubic expansion (β) and acoustic velocity (c) by a specific heat (Cp) (Γ=βc2/Cp).
μa is an absorption coefficient of the light absorber.
Φ is a local fluence (an amount of light entering the light absorber) in a local region.
The sound pressure of the acoustic wave obtained during PAT is commensurate with the local fluence reaching the light absorber. The light entering the tissue attenuates rapidly within the tissue due to scattering and absorption, and therefore the sound pressure of the acoustic wave generated in deep tissue in the tissue attenuates greatly in accordance with a distance from a light irradiation site.
A backward detection method in which the acoustic wave is detected by emitting light from the same side as the detector and a forward detection method in which the acoustic wave is detected by emitting light from the opposite side to the detector are known as acoustic wave detection methods. In backward detection type PAT, a method in which light is emitted diagonally from a flank of an acoustic wave detector so that the light is emitted effectively onto the back of the acoustic wave detector has been proposed (see NPL2). A main object of this literature is to irradiate a specific site of a tissue with light by disposing a mirror or a lens on the flank of the acoustic wave detector.
When backscattered light on the surface of the tissue enters the ultrasonic wave detector in backward detection type PAT, an ultrasonic wave generated by this light on a surface of the ultrasonic wave detector causes noise. To suppress this noise, a metal film (an aluminum coated plastic film) for reflecting scattered light is provided in front of the acoustic wave detector in NPL2.
Further, PTL1 discloses an example of an ultrasonic probe used in an ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus for obtaining an ultrasonic echo image, in which a metal having surface irregularities is provided on a front surface of the ultrasonic probe as an impedance matching layer. In this example, an average thickness of the impedance matching layer is preferably set at ¼ of a wavelength of the ultrasonic wave and a thickness of the irregularities is preferably set at +⅛, −⅛ of the wavelength of the ultrasonic wave. Note, however, that the metal layer is provided with the aim of widening a bandwidth of the ultrasonic probe and not reflecting scattered light.

Acoustic wave detector and acoustic wave measurement apparatus


An apparatus and method for monitoring and controlling a backup power source and one or more critical loads powered thereby is disclosed. The apparatus is constructed in the form of an electrical distribution panel that includes electronic systems for monitoring the current to the critical loads. In the event of an overcurrent condition on one or more critical load circuits, the system is able to disable power flow to the offending circuit so as to protect the remaining critical load circuits and the backup power source. The system is also provided with a means for communicating status information about the system to a remote user.

In various applications certain electrical loads are critical to the mission of the facility. To illustrate, in the case of retail establishments, an example of such critical loads are the network of computers that provide for the retailers point of sale (POS) system. Other types of facilities such as industrial production facilities or hospitals have other types of critical loads. To minimize the disruption to the operation of such facilities as a result of the failure of the utility electrical system, the critical loads are typically provided with backup power sources.
Examples of such backup power sources may include a standby generator or uninterruptible power supply (UPS), although other systems—such as motor-generator sets—may also be used. Additionally, such backup power sources may be used in conjunction with one another. For instance, a UPS may be used to provide power continuity for a load that cannot be disrupted at all. The UPS may then be backed up by a standby generator, which can provide power through a longer duration outage of the utility power system.
Problems have been observed in such installations in that various users of such facilities may inadvertently compromise the backup power system. Although new systems are started up in an optimal state contemplated by the facility design engineers, over time it is likely that the overall critical electrical system will change without regard for the critical equipment. For example, beverage machines may be added to the facility and plugged into UPS outlets because the connection was easy and did not require an electrician. Space heaters may be added to cash register areas during cold weather. Floor buffers may be plugged into critical circuits during maintenance routines.
When unnecessary equipment is installed on critical circuits, the overall impact of any single device being placed on the system may be considered non-invasive, but the additive effect of the overloads can jeopardize the operation of all equipment, including the critical loads, if the UPS system is overloaded. Unexpected loads can also lessen battery run time in the event of a power outage. Ultimately, these situations result in interrupted operations that result in revenue losses for the facility.
In addition to protection of the critical electrical system, it is also frequently desirable for a facility operator to be able to collect information about a number of separate facilities at a single location, for example an operations center. At present, there is no system available that allows for monitoring and protection of a number of critical electrical systems at a single location or for monitoring a single system at various locations, thus providing additional impetus for the system described herein.
The present invention is, therefore, directed to overcoming or at least reducing the effects of one or more of the problems set forth above.

Apparatus and method for protecting an uninterruptible power supply and critical loads connected thereto


An apparatus for illuminating footwear includes a circuit combining a switch having a resilient spring and a light sensitive switch.

The present invention generally relates to apparatus for illuminating footwear and more particularly to a circuit for illuminating footwear which includes a circuit combining a switch having a resilient spring and a light sensitive switch.
Apparatus for illuminating footwear are well known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,848,009, "Flashing Footwear" discloses an article of footwear including a battery and a light source and a motion responsive switch to intermittently connect the battery to the light source. The light source is preferable an LED and there is preferably a circuit to extinguish the light after a predetermined interval. The article includes neither a resilient spring nor light sensitive switch, either alone or in combination.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,264,794, "Illuminated Footwear with Acceleration Responsive Random Output Selection" discloses a shoe including a switch having a fixed end for connection to one side of a battery and a movable end for contacting one of a plurality of selectable conducting members each connected to a separate terminal of a sub-circuit. Each sub-circuit contains a source of light or sound with a common terminal at the opposite end from the separate terminal and connected to the other side of the battery. The switch movable end moves substantially randomly or in random patterns under inertia to contact a conducting member to complete a sub-circuit. The shoe includes neither a resilient spring nor light sensitive switch, either alone or in combination
As can be seen, there is a need for a circuit for illuminating footwear which includes a circuit combining a switch having a resilient spring and light sensitive switch.


A resistance system for an exercise device may include: a drive shaft configured to be operably connected to a movable part of an exercise device such that movement of the movable part causes the drive shaft to rotate; and a resistance source operably connected with the drive shaft and configured to resist rotation of the drive shaft. An exercise device may include: a drive shaft rotatably supported by a frame; a resistance source operably connected with the drive shaft and configured to resist rotation of the drive shaft; and first and second treadle assemblies pivotally connected with the frame and including respective moving surfaces. In such an exercise device, the first treadle assembly and the second treadle assembly may be operably connected with the drive shaft such that pivotal movement of the first treadle assembly and pivotal movement of the second treadle assembly cause the drive shaft to rotate.

The health benefits of regular exercise are well known. Many different types of exercise equipment have been developed over time with success, to facilitate exercise. Examples of successful classes of exercise equipment include the treadmill and stair climbing machine. A conventional treadmill typically includes a continuous belt providing a moving surface that a user may walk, jog, or run on. A conventional stair climbing machine typically includes a pair of links adapted to pivot up and down providing a pair of surfaces or pedals that user may stand on and press up and down to simulate walking up a flight of stairs.

Resistance system for an exercise device


A method of measuring a bevel angle in a write pole comprises the step of providing a mask over a wafer containing the write pole. The mask has a first opening over the write pole and a second opening over a sacrificial region of the wafer. The sacrificial region comprises a same material as the write pole. The method further comprises the steps of performing a beveling operation on the write pole and the sacrificial region to form a first bevel in the write pole and a second bevel in the sacrificial region, and measuring an angle of the second bevel in the sacrificial region to determine the bevel angle of the write pole.

Hard disk drives include one or more rigid disks, which are coated with a magnetic recording medium in which data can be stored. Hard disk drives further include read and write heads for interacting with the data in the magnetic recording medium. The write head includes an inductive element for generating a magnetic field that aligns the magnetic moments of domains in the magnetic recording medium to represent bits of data.
Magnetic recording techniques include both longitudinal and perpendicular recording. Perpendicular magnetic recording ("PMR") is a form of magnetic recording in which the magnetic moments representing bits of data are oriented perpendicularly to the surface of the magnetic recording medium, as opposed to longitudinally along a track thereof. PMR enjoys a number of advantages over longitudinal recording, such as significantly higher areal density recording capability.
Some PMR write poles are provided with a bevel near the air bearing surface, which allows the majority of the write pole to have a large thickness while providing a desirable thin pole tip. Forming such a bevel in a PMR write pole presents numerous manufacturing challenges, as does the accurate determination of the bevel angle produced by various fabrication processes. Because a PMR write pole is very small (e.g., frequently having a track width of less than 100 nm), the direct measurement of the angle thereof is painstakingly difficult and frequently unreliable.

Method of measuring a bevel angle in a write head


The present invention provides methods and systems for mitigating polarization changes associated with an optical communication signal caused by mechanical disturbances to an optical fiber dispersion compensation module of an optical communication network. The methods include disposing a first damping material between an optical fiber and a housing associated with the optical fiber dispersion compensation module; wherein the first damping material is selected and positioned such that it mitigates relatively fast polarization changes. Optionally, the methods also include disposing a second damping material between the optical fiber and the housing associated with the optical fiber dispersion compensation module; wherein the second damping material is selected and positioned such that it mitigates relatively slow polarization changes. Thus, frequency range specific optical fiber dispersion compensation module mechanical perturbation isolation methods and systems are provided.

Polarization mode dispersion (PMD) is a physical effect caused by the inherent birefringence of optical materials. In optical fibers, this inherent birefringence is induced by several factors, including manufacturing imperfections and stresses, microbends, and the like. As a result of the PMD associated with the optical fibers and other components of an optical communications network, the transmission data rate for a given link length is limited. Projects aimed at controlling the PMD associated with optical links are being undertaken at laboratories around the world. For example, polarization mode dispersion compensators (PMDCs) and the like are being developed.
In order to compensate for the effects of PMD, the polarization behavior of the signal must be dynamically tracked as a function of the environmental conditions of the various components that make up an optical link. The dynamic aspects present impose stringent time response requirements onto the control hardware and algorithms. DCMs are one critical component that can induce rapid polarization changes. These modules are passive in nature and are made of a special type of optical fiber, namely dispersion compensation fiber (DCF). Typically, DCF is packaged inside a DCM with little or no attention to the resulting polarization changes that can occur during a shock or vibration. All conventional optical fiber DCMs suffer from this lack of polarization control.
There are many sources of polarization changes in an optical fiber transmission system. These polarization changes can be on the order of ˜0.2π/sec to ˜10,000π/sec, depending upon the shake, bang, etc. that is encountered. The polarization control hardware and algorithms utilized must be specified to deal with the fastest potential transient encountered, and DCM induced transients have been shown to be at least 10× faster than the next fastest transients. Thus, eliminating polarization changes due to DCMs would allow a corresponding 10× reduction in the required control hardware and algorithm demands. This reduction would translate into reduced cost, reduced power consumption, etc.

Methods and systems for eliminating deleterious polarization effects in an optical fiber dispersion compensation module


Disclosed is a device manufacturing method, and accompanying inspection and lithographic apparatuses. The method comprises measuring on the substrate a property such as asymmetry of a first overlay marker and measuring on the substrate a property such as asymmetry of an alignment marker. In both cases the asymmetry is determined. The position of the alignment marker on the substrate is then determined using an alignment system and the asymmetry information of the alignment marker and the substrate aligned using this measured position. A second overlay marker is then printed on the substrate; and a lateral overlay measured on the substrate of the second overlay marker with respect to the first overlay marker using the determined asymmetry information of the first overlay marker.

A lithographic apparatus is a machine that applies a desired pattern onto a substrate, usually onto a target portion of the substrate. A lithographic apparatus can be used, for example, in the manufacture of integrated circuits (ICs). In that instance, a patterning device, which is alternatively referred to as a mask or a reticle, may be used to generate a circuit pattern to be formed on an individual layer of the IC. This pattern can be transferred onto a target portion (e.g., comprising part of, one, or several dies) on a substrate (e.g., a silicon wafer). Transfer of the pattern is typically via imaging onto a layer of radiation-sensitive material (resist) provided on the substrate. In general, a single substrate will contain a network of adjacent target portions that are successively patterned. Known lithographic apparatus include so-called steppers, in which each target portion is irradiated by exposing an entire pattern onto the target portion at one time, and so-called scanners, in which each target portion is irradiated by scanning the pattern through a radiation beam in a given direction (the "scanning"-direction) while synchronously scanning the substrate parallel or anti-parallel to this direction. It is also possible to transfer the pattern from the patterning device to the substrate by imprinting the pattern onto the substrate.
In order to monitor the lithographic process, parameters of the patterned substrate are measured. Parameters may include, for example, the overlay error between successive layers formed in or on the patterned substrate and critical linewidth of developed photosensitive resist. This measurement may be performed on a product substrate and/or on a dedicated metrology target. There are various techniques for making measurements of the microscopic structures formed in lithographic processes, including the use of scanning electron microscopes and various specialized tools. A fast and non-invasive form of specialized inspection tool is a scatterometer in which a beam of radiation is directed onto a target on the surface of the substrate and properties of the scattered or reflected beam are measured. By comparing the properties of the beam before and after it has been reflected or scattered by the substrate, the properties of the substrate can be determined. This can be done, for example, by comparing the reflected beam with data stored in a library of known measurements associated with known substrate properties. Two main types of scatterometer are known. Spectroscopic scatterometers direct a broadband radiation beam onto the substrate and measure the spectrum (intensity as a function of wavelength) of the radiation scattered into a particular narrow angular range. Angularly resolved scatterometers use a monochromatic radiation beam and measure the intensity of the scattered radiation as a function of angle.
Devices are built up layer by layer and overlay is a measure of a lithographic apparatus' ability to print these layers accurately on top of each other. Successive layers or multiple processes on the same layer must be accurately aligned to the previous layer, otherwise electrical contact between structures will be poor and the resulting devices will not perform to specification. Overlay is a measure of the accuracy of this alignment. Good overlay improves device yield and enables smaller product patterns to be printed. The overlay error between successive layers formed in or on the patterned substrate is controlled by various parts of the exposure apparatus (of the lithographic apparatus). It is mostly the alignment system of the lithographic apparatus that is responsible for the alignment of the radiation onto the correct portions of the substrate. The alignment system uses one or more alignment gratings (or other structures) on the wafer in order to perform this alignment.
Overlay may be measured using an "image-based" (box-in-box) technique or Diffraction-Based Overlay (DBO) metrology. DBO is an emerging metrology technique used because of its superb TMU (Total Measurement Uncertainty) compared to "image-based" techniques. In the "image-based" case, overlay may be derived from a measurement of the position of a resist marker pattern relative to a marker pattern in an earlier formed product layer. In the DBO case, overlay is indirectly measured, for example by detecting variations in diffracted intensities of two overlapping periodic structures such as a top resist grating stacked over a product layer grating.
However, a problem is that the alignment grating and the overlay grating in the product layer can become asymmetric due to processing effects. The alignment grating asymmetry produces a significant alignment measurement error, resulting in increased overlay error. Similarly, the overlay grating asymmetry (which is not directly measurable with known DBO techniques) introduces an overlay measurement error that can also be quite significant (nm's). It is important to note that this error does not show up in TMU measurements: one can have excellent TMU (much less than 1 nm) and still have large overlay errors due to grating asymmetry. In the "image-based" case, the asymmetry of the product layer pattern may also introduce an overlay measurement error.
In addition to the above, it can also be shown that that alignment gratings and overlay gratings deform differently, which therefore result in different errors in, respectively, alignment and overlay metrology.

Device manufacturing method and associated lithographic apparatus, inspection apparatus, and lithographic processing cell


A new and distinct cultivar of Aloe plant named ‘SIDEWINDER’ is disclosed, characterized by an open star shape, white, green and pink leaves, and light red flowers. The new variety is an Aloe, typically produced as a garden or container plant.

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program. The seed parent is the unpatented Aloe 'Sunrise'. The pollen parent is the unpatented Aloe 'Delta Lights' x 'Neon Lights'. The crossing was made in December 2015 at a commercial greenhouse in Vista, Calif. 'SIDEWINDER' was found and selected by the inventor in May 2017 at the same greenhouse in Vista, Calif.
Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar 'SIDEWINDER' was first performed by tissue culture at a commercial laboratory in Vista, Calif. in July 2017. 'SIDEWINDER' has since produced several generations and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.


The present invention relates to an exhaust system for an internal combustion engine, having an exhaust line for removing exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine and having a secondary fuel supply for introducing secondary fuel into the exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine. To improve the introduction of the secondary fuel into the exhaust, a recirculation device is connected to the exhaust line and to the secondary fuel supply so that the introduction of secondary fuel into the exhaust is accomplished via or through the recirculation device. The recirculation device has a circulation space which receives an exhaust substream from the exhaust line in which the secondary fuel is introduced into the exhaust substream and from which the modified exhaust substream is returned to the exhaust line.

A modern exhaust system includes an exhaust line which removes the exhaust from the internal combustion engine and is used to after-treat the exhaust gases, in particular to clean them. For example, an exhaust system in an exhaust line may include a particle filter which filters out the particles, preferably soot particles, that are entrained in the exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine, in particular a diesel engine, and incorporates them. Such a particle filter must be regenerated at certain intervals in time to prevent an excessive increase in backpressure in the flow through the particle filter. Such regeneration can be initiated by a short-term increase in temperature in the exhaust gas. The exhaust gas temperatures occurring in normal operation of an internal combustion engine are not sufficient for this, however. Accordingly, additional measures must be taken to raise the exhaust temperature accordingly. One possibility for raising the temperature in the exhaust is to introduce secondary fuel into the exhaust. This secondary fuel can then react with the residual oxygen contained in the lean exhaust, resulting in the desired increase in temperature. To support the oxidation of the secondary fuel, an oxidation catalyst may be arranged in the exhaust line upstream from the particle filter. It is likewise possible to design the particle filter itself to be catalytically active.
The situation is also similar for an NOx storage catalyst which may be arranged in the exhaust line in addition to or as an alternative to the particle filter to remove nitrogen oxides from the exhaust gases. An NOx storage catalyst must also be regenerated occasionally, to which end a reducing atmosphere is needed in the exhaust gas.
One problem with the introduction of secondary fuel into the exhaust is the fact that the secondary fuel must be present in vapor form to achieve the most complete possible oxidation. However, adequate vaporization of the secondary fuel injected into the exhaust line cannot be guaranteed at low exhaust temperatures.
The present invention is concerned with the problem of providing an improved embodiment or at least a different embodiment for an exhaust system of the type defined above such that the evaporation of the secondary fuel supplied to the exhaust in particular is improved even at low exhaust temperatures.

Exhaust system for an internal combustion engine


The present disclosure provides a method and apparatus for encoding and decoding a video. In particular, the apparatus for encoding a video includes an offset calculator to calculate an offset between pixels of neighboring blocks corresponding to an intra prediction direction; and a prediction unit to adaptively perform an intra prediction on a current block in consideration of the calculated offset so as to generate a predicted block, and to intra-predictively encode the current block.

The statements in this section merely provide background information with relation to the present disclosure and may not constitute the prior art.
H.264/AVC is a standard for video codec with the best compression rate among the present standardized video CODECs. In the H.264/AVC standard, a video is predictably encoded using directional intra prediction, integer transform by 4×4 pixel, block mode with various sizes from 16×16 pixel block to 4×4 pixel block, deblocking filter, and the like in order to increase compression efficiency.
In High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC), which is recently being standardized, intra predictions are carried out on blocks of sizes 4×4 to 16×16 and beyond in order to attain more efficient results than H.264/AVC. As shown in FIG. 1, the intra prediction can be performed in consideration of the maximum of thirty-four directions to predict a current block ever more precisely.
The known intra prediction methods perform a unidirectional prediction. The inventor(s) has, however, noted that where the current block has a significantly small size or only one feature, using information on a plurality of neighboring (or surrounding) pixels might increase the efficiency of predicting the current block. The inventor(s) has, however, experienced that in the known intra prediction, since only a simple unidirectional prediction is used, an improvement of an encoding efficiency is limited.

Method and apparatus for encoding/decoding video using bidirectional intra prediction


The present disclosure relates to a filling body for reducing a volume of a pressure measurement chamber, which is to be filled with a pressure transmitting fluid, surrounding a pressure sensor. The filling body includes a recess for receiving the pressure sensor and has a free-standing base projecting into the recess on which the pressure sensor can be mounted. A filling body base supporting the filling body is provided on a side of the filling body facing away from the recess. The filling body can be mounted in an application location in such a way that the filling body base supports the otherwise free-standing filling body. The filling body base has a base surface that is smaller than a base surface of a filling body region that is adjacent to the filling body base and surrounding the recess.

In industrial pressure measurement technology, pressure sensors designed, inter alia, as absolute, relative or differential pressure sensors—frequently also referred to as semiconductor sensors or sensor chips—are used and are produced using processes known from semiconductor technology. These pressure sensors are mechanically sensitive and are therefore regularly used in a pressure measurement chamber filled with a pressure-transmitting liquid. There, they are impinged by a pressure to be detected by the pressure sensor via a pressure supply connected to the pressure measurement chamber, e.g. an upstream diaphragm seal. To effect a pressure transmission that is as uncorrupted as possible, fluids that are as incompressible as possible and have a low coefficient of thermal expansion, such as silicone oils, are used for this purpose. However, these liquids also have pressure transmission properties that are dependent on the temperature and the pressure to be transmitted, and whose influence on the achievable measurement accuracy is all the greater the larger the required fluid volume. For this reason, in some pressure measurement devices, filling bodies are used which reduce the volume to be filled with the fluid.
In DE 10 2006, 057, 828 A1 a differential pressure transducer is described that comprises a recess provided in a solid metallic block into which recess a glass body surrounded on the outside by an adapter piece having a cylindrical cross-section is inserted. The glass body has a recess into which a differential pressure sensor is inserted, which comprises a measurement diaphragm arranged on a main body with the inclusion of a pressure chamber. The differential pressure sensor is electrically connected via connecting leads which are glazed into the glass body in a pressure-tight manner. The pressure transducer comprises a first diaphragm seal via which a pressure measurement chamber surrounding the outside of the measurement diaphragm is impinged with a first pressure. At the same time, the pressure chamber enclosed beneath the measurement diaphragm is impinged with a second pressure via a second diaphragm seal. In this pressure transducer, the mating body together with the glass body connected thereto completely fills the interior of the recess in the solid block of the measuring transducer, so that in the recess adjoining the pressure measurement chamber, only a gap surrounding the differential pressure sensor inside the recess in the glass body has to be filled with the pressure-transmitting fluid. However, there is the risk that, due to different coefficients of thermal expansion of the solid block, the mating body, the glass body and the pressure sensor, thermomechanical stresses can develop which not only stress the glass body but can also have a disadvantageous effect on the measurement properties of the pressure sensor.
An approach complementary thereto is followed in the pressure measurement device described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,502,335. This comprises a housing having a pressure measurement chamber enclosed therein, in which a pressure sensor externally mounted on a carrier is surrounded on all sides by a hollow cylindrical filling body mounted in a free-floating manner. For this purpose, grommets are provided in the carrier, into which rod-shaped connecting leads for the electrical terminal of the pressure sensor are inserted, and which bear the filling body. The connecting leads pass through bores through the filling body provided in the filling body to the side of the filling body facing away from the carrier, where they are connected to the filling body by solderings carrying the filling body.
This free floating mounting of the filling body offers the advantage that practically no thermomechanical stresses attributable to different thermal expansion coefficients of the housing, carrier, filling body and/or pressure sensor are induced and/or transmitted that place stress on the grommets in the carrier and/or the pressure sensor.
Moreover, the filling body can be made much simpler and less expensive than glass bodies inserted in a mating piece with the connecting leads glazed therein in a pressure-tight manner.
However, the filling body and pressure sensor must be mounted separately from one another in this case. In this case, they must be very precisely aligned spatially relative to each other in order to prevent the filling body and pressure sensor from touching, which would have a disadvantageous effect on the measurement characteristics of the pressure sensor.
Beyond that, as a result of the mechanical connection between the carrier and the pressure sensor that is required for the sensor assembly, thermo-mechanical stresses can occur that affect the transmission behavior of the measurement diaphragm of the pressure sensor, thus impairing the achievable measurement precision and its reproducibility.
A solution to the latter problem described, for example, in DE 34 36 440 A1 is to mount the pressure sensor on the carrier on a free-standing base, the base surface of which is smaller than the base surface of the pressure sensor mounted thereon. The base can be an integral part of the metallic carrier, or can be configured as a separate component which is inserted by being glazed into a bore in the carrier. Glazed-in bases may be made of a material whose coefficient of thermal expansion is better adapted to the coefficient of thermal expansion of the pressure sensor than to that of the typically metallic carrier. However, the number of material combinations among which pressure-tight glazings can be produced may be limited. Furthermore, glazings represent an additional, comparatively complex production step.

Filling body for reducing a volume of a pressure measurement chamber


Approaches to re-encoding image sets using frequency-domain differences, along with corresponding approaches to reversing the re-encoding of the image sets. For example, a re-encoding tool computes frequency-domain differences between (a) quantized coefficients for a block from encoded data in a first format and (b) quantized coefficients for a prediction of the block. The re-encoding tool entropy codes the frequency-domain differences, producing encoded data in a second format for the compressed images. Such re-encoding can significantly reduce storage cost for previously compressed images, compared to the storage cost for the previously compressed images in the first format, without hurting image quality. Subsequently, the previously compressed images in the first format can be recovered from the encoded data in the second format. Or, the encoded data in the second format can be decoded to reconstruct the images.

With the increased usage of digital cameras (especially those included with smartphones or other devices), storage of digital photographs poses significant challenges for personal devices and for "cloud" storage services available through the Internet. In particular, digital cameras in smartphones and other mobile computing devices have dramatically increased the number of digital images that are captured, shared and stored, since such devices are carried by large numbers of users in their daily activities. At the same time, newer digital cameras use sensors that yield higher-resolution images. The higher-resolution images have more sample values per image and tend to have higher storage cost per image.
Engineers use compression (also called source coding, source encoding, or simply coding or encoding) to reduce the bit rate of digital images. Compression decreases the cost of storing and transmitting image information by converting the information into a lower bit rate form. Compression can be lossless or lossy. Lossless compression typically reduces bit rate and does not hurt image quality. On the other hand, in lossy compression, bit rate reduction tends to be more significant, at the cost of reduction in image quality. Decompression (also called decoding) reconstructs a version of the original information from the compressed form. A "codec" is an encoder/decoder system.
Since the early 1990s, various image codec standards have been adopted, including the JPEG standard (ITU-T T.81 or ISO/IEC 10918-1), JPEG 2000 standard (ISO/IEC 15444), and JPEG XR standard (ITU-T T.832 or ISO/IEC 29199-2). Digital images can also be processed using intra-picture encoding and decoding for a video codec standard, such as the H.264/AVC standard (ITU-T H.264, MPEG-4 AVC or ISO/IEC 14496-10) or H.265/HEVC standard (ITU-T H.265 or ISO/IEC 23008-2). A codec standard typically defines options for the syntax of an encoded data bitstream, detailing parameters in the bitstream when particular features are used in encoding and decoding. In many cases, a codec standard also provides details about the decoding operations a decoder should perform to achieve conforming results in decoding. Aside from codec standards, various proprietary codec formats (such as VP8 and VP9) define other options for the syntax of an encoded data bitstream and corresponding decoding operations.
Thus, image compression can reduce the storage cost for digital photographs, but most conventional image encoding approaches do not exploit correlations that exist between different images. For example, consider a series of digital photographs captured using burst mode capture or a set of digital photographs in a photograph album. The images in the series or album may be highly correlated, yet most image encoding approaches only consider each image by itself during compression.
Some existing "image set" compression approaches exploit inter-image redundancy between images to reduce bit rate. A few of these encoding approaches even enable lossless compression. Such approaches typically compress "raw" input digital images, as opposed to previously encoded digital images, in order to achieve significant reduction in storage cost. When existing lossy image set compression approaches are applied to reconstructed versions of previously encoded digital images, the approaches rarely reduce bit rate unless image quality also suffers. Applying existing lossless image set compression approaches to reconstructed versions of previously encoded digital images (attempting to reduce storage cost without further reducing image quality) usually increases bit rate instead of reducing it. Thus, in some scenarios, existing image set compression approaches fail to provide efficient performance when re-encoding previously encoded digital images.

Re-encoding image sets using frequency-domain differences


The present invention provides for an improved automatic x-ray beam equalizer. By analyzing an initial low dosage x-ray image of an object, an attenuation pattern can be calculated. An equalization pattern, generated from the attenuation pattern, can then be created in a mask and placed in the path of a full x-ray beam scan using a stepper motor assembly in order to properly attenuate the x-ray signal and create a clearer x-ray image of the object.

In conventional radiography, image quality and diagnostic value can be compromised when the object density differs drastically between different parts of an object. For example, in conventional chest x-rays the mediastinum and retrocardiac area can be underexposed, detracting from the diagnostic value of the image. In fact, many diagnostic errors in chest radiography occur in areas displayed with suboptimal contrast or penetration. Missed lung metastases, for example, can reside in these underexposed areas, camouflaged from view.
Equalization is a common term in the x-ray radiography field which refers to the process of selectively attenuating certain portions of the patient or object exposed to the x-ray. An x-ray radiographic image can be equalized by selectively attenuating only those areas of the image that are determined to have been overexposed. The effect of equalization is to reduce the intrinsically large dynamic range of the x-ray beam intensities in order to accommodate the dynamic range limitations of most x-ray detector systems. The most common detector systems employed in diagnostic x-ray radiography are film and image intensifier-TV systems, both of which have severely limited dynamic ranges.
Different methods have been presented to correct the problems described above. For example, one method involves arranging a plurality of filters between an x-ray emitter and the image receptor. The filters are selected and arranged so that only the areas of over-exposure are attenuated. Practice of this method provides acceptable results, once the correct combination of filters are found. However, a serious drawback of this method is that it is cumbersome since filter selection and juxtaposition is a manual process and can require time consuming trial and error for the correct combination to be found.
Another approach for addressing the above-described problem involves variably attenuating different portions of an x-ray beam by placing an attenuating material between an x-ray source and a patient. For example, one method is described in Peppler, et al., "Digitally Controlled Beam Attenuator," SPIE, 347:106-111, 1982. Peppler describes a digital beam attenuating device for attenuating specific areas of an imaged object. The device consists of an attenuation chamber which is placed between the x-ray tube and the patient. The chamber consists of a 6.times.6 array of 1 cm square lucite pistons each with a 1 cm stroke. An attenuating material of cerium chloride (CeCl.sub.3) in solution is housed within a shapable latex membrane and placed in the path of the x-ray beam between the x-ray tube and the patient. A computer controls the advancement of the pistons which press into the membrane, adjusting the thickness of the CeCl.sub.3 at certain cells. The degree of attenuation depends on the thickness of the CeCl.sub.3. A solenoid controls water lines which control the advancement and retreat of the pistons. A reservoir is coupled to the latex membrane to catch overflowing solution when the membrane is compressed.
The most critical limitation with Peppler is that the empty digital beam attenuator reduces the primary x-ray attenuation by a factor of 15, which creates severe tube loading problems. Furthermore, Peppler utilizes a large number of dynamic elements such as the water lines and solenoids. These increase the chances of breakdowns, thereby increasing the costs of maintenance.
Another method is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,497,062 to Mistretta (and a corresponding article: Hasegawa, B. H., Dobbins III, J. T., et al., "Feasibility of Selective Exposure Radiography," SPIE, 454:271-278, 1984). Mistretta describes a digitally-controlled x-ray beam method and apparatus. The apparatus comprises a computer which analyzes an initial x-ray image to locate high and low gray level regions. Based on this determination, an attenuation number for each pixel in the image is assigned and transmitted to a printer; such as a dot matrix or ink jet printer. A non-attenuating substrate is fed through the printer while the printer prints an attenuating pattern onto the substrate. The "ink" present on the ribbon contains attenuating material such as cerium oxide. The printer deposits the attenuating cerium in varying thicknesses depending on the attenuation number. The substrate is then placed between the x-ray source and the patient during a subsequent regular x-ray.
A major limitation of the technique proposed by Mistretta is the relatively long time required for custom fabrication of the compensation filter that precluded its clinical implementation. Specifically, it is described that the printing time of 80 layers of a 64.times.64 pixel attenuator, as of the publication date of the article, was less than 30 minutes. It was hoped that by increasing the number of print heads and by using faster repetition rates, the time could be reduced to 30 seconds. This is still not acceptable for clinical applications because a patient must remain absolutely still between the time the initial scan is performed, during the creation of the attenuator, and through the final scan. If the patient was to move, even slightly, the attenuation pattern would change and the image would not be properly attenuated.
What is needed is a simple device that can variably attenuate different regions of an x-ray signal in order to provide a clearer x-ray image of an object having variable densities.

The Regents of the University of California


A method of fabricating a semiconductor device having a dual gate allows for the gates to have a wide variety of threshold voltages. The method includes forming a gate insulation layer, a first capping layer, and a barrier layer in the foregoing sequence across a first region and a second region on a substrate, exposing the gate insulation layer on the first region by removing the first capping layer and the barrier layer from the first region, forming a second capping layer on the gate insulation layer in the first region and on the barrier layer in the second region, and thermally processing the substrate on which the second capping layer is formed. The thermal processing causes material of the second capping layer to spread into the gate insulation layer in the first region and material of the first capping layer to spread into the gate insulation layer in the second region. Thus, devices having different threshold voltages can be formed in the first and second regions.

The present inventive concept relates to a method of fabricating a semiconductor device. More particularly, the present inventive concept relates to a method of fabricating a semiconductor device having a dual gate.
Generally, a gate of a semiconductor device, namely a transistor, includes a gate insulation layer disposed on a semiconductor substrate and a gate electrode disposed on the gate insulation layer. The gate insulation layer is usually a silicon oxide layer, and the gate electrode is usually a poly-silicon layer. However, the materials of the components of the gate affect the operating speed of the device, and there is always a demand for semiconductor devices which are smaller and operate at higher speeds. With such considerations in mind, a semiconductor device has been developed in which the gate insulation layer is made of a high-k material, and the gate electrode is made of a metal.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method of fabricating semiconductor device having dual gate


An optical information recording and reproducing apparatus comprises an optical disk having a reflection layer, an optical information recording layer, a super resolution layer and a protection layer on the recording surface of a substrate, a laser emission control unit for emitting the laser light to record and reproduce the optical information and changing the pulse-like emission pattern, a pickup for radiating by focusing the laser light and receiving the reflected light, a spindle and a spindle motor for supporting and rotationally driving the optical disk, and a reproduction signal processing unit for arithmetically processing the received signal.

This invention relates to an optical information recording and reproducing apparatus, or in particular to an optical information recording and reproducing apparatus high in recording density and having a high super resolution effect.
With the recent progress of the information society using optical telecommunication, the construction of a telecommunication system capable of high-speed communication of information high in recording density has been required. An optical information recording and reproducing apparatus capable of accumulating the optical information of high recording density is an indispensable optical device for developing the high-speed optical telecommunication of high recording density. Further, with the digitization of video information such as TV images and the increased image quality such as high definition, it is of urgent necessity to develop an information recording and reproducing apparatus of high recording density capable of long-time recording while maintaining a high image quality.
Currently, a DVD having a capacity of 4.7 GB on each side finds wide applications as an optical information recording medium for handling high-density dynamic images such as computer and video information. The practical application of this DVD as a rewritable recording and reproducing medium as well as a read-only ROM (DVD-ROM) with information written directly in the substrate has been promoted. The development of these optical information recording media is aimed at a high recording density, and the laser light having a shorter wavelength of 650 nm than the laser (780 nm) for the CD is used as a means to achieve the high density information recording. For applications to the computer graphics and the digital high-definition images involving the information of large recording capacity, however, the recording density four to five times higher is required. In order to meet this requirement, an optical disk using a blue semiconductor laser still shorter in wavelength (405 nm) and having the recording density of 23.3 GB on one side has been developed and found practical applications.
As a technique to further increase the recording density of the optical disk, the development of a multilayer recording method, a multi-valued recording method and a super resolution recording method is under way. Of these next-generation methods to achieve a high recording density, the super resolution recording method is one of the most promising techniques.
In the super resolution recording method, the waist of the laser beam radiated on the recording surface is reduced using the laser focusing function or the masking function of the super resolution layer. This is one of the recording methods of high density recording realized by the reversible change in the optical constants (refractive index (n) and the extinction coefficient (k)) of the super resolution layer formed in a multilayer structure such as the recording layer, the protection layer or the reflection layer of the optical disk. The super resolution layer, upon radiation of the read/write laser thereon, is excited by the temperature rise or the absorption of photons of light. As long as the laser is radiated, therefore, the refractive index and the extinction coefficient are changed reversibly, while the original state is restored upon extinction of the laser. In the optical disk, a recording portion and a non-recording portion are determined for reproduction by the amount of the laser light returned to the pickup after being radiated and reflected on the optical disk. Due to this reversible change of the optical constants in the super resolution layer, the area of the light returned to the pickup can be reduced more than the normal radiation area of the laser light. Specifically, the resolution can be improved by reducing the readable area using the optical masking effect.
The extinction coefficient (k) is a quantity proportional to the light absorption coefficient of a material, and assumes a larger value the larger the absorption coefficient of the material. The two constants including the refractive index (n) and the absorption coefficient (k) are collectively called the optical constants.
In the prior art, as described in JP-A-10-340482, for example, a thin film material of cobalt oxide has been used as the super resolution layer. The large change in refractive index and the super resolution effect of this thin film can produce an optical disk of high recording density.
In the optical information recording and reproducing apparatus currently available, the optical information is reproduced by radiating the continuous wave (CW) light or the reproducing laser light superposed with high frequencies of about 400 MHz. In the case where the the complex refractive index of the super resolution layer is changed and the power of the reproducing light is increased until the super resolution effect is obtained, therefore, heat is accumulated on the optical information recording medium by the radiation of laser light, and a broad heat distribution occurs in the laser beam spot, thereby posing the problem that a super resolution mask high in contrast cannot be formed. Further, the heat accumulation degradate the film or the recording pit on the medium, resulting in the degradation of the repetitive reproducing operation characteristic.
A reproducing method with pulse light for improving the super resolution effect by avoiding the heat accumulation in the medium and steepening the temperature gradient in the beam spot is described, for example, in JP-A-10-40547.
In an application of the pulse reproducing method as described in JP-A-10-40547, a high response of the material is essential. Also, the beam spot in super resolution state, which is a superposition of a beam spot in ground state and a beam spot in super resolution state, is affected by the beam spot in ground state, and a satisfactory super resolution mask is difficult to obtain.

Optical information recording and reproducing apparatus


A sensor for sensing the rotation of an output shaft of a motor used for driving a vehicle includes a disc on the output shaft that carries magnets facing toward a motor carrier and the motor. The motor carrier has an annular recess open on a side facing away from the motor, and a Hall effect sensor is placed in this recess and held with a T-shaped bracket having a tang that supports the Hall effect sensor partially in this annular recess for protecting it and positioning it adjacent the magnets on the disc.

The present invention relates to a sensor for sensing wheel speed in a vehicle powered by a hydrostatic motor. In particular, the present invention relates to a mounting that is adapted for utilizing the existing hydrostatic motor carrier and output drive shaft for mounting a sensor in a location where it is not susceptible to damage.
In compact loaders, such as all-wheel drive, all-wheel steer loaders, it is desirable to accurately sense the speed of the wheels on each side of the vehicle to efficiently control operation and insure that the wheel speeds are properly controlled. The signals representing wheel speed can be coordinated with a sensed angle of steer and used in a control algorithm to reduce the speed of the inside wheels on a turn in order to prevent skidding during the turn.
In compact industrial vehicles, space is at a premium and mounting sensors that will provide an accurate indication of wheel speed is difficult because of the need to protect the sensors from damage during use, and be out of the way as well as conserving space.
The present invention relates to a sensor for sensing the rotation of a positive drive shaft driving the wheels of a vehicle, such as a compact four-wheel loader. The sensor is mounted with a unique bracket onto a motor carrier or support and it is used in connection with a rotating disc having rotational position identifiers that provide a pulse as they pass a stationary sensor as the disc rotates. The disc is attached to the output shaft of the motor. The output shaft is used for driving sprockets that in turn drive chains to the final drive axles of the vehicle.
The bracket is a simple T-shaped bracket that is supported on the motor carrier, or other portions of the motor frame. The bracket carries a Hall effect sensor that has a sensing end projecting from the carrier. The disc position identifiers are disclosed as alternating pole magnets, that is, a south pole magnet facing the sensor is followed by next adjacent magnet having a north pole facing the sensors. As these magnets pass next to the Hall effect sensor, the well known effect of a pulse is obtained to indicate rotation of the shaft. The rate of the pulses indicates the wheel speed.
The sensor is connected to a suitable computer where the signal for wheel speed is used in a desired manner, again, for example, for coordinating the wheel speed and angle of steer of wheels being driven, so that a differential action can be obtained during turns, and positive control of the forward or rearward velocity of the vehicle can be obtained as well.

Mounting arrangement for a wheel speed sensor


A remotely controllable door lock actuating device has a door strike that is actuated by a solenoid which is controlled by an electrical circuit responsive to a remote energy signal. The electrical circuit causes a solenoid to manipulate the door strike, causing the door strike to move between a door locking position and a door unlocking position. In the door locking position, the door strike engages a conventional spring-biased door bolt. In the door unlocking position, the door strike changes its position to release the bolt. The invention may be powered by household electric current and may include a switch to deactivate it.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to door locks, and more particularly to a remote controlled door strike plate enabling the door to function as a conventional door with key access, or under remote control.
2. Description of Related Art
The following art defines the present state of this field:
E. N. Howell et al, U.S. Pat. No. 2,509,345 the present invention relates to remote control devices and particularly to a remote control utilizing a supersonic wave as the means for causing the control devices to function. It is the primary object of the invention to provide remote control devices whereby a motor vehicle operator approaching his garage may cause the garage doors to open without leaving the seat of the automobile and without the need of any physical connection between the vehicle and the door mechanism.
I. H. Sher, U.S. Pat. No. 3,184,937 relates to a new and improved voice controlled lock mechanism and, more particularly to a lock which will be responsive to one or more selected persons voice and which will obviate the need for coded mechanical devices such as keys. The present invention utilizes a vibrating optic fiber unit to activate a switch closing a circuit on a servo motor which withdraws the bolt of a lock.
Flook, Jr., U.S. Pat. No. 3,564,501 describes an electronic actuating arrangement includes both triggering means for operating an actuating device such as to permit the opening of a door, and lockout means for preventing operation of the triggering means in the absence of an input signal of precisely predetermined frequency or in the presence of incorrect signals. An amplifier is provided which may incorporate a quartz crystal resonator filter which has either a peak or a null characteristic at a predetermined frequency. When the resonator has the null characteristic, the filter is used in the lockout channel of the arrangement. When it has the peak characteristic the filter is used in the actuate channel.
Finn, U.S. Pat. No. 3,659,154 describes in an electronic lock and alarm system, a sequence of digitally coded signals, specified by logically comparing input coded signals from a manually operated selector matrix and preset coded signals from a programmable code detector, is transmitted to a sequence recognizer computer for determining the validity of the coded sequence, and terminals such as door locks, ignition switches, etc., are operated by the computer in one of several modes specified by a user discriminatingly operating the selector matrix. In a first mode, the terminals are opened for accessibility to the user. In a second mode, the terminals are closed for inaccessibility to the user and a main alarm in the immediate vicinity is energized. In an optional third mode, the terminals are opened for accessibility to the user and a silent alarm is energized at a remote location.
Lester, U.S. Pat. No. 3,733,861 describes an electronic, door lock controlled by a passive transponder used as a key by the person desiring to open the door. A hand-operated electric generator is coupled by a gearing system to the door handle, and generates power to operate a door lock transceiver which receives coded signals from the personal transponder to open the lock. Upon the reception of properly coded signals, a solenoid is activated to withdraw an abutment member from the path of a laterally slidable door bolt mechanism so that the door may be opened. The personal transponder may be disposed within a watch case, or have the size and shape of a conventional writing pen. The system may be radio frequency or ultrasonic.
Barker et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,939,679 describes normally disabled electrical and mechanical devices are caused to be enabled to operate by remote control signals having predetermined distinctive characteristics, such signals originating from enabling control equipment transported by an authorized person or persons. Receiving equipment providing output enabling signals only in response to received signals having the predetermined distinctive characteristics is preferably mad integral with the mechanical or electrical devices involved and is coupled through appropriate electronic or electromechanical devices to the disabling means in the mechanical or electrical devices to be enabled.
Ueda et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,340,799 describes a heating apparatus, such as an electric oven or a microwave oven, comprises an enclosure case having therein a heating chamber to place a heating object therein, the enclosure case having a door at an opening of the chamber, and the door having a locking means, to lock the door when closed, and has a door lock releasing means, such as a lever and a solenoid planger, to release and open the door from the locking state of the locking means, a voice recognition circuit for recognizing voice commands of a user of the apparatus and produces at least a control signal, which drives the releasing means to open the door.
Brenig, U.S. Pat. No. 4,426,733 describes a voice-controlled, operator-interacting radio transceiver has a transceiver for transmitting and receiving radio frequency signals under plural potential operating conditions including on/off, transmit/receive, frequency of operation, squelch, volume control, etc. A speech recognition circuit receives audible verbal phrases spoken by a human operator and produces control signals in response to certain predetermined recognized phrases. The operation of the transceiver is controlled in response to the control signals and further coded data signals representative of the respective predetermined operating condition of the transceiver are also produced. Output devices are responsive to the further coded data signal for producing an output signal perceptible to the human operator and confirmatory of the control action then being effected.
Feix et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,449,189 describes a method and an apparatus are disclosed for identifying an individual through a combination of both speech and face recognition. The voice signature of an interrogated person uttering a key word into a microphone is compared in a pattern matcher with the previously stored voice signature of a known person uttering the same key word to obtain a first similarity score. At the same time, when a key event in the utterance of the key word by the interrogated person occurs, a momentary image of that person's mouth region onto which a grid pattern has been projected is optically recorded and compared with the previously stored corresponding momentary image of the same known person to obtain a second similarity score. The two similarity scores are analyzed to verify that the identity of the interrogated person is that of the known person.
Kishi et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,450,545 describes a voice responsive door lock system is provided wherein the operation of the door lock device is vocally controlled by the driver via a voice recognition unit. The voice responsive door lock system for a motor vehicle comprises a door position detection means, an indication means for indicating a question as to the necessity of locking the door, a voice recognition unit for identifying the driver's reply and producing a door lock command signal, and a door lock control means for actuating a door lock device upon receiving the door lock command signal.
Ueda et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,472,617 describes a heating apparatus, such as an electric oven or a microwave oven, comprises an enclosure case having therein a heating chamber to place a heating object therein, the enclosure case having a door at an opening of the chamber, and the door having a locking means, to lock the door when closed, and has a door lock releasing means, such as a lever and a solenoid planger, to release and open the door from the locking state of the locking means, a voice recognition circuit for recognizing voice commands of a user of the apparatus and produces at least a control signal, which drives the releasing means to open the door.
Kago et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,602,256 describes a luggage door unlocking device for a vehicle, by which a luggage door of the vehicle can be unlocked without using an unlocking key, is disclosed. The device comprises a portable transmitter for generating an unlocking signal of ultrasonic wave, an ultrasonic wave receiver which is mounted on the vehicle and which receives an ultrasonic wave from the portable transmitter, a discriminating means for subjecting the signal received by the ultrasonic wave receiver to waveform shaping to obtain a high-frequency pulse train and detecting a high-frequency pulse train of a predetermined pattern to obtain the unlocking signal and an unlocking mechanism for unlocking the luggage door of the vehicle upon receipt of the unlocking signal after discrimination by the discriminating means. The transmitter has a power supply switch which is enclosed in a case having a clip for attachment to the clothes of the person who carries the transmitter and which is closed upon attachment of the clip to the clothes.
Uehara, U.S. Pat. No. 4,961,177 describes an apparatus and method for inputting a voice through a microphone mounted at a position facing a speaking person. An image of a speaking person is generated and used to detect the position of a mouth of the speaker. The microphone is then moved in accordance with position of the mouth.
Claar et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,136,548 describes a remote-controlled system for closures with a movable hand transmitter with at least one transmission key, this transmitter generating and radiating directed coded control signals upon actuation of the transmission key of the hand transmitter. At least one first receiver unit is tuned to receive the control signals radiated from the hand transmitter and is arranged on a motor vehicle and triggers switching effects on a remotely controllable vehicle locking after the received control signals have been identified as acceptable. At least one second receiver unit is tuned to receive control signals radiated as a result of the actuation of the transmission key of the hand transmitter for remotely controlling a remotely controllable access control device external to the motor vehicle. The second receiver unit is arranged outside the motor vehicle and triggers switching effects on the access control device after the received control signals have been identified as acceptable. An electrical circuit is provided for preventing at least the triggering of switching effects by the second receiver unit when the control signal radiated as a result of a single actuation of the transmission key of the hand transmitter is received simultaneously by the first and the second receiver unit, by causing to arrive at the second receiver unit only a control signal which significantly differs from the control signal radiated as a result of the actuation of this transmission key of the hand transmitter for remotely controlling the access control device. At least one transmitter is fixed to the motor vehicle, this transmitter being randomly electrically activatable from a passenger space of the motor vehicle independently of the hand transmitter. The transmitter is arranged on the outside of the motor vehicle for direct radiation to the outside of control signals coded in accordance with the control signals radiated by the hand transmitter. This ensures that only one code has to be impressed on the control signals of the hand transmitter in order to make it possible to use the hand transmitter for the direct remote control both of the vehicle locking and of the access control device.
McNair, U.S. Pat. No. 5,265,191 describes a voice-based security system requires that a series of utterances to be uttered by the requester contain at least one repeated utterance. The system compares a representation of each instance of the repeated utterance as uttered by the requester to both a prestored template for the utterance and to each representation of the other instances of the utterance as uttered by said requester. The requester is authenticated only if each representation of the repeated utterance as uttered by said requester matches the prestored template and the representations of the repeated utterance as uttered by said requester do not match each other to such a high degree that they are deemed to have been mechanically generated.
Tompkins, U.S. Pat. No. 5,432,495 describes a beeper controlled auto security system in which a vehicle disabling device such as an ignition kill switch is selectively activated either by a hand held rf transmitter unit or a beeper paging system satellite transmission initiated by a telephone call which may be at a very remote location from the vehicle. A vehicle motion detector is also activated which turns on a monitor transmitter if the vehicle is thereafter moved, enabling detection by a portable monitor receiver carried by the vehicle owner or police vehicles.
Reed et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,371,901 describes a portable communication device is controlled by voice recognition circuitry remote from the portable communication device. The portable communication device includes apparatus for producing and transmitting a parametric representation of voice commands. The remote circuitry (which could possibly be a base station, a mobile repeater, or simply a dedicated box, separate from the portable) produces control signals responsive to the parametric representation of voice commands, for controlling the portable communication device.
Shigeki Ueda, JP 56-88506, to enable a user to open the door of a heater without using his or her hand, by registering the feature extraction pattern of a voice, commanding door operation, in the standard pattern member of a voice recognition processing part.
Yoshio Takada, JP 1-273111 provides to control the terminal equipment by a voice by comparing the voice contents and the storage contents by a voice recognizing means and determining the command contents and executing a control of the terminal equipment corresponding to the command contents by a control part.
Lawrence D. Barnes, 1981 Carnahan Conference on Crime Countermeasures, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, describes an automated access control system developed under contract to the Department of Energy at the Barnwell Nuclear Fuel Plant is described. This system enables the facility management to control who has access to sensitive areas at specific times, control the authority to grant access to individuals with cross-checks and verification, and provide positive identification of personnel obtaining entry, as well as an auditable record of all entry events.
The prior art teaches various mechanisms which remotely actuate the spring-biased bolt-type lock to unlock a door. However, the prior art does not teach a device that will unlock a door without modifying the door itself to carry the device that responds to remote signals. There is a great need for a device which can be installed in the frame of the door without altering the door itself. This is because a remote control device must be powered by electrical current, and facilitating such into a moving door presents considerable difficulty. If a battery is used, then it must be replaced periodically. If a wire is used to conduct current to the door then the problem of interconnecting the wire to the door is presented. The present invention overcomes these problems, and provides further related advantages as described in the following summary.


A wind turbine tower is supported on a transition piece that connects the tower to a foundation and that defines a space beneath the lower end of the tower. Electronic components positioned within a removable module in the lower portion of a wind turbine tower may be removed through a lower end of the tower for service or replacement.

Electronics used in the operation of a wind turbine, including converters, transformers, switch gear, and various component controllers, have been positioned in different locations, including in separate structures at ground level, in the nacelle of the wind turbine, and in the tower of the wind turbine. Each of these arrangements presents different benefits and drawbacks.
Placement of electronics within the lower portion of a wind turbine tower has proven beneficial in removing weight from the upper end of the wind turbine without having to place components in an additional structure, not normally associated with the wind turbine. Service and/or replacement of electrical components within the lower end of a tower, however, has posed issues.
The outer jacket of a wind turbine tower provides structural strength needed to support the weight and loads of the entire wind turbine. Some of the greatest loads are experienced at the base of the tower, where electronics are sometimes located. Moreover, some of the electronic components that may be positioned within the lower portion of the tower may be rather large, such as transformer and other equipment. Substantial support structures may be required to accommodate an opening large enough to allow the passageway of many electronic components, if such openings are even feasible.

Methods and apparatus for servicing wind turbine components through a lower portion of a tower


There is provided a cooling system of a semiconductor testing device using a control computer capable of controlling the number of revolutions of a fan so as to obtain proper air-flow corresponding to the heating value for every operating mode of a measuring unit, thereby preventing the power from being wasted and enabling the supervision of the operating modes of the entire system. The cooling system includes a fan which is rotated by a DC motor, a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of a measuring unit which is cooled by the fan, a control computer for reading temperature information and revolution information. The control computer transmits a control signal for controlling the number of revolutions of the fan to a fan control.multidot.power supply unit for executing optimum control of the number of revolutions of the fan corresponding to heating value for every operating mode of the measuring unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cooling system of a semiconductor testing device using a control computer, particularly to a cooling system of a semiconductor testing device using a control computer for controlling the number of revolutions of a fan so as to obtain air-flow corresponding to a heating value of a measuring unit by use of the fan which is driven by a DC motor, thereby preventing a power from being wasted wherein the system uses a control computer which is capable of supervising operating modes of the entire semiconductor testing device.
2. Prior art
A semiconductor testing device generally comprises a body 200 and test heads 300 as shown in FIG. 3(A), wherein electric characteristics of a device to be measured mounted on the test heads 300 is tested by the body 200, namely, by the control carried out by the body 200.
In such a semiconductor testing device, there has been employed a system shown in FIG. 4 for cooling a measuring unit 100A which is mounted in the body 200 or in the test heads 300.
That is, in FIG. 4, a fan 80A is provided adjacently to the measuring unit 100A, wherein a three-phase AC motor 82A of the fan 80A is revolved or rotated to suck air heated by heat produced by the measuring unit 100A.
At this time, since there produces a negative pressure at the part where air is sucked, outside cool air is taken in this part through an open portion of the measuring unit 100A provided at the opposing position of the fan 80A.
As a result, the measuring unit 100A dissipates or radiates heat so that the measuring unit 100A is cooled.
In this case, the number of revolutions of the three-phase AC motor 82A for driving the fan 80A is determined by a frequency of the AC power supply of the motor and the number of poles of a revolving field of the motor. From this, the number of revolutions of the three-phase AC motor 82A has generally a specific fixed value.
That is, the following well known relationship or expression is established in the three-phase AC motor 82A suppose that the number of revolutions is Nac (unit: rps), the frequency of AC power supply is F (unit: Hz), and the number of poles of the revolving field is p. EQU Nac=2F/p (1)
In the expression (1), the frequency F of the AC power supply is generally 50 Hz or 60 Hz, and the number of poles p of the revolving field is a fixed value which is determined when manufacturing a motor.
Accordingly, the number of revolutions Nac of the three-phase AC motor 82A becomes a fixed value as evident from the expression (1).
The air-flow needed for cooling the measuring unit 100A is determined by the number of revolutions Nac of the three-phase AC motor 82A and a sectional area of the fan 80A.
Further, in FIG. 4, a temperature sensor 70A is generally a thermal relay type which operates when the temperature exceeds a specific temperature (anomalous temperature region), and the operating modes of the relay (ON/OFF) are transmitted to a power supply controller 90 via a signal cable 71A.
Accordingly, the power supply controller 90 cuts off a power supplied to the measuring unit 100A via a power supply cable 101A. That is, the measuring unit 100A has been conventionally cooled by the fan 80A employing the three-phase AC motor 82A, and the power supply has been cut off when an ambient temperature of the measuring unit 100A reaches an anomalous temperature region.
In the prior art as mentioned above in FIG. 4, the air-flow needed for cooling the measuring unit 100A is determined by the number of revolutions Nac of the three-phase AC motor 82A and the sectional area of the fan 80A.
However, as evident from the expression (1), since the number of revolutions Nac of the three-phase AC motor 82A is a fixed value and the sectional area of the fan 80A is constant, the air-flow needed for cooling the measuring unit 100A is invariant regardless of whether the measuring unit 100A is in standby condition (heating value Qa is small) or in operating condition (heating value Qa is large) when the three-phase AC motor 82A is used.
For example, suppose that the semiconductor detecting device shown in FIG. 3(A) has measuring units U1, U2, U3 and there are operating modes shown in FIG. 3(B) wherein standby condition is denoted by X and the operation condition denoted by .largecircle..
Of these operating modes, all the measuring units U1 to U3 are in operating condition in the case of a, and the measuring units U2 and U3 are in operating condition while the other measuring unit U1 is standby condition in the case of b, and one measuring unit U1 is in operating condition while the other measuring units U2 and U3 are in standby condition in the case of c, and all the measuring units U1 to U3 are in standby condition in the case of d.
Accordingly, in the case of FIG. 3(B), the heating value Qa is the largest in the case of a and it decreases in the order of b and c, and it is the smallest in the case of d. That is, there occurs a case where the power to be consumed by, i.e., the heating value of the measuring units is varied according to the operating condition or standby condition depending on devices to be measured in the semiconductor testing device (FIG. 3(A)).
However, air-flow needed for cooling the measuring unit can not be changed corresponding to the heating value Qa because the fan 80A which is driven by the three-phase AC motor 82A has been used.
Accordingly, even if the measuring unit 100A is in standby condition, there is needed air-flow presented which is the same as that for cooling the measuring unit 100A in a state of the maximum heating value. For example, even in the state of d in FIG. 3(B) (all the measuring units are in standby condition), there requires air-flow needed for cooling in the case of a (all the measuring units are in operating condition).
Accordingly, even in standby condition, i.e., in the case of d, the number of revolutions of the fan 80A increases by the air-flow needed for cooling the measuring unit 100A in the case of a, thereby power is consumed more than it is needed, and hence power is wasted.
Further, since the prior art cooling system of a semiconductor testing device shown in FIG. 4 has no function to supervise the operating condition of the entire device, it can not easily verify the operating modes when a malfunction occurs.
For example, there occurs a case where the power supply controller 90 erroneously stops the supply of power to the measuring unit 100A when it decides that the measuring unit 100A reaches the anomalous temperature region although the measuring unit 100A is in the range of normal temperatures.

Cooling system of a semiconductor testing device using a control computer


A method of synchronizing signals in a wireless network uses a two part preamble transmitted on the downlink between a base station and a mobile station. The preamble includes a common pilot common to a plurality of base stations and a dedicated pilot unique to the transmitting base station. The mobile station performs coarse synchronization based on the common pilot and fine synchronization based on the dedicated pilot. The mobile station also identifies one or more nearby cells based on unique pilot tones in the dedicated pilot transmitted by the nearby cells.

The present invention relates generally to wireless communication systems, and more particularly to cell synchronization in mobile communication systems.
Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) systems modulate different portions of a data stream using different frequencies to produce multiple orthogonal data streams for transmission. In so doing, the OFDM system produces a wide band radio transmission link. When multiple access systems use OFDM, each remote device transmits frequency multiplexed signals to the base station. In order to maintain orthogonality and to minimize interference, OFDM systems require that the frequency multiplexed signals from different remote devices arrive at the base station at the same time. Thus, it is important to synchronize the reception of data streams from different remote devices.
A preamble attached to a superframe provides one method of synchronizing. The preamble may be used for mobile-assisted, self-organized inter-cell synchronization without any help from base station controllers. In this case, the mobile stations use downlink signals that include the preamble to identify multiple base stations and estimate their frame timings and carrier frequency offsets. Each mobile station reports the estimates to its serving base station. Each base station corrects timing and frequency information based on the received estimates.
Conventional preambles do not currently provide sufficient synchronization for both inter-cell and intra-cell synchronization. For example, preambles designed for intra-cell synchronization may not enable the mobile station to distinguish neighboring cell signals from the signals received from the mobile station's own cell.
Another preamble may include three OFDM symbols. Each of the three OFDM symbols contains two unique pilot tones on successive carriers for each cell. This type of preamble eliminates the ambiguity between multiple strong cells, and therefore is suitable for inter-cell synchronization. However, because only two pilot tones are used for each cell, the cell detection and synchronization is highly sensitive to frequency selectivity, Further, the preamble in this example has high timing ambiguity at one symbol offset, and thus may not be used to determine frame timing.
In another example, pseudo-noise (PN) codes specific to each cell may be used to design the preamble for cell identification and coarse synchronization. Cell identification and synchronization using this type of preamble has a high degree of complexity because the mobile station must correlate the received signals against all codes for all timing hypotheses in order to detect the cells. Further, the frequency offsets due to oscillator drifts adversely affect the cross-correlation of the PN codes.
A preamble with a repeated training sequence offers another option for synchronization for WiFi systems. The repeated training sequence is detected using a periodicity metric, which provides the timing and frequency offsets in a single step. This solution is less complex and more robust to frequency offsets than the PN code solution. However, the repeated training sequence solution has very low timing resolution.
Thus, there remains a need for alternative synchronization and cell identification solutions.

Preamble design for synchronization and cell search


A user can designate a dataset and one or more n-grams in a graphical user interface displayed by a client computing device (“the client”). The client can send the designations to a server computing device (“the server”). The server can execute a query over the dataset based on the n-grams, and return statistics indicating occurrences of the n-grams in the dataset. The client can generate a graphical representation corresponding to the statistics. The user can select a portion of the graphical representation, which the client sends to the server. The server can respond with excerpts of documents corresponding to the selected portion and other n-grams within the documents. The client can then display a list of the excerpts and a list of other n-grams. The user can then perform further actions on the lists such as viewing the underlying documents or adding n-grams to the search query.

The amount of digitally available data is growing at an ever increasing rate. Every time someone posts a tweet, sends an email, drafts a memo, updates a stock quote, or publishes a news article, they are creating a new digital document. Current approaches to the organization and analysis of this overwhelming body of documents can involve anything from the use of a conventional search engine, to advanced applications for visualization of the frequency of words and phrases across a set of documents.
In many cases this kind of analysis can require that a researcher manually extract and collate information from the identified information sources. Tools are available to help researchers identify subsets within their data, but these often require advanced knowledge of programming or database query languages. Researchers are often relegated to reading through many individual documents to gain an understanding about trends and sentiment groupings. This can be a very time-consuming process.
Moreover, even with a significant investment of time, a researcher can be left with an incomplete picture of interrelations. While conventional search engines can quickly retrieve documents for a topic defined by a researcher, and data collation programs can collate representations once a researcher has created well-defined queries, these techniques generally require researchers to know exactly what they are looking for and specify relevant search and analysis parameters.

Gathering, selecting and graphing n-grams