A high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) according to example embodiments includes a channel layer, a channel supply layer on the channel layer, a source electrode and a drain electrode on at least one of the channel layer and the channel supply layer, a gate electrode between the source electrode and the drain electrode, and a Schottky electrode forming a Schottky contact with the channel supply layer. An upper surface of the channel supply layer may define a Schottky electrode accommodation unit. At least part of the Schottky electrode may be in the Schottky electrode accommodation unit. The Schottky electrode is electrically connected to the source electrode.

1. Field
Example embodiments relate to high electron mobility transistors and/or methods of manufacturing high electron mobility transistors, and more particularly, to high electron mobility transistors capable of flowing electric current forward and backward and/or methods of manufacturing high electron mobility transistors capable of flowing electric current forward and backward.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a power conversion system, an efficiency of the entire system may depend upon an efficiency of a semiconductor switching device. A power metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) or an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) using silicon has been mainly used as a switching device; however, increasing efficiency of the switching device may be limited to due to the characteristics of the silicon itself.
To overcome the limitations of silicon material, research into a high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) is being actively conducted.
A HEMT may include semiconductor layers having different electrical polarization characteristics from each other. A semiconductor layer having a relatively large polarizability in the HEMT may cause two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) in other semiconductor layers that are hetero-bonded with the semiconductor layer. The 2DEG may be used as a channel between a drain electrode and a source electrode, and an electric current flowing in the channel may be controlled by a bias voltage applied to a gate electrode.
On the other hand, in a field effect semiconductor switching device such as the HEMT, an electric potential of the drain electrode may be lower than that of the source electrode, and accordingly, a reverse direction voltage may be applied to the field effect semiconductor switching device. To address this problem, a freewheeling diode may be connected to the field effect semiconductor device in parallel.
However, as described above, if the freewheeling diode is connected to the semiconductor device as an additional device, an additional process for fabricating the freewheeling diode may be necessary. Moreover, a size of the semiconductor switching device may increase, and fabrication costs may also increase.

High electron mobility transistor and method of manufacturing the same


Stud bolts 51, 52 are fixed by welding to the side faces of a first closure 30 and a second closure 40, which are connected to a cylindrical housing 20. When connecting a gas introduction port of the air bag to a diffuser portion 43, the stud bolts 51, 52 do not cause an obstruction, and hence the attachability of an inflator 10 to a module case using the stud bolts 51, 52 is not impaired.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an inflator for an air bag system of an automobile.
2. Description of Related Art
An inflator for an air bag system of an automobile is attached to a vehicle body using different attachment methods depending on the type and structure of the inflator. In the case of a front passenger side inflator comprising an elongated housing, the inflator is incorporated in a module case, and hence the inflator is fixed to the module case by a stud bolt provided on an end surface of the housing.
However, some side air bag inflators and curtain air bag inflators for lateral collisions are attached to the air bag by connecting a gas discharge hole of the inflator directly to a gas introduction port of the air bag. In the case of this type of inflator, if the stud bolt is provided on the end surface, the stud bolt interferes with the air bag, and hence connecting the inflator to the air bag becomes difficult. As a method of solving such problems, JP-B No. 2528596 and JP-B No. 3133267 disclose inflators comprising a stud bolt provided on the side surface of the housing.
The inflators disclosed in JP-B No. 2528596 and JP-B No. 3133267 are both provided with a separate outside housing surrounding the housing, to which stud bolts are attached. As a result, the overall size of the inflator increases, and hence these inflators are not suitable as a side air bag inflator or curtain air bag inflator having a particularly restricted attachment space.


A method and communication system for supporting dormant mode are described. In one embodiment, the communication system comprises a wireless station operable in a power savings mode and group of access points. Each group of access points comprises one or more access points with at least one group of access points having at least two access points. Ranges for the one or more access points in each of the groups define a paging area for each group, wherein one access point uses a paging channel for paging the wireless station when the wireless station is in the power savings mode and is in the paging area associated with the one access point. The wireless station performs a handoff procedure when the one access point is not in the same group of access points as the access point associated with the wireless station prior to the wireless station entering the power savings mode and does not perform a handoff procedure when the one access point is in the same group of access points as the access point associated with the wireless station prior to the wireless station entering the power savings mode.

To increase battery life of wireless station, a power save mode is defined in many wireless network protocols. In IEEE 802.11 networks, a wireless station is either in a receive state in which it is listening for frames, a transmit state in which it is sending frames, or a power save mode in which it is neither transmitting nor receiving. This causes a very large portion of wireless stations to be powered-up most of time. The wireless station in power save mode consumes much less power by shutting off power to nearly everything except for a timing circuit. This enables the wireless station to consume very little power and wake up periodically (in multiples of beacon intervals) to receive beacon transmissions from an access point.
Paging is a wireless service for alerting a wireless station in a power save mode to the arrival of frames and optionally to buffer arrived frames until the paged station wakes up and receives them. The area in which paging is used is referred to as a paging area. A paging area boundary is defined by the outer perimeter of the ranges of a collection of access points (an "access point group") that are used to locate a dormant wireless station. This outer perimeter forms the paging area boundary of a paging area. Each paging area uniquely identifies itself to wireless stations by periodically broadcasting its unique paging area identifier. Although many cellular-based wireless WAN protocols support paging, WLAN protocols, such as the IEEE 802.11, do not specifically provide standards or methods for implementing paging. For example, the IEEE 802.11 protocol does not have paging areas with more than one access point, a dedicated paging channel and a radio link protocol specifically directed towards locating a dormant wireless station that is in a power save mode.
Some wireless networks, such as IEEE 802.11, have inflexible paging architecture. In IEEE 802.11, paging area consists of single access point, so wireless station should perform location registration whenever it enters coverage area of new AP. As wireless stations become more mobile, power consumption caused by inflexible paging architecture becomes more significant.

Method and apparatus for dormant mode support with paging


Typical testing of solder joints, (e.g. joints at printed circuit board pads) has not proven totally predictive of the ultimate performance of such joints. It has been found that this lack of reliability is, at least in part, due to the tendency during testing for these pads to lose adhesion to, or delaminate from, the underlying substrate. In contrast, such occurrence is not typical of phenomena induced during typical device usage. To remove this source of unreliability, a test structure is made together with the manufacturing device lot. The same pad processing is used and the pad size is substantially enlarged in the test structure. The test structure is employed to predict performance of devices in the lot and then the lot is processed accordingly.

The electronic instrumentalities forming the basis for equipment such as mobile phones, computers, and servers are generally fabricated by electrically interconnecting electronic components such as integrated circuits, resistors and capacitors with printed circuit boards. The electrical input and output of the components to a second component, for example, a printed circuit board is generally accomplished through a conducting region typically denominated a pad. Such pads generally have dimensions in the range 100 μm2 to 1 mm2 and are electrically connected to the circuitry of the component such as a printed circuit board through conducting pathways denominated runners. (A runner typically has a width in the range 5 μm to 100 μm and a length, depending on the device configuration, often ranging between a few micrometers and a few centimeters.) For most applications, both the pad and runner, on, for example, the printed circuit board, are metallic and have upper surfaces that include copper, nickel, gold, silver, palladium, or aluminum. (Upper in the context of this disclosure is a surface closest to the point of electrical connection to another component.)
Two components, e.g. an integrated circuit and printed circuit board, are electrically connected through the expedient of solder ball connections, or as they are termed in the trade, solder bump or solder ball connections. Typically, the pads of the two components to be electrically interconnected are, at least in part, configured to be geometrically aligned when the components are positioned for connection. The electrical connection itself in many applications such as flip chip solder connection is made by first forming a solder bump on one (e.g. the integrated circuit pad) of each pair of pads to be electrically connected. (The solder bump is typically approximately spherical in cross section but the shape is not critical.) In manufacture, a solder mask composed generally of an electrically insulating material is configured over the pad region of, for example, the printed circuit board with openings in the mask to allow connection to the underlying pads. (See Microelectronic Packaging Handbook, R. Tummala, et. al., Chapman and Hall, New York, N.Y. 1997, for a description of typical solder mask materials and methods for configuring such masks.) The components are then electrically connected by a process (generally denominated reflow) in which the pads to be connected are aligned and the solder bumps are brought to a temperature exceeding their melting point as described by Tummala supra. This heating process causes the formation of intermetallic compounds at the solder bump/pad interface that contribute to the adhesion of the connected structure. For example, for a copper pad and a lead-free tin/silver/copper solder composition typical intermetallic compounds such as Cu6Sn5 and Cu3Sn respectively are formed at the interface. Similar intermetallics are formed when tin/silver/copper solder balls are attached to the copper pads on a circuit board during reflow.
For reasons that are not fully understood, solder bumps (or solder balls) at times fail when subjected to stress engendered by typical occurrences such as the dropping of an instrumentality or a component, or through the mechanical forces endured during transportation and handling of such entities. There are two predominant failure modes for the solder bump connection. Either the solder bump itself shears into two portions, or the bump fractures (brittle failure) near or at the intermetallic region present at the interface between the pad and the solder bump. Clearly the failure of the electrical connection, especially after the instrumentality has been assembled, is costly and quite undesirable.
In an attempt to predict the failure of components and remove such components from the manufacturing stream, a variety of tests have been developed. In one approach, a probe, 2 in FIG. 1, is traversed in direction 5 against solder bump 7 present on pad 9 with surrounding solder mask 6. The speed of the probe traversal has a significant effect on the ultimate results. Generally, faster probe speeds, i.e. speeds in excess of 1 mm/sec, lead to brittle failure i.e. failure at the intermetallic compound present at the interface from solder bump formation and/or reflow. Slower speeds, i.e. speeds less than 0.5 mm/sec, typically lead to ductile failure—a sheering of the solder bump bulk. (Speeds between 0.5 mm/sec and 1 mm/sec lead to a mixed failure mode.) Similarly, in a second approach to testing, as shown in FIG. 2, the solder bump 7 is grasped by probe 20 and stress is applied in direction 25. Again, the speed of the probe movement dictates whether a brittle or ductile failure occurs.
The failure of solder bumps has become an even more pressing problem with the ever increasing desire to eliminate lead from solder bump compositions. Lead-containing solders are more prone to undergo ductile failure than lead-free solder alloys. In contrast, lead-free solders i.e. solders having a lead content less than 300 ppm lead, have an increased tendency to suffer brittle rather than ductile failure. Unfortunately, a composition that predominantly fails by a ductile mechanism is much preferred because such failure typically occurs less frequently and occurs only after substantially longer periods of stress. Thus, the trend towards lead-free solders has made the identification of components that are likely to fail a more pressing concern. Despite the ever-increasing importance of such identification, available testing approaches have not yielded the desired level of predictability.

Manufacture of devices including solder bumps


A method and apparatus for performing optical microscopy in one to three dimensions employs a spectral self-interference fluorescent microscopy technique that includes providing at least one fluorescent microscopy sample, at least one objective lens, and at least one reflecting surface. The fluorescent sample is disposed between the objective lens and the reflecting surface, the distance from the sample to the reflecting surface being several to several tens times an excitation wavelength. Excitation light causes the fluorescent sample to emit light, at least a portion of which is reflected by the reflecting surface. The objective lens collects the reflected light and the light emitted directly by the fluorescent sample. The direct and reflected light interfere causing spectral oscillations in the emission spectrum. The periodicity and the peak wavelengths of the emission spectrum are spectroscopically analyzed to determine the optical path length between the fluorescent sample and the reflecting surface.

The present invention relates generally to optical microscopy, and more specifically to optical microscopy in one to three dimensions that provides increased resolution while enhancing the specificity of optical measurements.
Techniques for performing optical microscopy are known that are capable of providing high resolution three-dimensional (3-D) imaging. Such optical microscopy techniques have a number of advantages over non-optical microscopy techniques such as electron microscopy and scanned probe microscopy. For example, optical microscopy can be used to view living tissue samples in their natural state, thereby enabling the study of complex biological mechanisms. In contrast, electron microscopy typically requires microscopy samples to be dried and exposed to a vacuum, which would normally kill living tissue samples. Not only can optical microscopy be used to view living tissue samples, but it can also be used to map the interior of such samples in multiple dimensions. Scanned probe microscopy, in comparison, can typically only be used to map surfaces of living tissue samples and is therefore incapable of providing information about the sample's interior. Optical microscopy can also be used with fluorescent probe technology to allow cellular components of living tissue samples to be identified and mapped with some degree of specificity.
Conventional techniques for performing 3-D optical microscopy include optical sectioning microscopy, scanning confocal microscopy, two-photon microscopy, and 4Pi confocal microscopy. Optical sectioning microscopy techniques typically comprise acquiring a series of images of a microscopy sample by successively moving sections of the sample through a focal plane. Each image includes in-focus information from the sample sections in the focal plane and out-of-focus information from the remaining sections of the sample. The image information is then analyzed by computer to reconstruct the 3-D structure of the sample. Such computer analysis typically employs at least one computational de-convolution algorithm and reference data describing the "blur" caused by a single point source of light. Scanning confocal microscopy techniques typically comprise focusing a laser beam onto a spot in a microscopy sample and detecting light through a pinhole focused onto the same spot in the sample as the laser. Next, the focal point is scanned in three dimensions through the sample. Finally, light intensity is detected as a function of the spot position to obtain a 3-D image of the sample.
However, conventional optical microscopy techniques such as optical sectioning microscopy and scanning confocal microscopy have drawbacks in that the depth resolution (i.e., the resolution in the vertical Z-direction) is, in general, worse than the resolution in the transverse (i.e., the X-Y) plane. As a result, the range of biological mechanisms that can be studied by these conventional optical microscopy techniques is limited.
For example, in order to study cellular functions such as cell cycle, development, motility, adhesion, and DNA replication, it is often necessary to perform precise 3-D localization of proteins within prokaryotic cells. This would normally require an optical microscopy technique capable of providing depth resolution on the order of at least ten to tens of nano-meters. However, conventional optical microscopy techniques such as optical sectioning microscopy and scanning confocal microscopy have traditionally only been capable of providing depth resolution on the order of half a micron.
It would therefore be desirable to have a technique for performing multi-dimensional optical microscopy that can be used, e.g., to study a wide range of biological mechanisms and sub-cellular processes in real time. Such an optical microscopy technique would provide resolution on the order of at least tens of nano-meters in at least one dimension. It would also be desirable to have an optical microscopy technique that can be used with fluorescent probe technology to enhance the specificity of optical measurements.

Spectral imaging for vertical sectioning


A method is disclosed for arranging or adapting a fuzzy controller or of a system of interlinked fuzzy controllers having at least two input variables and an output variable which controller or system has input membership functions with which truth values of linguistic values for the input variables are determined, and has a control mechanism in which truth values for the output variable are determined from the truth values for the input variable and has output membership functions with which the values of the output variable are determined from the truth values for the output variable. Pursuant to the method, value ranges are defined for the input variables and a number of classes are determined over the value ranges. Subsequently, in a learning phase, value combinations of the input variables and of the output variable are recorded data set by data set. The defined classes are altered, removed and/or new classes are generated as a function of the registered value combinations. Following the completion of the class adaptation, adapted membership functions and the rules of the fuzzy controller are set up on the basis of the newly formed classes.

This invention relates to methods for arranging or adapting fuzzy controllers or a system of interlinked fuzzy controllers having at least two input variables and an output variable in which the controller or system has input membership functions with which truth values of linguistic values for the input variables are determined, has a control mechanism in which truth values for the output variable are determined from the truth values for the input variables, and has output membership functions with which the values of the output variable are determined from the truth values for the output variable.
Fuzzy controllers are used when process-specific strategies based on experience, which may be formulated in everyday speech as IF-THEN rules, are to be embodied in algorithms which are capable of being automated. As is known from numerous publications, fuzzy controllers constitute nonlinear, multivariable characteristic map controllers whose static transfer properties depend essentially on the number, position and shape of the membership functions and on the formulation of the linguistic control mechanism. The multiplicity of input variable results in a considerable amount of randomness in the knowledge-based setting-up of fuzzy controllers. Right from the setting of the objective, it is obvious that the design of a fuzzy controller differs fundamentally from that of a conventional controller. Parametric process models and mathematically safeguarded controller design methods are at the foreground of conventional control technology and fuzzy controllers are primarily concerned with the operationalization of such available knowledge.
The normal procedure in the conversion of available knowledge to algorithms is that, following the definition of the input and output variables of the fuzzy controllers, a fuzzy partitioning of the numerical values by means of linguistic values and a positioning of the membership functions for the input and the output variables is carried out. This is followed by the formulation of the expert knowledge as IF-THEN rules and the selection of a suitable defuzzification method. If the necessary expert knowledge is not available, methods for fuzzy controller design or adaption must be used.
In the publication "Lernverfahren fur Fuzzy-Regler", [Learning methods for fuzzy controllers], Automatisierungstechnische Praxis 37 (1955) 7, pages 10-20, a learning process for fuzzy controllers using a classification based on measurement data sets is described. The basis for the method is a classifying statement for the extraction from fuzzy controllers of data sets which in each case consists of an output variable and the associated input variables. According to the basic idea, all data sets constitute elementary rules, the data distribution determines the position of the membership functions and the elementary rules of greatest relevance define the final control base. The membership functions for the input and output variables are initially assumed to be given in the known method. All values from an exemplary data set are fuzzified using the membership functions and are categorized or classified in accordance with their degree of membership. By interlinking the degrees of membership according to the Min operation of fuzzy logic, rules of different relevance are formed. In the process, all those terms which have a degree of satisfaction greater than 0 are taken into account.
The disadvantage of this iterative method is in particular that the memory requirement is very high, since the value combinations of the input and output variables over the entire duration of the adaptation are needed and the adaptation itself lasts for a very long time.

Method for arranging a fuzzy controller or a system of interlinked fuzzy controllers


A fuel dispenser includes a fuel nozzle configured to be connected to a vehicle fuel system, fuel piping configured to transfer fuel from at least one fuel storage tank associated with the fuel dispenser through the fuel nozzle into the vehicle fuel system, and a fraud detection valve apparatus. The fraud detection valve apparatus includes a cutoff valve configured to selectively prevent flow of fuel, a flow sensor configured to sense a flow of fuel, and processing circuity. The processing circuitry is configured to receive an indication of flow of fuel through the fuel flow control valve apparatus, determine an authorization status, and in response to a determination of no authorization during flow, cause the cutoff valve apparatus to close.

The present invention relates generally to equipment used in fuel dispensing environments. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention relate to a fuel dispenser with a fraud detecting breakaway valve assembly.
Typical fuel dispensers may be configured such that the fuel is constantly pressurized by a submersible turbine pump (STP) and flow is prevented by a flow control valve. The flow control valve may be normally closed and opened by energizing a solenoid. The valves are typically driven by the dispenser's "Pump Control Node" (PCN) through an appropriate interface which applies current to the solenoid. In certain cases, it is possible to bypass this controlled opening using "cheater" wiring across the normal control switch that forces the valve open regardless of the operating condition of the PCN. Fuel would flow in this situation simply by squeezing the nozzle lever. The resulting fuel flow would be "not authorized" (i.e., stolen) and not counted by the dispenser. (Even if the fuel was counted, it would not be stopped in currently-deployed dispenser systems.)

Fuel dispenser with fraud detecting breakaway valve assembly


A remote mass is excited with one or more beams, and the surface vibrations of the excited mass are detected with one or more laser vibrometers. Each vibrometer generates a signal indicative of the surface vibrations which is stored, reversed in time, and applied to modulate an exciter beam that is then impinged onto the mass.

This application relates to methods and devices for remote internal inspection and ablation/modification of an object disposed within a mass.
Methods for internal inspection of objects are known. Modern approaches typically use sonar methods for probing and/or altering the internal composition of a mass by applying acoustic waves to the mass, measuring the vibrations induced in the excited mass such as by detecting scattered acoustic waves, and modifying subsequently applied acoustic waves in accordance with the scattered waves. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 5,092,336 to Fink describes a method for focusing acoustic waves on a target in tissue wherein the tissue containing the target is illuminated with an unfocused acoustic beam, echo signals received by an array of electro-acoustic transducers are stored, the distribution in time and the shapes of the echo signals are reversed, and the reversed signals are applied to the transducers in the array to illuminate the tissue.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,490,469 to Candy, the use of time reversed echo signals is expanded to a method for decomposing a plurality of scatterers in tissue by iteratively transmitting a time reversed field into the plurality of scatterers of the medium and performing a sequence of time-reversal iterations to extract contribution of the i-th scatterer of the plurality of scatterers, estimating a weighting coefficient of the i-th scatterer of the plurality of scatterers, and estimating the plurality of scatterers of the medium with the i-th scatterer removed, until a decomposition condition has been satisfied.
These methods and devices, and others like them, have met with practical success and have been applied to a variety of uses. However, they are limited by their use of acoustic transducers for exciting the target and surrounding mass and for applying the reversed signals to the mass, as well as for measuring the vibrations of the excited mass. What is still needed are methods and devices for remotely focusing energy on a mass to locate and/or destroy or otherwise alter targets disposed therein. The present embodiments answer this and other needs.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Time-reversed photoacoustic system and uses thereof


A negative electrode 1 for nonaqueous secondary batteries characterized by having an active material layer 5 and a metallic lithium layer 3 both between a pair of current collecting surface layers 4. The negative electrode 1 has two negative electrode precursors 2 each composed of the current collecting surface layer 4 and the active material layer 5 on one side of the surface layer 4. The two negative electrode precursors 2 are united with their active material layers 5 facing each other and with the metallic lithium layer 3 sandwiched therebetween. A metallic material having low capability of forming a lithium compound penetrates through the whole thickness of the active material layer 5.

Attaching metallic lithium to the negative electrode of a nonaqueous secondary battery has been proposed to obtain improved overdischarge characteristics. For example, JP-A-5-144472, JP-A-5-144473, and JP-A-7-94211 disclose a nonaqueous secondary battery consisting of a spiral wound roll of a positive plate of a lithium-containing complex oxide of a transition metal and a negative plate of a carbon material separated by a separator, in which the negative electrode has a metallic lithium foil adhered to its outermost or peripheral part on the side not facing the positive plate.
The disclosed negative electrode has the active material exposed on its outermost surface that is in contact with a nonaqueous electrolyte. Therefore, the active material particles are apt to fall off through repetition of expansion and contraction accompanying intercalation and deintercalation of lithium ions. As a result, a battery using the negative electrode tends to have a reduced cycle life. Moreover, since metallic lithium is also exposed on the outermost surface of the negative electrode, there is the danger that lithium grows dendritically, and the formed dendrites ultimately fall off the negative electrode or penetrate the separator and then contact with the positive electrode, which causes an internal shortage or ignition.
A trace amount of water can often enter a nonaqueous secondary battery during the production processes. In a nonaqueous secondary battery, water reacts with the nonaqueous electrolyte to decompose it. It has hence been suggested to reduce the water content of a nonaqueous secondary battery thereby to improve charge/discharge cycle characteristics (see JP-A-2001-223030). However, a good deal of time and effort would be involved to reduce the water content to a satisfactory level, which is not economically feasible.
Apart from water, a trace amount of oxygen is unavoidably present in the current collector and the active material. Oxygen forms a compound with lithium during a charge or discharge. Formation of the lithium compound results in a reduction in the amount of reversibly available lithium, namely, an increase of irreversible capacity, because an Li—O bond has a relatively high bonding strength.

Negative electrode for nonaqueous secondary battery and process of producing the same


Apparatuses and methods for connecting office furniture components are disclosed. One embodiment includes a two-piece bracket that attaches a vertical panel adjacent to and extending upward from the top of a second vertical panel, the bracket forming two channels having openings in opposite directions. Another embodiment includes a two-piece bracket that holds two vertical wall panels together, the bracket including a U-shaped member and an L-shaped member connected to one another to form an S-shaped member. Another embodiment includes a two-piece bracket that receives the edge of a panel in a channel between the two pieces and includes a contact surface between the two pieces that is angled to increase the pressure exerted on the panel. Still another embodiment includes a two-piece bracket that holds a shelf atop a wall panel and includes an L-shaped member and a T-shaped member that connect to form a Π-shaped member.

Modular office furniture systems are frequently used in office buildings. These modular furniture systems provide the user with the ability to configure the office furniture in a number of potential configurations, thereby allowing each user some level of customization to adapt the furniture to the user's needs. For example, one user may configure a system to include workstations with short walls between each workstation, while another user may provide more privacy between the workstations by using brackets to attach privacy panels to the tops of the short wall panels and extend the height of the short wall panels separating the workstations. As another example, some users may set up workstations with access areas (similar to service windows where personnel can approach the workstation to conduct business) defined by a shelf held atop a short wall panel by a bracket.

Apparatus for connecting modular office furniture components


A wireless mobile communication device includes a wireless communication subsystem configured to wirelessly communicate through a local data access point to cause a query to be delivered to a remote access point location database. The location database contains information about the location of local data access points within a widespread area. The query is for location information for data access points located near the wireless device. The wireless device receives nearby access point location information from the database, and the device causes at least a portion of the access point location information to be delivered to a user. This may be done through a user interface, upon request of the user, and while the wireless communication subsystem is not connected to a local data access point.

Technical Field
This disclosure relates to wireless mobile communication devices, including the identification of local data access points through which these devices may connect.
Description of Related Art
Wireless mobile communication devices, such as smart cell phones, laptops, and PDA's often utilize a local data access point, such as a WiFi hot spot, in order to connect to network information, such as to websites and email. Locating publicly-available local data access points, however, can be challenging.
There are on line databases which contain the location of publicly-available local data access points throughout large geographic areas, such as throughout the United States. However, a data connection to this database must usually first be made in order to access its data. Such a data connection may not be available to a user of a wireless mobile communication device which has not yet established connectivity through a local data access point.
Some users may also access online data through a data service provided by a cell phone carrier. However, the user may incur charges in order to utilize this service. The use of this data service may also be slow and cumbersome.
A user might also access and download the database of local data access points when the user has data connectivity through a local data access point. However, these data bases can be very large, requiring substantial memory in the wireless mobile communication device. Further, the information in the database may change frequently, requiring frequent updates.

Download localized portion of large database based on cellular network topology


A method of preparing an engine valve is provided. The method includes hot forging a heat resistant steel at 1,150 to 1,250° C. to mold a valve, aging the molded valve and hollowed-out processing the aging valve. Additionally, the method includes nitride-heating the hollow valve and grinding a surface of a neck of the nitride-heated valve to remove a nitride layer.

Referring to FIG. 1 of the prior art, a hollow engine valve "A" for a vehicle typically includes three members, i.e., a valve head "1", a hollow shaft "2", and a shaft end sealant "3". In the hollow engine valve, particularly an exhaust hollow engine valve exposed to a high temperature, a material having excellent heat resistance such as manganese-based heat resistant steel or nickel-based heat resistant steel is applied to the valve head exposed to the highest temperature and general steel or heat resistant steel is applied to the hollow shaft and the shaft end sealant.
Meanwhile, recently developed high-power engine has a higher exhaust gas temperature than the existing engine, and thus durability of a neck of the exhaust valve is insufficient. A method of improving the neck durability of the exhaust valve has been developed that includes changing to a material having excellent heat resistance and a method of securing durability by reinforcing the neck shape of the exhaust valve. In changing the material, the material cost increases. Furthermore, the neck shape reinforcement increases the weight of the exhaust valve, thereby increasing friction and degrading characteristics of a valve system.
Another developed technique includes a method of manufacturing an engine exhaust valve in which a heat resistant steel of a specific composition is used as a material, a shape of the exhaust valve which consists of a valve head and a shaft is provided by cold forging or warm forging after performing a solution treatment, and aging treatment is performed at 600 to 800° C. for 0.5 to 4 hours. However, when this method is performed at 900 to 1,100° C., a solid solution treatment is progressed insufficiently which limits the high temperature properties, which display the heat resistant steel. When applying the manufactured valve, pore or micro cracks occur in the neck of the valve head exposed to the high temperature of 700 to 800° C. for a long period of time.
Therefore, there is a need for research and development on a method of manufacturing an engine valve, which does not cause the increase in material cost and in the weight of the valve, has improved physical properties such as strength and fatigue life at the high temperature and being less durability degradation even when exposed to the high temperature for a long period of time, and has improved creep life.


An optical table comprising an upper skin tapped with holes for mounting equipment, a lower skin with a plurality of through holes which is coaxial with the tapped holes on the upper skin in a one to one arrangement, a honeycomb core, a connecting side wall, and a number of tubes. The tubes are positioned between the interior of the upper and lower skins so as to connect the holes on both skins so that contaminants and residue will be unable to enter into the interior of the honeycomb core, and so that the optical table can be rapidly and thoroughly cleaned.

1. Field of the Invention
The subject invention relates to optical tables and more particularly to honeycomb tabletops for optical tables used in supporting precision laboratory equipment and vibration control, especially for use in clean rooms, and other similar environments.
2. Brief Description of the Background of the Invention
Honeycomb tabletops are typically used for supporting and positioning of highly sensitive scientific equipment, such as optical devices. Honeycomb tabletops generally include an upper skin, a lower skin, a honeycomb core, and a connecting side wall. The upper skin is typically provided with a plurality of tapped holes which are used for mounting equipment upon the tabletop surface. The honeycomb core maintains the structure rigidity and flatness of the upper skin so as to minimize the displacement of the devices relative to one anther. Historically, granite plates have been used as optical tables. However, their large weight and the difficulty of attaching components to their surfaces make them cumbersome to use.
Unfortunately, the tapped holes in the upper skin provide access to the cells of the honeycomb core in the interior of the optical table. Thus liquid or other debris spilled upon the table surface may pass into the interior. Due to the boned structure of the honeycomb and the complexity of the interior configuration, such spills are difficult and impractical to clean. Accordingly, conventional tabletops cannot satisfy the needs of usage in and maintenance of clean rooms.
Various methods of construction are known to solve these problems. Specifically, U.S. Pat. No. 4,621,006 discloses a tabletop design wherein a sealing sheet is positioned between a first distance honeycomb core portion adjoining the lower layer and a second distance several times honeycomb core portion adjoining the upper skin. The second distance is several times the mentioned first distance. So that the honeycomb core portion adjoining the lower layer is sealed off by the sealing sheet, and only a smaller distance of the honeycomb core portion needs to be cleaned.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,645,171 describes a honeycomb optical table wherein each hole in the top surface is sealed off from the interior of the honeycomb cells by a cavity enclosure which is secured to the underside of the top skin in connection with each hole. The cavity enclosures prevent the residue and contaminant from passing to the interior of the honeycomb core. As a result, cleanup can be effectively accomplished by wiping the table surface and applying suction to the small enclosure.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,853,065 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,021,282, the use of a sealing sheet with projections corresponding in number and location to apertures in the table leavers and projecting into cells of honeycomb cores for a distance being several times smaller than the depth of such cores. It provides a means of sealing the holes of the upper layer from the honeycomb core.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,061,541 describes a honeycomb optical table with at least a layer of rigid corrugated material comprised of valleys and crests, an internal stiffening sheet, a drilled and tapped bar, and a series of connected cups to seal off from interior of the honeycomb cells which is secured to the underside of the top skin. The longitudinal axes of the crests and valleys of the said rigid corrugated material are aligned generally parallel to the both facing sheets and perpendicularly to the longitudinal axes of the cells of honeycomb core.
Another honeycomb optical table design is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,402,734, wherein a number of cups are positioned between the bottom layer and the top layer, and at least some of the cups are sized and shaped so as to cooperate with the lower face of the top layer to form a cavity surrounding at least two of the holes in the top layer so that contaminants will be unable to pass through the surrounding holes into the honeycomb core.
Although above-mentioned designs exhibit varying levels of effectiveness in containing the contaminants and spills easily and isolating from residue or contaminants entering the interior of the tabletop, no existing design appears to adequately address the need for easy and thorough cleaning of the portion of the tabletop exposed to the tapped holes.
In this invention, we describe an optical table having an easily-cleaned structure by using a downwards tread of object in field of gravity. Spillage, contaminants and residue can be more easily cleaned from the top down.

Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics the Chinese Academy of Sciences


Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, providing cumulative TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) congestion control. One method includes establishing multiple TCP connections between a transmitting host and a receiving host for sending data from the transmitting host to the receiving host; and using one congestion window on the transmitting host to perform congestion control for the multiple TCP connections as a whole.

The present invention relates to data processing by digital computer, and more particularly to TCP congestion control.
A typical TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) connection links two endpoints in a computer network to allow applications running on the two endpoints to communicate. For convenience, communication over a TCP connection will sometimes be described as one-way communication between a transmitting host and a receiving host. However, it should be understood that a TCP connection between two endpoints supports two-way communication between the two endpoints. Moreover, it should be understood that communication over a TCP connection linking two endpoints is between applications running on the two endpoints.
A transmitting host sends data to the receiving host using the TCP connection, and the receiving host returns acknowledgements (ACKs) to the transmitting host, acknowledging receipt of the data. The data sent from the transmitting host to the receiving host over the TCP connection is buffered in a send buffer associated with the TCP connection. The data in the send buffer is then packaged into TCP segments, and the TCP segments are sent to the receiving host. A variety of mechanisms exist to trigger a transmission of a TCP segment from the transmitting host to the receiving host. For an overview of these mechanisms, see RFC 793, Transmission Control Protocol. For convenience, a time when the transmitting host sends a TCP segment to the receiving host will be referred to as a "transmit time."
If the transmitting host detects that a TCP segment sent to the receiving host has been corrupted or lost, the transmitting host resends that TCP segment to the receiving host. The transmitting host can use a variety of mechanisms for detecting loss or corruption of a sent TCP segment. In one implementation, the transmitting host determines that a TCP segment sent to the receiving host has been corrupted or lost if the receiving host does not acknowledge receipt of that TCP segment within a timeout interval (referred to as a "retransmission timeout"). The retransmission timeout is sometimes defined as a function of the average time it takes the transmitting host to send a TCP segment to the receiving host and receive an acknowledgement for that TCP segment from the receiving host (referred to as "round-trip time"). For an overview of other mechanisms for detecting loss or corruption of a TCP segment, see RFC 2581, TCP Congestion Control.
When sending data to the receiving host on a TCP connection, the transmitting host estimates the maximum amount of data that can be sent at a time on that TCP connection without exceeding the capacity of the receiving host. For that purpose, a mechanism referred to as "flow control" is sometimes used. In the flow control mechanism, the receiving host regularly informs the transmitting host of how much new data the receiving host is capable of receiving on a particular TCP connection. In response, the transmitting host adjusts the rate at which it sends data to the receiving host on that TCP connection so as not to overrun the capacity of the receiving host.
In addition, when sending data on a TCP connection, the transmitting host estimates the maximum amount of data that can be sent at a time on that TCP connection without creating excessive congestion (and consequently delays) in the network. For that purpose, a mechanism referred to as "congestion control" is sometimes used. In the congestion control mechanism, the transmitting host uses a "congestion window" for a TCP connection to control the rate at which it sends data to the receiving host on that TCP connection. A congestion window for a TCP connection is defined by a state variable, which is used to limit the number of bytes of in-transit data (i.e., data sent by the transmitting host but not acknowledged by the receiving host) on that TCP connection. This state variable is often referred to as the size of the congestion window. The maximum number of bytes that a transmitting host can send on a TCP connection at any given time is equal to the difference between the size of the transmitting host's congestion window for that TCP connection and the number of bytes already in transit on that TCP connection at the given time.
The transmitting host generally increases the size of its congestion window for a particular TCP connection if the transmitting host timely receives an ACK for an in-transit TCP segment on that TCP connection (e.g., within the retransmission timeout interval). However, if the transmitting host detects loss of data on a TCP connection (e.g., if an ACK for an in-transit TCP segment is not received within the retransmission timeout interval), the transmitting host interprets the loss as a sign of network congestion and generally decreases the size of its congestion window for that TCP connection.
When the transmitting host starts sending data on a new (or previously-idle) TCP connection, the transmitting host typically uses a mechanism referred to as "slow-start" to control the size of its congestion window for the new (or previously-idle) TCP connection. In the slow-start mechanism, the transmitting host initially sets the size of the congestion window for a new (or previously-idle) TCP connection to a "maximum segment size" (MSS), i.e., the maximum number of bytes in a TCP segment. The transmitting host then increases the size of the congestion window by MSS bytes each time an ACK is received for an in-transit TCP segment on that TCP connection within the retransmission timeout interval. Once the transmitting host detects congestion, however, the transmitting host decreases the size of the congestion window and repeats the process.
As a result, the slow-start mechanism prevents the transmitting host from swamping the network with too much additional traffic on a new (or previously-idle) TCP connection. However, the slow-start mechanism often forces the transmitting host to operate below the capacity of the network when the transmitting host begins sending data on such a connection.


A parking brake actuator for a cable-operated vehicle parking brake, comprises a mounting bracket on the vehicle, a sector gear mounted on the mounting bracket for rotation about an axis to variably tension the cable. A pedal lever is coaxially pivoted on the mounting bracket for independent rotation between a brake release position and a plurality of brake apply positions. A spiral-wound spring extends between the operating lever and the drive plate for rotating the drive plate relative to the lever to apply an initial tension on the cable. A drive clutch couples the drive plate to the lever upon initial rotation of the lever out of brake release position to enable rotation of the lever to increasingly tension the cable and apply the parking brake. The drive clutch includes a pinion gear mounted on the lever in engagement with the sector gear. A torsion clutch spring is wrapped about the pinion gear hub and has one end fixed to the lever and a free end, and normally contracts to prevent rotation of the pinion gear, thus operatively coupling the drive plate to the lever. A release pin on the mounting bracket is engaged by the torsion clutch spring free end in the brake release position to expand the torsion clutch spring to free the pinion for rotation, thus decoupling the drive plate from the lever. A similar position control clutch employing a torsion spring releasably maintains the drive plate in brake apply position.

This invention relates generally to parking brake actuators and, more particularly, to a parking brake actuator that is continuously self-adjustable for cable slack.
Parking brakes are customarily provided on automotive vehicles to provide a device for securing the vehicle against inadvertent movement when parked on a grade, whether or not the vehicle transmission is engaged or not. Recently, because of space limitations, parking brakes have been developed that utilize a foot-operated flexible cable to operate the remote parking brake. Many of these have a self-adjust feature to accommodate cable slack which occurs during installation or over the life of the vehicle, due to cable stretch or cable system geometry change caused by use.
Such a parking brake is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,612,823 to De Leeuw et al. This parking brake actuator features a pedal actuator lever that drivingly engages a cable-connected drive plate through a pawl-and-sector connection. Another pawl-and-sector device provides position control to hold the parking brake in applied position and is released to disengage the parking brake.
The driving pawl-and-sector device automatically disengages in brake released position to enable a clock spring to take up slack. The pawl automatically engages the peripheral sector teeth when the pedal lever is depressed to apply the parking brake. This pawl-and-sector driving engagement is subject to the pawl skipping a sector tooth during initial engagement.
This "skip" is inherent in this type of drive, which enables a positive driving engagement between the pedal lever and the drive plate periphery only at spaced intervals determined by sector tooth spacing. The "skip" is caused by the interaction of the pawl and the sector teeth resulting from pawl and tooth geometry, pawl inertia and by the spring rate of the pawl spring. The skipping of a tooth is undesirable if repeatability of the parking brake application action (i.e. effort and motion) is desired.
It would be desirable to provide a self-adjusting parking brake actuator in which the drive clutch comprises a member which continuously engages the periphery of the drive plate.
It would also be desirable to provide a drive clutch which comprises a member that continuously and positively engages the periphery of the drive plate to provide a continuous mechanical driving connection between the operating lever and the drive plate.


A fiber optic sensor includes a sensor element responsive to a property or condition of a material, such a resistivity, capacitance, inductance, frequency, etc., for providing an output voltage signal that is dependent upon the property or condition of the material. The sensor further includes an optical-to-electrical conversion element, such as a photo detector or a solar cell, that converts an optical signal (photo detector driving optical signal) carried by an optical fiber into an electrical signal. The electrical signal is applied to the sensor element, and in response, the sensor element provides the output electrical signal. The output electrical signal is applied to a measurement device, such as a piezoelectric element, having at least one dimension that varies with changes in the output electrical signal. An optical strain sensor, such as a Bragg grating or Fabry Perot interferometer, is mounted to the measurement device such that changes in the dimension of the measurement device causes changes in the strain of the optical strain sensor. These changes in strain are detected and related to the property or condition of the material. The fiber optic sensor is particularly useful as a resistivity sensor for measuring the resistivity of a fluid. For example, the resistivity of a fluid mixture of oil and water can be measured for determining the relative water and oil content in the fluid mixture. In this configuration, the sensor element includes a pair of spaced apart conductive elements. The output electrical power from the photo detector is applied to the conductive elements and the fluid is passed between the conductive elements. The output voltage from the conductive elements varies in relation to the resistivity of the fluid sample between the conductive elements.

Many techniques are presently known for maximizing the volume of oil produced by an oil well. One of these, for example, is called "production logging." Production logging generally refers to the process of lowering a "tool string" into a producing oil well that has been cased and perforated. The tool string may include a number of well known devices for performing various functions, such as perforating the well casing, sealing perforations in the well casing, pumping petroleum from the well, measuring characteristics of fluids in the well, and the like.
Petrophysicists are often interested in measuring characteristics of different fluids in the well, at different depths, to determine which depths of the well are producing oil, and the rate at which they are producing. Typically, perforations are made in the well casing at different depths to permit oil to flow into the wellbore from the surrounding strata. Although it is advantageous to create these perforations at depths corresponding to oil-bearing strata, these perforations are sometimes made at depths where a mixture of oil and water is located, or where water exists alone. In some cases, perforations are made at depths that initially produce a great deal of oil but eventually produce more and more water and less and less oil, due to depletion of the oil reserves at that depth. If it is determined that a certain depth of the well is non-producing, or is producing mostly saline water ("brine"), some remedial work is performed upon that depth of the well. For example, the perforations in the casing at that depth may be plugged to stop production. Then, other more productive depths of the well may continue producing. Moreover, new production may be initiated by perforating the casing at other, untapped depths of the well.
It is therefore an important function of production logging to measure the ratio of water to oil at different depths inside the well casing. Such a production log indicates whether the fluid flowing into the well at a particular location is oil or water. In most cases, the flow of water into the well does not add any value, but increases the cost of production. The indication of water to oil allows the well operator to take remedial action to plug the perforation in the well producing mostly water and otherwise control the well to maximize depletion of oil in the formation.
One known method of determining water and oil content in a fluid sample or fluid stream is to measure the resistivity of the fluid. Such a resistivity measurement is a measure of the resistance per unit length of a quantity of the fluid having a unit cross-section. The oil and underground water usually have very different resistivities. The underground salty water is more conductive than oil. By measuring the resistivity of the fluid, one can easily distinguish between oil and water. Indeed, resistivity measurement is one of the most important well logs (in most cases, the most important log) used by petrophysicists to evaluate the earth formation.
Known methods of measuring resistivity of fluid in a production well include various electronic probes and the like. Such instruments require the use of electronic equipment in the harsh environment of the well. A source of electrical power must be provided to such electronic equipment. It is also know to use sample chambers to help recognize the presence of water. With this arrangement, flowing fluids are directed into a partially enclosed volume within the logging tool where the fluids are coupled to measurement electrodes. Although this approach may be useful in some applications, it may be difficult to ensure that a representative sample will be obtained, due to the tendency of oil-water mixtures to separate in low-turbulence environments.


Provided is a polarizing plate that has an excellent viewing angle characteristic and suppresses changes in display characteristics. A polarizing plate of the present invention is used in an organic EL panel, and includes a polarizer (10), a first retardation layer (30), and a second retardation layer (40). The first retardation layer (30) shows a refractive index characteristic of nx>ny≧nz, satisfies a relationship of Re(450)<Re(550), and has a water absorption rate of 3% or less. The second retardation layer (40) shows a refractive index characteristic of nz>nx≧ny. A laminate of the first retardation layer (30) and the second retardation layer (40) has an Re(550) of from 120 nm to 160 nm and an Rth(550) of from 40 nm to 100 nm.

In recent years, a display mounted with an organic EL panel has been proposed in association with widespread use of a thin display. The organic EL panel is liable to cause problems such as ambient light reflection and background reflection because the panel includes a metal layer having high reflectivity. In view of the foregoing, it has been known that those problems are prevented by providing a circularly polarizing plate on a viewer side. A product obtained by laminating a retardation film typified by a cycloolefin (COP)-based resin film (typically a λ/4 plate) so that its slow axis may form an angle of about 45° with respect to an absorption axis of a polarizer has been known as a general circularly polarizing plate. The retardation film made of a COP-based resin is known to have the so-called flat wavelength dispersion characteristic. That is, its retardation value is independent of a wavelength of measuring light and substantially constant. When a circularly polarizing plate including a retardation film having such flat wavelength dispersion characteristic is used in the organic EL panel, a problem in that an excellent reflection hue is not obtained arises.
To solve such problem as described above, a circularly polarizing plate including a retardation film having the so-called reverse wavelength dispersion dependency (reverse wavelength dispersion characteristic) has been proposed (for example, Patent Literature 1). That is, the retardation value of the film increases depending on the wavelength of measuring light. When such circularly polarizing plate is used in the organic EL panel, ambient light reflection in a front direction can be significantly alleviated, and a reflection hue in the direction can be significantly improved. However, when the panel is viewed from an oblique direction, a hue different from the hue in the front direction is obtained and the hue difference has been a serious problem. A problem in that display characteristics of the panel change over time has also been confirmed.


A device for doping silica powder with a dopant includes an arrangement for receiving silica soot particles or previously fabricated silica granules. The particles or granules contained in the receiving arrangement are heated to a temperature sufficient to allow agglomeration of the soot particles into granules followed by densification of the granules. The receiving arrangement is fed with a precursor gas of the dopant so that the granules are heated in an atmosphere containing the precursor gas, which causes the dopant to be incorporated into the granules during their densification to produce densified and doped silica grains. The receiving arrangement is mobile so that, during their movement, each of the granules that it contains is subject to movement such that substantially all of its outside surface is exposed to the atmosphere containing the precursor gas.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns a device for doping silica powder. Generally speaking, the powders obtained with a device of the invention will be usable in any type of application, and more particularly for the fabrication of optical fiber preforms.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Doping is an operation which consists of incorporating into the silica molecules one or more molecules of elements intended to modify their properties. For example, in the field of optical fibers, dopants are incorporated into the silica to modify its refractive index, respectively increasing it or reducing it according to whether the silica concerned is to form the core or the optical cladding of an optical fiber, for example. The dopant can be germanium to increase the refractive index of the silica or fluorine to reduce it, for example.
Silica ready for use in the fabrication of optical fibers is in the form of a powder made up of grains of greater or lesser size, and possibly densified.
For example, densified silica grains are used for plasma coating of an optical fiber preform fabricated by the modified chemical vapor deposition (MCVD) process.
Silica grains that have not been densified are usually smaller in size than densified silica grains and can be used to fabricate a preform by the vapor axial deposition (VAD) or outside vapor deposition (OVD) process, for example.
All the above processes are mentioned merely by way of example. The invention is in no way limited to these methods, which are well known to the skilled person in the field of optical fibers and will not be described in more detail here.
The fabrication of densified silica grains begins with non-densified silica grains in the form of very small particles, generally with a size between 0.1 nm and 100 nm. In this form the silica powder is called soot. The silica soot can be obtained in various ways well known to the skilled person. For example, it can be made by oxidizing in the presence of heat a silica precursor gas, such as silicon tetrachloride SiCl.sub.4. To fabricate densified silica grains the small silica particles are agglomerated to form granules and these granules are then consolidated by heating them to eliminate the pores between the particles constituting them, with the result that the grains obtained in this way are dense. These grains generally have a size in excess of one micron.
The expression "silica granule" refers to a silica particle at an intermediate stage of the process of fabricating densified silica grains.
The conventional method used to obtain a powder made up of doped silica grains consists in carrying out the operation of densifying the granules in an atmosphere containing a precursor gas of the required dopant. For example, to fluorinate silica granules densification is carried out in an atmosphere containing a fluorine-containing gas such as sulfur hexafluoride SF.sub.6 or silicon tetrafluoride SiF.sub.4. The non-densified silica granules are placed in a crucible that is placed in a furnace to heat it to the temperature at which densification can be effected, the furnace being fed with a precursor gas of the required dopant. The doping is produced by F.sub.2 dopant molecules diffusing into the silica granules, which leads to the formation of complex molecules of the SiO.sub.2-x F.sub.2x type.
Crucible type devices for implementing this type of process are subject to a number of problems.
The main problem is that, to obtain homogeneous doping, the treatment time required is very long and the doping yield is mediocre, which represents a penalty. If the treatment time is reduced, which increases the yield, the doping is not homogeneous. Non-homogeneous doping of silica grains leads, in the application to the fabrication of optical fibers, for example, to index variations that result in unacceptable transmission performance of the optical fibers.
Another serious problem is that the doping is effected in a static manner and therefore requires a first phase in which the temperature is raised in the furnace, a second phase of treatment at substantially constant temperature and a final phase in which the temperature is reduced before the doped and densified grains can be recovered. This means that the process cannot be continuous, which also represents a penalty in terms of the yield.
One aim of the present invention is to develop a device for doping silica powder that is capable of homogeneous doping, compatible with the use of the silica in the fabrication of optical fibers and without any penalty in terms of the yield of the doping operation.
Another aim of the present invention is to develop a device for doping silica powder enabling continuous doping.


Provided are a re-using e-commerce payment instruments for in-store purchasing systems and methods. A customer enters a check out and a transaction at the point of sale is started. The system receives a pairing request at a wallet processor from a customer mobile device operating a mobile application. This pairing request is created and sent in response to scanning of a code having a transaction identification. The system associates a customer payment profile with the transaction identification and sends associated information to the point of sale. The point of sale sends an amount of sale to authorize to the wallet processor after completing scanning of items. The system creates an authorization for payment and sending the authorization for payment to an authorizer. The transaction may then be completed by processing payment.

Many customers have discount cards, membership cards, and payment instruments they carry in a wallet or purse. These customers may have already loaded their personal data, discount cards, membership card and payment instruments in their e-commerce/mobile customer profile with a particular business. Mobile electronic payment systems require customers to re-enter that information into an application or other system in order to provide payment in-store from a mobile application.

Re-using e-commerce payment instruments for in-store use systems and methods


A search server includes a category database that stores category information containing location information indicating a geographical location, a word assigned to the location, and a user ID identifying a user having assigned the word to the location in association with one another, and a dictionary registration unit that reads first input information indicating locations to which a first word is assigned by a first user and second input information indicating locations to which a second word is assigned by a second user, and when determining that the first and second users have assigned the words to a predetermined number or more of common locations based on those information, creates dictionary data containing the first and second words in association with each other and enters the dictionary data into a dictionary database.

An information processing system that searches for information matching given criteria and provides the information to a user is hitherto known. For example, a preference information management system that estimates and uses preference information suitable for a user is disclosed in Patent Literature 1 listed below. The system includes a means for estimating preference information based on the current location and a category of its place when there is no preference information in a certain location, and a means for storing correspondence between absolute location data as represented by latitude and longitude and a category of its place.
Further, a service information delivery device that allows a recipient of service information to easily obtain service information related to the current location is disclosed in Patent Literature 2 listed below. Upon receiving a service delivery request from a terminal of a recipient member, the device automatically acquires the current location information of the terminal, extracts service information matching the service genre desired by the member and also matching the current location information from a delivery file, and delivers the service information to the terminal.
Furthermore, a destination search device for easily conducting a search for a destination even when the name or location of the destination is unknown is disclosed in Patent Literature 3 listed below. The device searches for a destination based on a database storing names, locations and genres of places which can be a destination or relevant place, a selected genre, an input name or genre of a relevant place, and a specified positional relationship.
In such search systems, "Fuzzy" search or "Did you mean" search using a dictionary which defines relations of characters or words is used in some cases. This search technique may be used to estimate a correct word and runs a search when there is a typing error in search criteria. Further, it may be used to estimate another word related to a word input as search criteria and runs a search using the estimated word as well, thereby extending the range of search results.
As a technique relating to a dictionary to implement such a search, a synonym computation device that creates a synonym dictionary reflecting the degree of association of at least two types is disclosed in Patent Literature 4 listed below. The device uses at least two types of degree-of-association dictionaries, and initializes a word group based on one degree-of-association dictionary and merges word groups based on the respective degree-of-association dictionaries, thereby creating a synonym group.

Server, dictionary creation method, dictionary creation program, and computer-readable recording medium recording the program


A cleaning pad for golf players for mounting on the leg of the player above the ankle for cleaning the head of a club and having a base layer of absorbent material against the player, a vapor barrier of the outside the base layer, a cushion layer on the outside the vapor barrier and an exterior layer on which the club head can be readily wiped on the outside of the cushion layer. Straps with hook and loop material hold the pad on the leg of the person playing golf. The exterior layer is preferably terry cloth and one alternate embodiment uses an exterior layer of felt and still another alternate embodiment uses an exterior layer of terry cloth but with bristles mounted in the cushion layer extending through the terry cloth.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to cleaning pads and more specifically to a cleaning pad that can be easily mounted on the leg of a golf player and used to clean the head of a golf club while playing.
2. Prior Art and Objects of the Invention
When playing golf, the head of the golf club frequently becomes dirty requiring that it be cleaned. Having a towel or other device readily available, is not easily achieved. To maintain a golf course, various chemicals such as weed killer and fertilizer are applied which contaminate the head of the golf club. Towels similar in appearance to small hand towels are carried by golfers. The towels that are carried are generally used for the player's hands and if left on a golf bag or in a golf cart may not be readily available to the player. It has been common place for golfers to wipe the head of the club on their clothing, most usually on the leg of their slacks, or in the case of a putter in particular, to wipe the club off with their finger or hand and then wipe off their hand on their clothing.
Towels have been long used in the game of golf and such towels, which are most usually terry cloth towels, serve a wide variety of purposes. Golfers need to maintain dry hands to grip the club. When the head of the club becomes dirty, thus requiring cleaning, to use the same towel as used for the hands is not desirable in view of the amount of dirt often removed from the head of a golf club. If the towel is not readily available thus requiring the player to interrupt playing to obtain the towel, there is a decided chance that the player, as stated above, will resort to using his or her clothing to solve the problem of a dirty head on a golf club. Since frequent cleaning is important, to place the cleaning pad where it can be quickly and frequently used with minimal movement and no discernible interruption of the golf game, is very beneficial.
This invention provides a cleaning pad for cleaning the head of a golf club which cleaning pad is comfortable and conveniently worn by the player on the player's leg just above the ankle so as always to available to the player as needed.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a cleaning pad for the head of a golf club which efficiently and conveniently permits cleaning while playing.
It is another object of the invention to provide a cleaning pad for the head of a golf club that is economical and reusable.
It is another object of the invention to provide a cleaning pad that can be comfortably worn on the leg of the player.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent of those of ordinary skill in the art as the description thereof proceeds.

Cleaning pad for mounting on the leg of a golf player


These are graded index type optical transmission mediums with a radius (r.sub.o) of 0.45.+-.0.1 mm; they are optical transmission mediums which indicate a distribution close to the optimum quadratic curve in which the refractive index distribution in the range of a radius of at least 0.2 r.sub.o .about.0.8 r.sub.o minimizes mode diffusion; the modulation transfer factor, which indicates the degree of resolution, is a high resolution at 60% or more; they are optical transmission mediums suitable for the transmission of images in copiers, facsimiles and image sensors; and this involves a method for manufacturing said optical transmission mediums by eliminating a fixed quantity of the periphery of the graded index type optical transmission medium preforms.

In recent years there have been many attempts to use long cylindrical optical transmission mediums as a means to transmit images for facsimiles, copiers and image sensors, etc. For such optical transmission mediums, it is desirable to have a product that can transmit high resolution and high quality images with little color aberration, and it is desirable to be able to adopt a manufacturing method for mass production which has few product quality variations among the optical transmission mediums.
With this kind of optical transmission medium for image transmission, a GI type optical transmission medium is used in which the refractive index becomes continuously smaller going from the center to the outer periphery within the cross-section of the optical transmission medium and in which there is an angled gradient in the distribution of the refractive index. This kind of GI type optical transmission medium appears in Japan Patent Publication No. Sho 47-816, Japan Patent Publication No. Sho 47-28059, and in EP Laid-Open Patent Application No. 208159, etc.
The GI type optical transmission medium indicated in Japan Patent Publication No. Sho 47-816 uses glass as the material, and because it is made by an ion exchange method, it has low productivity, and it is difficult to produce products between varying lots that provide the same shape and the same performance. In particular, with long cylindrical lenses of the same length that have a fixed total conjugate length, it is difficult to make products that provide the same performance between varying lots. As a result, the difficulties arise that the lengths of the GI type optical transmission mediums which provide the same performance are not uniform, and that handling them becomes troublesome.
The GI type plastic optical transmission mediums that are indicated in Japan Patent Publication No. Sho 47-28059 are made by dipping into a particular solvent long cylindrical shaped or fiber shaped molded products consisting of a mixture of 2 or more transparent polymers that have different refractive indices and which have different solubility in relation to said solvent, thus changing the percentage of mixture of the aforementioned 2 or more polymers going from the surface of said molding to its center. Plastic GI type optical transmission mediums can more or less be made by this method, but products that are a mixture of 2 or more polymers having different refractive indices can easily produce turbulence in the distribution of the refractive index, and it is difficult to make a product with a shape in which the refractive index distribution follows the optimum distribution curve from the core toward the outer periphery. Moreover products are made in which the transparency of the optical transmission medium is lowered, and the light scattering can easily occur. Thus, the characteristics are not sufficient as a GI type optical transmission medium, and this does not promote applications and development.
In EP Laid-Open Patent Application No. 0208159, a method is indicated in which, after molding into a rod shape a uniform mixture of at least one kind of thermoplastic polymer (A) and of monomer (B) which when polymerized is compatible with polymer (A) and which becomes a polymer with a refractive index that differs from polymer (A), and after making a continuous concentration distribution of monomer (B) going from the surface of said molded product to the center by dispersing monomer (B) from the surface of the molded product, a GI type plastic optical transmission medium made by polymerizing the unpolymerized monomer in said molded product.
The refractive index distribution curve of a GI type optical transmission medium should ideally have the quadratic distribution curve which is expressed by the following formula (3), and said curve should be like that shown by A in FIG. 2. EQU N=N.sub.0 (1-ar.sup.2) (3)
In this connection, the inventors of present invention found that, when using an interfaco-interference microscope to measure GI type optical transmission mediums that were made by the above mentioned conventional methods, the refractive index distribution curve was like B in FIG. 2, and the range of 0.5 r.sub.0 .about.0.75 r.sub.o radially from the core (In the same figure, this is the range of c.about.d; likewise, e indicates the periphery.) has a refractive index distribution curve with a shape that is rather close to the optimum curve expressed in formula (3), but the refractive index distribution further inside or outside of that greatly diverges from the optimum curve.
When observing a grid pattern using optical transmission mediums which have a refractive index distribution curve which almost perfectly follows the optimum curve stipulated in Formula (3), the regular grid image shown in FIG. 3 (a) can be obtained, but when observing a grid image using optical transmission medium in which the refractive index distribution varies from the ideal refractive index distribution as shown in FIG. 2B described above, only the greatly distorted grid images shown in FIGS. 3 (b) and (c) can be obtained, and accurate image transmission cannot be performed. The resolution of this kind of optical transmission medium can be expressed by a modulation transfer factor (abbreviated MTF hereafter). The calculation of the MTF value both of optical transmission mediums made by conventional technology and of optical transmission mediums of the present invention is as follows: first, as shown in FIG. 4, light from light source (42) is adjusted by lens (43), light which passes through grid (45) with a grid constant 4 (line pair/mm) strikes the GI type optical transmission medium (41), and the grid image that passes through this optical transmission medium is read by CCD sensor (46); the maximum value i.sub.max and the minimum value i.sub.min of this measured light quantity are measured as shown in FIG. 5; and the MTF value is calculated by Formula 4 below. Here, as shown by the grid in FIG. 4, the grid constant is a value which indicates how many line pairs, with 1 line pair being 1 group combining a white line and a black line, can fit within 1 mm, and the 4 lines/mm of this line pair is expressed as `4 line pair/mm`. EQU MTF (%)={(i.sub.max -i.sub.min)/(i.sub.max +i.sub.min)}.times. 100(4)
A GI type plastic optical transmission medium which has a refractive index distribution which almost exactly conforms to the optimum curve stipulated in aforementioned Formula (3) has not yet been developed.
Prior to the present invention, the inventors conducted studies to obtain GI type plastic optical transmission mediums with a resolution high enough and a color aberration small enough to be that they could be used practically as optical transmission mediums for facsimiles and image sensors when monochromatic light source such as LED is used, and proposed in Japan Patent Application No. Hei 1-307636 a GI type plastic optical transmission medium characterized by: having a radius r.sub.o in the range of 0.5.+-.0.1 mm; having a refractive index distribution from the central axis portion to the peripheral surface in the range of at least 0.25 r.sub.0 .about.0.70 r.sub.o which provides a refractive index distribution close to the refractive index distribution curve stipulated in the aforementioned Formula (3); and having an MTF of 40% or more when measuring the maximum light quantity value i.sub.max and minimum light quantity value i.sub.min by passing a 4 line pair/mm grid image through said optical transmission medium and focussing the image on a CCD sensor, and then calculating the MTF by the aforementioned Formula (4).
In this invention, the refractive index distribution in the radial direction of the GI type optical transmission medium achieved is like that of [II] in FIG. 1; it has many portions that agree with curve [I] which follows the optimum curve of Formula (3); and when actually transmitting images by this optical transmission medium, the performance was remarkably improved compared to the characteristics of the image transmissions of plastic optical transmission mediums that were developed conventionally.
However, when taking r.sub.o to be the radius from the center of the optical transmission medium, the refractive index of the peripheral portion outer than 0.70 r.sub.o of the GI type optical transmission medium diverged greatly from the optimum curve of Formula (3), and the peripheral area of the images transmitted by this kind of optical transmission medium had distortions and weakness and could not be said to be satisfactory as an optical transmission medium for image transmission of high resolution images. In order to eliminate this kind of fault, we studied methods to blacken the outer periphery area from 0.70 r.sub.o, but when that effect was obtained, the problem arose that the image transmission effectiveness of the optical transmission medium as a whole was reduced by the darkening for that portion only, and this could not be considered adequate.

Graded index type plastic optical transmission mediums and the manufacturing method thereof


A solid-state imager 20 outputs image signals corresponding to picture elements received from light-receptive areas thereof. A sample-and-hold circuit 24 performs a sample-and-hold operation for the image signals at prescribed times. A driving circuit 22 generates driving pulses and sample-and-hold pulses. A horizontal charge-transfer circuit of each light-receptive area is driven with the driving pulses, and the sample-and-hold circuit 24 is driven with the sample-and-hold pulses in synchronization with the driving pulses. The driving circuit 22 intermittently drives the horizontal charge-transfer circuit and the sample-and-hold circuit after the output of at least one of the first and last image signals. Consequently, noise that would be produced in picture elements located at the junctures between adjoining light-receptive areas can be reduced, and loss of image quality that would be caused by the effects of operations in subsequent processes performed in various circuits can be reduced.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to image pickup apparatuses and more particularly to an image pickup apparatus using a solid-state image pickup device (or imager), in which a light-receptive region is divided into a plurality of areas so that an image signal is output from each of the light-receptive areas.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 6A illustrates an example of a structure of a CCD (charge-coupled device) imager. The example of FIG. 6A has a light-receptive region (area) 10 undivided. A signal charge corresponding to each picture element (or pixel) that is transferred vertically (in parallel) from the light-receptive area 10 to horizontal charge-transfer CCDs 12 is then transferred horizontally (serially) through the horizontal charge-transfer CCDs 12 to an output amplifier 14 in which the signal charge is amplified and output from a single image output terminal 16.
The number of horizontal charge-transfer CCDs 12 provided for the imager is several to several tens more than the number of effective picture elements along the horizontal length of the light-receptive area 10, to provide a period for stabilizing the horizontal charge-transfer CCDs 12 and the output amplifier 14 before starting the output of image signals corresponding to effective picture elements. This is because early-stage performance characteristics shown at startup of the horizontal charge-transfer CCDs 12 and the output amplifier 14 that have been at rest during a horizontal blanking period are worse than stable-stage performance characteristics thereof shown during stable operation. In other words, the above arrangement is designed for the purpose of preventing the inferior early-stage performance characteristics from affecting the output of image signals corresponding to the effective picture elements.
FIG. 6B illustrates another example of the structure of the CCD imager. The example of FIG. 6B has a light-receptive region divided into three areas to improve a data rate of output signals of the imager. Signal charges corresponding to picture elements that are transferred vertically from light-receptive areas 10a, 10b and 10c to horizontal charge-transfer CCDs 12a, 12b and 12c, respectively, are then transferred horizontally through the horizontal charge-transfer CCDs 12a, 12b and 12c to output amplifiers 14a, 14b and 14c, respectively, in which the signal charges are amplified and output from three image output terminals 16a, 16b and 16c, respectively.
In the imager as shown in FIG. 6B, the light-receptive areas 10a, 10b and 10c are arranged with no gap left therebetween, and thus it is difficult to provide an extra number of the horizontal charge-transfer CCDs 12a, 12b or 12c so as to make the total number thereof exceed the number of the effective picture elements corresponding thereto. As a result, at startup of the horizontal charge-transfer CCDs 12a, 12b and 12c, the output of image signals from the image output terminals 16a, 16b and 16c starts without preliminary stages. Therefore, the early-stage performance characteristics of the horizontal charge-transfer CCDs 12a, 12b and 12c and the output amplifiers 14a, 14b and 14c would adversely affect the image signals, so that ringing and defects would appear in the image signals output immediately after the beginning of a horizontal effective image period for which the image signals corresponding to the effective picture elements are output.
Further, the output signal of the imager has limitations in band imposed by a low-pass filter and an amplifier circuit in a later step performed in an image signal processing circuit, and thus an adequate signal level of the first picture element could not be obtained immediately after the beginning of the effective image period. Accordingly, when the image signals output from respective areas of the divided light-receptive region are combined to constitute one complete image, vertically-striped noise, which could be generated in picture elements located at the junctures between adjoining light-receptive areas, would disadvantageously make it difficult to produce a seamless image.
To relieve the above problems, it has been proposed that an improved design should be applied to the structure of the imager having a divided light-receptive region (see Morinaka et al., "Development of eight-channel parallel reading CCD", Technical Report of the Institute of Image Information and Television Engineers, Vol. 25, No. 3, pp. 7-11, 2002).
Another approach that has been proposed is that ringing or defects that would appear in the image signals output immediately after the beginning of the horizontal effective image period should be corrected in post-processing (see Mitani et al., "Study of Super-High-Definition Color Image Pickup Experimental Equipment", Winter Convention , 2000 , the Institute of Image Information and Television Engineers, 4-1, p.71).
However, even if the above approaches were adopted, the image signals corresponding to picture elements located at the junctures between adjoining light-receptive areas would be susceptible to detrimental effects of sample-and-hold pulses and other operations in subsequent processes performed in various circuits. These effects would be highly characteristic of nonlinearity, and thus could not be corrected with ease.
The present invention has been made in view of the above-discussed circumstances, and it is one exemplified object of the present invention to provide an image pickup apparatus that can reduce noise that would be produced in picture elements located at the junctures between adjoining light-receptive areas, to obtain image signals adequate to produce a seamless image, and that can reduce loss of image quality that would be caused by the effects of sample-and-hold pulses and other operations in subsequent processes performed in various circuits.

Image pickup apparatus including a solid-state imager having a plurality of light receptive areas


A streaming contents recording method of a mobile terminal including comparing a length of streaming contents with a remaining memory capacity of the mobile terminal, and recording the streaming contents by omitting a specific frame type if the length of the streaming contents is greater than the memory capacity. Further, the omitted specific frame types include a B-frame type or a B-frame type and a P-frame type.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a streaming contents recording method of a mobile terminal, and more particularly to a streaming contents recording method for controlling and recording a video frame according to a memory capacity of the mobile terminal.
2. Background of the Related Art
In general, when a mobile terminal reproduces streaming contents, the mobile terminal needs a recording function to buffer the corresponding data in a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory.
In a related art streaming service, if a memory capacity is insufficient while streaming contents are being recorded, the audio and video data first accessed are recorded within the limit of the memory capacity. In other words, if an available memory capacity is smaller than the length of the received streaming contents, the audio data and video data greater then the memory capacity are not recorded. Thus, if data critical to reproduction of the streaming contents is positioned at a rear portion of the contents, the corresponding data is not recorded and thus cannot be reproduced.

Streaming contents recording method of mobile communication terminal


A data storage device includes a memory and a controller. In a particular embodiment, a method is performed in the data storage device. The method is performed during a read threshold voltage update operation and includes determining a first read threshold voltage of a set of storage elements of a memory according to a first technique and determining a second read threshold voltage of the set of storage elements of the memory according to a second technique. The first read threshold voltage is different from the second read threshold voltage, and the first technique is different from the second technique.

Non-volatile data storage devices, such as universal serial bus (USB) flash memory devices or removable storage cards, have allowed for increased portability of data and software applications. Flash memory devices can enhance data storage density by storing multiple bits in each flash memory cell. For example, Multi-Level Cell (MLC) flash memory devices provide increased storage density by storing 3 bits per cell, 4 bits per cell, or more.
Determining a reading voltage between an Erase (Er) state and an A state of a memory is different than determining the reading voltages between other states. The tail of the cell voltage distribution (CVD) of the Erase state is different from the tails of other states. Because most of the distribution of the Erase state is in negative voltage, and since typical flash memory systems do not have negative sensing capabilities, the erase state may be only partially detectable. Inaccurate determination of the reading voltage of the Er→A border may limit the lifetime of the flash memory.

System and method of determining reading voltages of a data storage device