An example of a system comprises a cardiac pulse generator configured to generate cardiac paces to pace the heart, a sensor configured to sense a physiological signal for use in detecting pace-induced phrenic nerve stimulation (PS), a storage, and a phrenic nerve stimulation detector. The storage is configured for use to store patient-specific PS features for PS beats with a desirably large signal-to-noise ratio. The phrenic nerve stimulation detector may be configured to detect PS features for the patient by analyzing a PS beat with a desirably large signal-to-noise ratio induced using a pacing pulse with a large energy output and store patient-specific PS features in the storage, and use the patient-specific PS features stored in the memory to detect PS beats when the heart is paced heart using cardiac pacing pulses with a smaller energy output.

Implanted cardiac stimulation systems may be used to deliver cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) or to otherwise pace the heart. When the heart is paced in the left ventricle (LV), for example, there may be unwanted stimulation of the phrenic nerve that causes contraction of the diaphragm. Unintended phrenic nerve activation (an unintended action potential propagated in the phrenic nerve) is a well-known consequence of left ventricular pacing. The left phrenic nerve, for example, descends on the pericardium to innervate the left part of the diaphragm. In most people, the left phrenic nerve runs close to coronary vein targets for lead implantation. The unintended phrenic nerve activation may cause the diaphragm to undesirably contract. Unintended phrenic nerve activation may feel like hiccups to the patient. Such unintended phrenic nerve activation can occur when the electric field of the LV pacing lead is proximate to the left phrenic nerve and is at a stimulation output that is strong enough to capture the nerve. The unintended phrenic nerve activation may also be referred to herein as pace-induced phrenic nerve stimulation and abbreviated as "PS".
Unintended phrenic nerve activation may vary from patient to patient. One reason for this variance is that the anatomic location of the phrenic nerve can vary within patients. Additionally, the veins are not always in the same location with respect to the ventricle and the nearby passing nerve. Also, the selected vein in which to place a cardiac lead or the location of the pacing electrode for a prescribed cardiac therapy may vary.
Cardiac therapies may be delivered using different pacing configurations and different stimulation parameters. Examples of pacing configurations include LV bipolar, LV to can, and LV to RV (right ventricle) also referred to as "extended bipolar." Examples of stimulation parameters include the amplitude (e.g. voltage) and pulse width. The pacing configuration or the stimulation parameters of a therapy may be modified in an effort to avoid phrenic nerve stimulation. The LV pacing electrodes may be repositioned to capture the LV for a pacing therapy such as CRT while avoiding phrenic nerve capture, or the clinician may decide not to implant an LV pacing electrode but rather rely on other pacing algorithms that do not pace the LV.
Although phrenic nerve stimulation is commonly assessed at implant, unintended phrenic nerve activation caused by phrenic nerve capture during pacing may first appear or worsen post-implant for a variety of reasons such as reverse remodeling of the heart, lead micro-dislodgement, changes in posture, and the like. Therefore, the device may be reprogrammed during special office visits after implant to avoid phrenic nerve stimulation. Electronic repositioning (i.e. changing the pacing configuration) is usually effective, but the vector and stimulation parameter reprogramming can be time consuming. Additionally, PS may be present in all vectors. Knowledge of the PS threshold for each available pacing vector/configuration, along with myocardial capture thresholds, may be used to select a viable or optimal stimulation configuration (e.g. LV pacing configuration) that eliminates or reduces the risk for PS.
It is desirable to provide a more effective way to choose the vector with the biggest safety margin (e.g. largest voltage amplitude different between the thresholds of myocardial stimulation and PS). The amplitude of the PS response is dependent on the pacing output. If an accelerometer is used to sense PS, an amplitude of an accelerometer signal for the PS response can be faint and difficult to detect reliably when the pacing energy level is reduced, especially in the presence of noise. A result may be underestimating the PS onset threshold by estimating the PS onset to be higher than the true onset.

Adaptive phrenic nerve stimulation detection


An optical imaging lens module is provided, the optical imaging lens module may include a first lens barrel and a second lens barrel, positioned in an order from an image side to an object side along an optical axis; an optical imaging lens, comprising a first lens element group and a second lens element group, disposed in the first lens barrel and the second lens barrel respectively; an actuating unit, disposed on an external side of the second lens barrel to make the second lens barrel to be a movable barrel, which can move along the optical axis relative to the first lens barrel. The optical imaging lens may satisfy EFL/TTL≥0.850, in which a system focal length is represented by EFL, and a distance from an object-side surface of the lens element having refracting power and closest to the object side to an imaging plane along the optical axis is represented by TTL.

The current optical imaging lens applied for portable electronic products uses an actuator to adjust the position of the entire lens to achieve the purpose of autofocus. Due to the increasing requirements of the optical zoom of portable products in the current market, longer focal lengths are also required for telephoto lenses.
The more common dual-lens portable electronic products are equipped with a wide-angle lens with f35 equivalent focal length of 26 mm and a telephoto lens with f35 equivalent focal length of 52 mm, such that the function of 2× optical zoom can be achieved. The actuator in the current market has a maximum travel distance of about 0.450 mm. When the telephoto lens with f35 equivalent focal length is 5 times the optical zoom magnification, and is adjusted during from focusing at an infinite object distance to focusing at a closer distance, e.g., 1.200 m, a corresponding change distance between the entire lens and the image plane adjusted by the actuator is close to the maximum travel distance that it can move. In other words, to meet a larger optical magnification, telephoto lenses with longer focal lengths currently required by the market can no longer utilize the design of conventional optical imaging lenses with existing actuators to adjust the distance between the entire lens and the image plane for focusing. In addition, changes in the temperature difference of the environment will make the actuator need to move a longer travel distance for focusing. Therefore, in the application of the telephoto lens, the change of the object distance and the influence of the temperature difference cannot complete the focusing function through the design of the existing optical imaging lens in conjunction with the actuator.
Accordingly, it is necessary to provide an optical imaging lens with a telephoto function, which can resolve the problem of the maximum travel distance of the actuator of the current optical imaging lens being insufficient to adjust the corresponding change distance between the entire lens and the image plane while focusing from an infinite object distance to closer distance, can maintain good imaging quality at different temperatures, and has a small optical imaging lens size

GENIUS ELECTRONIC OPTICAL (XIAMEN) CO., LTD.


A method for estimating systolic and diastolic pressure is disclosed herein. The method includes obtaining a predetermined type of blood pressure data from a patient, and providing previously acquired blood pressure data obtained from a plurality of different subjects. The method also includes implementing the previously acquired blood pressure data to select systolic and diastolic amplitude ratios that most closely correlate with the predetermined type of blood pressure data obtained from the patient. The selected systolic and diastolic amplitude ratios are adapted to compensate for the effects of arterial compliance. The method also includes implementing the selected systolic and diastolic amplitude ratios to generate a systolic and diastolic blood pressure estimates.

An accurate and reliable technique for continuously measuring blood pressure involves inserting a saline filled catheter through the patient's vascular system to the point at which it is desired to perform the measurements. The catheter is connected to a pressure sensor, which measures the pressure in the vessel. An alternative method uses a catheter with a pressure sensor at the tip that directly senses the blood pressure. Procedures such as these are commonly referred to as "invasive procedures" because they involve making an incision through the patient's skin and inserting the catheter into a blood vessel. A problem with invasive procedures is that they can cause patient discomfort and increase the risk of complications such as infection.
Non-invasive blood pressure (NIBP) algorithms typically inflate a pressure cuff above the patient's systolic pressure and measure oscillations under the cuff as the cuff is deflated either in steps or continuously. The resulting oscillometric envelope is used to determine the patients' blood pressure. The cuff pressure corresponding to the maximum oscillation amplitude is typically taken as the mean arterial pressure (MAP). Systolic and Diastolic pressures are computed using a fixed ratio of the maximum oscillation amplitude. Some NIBP monitors also use the shape of the oscillometric envelope to compute the Systolic and Diastolic pressures. The problem with conventional NIBP techniques is that they do not compensate for arterial compliance changes and are therefore imprecise.

Non-invasive blood pressure determination method


A getter capsule comprising at least one particular container (1 or 10) containing getter particles (9) is useful for removing reactive gases in at least one vacuum space(21d or 22d). The particular container (1 or 10) may be made of a material containing sintered particles or may be made of a combination of a filtering means (11) and a perforated inorganic pipe or cup (12). At least one closing means (5 or 15) employed in each container (1 or 10) to close or cover the opening (4 or 14) of the container (1 or 10) may be particularly designed to prevent the getter particles (9) from escaping the container (1 or 10) without using any sealants, even when the container (1 or 10) is subject to vibrations.

A getter material is useful for removing various reactive gases in vacuum systems. Palladium oxide(PdO), for example, can be placed within a vacuum space or enclosure to remove hydrogen which is released from the metal components in the vacuum space or enclosure. Initially, the hydrogen reacts with palladium oxide(PdO) to form water which is subsequently removed with molecular sieves in the vacuum space or enclosure. The reaction between palladium oxide(PdO) and hydrogen may be characterized by the following equation: EQU PdO+H.sub.2 .fwdarw.Pd+H.sub.2 O
Once palladium oxide(PdO) is reduced to form palladium metal(Pd), additional hydrogen is removed through using its surface, i.e., chemisorbing hydrogen on its surface.
Employing the getter material, such as palladium oxide, in vacuum insulated equipment, particularly those which are used for handling liquified or low temperature gases, e.g., liquid oxygen, however, can be problematic. If pure oxygen is rapidly introduced into the vacuum space or enclosure via an inner line weld failure, a container weld failure, a neck tube failure or any other structure failures, palladium oxide which has been reduced and has chemisorbed hydrogen on its surface will react with oxygen to generate a temperature up to about 1600 F. This high temperature can melt and ignite an insulation, such as aluminum foil insulation, which is normally used in the vacuum insulated equipment. Once the aluminum foil insulation is ignited, it will burn rapidly resulting in a large energy release which can violently rupture the outer vacuum jacket of the vacuum insulated equipment.
In order to prevent the getter material, such as palladium oxide, from igniting the aluminum insulation, it is packaged before it is employed in the vacuum insulated equipment. Packaging includes placing about 0.5 to about 2 grams of palladium oxide on a piece of a glass paper, folding the glass paper to form a rectangular packet, placing the rectangular glass packet on about 100 mesh copper screen and folding the copper screen over the rectangular glass packet to completely enclose the glass packet. The glass paper and copper screen combine to keep palladium oxide powder within the packet. Also, the copper screen serves as a heat sink to limit the outer surface temperature of the packet in the case of a sudden in-rush of oxygen. Even though the ignition of the insulation can be inhibited or prevented by the above packaging, the structure of the packet or package is susceptible to damage under rough handling conditions. In other words, the glass paper packet can be ripped under rough handling conditions, e.g., creased or unfolded during its installation into the vacuum space or folded incorrectly during fabrication, to release palladium powder therein. The released palladium powder could come into contact with the insulation and may ignite the insulation and rupture the outer vacuum jacket of the vacuum insulated equipment.
Thus, there is a genuine need in the art for a getter containment device which is not susceptible to damage and is useful for employing in vacuum systems.


In one aspect of the invention, a method of providing automated assistance in configuring customer premises equipment for communication with another network element includes automatically identifying a virtual channel and/or a protocol valid for configuration with the customer premises equipment, and assisting a user in configuring the customer premises equipment for use with the identified virtual channel and/or protocol.

Various customer premises equipment has been developed to facilitate access to numerous network communication and processing services. For example, modems, routers, and bridges can facilitate access to network services through various central office equipment. Typically, customer premises equipment must be configured to interact with various other network elements both in terms of the logical signal connection—or virtual channel—between the customer premises equipment and the service provider, and in terms of the encapsulation protocol used by the service provider.
Unfortunately, different network service providers offer services using several different protocols on any number of possible signal paths. Currently, no uniform standard specifying applicable signal paths or protocols has been established for service provision to customer premises equipment. As a result, configuration of customer premises equipment to operate with any particular service provider's network equipment can prove a time consuming and frustrating task for users of the customer premises equipment.
Some manufacturers of customer premises equipment have included predefined look-up tables with their equipment to assist users in configuring the customer premises equipment. This approach suffers for several reasons. For example, the predefined tables quickly become outdated as new service providers emerge and existing service providers vary the virtual channels and/or protocols supported. As a result, the predefined tables can be outdated before the product is even sold to the customer. In addition, these approaches require the user to input information used to cross-reference the configuration information in the look-up tables. This provides another chance for user error and/or system inoperability if the user does not have the required cross-reference information.

Method and apparatus for automated assistance in configuring customer premises equipment


Methods and products for treating and protecting against asthma and allergic conditions are provided. The methods and products are related to certain naturally occurring and synthetic zwitterionic polymers which are found to induce certain T regulatory (Treg) cells and to exert immunosuppressive effects in vitro and in vivo.

Certain polysaccharides purified from the surface of bacterial cells exhibit protective effects in vivo when tested in models of inflammation such as the formation of intraabdominal abscesses, intraabdominal sepsis, and post-surgical adhesions. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,679,654 and 5,700,787; published international patent applications WO 96/07427, WO 00/59515, and WO 02/45708). When purified from whole capsule, certain polysaccharides derived from Bacteroides fragilis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus pneumoniae have unique characteristics that set them apart from many polysaccharide antigens. These molecules are high molecular weight, helical, and zwitterionic in nature. Wang Y et al. (2000) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 97:13478-81; Brubaker J O et al. (1999) J Immunol 162:2235-42; Tzianabos A O et al. (1995) Infect Immun 62:4881-6; Tzianabos A O et al. (1995) J Clin Invest 96:2727-31; Kalka-Moll W M et al. (2000) J Immunol 164:719-24; Tzianabos A O et al. (2000) J Biol Chem 275:6733-40.
Most bacterial polysaccharides are neutral or negatively charged and are considered to be T-cell-independent antigens. Abbas A K et al. (2003) Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Saunders, Philadelphia. It has been suggested, however, that the zwitterionic nature of these polysaccharides somehow involves them in interaction with CD4+ T cells. Tzianabos A O et al. (1993) Science 262:416-9; Tzianabos A O et al. (2001) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 98:9365-70. That zwitterionic polysaccharides activate CD4+ T cells in vitro is supported by their reported ability to stimulate T-cell proliferation and the production of the cytokines IL-2, IFN-γ, and IL-10. In addition, it has been reported that the protective effect is adoptively transferred by polysaccharide-stimulated T cells in vivo. Published international patent application WO 00/59515; Kalka-Moll W M et al. (2000) J Immunol 164:719-24; Tzianabos A O et al. (2000) J Biol Chem 275:6733-8. It remains unclear, however, exactly how these molecules activate T cells or how they exert their protective effects.

Zwitterionic immunomodulators for the treatment of asthma and allergy


In a liquid-crystal module equipped with a frame, a bezel, and a liquid-crystal panel, the frame includes groove sections. Each of the groove sections has an upper portion formed into an essentially-semicircular shape conforming to an outer peripheral shape of a cylindrical insert nut provided on a side surface of a bezel, and a circular-arc bulging portion provided on at least one side surface of the groove section such that a distance between the bulging portion and an opposing side surface becomes smaller than an outer diameter of the insert nut. Further, the plurality of groove sections are provided at predetermined intervals so as to penetrate from an exterior surface to an interior surface of the frame.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid-crystal module and a liquid-crystal display device, and more particularly, to a liquid-crystal module and a liquid-crystal display device, both having a bezel having nut members, wherein a thread groove is formed on an interior circumferential surface of each nut member.
2. Description of the Related Art
A liquid-crystal module (a liquid-crystal display device) having a bezel including a nut member having a thread groove formed on an interior circumferential surface thereof has hitherto been known (see JP-A-10-69236 and Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 3087458).
JP-A-10-69236 discloses a flat display device according to a first conventional example. In this device, a substantially cylindrical nut having a thread groove formed on an interior circumferential surface thereof is provided at a location on one frame (i.e., the bezel) where another frame is to be screwed, and a screw hole is provided at a position on the other frame where the one frame is to be screwed. In the structure described in JP-A-10-69236, after the screw has been inserted into the screw hole of the other frame, the screw is screwed into the one frame (i.e., the bezel), thereby fixing the two frames through use of a single screw. When compared with a case where two frames are separately fixed through use of different screws, the number of screws and the number of screwing steps are diminished.
Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 3087458 describes a liquid-crystal module according to a second conventional example. In this module, a curling nut mount hole, which is to be provided in a bezel and has a thread groove formed on an interior circumferential surface thereof, is formed into a hexagonal shape. A hexagonal fitting section to be fitted to the mount hole of the bezel is provided in the curling nut. According to the structure described in Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 3087458, when the curling nut is inserted into the hexagonal mount hole of the bezel, the hexagonal fitting section of the curling nut fits to the hexagonal mount hole of the bezel. When a screw is screwed into the curling nut, the curling nut is prevented from rotating along with the screw. In Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 3087458, the screw is fastened to the curling nut, whereby the bezel and the case (frame) are fixed together.
FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a liquid-crystal module according to a third conventional example. FIG. 13 is an enlarged perspective view partially showing that the liquid-crystal module according to the third conventional example shown in FIG. 12 is exploded. FIG. 14 is an enlarged perspective view showing that the frame is fitted and fixed to the bezel in the state shown in FIG. 13. By reference to FIGS. 12 to 14, the structure of the liquid-crystal module 100 according to the third conventional example will first be described.
As shown in FIG. 12, the liquid-crystal module 100 according to the third conventional example is equipped with a frame of resin 110, a metal bezel 120, and a liquid-crystal panel 130. The frame 110 is provided so as to support an outer peripheral portion of the liquid-crystal panel 130. As shown in FIG. 13, the bezel 120 has a recessed section 120a into which the frame 110 is to be fitted.
As shown in FIG. 13, four screw holes 121 and three cylindrical insert nuts 122, each having a thread groove on an interior circumferential surface thereof, are provided in the side surface of the bezel 120. The insert nuts 122 are provided on the bezel 120 by means of caulking, so as to protrude toward an interior circumferential surface of the recessed section 120a (i.e., toward the frame 110) of the bezel 120. The insert nuts 122 are used for fixing together the liquid-crystal module 100 serving as a component to be used in a liquid-crystal display device (not shown) and an enclosure (frame) (not shown) of the liquid-crystal display device. The screw holes 121 are provided for inserting screws 123 when the frame 110 is fitted and fixed to the recessed section 120a of the bezel 120 by means of the screws 123 (see FIG. 14).
As shown in FIG. 13, the frame 110 has three groove sections 112 to be used for housing the insert nuts 122 projecting toward the interior circumferential surface of the bezel 120. Each of the grooves 112 is provided so as to have a predetermined depth from the bottom of an exterior surface of the frame 110. Moreover, four screw holes 111, each having a female thread for fixing the corresponding screw 123, are provided in the side surface of the frame 110. The screw holes 111 of the frame 110 are provided at positions corresponding to the screw holes 121 of the bezel 120.
When the liquid-crystal module 100 is assembled, the frame 110 is fitted into the recessed section 120a of the bezel 120 in the state shown in FIG. 13. As shown in FIG. 14, the insert nuts 122 of the bezel 120 are housed in the groove sections 112 of the frame 110. Subsequently, the four metal screws 123 are screwed into the four screw holes 111 of the frame 110, each screw hole having a female thread, by way of the four screw holes 121 of the bezel 120. Thereby, the frame 110 supporting the liquid-crystal panel 130 and the bezel 120 are fixed together, to thus assemble the liquid-crystal module 110.
In the liquid-crystal module 100 of the third conventional example shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the groove section 112 provided in the frame 110 is formed as a recess section (a storage section) for the insert nuts 122. The insert nut 122 does not contribute to fastening of the bezel 120 to the frame 110. Specifically, the frame 110 and the bezel 120 have hitherto been fastened together by means of only the screws 123. In order to secure constant fastening force, a certain number of screws to be used for fastening the frame 110 to the bezel 120 are required. For this reason, there have been a problem of an increase in the number of parts and an increase in the number of steps (assembly steps) during a screwing process.
The frame 110 is formed from resin. The screw holes 111 having female thread sections formed in the frame 110 suffer a disadvantage of screw threads of the female thread sections being liable to collapse as compared with screw holes formed in the metal frame. When the screw threads of the female thread sections of the screw holes 111 have become collapsed, difficulty is encountered in fastening the frame. As mentioned above, since the number of screws is large, the possibility of the screw threads of the screw holes 111 of the frame 110 being collapsed is increased correspondingly. Consequently, an assembly failure is likely to arise, which is problematic.
In the structure described in JP-A-10-69236, one frame (e.g., the bezel) is fixed to the other frame by means of fastening the screws to the nut sections formed in the one frame (the bezel). In order to secure constant fixing force between one frame (the bezel) and the other frame, a certain number of locations to be screwed are required. Therefore, as in the case of the liquid-crystal module according to the third embodiment shown in FIG. 13, difficulty is countered in curtailing the number of parts and the number of assembly steps.
In the structure described in Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 3087458, the bezel is fixed to the case (the frame) by means of fastening the screws only. In order to secure constant fixing force between the bezel and the case (the frame), a certain number of screwed are required. Therefore, as in the case of the liquid-crystal module according to the third embodiment shown in FIG. 13, difficulty is countered in curtailing the number of parts and the number of assembly steps.

Housing for liquid crystal display device comprising plurality of grooves, wherein each grove includes an upper portion formed into an essentially semicircular shape and a circular-arc bulging portion


A vehicle door wedge assembly includes a chassis and a slide moveable within the chassis. A non-metallic, elastomeric biasing element is provided to urge the slide toward one end of the chassis. The vehicle door wedge assembly with the chassis defines a slide path for the slide to move along, and the non-metallic, elastomeric biasing element is disposed between the chassis and the slide for urging the slide toward one end of the path.

Door wedge assemblies are known for use in automobiles to limit vibration and rattle of the door when closed. Door wedge assemblies of this type are known for use in vehicles in which two doors close together to form an overlapping joint. Such arrangements are found in trucks, for example, in which a third or rear door is provided behind the standard truck cab door.
Door wedge assemblies reduce rattle, squeak and vibrations, which many users find objectionable. Further however, the stresses from vibration and rattling can cause premature material fatigue. Thus, the wedge assemblies provide not only enhanced user comfort by reducing noise, such wedges also promote long life of the door components.
Known door wedge assemblies have included a body or chassis anchored to the door, such as by tabs that mate with holes of the proper size and position in the bottom of the door. A slide is provided, movable along a path defined in the chassis. The slide forms a wedge component and is biased in the chassis by a metallic spring. The wedge portion of the wedge assembly engages a fixed position cooperative wedge on the opposing vehicle surface. As the door is closed, the wedging components engage one another, causing the slide to move, placing the spring in tension. The wedging action reduces door rattle and provides a more stable connection between the door and the vehicle body. When the door is opened, the spring moves the slide to its non-operating position in the chassis.
While such door wedge assemblies of known design have provided advantages, the wedge assemblies can be difficult, time consuming and costly to assemble, and therefore comparatively expensive. Further, a detectible rattle may occur from the wedge itself, associated with the metallic spring used in the wedge structure. Movement of the slide by action of the metallic spring can cause objectionable noises.
What is needed in the art is a vehicle door wedge assembly that can be manufactured efficiently and at low cost and which is quiet and efficient in operation.


Location of an electronic device is determined using signals received from a first set of reference radios. The first set of reference radios include at least one secondary reference radio, each secondary reference radio established as a secondary reference radio by registering a corresponding location with a server. The corresponding location of the secondary reference radio is determined as a function of signals received by the secondary reference radio from a second set of reference radios. The second set of reference radios include radios qualified as reference radios in a database of primary se reference radios and secondary reference radios, each primary reference radio being a fixed-location radio device.

Accurate location determination of electronic devices, such as mobile phones, is beneficial to the proper operation of cellular communication systems, such as a universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) or a system based on long-term evolution (LTE). One reason to have accurate location determination mechanisms is to provide emergency localization of a user equipment (UE) that makes an emergency call. In some jurisdictions, the ability to provide emergency localization is required by a governing regulatory body, such as the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the United States.
Conventional radio access technologies (RATs) employ positioning techniques that rely on existing base stations (e.g., evolved node B (eNB) base stations) that emit positioning reference signals (PRS). Exemplary location determining techniques of this nature include cell ID (CID), observed time difference of arrival (OTDOA), and uplink-time difference of arrival (UTDOA). OTDOA, for example, is a technique that may be used to locate a UE by triangulation using signals from at least three base stations.
In practice, the locations of the base stations may be relatively far from the UE and obstacles such as buildings, trees, and moving objects (e.g., vehicles) may disrupt the signals. Disruption can be even more prevalent when the UE is located indoors. Signal disruption can degrade received PRS signal quality at the UE, which may result in high positioning estimation error.

System and method for determining device location


A method of forming an inter-metal dielectric layer using hydrogen silsesquoxane (HSQ) as one of the dielectric layers. HSQ is a highly fluidic material that has a high gap-filling capacity. Therefore, the desired thickness and uniformity can be obtained in a single coating operation. Furthermore, when the HSQ layer is cured in an atmosphere of gaseous nitrogen, the HSQ layer is able to attain a high degree of planarity. Consequently, there is no need to planarize the dielectric layer before carrying out subsequent operations.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a method of forming inter-metal dielectric (IMD). More particularly, the present invention relates to a method of forming inter-metal dielectric using an oxide material that has a fluidic property.
2. Description of Related Art
As the level of integration of semiconductor devices in integrated circuit increases, a silicon wafer has insufficient surface area to accommodate all the necessary interconnects. Therefore, in order to prepare for the large increase in the number of interconnects resulting from the shrinkage of metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) transistors, designs having two or more metallic layers must be employed. However, the metallic layers have to be separated from each other by an inter-metal dielectric layer so that unnecessary short-circuiting is prevented. It can be seen that the properties, quality and planarity of the inter-metal dielectric layer are very important factors contributing to the overall quality of the MOS device.
There are two conventional methods of forming an inter-metal dielectric layer for w-via process. The first method uses a spin-on-glass (SOG) layer together with a sacrificial layer, both of which must be etched back. The second method uses deposition of spin-on-glass layer followed by a chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP) operation.
FIGS. 1A through 1C are cross-sectional views showing the progression of manufacturing steps taken to fabricate an inter-metal dielectric layer according to a conventional method that uses a spin-on glass layer and a sacrificial layer, both of which must be etched back.
First, as shown in FIG. 1A, a semiconductor substrate 10 with MOS devices (not shown) formed on it is provided. Next, a metallic layer 12 is formed over the substrate 10, and then the metallic layer 12 is patterned using photolithographic and etching operations. Thereafter, the quality of the patterned metallic layer 12 is checked in an after etching inspection (AEI). In the subsequent step, a conformal dielectric layer 14 is formed over the metallic layer 12. The conformal dielectric layer 14 can be an oxide layer formed, for example, by a plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) method. Next, a spin-on-glass layer 15 is coated on top of the dielectric layer 14. Two or three spin-coating operations are necessary to coat the spin-on glass layer 15 onto the dielectric layer 14, in order to obtain the desired uniformity and thickness for the spin-on-glass layer 15. Finally, the spin-on-glass layer 15 has to be cured so that its density is increased and a structural form close to that of silicon dioxide (SiO.sub.2) is obtained.
Next, as shown in FIG. 1B, the spin-on-glass layer 15 is etched back to form a spin-on-glass layer 15a, and then the spin-on-glass layer 15a is doped using, for example, ion implantation. Thereafter, a dielectric layer 16 is formed over the spin-on-glass layer 15a. The dielectric layer 16 can be an oxide layer formed using, for example, plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition. Subsequently, a sacrificial layer 17, preferably made from a dielectric material, is formed over the dielectric layer 16. Next, the sacrificial layer 17 is etched back so that a highly planarized sacrificial layer 17a is formed as shown in FIG. 1C. The dielectric layer 14, the spin-on-glass layer 15a and the dielectric layer 16 together constitute an inter-metal dielectric layer.
Finally, the inter-metal dielectric layer is patterned to form via holes. Since that part of fabrication is not directly related to the formation of an inter-metal dielectric layer, details are omitted here.
One major defect of the above conventional method is that the spin-on-glass layer has to be formed in 2 to 3 spin-coating operations. Furthermore, two etching back operations have to be conducted. Hence, it takes longer to complete manufacturing.
FIGS. 2A and 2B are cross-sectional views showing the progression of manufacturing steps taken to fabricate an inter-metal dielectric layer according to a conventional method that uses a CMP-planarized, spin-on glass layer.
First, as shown in FIG. 2A, a semiconductor substrate 20 having MOS devices (not shown) formed on it is provided. Next, a metallic layer 22 is formed over the substrate 20, and then the metallic layer 22 is patterned using photolithographic and etching operations. Thereafter, the quality of the patterned metallic layer 22 is checked in an after etching inspection (AEI). In the subsequent step, a conformal dielectric layer 24 is formed over the metallic layer 22. The conformal dielectric layer 24 can be an oxide layer formed, for example, by a plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) method. Next, a spin-on-glass layer 25 is coated on top of the dielectric layer 24. Two or three spin-coating operations are necessary to coat the spin-on-glass layer 25 onto the dielectric layer 24, in order to obtain the desired uniformity and planarity for the spin-on-glass layer 25. Finally, the spin-on-glass layer 25 has to be cured so that its density is increased and a structural form close to that of silicon dioxide (SiO.sub.2) is obtained.
The spin-on-glass layer 25 is then etched back. Alternatively, the next operation is directly carried out without etching the spin-on-glass layer 25 as shown in FIG. 2A. Next, the spin-on-glass layer 25 is doped using, for example, ion implantation. Thereafter, a dielectric layer 26 is formed over the spin-on-glass layer 25. The dielectric layer 26 can be an oxide layer formed, for example, by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition.
Next, as shown in FIG. 2B, the dielectric layer 26 is planarized by chemical-mechanical polishing to form a dielectric layer 26a. The dielectric layer 24, the spin-on-glass layer 25 and the dielectric layer 26a together constitute an inter-metal dielectric layer.
Finally, the inter-metal dielectric layer is patterned to form via holes. Since that part of fabrication is not directly related to the formation of an inter-metal dielectric layer, details are omitted here.
In the second method, the spin-on-glass layer still has to be formed in 2 to 3 spin-coating operations. Besides that, the dielectric layer 26 for CMP is thicker than non-CMP process. Furthermore, although the number of etching back operations is reduced, chemical-mechanical polishing equipment is expensive, and therefore increases production cost.
In addition, after a patterned photoresist layer is used to form openings in the inter-metal dielectric layer, the spin-on-glass layer absorbs moisture when the photoresist layer is subsequently removed. The moisture absorbed by the spin-on-glass layer is released in a subsequent metallization process, causing outgassing. Outgassing leads to via hole poisoning, which can make deposition of metal particularly difficult and may result in unexpected open-circuit conditions. Moreover, mechanical strength of conventional spin-on-glass material is rather low, and hence may easily form cracks.
In light of the foregoing, there is a need to provide an improved method of forming inter-metal dielectric layer.

Method of forming inter-metal dielectric layer for WVIA process


A system for metering the feed of portions of nuclear fuel assemblies and comprising a declivitous screen for receiving the portions and separating the portions into larger and smaller components thereof. The separated components are independently fed into a storage container by a variety of means including hoppers, receptacles, chambers, troughs and chutes, acting in a sequential manner, so as to provide efficient filling of the container.

This invention relates to a metering system, and more particularly, for a metering system for controlling the feed of portions of nuclear fuel assemblies.
After reprocessing in a chemical plant where the nuclear material (e.g. UO.sub.2) in the nuclear fuel assemblies is dissolved in a solvent stream, residues of the assemblies need to be encapsulated in a cementitious matrix in standard storage containers or drums. These residues chiefly comprise appendages of the nuclear fuel assemblies and hulls which are small sheared tubular portions of cladding tubes which contained the nuclear material. In order to provide a high utilisation of the space within the drum, it is advisable to regulate the ratio of appendages to hulls fed to the drum.


An automatic gear shifting device for multi-speed bicycles. According to the invention, the device comprises a centrifugal force gear shifting mechanism which is controlled by the pedaling cadence of the rider. Pedal crankshaft speed is transferred to a main unit which contains an axially mounted drive shaft. Flyweights which are pivotally affixed to the drive shaft by an inner sleeve engage the housing thread members once a rider pedals outside of a predetermined cadence range. Engagement of the threaded members causes the inner sleeve to move one position. A cam follower affixed to the inner sleeve thereafter causes rotation of an outer ring, the outer ring having upshift and downshift cable attached to it. Movement of the cable causes rotation of a cable drum which is pivotally mounted to a derailleur. Movement of the cable ring drum causes the derailleur to shift gears. Also provided is a means to adjust the cadence range.

Bicycling is a popular activity having world wide appeal. Bicycles are used in a variety of settings including transportation, racing, (for example, road racing and mountain bike racing), and work environments (for example, delivery services and bicycle police patrols). The majority of bicycles, however, are used for recreational purposes. A 1991 study by NFO Research and reported in American Demographics Magazine, 1995, estimated that there were 33 million recreational bicycle riders in the United States. The survey classified those riders into four categories: enthusiasts, moving ups, casuals, and infrequents. The casuals and infrequents categories account for 90% of the riding population and 70% of bicycle industry revenues.
With wide use has come improved bicycle technology. Historically recent advances in bicycle technology have produced lighter and stronger bicycle frames, improved breaking systems, and improved propulsion systems. Propulsion system advances include the multi-speed gear system. While there are many variations of multi-gear systems for bicycles, the most common system includes, one, two, or three sprockets located adjacent to the pedaling crankshaft operationally connected via a chain to a multi-sprocket system located adjacent to the rear wheel hub. The rear wheel gear system also includes a derailleur. The derailleur connects via a shifting cable to a lever located on either the bicycle frame or bicycle handlebar. To change gears, i.e. adjust the chain from one sprocket to another sprocket, a rider manipulates the lever which causes the derailleur to move. Movement of the derailleur causes the chain to move from sprocket to sprocket. Each of the sprockets found on the rear wheel hub is of a different size. Thus, as the chain is selectively moved between the sprockets, the gear ratios are altered resulting in a change of gears. For instance, if the chain is moved to a larger sprocket, pedaling becomes easier, if moved to a smaller sprocket, pedaling becomes more difficult. An example of such a system is seen in U.S. Pat. No. 4,185,510 to Guy.
Multi-speed bicycles are very popular inasmuch as they make bicycles more versatile. However, gear shifting makes a bicycle more complicated, and can also lead to injury as a result of a rider diverting his attention from the roadway to the shifting mechanism during a bike shift. Support for these statements is found in the 1991 NFO Research study which noted that casual and infrequent riders avoid visiting bicycle shops as a result of the fear of being overwhelmed by technical talk, and that riders were looking for an uncomplicated way to ride a bicycle.
Even before the 1991 survey, advancements had been made in multi-gear bicycle systems. Among these advances are automatic gear shifting mechanisms. Automatic gear shifting mechanisms are designed to make bicycling more enjoyable and less dangerous by providing a means to take advantage of the multi-speed capabilities of a bicycle while, at the same time, reduce the complexity associated with the multi speed systems. Automatic gear shifting mechanisms rely upon either torque or centrifugal force. Representative prior art example of an automatic gear shift system relying on torque is seen in U.S. Pat. No. 3,769,848 to McGuire which teaches an automatic gear shifting mechanism for multi-speed bicycles consisting of a spring activated gear shift mechanism mounted near the rear wheel hub sprockets. Shifting occurs in response to increased torque applied to the wheel hub. Torque is created by the rider applying increased or decreased pressure to the pedals. As torque increases, the device shifts to a higher gear, and as torque decreases, it shifts to a lower gear. A shortcoming to torque reliant devices is that they require a rider to alter the amount of pressure applied to the pedals, the torque being transferred to the rear wheel in order to shift the rear wheels. Increasing the torque too drastically may cause the bike to shift more gears than is required, making bicycle pedaling more difficult than need be. Also, increased torque adds unneeded stress to the legs, particularly the knees and hips, which can lead to injury. When attempting to downshift, a rider may also experience multiple gear sprocket shifts if the amount of torque is decreased substantially. A further shortcoming of these devices is that when a rider "coasts" or does not pedal, the mechanism is placed in position for a downshift. This can cause downshifting followed almost immediately by upshifting when the rider resumes pedaling. Such movement is not only awkward but can also lead to injury.
A representative example of a centrifugal force type shifting mechanism is found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,352,504 to Cotter which teaches a speed sensitive automatic transmission for bicycles. The device includes a rotatable shaft connected to the rear wheel and having a plurality of outwardly extending arms fixed to the shaft. Each outwardly extending arm has a weight member slidably connected to it. As the speed of the tire either increases or decreases, the weights move along the plurality of outwardly extending arms. The movement of the weights causes an energy transfer via a cable to the rear wheel portion of the device which causes the gears to shift. A shortcoming of this device is that it is dependent upon the speed of the rear tire and not necessarily the speed the rider is pedaling. Thus, if a rider is traveling downhill and coasting, the tire is traveling at a high rate of speed while the rider is pedaling slowly or not at all. The device, however, will cause a shifting of the gears when it is either unnecessary to do so or will actually shift to an undesirable gear. For instance, if the tire is traveling at a high rate of speed, the device will shift to a higher sprocket. This may not be desirable in a situation when the rider will end a downhill run and immediately engage in an uphill run which requires a lower gear.
Another example of a centrifugal force type automatic bicycle transmission is seen in U.S. Pat. No. 4,571,219 to Bredan et al. which teaches an apparatus utilizing speed actuators which respond to the centrifugal force created by the rotating bicycle wheel. The speed actuators are attached to the sprockets of the rear wheel and, through a chain mechanism, attach to the gear shifting mechanism. This device also contains a master cylinder containing fluid and a piston. As the speed of the rear wheel increases or decreases, the actuators move along the chains, causing the fluid to move the piston, resulting in the shifting of gears. Similar to U.S. Pat. No. 4,352,503, this device suffers from the same shortcomings inasmuch as the gear shifting mechanism depends on the speed of the rear wheel as opposed to the speed with which a rider is pedaling.
Yet another example is seen in U.S. Pat. No. 4,743,014 to Vasin which teaches an automatically variable gear ratio drive. This device does not require rear wheel gear sprockets. Instead, a single chain or belt roller mechanism is attached to an axially mounted spring. As the speed of rear wheel bicycle increases, the spring compresses, causing the entire mechanism to move closer to the wheel hub. This, in turn, causes movement of a pulley mechanism mounted near the front crank shaft. This movement causes a tensioning of the chain, resulting in increased difficulty in pedal movement. Conversely, slower pedaling causing expansion of the spring resulting in less tension in the chain or belt and easier movement of the pedals. A shortcoming of this device is that it is not suitable for conventional multi-speed bicycles inasmuch as the rear wheel multi-sprocket system and derailleur are absent. A further shortcoming of this device is that it appears to require a specially modified frame which increases the cost of a bicycle.
Final examples of a centrifugal force type automatic transmission for multi-speed bicycles are seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,163,881, 5,295,916, and 5,445,567, all to Chattin. These patents teach an automatic transmission for bicycles utilizing a centrifugal force mechanism for gear shifting. The mechanism consists of weights connected to a rotatable shaft positioned through a base member to the derailleur. A collar is pivotally connected to each weight in such a manner that, upon rotation of the shaft, movement of the weight results which, in turn, causes movement of the collar. The collar is operatively connected to linkage members of the derailleur, the linkage members causing the derailleur to move and a gear shift results. A shortcoming of this device is that the principle functional features of the device are exposed to the elements and are subject to damage or faulty shifting.
A further shortcoming of this device is that gear shifting is controlled by the centrifugal force created by the speed of the rear wheel and not the pedaling cadence of the rider. Thus, undesired or unnecessary gear changes can occur.
There is need, therefore, for an improved automatic gear shifting mechanism for multi-speed bicycles which shifts gears based upon the speed of the rider's pedaling cadence as opposed to the speed of the rear wheel or applied torque.

Automatic gear shifting mechanism for multi-speed manually powered vehicles


Disclosed is an LGA socket (10) including a socket body (30) having a number of terminals (40) embedded therein. A stiffener (50) is attached to the socket body. A load plate (60) and a load lever (70) are pivotally assembled to two ends of the stiffener. Prior to setting the socket on a PCB (20), the stiffener is engaged with the socket body. In course of setting the socket on the PCB, the stiffener is disengaged from the socket body and fastened to the PCB via a number of bolts (80).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to the art of electrical connectors and, more particularly, to a land grid array (LGA) socket to provide electrical connection between an LGA package and an electrical substrate, such as a printed circuit board (PCB). The instant application relates to the copending applications Ser. Nos. 11/055,412 and 11/055,130.
2. Background of the Invention
Integrated circuit packages are generally classified as pin grid array (PGA) packages, ball grid array (BGA) packages and land grid array (LGA) packages depending on the shape of contacting section of the terminals. An integrated circuit package with conductive pads arranged on a bottom surface thereof in a land grid array is known as an LGA package.
Connectors for removably connecting an LGA package with a PCB are known as LGA sockets. Basically, an LGA socket includes a socket body and a plurality of terminals embedded in the socket body. Each terminal has a contacting section and an opposite connecting section. Under compression, the contacting section of the terminal is resiliently deflected from its natural state and electrically registered with a conductive pad on the LGA package. Thus, a flow of electrical signals is established between the LGA package and the PCB.
The mating of the conductive pads of the LGA package with the contacting sections of the terminals typically causes a large contact pressure on the socket, which is likely to conduce deformation or warpage of the socket body. In case where a large contact pressure is exerted on the socket, various methods are known to provide the socket with sufficient strength.
For example, typically, an LGA socket as shown in U.S. application publication no. 2004/0095693, includes a socket body having a plurality of terminals, a metallic stiffener attached to the socket body, and a load plate and a load lever pivotally assembled to opposite ends of the stiffener, respectively. As the socket body is supported by the metallic stiffener, deformation or warpage of the socket body is reduced when a force is exerted on the socket during assembly of the LGA package.
However, to properly fix the socket body to the stiffener, a plurality of columnar projections is formed on sidewalls of the socket body. A plurality of grooves is correspondingly defined in a bottom wall of the stiffener. In assembly, the columnar projections are fixed in the grooves via heating and riveting process. Thus, the assembly procedure of the socket may be prone to be relatively complicated.
Additionally, during the heating and riveting process, the socket body may be prone to warpage, which may lead to the terminals embedded in the socket body cannot be properly connected with corresponding circuit pads on the PCB.
Therefore, there is a heretofore unaddressed need in the industry to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.


A process for the production of a zinc oxide coating on a moving glass substrate provides a precursor mixture of a dialkylzinc compound, an oxygen-containing compound and an inert carrier gas. The precursor mixture is directed along a surface of the glass substrate in an atmospheric pressure, on-line, chemical vapor deposition process. The precursor mixture is reacted at the surface of the glass substrate to form a zinc oxide coating, essentially devoid of nitrogen, at a growth rate of >100 Å/second.

The present invention relates to a continuous, chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method for producing a coated glass article, particularly, coated architectural glass or automotive glass. Specifically, the invention relates to an improved method for producing a glass article coated with a layer of zinc oxide.
Zinc oxide films have previously been described in the patent literature.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,751,149 describes deposition of zinc oxide films by a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process for use in photovoltaic devices. The process described introduces an organozinc compound, an oxidant and an inert carrier gas into a chamber containing a substrate heated to a temperature in the range of 60° C. to 350° C. The films formed are said to contain hydrogen and may be modified to contain a Group XIII element by introducing volatile Group XIII compounds into the chamber along with the organozinc compound and oxidant.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,002,796 describes a functional zinc oxide thin film having high light permeability and low resistivity which can be obtained at a low temperature of about 200° C. on an inexpensive substrate such as glass by a method of activating a starting material gas by means of activation energy, in a space different from a film-forming space thereby forming a precursor contributing to the formation of a deposited film, activating a starting material gas in a space different from the film-forming space and the space just-mentioned above by means of activation energy thereby forming an active species that chemically reacts with the precursor, and introducing the precursor and the active species into the film-forming space, thereby depositing a film, wherein the starting material gas for forming the precursor is an alkyl zinc compound and the starting material for forming the active species is an oxygen gas or an ozone gas. This enables mass production of photovoltaic devices at high efficiency using a PN junction or PIN junction or high performance flat display device using liquid crystals, by which practical provision of power sources for domestic equipments or power sources for electric power appliance or large area display device can be obtained at a reduced cost.
Zinc oxide films have also previously been described in the non-patent, scientific literature.
Shealy, James R. et al., "Preparation and Properties of Zinc Oxide Films Grown by the Oxidation of Diethylzinc", Journal of the Electrochemical Society, Vol. 128, No. 3, (1981), pg. 558-561, describes the preparation and properties of zinc oxide films grown by the oxidation of diethylzinc. Growth above 250° C. with an oxygen to diethylzinc mole ratio in excess of 10 is said to result in stable films of zinc oxide, free from carbon contamination or zinc-ethyl groups. Details are provided of these growth conditions and also of the resulting growth parameters in this paper. The physical properties of films grown by this technique are also described, with particular emphasis on their IR absorption characteristics, stoichiometry, refractive index, and crystallographic orientation as a function of the growth conditions. Films are shown to have an oxygen deficiency, which increases with growth temperature, as does their refractive index. Film orientation, along the c-axis, is also found to improve with increasing growth temperatures.
Roth, A. P. and Williams, D. F., "Properties of Zinc Oxide Films Prepared by the Oxidation of Diethylzinc", Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 52, No. 11 (1981), pg. 6685-6692, describes polycrystalline transparent semiconducting zinc oxide films deposited by the oxidation of diethylzinc. The film growth rate is controlled by a complex multistep oxidation process, which is dominated by radical reactions. Samples deposited between 280 and 350° C. have a conductivity varying from 10−2 to 50 Ω−1 cm−1. The electrical properties of the films which are typical of polycrystalline material with small crystallites are shown to depend very closely on the film growth conditions. A study of oxygen chemisorption at grain boundaries confirms the importance of grain boundary effects in ZnO polycrystalline films.
Li, X. et al., "P-Type ZnO Thin Films Formed by CVD Reaction of Diethylzinc and NO Gas", Electrochemical and Solid-State Letters", Vol 6, No. 4 (2003) pg. C56-C58, discusses the use of nitric oxide (NO) gas to dope ZnO p-type films, fabricated using metallorganic chemical vapor deposition (CVD) reaction of a Zn metallorganic precursor and NO gas. NO gas is used to supply both O and N to form a N-doped ZnO (ZnO:N) film. Auger electron spectroscopy analysis indicated that, under Zn-rich conditions, the N concentration in the film is readily detectable, with the highest concentration being ˜3 atom %. For concentrations greater than 2 atom %, the films are p-type. The carrier concentration varies from 1.0×1015 to 1.0×1018 cm−3 and the mobility is approximately 10−1 cm2 V−1. The minimum film resistivity achieved is ˜20 ohm-cm.
Known processes for the production of zinc oxide layers on a substrate are limited in the thickness or number of the films formed given the low efficiency of the known deposition processes, and also by powder formation (pre-reaction) of the reactive elements. Therefore, it is desired to devise an improved process for the formation of zinc oxide coatings on a substrate.

Method of depositing zinc oxide coatings on a substrate


A system and a method are provided for detecting a surface characteristic of a surface. A plurality of transponders are located on the surface for transmitting electromagnetic surface waves and for receiving the electromagnetic surface waves upon being reflected, diffracted, refracted, scattered, or otherwise altered by ice on the surface. A controller is coupled to the plurality of transponders. The controller is adapted to coordinate the plurality of transponders for imaging the surface characteristic of the surface.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electromagnetic surface waves, and in particular, to a system and a method of surface wave imaging to detect ice on a surface or damage to a surface.
2. Description of Related Art
Typical prior art ice detectors are optical probes, such as a device of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory that uses an optical technique to measure ice thickness (in millimeters, for example) on airplane wings and transmits the measurements to the pilot. One design concept produces a measurement range of 15 mm of ice thickness with a resolution of 15 um. Other ranges can be easily accommodated. The device mounts flush with the airfoil without any protrusions, making it suitable for supersonic flight applications.
Optical ice detectors can be installed on any type of air vehicle with enough air speed to keep water from accumulating on the optics. Optical ice detectors are installed with the probe to be mounted in the air stream beyond the boundary layer, and in a location easily accessible to the pilot for occasional cleaning with a cotton swab and isopropyl alcohol. Such prior art ice detectors detect ice in specific predetermined and noncontinuous locations, but do not provide a map of ice formation over an entire surface.
Therefore, a need exists for a system and a method of ice detection that is not hindered by water accumulation, and further, for a system and a method of imaging ice for providing a map of ice formation over an entire surface.
For systems that are not an integral part of the platform under test, systems such as x-ray diagnostics can be used to detect damage on large structures, but the x-ray diagnostics must be operated in a service bay by trained personnel. With respect to integrated systems, many integrated vehicular health management systems use sensors and intelligent prognostication software to identify crisis situations such as damage to a vehicle. Typically, the more sensors available, the more likely a compromising situation can be averted. However, such systems do not identify precise locations of a structural compromise.
Therefore, a need exists for a system and a method of detecting damage on a surface, and further, to image damage to a surface that provides information not only on a structural compromise, but also on an exact location of a structural compromise.

System and method of surface wave imaging to detect ice on a surface or damage to a surface


A physical layer (PHY) device which can operate as a conventional PHY or as a repeater in a communication system. The PHY repeater supports four optional modes which may be enabled by programming control register bits with a microcontroller. These optional modes are: pass all symbols, enable noise filter, pass violation symbols and pass line states. When the pass all symbols, pass violation symbols and pass line states modes are enabled, the PHY device operates as a "transparent" repeater. The repeater allows errors in a data stream to be encoded and repeated without filtering to a downstream station. The repeater also allows line states to be repeated without station management software. A single repeater may be used to couple two stations or multiple repeaters may be connected to form multi-port repeater boxes which can be connected to facilitate more reliable connections between stations.

Communication networks are widely used for transferring data between different systems such as, for example, computer systems and mass storage systems and other peripheral equipment.
In communication networks, when data are transmitted by a transmitting station to a receiving station, a repeater is sometimes required between the transmitting and receiving stations. The repeater may be necessary to boost a signal which must be transmitted over a long distance between the transmitting and receiving stations. In another application, the repeater interconnects two segments of a path having different transmission media, such as optical fiber and copper.
In communication networks, such as FDDI networks, errors present on a link between the transmitting and receiving stations (link errors) are counted by a physical layer device (PHY) in the receiving station. Link errors are encoded with communication symbols which eliminate run length error problems associated with certain link errors. These communication symbols are valid physical layer symbols, and thus the receiving station PHY does not recognize them as violations. These symbols are, however, recognized as violations by the receiving station Media Access Controller (MAC). Thus, when a conventional FDDI station is used as a repeater (FDDI station repeater), FDDI-I and FDDI-II standards are followed to filter a stream of 5-bit symbols that enters the station. Thus, when receiving a frame with a code violation (i.e., operating in basic (FDDI-I) mode), after counting the error, a FDDI station repeater replaces the violation symbols responsible for the code violation with four Halt symbols followed by an Idle line state. This Idle line state is transmitted to a downstream receiving station until the FDDI station repeater receives the next frame of data. When receiving a hybrid cycle with a code violation (i.e., operating in hybrid mode (FDDI-II) mode), after counting the error, the FDDI station repeater replaces the symbol responsible for the code violation with an L symbol. When receiving neither frames nor cycles, code violations are replaced with idle symbols.
A PHY detects a link error when either the current line state is active line state or cycle line state and a V symbol is decoded. This includes receipt of any invalid code point or a J or K which is not decoded as part of a starting delimiter. The PHY also detects a link error when the current line state is idle line state and any symbol except Q, H, I, J or K is decoded. This includes receipt of any invalid code point or a J or K which is not decoded as part of a starting delimiter.
A MAC layer device detects a format error when the MAC is in the process of receiving a frame or token and an error is detected that prevents complete reception. This includes receipt of any non data symbol except T or I (while receiving a frame or token).
Because conventional FDDI station repeaters transfer link errors into symbols which are valid for the PHY in the downstream station, these errors are not detected or counted by the link error monitor present in the PHY of the downstream receiving station. This allows errors to be isolated onto the link on which the errors occurred. This is undesirable in a repeater because the error count in the link error monitor of the PHY in the downstream station is deceptively low, making the link appear to be in a better condition than it actually is. The link error processing is consequently impeded. In addition, the FDDI station repeater is not "transparent" to the transmitting and receiving stations.
It is therefore desirable to have a repeater which will operate transparently. That is, the repeater will transmit violations with minimal filtering so that the PHY in a receiving station will be able to detect link errors that occurred between the upstream station and this station even if repeaters are present in the path. It is also desirable to have a repeater which transmits link error information using communication symbols which do not create run length problems within the receiving station. It is also desirable to have a repeater which can be programmed to operate as either a conventional FDDI repeater or as a "transparent" repeater.
In addition, prior art repeater stations require an FDDI station management entity. It is desirable to simplify repeater stations, and make them faster, by enabling them to operate without station management.


In a method of controlling transmitting and receiving buffers of a network controller and a network controller operating under such a method, at least one request for access to a system bus from the transmitting buffer and the receiving buffer is received, and the occupancy level of data in the receiving buffer and the vacancy level of data in the transmitting buffer are determined. Access to the system bus is granted based on the determination result. Buffers in the transmitting and receiving paths are treated as a single virtual transmitting buffer and a single virtual receiving buffer, respectively. Bus priority is determined by the data occupancy level in each virtual buffer and any change in the occupancy level. Therefore, it is possible to prevent or reduce underflow of the transmitting buffer and overflow of the receiving buffer, thereby impartially arbitrating which of the buffers can access the memory.

This application claims the priority of Korean Patent Application No. 2002-43896, filed 25 Jul. 2002 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO), which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an Ethernet network controller, and more particularly, to a network controller and a method of controlling transmitting and receiving buffers of the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Network controllers commonly include a media access controller (MAC) that functions as an interface between the network controller and a network, and a direct memory access (DMA) controller that functions as an interface between the network controller and a system. In particular, a network controller, such as an Ethernet controller, that adopts a full duplex mode is illustrated in the computer system of FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 1, the computer system 1000 includes a network controller 100, a memory unit 14, a system bus 18, a plurality of bus masters 16 and 17, and a system bus arbiter 15. The memory unit 14, the system bus arbiter 15, the plurality of bus masters 16 and 17, and the network controller 100 are connected to the system bus 18.
The system bus arbiter 15 arbitrates use of the system bus 18 between a plurality of bus masters 16 and 17 and the network controller 100. The plurality of bus masters 15 and 16 may be interfaced to peripheral devices, such as devices involving the reading and writing data, for example, when driving a sound card or a universal serial bus (USB).
The network controller 100 includes a transmission path for transmitting data and a receiving path for receiving data. A receiving DMA buffer 111 and a receiving MAC buffer 112 and a transmitting DMA buffer 121 and a transmitting MAC buffer 122 are installed in the receiving path and the transmission path, respectively. A single DMA controller provides an interface between each MAC and the system bus 18. In this manner, the transmitting and receiving modules can independently access the system bus 18. For this reason, the computer system 1000 requires an internal arbiter 130 that arbitrates access to the system bus 18.
The internal arbiter 130 receives a request signal Rxreq or Txreq for requesting access to the system bus 18 from the receiving and transmitting modules, transmits this request to the system bus arbiter 15 via the system bus 18, receives a grant GRANT to permit access to the system bus 18 from the system bus arbiter 15, and forwards the grant GRANT to a receiving unit 110 or a transmitting unit 120 via the system bus 18. When the transmitting unit 110 or the receiving unit 120 is permitted access to the system bus 18, data is read from the memory unit 14 and a certain electrical signal is output via the physical layer 140. Otherwise, an electrical signal received via the physical layer 140 is converted and written as data to the memory unit 14.
In this case, the internal arbiter 130 is required to prevent or reduce underflow of the transmitting buffers 121 and 122 or overflow of the receiving buffers 111 and 112, in consideration of the occupancy levels of several buffers, i.e., the transmitting DMA buffer 121, the transmitting MAC buffer 122, the receiving DMA buffer 111, and the receiving MAC buffer 112, which are present at the transmitting and receiving paths of the MAC and DMA, as shown in FIG. 1.
Since data stored in the transmitting DMA buffer 121 is transmitted to the transmitting MAC buffer 122, underflow of the transmitting MAC buffer 122 reduces the performance of the transmitting unit 120. Accordingly, if the transmitting MAC buffer 122 is not empty, underflow of the transmitting DMA buffer 121 does not cause a serious problem during transmission of data. Similarly, since data in the receiving MAC buffer 112 is transmitted to the receiving DMA buffer 111, an overflow, which causes a loss of data, can be easily caused in the receiving DMA buffer 111.
In general, the respective sizes of the internal buffers of a network controller can be set differently according to the application or system of the network controller. If the sizes of the internal buffers are small, the occupancy level of data in each buffer may suddenly change depending on the occupancy of a bus occupied by other masters or a temporal change in the receiving rate of a network may occur.
Also, if the occupancy level of data in a buffer is controlled only in consideration of an absolute occupancy level of a buffer at the transmitting and receiving paths, it is difficult to arbitrate access to data between devices at the transmitting and receiving paths, and thus, overflow or underflow of transmitting and receiving buffers cannot be prevented or reduced.

Network controller and method of controlling transmitting and receiving buffers of the same


An ax has an elongated socket extending along the top of the ax head in parallel relationship with the top of the ax blade. A detachable implement, which may be a spade blade, a pick point, a saw blade or any of various other implements, has a tang which is fitted into the socket to fasten the implement to the ax head. A spring biased latch pin, disposed in a passage in the ax head, has a first end that extends into an opening in the implement tang and an opposite end that protrudes from the the base of the ax head to enable retraction of the pin and replacement of the implement with a different implement. The socket is preferably open at both ends with the latch pin being midway between the ends enabling entry of an implement tang from either of two opposite directions to accommodate to reversible implements such as a combination hoe and rake blade.

Campers, forestry personnel, householders and many other persons often need tools for performing any of a variety of operations such as chopping wood, hammering, digging, raking, hoeing, sawing and the like. It can be costly and cumbersome to obtain, store and transport a collection of tools each of which is useful only for a particular one of such operations.
My prior U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,245,094, issued Apr. 12, 1966; 3,561,023, issued Feb. 9, 1971 and 3,824,641, issued Jul. 23, 1974, disclose a type of outdoor tool that greatly alleviates the above discussed problem. The tool is basically an ax but enables attachment of any of a variety of auxiliary implements to the ax head. Such implements, which may for example include a spade blade, pick point, hoe blade or combination hoe and rake blade, can be detached from the tool and be replaced with a differing one of the implements as the need arises. Such a tool, together with a kit of the auxiliary implements, is much more compact and easier to store and transport than a collection of traditional tools for performing similar operations.
The auxiliary implements can be provided with tapered tangs which simply wedge into a conforming socket on the ax head as in U.S. Pat. No. 3,245,094 but a more positive attachment to the ax head as in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,561,023 and 3,824,641 is preferable in order to prevent inadvertent separation of the implement from the ax head.
The positive implement fastening arrangements of the above identified patents require thumbscrews which engage in small clamping or wedging components that can be separated from the ax head and the auxiliary implement. It would be advantageous to provide for secure positive fastening of the implements to the ax head without the use of small separable components that can easily be mislaid or be overlooked when the tool elements are being gathered together or while one implement is being replaced with another.
The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems discussed above.


An electric arc furnace comprises a closed melting vessel and includes means for charging metal to be molten into the melting vessel. At least one electrode extends into the melting vessel and generates an electric arc and forms a molten metal bath. At least one oxygen lance can be extended into the melting vessel for injecting oxygen into the molten metal bath and create a reaction where the carbon monoxide is generated. Gas is exhausted from the melting vessel and the carbon monoxide gas concentration of the exhaust gas is measured. A post combustion chamber receives the exhaust gas and provides post combustion of the exhaust gas. Post combustion oxygen is injected into the melting vessel in an amount sufficient to provide post combustion based on the amount of oxygen necessary for post combustion of the exhaust gas and the post combustion chamber.

Electric arc furnaces are increasingly used for melting and refining iron or steel, and especially scrap metal. However, these furnaces are very energy intensive and typically require at least one high energy electrode and a high pressure oxygen lance to obtain and maintain a molten metal bath. Because of the large amounts of energy used in an electric arc furnace, steel mill operators are increasingly looking for ways to use all potential energy during the steel making process.
Recently, electric arc furnace operators have used post combustion technology that was originally developed for basic oxygen furnaces many years ago. During the steel making process, oxygen reacts with the carbon in the scrap and/or molten steel and forms carbon monoxide, which bubbles out of the molten metal and then into the exhaust gas. In a post combustion process, secondary oxygen is injected into the melting vessel and reacts with the generated carbon monoxide and forms carbon dioxide. Also, any hydrogen and hydrocarbons could also react with secondary oxygen in a post combustion reaction and form water and carbon dioxide. All these reactions are an exothermic reaction and release energy to be used in the steel making process.
Various types of post combustion systems have been designed. Some post combustion systems inject oxygen into the upper shell of the melting vessel, and other post combustion systems inject oxygen into the foamy slag. Still others inject the post combustion oxygen just above the foamy slag. In order to ensure adequate control over oxygen flow, some of the post combustion systems measure the amount of carbon monoxide present in the melting vessel, such as the generated gas, and depending on the carbon monoxide content, adjust any oxygen injectors to vary the amount of oxygen injected into the melting vessel.
Various systems attempt to improve upon post combustion systems used in steel making, especially with electric arc furnaces. One post combustion system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,572,544 to Mathur, et al., where a gas stream is formed within the electric arc furnace, which concentrates the carbon monoxide. Post combustion oxygen is injected into the gas stream where the carbon monoxide is concentrated. However, the sampling of any exhaust gas to determine what post combustion oxygen is required is time consuming and does not operate in real time.
Additionally, many post combustion systems use standard oxygen injectors that can be subject to overheating during this exothermic post combustion processes. Some of the post combustion processes also are not as accurate because it is difficult to constantly measure the gas concentration of carbon monoxide and other gases within a melting vessel. It is also sometimes difficult to adjust oxygen burners in amounts sufficient for adequate post combustion when the gas concentration of various constituents, such as oxygen, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide change so often during the steel making process.

Electric arc furnace that uses post combustion


A plurality of body sizers comprise sample garments for temporary wear made of a different material to a corresponding plurality of garments for long-term wear. Each of the garments for long-term wear is made to a predetermined size based on the size of a respective one of the body sizers. The most appropriately sized one of the garments for long-term wear may be selected by gauging which of the body sizers is the best match to the actual size of at least part of a person's body. A body sizer comprises a sample garment for temporary wear formed into a single integral piece and comprises means for indicating a plurality of different predetermined sizes on which the sizes of a corresponding plurality of garments for long-term wear are based.

It can often be difficult for a customer to select an appropriately sized garment, such as a pair of trousers, if the garment cannot be tried on. For example, where a customer orders a garment from a mail order catalogue, it is often the case that the garment, once delivered, does not fit the customer. This results in many items being returned to the supplier. This is inconvenient for the customer and expensive for the supplier. There are many different suppliers of clothing and, even when using uniform standard sizing systems, each supplier's products are not necessarily the same size as those of another supplier. This makes it even more difficult for the customer to choose an appropriate size.
Difficulties also arise where it is not possible for a clothing outlet to include changing rooms on their premises—for example, in a particularly small shop. Even where changing room facilities are provided, they are often inadequate (particularly at very busy times, such as during a sale) and customers have to queue for some time to try clothing on.
Several methods have been proposed to overcome the problem of ill-fitting clothing. For example, methods to determine body measurements in order to provide garments that accurately fit an individual have been proposed. For example US 2002/0166254 A1 discloses a stretch bodysuit which provides uniform markings at which accurate body measurements can be taken using a tape measure. The measurements are used to produce a custom-made garment. This system, however, is not useful to suppliers that produce a set range of sizes, such as mail order companies, or clothing retailers.
It is also known, as disclosed in JP2002-212823 for example, to provide a customer with samples of sections of a garment. The customer can then select the most appropriate size for each section from the samples provided, and custom-made garment is supplied. However, this is also unsuitable for mass-manufacturing or mail order clothing companies who do not seek to supply custom-made clothing.
It is not known, however, to provide a method whereby a customer can select a correctly sized garment produced by a particular company without trying it on.

Method and apparatus for gauging body size


An electroerosion boring method and apparatus for machining a small hole in a workpiece at high speed using a supplemental working fluid flushing means for directing working fluid toward a peripheral edge of the inlet-side opening of the hole being machined, and a working fluid supply means for supplying the working fluid to the jet nozzle means under pressure so that the working fluid at a pressure of at least 20 kg/cm.sup.2 or more is directed from the supplemental flushing means. The supplemental high pressure flushing effectively prevents the machined chips from adhering to the peripheral edge of said hole without interfering with high-speed machining performance.

In order to bore relatively small hole in a workpiece at high speed by means of electroerosion using electrical discharges, a relatively long tubular electrode of a few millimeters or less in diameter is widely used. A machining current having a high current density (e.g., 1000 A/cm.sup.2 or more) is applied to the machining gap while the gap is flushed with a working fluid from the tubular electrode at a relatively high pressure (e.g., 20 kg/cm.sup.2 or more). In this type of electroerosion boring apparatus, the workpiece can be machined at a relatively high feed rate (e.g., 20 mm/min or more) which is several to more than ten times as large as that of the usual die-sinking electric discharge machine when machining at a small wear rate of electrode. Due to such high speed machining performance, high speed electrical discharge machining is now widely applied for purposes other than small hole drilling, for example, for machining small-sized parts.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 172423/1985 discloses an electrical discharge boring apparatus for attachment to a wire-cut electric discharge machine (EDM) using a tubular electrode through which a working fluid flows into a machining gap to produce a so-called initial hole for threading a wire electrode in a workpiece.
In electrical discharge hole boring operations, the workpiece material is removed by electrical discharges which repeatedly melt minute particles of metal from the workpiece. This removed metal forms chips when cooled by the machining fluid. These chips may adhere to the peripheral edge of the opening of a machined hole or depression and form a fused adhesive deposit, resulting in degradation of the finish quality of the workpiece. Therefore, the fused or sputtered chips have to be removed by additional operations, which are troublesome, particularly when machining small-sized parts.
It is well known that the build-up of the fused adhesive deposit is dependent on the discharge machining parameters. When boring a small hole or depression using a high feed rate and large machining energy, the build-up of the fused adhesive deposit is large in comparison to slower, lower-energy machining. If the discharge machining energy is lowered to reduce the build-up of the adhesive deposit, the high-speed performance, which is the greatest advantage of this type of electrical discharge boring, is lost.
Conventionally, as alluded to above, it was necessary to remove the fused adhesive deposit after the completion of the high-speed electrical discharge boring using other processes, thereby resulting in reduced machining efficiency and increased cost.


A piece of seating furniture having a base member, on the upper side of which a padded seat surface is provided, and having at least one backrest member with an upholstered backrest surface, which can be positioned in various positions on the upper side of the base member. A slot structure is provided in the padded seat surface of the base member, which penetrates the padded seat surface, and furthermore a guide member is connected to the backrest member which projects through the upholstered seat surface in the area of the slot structure.

A usual piece of seating furniture in the form of an armchair or a sofa has a base member with an upholstered seat and a backrest which is usually also upholstered. The backrest of many known sofas or armchairs has a limited movement capability in relation to the seat, in particular it can be swivelled to achieve different sitting positions.
Also known are armchairs and sofas in which the backrest is not firmly connected to the base and the seat, but is designed in the form of a separate backrest member. However, such systems often have the disadvantage that the backrest member is not sufficiently fixed to the base so that it slips when in use.


A combustion chamber for an aviation turbine engine, the combustion chamber being annular about a longitudinal axis and including an outer side wall, an inner side wall, and an annular chamber end wall connecting one end of the outer side wall to one end of the inner side wall. The outer side wall includes, distributed along its circumference, spark plugs, primary holes, and dilution holes situated downstream from the primary holes in the direction of the longitudinal axis. The primary holes situated in each of the adjacent zones adjacent to one of the spark plugs present a configuration that is different from the configuration of the primary holes situated outside the zones, such that the supply of air in the adjacent zones is different from the supply of air outside the zones.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of combustion chambers for aviation turbine engines. More particularly, the invention relates to a combustion chamber for an aviation turbine engine, the combustion chamber being annular about a longitudinal axis A, being defined by an outer side wall, an inner side wall, and an annular chamber end wall connecting one end of the outer side wall to one end of the inner side wall, the outer side wall including, distributed along its circumference, spark plugs, primary holes, and dilution holes situated downstream from the primary holes in the direction of the longitudinal axis A.
In the description below, the terms "upstream" and "downstream" are defined relative to the normal flow direction of air through the combustion chamber. The terms "inner" and "outer" relate to the region inside and to the region outside the combustion chamber, respectively.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section view of a sector of a combustion chamber 10 of an aviation turbine engine. The combustion chamber 10 is annular about a longitudinal axis A. It is defined by an outer side wall 12 that is substantially cylindrical about the axis A, by an inner side wall 14 that is substantially cylindrical about the axis A and of mean diameter less than the mean diameter of the outer side wall 12, and by an annular chamber end wall 13 that connects one end of the outer side wall 12 to the facing end of the inner side wall 14 so as to close the upstream end of the combustion chamber 10. Thus, the mean surface passing through the combustion chamber 10 from the chamber end wall 13 to the downstream end 15 is a cone about the longitudinal axis A. The line of intersection between this cone and a plane containing the longitudinal axis A is referenced C in FIG. 1.
The chamber end wall 13 has a plurality of fuel injector systems 33 that inject fuel into the combustion chamber 10. The injector systems 33 are distributed around the longitudinal axis A.
Air penetrates into the combustion chamber 10 via the chamber end wall 13, via primary holes 100, via dilution holes 200, and via cooling holes (not shown), all of these holes being in the outer side wall 12, and also via primary holes 110, dilution holes 210, and cooling holes (not shown), all of these holes being in the inner side wall 14.
Spark plugs 36 (visible in FIG. 4) are situated substantially level with the primary holes 100 and they are distributed regularly around the outer side wall 12 about the longitudinal axis A.
In the configuration shown in FIG. 1, the combustion chamber 10 has two spark plugs 36 (see FIG. 4), which are thus diametrically opposite about the axis A.
Such a combustion chamber is designed to operate at a variety of altitudes. Present standards require combustion chambers to be suitable for operating at altitudes that are ever higher. In particular, in the event of combustion being interrupted, a combustion chamber must be capable of being re-ignited at the highest possible altitude, referred to as the re-ignition ceiling.
High altitude re-ignition tests on combustion chambers have shown that in order to increase the re-ignition ceiling, and thus the ability of a combustion chamber to re-ignite at a higher altitude, it is necessary:                either to reduce the percentage of air that is introduced into the combustion chamber via the primary holes (relative to the total quantity of air passing through the combustion chamber);        or else to increase the volume VZP of the primary zone so that air is distributed in constant manner within the combustion chamber (i.e. the distribution of air between the various air inlets into the combustion chamber is constant). The primary zone is defined as the region of the combustion chamber that extends between the chamber end wall and the plane containing the primary holes.
Both of those solutions suffer from the drawbacks of giving rise to an increase in the level of smoke and in the level of NOx emitted by the combustion chamber.
In present combustion chambers, obtaining a higher re-ignition ceiling thus runs the risk of no longer being capable of satisfying pollution standards, particularly since these standards are becoming ever more severe.

Combustion chamber of an aeronautical turbine engine with combustion holes having different configurations


Systems and methods are disclosed that facilitate dynamically assigning system resources in a wireless network environment by detecting a resource conflict between an existing resource assignment to one or more existing user devices and a new resource assignment for a subsequent user device. Upon detection of a conflict, a decremental assignment can be provided to the one ore more existing user devices to decrement the existing resource assignment in order to resolve a detected resource conflict. Decremental assignments can be implicit or explicit, and can facilitate mitigating transmission overhead costs due to their relatively small size when compared to conventional complete deassignment/reassignment messages.

I. Field
The following description relates generally to wireless communications, and more particularly to providing decremental resource assignments that facilitate reducing assignment message size.
II. Background
Wireless networking systems have become a prevalent means by which a majority of people worldwide has come to communicate. Wireless communication devices have become smaller and more powerful in order to meet consumer needs and to improve portability and convenience. The increase in processing power in mobile devices such as cellular telephones has lead to an increase in demands on wireless network transmission systems. Such systems typically are not as easily updated as the cellular devices that communicate there over. As mobile device capabilities expand, it can be difficult to maintain an older wireless network system in a manner that facilitates fully exploiting new and improved wireless device capabilities.
For example, it can be expensive (e.g., bit-wise, . . . ) to precisely describe channel assignments in a wireless networking environment. Such can be especially true when users (e.g., mobile devices) are not required to be aware of system resource assignments to other users of the wireless system. In such cases, assignments of system resources, such as broadcast channels an the like can require updating on virtually every broadcast cycle in order to provide each user with adequate bandwidth and/or networking power, which can tax the wireless network system and expedite realization of network limitations. Additionally, by requiring such continuous updates and/or complete reassignment messages to be transmitted to users so frequently, such conventional methods of system resource allocation can require expensive and high-powered communication components (e.g., transceivers, processors, . . . ) just to meet system demand.
Multiple-access communication systems typically employ methods of assigning system resources to the individual users of the system. When such assignments change rapidly over time, system overhead required just to manage the assignments can become a significant portion of the overall system capacity. In a system where assignments are "sticky" (e.g., an assignment persists over time rather than having a deterministic expiration time), assignment of resources to a first user of resources in use by a second user can require deassignment of resources from the second user, which can cause conflicts and potential complex reassignment issues in the event that it is desired that certain of the deassigned resources remain assigned to the second user, etc.
In view of at least the above, there exists a need in the art for a system and/or methodology of improving assignment notification and/or updates and reducing assignment message overhead in wireless network systems.


A method and apparatus are disclosed for imparting a linear, but sloped, frequency response signal to a narrowband signal having a sinusoidal component at .omega..sub.0 radians per second. An illustrative embodiment comprises: a first signal divider, a first signal combiner and three signal paths between them. The first signal path advantageously comprises a first bi-phase attenuator; the second signal path advantageously comprises a first delay element; and the third signal path advantageously comprises both a second bi-phase attenuator and a second delay element. The first delay element preferably makes the second signal path substantially close to ##EQU1## seconds longer than the first signal path, where N is an integer. The second delay element preferably makes the third signal path substantially close to ##EQU2## seconds longer than the first signal path.

Many electric circuits have the adverse side effect of having a sloped frequency response such that the circuits attenuate, or amplify, signals having one frequency more, or less, than signals having a different frequency (often represented by a Bode plot with a linear frequency response curve having a non-zero slope).

Method and apparatus for imparting a linear frequency response to a signal