A method and apparatus for using a tree structure to constrain a time-synchronous, fast search for candidate words in an acoustic stream is described. A minimum stay of three frames in each graph node visited is imposed by allowing transitions only every third frame. This constraint enables the simplest possible Markov model for each phoneme while enforcing the desired minimum duration. The fast, time-synchronous search for likely words is done for an entire sentence/utterance. The list of hypotheses beginning at each time frame is stored for providing, on-demand, lists of contender/candidate words to the asynchronous, detailed match phase of decoding.

It is a constant endeavor to find ways of speeding up the recognition of acoustic signals. A common tactic in large vocabulary automatic speech recognition systems is to quickly provide a short list of about fifty likely candidate words from a vocabulary consisting of several thousand words. Subsequently, detailed models for each of the words in this short list are used to match and score the word to the acoustic signal. The sequence of words with the highest score is chosen. The process of determining the short list, called the fast match or FM, reduces to a manageable number the hypotheses investigated by detailed acoustic models. It thereby results in a speech decoding system which operates with acceptable speed. An efficient representation of the vocabulary in terms of context-independent phonemes is a tree structure. FIG. 1 shows a sample vocabulary consisting of just five words with their phoneme constituents. The vocabulary is represented graphically in the form of a tree shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 2 starts with a root node 202 which corresponds to the beginning of an utterance. The tree is formed by tying together in a single node all phonemes shared from the beginning of the word. A word ending is referred to as a leaf 208, 212, 216, 222 and 226. In the example, there are two distinct phonemes, `AE` 204 and `IH` 218 which can start a word. Coincidentally, both of these have the same set of potential successors, `N` 206/220 and `T` 214/224. The sequence `AEN` may be followed by a `T` 210. Traversing the tree from the root 202 to one of leaves, spells out the word in the vocabulary indicated at the leaf. Use of this tree structure for speech recognition provides a representation of the complete vocabulary in accordance with the phoneme sequences that constitute each particular word in that vocabulary.
In one recognition system, each node of the fast match tree is expanded into a set of three states 301-303 as in FIG. 3. State three 303 has a self loop 304. The omission of self-loops on the first and second states 301, 302, reduces greatly the number of possible paths through the model. This results in a faster search than a model having self-loops on each of the states. Self-loops are generally employed in all states of the detailed match. This topology enforces a minimum stay of three frames in each phoneme which has been found to be highly desirable.
The flow of an existing recognition system is shown in FIG. 4. From the process start 402, the system goes into a wait state 404, and waits for an utterance. In the wait state 404 the system recognizes silence, and forms a first candidate list corresponding to silence. Thus, the first candidate list has only one entry which is silence. Generally, each word in a candidate list has an associated probability of occurrence. The probability is related to the relative frequency of occurrence of the word in the language's use. When an utterance is received, a detailed match of each entry in the list candidate is performed, and a probability distribution of possible ending times of that word is computed, 408. In the first iteration the only entry is silence. After each detailed match, a determination is made if the end of the utterance has been reached 410. If not, this distribution is used to perform a next fast match computation 412, and a next candidate list of words to follow the current most likely word is computed, 414. Again, a likelihood score for each of these new next candidate words is computed by the detailed match, along with its corresponding end-time probability distribution, 408. If the utterance is still not ended 410, this distribution is used in a next fast match computation 412, to determine a next set of candidate words, 414. This is continued until the end of the utterance is sensed, 410. The resulting decoded utterance is displayed and/or stored, 416 and the recognition process for that utterance is completed and the process stops, 418.
Examination of the method just described, reveals that each fast match results in a subsequent fast match search fort the next set of candidates to be evaluated. A fast match search is performed in the time region where the detailed match hypothesizes a word ending. Overlap in time due to multiple detailed matches which end in the same time region causes the method to perform wasteful redundancy of computations, in that it often repeats a fast match computation on the same data. This is a waste of assets and time. Thus, one aspect of this invention is to modify the recognition method from a process which alternates between detailed match and a fast match, to a process which computes all fast match candidate lists for an entire utterance and stores them in a table. The table is subsequently accessed for look-up by a contiguous and complete detailed match phase. This detailed match phase is only implemented following the entire fast match computations.
Another aspect of this invention is a simplification to the phoneme topology such as to reduce the number of states in the search procedure. The maintenance of a minimum stay of three frames in each graph node visited is imposed by allowing transitions only every third frame. This constraint enables the simplest possible Markov model for each phoneme.
For the purposes of this invention, the following definitions apply:
______________________________________ active list of nodes whose log score is list: within a user-defined parameter D of the log of the highest scoring node at the current time. potentials list of nodes potentially list: active at the next time frame given the set of currently active nodes. The potentials list includes the set of currently active nodes and their successors in the fast match graph. next active set of nodes in potentials list: list whose score is sufficiently high to allow the node to be included in the active list at the next time triplet. contender: is often called "acoustic list: fast match list" candidate is often called "final fast list: match list" utterance: a string of acoustic signals (words) to be decoded for speech recognition. It is most often a `sentence`, although it need not be a complete sentence. active node: a node whose score is within a user-defined range parameter `D` of the highest scoring node at that time. phoneme: is an individual speech sound; the building blocks of words. For example the word "she" is comprised of 2 phonemes: SH and IY. Often, one can think of phonemes as the constituent entries in the pronunciation of a word in the dictionary. candidate: A vocabulary word, or group of words, resulting from the fast match algorithm, which is/are possibilities for the words forming the acoustic signal. Each candidate is evaluated by the detailed match phase of decoding, in order to find the best scoring string of words which match the acoustics being recognized. hypothesis: same as candidate. triangular weighting function shaped window: like a triangle when plotted. this is used to combine lists associated with a range of times into a single list. For example the weights 0.1 0.6 1.1 0.6 0.1: applied to 5 consecutive lists of words would multiply the scores in the first and fifth list by 0.1, in the second and fourth list by 0.6, and the third list by 1.1. This would give preference to words in the third list by increasing their scores while decreasing the scores of words in the other lists. similarly the second and fourth lists would be given preference to the first and fifth lists. call: refers to a function call in a computer program. Call to DM means executing the detailed match function. since the program iterates, the detailed match function is executed many times; next call: means the next time the function is executed. range (D): A contender and/or candidate inclusion range parameter, relating the log of the candidate/node score to the log of the score of the node with the maximum score at a particular time. `D` is typically between 10 and 17. A small value results in a faster recognition process, but potentially more error prone recognition process. test sentence: refers to a chunk of speech (said by a speaker) upon which the recognition process is being implemented. beam: refers to the set of nodes with have a sufficiently high score. It is often computed by finding the log of the score of the highest scoring node `Nmax` at each time, and subtracting a constant (range parameter) D from it. Any node with a score with a log greater than `Nmax` minus `D`, is said to be in the beam. beam search: a method wherein only evaluations are performed only for those nodes which are possible followers to nodes with a sufficiently high score, rather than evaluating the score for every node in the node versus time matrix. Viterbi Scores are either `unnormalized` or score: `normalized`. Unnormalized scores get smaller as time goes on, so it is not meaningful to compare the scores of different times. Therefore the scores are normalized to enable comparisons of scores at different times. A normalized Viterbi score refers to the scores of the nodes at a given time in a matrix of scores. Normalization of the score of a node `N` at any time may be implemented by taking the difference in unnormalized scores between the best-scoring node `Nmax` (at that time) and the unnormalized score of node `N`. These normalized scores can be meaningfully compared at different times. time frame: a particular time duration, usually 10 millisecond. It can also be understood as a `point in time`. ______________________________________
active list of nodes whose log score is PA1 list: within a user-defined parameter D of the log of the highest scoring node at the current time. PA1 potentials list: list of nodes potentially active at the next time frame given the set of currently active nodes. PA1 next active list: set of nodes in potentials list whose score is sufficiently high to allow the node to be included in the active list at the next time triplet. PA1 contender: is often called "acoustic PA1 list: fast match list" PA1 candidate list: is often called "final fast match list" PA1 utterance: a string of acoustic signals (words) to be decoded for speech recognition. It is most often a `sentence`, although it need not be a complete sentence. PA1 active node: a node whose score is within a user-defined range parameter `D` of the highest scoring node at that time. PA1 phoneme: is an individual speech sound; the building blocks of words. For example the word "she" is comprised of 2 phonemes: SH and IY. Often, one can think of phonemes as the constituent entries in the pronunciation of a word in the dictionary. PA1 candidate: A vocabulary word, or group of words, resulting from the fast match algorithm, which is/are possibilities for the words forming the acoustic signal. Each candidate is evaluated by the detailed match phase of decoding, in order to find the best scoring string of words which match the acoustics being recognized. PA1 hypothesis: same as candidate. PA1 triangular window: weighting function shaped like a triangle when plotted. This is used to combine lists associated with a range of times into a single list. For example the weights 0.1 0.6 1.1 0.6 0.1: applied to 5 consecutive lists of words would multiply the scores in the first and fifth list by 0.1, in the second and fourth list by 0.6, and the third list by 1.1. This would give preference to words in the third list by increasing their scores while decreasing the scores of words in the other lists. Similarly the second and fourth lists would be given preference to the first and fifth lists. PA1 call: refers to a function call in a computer program. Call to DM means executing the detailed match function. Since the program iterates, the detailed match function is executed many times; PA1 next call: means the next time the function is executed. PA1 range (D): A contender and/or candidate inclusion range parameter, relating the log of the candidate/node score to the log of the score of the node with the maximum score at a particular time. `D` is typically between 10 and 17. A small value results in a faster recognition process, but potentially more error prone recognition process. PA1 test sentence: refers to a chunk of speech (said by a speaker) upon which the recognition process is being implemented. PA1 beam: refers to the set of nodes with have a sufficiently high score. It is often computed by finding the log of the score of the highest scoring node `Nmax` at each time, and subtracting a constant (range parameter) D from it. Any node with a score with a log greater than `Nmax` minus `D`, is said to be in the beam. PA1 beam search: a method wherein only evaluations are performed only for those nodes which are possible followers to nodes with a sufficiently high score, rather than evaluating the score for every node in the node versus time matrix. PA1 Viterbi score: Scores are either `unnormalized` or `normalized`. Unnormalized scores get smaller as time goes on, so it is not meaningful to compare the scores of different times. Therefore the scores are normalized to enable comparisons of scores at different times. PA1 time frame: a particular time duration, usually 10 millisecond. It can also be understood as a `point in time`.
The potentials list includes the set of currently active nodes and their successors in the fast match graph. PA2 A normalized Viterbi score refers to the scores of the nodes at a given time in a matrix of scores. Normalization of the score of a node `N` at any time may be implemented by taking the difference in unnormalized scores between the best-scoring node `Nmax` (at that time) and the unnormalized score of node `N`. These normalized scores can be meaningfully compared at different times.

Method and apparatus for a time-synchronous tree-based search strategy

International Business Machines Corporation


An infrared detection unit includes a base carrying an infrared sensor element, and a cap configured to be fitted on the base to surround the infrared sensor element. The cap has a top wall with a window in which a semiconductor lens is fitted to collect an infrared radiation onto the infrared sensor element. The semiconductor optical lens is formed from a semiconductor substrate to have a convex lens and a flange which surround said convex lens. An infrared barrier is formed on the semiconductor lens to block the infrared radiation from passing through the boundary between the circumference of the convex lens and the window. Accordingly, the infrared sensor element can receive only the infrared radiation originating from a detection area intended by the convex lens.

Japanese patent publication No. 5-133803 discloses an infrared detection unit utilizing an optical lens for collecting the infrared radiation to an infrared sensor element. The infrared sensor element is enclosed in a housing with a top opening fitted with the optical lens. Recently, there has been proposed a technology for fabricating for a mold for a micro optical lens as disclosed in Japanese patent publication No. 2000-263556. As the infrared detection unit is required to be compact in size, such micro optical lens is most preferable. However, the micro-optical lens prepared in the above prior art is inherently given a uniform radius of curvature, and is not suitable for the infrared radiation unit when it requires a lens having non-uniform radius of curvature for effectively collecting the infrared radiation to the infrared sensor element. Therefore, there is a need to use a semi-conductor lens having a non-uniform radius of curvature. Even if such semiconductor lens is utilized for the infrared detection unit, however, there remains a problem that the infrared radiation passing though the boundary between the semiconductor optical lens and the top opening may be incident upon the infrared sensor element, whereby the infrared radiation originating from an area not intended by the lens causes false detection.

Infrared detection unit using a semiconductor optical lens


Methods and systems are provided for controlling access to an electronic device. The electronic device, for example, may include, but is not limited to, a processor, a memory communicatively coupled to the processor, wherein the memory is configured to store a password for accessing the electronic device, and a communication interface communicatively coupled to the processor, wherein the processor is configured to receive a request to access the electronic device from the communication interface, and transmit an encrypted version of the password for accessing the electronic device via the communication interface.

Electronic devices have to be serviced occasionally. In many instances the electronic device can be serviced remotely if the electronic device includes a communication interface, such as an internet or cellular connection. However, when an electronic device is capable of being serviced remotely, a security system needs to be in place to ensure that only authorized administrators are capable of accessing the electronic device.

System and method for controlling access to an electronic device


A latch circuit comprises eight MOS transistors in which a first pair of transistors are connected in series between a voltage supply node and ground and a second pair of transistors are connected in parallel to the first pair between the voltage supply node and ground. A fifth transistor is connected between the gates of the first pair and a node between the transistors of the second pair and a sixth transistor is connected between the gates of the second pair and a node between the transistors of the first pair. The seventh transistor is a write transistor connected between a data in line and the node between the first pair of transistors and the eighth transistor is a clear transistor connected between the node between the second pair of transistors and ground.

FIG. 1 depicts a prior art latch circuit 100 comprising eight MOS transistors 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170 and 180. Each MOS transistor has a source, a drain and a gate. Transistors 110, 130, 140, and 160 are preferably PMOS transistors; and transistors 120, 150, 170 and 180 are preferably NMOS transistors. The first and second transistors 110, 120 are connected in series such that a source and drain of the first transistor 110 are connected between a first node 115 and a second node 125 and the source and drain of the second transistor are connected between a third node 135 and the second node 125. The third transistor 130 is connected in parallel with the first transistor 110 so that its source and drain are also connected between the first node and the second node. The fourth and fifth transistors 140, 150 are connected in series such that a source and drain of the fourth transistor 140 are connected between the first node 115 and a fourth node 145 and the source and drain of the fifth transistor 150 are connected between the third node 135 and the fourth node 145. The sixth transistor 160 is connected in parallel with the fourth transistor 140 so that its source and drain are also connected between the first node and the fourth node. The first node is connected to a positive power supply and the third node is connected to ground. The voltage level at node 115 represents a logic high and the ground potential a logic low. Transistors 110, 120, 130 will be recognized as forming a first inverter having an input at the gates of transistors 110, 120 130 and an output at second node 125 and transistors 140, 150, 160 as forming a second inverter having an input at the gates of transistors 140, 150, 160 and an output at fourth node 145. In each inverter, the PMOS pull-up transistors have been doubled to enhance stability of the latch circuit. The inverters are cross-coupled by line 127 from second node 125 at the output of the first inverter to the gates of transistors 140, 150, 160 and by line 147 from fourth node 145 at the output of the second inverter to the gates of transistors 110, 120 130.
The source and drain of the transistor 170 are connected between a data in line 105 and the second node 125. Thus, transistor 170 functions as a write transistor for latch circuit 100. The source and drain of transistor 180 are connected between fourth node 145 and ground. Thus, transistor 180 function as a clear transistor for latch circuit 100. A data out line 185 is connected to node 145.
In operation, latch circuit 100 is cleared by applying a positive signal to the gate of transistor 180 to turn it on. As a result, node 145 is bought to essentially ground potential. Since node 145 is connected to the gates of transistor 110, 120, 130 by line 147, the ground potential is applied to those gates, turning on transistor 110 and 130 and turning off transistor 120. As a result, the potential at node 125 rises to approximately the potential of node 115. Since node 125 is connected to the gates of transistors 140, 150, 160 by line 127, a high potential is applied to these gates, turning off transistor 140 and 160 and turning on transistor 150. As a result, the potential at node 145 which had been brought to ground potential by transistor 180 is now held at ground potential by transistor 150.
Thus, as a result of the clear operation, a high potential is established at node 125 and a low potential at node 145. This is one of the two binary values that can be stored in latch 100. To store this value in the latch, there is no need to do anything after the latch is cleared. Alternatively, if a high potential signal is applied to latch 100 from data in line 105 by turning on transistor 170, the high potential will be applied to node 125 and this high potential will also be applied to the gates of transistors 140, 150, 160 thereby turning on transistor 150 so that the potential at node 145 is approximately ground potential.
On the other hand, if a low potential signal is written to latch 100 after it has been cleared, the low potential signal will be applied to node 125 and this low potential will reduce the voltage at the gates of transistors 140, 150 160, thereby turning on transistors 140, 160 and turning off transistor 150. As a result, the potential at node 145 rises to approximately the potential of power supply node 115. This causes the potential at the gates of transistor 110, 120, 130 to rise, thereby turning off transistors 110, 130 and turning on transistor 120. As a result, the potential at node 125, which had been brought to a low potential by transistor 170 is now held at ground potential by transistor 120. Thus, as a result of the write low operation, a low potential is at node 125 and a high potential at node 145. This is the second of the binary values that can be stored in latch 100.
The circuit of FIG. 1 has the disadvantage that it has a relatively high soft error rate (SER). As a result, this circuit is not an attractive candidate for use in critical memory functions such as memory cells in configuration random access memory (CRAM) where a single erroneous bit in the CRAM may render unusable the programmable logic array (PLA) that is programmed by the CRAM.
In an effort to reduce SER, resistors have been inserted in the feedback paths between the inverters. The resistors dampen disturbances between the nodes and reduce the likelihood that such disturbances would flip the logic state of the circuit. FIG. 2 depicts a circuit 200 that has the same transistors and the same topology as circuit 100. Accordingly, the transistors and nodes of FIG. 2 bear the same numbers as those of FIG. 1 increased by 100. Circuit 200 differs from circuit 100 in that node 225 is connected to the gates of transistors 240, 250, 260 by a feedback resistor 228 instead of lead 127 and node 245 is connected to the gates of transistors 210, 220, 230 by a feedback resistor 248 instead of lead 147. However, it is not practical in conventional CMOS technology to achieve significant resistance values in a small layout area. As a result, feedback resistors are not used in latch circuits for technology nodes less than 0.25 um. Accordingly, there is a continuing need for latch circuits with better SER.


Disclosed is a system and method for virtual demonstration of a product. Herein, a game engine is implemented to provide a virtual environment with a model of the product. Further, a library of predefined story blocks related to the model of the product is provided. A session for virtual demonstration of the product is initiated by a master server over a network, with at least one server acting as a host server associated with a host user and one or more of other servers acting as one or more client servers with each of the one or more client servers being associated with a client user. The host server is configured to allow the host user to define a timeline with one or more story blocks. The one or more client servers are configured to present the defined timeline for viewing of the one or more client users associated therewith.

The main motive of every industry, no matter how big or small, is to increase sales of their products. This is accomplished by not only maintaining superior quality of products but by also employing proper sales techniques in selling these products. Traditionally, companies appoint a number of sales personnel trained to demonstrate their products to the customers. The sales personnel travel to customer sites, arrange meetings with the customers and demonstrate the products in order to lure the customers into buying them. Companies spend a lot of money on chasing sales by demonstrations and can create a large carbon footprint whilst doing so. However, under-qualified leads can cause revenue loss, extra travel costs and lost time for a business. Moreover, companies have to bear the cost incurred on training and maintaining these sales personnel. Furthermore, occurrence of a black-swan event, like a global pandemic, can cause interference in successful physical demonstrations via person-to-person meetings.
Businesses need a different, reliable platform to showcase or demonstrate their products in a way that allows the potential customer to get a real feel for the product, and further means to play with/examine its features without the need of the product having to travel to be physically present with the customer or the customer having to travel to the product in order to test it. This is especially true for companies with a wide geographical sales network, where it may be unfeasible or very expensive to recruit required number of sales personnel. These companies need to change their approach to demonstration of products, and can start utilizing technology to chase sales and save spending money they don't need to on travel and related expenses.
More and more companies are shifting from the conventional sales technique to online mode so as to combat the above described issues. Currently, video conferencing systems are the most widely used means for product demonstration. Traditionally, video conferencing systems employ a company representative to connect with the potential customers. Herein, the company representative demonstrates the product in action by physically manipulating it and demoing it in real time. However, the need of the company representative to physically manipulate the product puts a constraint on the employed demonstration technique as the product has to be physically present.
Therefore, in light of the foregoing discussion, there exists a need to overcome various problems associated with the virtual demonstration of a product, as known in the art.

System and method for virtual demonstration of product


Methods, systems, and devices for liquid hydrocarbon fuel production, hydrocarbon chemical production, and aerosol capture are provided. For example, a carbon-oxygen-hydrogen (C—O—H) compound may be heated to a temperature of at least 800 degrees Celsius such that the C—O—H compound reacts through a non-oxidation reaction to generate at least a hydrocarbon compound that may be at least a component of a liquid hydrocarbon fuel or a hydrocarbon chemical. The liquid hydrocarbon fuel may be a liquid when at a temperature of 20 degrees Celsius. The C—O—H compound may include biomass. In some cases, the hydrocarbon compound produced through the non-oxidation reaction includes a hydrocarbon aerosol form as the hydrocarbon compound at least as it is produced or cools. Some embodiments include aerosol capture methods, systems, and devices, which may include passing a hydrocarbon aerosol form through a material in a liquid phase in order to gather the aerosol material.

Different methods have been developed to produce fast pyrolysis oil. In some cases, the oil may be converted to liquid fuels by upgrading with hydrogen. Biomass may also be utilized in some cases to produce the fast pyrolysis oil.
While various techniques may exist to generate liquid fuel from biomass or other carbon-oxygen-hydrogen (C—O—H) compounds or chemicals, there may still be a general need for the development of alternative techniques that may provide more direct methods for generating liquid hydrocarbon fuels or hydrocarbon chemicals from C—O—H compounds.
Furthermore, different methods have been developed to capture aerosols. These methods may include different inertial, gravitational, electrostatic, and/or diffusion techniques, for example. While various techniques may exist to capture aerosols, there may still be a general need for the development of alternative and/or improved techniques that may be utilized to capture aerosols, including hydrocarbon aerosols.


Systems and methods for centralized power management of wireless user devices are disclosed. In embodiments, a method comprises: monitoring, by a computing device, battery charge levels for remote user devices; identifying, by the computing device, that a battery charge level of a first user device of the remote user devices is below a predetermined threshold value based on the monitoring; identifying, by the computing device, at least one in-use device from the remote user devices based on real-time data indicating that the at least one in-use device is in use by a user; and sending, by the computing device, an alert to the at least one in-use device based on the identifying the at least one in-use device, wherein the alert includes information about the first user device and information regarding the battery charge level of the first device.

The present invention relates generally to battery management and, more particularly, to centralized power management of a plurality of wireless devices.
The use of battery powered mobile user devices, including Internet of Things (IOTs) devices, is on the rise. The battery life of a user device and a user's ability to monitor the battery life are important considerations to consumers. Presently, individual user devices may include dedicated software that monitors the battery life and enables users to view the battery charge level for the device. Additionally, secondary user devices (e.g., accessories such as headphones, smartwatches, etc.) may come with dedicated software that can be loaded into a smartphone or the like to enable a user to monitor the accessory from the smartphone.
Disadvantages of such systems include the need for operating system (OS) dependent battery monitoring software (i.e., apps are tailor made for specific OS), which may result in inoperability of battery monitoring software with user devices. Further such systems typically utilize smartphone-specific battery monitoring apps, which are not accessible if the smartphone is off or otherwise unavailable to a user. Further, such systems enable only a single point of contact for a user. For example, a smartphone becomes the only point of contact for obtaining battery updates for other user devices. Moreover, such battery monitoring systems may be based on passive monitoring that enables alerts only and does not allow a user to remotely change battery settings to increase battery life of a user device. Additionally, battery management applications for smartphones are typically device-specific, such that a user having a plurality of user devices of different makes/models may need to load multiple battery management applications onto their smartphone in order to obtain battery charge status updates for all of the devices, which is inconvenient to a user and eats up smartphone resources. Moreover, user device batteries may lose power even while the device is off, and the last battery alert from typical battery management software may not accurately reflect the current state of the device's battery charge.

Centralized power management of wireless devices

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


A communications network comprises a plurality of nodes including at least one earth station and at least one spacecraft. The spacecraft node is an active node of the network. A method for dynamically configuring a spacecraft to function as a node of a communications network in accordance with the defacto active network reference and with an Open Systems Interconnect (OSI) reference model comprises the step of transmitting an object from an earth station to the spacecraft. The object comprises at least one method for configuring the spacecraft to include a node operating system (nodeOS) and at least one execution environment (EE).

This invention relates to communications networks, and more particularly to data communications over satellite links.
In 1962 the American telecommunications giant AT&T launched "Telstar", the world's first true communications satellite. Since then, countless communications satellites have been placed into earth orbit, and the technology being applied to them is rapidly growing in sophistication. At the same time, many of today's communications satellites are designed to have operational lifetimes of more than a decade.
One problem associated with spacecraft-based communications equipment and networks is the rapid pace at which technology changes. In today's global networking landscape, there are many new, and rapidly evolving data transmission technologies, media and methodologies for transmitting data over a network. At the same time, satellites already in orbit are inaccessible for installing these upgraded technologies.
It is desirable to be able to incorporate any type of data transmission media into a network that includes a satellite. Since each type of media has different characteristics, systems and methods designed to facilitate seamless integration of satellite communication in hybrid systems despite differences in underlying system architectures are highly desirable. Therefore, a need exists for systems and methods for upgrading the technology of a satellite while the satellite is in orbit.

Active networking in communication satellites


A measuring jig includes: a base portion; a sensor holding portion disposed so as to protrude from the base portion and configured to hold a sensor; and a first protruding portion protruding from the base portion toward the same side as the sensor holding portion, at a first position different from a sensor position which is a position of a sensor installation surface on which the sensor extends, with respect to a direction orthogonal to the sensor installation surface.

In various machines, to maintain the size of a gap between members appropriately, the size of the gap is measured.
For instance, Patent Document 1 discloses providing a displacement sensor for a gas turbine, between rotor blades and a casing, and measuring the gap between the rotor blades and the casing (tip clearance).

Measuring jig, measuring device, and gap measuring method


A method for improving backward and forward web browser performance is described. In one embodiment, backward and forward web performance is enhanced by ignoring unload handler scripts and caching web pages. Web elements with unload handler scripts are examined. In a first pass, if the web page elements are not determined to be significant, then the related unload handler scripts can be ignored, enabling the web page to be cached. In a second pass, if the web page element is significant, but the unload handler script is determined to be insignificant, then the unload handler script can be ignored and the web page can be cached.

Web pages are widely used to distribute information though the internet and intranets to users possessing access to a network having connectivity, ultimately, to a web server storing and serving the web pages. Web pages have become a widely accepted vehicle for disseminating information because of the relative ease that web pages can be accessed by a wide variety of web viewing platforms. Of course personal computers can display web pages, but the ability to access web pages goes beyond personal computers to include laptop computers, personal digital assistants, net books, e-readers, smart phones, tablet computers and more.
Although once simple, web pages now can be relatively complex including items such as scripts, frames, embedded videos, embedded audio and the like. Such complexity can increase the response time of a web browser (browser) to the user. When a user first navigates to a relatively complex web page, the browser first must gather the web page data, interpret, construct and then display the web page. Conversely, when the user navigates away from a web page, the browser typically has to close resources and connections and terminate any running scripts before navigating away. In both cases, there may be a perceptible delay of a web browser to the user's commands. The response can be made worse by having a relatively less powerful processor or by accessing a relatively low performing network.
One way to improve user experience is to cache a web page prior to navigating away from it. By caching the web page, if the user navigates back to the cached web page, the displaying of the web page can occur relatively quickly since elements for the web page have been retained in the cache. Some web pages, however, are designed not to be cached. These web pages can be, for example, related to financial institutions where a web cache can present a security risk. Other web pages are not cached because they can have associated with them one or more scripts that are executed when the user navigates away. Sometimes, these scripts are not added by the web page author, but instead through third parties inserted as in-line advertisements or other web content. Honoring these scripts can reduce performance and degrade the user experience.
Therefore, what is desired is a way to enhance a browser's ability to cache web pages and improve the overall user experience.

Method for improving backward/forward performance between certain types of dynamic web pages


The symptoms of climacterium in male mammals, e.g., hypertension, cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis, are ameliorated by the administration to an afflicted individual one or both of a nitric oxide substrate and/or nitric acid donor, in combination with an androgen, an aromatase inhibitor or both, wherein the circulating levels of testosterone in the afflicted individual are increased.

This invention relates to a method for the treatment and prevention of climacteric disorders during aging in males, such as increased incidence of cardiovascular diseases, etc., which may be associated with the continuous reduction in serum testosterone levels in men as they age, and becomes problematic in middle-age, with a nitric oxide synthase substrate (e.g., L-arginine), a nitric oxide donor or both, in combination with androgen hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and/or an aromatase inhibitor, which provides an increase in endogenous testosterone levels.
It is now well known that HRT, such as estrogen treatment, improves or reverses the adverse effects of the decrease in sex steroid secretion by the ovaries during menopause in women. Estrogens have also been shown to improve mood and psychological well-being in postmenopausal women and they also prevent atrophic changes in the genital tract. Estrogens have been shown to effect arterial tone and this may help to explain the reduction in hot flushes observed in postmenopausal women with estrogen therapy.
One of the most exciting recent advances in biology and medicine is the discovery that nitric oxide is produced by endothelial cells and that it is involved in the regulation of vascular tone, platelet aggregation, neurotransmission and immune activation (Furchgott and Zawadzki, 1980; Moncada, Palmer and Higgs, 1991; Ignarro, 1991). Nitric oxide is an important mediator of relaxation of the muscular smooth muscle (Montada, Palmer and Higgs, 1991) and was formerly known as EDRF (endothelin-derived relaxing factor) (Furchgott and Zawadzki, 1980; Moncada, Palmer and Higgs, 1991). Nitric oxide is synthesized by the oxidative deamination of a guanidino nitrogen of L-arginine by at least three different isoforms of a flavin-containing enzyme, nitric oxide synthase (Moncada, Palmer and Higgs, 1991). Synthesis of nitric oxide has been shown to be competitively inhibited by analogues of L-arginine; NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), NG-monoethyl-L-arginine (LMMA), N-iminoethyl-L-ornithine (L-NIO), L-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NNMA) and L-NG-methylarginine (LNMA) and Nw-nitro-L-arginine (L-NA).
Nitric oxide elevates levels of cGMP (1,3,5-cyclic guanosine monophosphate) within the vascular smooth muscle to produce relaxation and to reduce blood vessels tone (Moncada, Palmer and Higgs, 1991). Nitric oxide binds to heme and thus activates soluble guanylate cyclase (Ignarro, 1991) to increase the cellular content of cGMP. It has long been recognized that nitrovasodilators, such as nitroprusside and nitroglycerin, inhibit vascular smooth muscle contractility to produce relaxation or to reduce vascular tone. These agents have been used since the late 1800's as vasodilators. However, only recently has the mechanism of action of these compounds been realized. Nitrovasodilators are now classified as nitric oxide donors because they are metabolized to release nitric oxide (Moncada, Palmer and Higgs, 1991). The long-used nitrovasodilators may be regarded as substitution therapy for a failing physiological mechanism. Nitric oxide is also produced by macrophages and other immune cells.
There is a substantial body of evidence from animal experiments that a deficiency in nitric oxide contributes to the pathogenesis of a number of diseases, including hypertension, atherosclerosis and diabetes, and erectile dysfunction in men (Moncada, Palmer and Higgs, 1991). There are many recent studies showing that the inhibition of nitric oxide synthase dramatically increases blood pressure. The inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis with L-NNMA, L-NA or L-NAME causes long-lasting elevation in blood pressure and suggests that its reduction may contribute to the pathogenesis of hypertension (Moncada and Palmer, 1992). Furthermore, L-NAME-treatment potentiates presser responses to angiotensin II, vasopressin and norepinephrine. Also, in patients with pregnancy-induced hypertension, release of nitric oxide by umbilical vessels in blunted (Pinto et al, 1991) and the physiological decrease in blood pressure in pregnant spontaneous hypertensive rats was shown to depend on endothelial nitric oxide (Ahokas, Merces and Sibai, 1991). Additionally, infusion of L-NA increases blood-pressure in pregnant rats and potentiates responses to vasopressors (Molnar and Hertelendy, 1992). These studies suggest that impaired nitric oxide synthesis may be an important mechanism in the etiology of cardiovascular problems.
Nitric oxide synthesis and nitric oxide effector system (cGMP-dependent relaxation mechanism) are thought to be regulated by steroid hormones. There is an increase in cardiovascular diseases in women following menopause and which may be related to the decrease in sex steroids and an alteration in nitric oxide. Female steroid hormones have been shown to modulate endothelium-dependent relaxation of vascular smooth muscle by nitric oxide. Estradiol treatment of rats causes increased nitric oxide production by vascular tissues, whereas progesterone counteracts this phenomenon (Miller and Van Houtte, 1991). It is well known that pregnancy is associated with an increase in cardiac output and a decrease in the resistance of virtually all the vascular beds in the body. Although the mechanism of this phenomenon is not known, it could be associated with changes in nitric oxide production or effects as a result of elevated steroid hormone levels. One important observation with regard to the above mechanism is that antiprogestins (RU 486) elevate blood pressure in animals (Kalimi, 1989) and they produce hot flushes in humans, both males (Grunberg et al., 1993) and females (Kettel et al., 1991). The hot flushes may be mediated by the steroid action on the release of nitric oxide. Hot flushes are a primary symptom in menopausal and postmenopausal women and they are relieved by both estrogen and progesterone (Avis et al., 1993).
Another symptom of climacterium in both men and women is osteoporosis. There is also growing evidence that nitric oxide mediates steroid (estrogen and/or progestin) effects on bones (C. W. G. M. Lowik et al., J. Clin. Invest., 93:1465-1472 (1994); T. P. Kasten et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88:2936-2940 (1991); M. Zaidi et al., Bone 14:97-102 (1993); A. S. M. Towhidul Alam et al., Bioscience Reports 12:369 (1992)).
The studies described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 153,345, filed Nov. 16, 1993, show that nitric oxide and the subsequent relaxation of the uterus is controlled by progesterone. The relaxation effects of the nitric oxide substrate, L-arginine, are greater in late pregnancy when progesterone levels are elevated in pregnant rats. Also there is greater uterine relaxation with L-arginine when uterine strips are taken from nonpregnant, ovariectomized rats treated with progesterone. In addition, treatment with pregnant rats with the nitric oxide inhibitor produces signs and symptoms of preeclampsia (e.g., hypertension, fetal retardation and proteinuria--the classical triad of preeclampsia). These symptoms are related to the decrease in vascular resistance and placental perfusion. Preeclampsia is a well known model of atherosclerosis as the decrease in placental perfusion is accompanied by increased fibrin deposition in placental vessels and increased thrombus formation (Roberts et al., 1989). Thus, nitric oxide substrates and/or donors alone or in combination with estrogen and progesterone are particularly efficacious for hormone replacement therapy to prevent climacteric symptoms (climacterium) such as atherosclerosis, hypertension, hot flushes, etc. in women.
EP 0441 119 A2 discloses the use of L-arginine in the treatment of hypertension and other vascular disorders. It suggests that the mechanism by which L-arginine is effective for this purpose is because it may be the physiological precursor of "the most powerful endothelial-derived releasing factor, nitric oxide." The use of L-arginine in combination with other pharmaceutically active agents is not discussed in this publication.

Treatment of male climacteric disorders with nitric oxide synthase substrates and/or donors, in combination with androgens and/or aromatase inhibitors

Schering Aktiengesellschaft and Board of Regents


A method and an apparatus are described for monitoring the wear of a long stator linear motor system comprising at least one motor train with stators and at least one transport vehicle that is driven electromagnetically thereby. Due to the fact that a force exerted electromagnetically and/or mechanically upon said motor train by the transport vehicle transverse to the latter's direction of transport or a differential force exerted in such manner by the transport vehicle upon two oppositely disposed motor trains is measured using sensors, changes in the forces between the motor train and the vehicle caused by dimensional tolerances and/or wear can be detected in order to prevent a malfunction of the track switch.

Transport systems with long stator linear motors and transport vehicles (shuttles) individually driven by them, as well as dynamic magnetic track switches for distributing the transport vehicles to different transport lanes, are basically known, for example, from DE 10 2013 218 389.
The function of the magnetic track switches is based on the principle that current flow through the laterally arranged stators in the track switch region generates a pull force or a push force acting in the transverse direction upon the respective vehicle/shuttle and/or reduces a pulling normal force. This can be changed in a selected manner in order to direct individual vehicles/shuttles to the assigned transport lane.
Transverse forces that are as uniform as possible are required for reliable track switch function, in particular normal forces, such as, for example, by reluctance. The normal forces depend on various parameters such as the width of the magnetic air gap and the magnetization of the magnetic reaction elements on the respective transport vehicle.
Due to manufacturing tolerances and operational wear of the vehicle rollers, different air gap dimensions can arise on either side of the vehicle/shuttle that is configured symmetrically in terms of drive technology. The problem there is that symmetrical gap dimensions are of crucial importance for reliable track switch function Asymmetries of a few tenths of a millimeter can lead to uncontrolled lateral forces or normal forces that are higher than the actuating forces of the track switches. This then leads to malfunction of the track switch. The motor operation with motor segments attached on one side is also changed, since the air gap influences the motor properties such as the force factor and the back electromotive force (bemf).
There is therefore is a need for predictive monitoring of the wear of track switch-enabled long stator linear motor systems, in particular for the prevention of track switch malfunction but also during normal motor operation. In other words, faulty vehicles/shuttles, in particular those with worn rollers, are to be identified and replaced or repaired as early as possible.
The object given is satisfied by a method according to claim 1. According thereto, it is used to monitor the wear of a long stator linear motor system comprising at least one motor train with stators and at least one transport vehicle that is electromagnetically driven thereby. According to the invention, a force exerted electromagnetically and/or mechanically upon the motor train by the transport vehicle transverse to the latter's direction of transport or a differential force exerted in such manner by the transport vehicle upon two oppositely disposed motor trains is measured using sensors.
Monitoring is possible continuously during operation or the product flow, respectively. For example, a normal force between the transport vehicle and the motor train can be continuously measured and evaluated during operation using a force sensor. This can be done on a single side, in which case the absolute normal force is measured, and on both sides, in which case a differential normal force is then determined. The forces measured can subsequently be examined for critical values.
Transverse forces increasing on one side over time indicate wear on the rollers of the transport vehicle. An impending malfunction can be predicted in this way, in particular for the reason that the distance of the transport vehicle from a motor train is too small.
The force/differential force is preferably a transverse force, in particular a normal force, exerted electromagnetically by the transport vehicle upon a stator of the motor train. This allows for a direct conclusion about the gap width between the stator and the magnetic reaction element of the transport vehicle.
The force is preferably a transverse force, in particular a normal force, exerted mechanically by the transport vehicle upon a guide rail of the motor train. The transverse force is then transmitted from the rollers of the transport vehicle to the guide rail and also allows for a reliable conclusion about the gap width between the stator and the magnetic reaction element of the transport vehicle.
The force/differential force measured preferably represents an actual value and as such is compared to a permissible maximum value. This enables an ongoing assessment of the probability of an impending malfunction and possibly also a trend analysis of the probability.
The maximum permissible value is preferably smaller than a minimum transverse actuating force of a track switch formed on the long stator linear motor system for the transport vehicle. In this way, an impending malfunction of the track switch can be predicted with the aim of replacing and/or repairing faulty transport vehicles in good time. It is preferably verified by a machine whether the force/differential force measured is in a permissible working range of the motor system defined between a permissible maximum value and a permissible minimum value. For example, a processing unit associated with the long stator motor system compares at least one measured actual value to a predetermined setpoint range that corresponds to the permissible working range.
In other words, the force/differential force measured for correct operation of the long stator motor system is to deliver a permissible measured value which is between a predetermined upper and lower limit. This enables the motor system to operate correctly in the long term, even without a track switch.
The force/differential force measured is preferably a measure of the width of a distance, in particular a gap, between a stator of the motor train in the region of the force measurement and a magnetic reaction element of the transport vehicle. This allows for a conclusion about the wear on the rollers.
The object posed is also satisfied by an apparatus according to claim 7. According thereto, it is used to monitor the wear of a long stator linear motor system and comprises at least one motor train with stators and at least one transport vehicle that is electromagnetically driven thereby. According to the invention, the apparatus further comprises a measuring device attached in particular to the motor train for measuring a force exerted upon the motor train by the transport vehicle transverse to the latter's direction of transport. The same advantages are obtained as with the method according to the invention.
The motor train preferably comprises a frame and at least one stator mounted thereon, and the measuring device comprises at least one load cell which is arranged between the stator and the frame for measuring an electromagnetic pull force acting upon the stator. This enables simple force measurement by pulling apart the load cell between the stator and the frame or the like.
The motor train preferably comprises a frame and a guide rail mounted thereon, the transport vehicle comprises rollers running laterally therealong, and the measuring device comprises at least one load cell which is arranged between the guide rail and the frame for measuring a pressing force acting upon the guide rail. This enables various force measurements by pressing together, pulling apart, or sliding attachment elements of the load cell between the guide rail and the frame.
The measuring device preferably comprises at least one load cell inserted in a force-fit manner between a frame of the motor train and a stator and/or between the frame and a lateral guide rail for the transport vehicle. Load cells are reliable and economical for permanent monitoring during production operations.
Two motor trains are preferably formed with a measuring device on either side of the transport vehicle for measuring a differential force exerted upon the motor trains by the transport vehicle transverse to its direction of transport. This is particularly informative for monitoring the entry regions of track switches.
The motor train is preferably located in the entry region to a track switch of the long stator linear motor system. Disposed in this region are motor trains on either side of the transport vehicle, the exerted transverse force of which is decisive for the correct switching function of the track switch. The operability of the track switch can thus be assessed reliably.
The measuring device is preferably arranged in a rectilinear section of the motor train. In the ideal case, symmetrical transverse forces arise there on both sides of the transport vehicle and therefore a differential normal force ideally equal to zero. Monitoring is particularly easy and informative there.
The measuring device is preferably configured to measure a lateral normal force. This simplifies the reliable estimation of the gap width and the prediction of the track switch function by comparison to the associated actuating force.
The apparatus preferably also comprises a processing unit for comparing an actual value measured to the measuring device with a setpoint value or setpoint range, in particular with a permissible maximum value, a force acting upon the motor train transverse to the direction of transport and/or a differential force acting upon oppositely disposed motor trains. This enables a wide range of evaluations, both with regard to the actual state as well as trend analyzes based thereon.

Method and apparatus for monitoring the wear of a long stator linear motor system


A system for receiving and handling a scrambled input data signal that includes a preamble with a start of frame delimiter (SFD) initiates an SFD search on the scrambled input data, thereby attempting to save an initialization period. The initialization period may be of the order of 7 uS, and its saving results in improved timeline management enabling antenna diversity and the possible use of high performance algorithms. The system may use two parallel paths for signal processing, each having an SFD detector and a descrambler. If the detected SFD is short, then the second path is disabled, and if it is long, then the first parallel path is disabled. Alternatively, the first path can be used for a finite period of time (for e.g., 40 symbols) and if the SFD is still not detected, the first path is disabled, and the system uses only the second path.

It is known that 802.11 relates to a family of specifications developed by the IEEE for wireless LAN technology and specifies an over-the-air interface between a wireless client and a base station or between two wireless clients. In one form, 802.11 applies to wireless LANs and provides 1 or 2 Mbps transmission in the 2.4 GHz band using either frequency hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) or direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS). Of the several specifications in the 802.11 family, 802.11b (also known as 802.11 High Rate or Wi-Fi), refers to an extension to 802.11 that applies to wireless LANS and provides 11 Mbps transmission (with a fallback to 5.5, 2 and 1 Mbps) in the 2.4 GHz band. It is also known that 802.11b generally uses only DSSS and provides wireless functionality comparable to Ethernet. 802.11g in its application to wireless LANs provides 20+ Mbps in the 2.4 GHz band. 802.11b has a maximum raw data rate of 11 Mbit/s and uses the same CSMA/CA media access method defined in the original standard. Due to the CSMA/CA protocol overhead, in practice the maximum 802.11b throughput that an application can achieve is about 5.9 Mbit/s over TCP and 7.1 Mbit/s over UDP. 802.11b operates in the 2.4 GHz RF spectrum. Hence, metal, water, and thick walls absorb 802.11b signals and might decrease the range drastically. For DSSS (Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum) modulation, 802.11b uses BPSK (Binary Phase Shift Keying) for 1 Mbit traffic and QPSK (Quad-Phase Shift Keying) for 2 Mbit traffic. For higher data rate traffic it uses QAM (Quad-Amplitude Modulation) modulation. With high-gain external antennas, the protocol can also be used in fixed point-to-point arrangements, typically at ranges up to eight kilometers or longer where a line of sight is available. For security, WEP (Wireless Encryption Protocol/Protection) is used generally.
The 802.11g standard is designed as a higher-bandwidth—54M bit/sec—successor to the popular 802.11b, or Wi-Fi standard, which tops out at 11M bit/sec. Generally, an 802.11g access point will support 802.11b and 802.11g clients. Similarly, a laptop with an 802.11g card will be able to access existing 802.11b access points as well as new 802.11g access points. The 802.11 standard refers to a general MAC-layer and three different PHY-layers. The MAC-layer is the same for all the PHY-layers. The MAC layer is also responsible for fragmentation and encryption. It is known that MAC protocols in some applications arbitrate access to a shared channel among several users. MAC layer management is responsible for synchronization, power management, roaming and MAC-M1B. The standard as relating to Wireless LAN also defines two types of wireless networks, the first one being known as BSS (Basic Service Set). The BSS is a wireless network and is normally built up of PCs (or notebooks) with a wireless network card. The second one is the ESS (Extended Service Set) and is also called an 'Ad Hoc' network and connects the wireless stations to a wired network through one or more access points. The access point is actually a bridge between a wired network and a wireless network. The Medium Access Control (MAC) protocol is used to provide the data link layer of the Ethernet LAN system. The MAC protocol in one form encapsulates a SDU (payload data) by adding a 14 byte header (Protocol Control Information (PCI)) before the data and appending a 4-byte (32-bit) Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) after the data. The entire frame is preceded by a small idle period (the minimum inter-frame gap, 9.6 microseconds (μS)) and an 8 byte preamble. The purpose of the idle time before transmission starts is to allow a small time interval for the receiver electronics in each of the nodes to settle after completion of the previous frame. A node starts transmission by sending an 8 byte (64 bit) preamble sequence. This consists of 62 alternating 1's and 0's followed by the pattern 11. Generally, the last byte which finishes with the '11' is known as the "Start of Frame Delimiter", herein referred to as SFD. The SFD field of a frame indicates the beginning of a frame being transmitted. Typically, the SFD may consist of a one octet field that marks the end of the timing information and may contain the bit sequence 10101011. The octet field may be used both for synchronization and start of frame delimiting. Upon receipt of a frame, its frame check sequence may be checked for damage using CRC (cyclic redundancy check). In the context of 802.11, a preamble provides a clock at the start of each packet, which allows the receiving devices to lock the incoming bit stream. The preamble might use either an SFD or a synch field to indicate to the receiving station that the data portion of the message will follow. In one application, the preamble might comprise a preamble synchronization portion and an SFD portion. In the context of this invention, SFD is a pattern used for synchronization, and is usually known to be detected using descramble information taking an additional 7 uS.

Method and apparatus for frame synchronization


An exclusive-OR circuit is for use in a delay device outputting a signal delayed from an input signal. The exclusive-OR circuit comprises an odd number of inverters, an even number of inverters, and a two-input selector. In the two-input selector, an inversion control signal for determining whether to invert a signal to be output, is input to one of input terminals via the odd number of inverters, and input to the other of the input terminals via the even number of inverters, and the input signal is supplied to a control terminal as a control signal for determining which of two signals input to the input terminals is output.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a delay device and a delay time measurement device, each of which employs a ring oscillator, and further relates to an exclusive-OR circuit for use in the delay device.
2. Description of the Related Art
For improved operating rates of components such as an LSI, etc., a delay circuit for dynamically adjusting a phase lag between an internal clock signal of the LSI and an external clock signal is required. To match the timings of the internal clock signal and the external clock signal more precisely, a minimum step of delay that the delay circuit can generate must be improved.
FIG. 1 shows a structure of a conventional delay circuit. This delay circuit comprises a plurality of serially connected buffers 11, and a selector 12 for selecting and outputting one of signals output from the plurality of buffers 11. The selector 12, which is supplied with a delay predetermining digital value for predetermining an amount of delay time from an input signal, outputs a signal according to the delay predetermining digital value. As a result, the selector 12 outputs the signal with a delay time of a predetermined digital value.
Additionally, the above described delay circuit employs an exclusive-OR circuit shown in FIG. 2, to output an inverted signal and a non-inverted signal of an input signal.
In this exclusive-OR circuit, the input signal is input to one of the control terminals of transfer gates 23 and 24 unchanged, and it is input to the other of the control terminals via an inverter 21. In addition, an inversion control signal is input to the transfer gate 23, and a signal generated by inverting the inversion control signal by the inverter 22 is input to the transfer gate 24.
To make the minimum step of delay smaller without affecting the maximum delay in the above described conventional delay circuit, it is required to reduce the amount of delay of one buffer, and to increase the number of serially connected buffers, which leads to a larger scale of buffer circuitry. As the number of buffers increases, the scale of the selector circuitry becomes larger. As a result, the scale of the whole delay circuit also becomes larger.
For the above described exclusive-OR circuit, there is a difference between the load when outputting an input signal with inversion and when outputting the input signal without inversion, as viewed from the side of outputting an inversion control signal. Accordingly, the amount of delay time may vary depending on whether or not to invert the input signal to be output.

Exclusive-or gate for use in delay using transmission gate circuitry


In a variable optical delay circuit to be used for compensation for polarization mode dispersion of an optical signal and for other purposes, there are provided a first birefringent member, a second birefringent member and a variable optical rotator interposed between the first birefringent member and the second birefringent member for varying a polarization state of light outputted from the first birefringent member. The birefringent members and the variable optical rotator are disposed on the same optical axis, and the optical axis of each of the birefringent members is set to perpendicularly intersect a traveling direction of inputted light. Therefore, by varying the optical rotation angle of the variable optical rotator, an arbitrary delay quantity corresponding thereto is obtainable in a continuous (analog-like) fashion without undergoing spatial separation between polarization components of the inputted light and varying the intensity (loss) of each of the polarization components.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a variable optical delay circuit, for example, a variable optical delay circuit available as a variable differential group delay (DGD: Differential Group Delay) compensator designed to compensate for a delay between two polarization modes perpendicularly intersecting each other for the polarization mode dispersion compensation in an optical communication system.
(2) Description of Related Art
For the recent large-capacity transmission, there has been taken up the problems of polarization mode dispersion (PMD: Polarization Mode Dispersion). In particular, it has been said that the PMD compensation is essential in a 40-Gbps (Giga bits per second) system.
Although a linearly-polarized optical signal pulse train ideally incident on an axisymmetric optical fiber is detectable in a state of linearly polarization even after a long-distance transmission, in fact a core distortion of an optical fiber occurs due to difference in manufacturing of optical fibers or variations of installation environments with time. This principally causes a split of a linearly polarization into two polarization components [a polarization component (horizontal polarization) whose vibrational vector is parallel with a plane of incidence and a polarization component (vertical polarization) perpendicular thereto] which perpendicularly intersect each other at an exit of the optical fiber, and a difference in speed between the polarization components develops, thus making it difficult to accomplish the normal detection of an optical signal pulse.
In general, the PMD compensation is carried out through the use of a polarization controller and an optical delay circuit. That is, a polarization controller is made to adjust the polarization direction of an optical signal while a variable optical delay circuit has a function to cancel the speed difference between two polarization components developing during the optical fiber transmission as mentioned above.
As a concrete example, FIG. 10 shows a configuration of a conventional variable optical delay circuit proposed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. HEI 6-67219. The variable optical delay circuit shown in FIG. 10 has a basic structure in which sets of polarization plane control devices 300-1 to 300-N (N represents an integer equal to or more than 2) and polarization beam splitters (PBS: Polarization Beam Splitter) 400-1 to 400-N and 500-1 to 500-N are alternately disposed at a plurality of stages, and one (for example, horizontal polarization) of an incident beam 101 having two polarization components which perpendicularly intersect each other is reflected through a polarization beam splitter 100 toward a ½-waveplate 200 side and the polarization plane control elements 3-i (i=1 to N) selectively determines a set of the polarization beam splitters 400-i and 500-i (in FIG. 10, a set comprising the polarization beam splitters 400-2 and 500-2) to be used for reflexing the incident beam 101 (horizontal polarization), thus varying the optical path length of the incident beam 101 according to polarization components perpendicularly intersect each other for providing an appropriate delay.
Therefore, in this case, the optical path length varies in a stepwise (digital-like) fashion and, hence, the compensation quantity varies in a digital-like fashion. Incidentally, the aforesaid ½-waveplate 200 has a function to make a conversion of horizontal polarization→vertical polarization with respect to the incident beam 101 inputted from the polarization beam splitter 100 and further to make a conversion of vertical polarization→horizontal polarization with respect to the incident beam 101 inputted from the polarization plane control device 300-1. The incident beam 101 converted into the horizontal polarization is reflected by a polarization beam splitter 900 to be outputted in the same direction as the direction of the incidence on the polarization beam splitter 101.
In addition, as a conventional variable optical delay circuit, for example, there has been known a circuit shown in FIG. 11. The variable optical delay circuit shown in FIG. 11 is proposed in the document "F. Heismann, "Polarization mode dispersion: fundamentals and impact on optical communication systems.", Proc. ECOC '98, Tutorials, pp. 51–79." wherein a polarization beam splitter 600 splits an incident beam into two polarization components (horizontal and vertical polarizations), with one (for example, horizontal polarization) being outputted intact to a polarization multiplexer 700 while the other (vertical polarization) being outputted to a reflecting mirror 801.
Moreover, the vertical polarization beam reflected on the reflecting mirror 801 is successively reflected in the order of a reflecting mirror 802, a reflexing mirror 803 and a reflecting mirror 804 to be incident on the polarization multiplexer 700 after passing through an optical path different from that of the one horizontal polarization beam, where it is coupled with the horizontal polarization beam. In this case, the reflexing mirror 803 is of a movable type whereby the relative distance therefrom to the reflecting mirror 802 is mechanically adjustable (movable).
Therefore, the optical path length of the vertical polarization beam varies in accordance with the movement quantity of the reflexing mirror 803 and, hence, the delay quantity (compensation quantity) corresponding thereto is attainable.
However, in the case of the conventional variable optical delay circuit mentioned above with reference to FIG. 10, since the compensation quantity varies in a digital-like fashion, difficulty is experienced in compensating continuously for arbitrary DGD. In addition, a characteristic degradation occurs due to variation in refractive index of optical parts such as the polarization beam splitters 100, 400-i and 500-i which stems from variation in ambient temperature.
Furthermore, in the conventional variation optical delay circuit mentioned above with reference to FIG. 11, the mechanical movement of the reflexing mirror 803 leads to a lowered response speed and a lowered stability and further to an increase in apparatus scale. Moreover, not only a difference in loss appears in each optical path, i.e., between the horizontal polarization and the vertical polarization, but also the loss difference varies depending upon the delay quantity.
Incidentally, among other conventional techniques, there are, for example, (1) a variable optical attenuator proposed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. HEI 9-288256, (2) an optical isolator proposed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. HEI 6-250121, (3) an optical circulator proposed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. HEI 5-34633, (4) an optical isolator proposed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. HEI 5-313094, and others.
Each of these techniques takes advantage of the characteristic of a doubly refracting crystal which can spatially separate polarization components perpendicularly crossing each other. That is, for example, as illustratively shown in FIG. 12, when an anisotropic axis (equally referred to as an optical axis or crystal axis) of a doubly refracting crystal is disposed so as to make an angle of approximately 45 degrees with respect to a traveling direction of inputted light, the inputted light is spatially separated into an ordinary light component (for example, a component in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface) 111 and an extraordinary light component (for example, a component parallel to the paper surface) 112. It takes advantages of this characteristic.
Concretely, for example, this is written in the paragraphs 0017 to 0021 and FIGS. 2 and 3 in the aforesaid (1), the paragraph 0018 in the aforesaid (2), the paragraphs 0011 to 0013 and FIG. 3 in the aforesaid (3), and the paragraph 0012 and FIGS. 1 and 2 in the aforesaid (4), and others.
However, because of spatially separating the polarization components perpendicularly intersecting each other, these techniques cannot produce a function as a variable delay circuit, although they can provide a variable optical attenuator, an optical isolator and an optical circulator. Moreover, the difference in optical path between the polarization components causes a loss difference.


A loosening tool for breaking loose tightened threads of a pipe coupling using a plurality of wrench type devices is provided that is simple to use, offers more breakage force than muscling alone, and is relatively safe and effective in its operation. The loosening tool includes a forward facing support jaw, a base bar that supports a corresponding rearward facing support jaw and an adjusting mechanism used to move the forward facing support jaw from a ready position to a loosened position such that the pipe coupling moves to a less tightened position.

The present invention relates to a loosening tool for breaking loose tightened threads of a pipe coupling using a plurality of wrench type devices, and more particularly to such a loosening tool used to accommodate two opposing wrenches fixedly attached to opposite sides of a pipe coupling and driving each wrench's respective lower part towards each other to loosen the threaded coupling.
Pipe couplings are commonly used in attaching and securing several pieces of pipes together. Typically, couplings are provided with a threaded female receiving interior to receive a corresponding male threaded end of a pipe. When two pipes need to be coupled together, the male threaded end of the pipe is fed into the female threaded receiving interior of the coupling until the fit is tight and secure. On an opposite side of the coupling, a second pipe with a male threaded end is fed into its corresponding female threaded receiving interior. Pipe couplings are also used as joints to redirect the flow of a fluid or create multiple channels of conducting fluid transport. Other pipe members are fitted with a male threaded end at one end and a female threaded end at the opposite end eliminating the need for a pipe coupling piece.
Pipe couplings are often neglected for extended periods of time during the lifetime of a pipeline that uses at least one pipe coupling. Generally, unless there is a need to move a particular pipeline, the pipe coupling is not visited unless there is a problem within the pipeline itself. After the extended period of neglect, the pipe couple can become corroded onto the pipe itself. The fluid being transported within the pipe and the type pipe material used may enhance the impact of the corrosion found between the pipe and the pipe coupling. Furthermore, an extended period of stress between the pipe coupling and the corresponding pipe's male threaded end will increase the frictional force found binding the two surfaces together. Both of these factors will increase the force needed to break a coupling bond found holding the pipe and the pipe coupled together.
Pipes and pipe couplings are also often found in "hard to reach" places. These couplings can be found within walls, under cabinets, underneath flooring, and many other similar "hard to reach" places. It can be difficult to fit two independent wrenches into such a space and using both hands to apply enough force sufficient to break apart the coupling bond. Balancing one's self to exert the proper amount of force in awkward positions can cause injury if the balance is lost. Moreover, hands have the ability lose their grip when applying such force which might further induce injury to the body. Furthermore, if the bond between the pipe's male threaded end and the pipe coupling were to suddenly disappear, the hands holding the lower part of each wrench type device could strike each other during the loosening action of the two components.
The current means of breaking loose tightened threads using two pipe wrenches is limited by the force generated by the body's muscle strength. This means does not always guarantee a successful bond breakage if the friction force securing the pipe coupling to the pipe is greater than the strength capable of being exerted by the user of the two pipe wrenches. A hammer or a cutting device would have to be applied to brutally force apart the pipe and the pipe coupling, resulting in permanent damage to the pipe member or pipe coupling; rendering it unuseable for future use.
Therefore, it is desired to have a loosening tool that can apply a greater amount of force to a plurality of wrench type devices than what can be achieved by muscling alone. Furthermore, it is desired that this loosening tool limit the risks associated with injury to the hands or body in the event that rapid loosening might otherwise cause. The loosening tool should be capable of fitting into hard to reach areas while giving the user a friendly means of operating the loosening tool. Moreover, it is desirable to have a loosening tool that is compatible with an assortment of sizes and shapes of wrench like devices such as vice grips while being adjustable to particular placement requirement of the wrench like devices on the pipe or pipe coupling itself.
Thus, there is a need for a loosening tool capable of supporting a plurality of pipe wrenches and wrench type devices. The loosening tool needs to be small enough to fit into difficult to reach places while being simple to operate. Furthermore, there is a need for such a loosening tool that is safe and easy to operate while being economically affordable to persons engaged in maintenance and repair type activities.

Loosening tool for threaded pipe couplings


Provided is an antireflection film comprising a transparent support, at least one high refractive index layer having a refractive index higher by 0.05 or greater but not greater than 1.5 than that of the transparent support and a low refractive index layer having a refractive index lower by 0.05 or greater but not greater than 2.0 than that of the high refractive index layer, wherein the high refractive index layer contains matting agent particles having an average particle size of 0.3 μm or greater but not greater than 20 μm; and the film has a haze value of 10% or less. This antireflection film has a low reflectance, is clear, has a surface less tinged with white and has reduced color due to interference, so that it is suitably used for image display devices such cathode ray tube display device (CRT), plasma display panel (PDP) and liquid crystal display (LCD). The film is also used for a polarizing plate.

In image display devices such as cathode ray tube display device (CRT), plasma display panel (PDP) and liquid crystal display device (LCD), in order to prevent a deterioration in the contrast or reflection by the display due to reflection of external light, antireflection films are usually disposed on the outermost surface of the display as a film for reducing a reflectance based on the principle of optical interference.
As a method of forming antireflection films, generally known is a method of applying an optically functional layer to a transparent support. For the purpose of antireflection, a reflectance can be reduced, for example, by disposing a layer (low refractive index layer) having a lower refractive index than that of the transparent support, or disposing a high refractive index layer over the transparent support and then laying the low refractive index layer over the high refractive index layer. Antireflection films formed by such coating method are suited for mass production, because they can be produced continuously.
In antireflection films having, over a transparent support, only a layer (low refractive index layer) having a refractive index lower than that of the transparent support, however, the refractive index of the low refractive index layer must be reduced sufficiently in order to reduce the reflectance of the antireflection films. For example, in an antireflection film having triacetyl cellulose as a support and a UV curable film of dipentaerythritol hexaacrylate as a hard coat layer having a low refractive index, the refractive index must be reduced to 1.40 or less in order to adjust an average reflectance at 450 nm to 650 nm to 1.6% or less. As a material having a refractive index of 1.40 or less, magnesium fluoride and calcium fluoride can be given as examples of inorganic materials, while fluorine-containing compounds having a large fluorine content can be given as examples of organic materials. Since fluorine compounds lack cohesive power, a film available therefrom has not sufficient scratch resistance as a film to be disposed on the uppermost surface of a display. For the formation of a film having sufficient scratch resistance, therefore, a compound having a refractive index of 1.43 or greater is required.
The above-described problems can be overcome by increasing the refractive index of a layer underlying the low refractive index layer, that is, adopting a structure in which a high refractive index layer is disposed over a transparent support and a low refractive index layer is then laid over the high refractive index layer. For example, an antireflection film having a low refractive index layer disposed over a transparent support via a hard coat layer is described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 7-287102. Also described in it is that the reflectance can be reduced by increasing the refractive index of the hard coat layer.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Antireflection film, and image display device


A bumpless build-up layer (BBUL) integrated circuit package and method of manufacturing are presented. In some embodiments, the package-on-package (PoP) pads of the BBUL integrated circuit package has a surface finish that can be palladium, nickel-palladium, nickel-gold, nickel-palladium-gold, or palladium-nickel-palladium-gold. In some embodiments, the PoP pad surface finish can be formed using either an electroless or electrolytic process.

In a flip-chip package, interconnect signals from an integrated circuit die connects to a package substrate through solder bumps (e.g., C4 bumps). As integrated circuits become more complex, more and more interconnect signals are required, and consequently, the number of solder bumps in a package also rises. With manufacturing processes moving to smaller geometries, the density of solders bumps increases dramatically, which severely reduces the amount of space left in the package to route the ever increasing number of interconnect signals. As a result, placement of the solder bumps is becoming exponentially more difficult.
An alternative packaging technique to a flip-chip package is a bumpless build-up layer (BBUL) package. Unlike a flip-chip package, the BBUL package does not use solder bumps to interconnect signals from the die to the package substrate. Instead, the BBUL package has build-up layers that are formed directly on the die. Interconnect layers are embedded in the build-up layers as part of the build-up process. By eliminating the need for solder bumps, a BBUL package allows the routing density to increase to accommodate the increasing number of interconnect signals.
Another benefit of the BBUL package is that package-on-package (PoP) pads can be formed on the top side of the package as part of the build-up process. The PoP pads allow for other integrated circuit devices such as memory devices and other electrical components such as decoupling capacitors to be attached to the top side of the BBUL package. This enables the placement of these other components to be much closer to the die to improve the performance of the integrated circuit. One type of PoP pad surface finish is a nickel-gold (Ni—Au) surface finish formed by an electrolytic plating process. The Ni—Au surface finish is formed by electrolytic plating a layer of Au onto an etch layer of copper (Cu), and then electrolytic plating a layer of Ni onto the layer of Au. Because this surface finish is formed by an electrolytic plating process, a manufacturer is required to have electrolytic surface finish equipment in order to manufacture the BBUL package.

Enabling package-on-package (PoP) pad surface finishes on bumpless build-up layer (BBUL) package


Object: To provide a remote substance identification device that can identify an unidentified substance, such as a harmful substance, from a remote location. Solution: Provided are a remote substance identification device and method, the device comprising a laser device 10 that emits a laser beam to an irradiated space; a wavelength conversion device 20 that converts a wavelength of the laser beam emitted from the laser device into a plurality of different wavelengths and that emits laser beams of the different wavelengths to the irradiated space; a light collecting-detecting device 30, 40, 50 that collects and detects resonance Raman-scattered light generated from an irradiated object due to resonance Raman scattering; and a processor 60 that identifies the irradiated object on the basis of a result detected by the collecting-detecting device 30, 40, 50.

A technique of identifying a harmful substance, such as flammable gas, from a remote location has been demanded up to now. The Raman scattering spectroscopy (laser Raman method) is known as a method of identifying that type of substance. Raman scattering is a phenomenon that, when a molecule is irradiated with monochromatic light, a frequency of scattered light is shifted by a vibration frequency specific to the molecule. An amount of the frequency shift of the scattered light is a variable specific to the substance. Accordingly, when a substance as a measurement target is irradiated with a laser beam of a predetermined wavelength, Raman-scattered light having wavelength different from the wavelength of the laser beam is generated from the substance irradiated with the laser beam. Whether the target substance is present or not can be identified by analyzing the Raman-scattered light. Furthermore, because the intensity of the Raman-scattered light is proportional to a density of the target substance, a concentration of the target substance can be measured from the detected intensity of the Raman-scattered light. In addition, it is known that, when the laser wavelength matches with a resonance excitation wavelength specific to the substance, Raman-scattered light (hereinafter called "resonance Raman-scattered light" in some cases) with intensity much higher than that of normal Raman-scattered light (non-resonance Raman-scattered light) is generated by a resonance effect.
There is known a method of monitoring a specific substance from a remote location by utilizing the above-described Raman-scattered light. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a gas leakage monitoring method of emitting a laser beam to a monitoring target space, collecting Raman-scattered light corresponding to the wavelength of measurement target gas, and determining, in the form of an image, a spatial intensity distribution of the collected Raman-scattered light, thus visualizing the presence of the leaked gas.

Remote substance identification device and remote substance identification method


A motion-based system includes one or more passenger units, gimbaled about three axes, movably attached to arms or slots in a planar system extending radially from a central hub. The passenger units may be positioned along the arms any distance from the central hub thereby providing means for varying forces to be exerted thereon while maintaining a constant rotational speed. The mobile passenger units further provide means for loading and unloading subjects during operation of the system. The means includes passenger units being moved to the central hub location where they are disengaged from the rotating system and safely loaded and unloaded. Computers control the rotational speed of the system and the movements of the passenger units about at least three axes based on inputted or real-time data. The data can simulate real events, be arbitrarily developed or be based on real time events. The motion-based system has both training and amusement purposes.

Apparatuses and systems designed to create G-forces, rotational forces, centripetal forces, etc., are represented in the patent literature. Such systems are used to subject individuals to various forces for entertainment and/or training purposes. Training purposes include testing a pilot's capacity to endure certain forces which will be experienced during actual aerial maneuvers. However, the previous apparatuses and systems suffer from several drawbacks as set forth below.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,710,128 ("the '128 patent") to Wachsmuth et al., discloses a flight simulator gimbaled about three axes, namely pitch, roll and yaw. The simulator describes a single cockpit, in the form of a pod, attached to an extended arm and rotated about a centrally located planetary drive assembly. A remote computer and an on-board computer independently, or in communication, control the rotation of the cockpit about the three axes. Other than its ability to produce only limited centripetal forces, the disclosed simulator includes only one cockpit requiring various rotational speeds to produce varying magnitudes of forces. Therefore, the motor is required to endure a heavy workload. Moreover, the device must be routinely stopped to unload and load new subjects.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,042,382 ("the '382 patent") to Halfhill discloses a multi-pod apparatus capable of creating sustained centripetal forces. The entertainment device of the '382 patent only involves two dimensions of motion. As with the '128 patent, the Halfhill device provides limited centripetal forces and requires various rotational speeds to create varying magnitudes of forces. Similarly, the apparatus must be stopped to unload and load new passengers.
The present invention overcomes the deficiencies of the prior art by providing a system having multiple passenger units that may be unloaded and loaded while the system remains in motion. Moreover, radial adjustability of the passenger units, and its one or more passengers, provides means for subjecting passengers to varying forces related to the unit's distance from a central hub location while the system maintains a constant rotational speed. It is also possible to create large sustainable G-forces.


A broadcasting program storing method of a mobile communication terminal and a mobile communication terminal using the same are disclosed. The method includes according to an embodiment allocating and storing a presently receiving broadcasting stream to and in at least one time section of a plurality of time sections while playing a broadcasting stream, and selecting at least one time section from the plural time sections to reproduce a broadcasting stream allocated to the selected time section. Thus, the broadcasting stream can be stored in real time while viewing the broadcasting program and the stored broadcasting stream can be easily searched for or reproduced.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mobile communication terminal with a broadcasting receiving function, and more particularly, to a method of storing broadcasting programs in a mobile communication terminal and a mobile communication terminal using the same.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
A mobile communication terminal with a broadcasting receiving function according to the related art will be described as follows.
The mobile communication terminal according to the related art performs the recording of a broadcasting program received at a specific time when a user selects a recording function. The recording function may be set before the reception of the broadcasting program to be recorded or during the reception of the broadcasting program.
In order to view the recorded broadcasting program, the user stops playing the broadcasting program currently being received and then manipulate keys to play the recorded broadcasting program.
That is, according to the related art, in order to view the recorded broadcasting program, the user must stop the presently receiving broadcasting program and select the stored program using complicated key/menu manipulation, which is complicated and inconvenient to the user.
Moreover, according to the related art, when recording the broadcasting program, how to use a memory space to efficiently store and to easily search the recorded broadcasting program is never considered.

Method of storing broadcasting program and mobile communication terminal using the same