A method and apparatus for wireless communication are described. In one embodiment, a method for communicating with a subscriber comprises transmitting orthogonal frequency domain multiplexing (OFDM) signals to the subscriber, and receiving direct-sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) signals from the subscriber.

With high-speed wireless services increasingly in demand, there is a need for more throughput per bandwidth to accommodate more subscribers with higher data rates while retaining a guaranteed quality of service (QoS), all over a packet network. While the definition for "wireless broadband" may vary, it is commonly accepted that the next-generation wireless broadband networks must be able to provide a wide variety of services, from high-quality voice to high-definition videos, through IP-centric, high-speed (>10 Mbps downlink and >512 Kbps uplink) wireless channels. See Shingo Ohmori, et. al, "The Future Generations of Mobile Communications Based on Broadband Access Technologies," IEEE Communication Magazine, December 2000.
Due to the asymmetric nature of packet traffic, the requirements for wireless uplink (from subscribers to base-stations or access points) and downlink (from base-stations or access points to subscribers) are quite different. High throughput/spectral efficiency is of paramount importance in the traffic-heavy downlink, even if it means more involved hardware and higher cost power amplifiers at the base-station. On the other hand, amplifier efficient modulation schemes are critical to the subscriber terminal, in order to reduce cost and improve power efficiency. Clearly, separate design optimization approaches must be adopted for the design of uplink and downlink modems. However almost all current systems, e.g., the popular GSM and IS-95 networks, utilize a uniform modem and multiple-access structure for both uplink and downlink. As a result, the efficiency of the overall system is compromised.
Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) and direct-sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) are two modulation techniques frequently used for wireless communications. In OFDM, as illustrated in FIG. 1, a wide bandwidth is divided into multiple narrow-band subcarriers, which are arranged to be orthogonal with each other. The signals modulated on the subcarriers are transmitted in parallel. In DSSS, a modulation symbol is first spread across the available bandwidth by a spreading sequence and then transmitted. In code-division multiple access (CDMA), multiple subscriber stations communicate with a base stations using DSSS signaling with different spreading sequences.
OFDM is an efficient technique for multipath fading channels. In a well-designed system, the frequency response of each subcarrier can be made flat or near flat. Therefore, only very simple or even no channel equalization is required. Another significant advantage of OFDM is that it allows an optimal power and rate allocation to maximize the channel capacity. This inherent advantage is even more significant in a cellular system with multiple subscribers where the channel response of each subscriber is different. In this case, it is possible to maximize the entire system capacity throughput by judicious allocations of subscarriers to multiple subscribers.
On the other hand, OFDM also possesses some disadvantages. One of the disadvantages is the large peak-to-average power (PAP) ratio of the OFDM signals. This is a significant hurdle for implementing OFDM-based systems. A large PAP ratio means more stringent linearity requirements on the power amplifier or large back off, leading to higher cost or lower transmission power. This is especially undesirable for the implementation of subscriber terminals, which dominates the system cost due to their large quantity. In addition, to achieve the maximum capacity of OFDM with adaptive subcarrier allocation, it is often required to feedback the channel measurement at the subscribers to the basestation. This can also add overhead and complicate the system control.
DSSS often deals with the multipath channel through the use of so-called Rake receiver, which coherently adds together the signals received from multiple delay paths. However, when the data rate is high and the spreading factor is low, the performance of the Rake receiver degrades. Furthermore, a DSSS signal equally utilizes the entire spectrum, including both high-gain frequencies and low-gain frequencies. Therefore, the potential capacity of DSSS is less than that achieved by OFDM with adaptive subcarrier allocation. On the other hand, a DSSS signal typically has lower PAP than an OFDM signal. In addition, the use of DSSS enables code-division multiple-access that provides great multiple-access flexibility among many multiple-access schemes. Therefore, DSSS is still a very attractive technique especially for subscriber terminal transmission.
OFDM and DSSS both are widely used in wireless communications, but in most systems, a single technology is used for both downlink and uplink. For example, in the UMTS W-CDMA system, DSSS is used for both downlink and uplink, while in IEEE 802.11a, OFDM is used for both downlink and uplink. This means the advantages and disadvantages are both present in the system. For more information on W-CDMA, see H. Holma and A. Toskala, "WCDMA for UMTS," John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2000. For more information on OFDM, see R. van Nee and R. Prasad, "OFDM for Wireless Multimedia Communications," Artech House Publishers, 2000.

Communication system using OFDM for one direction and DSSS for another direction


The present invention relates to relocation of a protocol termination point in a communication system comprising a first protocol termination point, a second protocol termination point and control means for relocating a first protocol from the first protocol termination point to the second protocol termination point. A protocol initialization unit that contains predefined information of the first termination point is defined by means of the first protocol. The protocol initialization unit is subsequently transferred from the first termination point to the second termination point by means of a second protocol. The second termination point is initialized based on the received protocol initialization unit.

Communication networks typically operate in accordance with a given standard which sets out what the elements of the network are permitted to do and how that should be achieved. The communication in the networks follows predefined rules which are referred to in the following as protocols. The protocols to be used are defined in the associated standard. The protocols can be used for controlling various events and functionalities in a connection provided through the communications network. Several protocols may be simultaneously in an active state for providing control of a connection. During an ongoing i.e. active connection a protocol is having a termination point in the network element controlling the connection. For example, a protocol may have termination points in a telephone terminal and in a network controller controlling the connection.
A communication network is a cellular radio network consisting of cells. In most cases the cell can be defined as a certain area covered by one or several base transceiver stations (BTS) serving mobile stations (MS) via a radio interface and connected to a base station subsystem (BSS). Several cells cover a larger area, and form the coverage area of a cellular radio network. The cell (or group of cells) and thus the mobile station (MS) or similar user equipment (UE) within one of the cells of the system can be controlled by a node providing controller functionality, for example by a radio network controller (RNC) or a mobile switching center (MSC). The controller can be connected further to a gateway or linking node, for example a gateway GPRS support node (GGSN) or gateway mobile switching center (GSMC), linking the cell to the other parts of the communication system and/or other communication networks, such as to a PSTN (Public Switched Telecommunications Network) or to a data network, such as to a X.25 based network or to a TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) based network.
The mobile station MS may be controlled by only one controller at time. However, the MS may also be simultaneously controlled by several controller nodes. This may occur e.g. when the cells overlap or in so called soft handoff mode, where the MS may be in communication with two base stations and those base stations may be connected to different controllers, or when one controller is controlling another controller controlling the MS. One controller of the plurality of controllers in the system can be defined as a serving (main) controller whereas the others may act as secondary controllers. The responsibility of controlling a connection between the mobile station and the network may change during an ongoing connection. It is therefore necessary to relocate at least part of functionalities associated with the connection such that the connection will not become disconnected and/or that the quality of the connection remains in an acceptable level. It is to be appreciated that in addition or as an alternative to relocating functionalities of the controller node, the functionality to be relocated may also be located in any other of the network elements, for example in the base station, base station subsystem, in the gateway and so on.
When relocation is decided to be performed, the serving controller or another node of the communication system may initiate the necessary proceeding for replacing one or several of the network nodes with a new corresponding node or nodes.
In case of an active i.e. ongoing connection, one of the features that should be relocated is the state of a protocol termination point. Although it is not always necessary, in a usual case the status of the protocol termination point at the new "replacing" network element or node should be such that it may take over the functions of the old "replaced" network node. At the present the parameters which need to be transferred have to be defined also in the protocols which are used to convey the information from the old termination point to the new termination point. For example, if parameters of a Radio Resource Control (RRC) or Medium Access Control (MAC) or Radio Link Control (RLC) protocols are to be relocated in a system that would use radio network subsystem application part (RNSAP) for communication between the network controller nodes, this would mean that a lot of "external" parameters would have to be defined for the RNSAP. This would increase the complexity of the RNSAP. In addition, if several additional parameters of a protocol are to be defined for another protocol, it makes these two different protocols very dependent on each other. The independent evolution of them would thus become more difficult to manage.


Processing, in which a first shape-dependent filter in accordance with a shape of a microcalcification pattern is utilized, is performed on an object image, and a fine structure image, which illustrates a fine structure area embedded in the object image, is formed. Thereafter, enhancement processing, in which a second shape-dependent filter in accordance with the shape of a microcalcification pattern is utilized, is performed on the fine structure image, and an enhancement-processed image, in which the microcalcification pattern has been enhanced, is formed. A microcalcification pattern candidate is then detected by use of the enhancement-processed image.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for detecting a candidate area for a microcalcification pattern embedded in an object image.
2. Description of the Related Art
Image processing, such as gradation processing or processing in a frequency domain, has heretofore been performed on an image signal, which represents an image and has been obtained with one of various image acquiring techniques, such that a visible image having good image quality can be reproduced and used as an effective tool in, particularly, the accurate and efficient diagnosis of an illness. Particularly, in the field of medical images, such as radiation images of human bodies serving as objects, it is necessary for specialists, such as doctors, to make an accurate diagnosis of an illness or an injury of the patient in accordance with the obtained image. Therefore, it is essential to perform the image processing in order that a visible image having good image quality can be reproduced and used as an effective tool in the accurate and efficient diagnosis of an illness.
In such image processing, the processing is often performed on the entire area of the image. Alternatively, in cases where the purpose of examination or diagnosis is clear to a certain extent, enhancement processing is often performed selectively on a desired image area, which is adapted to the purpose of examination or diagnosis.
Ordinarily, when an image area to be processed is to be selected, the person, who views the radiation image, views the original image before being processed and manually selects the image area to be processed. However, there is the risk that the selected image area or the specified image range will vary, depending upon the level of the experience or the image understanding capability of the person, who views the radiation image, and the selection cannot be made objectively.
For example, in cases where a radiation image has been recorded for the examination of breast cancer, it is necessary to find a microcalcification pattern, which is one of features of a cancerous area, from the radiation image. However, the range of the microcalcification pattern cannot always be specified accurately. Therefore, there is a strong demand for techniques for accurately detecting an abnormal pattern, such as a microcalcification pattern, without depending upon the skill of the person, who views the radiation image.
In order to satisfy the demand described above, extensive research has been conducted to make a computer aided diagnosis of medical images (CADM), such that a calcification pattern candidate is capable of being detected automatically by use of processing with computers. As one of the CADM techniques, morphological filter processing has been proposed. [The morphological filter processing is proposed in, for example, "Extraction of Microcalcifications Using Morphological Filter with Multiple Structuring Elements," Kobatake, et al., Transactions of The Institute of Electronics, Information, and Communication Engineers of Japan, D-II, Vol. J75-D-II, No. 7, pp. 1170–1176, July 1992 (hereinbelow referred to as Literature 1); and "Fundamentals of Morphology and Its Application to Mammogram Processing," Medical Imaging Technology, Vol. 12, No. 1, January 1994 (hereinbelow referred to as Literature 2).]
The applicant proposed various abnormal pattern candidate detecting processing systems (computer aided medical image diagnosing apparatuses), wherein abnormal pattern candidate detecting processing is performed for automatically detecting a calcification pattern, which is one of forms of abnormal patterns and is embedded in a mammogram (a mamma image for diagnosis), a chest image, or the like, by use of a morphological filter, and an image obtained by superposing an image, which has been obtained by performing enhancement processing, image size enlargement processing, or the like, on a region of an abnormal pattern candidate having been detected, upon a certain area of an entire area image, such that the image has good image quality and can serve as an effective tool in the efficient and accurate diagnosis, an index value in the abnormal pattern candidate detecting processing, or the degree of certainty of detection is outputted. The proposed abnormal pattern candidate detecting processing systems are disclosed in, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication Nos. 8(1996)-263648, 8(1996)-272961, 8(1996)-294479, and 9(1997)-106448.
With the abnormal pattern candidate detecting processing in which the morphological filter is utilized, an image area, in which the image density fluctuates within a range spatially narrower than a multi-structure element (i.e., a mask) having a size in accordance with the size of an abnormal pattern to be detected, is detected as an abnormal pattern candidate by use of the multi-structure element. (The abnormal pattern candidate detecting processing in which the morphological filter is utilized will hereinbelow be referred to as the morphological filter processing.) With the morphological filter processing, a candidate for a microcalcification pattern, which is one of characteristic forms of breast cancers, is capable of being detected automatically. (The microcalcification pattern is one of forms of abnormal patterns.) The morphological filter processing has the features in that, for example, (1) it is efficient for extracting a calcification pattern itself, (2) it is not affected by complicated background information, and (3) the extracted calcification pattern does not become distorted. Specifically, for example, in cases where the morphological filter processing is utilized for a mammogram, a linear structure, or the like, is capable of being kept unremoved from the mamma image, and only fine structures, such as microcalcifications and noise, are capable of being removed from the mamma image. Thus the morphological filter processing is advantageous over differentiation processing, which is an ordinary technique for enhancing a specific structure element, in that the detection of the calcification pattern is capable of being performed such that the geometrical information concerning the size, the shape, and the image density distribution of the calcification pattern is kept more accurately.
The morphological filter processing is an image processing technique appropriate for extraction and recognition of a feature concerning the shape in an image. As described above, the morphological filter processing has been studied particularly as a technique efficient for detecting the microcalcification pattern, which is one of characteristic forms of breast cancers. However, the image to be processed with the morphological filter processing is not limited to the microcalcification pattern in the mammogram, and the morphological filter processing is applicable to any kind of image, in which the size and the shape of a specific image area (i.e., an abnormal pattern, or the like) to be detected are known previously.
However, in cases where the microcalcification pattern candidate is to be detected with the morphological filter processing, the problems occur in that, theoretically, a linear component and a structure not longer than the structure element length, which have a direction that does not coincide with any of the directions of the structure elements constituting the multi-structure element, cannot be removed. (Both the linear component and the structure not longer than the structure element length, which are described above, will hereinbelow be referred to as the linear structure area.) The problems described above cause erroneous detection to occur during the detection of the microcalcification pattern. Also, a microcalcification pattern, which is unsharp or is constituted over a plurality of pixels, and a non-calcification pattern, which has a size identical with the size of the calcification pattern, cannot always be removed with the morphological filter processing. (Both the microcalcification pattern, which is unsharp or is constituted over a plurality of pixels, and the non-calcification pattern, which has a size identical with the size of the calcification pattern, will hereinbelow be referred to as the coarse structure area.)
Therefore, in cases where image enhancement processing is performed on the image, which has been obtained from the morphological filter processing, the problems occur in that, besides the calcification pattern, the fine structures of the linear structure area and the coarse structure area, which could not be removed with the morphological filter processing, are also enhanced and appear as noise. As a result, an image, which is hard to see, is obtained.
In order for the problems described above to be solved, techniques have been proposed, wherein the image, which has been obtained from the morphological filter processing, is subtracted from the original image, a fine structure image, which illustrates a fine structure area in the image, is thereby formed, threshold value processing is performed on the fine structure image, and a microcalcification pattern is thereby detected. The proposed techniques are disclosed in, for example, Literature 1 described above, Literature 2 described above, and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 9(1997)-106448. However, the proposed techniques are not perfectly satisfactory.

Method and apparatus for detecting abnormal pattern candidates


An apparatus for spectral detection of remote objects. The apparatus consists of an input optic which focuses the field of view onto an image receiving surface consisting of an addressable spatial mask. The mask sequentially projects portions of the scene onto a diffractive optical element which focuses onto a photodetector array. The first image receiving surface of mask is partitioned into independently addressable and controllable subsurfaces, or gates, adapted to receive an electronic control signal from a programmable control signal generator. Each gate in the receiving mask directs a portion of the image incident thereon to a diffractive lens in response to a control signal communicated thereto. This gated image is dispersed by the diffractive lens and focused upon the photosensitive surface of a photodetector array. The photodetector array is partitioned into pixels having a number in ratio to the gates in the addressable mask. The signal output of a pixel within the optical path of the dispersed gated light is sampled and stored in a signal processor. A control signal generator sequentially or randomly addresses each gate in the mask causing the gate to direct that portion of the image thereon to the diffractive lens. The output signal from each pixel on the photodetector array corresponding to the addressed gate in the mask is sampled and stored until the entire image is recorded. This process is repeated as the diffractive optic is scanned through the spectral range of interest. The mask provides enhanced spectral and spatial resolution of the scene.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is an imaging spectrometer useful for measuring the spectral composition of objects from a remote location, and more particularly, for measuring the spectral composition objects within a field of view of the imaging system.
2. Prior Art
Spectrophotometers (color meters) are widely used in the area of target recognition. The principle underlying the use of spectrophotometers in target recognition is that different targets reflect, emit or absorb light differently. Alternatively, different targets represent independent light sources, the light emanating from each target having an observable spectra which is an identifiable inherent characteristic that target which may be used for target identification.
Baird, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,343,448 describes a spectroscopic apparatus useful for analyzing the emission spectrum of an object positioned along the optical axis of a reflecting zone plate. The Baird apparatus utilizes reflective optical elements, the source or target must lie between the reflecting mirror and the reflecting zone plate. Such an optical construction is not operable for analyzing the spectrum of light emanating from a remote object or target such as an incoming ballistic missile or a group of such targets within a field of interest.
Image multispectral sensing (IMSS) records the spectrum of individual luminous objects (targets) within an image or scene. IMSS is capable of simultaneously recording the spectrum of light emerging from many different discrete light sources contained within a single field of view. U.S. Pat. No. 5,479,258 to Hinnrichs et al., the contents of which is incorporated herein by reference thereto, discloses an image multispectral sensing device, which provides good spectral resolution for images comprising luminous point objects which have good contrast ratios with respect to the background. The device employs a dispersive optical element to: (a) disperse light emanating from each luminous target positioned within the field of view of the device input optic; and (b) focus the dispersed light onto a photosensitive surface of a photodetector. The photosensitive surface comprises a plurality of addressable photosensitive elements or pixels coextensive therewith. The output signal from each pixel provides a measure of the intensity of light incident upon the pixel as a function of the wavelength. The spectral range of the image is scanned by sequentially changing the focal plane of the system by incrementally repositioning the diffractive lens relative to the photosensitive surface along the optical axis. If a source of light in the field of view is polychromatic, chromatically defocused spectral components of dispersed light for the source are superimposed on the in-focus spectral component producing unwanted spectral noise convolved with the true signal. For images comprising discrete widely separated point light sources, the spectral noise convolution in the pixel's output signal is deterministic with a change in focal length and is easily removed by a deconvolution process of the output in a signal processor.
The principles underlying IMSS are illustrated FIGS. 1 and 2. In the IMSS apparatus of FIG. 1, light 100 emanating from a target 10 comprising an image is dispersed by means of a diffractive lens 11 having an aperture DA and an optical axis. The diffractive lens 11 focuses the dispersed spectral components of light 100 on a n.times.n array of pixels disposed on a planar surface of a photodetector 12 positioned at the focal plane of a dispersed spectral component. At long ranges the target 10 appears as an unresolved point which subtends a single pixel 16 on the photodetector 12. At shorter ranges, the target 10 resolves and covers multiple pixels. The diffractive lens 11, disposed between the target 10 and the photodetector 12 disperses the light 100 emanating from the target and focuses the spectral components .lambda..sub.3, and .lambda..sub.4 on focal planes f.sub.r and f.sub.b respectively. The spectral focal point of a diffractive lens depends on the wavelength of the spectral component. Only spectral components of light within a narrow spectral band will be in sharp focus on the focal plane occupied by the photodetector.
With reference to FIG. 2, the spectral component of dispersed polychromatic light having wavelength .lambda..sub.1 is sharply focused on the pixel 16 of the photosensitive surface 12 when the surface lies in the focal plane for .lambda..sub.1, while all other wavelengths (.lambda..sub.2, .lambda..sub.3, and .lambda..sub.4) are unfocused and diffuse, forming a multiple pixel blur centered on pixel 16 with a smooth intensity distributed therearound as shown in FIG. 2(b). By moving and repositioning the diffractive lens 11 and/or the photodetector 12 at a different focal length, a spectral component having a different wavelength .lambda..sub.2 will be in sharp focus on the pixel 16 of the photosensitive surface 12 of the photodetector. By incrementally changing the diffractive lens/photodetector spacing f to reposition the focal plane and recording each pixel's output at the focal plane, a sequence of monochromatic representations of the image is recorded. Each monochromatic image is represented by a frame and contains the signal output of each pixel on the photodetector at a particular focal length. The frames can be viewed as a digital color separation of the image and that superimposing the frames will reconstruct the fully chromatic image.
Returning to FIG. 1, two spectral bands, .lambda..sub.1 (red) represented by the solid line, and .lambda..sub.2, (blue) represented by the dotted line, are used for illustrative purposes. The photodetector 12 has a photosensitive surface consisting of discrete photosensitive elements or pixels 16 disposed in a layer on a supporting surface 12 with a pixel dimension x. The orientation of the photosensitive surface is orthogonal to the optical axis and centered on the optical axis of the diffractive lens. The clear aperture diameter of the diffractive lens 11 is DA and is shown near the far left of the figure. The distance from the diffractive lens at which the planar photosensitive surface of the photodetector intersects the optical axis is adjustable and determines the focal length f of the IMSS system. When the photodetector 12 intersects the optic axis at a distance f.sub.r from the diffractive lens, the apparatus is tuned for red light, and the focal length for blue light is f.sub.b. By the apparatus being "tuned" to a particular wavelength of light it is meant that the photosensitive surface of the photodetector lies in a plane orthogonal to the optical axis of the diffractive lens and the photosensitive surface is the focal plane of the tuned wavelength of dispersed light. Thus, .DELTA.=f.sub.b -f.sub.r, is the difference in focal length between the red and blue spectral components.
The diffraction limited blurred diameter d.sub.0 is the diameter of a circle on the focal plane f.sub.r circumscribing the red light in focus at half peak intensity. It is important for the spectral deconvolution algorithm employed by the signal processor in IMSS, that d.sub.0 be small relative to the diameter of one pixel. When the photodetector 12 is repositioned on the optical axis at the focal length for the blue light f.sub.b, the blurred diameter of the red light becomes d.sub.n, which is much larger than the diameter of one pixel. At this point, the blue light is in sharp focus on the photodetector and the diffraction limited blurred diameter of the blue light in focus at the detector surface approaches d.sub.0 and is small relative to the diameter of one pixel. A portion of the output signal from a pixel having an intense monochromatic spot focused thereon will be due to blurred, diffuse out-of-focus spectral components of light from other independent light sources within the image and represents noise.
If the distance between the diffractive lens 11 and the photodetector 12 is changed, different wavelengths of light from each target comprising the image sequentially come into and out of focus on the photodetector 12, generating a sequence of photodetector signal outputs corresponding to sequential monochromatic representations or filtered "snapshots" of the image over a range of wavelengths. The output signals from each of the individual pixels in the photodetector 12 corresponding to a particular focal plane are stored as a "frame" in a signal processor 14. A "frame" is a data set comprising the output signals produced by each pixel in the photodetector corresponding to a particular focal length. The blurred unfocused spectral components of a point source will contribute to the signal output of the pixel in the optical path thereof as discussed above, and the contribution is easily subtracted out by deconvolution algorithms such as spatial filters to provide substantially only the pixel output signal corresponding to the focused spectral component within a frame.
The signal processor 14 uses a deconvolution algorithm to enhance the in-focus image of each "frame" of data. By tracking and comparing the signal output of the individual pixels in each frame from one frame to the next, the relative position and spectral composition or "color signature" of each luminous object comprising the image is recorded. For example, an image comprising a single monochromatic representation is shown in FIG. 6 where the vertical bars represent the intensity of the output signal of a pixel xy at a particular focal length. Only the in-focus image remains in a frame after passage through the deconvolution algorithm of the signal processor 14 as shown in FIG. 7. The pixel output signal remaining within a frame after deconvolution represents light received from a target in the image corresponding to the spectral color relative to the focal length. The spectral correlator 15 receives the spectral intensity data from the signal processor and compares the spectral signature of each of the independent light sources (targets) comprising the image with the signatures of previously identified targets stored within the comparators memory for purposes of identification. The spectral signature of the individual targets comprising an image or the deployment of targets within an image may also be stored for reference.
A fundamental property of diffractive lenses (such as a Fresnel lens), which serves as the basis for IMSS, is that the focal length of a diffractive lens varies inversely with the illumination wavelength, i.e. f(.lambda.)=.lambda..sub.0 f/.lambda.. A diffractive lens is more dispersive than any known glass lens and the dispersion has the opposite sign. Thus, if an image detector surface defining a focal plane is positioned to intersect the optical axis at a distance f(.lambda..sub.1) from the diffractive lens, luminous objects within the image having a spectral component with a wavelength .lambda..sub.1 will be in sharp focus, whereas objects imaged only by light at other wavelengths will be significantly defocused. The defocused wavelength components emanating, being blurred and distributed over a plurality of adjacent pixels can be subtracted out using image processing techniques described earlier. If the image detector is repositioned to intersect the optical axis at a distance f(.lambda..sub.2) from the diffractive lens, luminous objects with a spectral component having a wavelength .lambda..sub.2 will be in sharp focus thereon. Hence, by incrementally changing the distance between the diffractive lens and the photodetector to span .DELTA., one can determine the spectral composition of light emanating from each object comprising the field of view.
FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b) illustrate the affect of unfocused spectral components upon the spectral resolution of a focused spectral component of target-derived light using IMSS. In FIG. 2(a), .lambda..sub.1 is in focus such that light within a narrow band centered on the spectral component having wavelength .lambda..sub.1 illuminates a portion of the photodetector 12 centered on pixel 16. In FIG. 2(b) the light intensity at the photodetector is plotted as a function of distance perpendicular to the center of the pixel on the photodetector array for several different wavelengths .lambda..sub.1, to .lambda..sub.4. The distance from "o" wherein each spectral component reaches half the maximum intensity is the radius of the corresponding circle in FIG. 2(a). Even though the primary wavelength .lambda..sub.1 is in sharp focus and centered on pixel 16, unfocused, dispersed spectral components having wavelength .lambda..sub.2, .lambda..sub.3 and .lambda..sub.4 also illuminate and contribute to the output signal of the pixel 16.
If the image includes more than one light source, dispersed out-of-focus spectral components of light emanating from other luminous targets comprising the image will also contribute to the signal output of pixel 16. While the symmetry of the out-of-focus components .lambda..sub.2, .lambda..sub.3 and .lambda..sub.4 of light from a discrete point source of light are symmetrically distributed around pixel 16, the distribution of dispersed spectral components of light from other nearby targets in the image illuminating pixel 16 and adjacent pixels may be asymmetric and non-uniform and difficult to deconvolve by the signal processing algorithm and thus limits spectral resolution. In the example of FIG. 2, the dispersed spectral components .lambda..sub.1, .lambda..sub.2, .lambda..sub.3 and .lambda..sub.4 are from a single point source of light and are blurred concentrically around the pixel at .lambda..sub.1. Such a symmetric source of noise may be removed by deconvolution algorithms in a computer, such deconvolution is more difficult for noise arising from optical mixing of multiple light sources in an image. It is desirable to provide a IMSS device accomplishing the foregoing image spectral analysis as is required for target characterization and identification and which includes means for enhancing spectral resolution by reducing the unfocused light incident upon the detector array.

Apparatus for image multispectral sensing employing addressable spatial mask


A disc brake for a commercial vehicle, includes a brake caliper having a receiving space for functional elements, a mounting and functional opening of the receiving space being closed by a closure plate through which at least one adjusting spindle extends. The closure plate is fastened to the brake caliper so that it can be non-destructively detached. The closure plate, in a first sub-region, is screwed to the brake caliper and, in a second sub-region, is interlockingly held on the brake caliper.

The invention relates to a disc brake for a commercial vehicle having a brake caliper which has a receiving space for functional parts. A mounting and functional opening of the receiving space is closed by way of a closure plate which is penetrated by at least one actuating spindle of a brake application unit.
In a disc brake of this type, the brake caliper straddles a brake disc. Two brake pads are arranged in the caliper to be pressed functionally onto the brake disc. A receiving space is provided in the caliper, in which a brake application device with actuating spindles is positioned.
In order to protect the functional parts, a mounting and functional opening of the receiving space which faces the brake disc is closed by a closure plate which is penetrated by the actuating spindles. Otherwise, the closure plate serves as a support part of various attachment components, such as boots, seals and the like.
The fastening of the closure plate takes place by threaded fasteners, such as screws, which are arranged circumferentially in the edge region and are screwed into the brake caliper.
For effective sealing of the closure plate against the brake caliper, in order to prevent the penetration of moisture and dirt into the receiving space, the closure plate bears against the brake caliper in a sealed manner.
To this end, a sealing cord is provided which bears on one side circumferentially against the edge region of the closure plate and on the other side against a support face of the brake caliper. The seal, which is composed of an elastic material, is compressed during screwing on the closure plate to such an extent that a sufficient sealing action is achieved.
For the circumferential screw connection of the closure plate to the brake caliper, a corresponding number of threaded bores are to be made in the brake caliper, which is naturally possible only with corresponding, cost-increasing, manufacturing complexity.
Moreover, on account of the multiplicity of screws which are used, the mounting and dismantling of the closure plate, that is to say the tightening and releasing of the screws, becomes time-intensive and therefore likewise relatively expensive.
The known construction is therefore a barrier to the constant requirements for, first of all, inexpensive manufacturing, and secondly for inexpensive mounting and dismantling.
The invention is based on the object of developing a disc brake of the above-mentioned type such that it can be manufactured and mounted more simply and less expensively.
This and other objects are achieved by way of a disc brake for a commercial vehicle having a brake caliper which has a receiving space for functional parts. A mounting and functional opening of the receiving space is closed by way of a closure plate which is penetrated by at least one actuating spindle of a brake application unit. The closure plate is screwed in a first part region to the brake caliper and is held, in a second part region, on the brake caliper in a positively locking manner.
As a result of the partial interlocking connection (positively locking) of the closure plate to the brake caliper, the introduction of threaded bores into the brake caliper can be dispensed with in this region, which results in a considerable simplification during the machining of the brake caliper, with the resulting cost advantages.
Since a build-up of material on the caliper for introducing the threaded bores is also not required in this region, in principle the mounting opening can have a larger design, which naturally facilitates mounting work, by way of which functional parts are to be introduced into or removed from the receiving space.
Screws are provided in the remaining part region as was the case previously, which screws make it possible to release the closure plate from the brake caliper without destroying it. The result is that the closure plate can be reused, for example, after functional parts are repaired, with only a replacement of the seal.
According to one advantageous aspect, a longitudinal groove is provided in the lower edge region (that is to say, closer to the axis of the brake disc) of the mounting and functional openings in the brake caliper, into which longitudinal groove the closure plate, which is composed of sheet metal, can be inserted from above before the screw connection takes place.
Here, in the final position, the closure plate bears in a planar manner against the associated surface in the edge region of the mounting and functional opening, with sufficient contact pressure on the seal between the brake caliper and the closure plate.
Whereas the groove which is provided on the brake caliper for receiving an edge region of the closure plate is preferably continuous, to be precise substantially over the entire elongated length of the closure plate, there is certainly the possibility of dividing up the length of the groove into discrete sections. The result is that groove sections are produced, in which the closure plate lies. Reducing the length of the groove in this manner can lead to a reduction in the brake caliper weight and, therefore, helps achieve the constant requirement, in particular, for the purpose of saving fuel.
However, it has to be ensured here that the closure plate bears against the seal with sufficient contact pressure.
As mentioned, the plug-in profile, that is to say the groove, is provided on the lower edge region of the mounting opening on the brake caliper. Accordingly, the screw connection is arranged on the upper edge region relative to an imaginary longitudinal axis of the closure plate or the mounting and functional opening.
During mounting of the closure plate, it is first of all to be inserted (pushed) merely from above through an assembly opening of the brake caliper into the groove, whereupon subsequently the screw connection takes place. The seal, usually a sealing cord, has previously been attached to the closure cover.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of one or more preferred embodiments when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

KNORR-BREMSE Systeme fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH


Variable volume systems and methods of use thereof described herein are capable of making calibrated determinations of fluid properties and phase behavior of a fluid sample. The determinations can be calibrated based on one or more calibration functions, such as system volume corrected for pressure and temperature variations. Cross-checking the results of measurements can be used to determine accuracy of the calibration or monitor for leaks or other anomalies of the variable volume systems. The variable volume systems can be implemented in a well logging tool and are capable of being calibrated downhole.

Accurate measurement of fluid properties and phase behavior of fluids is essential in a variety of fields, for example, in the oil and gas industries.
Traditionally, measurements can be performed in laboratory using a PVT (pressure, volume, and temperature) measurement cell. In addition, various downhole tools can be used for making measurements of pressure-volume (PV) data to derive fluid properties and phase behavior. Such tools provide the opportunity to record data downhole in reservoir conditions. A variety of sensors have been developed for use with various downhole tools, however, the accuracy of fluid properties and phase behavior as determined by these tools and sensors is frequently poor compared to laboratory testing.
Further, results of sensors in downhole tools are sometimes relied upon to take decisions on the foregoing operations. It is therefore desirable to cross-check the results of sensors in downhole tools before relying on the obtained the results, or the PV data of fluid samples.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for improved systems and methods for calibrating tools used to obtain measurements, and for cross-checking the accuracy or measurements of fluid properties and phase behavior of fluids, that are capable of being performed in a well drilled in the Earth during well logging.

Calibration and consistency check of variable volume systems


A void-free circuit board and a semiconductor package having the same includes a protective layer covering and protecting an electrode pattern formed on an upper surface of a substrate. The protective layer is applied around a solder ball provided on the electrode pattern except on an immediate vicinity of the solder ball to form an opening. The semiconductor package also includes at least one gap compensation part comprising a protrusion that comes in contact with an underfill material injected to the opening before the electrode pattern. The protrusion has a thickness substantially the same as that of a portion of the electrode pattern exposed in the opening. This prevents voids with air captured therein due to non-uniform capillary action during injection of the underfill material.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a void-free circuit board and a semiconductor package having the same. More particularly, a void-free circuit board capable of preventing voids with air captured therein due to non-uniform capillary action resulting from an uneven gap formed between a semiconductor chip and a substrate during a process of injecting underfill material into the gap, thereby preventing a defective product and improving product reliability, and a semiconductor package having the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recent trend of compact and miniaturized electronic devices has required high-speed, high-function and high-density mounting methods in the packaging technology of semiconductors. In response to such a demand, flip-chip mounting technology in a chip-scale package has been developed.
The generally known flip-chip mounting technology involves techniques of mounting an unpackaged semiconductor chip on a circuit board to assemble into a semiconductor chip package.
FIG. 1 is a sectional view illustrating a conventional semiconductor package. As shown, electrode patterns 3 are formed as a signal line on an upper surface of a circuit board 2, and solder-resist protective layers 4 are formed in a predetermined thickness above the circuit board 2.
The protective layer 4 is not formed on an immediate vicinity of a connection terminal 3a (see FIG. 2) of the electrode pattern 3, thereby forming an opening 6 exposing the connection terminal 3a of the electrode pattern 3 and an upper surface of the circuit board 2 around the connection terminal 3a.
Solder balls 7 are placed on the connecting terminal 3a of the electrode pattern 3 in a corresponding position to electrode terminals (not shown) formed on the undersurface of a semiconductor chip 1. The semiconductor chip 1 is electrically connected to the circuit board 2 via the solder balls 7.
Mounting the semiconductor chip 1 onto the circuit board 2 as described above forms a gap between the semiconductor chip 1 and the circuit board 2 due to the height of the solder balls 7 attached to the undersurface of the semiconductor chip 1. As a result, the power of supporting the semiconductor chip 1 is weakened and portions in contact with the solder balls 7 may be damaged due to stress from vibration.
Therefore, underfill material made of insulation resin is injected by a dispenser (not shown) between the semiconductor chip 1 and the circuit board 2, and cured to form an underfill part 8 supporting the semiconductor chip 1, thereby completing a flip-chip semiconductor package 10.
However, as shown in FIG. 2(a), as the underfill material is injected in an opposite or different direction from the electrode pattern 3 to form the underfill part 8, the gap between the semiconductor chip 1 and the circuit board 2 is not uniform, resulting in a void in which air fills up the opening 6, as shown in FIG. 2(b).
That is, a gap T1 between the semiconductor chip 1 and the circuit board 2 in the opening 6 is larger than a gap T2 between the protective layer 4 exposed in the opening 6 and the semiconductor chip 1, and thus, capillary action is less effective in the gap T1 during the injection of the underfill material. Consequently, the flow rate of the underfill material moving through the gap T1 is relatively slower than that through the narrower gap T2.
In this case, as shown in FIG. 2(a), the underfill material injected in a direction B between the semiconductor chip 1 and the circuit board 2 flows along a direction C traced in a dotted line, at a slower flow rate in the gap T1 than in the gap T2 to fill up the space between the opening 6 and the semiconductor chip 1. As a result, the underfill material reaching an outer surface of the solder ball 7 captures air to form the void V.
The void V formed in the underfill part 8 is inflated and exploded in a process of heating the underfill part 8 at a high temperature of at least 200 degrees Celcius during a reliability test, quality test or manufacturing process, which has been a major factor for producing a defective product, degrading product reliability.

Void-free circuit board and semiconductor package having the same


A weldable, high temperature oxidation resistant alloy with low solidification crack sensitivity and good resistance to strain age cracking. The alloy contains by weight percent, 25% to 32% iron, 18% to 25% chromium, 3.0% to 4.5% aluminum, 0.2% to 0.6% titanium, 0.2% to 0.43% silicon, up to 0.5% manganese and the balance nickel plus impurities. The Al+Ti content should be between 3.4 and 4.2 and the Cr/Al ratio should be from about 4.5 to 8.

There are many corrosion resistant nickel-base alloys containing chromium and other elements selected to provide corrosion resistance in particular corrosive environments. These alloys also contain elements selected to provide desired mechanical properties such as tensile strength and ductility. Many of these alloys perform well in some environments and poorly in other corrosive environments. Some alloys which have excellent corrosion resistance are difficult to form or weld. Consequently, the art has continually tried to develop alloys having a combination of corrosion resistance and workability which enables the alloy to be easily formed into vessels, piping and other components that have a long service life.
British Patent No. 1,512,984 discloses a nickel-base alloy with nominally 8-25% chromium, 2.5-8% aluminum and up to 0.04% yttrium that is made by electroslag remelting an electrode that must contain more than 0.02% yttrium. U.S. Pat. No. 4,671,931 teaches the use of 4 to 6 percent aluminum in a nickel-chromium-aluminum alloy to achieve outstanding oxidation resistance by the formation of an alumina rich protective scale. Oxidation resistance is also enhanced by the addition of yttrium to the alloy. The iron content is limited to 8% maximum. The high aluminum results in the precipitation of Ni3Al gamma prime precipitates which offers good strength at high temperature, especially around 1400° F. U.S. Pat. No. 4,460,542 describes an yttrium-free nickel-base alloy containing 14-18% chromium, 1.5-8% iron, 0.005-0.2% zirconium, 4.1-6% aluminum and very little yttrium not exceeding 0.04%. with excellent oxidation resistance. An alloy within the scope of this patent has been commercialized as HAYNES® 214® alloy. This alloy contains 14-18% chromium, 4.5% aluminum, 3% iron, 0.04% carbon, 0.03% zirconium, 0.01% yttrium, 0.004% boron and the balance nickel.
Yoshitaka et al. in Japanese Patent No. 06271993 describe an iron-base alloy containing 20-60% nickel, 15-35% chromium and 2.5-6.0% aluminum which requires less than 0.15% silicon and less than 0.2% titanium.
European Patent No. 549 286 discloses a nickel-iron-chromium alloy in which there must be 0.045-0.3% yttrium. The high levels of yttrium required not only make the alloy expensive, but they can also render the alloy incapable of being manufactured in wrought form due to the formation of nickel-yttrium compounds which promote cracking during hot working operations.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,660,938 discloses an iron-base alloy with 30-49% nickel, 13-18% chromium, 1.6-3.0% aluminum and 1.5-8% of one or more elements of Groups IVa and Va. This alloy contains insufficient aluminum and chromium to assure that a protective aluminum oxide film is formed during exposure to high temperature oxidizing conditions. Further, elements from Groups IVa and Va can promote gamma-prime formation which reduces high temperature ductility. Elements such as zirconium can also promote severe hot cracking of welds during solidification.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,980,821 discloses an alloy which contains only 8-11% iron and 1.8-2.4% aluminum and requires 0.01-0.15% yttrium and 0.01-0.20% zirconium.
Unfortunately, the alloys disclosed in the aforementioned patents suffer from a number of welding and forming problems brought on by the very presence of aluminum particularly when present as 4 to 6 percent of the alloy. The precipitation of Ni3Al gamma prime phase can occur quickly in these alloys during cooling from the final annealing operation, resulting in relatively high room temperature yield strengths with corresponding low ductility even in the annealed condition. This makes bending and forming more difficult compared to solid solution strengthened nickel base alloys. The high aluminum content also contributes to strain age cracking problems during welding and post-weld heat treatment. These alloys are also prone to solidification cracking during welding, and, in fact, a modified chemistry filler metal is required to weld the commercial alloy, known as HAYNES® 214® alloy. These problems have hindered the development of welded tubular products and have restricted the market growth of this alloy.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Weldable oxidation resistant nickel-iron-chromium aluminum alloy


The present invention provides a method and apparatus for illuminating the region of a body member to be subjected to a surgical procedure by inserting an infrared conducting fiber into the body member, the fiber emitting infrared light energy over a limited range at the precise location where the procedure is to occur. The procedure may involve an organ, a blood vessel, even a nerve. Mechanisms and detectors may be employed to locate the infrared emissions.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,423,321 and 5,517,997, the latter assigned to the assignee of the present invention, disclose the use of an infrared emitter and infrared detector for visualizing and thus permitting determination of location of body members to be protected or managed during a surgical procedure adjacent such member.
The subject matter of the aforesaid patents as related to equipment employed in such procedures is incorporated herein by reference.
As indicated above, the prior efforts in this field have been related essentially to protecting or managing members by locating them. These efforts were not related to precisely locating and identifying the region of members to be involved in the procedures.

Infrared system for visualizing body members


A paging system which sends and receives encrypted messages. The message may be encrypted either by the sender of the message or by the paging system. Multiple keys may be used for encrypting and decrypting. Public key systems may also be used and integrated into this paging system. The paging system can send out time update messages containing the current time and date. The pagers use the time update messages to automatically update the time in an internal clock. Time stamps can be inserted into the encrypted messages to prevent unauthorized users from replaying old messages.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electronic paging systems and pagers. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods and apparatus for providing a secure message paging system.
2. Art Background
Radio paging systems are widely utilized in today's mobile environment. Typically, a person carries a small radio receiving device, i.e. "the pager". A central control system activates the pager by transmitting a radio signal recognizable by the pager. Upon receipt of the radio signal, the pager notifies the user of the page by producing an audible sound, vibrating, or displaying a message.
As the popularity of pagers has increased so has the sophistication and functionality of pagers. There are three kinds of pagers commonly in use today: tone pagers, numeric pagers, and alphanumeric pagers. Tone pagers simply beep or vibrate upon receiving a page signal. The recipient of a page from a tone pager must know who sent the message in order to respond to the page. Numeric pagers receive a signal consisting of a string of digits, 0 through 9, and display the digits on a small display on the pager. The recipient of a page on a numeric pager responds to the page by telephoning the number that appears on the display screen. Alphanumeric pagers provide the most information to the page recipient. Alphanumeric pagers receive signals which contain an encoded string of letters and digits and display the string on a small display screen on the pager.
A person wishing to contact someone via a paging device contacts the central control system and requests that a signal be sent to a specific pager. For example, a person may dial a telephone number for the central control system and using the telephone keypad, enter in an identification number for the pager to be contacted. Alternately, a different telephone number may be assigned to each pager such that the telephone number dialed to contact the central control system identifies the pager to be contacted. The telephone keypad can be further utilized to key in a numeric string to be sent to the pager. In more sophisticated alphanumeric-type pager systems, a terminal device such as a workstation may be utilized to contact the central control system through a computer network to identify the pager to be contacted and to supply a message to be sent. Once the request is received by the central control system, the message is sent to the pager via radio broadcast.
Typically, a pager message consists of two parts: a pager address and a message body. The pager address identifies the which particular pager unit a message is directed to. The message body contains the string of letters and numbers which are to be displayed on the display screen.
However, due to the nature of radio broadcast, the transmission of a message to a pager is not secure. That is, unauthorized access to pager messages can occur since pager messages can be easily intercepted by anybody monitoring the radio broadcast frequency. Furthermore, certain information may be obtained just by being able to identify the recipient of the pager message. A pager message can be intercepted and responded to without the intended recipient's authorization. These security problems cause breaches in privacy and accuracy of the message. The unauthorized interception and reading of pager messages is even more an issue with alpha-numeric pagers, as the information that the sender intended for the receiver is contained within the message sent to the pager.
However, many encryption systems require specialized or substantial hardware and/or software to implement. In order to provide an effective, secure paging system, the security should be provided without changing the infrastructure of the available paging systems.
In addition, it is preferred that a secure paging system be implemented which does not require the message originator to have any knowledge of the security features of the pager system and therefore is transparent to the originator.
Most alphanumeric pagers currently being sold have an internal clock that must be set by hand, and that can be used to show the current time. One problem with these pagers is that it is difficult to keep the internal clock set properly. This is particular true for travelers who must change the internal clock when they travel between time zones. It would be convenient if the internal clock in the pager could set itself automatically.

Methods and apparatus for providing a secure paging system


A system is provided for performing penetration testing of a target computer network by installing a remote agent in the target computer network. The system includes a local agent provided in a computer console and configured to receive and execute commands. A user interface is provided in the console and configured to send commands to and receive information from the local agent, process the information, and present the processed information. A database is configured to store the information received from the local agent. A network interface is connected to the local agent and configured to communicate with the remote agent installed in the target computer network via a network. Security vulnerability exploitation modules are provided for execution by the local agent and/or the remote agent.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to analyzing computer system security by compromising the security in a systematic manner.
2. Related Art
Computer systems that are connected to a computer network, such as the Internet, must employ security measures to prevent unauthorized users from accessing these systems. The security measures must be properly designed and implemented in order to prevent unauthorized access. However, it is difficult to evaluate the effectiveness of such security measures, particularly in view of the increasing sophistication of techniques used to gain unauthorized access to computer systems.
The effectiveness of the security measures of a computer system may be evaluated by performing a computer security audit in which various aspects of computer security are analyzed and evaluated. The security audit may include a penetration test, which is a process by which a security auditor attempts to gain unauthorized access to the computer system.
Conventionally, a penetration test is performed using a multitude of ad hoc methods and tools, rather than according to a formalized standard or procedure. A typical penetration test includes the following stages:    1. Information gathering: The security auditor gathers technical details about the target system and information regarding the owner of the target system.    2. Information analysis and planning: The auditor analyzes the information to plan an overall approach by which to perform the penetration testing. This tends to be a difficult and time consuming task and requires experienced and knowledgeable personnel having a highly specialized skill base.    3. Vulnerability detection: The auditor searches the target system for security vulnerabilities based on the top-level plan developed in the information analysis and planning stage. Security vulnerabilities include, for example, system misconfigurations that enable an unauthorized user to gain access using a known series of steps.
The vulnerability search may be performed using an automated vulnerability scanner, which is a software package that determines whether certain known flaws may be used to gain unauthorized access to the target. Manual vulnerability scanning also may be performed to probe for common vulnerabilities that, for various reasons, may have been missed by an automated scanner. However, such vulnerability scanning techniques merely list the vulnerabilities, rather than actually attempt to exploit them.
The automated and manual vulnerability searches may be supplemented by research performed by the security auditor to determine previously unknown vulnerabilities. Such research typically is performed using a copy (also called a mirror) of the software application being probed and/or the associated hardware.    4. Compromising and accessing the target system: The auditor attempts to compromise the target system based on the results of the vulnerability detection stage using publicly available or custom-developed programs.
Publicly available programs designed to exploit system vulnerabilities tend to be unreliable and require testing and customization before use. In general, exploiting detected vulnerabilities, regardless of the tools being used, requires experienced and knowledgeable personnel having a highly specialized skill base. In addition, a considerable laboratory infrastructure may be required to develop and test vulnerability exploitation tools, particularly when the target system employs a number of different operating system platforms.    5. Analysis and reporting: This stage includes consolidating and presenting the information obtained during the previous stages and developing recommendations for remedying the security vulnerabilities identified during the penetration test. Manually maintaining a record of all of the actions taken and information gathered during testing is extremely time consuming and prone to error. Moreover, the preparation of complete and accurate records is subject to the discipline of the personnel conducting the test.    6. Clean up: The compromising and accessing stage typically results in significant changes being made to the target system. In the clean up stage, the auditor returns the system to its original configuration. To perform a successful clean up, a detailed and exact list of all actions performed during testing must be maintained, yet there are only rudimentary tools available for maintaining such information.
In view of the shortcomings discussed above, there is a need for a system and method for performing an automated penetration test employing computer system compromise that takes an entirely fresh approach and overcomes the drawbacks of the conventional techniques.

Automated computer system security compromise


An electric circuit for supplying power to a DC application is disclosed. The electric circuit comprises a DC power source (1) connectable to an alternator charging circuit (2), an FET (T7), and a capacitor (8) connected across the gate terminal and the source terminal of the FET (T7). The drain terminal of the FET (T7) is connected to a negative terminal of the DC source (1). The FET (T7) protects the circuit against accidental connection of the alternator charging circuit (2) to the DC power source (1) with reversed polarity, by opening a switch (6) of the FET (T7) when this occurs. The capacitor (8) protects the FET (T7) from being pushed into avalanche in case a load-dump transient occurs. This is because the capacitor (8) in this case will charge and discharge, thereby introducing a time delay before the switch (6) is opened. Protection against load-dump transients is thereby obtained by means of a small component with low energy dissipation. Thereby the size of the circuit is reduced and energy is conserved.

Battery driven electronic equipment, e.g. mobile electronic equipment, such as equipment positioned in vehicles, can be subjected to high energy voltage transients, e.g. if the battery is accidentally disconnected from an alternator charging circuit. Such voltage transients are sometimes referred to as 'load-dump transients', and they may cause severe damage to the equipment. It is therefore desirable to protect the equipment from such transients.
In the prior art, three different approaches have been used in order to protect electronic equipment from load-dump transients.
A bi-directional diode positioned at the input of the electronic unit.
A MOSFET positioned in the positive rail of the battery.
A relay positioned in the positive rail of the battery.
Although providing the desired protection, all of these solutions result in the use of relatively bulky components which additionally introduce substantive power losses in the electric circuit. Accordingly, a bulky and energy consuming circuit is the result. This is very disadvantageous.
Furthermore, it is desirable to maintain the possibility of protecting the electronic application from damages occurring in the case that an alternator charging circuit is accidentally connected to the DC power source with a reversed polarity. In this case the circuit should be interrupted, thereby preventing a current from running in the circuit. This may be done using a field effect transistor (FET).

Electric circuit providing protection from transients


The present applications relates to techniques and equipment to control the alignment of cut sheets of paper that are transported in parallel in an inserting system prior to their assembly into a document and inserted into an envelope. The alignment of the parallel sheets is adjusted by commanding incremental position changes to servo drive motors used to control the position of the parallel sheets during their transport through a hold module of the inserting system.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,443,447 B1, entitled "Method And Device For Moving Cut Sheets in a Sheet Accumulating System" and U.S. Pat. No. 7,752,948 B2, entitled "Method and Apparatus for Enhanced Cutter Throughput Using an Exit Motion Profile", both address sheet alignment by having a velocity motion profile. A first path's initial speed is greater than an adjacent second path until it is determined that it must be decelerated to the adjacent second path's speed to be delivered to the downstream module at the desired lead edge to lead edge distance/offset.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,764,070 B2, entitled "Path Length Compensation Method and Device for High Speed Sheet Cutters" addresses sheet alignment by increasing the path length at which one document must travel such that the lead edge to lead edge distance/offset is at the desired amount upon entering a Turnover Sequencer (TOS)/Right Angle Turn (RAT).
The existing technology does not address the requirement for positive control of both the left and right sheets' alignment being adjusted in position relative to each other. In addition, existing technology does not account for the initial alignment of the sheets as received from an upstream module.
Current sheet synchronization systems only adjust relative position of the side by side sheets to account for the path length difference that the sheets experience when traveling through the turnover sequencer (TOS). This synchronization is accomplished by using a different velocity motion profile for each sheet. The velocity profile must include an acceleration and deceleration rate that does not cause paper damage or slippage in the sheet drive. The steady state velocity must be maintained between the acceleration and deceleration period such that the total motion profile for each sheet produces the desired overlap of the sheets upon output from the TOS. The total motion profile is a complex command sequence. The total motion profile configuration only accounts for the TOS path length difference and cannot account for the amount of offset between the sheets that results from the cutting and advancement of the sheets out of the cutter.
Hence a need exists for measurement of the sheets initial alignment upon reception from an upstream module and for using separate servo motor position control for both the left and right sheets to employ a sequence of position control adjustments to each sheet during the sheet transition through the hold module.

Method and system for synchronizing items using position compensation


In a method for producing a bonded wafer by bonding a wafer for active layer to wafer for support layer and then thinning the wafer for active layer, a terrace grinding for forming a terrace portion is carried out prior to a step of exposing the oxygen ion implanted layer to thereby leave an oxide film on a terrace portion of the wafer for support layer.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method for producing a bonded wafer, and more particularly it is to effectively prevent the occurrence of flaws on front and back faces of the wafer to improve a thickness uniformity of a top layer at an outer peripheral portion of the wafer.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a typical production method of the bonded wafer, there are known a method wherein a silicon wafer having an oxide film (insulating film) is bonded to another silicon wafer and then one side of the bonded wafer is ground and polished to form SOI layer (grinding-polishing method), a method wherein oxygen ions are implanted into an interior of a silicon wafer and then a high-temperature annealing is conducted to form a buried oxide film inside the silicon wafer and then an upper part of the oxide film is rendered into SOI layer (SIMOX), a method wherein ions of hydrogen or the like are implanted into a surface layer portion of a silicon wafer for SOI layer (wafer for active layer) to form an ion implanted layer and thereafter the wafer is bonded to a silicon wafer for support substrate and then the bonded wafer is exfoliated at the ion implanted layer through a heat treatment to form SOI layer (smart cut method), and so on.
However, the grinding-polishing method has a problem that the thickness uniformity of the active layer is poor (±30% or more). On the other hand, the method using oxygen ion implantation (SIMOX) has a problem that SOI structures having different crystal orientations can not be produced so as to interleave the insulating layer.
In order to solve the above problems, the inventors have already developed a process combining the oxygen ion implantation method and the grinding-polishing method as disclosed in JP-A-H05-291543.
Besides, a production method of a bonded wafer having the following construction has been proposed in JP-A-2008-016534 (published on Jan. 24, 2008) as the process combining the oxygen ion implantation method and the grinding-polishing method. That is, it is a method for producing a bonded wafer by directly bonding a wafer for active layer provided or not provided on its surface with an insulting layer to a wafer for support layer and then thinning the wafer for active layer, which comprises time-orientedly combining a step of implanting oxygen ions into a wafer for active layer to form an oxygen ion implanted layer in the active layer, a step of subjecting the wafer for active layer to a heat treatment at a temperature of not lower than 1100° C. in a non-oxidizing atmosphere, a step of bonding the wafer for active layer to a wafer for support layer, a step of conducting a heat treatment for increasing a bonded strength, a step of grinding a portion of the wafer for active layer in the resulting bonded wafer short of the oxygen ion implanted layer, a step of further polishing or etching the wafer for active layer to expose the oxygen ion implanted layer, a step of oxidizing the bonded wafer to form an oxide film on the exposed surface of the oxygen ion implanted layer, a step of removing the oxide film, and a step of heat-treating at a temperature of not higher than 1100° C. in a non-oxidizing atmosphere.
By such a combination method it is made possible to directly provide a bonded wafer being excellent in the thickness uniformity of the active layer and relatively less in the defects as evaluated by a transmission electron microscope (TEM).
However, the following problems still remain in the technique disclosed in JP-A-H05-291543:    (1) Flaws are caused on the back face of the wafer for active layer during the grinding;    (2) Flaws are caused on the front face when the oxygen ion implanted layer is exposed by grinding or when the grinding is stopped at the oxygen ion implanted layer; and    (3) When the oxygen ion implanted layer is exposed by grinding or etching, or when the grinding or etching is stopped at the oxygen ion implanted layer, a thickness of a top layer in the vicinity of an outer peripheral portion of the wafer becomes non-uniform.


The present invention relates to a portable terminal. The portable terminal of the present invention comprises a main body unit 10, a display unit 20 which is connected and installed to the main body unit 10 and provided with a display screen 22 for displaying a variety of information, and a key pad 32 which includes a plurality of keys 34 arranged in rows thereon and is installed to the main body unit to be rotatable by a predetermined angle. According to the present invention, since the arrangement of keys is changed according to modes of the portable terminal, there is an advantage in that a user can conveniently use the keys. In particular, since the arrangement of keys on the key pad with respect to the display unit is similar to that of a computer keyboard in a specified mode of the portable terminal, there is another advantage in that the user can quickly perform a key input operation. Further, since characters indicated on the keys can be changed according to the rotational position of the key pad, there is a further advantage in that the keys can be easily distinguished from one another.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a portable terminal, and more particularly, to a portable terminal capable of using mobile communication, connecting with the Internet, and making a simple document while a user carries the portable terminal.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Recently, a terminal capable of using mobile communication has been a necessary device, and it has been also possible to connect with the Internet and make a simple document using the terminal. That is, a portable terminal with functions as high as those of a computer used several years ago has been released onto the market. As the portable terminal has its diverse functions, a key input operation is essential even for a portable terminal.
In conventional portable terminals, however, most keys are fixedly installed to a main body unit. In general, a main body unit of a portable terminal is configured in such a manner that its vertical length is greater than its horizontal width. Thus, when the keys are arranged, the number of keys arranged in a width direction of the main body unit is smaller than the number of keys arranged in a longitudinal direction of the main body unit.
However, a user is generally accustomed to a key input operation using a computer keyboard. That is, the computer keyboard is configured in such a manner that the number of keys arranged in the width direction is greater that the number of keys arranged in the length direction. Thus, in a state where both hands are placed on the keyboard, a user operates the keys arranged in the left half portion of the keyboard with the left hand and the keys arranged in the right half portion of the keyboard with the right hand.
Therefore, it is very awkward and slow to perform the key input operation in a portable terminal in which the number of keys arranged in a length direction is greater than the number of keys arranged in a width direction and the keys are fixedly installed to the main body unit.
In order to solve the problems in a prior art, there is suggested a portable terminal capable of performing a key input operation in a state where a main body unit itself has been rotated by 90 degrees. However, since a display unit also rotates by 90 degrees as the main body unit rotates by 90 degrees, there is a problem in that it is difficult to view the input contents well.
Further, in the prior art, an additional memory card can be used for storing a file with a relatively large file size created through the key input operation. The memory card is generally inserted into a card slot opened to the outside at an outer surface of a main body unit of a portable terminal. However, since the card slot is exposed to the outer surface of the main body unit of the portable terminal, there is another problem in that there is a relatively high risk of losing the memory card.


An electrical conductor establishes electrical contact between planar faces of a first terminal and a second terminal. The connector includes a resilient contact plate disposed between the faces, and locking assembly for retaining the terminals in engagement. A sealing gasket may be included, and the connector may be configured to join a number of separate wire pairs.

There are a variety of connectors which are employed to establish electrical communication between pairs of conductors and/or various electrical components. The configuration of, and performance criteria for, a particular connector will depend upon its application. In general, electrical connectors should present a low electrical resistivity and should be easy to assemble and disassemble. In most instances it is important that the connectors be low in cost and easy to manufacture. In particular applications it is important that an electrical connector be capable of handling high voltage and/or current loads. In vehicular applications, it is often necessary that connectors be capable of providing an environmentally sealed connection, and that they provide a positive connection which is not loosened by vibration, stress, thermal cycling and so forth.
Because of the increasing sophistication of the electrical and electronic systems of motor vehicles, the design and selection of electrical connectors for vehicular use is of increasing importance. Motor vehicles now include control and monitoring systems which include many discrete components together with a number of complex wiring harnesses. Electrical connectors utilized in motor vehicles generally encounter significant vibration as well as harsh ambient conditions. Frequently such connectors carry relatively high currents, and in some instances critical safety systems are dependent upon the establishment and maintenance of reliable electrical connections. In addition to the foregoing, manufacturing criteria for the mass production of motor vehicles requires that electrical connectors employed therein be relatively low in cost and simple to use.
One particular type of connector establishes electrical communication between a pair of terminals via relatively large, flat contact surfaces. U.S. Pat. No. 3,316,522 discloses one such electrical connector comprised of a pair of flat, circular terminals which rotationally engage one another. As shown therein, a separate, resilient lock strip is employed to maintain a positive electrical connection between the engaged terminals. U.S. Pat. No. 3,480,903 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,357,070 both disclose electrical connectors in which pairs of terminals rotationally engage one another.
The present invention provides an electrical connector which is capable of handling relatively large amounts of current, and which provides a positive locking connection, not prone to loosening by vibration, thermal cycling, mechanical shock or the like. The connector of the present invention is simple to use, and does not employ any separate clips or components. The connector provides a tight, resilient and atmospherically sealed connection. The connector of the present invention may be employed to establish electrical contact between conductor pairs and/or components, and is particularly well suited for vehicular applications. These and other advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the drawings, discussion and description which follow.


Provided is a novel electronic device that comprises graphite, graphene or the like.

Studies of graphite and graphene as next-generation switching materials have begun all over the world. This is because graphite and graphene has the possibility to be far higher in the mobility than that of silicone and because these are carbon materials and therefore could be ecological materials.
For example, "Electric Field Effect in Atomically Thin Carbon Films", by K. S. Novoselov, A. K. Geim, S. V. Morozov, D. Jiang, Y. Zhang, S. V. Dubonos, I. V. Grigorieva, and A. A. Firsov in Science Vol. 306, p. 666, 2004; and "Fabrication and electric-field-dependent transport measurements of mesoscopic graphite devices", by Yuanbo Zhang, Joshua P. Small, William V. Pontius, and Philip Kim, in Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 86, 073104, 2005 report the carrier concentration inside a graphite thin film, using an SiO2 thin film on an Si substrate as a gate insulating film. The devices described in these references have some problems in that, since the substrate serves as a gate electrode, the gate could not accept independent operation for individual devices and that, since the SiO2 insulating film is thick, a large gate voltage (about 100 V) is needed.
"Transport Measurements Across a Tunable Potential Barrier in Graphene", by B. Huard, J. A. Sulpizio, N. Stander, K. Todd, B. Yang, and D. Goldhaber-Gordon, in Physical Review Letters, Vol. 98, 236803 (2007) reports formation of a polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) resin film on a graphite thin film by coating thereon as a top gate insulating film for potential control inside the graphite thin film. However, this is troublesome in that PMMA must be applied and crosslinked through exposure to electronic beam, and in addition, since the insulating film is 40 nm and is not sufficiently thin, the gate voltage reducing effect is insufficient.

Electronic device and method for producing electronic device

Abstract: An electronic device having a substrate, a layer comprising a 6-member ring-structured carbon homologue as the main ingredient, a pair of electrodes, a layer comprising aluminium oxide as the main ingredient and disposed between the pair of electrodes, and a layer comprising aluminium as the main ingredient, wherein the layer comprising aluminium oxide as the main ingredient is disposed between the layer comprising a 6-member ring-structured carbon homologue as the main ingredient and the layer comprising aluminium as the main ingredient so as to be in contact with the two layers.


The image forming apparatus includes: an apparatus body including a drive source; a driven member detachably attachable to the apparatus body; a first transmission member in the apparatus body, including a base rotatable around a rotation axis, and transmitting drive force from the drive source to the driven member; and a second transmission member in the driven member, including a base rotatable around the rotation axis, and transmitting drive force from the first transmission member to the driven member. Any of the first and second transmission members includes a projection, and the other includes a receiving port. The receiving port receives the projection when a rotation angle between the first and second transmission members is an angle set in advance while not receiving the projection when the rotation angle is out of the angle, at the time of mounting the driven member on the apparatus body.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, a method of allowing a driven member to be mounted on an apparatus body in an image forming apparatus and a method of allowing drive force to be transmitted to a belt unit in an image forming apparatus.
2. Related Art
If a photoconductor drum that is not used in image formation is rotated, abrasion of the photoconductor drum by a cleaning blade and the like are accelerated.

Image forming apparatus, method of allowing driven member to be mounted on apparatus body in image forming apparatus and method of allowing drive force to be transmitted to belt unit in image forming apparatus


A method of removing edges from an eyeless operating needle blank includes the steps of providing needle blanks having an end portion which defines a bore. Aligning the end portion, which defines a bore, longitudinally with a laser. The laser is fired such that radiation from the laser is incident on the end portion. The incident radiation from the laser forms rounded edges about the end portion.

1. Technical Field
This disclosure relates to a method of removing edges on the end of an eyeless operating needle blank and, more particularly, to using a laser to remove the edges on the proximal end of eyeless surgical needle blanks.
2. Background of the Related Art
An eyeless operating needle blank has a proximal end portion with a bore formed therein of a predetermined depth extending along the axis of the needle blank. An end of a suture is inserted into the bore and, subsequently, the end portion is staked, to attach the suture to the needle blank. Opposite the proximal end portion is a distal tip portion for piercing soft tissue.
Many techniques exist for forming the bore in the end portion of the needle blank, such as, drilling machine, electric discharge machining, electron beam machining, laser beam machining, etc. These machining processes may leave nonconformities at the inside and outside diameters of the bore. In needle blanks with small outside diameters the wall of the needle blank defined between the bore and the outside diameter is very thin and can be very sharp. The sharp edges on the inside diameter of the needle blank can cause the suture to rupture and break away from the needle blank prematurely, i.e., when the needle blank is bent relative to the suture. Sharp edges or burrs on the end of the needle blank can also be created on the outside diameter during manufacture (i.e., cutting the needle blanks to length). These sharp edges or burrs result in rejection during the needle blank inspection process.
Sharp edges or burrs can be eliminated by breaking the edges on the inside and outside diameters at the entrance of the bore. Heim, U.S. Pat. No. 4,159,686, teaches a method for smoothing the eye of a needle blank. The method includes using a laser beam to round out edges, however the techniques disclosed are for use in sewing needle blanks which define an eye substantially perpendicular to the needle blank's axis. Wendell, U.S. Pat. No. 5,344,412, teaches laser machining for catheters. The catheters have side ports laser machined substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the catheter.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,371,338 to Proto and Buchter, 5,384,945 to Spingler, 5,453,595 to Proto and Buchter and 5,479,980 to Proto, all incorporated herein by reference, disclose devices for creating needle blanks and drilling bores into the ends of the needle blanks. Wire from a spool is tensioned, cleaned and straightened. The wire is manipulated and aligned along its longitudinal axis with a laser beam. The distance from the laser beam and the alignment of the work piece with respect to the laser are precisely arranged. The laser drills a hole into the end portion of the wire and the wire is cut to length to create a needle blank with a bore for a suture. The bore is created by a laser beam aligned with the needle blank along its longitudinal axis. It would be advantageous to introduce an edge removing technique after the operation of drilling the bore. The prior art teaches that laser machining be done at an angle with the longitudinal axis of the needle blank. This would require realignment and refocus of the laser beam if longitudinal alignment is required to drill the bore. This would be time consuming and difficult to incorporate into the process.
Therefore, a need exists for incorporating a laser process which can provide a rounded edge to both the inside and outside diameters of the suture end of an eyeless needle blank. It would be advantageous to be able to maintain the laser beam along the longitudinal axis of the needle blank in order to round out the edges of the bore. It is also desirable to be able to use the drilling laser for creating both the bore and for rounding its edges.

Method of deburring eyelens needle blanks with a laser beam


A system and method for detecting signal levels in a multi-level signaling receiver. In one embodiment, a plurality of comparators, each including a differential pair, such as a differential pair of field-effect transistors (FETs) are assembled in a stacked configuration so that in some states current flows through FETs of the plurality of differential pairs in series, resulting in a reduction in power consumption.

When a digital signal is transmitted across a data bus using two levels, i.e., binary signaling, the signal switches between two values, representing a binary 0 or 1, respectively. For example, the voltage on a conductor, such as a wire or a printed wiring board trace, may be driven to a first value to signify a binary 0 and to a second value to signify a binary 1.
Data may be sent across a bus at a higher data throughput, for a given clock rate, using multi-level signaling. For example, in four-level signaling, which may be referred to as four-level pulse amplitude modulation (PAM-4), the voltage on conductor may take one of four values. In a PAM-4 receiver the received signal may then be converted, for each of the four voltage values, to a pair of bits, with a first value corresponding to binary 00, a second value corresponding to binary 01, a third value corresponding to binary 10, and a fourth value corresponding to binary 11, respectively. In other embodiments the correspondence between the voltage levels and pairs of bits may be different, or another parallel signaling scheme, such as one-hot encoding, or inverse one-hot encoding, may be used.
A multi-level receiver, which receives a multi-level signal as input and produces parallel binary signals as output, may be constructed with multiple comparators in parallel, which may be identical except for the threshold voltage to which each is connected. One input of each comparator may be connected to the received signal Vin, and the other input may be connected to a threshold voltage.
Each comparator in such a multi-level receiver may be composed of a differential pair of transistors, with each transistor being connected to a resistor and to a shared current source. The current flowing through one of the resistors and one of the transistors in such a differential pair, and through the current source, dissipates power, and if there are several such comparators in a receiver then several times as much power is dissipated. Power consumption may be reduced by operating the comparators in a sequential comparison mode in which only one comparator is active at any given time, but this approach, while reducing power consumption, also reduces the speed at which the receiver is capable of operating, resulting in slower data transmission and, accordingly, a loss of at least some of the benefits of using multi-level signaling.
Thus, there is a need for a low-power, high-speed system and method for receiving a signal employing multi-level signaling.

Stacked comparator topology for multi-level signaling


Methods and compositions for modulating transforming growth factor-beta (TGFβ) biological activity in a vertebrate subject in need thereof. The methods involve administering to the vertebrate subject an effective amount of a substance capable of modulating activity of LEMD3 in the vertebrate subject to thereby modulate TGFβ biological activity in the vertebrate subject.

Transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) plays roles in human development, wound repair, and pathology. For example, over-activation of TGFβ signaling has been implicated 25 as a pathologic driver of fibrosis in several organ systems including the lung, kidneys, skin and liver (1-3). Recently, the FDA approved the use of pirfenidone in pulmonary fibrosis, which acts in part to antagonize TGFβ signaling. Pirfenidone has led to a slowing of disease progression, indicating that this is a promising yet not fully realized therapeutic axis for addressing fibrotic pathologies. (4-7).
Thus, there continues to be a long felt need in the art for compositions and methods useful to modulate TGFβ signaling for therapeutic interventions. The presently disclosed subject matter addresses these and other needs in the art.

LEMD3 antagonizes TGF-beta-driven Smad2/3 transcription in a stiffness-dependent fashion in both the nucleus and cytosol

University of Virginia Patent Foundation